Chapter 27:Is someone else watching..?

Jin Su-hyeon, unable to defeat me under the agreed-upon handicap, conceded.

His family’s swordsmanship focused on powerful, direct strikes.

He’d even summoned another sword and tried a different technique, but even with restrained power, his sword shattered after only four exchanges.

In hand-to-hand combat, his chances of winning were zero, so there was no point in continuing.

We ended the spar and exited the virtual reality capsules.

“Your power is truly remarkable. And the way you precisely targeted my weapon’s weak points… I might have lost even in a pure skill-based match.”

Blood Sky Dance.

A technique that instinctively guided my body towards the most efficient attack.

In that situation, destroying his weapon was the most logical course of action, so it led me to strike at its most vulnerable points.

It had worked perfectly, granting me an easy victory.

He might have been right.

Even with equalized physical abilities and no energy manipulation, I probably would have won in a pure skill-based fight.

‘I have 137 years of experience, after all.’

Losing a pure skill-based match to someone with only 40 years of training?

‘That would be a wasted life.’

But I couldn’t say that out loud, so I feigned humility.

“That’s not true. I haven’t even reached S-rank yet. How could I possibly surpass you in skill?”

While I now possessed power beyond S-rank, in terms of level and official rank, I was still below him.

‘Status Windows aren’t always beneficial.’

Someone with my enlightenment, physical abilities, and energy reserves, without a Status Window, would have reached the Transformation Realm instantly.

But Awakened individuals had both a blessing and a restriction.

‘Levels.’

No matter how profound one’s enlightenment, if their level was insufficient, a ‘lock’ prevented them from advancing to the next realm.

‘I was essentially re-leveling from 1 after already gaining the necessary enlightenment.’

My mind had surpassed the Transformation Realm and touched upon the Transcendent Realm, but my body couldn’t keep up.

This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I’d achieved my current physical abilities in just 17 years thanks to the Status Window.

Without it, I wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to reincarnate.

And at the same level, those with Status Windows were inherently stronger.

Which led to my constant questions.

What was the Status Window? Who created it? How could it grant such power, making those who trained relentlessly in other worlds seem foolish?

I had more questions for the god who’d given me this ability.

“Thank you for your kind words. Will you be staying for dinner?”

I wouldn’t mind another free meal, but I couldn’t imagine how Estelle and Liera would react.

“I have people waiting for me at home.”

Liera, openly possessive, and Estelle, secretly possessive.

A terrifying combination.

“How about inviting them as well? I insisted on the spar, so I’d like to extend my hospitality.”

That seemed acceptable.

Their concern was Ha-yeon and me being alone together, not a group setting.

“Sure. I’ll ask them.”

I took out my phone and called Estelle. She answered immediately.

-Are you coming back soon?

“No, Baek-ryong’s father wants to invite you guys for dinner. Want to join us? The food here is even better than yesterday’s. Or we can just go home.”

-I’d love to. Me too…

I heard Liera’s voice in the background. I knew they wouldn’t refuse; they both enjoyed good food.

“Okay. Come to the address I’ll send you.”

-Okay. I’ll dress up nicely. Oppa- I…

Liera seemed to be saying something, but the call disconnected. If it was important, she’d call back. I turned to Jin Su-hyeon.

“They said they’ll join us.”

“That’s good. Until they arrive, how about another spar…?”

Was that his real intention all along?

“I have company waiting here too.”

“Alright…”

His visible disappointment amused me.

I went to find Ha-yeon. S

he’d said she’d visit Jin Se-ryung while I spoke with Jin Su-hyeon.

I’d seen a door across from Jin Baek-ryong’s room with a nameplate that read “[Se-ryung’s Room♡]”. I knocked on the door.

Knock knock

-Who is it?

Jin Se-ryung’s voice.

“It’s Yu-won, Baek-ryong’s friend, from earlier.”

I heard movement inside, and she opened the door.

“Did you have a good chat with my father?”

“Yes. He’s not as authoritarian as I’d expected.”

“He’s just a bit formal and obsessed with sparring. He’s a good person at heart. Baek-ryong is similar.”

Like father, like son.

“Yu-won, are you leaving now?”

Ha-yeon, sitting on the bed, spoke.

“No, we’re staying for dinner. Estelle and Liera are coming too.”

“What…?”

Her expression turned menacing.

Not the murderous glare she’d directed at the righteous sects in the past, but still intimidating.

“Uh… the head of the family offered us dinner…”

“We came out alone. Shouldn’t you have asked for my permission before inviting others? You’re very inconsiderate, Yu-won.”

Jin Se-ryung chimed in.

“Yeah, that’s not very nice of you, Yu-won.”

They had a point.

This was my first time navigating a polyamorous relationship, and I was still learning.

In my past lives, I’d only been with one woman at a time.

And strangely, after getting married, I’d had no other encounters with women.

In all three lives.

‘Come to think of it…’

Perhaps they’d intentionally prevented me from interacting with other women.

Made sure no one else could approach me.

I wondered why they’d gone to such lengths, but right now, dealing with Ha-yeon was my priority.

She held grudges, and if I didn’t appease her now, I’d be suffocating at home, unable to speak to her until the academy started.

I knelt before her, bowing my head.

“This is our first time out alone, and I made a mistake. Can you forgive me?”

I’d never knelt before an emperor, a Demon King, or a goddess, but my knees felt light before my wives.

I would kneel a thousand times if it meant resolving this conflict.

I offered a simple explanation and a sincere apology, without any excuses.

Having held a position of power, she hated excuses.

“If you’re truly sorry, come here, hold me, and kiss me.”

‘Uh… Ha-yeon?’

Baek-ryong’s sister didn’t know about our relationship.

Was it okay to reveal it like this? I could ask her to keep it a secret, but there was another problem.

“With someone else watching…?”

She pouted and turned away, the childish gesture suiting her youthful appearance.

“Are you really sorry?”

This was a red flag. And it wasn’t just her.

“I-I won’t look. Go ahead.”

Jin Se-ryung covered her face with her hands, peeking through her fingers.

I almost sighed but refrained, fearing Ha-yeon’s reaction.

I couldn’t let things escalate. I sat beside her on the bed, embraced her, and gently kissed her lips.

I expected a simple peck, but she slipped her tongue into my mouth.

“Oh… Oh…”

Ignoring the sounds from beside us, Ha-yeon deepened the kiss, her arms around my neck.

Three minutes later, she finally released me.

“It’s a shame you’re still so young…”

She licked her lips as she spoke. I hoped she could wait at least three more years.

“K-Kissing is… quite intense…?”

‘You said you wouldn’t look…’

She’d practically admitted to watching with her mouth.

It was absurd. Her face was flushed, her breath ragged. Anyone would think she was the one who’d just been kissed.

“Could you please keep our relationship a secret?”

“I don’t know why, but sure…”

Having secured her promise, we joined Estelle and Liera for dinner a short while later.

Jin Su-hyeon challenged me to another spar before we left, but I declined and returned home.