Jikki led Karry through the underground city.
People moved aside as they passed, some whispering among themselves after seeing the slave seal on his arm.
Eventually, they arrived at a large stone building.
Karry looked around.
"This is where we're training?"
Jikki nodded proudly.
"Here is the place where your first lesson begins."
Karry followed her inside.
The moment he entered, his expression froze.
This wasn't a training ground.
There were no wooden swords.
No practice dummies.
No instructors.
Instead, the room was filled with deadly traps.
Blades hung from the ceiling.
Hidden holes covered the floor.
Arrow launchers lined the walls.
The entire place looked more like an execution chamber than a training area.
Karry's face became pale.
"You call this a lesson?"
Jikki crossed her arms.
"Of course."
Then she pointed toward the vast room.
"Survive it."
Karry blinked.
"...What?"
"Survive it. Then you will be qualified to learn Sand Arts."
His mouth twitched.
"That's your first lesson?"
Jikki nodded.
"And remember."
Her expression became serious.
"Don't use Aute."
Karry immediately frowned.
His face showed a hint of fear.
"If I have Aute, I could dodge all of that."
He pointed toward the countless traps.
"But without it, I'm nothing."
Jikki shook her head.
"Using your so-called power only attracts monsters and beasts."
Her voice became stern.
"Remember, you're already fighting against the fate of being infected."
Then she smiled mischievously.
"But even then, you're not getting out of my seal."
Karry sighed.
"Then show me."
Jikki tilted her head.
"Show you what?"
Karry pointed toward the trap room.
"Show me you dodging all those traps."
A grin appeared on Jikki's face.
"What a boy you are."
She flipped her hair dramatically.
"Very well."
She placed a hand on her chest.
"Let this woman show you how it is done."
Without hesitation, Jikki walked into the center of the room.
The vast chamber suddenly felt even larger.
She stopped and turned toward Karry.
Then she pointed toward a rope hanging from the wall.
"Pull it."
Karry looked at her.
"Are you sure?"
Jikki smirked.
"Do I look unsure?"
Karry grabbed the rope.
Then pulled.
CLANK!
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
WHOOSH!
Dozens of swords shot from hidden compartments.
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
Arrows rained from every direction.
Spinning blades emerged from the floor.
The entire room transformed into a storm of death.
Yet Jikki moved.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Her movements flowed like water.
She twisted her body just enough to avoid a sword.
A fraction of a second later, an arrow passed through the space where her head had been.
She spun.
A blade missed her by a hair's breadth.
Another arrow flew toward her chest.
She leaned backward.
The arrow passed above her nose.
Her movements looked effortless.
Elegant.
Natural.
As though she already knew where every attack would appear.
Within seconds, she crossed the entire room untouched.
Not a single trap landed on her.
Silence filled the chamber.
Jikki turned around proudly.
"See?"
Karry stood frozen.
His eyes followed her every movement.
She moves so fast...
His heart skipped a beat.
I may fall for her.
[End of chapter ]