Early morning.

I stepped out to the open space behind the inn to loosen up before breakfast.

Come to think of it, I never took a break from training even when I was injured, but it’s been a while since I moved my body like this.

“Whew….”

I drew my sword while regulating my breathing. And then, the first form of the Samjae sword technique.

The movements that were engraved in my body after swinging it countless times, but I still couldn’t get used to it. The only difference from before is….

“You’re putting too much force on your wrist. Think about when you fight against a tricky opponent. If you can’t knock them down with one blow, you need to put in more effort. That way, you can minimize the shock of the sword and quickly move on to the next move.”

“Balancing is good, but the momentum is lacking. The Palbangbo is a balanced form, but remember that you don’t need to be obsessed with balance. After all, the purpose of the form is to find a favorable position.”

“Come to think of it, you always seem to be practicing swordsmanship. What will you do without a sword? From now on, teach your lady the Yukhapkwon Six Combination Fist. Don’t you need at least some preparation?”

It’s about Hong Yeon-hwa.

The soft sensation felt on my back. The clear voice whispering in my ear. The thin arms and legs that twisted my neck and waist.

Hong Yeon-hwa, who has been sticking to me since yesterday, was still advising me while being carried on my back.

Of course, there is a reason for this too.

To demonstrate the power of the Muryeongshingong, a strong will is needed.

Until now, I couldn’t use it properly because it didn’t work as I wanted… but I accidentally found a way.

“Now that you’ve warmed up your body, let’s start the Simbeop in earnest.”

“Okay.”

I closed my eyes and focused on the sensation of Hong Yeon-hwa touching me.

Until now, I tried to squeeze my willpower based on the memory of fighting against Cheokan-geumgwi. All failed.

Now that I think about it, the reason was simple. I thought it was a past event in a corner of my mind.

The urgency to remember couldn’t be the will to compensate for the situation. It just became meaningless anxiety.

Muryeongshingong is a martial art that allows you to see the next level through the power of will.

If your will and thoughts are shattered and become anxiety, you cannot fully demonstrate the power of the martial art.

But in this state where I am in direct contact, it’s different. I can focus solely on the existence of Hong Yeon-hwa, which I can feel with my senses.

Why is it that when you memorize something, it’s easier to remember when you say it, hear it, and write it down than just memorizing it with your eyes?

It’s not exactly the same, but it’s a similar feeling.

Not long after, a part of my inner energy gathered in my spine in the form of a lukewarm stick, breaking free from my control.

A faint heat spreading throughout my body. I felt a little bit of power that exceeded my full strength.

“Hup!”

In that state, I swung my sword again. Without stopping until the concentration was broken and the power of Muryeongshingong disappeared.

***

“Hmm. Now you can freely demonstrate the power of the martial art. But you still have a long way to go. The speed is still slow, and the rise is also small. And you can’t do it without your lady… You can’t do it without your lady!”

Hong Yeon-hwa repeated the last sentence with a passionate voice. She’s been like that since yesterday.

She’s cute, but something feels lacking. What is it?

Just then, Hong Yeon-hwa’s legs wrapped around my waist caught my eye.

It’s dangerous, so I put away my sword and pushed my index finger into the hollow part of her shoe.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

Even though she’s been tormented by my pranks, her voice had no suspicion. I felt a hint of relief behind her pure trust.

“You really like your lady, don’t you? So you won’t do anything that she doesn’t like, right?”

I could hear Hong Yeon-hwa’s voice without her saying anything.

Something’s off….

So I tickled the hollow part of her foot with my index finger.

“Euh-hee-it! Wh-what are you doing… Huh-it! Stop tickling! I’ll fall! I feel like I’m going to fall!”

Hong Yeon-hwa’s squirming! The effect was soft and fluffy!

How can a person’s body be soft and fluffy no matter where you touch it? And it’s a woman’s body.

I couldn’t imagine a hard, muscular Hong Yeon-hwa even if I tried. She had already settled inside me as something small and fluffy.

“Can’t you hear what your lady is saying… Hahng!”

I pretended not to hear her properly and nodded my head, feeling the sensation of her breasts pressing against my back.

Hmm. This is it. I finally feel fulfilled.

.

.

.

.

.

After struggling for a while, Hong Yeon-hwa collapsed on my shoulder. She breathed heavily, putting her head on my shoulder.

“Hue… Euee… Why do you torture me once a day without fail… What’s the reason for being so dissatisfied….”

“Well, I don’t know. I just move my body without thinking. It’s just that my body moves first.”

“…Huh?”

Hong Yeon-hwa made a stupid sound, her brain momentarily stopping at my words. Was she unable to speak properly because she was too angry about the unfair situation?

“Eek…! Eeek…! Eeek…!”

She just made a sound of frustration and then sighed, falling off my back with a thud.

“Phew… Draw your sword again. Don’t you want to spar with your lady before we eat?”

“Suddenly…?”

“Didn’t your lady say before? What you need right now is practical training or something like that.”

I remember that, but the atmosphere feels a little chilly.

“…Are you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Or are you sulking?”

“I’m not a child.”

“Then…”

“Stop talking and draw your sword.”

“….”

She’s definitely angry.

Unable to say anything more to Hong Yeon-hwa’s firm attitude, I just fiddled with the hilt of my sword.

Come to think of it, it’s only natural. Has Hong Yeon-hwa ever been treated so badly anywhere else?

From my perspective, Hong Yeon-hwa’s cute attitude of not being able to believe what happened to her was endearing, but from Hong Yeon-hwa’s perspective, it was enough to be upset about.

Is this the accumulation of things that have led to her being angry like this?

Should I apologize right away? Or should I apologize after her anger subsides a bit?

I opened my mouth carefully, my eyes rolling around without being able to say anything.

“Hey, I’m sorry about that…”

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

“Even though you always say you don’t like it, I still play around?”

“And?”

“Treat you like that even though I said I like you…?”

“And?”

“And…um…”

My head was gradually lowering without me realizing it. What did I do wrong again? Oh, is that it?

“I told you to stop, but you didn’t listen…?”

I raised my head carefully, squeezing out an answer. But something was strange. Hong Yeon-hwa, who I thought would be very angry, was looking at me with her lips pursed.

“Huh! Huhuhu!”

???

What’s going on? What’s going on all of a sudden?

The chilly atmosphere disappeared as if it was my misunderstanding.

Only Hong Yeon-hwa remained, laughing with her mouth covered, as if something was very funny.

As I couldn’t keep up with the sudden change, I just stared blankly at her, and then Hong Yeon-hwa opened her mouth with a face full of laughter.

“Are you surprised?”

“Huh?”

“I said if you were surprised that I suddenly got angry.”

“Huh…”

As I stupidly nodded my head, Hong Yeon-hwa smiled happily like the happiest person in the world.

“It’s so cute how you try to read my mood! Was that how you felt when you were tormenting me?”

“What…? No, I really…”

Only then did I understand the situation a little. Hong Yeon-hwa pretended to be angry on purpose to tease me.

How humiliating! But it’s my own fault!

As Hong Yeon-hwa approached me, who had come close without realizing it, she whispered in my trembling ear.

“I made you uneasy! I can control my emotions!”

As soon as I heard those words, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Yeeeeeaaahhh!! Didn’t I say we should spar before eating?! Let’s do it now! Right now!”

I swung my sword with all my might.

And I attacked unilaterally.

***

The guesthouse was sparsely populated in the morning. Today, I ordered four servings of dumplings and two servings of beef noodles, which was a bit generous.

I originally planned to eat some plain noodles for breakfast, but I didn’t feel like it.

Hong Yeon-hwa, who saw me drinking the spicy broth after dissolving the spicy seasoning, offered me a dumpling.

“Do you want to eat a dumpling? It’s the last one.”

“No.”

“Well, I have too many, so I don’t think I can eat them all. Can I take some of your beef noodles?”

“I’m not eating it.”

“…Can I just take the meat?”

“It’s okay.”

Hong Yeon-hwa didn’t care about my sluggish response and pulled a chair next to me.

“Are you angry?”

“No.”

“You seem angry.”

“I’m not.”

“Then you’re sulking.”

“I’m not.”

The same question and answer as before. But this time, Hong Yeon-hwa pulled out her trump card.

“Do you want me to touch your chest?”

“…Not now, later.”

I can’t help it.

Seeing my slightly relaxed reaction, Hong Yeon-hwa rubbed my shoulder and said, “Don’t be too relaxed. Even if we fight with the same skill, it doesn’t mean that I won’t surpass you.”

“That’s true, but…”

It’s still a bit shocking to be beaten up without being able to do anything.

Of course, I knew this would happen in my head. It’s not just a difference of one or two levels in skill.

But it’s inevitable to feel frustrated after being beaten up.

Something… like an impossible situation… is happening… Is this domestic violence…?

Whether she knows my complicated feelings or not, Hong Yeon-hwa finished the last dumpling and opened her mouth.

“Come to think of it, there’s a bandit group that has settled around here.”