Episode 69
Tap-tap-.
The sound of crackling sparks echoed loudly.
Sejin skillfully lit a fire in the cave.
But even as the warm flames flickered, Seol-lyeon continued to grumble.
“My whole body feels sticky.”
“Who spilled blood all over the place?”
“No, is that something to say to the master who worked hard to catch the criminal?”
Seol-lyeon opened her eyes at Sejin’s sarcasm.
But Sejin kept on nagging.
“Seriously, it’s true. You can catch a criminal without a drop of blood on your clothes.”
“Well, people can’t always be perfect.”
Seol-lyeon shrugged nonchalantly.
“People make mistakes and that’s how affection grows. Don’t you think?”
“If you can’t even talk.”
Sejin shook his head and stoked the fire.
Seol-lyeon continued as if she didn’t hear him.
“Do you know how uncomfortable it is to feel sticky all over your body?”
“….”
“I want to wash.”
“….”
“I want to soak my body in hot water.”
Seol-lyeon’s teasing had the desired effect.
Sejin turned to her with narrowed eyes and a sharp sound.
‘What, is she a child?’
It was a gaze filled with frustration.
“How can we wash our bodies here?”
At Sejin’s pointed question, Seol-lyeon looked away, pretending to be nonchalant.
“Well, I just said I wanted to wash, that’s all.”
The surroundings were covered in snow.
Sejin skillfully lit a fire to melt the snow, enough to wash your face like a cat.
Sejin nagged again.
“Yeah, I told you to be careful since we only have one set of clothes.”
Seol-lyeon had nothing to say.
She was the one who got carried away and went wild when catching the criminal.
“Well, if we melt the snow with the fire and wash our bodies…”
“Master.”
Sejin interrupted.
“Even if you’re called the best swordsman in the world, don’t you think that’s a bit much? Do you have any energy left?”
“There’s no need to be so serious about it.”
Seol-lyeon sulked.
Sammaejinwha.
It was the level of skill where fire could be ignited with pure energy.
No matter how strong her energy was, there were limits to what she could do with it.
“Master, you’ve mastered ice skills, haven’t you?”
Seol-lyeon’s martial arts skills didn’t quite match with flames.
Ouch, that hit a nerve.
How did she end up being physically assaulted by her own student?
Seol-lyeon was struggling to hold back the tears welling up.
“Anyway, do you have spare clothes to change into?”
Sejin suggested with a deep sigh.
“Do I have spare clothes to change into?”
Seol-lyeon hesitated.
She only packed some jerky and dried fish to travel light and avoid inconvenience.
To which Sejin replied hesitantly,
“No, I don’t.”
I don’t have any.
Wait, what’s this?
Seol-lyeon put on a surprised expression.
“Are you messing with me right now?”
“Well, I have to give you my clothes, don’t I?”
Huh?
Seol-lyeon briefly doubted her own ears.
And then, a moment later.
“What?!”
Seol-lyeon jumped up from her seat.
Even though Seol-lyeon was Sejin’s master and Sejin was an old master who only looked like a young child, at least on the surface, they were both in their mid-twenties.
But to take off her clothes!
“Okay, okay.”
Seol-lyeon panicked and shook her head.
“How can I take away my only disciple’s clothes?”
“It’s better than listening to your grumbling, Master. And…”
Sejin added slyly.
“Why are you trying to act so mature?”
“….”
“Seriously.”
Sejin… Who am I inside of you…?
Seol-lyeon once again keenly felt the weight of her past piled up like a mountain.
“Okay, okay.”
In the end, Seol-lyeon waved her hand with pursed lips.
“I have a conscience too. I can hold out for a day.”
“I’m fine too. Anyway, the rear guard will catch up by tomorrow.”
“The rear guard?”
Seol-lyeon’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.
“Yes. They can probably give us at least one set of clothes, so if you lend me yours, I’ll only need them for today,” Sejin declared with a determined expression, looking at Seol-lyeon with a chubby face.
“More than that,”
Seol-lyeon tensed up.
No wonder, Sejin’s statement meant that she was about to give a lecture.
Unfortunately, her prediction came true.
Sejin suddenly spoke up.
“Sometimes, even though you are aware of your position, you’re too unaware of it.”
“Huh?”
“The ruler of the Northern Ice Palace, how can you think of going to hunt alone?”
But in that scolding, Seol-lyeon had a retort.
That was:
“It’s unnecessary worry.”
Seol-lyeon retorted bluntly.
“How can a hunt endanger me?”
“No. No matter how strong you are, human affairs are unpredictable.”
The lecture continued.
“Aren’t you the ruler of the Northern Ice Palace?”
“The Northern Ice Palace is not a faction with a long history, and it’s the place you established from the beginning.”
“If by any chance something happens to you, what will you do?”
Gosh, it’s driving me crazy…
Seol-lyeon struggled to resist the urge to cover her ears with both hands.
Then, she desperately changed the subject.
“Then, did we come out to subdue them on our own?”
“Because you wanted to go out so badly, I accompanied you,” Sejin replied.
“I see.”
Our Sejin is quite thorough.
Seol-lyeon raised her white flag.
But then.
“Yikes, why did you suddenly do that?!”
Seol-lyeon looked at Sejin in shock.
It was because Sejin suddenly took off her outer garment.
Thud!
The garment fell over her head.
“Wait, what’s this…!”
Seol-lyeon, unable to overcome her embarrassment, turned her head away as she tugged at her clothes.
And then.
“Wow.”
I found myself taking a deep breath without realizing it.
A sturdy chest, strong shoulders, and smooth waistline.
When Sejin took off her top, her body looked like a perfectly sculpted statue.
Come to think of it, except for when Sejin was young, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her naked body…
“…When did this kid grow up like this?”
Feeling a sudden sense of pride, Seol-lyeon chuckled without realizing it.
Seeing the child she had raised from a young age grow up like this made her heart swell with pride.
Is this what it means to be a parent?
“Well, our Sejin has always been very popular with many soldiers.”
Seol-lyeon asked with a pleased expression.
“But aren’t you cold?”
“I can manage as long as there’s a fire.”
Sejin had a completely unconcerned expression.
“As expected, our Sejin is strong.”
Seol-lyeon felt satisfied once again.
And then.
“Huh?”
Seol-lyeon tilted her head.
Maybe it was the dim light from the fire, but Sejin’s face looked red.
As if she was trying to hold back her embarrassment.
“Hurry up and change your clothes.”
Sejin said bluntly.
“Why is she suddenly acting so awkward?”
Seol-lyeon blurted out, pursing her lips.
“Then turn around for a moment.”
“What?”
“What, do you really think I want to see my master changing clothes?”
Seol-lyeon teased mischievously.
Startled, Sejin quickly turned around.
“T-There’s no way that would happen!”
Seol-lyeon suppressed the laughter that was about to burst out.
‘There’s a certain satisfaction in teasing.’
Every time she saw Sejin’s startled or flustered reaction, she couldn’t help but want to tease her.
‘Well, her energetic and lively movements are kind of cute.’
With that thought in mind, Seol-lyeon quickly changed her clothes.
She opened her eyes wide and moved her arms and legs.
“Oh, that’s a bit better.”
Just by taking off the stiff and soaked clothes, she felt much better.
When she looked up, she saw Sejin still staring at the cave wall.
Her flushed ears and neck seemed to attract attention.
‘If only she would stop nagging, it would be perfect.’
Seol-lyeon inwardly clicked her tongue.
She was deeply worried about the woman who would marry the still young and picky Sejin.
‘That kid really needs to learn to be respectful to his future wife.’
As Seol-lyeon continued to gossip about Sejin in her mind, she subtly glanced at Sejin.
‘…But well, I should at least thank him at this point, right?’
Seol-lyeon had a minimum of conscience.
She realized that she had acted immaturely for her age.
Moreover, it wasn’t intentional, but she had even taken Sejin’s clothes away.
“Alright.”
Seol-lyeon composed herself and spoke.
“Sejin.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Was I a bit too bossy today? If it was bothersome, I’m sorry…”
“It’s okay.”
Huh?
Unexpectedly, Seol-lyeon blinked her eyes blankly at the unexpected response.
It was strange.
Normally, Sejin would have stiffened her neck from the moment she heard an apology from Seol-lyeon.
But Sejin’s words were not finished yet.
“It’s okay for the Master to continue being bossy”.
