episode_0143

It was a strange feeling.

Just in case, I tried it on the clothes I’m wearing right now, and sure enough, Heeseon’s affectionate feelings were deeply embedded here as well.

It felt like peeking into Heeseon’s hidden thoughts, so I couldn’t stop.

Heeseon seemed very embarrassed by my actions, hitting my arm sharply, urging me to stop…

“I like it… Please don’t get hurt… Please be happy when you wear it…”

Wow… Heeseon’s emotions are so vivid… How can I stop this fun?

I should take out all the clothes Heeseon made later and check them.

“Ugh..! Seriously, stop it! It’s embarrassing, so please stop confirming my feelings! You should try it yourself now…”

“Hahaha. Okay okay… But how can I help feeling good when your thoughts towards me are so clear?”

Still, I should stop.

Heeseon’s face is turning so red, it might burst.

“Hehe..! Anyway, the key is that to infuse respect into an item, you first have to infuse emotions! Then respect naturally follows. Since you seem to understand that part clearly… Just pick up any cloth and try to infuse emotions like I do.”

“Okay. Got it. Um… but what kind of emotion should I infuse?”

“Any emotion, in the direction that suits you best. It can be like mine. But! Remember, the blessings you receive from others…”

“Thinking of using them for me?”

“Yes! Even if it seems a bit forced, it doesn’t matter. As long as you sincerely deal with those emotions? Oh! Think of the clothes as getting stronger just to protect yourself! It will be much easier to infuse emotions that way.”

“Haha, that sounds good according to this teacher. After all, there’s no need for you to be like Heeseon. Her method is too generic and popular. It doesn’t fit well with someone like you who is focused on your own growth… not for helping others.”

The teacher added, apparently agreeing with Heeseon’s advice.

I also thought that made sense.

“Well..! That does make sense. Heeseon’s method is too complicated and difficult.”

Of course, I can have altruistic intentions.

But since ultimately that action must be seen as for my benefit…

Moreover, if the target I need to convince of that sincerity is none other than myself, no amount of justification will likely suffice, right?

Therefore, Heeseon and the teacher probably suggested infusing emotions for my sake.

Indeed, the current training is not about helping others but solely about becoming stronger for myself.

“Yeah..! I understand a bit better now what emotion to infuse.. But um.. Heeseon? Do I just infuse that emotion into this cloth now?”

“Yes! Hehe.. What emotion are you trying to infuse? I’m just curious!”

“Um… simply the desire to make this cloth strong to protect myself?”

“Oh! That’s perfect! Hehe.. Then, hold the cloth and focus on projecting that desire onto it… Um.. It might require a more intense emotion to succeed more easily…”

“Haha..! Don’t worry about that, Heeseon! It seems like it’s time for this teacher to step in now!”

“Oh! Teacher!”

Up until now, the teacher had only supplemented Heeseon’s teachings with advice, but now it seemed like he was going to give direct instruction, standing up from his seat and saying,

“Well.. We shouldn’t do it here. Let’s go outside to the training ground!”

“Oh! There it’s spacious, and we won’t run into any issues. Sir!”

“……”

Hmm… But Heesun… Why do you need such a wide space?

What other problems could arise…?

Why is my heart suddenly filled with unease?

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Could it be that I’m destined to become a shaman..?

How come every time this anxious feeling arises, I never miss a beat…

Goooosh….

Inside the silent training ground.

Even though there were only three people in this vast space, the pressure emanating from the presence of the master alone seemed to fill the entire area.

“Are you ready?”

“……”

I wanted to say no? But… I couldn’t utter a word.

It’s just that the sight of the master in front of me, holding a wooden sword, looked so threatening that I couldn’t move a muscle.

Despite knowing that what the master held in his hand was just a wooden sword, I couldn’t help but feel like if I made even a slight movement, my body would be split in two by that wooden sword.

“Hehe…. Master! Please don’t be so tense! If you get hurt, I can heal you anytime!”

“……”

Oh… Heesun…? Why are you talking as if it’s a certainty that I’ll get hurt?

Suddenly, I’m getting scared…!

But Heesun seems completely unfazed by this pressure.

While I’m frozen stiff like a mouse in front of a cat, Heesun doesn’t seem relaxed at all.

She’s smiling mischievously like a child before playing a prank….

“Haha. Seems like the pressure is too much for you.”

“……”

Yes. I couldn’t even answer.

“Oh! Heesun, don’t worry too much. She’s practically like our daughter, would I expose her to such ominous energy? Haha..”

“……”

What about me, Master? I’m practically her husband, aren’t I?

But seriously, what’s going on? Why are you just standing there and making it so difficult?

“Haha.. Seems like you’re curious about this energy. This is the application of Taiil (太一), the third stage. It’s related to human spirit power, wasn’t it? Well, I won’t tell you about that now…”

“……”

Swish! Swish!

As the master turned the wooden sword with his wrist, twisting his waist and stretching his body, a sense of threat kept growing with each seemingly inconsequential movement, making my rigid body tremble uncontrollably.

“We’re learning about Jiil (地一) right now. So, like this..!”

Wooong..! The wooden sword in the master’s hand started trembling slightly and was filled with a grayish energy…!

‘Wow..! Is that a technique? Wow..! I knew I had some skill! This is real martial arts! Can I use something like that in the future?’

Even in the midst of a critical situation where danger loomed large, it was still an impressive sight!

I thought it couldn’t be true, but there really was such a technique?

“Oh! Your eyes suddenly lit up! It feels sparkling! Haha! You truly are a devoted disciple who understands the master’s love..! I felt a bit sad hitting a struggling disciple, but you are indeed strong. Haha.. Feel free to relax, I can hit you without worry.”

“……?”

Huh..?

Master, did you really intend to hit me with that? It looks extremely dangerous!

No! With that sharp momentum, anyone would think you’re going to cut through…!

Wait! Heesun, I should ask for help..!

Hee, Heesun? Didn’t I mention earlier that I would confront the master before coming here?

Although I hesitated before, now I have no intention of doing so..! Now is a perfect opportunity to confront the master!

So please, quickly stop the master..! No, save me..!

Blinking rapidly, I tried to convey a plea for help, but Heesun just continued to smile joyfully as if she were having fun.

“Where are you looking right now? Hey…! No matter how pretty my face is, you should focus on the training with your master! Now then… take a look at the energy contained in this wooden sword, what do you think? Isn’t it fascinating? This is also part of the training. When you reach a certain level, you will be able to do this.”

“……”

“It might be a bit embarrassing, but as part of the lesson, let me explain in detail to you. I wanted this sword to contain the power to cut through anything.”

Oh, earlier you said you wanted to hit me..! Why did you want the power to cut through things..?

“So, what kind of emotions do you think I infused into this sword as a master? Ah! Since you won’t be able to answer anyway, I’ll just tell you directly. It’s the joy of being a master.”

“……”

“There was a reason why I asked you to wrap the cloth around your body as soon as you entered my training ground. Didn’t you say you wanted to imbue that cloth with the determination to protect yourself?”

Ah… I did say that….

Ugh… I regret what I said earlier.

I wish I had expressed the desire to wear the cloth and become extremely handsome instead..!

“Is it easy to imbue such emotions into that cloth when you have nothing to start with? That’s why I rolled up one sleeve as your master.”

“……”

“Now, coming back to the emotions infused in the sword, I hoped that the energy contained in the sword would appear very threatening to you. You need to feel a great threat so that a strong desire to survive, driven by your instincts, will be imbued in the cloth.”

“……”

“Do you understand what this means?”

“……”

No? You don’t quite get it?

“It simply means that I sincerely desire your growth. Hahaha..! The joy you gain from your growth can be solely for my benefit. That’s why it’s fascinating, isn’t it? Originally, without this selfless emotion, the sword wouldn’t move well under my control.”

Your grace is as vast as the sky.. But, Master..

“You… you only need to worry about your own life without thinking about others, so it should be very easy for you. Therefore, consider my actions as a crisis and struggle to survive. Oh! And don’t forget to try to imbue that intense emotion into the cloth at that moment…! If you forget, you might end up as you are now?”

“….!!!”

Swish..!

As soon as the words ended, the master suddenly lifted the wooden sword, adjusting his stance while raising his arm holding the sword..!

Sizzle..!

The thin arm of the master, which seemed like a stick before, suddenly swelled with muscles, almost tripling in size!

“Uh… Uhuhuhu..!”

Help me! Please help me..!

I wanted to say that… but no sound came out of my mouth..!

Oooohhh..!

The gray energy emanating from the master’s hand-held wooden sword began to grow brighter..!

Flash..!

With a shining gray light, my eyes closed tightly.

The last image lingering in my mind, like an afterimage, was…

Whether he was wearing gloves or not, the master swiftly approached me and raised the sword in his hand high as if piercing the sky, then brought it down onto my body…

I… I was deeply cut by that sword just now… and blood gushed out.