episode_0041

Two men. Mana begins to surge from the subordinate’s hands.

Neither of them has a basic sword or any armor, which means they are mages. They could easily be defeated with low-level magic, but I didn’t bother. The words the man just spoke disgusted me.

— A lowly swordsman who can’t even use this kind of magic.

It seemed that in this world, swordsmanship was treated as inferior while magic was esteemed as superior. That’s probably why Trangman tried to learn magic, even resorting to taking such ridiculous potions.

But sadly, I quite like swordsmanship. My master, a master swordsman, always said,

“The heart is woven into the sword, and by wielding it, one can dispel doubt. The blade must be sharp, yet merciful at its end.”

Before I honed my magic to its limits, I received much help from swordsmanship. However, I couldn’t stand their disregard for swordsmanship with their measly knowledge of magic. Their magic was contemptible.

“This guy!”

As I began to charge forward, the subordinate used magic. An explosive type. But it was futile. I can use an aura that can cut through magic.

All I had in my hand was a ballpoint pen, but it didn’t matter. I could imbue any object with an aura. I enhanced the size and strength of the aura using mana. And then,

Boom!

The man’s explosive magic vanished in an instant.

“How…?”

The man was surprised but too late. I had already closed the distance. I immediately stabbed the ballpoint pen into his neck and kicked him straight into the ground. Then, I charged straight at the man who looked like a leader.

“Bind him!”

As the man finished speaking, some strange spirit started throwing a huge chain at me. But ultimately, it was just simple magic. I flicked it away with the ballpoint pen, and it vanished in a white light.

“Damn it… Why does my binding spell succumb to a damn ballpoint pen!”

The man cursed at the unreasonable sight, but it was to be expected. As a grand sorcerer, my knowledge of magic rituals is deep, and I must excel in finding their weaknesses.

But all that is irrelevant.

Because I possess the nature of an anti-demon.

“Die!”

Perhaps thinking magic wouldn’t work, the man flailed his hefty body and swung a fist at me. I immediately dropped my pen and lunged into his embrace. I deflected his reaching fist with my arm and promptly drove my fist into his jaw.

He staggered but endured the attack. I swiftly kicked his legs, destabilizing him. As his body gave way, I naturally drove his head down with gravity.

Thud!

A loud sound echoed, and blood began to flow from the man’s nose and mouth.

“It… will be… unbearable… Whatever… trickery you’ve used… our… guild members… won’t let you… off…”

He still had the audacity to glare at me and mumble. But it didn’t scare me at all. Just a while ago, I was engaged in war, and although I couldn’t use mass slaughter magic now, I could immediately employ low-level spells. Moreover, I could release the mana restriction using the penalty removal ability and enhance my aura anytime.

After 24 hours, I could even use high-level magic, so I wasn’t afraid of anyone who might come after me. I openly and unreservedly spoke my mind to the man.

“Should I fear a bunch of idiots like your guild, even if you’re as inferior as you are?”

As I stepped on the man’s head, he began to beg this time.

“If you spare me… I’ll give you money.”

Money… It was already overflowing and useless to me. Even if I produced elixirs from the tower for a lifetime, I wouldn’t need the money. I desired information more than money.

“What’s your guild’s name?”

“Akir… We are the Akir Guild.”

I’m currently lost in thought, so the man laughs and shouts, “So, you’ve heard the name. Are you scared now? The Akir Guild will chase after you. So, kneel now…”

I thrust the pen straight into the man’s throat. As he gasps for air, I whisper, “Your use has ended. Die.”

Thud.

In an instant, two men collapse.

“Akir…”

The reason I hesitated upon hearing the name was that it sounded familiar. Surely, during the time when I used to obsessively read over 3000 novels, I had come across the name “Akir.”

Apart from the Robber’s Guild, nothing else comes to mind.

“My memory is failing me.”

It was unreasonable to expect that I could remember everything perfectly, considering it had been over 12 years since I read it recklessly before my transmigration.

But I clearly remembered the title. Before transmigrating here, I confirmed it through the authentication information of Trying Man.

[Diary of a Lesser Knight’s Growth]

Just knowing the title should be enough. If I dig around later, I’ll surely recall the content. Thinking this, I etched the name Akir into my mind and once again headed towards Trying Man’s diary.

“What a regretful fellow.”

Trying Man was a swordsman. A diligent inspector who never skipped a day of training with his sword. As evidence, the body of the person I transmigrated into wasn’t huge, but his muscles were well-developed, and calluses and hardened skin were visible all over his palms, evidence of how long he had wielded a sword.

“Today, I swung my sword for 12 hours. They say effort never betrays. I will grow even more tomorrow than today.”

One of the excerpts from Trying Man’s diary.

“Why… He didn’t need to pursue magic with this level of dedication.”

Magic may be superior, but swordsmanship is by no means inferior. Once one reaches the level of being able to use sword techniques acquired through hard work and practice, battles between swordsmen and magicians are determined by their skill and sense. Ultimately, it’s not about superiority or inferiority, but about the person wielding the weapon.

“I think I know why…”

I was lucky to get into the academy, but everyone ignores me. I’m the only one at the academy who can’t use magic… Why did I have to be the one to pass? I wouldn’t have had to experience this humiliation if I had just failed… It’s hard because everyone looks down on me and ridicules me. But if I try a little harder, maybe someday I won’t be like them.

Today, I was hit countless times in front of Leviah. I felt more ashamed than pained. I couldn’t even properly rebel in front of the girl I liked and had to keep getting hit… How great would it have been if I knew how to use magic… Then I wouldn’t have had to go through such unfair things… I want to die. No matter how much I train in swordsmanship, I can’t see my future.

Today, my pants were pulled down in front of Leviah. But it was okay. Leviah stood up for me. She yelled at the guys bothering me to back off. But I was worried. What if they start bothering Leviah too?

I thanked Leviah for helping me and asked her out on a date. But why isn’t she responding… She must be a little busy.

I confessed and got rejected. Leviah is very interested in magic and said she likes someone she can talk to about magic. It’s a miserable day. If only… I could have learned magic.

Trying Man. Macdarras closed his diary and remembered something from a few days ago.

The nickname “tryingman” discovered through his leadership ability.

Macdarras had looked up his name on the extinction forum.

—

List of tryingman’s posts (in reverse chronological order)

“I’ve developed feelings for someone. How should I confess?”

“I posted before that I had feelings for someone, and today we’re meeting.”

“I confessed and got turned down… I guess I don’t come across as attractive.”

“What should I do if the person I have a crush on doesn’t respond?”

“The person I have a crush on seems interested in magic… I can’t use magic though…”

“Is there a way to learn magic?”

“I heard there’s a potion for learning magic, so I looked it up. Apparently, a large shipment is coming soon.”

“This is strange… I took the potion, but my body isn’t moving well… Is this normal?”

[The medicine I mentioned before… It doesn’t seem to work, so I took a few more at once… If I take this, will I be able to talk to her too?

Did I take too much medicine? I feel a bit dazed. But it feels good. If I learn magic, I will definitely get into the top of the class and make that girl notice me again. I won’t be bullied at the academy anymore.]

—

trying man was an ordinary person with a crush. However, I felt familiar with his name from before, because I had observed him closely in the past.

The reason I observed trying man in the past was that a certified user called “sooyangverdeul,” who posted at different times, had possessed the same character as him in a novel.

Sooyangverdeul. Upon checking the authentication information, the name used in the novel was Leviah, presumed to be a girl. By the way, trying man’s name was Kaein.

Simply possessing the same character in a novel was common, but the problem was the posts made by Sooyangverdeul (Leviah).

—

Sooyangverdeul’s post list

[Today, I helped someone being bullied at the academy. It’s scary, but I must have done well, right?]

[I decided to become friends with the person I helped before. After talking to them, they seem nicer than I thought.]

[The person I helped contacted me to say thank you… They want to meet up, should I go?]

[The person I helped suddenly confessed their feelings when we met today, and I’m confused… How should I proceed from now on?ㅜㅜ I have no romantic interest at all…]

[A male friend keeps wanting to meet up, but now it’s getting a bit uncomfortable. How can I distance myself?]

[Anyone know how to distance oneself from a male friend without hurting each other’s feelings…]

—

Even someone unfamiliar would have been able to tell. Trying man’s crush was Sooyangverdeul.

Trying man and Sooyangverdeul both posted similar worries, but their directions were different.

Trying man’s majority of worries were about how to confess to a female friend, while Sooyangverdeul’s majority of worries were about how to kindly reject a male friend’s confession.

The bulletin boards were the same, but it seemed they didn’t read each other’s posts. Thousands of posts are uploaded to Myeolso-gal every day. It’s normal to miss a lot of posts unless you’re like me, checking all day long. Even if they had seen it, they probably just thought the other person was in a similar situation, unable to verify each other’s user information.

But as an administrator, I could tell.

Looking at the times and titles of Trying Man’s post and the novel he impersonated, and the times and titles of Sooyangverdeul’s post and the novel he impersonated, it was clear that they were each talking about themselves.

One side is striving for success in love, while the other is uncomfortable and trying to push away. Feeling sorry, I left a comment.

Trying Man

[Title: What should I do if the person I have a crush on no longer contacts me…]

[Body: I don’t want to give up…]

ㄴ Administrator: If it’s to this extent, it seems like she just doesn’t like you. How about giving up?

ㄴ Trying Man: I don’t think that’ll work. I really like her a lot. Maybe if I show excellent results in the mid-term achievement evaluation at the academy, she might see me differently. So I’m just waiting for that. I know how to handle black magic… The problem is, she really likes magic…

ㄴ Administrator: If there’s anything you don’t know about magic, ask me. I’ll tell you.

ㄴ Trying Man: Really? Do you know a lot about magic?

ㄴ Administrator: Of course. I’m a grand wizard.

I had also left a comment before, but Trying Man must have thought it was a joke and ignored me.

*Sigh*

My heart became complicated as I looked through Trying Man’s diary. It’s easy enough to find out which academy he attends and roughly where it is; everything was detailed in the diary.

But I was troubled.

The system’s words to help Trying Man. What could be a way to help a guy who’s already dead?

Is it to fulfill an unrequited love that couldn’t be achieved?

“That can’t be.”

As I pondered, a bright light began to flicker from Trying Man’s diary.

I walked as if possessed by that light.

The last page of the diary. The writing at the bottom was small. There was a phrase written with such strong pressure that it pierced the paper.

— In truth, I wanted to be recognized by everyone as a swordsman.

“So this is it.”

To escape torment, to impress an unrequited love, and because he didn’t want to admit his own weakness, the boy longed for magic. But his true desire was different.

He wanted to be acknowledged for his swordsmanship, which he had worked tirelessly at. Whether it was by those around him, his unrequited love, or even himself.

That was all.

Suddenly, Teckle came to mind. Even if he hadn’t reached the level of a master swordsman, the man never gave up swinging his sword and would continue to proudly consider himself a knight. If he hadn’t died like this, couldn’t Kael also have become a knight like Teckle someday?

[You have successfully understood the wish of the trying man.]

[You have gained 100 administrator points.]

[A weapon is being provided.]

Once again, light begins to shimmer in the corner of the room. A single sword, which wasn’t visible before, catches my eye. The handle is worn, but judging by its sharpness, it was probably the one Trying Man used.

I raised his sword and headed outside.

— In truth, I wanted to be recognized by everyone as a swordsman.

In this novel where his swordsmanship is deemed inferior, he constantly wielded his sword, but in the end, his will was broken, and he sought magic.

Like Icarus from the myth who tried to soar high but fell to the ground melted by the sun, Kael died seeking magic.

However, upon reaching death, Trying Man (Kael) would have realized that what he truly wanted was swordsmanship.

Perhaps this story ended as the foolish pursuit of the unknown by a human, ending in tragedy as it should have originally.

If I hadn’t come here.

“If this can be some consolation.”

I will now fulfill the boy’s dream, which has become unattainable.

“I guess I should also take revenge on those tormentors while I’m at it.”

With that in mind, I am a trying man. No, I headed to Tristan Academy as a current student.