Does Oppa Still See Me as a Kid?
“Softly, like flowing water...”
Lee Hye-ri was practicing once again today, trying to apply the essence of the Cheonryu Swordsmanship that Kim Siu had taught her. Following his words that she needed to master the basics to deflect enemy attacks, she pored over the swordsmanship manual every day and worked hard to put it into practice.
“Whew, this isn't easy.”
She spoke while eyeing the training robot in front of her. It had been a while since she'd pulled out the training robot to learn the Cheonryu Swordsmanship Kim Siu had taught her. This humanoid robot, capable of complex attacks and performing at a C-rank hunter's level, had cost a whopping 10 billion won. It was a gift from Lee Kang-san for her to practice with before she became an adult.
These days, it was no longer a match for her, so it had been stashed away somewhere in storage. But for learning a new swordsmanship style from scratch, there was no better opponent. All she had to do was fuel it up, and it would fight tirelessly without getting tired.
“Haa, haa.”
Sweat poured down her as she trained. The sweat soaked through her navy tank top. Dressed in a thin top that revealed her abs and span leggings, she kept moving until her clothes were drenched and clinging transparently to her skin.
“Hup!”
The practice routine was simple. Read the swordsmanship manual, apply it to her spear, and deflect the training robot's attacks. But it wasn't as easy as it sounded—her body was covered in scratches from failed attempts.
“Dodging would be simple enough...”
Redirecting the trajectory of incoming attacks wasn't easy, even for her.
“Damn it. Again!”
At Lee Hye-ri's signal, the robot reactivated.
Weeeeng!
The robot swung its wooden sword, and Lee Hye-ri swung her spear to alter the path of the incoming attack...
Clang!
“Kyaaak!”
Another failure. Unable to overcome the clashing force, her spear flew out of her hands and rolled across the floor.
“Damn it, how the hell did that teacher do it...?”
Her legs gave out, and Lee Hye-ri collapsed right there. She didn't even have the strength to stand.
“Training for today is over...”
Hearing her words, the robot climbed onto the charger in the living room. There were only three days left until the next tutoring session. If she faced Kim Siu without completing the homework to master the swordsmanship, he wouldn't let it slide. He wasn't the type.
'If I fail, it'll be another punishment... right?'
Lee Hye-ri recalled the last tutoring session, where she'd been draped over Kim Siu's knee and spanked. Just thinking about it made her face flush red.
“Ugh...”
It was humiliating. No one had ever spanked her before. Hell, no one had even dared touch her body. Thanks to her brother Lee Kang-san's intimidating presence behind her and her own swift movements, no one had ever laid a hand on her.
But Kim Siu had spanked her. And with her pants completely off, no less.
“Ugh...”
And it wasn't just once. If he did it every session...
'He'll keep spanking me.'
Until she truly became a tank. She wanted to be a tank, but she didn't want to endure more of that humiliating, shameful treatment.
She'd even considered telling him not to. Asking if there wasn't another way.
'But if he refuses to tutor me anymore...'
She had no choice. With her unyielding desire to become a tank, she was inevitably in the weaker position in her relationship with Kim Siu. He was the teacher, the dominant one, and she was the submissive student. It was an utterly unfamiliar dynamic for Lee Hye-ri.
“But he has the skills...”
He was the only one who'd ever told her she could become a tank. And she could even feel herself making real progress. Telling him to stop in this situation wasn't easy.
“It's embarrassing, but...”
She'd have to endure it. For success.
That was when it happened.
Bzzz!
Lee Hye-ri's phone buzzed.
“It's Oppa!”
It was Lee Kang-san. He'd said he was tackling an S-rank dungeon in America, but it looked like he'd cleared it already. As expected of Oppa. Clearing an S-rank dungeon in less than a month. She couldn't help but admire him.
“Hey, Oppa!”
-You doing okay? Having a good break?
“Same as always. How about you, Oppa?”
-Yeah. Just finished the raid and resting now.
Lee Kang-san's voice was thick with exhaustion. What kind of dungeon could wear down the world's top tank like this?
-By the way, you still set on that idea?
“Huh? What idea?”
-Wanting to be a tank.
“Yeah. Still am.”
-Haa... No room to change your mind? You know your stats aren't suited for tanking, Hye-ri.
“No, I can do it. I've been working hard in my own way.”
The same old argument. Oppa knew nothing. He just kept saying it was impossible. She admired him, but his stubborn refusal to reconsider his conclusions frustrated her sometimes.
-It's not that simple. No matter how fast you are, a tank has to hold the front line.
“I have my own way. And I'm learning in my own way.”
-What? Learning? From who?
“It's a secret. Not telling.”
-You haven't fallen for some scammer, have you?
“It's not a scammer.”
He really knew nothing. Not that she had talent as a tank, not that she was working hard for his sake, not even that she was an adult now.
-Who's teaching you?
“No idea! Hmph! Not telling!”
-Lee Hye-ri, if someone's filling your head with nonsense, I told you to be careful...
“That person's not filling my head with nonsense!”
-Then? Who is it?
“...I'll tell you when you come back to Korea, Oppa.”
-...
There was silence on the other end of the line. A faint sigh, then after a moment.
-Hye-ri, just remember one thing. If that person makes any unreasonable demands, contact me immediately. And tell me.
“Oppa still sees me as that little girl who clung to you?”
-I'm worried, that's all.
“You don't need to worry. I'm handling things fine on my own.”
-That 'handling things' of yours... Haa, never mind. I'll wrap up here and head back to Korea soon. We'll talk face-to-face then.
Another call ended with Oppa treating her like a child and trying to control everything his way. She wasn't that little girl anymore.
“Got it.”
-Okay. Take care.
The call ended.
“I'll show you. That I can become an amazing tank without Oppa.”
That gave her one more reason to keep up Kim Siu's tutoring.
“Kang-san, why the long face like you ate shit?”
“Marcson, I need a favor.”
“A favor?”
“You're free right now, aren't you?”
“Yeah.”
“Go to Korea for me. Find out who that guy hanging around my little sister is.”
“Ooh! A side quest? Rewards guaranteed?”
“Yeah. That limited-edition game console from the '90s you wanted last time—it's yours.”
“Kuh! You're giving that treasure to me? Something must've happened to your sister!”
“Cut the crap.”
Lee Kang-san ground his teeth, glaring at Marcson Porter's grinning face. He didn't know who the bastard was, but it seemed like he was trying to scam his sister for a big payout...
'If he lays a finger on my sister, I'll kill him.'
Marcson Porter's expression hardened slightly at the brother's furious protectiveness.
“Don't worry. I'll talk to the boss and fly to Korea right away.”
“Mr. America won't just let you go, huh.”
“Eh, he'll probably just make me run a quick errand. Haha.”
“Thanks.”
Lee Kang-san looked at Marcson. He was grinning playfully, but in the Saint Guild, he was the most reliable guy around. He'd handle it well.
“Kang-san, where was that Seoul restaurant you recommended before?”
Whew, guess I can trust him.
“The other guilds will start paying attention to Ara soon enough.”
On my way home after the tutoring session with Yoo Ara, I glanced at the light in her room and thought to myself.
She'd proven her worth in the second exam. From a failing repeat student to first place. Sure, she was technically a year older than the others—a minor flaw—but guilds would focus on her rapid growth instead. Plus, her versatile combat style using telekinesis. In A-rank or higher dungeons, she'd shine as a multi-role support fighter.
'They won't know it was from tutoring just from the footage.'
They'd approach her, tempting her in various ways. Probably.
“Daesung too, most likely.”
Daesung Guild. My target for revenge, Korea's largest guild. They'd definitely take interest in the top scorer, Yoo Ara. But their rigid minds wouldn't suspect private tutoring for such a sudden improvement.
'They stick to the textbook.'
They believed private lessons didn't significantly aid hunter growth. If any of them dug deeper into our connection...
I had ways to handle that. Ways to deceive and evade them.
I wasn't worried about her being swayed by Daesung's prestige. Her conquest progress proved it.
But preparation was necessary. To build and grow my own guild later.
If I registered a guild under my name, Daesung's interference was guaranteed. I'd need some roundabout methods. They could block guild or hunter registration under my name entirely with their schemes.
One contingency was setting up a temporary guild in Eastern Europe, where international treaties were loosely enforced. But the fallout if discovered would be huge, so I hadn't acted yet.
The kids still had time before graduation. Plenty of time.
Grow my power slowly and secretly. Conquer more students for active skills to get stronger myself.
That said, I had no intention of neglecting Yoo Ara or the others. Because...
Telekinesis (B) Recovery
Condition: Intense sex with target (1/2)
To recover uses, I needed intense sex.
As I organized my future plans in my head...
Ding-a-ling~
A text notification chimed.
“A photo at this hour?”
Curious, I opened my phone. It was a selfie in front of a full-length mirror: one hand holding her favorite spear, the other her smartphone, capturing her reflection.
The photo showed Lee Hye-ri sweating profusely in her navy tank top. Even her black leggings were soaked, giving off a strangely erotic vibe. With the phone covering her face, it looked just like those body-confident selfies you see from celebrities. Oonwan~♡ vibes.
“Why send this all of a sudden?”
Yoo Ara too, Lee Hye-ri too—is sending selfies like this a trend with kids these days?
“Pervert?” What? Who’s calling who a pervert?
Around 8 PM, sending a personal photo like that—who's the real pervert? I typed out a message saying showing off your body like that is more perverted, then deleted it.
“What am I doing?”
Arguing with a student seven years younger.
“Whatever. Might as well own it.”
I sighed and sent a simple reply.
That should keep her quiet for a while. She's such a brat. Dealing with her is exhausting.