Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Want to Try Learning Martial Arts?
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That was how my first night in this place passed.
My mood was incredibly strange.
For starters, the scents wafting in from outside were completely different from those in the city.
'A cell phone is still...'
The signal wasn't working properly, as expected.
I couldn't tell if it was because this was such a remote area or if there was some kind of jammer preventing reception.
"Alright... Let's think positively. The people here don't seem like they want to harm me, so I can just pretend I'm on vacation."
With that thought, I got out of bed, cautiously opened the door, and stepped into the hallway.
The hallway's scenery was unusual too.
It felt just like back in school when we'd gone on a field trip to tour historical sites.
Like wandering through those old buildings.
"Is something the matter?"
A girl who'd been guarding the door approached as I spoke.
She was short, and her wide skirt rippled gently with every step, the hem so long it nearly brushed the floor.
Her face was bare of makeup, but her pale skin gleamed like white jade.
"Could I maybe take a short walk outside?"
Spending a whole week cooped up in this room was ridiculous, so it was an unavoidable request.
"...Please wait just a moment."
The maid vanished somewhere after hearing me.
Left alone in the hallway, I scratched my head, unsure what to do.
'Am I supposed to just stand here like an idiot?'
Standing by myself in the empty corridor felt a bit embarrassing.
Thud, thud.
A few minutes passed.
The maid returned with a sword-wielding woman approaching me.
"You want to go outside?"
"Ah... Yes.."
Her brown hair caught the sunlight, dyed in a warm chestnut hue.
Her high ponytail was tied firmly yet with a touch of looseness, swaying lightly at the ends with the breeze.
Her eyes were sharp.
Her lips pressed into a firm line, her jawline chiseled and resolute.
A faint scar traced her cheek like a pale line, making even her smiles look like steely determination.
"You can't go out alone. Come with me."
It was a welcome suggestion for me.
Going out by myself would've just meant getting lost anyway.
And so, the escort warrior and I headed outside.
We passed the hallway, through a grand entrance, and out into the open.
"Whoa."
Was this really the modern world?
I rubbed my eyes, wondering if they were playing tricks on me.
Dusty dirt roads stretched endlessly beneath my feet.
Wooden pillar houses lined both sides, their tiled roofs sloping gently, red lanterns at the eaves swaying in the wind and casting faint glows.
People brushed past in the middle of the street.
Some had swords at their waists, dobos flapping as they strode confidently; others shouldered massive packs into shops.
Even the air smelled different.
Horse dung, charcoal-grilled meat, medicinal herbs.
Smells I rarely encountered in my original world.
'Ah...'
Then I understood why my phone had no signal.
Mountains in the distance.
A long chain of peaks encircled the village like a ring.
I ventured deeper into the village center for sightseeing.
Walking the dirt paths even gave me that school trip vibe, which was nice.
"Hm...?"
The deeper into the center I went, the stranger things got.
"What is it...?"
The people around seemed interested in me but not quite.
Gazes fixed on me grew intense, but when I looked back, the women would turn away, pretending not to notice.
Sensing the oddity, I asked the escort warrior.
"I feel a bit of discomfort here... is something up?"
"Pardon?...... Ah..."
She seemed to know something.
"It must be because our young lady made a declaration."
"A declaration?"
"Yes. She officially declared you, Mr. Seohyun, as her betrothed, so the villagers are probably avoiding eye contact to steer clear of trouble."
"Betrothed declaration....?"
Yuseol's feelings seemed more serious than I'd thought.
I wasn't sure about her liking me, but her intent to marry was crystal clear.
"Then my being here must make people uncomfortable."
".... That's not true at all. Please feel free to stay as you like."
She hesitated.
I probably shouldn't linger here long.
"Let's head back to the room..."
I lay on the bed without much to show for the outing.
The confined feeling was suffocating, but hating to inconvenience others, I couldn't wander the village.
'Still, I've got a rough idea of the place now.'
Like an ethnic enclave, maybe.
Groups of like-minded people living together.
It happened in my old world too.
'Though it's not exactly the same situation.'
Man, it was boring.
No phone signal, no one to talk to.
No TV, no computer... obviously.
I just stared blankly at the ceiling to kill time.
"Aaaah.... This is driving me insane..."
Night had already fallen.
A whole week of days like this.
'This won't do.'
Frustrated, I opened the door again and stepped into the hall.
"Is something the matter..?"
The same maid as before.
Wasn't she tired from standing guard?
"Could I see Yuseol?"
"The young lady is training right now. Is that alright?"
"Yes, doesn't matter."
The one person I could talk to most comfortably.
I'd decided to meet Yuseol.
Following the maid, we headed outside.
Not the main gate from earlier with the escort, but toward the back gate.
A vast open field unfolded before us.
Seeing such a huge training ground at a house really drove home why she was called "young lady."
Right next to it was a massive reservoir.
An emerald pool that evoked pure bliss.
Clang
Clang
Metal clashing echoed from where signs of life stirred.
We drew closer to the source.
Clang
Clang
There, the escort warrior from earlier was sparring with Yuseol.
Fighting with real swords, not wooden ones—it piqued my interest.
"Hold up. Looks like we have a guest.... What? You came all the way here yourself. Does that mean you're ready to give in, baby?"
"I just wanted to talk a bit."
"If it's a physical conversation, you're welcome?!"
She sheathed her sword and slowly began peeling off her clothes.
"You like doing it outside? Sounds fun to me."
She approached me, shedding her garments.
"Ahhh.... That's not why I'm here. Please put your clothes back on."
Her stunning body nearly stole my soul for a moment.
I quickly covered my eyes with one hand and waved her off.
"Heh heh... Just kidding. You think I'd do that with others around?"
With a gesture, she signaled the escort and maid to step away.
They gave light bows and left.
"So, what do you want to say?"
Truth be told, I hadn't come with some grand purpose.
I was just so bored I wanted company.
'Come to think of it, I'm starting to feel off myself.'
For a split second, I sensed something amiss.
I had no good memories of Yuseol.
The horrific prison scenes.
The killing intent she'd hit me with at our first meeting.
Yet heading to see her felt strangely natural, without much resistance.
'Am I just that fearless?'
It was weird, but I didn't dwell on it.
"By the way... Yuseol, right? Not sure how to address you..."
"Hm.... Pick from honey, darling, or baby."
All options I wanted to avoid.
'Baby...? What the hell?'
"Kidding again. Just call me whatever feels comfortable."
"Hm.... How about milk cow...?"
Clang
In an instant, a sword whistled past my neck.
"Joking! Joking! I'm really sorry. I committed a grave sin. You seemed to like jokes, so I went overboard to get friendly."
I dropped to my knees and begged.
"Forget it. I drew my sword out of annoyance, but it didn't bother me."
"Pardon?"
"It's hilarious. Hearing such a pervy line from a guy like you."
She seemed genuinely amused, covering her mouth and chuckling.
"But why the sword...."
"Hm.... Just curious about your reaction...?"
Chains first, now swords.
One wrong move and my head was really done for.
"You seem weaker than I thought, though? You didn't even flinch when I thrust the sword at you."
"Y... Yeah?"
Back home, I could bench 400 pounds easy, but here I felt as strong as a passing rat pup.
"Hm...."
She stared into my eyes, pondering something.
"Even if you're mine, you need to protect yourself at least a little...."
I was already her possession, apparently.
"Ah...! How about learning some martial arts then?"
"Pardon?"