boyutpedia Chapter 763: The Results of Training - Part 9
Chapter 763: The Results of Training - Part 9
Unlike the rest of them, Blackthorn hadn't come dressed from head to toe in armour. For her, what armour she wore was a decision she needed to make carefully, for even a slight decrease in her speed could have potentially fatal consequences in combat.
As of yet, she'd been unable to properly decide, and had taken to imitating Oliver's own lack of thought in that area, merely dressing as if she was to go on a hunt.
"Well, I didn't say she couldn't defeat it, I just wanted to see her try..." Oliver said, once she was already far enough gone that she couldn't hear. In response to that admission, two sets of rather venomous glares were sent boring into the side of his face. Had there not been such a difference in rank between the two retainers, they likely would have slapped him.
"She's not even through the Second Boundary yet," Verdant mused. "I'm intrigued by your test, my Lord."
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"As am I," Oliver said. "The girl's always had great potential. It's her lack of experience that's held her back. I feel as if she's hovering right on the Boundary's edge, but I have no way of properly knowing how to push her through. I figure an encounter with a monster as bastardly vicious as a Hobgoblin might help in that regard..."
His words were dampened by the first exchange of woman against monster, as the Hobgoblin's wood club clipped the end of Blackthorn's rapier, and sent her weapon flying far out of her hand.
"I suppose I had better stand closer," Oliver said, trying to keep the alarm that he felt hidden, as he drew his sword, and dashed across the field.
The Hobgoblin didn't seem to realize what she was aiming for. She betrayed no hint of her intention. Once more, it charged at her with a club, and she just happened to dodge in the direction that the sword was in, using the brief opening to plunge her hand into the snow, and pull the rapier out.
"Wow..." Oliver murmured involuntarily, genuinely impressed. He'd rushed over, thinking the battle to be over the second she'd been disarmed, but somehow she'd been able to reposition herself without taking any damage in the meantime.
The others caught up with him. This time, Amelia did grab his arm as she came closer, holding it with a grip that was unbecoming of someone so beneath him socially.
He turned to admonish her, but apparently, the girl herself didn't even realize what she was doing. Her eyes were filled with worry, and she'd grabbed onto whatever was nearest to her in an attempt to relieve some amount of stress.
Even though she was likely squeezing his forearm as hard as her little hands could, there was no pain. He sighed and caught the attention of Pauline beside her, motioning with his head to the hand that was clutching his arm. Pauline's face turned to red with such a suddenness that she seemed as if she might explode.
"Amelia!" She squeaked, horrified, prying her hand away.
"Huh? What?" Amelia said, feeling her friend grasping her hand. Only then, apparently, did she realize what she'd done, and she too went a shade of dark red, a horrified expression on her face. It wasn't embarrassment, it was terror. There was no innocent emotion there. To harm a noble as a Serving Class girl, even in jest, that was a grave offence.
Ingolsol demanded compensation for her disrespect.
"A perfect opportunity presents itself to correct the behaviour of a misbehaving pup," Ingolsol growled. "I won't have the body that I inhabit so thoroughly disrespected. These dogs should be kneeling."