I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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The moment I fully stepped into the barrier, the world changed.

‘Is this the Land of Illusion?’

That was the thought that crossed my mind as I took in the scenery before me.

The mountains and trees swayed in the cool breeze, resembling a painting.

The sunlight, fragmenting as it touched the softly laid mist, evoked a sense of wonder.

The greenery emitted a clear fragrance, with fruits hanging plentifully regardless of the season, each boasting its own vibrant color.

The stream flowing below was so transparent that I could count the pebbles on the bottom.

Just looking at it seemed to convey its refreshing essence.

I could also see animals like rabbits, deer, and raccoons frolicking about.

Their eyes were filled with pure curiosity, showing not a hint of wariness.

It felt as if everything that existed was organically connected, forming a single living entity.

Even rocks and soil, which would typically be classified as inanimate, seemed to harbor vital energy.

A rich and powerful mana filled the space, one I hadn’t even felt on Baekdusan.

‘So, that’s why it’s so delightful.’

I began to understand why Hazuki and the attendants were pleased at the compliment of it being a mansion fitting for the Land of Illusion.

This barrier reflected the swordsman’s mind, the place most suited for his body and spirit—a space akin to the essence of the family.

No wonder they were overjoyed at recognizing and praising it.

For them, it was as if an outsider, without any explanation, simply comprehended the family’s origin just by looking at the mansion.

Reflecting on it, perhaps the very thought of the Land of Illusion arising in my mind was influenced by the swordsman’s energy that permeated the mansion grounds.

‘Is the foundation the same?’

Upon closer inspection, the terrain inside and outside the barrier was not so different.

It was the same land but with different environments.

‘Where is the swordsman…?’

But the most crucial element was nowhere to be seen.

Even after surveying the surroundings, I could not find the swordsman, so Kim Il-shin expanded his spiritual sense to locate him.

‘……!’

In that moment, Kim Il-shin felt a threat of death looming.

A chill crept up his spine, igniting his mind.

The direction was his throat. He instantly propelled himself back to the ground with a powerful leap, twisting his waist.

From that singular leap, Kim Il-shin landed far away, glancing back at where he had been standing.

‘……What the hell?’

There was nothing there. It was as peaceful as before.

Yet, he definitely felt a tangible sword touching his neck. The dense threat that came with it was undeniable.

There was no way it could have been an illusion. He hadn’t been captivated by anything either.

[Immaculate Mind (S)] defends against any mental attack.

“Excellent. That was a good reaction.”

At that moment, a young man’s voice rang out.

Turning my head, I saw someone descending from the rocks in the direction the stream flowed.

With a white robe, he landed gracefully, resembling a celestial being.

His flowing robe was spotless, and the sword he held seemed weightless.

His appearance was similar to Taichi’s, but the intensity in his eyes was strikingly overwhelming.

Just facing him was entirely different from the intimidating presence of Baekhosan; it became a subtle strain on my muscles.

Even the slightest movements like breathing or twitching of fingers felt cautious before those eyes.

Any misstep on his part could easily lead to one’s demise.

He was known as the “Swordmaster,” a title earned through mastery of the sword. He was strong, just as befitted that title.

The Swordmaster, Endou Shinpei.

During the time of the Great Rift, he had accomplished feats comparable to Baekhosan.

Standing before him, Kim Il-shin felt the discord of his own growth.

‘I can see that man’s strength.’

When Kim Il-shin first encountered Baekhosan, he hadn’t even been able to gauge his level.

The gap between them had been far too vast.

But now, he could glimpse the swordmaster’s realm and predict his strength, even if just slightly.

The swordmaster, having jumped off the rocks, slowly approached Kim Il-shin.

He then spoke.

“This is known as the Heart Sword (心劒). It’s the technique of sharpening one’s murderous intent into a sword and launching it at the opponent. The most crucial aspect is changing the concept from within. If you cannot recognize your own Heart Sword as a true sword, the same holds true for your opponent.”

As the swordmaster raised his palm, a sword felt as though it floated above it.

There was no semblance of a physical form, yet it was menacing.

It was the same kind that had aimed for Kim Il-shin’s neck.

“They say that if you refine it further, you can reach the realm of ‘Heart Equals Death’ (心卽殺)… though I’m not quite sure about that. The path of the sword truly has no end, doesn’t it?”

Without answering, he immediately hardened his intent.

He amplified the displeasure from the rudeness he’d received into lethal intent.

He envisioned his mind as a small framework, compressing the intent inside to its limit.

Afterward, he transformed it into a sword shape and launched it toward the opponent.

The target was the neck, just the same.

“…Impressive.”

The swordmaster murmured in astonishment as he received the Heart Sword.

It wasn’t an illusion; his expression grew more serious.

‘Is this all you’ve got?’

But Kim Il-shin only felt disappointment.

While he could perceive the substantialized intent, the swordmaster did not feel a perfect threat as Kim Il-shin had.

This indicated that the gap in strength between them was significantly large.

No matter how much Kim Il-shin charged forward with intent, it posed no threat to him.

‘…I must become stronger.’

It wasn’t enough to merely gauge the level of expertise.

In this world, there is always a higher sky. There are still countless individuals stronger than himself.

He had no intention of simply being satisfied with gauging their levels and understanding the difference in strength.

Kim Il-shin again steeled his resolve.

He vowed not to become arrogant or complacent.

“Are you Kim Il-shin?”

The swordmaster, who had drawn closer to him, sat down abruptly, appearing relaxed.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Ah, glad to meet you.”

Unlike Baekhosan, the swordmaster emanated a lighter feeling.

Had he not known he was the swordmaster, one might have thought he was merely a young man with a unique manner of speaking.

Of course, that assumption held only if one had not honed martial skills.

If even a bit of energy were activated, one could not miss the immense aura radiating from him.

Tap tap.

“Come sit next to me.”

“……”

“Hurry up.”

Kim Il-shin struggled to gauge the distance but eventually sat next to him.

“I have a question for you.”

The swordmaster threw out the topic. Kim Il-shin remained silent, waiting for the next words.

“First, it’s a bit awkward to ask as the one who invited you, but what’s the reason you came to see me?”

“…The reason?”

“Right. Every action has its motivations, doesn’t it?”

It seemed he wasn’t expecting a polite response like wanting to meet someone he previously admired.

Kim Il-shin recalled the reasons for coming here. He spoke the largest one among many.

“I wanted to become stronger.”

“You wanted to become stronger?”

“Yes. I thought if I encountered the swordmaster, I could gain help in my training. And since you’ve granted me the opportunity to learn under you, I had no reason to refuse.”

“I see.”

Upon hearing his response, the swordmaster leaned back on his arms and gazed at the sky.

He looked lost in thought.

“Then, what’s your reason for wanting to become stronger? I’d like to hear the honest answer.”

This was not a question easily answered. Kim Il-shin’s desire to grow stronger was lead to his secret.

[Prevent the end of the world.]

[Clear reward: Ending]

After all, to achieve the ending, he had to prevent the world from ending. To prepare for that, he needed to become stronger.

Of course, he couldn’t say it plainly.

But it wouldn’t be easy to fabricate a lie either, thus placing him in a dilemma.

“Um…”

At that moment, the swordmaster stood up. As Kim Il-shin tried to rise as well, he stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“You look lost in thought. Let me relieve some of it.”

Stretching his shoulders and waist as if warming up, the swordmaster squatted in front of Kim Il-shin.

His pitch-black eyes gazed into Kim Il-shin’s.

“My sight is different from others. I see things that can’t be seen by the naked eye. The essence of humans… Hmm, perhaps referring to it as a soul would make sense?”

Kim Il-shin couldn’t fathom what the swordmaster’s gaze held. Unease crawled up inside him.

“However… I’ve never seen a soul like yours. It’s quite peculiar. It bears no resemblance to anything in this world.”

The swordmaster was piercing into the core of Kim Il-shin.

His soul was fundamentally different from those of this world.

“Now, tell me. What is the reason you wish to grow stronger?”

Though spoken in a calm tone, there was a hidden blade behind it.

Yet strangely, his heart felt at ease. The words that flowed from him in the next moment bore no falsehood.

“To save the world.”

“……”

As those words left his lips, a small silence fell.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Moments later, the swordmaster burst into laughter, while Kim Il-shin felt a deep sense of shame.