One Hand is Enough
“One hand...? Are you sure about that?”
Elena asked, curling her lips in disbelief. Instead of answering, I just shrugged at her.
“We definitely made a promise, right? If I beat you, you'll help me... no, help Grandpa.”
“Of course.”
“...Let's move somewhere else. If we cause a ruckus here, it might disturb dinner.”
With that, she started walking ahead, and I followed slowly behind her, enjoying the cool breeze.
Maybe it's because it's a rural village? Just looking at it felt healing.
The refreshing mood carried me all the way to the forest at the base of the hill.
That's when I sensed mana stirring ahead.
“Tinkerbell!”
With Elena's shout, the wind began to whirl, forming blades that surged toward me.
“You didn't even say 'start.'”
“We never agreed on that!”
I chuckled at her cheeky grin and sticking out her tongue, then wrapped aura around my left hand.
“True, we didn't.”
The first blades came at my legs. I jumped lightly to dodge, only to face more slicing at my waist.
She must have launched them to catch me mid-air.
But tricks like that only work on beginners.
“Your attacks are too light.”
I swung my arm casually, like swatting a fly, exhaling aura. The wind blades vanished in an instant.
I blocked the rest the same way and looked at her.
“It's not over yet!”
Even after I deliberately showed overwhelming defense, she stretched her hand toward me with eyes full of fighting spirit.
“Emission!”
With her sharp cry, ultra-compressed air shot from her finger—shaped like a pistol—creating a sonic boom.
“Haha!”
Good spirit—passed.
That could be dangerous if it hit. Instead of exhaling aura, I concentrated it in my fist and swung like hitting a flying ball.
——KABOOM!
Red aura scattered as the compressed air exploded outward. My fist tingled; she was serious this time.
“Have you trained with anyone else before?”
“...No!”
So she developed attacks like that on her own... Combat sense: passed.
“Now it's my turn to come at you.”
Right hand behind my back, I charged.
She hurriedly raised her hand to aim at me.
“Emission!”
As she shouted, I drew my pistol and pulled the trigger at her finger.
——BANG!
The air bullet collided head-on with my aura round, bursting like exploding air.
Her eyes widened at me.
“You said left hand only!”
“I pulled the trigger with my left. We never said no weapons.”
I threw her own words back at her, and she furrowed her brow.
“You jerk...! Emission! Emission! Emission! Emission! Emission!”
Realizing single shots wouldn't work, she fired in rapid succession.
But I matched her trajectory, pulling the trigger each time. Explosions echoed one after another.
“Arghhh!”
Frustrated by the mid-air intercepts, she aimed with both hands now.
But something felt different—unlike before.
“Tifone!”
A massive windstorm engulfed a wide area, slamming into me.
So the previous pose was a feint to confuse me.
The huge gust tilted my balance momentarily, but activating aura throughout my body boosted my physical abilities, halting my slide backward.
“Stop...! Already...?!”
She grimaced, arms outstretched.
“I've still got plenty left.”
I felt the pressing wind gradually weaken.
Her canary, Tinkerbell, who had been fluttering energetically beside her, had long since perched on her shoulder. The faint light from Tinkerbell's body was noticeably dimmer than at the start.
Stamina: failed.
Considering her age and environment, though, she held out pretty well.
“...So, surrender? Or want more?”
I asked with a completely relaxed expression, and she glanced at Tinkerbell on her shoulder.
-Pip....
Tinkerbell shook its head weakly.
Her eyes wavered briefly before she looked back at me and raised both hands.
“...I surrender.”
She couldn't bear seeing her partner suffer more.
“Okay. Done. No complaints?”
Confirming her mana fading, I retracted my aura and approached.
“...More importantly, your speech suddenly got casual?”
“We'll see each other a lot, so I figured casual is better. You do the same.”
Italian doesn't have formal speech per se, but she noticed the shift from my initial tone.
“I'm not a kid! We're around the same age! H-How old are you?!”
“Me? First-year at the academy.”
Her eyes widened at my answer.
“If you're an academy student... you're older than me.”
So she hasn't entered the academy yet.
Overall: three passes, one fail.
“Guess that makes me the big sis then. Casual speech?”
“...Whatever.”
Maybe because of the age gap and the handicaps in our bet. Unlike her initial impression, she looked totally dejected now, replying in a listless voice.
Is she sulking over not teaming up?
“...One question.”
“What.”
“Why go so far to help old man Ludovico?”
She knew how dangerous this was. Not some local thugs—mafia were involved.
And not just any family, but the Medici, one of Italy's top economic powers.
Yet why was she so eager to help him?
“I told you earlier. Grandpa saved my life—”
“—That's not enough reason to go up against the mafia.”
Under my probing, she squeezed her eyes shut and clutched her skirt hem.
“...It's annoying!”
“What?”
“Those Medici bastards! They say it's for us, for Italy's reconstruction, while squeezing us dry! They take our crops and goods as 'taxes' and don't even protect us! Last year, Bill from the vigilantes died because of it!”
Her previously droopy expression had completely changed.
“I want to drive them out this time. Make our village a bit more peaceful!”
Hm... romantic too.
“Passed.”
“...Huh?”
“In other words, repay Grandpa's favor, reclaim the village's freedom. Right?”
“Exactly.”
“Using me from the Calione family?”
“Use! Not quite... but I can at least ask for help.”
Basically, help her, the village, and Ludovico—herself included.
“Sorry, but I'm not the type to be swayed by sympathy. Can't take that request.”
“...Figured.”
“But.”
I added to her downcast gaze, curling my lips slightly.
“A deal's different.”
“...A deal?”
Her head slowly lifted, meeting my eyes.
“What school are you at now?”
“The little village school. Emily from the city teaches us.”
“Awakener registration? Academy?”
“Registered, but never thought about the academy. Tuition's too expensive.”
Conditions perfect. This is why people scour overseas free agent markets?
Felt like striking uncut gemstone gold.
“Then transfer to Seoul Hero Academy next year. I'll cover room, board, tuition, food, living expenses.”
“...Huh?”
“Not free, though. You'll work for my club and company. Sound like a good deal?”
I secure a future star early; she gets in on this, full support, and top academy training.
The 'offer you can't refuse.'
“But I should ask Mom...”
“Yeah, sudden. Take your time. I'll be here a while.”
“So we'll move together for now?”
Not accepted yet, but she peeked up at me slyly.
To the gauging girl, I removed my Midas gloves and offered my hand with a playful smile.
“...For now?”
“...Nice to work with.”
“Eugene Han Calione. Call me Eugene.”
“Monica Anna Elena. Elena's fine.”
She took my hand, beaming.
Overseas prospect: GET. Or captured wild 'Spirit User'!
* * *
“Heh, after all that noise outside, you two came back on good terms?”
As we headed back up the hill side by side, we ran into Ludovico smoking his pipe outside the door.
“Grandpa! How long have you been out here?”
“Since you two started throwing punches. You've gotten much stronger, haven't you?”
“I've been training hard with Tinkerbell lately. Of course!”
Elena scratched her head sheepishly at his praise.
“And Eugene. You're the spitting image of your father.”
“...Is that so?”
“Absolutely. Just like that kid running through the woods back in the day. Even offering your hand after a fight—spot on. Kahahah!”
He tapped out the pipe ashes onto the table and looked at Elena.
“So, you're in too?”
“...Yes.”
He must have figured out why we sparred.
“I knew. How strong you are compared to your peers—even matching other Awakeners. But... I can't help worrying.”
“...Grandpa.”
“Please, don't overdo it. And Eugene, take good care of her.”
“No worries, Maestro. I'll protect her no matter what.”
How could I let go of this hard-earned—no, lucky—gem? I'd drag her to academy graduation if I had to.
“Kahahaha! That's the spirit! Kahah! Thanks for indulging an old man.”
Ludovico burst into laughter as Elena bowed her head deeply for some reason.
“Alright, let's talk plans. Eugene, how do you intend to move?”
He leaned back, empty pipe in mouth, expectant.
“Well, start with greetings, right?”
“...Greetings?”
“Greetings?”
“Yes.”
——The real mafia-style greeting.