One Week!
“Agh, my back’s killing me. It’s throbbing like hell.”
Ever since yesterday’s sparring session, I woke up with my whole body aching so bad I couldn’t even get out of bed. Felt just like some middle-aged guy who twisted his back showing off.
“B-back?”
Kim Yang, who’d been nursing me from the side, tilted her head in confusion. She didn’t seem to know the word.
“I told you to study up on vocab. Fine, starting today, we’re doing quizzes—ten words a day.”
“O-old fogey.”
She didn’t know back but knew old fogey?
“This is why SNS is a problem. You don’t know back but you use old fogey? You really think that’s okay?”
“M-mood killer.”
“Mood killer? What’s that?”
“M-mood. D-drops. B-boss. St-study this stuff.”
She was abbreviating everything under the sun. I stared up at her in disbelief from my lying position, and Kim Yang looked down at me all smug.
“B-boss. T-ten a day. N-new slang quiz.”
“What’re you even saying? I keep up with kids’ lingo these days.”
“S-solo drumming.”
“You just made that up, didn’t you?”
What the hell was solo drumming?
“A-alone, b-beating drums and z-zither.”
“Yeah, total BS. Admit it.”
“F-fine.”
“Fine? What, mood drop?”
“I-it’s real. S-so boring.”
“……”
I tried to sit up, but the pain knocked me right back down. Muscle soreness was no joke.
“What’s it mean?”
“N-no reason. M-mood crashed.”
“Jeez.”
No way hearing that would hype anyone up. As we bantered, a rooster crowed outside, and I checked the time. 7 a.m. The Namgung Sega martial artists were already training, their shouts drifting in.
“Hey, we gotta go.”
We’d wrapped things up last night, so today was Monday. No way we could skip work all day—afternoon shift at latest.
“Shop’s closed, so the crew’s probably freaking out.”
Ancient martial world meant no contact, which was a huge pain. They’d see we hadn’t come back and worry.
“Augh?!”
But my body wasn’t cooperating. Muscle pain made even standing a chore.
“B-boss. Y-you okay?”
“Help—! Gimme a hand!”
“W-wanting skinship? F-faking it?”
“You kidding?”
“Pfft.”
Kim Yang laughed as she helped me up. Leaning on her, I barely made it outside—right into Namgung Pacheon.
He was the one I’d clashed swords with yesterday, yet here I was wheezing while he looked fine. Bizarre.
I tried to bow, but he gestured to the doctor trailing him.
“Treat him.”
“Understood.”
“Hold on! I appreciate the kindness, but I don’t have time. Gotta get to work.”
I hurriedly explained in 5th-floor tongue, and Kim Yang jumped in.
“We’re overwhelmed by the family head’s generosity, but the day’s already late—we must hurry.”
Her tone shifted to formal, radiating poise and gravity I hadn’t noticed before. Still, Namgung Pacheon replied with hands behind his back.
“Taking a few sword strikes and ending up like this. Awaken your dulled senses, retrain your body, then descend the mountain.”
“Pardon?”
Descend the mountain?
“The skill you showed last night truly piqued my interest. Kim Juseon, I’ll take you as my direct disciple in the Namgung family.”
What? Direct disciple meant the master taught personally—and in this context…
“The family head wants me as a disciple?”
It meant he’d teach me himself. A golden opportunity—no, something unreal.
But like I said yesterday, I was just a small-business owner running a matchmaking agency. Sword lessons out of nowhere? Bewildering.
“I-I have to go to work—”
“The shadow over your sword. At least you know how to separate yourself from it somewhat.”
“……”
“I’ll teach you that.”
His words were metaphors, but the meaning was clear. Yesterday, clashing swords, he’d seen something in me. That he didn’t like the sword style I’d learned.
“I won’t teach swordsmanship. I’ll teach the mindset to cut through. Don’t refuse hastily—accept.”
“……”
Tempting, for sure—
“B-boss. W-we’re in the red.”
“Ahem, sorry. Can’t do it.”
Kim Yang’s whisper snapped me back. Rent didn’t pay itself. With May coming, unlike competitors, we were tightening belts.
“Ahem, being from Earth, you don’t grasp how great this chance is.”
The family head uncrossed his arms, clearing his throat. Felt oddly closer suddenly.
“In the family, those I’ve personally crossed swords with and taught number fewer than ten fingers.”
“I know, believe me. But I’m the boss, right? You get it—company needs me steady—”
“I thought taking the young ones eased my burden?”
…So he’d caught Namgung Sega pitching to his martial artists. Sharper eyes and ears than expected. That’s why train first, then go.
“No time. Got an event prepping… Three days work?”
“At least seven weeks.”
“Pardon? That’s—”
Kim Yang whispered again.
“B-boss. E-event promo. U-urgent.”
“Right, yeah. No me, no promo—”
“I’ll also give you Cheongryeongdan.”
Cheongryeongdan?
“Fully absorbing Cheongryeongdan takes at least seven days.”
Curious, the doctor ahead explained softly.
“Cheongryeongdan is the Namgung elixir condensing pure, clear spiritual energy. Though you can’t handle inner power, taking it clears the eyes and refreshes the body.”
An elixir? That rare stuff? My eyes widened, body leaning in, as the doctor added lowly.
“And it’s especially beneficial for men… Ahem! Ahem! Ehem!”
Good for guys? Hmm. How to convince Kim Yang. I turned to her, debate-ready.
She stared, then whispered.
“S-sneak two.”
“Got it.”
Only Kim Yang truly cared for the boss’s health.
Monday, 2 p.m. Hurried back, but ancient world carriage to elevator took longer than thought. Plus, the two bickering heroines behind didn’t help focus.
“Told you we should’ve come alone? Why drag this bitch?”
“Long time down the mountain—paths might feel unfamiliar.”
Guest lecturers for this “Hunter Training” event: Namgoong Haryeong and Paeng Sorin. Not for pay, but personal motives bringing them to 3rd floor.
Still, Namgung Sega and Habuk Paeng family names alone would draw crowds.
—Kim Yang-ah, this May.
—Meracle wins.
Clenching her fist, recalling the boss’s face entrusting her with the week-long special mission, Kim Yang nodded inwardly.
Trust me, boss.
She’d prep perfectly before he returned. Vowing that, Meracle’s sign finally appeared.
Then, two figures squatting on the front steps caught her eye: Renea and Baek Yeonhwa.
Raichen had keys, so they could’ve entered—but sat outside, deep in serious thought.
“Hmm—. B-b-b—”
“This lady’s right! Kim Yang and boss are eating something delicious for sure!”
“B-b—!”
“Listen! We gotta grab ’em from 5th floor now!”
“B-b-big bro! N-no. Wait, you said? No martial terms, Korean only?”
“Gotta go get ’em quick! They’re eating super tasty stuff! We’ll miss out!”
“W-wait! Don’t shake! I got it! Got it! Bamboo! Bamboo how ’bout it?!”
“This lady said that earlier!”
“No wonder… Unknown word, how’d you know? But what’s bamboo?”
“Study words!”
“R-romance books don’t teach tree types!”
Sighing at the bickering pair. Chasing customers away? Kim Yang strode up.
They looked up at her shadow, eyes meeting.
“You’re back—! What’d you eat?! Sushi, and this lady’s Spring Thunder Arrow pierces your brow!”
“Finally! Where’s big bro?!”
“I-inside. Explain.”
As Kim Yang passed up the steps, Baek Yeonhwa spotted Haryeong and Sorin, gasping.
“You two—”
“Yeonhwa, long time.”
“Yin-Yang Twin Veins? Fellow countryman abroad—nice to see.”
“Greetings, seniors.”
Baek Yeonhwa bowed politely. Decent relations, apparently.
Like RPG party-building, the four followed Kim Yang in. Lobby: Raichen Spilcold stood waiting.
“You’re here. I’ve been waiting.”
“A-any customers today?”
“One this morning, five calls—took numbers. The visitor seemed upset, so I comped a styling coupon.”
“G-good job.”
Without Raichen, chaos. Kim Yang shook her head, heading up—Raichen added.
“That personal client from before came and left.”
“P-personal?”
“Mosco Bi Chacos. Heard she got a call for help with May’s event—”
“A-ah…”
Hunters’ basic gear: guns. Even melee types carried as insurance. Friday’s “shooting instructor” the boss called was her.
“She left, but… pissed. ‘Busy person summoned for this?’”
“……”
“Boss said spend time with kids—that’s payment.”
“……”
She’d switched from Cyber City fixer to Tower Management agent.
“Kids? Boss married with heirs?”
“Heh, sharp.”
“What’d you eat?! Dodging, Kim Yang!”
“When’s big bro back?”
“……”
Glancing back, Kim Yang shut her eyes against heavy fatigue.
Ah. Already missing the boss.