“Yes I usually use a bow but can also throw knives pretty well” I say as I walk over to the shooting line.

  “I see you brought your own bow but please use the bows we have provided, the test is fairly simple, you'll just need to shoot 5 arrows at a target and you will be scored based on accuracy”

  This of course is the test I'm least worried about. I can easily hit the bullseye with all 5 arrows but I make sure to send two into the second ring so I don't make the same mistake as with the speed test. Once I fire the last arrow I turn to the employee.

  “You said the last test was combat right? How will that be judged?”

  Before she can respond a man yells from the guild buildings door

  “That’ll be my job!”

  The man is at least 6 feet tall covered with silver armor and holding a wooden longsword, though other than his height he looks rather average. The kind of guy you would never notice if you walk past him on the street. He walks over while chuckling before introducing himself and putting his hand out for a handshake.

  “My name's Roderick, a B rank mercenary, I help out the guild when they need to test someone.”

  “Nice to meet you, you can call me Ren” I say as I reach out to shake his hand, the moment I grab his hand though he squeezes as if he's trying to break my palm in half. Grinning, I return the favor and squeeze down as hard as possible without using mana. It doesn't hurt him but he looks surprised.

  “So the strength test was real! How did you manage to pull that off with your small figure!”

  Looking down at my body I realize that although I couldn't be called gaunt it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I'm skin and bones. I haven't needed to eat much since cultivating replenishes me to a certain degree and before that there was practically no food so it would be a wonder if i didnt look weak.

  “Size isn't all that matters when it comes to strength” I just decide to leave it at that and smile.

  Once I answer the employee looks at Roderick in a somewhat helpless manner.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Roderick, we're conducting a practical test, please save any further questions till after”

  “Oh come on Sarah, you can't act like you're not curious too!”

  He replies while laughing, based on their reactions I'm guessing this is a regular occurrence.

  “Well anyway, since you use a bow, I won't use a shield. for the test all you will need to do is hit me once with a sparring arrow” he uses his thumb to point at a quiver next to a rack full of wooden weapons.

  I walk up to the quiver and pull an arrow out, it has no tip, just a round piece of wood with a cloth wrapped around it. Putting the arrow back then grabbing the quiver and slinging it over my shoulder i look back over at Roderick

  “When do we start”

  “Right now!”

  As the words leave his mouth he grabs his sword and dashes toward me letting out a horizontal slash with his wooden sword aiming at my waist.

  Caught off guard I barely have time to jump back and avoid the strike before turning and running to gain some distance.

  “Isnt a sneak attack a little underhanded when your the senior here!”

  “Hahaha, Feel free to complain when you're laying dead on the ground from a goblin ambush! This is to test your actual combat abilities!” He yells out

  He has a point, so instead of responding I draw two arrows, placing one in my bow hand and the other on the bow string. Drawing back the bow I fire the first arrow then fire the second immediately after, both aiming at the same point, his heart.

  Roderick seems to be able to tell where the arrows are going and slashes the first out of the sky with his sword and turns his body to the side to dodge the second then without a second pause he lunges forward again to close the distance, sword at the ready. Before he can reach me I dart to my left and circle back around to the rack with the practice weapons, passing behind it and swiping a few wooden knives as I move past it.

  Roderick doesn't seem to notice and merely charges to the other side of the rack swinging his sword straight forward to block my path. I drop to the ground and roll underneath his blade to dodge and once I'm past him I start running again to gain distance before turning and pulling two more arrows from the quiver. This time I put both arrows on the bowstring and drew. Tilting my bow to the side a little, I released both at the same time, one heading for the left side of his chest and the other his stomach. Roderick just slashes diagonally to take both out of the air.

  “Not bad! But when you aim so predictably it's easy to…huh?”

  Roderick's comments are cut short by a wooden knife leaving my hand as he hurriedly dodges to the side. I don't waste the time that gives me by throwing the other wooden knife up into the air in a wide arc and drawing another arrow. Roderick darts forward to close the distance once again but the knife falls in front of him as i fire. He ignores the knife and slashes out to deflect the arrow but then the arrow strikes the knife in midair which knocks up the knife and causes the arrows trajectory to change. The arrow hits him square in the thigh.