I Became the Heavenly Demon of the Academy

Swordlight 劍狂 (3)

The one who always guarded me at close range.

Among the receptionists under the direct control of the religious leader, there was a guy with a naive impression, as if he couldn’t kill an ant.

This guy, who had a kind and honest mind as good as that impression, was not born with a talent for nothingness or an outstanding intelligence.

On the contrary, if you look at it comprehensively, it could be seen that it was not a Beomjae, but rather a Dunjae.

The only thing born better than others is a strong and sturdy body.

If they were simply fighting each other, a large physique would have been a great advantage in itself, but due to the nature of Moorim, where there was internal power, a large opponent without talent was rather a huge target.

Seeing that he was beaten like a toy every time he danced without being able to resist properly, the Protestant people called him Seokdu (stone head).

At that point, he would have given up on the path of nothingness, but he did not stop desperately training even though he was beaten and went to a corner and wept tears.

to the point of looking stupid.

However, the reality was more brutal than expected.

Crying and blowing like that all day, I had to train to death, and I became a laughing stock for those who practiced while playing moderately with their outstanding talents.

It was regrettable and frustrating to see it, so I took it myself and made it the religious leader’s bodyguard.

I even taught with the help of Master, but it was only better than before, but it was still the same that I needed several times or dozens of times more hardship than others.

He had to repeat the grueling practice of vomiting blood until right before he died to barely follow the footsteps of others.

Due to the nature of Protestantism with many descriptions, it was inevitable.

Some might be able to tell you where you are by just following them without falling behind.

Watching from the sidelines how they repeatedly risk their lives to keep up with them, it would never be so easy to say.

With effort, you can follow your natural talent to some extent. Sometimes you can win.

That’s a good thing, and it wasn’t impossible.

After all, Seokdoo was equipped with a force suitable for the guards under the direct control of the religious leader.

It’s a path that someone has walked, and even though they actually succeeded.

The road was like a blood road.

Those who were prepared to walk the path that led to their own blood, not the blood of others, were always very few.

That’s why when people ask me what’s most important in learning martial arts, I always ask.

He said it was a talent.

* * *

Either the talented or the non-talented.

Whether you lose to someone stronger than yourself, lose to a similar opponent, or lose to a weaker one.

Defeat is always painful and devastating.

The difference in realm is this much, so it must be the same for me.

Yulia, who had turned around like that for a while, must have calmed down to some extent, took a few deep breaths, and looked at me again with bloodshot eyes.

“sorry. I showed you what I couldn’t see.”

“no. If a warrior takes defeat lightly, that must be even more wrong.”

“…Actually, I knew.”

“Did you know?”

“I was born in Rosenberg, a family of swordsmanship geniuses within the Empire. In fact, all of my brothers and sisters have a natural genius for swordsmanship.”

Although this was a fact I already knew from the whispers of the students around me.

“One step of a genius is equal to a thousand or ten thousand steps of a genius. That’s what I’ve felt keenly since I was a child. But I didn’t want to admit it. When a genius takes a single step lightly, shouldn’t I take it thousands or tens of thousands of times? I thought so.”

“I couldn’t have followed you.”

“Yes, that’s right. No matter how hard I tried, my brothers and sisters were always ahead of me. Moreover, the distance did not decrease, it only increased.”

“Why don’t you give up your sword? If you were from a famous family within the empire, there would have been plenty of other paths, even if you didn’t have to walk the path of the sword.”

“I just liked the sword. I couldn’t even think of another way after I was fascinated by the beautiful sword light that was like the starlight in the night sky that I saw as a child that I can’t even remember properly.”

This was often the case.

Murim saw people like Yulia and described them as possessed by the so-called sword.

I don’t know if I should consider it good luck or bad luck.

Because he was born in a famous swordsmanship family, his tendencies have become stronger.

It would have been better if I had been frustrated and escaped sooner.

“Are you still thinking about giving up?”

“yes.”

Up until now, he must have suffered hundreds of setbacks while practicing his sword, and even though he had suffered so much from me, there was still no wavering in his eyes looking at me.

And always, when I looked into those eyes, it was hard to just pass by.

I don’t know if it’s because of my natural tendency or because of my master’s influence.

“Yulia, what is your wish?”

“You see the tip of the sword.”

“It is impossible with your talent.”

“It doesn’t matter. Even if it is impossible to reach the shining stars in the night sky, even if it is impossible to cut the sky with a human body, isn’t it wrong to wish for that?”

“Wrong.”

“yes…?”

At my resolute denial, Yulia put on a dazed expression for a moment.

“You are wrong, Yulia.”

“Are you saying that it is wrong for a person without talent to even wish? Is that even a luxury?”

Yulia asked in a boiling voice.

“No, it’s not like that. Humans can reach the stars in the night sky. It is possible to cut the sky with a human body.”

“what…?”

“There were people who believed that, and there were people who actually did it. So you are wrong, Yulia.”

Even though it was a different world.

The human will to break through the limits has realized what seemed impossible at times.

“If you want to see the tip of the sword, don’t set limits. Don’t just use the family’s genius as a reference point. It’s impossible with your talent. Everyone will say that, and it is true that it is a story infinitely close to the truth. But that is not the truth.”

He looked straight into Yulia’s shaking eyes and said.

“Even though the odds are extremely slim, believe that it is not impossible. As before, when someone tells you it’s impossible, it’s not. Say confidently that it is possible. Just like it was before Dalian.”

“…why are you telling me this?”

“Because I believe that those who work hard with willpower need to be respected regardless of the outcome. You proved it with your actions, so I just judged you as worthy of respect. And maybe… it might be because you and I have similar wishes.”

The tip of the sword and the tip of nothingness.

The two are not very different.

“What are you…”

Yulia blurted out her words with confused eyes.

“I will make a suggestion.”

“A suggestion?”

“okay. Your swordsmanship is a swordsmanship developed by geniuses. I have to play it well, but it doesn’t fit with you, who is between a genius and a genius.”

“I know. However, this is the only thing I can learn, as long as it’s not the third-rate swordsmanship of the street. Swordsmanship is basically a vision.”

“I guess so. So be my disciple.”

“yes?”

Perhaps not understanding my sudden suggestion, Yulia froze as it were.

“I cannot teach martial arts to just anyone. To be honest, your talent is not something that can be solved by passing on one or two martial arts. So this is the only way.”

Better than Seokdoo, but Yulia’s talent is somewhere between Beomjae and Superjae.

It was a talent that was far inferior compared to the general materials of the Protestant Church as well as the students of this academy, most of whom were close to geniuses.

If she had natural talent and tremendous novelty like Princess Riena, it would be possible to learn martial arts with only advanced martial arts, but it was absolutely impossible for Yulia to learn martial arts in that way.

“Wait… take a moment to think…”

“However much.”

Originally, the disciple had no intention of receiving it.

There was also Princess Riena, who was virtually no different from her disciple.

I thought I was busy training and getting stronger, but…

Destiny sometimes comes unexpectedly and unprepared.

Efforts are not always rewarded.

However, I hope that the world will be a better place for those who work hard to live.

The thought of Protestantism, in a way, originated from this innocently simple idea.

Birth, destiny, status, talent.

I hope that human free will will be revered even a little more than those things that heaven has bestowed upon us.

Of course, like the example of Seokdu, Shinkyo was also harsh in reality.

Pursuing the ideal itself is not wrong.

From Yulia’s point of view, it would be incomprehensible for an academy student of the same age to say such a thing.

If the kite is connected, you will accept my offer, but if it is not, you will just scatter according to the ties.

The choice is entirely up to her.

Just like Master gave me a choice.

“I… what can I do?”

After pondering for a while, Yulia must have hardened her heart and opened her mouth heavily.

“Even if you don’t understand what I’m saying, just listen.”

“All right.”

“I have no intention of carrying on the traditions of Protestantism to this world. I will not make you my enemy disciple. You don’t even have to raise the gradient. The relationship between the teacher and the disciple is maintained, but it is not necessary to have the courtesy of a teacher.”

“that….”

Of course, I didn’t know what the first words meant, but in what followed, Yulia looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

“The only thing I want from you is… that’s right. In the language of this world, you become a knight.”

“A knight… you mean?”

“okay. To reach the stars with faith while dreaming an impossible dream without ignoring one’s duty to know honor, revere righteousness, and take up the sword for the weak. Become a knight, Julia. That is the only thing I want from you.”

“……I swear. Even if it means the end of my life, I will definitely do it.”

Yulia, who had been listening to me silently with biting her lips, spat out words one by one.

“Then it happened. It won’t be easy because it’s too late to learn martial arts. So make up your mind and come back when you are ready.”

“All right.”

* * *

“…Master.”

muttered quietly.

It was an amazing experience.

Looking at Carol’s back as she left, Yulia couldn’t take her eyes off of her while thinking about that.

Even though they were the same age, they were still young academy students.

Reminiscent of Julia’s father, Rosenberg’s family head, who was no different from an infinitely high wall.

No, maybe even a high level of martial arts that might be more than that.

What struck me most was his thoughts.

Although I don’t know the exact level, no one I’ve seen in my family has radiated that kind of momentum.

In addition, the high position of the head of practical skills.

It was clear he was a genius.

The geniuses of the family Yulia had seen so far.

When he looked at Yulia, his mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.

Beyond the cold eyes, there was contempt as if looking at an inferior creature.

Not only the brothers and sisters who were born on the same boat, but even the father who is the head of the household.

That’s why I became even more obsessed with the sword.

Because I could forget those eyes when I was swinging the sword.

I thought all geniuses were the same.

However, the one who was more outstanding than anyone Julia had ever seen.

He was different because he had a destructive talent that made even the geniuses of his family into criminals.

There was hardly any expression on his face, let alone a smile.

There was not even contempt in the eyes that just stared at Yulia in a calm manner.

What I can see through the deep eyes that I don’t know how far they reach is…

A little pity and strong anticipation.

Although Julia herself could not understand how she realized it.

That much I could be sure of.

There was definitely anticipation in Carol’s eyes looking at Yulia.

It’s as if Yulia too will be able to reach the stars someday.

It contained a certain faith.