Chapter 70

Chapter 70

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 70: Winter’s Sword Modification

Chang.

A being wrapped in black cloth burst through the window and entered.

“What, what is this?!”

“It’s a villain! Contact the association right away!”

Those who recognized its identity all screamed simultaneously.

Kwaang!

Simultaneously, an explosion resounded from below. The explosion had only blocked the entrance. It was safe to say that everyone inside was now trapped.

The man heightened his energy and sharpened his senses with solemn eyes.

“Hmm.”

The being in black cloth scanned the room. There was no particularly disturbing presence. At best, there were only mediocre youngsters.

However, there were many of these mediocre youngsters. And they were young.

“Ho?”

Then his gaze met another’s.

A man who appeared to be the most beautiful among them.

His thick black hair, grown out roughly, covered his neck, and his eyes, deep like an abyss, stared back.

His eyes were truly mesmerizing.

Such a deep color was unnatural.

“You there, is your name Lee Seo-ha?”

“How do you know my name?”

“There’s a request for you. A special one from the Brigade of Eternal Heaven.”

Everyone gasped at the words of the being in black cloth.

“The, the Brigade of Eternal Heaven!”

“My goodness, why is that villainous group here!”

They were not well-known.

Most civilians had never even heard their name once.

But once one stepped into the hero industry, reached the upper echelon, or delved into politics, they began to hear their name. And their true nature was akin to a nightmare.

All of them were high-ranking.

High-ranking encompassed heroes, Mines, and villains, and even if you searched the whole world, there were scarcely 1,000 of them.

It was astonishing that all members of such a small, elite group were high-ranking.

And they were a group of villains.

Beings who disrupted the order of society for their own desires and prioritized their own pleasure.

“Run, run away!”

“Run where?”

“Damn it! The association guys! How much tax have I paid, and when are they coming?!”

“Wait, just a moment! The one wrapped in that black robe is……”

“Could it be the vice-captain?!”

Shouts of astonishment echoed.

The being wrapped in the black robe, the vice-captain, grinned and laughed.

“Yes, that’s right. I am…….”

Kwaang!

Flames erupted. A man in a suit entered with flashing eyes.

“You’re about to die.”

“The Red Tower Master.”

They exchanged a few words. The vice-captain placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and the Red Tower Master drew his staff.

“Scum feeding off the Mine. Today will be your grave.”

“We’ll see.”

The vice-captain launched into laughter with a kick.

Sleung.

Simultaneously, a cold metallic sound resonated. A sword blade with a blue hue emerged. The Winter’s Sword.

Jjejeok! Jjejejejeok!

As the Winter’s Sword appeared, the ground beneath the vice-captain began to freeze. It was a weapon boasting the power of absolute ice, freezing everything in its path.

The vice-captain released it from his grasp.

“I’m counting on you, Salamander.”

-Kieek!

A flame-shaped lizard materialized on the Red Tower Master’s shoulder.

A spirit.

It spewed flames, empowering the Red Tower Master.

Flash!

Behind the Red Tower Master, red mana condensed into dozens of spherical forms.

A critical situation ensued!

Ershil used mana threads to pull everyone together. Lee Seo-ha and Kim Seo-hyun positioned themselves at the front.

-Suranachal 修羅羅刹

-Yeonggeobjiok 永劫地獄

Two monstrous beings in human guise uttered the activation words.

Kwaang!

They clashed with a single strike.

‘Really gives me the chills.’

A single strike.

Though the two had only collided once, the impact was tremendous. The hotel’s topmost part, an area about the size of three floors, was annihilated by the aftermath, the sky distorted with the mingling of heat and frost.

“The fight of the highest-ranking is always monstrous~.”

A woman spoke in a relaxed tone, a blue-haired woman in tight-fitting clothes approaching me.

“Wow, you’re no joke. Was that picture really unedited? You’re a national treasure in terms of looks.”

Out of the blue, she praised my face. However, she revealed no vulnerabilities. Kim Seo-hyun and Ershil also guarded against her quietly.

‘Blue.’

Her specialty was akin to that of an assassin. She excelled at creating chaos with water magic. To describe her, she was something between a magician and an assassin.

Plod, plod.

A man with eyes like blood approached. He wore no shirt, just black pants, and carried a large sword on his shoulder, walking barefoot.

“What, he’s here? This will be easy then.”

“Can I really have him?”

“Stop your nonsense, you harlot.”

Harun clicked his tongue and looked at me.

“Anyway, they’re just youngsters.”

“Those two are mid-ranking. Plus, both are troublesome.”

“Hmph, since when did we ever care about that?”

“That white-haired guy is a disciple of the Thousand Sorcerer.”

“Then we have no choice.”

They spoke playfully, yet they watched our every move closely, without missing a beat.

Kwaang!

Jjejeok, jjejejeok!

The temperature rose and fell. An assassin wielding ice and a sorcerer of fire fought. Although it was night, the fire and ice scattered like waves, making it feel as if day and night were alternating.

‘This isn’t a good place.’

The disparity in their realms was evident.

The Red Tower Master was above.

But the vice-captain held power that was the Red Tower Master’s nemesis, and furthermore, a full moon emitting strong negative energy hung in the sky.

That was why the vice-captain could fight on equal terms.

Time was running out.

I needed to keep Harun and Blue here.

‘At least.’

Until the safety measures I had prepared arrived.

“Wow, ready to fight? I like your spirit. I’ll take you on.”

“Get lost. How many have you killed already? Easily 50, right?”

“Hmph, born a warrior and dying as one might be a bliss for her.”

“Really crazy.”

At the same time.

Both of them leaped into action.

“Hello.”

Blue approached me with a bright smile. Harun, fiercely grinning, leaped towards Kim Seo-hyun.

“Ershil! Hong Yu-hwa! Help Kim Seo-hyun!”

I swung the Black Heaven.

Wrapped the Energy of Defying Heaven around the Black Heaven. Kkeek- Black energy waves circled around the Black Heaven.

Kaaaaang!

A shockwave swept in all directions. Blue’s eyes widened. She retreated with light movements.

“Wow, you’re no joke? I just wanted to warm up, but my hands are trembling?”

Her voice was playful.

But her eyes were not. They deepened, filled with caution.

“Hey. Can I take this guy on?”

“Get lost. He’s mine.”

Blue looked at me, her eyes forming crescents.

Paat!

Another leap. Blue drew her dagger. Ssssst! A sharp energy emerged from her dagger.

‘Sword energy!’

All my senses rang alarm bells. That’s dangerous.

I infused the Black Heaven with the Energy of Defying Heaven. Smoldering. Black energy formed waves around the Black Heaven.

Jjeoooeooong!

Clashing with a shockwave.

‘Kuk!’

I was the one being pushed back. The Energy of Defying Heaven. Although it contained the power of negation, the difference between a newly-minted mid-ranker and a newly-minted high-ranker was evident.

“You, try blocking this too!”

Blue exclaimed excitedly. Her hair turned blue. The energy wave changed. Vibration. That was the power she possessed. It rippled in the air and then.

“Uh…?”

Disappeared.

“Scumbags. You thought you could mess around at my grandfather’s birthday party and get out unscathed?”

With a fierce tone.

Hong Yu-hwa roughly brushed her hair back. The Crown of the Crimson Lotus appeared above her head.

At the same time, space rippled next to her, creating waves.

“Can you handle it?”

“I could do this all day… I wish, but hurry up and help me.”

“Can’t be helped. Just don’t get hurt.”

Hong Yu-hwa stepped back and said,

“What kind of power is this? Did you copy my talent? No, it’s more like a power of usurpation? This, this is beyond the natural order…”

Blue’s eyes wavered. It seemed like an opportunity, yet I prepared for a counterattack while regulating my breathing.

Blue was talented but lacked combat experience. Even in combat, her mental stability often faltered.

‘The difficulty is high, and she can counterattack even in that state.’

I needed to corner her slowly.

Fortunately, the Red Tower Master was holding up quite well.

With Hong Yu-hwa, who had awakened the Usurper’s talent, and Ershil and Kim Seo-hyun, they should have been able to hold off Harun.

“Getting distracted, are you?!”

Blue rushed toward me with a fierce smile. Her movements, instead of being fast, flowed like water as she swung her dagger.

‘I shouldn’t be worrying about others now.’

Clang!

I parried the dagger. My hand stung. She could infuse her dagger with sword energy, which testified to her ability.

‘I’ll create an opening.’

I drew the Black Sword and threw it at Blue, conserving as much Energy of Defying Heaven as possible. I had to infuse a suffocating amount of it into my attacks to match hers.

Flowing Water Killing Blade.

A blue light of sword energy erupted from her dagger. Blue swung it with both hands, a sinister smile on her face.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

A series of sword strikes flowed like water. I gritted my teeth and gathered the Energy of Defying Heaven, wrapping the Black Heaven in its energy waves. I used the Black Flash Sword Technique to retreat as far as possible to get out of her range.

‘Sword energy is dangerous!’

Sword energy caused fatal injuries.

Not only did it have the power to sever all concepts, but the real problem was that wounds inflicted by it were difficult to heal.

With my low recovery due to the Energy of Defying Heaven, I couldn’t afford to get injured.

As I parried all her strikes and retreated, Blue’s mouth stretched wide in surprise.

The sense of the Sword Demon screamed within me. An unseen strike was coming from behind.

I clenched my teeth and moved my feet.

Black Shadow Step.

In an instant, my vision went dark, and a black space formed around me. I took a single step in that space.

Hwaaak!

I emerged three meters away in an instant, Blue’s surprised expression coming into view.

“Wow, our pretty boy dodges so well, huh?”

“I wish you would just let me off this once.”

“No way. I want you too much.”

I thought as much.

The opponent was a villain. I couldn’t expect any kindness from her, even if Blue seemed crazy about men.

‘In reality, she’s even crazier.’

If Blue liked a man and fell in love, she killed him and then used a special drug to permanently preserve his body.

No wonder she was part of the villains.

-Master, it seems they have arrived.

‘Really?’

I was elated at Black Heaven’s words.

My legs almost gave out, but I clenched my teeth. I wanted to land at least one hit.

I poured all the Energy of Defying Heaven into Black Heaven.

Wooowooong!

Unholy mana began to negate everything.

Black Heaven and Eternal Heaven had said that I couldn’t exert much power even if I reached mid-ranking. They were half right, half wrong.

My capacity to use the Energy of Defying Heaven at once had increased as I reached mid-ranking.

Jjejeok.

The Energy of Defying Heaven negated everything.

I brought the power I thought only high-rankers could use to mid-ranking, thanks to the Conceptual Stat Energy of Defying Heaven.

Black God Martial Arts, Black Flash.

A blade that negated everything erupted from Black Heaven.

Blue looked at me, not as a lesser being, but as an equal opponent, raising her guard.

“Kahaha! That, that’s just a mid-ranker!”

Harun’s laughter rang out as he stood beside Blue.

“Whore. You’re no match for me. Get lost.”

Harun raised his greatsword.

Hwak!

Blood-red ominous flames burst forth. Sword Fire 劍火, an evolved stage of sword energy, was a feat permitted only to those on the verge of the highest rank. He looked at me with a menacing smile.

“Kid. No, you. Your name is Lee Seo-ha, right? My name is Harun.”

“So what?”

“I wanted you to know my name. The name of the warrior who might grant death to someone who could possibly etch themselves in history, perhaps even reach the heights of a great and mighty hero.”

Harun assumed a charging stance.

“Tell Yama in the underworld that I, Harun, killed you.”

Then, Harun leaped toward me.

I wrapped myself in the Energy of Defying Heaven and leaped as well.

It was a head-on collision. Harun seemed delighted, his smile deepening.

-Farewell.

Harun spoke through Nyeom.

I used the Imprint of Dreams.

[Imprint of Dreams (A+)]

A token from the Tower of Dreams.

Can be used like a tattoo imprinted on the body to exert its power.

: Adds 10 to Spirit.

: Innate Skill “Illusion in Truth”

: ??? (Unlocks upon clearing the 10th floor of the Tower of Dreams.)

: The Right of Truth.

Illusion in Truth.

Ordinarily, Harun wouldn’t be affected. However, I was currently wearing a coat given by Ershil, a Coat of Nightmares where dreams and reality intersect.

That disrupted Harun’s senses.

The senses of the Sword Demon outperformed Harun’s senses and toyed with him.

Harun’s focus faltered for a moment as he swung his sword. The movement of the blood-red Sword Fire 劍火 altered.

I swiftly dove inside. Harun regained his focus too late, and I could sense his astonishment.

The Sword Fire quickly dissipated. A blood-red energy enveloped his body.

Qi Armor 氣鉀.

It was a power borrowed in the form of defensive energy by a warrior skilled in sword energy but of a lower realm.

I smiled.

Chaaak!

Black Flash. The Energy of Defying Heaven negated special abilities. Black Flash negated the Qi Armor and sliced through his charred body.

-That’s not allowed.

Pajik.

A chill ran through me. The senses of the Sword Demon warned me half a beat faster than usual. It would have been a lose-lose situation. I would have died too. But I wasn’t disappointed. If things had continued, Harun might have killed me.

I gripped Black Heaven and retreated.

“Kaaaaaak!”

Blood spurted from a diagonal slash across his chest. Shortly thereafter, a figure wrapped in cloth appeared before me.

It was the vice-captain.

“You’re more dangerous than I imagined. Even if Harun was arrogant and underestimated you… your talent and skill, combined with some unidentifiable unholy power and ability to handle tools, suggest you have at least the power of a high-ranker, right?”

The vice-captain’s eyes shifted.

Behind me, the Red Tower Master appeared and pulled me back.

“Survive by any means necessary.”

“If it comes down to it, use the political figures here as shields. Save Yu-hwa, Ershil, and Kim Seo-hyun at all costs.”

The Red Tower Master etched these words in my mind through magic.

Upon closer inspection, the suit’s stomach area was soaked with blood. Something had frozen and then been scorched, as if burnt.

“Red Tower Master. I’ll let you live for now.”

“Even if I live, I’m as good as dead. Wouldn’t it be profitable to save this boy’s life at the cost of my own?”

The Red Tower Master spoke as though bargaining.

-Escape right now!

I didn’t run.

“There’s no need to run.”

“What…?”

Koong!

The sound of something collapsing echoed. Suddenly, the energy waves fluctuated.

“What?!”

“Why, why is he here!”

The Red Tower Master and vice-captain were shocked. Blue and Harun’s eyes wavered.

“What, what is this! That eerie feeling just now!”

“Damn it! Run away now!”

The vice-captain cursed as he pulled out a bead from his pocket and threw it to the ground. Black clouds billowed out.

Smoke that causes sensory confusion.

I chuckled lightly.

“Well, it’s only natural, but…”

After encountering an attack by Mines and villains at school, and suddenly facing the likes of Sword Demon Napak Cheon,

I would have been unlike myself to not be prepared for anything.

“Kid. I sensed it. Did you really land a hit on someone at the edge of the highest rank?”

“I could have killed him, but it’s a pity.”

“Hmph, idle talk. A high-ranker is a high-ranker. Those guys always have a trick up their sleeve when their lives are in danger, whether it’s a mutual destruction technique or escaping through ‘laws’. Judging by that guy’s state, it’s the former. And you, you didn’t aim for his life from the start.”

“…But why am I still a kid?”

“Should I call you son-in-law then? Well, I’d prefer that.”

The towering entity spoke to me in a friendly manner.

Everyone around us was already staring with faces full of astonishment.

“Well, that’s a bit much. I’m not in a position to be distracted by romance yet.”

“Tsk. Don’t worry.”

The Overlord said, looking at his opponent with deep eyes.

“Even if he’s a high-ranker, he’s a villain. One who disrupts order and collaborates with Mines. Do you think I would spare someone like that?”

With an overwhelming aura, the Overlord took a step forward.