Admiration

Baek Hwayeon watched the battle between Lee Dojin and the Sword Demon from the edge of the forest.

Because the sword energy they aimed at each other was so terribly sharp, she could easily grasp the flow of the battle even from afar.

It didn’t look like a battle between an academy student and one of the previous generation’s Four Superhumans. It just looked like a battle between martial artists.

That’s how much Lee Dojin’s martial arts didn’t seem to fall behind compared to Sword Demon Jung Yong-ha.

This was partly because Baek Hwayeon lacked the discerning eye to gauge the quite clear difference in level between the two, but also because Lee Dojin’s martial power was exceptionally high for his age.

‘…Dojin.’

The distance had grown even further.

She wanted to stand on equal footing. Of course, Lee Dojin wasn’t the type of person to push her away for being weaker than him.

She wanted to stand proudly by his side with her own strength. So that no one could doubt her being by that man’s side.

However, at this rate, she wouldn’t be able to do that.

She was falling behind. Falling far, far behind.

Even though she was surely the person who spent the most time keeping that man in her eyes from up close,

She felt like she was gradually drifting away.

Admiration should remain as admiration. That’s an emotion even classmates can have.

The moment admiration becomes respect, she would be terribly disappointed in herself.

Baek Hwayeon clenched her fist tightly.

---

Sword Demon Jung Yong-ha, who had received treatment from the healer in his home, turned his gaze to Sword Empress Yoo Seol-ah, who was staring at him blankly.

“Where did you pick up a guy like that?”

He was referring to Lee Dojin, who was currently receiving treatment in the infirmary within the house.

“He suddenly appeared at the Iroaz entrance ceremony with such swordsmanship.”

“What’s the name of his sword technique?”

“I heard it’s called Reverse Heaven Sword. It doesn’t seem like he learned it alone, it seems he has a teacher. But he was vague about that.”

“The completeness of the sword technique itself had more depth than any sword I’ve seen so far. To the point where I’d believe it if you said a grandmaster from a martial arts novel directly taught him the sword.”

The Sword Demon had unintentionally made a deduction close to reality, but naturally, he didn’t seriously mull over his own words.

“Whatever his inner power level is, that guy has already stepped into the realm of the Ten Existences.”

Ten Existences.

A title referring to the ten top masters below the Four Superhumans.

The Sword Demon was certain that Lee Dojin’s martial arts had already reached a realm on par with them.

Jung Yong-ha paused for a moment and stared at Yoo Seol-ah again.

“He’s certainly weaker than you now. But even that might not last more than 2 years.”

The Sword Empress smiled with her eyes.

“I feel it too. That it will be like that.”

“The problem is that even reaching such a realm doesn’t guarantee being able to climb the tower.”

The Sword Empress’s expression hardened at the Sword Demon’s words.

“That’s right. That’s why I brought him to you, commander. I thought it would be good if you could look at his sword when you have time.”

Jung Yong-ha smiled with wrinkles.

“Are you telling a dying old man to take on a disciple?”

“…I judged that he could embrace your sword. Student Lee Dojin.”

The martial arts of a swordsman who had reached the realm of the infinite were literally worthy of being called a legacy.

Yoo Seol-ah wanted to leave that legacy.

The legacy of the swordsman who had made the greatest contribution to stopping the tower’s descent.

“I understand. I can’t just keep sleeping forever anyway.”

The Sword Empress smiled brightly at her former superior’s commitment.

“Then, I’ll bring him again soon.”

“Alright, I’ll make some preparations.”

---

Lee Dojin felt strength draining from his entire body.

Fatigue weighed down on his mind.

Lee Dojin, lying on the bed, recalled Sword Demon Jung Yong-ha.

The Sword Demon was certainly a strong person. Among the hunters he had faced in the real world, not Mistilteinn’s world, he was the closest to being a true martial artist.

‘It’s like I died once.’

If the Sword Demon had decided to kill him, he would have died.

Lee Dojin mentally reviewed the Sword Demon’s sword path.

A sword path full of killing intent. And the defense was also solid.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

“You’re fine.”

The person who opened the door and entered while muttering was Jung Yong-ha.

Lee Dojin chuckled at those indifferent words.

“…I don’t think I’m fine.”

Although he had received a baptism of holy power and potions, his entire body was still screaming.

“You’re alive with all your limbs intact, aren’t you?”

If that was the perspective he was speaking from, then there was nothing to say. Jung Yong-ha continued.

“None of the blows I gave you inflicted fatal wounds. Your body being in that state now is because you recklessly pushed it to its limits without knowing your place.”

It was literally a series of facts.

Lee Dojin silently nodded.

There was nothing wrong with what he said.

“That’s right.”

“Seol-ah asked me to become your teacher. But no matter how I think about it, I don’t have much to teach you that would warrant calling me a teacher.”

Jung Yong-ha opened his mouth again after a moment of silence.

“I won’t play the role of a teacher. Since your sword technique seems superior to begin with. I’ll just teach you a few sword techniques that might be useful.”

Lee Dojin’s eyes widened.

“Isn’t that the same as becoming my teacher?”

“It’s different. A teacher is someone who needs to take responsibility. I don’t want to do that.”

The Sword Demon clicked his tongue. And before Lee Dojin could say anything more, he left the infirmary.

And the next to appear was his pink-haired classmate Baek Hwayeon.

“Dojin!”

Baek Hwayeon thrust her face forward, her blue-tinged eyes shining.

A fresh fragrance lingered in his nostrils.

“The teacher got permission from the academy to conduct external classes until tomorrow. You have to rest quietly here today!”

It was somewhat expected.

Because there was still one more schedule that Sword Empress Yoo Seol-ah had mentioned.

“Is that so?”

Baek Hwayeon poked Lee Dojin’s side with a mischievous face.

“It seems like now is the perfect time for me to beat you. Want to fight?”

Of course, it was a joke.

A half-serious joke, but still.

“When you fully bloom those plum blossoms, then who knows.”

Lee Dojin stroked Baek Hwayeon’s light pink hair that was close to his nose.

Baek Hwayeon smiled brightly. And in that state, she chuckled.

“Even then, could I beat you?”

“A person’s effort may not bring certain changes, but it creates unexpected variables.”

At Lee Dojin’s characteristic words, Baek Hwayeon puffed up both her cheeks.

“No old man-like words allowed!”

Lee Dojin smiled bitterly.

“Okay, not allowed.”

Baek Hwayeon lay down on the bed next to Lee Dojin’s hospital bed.

They ended up sharing the same bed.

It was a scene that would make the healer in charge of Lee Dojin faint if he saw it, but fortunately, there were only the two of them in the infirmary for now.

Their gazes turned together towards the white ceiling of the infirmary.

The faint sound of each other’s breathing lingered in their ears.

“Of course, I have to make an effort. There’s something I need to resolve with my own hands.”

Revenge.

She must be talking about the “Seun Orphanage Mutant Incident” she mentioned before.

Although the records say they’re missing, the children who spent their childhood with Baek Hwayeon were likely handed over to a mutant modification organization.

“That matter still occupies too large a part of my life.”

Happiness, sadness.

──Love.

To the extent that she felt guilty for expressing any emotion too honestly.

Because those moments of laughing and chatting with the children were so precious, it was eating away at the happiness of the present moment.

According to her teacher, Sword Empress Yoo Seol-ah, they had narrowed down the most likely organizations.

The curtain would soon be lifted.

Baek Hwayeon intended to head towards whatever was waiting beyond that curtain.

Lee Dojin slowly opened his mouth.

“I’ll help you. Tell me if you need help.”

“Mmm, if I get too scared. I’ll tell you then.”

Baek Hwayeon’s words trailed off.

Because she couldn’t predict what future was waiting for her either.

So Lee Dojin decided to add one more thing.

Words he wouldn’t normally say.

“Even if it’s not that matter. I’ll help you with anything if you ask for help.”

Baek Hwayeon’s face reddened at the words uncharacteristic of Lee Dojin. She turned her head to stare at him.

She carefully voiced her question in a small voice from her round, open mouth.

“Why, why…?”

Lee Dojin looked back at Baek Hwayeon.

Their gazes naturally intertwined on the bed.

“Well, more than you think. You’re a meaningful person to me.”

The day they climbed Paju’s Gamak Mountain with wooden swords.

Baek Hwayeon who suddenly rushed at him saying “Let’s fight!”

To be honest, at that time─

‘I thought she was crazy.’

Suddenly rushing at him with a sword in the mountains. No matter how positively he tried to think about it, she was crazy.

Of course, Lee Dojin had no intention of saying that much honestly.

Especially not in his current weakened state.

Anyway.

The memory of that day when he fought Baek Hwayeon equally with a wooden sword became one of the stepping stones for growth.

Because the love for swords and the competitive spirit for martial arts that Baek Hwayeon showed that day also breathed beneficial vitality into Lee Dojin.

Baek Hwayeon’s face, smiling and saying “Isn’t it fun?” while crossing swords, was deeply etched in his mind.

And it remained as a precious memory.

One that couldn’t be exchanged for anything.

“A, a meaningful person. Me…”

Baek Hwayeon lifted the blanket and covered her face.

Because a smile that looked too giddy was lingering on her face.

Not knowing this, Lee Dojin just slightly tilted his head.

Had she been giddy like that for about a minute?

She finally stopped that smile and lowered the blanket.

Lee Dojin opened his mouth again.

“Anyway, so tell me anything. If you need help.”

“Thank you.”

Baek Hwayeon smiled brightly.

And she thought.

‘Later.’

Much later when everything is over.

When she’s free from all the shackles of sin.

‘I should confess.’

Because he said she was a meaningful person.

And that she was even more meaningful than she thought.

‘Would he accept?’

For a moment, just a moment. Wouldn’t it be okay to imagine such pure happiness like this?

Baek Hwayeon shyly asked herself.