Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Not Training, But a Picnic (2)
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Cheon Seo-eun strode into the training ground with familiar ease, looking down at Cheon Da-eun—who was sprawled out drenched in sweat—with clear displeasure.
"Is it really okay to move around that intensely? Your legs are still hurting, aren't they?"
"I'm in rehab training."
"Rehab, my ass. How is pushing your body that hard supposed to be rehab? What if you reinjure yourself?"
Instead of answering, Cheon Da-eun silently picked up the towel that had fallen to the floor. At her reaction, Cheon Seo-eun's lips curled up in amusement.
"Ugh, whatever. Let's go blow off some steam, sis. It's been forever since you went out with me, met some guys, that sort of thing. How long are you gonna live like this, all cooped up? Time to dust off those cobwebs down there~"
Cobwebs.
Cheon Da-eun's brow twitched at the word.
How much had her little sister teased her with that over the past few years?
"I-I'm not a virgin anymore!"
The outburst came in a huff. It was an unusually heated reaction, uncharacteristic of her.
Cheon Seo-eun's eyes widened in momentary surprise, then shifted to an intrigued expression.
"Huh? For real? No way, sis... When? Who's the guy you're dating?"
"...Ugh."
Cheon Seo-eun leaned in close to Cheon Da-eun like a reporter who'd just landed a scoop, her eyes sparkling. She clung to her sister's arm and started pressing relentlessly.
"Come on, spill it, sis. That hunter guy you worked with before? Or one of the instructor colleagues at the academy now?"
"I-I'm not telling..."
"Heh, not either of those? Then... no way, sis. I thought you were the prim and proper type, but when did you snag such a young guy? You've got unique tastes."
Cheon Da-eun's face flushed bright red at those words.
"He's...! He's an adult! Not a kid!"
"Pfft."
Cheon Da-eun had shouted without thinking. She immediately made a face like she'd messed up. She'd fallen right into her sly little sister's trap. Cheon Seo-eun nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Ha! So my guess was spot on. Now I get it—that intense rehab training was all for that young guy. I was wondering why you were suddenly so desperate to get back to active duty."
"N-No, that's not..."
Cheon Seo-eun slung an arm around Cheon Da-eun's shoulders and chuckled.
"But sis, your face is screaming 'I've got so many worries!' Don't let the looks fool you—this little sis is a genius at guy problems. Spill it. Come on?"
Cheon Da-eun hesitated for a moment.
Was it okay to bare her deepest thoughts to this cheeky, headstrong little sister?
But there was something oddly comforting in Cheon Seo-eun's playful gaze that put people at ease. And above all, Cheon Da-eun was so pure and inexperienced when it came to love.
She wanted advice from someone, anyone, about this stifling feeling.
"Seo-eun-ah... The truth is..."
In the end, Cheon Da-eun blurted out her worries. Her encounter with Kang Ihyeon, his special abilities, Seraphina's appearance, and the anxiety that had followed.
"So... I keep thinking maybe that kid went to Seraphina because of me. Like... maybe I don't have any appeal as a woman, or... maybe I couldn't satisfy his youthful vigor properly."
Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, her face flushing with shame. It was mortifying to say this in front of her sister, but at the same time, sharing it brought a tiny sense of relief.
Cheon Seo-eun clicked her tongue inwardly as she listened.
'Heh, our innocent sis got totally hooked by that little brat? Makes sense—young, vigorous bad-boy types hit pure girls like that. But I didn't know sis was weak to that kind...'
Cheon Seo-eun pouted in amusement. But on the surface, she kept a serious expression and nodded.
"Hmm... So you've been agonizing over that guy lately, huh?"
"Yeah..."
"Wait a sec, sis. You said you and that kid... got that far, right?"
Cheon Seo-eun winked mischievously, and Cheon Da-eun's face lit up like the sun. Like a girl cherishing the world's happiest secret, she bashfully beamed and nodded.
"Yeah. We did. Hehe..."
Her cheeks glowed pink, her eyes sparkling with joy. The usual stern academy instructor was nowhere to be seen.
"Seo-eun-ah, it was... amazing. That kid... he made me so happy from the very first time. He gave me feelings I'd never experienced before... like that. Doesn't that mean he's the one heaven destined for me?"
Cheon Da-eun murmured in rapture. Cheon Seo-eun nearly burst out laughing at her sister's naive bliss.
'Hng... Turned our inexperienced sis into that in one go? Total natural playboy vibe... Advice might just backfire and get her eaten alive.'
Cheon Seo-eun looked at her sister with a complicated expression. She pitied her innocence but was also starting to get curious about how this juicy romance would end.
Still, what could she do?
A woman in love sees nothing else.
She leaned in close to her sister's ear and gave bold, specific advice.
"Alright, how about trying this?"
Whisper whisper.
Half-doubting her seductive little sister's words, Cheon Da-eun still ended up picking out the outfit she recommended and preparing this awkward "picnic."
Her sister called it "bait," but Cheon Da-eun didn't want to think of it that way.
This was purely... a special training exercise to draw out Kang Ihyeon's full potential. Bait. Nothing more, nothing less, she repeated to herself.
'Sigh... Will this really go according to plan?'
Cheon Da-eun gazed at her former student, Kang Ihyeon, who was grunting in effort as he sat in front of her, deep in training. She repeated it inwardly.
Kang Ihyeon was still grunting, straining to focus his mana into the empty air before him.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his bitten lip showed his full exertion. Unfortunately, the faint spark of mana flickering at his fingertips kept fizzling out weakly, time after time.
'Still too much for him, huh.'
Cheon Da-eun let out a soft inward sigh.
His total mana capacity had definitely increased since before. But honestly, his mana control was no better than during his failing days.
She glanced at the straw hat and picnic basket beside her. At this rate, the "special training" she'd prepared wouldn't even get started.
'Ugh, no choice...'
Cheon Da-eun drastically lowered her expectations. Maintaining a calm expression, she spoke up.
"Kang Ihyeon. Don't overthink it. For now... just start by stably holding a tiny mana orb for exactly three seconds."
"Yes, got it!"
Her original first task had demanded far more intricate control. But in his current state, it seemed impossible.
Kang Ihyeon gave her a puzzled look but soon took a deep breath and refocused. Deep furrows formed between his brows as he poured all his concentration into his fingertips.
After several hair-raising attempts, a tiny, faint—but distinctly formed—mana orb finally floated above his palm.
One, two...
Three.
As the mana orb vanished, Kang Ihyeon exhaled roughly and nearly collapsed to the ground. His face was soaked in sweat.
At that moment, Cheon Da-eun flinched involuntarily, her shoulders twitching. She quickly schooled her expression and cleared her throat. Her ears felt hot.
"Good... You passed the first one."
Her voice trembled more than she'd expected. Pretending nonchalance, she crossed her arms and looked down at him.
"So, what do you want from me?"
Cheon Da-eun swallowed dryly.
She'd half-expected him to roughly claim her, demanding something thick and lewd. Maybe even order her to strip right here—she'd secretly hoped for it.
But his request was utterly unexpected.
"Um... Then, Instructor, could you pet my head?"
"What...?"
She doubted her ears. Pet his head? In this situation?
The wholesome, mild request left her speechless. But a promise was a promise. Awkwardly, she stepped forward and hesitantly placed her hand on his sweat-damp hair.
"Like... this?"
"Yes, that feels good..."
The soft texture of his hair brushed her palm. Kang Ihyeon closed his eyes contentedly. Cheon Da-eun awkwardly stroked a few times before pulling her hand away. For some reason, a strange dissatisfaction bubbled up inside her.
'This... this isn't it...'
The next test was similar. After several failures, he barely passed the second task and made an even bolder demand with a shameless grin.
"Instructor, this time... a light kiss on the cheek, please."
"W-What?"
Cheon Da-eun cried out unwittingly. Her face burned like fire.
But Kang Ihyeon looked at her with utter calm, his eyes brazenly saying, "We had a deal."
In the end, she gritted her teeth and approached. She brushed her lips lightly against his cheek, just for a moment.
Irritation and strange excitement crashed over her. This wouldn't do.
Reflexively, she yanked his nape hard, burying her lips deep into his skin. A sharp smack left a vivid red mark on his neck.
"I-Instructor...?"
Kang Ihyeon looked at her in surprise. Cheon Da-eun flushed and averted her gaze.
"Ugh... S-Service! It's a special motivator, so don't get the wrong idea!"
She snapped and hurriedly pulled away. Her heart pounded wildly.
'Am I... the only one thinking dirty thoughts? This cheeky...! He does this to me!'
Cheon Da-eun mulled over her mix of anger, grievance, and odd anticipation. She was growing more lost on how to handle this insolent student.
The third test. He barely scraped by again, grinning foolishly as he mumbled another absurd request.
"Instructor, this time... could you hold my hand?"
That was it—Cheon Da-eun's patience finally snapped.
'I can't take this anymore!'
She screamed inwardly. His faint, youthful male scent had long since soaked her below, leaving her drenched.
Her whole body burned with longing for him, yet this oblivious disciple calmly asked to hold hands!
'Is he testing me? Or pretending to be clueless?'
Cheon Da-eun decided not to hold back. Intent on unleashing her mature allure, she pounced, tackling him onto the mat.
She pinned his wrists above his head and thrust her face right up to his. Her ample breasts hovered perilously close to his chest.
"You little... daring to toy with your instructor. You've got some nerve."
Her hot breath washed over his face. Her eyes blazed with desire and fury.
Only then did Kang Ihyeon flash a mischievous grin and command her like an order.
"Instructor, change of request. Use honorifics with me from now on."
"What...?"
Cheon Da-eun doubted her ears again. Honorifics? Now?
She realized she'd been completely played by this young disciple. His eyes gleamed with sly amusement, as if he'd seen through everything from the start.
'This... insolent brat!'
"B-But... an instructor using honorifics with a disciple is..."
"Please? You'll do it, right?"
Cheon Da-eun's face burned crimson with shock and humiliation.
From her clan, she'd heard it drilled into her since childhood: a woman naturally serves and reveres the man she loves.
But that was abstract—actually submitting to a younger disciple like this sparked deep discomfort and resistance.
Yet... why?
Despite the humiliation, a strange thrill and anticipation stirred in her heart.
As she wavered between dismay, anger, and inexplicable excitement, Kang Ihyeon suddenly stroked her head gently. Like praising a beloved pet, tender and affectionate.
In that instant, all tension melted from her body in a bizarre sensation. Her mind blanked white, intense submission flooding her. As if she'd longed for taming forever, an urge to yield completely under his touch surged up.
'Ah... Aah...'
Submit. I want to submit.
Her body and mind screamed desperately. Reason and pride had flown away long ago. Only the instinct to feel his touch and obey remained.
Unthinkingly, she whispered in the tiniest voice, like mumbling in a dream.
"M-My lord..."
She startled herself with the words, but it was too late. The moment they escaped, electric shivers raced through her. Shame mingled with an indescribable liberation.
Why did it feel so good...?