Why Did I Have to Enroll

It's not that I'm concerned about what Aneri Dedota said.

What would she know about their relationship when she was just a passing acquaintance?

Overly outgoing people tend to fantasize about relationships between men and women.

They try to pair up anyone they see together.

She must have been like that too.

So again, there's no need to worry about what she said.

No need to be self-conscious when dealing with him either.

Because I don't want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Just forget about it.

"...You don't need to feel pressured about learning martial arts. What I'm about to teach you isn't even my family's inherited martial art."

It must be because time is running short.

Dokgo Yeon began explaining about martial arts in a more urgent voice than usual.

"In the martial arts world, there were many who committed bizarre acts to become stronger. Among them were those who did something particularly shocking that society wouldn't accept - they mated with monsters to bear children."

No, it must have been Ban Yu-won's misunderstanding.

Who would have thought she'd explain the origins of the martial art she was about to teach?

"It was foolish. Those born of human and monster blood gained powerful bodies but had muddled internal energy and reasoning, making proper martial arts training impossible. However, there was a mutation among these half-human half-monsters."

"Ah... let me guess. Did this mutation create a new martial art suited to themselves?"

"Exactly. She was born with both a cursed body and exceptional enlightenment. She practically recreated her family's imperfectly inherited martial arts to suit her body and internal energy."

"Huh..."

"After mastering and perfecting it, she finally shed her curse and regained a mind and body closer to human. It was truly an amazing martial art... but being tailored to her standards, it was impossible for others to understand its essence."

As Ban Yu-won quietly listened to Dokgo Yeon's continuing story, he suspected that 'she' might be Dokgo Yeon's acquaintance, but didn't have the courage to ask and kept his mouth shut.

But Dokgo Yeon read Ban Yu-won's thoughts and explained with a slight smile.

"She was my shadow guardian, protecting me from the darkness."

"Thanks for telling me. Please continue."

"What I'm going to teach you now is her unique martial art. It's an excellent stealth and assassination art combining bestial ferocity with shadow's secrecy and lethal strikes."

Perhaps reminiscing about her, for a moment Ban Yu-won thought he saw a smile cross Dokgo Yeon's lips.

"As I said before, normally no ordinary human could learn this, but seeing your movements just now that were more beast than human, it suddenly occurred to me that you might be able to learn it."

"So that's why you gave me all this background about this unusual martial art. That's really kind, but..."

Ban Yu-won narrowed his eyes and asked her.

"Is it really okay to just teach me someone else's unique martial art?"

"What was hers is now mine, so it's fine."

Tubby... no, Dokgo Yeon made this declaration and briefly closed and opened her eyes.

Ban Yu-won could feel her aura change in that moment.

More secretive, yet more deadly.

"I too learned how to move stealthily from her. Of course, since I can't contain monster power like you, I couldn't fully master her martial art. I can only imitate it convincingly."

This is what she calls not fully mastering it?

She's right in front of me but I can't grasp her presence.

A sense of crisis dominates my whole body, like my throat could be torn out at any moment.

And she says this is just imitation?

"So from now on, I'll discuss the form of the martial art and how to use internal energy, including the verses. You should harmonize it with your own abilities."

"Got it. ...Wait, is that really so simple?"

"For you it is."

It seemed like Dokgo Yeon had just given Ban Yu-won quite a compliment while pretending not to.

But since Dokgo Yeon's demonstration began right away, Ban Yu-won couldn't ask about the meaning behind her words and had to focus on her movements.

'Swift and stealthy movements, like pouncing and crushing, like instantly tearing into prey's weak spots. Utterly bewitching and chilling...'

And naturally, a thought occurred - the person who developed this martial art must have had feline predator blood flowing through them.

'I see, so this is why she told me to harmonize it with my abilities. Trying to copy a tiger's movements with a weasel's concept would only tear my legs apart.'

Anyway, even though Dokgo Yeon said it was mere imitation, her demonstration alone was enough to grasp the 'true meaning of the martial art.'

For Ban Yu-won, the master of abilities, even body language was understood as just another language.

"―Why are you staring so intently?"

"I have to watch to learn."

"If you focus too much on the form, you'll go wrong. This martial art isn't just simple movements like stabbing and slashing."

Though Dokgo Yeon gave him a doubtful look, not fully understanding Ban Yu-won's abilities.

Her thoughts would change once she saw him learning it directly.

"Now I'll recite the verses. I've heard detailed explanations from her too, so ask if anything isn't clear."

"Please do."

The verses were even easier to understand.

A sequence of language dealing purely with martial arts.

Nothing was difficult for Ban Yu-won, who could read what any cipher text was trying to express, no matter how complex.

Especially in the part about harmonizing internal energy, or magical power, with one's movements, Ban Yu-won gained deep insight.

'Ah... so magical power could be handled this delicately. Wait, if that's the case, the Mysterious Body Technique seems to be a far more amazing martial art than I thought...?'

It could be called a general enlightenment about martial arts ability.

While Dokgo Yeon was merely discussing an assassination art that humans couldn't even learn, Ban Yu-won was able to lay the foundation for establishing all his actions through martial arts!

[Having gained fundamental enlightenment about martial arts in general, your martial arts depth has become 500. Mysterious Body Technique depth has become 80. You are ready to establish new martial arts concepts.]

[Mysterious Qi depth has become 270. Soul depth has become 630.]

Meanwhile, seeing Ban Yu-won's eyes slowly closing while listening to the verses, Dokgo Yeon was a bit dumbfounded.

Surely he wasn't dozing off right in front of her, or had he gained some enlightenment from just this much?

'Or could his comprehension be so excellent that he's already revising Black Snow's martial art using just the verses I've recited?'

Since neither made sense, it would be better to think he had fallen asleep.

Dokgo Yeon shook her head and said.

"You're not sleeping, are you, Ban Yu-won? If you are, I'll be angry."

"I'm not sleeping. Just continue with the verses."

"Are you really understanding...? It's quite complex."

"It's fine. Please continue with the rest."

Despite sighing, Dokgo Yeon recited all the remaining verses.

Then, half-doubting, she asked him.

"Is there anything you don't understand?"

"I understand it. However, I don't think the leopard suits me, so I'll need to modify it somewhat. Though there's no need to specifically follow the weasel either..."

"...! How did you know that Black Snow is a leopard?"

Dokgo Yeon was so startled she blurted out the guard's name which she hadn't intended to mention, but Ban Yu-won was too deep in thought to hear it.

'If I extract and preserve only the pure predator essence from both, couldn't I find an elegant compromise?'

Extracting a purer, higher-level concept from a single concept was one of Ban Yu-won's specialties.

He activated the Shadow Step and assassination techniques residing in his body, and began 'appropriately modifying' them to combine with the martial art forms and verses Dokgo Yeon had shown him.

Governing all of this was his foundational martial art, the Mysterious Body Technique, and the Mysterious Qi derived from it.

"Ban Yu-won? Let me recite the verses once more..."

Dokgo Yeon, who couldn't imagine martial arts being transmitted through just one demonstration and verse recitation, approached him to speak, but Ban Yu-won was already so deeply immersed in revising the concepts he held that he couldn't even hear her voice.

"Surely not... really?"

Of course, she couldn't jump to conclusions yet.

While trying not to release her energy for fear he might fall into martial deviation, Dokgo Yeon carefully approached him and waved her hand in front of his face.

Ban Yu-won didn't react.

However, his eyelids were constantly twitching, showing that he was still intensely visualizing something.

Right now, martial arts were probably being 'assembled' in real-time inside his mind.

'Come to think of it, even the flow of internal energy has changed... He really did understand the verses. The flow is even changing in real-time...'

Could this level be explained simply as having excellent comprehension?

Though she had some expectations, this went beyond reasonable bounds.

She had planned to repeatedly demonstrate the martial art forms, explain the verses in detail, and discuss martial arts with him.

To be frank, since she thought it would be impossible to modify the martial art with his abilities alone, she had intended to help him revise it herself while subtly showing off her capabilities.

She had even prepared to stay up all night...

'As if he doesn't need my help at all.'

Ban Yu-won had cowardly gained enlightenment by himself, abandoning her and sinking deep into his inner world.

"Why are you making such a sulky expression?"

"Beast...?!"

Dokgo Yeon almost screamed at Luciel's sudden appearance.

If not for her concern about Ban Yu-won's potential martial deviation, she would have instinctively let out a loud cry.

"What were you trying to do to Yu-won?"

Was Luciel's skill extraordinary for catching Dokgo Yeon from behind without making a sound, or had Dokgo Yeon foolishly let her guard down?

Meeting Luciel's clear pink eyes that were staring at her, Dokgo Yeon sighed inwardly and answered.

"I was checking his condition. It's dangerous to disturb him now, so you should be careful too."

"...Is that all?"

"What did you think I was trying to do?"

Luciel hesitated a bit before answering honestly.

"A kiss..."

"You're thinking only from your perspective."

"Ah, I haven't done it either. Yet."

Dokgo Yeon alternately looked at Ban Yu-won with his eyes closed, and Luciel who was staring wide-eyed at a certain part of his body.

It seemed like that beast just licked her lips.

"I just said it's dangerous to disturb him."

"I won't do anything boring like a surprise attack. ...Though I do wish he would do it."

"A woman's heart is complicated."

"You're a woman too."

Luciel spoke with a faint smile, as if probing her thoughts.

This was a side of her that would never be shown when Ban Yu-won's eyes were open.

Convinced that this woman must have fox blood in her lineage, Dokgo Yeon snorted.

"Gender isn't such an important factor to me. That's why I abandoned the woman inside me."

"Can you really abandon it just by deciding to?"

"Well, certainly, there are still those who try to pick fights. Detestable creatures."

Dokgo Yeon spoke while thinking of Ortima, the man who had tried to hit on her with ridiculous lies.

Luciel seemed to have roughly guessed what she was thinking and shook her head.

"Lies and delusions, good grief."

"Beast, if you have something to say, say it properly—"

—Where did you all go—!

At Light's voice (with a slight hint of tears) suddenly heard from far away, Dokgo Yeon and Luciel's shoulders slumped simultaneously, as if deflated.

"What could that be?"

"An idiot."

Dokgo Yeon nodded in agreement at Luciel's answer.

"You go explain the situation to Light. I'll stand guard over Ban Yu-won."

"Alright."

Having cleared up the misunderstanding, Luciel was about to leave with quick steps when she suddenly turned back and said to her.

"Dokgo Yeon, you would be fine."

"Stop talking nonsense and get lost."

"Yes~"

Two hours later, Ban Yu-won opened his eyes, having succeeded in establishing his own martial art.

After checking his martial art, Dokgo Yeon permitted him to infiltrate the small city with her.

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