Ch.90Episode 19. Making a Move (1)

“Yeon-ah, you need to be able to change direction more quickly. Your center of gravity shifts too much, making your turns slow. Especially when using Flash Strike. If you fail an attack like that, you’ll be vulnerable to counterattacks. Like this.”

I said this while pinning down Jung Yeon with my knee on her back.

“Ugh…”

She groaned as she watched her sacred weapon rolling away. She looked up at me with a face contorted in pain.

Despite struggling with all her might to break free, it was impossible to overcome the force I was applying.

“I-I can’t get out…”

“You’d need to use twice the strength I’m using to escape. Obviously, that’s not happening.”

“Ugh… C-could you let me go? My chest is starting to feel tight…”

“Sure.”

I got off her. Jung Yeon made a strained sound as she struggled to get up.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But aren’t people as strong and fast as you, Instructor, quite rare?”

“Even so, as long as you’re learning from me, you need to become my equal.”

I’m going to make you all worthy of being called S-class heroes.

“Your standards are too high. But of course! That’s what makes it good!”

Is this what they call reverse psychology?

I couldn’t help but smile wryly. I expected her to complain, but she actually seemed pleased.

Glancing to the side, I saw the others still sprawled on the ground, unable to get up. That was because I had put them through several rounds before sparring with Jung Yeon.

I demanded that Yeon Mu-hee maintain her optimal sword energy state regardless of the situation. I trained her to counter without losing focus even while I was launching fierce attacks.

This training was necessary so she could protect her weapon and execute quick consecutive attacks and counterattacks without delay.

While her swordsmanship itself was threatening, Mu-hee wasn’t a quick-draw specialist like Yeon Hwa-ryong, so without maintaining her sword energy, she couldn’t deliver a fatal blow to her opponent.

For Gu Yeon-hwa, I hadn’t prepared a significantly different course from before. What was important for her was the stamina to sustain her imagination, so I was focusing on building her physical endurance much more than the others.

In addition, I emphasized mental agility.

I asked her to use skills before I attacked—preferably complex combinations.

For reference, even though I was moving at a moderate pace, she failed at everything except Fireball.

For Yu A-ri, I focused on improving her dynamic vision and agility so she could keep up with my movements, and trained her to emit power in all directions rather than concentrating it in her weapon.

This method was similar to the principle of Lee Bang-sil’s barrier installation.

Currently, she could only project a few meters, but if she could eventually extend it to hundreds of meters, that area would be covered in darkness and become A-ri’s stage.

And no one could defeat Yu A-ri hiding in darkness. Except me.

“Alright, that’s it for today.”

Let’s take it easy since it’s just the first day. We still have a long way to go.

“Not yet… we still have time, Yujin.”

Yeon Mu-hee tries to get up unsteadily. Look at her calling me by my first name.

“Isn’t today supposed to be a rest day?”

“Vacation is a rest day.”

That’s true.

“The fact that you have the energy to talk suggests you haven’t trained enough.”

“That’s right. I’m not satisfied yet.”

She talks big despite not being able to stand up. I approached her, crouched down, and faced her. She flinched, her shoulders jerking.

Her expression remained mostly impassive, but her eyes trembled, betraying her emotions.

Has her perception of me changed since the home visit?

I don’t mind, but if it’s romantic feelings, I should handle it gently.

“That’s enough. I can see you’re exhausted. Let’s not overdo it on the first day.”

“But—”

“Understood?”

“…Yes.”

“Good. That’s a good girl.”

I patted Mu-hee’s head before standing up. To prevent the others from getting jealous, I went to each of them, chatted briefly, and patted their heads too.

Especially Yu A-ri—I gave her extra attention.

“Everyone seems to be in decent shape, so do some light stretching and rest. See you tomorrow?”

“Isn’t it too early? It’s only four o’clock.”

I think it’s impressive that they managed to keep up with my training for three hours, even with breaks. This was only possible because they had followed my guidance throughout the first semester.

If they weren’t accustomed to it, they would have collapsed an hour ago and still be unable to get up.

“I have something to do for about a week starting today.”

Someone’s birthday is coming up, and I need to prepare something before then.

* * *

Back in my room, I called a phone number I had already registered.

The ringing continued for a while. I began to suspect she might be ignoring my call after recognizing my number, but I decided to wait patiently.

After several seconds, the ringing stopped.

[Ugh… hello.]

Her voice was hoarse, as if she had just woken up.

Did she drink late into the night again?

I suppose with all the money she must have saved up, this kind of idle lifestyle is possible. I’d like to try it too.

“Are you still sleeping even though it’s afternoon?”

[…Who is this?]

So she didn’t even save my number?

I was inwardly sighing with disappointment when the phone went silent for a moment. Thinking she might have hung up, I pulled the phone away from my ear. Looking at the screen, I saw the call was still connected.

[You……]

“Not ‘you’—it’s Yujin. Ms. Mitchell.”

I chuckled softly and spoke politely. The fact that she recognized me meant she must have either saved my number or remembered it.

[Sigh… Why are you calling?]

Mitchell’s irritated sigh came through the phone. Then I heard a few gulping sounds, as if she was drinking water.

“Why am I calling? Let’s have dinner together.”

[Huh? I have no reason to dine with you, Instructor.]

You might not have a reason, but I do. I don’t intend to watch this awkward distance-keeping forever.

And if you keep being so complacent, you might lose Gu Yeon-hwa to me.

“I told you before. Let’s have a meal together in a bright place.”

[I never agreed to that.]

“Really? Then agree now.”

[I don’t want to.]

“Then should I come to the host bar tonight? We can have dinner there, I suppose.”

[Are you crazy?]

“Isn’t going to a host bar about having drinks with handsome men by your side? I’ll be your one-day employee. How’s that?”

It’s ironic. She pushed Gu Yeon-hwa away because she was sick of her husband, yet she herself is craving male company out of loneliness.

If you asked whether she was the type to be promiscuous, she wasn’t. She just liked to have men beside her while drinking.

Of course, this was only described in a line or two in the novel, so I couldn’t be sure what she was really like.

“I may not be great at conversation, but I’m an excellent listener. Plus, I think I’m quite handsome. Don’t you agree?”

[You’re quite full of yourself.]

“Didn’t you tell me I was handsome when we met last time?”

The phone went silent again. So she’s not denying it.

[What is this… Are you hitting on me because I’m divorced? Do I look that easy to you?]

“Hitting on you? Not at all. I just want to talk.”

I emphasized my innocence. As if anyone could be as pure and honest as me.

[Talk? I’ve been wondering about this—do instructors normally concern themselves with family matters?]

“Of course not. Why would I care about other people’s lives?”

[Then……]

“But I do care.”

[Why?]

“I told you before. I want Gu Yeon-hwa to be happy more than anyone else. Besides, I’ve already had consultations with all the other parents. You’re the only one left.”

I couldn’t say I had perfectly resolved all issues yet, but things were progressing according to my plan.

The slowest progress was with Gu Yeon-hwa’s family situation.

I waited to give her the opportunity to make the right choice, but this woman is so stubborn that I had no choice but to step in directly.

[How old are you, Instructor?]

“Twenty-five.”

[Then… are you dating Yeon-hwa?]

“No.”

[Then why do you want her to be happy?]

“Do we have to be dating for that? Can’t I, as her instructor, sincerely wish for my student’s happiness?”

[…That’s hard to believe.]

“I find it hard to believe that you frequent host bars.”

[Are you mocking me?]

“No. Just making conversation.”

[…You haven’t told Yeon-hwa, have you?]

If I had, Gu Yeon-hwa wouldn’t have stayed quiet. Even at the risk of being hated, she would have immediately told her mother not to go to such places.

It seems she does care about Gu Yeon-hwa after all.

“I considered it, but I didn’t want to put you in an awkward position. But if you won’t have dinner with me, I might just tell her.”

[…Is that a threat?]

“A threat? Why would I threaten a parent? It’s just dinner, nothing more. Completely innocent.”

[…Haa.]

A sigh finally emerged after a long pause.

[It’s just dinner. And I don’t have much to talk about anyway.]

Finally, she agreed.

She’s dragging this out unnecessarily.

“Is there anything particular you’d like to eat?”

[I’ll text you the address later. Be there by 7.]

“Alright.”

After that abrupt instruction, she coldly ended the call. I stared at the darkened screen of my phone before putting it back in my pocket.

I know that this approach with parents isn’t generally advisable.

Basically, she’s probably twice my age, and it would be better in many ways to be more deferential.

But this should be fine with Mitchell.

After all, she doesn’t particularly like formal atmospheres.