episode_0228

“A…a duel..?”

“Yeah.”

I swallowed dry saliva.

It was because of none other than the woman in front of him.

This is the head office of the Jangseongpa family, with its subtle fragrance and luxurious furniture.

After the inspection, she was standing right across from me with her purple eyes shining softly.

‘I was wondering why you were calling me…’

He came here because he suddenly heard that I was being sought after, and he said that he wanted to watch me and Yeryeong spar with his own eyes.

“I’m curious to see how much your disciple’s martial arts have achieved. But Yeryeong wants to compete with you.”

“Is that so..”

He said he thought of me as his nemesis… It seemed like he really meant it.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

“Ah..no, I’m more surprised..”

Geom-hu closed his eyes with long eyelashes and nodded his head slightly.

“It’s a sudden request.”

She thought for a moment, then smiled faintly and took something out of her bosom.

A gold plate with a single Chinese character for “壯” written on it. Geom-hu handed it to me.

“What is this..?”

“I didn’t mean to ask you for favors like a thug. I intend to give you a proper reward.”

As I carefully examined the gold plate, Geom-hu let out a faint smile and took a sip of the teacup that was proudly placed on the table.

“The elders of Jangseong’s house. If you give it to the elders here, they will grant any request you may have. If it is burdensome, you can ask me.”

“You… don’t you think this is too much compensation?”

“Can’t I do this for my precious disciple’s close friend and special child who helps me so much? You don’t have to feel burdened.”

“Ha..but…”

“Oh my.”

Her stern voice left me speechless for a moment.

After mumbling for a while without being able to say anything, I finally took a deep breath and carefully put the bag back into my arms.

“…Yeolyeong would like it. She’s a kid who really likes fighting with me.”

“Haha. Doesn’t that mean you’re that good?”

“When is a good time to spar?”

Geom-hu tapped the table with his fingers a few times, then looked at me with a faint smile.

“Since you’ve come all the way to Jangseong, why not try it now?”

“Right now..?”

“Yeah. I just got back from closing, so I have some free time.”

I stroked my hat and pondered under her infinitely serious eyes.

hmm..

It’s about time I went back to my teacher.

Still, I guess there’s time to spar once.

*

The training ground is once again splendidly decorated with stone steps.

Yeolyeong, in front of me, was looking at me with a more serious look in her eyes than before.

“If the teacher sees it, I will go really seriously.”

“It was a joke so far?”

“…That’s not true, though.”

A faint smile naturally appeared on my face at the sight of Yeolyeong grumbling.

But the playful atmosphere was short-lived.

Ye-ryeong soon raised her sword with a serious expression on her face.

A moment of silence as I looked around.

The wind slowly gathered around the training ground and began to blow strongly around Yeryeong.

“…..I guess it was really a joke.”

I wasn’t the only one who was surprised, as Geom-hu also raised one eyebrow and looked at Ye-ryeong.

Seeing her appearance, which was completely different from before, I also stood with my feet firmly on the ground and took a stance.

That fleeting moment of time passed between her and me.

It was Yeryeong who took the first step.

She appeared in front of me in an instant, accompanied by a strong wind noise.

Her wooden sword narrowly missed my head.

“Three Absolute Swords!”

“What?!”

Her wooden sword comes straight in without giving any time to rest.

I tried to avoid it, but I was momentarily taken aback by the sword strikes coming from three directions at the same time, as if it were a mirage.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be avoided.

I dodged Ye-ryeong’s sword with minimal movement, then immediately extended my fist towards her wooden sword.

But unlike before, she easily evades my attacks.

“Haat!”

After that, Yeryeong pulled her sword back sharply and swung it with all her might towards my upper body with her eyes flashing.

Her sword strike, which had not been at full power until then, approached quickly as if it was surging forward.

I instinctively lowered my body to avoid the sword strike, then swung my foot sharply toward Yeryeong’s ankle.

“Ugh!”

Yeolyeong’s body falls down.

But just before she hit the ground, I picked her up with both hands.

A pose as if holding a princess.

Ye-ryeong, who had quickly entered my arms, stared blankly at me, then quickly blushed and started to squirm violently.

“Hey! What…what are you doing!”

“Hehehe. That was a good match, Yeryeong.”

“That…..haha…”

When I let out a shallow laugh, she lowered her head with cheeks flushed like a carrot.

Clap-clap-

As I slowly lowered the sash, applause was heard from the direction of the inspection.

Geom-hu, who had come up to her without even noticing her presence, looked at Ye-ryeong with a strange look.

“You’ve really grown a lot. You’ve worked hard, disciple.”

“…No, Master. It’s still a long way to go.”

“Hehe. That kind of mindset will take you to a higher level.”

She stroked Yeryeong’s head with a faint smile, then slowly turned her head to look at me.

“You said Sowol. Your martial arts are also quite amazing. Even if it’s a wooden sword, I can’t believe you can beat Ye-ryeong with your bare fists.”

“Uh…..thank you.”

“But I’ve never seen this martial art before. Can I ask which school you belong to?”

I waved my hand with a vague smile, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“No..I don’t have a separate school. I think it’s because I’ve been learning martial arts since I was young.”

“Wow. Do you have a separate teacher?”

As Geom-hu looked at me with his eyes wide open as if he was interested, Ye-ryeong hurriedly got between me and Geom-hu.

“Sowol got into an accident and lost all of her memories. That’s probably why she can’t remember things from the past very well.”

“…Oh my. You’ve had a hard time at such a young age.”

The eyes of the swordsman drooping downwards.

Her long eyelashes made the surrounding atmosphere even more hazy.

“No. I am living happily with my teacher now.”

“….There was a teacher.”

Is it just me or does it feel like you have a regretful expression on your face?

For some reason, Yeryeong pushed my back with a slightly anxious look on her face.

“It’s late, so go in quickly. Your teacher will be worried.”

“Huh..? Huh..”

I felt embarrassed as my body was suddenly pushed away.

But, as Yeryeong said, it took quite some time, so I decided to go back without saying anything.

“I’ll see you off to the main gate.”

Geom-hu came right up to me without any noise.

Her movements were so silent, like a ghost’s, that I felt an instinctive creepiness.

“Yes..? Oh..no. I can go alone.”

“Don’t worry, it’s the duty of the eldest son to see off his precious guests.”

” Then… I will be grateful..”

Geom-hu looks at me with a happy smile.

“…..”

Behind her, Yeryeong was looking at me with an unreadable expression.

“…..I’ll go too.”

Yeryeong said in a slightly subdued voice.

After receiving her and the inspector’s farewell, I was able to arrive at the main gate of Jangseongga after a short while of walking.

“Then go in carefully. You are welcome to come anytime.”

“Yes.. Thank you, Mr. Geomhu.”

“Hwaryeon. Call me Hwaryeon.”

My body trembled at the serious voice of the examiner.

By the way, your last name is Hwaryeon.

It was a name that suited her beautiful looks so well.

“Huh?! Master, what’s your name?”

Geom-hu puts his hand on my shoulder while looking flustered.

“I have a feeling I’ll be seeing Sowol often. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get to know her in advance.”

She tapped my shoulder a few times, then took a step back and waved at me.

“….Goodbye. Come play again tomorrow.”

Yeolyeong’s voice sounded slightly gloomy.

For some reason, I’ve had a feeling that Yeryeong isn’t in a good mood.

Could it be because I sparred in front of the teacher?

Feeling like I wanted to comfort her for no reason, I approached Yeryeong and hugged her tightly.

“Huh?! Hey..! What..is this..?”

I smiled lightly as I looked at Ye-ryeong’s face exploding with a “bang.”

“It’s okay, Yeryeong. You’re smart and work hard, so you’ll definitely be able to beat me someday.”

“What..? No, that’s not why I’m mad.. No.”

She was mouthing the words as if she had a lot to say.

As soon as I let her go, Yeryeong looked at me with hazy eyes.

“…..”

Geom-hu looked at the two of us without saying anything.

I slowly walked towards the gate of Jangseongga and waved to them.

“Then I’ll come back next time! Hwaryeon, stay healthy too!”

“Okay. Next time you come, make sure to stop by for me.”

“Goodbye, Sowol. Let’s fight again next time.”

After receiving their kind farewells, I headed down the mountain path with a bright smile on my face.

A smooth farewell.

But that’s why I couldn’t have expected it at all.

As soon as I disappear from sight.

That Yeryeong and Hwaryeon’s expressions gradually sank.