I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

---

“Did they see me there yesterday…?”

Countless thoughts raced through Kim Il-shin’s mind.

He pondered what kind of response would allow him to escape this situation.

Before he could come up with anything, Baek Ho-san’s gaze descended to Kim Il-shin’s legs.

Just the touch of his gaze felt like a sharp prick.

At that moment, a voice echoed in his mind. It was Baek Ho-san’s premonition.

[That technique was created after observing my sword. The essence of the Baeksan Sword Technique, along with the method to counter it, is contained within. Can you see it?]

“…I simply saw it and acted, I had no intention to offend.”

Even glancing at another’s swordsmanship without permission could be considered a grave offense, depending on the circumstances.

To go so far as to create a technique containing methods to counter that swordsmanship could be interpreted as a dangerous provocation.

Kim Il-shin hurriedly thought up an explanation.

He contemplated saying that he happened to see it while chasing after an assassin and inadvertently absorbed it into his technique.

“I won’t hold you accountable for your crime. But answer my question. How many truths have you seen?”

However, immediately after, Baek Ho-san unexpectedly blurted out something.

The spectators who did not understand the question tilted their heads in confusion, but Kim Il-shin grasped the meaning behind those words.

Countless deadly strikes aimed at the Sword Demon of the Jeokcheon Sect.

Baek Ho-san was asking him to count the number of instances he had evaded them.

Recalling vivid memories, Kim Il-shin counted the number of the most threatening trajectories.

“Thirty-six. Am I right?”

Upon hearing Kim Il-shin’s response, Baek Ho-san fell silent. The aura emanating from his blue eyes was quite intense.

But there was no anxiety. Kim Il-shin was confident in his answer.

“Until now, only one in ten could see the truth. Among them, only one in ten exceeded that number. Among them, only three have seen more than thirty, including you. One was the Sword Demon, and the other was the Sword Saint.”

The Sword Saint was a hero revered as a god in Japan, who had worked alongside Baek Ho-san during the Grand Rift.

The Sword Demon was the one who had died yesterday.

“Those two have seen thirty-one and thirty-five truths, respectively. You’re the only one who has seen them all. Would you become my disciple and inherit the Baeksan Sword Technique?”

The atmosphere in the hall erupted into chaos at Baek Ho-san’s casually thrown-out statement. Gasps of astonishment filled the air. All other duel tests had already been halted.

Not only had Baek Ho-san made such an offer, but he also gave Kim Il-shin the choice.

Everyone, regardless of whether they knew his personality or not, was utterly shocked.

“I appreciate your words, but I must ask you to retract your offer.”

At Kim Il-shin’s subsequent response, people cried out in frustration.

What was he doing? Why was he rejecting it?

For them, refusing Baek Ho-san’s offer was unthinkable.

Yet Kim Il-shin was different.

‘I can’t be confined to one sword style.’

If he became Baek Ho-san’s disciple and learned the Baeksan Sword Technique with the support of the Baek family, he could become powerful quickly.

He was well aware of the Baek family’s influence and the profound intricacies of the Baeksan Sword Technique.

However, he felt a sense of foreboding that if he conformed his body and mind to that one technique, he would never advance beyond it.

Kim Il-shin’s goal lay beyond Baek Ho-san’s realm.

“I’m sorry.”

As he reaffirmed his unwavering intent, Baek Ho-san gave a slight nod.

It was such a subtle movement that no one but Kim Il-shin noticed.

[If you aim for greater heights, I understand. I will reach out to you later. It is the price for your answer, and refusal is not an option.]

Relief washed over Kim Il-shin as he absorbed the meaning within Baek Ho-san’s premonition. Thankfully, he had navigated this safely.

Surely, a reward from a great hero would not be anything mundane. Kim Il-shin bowed in gratitude.

“…Well then, this is going to be a hassle.”

With those words, the figure of Baek Ho-san momentarily blurred and then vanished like mist.

Bam!

A storm erupted towards the entrance. It was a display of such speed that it almost seemed like teleportation.

“Huff…”

As the tumult subsided, Kim Il-shin was left alone, letting out a sigh.

‘It’s going to be noisy for a while.’

He already sensed the fierce eyes of scouts targeting him.

Requests for interviews and personal engagements likely awaited him in droves, adding to his troubles.

“Um… The duel has concluded with Kim Il-shin as the victor, so you may leave now.”

Finally snapped out of his daze, the referee announced the end of the competition. The previously stalled duel tests resumed.

Kim Il-shin walked towards the exit. He felt the need to return to the dormitory and rest; he had never felt this exhausted since his restrictions were lifted.

As he turned, he caught sight of someone.

It was Baek Ha-yeon, sitting on the ground with an unreadable expression.

‘Weaker than I expected.’

She lacked the level of skill one should have at this stage.

Baek Ha-yeon seemed diminished from her in-game self, and Kim Il-shin thought he understood why.

‘Is it because of my advice?’

Two years ago, the advice Kim Il-shin had given Baek Ha-yeon had rapidly propelled her growth.

He had provided her only with the guidance she needed at that time, helping her awaken and overcome her barriers.

However, such rapid growth from a macro perspective had instead made Baek Ha-yeon weaker.

She couldn’t fully assimilate the insights she received and merely practiced the visible sword techniques.

In short, she had failed to consolidate her foundation.

‘Her mental state seems completely shattered. She was fine until the duel, but perhaps Baek Ho-san struck a nerve.’

Kim Il-shin was well aware of Baek Ha-yeon’s past. He knew the environment she had grown up in and the goals she had lived for.

And now, knowing how much despair she felt when her aspirations crumbled, he thought,

‘If left as is, she might become a hassle in the future.’

Perhaps due to her rigid upbringing, Baek Ha-yeon’s mental state was far from stable.

She wouldn’t be easily wounded by most things, but once she fell apart, there would be no turning back.

Moreover, there was a storyline in the game where a mentally broken Baek Ha-yeon morphed into a criminal.

The fallout from that incident had been quite significant, so it would be best to intervene while he could.

‘I need to redirect her focus elsewhere.’

With that thought, Kim Il-shin approached Baek Ha-yeon.

*

Baek Ha-yeon stared blankly at the ground. Her head was spinning, and she couldn’t think straight.

Five years old. Since the moment she first held a sword, she had lived solely for Baek Ho-san’s approval.

She had vowed to meet his colossal expectations, equal in size to her own achievements and strengths.

Even though she had not received a single compliment in over a decade, she had not given up.

She believed that if she trained hard enough, she would one day earn Baek Ho-san’s recognition.

‘And yet… that wasn’t it.’

In her duel with Kim Il-shin, she felt an insurmountable wall.

It was such a tall barrier that she felt she could never overcome it, no matter what she did.

And that Kim Il-shin had received Baek Ho-san’s acknowledgement.

He was spoken of as skilled, and he was even offered a spot as a disciple.

At that moment, Baek Ha-yeon realized. Her wish would never be fulfilled.

Only someone like Kim Il-shin, who was far beyond conventional understanding, could receive Baek Ho-san’s recognition.

She couldn’t help but laugh at her own ignorance.

To think she had once entertained foolish thoughts of assessing her own worth against such a person, thinking she could gain approval.

If only she hadn’t arrogantly judged others and had instead accepted his guidance without hesitation back then.

Perhaps there might have still been hope.

‘Now, I must give up…’

As her gaze grew increasingly dim, it was at that moment.

“Baek Ha-yeon.”

Kim Il-shin’s voice reached her from the front. Baek Ha-yeon remained silent, not responding.

Considering everything she had done thus far, she couldn’t argue back against any mockery or insults.

“I think it would be beneficial to reinterpret the advice I gave you, in your own way.”

Baek Ha-yeon flinched and lifted her head, surprise evident in her eyes.

Kim Il-shin, having finished speaking and without hesitation, turned his back and walked toward the exit.

Baek Ha-yeon found herself at a loss for words, unable to say anything to him.

She didn’t understand why he had given such advice. It left her confused.

But one thing was certain: she had to follow his guidance.

Baek Ha-yeon grasped the remaining sword and rose to her feet.

Then, she walked vacantly toward the training hall.

*

“Kim Il-shin.”

As Kim Il-shin attempted to quickly exit the testing grounds, Seo Ye-ryeong blocked his path.

A sense of inexplicable tension hung in her expression.

“I have something to ask.”

“…What is it?”

“Do you remember me?”

“……?”

What was she suddenly talking about? He remembered her, but it seemed she was not merely asking that.

“What are you talking about?”

“No, I mean, didn’t we meet a long time ago?”

“I don’t think so.”

“…I knew it.”

Seo Ye-ryeong nodded with a wry smile. He was baffled by what kind of thought process led to such a question.

“You were at the Blue Dragon Martial Hall ten years ago. Back then, you and I…”

“Hold on.”

“Just listen. Then you’ll remember.”

“The thing is, what is the Blue Dragon Martial Hall?”

“…Huh?”

Seo Ye-ryeong’s expression shifted repeatedly. Confusion, astonishment, and then… pity?

Kim Il-shin tilted his head at the incomprehensible situation, and Seo Ye-ryeong thought as she watched him.

‘Amnesia…!’