Chapter 6

"---Understood. Yes, I am Karia Bardonic. If that's the case, I will naturally show you how to defeat the beast. Just watch me, you scoundrel."

For Karia Bardonic, that name was not necessarily a source of pride.

To the world of nobility, Bardonic was close to a disgrace.

During the last great war, the Bardonic family, despite being of the upper nobility, was the only one that failed to join the battle lines. Amid the chaos caused by the absence of the head of the household, the majority of the war responsibility was thrust upon the Bardonics, causing them to fall from the noble class to the knight class.

Even among the knight class, there were prestigious families, and marriages between the knight class and the noble class were not uncommon. Therefore, the knight class itself was not a disgrace. However, the fall from the upper nobility to the knight class was unprecedented in history.

The fallen Bardonics. The losing dogs of Bardonic. Their family name was spoken with mockery. Karia Bardonic, of course, was entangled in these rumors and knew well the feelings of contempt from a young age.

Bound by her family, bound by the rumors, bound by her power, she was not free in any way. This was true even after joining the knight order. It was frustrating that she could not break these chains. She resented her own weakness.

Therefore, she decided to gain power. She believed that was how it should be, and she declared that it must be so. The mind should always dominate the body, never the chains around her. She must overcome. If she found the current situation frustrating, she must overcome it, or nothing would change.

Shaking her silver hair, as fine as silk, the girl stood before the beast once again. The monstrous creature, which had once knocked her sword away and defeated her, now manipulated its massive body with ease. Karia Bardonic felt a chilling cold rising from the tips of her limbs.

"---But I will not show any disgrace."

She muttered as if practicing self-restraint. There was even a hint of joy in her words, though Karia did not notice it.

Striking the beast at the moment of its vulnerability was an extremely difficult task. Large beasts were typically defeated by multiple people using traps and magic. Direct sword combat was something that only existed in knightly tales.

However, Karia Bardonic ran towards the beast, which was still emitting smoke from its body.

It was fine for ordinary people, and acceptable if it was the norm. But I am Karia Bardonic. That's what he said, isn't it? That's the basis. I don't even know who he is. Come to think of it, I didn't even ask his name. He was a sudden intruder from somewhere, looking poor and dressed in clothes that could hardly be called impressive.

But he struck the beast. Even though it was a surprise attack, he managed to wound the beast.

That was something I couldn't do. He said I should be able to do it.

---She entered the beast's range, moving so low to the ground that it seemed she was crawling. It was a world of demons, a place where sanity could not exist. Two white shadows slashed at her neck without a moment's hesitation.

Compared to the boar-like beast that could only charge, this large beast displayed an annoying level of dexterity. It moved its two tusks like its own limbs, precisely cutting through the space, filled with a clear intent to pierce and penetrate.

This was a different kind of malice from that of humans. It could be called the malevolence of a beast, not cruel or vicious, but a dense, lethal presence that could kill a fragile human.

Ducking under the tusks and sometimes sliding with her long sword, she bought time. To make the beast charge, it wasn't enough to just maintain the distance. She had to make it think that she couldn't endure and was about to flee. Karia, with dance-like footwork, continued to evade the tusks that repeatedly grazed her. Sweat flew around, and the droplets were cut by the white jaw.

Her breath was already ragged. For a few moments, Karia evaded the tusks without breathing. The beast was always in a position to strike a fatal blow, while she was in a position where she couldn't even land a single hit. The overwhelming difference in their ranges was sapping Karia's strength.

One—two—three. Karia continued to parry the white flashes with her sword, keeping a rhythm. If the rhythm was off, it meant instant death. If the intervals changed, it meant instant death. But the enemy didn't do that. Because Karia understood that she could die even as it was. If her strength was drained, she would eventually be unable to evade. For the beast, it was just a matter of continuing to corner her. Each strike was filled with lethal intent, but the actions were merely to corner the prey.

She thought, almost without the luxury of thought, that the beast was underestimating her. But that was natural. She was no longer an enemy to the beast, just a prey that continued to resist in vain. For now.

One—two—three. One—two—three. Keep the rhythm. Don't break the intervals. If I die here, I won't even die properly. The white jaw bit through the space again, cutting Karia's silver hair.

"One—two—three!"

She jumped back. Don't stop. Jump back one more step and draw her long sword at her waist. Her shoulder movements followed her breathing.

To the beast, this was just an escape. The prey had finally reached its limit and chosen the path to death.

That's how it was until now. It would be the same from now on.

The beast, with absolute confidence, planted its front legs into the ground, raised its jaw, and charged forward.

A flash of light. A silver flash traced the underside of the beast's jaw, drawing a single line up to its neck. It was a blink. A moment that the world had yet to understand who moved and what happened.

But a few moments later, the scene was painted red. The large beast, unable to even let out a curse, died as blood gushed from its neck. The beast couldn't understand. It was supposed to be in an absolutely advantageous position and deliver a fatal blow, yet it lay on the ground, its life taken.

And the prey, which was on the brink of death, stood there as the victor, her long sword stained with blood. The beast died without understanding anything.

After the thunderous sound of the beast's fall, the only sound that echoed was Karia Bardonic's laughter, which was almost inaudible. It was the only way she could express the emotions overflowing within her. As she laughed, tears also streamed from her eyes.

At that moment, she was certain that her martial skills had almost reached the heavens. Her hands understood everything. It was incredibly joyful. But the sensation was gradually fading. The feeling of cutting through flesh without resistance, the sensation of the perfect strike. It was so frustrating and sad that Karia Bardonic laughed and cried.

After venting her emotions, Karia finally calmed down and turned around, a bit proudly and happily.

Did you see that? Yes, I am Karia Bardonic. As you said, I accomplished it. You were the first witness, so you should feel honored.

Her feelings were complex. She didn't have the pure goodwill to look at the man she initially thought was pitiful. But at this moment, she definitely had an interest in him and a bit of respect.

Yes, I didn't even ask his name. I should ask his name, where he belongs, and where his base is. Why did he have such knowledge about beasts? And how did he know my name? The curiosity was endless.

When Karia turned around, her smile filled with unexpressed feelings—

—no one was there. Only the beast's corpse lay on the ground.

Karia Bardonic's cheeks, unable to contain the overflowing emotions, trembled distortedly.