Ch. 71

In the middle of the training hall of the Kang family, the greatest weapons lineage in South Korea, stands an old man.

Kang Minseong. The master of this vast and magnificent place. The veteran who established its foundation, meticulously refined it, and elevated it to the pinnacle.

"Hmm."

Kang Minseong, with his eyes closed, slowly swings the sword in his hand. Or rather than swinging, it would be more accurate to say he was merely waving it.

Without any force behind it, without even the intention to cut. A speed that wouldn't be perceived as threatening even by someone who had never properly held a sword.

But with each flow of the wind from his sword, the steel pillars set up throughout the training hall were cut clean, as if they were radishes.

Tuung—

After the last pillar was finally cut in two, Kang Minseong exhaled once and sheathed his sword.

His restless mind of recent days seemed to be settling down a bit. Indeed, when his head ached, wielding a sword was always the best remedy.

His body may have aged, but this foolish heart of his hadn't aged at all. Recalling Ma Hakjun's nagging from once before, Kang Minseong smiled bitterly.

'In less than a week, so many things have happened.'

Juniors who would never make mistakes suddenly died. Lizardmen, mere C-rank creatures, threatened Academy students. Meanwhile, somehow information leaked, and villains launched a precise ambush.

'And in the midst of it all, that Elder, Kwak Hyuk... was blocked by Examiner Baek Seojin.'

Kang Minseong couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.

Truly, each piece of news was more absurd than the last. Among them, the last one made him wonder if he had misheard.

Kwak Hyuk was once a junior that Kang Minseong knew well. Being in the same weaponry type, they met and interacted frequently.

He was the best among spear users. Not just in South Korea, but at a world-class level. Once, when Kwak Hyuk defeated a Chinese ability user who had boasted of being the best in spear techniques, they drank all night together, feeling truly satisfied.

So he knew well. Kwak Hyuk, the Spear Ghost. How strong that Elder was.

Perhaps if it were thirty years ago when he was in his prime, it might have been different. But now, even Kang Minseong himself admitted he couldn't defeat Kwak Hyuk.

Unlike himself, completely worn down by the passage of time, Kwak Hyuk was currently at the peak of his power.

Although he had suffered the humiliation of being defeated by the crazy blonde, Irina, that was only because Irina was an anomaly, beyond human boundaries. That's why he lost, not because Kwak Hyuk was weak or careless.

'But, that Examiner from before blocked him?'

Moreover, it wasn't just a matter of "blocking" him.

According to Han Jiyoon, he broke the spear in two and even inflicted severe wounds on Kwak Hyuk. The injuries were so severe that he gave up the fight and retreated.

It was astonishing. No, "astonishing" was far too inadequate a word.

He knew better than anyone the power of Kwak Hyuk's spear. Even ability users of the same rank could lose their lives with just a slight mistake. Yet Baek Seojin not only avoided it but completely dismantled it.

"Do you know what's even more surprising?" 

"In that moment, the technique Examiner Baek Seojin used. It was clearly your wind, Chairman."

Han Jiyoon, who had given him detailed information about what she saw that day. Recalling her words, Kang Minseong looked down at his own sword.

"..."

Would his current self be able to stop Kwak Hyuk's spear with a gentle breeze? It wouldn't be entirely impossible. But he would have to forfeit his life.

What if he had maintained his prime skills? Then the possibility would increase. Yes, at the cost of an arm.

No matter how he thought about it, the outcome would still be his defeat. Even thinking of himself in his youth and applying that, he would have suffered fatal wounds.

Let alone just blocking, to completely deflect the damage? To break Kwak Hyuk's spear in two and, in turn, inflict severe wounds on him? Though it was supposedly his technique, the likelihood was extremely low.

'Yet, Examiner Baek Seojin achieved it. And survived.'

Of course, his body was in a terrible state and he was rushed to the hospital, they said. Despite support-types rushing to treat him, he still hadn't regained consciousness.

But in the end, he didn't die. His limbs were intact. In conclusion, he had repelled an Elder without losing anything.

"...Ho ho."

He couldn't help but laugh. The more he thought about it, the more absurd it became.

According to Ma Hakjun, Baek Seojin's official ability rank was C-rank.

C-rank? A C-rank just landed a hit on an Elder? It would be more plausible to say a tiger was defeated by a chihuahua. At least in the animal world, such things could happen.

He should definitely suggest a re-evaluation of that guy's rank. It had to be believable. A C-rank who properly landed a hit on an Elder? As Kang Minseong shook his head in disbelief, he slightly turned his gaze.

"You're here, Suhyeon."

He had already known his granddaughter had returned to the Academy. But given Kim Suhyeon's extremely low mood these past few days, Kang Minseong was cautious even about speaking to his granddaughter.

"...I'm back." 

"I see you visited the hospital again today." 

"Yes." 

"So, how is Examiner Baek Seojin?" 

"..."

To Kang Minseong's question, Kim Suhyeon gave no answer.

She only blazed with red flames filling her eyes.

Seeing this, Kang Minseong sighed and carefully opened his mouth.

"It seems he hasn't woken up yet."

Nod, nod—

After the battle with the Elder, Baek Seojin was rushed to the hospital.

All the external injuries on his body had been completely treated. But perhaps because he had pushed himself too hard, he still hadn't regained consciousness.

Kang Minseong sincerely hoped he would wake up and recover quickly. Partly because he was the benefactor of his precious granddaughter and potentially his future grandson-in-law. But there was another, more important reason beyond that.

"Grandfather." 

"Alright. This old man will step aside now."

Kang Minseong quietly retreated and left the training hall. Then he went up to his study, which overlooked the entire training hall.

'It's starting again.'

Woong— Woong—!

Sure enough, an eerie sound that sent chills down one's spine could be heard. The source of that sound was the training hall where Kang Minseong himself had stood just moments ago. Now, it was occupied by Kim Suhyeon, who was wielding her sword.

Each time Kim Suhyeon swung her sword, a red trajectory was drawn. It looked like a butterfly with bright red wings fluttering around.

To those unfamiliar with swordsmanship, they might wonder what it was. They might think she was performing some elaborate and dynamic sword dance.

But Kang Minseong knew well what his granddaughter was doing. What lay at the end of each of those red sword trajectories. For what purpose they were being swung so flamboyantly.

'All of them, every single one, are vital points that could inflict fatal wounds.'

It was an incredibly vicious sword path. Just watching it made one's tongue curl in horror at its cruelty.

He had certainly taught her about vital points before. But not so meticulously. And not with such chilling sharpness. He had never taught her to cut, thrust, and gouge in such a manner.

'She's creating her own sword path. A sword solely for herself, by herself.'

They say a sword follows the emotions of its wielder. Cold if the heart is calm, hotter if filled with passion. And like this, more cruel than anything when filled with wrath.

'Should I stop her?'

Suddenly, that thought crossed Kang Minseong's mind.

Though it was an exceptional and precise swordsmanship, and it was somewhat satisfying to see his granddaughter, who hadn't shown much talent until recently, now displaying swordsmanship so sharp that even he felt chilled...

The reason behind it wasn't pleasant. It had a troubling background. If not handled properly, it could become a sword that cuts oneself.

Woong—!

'...No. There's no need for that.'

After observing Kim Suhyeon's swordsmanship a bit longer, Kang Minseong shook his head.

If she couldn't overcome her wrath and was being controlled by the sword instead of wielding it, he would have rushed out of the study, taken away her sword, and scolded her.

But Kim Suhyeon, his granddaughter filled with such wrath, was still perfectly controlling her sword amidst all of it.

She wasn't being consumed by emotion nor controlled by the sword. She was perfectly controlling everything, merely enforcing her will.

What that will was, only Kim Suhyeon herself would know. But it was clear that because of that will, she had made such remarkable progress.

*

My chest keeps getting hotter. I can't bear it. If I stay still like this, I feel like my body will burst into flames.

So I grabbed the sword. I grabbed it and swung it like a madwoman.

I imagined that the 'Elder' who had done that to the Examiner was in front of me. When I thought that, the heat in my chest spread to my head. It feels like everything in front of me is turning bright red. My body keeps trembling.

The image of the Examiner being transported, covered in blood, flashes in my mind. Elder. I want to kill them. I want to tear them to pieces.

But I can't do that now. I'm too weak, far too weak. If I were to die instead, the Examiner would be sad.

Yes. So I need to become strong enough to kill those bastards. So that the Examiner doesn't get hurt anymore. And so that I don't get hurt either. So that no one has to be sad, and no one has to be angry.

Thinking like that, my body and mind finally feel refreshed. The world that was turning red gradually returns to its original color.

'Tomorrow, he'll definitely wake up tomorrow.'

Wishing that the Examiner would wake up, call my name, and greet me, I've been visiting the hospital every day without fail.

Although he hasn't woken up today, tomorrow will be different. If tomorrow is the same as today... then I'll probably, just like today. Yes, just like now, I'll have to swing my sword to release my anger.

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