Episode 36

“Professor Han Seojin, please get ready to leave.”

“Alright.”

At the guide’s words, I walked away lightly.

I had picked up a wooden sword and a wooden spear nearby, with the spear slung over my shoulder as I headed outside.

“You can stop now.”

“Huh?”

“The 3rd-year martial arts chief instructor is notorious for being vicious. Although the principal favors him for his talents, he’s still someone who will soon leave.”

So, is he telling me to forfeit the match?

“Don’t overstep.”

“…Yes?”

There are people you can worry about in this world, but it’s better not to meddle unnecessarily.

I headed outside.

My first fight was with the martial arts chief instructor, the guy who kept picking fights with me and Nam Hyerin using Namgoong Miryeo.

‘I wanted to save it.’

Well, it’s regrettable.

I wanted to save the best for last.

As I ascended to the stadium, I felt many eyes on me.

The most intense gaze belonged to the already present chief martial arts instructor.

He was harboring murderous intent.

I don’t think he plans to kill me.

But it seemed like he was thinking of seriously injuring me.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t know his name.’

Looking at the scoreboard, I saw the name Namgoong Hyeok.

“I didn’t expect you. So, in the end, you chose to come carrying those?”

He said, looking at my weapon.

A wooden sword and a wooden spear.

Everyone else uses the weapon they have.

But I brought a wooden sword and a wooden spear as spares.

Though I had an iron sword and an iron spear, it didn’t matter.

Because there’s only one thing I want to show.

I threw the wooden spear behind me and picked up the wooden sword.

“…Surely, you’re not planning to face me with that wooden sword?”

“Actually, I am. Got a problem with that?”

“I’ve heard you’re good with the spear and the fist.”

“The fist is my main strength.”

Yet, I am proficient with all weapons.

Among them, I am most confident with the spear and the sword.

I use my fists and kicks without any particular reason.

Later on, it was mostly because neither a magical sword nor a divine artifact could withstand my power.

In my third life, I couldn’t fully control my own strength.

‘Ah, there was one, indeed.’

A divine item possessed by the Heavenly Demon.

That was really something.

“…So, you have taken up the sword?”

“Yes.”

It’s more than enough.

No, showing this to you is almost too much.

Namgoong Hyeok looked at Han Seojin.

A very famous man. In terms of teaching, he might be far superior to himself.

‘But he was too arrogant.’

Yes, that’s all there is to it. The man is too arrogant. For the abandoned eldest son of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan, his situation might be a bit different as of now, but he was still acting too presumptuous.

Namgoong Hyeok watched Han Seojin assume a stance. It’s a formal posture with the wooden sword extended while shifting one’s center of gravity backward.

A familiar posture.

It’s impossible for Hyeok not to know it.

‘That is…’

The most basic sword art taught in the Namgoong Clan, the stance of Iron Sword Ten Forms.

It’s not strange that Han Seojin knows this sword technique. The real ones are hidden, but you can easily find such techniques on YouTube.

‘But.’

Crumple.

Namgoong Hyeok’s face contorted.

This is a place to prove oneself.

Yet, he dared to assume a basic sword technique stance in front of a martial arts instructor of the Namgoong Clan?

Namgoong Hyeok’s face turned expressionless.

Was it said that you become rather calm if you’re too angry?

That was the state he was in now.

His head became endlessly cold.

I just wanted to embarrass him a bit.

Since we’re both professors.

If the principal favored him, if he even became the head professor, there must be something special about him.

That’s why he tried to use less force.

His mind has changed.

‘I’ll break him.’

Hyeok will make sure he can never wield a sword again right here.

With that thought, Hyeok glared at Seojin.

“Wow, that’s fierce~. Have you killed someone before?”

“Maybe one more name will be added to that list today.”

“You’re so confident~.”

He saw Han Seojin smiling languidly.

His eyes were full of mischief.

“Then, the match will now begin.”

Namgoong Hyeok immediately rushed out at those words.

He’s not the type to underestimate his opponent.

There are rampant rumors that he’s captivated the entire golden generation of first years.

He must have done something special to have achieved that.

Everyone says he’s the best at teaching.

And some talk about it as a fact.

So, his martial prowess must not be that great.

It was a reasonable deduction.

Those who cannot build their martial arts skills tend to grow in that direction.

He must have put in tremendous effort.

But here.

He will make sure Seojin can’t move again.

Hyeok swung the sword.

Crack.

Blue lightning wraps around the sword.

It’s Blue Dragon Qi, the power symbolizing Namgoong.

Swinging his sword wrapped in it, he seemed poised to split it in one strike.

“Too slow?”

“…!!”

It took only a moment, but Han Seojin rotated his left foot, allowing the attack to pass by his side as if casually dodging it.

It’s an incredibly exquisite move.

A perfect timing that Hyeok inevitably fell for.

He switched to a defensive stance and rotated his body.

But what he saw was Han Seojin grinning.

“Udeuk.”

He’s underestimating me.

He was toying with me.

“Try a bit harder. What era’s Blue Dragon Qi is that? It’s outdated and simple. It’s just a power that’s a bit unique. Isn’t there something better?”

He says with a playful smile.

Namgoong Hyeok’s head cooled down.

“My Unique Trait is specialized in teaching.”

“So, you’re saying your martial prowess is weak?”

“No. A chief instructor isn’t a position you can get into if your martial prowess is weak.”

His opponent was dangerous.

However, Seojin made a mistake. He should have finished Hyeok off a little while ago.

Namgoong Hyeok revealed his power.

Trait, activation.

With his vision becoming red, Namgoong Hyeok’s become dyed with blood as his muscles grew.

The world became simpler.

No matter who the opponent was, he felt an overflowing power that seemed capable of winning.

He didn’t want to use it, because the aftereffects were tremendous.

But he realized something after exchanging a move with Seojin just a moment ago.

‘This is not an opponent to underestimate or to be picky about.’

Him being appointed as the head professor was not for nothing. He had the skills to justify his position. So, Hyeok had to use it.

“Haah.”

Seeing Namgoong Hyeok’s response, Han Seojin sighed as if bored.

“Is this world mostly about enhancing something?”

“Be prepared. It’s rare in my life to have raised my power this much in one go.”

It was one of the side effects that came with Namgoong Hyeok becoming stronger.

The more his physical strength was enhanced, the worse the side effects became.

But in this state, he could even kill a being of a higher realm.

He held that pride.

Yet, Han Seojin remained at ease.

With a wooden sword slung over his shoulder, he flicked his finger while looking at Hyeok.

“Come at me.”

“Be prepared.”

Kwang!

In an instant, Namgoong Hyeok’s figure vanished.

His body accelerated tremendously and was easily twice as fast as before.

“My goodness, such speed!”

“I can’t see it with my eyes!”

The audience erupted into chaos.

Namgoong Hyeok confidently reached out his hand. His beloved weapon, Hyeollu, emitted a blue lightning.

He leaped towards Han Seojin before swinging his sword.

‘…What.’

His senses sounded an alarm.

Dangerous.

Han Seojin was smiling.

His eyes were fixed on him.

Han Seojin’s hand was already moving.

At a speed that even Hyeok couldn’t fully control.

Hyeok was looking straight at Seojin.

‘Ah.’

Eyes shining blue.

And the wooden sword being swung towards him.

It’s just a wooden sword.

But all of Hyeok’s senses are screaming danger.

It was chilling to see Seojin’s sword already aiming at his waist.

Kwaaaaang!!

One hit.

It only took one blow to send Namgoong’s head martial arts instructor to the outskirts.

“Keuhuk…”

“Th-the winner is Professor Han Seojin!”

Thud.

Han Seojin lightly cracked his neck.

‘This isn’t even enough for a warm-up.’

“There’s another match after this, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Tell the next one to come out.”

“Pardon?”

“The next.”

“The next professor is Professor Lee Seokhoon…”

“Did that person use a spear?”

He tossed aside the wooden sword and slung a spear over his shoulder with telekinesis magic.

‘That guy was also annoying.’

Passing by, he saw students being categorized into ranks.

He clicked his tongue a few times after seeing Yoo Eunchae.

“Professor Lee Seokhoon is coming out.”

“How arrogant. Defeating Professor Namgoong Hyeok must be due to a trait specialized in counterattacks. I will not lose!”

Goodness gracious.

Is it the benefit of the system? This side tends to judge people too much by their ‘traits.’

“I will never lose!”

Shield and spear.

An annoying combination. It’s very easy to drag out time because it’s defensive.

‘But what can you do.’

Moonlight.

The moonlight settled on the spear. Such a thing works against those of similar skill.

It works against the strong as well.

But the gap between that person and Seojin was bigger than just traits.

Han Seojin swung his spear.

Swoosh.

The sound of something being cut.

It seemed like he swung only once, but the shield shattered.

“What the—”

Before Seokhoon could finish, Han Seojin struck Professor Lee Seokhoon’s mouth with the spear shaft.

Crash!!

Professor Lee Seokhun fell, teeth flying.

“Next.”

Han Seojin said calmly.