The Tutorial Boss Hatches a Scheme
Elena's house was on the outskirts of the city, close to the walls. It might as well have been a slum. I passed through alleys where dilapidated buildings huddled together amid clotheslines strung with laundry, until I spotted that familiar scene.
Here it is.
It was exactly as I'd seen in the original story. After her hunter father died and they sold the house, they'd moved here.
They actually manage to live in a dump like this.
Even ignoring my life back on Earth, it was a brutal place for anyone to scrape by. I stood before the rickety wooden door that looked like it'd shatter at a nudge.
But it creaked open on its own. Wasn't locked.
A little late, huh.
I kicked the door open with my foot.
Deep inside the cramped room, a man was straddling the bed. Beneath him, a girl's legs thrashed weakly.
"Wh-who is it?!"
"Me, asshole."
I grabbed the intruder's nape and yanked him backward, hurling him into the corner.
Under the stripped thug, a girl with a flushed face gasped for breath. She looked like Elena but softer in her features. Her hazy eyes turned to me.
"Sis... ter?"
"Not your sister. Rest easy now."
"Mm..."
I draped the blanket over Elis's shoulders. The thug raised a club. The instant he swung for my head, I seized his arm, twisted, and slammed him face-first into the floor, pinning him down. His arm wrenched back behind him with a sickening crack of bone.
"Argh?!"
"Shut it."
I smashed his nape into the floorboards. Thud. His nose crunched against the wood with a dull thud. I didn't stop. Thud! I kept pounding his face until he quit struggling. Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Guhk... ugh... ah..."
He went limp soon enough. I hauled him up by the collar and locked eyes. His face was a pulpy mess.
"E-Eck..."
"You know who I am?"
"S-sorry. I won't come back... P-please, just forgive me this once?"
"..."
I let out a heavy sigh.
"Darko send you?"
"Y-yes."
"Nothing else?"
"Well..."
"Not beat enough, then."
"I-I'll talk... Guhk?!"
I smashed my fist into his mug. He twitched violently.
"D-Darko... s-said to secretly f-fuck your disciple's... s-sister..."
"Tch. Figures for an adult game."
That prick Darko—was he planning to film some sleazy video and send it off? I dragged the thug outside and chucked him into the alley.
"Tell your crew: lay a finger on Elena or her little sister, and I'll erase you all first. You better relay that crystal clear."
"Y-yes, sir!"
The thief staggered off into the shadows.
I turned back. Elis huddled in the corner, clutching the blanket, eyes squeezed shut and head bowed, her whole body trembling. The fever was barely letting her stay conscious.
Elena's little sister. Elis.
She took after Elena—same hair, same eyes. Thin and frail from her age and illness, but she'd bloom into a beauty like her sister once she recovered.
"Hmm..."
I scanned the room. What was just set dressing in the original story now revealed glimpses of Elena's daily grind. A tray on the table held water and medicine. Powdered stuff.
Effect's probably mental slowdown, right?
It dulled the mind. Mainly used to subdue mages. If Elena went the mage route, she'd get dosed and railed constantly. Got vivid flashbacks of her knocked up by monsters till resistance kicked in.
Anyway, Elena was buying this for her sister.
Won't cure her, though.
It was like pouring water into a shattered dam. Temporary fix at best, but skipping it meant death soon after.
Elis's condition was Wisdom Fever. Talent fit for a legendary archmage that'd make history—if she'd been born noble. For a humble hunter family? Way too much. She'd have died young without even knowing why. Lucky break finding a doc who recognized it, and a devoted big sis to keep her going... but honestly, Eck wasn't so sure that was luck.
I'd love to fix her up... but half-ass it, and Elena's drive crumbles.
Elena had to become the hero who saves the world.
Elena's feet hit the ground one at a time. She shifted her weight with alternating steps. Footwork. Her body recalled the moves from three days of training, mimicking what Eck had shown her.
Darko's eyes bulged. Too late—he realized her wooden sword was already at his chest.
It jabbed his solar plexus.
"Guhk...?!"
His body reeled back. He swung at the close-range Elena for a counter, but she deflected with her wooden sword, poked his ribs, and pulled away.
Darko barreled in with momentum. Elena flowed his strikes aside. She glued her wooden sword to his, slid it obliquely to twist the path. Then she stabbed the gap—right at the neck.
Her wooden sword nailed Darko's throat dead-on.
"Kek...! You little bitch...!"
Darko gnashed his teeth and drove his sword down vertically, putting his full weight behind it. A wooden blade would snap on impact. A serious C-rank adventurer's pressure was overwhelming to face head-on.
As long as it doesn't land.
Elena's body slid sideways. Her footwork repositioned her as his sword sliced empty air. Her wooden sword whipped across, cracking his temple.
Thud.
"Urk!"
Darko stumbled off-balance, one knee buckling. Murmurs rippled through the onlookers.
They set down their drinks. Smirks vanished; eyes widened.
"That for real?"
"Darko's getting pushed back?"
Elena didn't register her feat. She pictured her sister's name on his lips, threats to touch Elis—hell, that he'd already done it—and thrust her wooden sword. Each time, Darko crumpled, unable to recover.
Just as Eck taught: Don't block. Strike the openings.
Dodge counters, deflect attacks. Bide for the perfect shot.
Her body burned hot; her mind stayed ice-cold.
Darko swept his wooden sword horizontally. She ducked low—and his knee shot up to catch her.
Telegraphed.
She smacked his knee aside with her wooden sword. He yelped.
Don't wuss out over that!
Her blade cracked his hand. Snap! His sword nearly flew free. He barely clung on, but that gap let her close in.
Thud!
"Fuck...!"
Darko spat venom and lashed out wildly to force distance.
He heaved for breath. Blood filled his mouth. That solar plexus hit rattled his guts. He ached to crumple, but with the crowd watching, he forced his hand down.
An I-rank newbie humiliating him? Unthinkable.
Elena flowed into footwork again. Darko swung to keep her off.
"Fucking...!"
Her blade slipped his strike, grazing past. Even gripping hard to prevent the slide, his balance shattered—and she slipped inside. Ribs.
Her wooden sword plunged true.
"Urk...!"
His torso buckled sideways. Ribs throbbed. He nearly dropped to his knees but clamped his jaw and endured.
The crowd buzzed louder.
"Darko's gonna lose?"
"Eck whipped her into that in three days?"
"No way. Just three days?!"
Darko overheard. His face flushed crimson. Surrender? A guild sword instructor beaten by an I-rank rookie? Pathetic. Most bets were on him. Losing here trashed his rep.
He steadied his wooden sword. Elena stepped forward.
Wh-what now?
Darko instinctively retreated. No countermove surfaced.
"Y-your sister's really safe? My guys get to rape her, huh?! I'll straight-up kill your sister...!"
Elena's advance halted. Veins bulged in her eyes.
"Bring her."
"Huh?"
She snarled through gritted teeth. "Bring Elis to me!!"
She stomped the floor. Faster than before.
Stupid bitch!
One clean hit and it's over! Darko, victory assured, slashed down at the onrushing Elena.
Her wooden sword met it head-on. Crunch.
His blade snapped.
"H-how..."
He saw it: Elena's eyes glowed blue.
She slashed vertically once more, cracking his side.
Smack!
Darko ate the blow and skidded across the floor into the spectators.
He didn't rise. Silence gripped the crowd—then cheers erupted.
"Woooah!!!"
"Fuck yeah!!!"
Mixed joy and rage.
"Hah... hah..."
Elena panted raggedly. Her wooden sword trembled in her grip. She dropped it and approached the sprawled Darko.
He coughed face-down, clutching his side. He tried to rise, but his supporting arm buckled, dumping him again.
Elena seized his collar.
"Where's Elis."
His face contorted. But the smirk lingered.
"Kuhuhu... you a genius too... fuck... genius little shits... sticking together..."
"Where's my sister!"
"What, worried about her now?"
Darko tittered. No chance of turning it around, so he ran his mouth.
"By now, my boys are having a real good time with her. Got one with rough hands, y'know? Hope you like changing her diapers for life, genius bitch."
"Hng...!"
Elena cocked her fist. It smashed his face.
"Gack...!"
"Where!"
She mounted him, hammering his face. But Darko's gaze stayed mocking, unfocused.
"Kill me... you'll never see her."
"Ugh..."
Her fist locked up.
"Kuhuhu."
Darko caught on quick. This girl's weak spot was her sister. Whatever Eck filled her head with, clutch the sis and she'd do anything.
Bloody mess of a face, but cocky as ever.
"Apologize."
"A-apologize? Why the fuck should I..."
"If you want her safe."
"Ugh..."
Elena stiffened.
"Nah, words won't cut it. Strip naked."
"S-strip?"
"Embarrassed? Guess sis matters less than your pride."
"That's... dirty..."
Elena reeled back, trembling hands clutching her clothes. She'd done as uncle said, but... couldn't blow off the threat entirely...! How could she?!
Elis...
Then.
"Elena."
A voice. Relief flooded her instantly.
All eyes—Elena, Darko, the crowd—snapped around. Eck stood there. The onlookers parted like a sea, clearing his path as he strode in.
"Uncle..."
"You never fully trusted my words, huh."
"Sorry... but..."
How to handle her mind going blank at the thought of her sister in danger? Killing Darko meant no leads on Elis—what good was that?! She screamed it inwardly, but the hand settling on her head silenced everything.
"Elis is safe."
"Really?"
"So you can rest now."
"Elis..."
She hadn't seen her safe with her own eyes, but his word? She believed it. He was always straight with her.
The fire in Elena's eyes dimmed. She collapsed, unconscious.