I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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“I never thought I’d end up acquiring this as a prosecutor.”

The Stone of Eternal Life, which contained the lives of hundreds, was a rare treasure reserved for dark sorcerers or necromancers due to its unique properties.

Other professions that wielded different abilities wouldn’t find it useful even if they obtained it, and the curse it harbored made it difficult to sell.

“The process of lifting the curse is such a hassle.”

Kim Il-shin believed this was designed so that they could acquire the Stone of Eternal Life in a place like this.

During matches in the arena, aside from pure physical strength, using anything else was difficult.

Thus, for the professions that desperately needed the Stone of Eternal Life, the event “The Gambler’s Proposal” naturally had to be more challenging.

Those professions usually invested in attributes unrelated to physical prowess.

“If I had no talent, it would have been troublesome.”

The process of lifting the curse contained in the Stone of Eternal Life was long and complex.

It involved untangling the past connected to its original owner, the Choi Gyeong-seok family.

If I didn’t have “Immaculate Mind (S),” I would have been caught in that process without an escape.

However, it wasn’t something you could easily give up just because it was long and arduous.

“This isn’t important right now, though.”

Crash.

Simultaneously piercing through the glass bottle surrounding it, the Stone of Eternal Life began to ooze a sticky black liquid.

The liquid flowed out incessantly, mismatched with the size of the small Stone of Eternal Life.

It was the ‘Essence of Life’ compressed into material form.

Sssssss…

The essence, absorbed and disappearing upon contact with the sword, emitted thick smoke.

But even after absorbing quite a bit, the state of the Hyunwol Sword did not change.

“Could it finally be working?”

The anomaly arose when all the essence contained in the Stone of Eternal Life had been consumed.

Boom!

From the Hyunwol Sword, which had ravenously devoured the life force of hundreds, a dark radiance burst forth.

As the radiance expanded rapidly, sucking in the surrounding light, Kim Il-shin instinctively raised his mana.

It was an action stemming from an instinctive judgment that this phenomenon could not be ignored.

After all, he had witnessed the grass near the radiance withering in an instant.

Pumping mana, which he had directed through “Heavenly Mysterious Portal,” into the Hyunwol Sword, he then pulled back the force that was trying to extend outward with the technique of structuring the mana circuit.

“…It’s strong.”

Its sheer size was hard to believe for something described as a pure force lacking a self.

He felt the movement trying to break free of the high control created with “Mana Control (A).”

Kim Il-shin poured more mana in to suppress that movement.

He concentrated the carefully drawn power into a single point.

Eventually, the expanding radiance slowly shrank, and with a final, tiny flash, it all vanished.

But it wasn’t over yet. He could still feel the undulating waves of power surging within the Hyunwol Sword.

There wouldn’t be an immediate issue, but if no action were taken afterward, a similar incident could occur again.

“I was told there’d be no trouble…”

The calm expression of Hanarin, who had casually said that, crossed his mind. He wanted to give her a flick on the head.

If Kim Il-shin hadn’t had a good grip on mana control, something serious might have happened.

“I guess I can ask tomorrow.”

It was too late today to go find her immediately.

Since classes started just a few hours later, it seemed best to finish those first before visiting her.

After checking the condition one last time, Kim Il-shin put the Hyunwol Sword away.

Then he took a taxi back to the academy and rested until just before class time.

*

That morning, Kim Il-shin headed to class as the starting time approached.

“My body feels a bit sluggish.”

Since he hadn’t been able to do his morning training due to time constraints, he felt his body was still stiff.

It was unavoidable because he had gotten back to the dorm late at dawn.

No matter how many talents he possessed, a minimum amount of sleep was necessary.

Nevertheless, he decided to be satisfied with the training he had done using the Undead Hound.

“Ki-Kim Il-shin.”

While walking towards the classroom building, someone called his name.

Turning in the direction of the voice, he saw Baek Ha-yeon shyly approaching.

Since they had promised to exchange training tips upon her return to school, it seemed she had been waiting for him since then.

Her condition appeared much better than before, likely thanks to accepting his offer.

In particular, the reduction of the stagnant energy in her gaze was striking.

“Did you wait for me here?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry if I’ve bothered you….”

“No, not at all.”

He took out the paper he had written Baek Ha-yeon’s training schedule on.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the paper.

As she followed the paper’s movements, it reminded him of a large dog watching a bone in front of it.

It was a clear display of how much she valued his advice.

“Here. I’ve written down a week’s worth, so come back for it later.”

“Thank you….”

Baek Ha-yeon quickly took the paper, and having fulfilled his purpose, Kim Il-shin began to walk towards the classroom.

“…Why are you helping me?”

Baek Ha-yeon’s question flew in at that moment.

When Kim Il-shin turned back to her, she fumbled for words and continued.

“I haven’t treated you well. I’ve looked down on you based solely on my judgment, and that has affected you negatively… So I don’t understand why you’re helping me like this.”

“…”

The reason Kim Il-shin was helping Baek Ha-yeon was to prevent her broken mental state from leading her down the path of crime.

However, he couldn’t state that outright since it was based on knowledge of the future gained while playing the game.

So, Kim Il-shin gave her a simple answer.

“I just don’t want you to fall apart.”

No response followed. Baek Ha-yeon stood still, staring blankly at Kim Il-shin.

“Well, I’m off now.”

Confirming that time was tight, Kim Il-shin waved goodbye to Baek Ha-yeon and walked toward the classroom.

No footsteps followed him.

*

Even after Kim Il-shin left, Baek Ha-yeon remained standing in that spot.

She found it hard to take a step.

“…He said he doesn’t want me to fall apart.”

She clutched the paper with the training advice in her arms and kept repeating Kim Il-shin’s words in her mind.

She couldn’t fully grasp his intent.

What was it about her that made him wish for her to hold herself together?

“Is it because I’m the heir of the Baek family…? Or is it because I’m the granddaughter of the great hero…?”

Various reasons came to mind, but none seemed to fit the situation.

From the start, Baek Ha-yeon couldn’t interpret those words and couldn’t take them literally.

One thing was clear.

Like the advice he gave her, every choice he made was undoubtedly the right answer.

His choice to help Baek Ha-yeon would also conclude as a correct choice, so all she had to do was follow without thinking.

“…I just have to follow this.”

Baek Ha-yeon unfolded the paper and began reading it thoroughly.

She would adhere meticulously to everything written there.

*

“Why… hasn’t he come yet?”

As she walked to school, Seo Ye-ryeong’s murmured voice was met with a response from the wind spirit, Haru, beside her.

“He probably hasn’t steeled himself yet? Hmm…”

On the day of the last duel exam, Seo Ye-ryeong had told Kim Il-shin to come find her later if he wanted to know about his past.

However, many days had passed since then, and Kim Il-shin still hadn’t sought her out.

For Seo Ye-ryeong, who thought it wouldn’t take more than a few days, this was surprising.

Considering the inexplicable hatred he felt towards the Jagged Sky Cult, she thought he might even come that very day.

“Even so, it seems awfully late…”

Even though she had expected him to come after preparing himself, she hadn’t thought it would take this long.

“…Huh?”

At that moment, Seo Ye-ryeong spotted Kim Il-shin talking with Baek Ha-yeon.

She found it hard to believe that they would talk privately like that, which left her puzzled.

Unfortunately, the distance was too far for her to hear their conversation.

Soon, Kim Il-shin left first, and Baek Ha-yeon was left alone for a moment before stopping, opening the paper she held, and began to read.

It was only then that Seo Ye-ryeong approached her, glancing at the paper she held.

“What’s so interesting that you’re staring at it?”

“……!”

Surprised, Baek Ha-yeon immediately folded the paper and tucked it away.

‘…What is that all about?’

Her intense reaction only fueled Seo Ye-ryeong’s curiosity further.

*

After class ended, Kim Il-shin made his way to Hanarin’s store and immediately took out the Hyunwol Sword to show her.

“This is… this is… this is…!”

Hanarin, who held the sword, was left speechless. Her reaction was far more intense than he expected.

While he wasn’t sure of the specifics, it was evident that it was nothing short of incredible.