I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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As Kim Il-sin watched Park Kwang-seok finish his 45th cup, he thought to himself.

‘Is this guy even human?’

He never expected the drinking challenge with Park Kwang-seok would drag on for this long.

The alcohol content of the beer dwarves drink is twice that of regular ones on the market.

Despite downing 45 pints of that potent beer from gigantic mugs, Park Kwang-seok still seemed to be holding it together.

His tolerance for alcohol was truly astonishing.

It was remarkable enough that such a small frame could handle such a large quantity of alcohol.

‘I’m starting to struggle here.’

Kim Il-sin’s body had long reached its limit.

Not because of drunkenness, but due to some unforeseen factor.

‘I’m really going to explode. How many liters have I had by now?’

Thanks to [Perfect Mind (S)], he could keep his wits about him no matter how drunk he got, but he felt like he could burst before that happened.

So, Kim Il-sin suggested a bet on Captain W.

Captain W was a drink that the dwarves had created shortly after the Great Rift was suppressed many years ago.

While alcohol was essential for the dwarves, the drinks available in Korea at that time didn’t cater to their tastes.

Therefore, they started brewing their desired alcohol as soon as they had the means.

That’s when the problems began.

One of the dwarves, longing for the high-proof alcohol from home, had failed to control the strength.

Thus, Captain W was born.

‘A drink so potent that it makes an entire week disappear like a time machine.’

The strength of Captain W, made by an overly eager dwarf, was so overwhelming that even the dwarves couldn’t handle it, and naturally, its production ended quickly.

Captain W nearly vanished from the world, but a dwarf who got hold of the recipe began reproducing it ten years ago.

Due to the very limited quantities produced, it was hard to find, but the Great Whale Tavern stocked Captain W.

This was because there were always some who couldn’t resist the temptation to challenge Captain W.

Of course, their fates were all equally grim.

“How long did that guy last last time?”

“Lasted? He downed a drink and then passed out right away.”

“Oh right, that did happen.”

“Do you think those two can handle it?”

“Hmm… not sure.”

While the audience speculated, a bartender walked out from the kitchen.

On his tray were two glass mugs.

“Here are the two cups of Captain W you ordered.”

The bartender set the glasses on the table. The smell of alcohol wafted from the shimmering transparent liquid, invading their noses.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay? This is your last chance to back out.”

Park Kwang-seok urged Kim Il-sin to give up, staring at the Captain W before him.

Naturally, Kim Il-sin had no intention of backing down. That remark only indicated that Park Kwang-seok was running out of confidence.

Silently, Kim Il-sin raised his cup.

Then Park Kwang-seok, his eyes wide open, raised his cup higher as if refusing to lose.

Then he leaned forward with his cup.

“I acknowledge you for coming this far. But I have no intention of losing.”

“I feel the same way.”

The two clinked their cups together and downed their drinks simultaneously.

‘…How is this even alcohol?’

His face scrunched up involuntarily. It felt less like drinking alcohol and more like swallowing poison.

His mouth, tongue, throat, and stomach felt like they were being incinerated by Captain W.

If he had a pen, he could sketch the shape of his throat and stomach with how vividly they felt.

The buzz rising was on another level compared to before.

A hot energy surged from deep within, making his vision blur and his body feel dulled.

His body struggled to move properly. Especially his upper body kept swaying side to side, going against his intentions.

Kim Il-sin was sure that without [Perfect Mind (S)], he wouldn’t have lasted.

“Ugh…”

Park Kwang-seok couldn’t remain clear-headed either. No one could drink this and stay fine.

Fixing his gaze on Kim Il-sin, Park Kwang-seok gripped the table tightly with both hands.

His eyes were about to roll back, and his body was ready to collapse; he was in a precarious state.

“Another glass, is that okay?”

“What are you asking! Just bring it!”

Upon hearing the order, the bartender immediately returned with a glass filled with Captain W.

The atmosphere in the tavern grew even more heated.

“Let’s drink it right away.”

“Understood.”

The moment the glasses were placed, Kim Il-sin and Park Kwang-seok drank them down.

“One more!”

And then downed another.

“Guh… Are you going to keep this up?”

“Are you scared…?”

“……One more!”

They kept downing drinks.

The audience, watching their drinking duel, was convinced that such a monumental contest would not be seen again.

“This is a record that will never be broken….”

“It’s not just the blessings of the gods… This must be an avatar of Dionysus!”

“So, are there two avatars of the gods?! This is a situation!”

The stacked glasses totaled 14. They had long surpassed the previous record of four.

‘I can’t feel anything in my stomach.’

Until now, Kim Il-sin’s stomach had been painfully churning, but now it had reached a realm of numbness.

At this point, he felt as if he could be stabbed and wouldn’t feel a thing.

Captain W truly was a poison masquerading as alcohol.

“……One more.”

Kim Il-sin said in a dazed voice. The next glass arrived, and he grabbed it.

But Park Kwang-seok’s hand didn’t move toward the glass.

His limp arm just hung over the table.

“Elder…?”

“No way….”

“Oh no, you have to get up, Elder! Please open your eyes!”

“Yeah! You can’t lose like this!”

Countless pleas echoed from the surroundings, but Park Kwang-seok’s body, face down on the table, wasn’t moving at all.

‘Is it finally over?’

As Kim Il-sin set down his glass, he leaned back in his chair.

He saw a waiter approaching to check on Park Kwang-seok’s condition.

Thud.

At last, the waiter’s hand touched Park Kwang-seok’s shoulder.

Crash!

Unable to withstand even the small amount of force, Park Kwang-seok’s body tipped over and rolled to the floor.

“Zzz…”

A loud snore escaped from the fallen Park Kwang-seok.

With that, the winner of the drinking challenge was finally determined.

“The winner is the human Kim Il-sin!”

The bartender, who also acted as the referee, announced the winner, and the audience, who had been watching the duel, erupted in cheers.

“Damn it, Kim Il-sin! You are now the avatar of Dionysus!”

“Hey! Let’s have a match next time!”

“Do you think you can be my opponent?! Get in line after this guy!”

“Bring out enough beer for everyone! I’ll treat today!”

“Wow! This drink tastes great!”

Once the drinking challenge ended, the tavern turned into a festive atmosphere.

Regardless of the outcome, it had been astonishing and exciting, and the audience couldn’t hold back any longer.

‘This is my limit.’

Kim Il-sin remained seated at the table where the contest had taken place, taking a breath.

Thanks to [Perfect Mind (S)], his mind was still relatively okay.

But just being okay mentally was a problem if anything.

“Are you alright…?”

“……No. I don’t think I’m okay.”

Hanari, who had come up beside him, surveyed Kim Il-sin’s condition. Hwang Deok-su, equally astonished, was with her.

As Hanari helped him up, he asked.

“Can we now get permission to use the Mountain Forge?”

“No need to worry about that. Elder Park may have a quick temper and hold grudges, but he isn’t the kind to break promises.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Confirming that their plan had succeeded, Kim Il-sin moved with Hanari’s support.

Hwang Deok-su headed off to check on Park Kwang-seok, who was lying there.

“Watch your step. Lean on me a bit more.”

They seemed to be heading toward the bedroom on the tavern’s upper floor, as it also served as an inn.

“I’m going to take a rest, so handle the rest yourself.”

“Okay. Just make sure you follow me well.”

Kim Il-sin stumbled and made his way up the stairs to the bedroom on the second floor.

“……Thank you.”

“Hmm…?”

At that moment, Hanari spoke softly. Her head was down, so her expression was hidden.

“Thank you for stepping in so much for someone else.”

It seemed like Hanari felt guilty that Kim Il-sin ended up like this.

From the dejected tone of her voice, he could sense both remorse and gratitude.

He understood her gratitude.

Without the drinking challenge, it would have been hard for her to get permission to use the Mountain Forge.

But there was no need for her to feel guilty.

‘It’s not someone else’s business.’

If they hadn’t received permission to use the Mountain Forge, the only one who would have been in trouble was Hanari.

The reason Kim Il-sin and Hanari had come to the Jangsan Cave in the first place was to stabilize the Hyeonwol sword.

Without the stabilization, they couldn’t use the Hyeonwol sword.

So they had provoked Park Kwang-seok to engage in the drinking contest and endured until they achieved victory.

From start to finish, Kim Il-sin had participated in the drinking contest not for Hanari but for himself.

‘I should probably tell her there’s no need to feel guilty.’

Kim Il-sin opened his mouth to convey that fact.

“How is this not my business?”

“……Huh?”

His memory cut off at that moment.