Same Day...
The courtyard was silent.
Not in a peaceful, spiritual way.
In the "someone is about to get emotionally dismembered" kind of way.
On one side stood Baek Do-Won—cocky, broad-shouldered, glowy-haired, oozing smug sword aura from every pore.
On the other?
Hye-Ra.
Wine MILF.
Trouble in high heels.
And a living warning label for "do not engage without adult supervision."
"You're late," Hye-Ra said, swirling a wine glass that hadn't been there a second ago.
Do-Won scoffed. "Didn't realize I was supposed to fight a sommelier."
She raised a brow. "Didn't realize I was supposed to fight someone who smells like hair gel and daddy issues."
Oof.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
→ Passive Skill: Verbal Castration Activated (Hye-Ra Exclusive)
→ Baek Do-Won's Confidence -8%
I sat on the sidelines, bruised, bandaged, and still… afflicted.
(Stormbound Fool status: 8 hours remaining.)
"Why is this happening?" I muttered.
"Because you made a rival," Eun Hae said, sipping tea. "And she wants to mark territory."
"I'm not a damn tree."
"You're a very tall, horny, spiritual tree," she said. "And she's about to water the roots."
The Duel Begins
Ms. Hwan stood between them.
"This is a Class-C sanctioned duel. No death. No permanent damage. Winner gets bragging rights and a bonus wine voucher."
"Wait, wine's a prize?" I asked.
"No," Hye-Ra purred. "You are."
"…I hate this school."
Do-Won unsheathed his Lipstick Sword with a dramatic flourish.
"Begin!"
He charged.
Fast.
Elegant footwork. Gleaming blade. A gust of Qi slicing the tiles around him.
But Hye-Ra?
She didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
She just took a sip.
Then—
She exhaled.
And with it, released a wave of sultry aura that hit like velvet wrapped in sin.
Do-Won stumbled.
Literally tripped over his own stance.
[SYSTEM ALERT – OBSERVER VIEW]
→ HYE-RA ACTIVATES: "SIREN'S SIP – Lv.3"
→ EFFECT: Lowers enemy aggression. Increases confusion.
→ BATTLE COMMENTARY: You horny, bro?
Do-Won shook his head. "T-tricks. I don't fall for—"
She stepped forward.
One heel click.
Two.
Her hips swayed in slow motion. Her Qi shimmered like honey dripping off a dagger.
Then—
She leaned forward, whispered, "Come now… pierce me if you can."
Do-Won's face turned the color of a dying peach.
His sword wilted.
I mean that literally.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
→ Baek Do-Won's Sword Art has entered: Limp Blade State
→ Confidence: -42%
→ Virility Aura: Misfiring
He tried again.
Charged with a shout.
Swinging low, aiming high.
But Hye-Ra caught his wrist—caught his damn sword wrist with two fingers—and held him mid-swing.
"That's adorable," she said. "You thought this was a real duel."
She spun him around, slid behind him, breath warm against his ear.
"Want to know what a real technique feels like?"
She tapped his chest.
Once.
His body shivered.
Then crumpled.
He collapsed to his knees, eyes glazed, sword clattering beside him.
[SYSTEM SHOCK]
→ HYE-RA USES "TOUCH OF TANTALIZING QI – Lv.4"
→ EFFECT: Qi Overstimulation.
→ RESULT: Spontaneous Aura Collapse.
The crowd gasped.
Ms. Hwan blinked.
Eun Hae clapped once, slowly. "She didn't even break a sweat."
I just… winced. Hard.
"…Is he crying?" I asked.
"I think so."
"Should we help him?"
"Definitely not."
Aftermath
Baek Do-Won lay face-first on the courtyard tiles, softly whimpering something about "inverted Qi flow" and "she smelled like strawberries and doom."
Hye-Ra turned to me.
Sauntered.
Glass in hand. Hair perfect. Aura smug.
She knelt.
Wiped sweat from my brow.
"See, darling?" she whispered. "That's what happens when little boys challenge grown women."
"…He never had a chance, did he?"
"Not even a little."
She kissed my cheek.
Walked off like the end of a runway show.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
→ RIVAL: BAEK DO-WON – Status: Spiritually Humiliated
→ NEW TITLE UNLOCKED: "MILF-Spoiled Witness"
→ Emotion Buff: +3 to Smug Tolerance
→ Cultivation Increase: +1 Charisma
→ Libido Status: Still Hard (Duration Remaining: 7 hours)
I groaned.
Eun Hae leaned closer.
"So. Are you finally learning who the real predators are around here?"
"Yes," I sighed. "And apparently they all live with me."