Ch.71Yellow Red Yellow – 1

The Silver Gatekeeper, the greatest Weaponry Class family in South Korea.

In the middle of the family’s training ground stands an old man.

Minseong Kang. The master of this vast and impressive place.

A veteran who established the foundation, meticulously refined it, and elevated it to the highest position.

“Hmm.”

With his eyes closed, Minseong Kang slowly swings the sword in his hand.

No, rather than swinging, it would be more accurate to say he was simply waving it.

Without any force behind it, without even the intention to cut.

A speed that wouldn’t be perceived as threatening even by someone who had never properly held a sword.

But with each flow of wind from that sword,

the steel pillars erected throughout the training ground were sliced through as easily as radishes.

Woong—

After the last pillar was finally cut in two,

Minseong Kang exhaled once and sheathed his sword.

His troubled mind seemed to be settling somewhat.

Indeed, swinging a sword was the best remedy for a headache.

Though his body had aged, his childish heart refused to grow old.

Recalling Hakjun Ma’s nagging from some time ago, Minseong Kang smiled bitterly.

‘So many things have happened in less than a week.’

Juniors who would never make mistakes suddenly died in battle.

C-grade Lizard Men threatened Academy students.

Somehow information leaked and villains launched a precise ambush.

‘And in the midst of it all, that Elder. That bastard Hyuk Kwak… was stopped by Examiner Seojin Baek.’

Minseong Kang couldn’t help but let out an incredulous laugh.

Truly, each piece of news was more absurd than the last.

The last one especially made him wonder if he had misheard.

Hyuk Kwak was a junior colleague Minseong Kang knew well from the past.

Being from the same Weaponry Class, they had met and interacted frequently.

He was the best among spear wielders. Not just in Korea, but world-class.

When Hyuk Kwak once defeated a Chinese ability user who had boasted of being the best in spear techniques,

they had spent the whole night drinking together, feeling utterly satisfied.

So he knew well. Hyuk Kwak, the Spear Wraith. How strong that Elder was.

Perhaps if it had been 30 years ago when he was in his prime, it might have been different.

But now, even Minseong Kang himself had to admit he couldn’t defeat Hyuk Kwak.

Unlike himself, completely worn down by the passage of time,

Hyuk Kwak was currently at his absolute peak.

Although he had suffered the humiliation of defeat at the hands of The Yellow Madwoman, Rina Lee,

that was only because Rina was an anomaly, beyond human limits.

That’s why he lost, not because Hyuk Kwak was weak or careless.

‘And yet. That examiner from before stopped him?’

Moreover, it wasn’t simply a matter of “stopping” him.

According to Jiyoon Han, he had cut the spear in half and severely wounded Hyuk Kwak.

The injury was so severe that the man abandoned the fight and retreated.

It was astonishing. No, astonishing was far too inadequate a word.

He knew better than anyone the power of that spear.

Even ability users of equal rank could lose their lives with one small mistake.

Yet Seojin Baek hadn’t just avoided it—he had completely nullified it.

“Do you know what’s even more surprising?”

“That technique Examiner Seojin Baek used in that moment. It was definitely your wind, Chairman.”

Recalling Jiyoon Han’s detailed account of what she had witnessed that day,

Minseong Kang looked down at his own sword.

“…”

Would the current version of himself be able to block Hyuk Kwak’s spear with a breeze?

Not entirely impossible, but it would cost him his life.

What if he had maintained his prime abilities?

Then the possibility would increase. Yes, at the cost of an arm.

No matter how he thought about it, the result would still be his defeat.

Even imagining and substituting his younger self, he would still suffer fatal injuries.

Let alone just blocking it—completely deflecting the damage?

Cutting Hyuk Kwak’s spear in half and severely wounding him in return?

Though it was supposedly his technique, the possibility was extremely low.

‘Yet. Examiner Seojin Baek accomplished it. And survived.’

Of course, his body was in terrible condition and he was urgently evacuated.

Even with Support Class healers attending to him, he hadn’t regained consciousness.

But ultimately, he didn’t die. His limbs were intact.

In conclusion, he had repelled an Elder without losing anything.

“…Heh heh.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

According to what he heard from Hakjun Ma, Seojin Baek’s official ability rating was C-grade.

C-grade? A C-grade landed a hit on an Elder?

It would make more sense if a tiger lost to a chihuahua.

At least in the animal kingdom, such a thing might be possible.

He would have to order a re-evaluation of that man’s grade.

How could anyone believe it? A C-grade landing a solid hit on an Elder?

Shaking his head, Minseong Kang slightly turned his head.

“You’re here, Soohyun.”

He had known for some time that his granddaughter had returned to the Academy.

However, given Kim Soohyun’s extremely low mood these past few days,

Minseong Kang was cautious even about speaking to his granddaughter.

“…I’m back.”

“You went to visit the hospital again today, I see.”

“Yes.”

“I see. How is Examiner Seojin Baek doing?”

“…”

At Minseong Kang’s question, Kim Soohyun gave no answer.

She only blazed with bright red flames filling her eyes.

Seeing this, Minseong Kang sighed and carefully spoke.

“It seems he still hasn’t woken up.”

Nod, nod—

After the battle with the Elder, Seojin Baek was urgently transported to the hospital.

All the external wounds on his body had been cleanly treated.

But perhaps because he had pushed himself too hard, he still hadn’t regained consciousness.

Minseong Kang sincerely hoped he would shake it off and rise soon.

Partly because he was his precious granddaughter’s benefactor and future grandson-in-law,

but there was an even more important reason in another direction.

“Grandfather.”

“Yes. Your grandfather will step aside now.”

Quietly retreating, Minseong Kang left the training ground.

Then he went up to his study, which overlooked the entire training ground.

‘It’s starting again.’

Woong— Woong—!

Sure enough, a sound that made one shudder just by hearing it came from below.

The source of that sound was the training ground where Minseong Kang had been standing until moments ago.

Now it was occupied by Kim Soohyun, who was swinging her sword.

Each time Kim Soohyun swung her sword, a red trajectory was drawn.

It looked like a butterfly with bright red wings flying here and there.

Those unfamiliar with swordplay might wonder what it was.

They might think she was performing some elaborate, dynamic sword dance.

But Minseong Kang knew well what his granddaughter was doing.

He knew what lay at the end of each red sword path.

He knew for what purpose those flashy swings were made.

‘All of them, every single one targets vital points that could deliver fatal wounds.’

It was a sword path of unparalleled viciousness.

Just watching it made one’s tongue curl in horror at its cruelty.

He had certainly taught her about vital points.

But not with such precision. And not with such chilling sharpness.

He had never taught her to cut, stab, and gouge in such a manner.

‘She’s creating her own sword path. A sword solely for her, by her alone.’

They say a sword follows the emotions of its wielder.

With a calm mind, it becomes cold; with passion, it becomes hot;

and with anger like that, it becomes more cruel than anything in the world.

‘Should I stop her?’

The thought suddenly crossed Minseong Kang’s mind.

No matter how excellent and precise the swordsmanship,

it was both gratifying and concerning that his granddaughter, who had shown no particular talent until recently, was now displaying swordsmanship so sharp it made even him shudder.

But the reason behind it was not pleasant. It had an unfortunate background.

If mishandled, it could become a sword technique that would cut herself.

Woong—!

‘…No. No, there’s no need for that.’

After watching Kim Soohyun’s swordsmanship a bit longer, Minseong Kang shook his head.

If she had been unable to control her anger and was being controlled by the sword rather than wielding it,

he would have rushed out of his study, taken away her sword, and scolded her.

But Kim Soohyun, his granddaughter who was so angry,

was still perfectly controlling her sword amid all that.

She neither succumbed to her emotions nor was controlled by the sword.

She perfectly controlled everything, simply carrying out her will.

Only Kim Soohyun herself would know what that will was.

However, it was clear that she had made remarkable progress because of it.

*

My chest keeps burning. It’s unbearable.

If I stay still like this, I feel like my body will burst into flames.

So I grabbed my sword. Grabbed it and swung it like mad.

I imagined that the “Elder” who dared to do that to the Examiner was standing before me.

With that thought, the heat in my chest spread to my head.

I feel like my vision is turning bright red. My body keeps trembling.

The image of the Examiner being transported covered in blood flashes before me.

Elder. I want to kill them. I want to tear them to pieces.

But I can’t do that now. I’m too weak, far too weak.

If I were to die instead, the Examiner would be sad.

Yes. So I need to become strong enough to kill them.

So that the Examiner won’t get hurt anymore. And so that I won’t get hurt either.

Then no one will be sad, and no one will be angry.

With that thought, my body and mind finally feel refreshed.

The world that was turning red returns to its original color.

‘Tomorrow, tomorrow he’ll definitely wake up.’

Hoping that the Examiner would wake up, call my name, and greet me,

I visited the hospital every day without fail.

Although he hasn’t woken up until today, tomorrow will be different.

If tomorrow is the same as today… then probably, just like today.

Yes. Just like now, I’ll have to swing my sword to release my anger.