The Art of Sword

Chapter 76: Break Time

Everyone returned to the hotel without any problem and headed straight to their room to clean themselves and relax.

Sunz removed the letter from his 'Windbreaker' and placed it on the table before taking a shower.

While taking the shower, something crossed his mind.

(I have some bloody clothes that need to be cleaned... Why didn't this come up sooner? I guess, I'll ask Sogae about this.)

After finishing his shower and putting on new clothes, Sunz uses his phone to call Sogae.

...

The phone rang for quite a while before someone picked it up, but it also took a few more seconds to hear a response. A weak, half-awake voice responded to the call.

Voice: h-h-hello? Who this?

Sunz: Uh, hello. This is Sunz. I'm calling Miss Sogae. Is she there right now?

Voice: Mi-iss Sogae? Me? It's just Sogae, you hear me. Sunz!?

Sunz: I heard.

Voice: Good... So why are you calling?

Sunz: So I want to talk about my clothes...

Sogae (Tired?): Yeah...ughgh... keep going.

Sunz: They are kind of bloody after every match, and I don't know where to get them clean...

Sogae (Tired?): That's right. I forgot to tell you all about that. Give me 5 minutes, and I'll be right theeeere.

*Hang up*

Sunz:... Sleepy Sogae, did not expect that... five minutes.

...

Two minutes later, someone is knocking on Sunz's door, and he quickly goes to open it. Outside, it was Sogae pushing around a big, empty laundry cart.

Sogae: Sunz, sorry for not informing you and other contestants about this... Actually, I was supposed to visit all of the contestants after every match for this.

Sunz: Don't worry about that, I don't think anyone got as bloody as me.

Sogae: Maybe, but I'm here now. Don't want your room to smell like a murder scene, right? Now hand me the bloody clothes and your 'Windbreaker'.

Sunz pulls his room laundry basket out of the bathroom for Sogae.

When she opened the basket, all she had to say was: I'm going to take the basket and burn it... You still want your clothes? I can burn them together.

Sunz: Yes... I still want my clothes back. And is it that bad?

Sogae: Kind of. It looked like a gutted fish bucket.

She then threw Sunz's 'Windbreaker' in the laundry cart, bagged the basket, and put it in the cart.

Sogae: That will do... Anything else?

Sunz: I think that is all... And just a question. Did I call you at the wrong time?

Sogae: Oh, that. Don't worry. I was taking a power nap, that's all.

Sunz: Ok... but for me, it seems like you had a really long sleep. Your response time, and especially your voice.

Sogae: What is wrong with my voice?!

Sunz: Nothing... nothing wrong.

Sogae: Oh my! Did my voice somehow charm you? The voice of a maiden awakens from her slumber.

Sunz: Yeah, no. Let's cut it right there. I thought you were gonna hit me but instead teasing me. Your voice... it sounded like you were unmotivated and tired of your job.