I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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“Chiii…!”

White smoke billowed from all the joints of the purification coagulator.

It was the result of the internal cooling process occurring during operation due to overheating.

The amount of smoke was far less than expected.

Normally, the cooling process would fill this large main workshop with smoke before it was complete.

However, judging by the amount of smoke seeping from the purification coagulator now, it seemed unlikely to fill even a cramped studio apartment, let alone the main workshop.

This was because the time taken for the task was significantly shorter than anticipated, leaving no room for the coagulator to actually overheat.

It would have been fine even if the cooling function hadn’t been activated.

‘How long did it take?’

Hanarine checked the recorded time on the gauge.

The elapsed time was 28 minutes. The task was complete just 28 minutes after starting.

That was 4 hours and 32 minutes ahead of the minimum estimated time of 5 hours.

What Kim Il-shin achieved was not just a reduction in time.

Even the results of the operation exceeded expectations by a long shot.

‘The stabilization is perfect as it should be, and the power has increased. …Is this even possible?’

It was even more surprising knowing it wasn’t a product of mere luck.

Without Kim Il-shin’s incredibly precise senses and mana control abilities, such an attempt would have been impossible.

In the final moments, it seemed as if he had merged with the Hyunwol Sword.

His mana moved as if it were reading the sword’s mind, almost like painting a picture.

‘I knew he had talent, but…’

This was far beyond the realm of common sense.

Wuuuuum—

A clear sword chant resonated from the now stabilized Hyunwol Sword.

While he had heard it many times before, the echo of this blade felt distinctly different this time.

It was not a mana-induced chant, intentionally created.

This echo was a manifestation of the feeble self-awareness that had sprouted within the Hyunwol Sword itself.

Weapons that accumulate countless experiences alongside their masters often develop a form of consciousness.

For that to happen, deep empathy with the master is essential, and that is an endeavor more challenging than reaching the realm of sword-spirit unity.

It’s not merely about the master handling the sword unilaterally; even swords that once had no consciousness must completely accept their master.

Typically, this is achieved by traversing countless battlefields together or cultivating one’s will over an extended period of time.

However, Kim Il-shin’s method of achieving empathy with the Hyunwol Sword diverged completely from the norm.

‘This must be a first.’

During daily training, he had resonated together, building a foundation of mutual waves.

He successfully communicated with the fundamental powers existing within the Hyunwol Sword during the stabilization process.

‘It’s as if it has completely transformed into a different sword.’

The sword that had successfully achieved empathy could share everything with its master, and the same applied to the master.

The sword would understand the master’s swordsmanship and mana flow, amplifying its powers even more.

The master could reproduce the optimal movements the sword desired, maximizing its potential.

‘I want to swing it quickly.’

If this place weren’t filled with high-tech devices, he would have started already.

A flood of bright ideas surged in his mind, merging and converging along a single path to create a monumental realization.

This wasn’t just Kim Il-shin’s epiphany.

The Hyunwol Sword, vibrating in his grasp, unwrapped its desires and conveyed them to Kim Il-shin, who accepted them wholeheartedly.

And now, he was on the verge of witnessing the birth of a new sword.

Kugurururung!!

The vibrating sound shook the entire building. The ground beneath them quaked, and the lights flickered several times.

Kim Il-shin caught Hanarine, who was about to lose balance, and waited until the vibrations ceased.

Kugugugugu…

The tremors stopped abruptly after a few seconds.

“…What was that? An earthquake?”

“It doesn’t seem like it.”

It hadn’t originated nearby.

‘Was it near the entrance?’

From what he’d felt, it seemed the vibrations began in a location that was a complete opposite of where they currently were.

And directly opposite the mountain workshop where Kim Il-shin was located lay the entrance to Jangsan Cave.

‘Something unusual seems to be happening.’

The vibrations that had reached this far from the entrance were powerful enough to shake a large building.

This meant that the force acting at that entrance was sufficient to shake an entire city.

“Let’s go outside for now.”

It seemed the only way to assess the situation accurately was to head outside.

Kim Il-shin and Hanarine passed through the corridor and stepped outside the mountain workshop.

“Run quickly!”

“Grab the children first! Leave everything unnecessary behind!”

The voices echoing from outside as they traversed the corridor sounded extremely ominous.

There was no doubt it was a dire situation.

“What’s going on…?”

Hanarine murmured with a tremor in her voice as she witnessed the scene outside the mountain workshop.

What came into view immediately was a throng of citizens rushing toward somewhere in a hurry.

Each person carried as much luggage as they could, resembling refugees fleeing a war.

“Please move in an orderly manner!”

As Kim Il-shin scanned the surroundings, he spotted a dwarf firefighter leading the citizens.

He quickly approached and asked,

“What’s happening here?”

“Can’t you see? We’re evacuating! Hurry and catch up! We need to get out before the gate is breached!”

After saying this, the firefighter dashed off again to guide the crowd.

Though it was a brief conversation, it was sufficient to grasp the situation.

The citizens were headed toward an escape route starting from Jangsan Cave, passing through Gwanaksan, and reaching near the road.

And in the game, that escape route was used when a rock spirit sealed in Gwanaksan was unleashed.

Furthermore, the gate that would activate in emergencies to block Jangsan Cave entrance was thick and sturdy enough to withstand several powerful spells.

If there was an entity capable of delivering a physical impact that could breach such a gate in a short time, there was only one living being in sight.

“Kim Il-shin! What are we going to—”

Kwahwahwahwah—!!

Just as Hanarine, caught in the confusion, rushed toward him frantically, a massive tremor erupted once more.

A shock larger than before engulfed the entire Jangsan Cave.

“Iik! …Huh?”

This time, he caught Hanarine, who was on the verge of completely falling, lifting her up.

After being momentarily dazed, she soon coughed and expressed her gratitude.

“Th-thank you…”

“Yeah.”

“So what are we going to do now? Don’t we have to go out with those people?”

“…Hmm.”

Normally, it would be right to join the evacuation.

Facing spirits without adequate preparations was impossible.

Especially when it was a colossal rock spirit sealed in Gwanaksan.

Currently, the spirit physically existed and was attacking the gate, but they were fundamentally beings of ethereal existence.

Though the spirit might strike the gate with great mass, its manifestation in reality was merely an illusion.

This meant that no matter how much they smashed or broke it, it would regenerate in an instant.

Thus, without directly striking the spirit’s essence, they could not neutralize it; for that, special magic or power was required.

‘……What should I do?’

However, Kim Il-shin hesitated. It was due to the realization he gained while stabilizing the Hyunwol Sword.

He felt that if he let time pass like this, everything he had worked hard to acquire would dissipate.

It was uncertain how much time was needed to digest all the insights currently flooding his mind.

Choosing to flee now was akin to giving up on those newfound insights.

‘It’s time to use it.’

Kim Il-shin reached into his pocket and pulled out an item he hadn’t parted with since acquiring it—the Hourglass of Distortion.

An artifact that allowed one to spend a week’s time in the inner mental world of the user.

During that week, time outside would not pass, and any recovery or growth experienced inside would not disappear after the activation ended.

Depending on how one used it, it could even save lives.

He’d been saving it for any potentially hazardous situation that might arise.

But it seemed the moment to use it had finally arrived.

“Hey…! What are you going to do?”

Facing Hanarine’s fidgety expression, he shattered the Hourglass of Distortion.

Fwaah—!

Instantly, the light erupted, engulfing the surroundings and drawing consciousness deep within.

Unable to withstand the intense light, Hanarine tightly shut her eyes.

“Hey, what is this…! …Huh?”

As she opened her eyes, Hanarine saw Kim Il-shin standing exactly where he had been, now bathed in the light that had vanished, and he said,

“I’m going to fight.”

Wuuuuuuum!

Simultaneously, the Hyunwol Sword, exuding a resonant echo, shimmered with a dark aura like never before.