Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: No Sharing Yuseong
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Even beautiful and handsome people rarely boast about their own looks.
Even if it's true, humility isn't just for show—so when someone praises their appearance, they usually smile awkwardly and downplay it, saying it's not that big a deal.
But just as others know how striking they are, they know it too.
Of course they do. They've heard comments about their looks everywhere they went since they were kids.
They couldn't possibly be unaware of just how exceptional their appearance was...
...or what a powerful weapon it was for them.
They might not realize it if they'd been raised in luxury, but those who'd endured hardships? They knew all too well.
"Hm~ hm~"
Humming a little tune, she headed to the spot where Yuseong would be waiting for her today.
She'd worried that her slip of the tongue might mean she could never see him again, but instead, things had progressed even further.
'Family...'
Her lips curved up involuntarily.
Sure, the "family" Yuseong meant was probably different from what she had in mind, but these things were supposed to unfold slowly like this anyway.
Who knew? Someday, his noona might even become his wife.
"Hee hee..."
His voice calling her "noona" at every opportunity still echoed in her ears.
Her heart had pounded so hard she'd barely slept.
At this rate, she might be in real trouble.
'What if I get lazy with my training?'
If things kept going like this, she'd spend all day just thinking about Yuseong, training be damned.
She already spent most of her days lost in thoughts of him, but if he were actually there, she'd toss training and martial arts aside entirely.
A life spent making love to Yuseong from dawn till dusk didn't sound half bad, but...
'Master...'
Would Master really just sit by and watch her fall that far?
The Master she knew would surely scold her harshly.
No matter how beautiful love was, it had to lead them both in a positive direction. Master wouldn't tolerate her becoming so obsessed that she neglected herself.
Master might even try to force them apart.
-Crunch
No. That wouldn't do.
Even if it was Master, she couldn't forgive anyone taking her Yuseong away...
'Ah.'
What kind of thought was that?
How dare she harbor such insolent feelings toward Master.
'...Let's just go to Yuseong first.'
Sensing her thought patterns shifting more and more lately, she hurried toward the place where he waited.
There he was, in the distance—Yuseong's figure.
"Yuseong...!"
It had only been a day, but joy welled up inside her as she started to greet him. That was when she saw it.
Someone else standing beside Yuseong.
No—a woman.
'...Why?'
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why was another woman with Yuseong?
A friend? An acquaintance? No, that couldn't be. Yuseong wouldn't chat so amiably with anyone but her. That woman must have seen his looks and forced her way in, and kind-hearted Yuseong couldn't bring himself to refuse, dragging out a boring conversation.
Right, Yuseong?
Just wait a bit... Noona will take care of that pest in no time. Close your eyes for a second and ignore any weird noises—everything will be fine...
Of course, Yuseong would still need to be punished for chatting so casually with some other woman instead of his noona, but it wasn't his fault, was it?
It was all that woman's doing. Yuseong just had to count the patterns on the ceiling for a bit. Noona would handle the rest...
"Take care!"
While she raised her sword for a moment, Yuseong and the pest exchanged goodbyes.
As always, Yuseong's innocent expression contrasted sharply with the pest's utterly repulsive one.
Anyone could see it brimmed with impure intentions.
Even from this distance, her lust for Yuseong was obvious.
No.
She couldn't give Yuseong away.
To anyone.
He had to stay in her hands.
If he were going into someone else's...
'Ah.'
She nearly slipped into dark thoughts again.
Better not to entertain such imaginings.
Yuseong would never end up in anyone else's hands anyway.
"Hoo..."
Circulating her inner energy to calm her emotions, she approached Yuseong.
Maybe because she'd used her movement technique, he still hadn't noticed her coming.
"Yuseong...?"
Her voice came out low and cold, startling even herself. He jumped and started to turn.
-Thud
She grabbed both his shoulders, stopping him, and pulled him into her embrace.
Her forearm wrapped around his neck in the process, and he lost his balance, leaning fully into her.
"N-Noona?"
"Who was that woman just now...?"
He'd better not say it was someone he barely knew or just an acquaintance—that cliché wouldn't fly.
"S-Someone I just met."
"Oh..."
I see... A total stranger, huh...
"Really...?"
"Y-Yeah... I just met her today."
"Wow..."
It was so convincingly said she didn't know what to say.
"Is my Yuseong always that nice to other people?"
"H-Huh?"
"Nice enough to smile so sweetly and say goodbye to a woman you've just met...?"
Her emotions were spiraling out of control.
Any second thoughts about whether this was okay had flown out the window long ago.
She'd been naive all this time.
No way would other women leave such a cute boy alone.
To keep him, she had to claim him first.
She was barely holding back as it was—if it were any other woman, she'd have crossed the line, laws be damned.
So she didn't need to hold back anymore either...
-Gulp
She heard someone swallow hard from somewhere.
And then...
"N-Noona's my favorite person in the whole world."
"..."
"W-Wow... Noona's the best... The prettiest, kindest noona ever..."
"Pfft."
His adorable words made laughter bubble up uncontrollably.
"Haha, trying to get me to let go?"
"Y-You seemed upset..."
"Got it. Noona was mean for no reason when you didn't do anything wrong. Sorry, Yuseong."
She stroked his head with the hand that had been holding him.
The soft hair under her fingertips gradually cooled her raging emotions.
"...Yuseong."
"Yeah...?"
"Do you... like noona...?"
...
"Never mind."
She stopped herself before the words fully escaped.
What was she thinking, asking something like that to a boy this young and innocent?
"Noona's sorry for today... Want anything?"
"Something I want...?"
"Yeah. Want me to teach you a new technique? I'm worried if you can handle it, but I know plenty, so name it."
-Gulp
Another swallow.
Did he really want to learn a new technique that badly?
'He hasn't even mastered Plum Blossom Fist yet...'
The goal was to build a foundation through it before other arts.
If he really insisted, she could make an exception, but splitting focus might leave him mediocre at both.
It was standard to master one art fully before moving on, especially early on.
'As long as he doesn't aim too high...'
Worried about what he'd say, she waited for him to speak.
"...I want a snack."
"...Huh?"
"Candy or something... Some secular sweets. Can't get them since coming up the mountain..."
Looking closer, his mouth was watering.
'Well, yeah.'
He was at that age where snacks ruled the world.
And as a lay disciple who couldn't just wander off-mountain, of course he had no way to get them. She got it.
"Aww, so cute."
"Huh...?"
"Got it. I'll bring some next time."
How could such an adorable creature even exist?
She wondered what the heavens had used to create this boy.
Some time passed since then, and today she was excitedly recounting her time with Yuseong to Master.
Master listened with a quiet smile, nodding along before speaking.
"Good. When you get the chance, bring him to me sometime."
"..."
Why would Master want that?
The retort nearly flew out, but she barely held it back.
She'd almost been rude to Master.
'No.'
Come to think of it, why was Master taking an interest in her Yuseong?
Did Master...?
"He's the boy my one and only disciple is teaching. Don't I need to see what he's like?"
"Ah..."
"What are you imagining, girl."
She laughed awkwardly and kept the conversation going.
Then came unexpected news.
"Oh, and it looks like I'll need to go into secluded training for a few days. Time to consolidate my recent insights."
...Huh?
"That means...?"
"You'll be on your own for a bit. You won't slack on your training, will you, Soyeon?"
-Thump thump
Her heart raced for some inexplicable reason, but she kept her composure.
"Understood! Don't worry about this disciple—may you achieve all you desire!"
"...You're being extra polite today."
"How could I not rejoice as your disciple when you've attained enlightenment!"
"...Playtime's fine, but don't overdo it. Got it?"
"Yes!"
The day Master left for training, leaving her to spend the next few days alone.
Her reflection in the window wore an expression too hard to put into words.