Stomp.
Stomp. Stomp.
Alice walked ahead, with Kang Do-hee and Lee Yoo-ri following behind.
The two glanced back at Jin Yuha, left alone with Sword Emperor, feeling uneasy about the situation.
"Do you really think we can trust that woman?"
"Hmm, it’s hard to consider soone normal when they start touching you right after eting. And she’s the famous Sword Emperor? I’m not so sure."
"She’s really suspicious."
"I’m starting to wonder if we should just turn back now."
As they spoke ill of Sword Emperor, Alice suddenly turned and glared at them.
Caught off guard, Kang Do-hee and Lee Yoo-ri averted their gazes, feeling a bit guilty for badmouthing her family in front of Alice.
"What are your attributes?"
Alice asked in a chilly voice, her breath visible in the cold air.
"Attributes?"
Nod.
’Why is she asking about attributes all of a sudden?’
Well, it’s easier to answer than having to explain why they were badmouthing Sword Emperor. Anyway, since she asked, it’s not difficult to answer.
"I’m Earth."
Lee Yoo-ri possessed the Earth attribute, commonly associated with tanks, whose sturdy bodies could withstand attacks by anchoring themselves to the ground.
"I’m Fire."
Kang Do-hee had the Fire attribute, similar to Shin Se-hee, but unlike her, his fire was destructive and intense, burning fiercely for a short ti.
Alice pointed in different directions for each of them.
"The one with the Earth attribute, go that way."
She then pointed in another direction for Kang Do-hee.
"And the one with the Fire attribute, go this way."
Alice clenched her teeth and spoke in a cold voice, clearly annoyed.
’This is so annoying! Grandma wouldn’t teach the sword no matter how much I asked!’
She was frustrated that Sword Emperor was so eager to take on a stranger as a disciple when she had been denied the sa opportunity.
.
.
.
"Why are you refusing to beco my disciple? Do you doubt my skills?"
"Huh?"
"I am the Sword Emperor. In the sword, no one can match , and I have never allowed even a single defeat. Although it was in the past, even now, I am confident that in the sword, I am unmatched."
Sword Emperor, flustered by Jin Yuha’s firm refusal, began listing her accomplishnts, feeling embarrassed to have to boast about herself like this.
"If you beco my disciple, your sword skills will reach heights far beyond your current level."
( Ha, how pathetic, Sword Emperor... Do I look that easy to beco your disciple? )
Despite Sword Emperor’s insistence, Jin Yuha’s expression remained uncertain.
"Hmm, yes. I know that Director Lina sent to a remarkable person, and I don’t think you’re a bad person."
"Then, why...?"
"I already have a master whom I respect."
( ...Hmm. That’s a brilliant response, knowing the weight of the word ’master’.
Ah.
Suddenly, Sword Emperor realized her mistake.
’I assud that since he’s an Academy student, he wouldn’t have a master. I jumped the gun.’
In the Academy, instructors, not masters, taught the sword, so she naturally assud the sa for Jin Yuha.
A master, not an instructor.
A master and disciple relationship.
A bond where the disciple engraves the master’s sword into their very being, advancing together in their swordsmanship.
Sword Emperor wondered if Jin Yuha was mistaking an instructor for a master, but the firmness in his eyes suggested he understood the weight of the word ’master’.
"Ahem."
Sword Emperor cleared her throat and continued in a softer tone.
"I see. It’s comndable that you hold your master in such high regard. But don’t you want to beco stronger?"
"I do want to beco stronger, which is why I ca to learn from you..*
( Disciple, I’m sorry, but you don’t need to learn the sword from a woman like her. You can beco strong on your own. Realize that. )
"Then how about having two masters at the sa ti? That way, it’s not really a betrayal, right? You have multiple instructors at the Academy, don’t you?"
( What nonsense is this woman spouting now? )
Sword Emperor knew very well that what she was suggesting was inappropriate, but she couldn’t help herself.
To encroach upon another’s disciple was a blatant breach of etiquette, and she was well aware of that. However, she felt desperate, realizing that if she let Jin Yuha go now, she might never get another chance like this.
Her intuition was screaming at her that this boy was the one.
’I don’t know who you are or where you’re from... But I’m sorry for stealing your disciple. If you’re upset, co find and challenge .’
.
.
.
.
( Sword Emperor, draw your sword. )
Jin Yuha considered the proposal to have two masters simultaneously for a mont before shaking his head with a wide smile.
"No, I still refuse."
"What? Why!"
"My master may not seem like it, but she’s quite possessive and... jealous."
Jin Yuha recalled the ti when he had ntioned his admiration for Chairman Lina in front of Baek Seol-hee, and how she had pouted like a hurt puppy for a long ti afterward.
’She was so cute back then.’
Just a simple statent of admiration for Lina had hurt her so much.
What would happen if he suddenly told her that he had another master without her knowledge?
’I’m curious, but... that’s not possible.’
Jin Yuha smiled bitterly, thinking of Baek Seol-hee.
( ...Disciple. )
Once again, Sword Emperor’s proposal was rejected.
Squirm.
Thick veins popped out on her forehead, and she wondered when was the last ti her pride had been so wounded. Never, that was the answer.
Countless individuals had begged her to teach them the sword, but she had never taken on a disciple.
"Ha! So, that stubborn master of yours has completely bewitched you!"
Sword Emperor tried to provoke him, but—
"Yes, it seems so."
Jin Yuha nodded innocently.
( Ahem. It’s embarrassing to show such shaful behavior as a master... )
"So, who is this amazing master of yours? Sword King? Or that young upstart, the Martial Emperor?"
Sword Emperor asked, thinking of the relatively strong swordsn she had encountered.
Jin Yuha shook his head.
"None of them. My master doesn’t have such titles."
"Then who is it?"
"My master is—"
Jin Yuha spoke with pride as he looked at Sword Emperor.
"Baek Seol-hee. People call her the Slaughtering Maniac, but I don’t think that na suits her. It doesn’t match her beautiful and cute personality."
( ... )
Sword Emperor’s mouth hung open in surprise at the unexpected na.
"What... That... brat is your master!?"
"Yes, she is."
The little girl who had once co here with killing intent had grown up to beco his master.
However, it also made sense.
There were very few individuals she considered monsters, and Baek Seol-hee was one of them.
’Wait a minute, doesn’t that actually work in my favor?’
An idea suddenly occurred to Sword Emperor, and she curled her lips into a smile.
"Well, if that Baek Seol-hee is your master, then it’s good news."
"Huh?"
( Is this woman still not giving up? What nonsense is she about to spout now? )
"I’m right above her, so to speak."
( What...!? )
"I, I don’t choose my master based on strength—"
"No, no. That’s not what I an. Your master, Baek Seol-hee, is my disciple. That’s what I’m saying."
"Huh...?"
Jin Yuha’s eyes widened as he looked at Sword Emperor.
"So, I’m like your master’s master. Yes. In other words, I’m your grandmaster."
’Well, the little monster isn’t here right now, so why not? It’s not exactly a lie.’
To be honest, she felt a bit guilty calling herself his grandmaster, but she nodded inwardly.
.
.
.
.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
( No, that’s not true! That’s nonsense! )
Not far away, Baek Seol-hee clenched her teeth so hard that her lips bled as she pounded on the wall.
(That wicked witch is not my master! Don’t fall for her tricks, disciple!)
Baek Seol-hee shouted in a voice filled with excitent, unlike her usual calm deanor.
But.
Lina’s magical barrier was too strong.
No matter how much Baek Seol-hee scread at the top of her lungs,
Jin Yuha and Sword Emperor couldn’t hear her.
Baek Seol-hee could only watch helplessly as the cunning old fox spoke to her rabbit-like disciple.
"Your master’s... master? Grandmaster?"
Jin Yuha’s pupils quivered as he looked at Sword Emperor.
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