The Sparring Challenge
I ended up inside a zombie apocalypse novel. And naturally, I couldn't show my face around for a while. I mean, even so. No matter how you look at it, even if I was burning with fever and my body wasn't in normal condition, even if I was seeing things, it's still embarrassing to babble nonsense with a twisted tongue. But well, I couldn't have held my head up anyway.
“Aah.”
“Bored, aren't you?”
“Yeah. Bored. Very.”
“Still, it's not like you get many chances to lie in bed and rest, right? Once your body recovers, you'll be worked to the bone again, unnie.”
“I'd rather that. At least time would pass faster.”
It had already been three days since I returned to campus. And during those three days, I hadn't been able to move at all. I could talk, but that was it. Even now, I couldn't walk, so I had to get around in a wheelchair. Still, after resting properly and eating plenty for three days, my body felt much better than at first. Back then, I hadn't even had the strength to chew anything solid. Since I couldn't even lift a cup, it was only natural that someone had to stay with me under the pretext of nursing. If Kim Yeonhua's mother hadn't volunteered for the role, I probably would've been restless the whole time.
“I hope I recover soon.”
“Because you're bored?”
“That, and I feel bad relying on your mother. Plus, my joints ache…”
I didn't mention it to Kim Yeonhua, but there was one more reason. Kang Siwoo hadn't come to see me at all. No matter how busy he was, he used to show his face at least once a day. But ever since I collapsed and holed up in the dorm, he hadn't visited even once. I wondered if he was plotting something, but from what Kim Yeonhua said, that didn't seem to be the case.
“Haa…”
“Just rest a little longer, unnie.”
“I guess I should. Can you close the door on your way out?”
“Of course.”
Since there was nothing I could do right now anyway, resting was the best option. Still, I could move my arms, so I'd probably be able to move normally again within a few days. He'd come check on me when he felt like it. I could hear everything I missed then. Whatever happened during the three days I was out, Kang Siwoo would surely have it all sorted.
And then the fourth day came.
“Lee Yeji, revived!”
Day by day, my body had been returning to normal, and now it was close to perfect. No, I could even say it was better than perfect. Muscles grow stronger after being damaged by consuming protein. And iron becomes harder the more it's hammered. Having overcome this ordeal, I was stronger than before. So the moment I could move in the morning, I wandered around campus. And I learned a few things.
First, the number of survivors had increased sharply while I was bedridden. At least fifty more people had arrived. They came from beyond Garak 2-dong, saying the number of zombies had decreased, so they'd fled here. It was thanks to the rescue teams continuing to be dispatched even after saving me. Also, some students had confirmed their families' survival, so the atmosphere wasn't bad. But I couldn't figure out why I was hogging all the fame. Honestly, I thought something would've happened while I was lying down. I'm probably the second strongest person on this campus after Kang Siwoo. If that person went out on a rescue mission and came back half-dead, what would happen? If he even died, it'd be dangerous when the zombies attack later. So I figured some of the blame might fall on Kang Siwoo.
“Ah.”
But thinking about it again, I understood. He'd buried a week of negative public opinion under the survivors' gratitude. When people are adapting to the group after being saved, who'd badmouth Kang Siwoo and me in front of them? They'd definitely get cursed out. So I could understand why Kang Siwoo had gone out of his way to boost my reputation.
…Though the problem was that he'd focused too much on me. I'd just been lying in my room, yet it was like I'd monopolized all the popularity. There were even people who said they didn't know anyone else's name or face, but they knew mine. So walking around campus had become annoying. Though before, people hadn't bothered me this much. Plus, if I had work to do, I could've used that as an excuse to escape, but surprisingly, Kim Kijun and Kim Daehan both said there was nothing for me to do and that I could rest for a while. Since I couldn't exactly go to Kang Siwoo and ask for work, I slowly headed back to the dorm. After all, something might happen again in just a few hours.
I got up after lying blankly staring at the ceiling in the room I'd been stuck in until a moment ago. I couldn't stay still because my body itched so much. I'd rather talk with Lee Ayoung or Kim Yeonhua.
“What, she's not here?”
“No. Ayoung went out with the rescue team today. She'll probably be back in a few hours?”
“Tsk.”
I'd wanted to establish some kind of connection with the church faction in the south, but since my roommate had gone out with the rescue team herself, it looked like I wouldn't see Lee Ayoung for a while. In that case, the only one left was Kim Yeonhua. Her mother had told me she didn't have any particular plans today. So I wandered around the dorm hoping to chat with her for a while. It didn't take long to find Kim Yeonhua's room. Her parents were using the room next door, and more importantly, it was near my room. It was proof that she was being treated quite well.
“Huh?”
But the situation was a bit strange. In the next room, I could see Kim Yeonhua's parents drinking. Her father was downing shots one after another while her mother seemed to be trying to soothe him. I didn't know why he suddenly looked so frustrated, but… I carefully approached Kim Yeonhua's room and knocked.
“You can come in, unnie.”
“Huh?”
“It's open.”
“Ah, okay?”
When I slowly entered the room, I saw Kim Yeonhua lying there with a slightly flushed face. Her hair and body were damp, like she'd exercised and showered. But I'd never seen her lie down right after working out before. So I stared blankly for a moment, finding it curious. Plus, her condition seemed a bit off. She looked like she was floating, as if she'd been drinking. And when she tried to sit up, she lay back down as if her waist hurt. Even while doing that, she was covering her neck area with the blanket. I didn't know what was going on, but I decided to let it pass. Well, she was probably embarrassed because she wasn't fully dressed. But I couldn't figure out what she'd done to make her waist hurt. Normally, it would've been polite not to ask. But… her expression looked just like mine before I started bragging about my exploits, so I couldn't help but ask.
“Did something happen, Yeonhua?”
“Ah, well. I did some sparring all night.”
“Ah, sparring? You won, I guess? From your expression.”
“It was a decision win. Decision win. But I twisted my waist a little.”
“Geez, you must've gone at it pretty hard. Seeing you lying there like that.”
“I thought I was going to die.”
Anyway, that Kang Siwoo guy treats men and women equally. He'd stabbed me with a knife over and over because he judged me to be dangerous. I thought maybe he should've gone easier on her since she's a woman, but then I changed my mind. If Kang Siwoo became blinded by women, that'd be a big problem. This community, Kang Siwoo is basically handling everything. It'd be best if he stayed as clean, innocent, and overpowered as ever. Since the heroines would still be alive anyway, it'd probably be fine.
“But what did you do? All night?”
“Huh?”
“Sparring, right? Training. I should ask to do it too.”
“Huh? Uh, unnie!?”
Kim Yeonhua hurriedly tried to sit up and groaned in pain. No wonder she'd been covering her neck with the blanket. There were ugly marks around her neck. He must've gone at her without mercy, gripping her tightly with his hands, even though she was a precious heroine.
“Hey, you think I'd lose? I'll get revenge for you. Revenge.”
“Uh…”
“Stay put. I'll come back with news of victory!”
With my current self, couldn't I beat Kang Siwoo? And if I got the chance to land a hit on that smug face under the pretext of sparring, that'd be even better. So with a grin, I immediately went looking for Kang Siwoo, wandering around campus. Fortunately, Kang Siwoo was training in the kendo hall. It seemed fine since we could spar on the mats without needing to change locations. Hmm, no one around. Just the two of us here. I locked the classroom door so he couldn't escape and even brought over some equipment to block it. Meanwhile, Kang Siwoo thoroughly ignored me and kept swinging his wooden sword. The claim that he'd sparred all night didn't seem to be a lie—on the surface, he looked like he'd used up some stamina. But I couldn't tell why he was swinging the wooden sword with such a serious expression. Maybe he'd gained some kind of enlightenment while sparring.
“…State your business.”
“Let's have a match!”
“…What?”
“I heard from Yeonhua. You sparred all night. Since my body's recovered anyway, I want to test myself.”
“Would you like to pick a wooden sword?”
“No, with fists.”
“Understood.”
Kang Siwoo seemed quite displeased. Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown it so clearly in his voice. It seemed like I'd crossed a line, and he was scattering the related memories, but well, that wasn't my concern. I just urged Kang Siwoo to fight.
“After rolling around for one round, maybe all your stray thoughts will disappear?”
“My, that's quite the statement, coming from you, Yeji-ssi.”
“I won't go easy on you even if you cry.”
“I won't go easy on you even if you cry.”
Kang Siwoo provoked me by repeating my words exactly. I'd find out when we fought, so I charged straight at him. And naturally, I got my ass handed to me.