Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: No Such Thing as a Beastly Girl
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"Yuna, honey. Off to see Yuri again today?"
"Yep! We're gonna hang out again today!"
Suyeon wore a complicated, bittersweet smile as she watched her daughter, already changed and ready to dash out the door the moment the sun rose.
Just a month ago, she hadn't brought up friends at all, leaving Suyeon fretting that maybe her girl wasn't adjusting to school in town.
She'd even worried if their stubborn choice to live rurally had gotten Yuna bullied.
Unlike the city, with no towering buildings, it was peaceful here—neighbors laughing and helping each other, just the harmonious life these parents craved. But was that leaving their daughter lonely?
Sure, she seemed blissfully happy playing with the village elders, but adults and kids were worlds apart.
Was it cruel to rob a child of the joys of playing with peers her age? Turns out, it was all needless worry—a wave of relief washed over her.
On the flip side, there was this nagging anxiety: did Yuna like her friends more than her mom and dad now?
Last year, she'd always said Mom and Dad were the best. But if Suyeon suggested quietly playing at home sometime...
'Mom, I really hate you!'
If she ever heard those words... she might just collapse.
The mere thought was horrifying.
"Alright, I'm off! I'll eat dinner at Yuri's again today, so don't worry!"
"Uh, okay..."
'At least dinner as a family would be nice.'
Wasn't it natural to worry more about her pretty eight-year-old coming home late?
But she couldn't very well stop her. What a dilemma.
Suyeon stroked the glossy black hair of Yuna, who was grinning ear to ear, hopping lightly in her sneakers right there on the spot.
Yeah. For now, just watch. She's not getting into trouble and seems fine.
They say overprotecting isn't good anyway.
Kids Yuna's age are healthiest running wild outside.
"Okay, have fun. Don't come back too late. Got it?"
"Yep! Don't worry~ Heehee."
"How can I not? And no bullying Yuri. When you're at her house, listen to the grown-ups, okay? Promise Mom."
"Promise~!"
They hooked pinkies and shook a few times before Yuna bounded out the front door.
Suyeon watched her go, sighing inwardly.
...Last year, she never wandered this far.
She'd head to the beach or hills up front and be back in no time—no loneliness then.
"Maybe I should make a second one..."
She'd never realized it before, but she was a mom who got awfully lonely.
With her husband out and daughter off playing, the empty house felt melancholic and desolate.
Come to think of it, didn't Yuna want a sibling too? Probably?
'When Oppa gets home, I'll tell him no more condoms starting tonight.'
Oh, right. And tell him to pick up a padlock.
Her hubby had unnatural strength for his age—if she suggested making Yuna a sibling...
He might go at it so fiercely she'd struggle to stay quiet.
Better lock the knob and chain a padlock over it, just in case Yuna burst in.
...Her daughter was so robust, she might even break the knob.
"Alright~ Jeongu! What's 5826 minus 4537 plus 5826?"
"...7115."
"Whoa."
This is insane. How's he improved so much in just two weeks?
My desk mate and dodgeball loser, Jeongu, could now do four-digit subtraction and addition in his head. I clapped at his correct answer, and he finally let out a relieved sigh.
"A-Amazing, Jeongu! I can't handle calculations that tricky."
"Just practice a lot, and you can do it too, Yuri sis."
"Really? Could I?"
"Yeah."
Oh? Saying it like that makes it sound like you did it all yourself.
"It's 'cause I taught you so well! Few days ago, you were spelling dictation as 'bada-sugi,' and now you're talking back?"
"...I-I don't do that anymore!"
"Right. 'Cause I'd whack you if you messed up like that!"
"......"
His face flushed red, mouth clamped shut—clearly still haunted by when I'd pinned him down and spanked him a few days back.
Man, it felt good.
I tried not to flaunt my strength usually, but his Korean skills were jaw-dropping.
Pineapple as "pai-nae-pul," study as "go-bu," spacing a total mess... I got so mad, I tripped him in front of Yuri, flipped him over my lap, yanked down his pants, and smacked away.
Not hard enough for bruises, though.
Just enough to make his butt monkey-pink?
"Y-Yuna... wasn't that a bit much...?"
"If you mess up shapes again, Yuri's next. Study hard?"
"...Gulp!"
He could tell triangles, squares, pentagons now, but got lost with decagons and such. Yuri's butt might need fixing someday too.
"But it's the weekend—sure it's okay we use the study room every day like this?"
The cozy study nook behind the Taekwondo lessons had just us three... but the dojang was packed with middle and high schoolers training hard.
I wanted to join them... but Yuri asked, and as an unregistered newbie, I couldn't barge in.
"Yeah. Master only told me and Jeongu secretly... but he said it'd be great if Yuna helped other kids study too!"
"Huh? Really?"
"...Yeah. Yuri sis is right. They say you're super smart at studying. Master wants you to teach the others instead."
Oh ho. Tempting.
'Hang on. So weekdays, teach elementary kids an hour, then learn some moves myself?'
I'm healthy and strong, but self-defense and structured training are different.
As Roe Deer Yuna, my "workouts" were light strolls with wild boar Burari on roads and hills, cliff climbs, swimming—that's it.
In my past life, I'd seen national champs on TV and Nutube, kicks booming, flashy spins. It drew me in.
Aaah, can't resist.
Pop!
"I wanna try Taekwondo too!"
"...Huh?"
"...We're in trouble."
Studying? Pfft!
Midterms are two weeks off anyway!
Honestly, they just look lacking to me now. Elementary tests? Top 10 is nothing.
They could crush classmates and dominate now!
Yuri's dream of top 10 is basically done, Jeongu's smarter—time for what I want!
...We're really in trouble.
Class 3's monster... no, Yuna's into Taekwondo now!
Stronger and scarier than my dad—if she learns it, total disaster, right?
Even her hand-spanks hurt like hell, tears welling up. Couldn't cry in front of Yuri sis, body still shivers recalling it.
"Master! Hi~"
"Oh, hey. Yuna! Studies done?"
"Yes! But... could I learn just a tiny bit of Taekwondo? Just kicks!"
The polite Master, who doted on Yuna extra for teaching friends, grinned wide at her bow and nodded of course.
No way, Master. You said no friends hanging or joining before...
But Taekwondo doesn't master overnight.
I've trained forever, still can't roundhouse right, no boom like the seniors. Why fear one-day Yuna?
She's scary, sure, but studying and hanging with Yuri sis showed she's not bad.
Smart, listens well... hate to admit, but her lessons were fun.
Not bad—super nice and kind, but strong too. Yeah.
Watching TV monsters or anime villains, I'd think, 'Yuna'd just fold 'em in half.'
"Alright, Yuna! Like the big bros just did—try a roundhouse! Twist your hips, kick with the instep! Got it?"
"Yes!"
'No way she nails it first try.'
Balance alone's tough lifting legs.
I practiced against walls for over a month.
Half doubt she'd struggle like anyone, half hope this monster could—eyes fixed on her.
Yuna, in short shorts baring pale thighs and yellow tee, hopped lightly, then...
BAM!!!
In a blink, the red pad Master's holding folds in half, ripping air with a deafening crack.
Her body spun steady, slim leg snapped straight then folded.
Like contest-prepping seniors, foot down instant after, back to stance.
"......"
"......"
Not just me and Yuri sis—seniors, Master, instructor all gawked at calmly smiling Yuna.
'Ah, so that's it.'
In school Korean, textbook said 'too shocked for words.'
Thought screams come with shock—why no words?
Guess when it's too shocking, words just vanish. Naturally.