Chapter 10

"Uooooo!"

The straightforward attack, without even a feint, became a simple matter of timing.

Judging the distance, Harrisman easily dodged the pig-like charge and brought down his wooden sword.

"Out!"

Once the movement stopped, it became a matter of skill. Harrisman's wooden sword swung wildly, and the red-haired girl was struck down without a chance to resist.

The bruises would remain, but drinking a healing potion would quickly restore her, as he had held back to that extent.

"...Tch."

Unable to hold back any longer, Tiana retreated, her face twisted but a smile on her lips.

"Hehe, you're strong. You're in a league of your own."

Gripping her fists again, she lunged forward.

"That spirit is commendable."

Harrisman, judging that further injury might lead to serious harm, threw away his wooden sword and decided to fight with his bare hands.

Dodge, counter, trip, throw.

"Amazing, amazing. You're incredible, old man."

But every time Tiana got up, she seemed more energetic and charged forward again.

"Hmm."

Harrisman evaluated her as a smart girl.

Though she seemed to charge recklessly, she didn't repeat the same mistakes.

Moreover, she had a high adaptability.

To adapt to the environment of the dungeon, the basement was sprinkled with the essence of luminescent moss, but that wasn't all. The floor tiles were removed or placed in such a way that the ground was uneven. Despite this, the red-haired girl moved around with all her might, like a wild animal running through the mountains.

Harrisman thought that she was the type who would grow stronger just by exchanging blows, without needing verbal guidance.

Even with a significant skill gap, she didn't back down and wasn't afraid of pain. With her high physical abilities, she would likely become a good warrior if she continued to grow.

—But.

Something seemed to be missing.

"Amazing, amazing. I can't even stand up to you. How are you so strong, old man?"

The red-haired girl, her eyes sparkling, didn't regret her lack of strength. She seemed to admire and praise him simply because he was strong.

"Lord Tiana, is it over? If you wish, you can use your Active Gift."

"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about."

Tiana clapped her hands together.

She lunged forward again.

But this time, she feigned a punch and then crouched, attempting a leg sweep.

She quickly learned from what had been done to her.

"Ha!"

That wasn't all.

Jumping to dodge Harrisman, Tiana instantly changed her stance and kicked him from a diagonal angle.

Harrisman defended with the sole of his shoe and retreated further.

The red-haired girl, moving fluidly, closed the distance in an instant.

"Explosive Punch!"

With her white-gloved palm, Harrisman subtly deflected and absorbed the impact of Tiana's rapid punches.

"Are you kidding me?"

Surprised that her proud punches were nullified, Tiana's eyes widened.

"Hmm."

Looking at his palm to confirm the impact, Harrisman nodded as if considering something.

"Your Gift is excellent, but due to its time limit, it tends to favor speed over power. It's important not to rush."

"Amazing!"

The red-haired girl, excited, praised Harrisman's strength.

"You're incredible, old man. Despite being old, you're in a league of your own. Among those I know, you're the third strongest."

"Really? Who are the top two?"

"The strongest is the Skull Knight, and the second is the Ugly Demon."

"Then who is fourth?"

"Me."

For the red-haired girl, "strength" was measured against her current self.

"You were once an adventurer, level thirteen, right? It's no wonder. I can't beat you now, but I will someday."

She might be a promising martial artist. But as an adventurer who needs to adapt to the dungeon, Harrisman had his doubts.

Compared to the adventurers he knew, the red-haired girl's spirit seemed flat and shallow.

Perhaps it was time to test her depth.

Glancing at Row, who nodded with a smile, Harrisman realized he might be the one being tested and chuckled.

"Miss Karen."

Losing to someone of a different class might not be so regrettable, but what about someone of the same level?

Harrisman instructed the two to spar, but Tiana showed reluctance.

"I want to fight someone strong."

"Ah, you're speaking in front of the person."

Katrenea provoked her with a confident smile.

"Despite appearances, my level is five, two levels higher than yours."

"But—"

"Complain after you win."

Swinging her wooden sword, Katrenea ended the conversation.

Even after removing the weighted bag, Katrenea, who had just explored the dungeon and trained, moved heavily, making Tiana hesitate.

"Hey, if I beat her, will you fight me again, old man?"

"Of course, I don't mind."

Tiana, regaining some motivation, snorted.

"You seem very confident."

"I watched your fight earlier."

"Then let's make a bet. The loser has to do one thing the winner says. It's a bit cliché, but—"

"Interesting."

Tiana, more motivated, pounded her fists together.

Harrisman acted as the referee, and the two took their positions.

"Begin!"

Standing calmly, Katrenea asked Tiana, who looked puzzled.

"Aren't you going to move around like before?"

"You're an idiot."

"Huh?"

"That's how you fight monsters in the deeper levels. It's unnecessary for a pig like you."

"Got it, here I go!"

Suddenly, Tiana crouched.

Closing the distance quickly, she aimed a punch with her right hand—

But Katrenea, as if predicting the move, rotated and dodged to Tiana's right side, then fluidly swung her wooden sword.

Katrenea's wooden sword lightly touched Tiana's neck and was quickly pulled back.

"Match over!"

Tiana, with her fist still extended, froze. A red mark appeared on her neck, evidence that a real sword would have decapitated her.

Katrenea bowed after the match and smiled gracefully.

"Excuse me."

Harrisman nodded, as expected.

"Next, Lord Marine."

"Brother."

Mariette, who had watched the fight with disinterest, asked Row.

"Is this meaningful?"

"Adventurers aren't always good people. Especially in the dungeon, they might take extreme actions when in a bind, like stealing food or potions. What would you do in such a situation?"

"I understand. I'll do it."

Mariette risked her life for dungeon exploration, both inside and during training. Harrisman could feel this from her. While she didn't seem fully engaged in interpersonal combat, which seemed unnecessary for dungeon exploration, her brother's explanation seemed to change her mind.

"Attacks to vital points are forbidden. This is just a training exercise."

"...Understood."

After a moment's pause, Mariette agreed.

"Both of you, take your starting positions."

Tiana, tilting her head, moved unsteadily to face Mariette.

"You're smaller than the last one."

"My level is four, one higher than yours. No need to hold back."

"Begin!"

Tiana's determination was less intense than before. Her gaze and expression clearly showed hesitation, likely because she realized her movements were being read.

This time, she moved cautiously, gradually closing the distance.

"Phantom Step."

Mariette whispered.

An Active Gift that silences her and her equipment, eliminating all sounds, including footsteps, clothing rustles, and even the wind cutting through her sword.

Without any preparatory movement, Mariette lunged forward, relying solely on the explosive power of her lower body. Without any warning, even if the opponent was prepared, it would be a surprise attack.

"Shh!"

The thrust was clearly infused with killing intent.

Harrisman saw the wooden sword's tip pierce the red-haired girl's throat in his mind. He instinctively moved to stop the attack.

"Match over!"

However, the wooden sword's trajectory changed unnaturally, passing by Tiana's neck. It grazed her slightly, leaving another red mark.

"Using Gifts is not forbidden."

Mariette bowed and, without any lingering after the fight, returned to her original position. Katrenea greeted her with a slightly amused smile.

"I was often defeated by that in my student days."

"It didn't work on Karen."

"I spent a lot of time devising countermeasures."

This was also the expected result.

The red-haired girl had not received formal training. She relied solely on her physical abilities and instincts.

Harrisman had seen through this.

While she had great potential, to Mariette and Katrenea, who had trained with sword masters since childhood, she was a novice full of weaknesses. Her timing and feints were predictable.

However, this was only in interpersonal combat. In battles against monsters, Tiana would likely perform beyond her level.

Mariette and Katrenea understood this, which is why they didn't gloat or look down on Tiana.

The one who didn't understand was Tiana herself, who lumped "strength" into one category.

Bowing her head, the red-haired girl's eyes were wide open, and she muttered something with her mouth slightly open.

Realizing her weakness could make her training more effective, both physically and mentally. Harrisman, considering how to comfort a disciple whose pride had been shattered, failed to notice.

The red-haired girl slowly looked around.

Her gaze stopped on Towa, who was sitting with her back to them, looking at a colored stone.

Tilting her head slightly, without blinking, she took a step, then another.

"Stop, Princess!"

Merm's voice alerted them to the anomaly.

"Lord Tiana?"

The red-haired girl's aura swelled, about to explode,

"Kyaaaaa!"

Towa grabbed the small bow beside her and leaped. Spinning once, she pulled an arrow and, standing on one foot, released it.

"Die, die!"

Second arrow, third arrow.

Aiming for the moment Tiana lunged, she couldn't dodge.

The arrows hit her forehead, throat, and sternum.

Despite the arrow tips being wrapped in cloth, the close-range damage was significant, and Tiana crouched on the floor.

"What are you doing, you—!"

Towa, like a threatening stray cat, bared her teeth. Just as she was about to draw another arrow to finish Tiana, Row, who had appeared beside her, held her arm.

"Good reaction. You deserve a reward."

Towa looked at Shiz with wide eyes.

Surprised by her sharp gaze, Shiz sighed and took out a wine-colored rock fragment from her pocket.

"S—Cinnabar!"

Without hesitation, Towa threw away her small bow and ran straight to her owner, like a house cat drawn by food.

Harrisman, watching the one-sided attack, broke out in a cold sweat.

Looking at Tiana, who was enduring the pain on the floor, he hoped she would use the frustration of losing to her peers as motivation and grow, both physically and mentally.

But the bottom had fallen out—into darkness.

Why did she attack the defenseless Towa?

It made no sense.

Row, addressing Tiana, who was still in shock on the floor, said,

"Towa's level is two, one lower than yours. She's only been an adventurer for a month."

"It's a lie..."

"Feeling uncomfortable being the lowest in the team?"

Harrisman's eyes widened at this reason.

"Then, let's have a match."

The word "match" made Tiana react. The light returned to her eyes, and her complexion improved.

Row lay down on his stomach.

"Extend your left hand."

"...What?"

"I'm a Sherpa, so I'm not very good with weapons. Let's have an arm wrestling match. What do you say?"

A simple contest of strength and endurance.

"Alright, let's do it."

Tiana also lay down and extended her left hand.

"Then, Harris, please be the referee."

"Understood."

Harrisman felt a different kind of chill.

People fear and distance themselves from what they can't understand. He had thought that teaching Tiana might be beyond his capabilities.

But this young man with a ponytail was calmly probing and stirring the girl's darkness.

The strange turn of events drew Mariette, Katrenea, Merm, and Shiz to surround the two.

"Are you both ready?"

"Anytime."

"Alright."

"Begin!"

The positions of their hands didn't change.

"Eight, nine... maybe sixteen with both hands."

Row, with a relaxed expression, was measuring something.

"Your dominant hand is your left, and mine is my right. Considering the gender and age differences, I thought it would be a good handicap. Hmm."

"..."

Tiana became enraged.

As if forgetting the shock from before, her face turned red as she put all her strength into it.

"Seventeen, eighteen... Considering your level and age, you have quite a bit of muscle strength. Maybe you have a special Gift?"

The positions of their hands didn't change.

"Damn you!"

Tiana's arm was trembling.

Her endurance was running out, and the positions of their hands started to move.

Clearly, Tiana was being pushed back.

Realizing her inevitable defeat, Tiana's face twisted in fear, and the light in her eyes began to fade.

Harrisman thought she was too fragile.

Too fragile.

"Is your 'strength' just that?"

Row asked.

"Do you know the rules of the match?"

Attacks to vital points are forbidden. Nothing else.

Understanding the meaning, Tiana regained her fighting spirit and clenched her teeth.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

The strength she relied on as her last resort. As long as she had this, she wouldn't admit true defeat or true weakness.

But now, she had no more room to hold back.

"Whatever happens, I don't care!"

In a fit of anger, Tiana shouted.

"Flower Madness Bloom!"

An Active Gift that doubles muscle strength and explosive power until she loses consciousness or her endurance runs out.

Using her head and full body, she tried to push back.

"Thirty-eight."

—It didn't work.

The position of her hand didn't return to the center. Instead, it gradually tilted further, and finally, Tiana's knuckles touched the floor.

After that, the red-haired girl, having lost her rationality, was grabbed by the collar and pinned to the floor by Row, struggling and thrashing.