Chapter 160 – Seo Ok-rang (4)

“Is it really that surprising?”

“…How did you know?”

“It’s simple. I found it strange while reviewing the instructor’s log.”

“……”

“It’s rare for people to change suddenly.”

Especially at Shinmu Academy, the chances are even lower.

“For example, if someone experienced a significant shock.”

“……”

Looking at the situation, it was likely that Seo Ok-rang initiated it.

It probably wasn’t a serious seduction or secret rendezvous.

Instructor Ja-gyeom isn’t someone who would carelessly leave students unattended.

“It was probably a joke or some contact that was misunderstood.”

“…That’s correct.”

“Well, seeing how she jokingly confessed to me, it makes sense.”

“……”

“But on your side, it’s hard to understand.”

Il-pyo is usually very cautious.

Why would he follow the immature and demanding Seo Ok-rang?

‘I wondered if he had ulterior motives.’

But seeing his clearly annoyed expression when she acted up, that didn’t seem to be the case.

The most crucial part was this.

“The strangest thing is that the rumor was spread by the guy who supposedly seduced her.”

“……”

“And that was you.”

Why would he defend Seo Ok-rang so diligently, even risking expulsion?

Finally, Il-pyo spoke.

“…How did you know?”

“There are ways to know.”

Even if there weren’t.

“A novice like you can’t hide feelings of pity, guilt, and regret.”

“I thought I hid my feelings well.”

“Hmph. Do you think a child’s attempt to hide can fool an adult?”

*Thud.*

Leaning his chin on his hand, Cho Un-hwi gestured.

“Don’t worry. I’m as crazy and stubborn as the rumors say. I’m also not very smart.”

“Even if you explain it, I’ll likely forget it soon.”

Hearing this, Il-pyo’s expression relaxed.

“Well, it doesn’t matter if you remember.”

“I just want to get it off my chest now.”

Muttering, Il-pyo looked into the distance and began to speak.

“…Where should I start?”

“From the beginning.”

“…It all started two years ago during the Murim Excursion.”

In a low voice, Il-pyo began to recount his memories.

***

The two first met two years ago.

When they both entered Euncheon Hall.

“For a while, we only knew each other’s faces. At the time, male and female students were strictly separated.”

“Go on.”

Their connection began during the Murim Excursion that year.

“Our group’s mission wasn’t difficult.”

They were tasked with clearing a small bandit hideout in Geumhwa County.

The instructor in charge was capable, and the group’s skills were decent, so they quickly completed the task.

“The problem was on the way back. While we were momentarily relaxed, we encountered a rapist that another group was chasing.”

“A rapist?”

“I heard he had assaulted and murdered several women.”

Rape and murder.

He was a particularly vile rapist.

The following explanation was roughly as expected.

“I was separated and suddenly attacked.”

“I fought back for about thirty moves but couldn’t win.”

Seduction Martial Arts.

In the righteous sects, it’s dismissed as a vile sorcery, but it’s a martial art that absorbs a woman’s essence.

Even if the rapist’s mastery of Seduction Martial Arts was low, it would be difficult for a novice martial artist to handle.

“He was quite a skilled martial artist. His martial arts were impressive, but freezing up in a real fight was the real issue.”

Defeated and facing death, a savior appeared.

“It was Miss Seo who saved me.”

“Oh. How dramatic.”

Il-pyo’s expression twisted.

“She said to me.”

– Young Master Il! Let’s fight together!

She said we could win if we fought together.

But I…

“……”

Unable to continue, Cho Un-hwi asked.

“Did you run away?”

“……”

“You ran away, didn’t you? You coward.”

“…Yes.”

Thinking he was saved, he ran away without looking back.

“By the time I came to my senses and returned, Instructor Mo Yong had arrived.”

Thanks to that, the worst was avoided.

“I later learned that Miss Seo fought fiercely.”

“…Well, fighting a rapist is obvious.”

Seduction Martial Arts absorbs a woman’s essence to gain strength.

“It wasn’t luck that she avoided the worst it was intentional.”

He would have weakened her to use her as a sacrifice for Seduction Martial Arts.

Unlike men, a woman’s body is like a precious elixir to a rapist practicing Seduction Martial Arts.

Especially if she has deeply mastered righteous martial arts.

“It wasn’t luck he deliberately toyed with her to break her spirit.”

“…I learned that later.”

Now he understood why Mo Yong Seon-ya felt particularly sorry for Seo Ok-rang.

– She was a very talented and lively student. Unfortunately…

‘No wonder the senior instructor indulged her.’

This tragic backstory explained it.

At least now, he understood Il-pyo’s actions.

“Did you stick with her out of guilt?”

“I wanted to help, even if it was late.”

“It’s too late, you fool.”

“…I know.”

Now everything made sense.

*Tap tap.*

But there was still something unclear.

Seeing Il-pyo’s hesitant expression, Cho Un-hwi urged him.

“There’s another reason, isn’t there?”

“What is it?”

“Well… spending time together, I grew fond of her, and the more I saw her, the more I liked her.”

“Ugh!”

*Whack!*

“Ugh!”

Il-pyo groaned as Cho Un-hwi kicked him under the table.

“Stop eavesdropping and come out.”

Without turning around, Cho Un-hwi shouted, and Il-pyo looked at the door.

“Miss Seo!”

Seeing Seo Ok-rang fidgeting with her fingers, Il-pyo turned pale.

“Well done! Youngsters!”

“Th-that… Miss Seo.”

“Why am I the only one by myself”

“Where’s the Inspection Department!”

“There are indecent kids here!”

Pounding the table and shouting, Il-pyo rushed to cover his mouth.

“Isn’t calling for divine punishment too much?”

“Not at all.”

Considering my suffering.

Fortunately, Cho Un-hwi’s mood soon improved.

Seo Ok-rang walked over and apologized to Il-pyo.

“I’m sorry, Young Master Il.”

“I prefer older men.”

“Oh…”

“Serves you right.”

I feel so relieved.

The principles of the Jianghu are alive again.

Seeing Il-pyo bury his head on the table, Cho Un-hwi laughed.

“Serves you right. Justice is served.”

“You’re too much.”

“You’re the one who created a soft atmosphere in front of an elder at the Marital age.”

It’s time to wrap this up.

“Kid. Honestly, I don’t know how you felt.”

“Maybe you felt betrayed.”

“Maybe you fell into despair.”

“The memory of being toyed with by a rapist would leave deep scars as a martial artist and a woman.

Even so, I don’t know.”

‘I’ve never felt fear.’

But there’s one thing I want to say.

“Whatever twisted your mind, it’s best to avoid filling the void with meaningless acts.”

“Both your pocket and heart will soon be empty.”

“If you want attention, seek it. If you want to improve your reputation, that’s fine too.”

“But don’t waste your time on superficial things.”

“Superficial things?”

“Reputation and wealth are superficial.”

“If you don’t manage them, they’ll quickly disappear.”

“If it’s not in your head or attached to your body, it’s superficial.”

“If you let your guard down, they’ll run away.”

For example.

“My headbutt was faster than your sword.”

“Headbutting was cheating.”

“Admit the defeat of superficial things.”

*Hehe.*

Realizing she was laughing, Seo Ok-rang felt a strange emotion.

‘He’s oddly comforting.’

If it were anyone else, they would have shouted to shut up when talking about such things.

But now, she didn’t feel any resentment.

Maybe that’s why.

Her tightly guarded feelings slipped out.

“But honestly, I don’t know anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“My true feelings.”

“A kid knowing their true feelings would be a monster or a demon.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Seo Ok-rang smiled.

“I don’t know if I changed because of that incident.”

Seo Ok-rang smiled.

“Honestly, I was fine after the incident.”

“The wounds inflicted by the rapist healed quickly.”

“I could return to training with vigor.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“But others didn’t seem to think so.”

“Everyone I met spoke to me with pity.”

“You don’t have to pretend to be strong.”

“I know how painful it must have been. Talk to me if you’re struggling.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Listening to them made me question if I was really okay.”

“People talk about others’ lives so easily.”

“The hardest part was…”

*Drip.*

A large tear rolled down her cheek.

“Later, rumors spread that I had been badly treated.”

*Sniff.*

Her large eyes began to glisten with tears.

Covering her face with her hands, Seo Ok-rang sobbed.

“Honestly, I was fine.”

“But everyone kept saying there was something wrong with me.”

“I wanted to show that I was okay.”

“But I couldn’t.”

Removing her hands, Seo Ok-rang still had tears streaming down her face.

“At first, I wanted to be like Sword Lady.”

“I wanted to train hard and avenge my humiliation.”

“I wanted to become someone who made rapists tremble in fear.”

The best female martial artist.

A fair and just enforcer.

“But at some point, everyone kept talking about the past, and I couldn’t escape.”

“Everyone said I was in pain.”

“Everyone started looking at me with pity.”

“At some point, I began to doubt if I was really okay.”

“Honestly, I was fine. I wanted to be like Sword lady.”

At some point, I lost my way.

In the confusion, my heart lost its direction.

“I wanted to live like the protagonist of the world.”

Without being swayed by others.

Pursuing my goals to the end.

Living like the center of the world.

“Ugh. Ugh.”

Watching her tear up again, Cho Un-hwi shook his head heavily.

“…It’s impossible.”

*Flinch.*

In Seo Ok-rang’s wavering gaze, there was sadness.

“…So I can’t live like Sword lady anymore?”

With her heart broken.

Chasing after something unattainable, it might be inevitable.

“No, not that.”

Cho Un-hwi spoke firmly.

“I mean being the protagonist of the world.”

“What?”

“Your dream is too grand.”

Standing up, Cho Un-hwi pointed at himself and shouted.

“Fool! The protagonist of the world is me!”

You are just supporting characters.

“You are just extras in my life!”

Il-pyo, who had been listening quietly, stood up and shouted.

“Instructor! Isn’t that too harsh?”

“What? An extra passing by.”

“This world revolves around me!”

Got it? You don’t, do you?

“You are just supporting characters in my life! Like the peasant soldiers in ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ who die with a scream.”

“What are peasant soldiers!”

Seeing them bicker, Seo Ok-rang burst into laughter.

“Hahaha. Hohoho.”

Seeing her laugh while holding her stomach, the two stopped grabbing each other’s collars.

“Tsk. They say if you laugh after crying, you grow hair on your butt.”

“Have you ever heard that you shouldn’t say such things to a lady?”

“Why do women talk so much after crying?”

Grumbling, Cho Un-hwi dusted off his pants and stood up.

“Let’s get going.”

“Where are we going in the middle of the night?”

In response to Il-pyo’s question, Cho Un-hwi replied as if it were obvious.

“When you feel like crap, you need to go unwind.”

“I know a great place.”

Seo Ok-rang tilted her head.