415 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

An assassin doesn't need to master superior martial arts. For an assassin, neither the ability to flee quickly from a scene nor the capacity to endlessly fight due to unforeseen events truly hold great importance. Then, what is the most crucial skill for an assassin? It's stealth. Even the martial arts masters of Murim need to eat. They have bodily needs to take care of. They need to sleep when tired and may find themselves wrapped in bliss with a lover in bed. Just one moment. That singular lapse, even for a master, is all that's needed. If you can eliminate the target quietly when their guard is down, you can escape alive without needing top-notch skills, superior agility, or immense inner power. For an assassin, stealth is critical enough to determine the success or failure of a mission. Of course, having weak stealth doesn't mean one can't perform as an assassin. But regardless of having exceptional capabilities in other areas, poor stealth remains a flaw. Knowing this, Cheon Sohee dedicated herself earnestly to honing her lacking stealth skills. "Hey! Number 5. Are you practicing your stealth technique? I have something to say!" "..." Cheon Sohee didn't bother responding to Seolja, who had come looking for her at the training ground. This is a good chance. Let's assess how much stronger my stealth technique has become after recent achievements. She could manage to erase her presence while maintaining composure. What she struggled with was controlling the unwitting surge of killing intent when she harbored murderous intent towards a target. Seolja wasn't able to find her in the training ground. Being aware of her presence but not immediately identifying her location meant that her skill had improved. Let's maintain invisibility as much as possible. Cheon Sohee further erased her presence. "Hehehe. Yukiko! If you're not coming out, it means you have something in mind." Cheon Sohee watched quietly as Seolja smirked and pulled out a piece of paper. Don't act rashly. No matter what Seolja does, I mustn't waver. She steeled her resolve. "A report says a woman named Im Hayun snuck into Kang Yoonho's room at night..." "Is that true?" She sprang out instantly. "Heheheh." "Ah." She had fallen for it. A sigh escaped from Cheon Sohee's lips. "Nin-nin! Number 5! You're still far from mastering stealth." "...You, spar with me." Cheon Sohee, uncharacteristically annoyed, spoke with a hint of irritation. "It's hopeless with a direct confrontation approach!" Seolja, making a fuss, adamantly refused, as she had no intention of crossing swords with Cheon Salseong whom she just teased, despite being the 6th ranked assassin herself. "What is it?" Cheon Sohee eventually gave up and asked Seolja. "Number 5! Aren't you going to learn the art of seduction from a kunoichi?" "I'm not interested." She’s persistent. Why does she keep suggesting it? Cheon Sohee eyed Seolja with displeasure. "Hehehe. Number 5! Even after witnessing Dangga's escapades, do you still think the same way? Aren't you being too complacent?!" Seolja confidently pointed a finger at Cheon Sohee, as if expecting this reaction. "Dangga's escapades?" "Your beloved could also desire to have multiple wives like Dangjeong!" "My Oppa is not that kind of person." Cheon Sohee promptly rebutted Seolja's absurd remark. Dangjeong might be similar to Oppa but isn't Yoonho Oppa. "That's why I say you're being complacent! If your beloved resembles Dangjeong, beautiful women will swarm him even if you do nothing." Seolja smirked, as if she found the idea amusing. "Women swarm around Oppa?" Cheon Sohee asked back, eyes widening at Seolja's words. "Number 5, you are so innocent! If even Cheon Salseong took a liking, don’t you think other women would be enchanted too? Haven't you ever witnessed such things while being around?" "..." She could recall. Whenever Yoonho Oppa dressed sharply and stood on stage, it seemed like swarms of flies hovered around, seeking an opportunity. Many unwelcome memories of swatting such flies drifted through Cheon Sohee’s mind. "Look at Dangga's escapades. We’ve mentioned before that Im Hayun is a courtesan. Imagine a courtesan like Doo Eung Hyang from Dangga trying to seduce your beloved!" "That woman said she doesn't like Oppa." Cheon Sohee's words were indeed true. Because the letter had come from Yichang. When Kang Yoonho was in Yichang, he merely considered Im Hayun a woman he had to care for, and Im Hayun didn't express any notable affection towards him. They may live together, but there’s no romantic relationship. Kang Yoonho thought there was no need for Cheon Sohee to be unnecessarily concerned and wrote her a letter to clarify, so indeed the contents were true. At least while in Yichang. "Hehehe! Number 5, while your martial skills are top-notch, your understanding of romantic affairs is third-rate! I'm already seeing their future!" Seolja wagged her finger side to side, acting like an arrogant detective. "Seeing the future?" "It’s obvious she nags him regularly! Then she’ll fall for his masculinity. Later, she'll sneakily express affection. Imagine, even though your beloved says he has you, Im Hayun insists on marrying him! What would you do then?" "Should I just kill her?" "Oh, no! That's not an option!" "I'll knock her out and take her far away." She had done it several times already. If it came to that, she’d toss her off somewhere far like Nanman or the North Sea, Cheon Sohee thought. "What if she's someone your beloved needs? What if leaving her there without a word disappoints him?" "Yoonho Oppa, disappointed?" Cheon Sohee's eyes widened. "When removing a woman who occupies a place in a man's heart, you must be prepared to be loathed by him! Are you ready to be hated by your beloved?" The possibility of being loathed by Yoonho Oppa. The heavy weight of this fact pressed down on Cheon Sohee’s heart. Having a woman like Doo Eung Hyang next to Oppa is unacceptable. She wants to remove her. But if she is someone Oppa needs? Being loathed by Oppa is even more detestable. Yet she can't stand seeing them together. What should she do? Cheon Sohee's mind began to boil over. "Hehehe! That's why you need the art of seduction!" Seolja, as if fully understanding Cheon Sohee's heart, probed deeper into her thoughts. “Why?” Only then did Cheon Sohee finally decide to listen to what Seolja had to say. "Even if your beloved loves you the most, when other women keep flirting, any man's heart can waver! So you need the art of seduction to maintain your place as the most beloved woman!" "The woman most loved by Oppa..." Cheon Sohee's heart wavered. I am Yoonho Oppa’s ‘Sacheon’s greatest beauty.’ But what if women like Doo Eung Hyang or Cheong Hong Ihwa start flirting with him? My personality isn't exactly sweet or gentle. "Don't you want to hear that no matter who tempts him, you're the best?" "...I do want to hear that." I want to hear it from Yoonho Oppa. Cheon Sohee felt her cheeks heat up slightly. "Yukiko! I'll make you the best woman for him!" In the end, Cheon Sohee could only nod in agreement. --- "The lesson on the art of kunoichi seduction will start now! Nin-nin!" Seolja declared with enthusiasm after moving to her room and preparing for the lesson. "What are you wearing on your eyes?" "Hehehe. Glasses. Don't I look intellectual? Confucius said, 'A childhood friend is a true wife.' Plus, with the cool beauty aspect, it's an unbeatable combination. How do you like it?" Seolja adjusted her glasses, murmuring in an unusually refined voice. "......" "Ugh! I'll take them off! Anyway, today's lesson involves the secrets of the Dōgen ninja from Japan! I'm going to teach you essential seduction techniques." Seolja declared loudly as she scribbled something on a board hanging on the wall in Korean. "What is it?" "The Sea Seduction Technique!" On the board, written in clear letters, was ‘SEA!’ "Sea Seduction Technique?" "They say that in Dōgen these days, people wear these kinds of clothes to the sea." Seolja pulled out small scraps of cloth from a box brought from Dōgen, showing them to Cheon Sohee. "They're just underwear." Clothes that expose the arms and legs? Anyone would think they're just underwear, Cheon Sohee said, slightly frowning. "They're swimsuits! Made from materials that don’t get wet, they're all the rage nowadays." "Swimsuits?" "Yes, and I think a bikini with decorations would suit you, Number 5." "It's still underwear." The swimsuit Seolja showed was a garment that barely covered the essentials. Not only did it expose the limbs, but it also showed the navel. Cheon Sohee could only maintain a serious face. "I recommend it because I think it'll suit you! Look at these fabric decorations! They're both seductive and cute, perfect for you! Give it a try!" "Are you going to wear it?" It seems like a scam, no matter how I hear it. When Cheon Sohee asked suspiciously, Seolja looked surprised, as if caught off guard. "Ah! Are you planning on inviting a feeble comparison target to draw a contrast and a sense of superiority? A good observation from a seduction lecture perspective! But I won’t forgive provocations against your mentor!" "......" A resigned sigh escaped Seolja at Cheon Sohee's indifferent response. "Alright! I'll continue as if you've worn it! A completely nonchalant face in a bikini! And then when your beloved stares dumbfoundedly, you say something." "Something like?" Seeing Number 5 listening intently, Seolja nodded with satisfaction. She then crossed her arms, holding her shoulders, and spoke while averting her gaze. "It's just a swimsuit, so I’m not embarrassed... Blushing slightly and covering your body a little is crucial. Haha. What do you think? Just imagining it is mind-melting, isn’t it?" "Why should I be embarrassed in front of Oppa?" "Uhhhhh! Be embarrassed! It makes him want to go crazy... more! I mean, it makes him lose his mind wanting to see it!" "Okay." "Don’t just brush it off! Is seduction a joke to you? Being a casually reserved girl who gets shy later, a rich, arrogant lady who handles the hero, an extraordinary tomboy with unshown intrigue, a pretty face with inner darkness, or the clumsy one who easily bypasses the hero's defenses are hard to secure screen time! Don't waste those crucial five seconds of flaunting your charms!" (As expected of japan, it was cultured even in the ancient era) "......Okay." Unconsciously, Cheon Sohee nodded to Seolja's fervent explanation. "I got a little excited. Let’s move on. To the next killer move, 'Apply the Oil.'" Seolja said, pulling out a suspicious vial of oil from Dōgen. "Oil?" "Imagine we're at the beach! You can't let the sun burn your skin. Have the man apply a special oil! Let him touch your bare skin subtly, showing off Number 5's figure! It'll create a completely rosy atmosphere!" Cheon Sohee recalled a similar experience. When applying medicinal solutions to teach Yoonho the Okmyunhosin technique. 'Yoonho Oppa, touching my body?' But I’m only wearing something that looks like underwear. The thought of Oppa touching her bare skin made Cheon Sohee's face inexplicably tingle and blush. "Can’t I apply it instead?" "Gasp! I never thought of that! Ah, young surpassing the old! Indeed, the killer Cheon Salseong!" "......" "This mentor! Won’t lose! I’ll teach you the follow-up, the 'Apply It Last-minute' technique! Keep up!" Some of what Seolja said seemed nonsensical, but some points were indeed worth considering. Especially asking Yoonho Oppa to apply oil seemed like a good idea. Cheon Sohee found the lecture more beneficial than anticipated and focused intently on Seolja’s words. ---- "Do your best again tomorrow!" "It doesn’t seem helpful." In the end, there weren't many useful takeaways. Cheon Sohee remarked, slightly soured, as she exited Seolja's room. "Ugh! Next time, I’ll teach you how to secure screen time with the cool beauty attribute as a childhood friend during a hot springs visit! Oh! Dan Seowol? What's up?" As the two stepped out, Dan Seowol, who had been waiting, stood expectantly. "Disciple, let's have a talk for a moment." Dan Seowol gazed at her disciple, Cheon Salseong, with a serious tone. "Yes." "Hah! Is this an intimate conversation between master and disciple? Yukiko! I’m a bit envious, but I’ll take my leave!" Seolja, wearing a satisfied expression from the day's amusements, bid farewell to Cheon Sohee and returned to her room. "......" Following Seolja’s retreat, Cheon Sohee directed her steps toward Dan Seowol’s room. "Does Seolja bother you?" Dan Seowol brought her disciple into her room and asked gently. “No, it’s not bad.” Dan Seowol paused for a moment at her disciple’s response. She had assumed she found it entirely bothersome. ‘The man named Kang Yoonho has truly changed many things.’ Perhaps falling in love had led her to understand how to interact warmly. She had always been indifferent to everything. To change so much... A faint smile appeared on Dan Seowol’s lips. "Are you managing to control your instinct to kill?" "I’ve found the path. I just need to walk it." It was an answer pleasing to a teacher, yet not entirely satisfactory. "Are you confident you won't lose your reason among people?" Dan Seowol posed the question again, with a serious demeanor, as if seeking reassurance. "Is something the matter?" Dan Seowol couldn’t immediately answer her disciple’s question. Is this truly the right decision? After much contemplation, Dan Seowol, known as the Scarlet Rakshasa, nodded and spoke to her disciple. "I would like you to visit the Murong family soon."