Huh?!

"No wonder they called it the Novice Area. It looked just like kids fighting." Pad watched the young people trade clumsy blows like they were in some old Yan Country movie, grunting as they exchanged moves, and couldn't help finding it amusing.

This was supposed to be real combat?

And this could actually end in someone's death?

They even needed an expert standing by to protect them?

Maybe I could try getting a Martial License in Yan Country.

With that thought in mind, Pad stepped over the white line at the entrance to the martial arts school. The moment he did, his body, which had been trembling with excitement and anticipation, suddenly turned cold.

At the same time, Pad felt as though countless eyes had fixed on him.

"Am I actually scared? Scared because of a sparring match that looks like kids playing around?"

Pad stared in disbelief at the young men exchanging blows at a snail's pace, but despite himself, he tensed his body even further, though his ability had already fully activated it.

"You fought well!"

Just then, not far away, a young man who looked about seventeen or eighteen pressed a hand against his opponent's neck. Pad immediately took two steps forward and asked in Yan Country Language, his accent noticeable:

"Hello. Could I spar with you?"

"A foreigner, huh? Go ahead. I still need to challenge Senior Sister Wang!" the victorious young man said to the loser. The defeated youth seemed reluctant, but still turned to Pad and said:

"I'll be your opponent. Since you're not wearing a Protective Suit, you must have some experience, right? Want me to hold back?"

"Hold back? What's that? Am I supposed to keep my hands off you?" Pad wondered. He was quite displeased by the other man's dismissive attitude.