"Please wait here for a bit. I'll be right back."
Dusky led me to what looked like the Marine base's training field and asked me to stay there while she stepped away. Judging by the situation, she had probably gone to retrieve the bounty money—so I waited, bored out of my mind, staring at the clear sky and kicking pebbles to pass time.
There were only a few Marines training on the field, but for some reason they were going at it like they'd just snorted pure adrenaline. Sweat poured off their bodies as they pushed themselves to their limits. Some had even taken off their shirts to reveal rock-hard muscles and neatly lined eight-pack abs.
"One-two—one!"
"ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR!"
"Keep it moving!"
I stared at them and felt cold sweat running down my back. What was this? A training field—or a gladiator arena?
The instructor who had his back to me also looked confused. He scratched his head and muttered, Weird… these lazy brats usually find every excuse not to train. They never work this hard. What's gotten into them?
But soon enough, he followed their line of sight… and noticed me standing behind him.
He instantly understood.
Ah. So that's it. You're just trying to show off, aren't you?
"A hundred push-ups! NOW!"
"Eh?! Why?!"
"No complaining! MOVE IT!"
Groans filled the air—but not a single one dared protest loudly. With Kiana Kaslana watching them? No way. They immediately dropped to the ground and started doing push-ups like their lives depended on it. But as they began, they slowly realized what their instructor was planning—
"Do you see it?"
"Can't quite… but I think they're black."
"..."
I could feel veins bulging on my forehead. Right now, I was seriously considering switching into my Moonlight armor and vaporizing these clowns with a single energy blast. Don't think I don't know what you're all doing, you perverted bastards. Yes, I'm wearing safety shorts under my skirt—but that doesn't mean they're for you to see!
I kicked a pebble in pure irritation. It shot forward like a bullet and landed squarely on the face of one of the push-up Marines.
"Ow—HEY!"
A few soldiers immediately clutched their faces and cried out.
"Pff—hehehe!"
Their unharmed comrades snickered… until gravel also fell onto their faces.
"Ha! Still feel like laughing now?"
The ones hit earlier quickly regained their confidence. Even though I had just pelted their faces with stones—no one got angry at me. They only murmured among themselves.
After all… I was a pretty girl.
"This lady's got a temper. I like her," one Marine said boldly. "But what brings you to our Marine base?"
"I'm here to collect a bounty."
"Oh? A bounty hunter?"
The instructor nodded lightly. Once he knew I wasn't a suspicious intruder, he stopped questioning me and folded his arms.
But the soldiers… oh, the soldiers—
"Ohhh, Miss Bounty Hunter, huh? Doesn't look like it. You probably catch weaklings—those little nobodies with tiny bounties, right?"
"Totally! Just look at her hands—no calluses at all. She's never swung a sword in her life! She's probably just posing with that blade!"
The soldiers chuckled as they continued their push-ups. Judging by their expressions, it was like they were evaluating a puppy more than a human being.
I felt my eyebrow twitch.
Are… are they looking down on me?
The reason there are no calluses isn't because I'm weak—it's because this body model is fixed! It doesn't gain fat, doesn't lose muscle, and the attributes don't change physically. Even if my stats are high, I can't look strong. But I never imagined I'd be underestimated… by mere soldiers with a measly five Doriki strength?!
"Looking down on me?"
I gave them a cold glare on purpose. But instead of fear—they looked like they were trying not to laugh.
Cute, they thought.
They thought. I was. CUTE.
My rage surged.
I trained for months on that deserted island… and I still get treated like a harmless girl?!
"Fine," I declared. "Let's settle this with a fight. I'll smash you into the ground!"
"Huh? No, you don't need to go that far," the instructor tried to calm me down. "The men under my command are high-level elites. It'd be bad if they hurt you."
His words only hardened my resolve.
"I don't care. I'm proving it. Anyone—come out and fight me!"
"..."
The soldiers exchanged awkward glances. No one volunteered.
"…Forget it. Ke Long," the instructor said finally. "You go. What's your name, girl?"
"Kiana."
"Right. Ke Long, have a match with Kiana. Be careful."
"Understood," Ke Long replied, standing up.
The rest of the Marines dropped their push-ups and sat down to watch.
"Go, Ke Long!"
"Don't lose!"
"Yeah, it'd be horrible if you lose to little Kiana-chan~!"
"...You guys," Ke Long muttered, frowning. He sighed and stepped forward.
"Are you a swordsman?" he asked. "If so, how about a duel of swordsmanship?"
He walked to a barrel beside the field and took out two wooden swords, tossing one toward me.
"No problem."
I caught it easily. The instructor looked at both of us and nodded.
"I'll referee. First hit wins. Understood?"
Ke Long and I both nodded.
He raised his right hand… took a breath… then swung it down.
"Begin!"
The moment the word was spoken, a breeze swept across the field—
And my figure vanished.
"An afterimage?!"
Ke Long reacted quickly—but not quickly enough. The instant danger prickled along his back, he turned—
SWISH!
The wooden sword came down from above in an arc. Ke Long's eyes squeezed shut instinctively.
—but the blade froze just one inch above his head.
The wind pressure alone split his hair down the middle.
Gulp…
Ke Long swallowed audibly. A bead of sweat slid down his temple.
That… speed. That wasn't human.
Could someone lose… in one second?
Even the instructor's eyes were wide with disbelief.
No doubt about it—
Kiana Kaslana was a monster.
I slowly lowered the wooden sword, satisfied. That should be enough to prove it.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Suddenly, a slow applause echoed across the training grounds. I turned toward the sound.
A Marine with wavy hair walked forward, clapping as he approached. His right arm was protected by an iron sleeve that gleamed in the sunlight, making me squint slightly.
"Impressive," he said with an approving smile. "As expected of the bounty hunter who defeated Siegel."
"And you are…?"
I stared at him. He looked… familiar. I tried digging through my memory of the anime—but I couldn't place him at all.
"I must apologize—I forgot to introduce myself, beautiful lady. Please forgive my rudeness. My name is Hobodi. They call me Iron Fist Hobodi. I'm a Marine captain."
He spoke with the pride of a man awaiting recognition.
"...Who?"
I still couldn't remember him at all.
"..."
Hobodi froze. She's never heard of me? He coughed, embarrassed.
Behind him, the soldiers quietly snickered.