episode_0022

If it was enjoyable, it was enjoyable; if it was happy, it was a happy lunchtime that came to an end.

“Should we start getting up?”

“The time… passed too quickly…”

“Pfft!”

It felt like not even 10 minutes had gone by, yet lunchtime had already ended.

Ewayoung seemed to feel the same way, looking quite downcast.

Her gloomy expression was so cute that I couldn’t hide my smile.

“Let’s keep coming here in the future. That should work, right?”

“Heh heh. I suppose so.”

I rose from my seat first, reaching out my hand towards Ewayoung, who looked up at me, and she took my hand as she got up.

“Phew~! Is it training time now…? I’m excited.”

I gained enough stats and mana from sparring with Kyle.

My swordsmanship proficiency goes without saying.

Right now, I could spar with friends and win without using body control.

“And… be even more cautious from now on.”

I mustn’t become arrogant.

Didn’t I feel it during the battle with Kyle?

Just memorize all of Kyle’s pre-attack motions, evade them all, and counterattack. Simple, right?

But in reality, I suffered a humiliating defeat.

Even if I knew what attack was coming, fighting a strong opponent was on a different level.

Where I’m looking, what I’m trying to do.

Keep a broad view and be ready to adapt to attacks at any moment.

Utilize terrain features that weren’t possible in the game.

And even add variables to my movements.

If there hadn’t been changes in Kyle as reality set in, I would have died when my foot slipped.

So, from now on, I will never be arrogant.

Always give my best.

—

Swordsmanship training ground.

I was teaching Han Seyoung about swords there.

“Mmm… This is quite challenging, infusing mana into the sword while compressing and containing it.”

I was teaching her the original sword from the evaluation test last time, revealing the technique of Sword Mastery.

“Can you do it?”

“I can, but… using it during combat is absolutely unreasonable.”

Han Seyoung said that and closed her eyes, focusing.

Hmm. Her sword gradually shone blue and soon a pure blue color filled the blade.

Then, opening her eyes, she swung the sword at the scarecrow in front of her.

“Hah!”

Swish-

The scarecrow’s waist was effortlessly cut through without much resistance.

Han Seyoung was amazed by what she had done.

“Wow… Look at this. Just by changing the way mana is used, the impact is incredible. Where did you learn this?”

“A fool who knows nothing but swords left behind this technique.”

“…Han Gyeol, if it’s a secret, why is it so hard to say it’s a secret?”

It’s obvious.

“Anyway, I wonder if I should really learn this sword. I’m scared of asking for something without thinking.”

“It’s okay. You can trust yourself.”

It would be good if Han Seyoung became stronger. There must be a reason.

We need to build up our strength to face future threats.

Just following the training taught by the professors is not enough.

It would be good to go to each person and help them grow.

I wanted to teach Ewayoung too, but I told Han Seyoung to teach her instead.

Well, with that level of talent and skill, she’ll get stronger no matter what.

“Don’t trust people too much. There are so many people who approach hiding their true intentions, you need to fix that!”

“It’s fine. I don’t trust everyone, so don’t worry.”

Han Seyoung worries that if a bad person asks her to go with them, she might follow.

I’m not that foolish…

“Rather than that, Han Gyeol, would you like to spar with me?”

“Huh? Spar? …Sure.”

“Great! Practicing sparring is good for improving skills!”

Was she curious about my current skills, or did Han Seyoung challenge me to a spar?

“Dael-yeon, that worked out well.”

“Hmm, should I call the professor…?”

“No. As long as it’s not for a ranking competition, it’s okay to spar moderately.”

“I see!”

“…It’s also written in the sparring rules. You didn’t read them?”

“Ah! Um… Anyway! Shall we begin?”

Han Seyoung changes the subject, rolling her eyes.

It’s nothing particularly important; might as well start now.

I walk over to the weapon rack, grab a wooden sword, and return to my position.

Swish-

Assuming a familiar stance.

Then, I gaze at Han Seyoung in front of me.

“Huh?”

Perhaps sensing my momentum, Han Seyoung, who was lightly smiling at me, flinches slightly.

“You must have trained hard over the weekend… Is that really you, Hangeol?”

“Not just hard, but painfully so… Who’s going first?”

Comparing last week’s me to the present, Han Seyoung tilts her head.

Seemingly indifferent, she speaks to me with a smile.

“Oh, impressive! Well then, I’ll go first!”

Got it! She rushes towards me, pounding the ground.

How skilled is Han Seyoung, really?

Focus. A thrust aimed at the left shoulder.

Should I parry?

I sidestep diagonally to the right, delivering an upward strike to Han Seyoung’s upper body.

“Ugh…!”

Clang!

Han Seyoung blocks the upward strike by twisting her wrist holding the sword.

Of course, she would block that.

Taking a step back, Han Seyoung retreats, widening the distance between us before swinging her sword again.

Legs, torso, arms, shoulders, waist.

The sword coming at me from multiple directions.

No need to block every attack.

Deflect one, and the following strikes are futile.

A diagonal slash targeting the shoulder.

I narrowly evade the sword before it reaches my shoulder, moving sideways.

“You’re quick!”

Lowering my stance while moving to anticipate the next attack.

With fewer variables to worry about, where should I strike?

Legs. I lure her into attacking my lower body and strike in that direction.

Thud!

Where I struck, Han Seyoung’s sword is embedded in the ground.

Quickly pulling out the sword, I adjust my stance.

“Impressive! Not only following the sword but… what should I say… predicting? Yes! It feels like predicting your moves.”

“Oh, did it show?”

“I saw confidence in your movements. It’s like you move this way, so I’ll act like this—confidence like that.”

Explaining the unfamiliar feeling she sensed in my movements, Han Seyoung.

Is it because she fears being outshone by the sword?

Even after a brief exchange, could she feel that?

“Well, the warm-up is over. Let’s get serious now, shall we?”

Han Seyoung chuckles, readjusting her grip on the sword.

Mana seeps into the wooden sword, emitting a faint light.

“Now! Show me Hangeol’s strength!”

Haha. Was everything until now just a formality?

Me too.

Desired outcome achieved.

Saaa. I infuse mana into my wooden sword and manipulate mana within my body.

“This time, I’ll make the first move!”

“Bring it on!”

Thud!

In an instant, closing the distance, but Han Seyoung’s eyes were fixed on me.

Smiling as if enjoying this moment, with a smile that says it’s fun.

Enjoyable? For me too.

Head, side, shoulder.

Block, evade, counter.

Neck, legs, waist.

Evade, counter, block.

When I attack, Han Seyoung blocks.

When Han Seyoung attacks, I block.

Engaged in dozens of exchanges without moving from our spots.

Dividing blows with Han Seyoung, I am convinced.

My current abilities are not inferior to Han Seyoung’s.

“Haha!”

Our abilities are similar.

So, what about the difference in skill level?

I reverse my grip on the sword, pushing hers outward.

Her sword, which was locked against mine, slides along the handle as I push it away.

Swiftly seizing the opportunity, I grab her right arm with my left hand.

“Excuse me for a moment!”

As I pull her arm, I trip her leg, throwing Han Seyoung off balance and onto the ground behind her.

“Woah!?”

Thrown into the air, she twists her waist midair and lands steadily.

An excellent aerial maneuver.

“Cheater!!! You weren’t supposed to use a black sword!!”

“When did I ever say I was using a black sword!!”

“Well, that’s true!”

As I leap in again, I hastily get up from my spot, preparing for the next attack that will follow.

Thud. Thwack. Thump. Hyeseyoung continues to defend against the sword I wield.

In the midst of it, perhaps finding an opening, she retaliates with a gleam in her eyes.

“A gap there!”

“Sorry. That wasn’t it.”

The sword I swung to deflect hers cuts through the air.

“Oops.”

Always observing the opponent’s movements, I prepare to adapt the sword at every moment.

Guiding and utilizing the opportunity when Hyeseyoung counters.

“Finish.”

Tap.

I bring the wooden sword to Hyeseyoung’s neck.

End of the sparring.

“This means I win, right?”

“Ugh… Let’s have one more round!”

“Oh, my back~”

“Don’t lie!!!”

Dodging the weak sword thrust, I thought to myself.

I’ve gotten good enough to beat Hyeseyoung in a light sparring match.

It’s fortunate that my training hasn’t been in vain.

The rest will be training with friends, where we can all grow.

May it all end in happiness for everyone.

“Eeek!!!”

“Stop it!! I’ll do it! I’ll help!!”

At a confessional room in a cathedral.

Clang. Thud.

“Father, we sent people to the location you specified, but they found no traces.”

“…Is that so. We haven’t done anything that could expose us externally.”

A young man who entered the confessional room opens up to the priest about the information he has gathered.

No traces, no external exposure.

A story hinting at something being orchestrated.

“Someone is interfering with our grand mission.”

“If you command, we will surely eliminate them.”

“We are not mindless killers who eliminate without reason.”

“I apologize. I repent for attempting to kill someone; I am remorseful.”

Nodding, the young man shows contrition towards the direction where the priest is, although the priest’s reaction is unseen.

“It’s alright. If you truly repent, your sin has already been forgiven.”

The priest speaks gently without any visible movement.

“We are preparing for purification to make the world peaceful. So, those who obstruct our work must not be tolerated.”

Purification efforts for peace.

“Continue to locate those who attacked us, and how is the child who entered the academy faring?”

Stories of infiltrating the academy dungeon, records of individuals requiring attention, and so on, continue.

“Please convey my regards for their hard work. The heroes of the academy are quite troublesome individuals.”

“Yes, understood.”

With those words, the young man rises from his seat, bows to the priest once more, and exits.

The priest remaining in the confessional room still sits motionless with closed eyes.

“There’s much to be done… But all of this is our trial. We won’t rest until we purify the world.”

“There are too many trying to taint this world. Far too many.”

“To cleanse the world, we have no choice but to purify all those who defile it.”

In a flash-

The priest’s eyes were filled with madness.