Chapter 4 – Mighty and Evil(?) Being

March 28th, 2023

Entrance Exam for Ain Academy.

It is a selection process to filter out talented individuals and select those with the highest talents on the continent. 

As the start of the academy entrance exam approaches, attention from across the continent is focused on it. 

And the interest of those heading towards this year’s Ain Academy entrance exam was particularly high. 

This was due to rumors that already renowned talents were participating in this entrance exam even though they had not yet been admitted to the academy.

Drin Lebringer.

She is a genius who is considered one of the most talented individuals in the history of the Lebringer family, a renowned continental swordsman family. 

Her presence in the rumors was significant.

“Come to think of it, isn’t that lady from the Lebringer family also participating in the exam this time?”

“I looked into it, and that lady is a genius who will rewrite the history of the continent’s swordsmen.”

“Does a new kid always have to rewrite the history of the continent? Leave the continent’s history alone.”

“Doesn’t this kid even know the continent’s history?”

“Do they know what the 8 Great Families are?”

“Is that really important?”

“Then what the hell is important, you crazy bastard?” 

Drin felt it firsthand as she walked down the Airenne’s streets. 

As she walked down the street, she occasionally heard people talking about her.

She thought to herself, it’s a good thing they only know my name and not my face.

Regardless, Drin was already drawing enough attention from people.

Her blonde hair and blue eyes, radiating a flawless and pure glow in the sunlight, exuded her presence. 

As she continued to walk with a graceful and measured stride, the clanging of her silver armor and sword on her waist created a rhythmic sound. 

Every time Drin passed by, people’s gaze was drawn to her, but they quickly turned away, feeling overwhelmed by her aura. 

It was a familiar feeling, and it didn’t bother Drin too much.

‘Where should I go first?‘

She wanted to freely explore Airenne, the city where she would stay until her graduation from the academy, without interference from anyone. 

It was pure interest-oriented tourism with the justification of exploring for a smooth academy life in the future.

Without any specific direction, Drin strolled freely along the Airenne and enjoyed the atmosphere.

“Huh?”

Then, when she entered the market street of the fourth zone, Drin’s developed intuition caught a suspicious presence.

There were many people coming and going on the street. 

Drin drew a line across the street with her gaze, connecting a man who was presumed to be a city nobleman, who was walking down the street with an escort, and a person wearing a black robe, who was one of the countless pedestrians on the street.

Then, the line between the two was connected, and Drin could sense a sinister intention from the man’s movement.

‘An assassin.‘

It could be a misconception, and it might have nothing to do with Drin. 

However, without hesitation, she tracked them. Her intuition, which accounted for a large portion of her genius talent, sent her a signal that she needed to stop the assassin. 

She couldn’t pretend she hadn’t witnessed such a scene. The moment the nobleman turned onto a deserted street, the assassin began to act.

The movement of slithering through the crowd, like a snake crawling on the ground.

‘As expected.‘

It was the posture of someone who had undoubtedly mastered the art of assassination. 

Drin observed the movements of the thug. She couldn’t slip through the crowd as smoothly as he did. Instead, she didn’t need to make an effort to avoid being noticed like him.

“What? What’s going on-“

The eyes of a merchant who had been watching Drin’s movements nearby widened. 

With three swift movements of leaping in place, stepping on the railing, and leaping once more, she had arrived at the rooftop of the building on this floor from the street below. 

Her movements were different from the thug’s, as they had a lightness to them.

-Tap

-Tap

She crossed between buildings and threw herself into an alleyway. 

-Thump

She landed so lightly that there was no tremor. At the same time, she maintained an unwavering posture.

 “What…!?” 

For an assassin, it was an extremely disconcerting situation.

Literally, a person fell from the sky all of a sudden.

A swordsman, who drew his sword and assumed a stance, stood in front of the assassin.

The nobles’ escort had already fallen.

Although he had been entrusted with the task of protecting the noble, he seemed to have been subdued without any resistance, despite possessing his own skills.

The assassin seemed to be a considerably skillful person, as Drin had anticipated.

“…”

Drin was not the only one assessing the opponent’s skills.

“Tch-!”

The assassin clicked his tongue as he looked at Drin for a moment.

-Shh!

He threw a dagger towards the nobleman.

“…!”

-Clang!

-Whooo!

“Hieek!“

Drin took advantage of the moment when he parried the dagger to protect the nobleman and let him escape without delay.

It was not a simple dagger throw but an incredible speed and power that made even Drin wary, and she barely managed to react.

‘It’s understandable that the escort was taken down in one blow.‘

The dagger was surrounded by an aura.

To wrap an aura around an object like this. One that has reached at least 3 stars.

An assassin with such skills failed in their assassination attempt and had to flee.

It was clear that if she let him go, he would return as a bigger threat in the future.

“I will pursue that person, please request assistance from the city guards!”

“What? Oh! Yes!”

Ignoring the nobleman who was looking at her with sparkling eyes, Drin chased after the assassin.

The assassin entered an alley and chose the most complex path to go deeper.

Drin was a foreigner who had just entered Arienne.

Compared to the assassin who might normally be using the back alleys of this city as routes, she could be considered a novice in geography.

But with superhuman physical ability, reflexes, and intuition, she followed him from behind.

‘Faster!‘

Despite this, the distance between them didn’t close.

Drin was somewhat surprised.

She was falling behind in speed.

Perhaps the assassin was an even more skilled opponent than Drin had expected.

There could be significant damage inflicted during the suppression process.

Is it right to continue pursuing?

“…”

There wasn’t much to ponder about.

In the Lebringer family, honor was just as important as strength, if not more so.

To them, power was a means to uphold honor, and honor was the path that power should aim for.

For Drin of the Lebringer family, the assassin was an unforgivable dishonorable existence.

To think that someone with that level of skill would harm innocent people for petty reasons such as money.

Such a despicable person could not be left to roam freely.

Even if she were to be injured in the process.

That’s what Drin thought.

She didn’t even know what the assassin’s intentions were, or who that nobleman from earlier really was.

At times, Drin’s thinking could become narrow-minded in situations like this. But fortunately, her intuition always helped her make the right decisions, so she rarely made mistakes.

“Is this the place?”

Even though she couldn’t see the assassin, Drin continued to move forward, relying on her intuition.

It was when a considerable amount of time had passed like that.

“!!!”

Drin’s feet came to a stop at the corner of the street.

-Wooooooo!

Suddenly, her intuition sent a signal.

It’s dangerous.

A dangerous and ominous presence was approaching her from behind the corner.

‘This is…‘

It was the first time her intuition had warned her so strongly.

Drin was certain.

She could never handle that presence.

Even her father, who was the continent’s best swordsman as the head of the Lebringer family, wouldn’t be able to handle that presence.

In other words, her intuition was telling her that a wicked presence stronger than the continent’s best swordsman was approaching her now.

‘Such-‘

It was unbelievable, but Drin’s intuition clearly said so.

Drin drew her sword and took a stance.

Without delay, she pulled out all the strength she had.

“Hah… Hah…”

At the moment when she was tracking with all her energy, her breath, which had been steady, began to falter. 

Suddenly, cold sweat was pouring down like rain. The subtle vibrations occurring in her body converged at the tip of her sword and trembled violently.

-Tap!

Thump!

-Tap Tap

Thump!Thump!

Drin’s heart was pounding so hard that it seemed like it was about to burst, and as the sound of footsteps approached, it throbbed intensely.

-Tap Tap Tap

Thump!Thump!Thump!

The owner of the footsteps didn’t seem to have any intention of showing any consideration and without delay, moved towards her. Eventually, at the corner, he appeared and revealed himself.

-Hwaaaaagh!

In an instant, darkness covered Drin’s world. 

And then it quickly disappeared.

“Hmm? Aaahh!!!”

And in front of her eyes, there was a man who, upon discovering the alert Drin, was so surprised that he stumbled and fell backward- a man with light and easy-going vibes, as if he would fly away if the wind blew.

“….Huh?”

It sounded like the wind was escaping. 

Is this person the presence that my intuition warned me about?

“P-Please spare me! I will do anything you ask!”

The man who looked at himself and was startled, and begged while lying down, filled with fear.

“…”

It was impossible no matter how much I thought about it. Setting aside the infinitely light atmosphere, I couldn’t feel any power from that man.

‘This is…’

My intuition wasn’t always correct.

Sometimes, intuition could be wrong, and it seemed that this was one of those times. 

It was probably because of the tense situation in the unfamiliar environment. 

“Haa…”

Drin, who had collected her thoughts, let out a sigh mixed with relief and disappointment. 

“H-Here! This is everything I have!” 

As the tension subsided, the man’s existence finally came into focus for Drin. He tried to offer all of his possessions to her. 

To others, it would seem as if Drin was a robber, and he was the victim. 

“What is this…What are you doing right now?”

Drin looked at the man in bewilderment.

Perhaps because of the situation, the narrow-eyed man seemed to be smiling servilely.

When I thought about it again, I couldn’t understand.

How on earth could I mistake a man like this for such a terrifying being?

She felt her trust in her own intuition diminish.