HSM 7

Chapter 7

With me trembling before him, Eok I-geon ate his meal quite well.

Though I gradually calmed down from the relief of being alive, I couldn’t help but feel furious at his composed behavior.

But it wasn’t my place to question him, so quietly serving his meal was what I had to do.

The fact that I had to do this four times a day was simply lamentable.

Back in my office worker days, I was happy eating just two meals a day.

But here, three meals weren’t enough – I had to prepare even a late-night snack.

I could somewhat understand it since his work involved physical labor, but from a working perspective, it was very bothersome.

It was better when I could just do laundry all day.

My heart ached with pity for myself as I trudged back to Jami-gwan carrying the empty dishes.

If my energy was already drained like this on the first day, how would I endure two months? I already felt hopeless.

Still, at least I got through the morning safely.

I tried to force myself to think positively.

Negative thinking harms your health and lowers your confidence.

Didn’t even the ice water work?

Since I got off to a good start, it wouldn’t be bad to try being a bit bolder.

“Look, Seolha’s coming!”

“Seolha!”

Before I could even enter Jami-gwan, the maids including Sook came rushing toward me in a crowd.

“What did Prince Lee say?”

“It’s the first time he’s ordered ice water! No, it’s the first time he’s ever requested anything from our Jami-gwan!”

“What should we make for lunch?”

“Did he say he wanted anything else?”

Such a fuss over just one glass of ice water.

When I thought about it, Eok I-geon hadn’t really done anything for me. If anything, he’d been a bother.

But seeing them all so happy about it, Eok I-geon really was quite something.

Well, that’s probably why he’s the protagonist.

Suddenly, irritation washed over me.

Listening to them continue praising Eok I-geon was making me sick to my stomach.

I felt like grabbing someone and ranting about Eok I-geon’s true nature, but if I did that, I might be branded a traitor among the maids.

Honestly, I doubted they’d even believe me. Badmouthing Eok I-geon would be impossible even after he revealed his true nature later.

Life is precious to everyone, after all.

And I absolutely needed Jami-gwan’s help going forward.

For that reason alone, it would benefit me to throw them some bait they’d like.

I’m going to be saying a lot of things I don’t mean for a while.

It pricks my conscience, but I’m doing this to survive too.

So let’s not feel too guilty about it.

“Thank you so much today. Prince Lee was very pleased as soon as he drank it.”

“Oh my! That taciturn man actually said he liked it?”

“Really?”

“Yes, he said exactly this: ‘Good.’”

I deliberately imitated Eok I-geon’s blunt way of speaking.

Then squealing sounds came from all directions.

“We should have brought it to him ages ago!”

“Ugh, I want to hear that voice too!”

Are you that happy about it?

I barely held back a sigh and added:

“If possible, it would be good to have ice water prepared with his meals from now on… though that might be difficult, right? Ice is so precious, after all.”

“No! Absolutely not!”

“Right, there’s so much ice at Seolbinggo!”

“Hardly anyone asks for ice, so that much should be fine.”

“This is a good chance to make the Seolbinggo staff do some ice work. I was getting annoyed watching them just waste time and laze around anyway.”

Okay, so I’ve secured the ice water.

“How about noodles for lunch? Something simple?”

“Noodles?”

“Yes, he seemed to like noodle dishes. If we put plenty of meat as garnish, it would make an excellent meal.”

“Great! I’m staking my life on today’s noodle dough!”

“I’ll handle the broth. I’ll put in a whole chicken and simmer it thoroughly!”

The cooking masters of Jami-gwan rolled up their sleeves. Their eyes burning with enthusiasm felt like witnessing fanatics.

I quietly slipped away from their fervor and approached Sook.

“Sook, do you happen to have any leftover snacks?”

“What? Seolha, did you skip breakfast because you were worried about Prince Lee? Geez, wait a moment.”

Fellow trainees’ love really is the best.

Shortly after, Sook secretly slipped a fairly heavy bundle into my sleeve.

I conveyed my thanks with a look and returned to Geonyeong-gak again.

I’d heard that Eok I-geon and Cheon-gang trained individually at the private training ground during this time.

My main tasks during that time were cleaning places I hadn’t finished, or checking the work done by Senior Doe and other maids.

I’d planned to do a thorough cleanup if they’d done sloppy work using my sore arm as an excuse, but whether my warning had worked, everyone had finished their work cleanly.

The venom hadn’t completely disappeared from their eyes when they looked at me, but I could definitely feel they were intimidated.

Grandmother said I shouldn’t reveal my martial arts skills carelessly.

Well, what could happen?

Looking back, earlier was truly an unbearable situation.

Of course, I must remember that in the future I need to respond in places other than Geonyeong-gak.

After giving the maids a few instructions, I headed back to Jami-gwan.

Until yesterday, the laundry area had been my main workplace and resting place, so passing by felt quite awkward.

But I’d get used to it soon. From today, this would be the path I’d travel most often.

Eok I-geon’s lunch was to be brought directly to the training ground by me.

According to the booklet Lady Gwak gave me, Eok I-geon had a habit of eating lunch a bit later than others at the training ground.

Training at dawn.

Training after breakfast too.

He ate lunch while training, and dinner after bathing.

Then he’d read books for a while, eat a late-night snack, and sleep – that was Eok I-geon’s pattern.

Wasn’t he truly diligent?

That’s probably how he reached such a monstrous level at such a young age.

Of course, he also had a few fortuitous encounters thanks to his protagonist buff.

That part was quite interesting, so I remember reading it repeatedly a couple of times.

Would those same fortuitous encounters happen this time too?

The question suddenly occurred to me, but I immediately dismissed it from my mind. I wouldn’t be here then anyway.

Whether Eok I-geon gained fortuitous encounters or not had nothing to do with me.

I was going to escape this Maegyo and go far, far away.

“But what’s that sound?”

It was when I’d almost reached the training ground carrying the noodles. Along with a fierce sound of air being split, the ground shook as if there was an earthquake.

“Oh no, this won’t do!”

Afraid the broth would spill over, I unconsciously circulated my internal energy cultivation method to maintain my body’s balance.

“Could that just now have been…!”

My suspicion disappeared the moment I entered the training ground.

Because Eok I-geon was practicing sword techniques while holding his sword.

At a glance, he wasn’t using any internal energy at all, unfolding his swordsmanship with purely physical strength.

Wow, that’s possible without internal energy?

I was truly overwhelmed.

The dazzling sword techniques were impressive, but Eok I-geon’s focused demeanor was nothing short of extraordinary.

For me, this was the first proper high-level martial arts I had encountered since coming to this world.

“You can set the meal over there in the pavilion.”

I had been completely entranced.

“…Yes.”

At the sudden voice beside me, I startled and barely managed to collect myself.

Of all things, I had been secretly watching Eok I-geon’s training.

Why did I keep doing such crazy things? I was starting to feel disgusted with myself.

I bowed to Cheon-gang and hurriedly set up lunch in the pavilion.

As if he had been waiting for my meal, Eok I-geon put down his sword and immediately climbed up to the pavilion.

Before uncovering the noodles, I first poured a glass of ice water.

Perhaps having gotten used to it after drinking it once, Eok I-geon gulped down the ice water without a word.

It seemed his words of approval from earlier were a one-time thing.

Heartless bastard.

But I still had my trump card left.

When I uncovered the noodles, I could feel Eok I-geon hesitate.

Hehe, look at that.

You didn’t expect this, did you?

Whether in Korea or here, noodles were the common people’s representative food.

Eok I-geon, who was born and raised as the noble Prince Lee of Cheonma Singyeo, first ate noodles only after unifying the Martial Arts World.

Until then, he probably didn’t even know such a dish existed.

Despite being a psychopath, his taste was simple, so Eok I-geon would order noodles first wherever he went afterward.

Since he ate them tirelessly back then, he would surely like them now too.

However, faced with this unfamiliar food, Eok I-geon once again just glared at me menacingly without saying anything.

I really can’t get used to those eyes.

I quickly lowered my gaze and explained.

“This is a dish called chicken kalguksu. It’s made by simmering chicken to make broth and boiling thinly sliced wheat flour dough. It may look unappetizing, but it will suit your taste.”

Even with my kind explanation, his sharp gaze didn’t soften.

I tried to hide my nervousness and added further explanation.

“It’s nutritious, so it will help nourish your body. You train every single day without fail. Think of it as a kind of health food.”

Are you interested now?

At the mention of health food, Eok I-geon’s pupils definitely wavered.

I’d bet my neck that you’ll finish every noodle and drain the broth completely.

After eating it, you’ll keep thinking about it, won’t you?

After hesitating as if pondering, Eok I-geon soon picked up his chopsticks.

Then I heard the sound of him eating noodles. After a moment, he quickly brought noodles to his mouth again.

The speed of his chopstick movements gradually shortened, and before I knew it, he began slurping the kalguksu.

Look at that.

He’s even doing the noodle slap.

Watching Eok I-geon lift the entire bowl and gulp down even the broth, a chuckle escaped me.

Now you’re curious what the next dish will be, aren’t you?

They say there’s no business like winning someone over with food.

I’m not actually trying to seduce him, but anyway, lunch was also a success.

‘My life has probably been extended by a day or two.’

I let out a sigh of relief inwardly while watching Eok I-geon eat with a scheming gaze