Satisfaction. Or Pressing Onward -6
"Feels good to get out after so long, right?"
I needed time to sort out my thoughts. And there wasn't any urgent business demanding my attention right now. So I started tackling the things I'd been putting off, one by one. Even if I was taking it easy at the moment, nothing would change because of it. Seohee's limbs weren't mangled anymore, and the orphanage wasn't starving for food.
That's why I'd come out to the playground with her.
"Yeah, it does."
Seohee was moving her body with a face full of excitement. It was one of those standard outdoor fitness machines you'd find in any park. As expected of a hunter, she was working it at an insane speed.
"Yeah. I've wanted to try this thing since forever..."
"Then just use it. You could've gone out alone."
The machine we were on was inside the apartment complex. It had some dust, but it wasn't filthy or dangerous like the ruins outside.
"Zombies won't come in here anyway."
"That's... I just don't like going out alone when you're home. Usually, I'm not home when you're not."
"Oh yeah?"
Seohee hopped off the machine and naturally leaned her head toward me. I stroked her hair as if it were the natural thing to do—like petting a large dog with golden fur.
"It's right nearby, but... yeah, it feels good. I know the apartment's safe, but being cooped up every day gets stuffy."
"I'll come out with you more often from now on."
Seohee looked satisfied, then headed into the tennis court next to the machine. No net—just a solid green-paved flat surface.
"You know something?"
"What?"
"I thought people changed easily. I mean, I'm lazy about a lot of stuff... I figured as long as I ate well and lived comfortably, I'd do anything. That I could live quietly like a good wife and wise mother, or obediently like a slave."
I tilted my head.
"Not true?"
"Of course not. I haven't changed. Once I got some decent food and comfort, all these hidden urges started sprouting up."
She grabbed her bat from the bench.
"I wanna go wild."
"With what?"
"Don't get the wrong idea. I like you. I love you. Being your sex slave is pretty satisfying. But still..."
Seohee's lips curved up.
"Even now, I wanna fight you. Throw everything at you, win or lose... that's what I'm thinking."
"Want me to let you win?"
She slammed the bat into the ground in frustration.
"No, that's not it, you idiot! How much more debt do I gotta owe you? What I'm saying is..."
Seohee pointed the bat at me.
"Let's have a go... nah, more like, teach me something?"
"What?"
"How to fight."
I hadn't really thought about it before.
"Hmm..."
I'd never used guns, so my marksmanship was unproven. Against Seohee, there wasn't much to teach anyway. Same with Roa—her medical knowledge dwarfed mine. I had nothing to offer her.
But Seohee wielded a cold weapon. Different from a sword, but maybe there were pointers I could give.
"Hold on, let me think."
Unfortunately, I hadn't brought my weapon—that plastic sword. I picked up a decent-looking branch from a nearby tree and held it like a sword, facing her calmly.
"Hmm..."
I pondered. Fighting her at full power would be pointless. She couldn't match my speed or strength. It'd just be mindless beating.
So I had to adjust. Handle the sword like a decent swordsman, swing at a controlled level.
Finished thinking, I chuckled and shook my head.
"Honestly, it won't help. Might even backfire."
"Really? You're not just strong—you're amazing with weapons too. You just don't need to fight like that usually."
"You noticed? Good girl, but..."
Using proper swordsmanship on regular zombies was overkill. They'd die from a single slash anyway.
"It won't change much."
"Explain... nah, forget it. My head's too thick—I won't get it anyway."
Seohee swung her bat through the air with a fierce aura.
"Show me with your body."
"Kinky."
"Jeez. Sex is all that's in your head? How are you so much like me?"
The silly banter ended, and she charged at me.
She's pretty strong, as expected.
I hadn't observed her fights closely often. But her approach was solid—lightly weaving left and right, then exploding into speed at the key moment for acceleration.
"Haaaah!"
I casually swung the stick to block her advance.
"That's all you got?!"
"That's plenty."
Her body lunged at me, bat swinging down from above in a diagonal slash.
"Your trajectory's too straightforward."
I dodged at a speed slow enough not to frustrate her, then lightly poked her left shoulder with the stick.
"Ow."
"There, for starters."
Seohee stepped back two paces, thinking.
"Ugh... even matching my level, I can't touch you. My attacks are too honest, huh? What do I change to make 'em trickier?"
"Do you have to change it?"
"Huh?"
She tilted her head, not getting it.
"You dodged my attack super easily. Anyone could do that, not just you, right?"
"Not impossible."
I recalled the knights from my old world. Some were strong enough to beat monsters, but they trained mainly to kill humans. I didn't know this world's power level, but stripping away Seohee's strength and speed, her attack had plenty of counters.
"Dodging lightly like that might be tough. But anyone could focus purely on evasion, skipping counters, or parry with a blade if they pushed it."
"Then I'd never beat you!"
"Do you have to beat me?"
"...What? If I get stronger, that's good for you too—"
"Pick one, lose the other. I don't know much about this world lately, but..."
I stepped closer, stick in hand.
"I doubt you'll clash blades that often here."
Seohee paused, then her face lit up with realization.
"Ah!"
"That footwork just now? Good. I'm no expert, but... it'll be meaningful."
Of course, whether it'd dodge real bullets was questionable.
"Evasive movement... yeah, maybe."
But I could see the purpose of her footwork. And correcting it might not lead the right way.
"Your attacks and arcs are straightforward. But if you try 'tricky' ones, you'll sacrifice something."
"Hmm..."
"Power from acceleration, speed from commitment."
Against gun users, speed matters more. She'd said she could tank a shot or two, but with a melee weapon, smashing the enemy's head fast was key.
For elite monsters, destructive power ruled. Even without Goliath's size, tough zombies with dense muscles needed raw force.
"I don't know much, but... do you fight sword users a lot?"
If she needed it, I could drill her with my full swordsmanship. But sometimes, a straightforward, power-reliant overhead smash or thrust beats fancy technique.
"Not really, but... yeah! People don't change! Better to swing hard once than hesitate with fancy arcs or feints."
"Exactly."
Seohee's lips stretched into a feral grin, a wild smile.
"So you don't need to change either."
"...Huh?"
"Anyway! Help or not, let's spar. For real this time."
"If I'm serious... sorry, but—"
I was about to say she couldn't match me, but shut up when she roughly shrugged off her jacket. Short sports bra and ripped abs came into view.
"Winner fucks the loser. By force. Deal?"
"...You wanted this from the start."
"Giggling and playing nice is fun for vibes, but not my style. What can I do? I'm a bitch like that."
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation and a smile. It was a hopeless fight she'd never win, but I knew she'd give it everything.
"Here I coooome!!!"
She charged straight at me.