Chapter 129: The Military Examination (2)

Laughter continued to echo inside the military examination headquarters.

Even So-mu, who rarely showed any emotion, was laughing heartily at the amusing answer.

One of the officials, barely managing to compose himself, asked, “What should we do, Captain?”

“Technically, it is indeed an excellent tactic. A Lion’s Roar could disable an ambush in an instant. However, how could an ordinary applicant possibly use it?”

The problem was that the Lion’s Roar was not a technique just anyone could use. It was a high-level area-of-effect technique that required immense internal energy and years of specialized training.

Because of its difficulty, only a handful of masters in history had ever mastered it.

“So we should fail this paper, correct?”

“Yes, we must. The examination is not a joke.”

Just then, another official looking at the records gasped, “Wait a moment! Captain, this applicant 1327 is extraordinary!”

So-mu smiled faintly. “Of course she is extraordinary. Proposing to unleash a Lion’s Roar against an ambush.”

“That is not what I mean, sir. Look at this list. Applicant 1327 is ranked near the top in almost every subject. Furthermore, she took first place in close-quarters combat, grappling, and projectile throwing!”

So-mu clasped his hands and fell into thought. It would indeed be a pity to disqualify such a talented individual.

“Let’s see how she performs in today’s tests. Pass her for now, but apply a penalty to her score.”

“Yes, Captain.”

The brief amusement passed, and the officials returned to their work.

There were simply too many applicants. Since they were also responsible for grading the tactical exams, they had to work through the night without a moment’s rest.

By dawn, they finally managed to post the list of successful applicants from the first day.

As the sun rose, the final day of the military examination began.

“Take turns to rest. Get some sleep.”

While So-mu’s stamina allowed him to go without sleep for days, the other officials were exhausted, their eyes bloodshot as they dozed off at their desks.

“Yes, Captain. You should rest as well…”

Nodding, So-mu took a cup of tea and rested. He knew that if he didn’t stop working, his subordinates wouldn’t dare to rest either.

After a brief break, the work resumed.

Halfway through the day, an official entered the headquarters, carrying a box filled with records.

So-mu looked up. “Weren’t you supervising the Double Sword Skill evaluation? Why are you back so early?”

The Double Sword Skill test required applicants to charge forward with two wooden swords, striking wooden scarecrows along the way. They were graded on how quickly they completed the course.

“Well… the Double Sword Skill test has been suspended, sir.”

“Suspended? For what reason?”

The official hesitated before answering, “Applicant 1327 destroyed all the scarecrows on the field… We cannot proceed with the test.”

“Destroyed the targets?”

“Yes, sir. She sliced every single scarecrow clean in half.”

The scarecrows were made of thick logs. Breaking them with a blunt wooden sword was no easy task.

“She must have used sword qi.”

“No, sir. She did not use sword qi. It was simply sheer, raw internal energy channeled into the wooden sword. It seems the applicant got too excited and failed to control her strength.”

So-mu’s interest was piqued.

To shatter thick logs through raw strength alone without even using sword qi… It required at least two cycles of internal energy. He couldn’t help but wonder who it was. Since the individual evaluations were over, it was acceptable to reveal the names now.

“Who on earth is applicant 1327?”

The official blinked, looking confused.

“You really didn’t know, Captain?”

Sipping his tea, So-mu asked, “Is she a well-known martial artist to possess such strength?”

The official stared at him, as if asking why he was asking the obvious.

“It is your daughter, sir.”

Spurt!

So-mu spat out his tea.

He wondered if he had misheard.

“So-so is taking the military examination?”

“Yes, sir. She registered herself. The rules did not allow us to turn her away…”

So-mu was both dumbfounded and worried. His daughter should be playing with children her age, not trying to become a military officer. Knowing the hardships of military life, he couldn’t let his daughter go down this path.

“Disqualify her. Make sure she doesn’t get upset.”

“Well… that will be difficult, sir.”

“Why?”

“Only the group field battle evaluation remains. She has been in the top rank for almost every subject, and the squad she is in is exceptionally strong.”

It was a headache. So-so had to learn the zither and train in martial arts with Yeon Seo-hwa in the morning, and attend Snow Flower Academy in the afternoon. If she had to perform military duties on top of that, it would be too much for a child.

“I can oversee the final test, correct?”

“Of course, Captain.”

The test was taking place at one of the infantry training grounds. So-mu followed the official to the field.

***

The final test was underway, surrounded by cheering spectators.

Ten applicants formed a squad and had to defend against attacks from regular soldiers. Their survival time determined whether the entire squad passed or failed.

“Keep your shields up!”

“Hold the line!”

The ten applicants lined up, their hands trembling as they gripped their wooden swords. In front of them, a squad of regular cavalry, armed with blunt training spears, was preparing to charge.

These were elite cavalrymen under Commander Han Baek, veterans of countless battles.

Forming a wedge formation, the cavalry charged into the applicants’ line.

Boom! Crash!

“Ugh!”

“Agh!”

With groans of pain, the applicants were swept off their feet. Once the cavalry passed, not a single applicant was left standing.

The proctor quickly raised a red flag.

“All failed!”

The dejected applicants walked off the field.

Now, only the final squad remained. Once this squad finished, the military examination would be over.

The proctor on the platform shouted, “Squad 19, enter the field!”

Ten applicants walked onto the training ground, choosing their weapons from the racks.

A sharp-featured middle-aged man looked down at So-so.

“Child, you showed some impressive skills earlier.”

“Hehe! You were amazing too, mister!”

Having spent the day together, the two had become quite close, consistently achieving the highest scores in their group.

“But why didn’t you take a shield?”

“Because I can’t see over it…”

The training shields were massive, larger than So-so’s entire body. She had no choice. The middle-aged man chuckled.

“Ah, indeed. Do not charge ahead. Stay behind me and follow my lead.”

“Yes! Be careful too, mister!”

Just as they were forming their line, the proctor on the platform stepped down. A high-ranking officer in military robes took the commander’s seat and took the signaling flag.

Recognizing So-mu, the middle-aged man’s eyes wavered. So-so, on the other hand, beamed with joy.

“Oh?”

The middle-aged man looked curious. “Do you know him?”

“Yes! That’s my father!”

He had wondered how such a young child possessed such high-level martial arts. But something seemed off. The officer did not look like a father trying to help his daughter pass.

“Your father looks a bit strange. It feels like he is determined to fail us.”

So-so shook her head. “No, my father loves me very much.”

Under So-mu’s direction, the regular soldiers moved with absolute precision.

Infantry and archers lined up at the front, while cavalry waited at the flanks to envelop them. There was no doubt about it.

“The regular soldiers, who usually just charge blindly, are forming a tactical formation.”

The grading criteria for this test did not require them to win, but to survive as long as possible.

There were about a hundred regular soldiers. Normally, only a fraction would engage, but now the entire force was moving in unison.

They had no time to waste. A young man on the right shouted, “Mister, you seem to have some military experience. Please lead us.”

Without coordination, they stood no chance. The other squad members nodded in agreement.

The sharp-featured middle-aged man moved to the center.

“Thank you for your trust. I will lead the squad.”

As soon as he spoke, So-mu waved the signal flag. Instantly, a volley of blunt training arrows filled the sky. Although they wouldn’t cause injury, a direct hit meant disqualification.

The leader raised his shield and shouted, “Tighten the circle! Leave no gaps!”

The squad members huddled together, linking their shields. They formed a solid defensive wall, protecting them from all sides.

“Child, get inside!”

“Yes, mister!”

So-so crouched beneath the shield wall. A moment later, arrows rained down upon them.

Thud! Clatter!

The archers quickly switched to rapid fire, keeping the pressure on.

Under the relentless barrage, the applicants couldn’t lower their shields.

“The infantry is charging, leader!”

“Do not panic! Hold your positions!”

If even one person faltered, the shield wall would collapse, leaving them exposed to the archers.

As the infantry closed in, the archers stopped firing. The leader’s eyes gleamed.

“The child and I will engage the front. The rest of you, form a circle formation to defend our rear!”

A circle formation was a simple defensive tactic that required no training, simply standing back-to-back in a circle.

“Understood, leader!”

“Be careful!”

Nodding, the leader looked down at So-so.

“Are you ready?”

Gripping her wooden sword, So-so shouted, “Yes, leader! Let’s charge!”

The shield wall opened, and So-so and the leader dashed out. They split to the left and right, charging into the infantry at blinding speed. The charging soldiers flinched.

Every soldier in the army knew of the “little warrior” who possessed terrifying strength.

And the middle-aged man charging alongside her was also moving with remarkable skill.

Despite the overwhelming numerical disadvantage, the two of them held the initiative.

Slipping through the ranks, So-so darted among the soldiers, her wooden sword striking their legs.

Thwack! Bam!

“Ugh!”

“Agh!”

The struck soldiers stumbled back and removed their armbands, walking off the field.

The leader was also fighting well, but his expression remained grim. The cavalry was beginning to move.

Twenty cavalrymen were flanking them to encircle the remaining squad members.

Though the squad members held their circle, it was only a matter of time before they were overrun. They had to clear the infantry before that happened.

But as So-so and the leader fought the infantry, their advance was suddenly halted. Several Wolf Fang Squad members had disguised themselves as regular infantry to block them.

As time passed, So-so was forced to focus entirely on dodging.

“Mister, what do we do?”

The leader, having cleared his opponent, rushed to So-so’s side. Back-to-back, they scanned the surrounding enemies.

Ten infantrymen stood before them.

“At least four of them are Wolf Fang members. Be careful.”

So-so knew this well.

She pouted, looking pitiful.

“Uncles, are you really going to hit me?”

Seeing their cute niece, one of the squad members chuckled. “Surrender now, before we have to spank you.”

“Sigh…”

She stood no chance against the two of them, and the leader knew it too. He whispered to her, “We have no choice. We must use our last resort.”

“What resort?”

“Child, can you defeat your father?”

“Yes! I can beat him!”

“Good. I will draw their attention. You go and capture the commander.”

To capture the chief judge… It was not part of the exam rules.

But knowing nothing of the rules, So-so nodded seriously.

“Understood.”

“Take this shield.”

Receiving the shield, So-so took a deep breath and dashed forward like a streak of lightning.

The squad members tried to stop her, but the leader blocked them desperately.

Only thirty archers stood between So-so and the command platform.

“Fire!”

Dozens of arrows flew toward her, but it was futile. The massive shield covered her body completely.

To the archers, it looked as if a shield were flying toward them on its own.

“We have no target!”

“Draw your swords! Engage in close combat!”

The archers threw down their bows and drew their wooden swords. But So-so had no interest in them.

“Here is a present!”

She flung the shield into the air, blocking their vision. In the next instant, she executed her footwork and darted past them.

Her target was So-mu on the platform. The distance between them closed rapidly.

Within ten feet, So-so leaped into the air, letting out a battle cry.

“Hah!”

She drew her wooden sword back over her shoulder, aiming a powerful strike at her father.

Faced with her attack, So-mu stood motionless, a look of utter disbelief on his face.