Chapter 17
“Haa... Haah....”
Namgoong Jipyeong, Squad Leader of the 11th Red Dragon Battalion, couldn’t sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, he recalled the humiliating defeat in the sparring match with the child. The frustration weighed on his chest, making it impossible to fall asleep.
In the end, Namgoong Jipyeong threw off his bedding, grabbed his sword, and headed for the training grounds.
He thought swinging his sword might clear his mind. But—
Whoosh— Whooom—
‘I saw the attack. But I couldn’t block it. Why?’
Before he knew it, he was repeating yesterday’s duel on his own.
The child’s movements, the sword paths, and even his own weaknesses surfaced vividly in his mind. Again and again, he reenacted the match from the day before.
Crack! Thud!
The wooden sword shattered, and Namgoong Jipyeong collapsed to the ground with a heavy thump.
“Haa... Haah....”