The Woman Found the Will I Wrote

10 – Test of the House 1

Even those who claim that violence is wrong accept the immediate effect of violence.

…Of course, whether that was ethically right or how long it would last, I could not say for sure.

But one thing’s certain, among the simple actions, it was the most influential.

– Bang!

A unique sensation flowed up my hands every time I wielded a wooden stick.

I didn’t really like beating people, but since I thought it was a necessary thing, I could accept it, hitting their bodies as hard as possible.

“Argh!”

“Ugh… Stop.”

“…Damn it, damn it.”

As this repeated, screams and cries of pain mixed, and the principal office became quite noisy.

Looking at their noisy reactions, I laughed at their absurd behavior.

‘Disgusting.’

These bastards who attempted group violence to completely destroy one person’s life.

Now, they’re falling apart over a few smacks?

‘Also, there’s no sign of remorse.’

I couldn’t help getting angry when they still dare to say things like ‘It’s okay to do this to commoners,’ right?

Feeling my emotions seeping into my hands more and more, I kept hitting them, venting my anger.

[You have acquired the Blunt Weapon Mastery skill.]

[Blunt Weapon Mastery Lv:1]

– As the level increases, proficiency with blunt weapons increases.

Unexpectedly, an unanticipated message appeared out of nowhere.

For a moment, I paused at this message that was accelerating my growth, then felt somewhat relieved and observed it.

‘I’ll be able to use blunt weapons better.’

My goal is magic, however.

From the last battle, I learned that when I ran out of mana or was forced into close combat,

I needed to prepare an alternative to magic.

At the moment I was wondering what to do,

Not only did I find a weapon that felt right in my hands, but I even acquired a skill.

There was no reason not to choose a blunt weapon as my second weapon.

‘Blunt weapon… not bad.’

And it’s rather heavy; carrying it around would be a good workout, I surmised.

Satisfied, I looked at the wooden club in my hand.

‘So, if I beat them with this, the skill level increases, right?’

With this thought, I couldn’t delay even for a moment.

Unlike before, with a slightly excited heart, I began to beat the ones in front of me.

While doing so to maximize the level of my blunt weapon mastery,

“… Stu, student Derun. Isn’t it enough?”

The principal, who had been watching me, approached me with a shaky voice.

“If you punish them this much, they’ll surely repent and regret their crimes. How about stopping now?”

Even the principal, trying to sell his students and maintain his position, seemed to believe my actions were excessive.

With a tremulous expression, he tried to deter me.

I answered the principal’s words, which hinted at a last shred of conscience, in a vicarious manner.

“It’s not enough.”

“And this is despite having bloodied and unconscious students?”

“Yes. It’s still far from enough.”

Of course, what was lacking was my skill experience, but there was no need to mention it. When I left out the subject, the principal hesitated for a moment before turning his gaze and saying,

“Then, do as you wish. If you need anything, just let me know.”

“Thank you.”

Perhaps due to Lercier Ga’s profound influence at the academy, the principal chose to avoid conflict with me, rather than confront me.

‘After all, they are perpetrators who have committed illegal acts…’

He probably planned that there was no need to protect these guys whose families were insignificant.

Despite being a cunning and pragmatic person,

For me, who held the power of the family, it was easier to have such a person around. Thinking so, I once again raised my wooden club.

***

[Blunt Weapon Mastery Lv: 4]

Looking at my moderately improved mace mastery, I put down the mace.

Truthfully, I wanted to continue training the skill until I hit level 10.

‘… But if I did, I feel like I’d really die. I should stop now.’

Killing could become a headache in many ways, so I thought it would be prudent to hold back and sighed.

I glanced at those whose humanity was unclear and turned my head.

‘If I trample them to this extent, they wouldn’t even dare to touch Lumi.’

If I only half trample them, they would inevitably take out their frustration on an easy opponent like Lumi.

It was better to trample them so thoroughly they couldn’t even think about it.

‘And most importantly, if I don’t do this, those guys will subtly keep bothering Lumi.’

Due to Lumi’s nature of trying to solve everything themselves,

It was clear she would politely bear it without saying a word to me, so even if it seemed excessive, it was better to do it this way.

‘Now then, all that’s left is the Cheonshin Sect…’

Because I stepped up, it turned into an open war.

Of course, since Lercier’s power is overwhelmingly strong, they dare not openly confront me, but if they think they can devour me, they will try at any moment.

‘What a headache.’

The Cheonshin Sect wasn’t so easily crushed by power alone, akin to the meat golems lying there.

There was a need to build strength in anticipation of whatever method they will use against me.

I was contemplating how to train when I had a hunch that I needed to put more effort into training.

“The Master is asking for you.”

A call from the master I didn’t particularly want to meet now dropped.

* * * * *

‘… Dern.’

Rumi whispered this name, not yet comfortably affixed to her tongue despite their recent meeting, fervently repeating it as if holding it close in her heart.

‘Why on earth…?’

She couldn’t understand why he, who intensely disliked her from the beginning, saved her no matter how much she thought about it.

‘It’s too much to say it’s simply sympathy… considering what he said before.’

She could not understand, as there was no other reason for him to save her if it wasn’t out of sympathy.

‘I don’t get any of them.’

His moves, his words… even why she was here in the first place.

‘To be honest, I want to leave as soon as possible, so I don’t bother him.’

But she dared not, for fear Dern would genuinely be disappointed.

So, she was aimlessly moping around, unable to do anything.

Suddenly she realized that the blanket covering her was exceptionally fluffy.

‘… It’s the first time I’ve been covered since I left the orphanage.’

Sleeping without bedding on the floor had been the norm, so she wondered if she was even allowed to use such quality bedding.

As she quickly got up to clean, even if she couldn’t do laundry, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.

Unlike Dern, from her unkempt hair due to lack of care,

To her dry lips due to malnutrition and dark circles under her eyes due to lack of sleep.

Her appearance was so pitiable that she thought her mere existence was a nuisance.

The moment I realize such facts, the events of yesterday suddenly start to rise in my mind.

The side image of Dern who rescued me, whom no one had saved all my life.

The aspect of myself, causing nothing but an annoyance with my pitiful behaviour.

Of course, since I couldn’t see myself, the idea of causing an annoyance was just an imagination.

But while thinking that it wouldn’t be too different as it was true that I was causing trouble, I covered my face in despair.

‘… trash.’

A piece of trash causing annoyance by merely existing.

The respect that becomes embarrassing merely by being together.

The things my foster parents used to say to me skimmed through my mind, confronting me with the current situation.

Although I denied it several times in my heart at that time.

At this point, I couldn’t help but fall into despair, seeing myself acting as they said.

‘Really … I’m such a fool.’

The tip of my nose reddened, and my vision blurred.

Trying to hold back the tears, I got up from my place.

Nothing would change by crying, and there would hardly be anyone who’d want to see tears from such a trashy girl.

‘So, let’s hold back.’

Taking deep breaths to calm my heart, I slapped myself on the cheek and thought.

‘And avoid being such a bother.’

I firmly shut my eyes, thinking that the best way to repay gratitude was to distance myself from Dern as much as possible.

If I stuck with him, I would somehow cause trouble regardless of the reason.

‘If not … like how the people of the Church of Heaven ruthlessly destroyed the things I loved.’

Dern would face a similar fate.

Before this happens, I decided to push Dern away first and bit my lips.

‘…If only I were a normal girl.’

With that thought, she escaped outside.