Chapter 14: Talent is not a blessing.

I slowly opened my eyes.

“Ugh…”

God, I feel like death.

My vision was spinning, my throat was scratchy, and my head was pounding.

It was like downing three bottles of soju in one go and riding the T-Express roller coaster five times in a row.

In other words, I felt like puking my guts out.

‘This is absolute hell…’

…Wait, hold on.

Why am I like this?

“You’re awake.”

“!”

Oh, crap, that scared me!

As I slowly sat up, I whipped my head around in a panic.

There stood the cross-dressing young master, wearing a faint smile.

She was acting all relaxed, but the sweat on her forehead betrayed her exhaustion.

‘…Why’s she in that state?’

Where’s everyone else?

As I looked around without responding, she let out a small laugh.

“Yeon’s waiting outside. Her condition makes her sensitive to unrefined qi.”

“…?”

At first, I thought she was spouting nonsense.

‘Oh, right.’

But then it hit me.

‘I almost died, didn’t I?’

I’d passed out after putting on a blood fountain show.

When I saw blood gushing from my mouth and nose, I thought I was done for…

‘Was that… qi deviation?’

Not exactly the same, but probably something similar.

In martial arts stories, it’s what happens when you mess up qi control, twisting your blood vessels and killing you.

Anyway.

The fact that it’s just me and the cross-dressing young master in this training hall could only mean one thing.

“Thank… you.”

She’s the one who saved me from croaking.

As I bowed deeply in gratitude, her eyes widened briefly.

“…What a strange kid.”

She chuckled and walked toward me slowly.

Then, she grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet her gaze.

“Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

“…”

I didn’t answer.

Or rather, I couldn’t.

How could I tell her to her face that I’m not scared because her actions feel like an act?

Especially when I haven’t figured out why she’s acting.

“I saved your life, didn’t I? I won’t scold you, so at least tell me that much.”

As I hesitated, she urged me with that same smiling face.

‘…Hm.’

I fell into thought.

I’m not an ungrateful beast.

When she brings up saving my life, it’s hard to keep dodging.

Glancing at her cautiously, I spoke.

“Well… it feels like you’re acting, so…”

At my words, she froze, still smiling.

But only for a moment.

“…Hahaha!”

She burst into loud laughter.

It was a laugh filled with genuine amusement.

Closing the distance, she bent down and grabbed my chin again.

Her eyes softened, as if she’d dropped the act.

“Really interesting. You can sense that?”

“Well, it’s like… my instincts are telling me.”

“Yes, that makes sense.”

She gave a bright smile at my response.

Even in her male disguise, it felt more beautiful than handsome.

“You must have been born with a special constitution.”

“Constitution…?”

“Yes. Like my dear cousin. Maybe… that’s why she’s so attached to you—she senses it too.”

Releasing my chin, she patted my head.

“You seem sensitive to the intangible energy we call ‘sensitivity.’ That’s probably why you could feel qi so quickly.”

Hm, so…

“Does that mean I have talent?”

Do I have the makings of a munchkin?

Isn’t that a good thing?

My voice rose naturally with excitement.

But the cross-dressing young master didn’t seem to think so.

“It’s talent. Exceptional talent. But… you should hide it as much as possible.”

“…?”

“Great talent is never a blessing.”

Her smile was bitterly wistful.

“Especially in the Baek Clan.”

“…”

Her words carried a lot of emotion.

Maybe that’s why?

“Is that… why you’re acting?”

I asked a question I didn’t need to.

‘Oops.’

Realizing my mistake, I covered my mouth.

Thankfully, she pretended not to hear and didn’t respond.

She just gave another faint, bittersweet smile.

Then.

“Let’s make a promise.”

“A promise…?”

She crouched down and extended her pinky.

“I’ll keep your secret, so you keep mine. Not a bad deal, right?”

“…”

I stared at her pinky.

All sorts of thoughts swirled.

‘She’s… a decent person.’

Her cross-dressing and villain act must be tied to the clan.

Instead of silencing me by killing me, she’s proposing a promise.

…Of course, if she knew I’d figured out her real gender, she’d probably try to kill me.

But as long as I keep my mouth shut, she’ll never know.

No need to refuse when she’s sparing me.

I hooked my pinky with hers.

And, just to be safe, I added.

“…Let’s stamp it with our thumbs.”

“Haha, sure. Let’s make it official.”

She nodded with a clear laugh.

So naive, not realizing this is an unfair contract…

After the promise, the cross-dressing young master went to fetch the others waiting outside.

Normally, a lowly servant like me should’ve done it, but I was too exhausted to even lift a finger.

The moment the locked door opened—

“Seoran!”

Baek Yeon rushed in like a bullet and hugged me tightly.

…Maybe “bullet” isn’t the right word in this martial world.

Anyway.

I barely caught her as she threw herself at me.

Though, since I’m smaller, it ended up with me being the one hugged.

“Seoran, Seoran…”

Muttering my name, she buried her face in my shoulder.

I felt a warm sensation through my shoulder.

‘Oh, she’s crying.’

She must’ve been really shaken by what happened.

Fair enough—if my pet human suddenly started spewing blood, I’d freak out too.

It was an accident no one could’ve predicted, so it wasn’t my fault… but I felt guilty and patted her back.

Sobbing, she mumbled.

“Hic, don’t learn martial arts. Just… do nothing and stay by my side…”

Uh, that’s a bit…

I mean, I’ve got some crazy talent, right?

But according to the cross-dressing young master, if this gets out, things could get really messy…

Can’t I just live quietly as a weakling for a while?

That’s the only way a frail kid like me can stay safe.

I wasn’t worried about the young master. She promised to keep it a secret herself.

‘The real problem is her…’

I glanced at Song Hwa.

As expected, her face was full of complicated emotions.

“What will you do, Song Hwa?”

The cross-dressing young master spoke leisurely.

“Will you report this to Great Uncle?”

“…”

“You know how big this is.”

Song Hwa didn’t answer, but the young master continued unfazed.

“This kid is a genius. But once word gets out, many will covet her.”

At that, Baek Yeon, startled, hugged me tighter.

“No! She’s mine! Song Hwa, don’t tell anyone! That’s an order!”

“Young Lady…”

Song Hwa’s brows drooped, clearly conflicted.

Noticing her hesitation, the young master quickly added.

“I won’t tell anyone either. I swear on my name.”

But her attitude only seemed to make Song Hwa more suspicious.

“…Why are you being so kind to her?”

Song Hwa’s wary question made the young master’s eyes widen briefly.

But then, she playfully raised her pinky.

“Because I made a promise with her, pinky swear.”

She grinned at me, and… hm, how do I put it?

‘It’s kinda… pretty?’

It felt like a dangerously charming smile.

‘…Huh?’

But that thought was cut short as my vision darkened.

Not because I fainted again—Baek Yeon, who’d been hugging me, suddenly pulled me tighter into her arms.

“Why’re you smiling at Seoran like that!”

“Haha, just reminding her of our promise.”

“What… promise!”

“Tch, it’s a secret we can’t tell anyone.”

What are they going on about?

‘More importantly, I can’t breathe…’

Grunting, I wriggled out of her grip and met the young master’s eyes.

She smiled softly, her eyes curving.

“Right, Ran? It’s a secret, so we can’t tell anyone.”

“…Yeah, sure?”

“You…!”

Baek Yeon’s reaction was odd.

Chewing her lip like she’d lost to someone, she…

Turned sharply and stared straight into my eyes.

Her face shifted to one of great resolve.

‘…Wait.’

What’s she planning?

A sense of unease hit me as I tried to pull away.

Chuu.*

A soft sensation touched my lips.

…Huh?

“Young Lady!”

“Oh ho.”

“See! Seoran’s mine!”

I froze, unable to speak.

It was stolen.

My first kiss…

‘No, wait.’

I shook my head.

This doesn’t count. It’s just something kids do, right?

Right?

I looked up at Baek Yeon with that hope…

“It’s okay, I’ll take responsibility!”

“Responsibility… for what?”

She nodded with a determined look.

“Let’s get engaged!”

“…What?”