Chapter 11: Feeling Like a Stray Dog Kicked to the Curb |
After adapting on the first day and receiving Jonas's medicinal bath treatment, Olivia picked up the iron sword on the second day, matching everyone's performance. Her sword forms were executed with utmost precision.
Asher watched the determined girl wielding the iron sword before him, then glanced at his own students. For some reason, he suddenly felt the frustration of seeing iron that refused to become steel. Asher had always been harsh on himself and his students. If his trainees were defeated by a girl - especially an Albino girl - within ten days, it would be his greatest shame.
Seeing Olivia staying behind to practice, Asher made his students remain as well, forcing them to train alongside her. At high noon, only their swordsmanship class remained on the field, much to the students' misery.
"Teacher, I really can't swing anymore!"
"Give me a break, my mom's calling me for lunch!"
"Teacher, we'll die if we keep training like this!"
Asher roared:
"Die?
Look at yourselves!
Do you really think you're inferior to an Albino?"
His words silenced everyone - no one could muster a rebuttal. They all turned involuntarily to look at Olivia, whose slender frame continued swinging the sword with perfect form.
"......"
Just yesterday they had mocked her for struggling with the wooden sword. Now the tables had turned? What kind of monster had Young Master Jonas brought back?
"Hey...Olivia, maybe we should take a break?"
"Yeah, everyone's tired."
But Olivia ignored them, continuing her relentless practice. When exhausted, she drank the nutrient solution Jonas had prepared. Seeing her unwavering determination, the others felt completely defeated.
Keep training...
Who could possibly outlast you?
...
In the following days' swordsmanship lessons, Asher marveled at Olivia's extraordinary talent. Wielding a sword seemed as natural to her as breathing. While others still struggled with basic techniques, Olivia had already mastered corresponding sword forms and could apply them in combat.
On the first day, Olivia had been the clumsy follower at the back. Now his students were the ones struggling to keep up while she executed powerful swings behind them.
Asher: "......"
No wonder Young Master Jonas was willing to take this Albino as a retainer. No wonder he had made that bet. Such talent could only be described as monstrous.
...
Jonas lounged on a recliner nearby, sipping juice while two maids massaged his shoulders. Watching Olivia's constantly increasing swordsmanship value and physical stats, a faint smile touched his lips. With tenfold ability returns, he could feel himself growing stronger every moment.
Keep going, Olivia...
Our bright future depends on you.
At the same time, Jonas wondered when the second binding slot would unlock.
...
Days passed quickly until the eve of the tenth day. Olivia followed Jonas into the dining hall as usual. As she ate, she stared blankly at the young master before her. Because of him, the maids treated her with increasing respect - something she could never have imagined before. Moreover, Jonas didn't treat her as a slave, but more like family.
Though still somewhat unused to it, after these days she found herself growing attached to this life. Her sister's condition was improving daily too.
"If this life continues...staying by the mas...young master's side wouldn't be bad..."
She feared returning to her former life - last night's nightmare had brought back the filth and misery of the sewers.
Work hard!
For herself. For her sister.
For...her master...
Olivia touched her silver collar, cheeks flushing slightly as her thoughts wandered.
...
The next morning, Olivia stood ready on the training grounds long before anyone else. Compared to her initial struggle to even lift a sword, she now held her weapon confidently, hair tied in a martial style that accentuated her sharp demeanor.
Seeing her like this, the students couldn't help feeling intimidated. If someone had told them ten days ago that an Albino girl would stand on this platform facing them in combat, they would have laughed at the absurdity. But now, with Olivia actually standing there, they found their courage lacking.
Even class leader Mofort watched with complex emotions. He never believed in natural genius until meeting Olivia. Some gaps simply couldn't be bridged by effort alone. Those difficult sword techniques she grasped after seeing them just twice - it defied belief. And she worked harder than anyone else.
How do you compete when your opponent has more talent and works harder?
Jonas, seated at the sidelines, smiled. "Asher, I think we can skip the formalities..."
Asher bit his lip in disappointment. "Let them try."
His disappointment wasn't in his students' weakness, but in their lack of courage facing this girl. Seeing Olivia's determination, Asher could hardly recognize her as the same lowly, lazy Albino from before. Jonas had given this girl remarkable confidence and courage.
"One at a time!"
"Instructor...we're no match for Olivia..."
"So you won't even try?
If you faced stronger opponents on the battlefield, would you retreat?
What about the families behind you?
Huh?!
Shouldn't you feel ashamed if our entire class can't defeat one Albino girl?"
His words left the students silent, hands tightening around their swords.
"He's right!"
"Even one-on-one, how can we fear her?"
"We can wear her down with numbers..."
"Let's try!"
Then...
They tried and died (figuratively).
One after another fell to Olivia's sword, each defeat more humiliating than the last.
Jonas called up, "Need a rest?"
"Mas...young master, no need!"
"Keep going!"
"Yes!"
...
Thud—
Another body hit the ground.
"Ah—"
When class leader Mofort was knocked off the platform, his entire face burned with shame. He felt like a stray dog kicked carelessly to the curb.
One strike...
He couldn't even withstand a single strike? How could the girl who couldn't even hold a sword properly ten days ago have surpassed them so completely?
...
The commotion soon drew a crowd. Initially, they sneered at seeing an Albino on the prestigious platform - such people had no right being there, they thought. But watching this girl defeat opponent after opponent, the spectators grew solemn.
These were Asher's elite students, the top class in the entire military camp. In previous inter-class competitions, Asher's group had been undisputed champions. Yet now they couldn't defeat one girl even taking turns?
Seeing the girl's determined eyes and flawless swordsmanship, the crowd began applauding when Jonas started clapping first. In the military, strength commanded respect regardless of race.
As defeats piled up, soon everyone was cheering for Olivia.
"Is she really an Albino?"
"Just a girl, yet so strong!"
"She only arrived ten days ago..."
"Incredible!"
...
When the last student fell, Olivia wiped sweat from her brow and exhaled deeply. Glittering droplets reflected her rare, genuine smile. Instinctively, she looked toward Jonas, who stood applauding with that same warm smile, leading the crowd's cheers.
Seeing this, Olivia froze momentarily...
It felt like a lifetime had passed.
If someone had told her ten days ago she'd stand on this platform, defeat these students, and earn everyone's applause, she wouldn't have dared believe it. Wouldn't even have dreamed it.
But now...
She looked at her sword;
At the applauding crowd;
Even strict Asher was clapping;
And Jonas, the first to rise in applause.
Suddenly...
Tears blurred Olivia's vision. Trembling, she approached Jonas and offered him her sword.
"Young master, I..."
Jonas took the sword behind his back and embraced her gently with one arm. "Well done."
"Mm..."
Asher watched the scene, raising a hand as if to speak, but no words came.
[Loyalty: 55%]
[Ability Return: 11x]