Chapter 51

Chapter 51

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 51: Legacy (2)

But first, I had something I needed to do.

I checked my points.

[100,500P]

According to the standards of the multi-dimensional store, that was just enough to barely buy one S-grade item.

I didn’t really need weapons; that was something I could manage somehow.

‘Seo Ye-bin said she would help too.’

-What kind of gift are you thinking of?

-A gift?

-Yes. You were near death this time, but you managed to overcome it. That’s not an easy feat.

-…

-I can do anything you want. Just tell me.

-Nothing for now.

-Is that so? Let me know when you think of something. I, more than anyone, will be waiting.

Seo Ye-bin’s words still echoed in my ears.

That’s why I put aside the idea of choosing weapons.

Spirit Elixirs were also starting to show less effect.

‘Mysteries are too expensive.’

Mysteries.

They were like a concept of power that worked in this world.

And it was a power that even the Heaven Defying Body didn’t resist.

One of the Mysteries I would acquire in the future took up a huge amount of space, so buying it now wouldn’t be very useful.

Then the choice was between Talent and Skill. One of the two.

‘I should buy it right now if I want to survive.’

If I bought Talent, it had to be something related to senses that affected everything.

If I went for Skill, something universally applicable would be better.

Like the use of spirit energy.

‘I don’t really need to learn any other martial arts.’

Currently, my greatest strength was the Black God Martial Arts.

It was right to learn a Skill that could support that.

I constantly compared Talent and Skill in the multi-dimensional store.

Those with a minus sign carried significant penalties.

For something like the Heaven Defying Body, without Black God Martial Arts, it was like being limbless in this world.

Inscrutable Talent lowered all magic-related talents and gave talents related to spirit power that had a significant mental impact.

The simplest choice for me would have been a sword-related Talent. I’m decent at other things, but my swordsmanship isn’t exceptional.

‘Lately, it seems like only my step techniques are getting better.’

Only now did I feel like I was properly handling the Black Flash Sword Technique.

It was a technique that relied on speed, so I thought I’d master it first before moving to the next one, but it’s taking the longest.

‘It feels too late to start learning something new.’

The style of swordsmanship I aspire to was dual-wielding.

There’s an incredible sword that paired perfectly with Black Heaven.

After a lot of thought, I finally chose one Talent.

[Sword Demon (S-)]

A talent one can acquire after surviving life-and-death duels 100 times, with the resolve of a swordsman considered a genius.

The user’s talent has not yet fully blossomed.

:Significant adjustment when using Transforming Sword, Illusionary Sword, and Swift Sword techniques.

:Significant adjustment to senses and agility. Slight adjustment to strength.

:Significant negative adjustment to magic power. Slight negative adjustment to physical stamina.

:The user’s talent has not yet fully blossomed.

Light burst forth and flowed into my body.

‘……’

It felt odd.

My senses were dramatically heightened, as if I had drunk an elixir. My speed seemed to have increased as well.

As I squeezed my hand, it felt like my strength had grown, but my physical stamina was somewhat diminished.

‘Well, of all the related talents, this one affects me the least.’

The others were ruled out because they reduced magic power and other stats to a medium or large degree.

-This is an incredible ability…

Black Heaven sensed the change in my body immediately.

-A talent that lets you buy other talents? That’s an amazing ability.

‘How does it look?’

-If my previous master had this, she would have unified the world five years earlier. For reference, the previous owner unified the world in ten years after mastering Black God Martial Arts.

It seemed like it would take three years if someone like me used it properly.

I laughed meaninglessly and headed to the training ground.

To experience the new talent.

I picked up Black Heavenly, the act of holding a sword.

Ssshhh-

My senses sharpened to an extreme degree.

All sorts of inspiration flooded my mind. How to put it? More efficient ways to ‘kill’ the opponent.

Slash-!

Black Heaven cut through the air. I wielded it with the technique of the Black Flash Sword Technique.

[Proficiency in Black Flash Sword Technique increases!]

The Black Flash Sword Technique was fast.

It was just a fast martial art. Those who have learned Black God Martial Arts could do this by releasing the Energy of Defying Heaven to suppress, break, and kill all sorts of abilities.

However, the Black Flash Sword Technique had clear limits.

-Once you reach a certain level, you etch your alias in the world. From then on, you’re not bound by the world’s laws.

That’s why the Heavenly Demon created a martial art beyond the Black Flash Sword Technique.

[Proficiency in Black Flash Sword Technique increases!]

-That’s why the previous owner was worried. A sword that’s merely fast can be useless and lead to death against certain enemies. So, she witnessed numerous martial arts.

Black Heaven spoke leisurely.

I swung my sword as if possessed.

-Hyeolgwang Sword, Taegukhye Sword, Eunha Meteor Sword, Bokma Sword, Shipdan Geum. She challenged and fought life-and-death duels with those who possessed these famous martial arts. That’s part of Black God Martial Arts.

[Proficiency in Black Flash Sword Technique increases!]

[You have awakened a very small ‘part’ of a superior sword technique. You have learned the superior technique Seophun Sword Technique!]

-The previous owner had embedded her own martial arts into the basics for future generations.

The sword began to transform on its own.

The once merely fast sword now shifted. Despite its extreme speed, it blossomed and deceived like flowers, both beautifully and misleadingly.

It became the Illusionary Sword and the Transforming Sword.

“…….”

-Seophun (攝魂), a sword technique that toys with the opponent. Isn’t it quite a fine martial art?

“So that’s why you didn’t teach me martial arts.”

-Indeed. I know you’re eager, Master. But the Black God Martial Arts is more exceptional than you think. It was created solely for you by the most powerful being in the world, who was also the greatest grandmaster in the thousand-year history of martial arts, both past and present.

I remembered my fight with Napak Cheon and learning the Black Heavenly First Step.

Those moments when the martial arts morphed as if enchanted.

-Of course, there are techniques that need to be passed on separately. Like the advanced course of Black God Martial Arts, the Black Path’s Deep Abyss.

“Then, is there more for me to learn?”

-You should learn the advanced course of Black Ek. But before that…

Black Heaven’s face turned slightly red. Then, in a shy, small voice, she said:

-Could you wipe down my body with a cloth?

“…….”

Silently, I wiped down Black Heavenly while listening to its moans.

Time passed quickly.

On the Friday morning when we had planned our trip.

“If you are directly hit by magic, it’s best to counter it with the opposite element. Fire with water. Lightning with earth. However, most warriors use armor or protective gear to block. That’s because, when hit by magic, few wizards can conjure up a counter spell quickly.”

Song Ra-hee’s lecture began. I twirled an S-pen in my hand while listening to her.

‘The content is really substantial…….’

“Of course, wizards of that level exist, but not around here. There are fewer than 1,000 wizards like me in the whole world. So, in this class, you’ll learn about the ‘core’ of magic. Magic fundamentally manifests through a core and uses the world’s mana to weave spells. So…”

It was too detailed.

And she bragged too much.

Worst of all, Song Ra-hee didn’t seem to care and spoke as if it were natural.

“…Therefore, in such cases, warriors can eliminate it using sword energy following the core, but it’s typically only used by the top warriors or barely by those among you. So…”

As I twirled the S-pen, my eyes met Song Ra-hee’s.

“…Then, let’s have Lee Seo-ha try to solve this problem.”

“Yes.”

I walked to the front at Song Ra-hee’s behest.

I didn’t know the problem.

It involved a mathematical equation with mana, set amidst a world brimming with mysteries and special abilities, formulas, and equations.

But the talent Reading(-) cut through all that and revealed the answer.

I pressed the button on the S-pen and began to write on the hologram. My handwriting was elegant—a result of Dexterity.

“Excellent. As expected from the class topper. Flawless.”

Song Ra-hee commended me and started to jot something down next to my name in the attendance book. Probably extra points.

As the class neared its end, Professor Song Ra-hee called out to me.

“Ah, Lee Seo-ha, please stay for a moment.”

“Yes.”

What could it be?

I approached Professor Song Ra-hee after class ended.

“It’s about the club trip today, you know?”

“Yes, Ershil mentioned it.”

“Will you be attending?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. So our department will be fully represented.”

Professor Song Ra-hee made a note on her tablet.

“But were you the one in charge of our department?”

“Yes, such tasks often fall to wizards when attempts to create artifacts fail.”

That didn’t sound right.

Our department’s designated person was definitely not Professor Song Ra-hee.

However, I couldn’t say anything to Song Ra-hee, who seemed to be in a good mood.

“Have you prepared your luggage?”

“Yes. It’s over there.”

“You really only packed clothes. This is why men…”

Song Ra-hee chuckled as she spoke.

“But why did you ask me to stay?”

“Nothing big. I just bought a new car. It’s equipped with the latest series of magic engines and levitation capabilities. It’s a top-of-the-line model that can cover a 30-minute walk in just 30 seconds with its 100 horsepower. I’ll give you a ride. Let’s go together.”

Song Ra-hee jingled her keys while speaking.

I nodded obediently and followed her.