As if expecting Park’s reaction, Bae Young-gam spoke.

“I knew that would be your response, so I asked people to find out.”

“Do you know where Yeonwoo is?”

In response to Park’s question, Bae Young-gam twisted his purple lips and let out a sly laugh.

“That’s right.”

The sun was gradually setting on the Gwangho Army unit that had finished training.

In the middle of the training ground, Yeonwoo, holding a wooden sword, was diligently practicing by striking a human-shaped straw dummy.

She was so focused on her training that sweat gathered on her forehead.

The incidents involving Kim Taeseok and the glove stone would have been significant disasters if not for the help of Geon and Biyeong.

Yeonwoo, who couldn’t always depend on the two, pledged to become even stronger.

To grow as a soldier and avoid causing worry to those around her, Yeonwoo devoted herself to training during her free time.

As she struck the straw dummy forcefully, her wooden sword broke.

A sharp fragment from the broken sword flew towards Yeonwoo’s face.

“Oops!”
At that moment, a hand, accompanied by the familiar scent of sandalwood and the scent of burnt wood, suddenly emerged, grabbing Yeonwoo’s shoulder.

If it weren’t for the sudden appearance of the hand, she would have been injured by the fragments of the wooden sword.

When Yeonwoo turned her head in the direction of the person who saved her, Geon’s face appeared.

“Gwangho Army soldier!”

Facing each other, Geon released her shoulders.

Due to the recent incidents, Geon was always concerned about Yeonwoo’s safety whenever he opened his eyes.

Outside the unit was no exception, and inside the unit, where only men existed, everyone treated Yeonwoo with respect, fearing that she might be a spy.

“You could have been seriously hurt. It’s better to stop here today.”

As Yeonwoo turned her gaze to the ground, she saw the fragments of the broken wooden sword and the tattered straw dummy.

It seemed that the training had been sufficient up to this point, so Yeonwoo nodded and began tidying up the surroundings.

“Yes. We’ll continue the rest tomorrow.”

After a brief cleanup, when she turned around, Geon had suddenly approached in front of Yeonwoo.

As the distance between the two unexpectedly narrowed, Geon’s crimson lips came into Yeonwoo’s view.

Thinking about the recent events where Geon and lips were involved, Yeonwoo’s face turned red.

Even if Geon was becoming bolder lately, he wouldn’t kiss her in front of the soldiers stationed in the unit.

But the sandalwood scent, which was stronger than before, seemed to affect even Yeonwoo’s heart.

As Geon’s crimson lips approached, Yeonwoo’s heartbeat accelerated.

No, now, in front of others, was it the intention to kiss?

As the distance between the two narrowed to the point where their breaths touched, nervous Yeonwoo stammered.

“W-what are you doing now?”

At that moment, Geon reached out and removed a piece of wood stuck to Yeonwoo’s head.

It seemed like a piece of wood had flown off when the wooden sword broke.

“I asked.”

Geon nonchalantly removed the piece of wood from Yeonwoo’s head and tossed it to the ground.

Embarrassed by the thought of stumbling, Yeonwoo, whose face had turned red, awkwardly laughed.

“Haha, I, Nar… again.”

“Again?”

Geon, raising his eyebrows in confusion, Yeonwoo realized.

How could she bring up the fact that she thought he was going to kiss her?

Trying to divert the topic, Yeonwoo spoke.

“It’s nothing! Since it’s late, let’s go back quickly!”

“…?”

Geon was puzzled by why Yeonwoo was in such a hurry but didn’t pay much attention and let it go.

When the two, who had finished preparing to return home, walked side by side out of the Gwangho Army unit, Geon brought up the topic.

“Have you thought about the homework I gave you?”

!

At the mention of homework, Yeonwoo jolted.

“…Do you mean the feelings of the person you like?”

“Yeah.”

Despite the tumultuous events surrounding the glove stone, Geon hadn’t forgotten and remembered.

Although he kissed her even after knowing she was Hong Yeonwoo, it probably didn’t mean he liked her as a person.
Geon’s words of liking clearly conveyed the emotions shared between lovers.

Every time Yeonwoo saw Geon, her feelings deepened, and even if she tried to pretend otherwise, she couldn’t hide the growing emotions.

Trying to cut off the blossoming feelings in her heart was futile.

No matter how hard she tried to push it away, the person named Gwangho Gun had deeply rooted himself in Yeonwoo’s heart.

Unbeknownst to her, Yeonwoo dreamed of a future with Geon.

When they realized that each other’s hearts were headed in the same direction, she was simply happy.

But that joy was short-lived. The decision Yeonwoo had to make, given her concealed identity, was obvious.

She couldn’t accept Geon’s feelings; therefore, she had to reject him.

If she rejected him, their relationship would become awkward.

The relationship they had built up until now would disappear, and they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the same simple everyday happiness.