CFZ

"What?"

I forced my tense body to relax and asked. Did I mishear? No matter how many times I thought about it, it seemed like I did, but this time, I hadn't.
"What... what?"
Namgung Bi-ah remained silent despite my repeated questioning. She simply looked at me.

Her ocean-like blue eyes, as always, were beautiful. At first, I couldn’t even look directly into them, constantly turning my head away. Now, I could barely manage to hold her gaze.
However, my eyes trembled with embarrassment. I swallowed hard, my Adam’s apple bobbing.
Gulp.

Saliva went down involuntarily.
"Where did you even learn that...? No, do you even understand what you're saying?"
I was certain she ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ didn’t know anything about this sort of thing. Yes, she must have said it without understanding.

As I thought that and asked her again—
"Making a baby."
"...What?"
"I know."

Oh, no. My head spun in an instant.
When did she learn that? When exactly...?
"I'm older than you," she pointed out, apparently displeased with my reaction.

Right, Namgung Bi-ah was older than me.
But does this really apply here? Are those two things even comparable? My head swirled with conflicting thoughts.
"Could you explain... in detail?"

I shook my hand at her words.
"No, don’t. Please, don’t."
Whatever detailed explanation she intended to give, I absolutely didn’t want to hear it from her.

‘Where the hell did she learn that?’
Had she gained some kind of information network in the past few years? Or had someone told her? But that wasn’t the main issue right now.
"That..."

"...Yes?"
"...Um..."
What should I say? I needed to say something, but my lips wouldn’t move properly.

My mind went blank. What should I say? What could I possibly say?
After stuttering for a while, I finally managed to spit something out.
"Are you... okay with this?"
You idiot.

That’s what I managed to say? “Are you okay with this?” What even is “this”?
I wanted to smash my own mouth right then and there.
But as if my question made sense, Namgung Bi-ah nodded.

"I'm fine."
"...You’re fine?"
"Yes."

Her eyes, looking at me, were as clear as always.
"I’ve always been fine..."
"...I..."

"You’re the one who wasn’t."
I was speechless. I had no rebuttal because she was right.
Yes, I was the one who wasn’t ready.

It was something I already knew. But even so...
"Speaking about this so casually is just..."
I was about to point out how odd it was for her to say it so matter-of-factly, but I shut my mouth.

Because I noticed her expression.
At first glance, she seemed as calm as ever. But on closer inspection, her pale complexion was tinged with a slight blush. Her trembling eyes were subtle yet noticeable.
And especially, her ears, hidden behind her hair, were so red it looked like they might explode.

"...Oh."
So, she wasn’t unfazed.
She had been suppressing her embarrassment to say this.

And realizing that—
Thump.
Thump.

Thump... thump... thump-thump.
My heart sped up wildly, beating out of control.
In my blank mind, a single pink droplet fell, dyeing everything pink as it swallowed up the white.

My head spun.
What was I trying to do again? Why had this topic come up in the first place?
What was I going to say to Namgung Bi-ah?
I couldn’t remember any of it. All I could see was her faintly blushing cheeks and her clear blue eyes looking at me.

What should I say now?
No, why am I even worrying about this?
It was the same with Tang So-yeol, and it’s the same now.

Why am I overthinking this? Is there even a need to?
I can’t even remember why I was worried in the first place.
I just—

I just moved my hand.
To touch Namgung Bi-ah’s cheek. What happens next? I don’t know. Right now, I was simply moving on instinct.
Just as my hand was about to touch her cheek—

"What are you doing?"
"...!"
A sharp voice snapped me back to reality.

I turned my head to see Wi Seol-ah glaring at me with narrowed eyes.
"What are you doing right now?"
"Uh? No, I... uh..."

I had been so entranced that I hadn’t even noticed Wi Seol-ah approaching. Now, the heat rose all the way to my ears.
‘What was I trying to do just now?’
What was I about to do? My face burned as the heat spread further.

I probably looked just as red as Namgung Bi-ah’s ears right now.
But this wasn’t the time for that.
‘I need to explain.’

I had to explain this situation to Wi Seol-ah. That was what I decided as I opened my mouth—
"Well..."

"Huh?"
Wi Seol-ah wasn’t even looking at me.
"Unni."

She was glaring at Namgung Bi-ah, who was busy avoiding her gaze.
Clearly irritated, Wi Seol-ah furrowed her brow and spoke.
"You broke the promise."

Promise?
"We all agreed to hold back, and yet, what is this?"
Hold back?

The situation was taking a strange turn.
"Wait a second, what are you—"
"Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about."

"No, seriously, what are you—"
"Be quiet, Young Master!"
"...Oh, okay."

I obediently shut my mouth. It had been so long since Wi Seol-ah had yelled at me.
This alone was enough to show how angry she was.
"Unni."

"...I’m sorry..."
"Tang So-yeol said she didn’t want this kind of situation. She didn’t want to feel humiliated. But you’re using that against her?"
"...I..."

Namgung Bi-ah looked like she had no excuse, her face full of guilt.
‘What exactly did Tang So-yeol tell them...?’
I was left even more confused. What on earth was going on?

"And at least, if you’re going to make a move, you should do it when Moyong Biyeon is around."
"...Yes..."
Namgung Bi-ah was shrinking under Wi Seol-ah’s scolding.

Had Wi Seol-ah ever been this harsh toward Namgung Bi-ah? Not that I could remember.
"Um, girls? Maybe calm down a bit and explain to me—"
"Young Master, could you step outside for a moment?"

"...What?"
"Please. We have something to talk about, just us."
It was clear: I was being asked to leave.

In this situation?
Wi Seol-ah looked desperate as she asked, and when I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah, she avoided my eyes, looking like a guilty party.
What in the world was going on?

Though I was dying of curiosity about what had just happened and what was happening now—
"...Alright."
Given the mood, pressing for answers wouldn’t yield anything.

Reluctantly, I got up and stepped outside.
As soon as I did, I spotted a familiar face.
"Oh? You’re coming out now?"

Tang So-yeol greeted me with a smile. It seemed like she was just about to go in.
"They told me to leave," I said.
"Huh? Who? Unni?"

“No…”
“Then it was Seol-ah?”
“Yeah.”

“Oh my, what’s gotten into her?”
“That’s what I’d like to know…”
I was genuinely curious. On top of that, I still hadn’t calmed down from what had just happened with Namgung Bi-ah.

When I placed a hand on my chest, I could feel my heart racing.
‘...If Wi Seol-ah hadn’t shown up just then.’
What would have happened?

“...”
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the lingering heat. That had been close—far too close.
‘I almost lost control.’

I thought I’d been holding back all this time, but clearly, I hadn’t.
‘...It’s not me holding back.’
Was it them?

With Namgung Bi-ah actively trying to seduce me, I couldn’t keep my composure.
Was it even seduction, though? I wouldn’t know—I’ve never been seduced before.
Well, to be precise, I have.

It’s just that…
‘Anyone who tried too hard to seduce me, I killed without hesitation.’
In my past life, that’s how it was. Whether they were spies sent by the orthodox sects or lunatics from the demonic factions.

Anyone who approached me with a pretty face met the same fate.
Because of that, ridiculous rumors started circulating. That the Black Flame Demon secretly preferred men.
‘I wanted to find the bastard who started that rumor and kill them.’

But I never found them. If I have a regret, that’s it.
There was one theory that bothered me, though.
‘They said the one who spread the rumor was none other than the Divine Sword.’

It was laughable. Absolute nonsense.
Why would the Divine Sword do something like that? They claimed it was credible, but I didn’t buy it.
Because it was that Divine Sword.

Even though the rumor was annoying, it had one upside: no more beauty traps were sent my way.
I didn’t have to waste time killing people unnecessarily.
Of course, there was a time when Cheonma asked me about it.

‘They asked if it was true.’
The sly smile on their face made it obvious they were teasing me.
In any case, it was a load of crap.

Anyway…
I’d built up some immunity to crude attempts at seduction, but this kind of temptation? It was a different story.
It was no wonder I couldn’t keep my wits about me.

“Did something happen?”
“Well...”
I was about to explain the situation to Tang So-yeol when Wi Seol-ah’s words suddenly resurfaced in my mind.

“They said you told them something. Something about not liking the situation?”
“Huh? Told them what?”
“Something about not liking the situation. That’s what they said, anyway.”

“Oh! Oh, is that it?”
Tang So-yeol clapped her hands as if something had clicked for her.
“I gave them a bit of sex education because they didn’t know anything. Maybe that’s what they meant?”

“You did what?”
“Sex education.”
“...”

Hearing that, the unease I’d felt in my mind vanished completely.
‘So that’s who they learned it from.’
It was you.

I ignored the throbbing in my head as best I could.
“How... How did it come to that?”
“Well, it’s not like I planned it. It’s just that they were completely clueless. No matter how much time they’ve spent swinging swords, it’s ridiculous to know nothing at their age.”

“...”
I couldn’t argue with her. She was absolutely right.
Given their ages, they should’ve already known.

If they weren’t martial artists, they might’ve had several children by now.
However…
“Then what did Seol-ah mean about not wanting to feel humiliated?”

Wi Seol-ah had clearly said that Tang So-yeol didn’t want to feel humiliated, which is why she told them.
Hearing that, Tang So-yeol’s eyes widened slightly.
Her expression said she hadn’t expected that to be shared.

She awkwardly scratched her cheek before letting out a sigh.
“Well, it’s just...”
She hesitated, but eventually confessed.

“It felt unfair...”
“Unfair?”
“I didn’t want to compete with someone who didn’t even understand the basics. It felt like it would hurt my pride.”

“Compete? Compete over what?”
“Over who gets to make the first move on you, of course. It wouldn’t be fair if someone was clueless, so I told them.”
“I see, that makes sense... Wait, what?”

I was starting to nod when her words sank in.
...Make the first move?
“Hehe.”

“Don’t laugh it off. Explain yourself properly. What do you mean by ‘make the first move’?”
“Well, honestly... this is mostly your fault.”
“How is this suddenly my fault?”

Tang So-yeol frowned slightly as she explained.
“Watching you, it’s obvious you react, but you never make the first move. And if we wait around, it feels like we’ll be waiting forever. That leaves only one option, doesn’t it?”
She casually tucked her hair behind her ear as she added,

“We have to make the first move ourselves.”
“...”
Her words were as bold as they were shameless.

“So, we made a deal among ourselves.”
“A deal...?”
I raised my hand as soon as she said that.

“Hold on. I’m struggling to follow this. Are you saying the deal was—”
“You’re right. We agreed on who would get to make the first move—or who would be moved on first.”
“...Are you all insane?”

“Partially. And if we are, it’s because you drove us to it. So it’s not entirely our fault.”
Her audaciousness left me speechless. All I could do was gape at her.
“Anyway, that’s the agreement. The winner gets priority.”

“And... why would you decide that without asking me?”
“If you don’t like it, just say so.”
“It’s not about liking or disliking—”

“You wouldn’t dislike it anyway.”
“I haven’t even finished—”
“But you wouldn’t, would you? Because you’re not the type to let go of anyone. You want to hold onto all of us.”

“...”
She hit the nail on the head. Tang So-yeol’s green eyes gleamed with certainty, leaving no room for denial.
“We all know it. You can’t pick just one, so you’ll end up keeping everyone close.”

“Do I really seem that selfish to you?”
“If not selfish, then possessive. Very possessive.”
“...You don’t even hesitate to answer, do you?”

“Because it’s true. And we know there are things you want to say but can’t. But listen.”
Tang So-yeol’s gaze bore into me, her light green eyes curving into crescent moons.
“That doesn’t mean we’ll keep holding back. From now on, you’ll have to restrain yourself. We’ve reached our limit.”

“You...”
“Oh, don’t worry. We agreed that if anything happens, it’ll be when all three of us are together. It wouldn’t be fair otherwise.”
All three. There was no need to ask who the third person was.

Ah, so that’s why.
‘So that’s why Wi Seol-ah got so upset?’
The scolding earlier suddenly made sense.

Realizing all this, I froze. I didn’t even know how to respond.
At that moment,
“By the way.”

Tang So-yeol poked my chest with her finger before brushing past me.
The faint scent of wood lingered as she passed.
“When you go back, be ready. We’re serious about this.”

“...”
“Just so you know.”
With that, Tang So-yeol entered the infirmary.

And I stood there for a long while.
Be ready, she said.
“...”

Could I really handle it?
I sighed as the thought crossed my mind.
‘Handle it, my ass.’

Running a hand through my hair, I finally admitted it.
I was reaching my limit, too.