Chapter 47

Chapter 47

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 47: Kim Seo-hyun (3)

A flash occurred.

A dark glow sliced through one side of the plant monster’s neck.

Watching the scene, Kim Seo-hyun thought,

“…It’s increased again.”

Lee Seo-ha’s skills had definitely improved.

Last time, during the mid-term evaluation, he had only fought Saint in close combat.

“It was almost at an incapable level.”

His growth was indeed astounding.

Some students were already giving up just by looking at Lee Seo-ha.

Frankly, even Kim Seo-hyun felt a bit intimidated upon close observation.

What was once beneath his feet was now closely catching up to his chin.

“I thought it would be okay until this year.”

Lee Seo-ha’s martial prowess wasn’t just at a genius level; it was at a prodigy level.

Such prowess was common.

Even in this school, one or two out of every ten students were of that caliber.

But what about him?

He used his body well.

What he realized while attending this school was that people surprisingly didn’t know how to use their bodies well.

The way he used his body inspired various insights.

“He’s got complete control over his physique.”

Kim Seo-hyun picked up his sword.

It was to provide support to Lee Seo-ha.

“No need for buffs.”

For some reason, magic didn’t work on Lee Seo-ha.

Therefore, what Kim Seo-hyun could do was to help with the minor things.

Kim Seo-hyun formed a hand sign.

“Geupgeupyeoryulryeong.”

The spell unfolded. Kim Seo-hyun’s clothes fluttered in the wind, revealing talismans within.

The talismans absorbed the darkness, taking on the form of animals.

Shiksin (式神).

These spiritual beings attacked the plant monster’s vines.

In the midst of this, a black flash soared.

Chwaak!

The vines split in an instant, revealing the monster’s true body.

The moment Kim Seo-hyun moved, Lee Seo-ha leapt swiftly.

Saaaa-.

Lee Seo-ha’s arm turned black, enveloped in a power that seemed to negate everything, and struck the center of the plant.

“Hup!”

With a shout, the negating power rapidly expanded, turning all of the plant into dust.

In the place where the plant had died, there was a ginseng-like root herb.

“Huh, wild ginseng?!”

Kim Seo-hyun ran over in shock.

Wild ginseng from Korea was a rare spirit medicine that was hard to come by.

Lee Seo-ha walked over and said,

“It’s wild ginseng. And it’s 15 years old.”

“Huh, 15 years?”

“Yes.”

He confirmed this information through his talent, Reading(-).

A 15-year-old ginseng usually sells for about 1 billion, but it can fetch up to 3 billion if the right buyer is found.

However, looking at Kim Seo-hyun, it seemed he wanted to eat it.

“Do you want to eat it?”

“Huh?”

“If you want, I’ll let you have it. In exchange, I’ll take the next thing we find.”

“What is it?”

Lee Seo-ha smiled slightly.

He went inside and lightly raised his hand.

Kwadeuk.

The soil below began to lift.

Using Nyeom, he lifted the soil and pulled something out from it.

A green, luminous bead.

Intuitively, he knew that this was the reason Lee Seo-ha had brought him to this dungeon.

“Some kind of essence?”

“Yes. It’s an essence that can strengthen a weapon or break a seal.”

“Still, the wild ginseng seems much better.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Do you need anything?”

“If I do, I’ll ask you later.”

Lee Seo-ha spoke in a peculiar manner.

“…Should I give you some money?”

“I have enough money, so it’s okay.”

“Shall we start heading back then?”

“Let’s do that.”

On the way back…

We talked about various things.

“But is it really okay for me to take this? The wild ginseng is worth much more.”

“It’s okay. What I wanted was this.”

I tapped the essence while speaking.

The essence capable of unlocking one of the sealed powers of Black Heaven.

[Heavenly Bridge Essence (B+)]

An item created by a blacksmith who wanted to unlock the seal of a divine weapon.

:Unlocks one seal of a weapon of grade S or lower.

The explanation was simple.

But its efficacy was not. It could unlock one of the seals of Black Heaven.

-Hmm…“

Black Heaven looked at the essence with a peculiar gaze.

‘What?’

-I’m worried you might become too dependent on me.

‘What’s next?’

-Next is…

Before Black Heaven could finish, she suddenly turned her head.

-…Master, prepare to run away immediately.

‘Got it.’

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, I stopped Kim Seo-hyun.

I didn’t ask why.

It seemed Kim Seo-hyun also sensed something and watched ahead attentively.

Dding.

Main Quest Chapter 3.5: Escape from the Sword Demon.

Having evaded the pursuit of heroes, the Sword Demon had come here to rest.

Escape and outwit him.

◈ Reward: 5,000P, additional rewards based on performance.

◈ Failure: Death.

“……”

I looked at the quest window with a sense of futility.

Sword Demon, Napak Cheon.

A notorious figure. He had killed about a thousand citizens because he liked the sensation of cutting people with his sword.

He was currently an enemy we could not possibly confront.

“Hu.”

A quiet, chilling voice was heard.

Dalchak

I activated Divine Sight and looked ahead. I felt a power, dense yet not of this world.

“……Mine.”

But the power felt different from before.

Sticky, indescribable.

“A student from the Korean Hero School? We are currently searching for a high-level Mine that escaped.”

The man’s words from earlier echoed in my ears.

I had never thought that would be a flag.

-You have a keen sense.

With a dragging sound, it revealed itself.

The Mine looked ragged.

Its right arm was completely torn off by something, and half of one leg was ripped away.

The remaining left arm was missing two fingers.

One eye was gone, and the body was covered in countless sword marks.

It was in such a state that none of the limbs were intact.

The Mine crawled on one hand, then grabbed a sword and looked at us.

-Were you guys just kids?

Sword Demon, Napak Cheon.

He earned the name Sword Demon because his swordsmanship was ghostly.

‘This is bad.’

The Mine had been greatly weakened.

But I noticed new flesh regenerating due to its unique vitality.

-It seems hard to escape.

‘Yeah.’

The distance between the Mine and us was 50 meters.

Yet, this distance was well within the Sword Demon’s reach to swing his sword and kill us.

Slowly, I prepared to fight alongside Black Heaven.

Kim Seo-hyun did the same. His face was tense, but he showed no fear.

“Keek.”

Napak Cheon curled the corners of his mouth.

We must have appeared pitiful to him.

‘Actually, we are.’

Because he was a Supreme.

Supremes.

Those who had engraved their ‘alias’ in the world, established their own laws, and altered the world’s laws.

Each of their attacks could easily slaughter dozens of people.

Simply put, if Napak Cheon were in prime condition, even instructors like Seo Woo-ju, Kim Seo-hyun, and Ershil, even if they combined forces, would be annihilated.

-Master, it seems his ears are also damaged.

‘That’s why he’s unbalanced.’

I carefully observed the opponent.

Even in a weakened state with damaged limbs, he remained a dangerous foe.

‘Be careful.’

I conveyed a message through Nyeom to Kim Seo-hyun.

It included all my deductions thus far.

Kim Seo-hyun’s expression stayed composed, but there was a shift in his stance.

-You vermin. Normally, I would torment you before killing, but I’ll make it quick and clean this time.

Napak Cheon lifted his sword.

Half the blade was gone, and there were cracks throughout.

Whish-.

Still, his speed was remarkable.

In what felt like less than a blink.

Even with Divine Sight activated, I barely caught a glimpse of the sword’s movement and rolled on the ground to evade.

Seokgeuk──.

The sound of something being cleaved filled the air.

Everything within the path of the sword’s strike had been cut through.

The bodies of plants, stone walls, air, magical power—all split by his sword.

‘What kind of sword energy is this?’

His power, etched in the world, was simple.

The power to cut anything.

His sword was like a privilege that could cut through anything.

While my vision distorted, I moved quickly.

I drew Black Heaven.

Immediately, a strong aura surged out.

-Hm? A hero candidate?

The Mine slightly furrowed his brow.

“I’ll take the front!”

“Got it!”

As I shouted to Kim Seo-hyun, he hesitated for a moment before preparing to back me up.

-The brat.

Whish-.

The sword was drawn. Even with Divine Sight, the trajectory aimed at my neck was blurry.

I raised Black Heaven.

I infused it with the Energy of Defying Heaven. Combined with the aura, I wielded it with the finesse of the Black Flash Sword Technique.

Zzeeeeng!

The clashing swords created a massive shockwave.

‘What the.’

The force was no joke. It pushed me back momentarily.

-Master, your heart!

Black Heaven yelled a warning. Reflexively, I swung her.

Zzeeeeng!

Another clash of swords.

I let the force carry me back, retreating far.

‘…This is beyond imagination.’

-There’s a saying that real fights start with Supremity. The difference between an Intermediate and a Supreme isn’t just one level.

Phew.

I took a breath and watched my opponent.

His complexion seemed a bit better.

Despite expending some energy, the regenerative power he gained as a Mine was surpassing it.

‘Annoying.’

We couldn’t drag this into a long fight.

It had to be a quick decision.

Even though there were heroes here, I didn’t think they could find this hidden dungeon right away.

‘The worst conditions.’

I looked at Kim Seo-hyun.

Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any signs of ‘berserking.’

I opened the spatial pocket and took out elixirs. Then I handed a magical power elixir to Kim Seo-hyun.

‘Drink this. It’ll boost your magical power.’

Nod.

I spoke through Nyeom, and Kim Seo-hyun nodded. He took the liquid into his mouth.

I withdrew a black sword from the pitch-black bracelet and split it.

Five black swords levitated with Nyeom.

I gripped Black Heaven firmly.

The elixir infused my body with vitality. My senses sharpened. My physical strength solidified.

I exhaled deeply.

Eyes fixed ahead, I prepared myself.

He had been an enemy I wouldn’t have dared to confront before.

But now…

It seems worth a try.