Chapter 78: The Score of Progress (2/2)

“Haha, it’s just a little touch-up to make things look better. It helps draw in the crowd. A good show makes for a better fight, don’t you think?”

“That makes sense. But why is she fighting without using magic?”

“There’s a reason. Let’s just say it’s for training.”

I replied with a wry smile.

Even if some information was already out there, it wasn’t wise to share everything with just anyone.

Goro studied Cassian for a moment, then grinned.

“Then maybe I should have a go too. Last time I fought, I wasn’t quite satisfied.”

He was recalling the tournament at the Tower.

I smiled and nodded.

A doll approached and handed him a waiting ticket.

One after another, Cassian’s opponents fell before her sword.

With no restrictions holding her back, her blade was terrifyingly sharp.

Soon, it was Goro’s turn.

He stepped forward with confidence, gripping his sword firmly.

With a grin, he charged at Cassian.

And then he lost.

He returned to my side with a blank expression, as if his soul had left his body.

“She can do all that without magic?”

He murmured in quiet amazement, his gaze fixed on Cassian.

Gradually, a gleam appeared in his eyes.

He patted my shoulder and chuckled.

“This is your doing, isn’t it? Could you teach me as well?”

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Goro knew Cassian and me well.

We had spent five years together, after all.

It was no surprise that he immediately realized what had changed about her.

I had been thinking about this for a while.

I needed more data.

Observing just Cassian wasn’t enough—there weren’t enough samples.

I needed a wider range of subjects to ensure diversity.

And now, just when I needed it, the perfect candidate showed up.

It was exactly what I wanted, yet it also made me a little suspicious.

He could have been sent by the Association.

But that didn’t matter.

We could simply use each other.

“Of course. But I’ll need something in return. There’s a lot of work to be done, after all.”

I made a circle with my fingers and smiled.

Goro laughed and nodded.

He was the perfect test subject for me.

Mira’s body had originally been modeled after his.

That was how much I had studied him back at the Tower.

Using the knowledge I already had on him would be easy.

A mirror beetle flew out from my coat and displayed the “Scoring Table.”

Over time, Mira and I had assigned countless scores.

Those criteria had accumulated, forming a structured system.

It had two main categories: physical beauty and combat proficiency.

We embedded that data into the mirror beetle and created a new type of magic—

The Scoring Table.

Mira called it a “Combat Analysis System,” but that name was too long.

I preferred something short and precise.

After much debate, I won that argument.

A hard-earned victory.

In her last duel, Cassian had scored 80 points on the Scoring Table—

Exactly the same as our manual analysis.

The system consistently produced similar results.

Even after this was all over, the Scoring Table would prove useful—

Just as it was now.

The beetle had already begun recording Goro and Cassian’s fight, assigning scores in real time.

While scoring required a vast amount of data, I already had enough on Goro.

As the recording played, his score started plummeting.

At this rate, it would hit rock bottom.

I subtly adjusted it to prevent it from going too low.

In the end, his final score was 30.

Cassian, on the other hand, scored 95.

Goro stared at his score, his jaw dropping.

“This… this is my score?”

“Yes, 30 points is actually pretty decent. Cassian started at zero when we first evaluated her.”

I said this to comfort him.

But it didn’t seem to help.

He wobbled slightly on his feet.

After a moment, he collected himself.

He stared intently at the mirror beetle, which displayed a detailed breakdown of the points deducted.

After studying it for a while, he handed the beetle back to me.

“I’ll be back tomorrow. Evaluate me again then.”

With that, he left.

His broad figure soared toward the city, looking strangely lonely.

***

The next day, just as he had promised, he returned.

He looked slightly more haggard than before, but his eyes burned with determination.

He fought Cassian again.

His improvement was clear.

But he still wasn’t used to fighting without magic.

A small mistake cost him the match, and he once again fell beneath Cassian’s sword.

Even so, the result was astonishing.

This time, his score was 60.

A 30-point jump in just one night.

And I hadn’t even manipulated the score.

Still, he clicked his tongue in frustration.

“This is all I can manage?”

He muttered, dissatisfied.

Behind him stood about ten people—

All familiar faces.

They were swordsmen from the Tower, former comrades.

A core group of fighters from that place.

“It’s been a while.”

I greeted them with a smile.

They nodded slightly in return.

Goro turned to them.

“I told them I was entering a duel, and they all decided to come.”

His companions chuckled at his score.

Goro smirked, then turned back to me, his eyes glinting.

“Can you score them too?”

I nodded readily.

I had gathered plenty of data on them over the past five years.

Even if there were gaps, I could fill them in using references from others.

It would be enough to generate a rough evaluation.

One by one, they stepped into the arena.

One by one, they fell before Cassian’s blade.

The mirror beetle displayed their scores.

5 points, 15 points, 21 points…

Compared to Goro, their scores were abysmal.

“Hmm, you all need to work harder.”

Goro sneered.

The swordsmen gritted their teeth and glared at him.

Satisfied, he studied his own score again.

He stroked his chin as he read the deductions.

“This is interesting. Mind if I tell others about it?”

“Not at all. In fact, I’d appreciate it.”

I replied while organizing the recorded scores.

I needed more data.

I had planned to promote the Scoring Table through Cassian—

But now, that wouldn’t be necessary.

With Goro spreading the word, recruitment would be effortless.

Of course, I still had to analyze each applicant’s body.

A few quick cuts with a blade would be enough.

Unlike Cassian, most didn’t require deep analysis.

Goro gathered up the defeated fighters and laughed as he left.

He waved, saying he’d be back tomorrow.

I returned his wave with a smile.

Then I turned my gaze back to the arena.

Cassian was moving gracefully, effortlessly avoiding her opponent’s sword.

Her dress remained steady, undisturbed by her movements.

Changing outfits wasn’t just for show—

It was a form of training.

By adapting to different clothes, she learned to move effectively under various restrictions.

Within those constraints, she discovered the most efficient paths—

New movements unlike before.

Each day, she fought with fresh techniques.

Her movements became more varied, more refined—

More beautiful.

Mira once said, ”Just as a body is a shell to a person, clothing is another layer of that shell.”

I had been skeptical.

But seeing this, I had to admit—

Even something as simple as attire could lead to improvement.

We were shaping her body to embrace versatility.

I ran my fingers over the mirror beetle.

The new fighting styles we recorded today would become her foundation.

More warriors would come, bringing new data—

All of it would be absorbed into her.

Piece by piece, she would be perfected.

A thousand forms, all within her.

That was what I sought.

Cassian’s blade cut through her opponent.

He dropped to his knees.

The dolls swiftly carried him away, while Cassian bowed politely.

The surrounding swordsmen clapped and laughed.

***

From the next day on, more and more people came, asking to be evaluated.

I had planned to rely on Cassian for promotion, but now it wasn’t necessary.

She sighed in relief.

And so, the data accumulated.

Time passed.

Her body grew ever closer to perfection.

Her fourth opponent was someone preparing to ascend to the fourth floor.

She scored 87 points.

Her fifth opponent had only recently reached the fourth floor.

She scored 95 points.