Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 232
Chapter Title: Training (2)
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1.
"Let's review everything you've learned up to today. Squeeze out every last ounce of strength and come at me."
Today's session had dragged on for a full twelve hours of sparring.
Unlike the early days when he'd relied solely on his astral body's durability for barehanded bouts, his vastly improved stamina from body reinforcement made this possible.
Even so, the relentless, grueling training had completely drained Siu.
His breath now rasped up to his throat, his disheveled hair clung to sweat-soaked skin, and throbbing muscle pain wracked his entire body.
Now it was the final round.
In truth, he knew he couldn't win.
But after all this hardship, wouldn't anyone want to at least see the Duke's flustered face?
Siu let out a deep exhale.
The heated rhythm of his breathing cooled as the puff of hot air cleared the fog from his mind.
His tensed muscles relaxed, yet coiled like a bowstring drawn taut, ready to snap forward.
-Thud!
Siu pictured it in his mind.
His image of himself closing the distance like a shot arrow, like the wind itself.
His mana-reinforced body synced perfectly with the mental scene, launching him ahead.
Eloa stood in the rapidly narrowing field of view.
His focus, honed to its peak, captured every detail of her like a snapshot.
Her usual training pants and windbreaker—zipped open for ease of movement—revealed her white sports bra in full view.
But what Siu zeroed in on was her overall movements.
No matter how formidable Eloa was, any action required preliminary motions.
A slight pullback of the rear foot, an arm extending forward, and so on.
By piecing together these subtle cues, he could predict her next move.
"Hah!"
Her fist shot out with a sharp kiai.
Siu's punch, tracing a near-straight trajectory, already carried the essence of footwork techniques.
Even Eloa would suffer major injury if it connected with her abdomen.
Yet Siu didn't hesitate.
He'd thrown far riskier strikes before.
He was certain she'd block it.
True to his faith, Eloa slipped her petite frame into his guard like a wedge.
Her hand coiled around his thrusting arm like a serpent.
She spun tightly within his embrace, then her foot swept his advancing leg mid-stride.
He lost balance in an instant, his center of gravity pitching forward.
"Hup!"
Normally, he'd have tumbled to the ground right there.
But Siu grabbed her shoulder and yanked his center of gravity backward, countering the throw.
The unnatural reversal slammed immense strain onto his waist.
Still, he barely staved off being flung away.
"Oh ho?"
Eloa's laugh carried a note of satisfaction.
This was the first time Siu had resisted so fiercely after a full day of getting tossed around.
True, it was brute force clashing against technique—but such resistance still required anticipating her counters.
In the end, Siu ended up in a position that looked like he was hugging her from behind as she attempted the throw.
Their power struggle continued in that awkward lock.
Eloa knew countless ways to escape this bind.
But this was the first time they'd reached such an intimate stalemate.
She figured it wouldn't hurt to let him show the technique he'd been attempting all day.
"What will you do in a bind like this?"
Siu, grunting and fixated solely on toppling her, snapped to attention at her words.
And realized it immediately.
They were pressed incredibly close together.
Eloa still gripped his arm in her wrap, impossible to shake.
Each held the other fast.
"Uh... Duke?"
"The spar isn't over yet. Even without room to maneuver, recall what you've learned—surely a way out exists. Strictly speaking, this is the first time you've ever gotten behind me."
That's not the point... The retort nearly slipped from his tongue.
This was a top-tier crisis.
Because Eloa's pink hair swayed gently right under his chin, her nape inches away.
From experience, Siu knew witch scents triggered erections.
Her nape, in particular, carried the strongest concentration—making it especially hazardous.
To make matters worse, his groin pressed firmly against her lower back.
If it hardened, he'd be exposed instantly.
This wasn't the moment to discuss back-mount attacks.
But...
He needed to say something to break free.
He knew lingering was dangerous.
Yet with her scent filling his lungs amid ragged breaths, his reason was tinting pink.
The faint sheen of sweat on Eloa's nape.
The round, firm give of her buttock against his thigh.
Taking it all in—the rubbing hair right at his nose—his head grew hazy.
As if hypnotized, he felt the urge to embrace her from behind.
"Hm...?"
Eloa tilted her head.
She'd felt the strength drain from Siu's struggles behind her.
His breathing in her ear blew like gusts of wind—far rougher than before. Was it always this intense?
Then she sensed the firm object pressing steadily into her back.
He wore comfortable training clothes, just like her.
One of his hands was pinned by hers; the other wrapped around her nape as if attempting a rear choke.
Suddenly, memories flashed: that time she'd glimpsed Siu's intimate scene, the room thick with bestial heat.
And the thick shaft protruding from between his legs, invading a woman's secret depths.
Eloa knew instinctively.
The identity of that rigid thing at her waist...
"Eek...!"
Her hair bristled like a cat dumped in scalding water.
She released his arm, twisted her body sideways, and fled.
Eloa, who'd never once fled first from any foe, made an exception here.
"Ah..."
As Eloa pulled away, her scent faded with distance.
Naturally, his abnormally heated lust cooled like it'd been doused with ice water.
I'm screwed.
A disciple who got aroused and erect from body contact during a sacred spar, rubbing against her?
Considering Eloa's rigid, strict personality, the look on her face already terrified him.
No room for excuses.
Even if he tried, he lacked confidence to convince her.
At least she hadn't fixed him with a contemptuous glare right away.
Instead, her eyes bulged impossibly wide, her jaw trembling.
"You..."
Her shocked reaction meant she'd pieced it all together.
Siu waited silently for his punishment.
He hadn't meant this by wanting to see her flustered...
No.
Too late, but he should at least prostrate and apologize for the mishap.
As Siu moved to kowtow, Eloa spoke first.
"You seem utterly exhausted. You couldn't muster proper strength."
Unexpectedly, Eloa didn't reprimand him.
She didn't even mention the incident.
"I think I pushed you too hard. Best to end today's spar here."
"I'm sorry. I can explain everything."
"No need. I know you gave it your all. Um... so... don't worry too much. Rest up for tomorrow."
For a fleeting moment, hearing her words sparked a futile hope: Maybe she didn't notice?
But no—anyone who'd felt that steel-hard pressure against their back would know.
It was like a mom catching her kid mid-act and awkwardly saying, "What're you doing? Quit the game and come out."
Her voice trembled faintly with embarrassment.
Her eyes darted aimlessly.
Her body language screamed a desperate urge to escape the scene.
"Well then, good work today. See you tomorrow."
Eloa swiftly dismantled the barrier and descended from the rooftop with stiff, creaky steps—like a malfunctioning wooden doll.
No chance to stop her, no opening to add anything.
Siu could only stare blankly at her retreating figure.
2.
"Welcome back? Sorry, I was so focused I didn't hear you come in."
Opening the door revealed Sharon: computer on one side, notebook open on the other, scribbling away intently.
Lately, Sharon had been diligently studying stocks and real estate to grow her seed money.
Surprisingly talented, she was making decent profits.
Witches were all but geniuses, after all—if she turned that brain toward earning cash, amassing a fortune wasn't hard.
The reason she'd scraped by in poverty before? Every coin she earned got snatched away before she could invest.
"Come here—let me hug you after twelve whole hours."
As usual, she rose from her seat to embrace the weary Siu from training—but jolted at his half-dead expression.
"Wh-what? What happened?"
"Nothing, really."
"What do you mean, nothing?"
Siu gazed steadily at Sharon's face.
Last time she'd greeted the Tiphereth Duke half-naked and mortified, he'd secretly found it kinda cute.
Now he regretted it from the bottom of his heart.
"Sharon, remember?"
"Remember what?"
"Before, when various things got found out. Sorry I couldn't truly empathize back then."
"Wh-why bring that up now?! What'd the Duke say?"
Sharon reacted with near-panic, jumping to her feet.
Time had passed, but the scar lingered deep.
This new wound of his wouldn't heal anytime soon either.
His solar plexus ached.
Now he understood what she'd meant by her stomach twisting in knots.
"No, just... it popped into my head."
Tomorrow, how was he supposed to face Eloa?
He could explain if he had to, but dredging it up again sounded exhausting.
Maybe skipping training for a few days wouldn't hurt...
"Popped into your head where?! What? Spill it!"
Lost in his thoughts, he noticed Sharon pacing anxiously, on the verge of tears.
"No, the Duke hasn't asked about it since. Doesn't seem to care."
"For real? Swear it?"
"I solemnly swear. But does my swear even matter?"
"I have to believe you. You're not the lying type. Phew... felt like I aged ten years! Seriously."
Sharon flung herself at him, rubbing her cheek against his chest.
He'd told her countless times it was gross and to stop, but she never listened.
Anyway, what a draining day.
He'd adapted physically to the brutal training schedule, but the mental damage was severe enough for some R&R.
"Oh, right. Siu, so... resting today?"
"Resting?"
"Today’s our... hunting day, y’know. I even booked it on the app..."
Sharon glanced at him sidelong, gauging his mood.
Oh yeah—he'd forgotten.
Every three days, they patrolled for homunculi.
After the disaster with 'Dagon's Flute,' they'd paused briefly, but still scoured Hongdae and Sinchon areas.
Neither wanted innocents dying to homunculi—and it was prime income for Sharon.
They hadn't spotted a single one since the mother beast hunt, though.
Her "reservation" meant booking a hotel for after the hunt.
With Eloa downstairs and the Orgel unable to fully mask mana fluctuations, home sex was like texting Tiphereth: We just fucked! Freshly done!
Compromise: cozy night at a nearby hotel.
"Hmm..."
Honestly, he wanted to crash today.
But seeing Sharon buzzing with anticipation, phone in hand and shaking it excitedly, that urge vanished.
"Get ready. I'll just change and head out."
"Yay! I'm all set already!"
After packing up, Siu and Sharon stepped out into the night streets for the first time in ages.