The first bugle sound in the Gwanghogun military unit announced the arrival of morning.
Yeon Woo and the other trainees got up from their quarters, tidied their space, and prepared to make breakfast.
To eat breakfast, they first needed to gather water and fuel for cooking and grass to feed the military horses.
The trainees were divided into three groups: one to fetch water, another to collect fuel, and the last to gather grass for the horses.
Among them, Yeon Woo and Daebok were tasked with collecting grass for the horses.
Since they needed to carry a large load for several horses, they took a military horse with them and weapons for any unforeseen circumstances.
Yeon Woo chose a bow, her most confident weapon.
The two left the camp and entered the forest to fulfill their mission.
As Daebok led the horse, Yeon Woo stood beside it, admiring the animal with fascination.
This was her first time seeing a horse so closely.
The brown horse, twice her height, had strong muscles, and its eyes were filled with depth, its coat shiny like silk.
Yeon Woo cautiously petted the horse, “I’ve never been this close to a horse before. It’s more beautiful than I thought.”
“Auw, don’t just touch it carelessly! Our lives as mere soldiers combined are not worth as much as this horse,” Daebok warned.
“Really?!” Yeon Woo was startled and quickly withdrew her hand.
“I knew horses were expensive, but I didn’t know they were valued that highly.”
“Yep, very expensive. There’s even a special department, Siboksi (司僕寺), to manage them. If you want to touch them, there’s a way.”
“What way?” Yeon Woo’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
The horse was too enchanting to ignore.
“One way is to become a cavalry soldier. The other is…”
“I’m listening. Go on,” Yeon Woo urged as Daebok hesitated.
“To ask the horse’s permission.”
“Permission? How?”
Yeon Woo waited eagerly with innocent eyes.
“Just say this, ‘Hello, noble horse. I am humble and lowly. May I have the honor of touching you? I’ve never seen a horse before, and just looking at you takes my breath away. I think I’ve fallen in love~.'”
As soon as Daebok finished, Yeon Woo stopped in her tracks and glared at him.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Oops? Did you catch on? You’re sharp, kiddo~ Hahaha!”
“Really now!”
Yeon Woo, exasperated at his teasing, charged at Daebok.
However, Daebok dodged her skillfully, using the horse as a shield.
Daebok certainly had a knack for aggravating people.
After a back-and-forth chase around the horse, Yeon Woo finally gave up catching Daebok.
Unable to contain her frustration, she stomped her feet.
“Fine! I’m just a country bumpkin seeing a horse for the first time! And you, how much do you really know about horses to act so superior?”
“Me? When it comes to horses, there’s nothing I don’t know! I’m exceptionally good at riding.”
The tension between them, despite the teasing, reflected their growing camaraderie in the challenging life of military training.
Yeon Woo glared suspiciously at Daebok.
His words seemed like lies.
Such an untrustworthy person.
“Who can’t ride a horse?”
“Oh? Have you been deceived all your life? Why can’t you trust people?”
“Who’s been deceiving people until now? You’re utterly shameless.”
“Then I’ll show you my riding skills! Watch and be amazed.”
Yeon Woo snorted contemptuously.
Thinking it fortunate if Daebok didn’t fall off the horse.
But Daebok confidently mounted the horse.
He smoothly rode around Yeon Woo.
“How about that? Do I still look like a liar to you?”
Yeon Woo’s eyes, initially full of distrust, now sparkled with admiration.
“Wow…”
“Close your mouth, or flies will get in. How about it, should I teach you how to ride?”
“Yes! Please teach me!”
Delighted by Yeon Woo’s innocent enthusiasm, Daebok laughed heartily.
Seeing her like this, he felt the urge to tease her again.
Daebok tapped his chin thoughtfully.
“Let’s see, I can’t just show you…”
While pondering how to tease Yeon Woo next.
The horse Daebok was riding pricked its ears, looking uneasy.
“Why’s this horse behaving like this?”
“Is your true skill being exposed, or are you planning another joke?” Yeon Woo asked, suspecting more mischief.
That’s what I thought.
Trusting Daebok was my mistake.
She vowed not to fall for whatever trick Daebok tried this time.
“No, really, this horse is acting strange!”
“Do you think I’ll be fooled twice?”
Yeon Woo frowned, fed up.
But Daebok remained on the horse, looking awkward.
“Hey, just stay still!”
“Stop joking and come down. It’s not funny anymore.”
Suddenly, the horse neighed loudly, rearing on its hind legs.
― Neigh!
“Ah, Yeon Woo! It’s dangerous, step back!”
“Daebok, are you okay?”
Yeon Woo realized then that something was seriously wrong.
But she couldn’t help Daebok.
The horse, acting wildly, made it impossible to get close.
Daebok tried not to fall, pulling the reins tightly.
― Neigh!
The horse suddenly bolted in one direction.
“Ah!”
“Daebok!”
In a moment, Daebok and the horse vanished from Yeon Woo’s sight.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
