Ch.128Episode 27. Lecture (2)

As I waved the blunt practice sword, the students began to get up one by one. While the other students hesitantly drew their weapons, the special class students walked toward me.

“Let’s give it our best shot, like we discussed.”

“Time to get revenge for getting beaten every day.”

“This time I’m going to put you in your place, Instructor!”

“Um, please dodge well, okay?”

Each of them released their unique energy after speaking.

A pure white light emanated from Jung Iyeon.

A red aura surrounded Yeon Muhui.

Purple sparks flickered around Gu Yeonhwa.

Black smoke swirled around Yu Ari.

They properly unleashed their powers according to their individual characteristics.

Having trained together for months, they naturally assumed their combat stances as if it were second nature.

I couldn’t help but smile at their perfectly aggressive postures.

Jung Iyeon and Yeon Muhui pushed off the ground almost simultaneously.

Jung Iyeon held a brilliantly glowing white sword and shield, while Yeon Muhui gripped a Japanese sword infused with red energy.

“Flash Strike.”

“Yeonhwa Style – True Cut.”

“…Still too slow.”

I dodged Jung Iyeon’s rushing attack and approached Yeon Muhui.

She was vulnerable just before releasing her energy.

Of course, it was such a brief moment that it could hardly be called a weakness, but for me, that instant was an opportunity to counterattack.

“…!”

Belatedly reacting, she changed her sword grip.

Clang—!

She twisted her body and blade to deflect my swing. Not a bad reaction. Just as I was about to launch a follow-up strike, Yeon Muhui swung her sword at my arm.

“Yeonhwa Style – Flowing River.”

An attack that sliced upward in an arc.

I pulled my body away from the sword’s trajectory and aimed a kick at her side. However, seeing me dodge, Yeon Muhui immediately assumed a defensive stance and blocked.

Clang—!

My attempt to incapacitate her by striking her sword with my foot failed.

This was going to complicate things.

Jung Iyeon, whom I had momentarily ignored, used Flash Strike against me, while Yu Ari appeared behind me through shadow movement and swung her dagger.

I lowered my stance as much as possible to avoid both attacks while swinging my sword.

Clang!

Jung Iyeon blocked my sword with her shield. She was pushed back slightly but took no damage.

Next, I aimed for Yu Ari’s abdomen. When facing multiple opponents, fixating on one would only lead to defeat.

Whoosh—!

But my sword hit nothing. Yu Ari had activated “Shadow Movement” to teleport to Yeon Muhui’s shadow.

“Hup!”

Yeon Muhui, who had momentarily faltered from my kick, readjusted her sword. The sword energy rising from the blade was intense.

“Yeonhwa Style – Lotus Barrage.”

A flurry of fierce sword strikes.

Clang-clang-clang—!

The sound of metal striking metal continued without pause. Sparks flew each time my sword met Yeon Muhui’s.

“You blocked that?”

Yeon Muhui exclaimed in shock, but the situation wasn’t good. Her consecutive attacks had cracked my blade.

Her sword energy contained the same power as the Lotus Dragon.

Even if it hadn’t fully bloomed yet, my weapon couldn’t withstand continuous attacks.

In that moment of hesitation, Yu Ari emerged from behind Yeon Muhui, throwing daggers and kunai-like blades while activating her skill.

“Dark Stage.”

Everything around began to turn black. Was she trying to control my vision?

Fortunately, Dark Stage still allowed me to see others besides Yu Ari. If I couldn’t see anyone, it would have been the perfect synergy skill.

Still, I couldn’t relax.

Even though I could see the others, the space itself felt unfamiliar. The distorted spatial awareness made it difficult to gauge distances to the others.

As I was dodging the blades suddenly appearing from the darkness while keeping an eye on the others…

Boom—!

A heavy footstep echoed throughout the training ground.

Jung Iyeon had put away her shield and taken a stance.

“Here I come!”

In a flash, she was gone from her spot.

Swish!

My arm was grazed slightly, and droplets of blood sprayed up. My white shirt became soaked with blood. If I hadn’t twisted my body slightly, my entire forearm might have been severed.

Had she gotten faster in just a few days?

Even I would have had trouble dodging this one without full concentration. But her attack wasn’t over yet.

A swift change in movement.

Despite being a high-speed slashing technique, she maintained her center of gravity as she rushed toward me.

An improved version of Flash Strike.

“Flash Strike • Chaos Form.”

Jung Iyeon approached me again, swinging her sacred weapon. A dagger also came at my vital points from a blind spot.

I grinned and used my sword to deflect both the sacred weapon and the dagger.

Crack!

The impact broke my sword, but it didn’t matter. My main weapon wasn’t the sword but my fists anyway.

While Jung Iyeon was momentarily stunned by the impact I returned, I tried to grab her collar. However…

“Get away!”

At Gu Yeonhwa’s shout, the special class students who had been threatening me simultaneously jumped backward. I looked at Gu Yeonhwa’s fingertips, which were stretched toward the ceiling, then raised my head.

On the ceiling, a fire-wrapped sphere too large to be called a fireball and numerous weapons made of black fire were aimed at me.

I needed to dodge this. There were too many to counter individually. So that’s why it had been so quiet…

But as if reading my thoughts, Gu Yeonhwa spread flames around me.

With no choice but to jump to dodge, Yu Ari then deployed her web of daggers and kunai to restrict my movement.

Had they planned this in advance?

These kids are pretty good. Their teamwork is decent.

“You can’t escape!”

Countless purple spears began to rain down.

If I got hit by these, I could actually die. There were too many to counter individually.

That left only one option.

Crackle!

As I clenched my fist, the power spread throughout my body began to gather in my hand. I didn’t expect to have to go all out against them so soon.

“Lightning Release.”

The lightning that burst from my thrust fist destroyed all of Gu Yeonhwa’s attacks.

The spectacular explosion, like a fireworks display, created a massive hole in the training ground ceiling with a tremendous boom.

“Huh?”

“The ceiling broke… huh?”

“Didn’t the Chancellor say the training ground wouldn’t break no matter what the Instructor did…?”

The special class students, along with the other students who had been sneaking up to attack me, looked up at the broken ceiling. They seemed to have completely forgotten about the training match.

“…H-how are we supposed to beat this?!”

Gu Yeonhwa, the first to regain her senses, stomped her feet and shouted. The others who had been attacking just moments ago also seemed to have lost their fighting spirit, giving wry smiles.

“Ah, my investment money…!”

Gu Yeonhwa clutched her blonde hair in despair. Yeon Muhui and Jung Iyeon also pointed their swords at me while regrouping, but their blades were trembling. They seemed to have realized the overwhelming gap between us.

“Come on, keep coming at me. Don’t you have more to show?”

Now I was starting to get excited.

Even though they had turned to the dark side, seeing them getting closer to how they were in the original story made my heart race.

“If you won’t come, I’ll come to you.”

It was time for a massacre.

* * *

“Ugh…”

“My, my back…”

“I think I’m going to throw up…”

The training ground was filled with groans.

Students from both the special class and regular classes were sprawled out equally after being beaten by me. Acting like it hurts when I didn’t even use my full strength.

“Instructor~?”

“Oh. You’re here.”

Bin Yuni entered the training ground with quick steps, carrying a box.

“Do you know how surprised I was when you suddenly asked me to make a large quantity of potions this morning? I specially made these because of your kind intention to use them for class, you know?”

The box Bin Yuni brought was filled with polystyrene tubes. The contents were, of course, healing potions.

“Yes, yes. Thank you. But… this looks a bit brighter than before?”

I said as I picked up one of the potions. Previously they were red, but now they were more of a bright scarlet.

“Ah, I only realized it later, but after successfully creating status ailment recovery potions, the efficiency seems to have improved. Of course, I also readjusted the healing potion ratio. And don’t worry, they won’t kill you if you drink them.”

“Really?”

“Hehehe! This is only possible because it’s me! Come on, praise me!”

She said proudly, even snorting through her nose.

Others might have frowned at her apparent arrogance, but I knew her circumstances.

Bin Yuni was finally regaining the confidence she had lost in childhood.

“Well done. I’ll treat you to something delicious later.”

“No, no! I should be the one treating you!”

“I’ll treat you this time since you helped me out.”

“Then how about we each buy something for the other? Like secret Santas.”

“Wouldn’t that just be the same as going Dutch?”

“I guess so… That’s troublesome.”

I don’t know why we’re having such a serious conversation about this.

“By the way, when you say you readjusted the healing potion… does that mean you’ve decided to develop healing potions now?”

“…Yes.”

There was some hesitation, but her voice was firm. She finally made up her mind.

“I see. Then I’ll return that potion you gave me.”

The potion Bin Yuni made in high school was still in my room. I should give it back to her later.

“No, that’s okay. Please keep it.”

“Why? It’s your masterpiece, isn’t it? I don’t think I should keep it.”

“It’s my… ‘heart’ that I’m giving to you, the instructor who helped me get back on my feet.”

Her heart…

If you say it like that, you’ll make me misunderstand again. Can you handle that?

I softly replied “Alright” and gently stroked her pink hair. She seemed satisfied with just that, raising the corners of her mouth in a gentle smile.

“Um…! E-enough talking, g-give us the p-potions first…!”

“…Interrupting my conversation with the Instructor. I won’t give any to people who rush me, out of spite.”

Bin Yuni glared at the male student from another class who was lying on the ground.

“Don’t be petty, give it to them.”

“…Since you asked, Instructor, I’ll make a special exception. But I’m putting him on my blacklist, just so you know!”

Please don’t…