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Chapter 24
When Myeongwol conceded defeat after just two exchanges, murmurs spread through the crowd. Honestly, even two exchanges had been generous. Sahyeol had never intended to use her full strength here. She lowered her wooden sword again and waited for the next challenger. The academy’s disciples gathered together, whispering among themselves, clearly deep in thought.
“…Is that really what the Namgung direct line learns?”
“I don’t think so, but I couldn’t see her movements at all.”
“Myeongwol isn’t the type to lose like that…”
“So then, who’s going out next?”
As they continued whispering, someone pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.
“All you do is talk.”
Thud, thud. The man walking out was huge—so tall that Sahyeol would have to lift her head to look up at him. He seemed slightly shorter than Wol, perhaps, but as if Wol had been stretched sideways instead. His bulging muscles looked ready to burst through his training robes. Sahyeol tilted her head, gazing up at him with an expressionless face. He had the look of someone who should be using a saber rather than a sword, but people didn’t always follow their physiognomy.
“My name is Jang Mansu. I ask for a bout.”
After introducing himself, the massively built man immediately took his stance when Sahyeol nodded. Sahyeol, meanwhile, still looked relaxed, her arm holding the wooden sword hanging loosely at her side.
Don’t be fooled by that posture.
Mansu fixed his glare on her, wooden sword leveled, eyes wide. She stood there with a slightly languid expression, as though his pressure meant nothing to her. Mansu knew well that even if she appeared relaxed now, she would move the moment he charged—just as she had against Myeongwol.
Still, I can’t just stand here like this.
Creating an opening—that was the plan. Mansu raised his wooden sword high and kicked off the ground into a thrusting stance. Tap! The sound rang out as his massive body closed the distance in an instant. With such a powerful thrust, it would be difficult for her to simply knock the sword aside.
Hwaak!
The sharp tip of the wooden sword shot toward her shoulder, but Sahyeol evaded it lightly, twisting her body with just a half-step back. His momentum was good, his strength impressive. Despite his size, which could make one assume he was slow, he was quick enough to shatter that prejudice. But that was as far as it went. A full-powered thrust left nothing but openings before Sahyeol. She slipped past it and lightly struck his back with her wooden sword.
Crack!
It was such a loud sound that it almost seemed as though something had snapped. With a groan, Mansu collapsed face-first onto the ground. The impact was far too great to believe it had come from a single strike. He twitched his limbs, trying to get up, but whether his lower back had been hit just right, or for some other reason, he couldn’t muster any strength.
“That’s enough.”
Sahyeol said so and turned her gaze back toward the other gathered disciples. Several of them rushed over to support the fallen, struggling Mansu and carried him off toward the infirmary. Having brushed aside two of the more reputed disciples, Sahyeol waited calmly for the next challenger.
“Th-then this time, I’ll…!”
Perhaps stirred by wounded pride, the disciples who had been hesitating began stepping forward one by one. Sahyeol accepted every challenger without a moment’s hesitation. Some were visibly tense, while others tried to steady themselves with deep breaths. Watching them, Sahyeol thought that, compared to her main family, this place might not be so bad after all.
“I… I lost…”
Everyone who had sparred with her in the training grounds lay defeated. In other words, every single disciple had fallen by her hand. Aside from Myeongwol at the very beginning, all of them had been taken down in a single blow. The disciples stood in silence, their spirits visibly crushed. It was only natural—while some were younger than Sahyeol, most were older.
“Alright, alright! If you’re done, everyone clean up!”
At that moment, Jang Gyeong, who had been watching the situation unfold, clapped his hands and took charge. Sahyeol glanced once at her last opponent, then turned and returned to Wol, who had been watching her all along. Jang Gyeong wore a strange expression as he watched her leave. From start to finish, what she had shown was little more than simple sword swings, devoid of any recognizable forms.
And yet, not a single one of them could even graze her.
Considering the realm he judged her to be in, it was only natural that disciples who hadn’t even reached the level of first-rate masters couldn’t touch her. Even Myeongwol, who had exchanged two moves with her at the start, seemed to have been given some leeway. Still, he couldn’t figure out how she had grown so strong. To the very end, her sword path had no discernible foundation at all.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Not really.”
Wol spoke briefly to the returning Sahyeol, and Sahyeol replied just as briefly. She leaned the wooden sword against the wall and asked him,
“Did you not step forward because there was no value in it?”
“The tip of my sword is directed only at those who stand in my way.”
“I see.”
Sahyeol nodded easily. She couldn’t tell what level he had reached, despite his seemingly young age. He might even have been a master who had already undergone a complete transformation or reversed aging. But she had no interest in such things. It was enough that Wol could remain by her side.
“It’s almost time for dinner.”
“Mm, yes.”
With a face that hadn’t shed a single drop of sweat, Sahyeol returned with Wol to the guest rooms of the reception hall. Sohwa and Hwayeong, who had been chatting quietly, welcomed her back.
“Did you spar?”
“I did.”
“My goodness, our young lady has grown up so much.”
Despite the fact that this was the same young lady who had once hovered on the brink of death from illness, Sohwa showed no particular surprise at her suddenly sparring. Sahyeol sometimes found herself curious about what went on in Sohwa’s head. In any case, she had been a maid who tried to protect her until the very end, and there was no one more convenient to keep close. To Sahyeol—this Sahyeol, at least—she was someone precious in her own way.
“Shall I prepare some water for you to wash?”
“No need. It wasn’t that kind of sparring.”
“Really? Then I’ll go ask about the meal.”
“Go ahead.”
Slide.
Sohwa left the room, leaving only Hwayeong and Sahyeol behind. Hwayeong seemed to have grown fairly close to Sohwa, but she barely spoke to Sahyeol, the young lady she served. Especially after Sahyeol’s demeanor had changed so drastically, Hwayeong still hadn’t adjusted.
“……”
“……”
A natural silence fell between them. Sahyeol had no interest in Hwayeong, and Hwayeong had no idea what to say to her, so she couldn’t bring herself to speak. After some time passed, Sahyeol unexpectedly spoke first.
“Is the work manageable?”
“Pardon? Ah—yes!”
Hwayeong answered hastily, only then realizing she had been addressed.
“S-Sohwa h-handles things w-well and tries to do everything herself, so th-there isn’t really anything f-for me to do…”
“In that case, you will assist at the infirmary here for a while.”
“The… infirmary?”
“Yes. Say that I sent you, and my uncle will take care of the rest.”
“I—I understand.”
Though bewildered by the order, Hwayeong couldn’t question it when it came from the young lady she served. She stood up and left the guest room. Sahyeol remained seated, gazing out the window.
If I learn some medicine, it might come in handy someday.
Thinking that, Sahyeol waited for Sohwa to return. After some time had passed, hurried footsteps came running from afar. From the lightness of the sound, it was a girl—Sohwa. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than the door slid open loudly and Sohwa rushed in.
“Miss! A 귀(鬼) has appeared!”
