Chapter 2: Rua’s Growth

Rua had been training for hours, yet she still couldn't figure out how to recover her stamina. She had tried countless stances, techniques, and breathing methods, but none had yielded results. Even so, she refused to grow frustrated. Failure was just another step forward.

"Tsk, this is difficult." She wiped the sweat from her brow, exhaling sharply. "I don't mind improving through hard work, but I was sure this ability would make things different."

Tired but determined, she pushed her limits once more, eager to learn—even if she didn't yet understand how.

After another grueling round, she finally stopped to reassess her approach. "Let's be realistic. I'm not exactly talented in this world. If I can't use these strange abilities, I'll just have to rely on my own training methods."

She forced herself to stand, her body trembling from exhaustion. Yet just as she prepared to push further—

A sudden heat surged through her body.

"…How the hell?" Rua whispered, eyes widening in disbelief. The ache in her muscles dulled, and her stamina began to recover at an unnatural rate.

She stilled, mind racing to analyze the sensation. Minutes passed as she pieced together a theory. "I don't know if this is accurate, but… it seems this ability activates through strong emotions—like determination. Or maybe… a deep desire to grow stronger?"

The realization sent a spark of excitement through her. Without hesitation, she resumed training, refining her knife techniques with newfound endurance. Though her movements were still sluggish, she compensated with precision.

As she repeated the motions, she focused on her driving force—her will to become stronger.

And just as she had suspected, the more she fueled her determination, the faster her stamina recovered.

"Finally… I figured it out." A small smirk tugged at her lips. "With this, I can keep training without Mother noticing."

Now armed with this discovery, Rua advanced to the next stage—weapon mastery and martial arts.

Though she hadn't been the strongest assassin in her past life, she had been well-versed in a wide range of weapons—knives, firearms, swords, and more. However, her new, smaller body required adaptation. She refined her techniques, developing methods tailored to a female physique, maximizing efficiency while minimizing wasted movement.

Her progress was astonishing—even to herself. "Yesterday, I wasn't even close to this level… Now, I could probably take on twenty average adults."

Satisfied but mindful of the time, Rua ended her session and headed home for dinner.

She washed off the dirt from training, changed into fresh clothes, and stepped inside. As expected, her mother had already prepared a meal.

"Mother, what is that?" Rua asked, eyeing the unfamiliar meat on the table.

Kayna hesitated. "It's boar, Rua. It's healthy, so don't worry."

Rua noticed her mother's unease but said nothing. She quietly ate, surprised at her own appetite. Kayna, in turn, watched in shock as Rua finished her entire portion—leaving only the bones.

Just as Kayna opened her mouth to speak, Rua swiftly stood up. "I'll be back."

Without waiting for a response, she returned to her training. She had set a goal—to perfect her body within a month.

Her regimen was brutal. Sit-ups, pull-ups, countless push-ups, endurance drills that would break an ordinary person. Yet, her body adapted unnaturally fast. No matter how much she pushed herself, her stamina always recovered.

Days turned into months.

By the first day of the new month, Rua had undergone drastic improvement. Though her physique remained petite due to her young age, her strength had become monstrous. Her movements were precise, her reflexes razor-sharp. She could lift her entire weight with just a single finger.

"…This growth is abnormal." Rua frowned, studying her hands. "No muscle gain, despite my progress… What kind of body is this?"

To test her capabilities, she fashioned a practice dummy from old clothes.

Rua took a deep breath. Her body stilled.

Then—she vanished.

A heartbeat later, she reappeared beside the dummy.

Shing!

A single slash.

The fabric split clean in half.

Though pleased with the results, a sense of dissatisfaction lingered. "I need a moving target to truly awaken my instincts… But for now, this is enough."

At the very least, she was confident in one thing.

If danger arose—she could protect her mother.

Rua knew mana users were rare, appearing only in demi-humans or those with unique bloodlines. Though she had no interest in them, she was aware that her mother had sacrificed a great deal to give birth to her.

"Mother mentioned that carrying a demi-human child drains a woman's mana… I hope she's not overexerting herself."

Brushing the thought aside, she sprinted home, using a mastered movement technique that rendered her nearly invisible. Upon arrival, she suppressed her killing intent before stepping inside.

Her mother was asleep in a chair, bathed in the soft glow of evening light. Even in her thirties, despite her heavily pregnant state, Kayna still looked beautiful.

Rua silently moved to the kitchen. With practiced ease, she prepared a meal using her past-life cooking skills. As the aroma filled the house, Kayna stirred.

"Rua…?" She blinked in disbelief. "You know how to cook?"

"I've been watching you," Rua replied simply. "Something felt off about your method, so I made adjustments. Try it."

Kayna hesitated, then took a bite. Her eyes widened.

"Mmm! This is incredible!"

Rua nodded, unfazed. "From now on, I'll cook for you."

Kayna was stunned—but deeply touched. Though her husband had been absent for the past month, she felt less alone. Rua, despite being so young, had become a source of unwavering support.

—

Four months passed.

Rua neglected her training, dedicating herself entirely to Kayna's care. She prepared nutritious meals, assisted with exercises, and ensured her mother remained comfortable.

She even turned away the village children who often begged her to play, instead asking them for small loans to cover daily necessities.

Each week, she ventured to the local market, purchasing supplies with practiced efficiency. Despite the stares she received, the routine became second nature. Her near-limitless stamina made even the most exhausting tasks manageable.

But as the time of birth approached, for the first time—Rua felt an unfamiliar emotion.

Frustration.

Not at her mother's condition. Not at the workload.

At her father.

"…This shitty father of mine." Her voice was laced with quiet fury. "Why isn't he here? This is an important day. He should be by Mother's side."

Though she hadn't considered the possibility of an accident, she didn't care. Even if the nearby mountains were crawling with monsters, the village's protective barrier—powered by monster cores—ensured their safety.

Her father's absence was inexcusable.

Sitting on a bamboo bench, she pondered for nearly an hour before making her decision.

"I'll ask the village elder for help."

She went straight to Elder Ji's house. "Gramps Ji, please help my mother. She's going to give birth tonight."

The elderly man, wrinkled yet wise, smiled at her words.

"We are aware of Kayna's condition, Rua. Don't worry—we're prepared."

Rua blinked. "You knew?"

"Haha, of course." The elder chuckled. "Leave it to us. Focus on taking care of yourself."

Still, Rua hesitated. "But… Mother's giving birth to a demi-child. Can you really help?"

Elder Ji's expression darkened.

"You brat! Don't underestimate us elders! We've delivered plenty of demi-human children. Have more faith in us!"

Rua fell silent.

"…I'm sorry, Gramps Ji."

"Enough. Go home. Your mother needs you."

Rua obeyed. Though relief settled in, her anger toward her father remained.

Five months had passed.

And he was still nowhere to be found.