Charlotte (1)
Charlotte (1)
Shim Eunha went to the dojo alone. As before, the dojo was completely deserted today too.
The number of students didn't necessarily speak to the dojo's excellence, but with dungeon exploration as their livelihood on the line, a dojo full of people meant it had that kind of value.
As she crossed the dojo's threshold, Hoyeon caught her familiar scent and snapped her head up, rushing over to her.
"You've come?"
"Ah, yes......"
"You're alone today. Well, probably from now on too."
"Yes, I'll keep coming alone from now on too......"
"Why are you so intimidated? Come on in."
Hoyeon's tail swayed lightly as she led the way. Eunha followed, her eyes tracking the tail.
Countless students stared at Eunha walking alongside Hoyeon. It was way too much attention for such a timid girl.
That's why she shrank back a little, trying her best to avoid their gazes. Watching her, Hoyeon wondered how someone like this could have been made.
"It's been a while since we had a female student...... Looks like we'll have to train one-on-one. That okay with you?"
"Yes, that's fine......"
If anything, it was a relief. Better than being stuck among those dark-skinned guys glaring at her like they wanted to devour her—being with another woman like Hoyeon was easier on both body and mind.
"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Hoyeon, master of Ho-beop-gwan."
"I-I'm Shim Eunha......"
"Hmm, don't be so scared. I don't plan on going as hard on you as last time."
Hoyeon said that as she handed her a training uniform. Eunha changed into it in the room's changing area and came out.
Her eyes must be sharp— the uniform Hoyeon gave her fit Eunha perfectly. As Eunha emerged in the uniform, she began a basic physical check.
"You're a Level 2 Adventurer, right."
"Yes? Oh, yes."
"Then you must have some specialty. What is it?"
"Specialty...?"
She didn't have one. Eunha wanted to say that, but she couldn't be rude about it. She racked her brain and came up with an answer she hoped would please Hoyeon.
"W-Well... fighting?"
"Everyone fights. I asked what only you can do."
"Enduring... I'm good at enduring."
"What?"
"Enduring pain......"
"Hmm, enduring pain, huh."
Hearing that, Hoyeon swung her hand without giving Eunha a chance to react. Her palm whipped like a lash, striking Eunha's back—and at the same instant, a sharp pain exploded across Hoyeon's own back.
"......Are you a Skill Holder?"
"Skill Holder...? What's that?"
"Someone with a special ability. Blessed by the gods, born of special bloodline, or mutants with powerful innate powers."
Eunha thought of her own ability. Pain Immunity and the derived Pain Reflection. She could be called a Skill Holder too.
As she nodded, Hoyeon asked about her ability.
"Sharing pain...? The pain inflicted by the opponent?"
"No...... It's just, like, reflecting it."
"......Reflecting it?"
"Yes."
Of course, she felt the pain too, but she was immune to it. Effectively, it was like reflecting all the pain back onto the enemy.
Eunha explained her ability, which there was no need to hide. Hearing it, Hoyeon closed her eyes and fell deep into thought.
As Eunha watched her ponder with a low hum, she sank into her own worries too.
After a moment, Hoyeon opened her eyes and looked at Eunha. Eunha, who had been spacing out, startled at the gaze and snapped back to reality.
"I see, so that's how it is. Then that physical prowess from before wasn't just from leveling up—it was from some extreme technique that wrecked your own body?"
"Yes, yes. What was it called... Unlocking the muscle limit or something......"
"Good. Very good."
Hoyeon's eyes sparkled as she looked down at Eunha. Human, past her growth spurt, yet below-average height and weight.
Not an ideal build for martial arts... but talent and ability that transcended such a frame made her prime material worth coveting.
"How about becoming my disciple?"
"Disciple...? Is that different from being a student?"
"It is. Those guys pay money to learn from me. Not my direct disciples. But you...... You have what it takes to be my disciple. Qualified to learn the secret techniques passed down only to the Tiger-folk."
"M-Me?"
"Yes."
Hoyeon gazed at Eunha. Toughness ignorant of pain. Recklessness that throws away her own body. Talent that returns the pain of attacks right back to the opponent.
This was no ordinary talent. Easily found? Hardly.
Plenty of people could endure pain.
Plenty threw away their bodies without care.
Geniuses existed who deflected all attacks and landed counters.
But someone with all three at once? Rare. No, not just rare—Hoyeon, who'd lived over 50 years, had never seen one.
She'd finally found it. No wonder her eyes were gleaming.
"B-But why me......?"
"Hm?"
"I'm short, weak... timid, scared of everything...."
"What are you saying."
Hoyeon grabbed Eunha's shoulders. Startled, Eunha looked up at her.
"Don't belittle yourself. You're the talent I've been looking for...... I need you."
"Can I really do it......?"
"Of course."
She encouraged her not to worry, that she could definitely pull it off. It was Eunha's first time being sought out like this, so she was a bit flustered, but she soon steeled herself and nodded.
"I'll give it a try."
"Good choice! You won't regret it......"
"......One thing I'm curious about."
"What?"
"If I learn from you, Master... could I be helpful to someone?"
She called it "someone," but really, it was just one person. Hoyeon guessed as much and told her.
"Don't worry about that. As my disciple, there's something you must achieve."
"What... is it?"
"Become the strongest."
Hoyeon thrust out her clenched fist.
"From now on, you have the duty to become the strongest."
After laying Seoyun down in her room, I returned to mine, grabbed my Wooden Sword, and headed to the mansion's backyard.
One reason I bought this mansion: no need to hassle to the training ground every time.
Arriving in the backyard, I set my sword down in the wide garden and did some light stretching.
I'd realized muscles don't need building anymore, so I maintain them at a level that prevents atrophy.
After a light sweat-breaking workout, it's time to refine my techniques.
I swing the sword. I've held a sword since before I could walk, so wielding it is more natural than using my own limbs.
Three sets of swings matching the prescribed Sword Technique—an hour passes, and once I'm warmed up, I imagine fighting orcs or stronger monsters for image training.
What boxers call shadow boxing. Would be great to have a sparring partner, but finding someone as good with a sword as me—and trustworthy—isn't easy.
'......No.'
Sweat pouring, I shifted my gaze. Inside the mansion, Charlotte—who'd been peeking while pretending to clean windows—smoothly moved out of sight.
She was here. The strong Holy Knight who'd come to the mansion for some karmic reason.
I went to her.
"......You want me to be your sword partner?"
"Yep."
"How could a mere maid like me......"
"Huh, didn't Deokgu tell you? I told him to hire a maid good with swords for practice."
A lie. Never said that. So she hasn't heard it either.
But she's in a position where she can't be kicked out of this mansion. A spy tasked with constantly watching me up close—she knows full well she can't give any pretext for dismissal.
In the end, she bit her lip slightly and opened her mouth.
"......My skills are lacking, but self-defense techniques, at least."
"Yeah? Lucky me."
Didn't seem lacking at all, but I called her to the backyard, thrilled to have a sparring partner.
I tossed her a Wooden Sword and watched her take her stance. That's when I realized I'd never seen this world's swordsmanship before.
'Who's better, I wonder.'
My swordsmanship versus hers.
Earth's swordsmanship versus the Otherworld's.
Which is superior?
Swallowing my excitement, I approached her.
'How did it come to this.'
Charlotte sighed inwardly as she picked up the sword. Someone good at swordsmanship? Never heard that. No way she misheard.
But refusing right there? Unthinkable. She was a maid, and "impossible" from a maid's mouth was as good as begging to be fired.
At least, as far as she knew.
'It's not sexual service or some absurd order...... This much is fine.'
The thought crossed her mind, unbidden. If Dojin had demanded sex, she could've smashed his head and claimed no oracle existed... But swordsmanship? That was a field she was confident in.
Dojin took his stance. Classic middle guard. In response, Charlotte raised her sword to the side of her head.
Similar to Western upper stance, specialized for defense with the tip aimed at the opponent.
Not many options for the opponent from this stance. Dojin knew it too.
So he approached cautiously. Charlotte didn't attack first. Attacking first from this stance was disadvantageous.
She waited for Dojin to strike first. He did. A light horizontal cut—a probe to see her reaction.
Charlotte flicked it away lightly, switched sides, and pointed her sword at Dojin again.
A few more clashes followed, but Charlotte didn't yield. Her will to fight only when she had the unilateral advantage.
Seeing it, Dojin knew he was at a disadvantage but forced his way in. If this were real combat, he'd wait for her focus to slip—but this was sparring for skill improvement, right?
Value in challenging the disadvantage. As Dojin charged, Charlotte's sword flew at him like she'd been waiting.
He blocked the incoming sword with a head guard from swordsmanship. The blades locked. From here, it was Sword Wrestling territory.
Dojin immediately grabbed her hand and hilt, tripping her leg. She didn't fall. Bolstered by powerful muscles, Charlotte countered by kicking his leg, crumbling his balance.
With his center broken, Charlotte pounced on the opening. Even with his balance wrecked, Dojin glared at her without letting his guard down.
And when Charlotte grabbed his arm for a wrestling move, she felt her own arm twist in pain and rolled to the ground.
Kuung!
That was it. Dojin quickly raised his sword to her throat—typically considered fully subdued.
"Done."
"What the......"
"Wow, you're really good. Just self-defense level? You could take down monsters."
"......Thank you for the praise."
But before she could shake off the daze of defeat, Charlotte remembered her mission and switched back to maid mode.
'What was that just now?'
A technique she couldn't comprehend. One she'd never seen in any race......
'No way, really......'
The existence of a Fallen Star.
Instinctively, Charlotte sensed it might refer to someone fallen from another world.