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136. Engagement – Axe

“I’m ‘Ran Abiker’. Just call me Ran. This is my younger sister, ‘Anne Abiker’.”

“Call me Anne. Nice to meet you.”

The two sisters in their late twenties extended their hands for a handshake with Lena, Leo, and a warrior from the Ainar Tribe.

The test to select participants for the Great Warrior’s Trial concluded rather blandly.

The young warriors of the Ainar Tribe, who had come curious about the trial, looked at Lena and Leo and said, “Eh, there won’t be any openings,” and turned to leave.

Considering their weapon skills, Lena had no rivals among her peers in the tribe.

Moreover, Leo was someone who had easily defeated Lena, and both had trained in swordsmanship under the knight, Noel Dexter, so their swift retreat was to be expected.

With only Lena, Leo, and one warrior left, Ran and Anne were taken aback as the assembled warriors dispersed in an instant.

Could this seemingly foolish young man and young lady be so strong? — Doubting, Anne decided to spar with Leo first.

And got wrecked.

Though it was only a light match for the test, she understood immediately when their axes clashed.

‘What a monstrous guy…’

The axe that Anne wielded was quite wide at the blade.

Typically, an axe meant for combat has a narrow blade and is thickly made.

It should be heavy enough to withstand blows from solid weapons while being able to deliver a heavy blow to a skull.

On the other hand, a tool axe is designed for ease of use, hence the wider blade.

Since it must chop meat or wood.

Therefore, the cutting edge of a tool axe is thinner compared to one meant for combat, and it usually has a long handle for versatility.

However, her axe was wide yet thick.

She was required to wield it with one hand because of its short handle, proving that it was both a tool and a weapon.

The trade-off was that it was quite heavy, making it difficult for the average person to handle.

In any case, Anne, holding a decent round shield in one hand and her axe in the other, traded a few strikes with Leo and readily acknowledged his skill.

The axe came crashing down, sliding effortlessly against his sword, as if it were enjoying the exchange with the sword that was held with both hands.

This young man’s skill was looking down at her from the top of her head — no, much higher.

“Wow… that’s impressive.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

After Anne’s match with Leo ended, Ran, the elder sister by a year, faced off against Lena. She too used a shield and axe, being already aware of Leo’s skills, she felt a bit tense at first.

However, contrary to her expectations, the match was rather ordinary.

The two-handed sword had blades on both sides, specialized for thrusting.

It allowed for diverse attacks and was powerful due to being wielded with both hands, but each hit was not as strong as that of an axe.

No matter how it was held with one hand, an axe is still an axe — a heavy weapon.

Ran felt a mix of relief and disappointment. The exchange was going smoothly, and like this young lady, it was certain the axe would perform well in a straightforward contest.

Eventually, the sword would surely shatter under the axe’s weight.

Moreover, since Ran held a shield, it would welcome a long battle where the durability of their weapons would be tested.

However, if she wasn’t careful, her expensive sword could break, so she thought it best to end it shortly. Just then, Lena stepped forward and launched a thrust.

“Hm?”

After taking a passive stance for a while, she suddenly transitioned to offense.

‘This is frustrating. She’s not making any mistakes…’

As Ran evaluated her skill, Lena felt increasingly frustrated.

Apart from Leo and Uncle Noel, she hadn’t fought anyone of this caliber before. She had sparred with her father, but the great axe of Dehorman was far too dangerous for a proper match.

Lena’s swordsmanship was rooted in Noel Dexter’s “Swordsmanship of Concealed Composure.”

This style, while aiming for stability, was inherently passive. Hence when the opponent overreached, she had to carefully seize the opportunity to turn the tide in her favor.

However, since it was just a simple test and Ran wasn’t being reckless, there just seemed to be no openings.

‘What would Leo do in a situation like this?’

Lena pondered, recalling how noticeably different Leo’s swordsmanship had become recently.

He had followed Uncle Noel’s style yet became extraordinarily aggressive.

Leo often took bold steps forward or wildly shifted his center of gravity and attack direction, catching his opponents off guard.

Realizing something, Lena seized the moment that Ran had tilted her axe, taking the chance to firmly grip her sword.

Uncle Noel’s swordsmanship was indeed powerful. Facing his endlessly stable technique made Lena think it might be the epitome of weapon skill.

But it also had clear weaknesses. Perhaps that was why Leo had decided to alter his style recently?

Lena advanced boldly like Leo.

Let’s thrust first and see.

Even if she had to manage it all with her supporting rear leg and shoulder twist in a single breath, she must shake her opponent.

Sure enough, as she advanced, Ran swung down with her axe as soon as Lena attempted to block her sword with her shield.

Ordinarily, she might have recoiled to avoid the axe, but determined not to give up the ground she had gained, Lena gritted her teeth.

– Clang!

The two-handed sword clashed with the axe, generating an unpleasantly loud noise. Lacking the finesse to slide the axe like Leo, she blocked it head-on.

Having never experienced blocking so rudely, the long sword quivered as if it would break, but Lena’s eyes sparkled as she seized the opportunity.

“Hah!”

Lena pushed the colliding axe to the right, toward the shield her opponent held. Simultaneously, she spun her body, contemplating a backward kick to regain control of the situation, but instead, she decided to be bolder and swung her sword in a large arc.

Channeling all the breath she had held back for maximum strength…!!

– Clang!

‘Oh… Did I get blocked? Wait! This is bad!’

In the brief moment where her head wasn’t fully turned, countless thoughts raced through Lena’s mind.

Her posture wavered. The sword was too far from her body to defend effectively.

How did I block that? No, there’s no time for that! The opponent’s attack will come…!

Lena rolled away, sweeping the ground with her right foot to keep her opponent at bay while trying to straighten her stance…

But then, she saw Leo. The person who blocked her sword wasn’t Ran.

“Lena, you did great. But be careful. That was close.”

Lena, who had been fully focused on her sword, was momentarily disoriented. It wasn’t until she saw Leo’s gentle smile that her sense of reality returned, and she quickly bowed her head.

“Ah! I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

Ran’s pale face received the apology. If the young man hadn’t intervened, her waist might have split in two.

Though she had nearly died, she cheerfully said while wiping the light sweat off her neck.

“It’s fine. I’m okay. You’re strong. A strong person doesn’t need to apologize to a weaker one.”

“Y-yeah, but… I’m really sorry. I just forgot it was a sparring session.”

“No need to apologize. By the way, what’s your name? I’m Ran Abiker. Just call me Ran. This is my younger sister, Anne Abiker.”

“Call me Anne. Nice to meet you.”

With a smile, Ran extended her hand for a handshake with Lena. Anne also shook hands with Leo and the warrior from the Ainar Tribe.

Both had been defeated, yet Ran and Anne felt good. They were confident that they could catch a monster with these two.

Meanwhile, the warrior who had watched Lena and Leo without leaving wore a bewildered expression.

‘I haven’t even tested yet…’

Since they had already shaken hands, it seemed better to stay quiet for now.

*

“No way!”

“I’m going!”

“If you can’t, then you can’t!”

The assertions of the father and daughter clashed head-on. Lena, insisting on going to capture a monster, found herself opposed by her father, Dehorman.

“How long has it been since you became a warrior and you’re already planning to face the test? Absolutely not!”

“What does that matter! And Dad, you faced the test around my age too!”

“I was older than you!”

“My skills are way better! You even flunked at the ‘Maunin-Retee’ competition! I could’ve won!”

“You brat! You wouldn’t even qualify! That’s a place where the recognized great warriors from each tribe gather. Why am I even discussing this? No! How much better could you possibly have gotten…?”

Dehorman shot a glare at Leo Dexter as he continued speaking.

“If you were at Leo’s level, I wouldn’t mind at all. But you’re still too young!”

“Ugh…! Why compare me to Leo? You’d lose against Leo too, wouldn’t you? You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Me lose to Leo? Ha! Do you think so too?”

“…”

As the pointless bickering escalated, Noel Dexter, who had been eating nearby, subtly turned his head away.

“Wait, really? You think I’d lose to your son?”

“…Leo’s skill has indeed improved a lot lately. Don’t see it that way. A monster like a savage beast, you would probably handle it better. But in a spar, it won’t be easy.”

“You see?!”

Lena yelled with spirit, prompting Dehorman’s face to flush with anger.

“Is that so? It seems everyone has forgotten how terrifying my axe work is. Do you know who I am? I am…!”

“Yes, yes. The great warrior of the Ainar Tribe. The one who foolishly caught two monsters while drinking. But remember, you said the other day to my dad and Uncle that I might become a great warrior too.”

“That means someday you could, but I’m not saying you should go face the test right now!”

“When should I wait, then! I’m all grown up!”

“Grown up? You still smell like baby oil…”

In the Ainar Tribe, ‘Daner’ oil was applied to newborns and rarely used on children in winter.

It was intended to protect the children’s delicate skin from the cold northern winds, but the oil from uneatable fruits carried an unpleasant smell.

A grown-up Lena wouldn’t smell of Daner oil, so saying she did was tantamount to belittling her as a ‘child who still had wet behind the ears.’

Lena’s temper flared.

She recounted her father’s embarrassing past that she had heard from her late grandmother, and Dehorman fired back, “I’ve seen you at your worst!” Thus began a dispute that Lena could almost certainly not win.

It was pandemonium.

Leo observed his father, Dehorman, and Lena’s mother’s expressions. It was easy to coax simple Lena, but persuading the parents was a whole different matter.

What should he do? Just as Leo was about to speak, Lena delivered a decisive blow.

“Anyway, I’m going! I’ve even set a date! And it’s with warriors from other tribes.”

“Hmph! That’s a laugh. Why would those planning to take the test gather warriors from another tribe? They’re surely just a bunch of losers who can’t make a name for themselves in their own tribe.”

“No, that’s not true! I’ve said it many times! They’re quite skilled! And Urok is coming too!”

“Urok? Urok Ainar?”

“Yes!”

“Did you convince him?”

“No, he decided to come!”

“Oh dear—this tribe is in shambles. But I won’t need to step in. Urok can’t go; the Chief will absolutely not allow it. I can’t allow it either. So just give up.”

“Why not? Why won’t the Chief allow him to go?”

“Call him Chief.”

“Tch. How petty.”

“Hey!”

“Okay, okay. Why won’t the Chief allow him? If he wants to go, what does it matter?”

The warrior who had taken the test alongside Lena and Leo was Urok Ainar, the next chief of the Ainar Tribe.

To be precise, he was the second next chief. His grandfather, the current chief, was still alive but aging, and his father would become the next chief, so it would be a while before Urok’s turn came.

“…”

Dehorman didn’t answer the question.

Three great warriors currently representing the Ainar Tribe, including him.

They had all faced the great warrior’s test when they were young. Starting with five, they returned as three, and they still dedicated a drink to the two fallen comrades each time they gathered for ales.

One of the friends who had died back then was the chief’s eldest son, Urok’s uncle.

The three proudly returning as great warriors could not bear to meet the chief’s eyes.

While they were in a position to celebrate the birth of a great warrior, they had just received the news of their son’s death. Dehorman could not even begin to imagine how the chief felt at preparing a grand feast.

That was nearly twenty years ago.

The chief’s second son took over the tribe in place of his elderly father, and that friend was forgotten. Just like Lena, today’s young warriors didn’t even know such a person had existed.

Dehorman lost his motivation to argue with his daughter. Shouting, “You will absolutely not go!” he retreated to his room.

Lena muttered, “He’s just saying that because he doesn’t want me to go,” and suggested to Leo that they could sneak away if needed…

A few days later, Lena Ainar, Leo Dexter, Ran Abiker, Anne Abiker, and Urok Ainar left the Abrival Castle as planned to undergo the trial.

It wasn’t a secret departure.

Rather, the tribe had even prepared a modest feast to see them off carefully, as the chief granted permission the day after Dehorman and Lena’s bickering.

Caught off guard, Dehorman couldn’t rush over to confront them… instead, he cautiously asked why.

What was said remained unknown. But upon returning from the chief, Dehorman did not stop Lena and expressed a desire to see Ran and Anne’s skills in action, after which he sighed and gave his reluctant approval.

“You worry too much. You’ll be fine. Who’s daughter are you? You know you used to be that stubborn too.”

“…Ahem.”

“Have a safe trip. Be careful. Honestly, I wish you wouldn’t go…”

Lena’s mother called her daughter, who was about to leave. Tugging her ear, she whispered something small.

What exactly Lena’s mother told her was also unknown to Leo. All he knew was that Lena looked at her father with a smirk and that Dehorman’s face turned red as he turned quickly into the castle.

It was still snowing at the Abrival Castle.