The Ten-Day Event
“E-event! S-s-s-shit… Ah, no! I-it’s the ten-day event!”
“Seol-yeon, I think your true feelings just slipped out.”
“N-no they didn’t!”
Seol-yeon jumped in alarm and shook her head frantically. It was only natural when Han Yu-seon stared at her with her arms crossed and an incredibly icy gaze. Cold sweat trickled down the back of her neck. It really had been her true feelings.
What the hell is this nonsense?
It was so absurd that instead of anger, a strange sense of wonder rose up first.
“Where did you two get those maid outfits? And Han Yu-seon, why aren’t you wearing one?”
Seol-yeon blushed in embarrassment and lowered her head. She was indeed wearing a maid outfit. When she met my dumbfounded stare, she ducked her head even lower.
So you can feel shame after all.
I hadn’t noticed because she’d been giggling creepily all day long. Han Yu-seon smirked.
“Did you want to see me in a maid outfit? I can go get one right now…”
“…”
“If you keep making that rotten face, even I’ll get hurt. How many times do I have to say it?”
Han Yu-seon clicked her tongue in annoyance, as if pouting. Seol-yeon gaped in fascination, looking back and forth between me and Han Yu-seon.
“Yu-seon unnie is showing a lot more e-emotion than she used to, isn’t she?”
“Was there a time when she didn’t?”
“In the past…”
Seol-yeon nodded and started to explain, but—
“Haha…”
Han Yu-seon let out a self-mocking smile and flicked her finger.
A single thread grazed Seol-yeon’s cheek and embedded itself in the wall.
It took three full seconds for her to notice the blood trickling from the wound. Seol-yeon shrieked.
“Hiiiieek!”
“Just perfect. Ha… Forget it.”
Was this some kind of golden ticket event where my irritation doubled along with the prize? So this was what the ten-day event was about? Thanks to these two, I hadn’t had a single peaceful day lately. It was fun, but… how should I put it?
Chaotic?
It felt like being stuck on an uncontrollable runaway train. Han Yu-seon let out a short breath and spoke.
“Anyway, the reason I’m not wearing a maid outfit is because I’m already the perfect butler.”
Han Yu-seon declared it with pride. My head spun.
“You’ve reminded me once again that not everything that comes out of a mouth qualifies as language. Thanks.”
“I put a lot of thought into it.”
If she’d really thought about it, it wouldn’t have been a surprise, and Seol-yeon clearly had no idea until she was dragged into it. Han Yu-seon spoke with total confidence. Her expressionless face somehow made it even more irritating.
“And if you’re a butler, why are you wearing a dark blue suit with embroidery on it?”
“Chilya, the gift from the Puppeteer, is already one with me. I can’t exactly change bodies, can I?”
“…Do you just live with nonsense as a passive skill?”
I genuinely couldn’t tell how many brainless jokes she was spitting out. Still…
Seol-yeon in a maid outfit was pretty cute. When our eyes met, she fidgeted and looked down shyly.
“It’s not bad.”
“Well, doesn’t every lively daily life need these little events?”
Han Yu-seon smiled with satisfaction. It looked like she was just trying to mess with Seol-yeon.
“Isn’t it too lively?”
“Is it?”
Han Yu-seon chuckled softly. Seol-yeon was so flustered she was practically creaking. Her pupils were shaking wildly from sheer panic.
“H-hiiiie… A m-maid? D-do I have to attend to you at night too?”
“When did that idiot turn on her hentai mode?”
As I sighed, the situation beside me grew even more ridiculous.
“That’s my jurisdiction.”
“…”
I turned to her in genuine shock. Han Yu-seon didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. No. She was clearly holding back laughter.
“…”
“Isn’t it fun?”
“Tsk, whatever.”
I decided to just enjoy it.
…
After eating the ten-day cake—not a hundred-day one—and after watching Seol-yeon devour everything while getting punched in the stomach by Han Yu-seon’s sincere fist, Seol-yeon was sniffling pathetically.
“So, what’s your goal?”
I probed lightly. The Han Yu-seon I know wouldn’t act like this. To be precise, she had no reason to be this proactive. Han Yu-seon only moved according to her objectives. That premise had barely changed since right after she put on Chilya or during serious conversations.
Han Yu-seon gave a bitter smile.
“How did you know?”
“Because after every good thing, there’s always a story about loss. It’s one of life’s wisdoms, I suppose?”
“…How pessimistic.”
“You’re one to talk.”
The girl who became the coldest-blooded person during battle. She shook her head.
“It’s not exactly a loss. More like a struggle.”
“A struggle?”
I raised an eyebrow. It didn’t quite fit the current atmosphere. Han Yu-seon shrugged.
“I just want to have fun. That’s it.”
“…”
I understood the feeling. It couldn’t be explained logically or understood perfectly, but I could sense it vaguely.
Her goal is to enjoy herself.
Ha.
“That’s a good goal.”
“Right? Should I dress her as a bunny girl next?”
“I-I can hear you!”
Seol-yeon squeezed her eyes shut and shouted. Even in a maid outfit, her protest had zero persuasive power.
…This is fun.
A smile crept across my lips. If that really was the goal—
“Well done.”
“…”
Han Yu-seon opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again. Crimson sunset light poured in through the window. When she finally spoke, her expression was hidden in the shadow of the glow.
“I’m happy.”
Her voice simply trembled.
“Then that’s enough, isn’t it?”
Why was she even crying?
…
Click. Click. Click.
The steady rhythm of dress shoes echoed down the hallway.
“This utterly useless outfit. Why must I wear something like this?”
Yoo So-rang fiddled with her tie, clearly uncomfortable in the suit.
You usually wear even more uncomfortable old-fashioned light armor… Saying a suit is uncomfortable doesn’t make any sense.
Moo-yeon let out a small sigh.
“Master, this is an official event, so it can’t be helped. Please endure it just for a little while. There’s no other choice.”
“This kind of superficial decoration doesn’t suit me at all.”
Yoo So-rang grumbled. But Moo-yeon could see it clearly.
She’s nervous.
Her gait was different from usual. She didn’t get this tense even in battle. It couldn’t be helped. This was a serious matter.
“Think of it as enduring for the sake of the Sword’s prestige. It would be best to relax. Your prestige is already high anyway.”
“W-when did I say I was nervous!”
Yoo So-rang protested, but Moo-yeon simply shook her head.
“We’ve spent more than five years together. How could I not notice something like that?”
“They say a student can never surpass their master, but that’s all lies. That’s why the old sayings can’t be trusted.”
You’re the one from the old days.
Moo-yeon almost said it but held her tongue. She was too worked up and would probably start talking about the community again.
“There is no student who surpasses their master.”
“Moo-yeon.”
Yoo So-rang glanced at her.
“Yes.”
Moo-yeon bowed her head.
“There’s also the saying ‘the student surpasses the master.’ There are students who surpass their teachers. You are one of them.”
“But Master…”
Moo-yeon tried to argue, but—
“Do not walk my path. Walk your own path—yours and yours alone. If you hit a wall, you may come find me. I will always be by your side.”
“…”
Yoo So-rang smiled as she spoke. Moo-yeon could only keep her head lowered.
How could I possibly surpass her…
Among all the people Moo-yeon had met, the strongest was Yoo So-rang. It wasn’t about raw power. She was simply a strong person. No one could match her tenacity and will.
This unworthy disciple cannot do the same.
Moo-yeon was different. She could respect her, but—
Just as she was thinking that—
“I teach because I am your master. But you are outstanding. You possess a perspective I never had.”
“…You’re saying that again.”
Moo-yeon sighed. Yoo So-rang nodded.
“It is your master’s words. Even if you cannot engrave them deeply, at least listen.”
“At this rate they won’t just be engraved—they’ll be carved into me.”
“Good. Being carved is excellent.”
Yoo So-rang gave a warm smile and pointed at Moo-yeon with her finger.
“Carve them in.”
“…”
“When I beat you with the sheath, you swore you’d win. So what are you doing getting discouraged now? Goodness… the will of a great person…”
“We are women, Master.”
Moo-yeon wore an utterly dumbfounded expression.
“Nonsense! Anyone with great ambition is a great person! It’s the same thing! How dare you question your master’s words!”
“…It seems you’ve learned even more sophistry while using the community. And we’ve arrived.”
Click. Click. Click.
The sound of camera flashes burst around them. Yoo So-rang and Moo-yeon stepped up onto the platform. Below them were countless reporters and spectators.
“Goodness, there are so many.”
“I’ll say it again—please don’t make any verbal slips. Like last time.”
“I know, I know.”
Yoo So-rang stood nervously before the microphone. Under the gaze of the massive crowd, she opened her mouth.