In the morning, they simply arranged a variety of ingredients, and people chose what they wanted. Sang-ho selected a piece of toasted bread, a boiled egg, a slice of apple, and a cup of coffee and sat down.
Se-hee sat beside him.
Since it was the weekend, the dining atmosphere was casual, allowing teachers and students to sit together and choose from a flexible menu. Sang-ho glanced at Se-hee’s plate. It had toast with jam, an apple, and orange juice.
“Don’t you like eggs?”
“I usually don’t eat boiled ones.”
“So, it’s not that you can’t eat them?”
“That’s right.”
Sang-ho peeled the boiled egg and placed it on Se-hee’s plate.
“After training, make sure to get your protein intake. Swordsmanship ultimately involves muscle training. You can also have some milk…”
“It’s alright.”
“At least have the egg white.”
She eventually took a bite of the egg.
Even though he had advised her to only eat the egg white, she finished the entire egg, including the yolk. It seemed like she had a habit of not leaving any food behind.
The more Sang-ho observed her, the more he felt they were similar.
“Se-hee, why did you choose the sword as your special skill?”
After taking a moment to think, Se-hee responded.
“I didn’t have talent in anything else… only in martial arts. And within that, other weapons didn’t suit me.”
“Do you dislike magic because it’s complicated?”
“Yes.”
“Spears or hammers aren’t stylish. Swords are the coolest. They’re also pretty, right?”
With a smile, Se-hee nodded in agreement. Sang-ho chuckled as well.
Now it was Se-hee’s turn to inquire.
“Why did you choose the sword, teacher?”
Leaning back in his chair, he replied.
“When I started learning martial arts, it was wartime. There weren’t many who could teach martial arts or magic. If a master used a sword, you learned the sword, and if they used a spear, you learned the spear. That’s how it was. I had no choice.”
“Couldn’t you choose a master?”
“At that time, no. If someone offered to teach, you had to bow down and learn gratefully. If you didn’t learn, monsters would kill you.”
Se-hee’s eyes sparkled with fascination.
“Did you also have to show that kind of respect to your master?”
“No, not me. Others did. I was fortunate to meet a good master.”
“Who was it?”
“A woman, six years older than me.”
Sang-ho’s master was also a member of the same underworld unit.
“She was the strongest person I knew, both in mind and body. She’s the person I respect the most.”
“Do you still keep in touch?”
The question touched Sang-ho deeply.
He shook his head.
“No… It’s been a while since we lost contact. It’s not possible now.”
Se-hee seemed uncomfortable, but Sang-ho waved it off.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
But Se-hee still looked concerned, so he changed the topic.
“How are you getting along with Tae-hwa and Na-bit? Closer now?”
“A bit… it’s only been a few days.”
“I hope you three get along, considering there are only three students. The class feels empty.”
“I’ll try.”
“Tae-hwa probably plays a lot of pranks. Brush off the minor ones, but if it gets too much, tell me. Okay?”
“Yes.”
“Have you talked to Na-bit?”
“A little. On the first day and yesterday too.”
“What do girls talk about? I don’t know what to discuss with them.”
“Just, like, ‘nice bag,’ ‘pretty pen,’ ‘cute shoes’…”
“That’s it?”
“We’re not that close yet.”
Sang-ho leaned in, curious.
“And when you get closer?”
She hesitated, then blushed.
“About our favorite singers… or if we like a drama or novel, we discuss that. If there’s news related to hunters, that too. Which brand has pretty clothes, which movie had a good-looking actor… stuff like that. If we’re really close, even relationship advice.”
“Hmm…”
Sang-ho frowned.
“That’s deep.”
“It’s nothing…”
“It’s like a story from another world to me. So, Se-hee, what’s your hobby?”
“My hobby?”
“What do you do on a day off like today? There must be something you do to pass the time.”
“I…”
Se-hee’s gaze turned to her sword. Seeing that, Sang-ho couldn’t help but chuckle.
“So, you’re really devoted to swordsmanship, aren’t you?”
Hearing that, Se-hee giggled, seemingly pleased.
Watching her, Sang-ho contemplated whether he should tell her about the bet he made with the principal. He didn’t want to burden the girl who already had a clear goal. He needed to decide whether she needed motivation or guidance at this point.
Before long, her plate was empty. Sang-ho finished his coffee, got up with the empty dish, not one to linger and savor things.
“Let’s go. I’ll teach you some sword techniques.”
“Really?”
Her voice was quiet but filled with excitement. Se-hee hurriedly cleaned up her plate and utensils and followed Sang-ho.
***
“What are the fundamentals of combat?”
In a secluded part of the school where no one came, Sang-ho faced Se-hee. Holding his sword with both hands, he asked her.
Drawing her sword, Se-hee replied uncertainly, “Attack, defense…, and evasion.”
“What forms the basis of all that?”
“Distance…?”
“Distance is one of the correct answers.”
Sang-ho nodded.
“The answer is intensity and distance. With a weak attack, you can’t hit or defend, right? The foundation of defense is intensity, of evasion is distance. And attack requires both. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Are you talking about… sword energy?”
“Exactly. No matter how weak, your weapon’s intensity should at least be stronger than the opponent’s defenses. A fair fight begins when the intensity of the weapons matches. Conversely, if my weapon can break the opponent’s, I have an advantage. That’s where sword energy, sword strength, comes in.”
He unsheathed his sword.
“Now, let’s see your sword energy.”
Se-hee tensely raised her sword. Sang-ho studied the blade. It was a standard training sword, but it might be precious to her.
“Are you okay if that sword breaks?”
“Ah…”
After a brief moment of surprise, Se-hee resolvedly nodded, “Yes, it’s okay.”
“You can get attached to your first sword.”
Sang-ho had experienced that before.
He infused his sword with energy. A faint blue glow enveloped the blade.
“But if you get too attached to things, you won’t grow. Se-hee, stand in front of me.”
Se-hee approached.
“Here?”
“Step back a little. Yes, there. From there, you’ll fight without moving your feet. I’ll defend, you’ll attack. You can move a bit, just don’t step back.”
“Okay.”
“Attack whenever you’re ready. If your sword touches me… hmm… I can’t offer much, but I’ll buy you something from the snack shop. Like a snack or ice cream.”
Just as he finished speaking, a blade rushed towards his face. Sang-ho thought, ‘Normally, you wouldn’t strike the face straight away unless you really hated the person…’
Though it was an unexpected attack, the skill gap was too wide. Even reacting late, he had ample time.
He effortlessly deflected her sword.
Jjaeng
Se-hee’s sword screamed.
Feeling the resonating vibration deep in her bones, Se-hee instinctively stepped back. The counter was so powerful and clean, it felt like hitting a wall.
Sang-ho admonished her, “Hey, don’t step back.”
“Sorry.”
Se-hee spoke softly, taking a step forward and holding her sword close, preparing for a strike.
Sang-ho scanned her stance.
‘She’s coming from below.’
Se-hee lunged at him, her body stretching forward in a strike. It resembled fencing’s thrust but was much lower, a stance that would require a significant effort and time to recover.
It was an all-out attack.
As Sang-ho predicted, Se-hee struck upwards from below, aiming for the lower abdomen.
He noticed her stance was wider than most.
‘She’s quite flexible.’
From her legs, her waist, her arms. Her whole body added speed, and the sword shot out like lightning.
Se-hee was hopeful.
With this speed, even if deflected midway, it might at least graze his clothes.
Jjeong
However, she felt no sensation at the tip of her blade.
Once again, she felt the jarring impact in her palms and stared blankly at the shattered fragments of her sword in mid-air.
“You shouldn’t recklessly strike like that.”
The broken blade clanged as it hit the ground.
“Would you do this in a real fight? This isn’t an attack, it’s suicide.”
Sang-ho bent down and flicked Se-hee’s forehead.
“Ouch…”
“You lunged so far forward you couldn’t even stand up. Why did you do that?”
“You said I’m fast…”
Se-hee took Sang-ho’s outstretched hand and got up.
“I was curious how fast I am. Whether it would work on you…”
“You’re already fast, Se-hee.”
“But I want to be as fast as you.”
“Hmm…”
Sang-ho pondered. While speed in swordsmanship is good, focusing solely on it could make one overlook other crucial aspects.
“You’re not at that stage yet. Anyways… your sword energy isn’t bad.”
“Really?”
“You’re still using basic techniques? For that, you’re pretty solid.”
In middle school, only very basic techniques are taught. Specialized and advanced techniques and skills are typically learned in high school.
Basic techniques weren’t great for building inner power. Nevertheless, Se-hee’s sword energy was at a considerable level. Naturally, that’s why she was ranked first in middle school.
Among students, there was a perception of “The basic techniques are inefficient, so just do the basics in middle school, and train hard with advanced techniques in high school.” This wasn’t just among students, but teachers as well. However, Sang-ho didn’t agree.
Of course, the common belief wasn’t entirely wrong. Basic techniques truly were inefficient. But the difference lay in the person.
There was a distinct difference between a passionate person and a non-passionate one.
“When you start learning proper techniques, you’ll quickly become stronger. You’ll also find it more enjoyable. Just keep working hard as you’re doing now.”
“…Yes.”
She responded and looked at her broken sword. Sang-ho could read her mind.
The cheap sword given by the school in middle school was her first. She was completely familiar with its length, weight, and grip.
He extended his sword to Se-hee, sheathed.
“Practice with this over the weekend. Get a new one at school on Monday.”
Se-hee’s eyes widened.
“Is that okay?”
“Yeah. Just give me your sheath. I only need that.”
Hesitating, Se-hee sheathed her broken sword and handed it to Sang-ho, taking the sword he offered.
Both swords were of similar length. Se-hee looked surprised at Sang-ho’s shorter blade.
“It’s shorter compared to your height.”
“It belonged to someone shorter than me.”
Sang-ho replied vaguely and checked her sword. It felt no different from what he was used to.
Though broken, there was no need to swing it, and he could extend its length with his energy if necessary.
He pointed to the sword Se-hee held.
“Don’t be rough with it, like smashing it against rocks.”
Se-hee seemed restless, as if she wanted to say something.
Sang-ho laughed, realizing why.
“I became attached to things and didn’t grow, that’s why I’m B-rank.”
“Were you really B-rank?”
Doubt was evident in Se-hee’s voice.
“You don’t look like B-rank at all.”
“Well… ranking doesn’t just go up because you’re strong.”
Sang-ho shrugged.
“I can’t act due to my leg injury, so it’s natural to be downgraded.”
That was the backstory.
He turned away, holding Se-hee’s sword.
“Get used to the new sword. That’s your homework. Rest well, and I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Yes.”
Se-hee watched Sang-ho walk away, then looked around and drew her sword. She spotted a tree.
She swung her sword lightly and approached the tree.
Then, she kicked it.
“Huh!”
The falling leaves were met with a flash of the blade.
***
Uuung…
There was a vibration from the pocket. While returning to the faculty dormitory, Sang-ho stopped walking for a moment and checked his phone.
There was a message from Tae-hwa.
-Teacher
-Please buy me food.
Below that, a cutesy cat emoticon was sent.
‘This kid…’
Sang-ho immediately replied.
-It’s morning. Eat school meals.
-There isn’t any left ㅠㅠ
It was 10 o’clock now. He had breakfast at 7 o’clock.
The cafeteria couldn’t keep breakfast available for several hours. They had to prepare for lunch as well.
-You should’ve woken up earlier. Isn’t there anything to eat in the dorm?
-The dorm supervisor told me not to bring foodㅠㅠㅠ
-Then you should starve.
-That’s too cruelㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
The teary emoticons in the texts were increasing.
Sang-ho frowned. He couldn’t let her starve. But if he went to the cafeteria now, they would be busy preparing for lunch.
He had no choice.
-Come to the front of the faculty dormitory then.
-Yay~~~~
Tae-hwa’s reply appeared briefly and then disappeared. She seemed to have deleted it hastily.
-Yesㅠㅠㅠ
Sang-ho sighed deeply after seeing that text.
When he arrived at the faculty dormitory, Tae-hwa was already waiting. She waved at him energetically.
She was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a black skirt.
“Teacher~!”
“If you don’t eat breakfast on time next time, I’ll scold you.”
“Hey, I can oversleep sometimes~.”
Tae-hwa playfully clung to Sang-ho’s side.
“So, what are we eating? Are we going out?”
“Why go out. You should eat what I have. Rice and kimchi.”
“Eek…”
Seeing her surprised face, Sang-ho said indifferently,
“Don’t like it? You must not be that hungry.”
“Do you really only have rice and kimchi? At least instant noodles…”
“Go see for yourself.”
He entered the dorm with Tae-hwa.
***
“Really…”
Tae-hwa mumbled while looking into Sang-ho’s refrigerator.
There was only a container of kimchi. Not a single egg or piece of garlic to be found.
“Why do you have so little?”
“I haven’t been living here for long. I just brought the essentials.”
“Kimchi is all you need? There’s nothing in the room either…”
Refrigerator, bed, TV. That was about it.
While rummaging through Sang-ho’s belongings, Tae-hwa, unable to find anything edible, flopped onto the bed and kicked her feet.
“I don’t care, order delivery! Chicken! Black bean noodles!”
“Delivery for breakfast? You should eat what’s available.”
“I don’t care! I ate cafeteria food all week!”
“Cafeteria food is pretty good. And why should I buy you food? Se-hee got promised an ice cream if she did well…”
At that, Tae-hwa sat up abruptly, her lips pouting in anger.
“Why only Se-hee?”
“I didn’t. She failed.”
“That’s not the point. Why only promise Se-hee? I want to do it too.”
“I’ll do it later. I can’t be in two places at once. It’s easier to teach Se-hee since she uses a sword.”
“But… ugh.”
She opened her mouth but had nothing to counter. Tae-hwa sprawled out on the bed, mumbling.
“Hmph, other kids go out to eat with their families on weekends…”
At that, Sang-ho’s resolve weakened again.
“…Order, then. Whatever you want.”
“Really? Yay!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Tae-hwa turned on her phone with a bright smile.
Sang-ho sighed inwardly.
‘I’ll have to buy something for Se-hee later…’
In the end, they ordered chicken and sat in front of the TV to eat together.
Sang-ho started by picking up a chicken bone. He wasn’t particularly hungry.
“You eat the rest. I’ll just have a taste.”
“Teacher.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you prefer the breast or the leg?”
Tae-hwa, sitting next to him, held up a chicken breast in one hand and a chicken leg in the other, shaking them in turn as she asked.
Sang-ho shrugged.
“I don’t really have a preference.”
“You eat whatever?”
“Just eat whatever.”
“But if you had to choose one?”
“Leg.”
“Hmm…”
Tae-hwa nodded as if she understood.
“So you prefer the leg…”
Why did she need to know that? Sang-ho wanted to ask but refrained, munching on the fried skin of the bone instead.
“Have you talked to Se-hee and Na-bit?”
“A lot, considering we’ve known each other for less than a week.”
“You exchanged numbers?”
“Of course, it’s basic. Since we’re on the topic, should I call her?”
Tae-hwa smirked as she took out her phone.
“I need to brag to Se-hee that I’m eating chicken with you in your room.”
“If you go around saying that, I won’t buy you food ever again.”
“Hey, I know, I know. Just joking~.”
Tae-hwa playfully teased but still called Se-hee. Sang-ho wanted to hear their conversation, so he didn’t stop her.
But Se-hee didn’t pick up. Just a prolonged ringtone.
Tae-hwa frowned.
“She’s ghosting me?”
“She’s probably training. That’s why she can’t pick up.”
But he was actually worried. Sang-ho took out his phone anxiously.
‘Hopefully, she hasn’t hurt herself with a real sword…’
“I’ll try calling.”
He dialed Se-hee’s number.
The same ringtone that echoed from Tae-hwa’s phone played. But again, Se-hee didn’t answer. It was strange for her not to check after two calls.
Something must’ve happened.
Sang-ho threw the chicken bone on the table and stood up quickly.
“I need to check.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Tae-hwa also put down her chicken and stood up. But Sang-ho shook his head.
“You stay and eat.”
“You can’t run properly, Teacher. I’ll support you.”
She had a point.
Sang-ho reluctantly leaned on Tae-hwa’s shoulder.
“Let’s go, quickly.”
Upon reaching the place where Se-hee had practiced, it was silent, located at a remote corner of the school grounds.
All was quiet, and Sang-ho’s suspicions grew deeper. He didn’t hear any sounds of training, like sword strikes or sword energy.
He signaled to Tae-hwa to be silent.
“Quiet.”
He called Se-hee again, hoping to hear the phone nearby.
Again, there was no answer, but among the sounds of rustling leaves and the distant footsteps of a stray cat, he heard the distant buzzing of a phone.
“Over there.”
They headed towards the sound and found a sickly tree. Unlike the other lush trees, this one had fewer leaves. Beneath it, on a carpet of fallen leaves, was someone in a pink tracksuit, lying down with a sword in hand.
It was Se-hee.
“Se-hee!”
There was no response.
Sang-ho hurried over and checked her condition. There was no blood on her or the sword. It didn’t seem like she had a life-threatening injury.
Given her sweat-soaked appearance, she seemed to have overexerted herself. But she was still breathing.
He picked her up with one arm.
“Tae-hwa, go eat. I’ll handle this.”
“Is Se-hee okay?”
“She’ll be fine after some treatment.”
Sang-ho scrolled through his phone contacts while holding Se-hee.
She was surprisingly light for someone who trained in combat, making him wonder about the source of her exceptional physical skills.
‘I need to feed her properly first, help her gain some weight.’
Sang-ho carried Se-hee to the infirmary.
Cliche Novel 