I Run a Convenience Store in the Martial Arts World

Yu Hwa-yeon quietly drew her sword.
At that moment, a passage I had read many times came to mind.
[Yu Hwa-yeon had long since given up martial arts.
The only martial art she could use was the Flowing Water Divine Sword passed down in the Yu family.
The reason she gave up martial arts early wasn’t simply because she was born with Innate True Taste.
It was also because she knew how to wield the unique Flowing Water Divine Sword more perfectly than anyone else.
Even the top disciples of Huashan Sect, Songshan Sect, and Wudang Sect couldn’t exert any strength before her Flowing Water Divine Sword, falling like leaves in the autumn wind.
Perhaps she was able to quickly transition to being a gastronome because she had no rivals in her age group.
Those who had seen her martial prowess often speculated as such.]
Yu Hwa-yeon’s description from the novel.
Just as described, Yu Hwa-yeon’s martial prowess was truly beautiful and powerful.
Her sincere dedication to each attack.
This was no longer Yu Hwa-yeon the gastronome.
Her sword quickly cut through the air, drawing elegant sword lines. From the tip of her sword, it looked as if one could see a winding stream of water.
Sometimes gentle, other times fierce.
There was firmness within gentleness, and beauty within roughness.
Her powerful inner energy burst forth with each attack.
It was truly awe-inspiring.
How could a person’s energy be so pure?
Though her speech was that of an unruly tomboy, the moment she held the sword, she was no less than a master.
Perhaps I felt this way because I hadn’t seen other martial arts masters.
As for the man?
I thought he wouldn’t be able to exert any strength against the Flowing Water Divine Sword that flowed like water, but that was a grave miscalculation.
The man’s large sword was like Mount Tai, standing in the same place for hundreds of years.
Though he focused more on defense than attack, he wasn’t being pushed back.
He was blocking all attacks with his blade, standing in one place, against a sword infused with powerful inner energy.
There was no mention of this man in the novel, but that didn’t simply indicate the measure of one’s strength or weakness.
The sound of blades clashing was heard, and sparks flew in the air.
Their blurred figures, the sparks flying from their occasional visible positions.
A battle that could rightfully be called evenly matched was taking place.
The man wielding the sword swung it widely.
The sword wind rose, roughly shaking the bamboo leaves.
As such a huge wind blew, the plastic chairs and tables outside the convenience store were pushed by the wind and flew far away.
Even the leaves I had carefully swept up.
That means money flying away.
Though I was prepared for the convenience store to be damaged to some extent, it still hurt my heart.
Even while thinking this, my eyes couldn’t rest.
The battle was so spectacular that even my eyes, which had only read about martial arts in text, could clearly see it.
The exchange between the two showed no signs of ending soon.
A battle between Mount Tai and a river.
It was hard to guarantee who would win.
Because a freely flowing river and a firmly standing Mount Tai are fundamentally different.
But everything has an end.
Yu Hwa-yeon’s footwork being one step faster became a crucial factor in determining the outcome of the battle.
Before the man could raise his sword to defend, Yu Hwa-yeon’s Flowing Water Divine Sword struck.
The tip of her sword, penetrating the gap, pierced the man’s shoulder,
and with a short scream of “Ugh!”, the man collapsed to the ground.
Having fought until dusk, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to fall after just one exchange.
He wouldn’t have died, right?
If someone were to die, I, as a 21st-century modern person, wouldn’t be able to handle it.
As if sensing my anxiety, Yu Hwa-yeon, catching her breath, said.
“He’s not dead.”
That was a relief.
Yu Hwa-yeon looked at me with an apologetic expression.
“I said I would protect it… I’m sorry. The inn is a bit damaged.”
I strode over and grabbed Yu Hwa-yeon’s hand.
Her hand, soaked in sweat, was as hot as a fireball.
“W-what is this…!!”
I took her hand and led her into the convenience store.
“Well, I’m not surprised that the convenience store is damaged. Whether it’s destroyed twice or three times, what’s the big difference? Haha.”
It’s bitter.
This is all money.
But, more than that.
“You’re hurt.”
Only then did Yu Hwa-yeon look down at her arm.
There was a large wound.
No matter how well Yu Hwa-yeon fought, it didn’t make sense for her to fight without a single injury.
We entered the convenience store, and I rummaged through the small daily necessities shelf.
This is a patch, this is mosquito repellent, this is… ah, where was the povidone and bandage?
Reaching deep into the shelf, I was able to find the povidone and bandage buried inside.
“Here it is.”
“M-master chef. This much is fine…”
“Stay still. It’s an ugly wound, so it’ll look bad.”
Yu Hwa-yeon, almost on the verge of tears, couldn’t stay still.
Why is she like that?
Is it her first time having her arm held?
Surely she hasn’t never even had skin contact with a man…
Ah, no, that can’t be right.
She’s a grown woman.
First, I soaked a clean towel and wiped the wound on her arm.
Yu Hwa-yeon, seemingly used to being injured like this, didn’t even flinch.
Looking at her palm, it was all calluses.
Looking closely, there were quite a few scars here and there on her arm.
How hard she must have practiced and practiced.
The hands of someone deeply immersed in something were more beautiful than ugly.
Because they contained the traces of those years.
“Beautiful.”
“W-what?”
“Your hands, I mean. You must have gone through a lot.”
“W-w-w-w-what a-a-are y-y-you s-s-saying to a l-l-lady…”
Aren’t you stuttering too much?
“I’m serious.”
“……”
Her arm gets hotter.
Is it because it hurts?
After wiping the blood, I applied povidone as there was no disinfectant.
Fortunately, the wound wasn’t long or deep.
To only receive this much damage against that giant.
No matter how I thought about it, I could only feel that it was amazing.
“There, done!”
Finally, I attached a large bandage and wrapped it well with a bandage to prevent it from falling off.
Then I handed the used povidone to Yu Hwa-yeon.
“Here.”
“W-what is this?”
“Well, it’s a long explanation. It’s just medicine. The best medicine that helps new flesh grow. So you need to unwrap the bandage and apply it every day.”
“I-I understand.”
After making that request, I straightened up.
Now, the convenience store…
It’s really wrecked.
Hah. It can’t be helped.
I was the one who asked for it.
Well. I’ll just have to earn and repay.
And it wasn’t all a loss.
I’ve gained a martial artist, Yu Hwa-yeon, who will protect the convenience store in the future.
I should think of it as gaining as much as I gave up. Well.
As I was trying to clear the convenience store and lifting out the broken furniture, Yu Hwa-yeon bent down to help beside me.
“You’re hurt, take a rest.”
“No. I’ll help too.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Master chef.”
Yu Hwa-yeon looked straight at me and showed a determined expression.
What is it?
What’s going on?
Why are you doing this?
“I’m truly grateful to you for giving someone with Innate True Taste something edible, and for showing mercy to me who destroyed your inn.”
“Ah, no, there were reasons for the inn being destroyed. I don’t mind that.”
Despite my refusal, Yu Hwa-yeon performed the cupped-hands salute.
Seeing her head bowed deeply for a while, it seemed like she was expressing very deep gratitude.
“Thank you for forgiving me. I’ll help with anything to ensure this inn is never destroyed again.”
Anything, she says.
That commitment was quite touching.
Feeling that the atmosphere was getting too serious, I jokingly asked.
“Good. What will you do for me?”
“S-should I repay with my body?”
I doubted my ears.
Repay…
with her body…?
Body…
Slap!
I slapped myself.
Get a grip, Kim Jung-hyun.
She’s a sword-carrying person.
However, Yu Hwa-yeon was twisting her body as if embarrassed, which was perfect for misunderstanding.
“Despite appearances, I’m good at physical labor. I’ll work as much as I’ve destroyed.”
Oh.
What?
Repaying with her body meant she wanted to work?
I didn’t have plans to hire anyone yet.
That’s because the debt had now increased to 3 gold ingots.
It meant I didn’t have money to pay an employee.
I just hoped she would come occasionally to fend off intruders.
I didn’t expect her to stay right beside me.
No, wait.
Is this a good thing?
But I don’t have money to pay her.
“Not… allowed?”
Looking up at me with eyes like an injured puppy and making a tearful face, I almost grabbed my heart.
I’ve always been weak to those who look pitiful.
“I-I don’t have money to pay you…”
“Ah. If that’s the concern, there’s no need to worry! I have a lot of money!”
I looked Yu Hwa-yeon up and down.
She looked like she had barely escaped being a beggar, so what did she mean by having a lot of money?
And even if she had a lot of money, not paying someone for work is a violation of labor law.
As a conscientious modern person, I simply couldn’t accept such a thing.
As I continued to not respond,
Yu Hwa-yeon drooped her shoulders and turned her back.
And trudged away.
“…Are you always this slow when walking?”
“…I’m naturally slow at walking.”
“You used your footwork skills well earlier.”
“I-I don’t use it usually! Besides, I’m h-hungry…”
Even so, it’s too slow?
Yu Hwa-yeon was wriggling her toes and moving forward very subtly, as if planning to exit the forest at some unspecified future time.
It’s so obvious that she really doesn’t want to leave.
Seeing that, I inwardly chuckled.
Her actions are cute.
She was a scary and fearsome being that would make women shudder.
Yet meeting her in the martial arts world, all those defense mechanisms were gone, and my usual self stood there.
It felt good, like I had become an ordinary person.
“Wait!”
At my call, Yu Hwa-yeon turned around with puppy-like eyes.
“I can’t pay much. Until the situation improves, I’ll give you a trainee salary.”
“I really don’t need money. But if that makes the master chef more comfortable, then that’s fine.”
Right.
It would be better to have her stay and protect the place.
And she says because of her Innate True Taste, she needs ramen.
What can I do?
Money can be earned.
For now, saving the person in front of me was the priority.
Just like I saved the Jang siblings.
“Alright. Work here.”
A bright smile bloomed on that beautiful face.
The cold and strong appearance she had just moments ago when she had stabbed the man’s shoulder was nowhere to be found.
“Really?”
“But.”
“What is it?”
“Um, how long are you going to keep using that formal way of speaking? Even though we’re now employer and employee, we seem similar in age. I’d prefer if you spoke more comfortably, you know?”
Yu Hwa-yeon scratched her cheek.
“Speak comfortably, you mean like fri… like friends?”
“That would be good. Friend.”
“I understand. Ah, I mean, got it.”
“And.”
“Yes?”
One more very important thing.
“Since part of your job is to protect the convenience store, I’d like it if you didn’t fight and destroy the convenience store anymore. Can you do that?”
“I-I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll make sure this inn is never destroyed again.”
Good.
This should be enough.
I handed her the broom that was set up at the corner of the front yard.
Yu Hwa-yeon, who received it, had a question in her eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“You need to clean first.”
“Oh, ah, understood!”
Yu Hwa-yeon began sweeping the fallen leaves with unskilled hands.
By the way, what should we do with that Black Path man who collapsed over there?
Thinking about it, that Black Path thug was also a problem.
If left as is, might he die in the open?
Even if he survives and returns, it’s a problem.
People from the Black Shadow Faction might come again.
We can’t just let him go like this.
“Heave-ho!”
“Master chef, what are you doing? Need help?”
“Let’s move him inside.”
“Why?”
“To make a customer.”
If we’re worried, couldn’t we just crack his head open?