Chapter 5. Master and Maid
…A week flew by like an arrow.
“The stew’s too salty—!”
“How can you mash it like that? You’ll ruin the potatoes—!”
“If you’re doing the dishes, do them right—!”
“Clean properly—!”
Eizel had taken back all the chores she’d dumped on Ji-hyuk because her clothes felt too tight. She’d planned to work this human bastard to the bone, but in the end, it just piled more work on her own plate. It was the intrusion of an outsider into her peaceful routine. A complete upheaval of her living environment was only natural.
It wasn’t as simple as adding an extra bowl, fork, and spoon to the table. And on top of that, he was a man with a dick and balls dangling between his legs. She had no choice but to watch her attire and behavior more carefully. She couldn’t lounge in the living room with her clothes disheveled anymore, couldn’t strip naked in the cabin and head to the lake for a bath, and even emptying the chamber pot required caution. And then there were all the bodily functions—!
Just considering that, she had more than enough reason to kick him out on the spot. But there was one thing that made her swallow it all down.
This guy’s a real madman—.
His talent was beyond imagination. Eizel had seen and trained countless promising talents over the years, but she’d never encountered anything as overwhelmingly gifted as this. It even surpassed her own talent by far. She could hardly believe he was really from that pathetic human race. Watching him, she was certain: this guy would one day stand at the pinnacle of the continent.
But even with those thoughts churning inside, she didn’t let a hint of it show on the outside. She worried he might get arrogant. How many promising souls had withered away from arrogance, failing to fully awaken—! Including those who only half-blossomed, the number had to be in the triple digits at least.
For that one spark of expectation, she suppressed even her bitchy temper.
“Kang Ji-hyuk, come eat—!”
Ji-hyuk emerged stealthily from his room. The fairy couldn’t hold back a word at the sight of him. Honestly, she’d been holding back a lot already.
“Hey, your master’s preparing meals and all, so, uh, come out and set the bowls, or, uh, lay out the spoons, or—!”
“Ah, sorry, Master. I was deep in meditation. Got really absorbed. Next time, I’ll come out and handle it.”
His response made Eizel wonder if she’d said something unnecessary again. But she was supposed to be an authoritative master; she couldn’t afford to sound weak here.
“Just… sometimes. I mean sometimes. Not every day. …Well, on days like today, sure, it happens. Anyway… you get what I mean, right?”
“Yes, Master.”
This bitch doesn’t let up. Of course, Ji-hyuk never forgot his role as the dutiful disciple. Still, by playing it this way, he kept her temperament in check.
After the meal, they headed to the clearing. Stepping out of the cabin, cool air rushed against their bodies. He filled his lungs with the fresh breeze. They walked the path to the clearing, where the fairy transformed from household maid back into swordmaster. Her eyes sharpened like blades, and the air around them shifted abruptly.
…A true mark of a powerhouse.
“Show me.”
With her hands behind her back, she watched Ji-hyuk and tossed out those simple words.
He drew his sword and began swinging it this way and that—the basic forms he’d learned over the past week. Each one was flawless, without a single flaw.
She marveled inwardly. …Honestly, teaching him was almost pointless at this level. But practice and combat were different beasts. Still, she believed her experience dwarfed his. If she could just give him real battle experience from here, a true monster would be born—.
The masterpiece of my life. Sure, it’d mostly be coloring in the lines, but that didn’t make the process trivial. The base sketch mattered, but so did the shading.
“Very well done.”
She could’ve poured out a barrel of praise, but she held back as much as possible. …Truth be told, among all the disciples she’d trained, Ji-hyuk was the first to earn even that much from her. She’d always been stingy with compliments.
“Then shall we move to the next stage today?”
What should’ve taken one or two months of basic drills was over in a mere week. …Though calling it a week was generous; he’d arrived already perfected on day one. Dragging it out this long was purely to guard against arrogance. She stayed vigilant.
She couldn’t waste this astonishing talent.
“Yes, the next stage.”
Now came linking those basics fluidly. Like connecting notes into a melody in music—you needed that to complete the song.
“Watch closely.”
Hoo—. Eizel tensed up. With a genius disciple watching, the pressure mounted. She focused intensely, aiming for near-perfection.
The fairy closed her eyes briefly, then opened them. And began swinging her sword.
Born a fairy, she was adept with a bow too, but oddly, she preferred the sword. There was something different about cleaving something—a sensation beyond just loosing an arrow to hit a target. …She loved that vivid pulse of life felt in her palm.
Ji-hyuk watched her swordsmanship intently. It was undeniably masterful. Her technique held profound depth, not just for slaying foes. Something grander. All-encompassing—.
Her swordplay mirrored nature itself. A stark contrast to her prickly personality.
After a flurry of swings, she halted, exhaling long to finish.
“…How was it?”
“Truly superb movement, Master.”
At Ji-hyuk’s sincere admiration, a faint smile tugged at Eizel’s lips. She felt good, honestly. Who wouldn’t like praise? Especially from a genius like this.
“You can do it too. No need to worry.”
“Yes, I’ll give it my all.”
It wasn’t empty words. Ji-hyuk approached it with genuine intent to learn. Even if he’d once reached the continent’s peak, nothing was perfect yet. He was always a student. An endless process until perfection.
He’d seen Eizel’s swordplay plenty in the previous loop, but this time, it struck differently. Maybe because of the bloody battle with the Great Demon King—it wasn’t just familiar anymore. More like his eyes had opened to something new.
Everything looks different from a new angle—.
He sensed this mindset was key to his next growth. Seeing all he’d done anew. Even basics felt fresh, never stale.
He’d come to Eizel initially for the letter of recommendation, but now his attitude had shifted completely. He immersed himself seriously. And there was still much to learn.
That change broadened his once-narrow view. He no longer dismissed strengths as mere strengths or flaws as mere flaws. Assuming he’d missed something, he dug deeper obsessively. Double-checking, triple-checking became habit.
It felt like a blocked meridian suddenly clearing. …There, he glimpsed potential for further growth.
After swinging for a good while, Ji-hyuk slowly stopped. He met Eizel’s excited gaze directly. She smiled faintly.
“Well done…. Keep practicing. I’ll head back now.”
“Yes, Master.”
The fairy left the clearing. He swung once more, then sat cross-legged right there. Closing his eyes, he sank into meditation, reflecting carefully on his swings.
The sword of nature….
Watching her this time, something resonated in his chest. He pondered if he’d fixated too much on killing. Obsessed solely with slaying foes faster, surer.
Swordsmanship was for that purpose, no doubt. But his had skewed so abnormally toward it that against overwhelming enemies, he’d been powerless.
Balance was needed. Not killing off his strengths to force others up. …Supplement overall.
The sword of nature had balance. Answers lay there.
Balance, balance…. Not bloodthirsty motions, but attacks in natural flow—.
…That was it. Exactly.
Realizing it was one thing; countless hurdles remained. No easy path. …But he had to advance step by step. That was his fate.
· · ·
After Eizel finished all the miscellaneous chores, Ji-hyuk slunk out. Stomach growling, he barged into the cabin demanding food.
This little shit.
The fairy’s mood soured instantly. I’m not your damn maid—!
But what could she do? His cooking was barely edible. Without a separate maid, she had to play the part.
Yet the food-beggar ducked straight into his room—!
Look at this guy? Eizel vowed to chew him out later.
“Kang Ji-hyuk, come eat—!”
Clang clang clang. She banged the ladle on the iron pot, her voice laced with irritation.
Soon Ji-hyuk emerged and sat at the table.
“Thank you, Master. I’ll eat well.”
The fairy sat opposite, face still grumpy. Ji-hyuk noticed her displeasure and seized the moment with a magic phrase.
“Master, I think I’ve had an insight.”
“…What? Insight?”
Her expression flipped instantly. To a positive one, naturally. What master wouldn’t be thrilled at a disciple’s breakthrough? Even she wasn’t that prickly.
“Yes. There were some gaps before, but watching your swordplay today gave me a profound realization.”
“Really? What part?”
“Your swordsmanship, akin to nature, strikes a perfect balance of yin and yang. I’ve learned deeply from that equilibrium.”
Heh, this kid. Eizel forgot her earlier annoyance and beamed contentedly.
“I see, I see.”
“Yes, Master. I’ll engrave your grace deep in my heart.”
“Good…. Eat up. Fill yourself, yes, and train even harder. Got it?”
“Yes.”
She even pushed more food his way, like a mother with her child. …Still oblivious to the ploy.
After eating, they rested briefly before afternoon training—always sparring to hone his combat sense.
She often felt an odd familiarity sparring him. Like he overlapped with someone. Not identical, but similar somehow.
During a break after sparring, she spoke up.
“There are two humans I acknowledge.”
She pointed right at Ji-hyuk.
“You’re the second.”
Ji-hyuk stared at the fairy’s sudden declaration.
“Then who’s first?”
She turned toward the lake, gaze drifting to some distant point.
“You wouldn’t know the name even if I told you.”
…But Ji-hyuk did. Still, he feigned ignorance—natural, after all.
“I’m curious.”
Her head turned slowly back to him.
“Cheonma.”
The familiar name emerged.