I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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“Huuh…”

Hazuki, sitting on one side of the training ground, took a breath.

She recalled the training session with Kim Il-shin, which had lasted a little over three hours.

‘It was really… impressive.’

Generally, geniuses don’t teach others well. Their perspective is set too high, making it hard for them to understand ordinary folk.

But Kim Il-shin was different. His advice contained the essence of the matter.

Identifying Hazuki’s deficiencies and the areas where she was stuck, he provided perfect guidance.

Even when Hazuki didn’t understand, he would demonstrate the swordsmanship of the Endo family with exceptional skill as if it were his first time.

How could she not revere him?

Of all the training sessions she’d had in her life, that last three-hour stretch was the most fruitful.

She gained so much that it was hard to wrap her head around it all.

If she continued to strive according to his teachings, it seemed she could soon break through the barriers that held her back.

“Is this stance correct?”

“Yes, but it would be better to angle your front paw a bit more.”

Hazuki was watching Kim Il-shin as he trained.

What he was testing was the swordsmanship of the Endo family, which she learned while he instructed her in sword skills.

Swish!

Kim Il-shin unleashed a lightning-fast slash.

He darted to the right, then suddenly twisted, crashing down on the central target with his strike.

It was a unique blend of unpredictability and steadfastness that characterized the Endo family’s sword style.

‘Did I take this from there?’

By chance, she recalled the swift blow she’d seen on Baekho Mountain.

The technique that blocked all of the opponent’s escape routes was infused with the Endo family’s sword style.

It felt like they had influenced each other through the long hours of combat.

‘It’s worth investigating.’

By helping Hazuki with her training, she could also understand the Endo family’s swordsmanship.

If she analyzed and refined it further, it might be useful in a positive way.

Knock, knock.

“Who is it?”

“Your phone repair is complete, Kim Il-shin.”

“Oh, come in.”

A servant who entered handed Kim Il-shin his phone.

It had been broken during the battle with Vernika and now looked perfectly repaired.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

As the servant stepped out, Kim Il-shin immediately turned on the phone.

Unlocking it, he found a mountain of messages stacked up.

Except for a few, they were all from Hanarin.

Due to an unintended lack of contact over several days, he could guess her mood without checking every message.

Just by looking at the last two messages from Hanarin, it was clear.

[No contact even after waking up.]

[You’re dead when you come back.]

‘…That’s scary.’

Still, he had to reach out to clear up the misunderstanding.

Just as Kim Il-shin was about to send a message saying, ‘My phone was broken,’

Zing—

He received a call from Hanarin. A chill ran down his spine.

With hesitant hands, Kim Il-shin answered the call.

“Hey! Why haven’t you contacted me after waking up…!”

Hanarin’s loud voice was dampened. To clear up the misunderstanding, Kim Il-shin spoke first.

“I’m sorry. My phone was broken, so I couldn’t contact you.”

“Are you stupid? Can’t you borrow someone else’s phone?”

“I didn’t know the number, so there was nothing I could do—”

“Wait a moment… You don’t know my number?”

“…I couldn’t memorize it.”

“Geez…”

Watching Kim Il-shin struggle with Hanarin, Hazuki thought to herself.

‘I must assist the Sword Deity from the sidelines.’

She resolved to transfer to Cosmo Academy. Of course, there was no other reason aside from support.

***

The next day, at the Endo family airport.

Hazuki, standing at the front of the group that had come to see Kim Il-shin off, said.

“Safe travels.”

“There’s no need for all this fuss.”

“It’s natural for us to see off our invited guest.”

Even so, she wondered if it was necessary to bring so many people along.

It was fortunate that Baekho Mountain’s side hadn’t sent anyone as per Kim Il-shin’s request.

“And the information you asked for will be sent as soon as it’s organized.”

One type of information Hazuki mentioned related to the Red Sky Church.

There might be some facts she was unaware of, so she requested that the previous information also be sent.

And the other was information about the Light Demon.

It bothered her that someone as significant as the Light Demon was completely outside the main narrative, and she was curious if there might be something useful there.

‘If there isn’t, then it’s not a big deal.’

The information on the Light Demon was secondary. She wasn’t expecting much.

“Thank you. How will I receive it?”

“I’ll deliver it personally.”

It seemed she intended to send someone. Considering security, that method was indeed solid.

“Then I’ll take my leave. I hope we meet again someday.”

Kim Il-shin had gained a lot during his time in Japan. He would need a time to sort it out once he returned.

‘For now, I need to work on the Continuous Striking… I wonder if there are any training dummies left in stock?’

Kim Il-shin began to focus on crafting his training plan.

“I’ll see you soon.”

Thanks to that, Hazuki’s out-of-sync response went unnoticed.

***

Arriving at the academy, all eyes turned to him from every direction.

Curiosity from those wanting to ask about the topic of the day, the Bishop Vernika attack incident.

The only information available from the Endo family so far was that Vernika had been killed within the family mansion.

They hadn’t even announced who had done the killing.

So, it was only natural that all gaze fell on Kim Il-shin, who had gone to meet the Sword Deity during that time.

However, no one approached him directly.

Due to the reputation Kim Il-shin had built up until now, they found it difficult to approach, instead waiting for someone to take the initiative.

But no such person came forth until Kim Il-shin arrived at the sparring hall.

Buzz—

Kim Il-shin entered the private training area and began to warm up.

He didn’t plan to train for long.

He intended to practice only until Hanarin was finished with her work.

‘She said it would take about two hours, so let’s just train for one hour.’

Knock, knock.

Just as he was about to begin serious training, he heard a knock at the door.

There wasn’t anyone who should be coming at this time. He hadn’t mentioned to Hanarin that he was here.

“Who is it?”

“…It’s me.”

The person who came in after opening the door was Baek Ha-yeon.

She looked somewhat anxious. Seeing that, he recalled that he hadn’t been able to give her advice because he had lost consciousness.

“I’m so sorry for coming by so suddenly. I haven’t heard from you in three days… I couldn’t hold it in. I’m really sorry, but can you give me some advice?”

Baek Ha-yeon’s state was worse than before.

Her anxious eyes and trembling hands reminded one of a drug addict.

That wasn’t far from the truth.

Kim Il-shin’s guidance was like a drug that freed her from a frightening future.

Having given up her future to him due to her fear of making decisions, Baek Ha-yeon was now addicted to avoidance.

She was tangled in her fears deep inside, not even considering overcoming them.

Seeing Baek Ha-yeon like this, Kim Il-shin said coldly.

“There’s no more advice.”

It was time to cut the chain that was dragging her deeper into despair.

He had let go of the thought that she could overcome her fears on her own.

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

“It means exactly that. The time you could survive by avoiding has passed.”

Flustered, Baek Ha-yeon staggered closer, her wavering gaze unstable.

“You can’t survive just by running away.”

“No. Please….”

Her gesture to grasp onto Kim Il-shin’s arm swept through the air. Weakly crumbling, Baek Ha-yeon plopped down on the floor.

“Why, why are you abandoning me now? Didn’t you say you would help? Why the sudden change…!”

“I didn’t think you would crumble this easily.”

Though he answered like that, there was another hidden reason.

Kim Il-shin didn’t have feelings for Baek Ha-yeon. In fact, he was closer to disliking her.

Those two years had been a hellish time. Baek Ha-yeon was one of those who had created that hell.

Despite trying to rid himself of useless emotions, there was a limit.

Even so, the reason why Kim Il-shin had helped Baek Ha-yeon, who was trapped in her fears, stemmed from a semblance of guilt.

Because of that guilt, he had made excuses to himself as he helped her.

During that time, he secretly thought to himself.

His essence might be an intruder, disrupting the order of this world by entering it unlawfully.

For that reason, he felt responsible for Baek Ha-yeon’s downfall.

What should not have happened in the original future might have occurred due to his influence.

So he helped her.

‘Not anymore.’

The future he saw through the monitor was merely an illusion.

It was only one of the many possible forms this world could take.

Only the future he had built and would continue to create was the truth.

The reason Baek Ha-yeon collapsed in this reality was not Kim Il-shin’s alteration of the future but her own weakness.

Kim Il-shin found no reason to help her any longer.

A relationship that had started wrongly should be ended here.

“When you sort out your thoughts, come and find this place. It will help eliminate your fears.”

Kim Il-shin handed her a note.

The hideout of ‘Witch Barbatos’. If she goes there, it would cast a spell allowing her to confront her torment directly.

With this, Baek Ha-yeon’s future slipped out of Kim Il-shin’s hands. Now her future depended solely on her own choices.

“You must choose now.”

With those words, Kim Il-shin left the private training hall. After feeling the outside breeze, his stuffiness lessened a bit.

“Huuh…”

Still, his heart felt bitter. He wanted to meet Hanarin soon.