Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: 34. Bobbed Hair
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Crunch, crunch…♪ Grumble, grumble♬♩
The Guardian found himself humming a little tune.
A sparkling sink in the kitchen, gleaming like it was alive!
A bathroom so white and pristine it looked like it had just been completed yesterday, not a single harmful germ in sight!
A shoe rack so impeccably organized that even a petty thief would be startled and flee!
Looking at the perfectly spotless house, the Guardian felt deeply satisfied.
'See? Room 301 needs me. Not some piece of junk like that.'
In truth, something had been grating on his nerves the entire time he cleaned…
Whirr. Whirr.
Right on cue, it approached. The little intruder cautiously rolled up and bumped into his foot with a thunk.
― Wall detected.
Damn thing. His eyes flashed with sharp intensity.
A round robot vacuum cleaner. The nerve of this pathetic machine cleaning Room 301 in his absence. Unbelievable. It was puffing out steam to mop the floor now, but no chance. The floor already polished by the Guardian's hands gleamed with a mirror-like shine.
― Recalculating path.
You need to recalculate your entire existence.
The Guardian shoved the robot vacuum into the trash can.
Beep!
At that moment, a wailing sound echoed.
A fluffball the size of a soccer ball poked its head out from Gaeul's room.
That thing. Bwing, was it? Must be the new hatchling that showed up while he wasn't looking.
It kept wailing at him.
Beep!
'What the hell are you—!'
Beep beep!
'What did you do to my noble steed!'
What a racket.
He couldn't understand the chick spirit beast's words, but he could tell it was protesting. The thing was pecking at his shin guard with its beak. Impressive strength for a chick—thunk thunk! it went.
He decided to ignore it for now. The real question was why it was in Room 301.
"Huh? You're gonna raise it?"
It was Gaeul's response, clutching the fluffball to her chest.
"Why are you raising it?"
"Um, well… uh…"
Gaeul couldn't answer. She'd brought it home because it was hurt, and now she was feeding it.
So the Guardian made a guess, and a plausible scenario came to mind.
What was Gaeul's favorite food?
Chicken.
'Livestock, huh.'
Beep bwing!
Looking at the chick venting its fury at him, the Guardian realized what he had to do.
"…Let's eat, chick."
Rustle rustle rustle!
The chick, Bwing, tensed up as feed piled up like a mountain in its dish.
Bom had strictly rationed it every day to prevent fattening. But the Guardian dumped in nearly five times as much.
Watching the feed stack up silently, the chick felt its anger slowly subside.
Bwing.
'Hmm. This changes things.'
Bwing bwing.
'I'm still pissed about you disposing of my noble steed.'
Cheep!
'But I'll eat well!'
Bwing peeped cutely and started devouring the feed.
The Guardian watched its meal with a pleased gaze.
How massive a pot would it take when this giant chick grew into a chicken?
"…"
Long eyelashes. Beneath them, ruby-red eyes like carved jewels opened. In her hazy vision, a dark silhouette loomed. It blocked the sunlight from the window, sparing her eyes the glare.
Steady breathing. A stable heartbeat. The crushing restraint around her chest was still agonizing, but she'd grown somewhat accustomed to it.
The shadow spoke to her.
"Sleep well?"
Her mind sharpened. The baby Red Dragon confirmed her Guardian and pushed off the blanket, sitting up.
The bed was soaked with her sweat.
"…"
Last night's ramblings resurfaced.
Yeoreum sighed and covered her eyes. Embarrassment flooded her like a tidal wave. 'Fuck… I must've lost it. Why the hell did I spill all that crap?' She hated showing weakness. It made her want to die.
'But why did I say all that?'
'Just… you know…'
'Just…' She'd been a bit anxious, out of her right mind.
"If you're awake, get ready."
Yeoreum's hands, which had covered her eyes, opened.
"…For what?"
"Training. Time's up."
But Yoo Ji-tae showed no pity. He didn't even mention it.
That's just how he was. Thinking that eased her mind.
"Yeah. Time to get ready."
But even as Yeoreum rose from the bed, Yoo Ji-tae didn't leave.
"What? Aren't you going out?"
"Why."
"…Whatever. Stay if you want."
Suddenly, she crossed her arms and gripped her sweat-soaked T-shirt. Then she started peeling it off without hesitation.
So Yoo Ji-tae quietly left her room.
Training time found them once more.
Her heart beat steadily. Her breathing flowed evenly. Even with the hellish restraints around her heart. It was a dazzling achievement in just a few days.
"Now you're finally in a state similar to the Kal-Gulakwa clan. You can breathe like them. Your heart beats like theirs. You've learned to handle mana."
If she relied on him, she could. If she took the easy path, there were plenty of chances. One word of giving up, and he'd help make it comfortable without hesitation.
But Yeoreum didn't quit. Even gripped by near-terror anxiety, she didn't shove her burdens onto him.
That was making her strong.
Recalling distant memories, the restraints had been more torturous than the torture from the demons in his second regression. She'd overcome it. Even a dragon would acknowledge that.
"So, I did good?"
Unlike last time, she asked without much expectation.
"You did really well."
The regressor praised her honestly.
"…"
A bit surprised, Yeoreum averted her gaze.
"Let's start the next training."
The first gateway of Kal-Gulakwa upright combat arts:
「Pulse」
Of the two training methods to complete that 'Pulse', one was 「Breathing」. The other, starting now, was 「Steps」.
"From now on, you'll learn how to walk."
"Okay."
When starting other lessons, Yeoreum had doubted him—"You're teaching something like that?" "That's not easy."—but now she nodded tensely, trusting him.
Yoo Ji-tae tied fragments of the 'Hell's Restraints' he'd prepared to her ankles. Dark cords knotted over her slender white ankles.
Instantly, pain and weight surged from her ankles, making Yeoreum grimace.
"What is this?"
"Heavy?"
"Heavy? It already feels fucked."
It wasn't just heavy.
Like magnets on her feet. She strained her thighs to lift, but her foot wouldn't budge.
The regressor thought:
This would drastically cut the weeks Yeoreum spent in the 5th regression running underground labyrinth walls nonstop to stabilize her 「Pulse」.
But restraints didn't just add weight. Balancing would be hard now. Proper posture impossible.
"Say the word if you need help or want to quit."
"Ugh, don't say that. After all you've seen, don't you know what kind of person I am?"
"That's why. Just in case it's too much…"
"Fuck!"
Yeoreum cut off his concern with one word and took a deep breath.
"Don't overdo it. Be careful."
"I know, okay? You just watch with eyes wide open. Don't space out!"
Finally, she took a heavy step.
And stumbled comically, falling flat.
She seemed to react with agility at first. She caught her balance—or so it seemed—before the second step failed, and she sprawled again. Crashing into the training cones he'd set up, toppling them all.
A parade of clumsiness.
Then Yeoreum lay back amid the cones like it was her living room, looking up at him with a cheeky grin.
"Oh my, this is so comfy."
"…"
"What're you waiting for, honey? Come lie down♥"
"What the hell is she doing?"
"Started her weird shit again…"
Cadets whispered.
Their eyes fixed on the red-haired girl. She clutched her Guardian's hand, cautiously walking the track. It was ridiculous. Like a baby taking first steps holding a parent's hand. Yoo Yeoreum gripped tightly, wobbling carefully forward.
"She was gone a couple weeks, and now she's doing that with her Guardian…"
"What's the point?"
"What else? Pure showboating."
Tsk tsk. One cadet clicked his tongue.
Still, seeing the usually prickly girl—who'd snap if spoken to—look anxious was novel.
Cadets stole glances at Yoo Yeoreum.
"But Yeoreum's supposed to be tough, right? Heard she flattened Sophia before enrollment."
"Tough enough. Stronger than us, probably."
"Then there's a reason for it, no?"
"Nah, I think she's just cosplaying genius weirdo. You know, acting all fatally fragile."
"You think? Feels like there's meaning to it, hmm…"
Yeoreum had many enemies, no friends.
Among those who hadn't spoken to her, some even liked her. But approaching was impossible. Too prickly.
So cadets watched from afar.
"Kinda pathetic, though. Why bother?"
"Trip her and see if she's got grit?"
"Approved. Sliding tackle? Fully approved."
Some cadets snickered.
They were from 4-5 level clubs.
When Yeoreum roamed challenging everyone (a.k.a. picking fights), they'd clashed too.
"No rule saying sliding tackle on ankles only."
"Then?"
"To the head."
"Nice. Her skull's empty anyway."
More snickers for minutes.
Then prickly stares pinned them.
Turning, Kim Ji-in and So Ji-ro glared.
Silent eye contact for seconds.
"What're you looking at?"
One cadet spoke first.
"Fun?"
Kim Ji-in shot back.
"What?"
"Fun trash-talking someone working hard?"
"You crazy? Who the hell are you to start shit?"
"Shit? Just asking. You guys find that fun?"
One glaring cadet stood. Kim Ji-in tensed but held firm. 'Ji-in, no…! Guys, sorry…!' Panicked So Ji-ro grabbed and dragged her away.
"What was that…!"
"Dunno. Must've caught Yeoreum's bug…"
Time flew.
Yeoreum's wobbles steadied. Soon, she let go of her Guardian's hand and walked alone.
Trembling legs, unsteady gait. After hundreds of failures, Yoo Yeoreum finally walked solo.
She hopped and hugged her Guardian, beaming genuinely.
"Showboating… Did her legs break and regrow or what?"
Someone cursed.
"Why's she so happy about it?"
Someone wondered.
Yeoreum's bizarre training spread cadet-to-cadet.
Rumors ballooned. Some wild: 'I was benching 350kg, forgot safety, slipped—Yeoreum, practicing walking nearby, caught it one-handed.'
350kg. Impressive for cadets.
Some scoffed. Some doubted.
Rare believers muttered, "True?" But kept quiet.
Some challenged Yeoreum to spars. She refused. Even Guardians seeking her Guardian directly got rejected.
So rumors of her new training lingered as mysteries till break's end.
Before spring break from Bom till Yeoreum. Lair hosts 'Intramural Ranking Tournament'.
For applicants only. Ranks by grade. Part of Lair's infinite competition system—no war veterans criticized it.
Ranks from personal duels, quests, tournaments. Like global superhuman rankings.
Top cadets claim high spots, recorded as specs. All eyes—dorms, clubs, Guardians, media, cadets—on it.
Long winter break finally ended.
Yeoreum's break training with Yoo Ji-tae concluded.
"Good work."
He unbound the three 「Hell's Restraints」 from her body. Then they went to the admin office to sign up for the tournament.
"Ha… Fuck, feels so good. Was my body always this light?"
Yeoreum stretched languidly. Red hair swayed. Her chin-length bob from training start now reached her shoulders.
"Can fight now, right?"
"Yeah."
"Thought I'd die holding back."
Heading out from admin with him.
High branches: plum blossoms pinkish, magnolias pure white. Low: forsythia, dandelions nodding yellow heads.
Spring.
At last, the new semester began.