Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: When Spring Comes (3)
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Pedro had just finished his duties and was crossing the central courtyard toward the guards' barracks in the mansion.
"Hey, Guard Captain, hold up a second."
A cheeky voice calling out to him like that.
It was Isabel's pet slave, Lian.
"Here, take this."
"What's this?"
"What else? It's a training wooden sword."
"I know that much, but..."
Why was something that belonged in the guards' barracks in this guy's hands?
Pedro glared at the guards standing watch along the colonnade surrounding the courtyard.
They all avoided his gaze, one after another.
"Mind sparing some of your precious time from now?"
This guy...
I thought after getting beaten black and blue yesterday, he'd finally tuck tail.
But here he was, proactively begging for more training.
"Looks like my lesson yesterday wasn't enough."
"Aw, come on. I've only had one day of training. Still tons to learn."
His body must be covered in bruises, throbbing with every little movement.
Was it bravado? Or sheer grit?
"Assume your stance."
"You haven't taught me that yet."
"Then watch closely and learn from here on out."
Whatever it was, if once wasn't enough, he'd just beat him until he broke for good.
Pedro charged at Lian, who stood awkwardly gripping the wooden sword.
"Uwak!"
A bit clumsy, but Lian dodged the first strike with ease.
The guy definitely had beast-like instincts.
But he was full of openings, too busy just dodging.
Thwack!
"You idiot. Didn't you think what happens when your lower body's balance crumbles?"
"Urgh... I'll remember that."
With just that one remark, Lian immediately observed Pedro's stance and adjusted his footing.
Normally, he'd get pissed and brush it off...
"You've got the right attitude for learning, at least."
Grip tightening on his wooden sword, Pedro put more strength into his hand.
If the kid wanted to get beaten that badly.
He'd oblige.
"Today, I'll carve my swordsmanship into that body of yours for good."
"Yes, sir. Please take good care of me."
That slippery face, still grinning like he had all the leisure in the world.
Yeah, he really didn't like this guy.
In Lian's mind, Pedro overlapped with a character from a movie he'd seen in his previous life.
The bald professor who whipped the protagonist dreaming of becoming a top drummer with violence and verbal abuse.
In the movie's ending, the protagonist's genius finally bloomed.
But ironically, his humanity was thoroughly shattered in the process.
That led to audiences being sharply divided on the professor.
Lian agreed the professor was the worst as a mentor.
But as an instructor who drew out talent, he had to acknowledge the man's skill.
And Pedro was the same.
"Hah! You're like a scared rabbit! Hopping around like that throws off your upper body's balance too!"
Yesterday, dodging two strikes in a row was the best he could manage.
But as he absorbed Pedro's critiques and refined his footwork...
Whoosh! Swish! Whish!
He started evading Pedro's endless combos—three, four strikes—with minimal movement.
Thud!
Of course, dodging them all to the end was impossible.
Lian took at least one hit before Pedro's attacks ever stopped anyway.
"Kuh..."
"When did I say I was teaching you to dance? Is that wooden sword a cane you're holding?"
"...Teacher. We haven't gotten to that part yet."
"Shut up and stand straight, slave."
His right thigh was screaming.
As soon as Lian straightened his back, Pedro stepped forward big with his right foot and swung.
Lian twisted his body clockwise, trying a horizontal swing with his wooden sword.
Now his right side hurt.
Pedro stepped further, easily dodging Lian's swing.
And switched to a thrust, aiming at Lian's side.
Lian desperately altered his sword's path to parry upward.
Oh no.
Now his left side.
Clack!
Lian's wooden sword deflected Pedro's thrust.
But too much power went into his body.
Thwack!
"Kuhuk...!"
The guy used the recoil against him, striking his side again.
"Kehok! Kehok...!"
Lian's face went pale as he dropped to one knee on the ground.
It hurt more than any blow he'd taken so far.
"You trying to chop firewood? That's a sword in your hand, not an axe."
But Pedro's face showed bewilderment.
It was a short exchange, but for a moment, his spine had chilled at the excellent offense and defense.
He'd forgotten to hold back, putting too much force in.
This kid, who until just now could only hop around and take hits.
Was counterattacking properly now?
And those swings he'd shown...
"Hoo... Thought my ribs were busted for real that time..."
"Hmph! Don't exaggerate."
"But that was pretty good, right?"
"Don't get cocky over one lucky fluke. Your head'll roll before you know it."
Pedro spat the words, radiating murderous intent like he wanted to behead him right then.
"Let's check if it was luck or not."
Lian steadied his breath and mimicked Pedro's stance.
Pedro's face twisted at the same time.
He hadn't just mindlessly dodged all this time.
To properly observe the guy's stance, he couldn't interrupt the attack flow midway.
So he'd taken hit after hit, etching the movements firmly into his eyes.
"I warned you. Get cocky, and your head rolls."
"Since when were you so talky? Assume your stance. I'll watch and learn."
Deliberately mimicking Pedro's words to provoke him.
"I'll make you regret that."
As if he'd been going easy until now, Pedro unleashed his full seriousness.
A bit faster, stronger.
A bit more complex, varied.
But the more he did, the faster Lian grew.
Left calf.
Then right arm.
Right away, right shoulder.
At first, it was just dodging directions told by auditory hallucinations like a rhythm game.
But once he internalized Pedro's movements in his head.
He gradually realized what it meant to anticipate the opponent's target.
The so-called sword path from wuxia novels.
It began drawing in his mind.
And naturally.
Targets to aim for started appearing.
Smack!
"Kuh!"
"Uwot! Guard Captain! You okay?"
Blood trickled from a gash on Pedro's forehead.
"Whoa! Never thought you'd take that one full force. Sorry."
"You..."
But his face held more than pain.
Humiliation, bewilderment—complex emotions swirled.
"But that was pretty good, right? Your teaching skills must be top-notch."
Just luck?
Did he screw up from getting too heated?
How'd he let a greenhorn like this land a hit?
"Yeah. You teach that well, so I should share something good too."
As Lian opened his mouth again, noisy whispers reached them.
Oh crap.
This time, about his nose.
"Seriously dangerous, so maybe stop messing with the maids from now on..."
Smack!
"You bastard! Where'd you hear that...!"
Drip— Drop—
Red blood drops fell onto the grass, one by one.
At the same time, all color drained from Pedro's flushed face.
"Haa. That hurts..."
"Ah..."
Lian clutched his gushing nosebleed and looked up.
For a moment, was it his imagination?
Pedro's mouth seemed to curl up under his hand over his face.
'Just promise me one thing, Pedro. If you ruin that kid somehow, it'll be trouble. You can promise that much, right?'
At least one thing was clear.
'Especially don't touch his face. Absolutely.'
He'd made an irredeemable mistake.
The healer in gray robes examined Lian's face from all angles and let out a sigh of relief.
"Good thing. No broken nose bone or anything. Swelling'll go down soon, and you'll be fine."
Obviously.
He'd deliberately pulled his head back on impact to soften it.
"Hear that? Not a serious injury."
"Yeah. Now I can finally relax."
Isabel patted her chest in relief at last.
But still unsatisfied, her face turned icy cold again, like winter's return, as she glared at Pedro.
"Pedro, didn't I warn you clearly?"
"I have no excuses..."
"Do you know what you've done? You tried to scratch my most precious gem."
Pedro knelt, head bowed low.
A scab had crusted dirtily on his forehead.
Unlike Lian's nosebleed, no chance to show the healer.
"Pedro, that forehead wound. Lian's doing?"
"Yes. Guard Captain teaches so well, I picked it up quick."
"Must be your talent too. Three hundred gold coins starting to feel like a bargain."
Pedro's fists trembled.
Probably felt insanely wronged.
Lian got pampered over a nosebleed, while he got this treatment.
But what could he do?
Their face values were worlds apart.
"Pedro. Normally, disobeying me and touching Lian's face would mean severe punishment. But since it ended like this, I'll show some mercy."
"...Thank you for your mercy, Lady Isabel."
"Six months' pay docked, Guard Captain position permanently revoked. Now leave."
"Pardon? Lady Isabel?"
"Didn't you hear me?"
Even Lian beside her doubted his ears.
That was her idea of mercy—a pay cut and demotion combo?
Should he be touched by how much she cherished him?
Or...
"You heard. Go fetch Ruben on your way. He's worked here longest, so he'll make a fine next captain."
"...Understood."
Pedro rose slowly, face blank like he'd lost everything.
Isabel watched his weary, shuffling back, then spoke again.
"Pedro."
"Yes, Lady Isabel?"
Maybe she'd changed her mind?
His face brightened with faint hope.
"Take that off before you go."
"Ah..."
Isabel pointed at the red scarf symbolizing the Guard Captain.
The last thread of hope snapped.
'She's smiling?'
At that moment, Isabel's lips curled up slyly.
So she knew Pedro was enjoying harem life with the maids.
And she'd used Lian for revenge on purpose?
'Nah, no need to complicate it that much.'
In this mansion, Isabel was the law.
She could've tied him up and whipped him mercilessly anytime.
Yet she'd watched until it came to this...
'What a ridiculous pervert owner.'
That smile held more than simple catharsis.
A strangely flushed, excited face.
Chest rising and falling deeply, slowly.
Body heat radiating just from standing nearby.
She was savoring a perverse thrill from this.
Setting traps on purpose, waiting for humans to bare their ugly instincts.
Delighting in the moment they crossed the line and self-destructed.
So it wasn't neglect—it was marinating.
"Lian. Come here."
"...Yes, Lady Isabel."
"This won't settle my heart. Come to my room tonight?"
"Yes. I will."
Lian awkwardly smiled bitterly as he nestled into Isabel's embrace after so long.
This moment redefined "femme fatale" for him.
It felt like his whole body was wrapped tight in spiderwebs.