Morning of the Third Day Since the Tutorial Boss Secretly Set Off to Rescue
The dirt floor of the inn's backyard was layered with overlapping scuff marks and footprints from the past few days. Elena sheathed her sword, catching her breath. A single bead of sweat dripped from her chin.
"Today's the day, finally."
"I know."
Elena's eyes were different from two days ago—sharper. The resolve in her grip on the sword hilt, the certainty in her gaze as she looked up at me... everything had shifted, subtly but unmistakably. She still had rough edges, but the framework of how to fight was solidly in place.
She surpassed C-rank in just three days...
Mastering footwork alone usually takes two months. This girl had elevated it to practical combat level in a single day. "Genius" didn't cut it. This was abnormal.
"One last thing."
I slid my sword into its scabbard and said, "Don't fall for any taunts."
"Taunts?"
"Darko's a nasty piece of work. He'll poke at your weaknesses to rattle you. He might've even dug into your background without you knowing. Like, say, why you earn money for medicine."
"...."
Her expression hardened the moment I indirectly brought up her little sister.
"No matter what he says, ignore it and focus on your sword. The second your emotions take over, your rhythm crumbles."
Elena's lips pressed into a thin line. Just a hint of her sister talk, and she stiffened right up. That was her biggest weakness.
"You're worrying too much."
"But..."
"Whatever he says, don't let it get to you. It's all bluff. If he had any real leverage, it'd already be over. So if he tries to threaten you, just get mad."
"Get mad?"
"Imagine him blackmailing you over your medicine money."
"...."
Elena gritted her teeth.
"By then, you might not even need that medicine money anymore."
"Th-then what do I do?"
"Get mad."
"Is that okay? That's different from what you said earlier."
"Eh, use your judgment. You think I have to spoon-feed you everything?"
"Um..."
"Whatever happens, don't panic or flinch at his bluster. Stand your ground and fight back. Got it?"
Elena let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, got it."
"Let's go."
We headed to the guild.
The guild's backyard was already buzzing. Word must've spread mouth-to-mouth over the three days. What would've normally been an empty lot was packed not just with adventurers, but civilians too, crowding the edges in a ring.
"Darko's fighting Eck's apprentice girl, right?"
"Eck trained her himself? Is she really that good?"
"Who do you think wins?"
"Darko, obviously. Eck's got no talent for teaching."
Jeina was running bets, collecting silver coins. Darko hadn't shown yet. Instead, Jeina strode to the center and raised her voice.
"Before the main event! Gotta warm up, right? Any rookie adventurers here who know how to throw a punch—step up!"
Whistles erupted. It was just entertainment. In a world without much fun, people thirsted for even this. Merchants made bank on bets, rookies saw it as a chance to shine.
One hot-blooded rookie shot his hand up. Another stepped forward from the opposite side. The crowd jeered as the two faced off in the center.
"What kinda gear is that?!"
"Fight for real, or we'll drag you off ourselves!"
The rookies, backed by their party seniors' cheers, sweated bullets amid the taunts. Rival parties had sent their youngest to represent—pride on the line. They clashed full-force from the first exchange. But one panicked, squeezing his eyes shut and swinging wildly, while the other tripped over his own feet dodging.
"Hey! Is that even fighting?!"
"Hahaha! Rookie scraps are the best dogfights!"
Laughter exploded. They rolled, stood, stabbed and blocked clumsily. No real skill, but that's what made it fun. Adventurers chugged drinks, cheering, clapping, and heckling as they used the brawl for appetizers.
Elena watched the rookies' spar, her face rigid.
"Nervous?"
"No."
"Obvious lie."
She could barely breathe, just hyperventilating.
"What do you think watching those guys?"
"...."
Elena eyed the fight quizzically.
"Why do they fight like that?"
"How's it look to you?"
"They're doing it on purpose?"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"They'd be crushed hearing that."
"They're not?"
I shrugged.
"That's standard F-rank brawling. Burn it into your memory."
"I'm I-rank, though?"
"Getting it now? You're not normal."
I shoved her back.
"Go on."
"Not coming with?"
"Got other business. No time to babysit suckers."
Her mouth drooped.
"Snap out of it. If you've absorbed even a shred of my advice, that clown's no match."
Elena asked timidly, "Uncle."
"What."
"If I lose... you won't ditch me, right?"
"Hm..."
Nice words to hear.
"If you can't win a rigged fight, you're not worth investing in anymore. Scared I'll drop you?"
"N-no, not that, but..."
"Save the worries. Do it after you win."
I left her in the backyard and turned away.
The rookies' sideshow ended, and the yard fell quiet. Jeina spread her arms wide in the center.
"And now, the main event! Guild sword instructor Darko versus Elena, apprentice to the city's one-of-three A-rank Black Wolf! Come on out!"
Cheers erupted. Elena pushed through the crowd to the center. She took a deep breath. A tall man sauntered in opposite her—Darko. He stopped in front of her, scanning the crowd.
"He's not here?"
Darko smirked mockingly.
"Where's your master? Thought he'd at least watch."
Before Elena could speak, Darko tsked.
"No way he didn't show? Haha, pathetic. Doesn't even peek when his apprentice spars me. Some master."
He crossed his arms, looking down at her.
"Figures a talentless hack like him knows it'd be pointless. Probably too embarrassed to watch."
Onlookers chuckled in agreement. Elena stayed silent. She didn't know my plan either. Maybe I really had ditched her because losing would be ugly. She gritted her teeth, staring straight into Darko's eyes.
Uncle said he had business.
Whatever it was, don't fall for taunts. His words echoed. Don't mistake the sincerity of the man who'd trained her these three days.
Don't get it wrong. If you lose, I look bad. So smash him thoroughly.
Elena drew her sword.
"Begin!"
Jeina called it. Darko drew his—slowly, flaunting his leisure. Elena moved first, closing in with footwork. His sword slashed diagonally. She sidestepped, surging forward fiercely. Her wooden practice sword grazed his chin by a hair.
More than I thought... no, don't get cocky. He let his guard down!
Darko's eyes narrowed. His blade whipped viciously.
Deflect... thrust.
As taught. She parried his strike, stabbing her wooden sword into his shoulder well.
"Eck taught you pretty well, huh? Did that bastard teach you my weak spots?!"
Darko bellowed loud enough for the crowd.
"No more mercy!"
He charged first, laughing. Then whispered, just for her ears.
"Sister doing okay?"
Elena's wooden sword froze. In that instant, his thrust in. She twisted her ankle to dodge, retreating.
"What?"
"Your little sister. Bedridden with illness. Name was... oh yeah."
Darko swung, advancing.
"Elis."
"...!"
"Heard you became an adventurer to pay her meds? Cute. Bet she loves it—squandering the cash her big sis earns selling her body."
"...."
Blood surged reverse. Elena's hand trembled. Her fingers loosened on the hilt.
How does he know?
She'd told no one. Background check, maybe. Eck had warned her. Don't fall for Darko's taunts. But he held her sister—her reason for adventuring, her last family. Her precious little sister's name from his mouth.
"Don't touch her."
Her low voice shook. Darko tilted his head.
"Don't touch? Too late. While you wasted time with Eck, I checked where she is. Probably cozying up with my guys right now."
Her heart plummeted. Her sword tip drooped.
"Liar..."
Had to be a lie.
"Wish it was? Tough luck—it's real. One word from me, and your sis... well, use your imagination."
His wooden sword swung. She blocked—no deflect—and the power gap shoved her back.
"Oh, not asking you to forfeit. Just keep suffering like that."
He kicked. She blocked with her sword, but her braced arms quaked. Vision blurred. Strength fled her grip. Mind went white. Her sister's face flashed—pale, clutching blankets, coughing. It blocked her sight. Footwork, deflections, three days' polish—all vanished from her head.
Darko closed in. Distance shrank. Elena couldn't retreat or raise her guard.
That moment.
Don't fall for taunts.
Her trembling hand stilled. She regripped the hilt. Uncle's words resurfaced. If threatened with her sister, she might already be gone. Darko said he'd touched her already. Elis might not even be of this world anymore. Just this morning, her sweet sister had seen her off.
The thread holding Elena's reason... snapped.