Every day, Wi Seoryeon would barge in from morning till evening just to play.
“Tsk. I have some business at the school today, so I’ll be leaving first.”
Once again, she showed up at dawn, challenged Hyeok Gi-rin to a duel, and left with a seriously frustrated expression.
If she was that busy, she shouldn’t come at all. Just how much did she want to gamble?
Anyway, with Wi Seoryeon gone in a flash, I could finally give some stable practice guidance to Hyeok Gi-rin.
Whisper, whisper.
Hyeok Gi-rin’s skills were steadily improving.
Sometimes, I could feel his concentration wavering during the demonstrations, but he was progressing fast, so I figured it was just his unique training style.
Just like any other day, I had shown him some techniques.
“Senior Ho.”
“Speak freely.”
“In your opinion, Senior Ho, how big is the gap between me and the Heavenly Demon?”
“Truthfully, there’s still a significant gap. Don’t rush things.”
“What if my growth slows down…”
Hyeok Gi-rin hesitated, glancing at me with uncertainty. Maybe losing for days had shattered his pride and motivation.
“It’s fine. You’re working hard enough, Hyeok Gi-rin. I won’t give up either.”
“Is that so…”
He seemed to relax, releasing the tension in his body. Although it looked like he was just loosening up rather than focusing on the demonstration, such moments happen, right?
Just then,
“Hmm?”
Yeo Il-ye and Tang Do-yeon sat down next to me, setting up a gambling table.
“Then let me teach you the basics of handling the cup.”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, Yeo Il-ye started learning how to gamble.
As our eyes met for a moment, Yeo Il-ye blushed. Maybe she felt awkward about learning to gamble. Seeing her face turn bright red like a tomato made me feel like I’d peeked at something I shouldn’t have, so I turned my head and focused on the lesson.
Tang Do-yeon, who was more than capable, being a direct member of the Tang Clan, obviously excelled at gambling.
If she put her mind to it, she could probably defeat Wi Seoryeon.
She had more than enough skill to teach, so there was no need to interfere.
“Shall we move on to the next technique? This time, it looks like we’re just moving one cup, but there are actually two…”
While I was explaining, I realized Hyeok Gi-rin’s gaze was fixed on Yeo Il-ye.
“…No way.”
“Hyeok Gi-rin?”
“Uh? Yes?”
“Shall we move on to the next technique?”
“Ah… yes! Please do!”
So began a day marked by the sudden change of Yeo Il-ye starting to learn how to gamble. During lunch with the group, Tang Do-yeon spoke up.
“It seems like it’s time to replenish our supplies.”
“True.”
This was a familiar occurrence, so I nodded lightly. Even if we had some supplies left, letting Tang Do-yeon go out if she wanted was a good idea for my well-being.
“I’m sorry to Yeo Il-ye. Just as she started learning to gamble.”
“It’s fine. I can manage on my own for half a day.”
“Hmm. Can’t we ask Ho Cheon-an to take care of her?”
Tang So-yeol interjected.
Hmm.
I could take care of Yeo Il-ye’s gambling, but considering I needed to prioritize Hyeok Gi-rin’s training, I was unsure how to respond.
“She’s been training intensely for almost a week now, so Hyeok Gi-rin needs a break too.”
Does she?
I recalled how Hyeok Gi-rin had struggled to concentrate today. No matter how much of a martial artist one was, they weren’t impervious; human concentration has limits. Forcing techniques on him continuously would indeed wear him out.
“I, I’m fine!”
Hyeok Gi-rin protested belatedly, but my mind was already made up.
“Your master has a point. You’ve learned many techniques quickly, so it would be beneficial to take a breather this afternoon.”
“Th, that…!”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s eyes widened in shock.
“As you know, rest and contemplation are part of training.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“Haha, I appreciate it.”
Tang Do-yeon took off with the Bicheongmacha, and Hyeok Gi-rin clung to Seo Gong while muttering something repeatedly.
“I let my guard down… I let my guard down… When things go smoothly, I shouldn’t have relaxed…”
Click, click?
And there I was, seated opposite Yeo Il-ye at the gambling table.
“Hmm, then let’s begin.”
“Yes.”
“First, we’ll start with the basics.”
As I slowly shuffled the cups, Yeo Il-ye tried to shuffle them with a clumsy movement.
Both Hyeok Gi-rin and Yeo Il-ye had learned magic from me, but there was a clear difference between them.
While Hyeok Gi-rin had familiarized himself with smaller, more precise tools, Yeo Il-ye was used to larger, more sweeping motions.
Yeo Il-ye had almost no foundation in gambling, making her a complete novice.
Maybe that’s why?
Yeo Il-ye’s attempts at shuffling the cups showed no signs of improvement.
“I can’t watch this or I’ll die of frustration.”
Tang So-yeol, lounging on a folding chair, piped in.
“If you don’t engrave the skills into her body directly like Hyeok Gi-rin did, she won’t be able to shuffle a cup properly for half a day.”
Yeo Il-ye’s face turned as red as a persimmon at Tang So-yeol’s critique.
I frowned at Tang So-yeol.
Why belittle someone trying to muster the courage to learn?
But with a sigh, I had to shake my head.
Seeing him lazily puffing on a spirit herb, I felt like arguing would only hurt my own feelings.
Watching Yeo Il-ye closely, she mumbled in a tiny voice.
“…Yes.”
“Pardon?”
“There’s… some merit to what Tang So-yeol said.”
Yeo Il-ye’s response caught me off guard.
“If someone could teach me directly, I’d understand faster… right?”
“Hmm…”
While it made sense to learn faster through direct guidance like Hyeok Gi-rin, I double-checked Yeo Il-ye’s height and arm length.
Unlike Hyeok Gi-rin, she would have to get rather close.
“Is there a… problem?”
“…No.”
I shook my head. After all, I had guided Hyeok Gi-rin for quite a while; it didn’t seem fair to refuse Yeo Il-ye.
Moreover, I couldn’t disregard Yeo Il-ye’s determination to learn.
I stepped next to Yeo Il-ye.
For now, I stood beside her, taking her wrist while starting the lesson. I showed her the basics while moving her trembling hand.
“Like this.”
“Yes, yes!”
She seemed overly stiff, but Yeo Il-ye remembered the technique of handling the cup.
However, this method of teaching soon reached its limits.
Her left hand and right hand.
When I showed her how to operate one hand, she seemed to get it, but the moment she needed to use both hands, things fell into chaos.
Unless on purpose, how could it get this messy suddenly?
That thought flickered through my mind, but I quickly pushed it aside.
What kind of thinking is that in front of someone genuinely trying to learn?
It can’t be helped.
“Excuse me.”
I moved behind Yeo Il-ye.
“Uh!”
She froze, startled. Unlike Hyeok Gi-rin, who filled my arms, I could distinctly feel the size of Yeo Il-ye’s hand as she pressed against me.
As expected, the proximity felt different from Hyeok Gi-rin, who still had some space.
I could feel her trembling body vibrating against mine.
Her hair tied at the back tickled my shoulder, and in front of me, her pale neck was laid bare.
Yeo Il-ye’s unique fragrance tantalized my nose.
Hmm.
If you asked if I’d had any ulterior motives while training Hyeok Gi-rin, I’d say no.
But the sight of adorable Hyeok Gi-rin in front of me!
That head begging to be petted had overwhelmed me more than once, yet I could hold back because I had to hold Hyeok Gi-rin’s hand during our practice.
But now, with Yeo Il-ye presenting a different temptation.
Seeing her ears turn red snapped me back to reality.
“Then let me show you a demonstration.”
I placed my finger on Yeo Il-ye’s, letting my hands dance atop hers.
*
“That’s it!”
Tang So-yeol grinned, watching Yeo Il-ye and Ho Cheon-an. Yeo Il-ye’s face was so red, it was beyond funny, and Ho Cheon-an was hurriedly demonstrating with her.
Tang So-yeol glanced over at Hyeok Gi-rin.
“Ugh…!”
Click? Click?
Hyeok Gi-rin, unknowingly clutching Seo Gong tighter, looked anxious as he observed those two.
‘Well, I can’t say anything. After enjoying themselves like this under the pretext of gambling training, it’s not like I can complain.’
In reality, Hyeok Gi-rin was merely chewing his lip, pulling on poor Seo Gong without any plan to act.
“Is… this how it works?”
“No, over here…”
Crash.
With her mind evidently blank, Yeo Il-ye flailed wildly, and Ho Cheon-an tried to stop her.
Yeo Il-ye trembled, her limbs entangled, and Ho Cheon-an let go.
“Sorry…”
“It’s fine. Could you please try again?”
“…Understood.”
Just then, the close distance made them both acutely aware of each other, and Tang So-yeol grinned with satisfaction, sucking in deep breaths of spirit herb smoke.
Crack!
“Cough!”
Someone grabbed Tang So-yeol’s head roughly from behind. Even as he sputtered and coughed, he could still feel the pressure of the fingers holding him.
Black Cat was the one seizing Tang So-yeol’s head.
“What on earth are you doing?”
The overwhelming pressure left Tang So-yeol trembling.
“I… I have no idea what you’re talking about?”
Tang So-yeol stammered, but Black Cat was having none of it.
“So, it’s not as if we haven’t known each other for a short while, and you can just deny it? Were you thinking this would be more entertaining if both Hyeok Gi-rin and Yeo Il-ye got involved?”
“N-no…”
“Oh, if you were that bored, you should have just said so. I would have helped you raise your martial arts level and given you a refreshing ice pack. It’s not too late to start now!”
“P-please, don’t!”
“I’ll make sure you regret sending Tang Do-yeon outside.”
With that, Tang So-yeol was dragged deep into the forest. Hyeok Gi-rin, overwhelmed by the situation, was too lost to notice, and Yeo Il-ye was floating somewhere in her thoughts. Meanwhile, Hyeok Gi-rin had no intention of stopping this plan that had originated from Tang So-yeol’s head.
-Skreech! Ack!
-I’ll explain! Gulp! I’m explaining!
Hyeok Gi-rin felt a little better hearing Tang So-yeol’s panicked cries and screams.
“Seo Gong? Want a snack?”
Click!
Seo Gong, realizing Hyeok Gi-rin was feeling better, eagerly nodded even though he wasn’t hungry, thinking of survival.
“Whew.”
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Black Cat saw Seo Gong munching on spirit herbs with Hyeok Gi-rin. Yeo Il-ye and Ho Cheon-an still shared a slightly awkward atmosphere.
“Sigh.”
Recalling Tang So-yeol’s explanations made Black Cat sigh softly. Watching Yeo Il-ye’s blushing face brewed something deep inside, but alongside that, a bittersweet feeling also arose.
As much as I wanted to send Tang So-yeol back for planning this nonsense, what did Yeo Il-ye or Hyeok Gi-rin do to deserve this?
‘Surely, there’s no special reason for this group to stick together…’
Everyone had roles to fulfill where they were, and there was no real reason to be together.
Black Cat shot a sidelong glance at Yeo Il-ye and Hyeok Gi-rin, and then made a decision.
‘Just this once.’
Unlike the promise binding him to Ho Cheon-an, Yeo Il-ye and Hyeok Gi-rin would face endless waiting if they parted from him.
They’d been comrades for a long time, and the memory of following the Demon Sect alone weighed on their minds.
Thus, Black Cat resolved to let go of those memories this time.
This plan wasn’t solely disadvantageous for him either.
‘If that fool picks up on anything, I could…’
Would I get an answer?
Black Cat sighed heavily.
It really felt like he was taking on the losing role in this.
But then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Tang So-yeol creeping back through the woods.
Looks like more training is in order.
Black Cat hopped back onto Tang So-yeol’s waist and headed back into the forest.
“Why? Why!”
Tang So-yeol cryingly protested being pulled back into the woods.
-Aaaaaah!
The only sign of him still being alive was the faint echo of his screams.
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