I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 216 : Ascension (3)

"That was impressive!"

Hwang Ji-su, coming out of the capsule, brushed aside her sweat-soaked bangs as she approached Kim A-yun who was walking out of her capsule.

"That last attack made even me nervous. I didn't expect you to have set up such a trap."

"Umm, no. You're the one who's really amazing, Ji-su."

Kim A-yun said, looking up at Hwang Ji-su who stood a handspan taller than her.

"In the end, you didn't fall for the trap I set up."

"I knew there would be something. I just didn't know exactly what it was."

Hwang Ji-su shrugged.

Railgun, lightning, and even the offensive of electric sparrows and electric mice.

Against Kim A-yun's lightning ability, which was definitely a level above her in attack power, she leveraged her strengths of cold attribute attacks and capability for physical attacks.

'It shows I haven't wasted my experience.'

But if there was one thing she realized again through this sparring match.

'If I only look up, I won't know when I'll be caught up to.'

The fact that Hwang Ji-su wasn't the only up-and-coming competitor she needed to be wary of.

'That Seung-yeon kid is also gradually turning her body into a human weapon.'

Hwang Ji-su sighed.

In any case, this was all because of Jeong Su-hyeon.

After Hwang Ji-su and Kim A-yun went outside for a shower.

Min Hae-na, who had been in the capsule room on the opposite side, exhaled with a "Puha-" as she came out.

"Wow, our Yu-jin has really gotten stronger!"

"Sunbae, you've also become much stronger than what you showed during the final exams."

"Hehng, that's because there are so many scary juniors. As a senior, I can't fall behind, right?"

Min Hae-na made a V-sign with her fingers and smiled brightly.

"By the way, that last attack of yours would have been enough to seriously injure even me."

Min Hae-na nodded as she checked the numbers on the screen showing the damage between the two.

"It's like saying even if you go down, you'll take an arm with you, right?"

"...Actually, I was aiming for a simultaneous K.O..."

Yu-jin's voice became dejected.

"Hey, why get gloomy over something like that! You really did well."

While comforting Yu-jin, Min Hae-na thought to herself.

'If it had been me when I fought Su-hyeon, I would have definitely lost to the current Yu-jin.'

It was strange.

'The same goes for Jun-seong. How can they all get stronger so quickly?'

Min Hae-na, who had gone through intern practice a year earlier, saw through the fact that the growth of her juniors wasn't solely due to practical experience.

'Su-hyeon, did the existence of that one person make such a big difference?'

It was a complex feeling for her.

'...If I had known this would happen, should I have repeated a year?'

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The next day.

The academy welcomed another VIP guest, a Captain of the Execution Force, following 2nd Unit Captain Son Ji-gwang.

"Wahahahaha! Jeong Su-hyeon! Where are you!"

The problem was that this happened right after the morning roll call, as cadets were dispersing for breakfast.

"Captain Ahn Byeong-jun?"

"For real?"

"Wow. He's much shorter than me, but those forearms..."

"Good Lord! Look at those perfect rear deltoids and the definition in his biceps and triceps!"

"Senior Kang-jeong is excited again."

Enjoying the surprised and murmuring reactions of the cadets, Captain Ahn Byeong-jun asked:

"Hello, little chicks! By the way, have you seen Jeong Su-hyeon?"

"...He left first a while ago."

"Damn it! I should have come earlier!"

"Um, but why are you looking for Jeong Su-hyeon...?"

"Oh, I have something arranged with him."

Ahn Byeong-jun chuckled and avoided answering.

"Ah, Captain Ahn?!"

The instructor who had been conducting the roll call approached him, sweating nervously.

"Hmm! Instructor! You're working hard!"

"No, what brings you here at this hour without prior notice...?"

"Well, I have my reasons."

Ahn Byeong-jun felt embarrassed to admit that he had used a day off just to have a round with a high school student from the morning.

'No, I should just say I came to give guidance?'

As Ahn Byeong-jun, whose body always moved before his head as usual, was just now considering a plausible excuse.

"Captain!"

Yu-jin approached him with a surprised face.

"Oho, rookie! Have you been well?"

"Y-yes. I've been fine."

"Wahaha. We meet again in less than a week."

"But what brings you all the way here...?"

"What do you mean? It's obvious, isn't it?"

"Ah, could it be?"

Yu-jin's eyes widened as she recalled being asked to set up a match with Su-hyeon.

"I was thinking, why wait until intern day when there might be a situation that gets in the way again? Better for me to just come over."

'Does a Captain move this easily?'

Even her uncle, Captain Lee Cheong-myeong, could hardly come home because his schedule was so packed.

"Hehehe. It's because our Deputy Squad Leader is quite capable. He can somehow manage if I slack off on moderate matters."

"...I see."

"By the way, where's the faculty office? I should see Gi-jeong brother first."

"Ah, I'll guide you."

"No, Captain Ahn! Did you really come?"

Instructor Lee Ho-seung, who had been wandering the corridor with a piece of bread in his mouth for breakfast, approached Ahn Byeong-jun, who was walking as if it were his own living room.

"Oh, Ho-seung! It's been a while?"

Ahn Byeong-jun raised his right hand in lieu of a greeting.

"I came to see your disciple. Has Gi-jeong brother not arrived yet?"

"People might think you're an instructor here. Shouldn't you at least say something before coming?"

"I told you yesterday. That I might come."

"No, I thought you were joking. You should contact us in advance. You're still as forceful as ever."

"Hehehe. Has it only been a day or two?"

Ahn Byeong-jun was considered the most free-spirited individual among the Execution Force Captains, who were already full of eccentrics.

"That kid Jeong Su-hyeon is really something. I was already curious when I heard he was your disciple, but seeing him wield a sword was breathtaking."

Ahn Byeong-jun, who had strongly opposed when Lee Ho-seung retired from active duty due to injury, now felt that all that resentment had faded seeing such an excellent disciple brought in.

"Right?"

Lee Ho-seung grinned.

"Technically, there's not much for me to teach these days. He's such a sponge-like guy."

"That kid, if he brings out his full skills, he could have quite a good fight even with the current you."

Ahn Byeong-jun said, patting Lee Ho-seung's back.

"Seeing him fight, he's already surpassed that kid Taesung, hasn't he?"

"Well... I suppose so."

"Oh? You already knew?"

"I know that kid better than you do, Captain Ahn."

Lee Ho-seung shrugged.

"That kid will someday surpass me too."

"For someone who hasn't held a sword for long, he's really impressive."

"Fights aren't determined solely by the realm of swordsmanship, are they?"

"That's true."

"In terms of sword realm alone, Yu-jin might be better. But when it comes to actual fighting, it's a different story."

"That's why I'm so eager, isn't it?"

Ahn Byeong-jun laughed.

"But did you really come for sparring?"

"Well, it's sparring, but there's also something I want to teach."

"...What is it?"

Ahn Byeong-jun just smiled at that question without answering.

"You'll see."

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That afternoon.

Ahn Byeong-jun, having left all the curious cadets and instructors behind, met with Su-hyeon alone in a private training room.

"Before we spar."

Ahn Byeong-jun said.

"Try cutting this."

What Ahn Byeong-jun took out were demonic beast bones, skin, and exoskeletons.

"Using sword energy?"

Su-hyeon asked.

"Yeah, do as you please."

"Then."

Su-hyeon, after organizing his breathing, cut the bone diagonally, struck down the skin, and halved the exoskeleton.

"Hmm. Let's look at the cross-section."

Ahn Byeong-jun took out a magnifying glass to check the cross-section and nodded.

"As I thought! You're still cutting with force."

He handed the magnifying glass to Su-hyeon.

"Look at how the skin is cut. It's so tough that it wasn't cut cleanly, right?"

"Yes."

"What about the exoskeleton? Besides the cross-section, there are many damaged areas. That's because it's a material without elasticity."

The same was true for the bone.

"This way, unnecessary force is applied. It's inefficient and ineffective."

Ahn Byeong-jun drew the arming sword from his waist.

"Now I'll cut, so watch carefully."

He cut the demonic beast carcass byproducts that Su-hyeon had sliced in one breath, without even emitting sword energy.

"!"

A single slash was enough.

"How about it, want to check directly?"

"......"

The cross-section was as clean as if it had been cut by an industrial diamond.

"Do you understand what the difference is?"

"Yes. Somewhat."

"Hehe, no need to be too discouraged, your sword is already excellent."

Ahn Byeong-jun said, as if comforting Su-hyeon.

"The way you transfer power, the unwavering trajectory and speed. There's nothing to fault. The purity and completeness of your sword energy are also high. But."

That isn't the only weapon of a swordsman, Ahn Byeong-jun continued.

"I felt this while watching your fight before, but it seems you haven't yet reached the realm of 'cutting along the grain.'"

"That's right."

"Of course, it's not an easy thing. Not to brag, but I was born with an unparalleled sense in the realm of cutting, to the point where I don't even envy the Sword God. That's why I can cut things like this without exerting force."

Suk-suk-suk.

Ahn Byeong-jun's sword, which he drew as if marking a wooden stick, easily cut up the demonic beast bones that Su-hyeon had to use all his strength to cut.

"What's the essence of a sword? A sword is an object made to cut. The better it cuts, the better the sword."

"Yes."

"Emitting sword energy, adjusting the distance with the opponent, exchanging blows to defeat them—those are all wonderful things too. But what if there was a sword that could cut anything?"

"There would be no need for the hassle of exchanging blows."

"Hehe, exactly!"

Su-hyeon smiled.

'This is good.'

If Su-hyeon could learn the knack of 'cutting along the grain' from Ahn Byeong-jun, his combat power would clearly rise once more.

"Thank you."

"Hehe, it would be unfair to just ask for a sparring match, so consider this a candy instead."

Ahn Byeong-jun took out a piece of paper from his bag.

"Of course, whether you acquire it or not depends on you. I'm not as kind as your instructors."

"Your teaching is more than enough."

"Kid, you sure know how to talk nicely."

Ahn Byeong-jun, saying that he had a good eye for people, waved the paper.

"Next step. This time, try to cut this paper."

He flicked his wrist and threw the paper into the air.

"Heup!"

Su-hyeon's intense sword strike only stuck the paper to the blade, unable to cut it at all.

"This way, it's not cutting but merely swinging."

Ahn Byeong-jun's arming sword slashed through the air.

Sak.

The paper, neatly cut in two, fluttered down to the floor like a butterfly.

"Do you understand the difference between your sword and mine?"

"Yes."

Su-hyeon nodded.

"Your sword was swung in a relaxed state without force, while mine wasn't."

"Oh my?"

Ahn Byeong-jun blinked in disbelief as Su-hyeon got the correct answer at once.

"How did you know?"

"...It just looked that way."

"Hya, you're quite something. That's right. Correct answer."

Ahn Byeong-jun said, waving the cut paper.

"Whether it's a sword or an axe, the principle is the same. Even when I swing a sword or a war hammer, I always use relaxation and centrifugal force, concentrating the impact only at the last moment."

"......"

"That technique you used to catch that kid Kang Seong-gyu, it was called Chukji, right?"

"Yes. In a dream, a master named Jeon Woochi appeared and taught me..."

"...Oh, right, anyway."

Ahn Byeong-jun cleared his throat and continued.

"The attack technique using that skill was really amazing. But if you can learn from me the 'knack of cutting along the grain,' then it would become an even more terrifying technique."

Relaxation, and the realm of the sword that cuts 'along the grain.'

The clue to the realm of ascension was right before him now.

"So, is this enough as a fee for the match?"

Su-hyeon smiled at Ahn Byeong-jun's joke.

"It's more than enough."