Episode 38

Nam Hyerin gave it her all.

Emperor Sword Form.

This ascending sword technique could not succeed without giving one’s all.

It is a deadly technique that uses every bit of the true energy within the body.

「Originally, using the Emperor Sword Form would be impossible. Because, in your terms… it’s a sword technique that can only be started upon reaching a higher realm.」

Han Seojin’s words lingered in her mind.

Originally.

It was a technique Nam Hyerin should not have been able to reach.

However, Han Seojin easily explained the Emperor Sword Form to her. And though it was only for a short period, by stuffing her with all sorts of expensive medicines, he molded her body into one that could withstand using it once.

However, even if she could execute the technique, her realm was still lacking. Despite this, Nam Hyerin took a gamble. To put it bluntly, she wouldn’t be able to control her strength.

After all, that’s what it means to be an ascending technique. To carve oneself into the world, it is because it involves drawing out one’s own imagery and overturning the laws of the world.

‘No, I can’t.’

Namgoong Miryeo must not be killed. Even if she were to be killed, she should not have been killed like this.

Just as everyone around was about to be shocked, Han Seojin smirked.

‘I’ve thought about it since the last time I saw her.’

The principal. The first time Han Seojin saw her, she behaved like a child despite demonstrating an impressive insight.

‘She said she ascended forcibly.’

With such abilities, being among the transcendent wouldn’t be strange for her.

Squeak.

A tearing sound could be heard. In the empty air, the space itself was torn. From there, a black line was drawn, and a pure white finger emerged.

[Stop]

It was a voice that filled the space itself.

Within a radius of 1km.

Inside, a voice that anyone could hear if they were there.

‘This is… a transcendent created by surpassing Unique Traits.’

Han Seojin smiled.

It’s as if using a divine authority, rather than the divinity of a person, meticulously stacking up one’s own power with their creations and using it.

Kwoong!

An intangible wave enveloped all directions. As if time had stopped in the world, everything was paused.

The sword aiming to bisect Namgoong Miryeo stopped.

And the white fingers smoothly disappeared.

The intangible force fixing them as well.

The audience was silent.

As if they saw something sacred and invisible, they looked around with such eyes.

“Wha, what was that just now?”

“It’s the intervention of a transcendent… It’s not for nothing that those who consider the principal’s domain sacred and inviolable.”

“We’ve seen something precious!”

A commotion occurred once.

Most were interested in the transcendent power used by the principal, but others were more focused on Nam Hyerin.

Those who had already seen ascending techniques had plenty of opportunities, but for many, Nam Hyerin’s sword was the first time they had witnessed it.

They closely observed Nam Hyerin’s sword.

“Isn’t that sword used by the girl strange?”

“It was a sword force that facilitated the extreme circulation of qi. Even a decent middle-rank, even a high-rank, would be knocked out if hit directly by that. It wouldn’t be strange.”

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous just to be near the sword with its sword energy tingling? But more importantly, it should be noted how it dominated the surroundings like an emperor.”

Attention was focused on the last speaker.

Sword Saint.

Maybe not in matters other than swords, but his words about swords were highly credible.

“Emperor Sword Form!!”

“My goodness, was that the Emperor Sword Form we saw earlier? Was it not a practical joke?”

“That sword maniac, who might not know anything else, but certainly has a unique perspective on swords.”

“Does that mean the girl Nam Hyerin has restored the Emperor Sword Form?”

At the last word spoken, everyone’s gaze shifted to Nam Hyerin.

Admiration and praise. Jealousy and malice.

Or eyes mixed with suspicion.

The attention poured out for a moment was enough to make Nam Hyerin flinch.

Amidst this, the judge scanned the audience and declared the winner.

“…The winner. Nam Hyerin.”

It was Nam Hyerin’s victory.

Unity events are always full of spectacles.

But this time, there were even more varied spectacles.

Led by Nam Hyerin, the golden generation of first-years clashed with the third-years.

“It was a good match.”

“… Good match.”

Seon Woohyeon won.

“Yay! I won! VV!”

“…”

The problem child, Yoo Eunchae, won.

“Hoo, this bastard is acting tough.”

“You, you!!”

Seo Boram won.

“Why isn’t my magic activating!!”

“Not even worth the effort.”

Shin Yura won.

Won, won, won.

Every student of Han Seojin.

All of them were recognized for their tremendous potential, said to surpass the 3rd-year golden generation.

But the 3rd-years were the previous golden generation.

Though all of them were more exceptional than the students one grade above, logically they couldn’t surpass the 3rd-years.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

Spoke in a languid voice.

“Everyone’s skills have improved unbelievably. There was only a month and a half between the mid-term evaluation and the unity event.”

“There were some among them who showed a difference between the entrance ceremony and the mid-term exams, but that could be understood as the academy’s rite of passage.”

This is too strong.

Their bodies have become stronger, and they lightly toy with their opponents.

They are not giving it their all, but it’s clear that they are hiding something.

“It seems the report didn’t go as well as expected.”

“Most of those who were actually trained fumbled through it. But this is too much…”

“It looks like we’ll need to revise the budget.”

“I’m looking forward to the day, two years from now, when they enter the market.”

These are the words of an academy official.

The more the academy invests, the better the price they fetch in the market, and the more they earn.

If they show such expectations, it will more than recover the budget Han Seojin took away.

The academy official smiled with satisfaction.

“Oh, who do we have here? Isn’t this our head professor?”

She strides over with a beaming smile.

“Do you want something to drink? Tell me anything.”

“You seem in a good mood. Whip up a fantastic chocolatte for me.”

“Really asking for anything, huh? Well, I do have it.”

As the principal clapped her hands with a smack, a glass bottle appeared on the table.

It was a chocolatte, generously topped with chocolate and chocolate syrup.

Taking a sip, my mouth was filled with a sweet taste.

“Our principal, quite the skilled one, aren’t you?”

“Ahem. I am quite something.”

“I saw what you did at the stadium.”

“…Eh, you saw that and weren’t surprised?”

“I’ve had my share of experiences.”

The principal’s violet eyes turned towards me.

‘What else are you hiding?’ As if trying to scrutinize me.

“Hmm, not just bluffing, I see. Could it be, our Seojini is older than me?”

“That’s rude.”

“Why get serious there…?”

Even though I am indeed a genius who possesses both literary and martial prowess, unparalleled under the heavens, it feels quite off if someone more than twice my age asks me if I’m older.

“Anyway, it was beyond imagination. I never thought you would defeat them with just basic swordsmanship or spear techniques.”

“But it was splendid, wasn’t it?”

“…No, are you that angry because they said you’re older than me?”

When I shrugged and smiled, the principal’s face became increasingly strange.

“Hmm, seeing you’re sensitive about age, it’s clear you’re younger than me. Wait, could it be 70? 80?”

“…”

“You mean, even younger?”

The principal gasps in astonishment as I look at her with disbelief.

“Anyway, I’d like to talk about something else.”

“Yeah, what is it? I also have something I want to talk about.”

“Then, I’ll go first.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“I don’t have to say it out loud, but you know I’ve raised our kids really well, right?”

“Hold on. That’s because I invested a lot of budget into it…”

“Hey. If you’re going to argue that way, I could have raised them even more without the budget.”

“No, you’ve already taken 5% of the budget!! That’s a huge amount of money! It’s enough for a small country to use for a year, you know?”

“That’s not my problem. Besides, we’ll need more money to remodel the training rooms and other things.”

“What exactly do you want to do?”

“I just want to put a spirit vein in one of the rooms.”

“…You know that’s really dangerous, right?”

“I know it all too well.”

“It’s going to take some time. It’s not impossible, but we don’t know how effective it will be, and how dangerous it is for the kids is what matters.”

“It’s possible, isn’t it? You seem very confident in that area.”

“…Even if my space adjustment ability is exceptional, it requires permanent preservation.”

“It’s possible.”

I pointed at myself with a finger.

“With my ability.”

It wouldn’t have been possible originally.

But in this fight, I have awakened the power of my unique trait.

“…I’ll have to think about that a bit. So, is that all for your opinion?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’ll give you mine.”

“What is it?”

“I have a problem I want to entrust to you… and to your student, in the form of a request.”

“A request?”

I tilted my head, and my eyes sparkled.

It seems like an excuse to create a spirit vein for us.

‘If I play my cards right, I might be able to take more…’

I looked at the principal’s eyes.

They were smiling but seemed a bit angry.

If it was a joke until now, going a bit further might reveal her true nature.

‘Hmm, is this as far as it goes.’

From the start, containing a spirit vein was an immense and laborious task, so maybe I should be satisfied with this.

“What’s the request then?”

Snap.

Instead of speaking, the principal snapped her fingers.

A hologram appeared between the principal and me.

It was a map.

The principal pointed at Incheon Metropolitan City on the original map with her finger.

“Incheon Metropolitan City. This is where the Namgoong family has established their base.”

“…The Namgoong family.”

“The place where Nam Hyerin was persecuted. Nam Hyerin used the Emperor Sword Form this time, right?”

“That’s right.”

At my affirmation, the principal’s expression changed to one that said, I thought so.

“Probably, they will use this as an excuse to bother Nam Hyerin. Normally, it wouldn’t be acceptable, but these guys have been quite annoying, so I thought, why not take this opportunity?”

“Annoying?”

“Yes. Perhaps because he can’t forget his experience as a provincial noble, he treats the locals as if they were his own people. He doesn’t even pay them properly.”

“The Namgoong folks have always been like that.”

“…Anyway, the government is also incredibly geared up this time. It’s true that they’re wary of the Five Great Families gaining power, but they can’t tolerate one of the lesser families acting up.”

“So, the request is?”

“Just bring me one of Namgoong’s scandals. Something that seems fatal. Then, I’ll take care of everything.”

“Why don’t you step in yourself?”

“If I step in, it would be over, but then I’d have a lot to shoulder.”

“But I’m known as someone from the school.”

“That’s okay.”

The principal smiled brightly.

“I can push it through with my power.”

“So, as long as you don’t step in directly, it’s fine.”

I crossed my legs.

I took another sip of my chocolatte. My mind seemed to be working a bit better.

“How much can you cover up in the process of exposing secrets?”

“Everything.”

The principal said with a smile.

‘Everything, huh.’

I smiled faintly.

That was my plan all along.

For Namgoong Miryeo’s sword to be destroyed by Nam Hyerin, it couldn’t just be destroyed. Her pride had to be completely shattered.

That’s why I taught her the Emperor’s Sword Technique—because I wanted to shatter Namgoong’s pride.

‘But then.’

If it’s everything… Breaking Namgoong—doesn’t this mean I can really go all out?

“Do you accept the request? In exchange for the spirit vein?”

“…I can’t do much. Maybe just a normal room?”

“That’s enough.”

It was a proposal I made without much expectation anyway.

‘I was going to do something other than the spirit vein.’

Even with my conscience, I thought it was a bit too much to ask for the installation of a spirit vein.

‘If it’s a spirit vein, anything you do with it is beneficial.’

“Then, I’ll consider it as accepting a request.”

“Thank you very much, dear customer.”

“Ha… From now on, try to respect me more, head professor. Is it because of your good looks? It’s putting me in a good mood.”

“Sure, sure.”

“Please let go of my hand.”

“Hyerin.”

Once outside, it was noisy.

Nam Hyerin was being grabbed by the shoulder by someone.

It was a middle-aged man.

But his face was quite clean. A face that looks like it would have made many women cry in his youth.

‘Considering there are faces like Nam Hyerin or Namgoong Miryeo.’

Then, this person must be the head of the Namgoong family.

Tall with long legs and hands. It wouldn’t be strange to say he’s a model.

However, his energy is murky. His eyes are dull, and his posture is not upright.

‘Is this head of the Namgoong family?’

I almost burst into involuntary laughter.

As I approached, the complexions of the two changed.

The head looked uncomfortable, while Nam Hyerin’s face brightened.

“Professor!”

“So, you’re the professor who taught our Hyerin?”

He says with a bright smile.

It seemed like sticky malice was attached.

“So?”

“…Your way of speaking isn’t very nice.”

“You lack manners, too. Who are you to mess with, my student?”

Younger than me and devoid of any talent.

Yet rude, dim-witted, and with a murky energy.

‘He’s mastered the art of seduction.’

I could tell as I got closer.

A technique that drains the opponent’s vital energy.

“…Do you trust the principal? Or the Iron-Blood Sword Clan? How long do you think they’ll protect you?”

“A cliché threat. If Iron-Blood Sword Clan and the Principal had to choose sides in a fight between you and me, who do you think they’d support? It seems like your qi is murky, not from capturing just one or two women, right?”

“…!”

His complexion changed. Suddenly, I could feel murderous intent.

Judging by his contemplative expression, it seemed he might have even considered killing us right here.

“Thinking of fighting us here? If you can’t kill us in one move, the Principal will rush over eagerly to crush both you and your family, won’t she?”

“…I apologize.”

He seemed to think better of it and let go of Nam Hyerin.

He looked at me.

As if trying to figure out who I was.

“But I have one piece of advice I’d like to give.”

“I’ve never lived by anyone’s advice.”

“Don’t be so arrogant. Namgoong’s sword is everywhere.”

“Should I give you a piece of advice? Is there a fear of swords that are cracked and split?”

“……Eek!!”

Seems angry, but doesn’t go all the way.

That’s fortunate.

He might not see his desired scene if a sword is drawn here.

“Hyerin, let’s go.”

“Yes, Professor!”

Nam Hyerin came towards me upon my call.

I looked at Namgoong’s head.

Jealousy, greed, lust, murderous intent.

All sorts of emotions mixed as he looked at us.

Perhaps killing me dozens of times in his imagination.

‘Well, imagination is free.’

I, too, am looking forward to it.

The day we meet again.