It has already been a month since I started working as a servant in the Dokgo family.
At first, the life in the Dokgo household felt strange, but after about a month, I can confidently say I’ve become somewhat accustomed to it.
I’ve exchanged names with most of the people working in the Dokgo family and have made quite an impression with my face.
“Hello!”
As I entered the kitchen with a cheerful greeting, the head chef greeted me warmly.
“Ah, here to run an errand for the young lady again?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“How about I pack you a rice ball or something?”
“No, it’s okay. I had breakfast not long ago, so I’m not really hungry.”
After responding like that, I took the refreshments the chef prepared and headed toward the annex where Dokgorin’s room is located.
“I’m back, Miss Rin.”
“Good job, Chilbongi. Could you wait a moment? I’m almost done.”
As I entered the room with the refreshments, I spotted Dokgorin sitting cross-legged on the bed.
Seeing a girl who looked barely ten years old sitting in that position was truly an odd sight, but knowing that she would one day become a master of martial arts was something I found entirely normal.
‘Dokgorin began training in martial arts at such a young age.’
Her past was merely mentioned briefly in the novel, so I had no idea that she had already learned martial arts until I saw her myself.
Perhaps, being the daughter of a martial arts family, her father taught her self-defense skills.
Suuuu—
Confirming that I had entered the room, Dokgorin closed her eyes again and began to take deep breaths.
The breathing technique she was using right now is likely the Taeheo breathing method, one of the Dokgo family’s unique martial arts.
Originally, this technique is taught only to direct descendants of the Dokgo family and is believed to have been created by the founder, Gucheon-geom (Nine Heavens Sword) Dokgo Pae.
The wind swirled around her small body, gathering and then dispersing repeatedly.
I couldn’t tell exactly what Dokgorin was doing, but I could sense that what she was engaged in was anything but ordinary.
‘A genius is different from the very start.’
In a world where many martial arts are practiced, it is impossible to survive without talent, no matter how good the martial arts or breathing techniques are.
Though she used any means necessary, if Dokgorin could reach the level of a top-notch master at just sixteen years old, then her talent is indeed extraordinary.
‘Of course, that has yet to happen.’
I placed the refreshments on the table and sat down, watching Dokgorin as she practiced her breathing technique when I idly took a piece of confectionery and then quickly set it back down on the plate.
‘I’ve been eating way too much lately, so it’s become quite a habit.’
Dokgorin kept feeding me sweets despite her saying that I was too skinny, so even though I’m not really fond of sweet things, it feels like I’ve somewhat gotten used to it.
Having set the confectionery back on the plate, I decided to patiently wait until Dokgorin finished her breathing exercises.
*
Dokgorin’s breathing practice ended about ten minutes later.
Opening her eyes while dripping with sweat, she mentioned feeling hungry after using up her energy, and began munching on the confectionery while sitting across from me.
As I quietly observed her, I asked, “Miss Rin, is it really that hard?”
“Hmm? What?”
“Oh, you can answer after you’re done eating.”
As I said that and poured tea into her empty cup, Dokgorin thanked me with her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel as she gulped down the tea.
She looked like a delicate flower unable to pluck herself adequately, yet in this regard, she certainly resembled a boy.
Anyway, since that topic wasn’t important right now, I waited patiently until all the confectionery in her mouth disappeared.
Eventually, with the help of some moisture, Dokgorin swallowed all the snacks that had been in her mouth, leaving crumbs on her lips as she spoke.
“Let’s see… If I had to say, it’s definitely tiring. After doing breathing exercises, my entire body feels exhausted, as if I just ran a full sprint. When I reach that state, I start craving sweets because my energy drops.”
So saying, Dokgorin took a big bite out of the still-warm confectionery.
Her appearance was unmistakably that of a child yearning for something sweet, which made my thoughts increasingly complicated.
At this moment, earnestness and childlike innocence existed within Dokgorin simultaneously.
Perhaps it was due to starting martial arts training too early.
“But why do you suddenly ask such a thing?”
“Oh, because you always sweat a lot after your breathing exercises.”
Upon hearing that, Dokgorin naturally looked down at her body and, blushing, asked, “Do I smell?”
“No, you don’t smell.”
“That’s a lie. I’m soaked all over.”
With that, Dokgorin suddenly began to take off her clothes.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“Huh? I’m just changing out of my sweaty clothes. Is this too provocative for you, Chilbongi?”
With that, Dokgorin gave me a cat-like grin.
No matter how I thought about it, it seemed like she was doing it on purpose, but she didn’t appear to acknowledge that at all.
‘This is ridiculous.’
I’m not a lolicon or anything, and honestly, even if Dokgorin took off her clothes, I wouldn’t be aroused or anything.
It’s just that as a servant employed in this house, if someone were to witness her doing this, it would put me in a dire situation, hence my shock.
However, it seemed like Dokgorin had taken a liking to teasing me, as she giggled and downright stripped.
Her bare shoulders exposed were scandalous by the standards of this era, yet as a modern person who would not flinch at fairly revealing attire, I let out a small sigh and spoke up.
“Miss Rin, there’s an old saying that men and women shouldn’t sit together after the age of seven; you shouldn’t show your skin so easily to an outside man.”
Dokgorin replied with an unabashed expression.
“I’m planning to marry you, Chilbongi, so it’s fine.”
“No, I’m not fine with that.”
I don’t even know how many times we’ve gone through this argument.
I can’t fathom what kind of spell has been cast upon Dokgorin, but ever since I saved her when she fell into the water, she’s been sending me all her unwavering feelings.
But I learned from a childhood friend in my past life that you shouldn’t take a child’s words at face value, so I didn’t trust her words.
Besides, there’s a social class gap, and given that this world flows along the lines of the original story, Dokgorin is likely to develop a hatred for men later on.
I took out a new outfit from the wardrobe and draped it over Dokgorin’s shoulders, saying, “You’ll catch a cold, so put it on quickly,” then turned my back.
Just then, I began to hear rustling sounds behind me.
It seemed Dokgorin was obediently changing clothes as I requested.
So I felt relieved and gazed out the window of the annex when suddenly Dokgorin spoke up.
“Chilbongi, can I ask you something?”
Dokgorin suddenly engaged me in conversation.
“What is it now?”
“Well…”
In an unexpected turn for her usually proactive demeanor, Dokgorin momentarily seemed hesitant.
“?”
In a moment of uncontrollable curiosity, I almost turned to look, but with extraordinary patience, I resisted that urge and waited for her next words.
Eventually, in a voice that seemed uncertain, Dokgorin spoke up.
“Chilbongi, do you think I’m unattractive?”
“Excuse me?”
I was utterly baffled by her words, but there was a reason behind her thinking this.
“Normally, boys my age try to talk to me the moment they see me, but it seems like you don’t.”
Hearing that, I felt a bit incredulous.
Could a girl with beauty so exceptional it only comes once a century be worrying about this type of thing?
Since it seemed Dokgorin hadn’t finished changing, I couldn’t turn to look, so I spoke while staring out the window.
“I’m a man too; there’s no way I would be like that. It’s just that you seem like a flower on a cliff, and even being beside you evokes feelings of ‘you’re pretty.’”
Of course, I meant ‘pretty’ in the sense of ‘pretty’ rather than ‘beauty,’ but I had no intention of mentioning it in order to spoil the atmosphere.
I do know how to read the room.
“Chilbongi…”
Still, it seemed my honest feelings had conveyed something, as Dokgorin murmured in a voice that seemed moved, and I thought it would be nice if she didn’t ask any more questions and was about to inquire if she had finished changing.
Suddenly, Dokgorin hugged me tightly.
“?!”
As I panicked and tried to turn my head, Dokgorin buried her face into my back and said,
“Uh-huh, I don’t want to show my face right now.”
Saying that, she tightened her grip around me, making it impossible for me to move an inch. What kind of strength does this girl possess?
“R-Rin?”
Feeling a suffocating weight and struggling to breathe, I hurriedly tried to ask her to ease up a bit, but Dokgorin, in a muffled voice, said:
“I know without you needing to say it. Chilbongi, you’re trying to keep your distance because you’re worried about me, right?”
No! So! Can you please listen to me?!!
I resembled a goldfish, just opening and closing my lips while realizing my breath was getting short.
‘Oh, this is dangerous.’
At a certain point, I felt my limits being reached, and rapidly started to feel the world turning yellow as I lost strength in my limbs.
“Chilbongi! Chilbongi?!”
I could hear Dokgorin’s panicked voice in my ears, but I lacked the energy to respond.
Right now, since I’m tired, I’ll talk when I wake up.
Goodnight—
