The Heavenly Demon's Unwavering Gaze
Seol Si-yun's skill had far exceeded even my expectations.
I had imagined a duel that would showcase her imagination, but the Seol Si-yun before me—whether in her usual appearance or during combat—was the complete opposite of what I had pictured.
In her everyday life, as she had repeatedly complained about being too rough around the edges, she acted like a childish girl. In battle, however, she showed the fierce eyes of a wild beast, not the innocent child she pretended to be.
As a beastkin, her strength and agility were truly extraordinary, but the most shocking thing of all was the look in Seol Si-yun's eyes.
She blocked the opponent's attacks, slipped into an unfavorable power struggle, and then found the weakest point on the enemy's sword. With one precise strike, she shattered the blade and seized the advantage.
The way Seol Si-yun could instantly spot a weapon's vulnerability was beyond amazement—it was outright horrifying.
Destroying a weapon required striking only the result core, the most sensitive part, with perfect force that matched the opponent's every movement. The difficulty was so immense that, in real combat, it was practically impossible to use.
Even I, who had rolled through battlefields stained with every kind of filth imaginable, could not achieve that level.
The conditions were simply absurd.
If Dispel had a difficulty rating of 5 out of 10, then Weapon Destruction—shattering a blade by hitting its exact core—rated a perfect 10 out of 10 in real-world application.
Every time the weapon moved, its weak point shifted. To strike it flawlessly while confirming the opponent's movement meant you had to focus solely on the opponent's blade. Even if their skill level was lower than yours, you could still be defeated.
Yet Seol Si-yun had done it without the slightest effort.
Of course, since Seol Si-yun and her opponent both wielded Thousand-Face Weapons, the weapons themselves were on equal footing, making the destruction easier for her. But even then, could I have done the same?
'...I don't know. I can't say whether I could achieve it or not.'
Right now, the country might have fallen behind in realm and raw power compared to the past, but having mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and gained a completely new body full of possibilities, I could probably use Weapon Destruction in practice.
With extra time for special training, I might be able to use it in real combat. But only when facing someone with a lower realm and a weaker-quality weapon.
If the opponent had a realm on par with mine and wielded a weapon that could be called a true masterpiece, I would never be able to destroy it.
But what about Seol Si-yun?
If she were facing someone like that, could she do it?
Assuming her demonstrated skill was only part of the picture, and imagining her using Weapon Destruction against an equal-realm opponent with a masterpiece weapon...
'At least half, or maybe seven-tenths.'
Hah. Truly insane power.
Compared to a masterpiece weapon, its sharpness and durability put mine to shame.
Thousand-Face Weapon was a masterpiece in its own right, but the ability to change form limited its sharpness and durability compared to other masterpieces.
'I must have underestimated Seol Si-yun more than I thought.'
The probability of her destroying a masterpiece weapon was something I had only tested against the swords of people I had fought in my past life. It could be wrong, but if I faced Seol Si-yun with Thousand-Face Weapon, the only thought that came to mind was that it might actually break.
I had looked down on her as nothing more than a silly child, but just from watching part of this sparring match, I now saw Seol Si-yun as a wild beast, not a child.
A beast strong enough that, without using the Heavenly Demon Divine Art or Teleportation Magic, I might have lost.
She had not simply taken second place by entering Legna Academy behind Yoo Hwa-young.
As I was marveling at this, if she had stayed that way, her evaluation would have changed...
Bang!
"Crazy bitch! Hurry up and get up there!!"
Why was she making me regret everything I had been admiring?
"Waaahaaaa!!"
"Second place is the best!!!"
"Seol Si-yun! Seol Si-yun! Seol Si-yun!!"
From around her, the cheers and praises for Seol Si-yun, who had risen to the top of the line, spread like wildfire.
Yet despite those shouts, Seol Si-yun showed no sign of getting up. She simply stared blankly at me.
Stare. Stare.
"Hey, you crazy bitch!! Stop staring blankly and get up already!!"
Her ears twitched slightly, as if she had heard me, but since Seol Si-yun still refused to move, I swallowed my deep anger and used magic to create thick steam around her.
"Aaaah........."
With steam blocking her view, the envious sighs of the male students who had lost their chance to stare at her echoed from nearby, but it was none of my concern.
"Don't just stand there—hurry up and get down!"
While maintaining the steam with one hand and pushing Seol Si-yun's back from behind with Telekinesis Magic to make her leave the arena, I muttered to myself about why I had to be the one chasing after her. A few male students shot me irritated glances.
They must have noticed what I was doing right now.
Swipe
"What are you looking at?"
"Ugh......"
"Ugh—!"
Even if they sent such looks my way, all I could do was laugh inwardly.
Those guys were really bold, letting their tails wag just from that level of killing intent.
"Ah......"
But why was Kim Ha-jin acting like the others, sighing in envy?
Could it be that he was also upset for not getting a better peek at Seol Si-yun's underwear?
Tap. Tap.
As I wondered if it was really right to be traveling with this guy, Yoo Hwa-young sitting beside me reached over and tapped my arm. I turned my head.
Looking at Yoo Hwa-young, she gave me a bright smile, extended her hand, and spoke softly.
Caress. Caress
"You did really well."
"What are you doing in front of everyone?"
Though I said it that way, she didn't refuse my touch and instead lowered her body to make it easier for me to stroke her. A smile bloomed on my lips.
The sight of Cheon Seong gradually softening was truly heartwarming.
Of course, I worried it would make more women approach him, but after confirming that he still loved me on our first night together, I was fine with it.
Well... if it increased too much, I might feel a little jealous. But that was something he would have to handle, not me.
I simply respected his choice completely.
"Cheon Seong. You don't have to push her away just for us."
"Huh? What do you mean suddenly?"
"Hehe, nothing at all. I just wanted to tell you."
Cheon Seong looked at her with a puzzled expression as Yoo Hwa-young spoke with that strange laugh. She smiled back, saying nothing was wrong, and gently stroked his hair while arranging the front strands.
"Eh, eh? Yuna? Wait a minute. The front—"
Startled by her hands arranging his hair, Cheon Seong interrupted her and grabbed her hand. Yoo Hwa-young wrapped her fingers around his and answered.
"It's fine now, Cheon Seong. I know your heart that loves us."
Her stomach gently rubbing as her face blushed made Cheon Seong recall our first night together. In that sweet, intimate atmosphere, Yoo Hwa-young furrowed her brows.
"You two. I know how close you are, so stop being so lovey-dovey out here."
"Ah, u-um, sorry, Hwa-young."
As Yoo Hwa-young spoke, Hae-sol startled and tried to pull her hand away from Cheon Seong, turning her gaze. But Cheon Seong caught her hand and pressed it to his cheek, saying.
"Just a little more."
Puushuuu!
With his hair neatly arranged, his eyes now clear as he looked up and asked her to stroke him more, warm steam rose over Yoo Hwa-young's head.
"U-um, okay."
"Tsk!"
In the end, unable to refuse Cheon Seong's demand, Yoo Hwa-young stroked him again. Watching them, Yoo Hwa-young clicked her tongue and turned her head with a snap!
But even as she did so, she kept peeking sideways. Seeing Cheon Seong's happy, affectionate face under Yoo Hwa-young's hand, she felt her chest tighten.
'I've seen that scene dozens of times, but why does it make me feel this way now?'
She had seen them hugging or kissing before and had been fine with it, yet she couldn't understand why she felt this way now.
My chest felt tight.
The more they touched, the more my chest felt as if something was squeezing it tightly.
[What if Hae-sol is the one who takes your place? I think she looks like a good fit.]
'Why did you have to appear now? And what is there to take?'
A small, fiery woman who only I could see and hear suddenly appeared.
She was a parasite that lived on my unique ability and also a teacher who had taught me various magics.
[A parasite? How mean to call your teacher that!]
'So what? Flame Fire, since you live on my unique ability, it's accurate.'
[Right! A parasite-like being, I'm really sorry! Hmph!]
'What? You're sulking again? A teacher who gets angry like this?'
At Hae-sol's words, Flame Fire crossed her arms and shouted sorry, then slipped inside Hae-sol. Hae-sol sighed inwardly, rested her chin, and watched Cheon Seong and Yoo Hwa-young's affectionate play.
The tightness that had quieted after talking with Flame Fire returned the moment she saw Cheon Seong and Yoo Hwa-young again. Worried about why she felt this way, Hae-sol's eyes widened at Kim Ha-jin's voice coming from beside her.
"Uwaaa! Lee Cheon-seong, you're really enviable! I want a girlfriend who will stroke me too!! Uwaaaaa!!"
It was just a friend without a girlfriend envying a friend who did, but in Hae-sol's mind, the word 'enviable' kept looping.
'Enviable? Did she think I was jealous right now?'
It didn't make sense.
Why would she envy their harmonious scene and feel her chest tight?
They were her friends. Being with them made every day fun and enjoyable.
I had always teased them but genuinely wished they would be happy. So why would I envy their situation?
Was it possible I had fallen for Lee Cheon-seong?
'...No way. Why would I like him? Honestly, he's handsome, but it's not my type.'
I knew he was handsome too.
That was why Yoo Hwa-young had fought so hard for him.
If he had shaved his head, Legna Academy would have three fan clubs.
But no matter how handsome, he wasn't my type.
So please, just calm down.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump
***
Near Cheon Seong, who was enjoying Yoo Hwa-young's touch, Seol Si-yun returned from the sparring match.
She stood before him, placed her hands on her waist, and gave him a confident smile. Cheon Seong glanced up at her from that gaze.
Sway~
But because of Seol Si-yun's massive chest, he couldn't see her face from just moving his eyes. He had no choice but to stand up and look at her.
"Hah!"
Seol Si-yun puffed out her chest again with pride. Cheon Seong easily understood what she wanted, sighed, sat her down, took off his outer garment, and draped it over her. Then he stroked her hair and said.
"Yeah, you're amazing. So please show that side of yourself more often."
"U-um, I'm not a kid."
Though she called her amazing, seeing Cheon Seong still treat her like a child made Seol Si-yun puff out her cheeks like a tteokbokki and protest to him.
"Yup, yup. You're amazing."
"Bwoo—"
Seol Si-yun's protest was simply rejected by Cheon Seong. He continued stroking her head, which had puffed up like a squirrel storing nuts in its mouth.
"Bwooouu, bwo, euh... hehe."
With her cheeks puffed up, Seol Si-yun felt a pleasant warmth from Cheon Seong's continued gentle strokes and hummed in satisfaction.
After a few minutes of stroking her, when Cheon Seong tried to withdraw his hand, Seol Si-yun snatched it and placed it on her head, saying.
"No, do more."
"Hey, I'm going to have to do the sparring soon. And stop treating me like a kid."
"Don't treat me like a kid."
"Yeah, so—"
"Still, stroke me."
Cheon Seong was at a loss for words at the absurd request—stroke his head even though he shouldn't treat her like a kid. He quietly stroked her head until it was his turn.
"Cough! This is the life of an Alpha Mail! Why did the world give birth to me and that guy together!"
Ha-jin made a crying face and hit the ground while watching Cheon Seong stroke Seol Si-yun's head. Cheon Seong looked at him pityingly and sighed.
While stroking Seol Si-yun's hair, the sparring match progressed quickly, and soon it was Cheon Seong's turn. He pulled his hand from Seol Si-yun's head and stood up.
"......"
"Stop sulking. Then, Yuna, I'll go."
"Go safely, Cheon Seong. Don't get hurt."
"Hey! Crush them completely!"
"Hey, if you're going, then win."
Cheon Seong smiled faintly at Yoo Hwa-young's warning not to get hurt and Ha-jin's and Yoo Hwa-young's demand to win.
"Of course."