I Just Want to Put Her in Her Place
Yoo Ara, who had boldly declared to me that she'd take first place even in the regular exam, gritted her teeth and prepared diligently. Every day, she stripped naked without fail to practice mana rotation and memorized the formulas I'd taught her by rote.
She wants to win that badly, huh. Then, as her teacher, I should help her out a little.
"Memorizing with your head alone won't cut it. You need to internalize it with your body."
"How do I internalize it with my body?"
"Follow me."
For our final lesson, I took Yoo Ara and left the room. The place I arrived at was the small playground right in front of her dorm. With no kids around and few people passing by, it would make a perfect testing ground for her.
I stretched as she followed me.
"From now on, I'm going to approach you. But I'll only use the approaches written in the currently popular combat manuals. If you can grasp all these, dodging a first-year cadet's attacks will be a breeze."
Yoo Ara stood there hesitantly at my words.
"Do we really have to do this? I already passed the monthly evaluation in first place."
"Didn't you say you wanted first in the regular exam?"
"Well, yeah, but…"
"You think the kids you beat will just roll over? In the regular exam, you can target opponents too."
"……"
That was the difference in difficulty between the monthly evaluation and the regular exam. Attacks on other groups were strictly forbidden in the monthly eval, but the regular exam was different. To ramp up the realism, you could attack opponents. Just no killing. Yeah. No killing. Everything else was fair game.
"If you don't practice here, you won't get first. Fifth place, maybe. Satisfied with that?"
"……"
Yoo Ara had already tasted victory. Once a carnivore knows the flavor of meat, it can't go back to grass.
"Got it."
She steeled her resolve.
"That's more like it."
I walked toward Yoo Ara, now brimming with fighting spirit.
"Dodge well. Counter with telekinesis if you can."
I dove into her guard. The basic thrust aimed at ranged hunters: ambush. My hand headed straight for her chest.
"Kuh!"
Yoo Ara recoiled. But way too slow.
"Too slow."
I grabbed her breast firmly. It filled my hand, soft and yielding.
"That attack would've pierced your heart. You're out. You won't die, but last place is guaranteed."
Yoo Ara stared at me, still gripping her chest, her face blank.
"Kyaaah!"
She screamed belatedly and covered her chest.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"Giving you a penalty, my way. So you'll really feel it."
"B-but…"
"I've already seen you naked. No point being shy now. Next one coming up."
"W-wait just a sec…"
But my fingers didn't wait.
"Kyaaat!"
This time, I squeezed the other breast.
"Lung pierced. No real sword, so you survive."
"I-if you grope me like that…"
"You're not getting turned on, are you?"
"W-who'd get turn—ahh!"
Her body twitched despite denying it.
"Next. Focus faster."
"W-wait…"
This time, my hand went to her back.
"Weak rear defense. Better to float objects with telekinesis around you if you can't block like this."
I spoke while holding her bra in hand.
"Sky blue bra? More tame taste than I thought."
"H-huh?"
Yoo Ara hurriedly covered her chest as her bra came off. Through her thin t-shirt, her nipples poked out, hard.
"G cup? Damn, these tits are huge. All your meals go straight there?"
"W-what's that got to do with you… G-give it back quick!"
"Anything can happen in battle. We'll keep going."
We needed to prepare for every scenario. I approached using a different footwork. Yoo Ara twisted and turned, hands shielding her chest. She tried her best to cover up, but couldn't hide the jiggling completely. Without the bra, every movement was blatant.
"Hngh!"
Every time my hand grazed her breast or side, Yoo Ara let out a moan. Her body shivered as she dodged to minimize contact. Better than at the start, for sure.
She's protecting her body pretty well, in her own way.
Her movements were more fluid now. That's why you need to touch—no, hit—them to wake up.
Smack!
"Your ass is just begging for it, sticking out like that."
"Kyaaang!"
After a few more reps…
"Hngg!"
As I swung for her side and she dodged, my hand smacked her ass—and suddenly, she collapsed.
"Aaaah."
"What's wrong?"
"M-my legs… gave out… T-teacher, turn around! Don't look here…"
Yoo Ara panicked, waving her hands as she sat there. What happened? Hurt somewhere? That's when—
Drip, drip, drip.
Her black training pants started wetting. The dark stain spread thicker and wider, yellow liquid pouring out, soaking the ground.
No need to ask what that was.
I quickly stripped off my shirt to cover her waist.
"Hic, hngg."
Yoo Ara bit her lip, face tear-streaked.
"Sorry. Didn't mean for this…"
I just wanted to heighten her awareness and train effectively. Didn't plan on making her legs give out and piss herself.
Yoo Ara puffed her cheeks, eyes brimming with tears as she glared at me.
"Cover that for now…"
The moment I spoke, she burst into sobs.
"Waaah! T-that's why I said stop… Hic!"
Yoo Ara wailed pitifully.
"Hic! I said stop, hic! But why won't you! Hic! I pissed myself at twenty… Hwaaang! Right in front of my house, hic! How am I supposed to face the neighborhood now? Hwaaaang!"
"Sorry. Just calm down a bit…"
"How can I calm down here! Hwaaaang!"
"Crying like that draws more stares. Let's go inside. Class ends here today."
I draped my clothes over her hips. The long pants couldn't cover everything. The dark stain on her training suit screamed what had happened.
I hurried her into her dorm.
"Want me to wash you?"
"No. I'm fine. I can do it myself."
Lips pouting, Yoo Ara waddled to the bathroom in her soaked pants.
Whoosh!
Water ran for a while. Then—
Click.
The door opened, and Yoo Ara emerged bottomless.
"What are you doing? At least ask for clothes…"
"Why? You've seen everything anyway. You made me strip for mana rotation and saw it all. Even took my bra off outside as an excuse."
She was pissed. Rightfully so—my fault, and right in front of her home. I was the villain here.
She strode confidently to her closet, pulled out pink panties, and slipped them on. I turned away. Basic courtesy.
"I've shown you most approaches the cadets use. You internalized them with your body, right?"
I said to Yoo Ara, now changed.
"Yeah, thanks to you, I got it down solid."
Smart girl—she'd remember. Especially after that unforgettable incident.
I glanced at her profile, cheeks flushed. Pretty face, for sure. Her crying face was especially cute. What was it? The kind you just wanted to bully?
Her reactions were so spot-on, I couldn't help putting more into it.
"Pull yourself together and ace the exam."
"Yeah. Got it."
She'd feel better alone. I stood and left her dorm.
"Yo, what's this?"
"Why's only this spot wet?"
Kids gathered at the playground, murmuring at the scene of Yoo Ara's accident. I turned away without thinking.
Sorry, Ara.
Yoo Ara headed to the exam hall for the regular exam.
"Hoo, annoying."
She bit her lip, trying to shove yesterday's disaster from her mind. Focus on the exam. Deal with that later. Or better, forget it. No point remembering.
After Kim Siu left, she'd steadied herself with mana rotation all day. What mattered was taking first.
To claim the prize we agreed on for first place.
Prize? Snap out of it. I just want to knock her down a peg. Nothing else. No hidden motives. As if. What kind of guy gets off on tormenting a grown virgin till she pisses herself outside? Ridiculous.
Of course…
That expression was new.
The moment she pissed, she'd seen his face. Genuine remorse. A guy who'd seemed emotionless, flustered, stripping his own shirt to cover her. That human side made her tears burst. Just felt so wronged. Maybe from the month learning under him flashing back. Or relief at his unexpected softness. Unclear.
But why'd my body feel so good in the middle…
His full body as he undressed was pure sculpture. Valedictorian for a reason—body to match. Any woman would stare.
Her face heated.
"Get it together!"
Slap!
That guy tormented her till she pissed outside. Acted like he had no interest in women's bodies while stripping and groping her. But his skills were real. Without him, she'd be sighing over failing grades now.
"Focus. Exam hasn't even started."
That's when—
"Early bird, huh?"
Lee Hye-ri greeted her.
"Hye-ri, you too?"
"Prep's essential."
She and Lee Hye-ri had grown close since the monthly eval. Pretty face to match that spear. Good at looking out for people, subtly. But maybe too beautiful? Or her quiet nature? Only a handful close to her in 23-D.
Hard to get friendly with.
"So, just us two today?"
"Nah."
"Meaning…"
Their eyes locked on one spot.
"Sorry about last time."
Jang Won-ho, who'd betrayed them for solo first. Now scraping bottom from monthly eval, gunning for a comeback. No choice—teams fixed till regular exam ends.
If he's gonna betray, I'll smash him first.
Yoo Ara hid her intentions and waited.
Soon—
"Welcome to the simulation hall for the regular exam!"
Professor Park Ji-yoon appeared.
"Rules same as monthly eval, minus one. Clear your assigned mission first and return. Missions differ, you know? New rule: attack other cadets. Remember that. Doing your mission alone won't get first."
She explained briefly, then—
"Exam starts now!"
Cadets entered the simulation hall.
I'll take first, no matter what.
Yoo Ara steeled her resolve.