CHAPTER SIX An Insufferable Person
515 Words
Yeonhwa should have ignored the note.
That was the correct response.
Normal.
Mature.
Dignified.
Instead—
she unfolded it again.
You drop your left shoulder before changing direction.
She looked offended.
Then she picked up a wooden sword.
Turned.
Changed direction.
Stopped.
Repeated.
Again.
Again.
Her eyes narrowed.
Annoying.
She did.
Very slightly.
Enough that someone experienced might notice.
She stared at the paper.
Then folded it.
Violently.
—
That night—
she went back.
Not because of the note.
Obviously.
The tournament happened to continue.
Completely unrelated.
—
The underground arena was louder tonight.
People recognized her.
Too many people.
Someone yelled—
“MOON!”
Another shouted—
“Beat somebody dramatically!”
Embarrassing.
She ignored them.
Then she noticed.
A folded paper attached to Arena Three.
Small writing.
For Moon.
Her eye twitched.
She opened it.
One line.
Keep your back heel lighter.
No signature.
She folded it.
Very calmly.
Then threw it away.
Five minutes later—
she picked it back up.
—
Her match began.
Different opponent.
Sword user.
Good.
She moved.
Blocked.
Turned—
lighter heel.
Faster.
Her opponent missed.
She paused.
Won.
Her expression became irritated.
—
Afterward—
she stormed through the corridor.
Looking.
Not because she cared.
She reached the outer passage.
Empty.
Then—
voice.
“You improved.”
She turned.
Taejun.
Standing there.
Like he lived in shadows.
She folded her arms.
“…Did you leave those?”
His eyes moved.
“What if I did?”
Rude.
Yeonhwa stepped closer.
“Do you go around criticizing strangers often?”
He thought.
“…Only the ones with potential.”
She froze.
Small.
Unexpected.
Then immediately recovered.
“…That was badly phrased.”
He looked confused.
She pointed.
“You make it sound insulting.”
His expression didn’t change.
“It wasn’t.”
Silence.
That somehow made it worse.
She looked away.
Then said—
“You watch people too much.”
His answer came immediately.
“You don’t watch enough.”
Her eyes narrowed.
He looked at her sword.
Then said—
“You rely on reaction.”
Pause.
“You should learn anticipation.”
She crossed her arms.
“Oh?”
He nodded once.
Then—
without warning—
pulled a wooden practice sword from nearby and tossed it.
She caught it.
Everyone nearby immediately backed away.
Taejun stepped back.
Raised his hand.
Calm.
“One strike.”
Yeonhwa blinked.
“…Excuse me?”
His expression stayed flat.
“If you hit me once.”
He looked at her.
“I stop giving advice.”
Silence.
Yeonhwa smiled slowly.
Dangerously.
Accepted.
—
She attacked.
Fast.
Clean.
Confident.
He moved once.
Missed.
Again.
Missed.
Again.
He still hadn’t drawn his sword.
Crowd gathering.
She attacked harder.
Nothing.
No wasted movement.
No showing off.
No effort.
Then—
he stepped.
One movement.
His wooden sword stopped at her throat.
Stillness.
Her eyes widened.
He lowered the sword.
And said—
“You announce everything.”
Then handed the sword back.
And walked away.
Yeonhwa stood there.
Absolutely offended.
One thought only—
…I hate him.
- Writer
