18
Ep 18
Time passed.
As expected of someone called the Little Heavenly Demon, Hong Yeon was a merciless teacher.
From the moment training began, she pushed me without holding back.
A method that drove me right to the brink.
That nauseating feeling from earlier?
It was nothing compared to this.
“Don’t relax!”
Her fingers dug into my shoulder.
A strange sense of familiarity crossed my mind.
“With that kind of resolve, you think you can claim the Sword Empress?”
‘This crazy woman…!’
I cursed internally.
I didn’t even have the strength to speak.
If I had even a little energy left, who knows what I might have said.
I never expected it to be this painful.
In the game, it was just a button to skip.
Now—
It was hell.
“Get up again!”
But my body had already reached its limit.
Half of it felt numb.
My muscles screamed and gave out, collapsing to the ground.
“…What are you doing?”
Her sharp voice struck me.
“Haa… haa…”
I couldn’t even respond.
My right eye burned, vision blurring.
Nausea rose.
Running, jumping, carrying rocks while crouching—
Madness.
My body was falling apart.
She let out a short scoff.
“That’s all you can handle?”
“You need to get stronger quickly, don’t you? Not my problem if you fail.”
“…I’ll… get up.”
“If you start something, see it through.”
“I understand…”
“…Which rock next?”
She smirked faintly.
“Resolve is useless if your body can’t follow.”
“…?”
“Winning Cheon Hyerin’s heart won’t be easy.”
“….”
“You’re aiming for someone extraordinary.”
“….”
“Work harder.”
‘Why does everything come back to that…?’
I gritted my teeth and lifted the rock again.
“If you want something, shout it!”
“…Flowers…!”
“…What?”
“I want to see them again…!”
“…You lunatic.”
—Thud.
She struck the back of my head.
Darkness crept in.
Lying on the ground—
Felt like heaven.
I glanced at her.
Her face slightly flushed.
She quickly covered herself.
I forced myself up again.
“…Pink petals would suit you…”
“…Still not thinking straight.”
—Thud.
And down I went again.
///
A month passed.
It felt like hell.
Exhausting.
Unbearable.
Still—
I endured.
My body had improved.
But it wasn’t pleasant.
Every morning—
Hong Yeon dragged me into training.
Some might call it a reward.
A beautiful woman showing up every day to train me.
No.
If that’s a reward—
I’d rather die.
The biggest change—
I learned how to control demonic energy.
Not just draw it—
But suppress it.
The training remained brutal.
Still—
Thanks to that technique—
I survived.
And after a month—
She told me to rest.
“Tomorrow, we’ll test you in real combat. Rest well.”
But now—
I had nothing to do.
No games.
No distractions.
So naturally—
I thought of one person.
…Cheon Hyerin.
Then—
I saw her.
Even from behind—
Her presence stood out.
I walked toward her.
Without thinking—
I grabbed her shoulder.
She turned.
Her eyes trembled.
“…I missed you.”
“…What? Yujin… suddenly…”
“I really missed you.”
I took her hand.
She stared at me—
Eyes wide.
“…Hey…”
I let go briefly—
Then reached again.
She flinched.
“Not here… this should be done… when we’re alone…”
“….”
“Someone might see…”
Her voice was barely audible.
Still—
I held her hand again.
Interlocking our fingers.
“…Ah.”
Her hand trembled.
Then—
I pulled her closer.
Wrapped an arm around her waist.
Just—
Because I wanted to.
///
“…!”
Cheon Hyerin couldn’t understand what she was feeling.
Her eyes stayed fixed on him.
Their hands intertwined.
Her waist held.
“…Ah…”
This was the second time.
Her body heated up.
Her gaze wavered.
Her heart shook.
Even small gestures—
Moved her deeply.
She tried to suppress it.
But couldn’t.
“…I missed you too.”
“…Even though we met yesterday…”
Her heart raced.
She tried to calm it.
His touch—
Still lingered.
“…How is your training?”
“I’m working hard… to be worthy of you.”
“…I see.”
“…Do you like anything?”
“…You.”
“…Not that.”
“…Then… dumplings.”
Her eyes remained fixed on him.
As always.
“…Shall we go get some?”
“…! Yes… together.”
///
And just like that—
They made plans.
She seemed—
Unusually happy.
I didn’t understand.
Someone like her—
Should be used to this.
But she showed everything.
Like a beginner.
We sat together.
Eating dumplings.
She blew on one—
Then split it in half.
Gave me one piece.
I took a bite.
“…Ah.”
Her face flushed.
It was the part she had already bitten.
She had meant to give the other half.
But—
I took this one instead.
“…Do you want it back?”
“…! I… if you wish… I can…”
I handed it back.
With my bite mark.
She took it.
Hesitated.
Then—
Bit into the same spot.
Without hesitation.
…She definitely did that on purpose.