In the training hall attached to Jin Yuha's house, which was much larger and more technologically advanced than the Academy, Seol-hee and Jin Yuha faced each other.
Yes, it was more comfortable to cross swords than to have an awkward conversation.
"Let's start with a light sword exchange," Seol-hee said.
"Yes!" Jin Yuha replied enthusiastically, drawing his sword and taking a stance.
Seol-hee was pleased with his well-ordered mana and stance.
Although Jin Yuha had improved beyond comparison since they first met, she could see that he hadn't neglected his basic training.
"It seems you're still doing well with your basic training," Seol-hee commented.
"It's all thanks to you, Master," Jin Yuha said.
"Hmm?"
"When I became an instructor and started training new students, I realized how important the basics are. And I also realized how well you taught me."
To be honest, when Seol-hee first saw Jin Yuha, she couldn't give herself a good score for raising him properly.
Lina had forced the responsibility onto her, and she had taken him in on a whim.
However, Seol-hee didn't go into detail about this.
She simply nodded and said, "Then, let's see how much you've grown."
Clang—
Under the moonlight, Jin Yuha's sword clashed with Seol-hee's.
Swish—
"Are you really not using the Moon Shadow Sword Technique anymore?" Jin Yuha asked calmly, even as Seol-hee's sword tip grazed his neck.
He had recognized that Seol-hee wasn't using the Moon Shadow Sword Technique after just one exchange. The disciple's ability to discern sword techniques had improved.
"Yes, I'm not using it anymore," Seol-hee replied.
"..."
Clang! Clang!
Jin Yuha effortlessly deflected the swords coming from both sides and lunged forward with his own.
A sharp thrust aimed at his chest.
Screeeeech!
"Are you worried?" Seol-hee said, sidestepping the thrust and simultaneously swinging her sword horizontally.
Jin Yuha ducked and swung his sword from below.
"Huff! To be honest, I am! You're not using the sword techniques you taught me! And you're using a new sword! Of course, I'd be worried!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Pfft.
Really, when did he grow so much?
Despite using a rather difficult technique, Jin Yuha was effortlessly blocking her attacks while having the leisure to chat.
However, the disciple seemed to have too many thoughts running through his mind as he swung his sword.
It was time to clear his head.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their swords clashed repeatedly, sending sparks flying.
"Do you think I stopped using the Moon Shadow Sword Technique because I felt sorry for you?" Seol-hee asked.
"Well... that's..." Jin Yuha trailed off.
"Of course, that's part of it. But if you think that's the only reason, you're mistaken."
"What?"
"I can't use the Moon Shadow Sword Technique that you've learned."
"!"
Yes.
The Moon Shadow Sword Technique that Jin Yuha was using was very similar to hers, but there was one crucial difference that could not be bridged.
Her Moon Shadow Sword Technique was a suicidal attack without regard for the aftermath.
However, her disciple's sword held the promise of a way out.
He had acquired it by overcoming the brink of death while starving, but in her case, she had become so accustomed to death that she had reached a point where she couldn't modify the Moon Shadow Sword Technique.
"..."
Her brilliant disciple seemed to understand what she meant, and his eyes drooped.
Damn.
She hadn't meant to make her disciple feel depressed.
'I need to uphold my dignity as a master.'
Seol-hee smiled inwardly and summoned her strength.
Whoosh!
White crystals formed in the air, and bone-chilling cold emanated from her sword.
Jin Yuha's movements slowed as he blocked her sword.
Clang!
The disciple's eyes widened at the recoil from the clash of swords.
Seol-hee felt satisfied with his expression and glanced down at the white uniform she was wearing.
"Yes. Thanks to this treasure you gave me, I've become stronger, not weaker. It's been a great help in the Demon Slayer Corps."
.
.
.
Huff... Huff...
'My master is truly a monster.'
I couldn't help but marvel as I faced my master's new sword technique.
Even with the power of the Green Guardian Armor, an upper-grade artifact, it was incredible how quickly she had mastered this new technique.
The 'Ice Sky Sword,' which she had developed with Sword Emperor after abandoning the Moon Shadow Sword Technique, was sharp and precise.
The Moon Shadow Sword Technique, if put nicely, was a free-flowing attack-oriented sword technique, but if put harshly, it was a bit haphazard.
On the other hand, my master's movements with the Ice Sky Sword were restrained and controlled.
By fully utilizing the attribute, the more she divided her sword, the more the cold penetrated and slowed her opponent's movements.
'I guess she's not just the Slaughtering Goddess anymore; she's also the Ice Slaughtering Empress.'
Before, she instilled fear with her ruthless sword techniques, but now she slowly takes lives by freezing her opponents to the bone.
I couldn't decide which was more terrifying.
"The Ice Palace's environment was suitable not only for Sword Emperor but also for me."
Sword Emperor's mana filled the air, and the region's freezing weather made it the perfect place for my master.
"But... aren't you still active in the Demon Slayer Corps while modifying your sword technique?"
"Hmm, after that Demon Gate appeared, the demons that had been lying low started causing trouble again."
My master seemed to be pushing herself too hard.
Even as a superhuman, she couldn't keep up with such a schedule without getting tired.
Clang!
I sheathed my sword.
"Hmm?"
"Let's stop here for today."
"..."
"You'll start teaching me seriously from tomorrow, right? So, it's not good to waste too much energy today."
My master nodded in agreement.
I grabbed her arm and led her.
"So, let's go inside and rest, Master."
I had even gotten a White Magic Stone from Ga-eul.
Yes,
Today, I would show my master heaven.
I would make sure all her accumulated fatigue melted away.
Ahh...
Early in the morning, Baek Seol-hee woke up from her slumber.
Her eyes were greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling.
"This is... my disciple's room."
She sat up in bed, adjusting her loose robe.
"Hmm..."
Suddenly, she felt a refreshing sensation.
She felt a pleasant surprise rather than just feeling good, as she had never experienced such a refreshing condition before.
Recently, Baek Seol-hee had been extremely busy with various schedules, leaving her with almost no time to spare.
As a result, she often slept for only an hour a day, and sometimes even went without sleep entirely.
Even though Baek Seol-hee had transcended the boundaries of a normal human, her body was still fundamentally human.
Without proper rest, her body had been pushed to its limits.
She was aware of the importance of rest, but she had to prioritize learning the Ice Sky Sword Sword, teaching her disciple the improved Moon Shadow Sword Technique, and dealing with the rampant demons who were taking advantage of the new world.
With such a packed schedule, she had no choice but to put rest on hold.
However, her body felt refreshed, as if she had caught up on all the sleep she had missed.
"Could it be...?"
Baek Seol-hee wondered if she had unknowingly slept for several days, so she picked up her phone to check the time.
She let out a sigh of relief.
[AM 5:00]
"I slept a little longer than usual, but thankfully, I didn't sleep for days or oversleep."
If that wasn't the case, then something even stranger must have happened. Perhaps there was some mysterious device in her disciple's room that relieved fatigue?
"Hmm, nothing out of the ordinary seems to have happened..."
She carefully recalled the events of the previous day.
Her disciple had brought her home and, using White Stone, allowed her to experience the various tastes she had forgotten.
After restoring her sense of taste, he had fed her spoons of condiments, each representing a different flavor: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, savory, and spicy.
While the experience of tasting again was pleasant, she was more touched by her disciple's consideration, so she obediently accepted the spoons he offered.
"And then he gave me warm milk..."
The milk was slightly sweetened with sugar.
After drinking it, her disciple handed her an eye mask.
He had instructed her to put it on and surrender to the drowsiness that would follow, rather than trying to resist it.
"Ah, this must be it."
Baek Seol-hee removed the eye mask from her forehead and brought it in front of her eyes.
It was a strange mask with two wide-open eyes painted on it. Her disciple had said it was an artifact obtained from a demon they had recently defeated.
"An artifact that induces forced sleep... the Mask of Sloth..."
It was an odd item to receive from a demon.
Baek Seol-hee examined her body and let out a dry laugh.
"While I was asleep, he did quite a number on me..."
There were palm prints on her arms. In fact, her entire body was covered in red palm prints, and between her muscles, she could sense the familiar mana of her disciple.
While she slept with the mask on, her disciple must have used his mana to massage her body throughout the night.
"This is the first time someone has touched my body to this extent."
Usually, her body wouldn't show any marks from such pressure, but even now, in the morning, the imprints remained.
The countless marks indicated that her disciple had been working tirelessly until just a moment ago to relieve her fatigue.
"Hmm, even if I was tired and the mask put me to sleep... I didn't sense anyone touching my body..."
This was likely not because the mask was particularly effective, but because her body was so comfortable with her disciple's familiar mana. The absence of any murderous intent in his touch must have played a role as well.
As she felt a sense of satisfaction from her disciple's kindness, she also felt a mischievous urge to tease him.
After all, he had touched her body without her consent, so she could do this much.
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and Jin Yuha peeked his head through the crack, wearing a thin sleeping garment. Despite clearly not having slept at all, he put on an act as if he had just woken up.
"Master, did you sleep well?"
Jin Yuha spoke in a playful tone, as if trying to perfectly deceive her about what had happened the night before. Baek Seol-hee couldn't help but smile and respond.
"Yes, I finally got a good night's sleep."
"That Mask of Sloth... I'll give it to you, Master. It seems to have the power to improve your condition after sleeping."
"Indeed, when I wore it, all my fatigue disappeared. Is that because it's from the demon of sloth?"
"Y-Yes! I think so!"
"Hmm, if I wear it to sleep, I'll wake up feeling refreshed like today."
At that moment, Jin Yuha's pupils began to shake violently.
His expression clearly showed his panic.
"Th-That was probably just the first time! The effect seems to decrease with each subsequent use! Y-Yes, I think so! The Sword Emperor is already waiting outside, so please get ready quickly, Master!"
He quickly spoke and then closed the door, leaving the room.
He seemed determined to keep it a secret that he had massaged his master's body while she slept.
Baek Seol-hee couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
Regardless, with her excellent condition, she felt ready to give her all for her disciple without any issues.
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