The Great Oni
Volume (1) Chapter (15)
Three years passed.
"Thann!"
"Thann!"
"Thann!"
In the broad training field, Artha and Yeti were clashing fiercely with steel sword.
Every stroke from both of them aimed straight for a killing point.
"Thann!"
Artha suddenly raised his power and hacked down with great force.
Yeti gritted her teeth and blocked with her sword.
"Chii!"
The two blades locked; as their strength met, sparks burst from the steel.
"Chik-chik—if that full-power slash hit me, I'd never survive," one Sun-Legion soldier muttered.
"Don't even mention me; even Commander Sandar couldn't take it."
"Our lady is really strong. How much power is hiding in that tiny body?" the soldiers whispered, exhaling.
Throughout these years Yeti had been personally trained by Artha.
She'd improved so much she could endure Artha's full strength for almost one minute.
Even Sun-Legion troops lasted only 5 seconds against her before losing.
Yeti studied every form of fighting—sword, spear, axe, bow, even empty-hand—and her skill kept sharpening.
Because learning such killing arts in her original body had been impossible, she was satisfied with her progress.
In these three years the Sun Empire made no moves, leaving Prince Artha alone.
Artha turned the village into a town, declared a tiny kingdom, and is now called King Artha.
His small realm sits between the Sun Empire and the Earthquake Empire.
The Sun Empire ignores them; the Earthquake Empire keeps an eye on them.
Recently scouts appear, checking the town's condition.
King Artha mostly ignores that and focuses on feeding and governing his people.
With Yeti's fresh ideas, his realm—over 4 000 souls—is a pleasant little country.
Its army is the Sun Legion: 1 500 soldiers, truly formidable.
They lack the millions of people and vast armies the two empires boast, but Artha is content.
He even keeps ties with the Sun-Empire king, working to unseat the imperial prime minister.
For now, he enjoys life with Yeti.
After ten hard minutes, Yeti was finally defeated.
"Not bad—you're better than before," Artha smiled, tossing her a towel and a water bottle.
Yeti gave her loveliest smile, took the towel, wiped sweat, and drank.
Her exact age unknown, she was now about eighteen or nineteen.
Her height had grown from a bit over five feet to about five-eight; her compact body was built of lean, strong muscle.
Though still underestimated as a girl, she could tear a man in two bare-handed.
She stayed this strong thanks to the five-percent boost from her original body.
Even so, Artha surpassed her in body and mind.
"Artha's too strong. I guess I'll never catch up," she sighed.
"Ha-ha—keep trying, kid." He ruffled her hair.
They walked back to the palace.
"Mama!" A two-year-old boy ran over and hugged Yeti's leg.
Smiling, she lifted him. "Victor, have you eaten?"
"Yes, Mama," he nodded. Golden hair, Artha's face, utterly adorable.
Seeing a three-year-old boy standing farther off, Yeti's face shifted and she went upstairs.
Artha sighed and went to the child. "Renintha, already eaten?"
"Yes, Father," Renintha answered. He had Yeti's looks and a calm, sweet face.
Yeti seldom doted on Renintha, though she met her duties—doing everything but giving love.
Artha, mature and affectionate, cared for the boy. Since he wasn't the one who'd suffered, he never scolded Yeti.
She never beat the child; she simply seldom spoke unless needed.
Their two-story residence wasn't huge but elegant, built on a mountainside with a clear view of the whole town.
Though small and sparsely populated, the town was spotless; stone-paved streets, proper drains.
Government was not pure monarchy but leaned communist. Yeti wanted democracy; Artha refused, and she let it drop.
They kept to their own spheres and rarely spoke when unnecessary.
Named Aarunyuu, the town gave its people a good life.
Artha's entire realm was this town plus the surrounding Natin Forest.
Yet everyone there was well-off and well-fed—something even the great empires hadn't achieved.
Like rich, tiny Singapore versus vast, half-starving Myanmar. (The empires weren't quite that bad, but still.)
Because of Yeti's military skill the soldiers revered her; in politics her advice proved valuable, and the people loved her.
Artha felt even the Sun-Empire capital wasn't this advanced.
The palace's second floor held a large garden and a grand library.
Most books were fairy tales—rewrites of novels and films Yeti once knew.
Almost every day after sword practice she came here and played with the children.
When she met Renintha coming up with Artha she said nothing, picked a book, and read an old general's story from her past life.
All four family members grew quiet, listening intently as Yeti read.