Just Give It to Me (1)

Baek Hwayeon’s victory was declared from the judge’s mouth.

Baek Hwayeon blankly stared at Ryu Jia in front of her at that declaration, then slowly withdrew the sword aimed at Ryu Jia’s neck and sheathed it.

And then she let out another deep sigh and said,

“Oh, this is bad. What should I do, Jia?”

“What?”

Ryu Jia, who had also put away her sword, urgently asked back. And then Baek Hwayeon’s body fell forward.

She had lost consciousness. Ryu Jia quickly moved forward and safely supported Baek Hwayeon’s body.

And she smiled faintly at this absurd situation.

The winner came down from the arena in the loser’s arms. The medical team urgently approached the fainted Baek Hwayeon.

“Hwayeon has grown a lot. Without me knowing.”

Lee Dojin said, looking at Sword Empress Yoo Seol-ah who had somehow come to his left side.

Yoo Seol-ah made a nasal sound.

“Hmm, well. Student Dojin clearly cherishes Hwayeon and. Has become a good friend to her, but. I wonder if you’ve ever had much interest in Hwayeon’s growth in martial arts.”

Lee Dojin felt like he had been hit hard on the head with a hammer at Yoo Seol-ah’s words. If he thought about it for a moment, those words were right.

“I understand. Student Dojin’s martial arts are strong enough that you don’t need to recognize others’ martial arts.”

Lee Dojin slowly shook his head.

“I always gain new insights every time I see Sword Demon’s sword.”

Yoo Seol-ah laughed out loud.

“That’s because it’s the sword path of someone at Sword Demon’s level. And isn’t it possible to gain insights every time Sword Demon extends his sword because it’s Student Dojin?”

After finishing her words, Yoo Seol-ah this time looked at the old man sitting on Lee Dojin’s right side, Iroaz Academy Director Jin Un, and said,

“It’s been a while, Director Jin Un.”

Jin Un nodded at Yoo Seol-ah’s greeting.

“Yes, it’s been a while, Sword Empress.”

Although Jin Un was older, he was being polite because they both belonged to the Four Superhumans.

Lee Dojin was a bit surprised to hear that the old man who had spoken to him before the martial arts match started was the Academy Director.

And that surprise soon faded.

Matters that needed to be brought up immediately welled up in his mind.

“I have something to say to you, Director.”

Interest flickered in Jin Un’s eyes.

“Oh, I’m quite curious about Student Lee Dojin too. It seems Student Lee Dojin also has business with me.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jin Un burst into hearty laughter at Lee Dojin’s unhesitating response.

“Alright, let’s go to the Director’s office right now and have a talk.”

---

Jin Un and Lee Dojin headed to the Academy Director’s office. The scenery of the Iroaz Academy Director’s office was similar to other offices.

Lee Dojin sat down opposite Jin Un, who had sat down in the chair first.

“Well, it seems you have some reason you must see me. Tell me your business, Student Lee Dojin.”

Lee Dojin was thinking the same, so he opened his mouth right away.

“The World Tree branch.”

“Hm?”

Jin Un narrowed his brow sharply.

The World Tree branch.

Just as he was thinking there was a need to find out why the branch stored in the <Library> was resonating, someone appeared mentioning the World Tree branch, so he couldn’t help but be surprised.

Lee Dojin, who had brought up the topic, opened his mouth again.

“I need the World Tree branch.”

Jin Un thought he needed to resolve the curiosity that had arisen in his mind first.

“Who told you that I have a World Tree branch?”

Lee Dojin intended to answer honestly.

“I heard it from Master Craftsman Choi Cheolhyun. He told me that everyone who should know, knows.”

“…Master Choi sometimes seems to think his position is just that of a neighborhood blacksmith.”

Jin Un felt a headache coming on.

It meant that the standard for “those who should know” was high.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t blabbed about it.”

“Yes, even with just this little exchange, I can tell you’re not someone loose-lipped.”

Jin Un brushed back his white hair.

Despite being an old man who had experienced the years, his eyes flowed with intelligence.

“Can you explain why you need the World Tree branch?”

Lee Dojin had pondered quite a bit on the way to the Director’s office.

He thought he would naturally be asked why he needed the World Tree branch. From Director Jin Un’s position, it was a question he necessarily had to ask.

And what remained was his choice.

Could he talk about the existence of <Mistilteinn>?

The fact that he couldn’t move the inner power accumulated in his dantian unless he was holding a wooden sword or an item from the upper tree family.

He didn’t feel any aversion to telling someone about that. He was confident enough now to cover that weakness even if it was revealed.

But there was an issue of trust.

He hadn’t yet judged what kind of person the Academy Director was. And there was also a matter of order.

Before informing someone of his intimate circumstances. Before that, there was a need to first inform those who had been considerate enough not to pry deeply before he brought it up himself, even though they must have been curious about why he only used a wooden sword.

Baek Hwayeon, Ryu Jia, Sword Empress. Choi Bit-na. Senior Yeon Simun.

He had built quite deep relationships with these people.

This time, he only intended to express his intention.

Expressing the opinion that the World Tree branch, which must be stored somewhere, should continue to be well preserved as its owner is already determined.

“It’s related to my personal affairs. So I’ll explain the detailed reason after I’m confirmed as the strongest first-year in this martial arts competition. Today, I’m just here to get a promise. A promise that you’ll give me the World Tree branch if I become the strongest first-year.”

At Lee Dojin’s words that he couldn’t tell the exact reason, Jin Un’s snow-white eyebrows twitched.

“You know the value of the World Tree branch and that’s why you need it? Then it would be better to tell me the reason now.”

Rationally, the Director’s words were correct.

But Lee Dojin had his own procedure.

“I’m well aware of the weight that the name World Tree itself carries. But isn’t it being kept in storage because there’s no place to use it, no person to use it right now?”

This was also true.

Something that will clearly be used importantly somewhere, someday. But for now, its exact use hasn’t been determined.

“Even so. You need a reason for me to give that to you.”

Lee Dojin intended to explain the reason from a different angle.

“I heard about the Tower from the Vice Director.”

He continued in a low voice.

“She said there’s a high probability I’ll be invited to the Tower. She said I’m one of the Golden Generation.”

“I agree with that too.”

“If the World Tree branch comes into my possession, I’ll shine the brightest among them.”

Lee Dojin recalled what he had heard from Mistilteinn a few days ago.

-If you obtain a World Tree branch, and if I can properly digest it. Dojin, you’ll be able to soar much higher than now.

And Lee Dojin completely trusted the words of the being called Mistilteinn.

More than any other people.

Jin Un was slightly surprised. The words that just flowed from Lee Dojin’s mouth. Were quite different from the impression he had received from him until now.

“…Don’t you think that’s an arrogant thing to say?”

“I’m quite humble actually.”

However, Lee Dojin’s essence was that of a martial artist from the beginning.

A martial artist (武人) filled with self-assurance.

“I’ve taken down magical beasts alone. I’ve already killed numerous villains alone.”

Even looking at objective indicators, he couldn’t be seen as an academy student.

It was a track record that even S-rank hunters would find hard to achieve.

“I have talent. And I work hard at it too. Quite a lot.”

Lee Dojin’s eyes didn’t waver at all.

“So you can just give it to me. That World Tree branch which has high formal value, but hasn’t found a use yet.”

Academy Director Jin Un felt it for the first time in a long while. The feeling of pressure.

‘I didn’t know I could feel pressure from an opponent who isn’t even emitting killing intent.’

Ambition.

Thirst for martial arts.

It was pressure felt from the entire body of a man who expressed these without holding back.

“Because I’m the person who will give value to that branch.”

Jin Un, who had been frozen for a moment by that inexplicable pressure, let out a hollow laugh.

“…Huh.”

Now he didn’t even think it was arrogant.

“That confidence. It’s scary how it doesn’t seem like a lie.”

The ‘resonance’ of the World Tree branch stored in the <Library>.

It had been 11 years since he received one World Tree branch.

The branch that had shown no change all that time suddenly resonated, and a man appeared saying he needed it.

The Director had to admit that he had been completely persuaded by this man’s rough speech.

“Alright.”

Jin Un organized his thoughts.

“I’ll make the promise after confirming just one thing. That I’ll give you the World Tree branch if you become the strongest first-year in this martial arts competition.”

“What confirmation?”

“I need to confirm the basis of your confidence in my own way.”

Jin Un’s right hand stretched out.

And purple energy rippled in that hand.

Attribute type <Psychokinesis>.

High-pressure psychokinesis was instantly cast on Lee Dojin.

Depending on the caster’s capacity, psychokinesis could become tremendous gravity.