NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12 - Prove. It.
Under Sophia’s reproachful gaze, Setanta and Cali both averted their eyes as if by prior agreement. They understood how strange it must seem to entrust their barely 11-year-old son to a complete stranger. However, they had their reasons.
Setanta spoke up:
“I understand if you find it strange, but please see him once. That child truly needs this trial. Let me call Conra over, and judge for yourself after seeing him directly.”
“But wait a moment…”
Before Sophia could protest the sudden development, Setanta turned towards the hut and loudly called out to his son:
“Hey, Conra! Come out here for a bit!”
As the resonant voice echoed, Sophia blankly thought: ‘This man’s voice is quite powerful. Frankly, he seems more like a warrior from Fena Erin than a druid, with that thunderous voice that could shake mountains and valleys – he must have mastered the Lion’s Roar technique.’
Of course, in this world, only Sophia knew the Lion’s Roar, so it was a foolish thought. But his voice was indeed powerful enough to evoke such an impression.
As the resounding voice gradually faded and Setanta was about to call again, the hut door opened and a small head peeked out. It was such a tiny head that one could wonder if it really belonged to this hulking figure’s son. With round eyes, the child glared at Setanta and said:
“Hey now, father, don’t raise your voice so loudly. It makes you seem weak.”
“What did you say?”
Setanta nearly snapped at his son’s sudden disrespect before catching himself, belatedly remembering they had a guest.
“Ahem, anyway, come over here. There’s someone I want to introduce you to.”
Seeming a bit embarrassed, Setanta cleared his throat and called his son again. The child, who had only stuck his head out, then fully opened the door and came waddling over as instructed.
“Hmm.”
The first thing Conra did upon approaching was circle around Sophia, who was seated, scrutinizing her appearance. The young boy then snickered and addressed his father:
“Haha, father. Are you trying to make me this lady’s footstool? While I may be young, I have the makings to trample those who fancy themselves heroes, don’t I?”
Sophia let out an indignant snort. What an outrageously narcissistic brat. She looked at Setanta as if to ask if she really had to take this child, but he seemed to misunderstand her meaning.
“As you can see, he’s quite the arrogant little brat. Unable to see what’s right before his eyes. To be frank, this kid needs a proper teacher to give him a thrashing and learn about the ways of the world. Cali and I have reached our limits in that regard.”
To Sophia, it sounded like he was suggesting entrusting the child, who had premature hubris beyond their ability to manage, to a capable teacher. At that moment, as if unable to simply listen to Setanta’s words, the young boy erupted:
“Father, are you saying this lady here is mightier than me?”
“Oh, you heard correctly. How fortunate your ears are unobstructed.”
“Hmm, very well. If father wishes to make me this person’s disciple, then the one claiming to be my teacher must naturally be mightier than me.”
Feigning agreement without any intention of actually agreeing, Conra nodded arrogantly. However, he soon flashed a vicious look and declared:
“So, prove. It. Show me you are truly qualified to be my teacher.”
He uttered those words that made Sophia’s limbs unconsciously tense up and her jaw drop in sheer disbelief, yet with complete nonchalance.
+++++
To be honest, even Sophia – or rather, her past life as Lee Bum-seok – had gone through a similar phase as the Conra before her eyes.
In fact, that embarrassing chapter was the very origin that led Lee Bum-seok to live his life as himself and carry that karma over into this life as Sophia. Even if her limbs tensed up in real-time and she inwardly wanted to scream at this very moment, she could not deny someone else’s embarrassing past.
Well, that was that, but arrogance was still arrogance. Just sitting and listening, didn’t this brat seem to be severely underestimating others? Sophia had to admit this ill-mannered, arrogant brat needed to be grabbed and firmly spanked to instill proper decorum.
Only then could this kid, who had completely forgotten manners, be taught true etiquette.
“Very well.”
That was why such frank agreement flowed from her lips, its casual tone carrying a ferocious aura that even made Setanta and Cali flinch in surprise.
“I accept that challenge.”
Sophia curled her lips, agreeing to the fearless young Conra’s challenge. Between her curled lips, her fangs peeked out slightly. Seeming to sense the sudden unease, Setanta asked:
“Uh, are you perhaps angry?”
“What did you say?”
“Ah, no. Um. Please, go easy on him.”
“Do not worry.”
As Sophia said this, she turned her gaze to Cali. In other words, she was asking if it was alright for her to discipline the brat in her own way. Meeting her gaze, Cali smirked and nodded – she too felt her son needed the experience of being thoroughly thrashed.
“Alright, very well. So how will you have this proof take place?”
“For determining one’s might, is there a faster way than experiencing it directly? Why don’t you test it yourself, young master?”
“…Hmph. You’ll regret that arrogance.”
“Please, make me regret it as much as you can.”
Confronted with Sophia’s nonchalant response like a well-fed lioness, Conra seemed properly provoked. The observing Setanta was already inwardly lamenting:
‘Ah, he’s just going to get utterly battered like a dog.’
In the brutal world of the strong preying upon the weak, those who failed to recognize their opponent’s strength died. This was the golden truth Setanta had seen, learned, and felt on the soil of his homeland Erin. It seemed time for this lesson to be passed down to his son Conra as well. As a father wishing for his son’s longevity, Setanta cheered Conra on to gain a great lesson from this opportunity.
The arena was set in the clearing before the great oak tree, as Setanta and Cali could not leave this place, and there was no other sufficiently spacious area in the forest.
After everyone rose from their seats, Setanta waved his staff once, causing the table and chairs of wood and stone to vanish. In their place, a dueling ground appeared with tree roots as the base, covered in soil and flat stones.
Sophia stepped onto the dueling ground and stood with arms folded. Facing her, Conra held a spear far too long for his stature, taking the Fena Erin spear combat opening stance with a determined expression.
Surveying the young boy’s spear stance, Sophia whistled and remarked:
“You’ve trained quite properly, kid. Let me see your skills then. Show me what you’ve got.”
“Tch!”
Seeming provoked by Sophia’s words, the crouched Conra, having gathered his bodily elasticity, shot forward like a cannonball with a tsk of his tongue.
It was a meteoric charge, but Sophia naturally spun halfway, deflecting the spear’s thrust.
She hadn’t expected the first strike to land. He did seem quite skilled. Gritting his teeth fiercely, Conra’s eyes blazed. If his thrusting spear technique missed, the natural next movement would be a wide horizontal sweep. Conra had confidence in his agility and power – he thought this next move would surely put his opponent in a predicament.
However, Sophia was half a beat faster.
In an instant, her middle and index fingers overlapped, the next moment already pressing against Conra’s forehead. Then:
BAAAAK!
With a sound like a watermelon bursting, a tremendous finger flick slammed into the young boy’s forehead. For a split second, stars flashed before his eyes as his small frame was flung back a distance. Sophia nonchalantly blew on her finger as if smoke had wafted from it before casually refolding her arms.
“My, I made a slight mistake there. Come, try again. I’ll do better this time.”
Of course, she did not forget the taunting remark in her relaxed tone.