Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Why? Why isn’t the trajectory showing up?
Whack!
“Ugh.”
Even though Evelyn was clearly attacking, I was thrown off because the trajectory was completely invisible.
In the end, I froze mid-swing and ended up taking a sloppy strike.
“Huh?”
Seeing Evelyn’s puzzled expression as she paused made me realize my mistake.
‘Damn it. I’ve been relying on Chaos too much all this time.’
Even if I didn’t know the exact path, with an E-rank level attack, I shouldn’t have made such a foolish mistake like I just did.
Thinking back, there were plenty of better responses—twisting my body to dodge or thrusting my sword to block.
“I’m sorry. I’ll focus properly this time, so can we try again?”
It would be nice if the trajectory was visible, but if it’s not, I can’t let myself be helpless.
If my eyes don’t show me the path, I’ll figure it out myself.
Evelyn laughed at me biting my teeth and steeling my resolve in embarrassment.
“Good. I hope I don’t see that clueless look again. Let’s go!”
Snap!
I calmly parried her sword as it whipped toward my head like a whip.
Luckily, the slowing effect still worked when an attack came.
Evelyn immediately spun half a turn and aimed a strike at my right leg.
I jumped back, just as I expected. But she chased me immediately and slashed, as if anticipating my dodge.
Do I dodge this too? No, just dodging won’t solve anything. I need to take the initiative with an attack.
‘For now, I have the upper hand in strength. If I do this right, I might even make her drop her sword.’
I slammed my sword down hard against hers as it came up fiercely.
“Hah!”
Clang—!
For a moment, we paused in a brief struggle of strength when the swords collided.
Evelyn twisted her blade back and released her force.
‘Damn!’
Because of that, I staggered, trying to push through, losing my balance.
She seized the opening and thrust her sword toward me.
What now? I thought carefully. I need to watch where the tip of her sword is aimed.
Her goal seems to be my solar plexus, to disable me and finish the sparring. If that’s the case…!
I was already leaning forward, off-balance. I twisted my body as much as possible to dodge and rolled.
Shiver—
‘Huh. What the hell was that?’
Her sword aimed straight at my solar plexus.
I rolled awkwardly but managed to dodge.
…But dodging alone wasn’t enough.
Until now, I’d been so busy blocking and dodging that I hadn’t noticed: when she slowed, I happened to catch a glimpse of her face.
From the moment she thrust until I rolled, Evelyn’s eyes never left mine.
Even now, as she thrust, her gaze stayed locked on me instead of following her sword.
Since when? From the very start? She was watching me, not the sword?
Evelyn, about to recover her sword and strike again, seemed to sense my hidden surprise and paused.
“Hmm, now I roughly understand.”
She called me over as if she had figured something out.
“Aren, let’s try one last thing. From now on, I’ll attack a bit differently. Watch closely and block. Don’t dodge.”
I nodded and gripped my sword.
“Good. Let’s begin.”
She prepared and started swinging her sword.
Huh? What’s this?
Following Evelyn’s diagonal slash, the red trajectory reappeared! That makes it more manageable than before.
The first strike was standard, so it was easy to block.
I brought my sword to the end of the trajectory… bite!
“Guh!”
Why did the trajectory suddenly twist just as the slowing effect ended?
Whack.
Smash—!
“Ugh.”
I was helpless against the changing trajectory again.
[Chaos whispers: focus well, it will be shown.]
I clutched my stomach and thought deeply.
‘The trajectory shows the path of the attack. But it doesn’t start bent—it twists mid-attack?’
So… it’s possible to redirect an attack mid-strike.
Changing from a vertical slash to a horizontal one… Is that why I couldn’t block it? That kind of move would destroy the joints if done normally.
Hmm. Right! I bet she’s covering it with magic.
Before I could think further, she swung her sword again, as if daring me to block.
Whoosh—
Focus. This time it’s an upward slash. It will probably twist mid-way. I need to respond to that.
She slashed diagonally upward, then twisted it horizontally near her waist.
…Now!
I caught the tiny moment when the trajectory changed and positioned my sword at the new path.
Crack!
Blocked!
“Stop! That’s enough.”
“Huh?”
Wait, I just barely blocked it after getting pounded, and now she says enough?
“Alright! Test’s over, so let’s relax and have a chat. The result: you pass. I can trust you with Yeriel.”
Thank goodness. That’s a relief!
It wasn’t because she’s Yeriel’s disciple or because she has a strong background.
It was because she has the loyalty to fight for what’s right, the courage to act even while cute and gentle, and the guts to do what’s necessary. I wanted someone like that by my side from now on.
Watching her could even be healing, she was that cute.
Also, being recognized by a deep-level adventurer like Evelyn was another reason I felt happy.
“But I need to point out one problem. It might sting a little, but you’re okay with that, right?”
I nodded, ready to listen.
“Initially, it was just a light skill test. To confirm if Yeriel’s stories were true. That would have been enough.”
Initially, huh. So the purpose has changed now?
“But when the sparring started and you got hit once, I got interested. Your gaze stuck to my sword tip, watching until the very end to dodge it.”
She made a mysterious expression.
“Ordinary people, unless they’re skilled, can’t fix their gaze on an incoming punch and predict if it’ll hit or where it’ll come from.”
Ah, I see. Most people would flinch or just try to dodge when a fist comes at their face.
“Some even close their eyes in fear. But you watched my wooden sword without blinking—it was amazing.”
I asked, “So that’s not really a problem?”
She shook her head.
“What’s the point of having amazing eyes and good stats if your technique sucks? Your fighting energy is pathetic. Pathetic.”
Ah. No real combat experience, careful even with a kitchen knife, relying only on traits… She’s right, I can’t argue.
“Look at your style. You watch attacks carefully, dodge, then counter. That’s it.”
True. I’ve relied on Chaos all this time.
“You’re going to keep waiting for someone stronger to attack first? What if the counter doesn’t work?”
Fair point. I had nothing to say.
“Your swordplay is non-existent. You rely on raw strength and speed, reading opponents’ moves just to dodge. Too crude.”
“I-Is that so?”
“It might work against monsters, but not humans. Everyone you’ll meet in the cities and dungeons has trained their own skills.”
Even Derek and Bernard had traits from effort and learning.
I have nothing.
[Chaos advises firmly but fairly.]
‘True. I’ve sensed that too.’
She relaxed her expression and pointed at herself.
“But don’t worry. Who am I? Evelyn. Head of the Silver Cross Order, Yeriel’s older sister, and the record-holder of floor 27.”
“I’ll turn you into a proper fighter before the next dungeon opens. Your eyes are incredible, but technique… seeing and blocking immediately after being hit?”
Turn me into a proper fighter? I thought the test was over, but this is an opportunity.
“I’ll learn with everything I’ve got!”
Evelyn laughed at my words.
“Everything you’ve got… private lessons like this are a dream for lower-floor adventurers. You’d better really mean it.”
Right. When will I meet someone like this again, for a good purpose?
“Hahaha, no dull moments ahead. Brace yourself.”
This is good, right?
“Sis! I want to stay in the same party as Aren!”
My one and only angel-like little sister made a rare request.
After human hunters killed our parents, she and I had been each other’s support, surviving through hardships to reach this point.
Recently, we had rumors that I had torn apart some of those hunters.
She’s now grown and strong, ready to help with one hand. Seeing my tiny little sister become so capable made me proud.
I worried for her safety the most.
In the end, I relented, but learned she had faced many dangers and nearly died.
‘I can’t lose you too, Yeriel. If the person you chose is him, and all you endured in the dungeon is true…’
I vowed, tightening my resolve, that I’d prepare him to be a capable adventurer.
The next morning, I called Aren to start sparring under the guise of testing.
The results? Surprisingly good.
Compared to ordinary novice adventurers, his stats were extraordinary, with clear high-grade combat skills and eye-related traits.
I realized his abilities remained fully active even until the end of some extended tests.
High magic regeneration or large total reserves? Perhaps some elf or dragon hybrid.
He’s handsome, so maybe elf?
Anyway, aside from relying on raw stats and traits with no combat fundamentals, he was perfect in personality, appearance, and abilities.
‘Aren is clearly a future great adventurer. I’ll make sure he sticks close to Yeriel.’
He said he’d learn with everything he’s got?
Heh, good. Don’t blame me for what you chose.
“Just kill me already…”
And so began two weeks of hell.