Chapter 108

On the way back to the Namgung Family estate after getting a sword from the blacksmith.

Sososo, walking in step with Mantian, feels her head spinning.

‘He did say to go together with a shout…’

As time passes and she cools down, she realizes how recklessly she had approached him.

‘But still…! The fact that he agreed means he doesn’t dislike being with me…!’

Contrary to her excitement, she worries that he might find her annoying.

She carefully checks Mantian’s expression without being noticed.

Though his sharp features might make him look cunning…

‘Wow~ Namgung noona! Give me food!!’

His face, acting like a spoiled child.

‘I’m waiting. I’ll show you how ridiculous this so-called destiny you speak of is.’

His serious face, full of determination.

Sososo knew the different faces of Mantian.

…And no matter which face it was, he always approached her sincerely.

The anxiety swirling in her heart subsides.

Though it’s an embarrassing expression, like a girl too deeply in love.

A blush spreads across Sososo’s cheeks.

‘Even if it’s forced… I like being with Sir Sima.’

Just looking at Mantian makes her feel at ease.

She wishes he would always stay within her sight.

“Namgung… Namgung… Brother…”

Together… always… together…

“Brother Namgung, are you okay?”

Mantian’s call brings Sososo back from her thoughts.

“Ah… Yes! Sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment.”

Hiding her still embarrassing feelings.

“What is it?”

She forces an awkward smile.

“Nothing much, since we’re here. If it’s okay with you, I thought we could check out the market.”

As he says this, Mantian points towards the street vendors.

The sudden appearance of his father, the engagement with Guhae.

After the Dragon and Phoenix Association event, things piled up, and he hadn’t had a proper talk with Sososo.

It felt off to just get the sword and immediately start training.

…And above all.

‘Waaah! I, baby Mantian! Want to play with Namgung noona!!’

He also wanted to play with Sososo after so long.

***

“Hoh~ Modan, that guy came to apologize himself.”

“Yes, he came with Wolhwa. He said he wouldn’t make excuses for what he did.”

Seol Modan. Wolhwa’s older brother, the young master of the North Sea Ice Palace, Sososo’s relative.

…And to win.

He had slipped a cold poison into Sososo’s tea.

A cowardly act by a disgraceful disciple.

“That guy came to apologize… Seems he still has some conscience left.”

“Hoho~ It’s all thanks to Sir Sima.”

“I did beat him up to make him come to his senses.”

At the Dragon and Phoenix Association, he was utterly overwhelmed by me, the genius who even deceives the heavens, with one arm grabbed and his shoulder pressed down.

‘Kyaaaah~! Wolhwa! North Sea Ice Palace guards!!’

The image of Seol Modan, howling like a white wolf being beaten by a grown seal, is still vivid.

“He’s not weak, but compared to me… It’s like the difference between Guan Yu and Yan Liang.”

Well, both ended up getting their heads chopped off.

Mantian was just spouting nonsense as usual, boasting about himself.

But Sososo shyly muttered beside him.

“You fought so hard it was a mess…”

To Sososo, who had already fallen for Mantian, it sounded like he was downplaying his injuries to spare her worry.

…While chatting happily and browsing the market.

“Ah… Brother Namgung, wait a moment.”

Mantian stopped at a stall to look at the displayed items.

The shop sold women’s hair accessories and combs.

“I once gave a comb as a gift to my younger sister. She still uses it.”

With a natural smile, he carefully examines the items.

“She’s sharp, but when you look closely, she has many cute sides.”

“……”

…But Sososo couldn’t smile along.

She shouldn’t feel this way. Frustration rises, and her heart becomes chaotic.

Guhae and Yeonghwa.

The existence of other women, whom she tried not to think about, becomes clear.

Those two have done nothing wrong.

They met Mantian earlier and built more relationships with him, perhaps knowing sides of Mantian that Sososo doesn’t. She feels jealous of them.

…Is that why? Even though she’s here with him.

She mutters slightly towards Mantian, who is picking a gift for another woman.

“Sir Sima is a gentleman… but you like women too much.”

Wang Miaoyang, whose relationship with him is more than just master and disciple.

Moreover, the conversation she had with Wolhwa not long ago comes to mind.

“Um… Sister Sososo… I think I should thank Sima Mantian… So… What kind of food does Sima Mantian like?”

The image of her shy cousin, fidgeting with her fingers, resurfaces.

…But Mantian, unaware of Sososo’s inner thoughts.

“Brother Namgung, my master who taught me martial arts when I was young once said this.”

“A gentleman should love women as much as he loves martial arts and learning.”

He laughs heartily at the cute criticism.

“In other words, a gentleman loving women is no flaw! Kuhahahaha-!!”

“……”

“…Haha.”

As Sososo’s expression grows colder, his laughter fades.

Exactly, her face, cold yet flushed with embarrassment and various emotions, leaves him speechless.

Once again, Sososo’s delicate hand grabs Mantian, pleading with a pitiful stubbornness.

“Right now, it’s me who’s by Sir Sima’s side.”

Later, she might kick her blanket, but now she just wants to monopolize Mantian.

“Just look at me for now.”

She didn’t used to be like this. She’s gradually changing because of Mantian.

The face of the Namgung Family’s young master is replaced by that of a girl in love.

***

The bathhouse at the Namgung Family estate within the Martial Alliance.

Bubble bubble~.

Sososo, half-submerged in the large marble tub, blushes from the heat and sighs, creating bubbles.

‘Sir Sima is my precious benefactor… Yet I act stubborn… get jealous… irritated… say bad things about him liking women… I’m pathetic…’

Even though Mantian kindly suggested we play together.

He approached me as usual…

Startled by her own words, she distanced herself, skipping lunch and dinner.

Splash~!

As she rises from the bath, Sososo’s naked body reflects in the rippling water.

A delicate but distinctly feminine figure.

The images of Guhae and Yeonghwa, who openly expressed their feelings to Mantian, come to mind.

Due to family circumstances, she must continue to dress as a man in public.

She’s not as pretty or cute as them… but still…

“…I need to make it clear.”

When alone with Mantian, she wants to be seen not as the Namgung young master, but as a woman.

Having made up her mind, Sososo steps out of the bath and leaves the bathroom.

She wants to see Mantian as soon as possible. She wants to apologize for today’s events.

She wants to convey her feelings.

·

·

·

Mantian is practicing basic swordsmanship in the Namgung Family’s training ground, using both a sword and a staff simultaneously.

Double Hands Fighting.

With his right hand’s staff pressing the ground, he swings the sword in his left hand.

Sometimes blocking with the sword and striking an imaginary opponent with the staff.

The difficulty of dual-wielding lies in not being able to handle the non-dominant hand as well as the dominant one.

But with Double Hands Fighting, he can use both hands freely, so it’s not a problem.

‘Brother Jaro said if I focused on the Dog Chasing Stick Technique instead of Double Hands Fighting, I would have become stronger sooner…’

A genius has a genius’s path, his own path.

Indeed, learning anything will eventually be helpful.

…And as Sososo said, there are similarities between staff and sword techniques.

If I master this, I might be able to perform some Dog Chasing Stick Techniques with a sword.

Should I research this later?

While thinking this, he senses a presence behind him and turns around.

“Sir Sima, it’s good to work hard, but don’t overdo it.”

Sososo stands there, freshly washed, with a moist and fragrant scent.

“It’s more fun learning swordsmanship than I thought.”

“That’s good. Then starting tomorrow, I’ll teach you about blunt swords.”

…Blunt swords? I expected to learn them since I’m learning from the Namgung Family.

Honestly, I don’t really know what a blunt sword is.

Fast swords are quick, trick swords are unpredictable, strong swords are straightforward and powerful. I get those.

But blunt swords? No idea. Can’t picture it.

As if reading his thoughts, Sososo picks up a nearby training wooden sword and says.

“Let’s have a light spar.”

As she raises the sword above her head, her aura changes.

When it comes to love, she’s just realizing her feelings and is a novice, but with swords, she’s top-tier.

Known as the strongest among the later generations, the Namgung Sword Dragon.

“……!!”

Seeing her regal demeanor after so long, tension rises up his spine.

Her cold expression, flawless like an ice sculpture.

Though recently she’s only shown her soft side in front of me, this is the usual Sososo.

Her high stance shows no hesitation.

Even though it’s just a friendly spar, the raised sword tip makes his mouth dry, not knowing when it will descend.

…If this continues, it’ll just be a stalemate.

I strike first. End it before her sword comes down.

Thud-!

“……?!”

…But the swung staff is effortlessly blocked by Sososo’s sword.

Naturally, the sword pushes the staff aside, gently touching my neck before stopping.

Clearly, I attacked first… but Sososo blocked even faster.

I’m dumbfounded by what just happened.

“Moving the sword later to strike first. It’s called ‘striking later but arriving first.'”

In teacher mode, Sososo lowers her sword and kindly asks me.

“Sir Sima, why did you attack first?”

“Because I thought it would be dangerous if I didn’t strike first.”

Sososo nods.

“Correct. I deliberately took an aggressive high stance to pressure you into striking first.”

“……!!”

“Even though I swung my sword later, I easily blocked your strike because I predicted your attack.”

To explain further, she used specific actions to pressure and guide the opponent’s attack direction.

“Blunt swords… the Boundless Sky Sword Technique’s most important aspects are ‘prediction’ and ‘space control.'”

“…….”

I realize that what Sososo is teaching me isn’t just about blunt swords.

Sososo is teaching me the Namgung swordsmanship itself.

I’m happy to learn, but is it okay for Sososo? As the young master, it should be fine.

As I think this,

“Sir Sima, do you know why there’s a rabbit on the moon?”

Suddenly, Sososo puts down the wooden sword, takes a deep breath, and approaches me.

The sweet scent after her bath tickles my nose.

“…I know from a fairy tale my mother read to me when I was young.”

I didn’t know back then, but it was part of the Jeoseokcheon myth.

The story goes like this.

One day, the heavenly emperor, Jeoseokcheon, was bored and thought of playing a prank.

“Boring~ I’m so bored. Should I pull a hidden camera on some cute animal friends?”

He descended to the animal forest where animals lived.

“Ugh~ I’m so hungry I have no strength! If this continues, I won’t be able to protect the world!!”

He pretended to be hungry and played a prank.

The startled monkey, fox, and rabbit each tried to bring food.

Unlike the monkey who picked fruits and the fox who caught fish,

The rabbit couldn’t bring any food.

So, it lit a bonfire and, without giving Jeoseokcheon time to stop it, jumped into the flames, offering itself as a sacrifice.

And Jeoseokcheon, shocked by the rabbit’s incredible sacrifice,

“Ah… Rabbit… I’m happy! So happy! For me…!! But still… Isn’t this a bit too much…?”

Touched by the rabbit’s devotion, he revived the rabbit and sent it to the moon.

…Thus, the rabbit, grateful to Jeoseokcheon for reviving it,

Makes rice cakes on the moon to offer to Jeoseokcheon.

If only Jeoseokcheon hadn’t pulled that hidden camera prank, the rabbit wouldn’t have died.

Hearing that I know the story, Sososo takes another deep breath and looks up at me.

The bright full moon shines on the two of us in the training ground.

In Sososo’s jade-like eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, I see myself.

“If… I were the rabbit…”

For Mantian, who saved her, she could give up the Namgung swordsmanship, even her life.

Like the rabbit gazing at Jeoseokcheon, she whispers her love with longing.

“Sir Sima, you are my Jeoseokcheon.”

Sososo’s face flushes.

She mustered her courage.

She wants to say more, but this is her limit for now.

***

Content separate from the novel. A short illustration!

“Pyoing… pyoing… I, I’m Sir Sima’s jade rabbit…”

“My king…”

Sima Mantian’s jade rabbit! Namgung Sososo, enduring embarrassment in a bunny girl outfit for Mantian, and the egoistic beauty, Damro-chan!!

I drew this for this episode a while ago… but it’s too late now… I’m sorry…