Hunter Academy Entrance Exam (6)

I dismissed the belated information window and sheathed my sword.

‘…Thank goodness.’

Who would have thought I’d be unlucky enough to get caught by the shield?
Should I have aimed for the lower part instead of recklessly going for the neck when I wasn’t even skilled enough?

‘No.’

I corrected my thinking.

‘It was my foolishness that this happened.’

If I had been a bit more experienced.
I would have deflected it sideways and taken off its neck right away.
The mistake was due to relaxing my guard at the last moment, thinking I had won before I did.

While I was reflecting on myself, I heard the voices of the professors.

“You’ve worked hard~”
“Excellent.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a talent. Both in looks and sword skills.”

Hmm, everyone seemed to be giving positive reviews.
It was when I was about to bow my head and go down.

‘…!’

I stopped in my tracks due to a fierce aura directed solely at me.

As if waiting, someone was walking towards me.

That person was…

‘…That female professor who’s been staring at me since earlier?’

Seeing her clearly approaching me, I was taken aback inside.

No way, right here…
‘This bastard dumped me!’ And…
Was she planning to make a self-destructive statement?

Aiming to socially bury me in front of many…
Has she been waiting for this timing all along?

‘Ah, no! I don’t care if other guys curse at me…’

But if anyone, especially our Meowi, gets disappointed, I must prevent it.

However, the response that came was completely unexpected.

“Hunter Yu Seha. I watched the match a little while ago. It was excellent.”
“Th-thank you… um…”
“You can call me Professor Peng Jin-ah.”
“Oh, yes. That, um…”
“There was an unfortunate incident.”

Peng Jin-ah let out a cough.
And she continued, looking quite unnatural.

“I’m sorry.”
“…What?”
“For some unknown reason, the scoring device we were using just broke.”
“What…?!”

Wait, there was something like that?
So, they weren’t just evaluating with their eyes.

“I’m sorry, but for the sake of fairness… I can’t let you leave like this. Professor Sarang-mi.”
“Oh, oh~ me?”
“Please take care of Hunter Yu Seha’s injuries, stamina, and mana recovery. Isn’t that possible within the barrier?”
“Th-that’s true, but… um, what exactly are you planning?”
“It’s simple.”

Srrrng!

Professor Peng Jin-ah, who had been talking, drew a sword from her waist.

It was a typical Korean-style blade.

‘Class Hunter’ Pyo Dok-ju’s blade was a sleek and elegant one, despite its rough appearance.

If it were the old me, I’d be wondering about the weapon’s grade, but I couldn’t do that now.

I had to focus all my energy on calming my trembling body.

‘…Crazy.’

Red.

Something crimson was blazing right before my eyes.

The beautiful and dignified figure from a moment ago had vanished without a trace.

It had transformed into a complete monster, exuding a bizarre aura.

Instinctively, I realized this was the ‘highest danger level’ that [Unprecedented Sense] could measure.

“I will personally continue the exam. Do not worry. Since this is an addition to the evaluation of defeating the <Turtle Knight>, it won’t greatly affect your pass status.”

The professors, flustered by her words, looked at each other and murmured.

Just before someone could say, ‘Shouldn’t we stop this?’
Professor Bong Mi-chun said something, and everyone fell silent.

No, don’t fall silent! Stop this!

“Hunter Yu Seha.”
“Y-yes?”

Peng Jin-ah.
She approached me.
I gulped dryly, and my throat made a loud sound.

“Don’t worry. I will show mercy in my strikes… Please consider it an honor.”
“…Thank you.”

Her blade pointed directly at me.

Kang!
Chang!
Kakak!

Peng Jin-ah and Yu Seha.

The duel between the two swordsmen continued without pause.

The sudden onset of a battle.

At first, Yu Seha was bewildered.
But soon, he began to endure her exam with a serious gaze.

Of course, enduring was only from his perspective.

From Peng Jin-ah’s perspective, even though she could end it in one breath, she was lenient in uncovering the truth.

Peng Jin-ah sealed all the techniques she usually used and displayed only fragments of the [Swordsmanship] she had silently honed.

Even so, the difference between the two was clear.

As evidence, Yu Seha moved around and pressured her, but Peng Jin-ah did not move a single step from her spot.

As time continued to pass by.

At some moment, Peng Jin-ah felt something strange.

‘…It’s peculiar.’

The reason was Yu Seha’s sword.
Because his swordsmanship was extremely immature.

Yu Seha’s hand movements were practically a mess.

There was no sign that he had learned properly to use a sword at all.

Anyone would think he was a novice user, but ironically, his movements were inexplicably good.

‘…And bizarre.’

His haphazard swordsmanship occasionally showed traces of brilliance.

A technique that should originally be a disadvantage.

Yes, for example, the blunt strike using the flat side of the sword right now.
Or employing unrefined combat techniques, which would usually be detrimental.

But surprisingly, he turned all those actions into an advantage.

Occasionally, even Peng Jin-ah would flinch slightly at his attacks.

At first, she didn’t realize, but as they crossed swords and slashed, she understood why this was possible.

‘…Intuition.’

Yu Seha’s instinct.

An instinct developed almost to the level of an animal’s, dancing on the boundary of instinct and reason, seeking a way out in the storm of swords.

Instinctively searching for a skill that shouldn’t be used at this moment.

As soon as he realized it shouldn’t be done, he would appropriately adapt by switching to something else.

Yes, just like he did now.

Kang!

Peng Jin-ah blocked Yu Seha’s strike, which increased in power by adding a punch to the slashing blade, and concluded.

No matter what sword techniques and methods he used, they became a way to overcome crises.

In other words, Yu Seha’s actions were absurd acts of creating an escape route in places with no exits, simply under the name of ‘exceptionality.’

‘……’

Peng Jin-ah was dumbfounded with all this.

The current sparring match was like a professional martial artist who had trained for a long time engaging in a tense battle with a civilian who knew nothing.

Techniques with practical applicability were being seen through by unpredictable exceptionality.

‘…However.’

It was of no use.

The difference between Yu Seha and what she had built up was overwhelming.

Narrowing that gap was impossible.

Nevertheless, it was quite troublesome.

‘…I wanted to press him without causing too much harm.’

If it continued like this, it would just drag on and on.

There was no other choice.

Peng Jin-ah decided to put in a little more sincerity.

She tightened her grip on her wrist.

She performed the ‘vertical slash’ slowly and weakly.

But…

Kang!

“…?!”

As if he already knew.
She flinched at Yu Seha’s counter.

“…What?”

She was surprised once again by his stance.

He stepped forward, taking a stance specialized for a classic thrust.

Professor Sarang-mi, who was watching, stood up.

“…Uh, uh~ isn’t that what the Turtle Knight used just now?”

That’s right.

What Yu Seha just performed was the [Turtle Knight]’s [Thrust].

Of course, since he didn’t possess the related skill, it didn’t shine.

However, the fact that he could mimic it.

And considering it was the technique of the opponent he fought just a few minutes ago, it made it different.

‘…It’s unfortunate.’

Peng Jin-ah clicked her tongue unconsciously.

A deal with the devil.

It could achieve many things, often said to create something from nothing, but there was one condition.

Only talents with aptitude could be traded.

This was a fact confessed by numerous <Mages>, and it was the answer to why this world was still intact.

This meant that no matter what talent Yu Seha was displaying now, it was one of the things he originally possessed.

‘If only he had met a good teacher a little earlier…’

If that talent had not been touched by the hands of evil…
If he had met someone who could nurture it strongly…
It would have surely bloomed more beautifully and brilliantly than anything else.

‘…Focus. Peng Jin-ah.’

She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

Now, she had to draw out everything from Yu Seha.

And if it were true that he had fallen into the path of evil…

‘Purifying this man is…’

After making him reflect.
Then, helping him build it back from the beginning.

Kang!

“Whoa?!”

Yu Seha landed backward from the sudden push.

He looked forward with a puzzled expression.

“……”

The tip of Peng Jin-ah’s sword pointed straight.

Yu Seha understood the meaning behind her action.

It meant, ‘Come at me properly.’
In other words, to do his very best.

“…Hoo.”

Yu Seha bent his waist and placed his hand on the sword hilt.

Peng Jin-ah, who was watching, also exerted force, enough for the veins on her hand to bulge.

‘…Show me, Hunter Yu Seha.’

And if it really isn’t true…
Prove it.

‘That you are not a demon.’

‘…Gosh, she’s like a real monster.’

Yu Seha was convinced.

Was it Peng Jin-ah?

This woman was the strongest person he had ever seen in his life.

Even more so, she was stronger than his father.

What Yu Seha admired was the realm Peng Jin-ah had built.

It was like an impenetrable fortress, not allowing even a needle to pass through.

How much foundation had she laid…
How often had she held a sword…
How much enlightenment had she gained and raised her ultimate skill…

He admired her martial prowess, effort, and talent.

Yu Seha was convinced.

No matter what he did now, defeating her was impossible.

No, even inflicting a proper wound would be difficult.

‘That’s why I put in even more effort.’

This was his respect towards Peng Jin-ah, and it was a true form of praise.

Coincidentally, he had prepared something perfect to show her.

’…Phew.’

He caught his breath.
Slowly, he bent his waist.
Spreading his legs, he forcibly infused most of the remaining magic inside of him into the blade.

And then he presented her with the most powerful [Flowing Slash] that he could muster.

He surged forward like a blue comet.

The audience and faculty were stunned by the destructive power, which was clearly different from anything before, and stared at him with shocked expressions.

Peng Jin-ah was no exception.

‘…!!’

Like lightning, she raised her sword and struck down toward him.

Kwaaang!!!

The weight of the air changed.

Peng Jin-ah, who was blocking, had a slight but noticeable tremor in her eyes.

‘…Did he have a hidden move?’

At first, she thought it was an [Ultimate Skill], but it wasn’t.

All [Ultimate Skills] manifest with an ‘incantation’ and a ‘mark’ that glows somewhere on the body when activated.

He showed no such signs.

Then this must be a skill enhanced by the power of a [Rune].

At that moment, Peng Jin-ah remembered the [Push Shield] that Ma Hana had used.

‘I see, did they both consume the rune of the same rare boss?’

Kagakak!

‘…Ugh!’

Peng Jin-ah stifled a small groan.
For the first time, she took a step back.

A power far beyond expectation.

And an overwhelming, sharp aura.

This was possible because that mysterious ‘killing intent’ was its foundation.

Peng Jin-ah clicked her tongue lightly.

‘…I had intended to use it more cautiously.’

But she had no other choice.

He was stronger than expected.
Half-hearted measures would be meaningless.

Peng Jin-ah clenched her wrist as she blocked it.

Whoosh…

[White Flame].

Unknown flames began to heat Peng Jin-ah’s sword to a grayish hue.

It didn’t end there.

Quickness and strength.

A [Sword Technique] using these two properties created a miraculous move.

It distorted the strike point of the ‘Flowing Slash-Strong’ that Yu Seha was performing, forcibly revealing a gap.

“…?!”

Yu Seha’s face was filled with astonishment.

Realizing what Peng Jin-ah was about to do, he tried to escape somehow.

Seeing that, Peng Jin-ah thought his intuition was indeed sharp.

Most people only realize this after things have happened.
He foresaw the unfolding future with beast-like senses.

‘But.’

It was already too late.

Peng Jin-ah’s sword exploded toward the revealed gap.

Fast yet concise.
At the same time, a beautiful sword struck.

It converged and sublimated into a single martial art.

Commonly called a ‘Counter,’ it was a supreme technique that only swordsmen who had reached the pinnacle of skill could perform, using the opponent’s force against them.

Yu Seha’s weight and [Flowing Slash]‘s power.
Combined with Peng Jin-ah’s slash, they were countered as one.

Kang!

“Keuk!”

With a sharp metallic sound, Yu Seha’s entire body was flung backward.