A War of the Males (?)
Wang Ojong came toward me with a terribly haggard look on his face. Wondering what on earth this was about, I glanced around, but the Flag Bearer Corps members were all too busy avoiding my eyes.
No, actually, they formed a circle around me and Wang Ojong and watched openly, without even pretending to be subtle. In the end, unable to contain my curiosity, I spoke first.
"What is going on here?"
But Wang Ojong didn't answer. He simply kept closing the distance between us, little by little.
Did I do something wrong?
As I slowly racked my memory for why these people were acting like this toward me, a plausible explanation soon came to mind.
Ah.
This was probably because I'd been beating the seniors black and blue lately. The moment I resolved that I'd pound on them just through today and behave myself from tomorrow on, Wang Ojong finally opened his mouth.
"You. You lied to me, didn't you?"
"I lied?"
We'd barely ever spoken, and now suddenly I was a liar?
"Don't play dumb. I know everything. That's why I'm here."
"No, that's what I'm asking — what exactly are you talking about? I haven't done anything wrong."
At those words, the seniors I'd thrashed all glared at me in unison, but I ignored them. If they were sore about it, they shouldn't have gotten hit.
"Fine. You're going to hide it even now, after coming all this way. Then I'll say it for you."
I had no idea what he meant, but I wished he'd just get on with it. I hadn't understood half of what Wang Ojong had been saying from the start.
"You and Seolha. What's going on between you two?"
"Uh...."
The words died in my throat. Who would have thought that would be the reason? So everyone here thought Wang Ojong and I were in a love triangle over Wang Seolha?
Why are people so invested in other folks' private lives?
That said, there was the matter of my relationship with Wang Seolha.
According to my expectations, if a strategic marriage came up at a family council, forget whatever our relationship was now — it would go straight to a wedding. That's exactly why I'd told her we should just start dating outright.
But we weren't actually dating at the moment, so I had no clue how to answer. As my response dragged on, Wang Ojong's expression grew uglier and uglier. I'd thought he seemed timid enough that we'd get along, but he was utterly unforgiving on this front.
Just as I decided I had to say something, a good idea struck me, and I put it into action immediately.
"And what business is that of yours?"
Experience had taught me that in these situations, you shouldn't answer naively and honestly — you deflect with a counter-question.
"Huh?"
There it is. When the answer doesn't match what someone expected, they can't help but be flustered. Sensing my opening, I pressed the attack.
"Whatever my relationship with her is, what does it matter to you, Vice-Commander?"
"Uh, uh...."
Bullseye. Wang Ojong only harbored a one-sided crush on Wang Seolha, which meant he had neither the right to ask about our relationship nor any reason to be angry.
"Say I do start dating that brat Wang Seolha. So what of it?"
The Flag Bearer Corps members, who had been listening with their ears perked up, began chiming in one by one, conceding the point.
"Hearing it out loud, he's got a point."
"What good is pining from afar? Love only counts when it's actually won, damn it."
"Kids these days, blinded by a woman. Tsk tsk. A man ought to be solid."
For the record, the guy who just went on about kids these days is younger than Wang Ojong.
Anyway, with the situation turning against him like this, Wang Ojong apparently found it humiliating enough to hang his head deep. Thinking this was probably enough, I headed for a corner of the training grounds to resume my practice.
"....Hold on."
"What now?"
Apparently not tired of it yet, Wang Ojong called me to a stop. At that, the Flag Bearer Corps members began looking at him with outright pity.
"I formally request a duel."
What in the actual hell was that supposed to mean?
***
"I formally request a duel."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you're admitting you're a lesser man than I am."
How did he arrive at that interpretation? I was starting to suspect Wang Ojong wasn't just blinded by love — his brain had straight-up stopped functioning.
I figured the Flag Bearer Corps members would toss out an insult or two again this time as well, so I was about to just refuse and walk away when—
"What? The Young Lord and the Vice-Commander are going to fight to the death?"
It's a duel, not a death match, and nobody said anything about fighting to the death anyway.
"As expected of men — a true man competes to claim the woman he desires."
Why is this guy delivering nonsense like it's a proverb?
"Fight! Fight!"
"Kyaaaah! How romantic!"
God, these kids are unbelievable.
The moment a fight was mentioned, the Flag Bearer Corps members lost all capacity for rational thought, widening their circle from before while packing themselves tightly around us. And just like that, a circular arena formed around me and Wang Ojong.
This is insane.
I'd planned to refuse and get back to training, but these lunatics, Wang Ojong included, had latched onto my ankles and refused to let go.
Fine then.
I was going to grab some senior and beat him senseless anyway, so this worked out nicely. Since a simple beating probably wouldn't vent my irritation, I'd have to beat him thoroughly.
The moment I hardened my expression and rested my hand on my wooden sword, Wang Ojong gave a faint smile.
"Feeling ready now?"
"Yeah. You worked hard today just to get a look at my temper, so I'll show you. My temper."
"Vulgar to the last, this one.... What does she even see in him. Damn it."
Wang Ojong seemed to be muttering bitterly to himself again, but I just wanted this circus over with as soon as possible.
"Any rules? If not, then just count down and we go."
"Hmph. Your words have grown short — I suppose that's your true nature showing. I'll make sure you never set foot near Seolha again."
"Too much talking? Hey. You."
I pointed at one of the Flag Bearer Corps members, and he pointed at himself with a finger, tilting his head.
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. You do the count. Ten."
"Ah.... yes, sir."
Just as I'd instructed, the guy began counting steadily. And in the same breath, Wang Ojong and I both drew our wooden swords from our belts.
As the count passed five, I shifted into a stance with one foot drawn back. It was to end this in a single exchange.
"Three! Two! One!"
Wham!
Pouring internal energy into the tips of my toes, I charged straight in. As if he'd anticipated it, Wang Ojong immediately took up a defensive posture.
CLANG!
My wooden sword met Wang Ojong's with a heavy, dull crash. Along with it came the shouts and cheers of the Flag Bearer Corps.
Clang! Clatter!
I'd intended to finish it in one blow, but Wang Ojong fought rather well — then again, he was the Vice-Commander for a reason. The problem was that he focused entirely on defense.
But as I traded exchanges with Wang Ojong, I began to feel that something was off.
What is this? No sign of attacking at all — just defense?
There was nothing wrong with defending well, but there should at least have been a hint of him watching for an opening to counterattack. Instead, Wang Ojong did nothing but block my sword.
What was peculiar, though, was that he never gave a single step of ground even while defending. The moment that thought crystallized, I realized Wang Ojong was actually on the stronger side.
Defending without retreating an inch is a fundamentally different thing from frantically blocking because you have no other choice.
So Wang Ojong and I crossed our wooden swords another dozen-odd times before withdrawing them at the same instant — the mutual conclusion that this way, there'd be no end to it.
As I thought, my danger sense isn't triggering.
Part of it was that Wang Ojong only defended, but above all, there was no real tension to feel, so my danger sense had no reason to activate.
Should I use the martial arts Moyong Hu taught me?
If I were going to use them, I'd have used them long ago — the reason I've been holding back is Wang Seolha. If I used even a single Moyong Clan technique here, the rumor would spread until it reached her ears.
And then, when I dueled Wang Seolha later, I'd have revealed one of my cards. I had told her I'd win for certain, but Wang Seolha was a gifted one with considerable talent herself.
It was even possible she could turn my own arts against me and dismantle them. I was deep in this dilemma — to use them or not — when it happened.
"You're stronger than the rumors suggest."
"Hm? Oh, ah. I dabbled a bit."
"Just like the rumors say — your mouth is filthy too."
"The hell did you just say?"
"Why aren't you attacking? Don't tell me you're already winded."
I had to win, but with my current internal energy, using my past-life martial arts was difficult, and my danger sense wouldn't trigger. And I couldn't use the Moyong Clan arts either.
Hmmmmm.
In that case, all I needed was to not get caught using Moyong Clan techniques, wasn't it?
Huh?
A conveniently unidentifiable martial art came to mind, and I goaded Wang Ojong on.
"Winded? I just stopped for a second because Seolha's face crossed my mind."
"Wh...what?"
Kyaaaaah!
The girls shrieked, but I did my best to ignore them.
"Anyway — you're free to like Seolha, but she absolutely hates you, you know?"
"That's a lie! She smiles at me every single day!"
"She smiles because your face is funny, you idiot. Do that a little longer and you'll convince yourself she likes you. Seolha would smile at a stray dog passing by, too."
"GRAAAAAGH!"
My final remark must have struck a real nerve, because Wang Ojong abandoned his defensive swordplay and came at me, just as he hadn't before.
His emotions boiling over, Wang Ojong channeled every last thread of internal energy into his sword and thrust it straight at me. The moment I confirmed all of it, I immediately drew out one of the Moyong Clan's arts.
WHAM!
"Kgh...!"
In the blink of an eye, Wang Ojong was rolling across the dirt, and the surroundings fell abruptly silent.
"What was that? What just happened...."
"What martial art was that? The family's inherited arts, the ones we've only heard about?"
"Oh. My Lord?"
They'd even mistaken it for a family-inherited art. Well, half wrong and half right — it was a Moyong Clan inherited technique.
"Uuuuurgh...."
Wang Ojong lay sprawled on the ground, groaning, right where he'd landed.
So how was I supposed to wrap this situation up? I'd won, but everyone was frozen in these weird half-crouched, halfway-to-something poses.
What is this? What? I won, didn't I?
If I won, someone should at least cheer or go whoa or something. Was I supposed to cheer for myself? I was sinking deep into that quandary when—
Wang Seolha, her face flushed scarlet, walked slowly out from among the Flag Bearer Corps members.
"Young Lord."
What are you doing here?