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Chapter: 8
Karina, feeling irritated, shot back.
[Then how did you end up as a low-ranking soldier in the mercenary corps?]
[I-I’m not a low-ranking soldier! I’m just the youngest!]
Largo protested indignantly, and Karina sighed before asking the next question.
[What about your internal energy?]
[Damn it… I opened my eyes to find I’d lost all my internal energy and become this frail wimp.]
“Similar to me,” Karina thought.
While she was thinking that, Largo spoke proudly.
[Still, I’ve spent the entire year training and have recovered half a “gapja” of internal energy. But the people here… they treat even half a gapja as if it’s nothing.]
Recovering half a gapja in just one year was extraordinary growth. For an ordinary martial artist, accumulating that much internal energy would take about thirty years.
But as Karina had witnessed firsthand, the Red Hawk Mercenary Corps was a group ranging from peak masters to ultra-peak masters.
So even half a gapja of internal energy wasn’t enough to make a dent.
It had to be due to the abnormally strong energy of this world.
At that moment, Trainer Eric shouted at Largo, who was standing in front of Karina.
“Hey, newbie! What are you standing there dumbly for?!”
Startled, Largo immediately flicked Karina on the forehead.
“Hey! You can’t be greedy when you’re still a kid!”
For a moment, Karina was stunned.
“One steel pouch per person!”
Having said that, Largo quickly left the spot.
Karina, dazed from the sudden flick, just stood there blankly.
[Master, please! That guy is the cruelest in the entire mercenary corps.]
We’ll deal with him later, Duping.
Meeting Largo in a corner of the mansion’s garden, Karina pretended to train and asked through telepathy.
[What about the other martial prodigies?]
Largo, pretending to guide her training, responded through telepathy.
[It’s my first time meeting the master.]
The Iron-Blooded Mage had been here for a whole year.
Karina had only awakened in this body for about a month.
Perhaps the other prodigies had awakened in different bodies at different times.
But why had they awakened in such a strange place, in unfamiliar bodies?
If there was a common factor between them and herself…
“Could it be…?”
The formation the martial leaders of the sect had laid.
The four prodigies trapped in that formation—and she—had been reduced to powder and destroyed.
“I can’t be sure, but for now, it’s best to assume the others are still alive.”
[Master, it worked out! Take me away from those monstrous ones.]
Karina answered Largo’s hopeful request immediately.
[I refuse.]
[As expected, Master… huh?]
[Just stay there for now.]
Largo’s expression fell.
[Are you telling me to die?]
Karina sighed.
[I’m only a candidate for adoption by the Duke’s family. How could someone like me take you in?]
[Then I’ll take you out myself! If the two of us escape, somehow…]
[No. I’ll stay here and become the successor.]
Largo, silent for a moment at Karina’s firm declaration, wore an expression of disappointment.
[Master, now I see—you’re nothing but a snob.]
Unable to hold back, Karina leapt into the air and swiped at Largo’s head.
Smack!
“Ah!”
[W-why did you hit me?!]
[The Duke of Bathius has reached the Life-and-Death Realm.]
Her words of disdain instantly changed Largo’s expression.
[L-Life-and-Death Realm?! Is that true?!]
[If my senses are correct, yes. They say the family’s successor will inherit the secret techniques of the family.]
[Oh! The secret techniques of a Life-and-Death Realm master!]
Karina shot a scolding glance at Largo, who was drooling at the thought, and added:
[While I establish myself here, you strengthen your power there and take over the Red Hawk Mercenary Corps.]
Largo went pale, sweating profusely.
[Y-You have no idea how monstrous these guys are! They’re more cruel and evil than the Blood Sect!]
Smack!
“Ah!”
[Duping’s grown bold? Since when have you been answering me back like this?]
[…]
[Take over that place within five years. Be careful not to reveal our relationship here.]
At that moment, a voice calling for Karina came from nearby.
“Karina? What are you doing there?”
Both of them jerked their heads around in surprise.
“Oh, I was just asking the trainer a question about today’s training.”
Karina subtly gestured at Largo.
Then—smack!
Largo flicked Karina’s forehead again, causing her head to snap up.
Startled by Karina’s glaring eyes, Largo coughed and looked away.
“How can you ask if you don’t even know this? Frustrating!”
[You… you…!]
[If you’re going to trick someone, shouldn’t you act properly?]
[…nezughe… bz.]
Karina’s telepathic rebuke caused Largo to turn his back, clasping his hands behind him as he withdrew.
“Ha… haha! I’m busy, so I should go. Make sure to review until training starts.”
Watching Largo retreat as if fleeing, Karina smirked.
He was strange, but not a lightweight like that.
The Red Hawk Mercenary Corps really abandoned him, huh.
“Karina, still training even during the break?”
Karina sighed at Ariel’s innocent remark and turned.
Even if she said that, the Iron-Blooded Mage would take over the mercenary corps within five years.
A top mercenary corps made up of peak masters and above.
If that corps fell under her control, it would greatly help her secure her position in the Duke’s family.
Perhaps she could even dream of a second Martial Sect Empire.
To do that, she needed to find the other four prodigies as quickly as possible.
Karina’s violet eyes gleamed meaningfully.
With only a few days left until the fourth exam, there were 12 remaining candidates for adoption:
Karina, Ariel, Denian, Isaac, Isabella (isolated in a separate room), and seven others who hadn’t yet demonstrated their abilities.
On the way back from training, Adolf, who rarely spoke to them, approached Karina.
“Hey.”
“What is it?”
Karina, Ariel, and Denian paused in surprise.
“Could I join your team for this exam?”
“Team?”
Karina exchanged a puzzled look with Ariel, then shrugged.
“We’re not really on any team.”
“Oh, really? Still, it’d be good to work together, right? We don’t know what kind of exams are coming.”
At the embarrassed boy’s words, Karina replied nonchalantly,
“Maybe.”
Seeing Karina’s reluctance, Ariel cautiously intervened.
“Karina, wouldn’t it be good to cooperate like Adolf said? If we all pass until the final exam, we can all be adopted. Working together, we can survive until the end without anyone dropping out.”
Pass all seven exams and everyone would be adopted?
Nonsense.
In this survival-type test, everyone was an enemy and a competitor.
The idea of teamwork was flawed from the start.
She kept Ariel by her side only out of necessity.
Her natural tendency was to act individually, like Isaac.
Still, there were advantages to sticking with those who liked to cluster together:
They’d risk themselves out of misplaced loyalty or chivalry.
She could exploit that to make the exam easier.
Thinking all this through, Karina spoke calmly.
“Fine.”
It wouldn’t hurt to observe them for a while.
No one knew how many would survive until the next exam anyway.
Ariel looked touched.
“Karina…”
Denian stared at Karina quietly beside her.
What are you going to do by staring like that?
The little one was surprisingly perceptive.
“Alright, so from now on, we’re on the same side?”
Adolf laughed heartily and extended his hand.
Karina casually shook it.
Think whatever you want.
Understanding it as consent, Adolf laughed heartily and continued,
“Since we’re on the same team, we should know each other’s abilities. That’ll make cooperation easier.”
This guy is completely self-centered.
“Should I go first? I can run fast. Ariel has healing abilities, and the little one has physical enhancement, right?”
Then Adolf smiled and asked,
“Karina, what’s your ability?”
