I Became the Genius Mage of the Martial Academy

Both Gu Dong and Lee Huimun nodded their heads as if they had no objections.

“Of course! We’re just grateful to have our lives saved. Thank you again for saving us.”

“It’s a natural thing. Even so, I never thought there would be such a difference.”

Although their reactions were different, it was clear that both of them were surprised to see my magic, beyond their gratitude.

On the other hand, whether that was the case or not, I tried my best to look nonchalant and checked my physical condition.

‘I’ve used too much mana.’

I had used up almost all the mana I had accumulated in my circle in the battle just now.

A situation where I needed to rest for quite a while to recover.

After checking that there were no other risk factors around, I first asked them questions to grasp the movements of the other students.

“What about the other students?”

“Baek Cheong and Peng Geun-u came down faster than us, and I don’t know about the rest.”

“They’re probably coming down along the canyon like us, so they might arrive soon.”

“You came down that cliff?”

It meant that they had come down a cliff where only darkness was visible. It’s not an easy thing to come down a cliff with your bare body. And even more so in a situation where you don’t even know its depth.

It required the courage to challenge the unknown.

A confidence in oneself. And it was a difficult thing without the body and ability.

“We didn’t just come down recklessly either. Baek Cheong, who had found a narrow gap in the canyon, went down the cliff quickly, so we followed the path he had taken.”

Since the width was narrow, it was a not-so-bad judgment, as you could at least brake if you made a misstep.

“Of course, we almost got into big trouble because we slipped in the middle.”

They testified that they had been helplessly caught by the giant spider because their strength had given out when they had almost come all the way down.

“Wait a minute. Then does that mean Baek Cheong or Peng Geun-u are around here?”

“They would have moved first, so they probably aren’t…”

Just as Lee Huimun was about to say that, a presence was felt in the darkness.

“What do you mean, they aren’t?”

When I stared in the direction of the sound, I could see Peng Geun-u running this way through an underground cave in the distance.

But he was not alone.

Behind him, who was quickly traversing, an object with many legs was writhing and running.

“Damn it.”

It was a situation where he was being chased by a group of giant centipedes. The sight of them getting closer in real time had a high possibility of colliding with this side if it continued like this.

I gathered the little mana I had.

‘It’s not even close with this amount of mana. It would be better to shoot Peng Geun-u’s leg and use him as a bait…’

“Oh?”

Just then, Peng Geun-u, who had discovered us, gestured as if he were glad to see us and then stomped his true step in the same posture he had been running in. In an instant, he, who had rotated half a circle with his stepping foot as a pivot, drew a wide saber.

Woooong-!

A faint saber qi formed. In an instant, the bluish trajectory of the saber drew a semicircle.

Thud!

Along with that, a giant centipede that had been rushing in was split in two and fell to the floor.

“These guys. They’re quite tricky.”

Peng Geun-u faced the centipedes, swinging his saber as it was. Only after cutting down a few giant centipedes did he shake off the saber, which was stained with body fluids.

“I came because I saw a flash of light. As expected, it was you. Zhuge Cheonwu.”

It was a majesty befitting a peak master. Although he had been shattered in a few blows by Namgung Bihwa, he was also a considerable strong person among the students.

“Did you come to watch?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Peng Geun-u’s tone, as he answered, became lower. He was still holding the saber in his hand.

“I haven’t found a luminous pearl yet.”

The guy’s gaze was directed at my chest. Inside it, the light of the luminous pearl was faintly seeping out.

‘So this is why it was a luminous pearl.’

In a dark space like this, even if you found a luminous pearl, it was easy to be discovered right away. Since it would be easier to steal than to search the wide canyon, a battle for it would occur.

Just like now.

“Shouldn’t an exam be fair?”

“Isn’t this also a process of a fair exam?”

Peng Geun-u said, scattering a sinister momentum, unlike his usual self. Unlike his cold tone that came back in a short answer, his eyes were full of bravado.

‘Is he just wanting to fight?’

He had a personality that was overflowing with competitiveness anyway, so he had wanted to fight me, and after seeing me perform in the friendly match this time, it seemed he had been even more fired up.

Of course, I had been avoiding it with various excuses until now.

‘In the end, it’s come to this.’

I cautiously checked the mana in my body. At most, only about 10% of my full mana was left. An amount that was far from enough to face a peak-level master.

“I don’t think even a great hero can avoid this.”

“This is not the time for us to be doing this. Let’s rather fight after this exam is over. I promise on the honor of the Zhuge family.”

I even sold the family name and went into negotiations, but Peng Geun-u just shrugged his shoulders.

“Because it’s not just once or twice that I’ve been turned down after being taken in by a great hero’s words.”

He approached me slowly and continued.

“Of course, since you’ve even mentioned the family this time, it seems you’re sincere, but I somehow prefer a fight in a real battle like this. A life-and-death struggle over something that cannot be yielded. Doesn’t it make your blood boil?”

Before I knew it, a shining light had formed in Peng Geun-u’s two eyes.

‘Damn it. This is dangerous.’

I, whose main strength was magic, and Peng Geun-u, who launched a reckless offensive based on a sturdy external art, had a bad compatibility.

An opponent whose victory I couldn’t guarantee even if we fought in a fully prepared state, but to face him in a state where I had used up all my stamina like this.

It was truly the worst situation.

“Stop!”

“You’re completely ignoring us.”

Just then, Gu Dong and Lee Huimun each drew their swords and blocked my way.

“I will repay the favor. Great Hero.”

“Same here.”

‘Come to think of it, these guys were also here.’

Although they might be weak compared to Peng Geun-u, this side had a whopping three. The numerical superiority cannot be ignored.

“He says so. Are you going to do it?”

I took out a talisman for show from my bosom and threatened him.

The reaction came back right away. Peng Geun-u, who cracked his neck and let out a dry laugh.

“Do you think those guys will be of any help?”

A sight that seemed to show a glimpse of his arrogant appearance from the beginning of the semester. But the momentum that was being emitted, befitting his physique, was enough to be read as confidence, not arrogance.

The difference between a first-rate and a peak is absolute. I, too, was keenly feeling it, since my martial arts were only at the first-rate level.

‘He’s no match.’

Because even if all three first-rate martial artists in this place were to attack together, it would be difficult to easily discuss the chances of winning.

But even so, there was something that should not be broken.

“Yes.”

In an instant, a strange light appeared in Peng Geun-u’s two eyes.

Whether that was the case or not, I just slowly drew my sword.

This was not just a matter of the exam. It was not just a matter of profit, nor was it a matter of survival.

There were those who had stepped up even though they knew they would lose.

I couldn’t back down, even if it was for the sake of the righteousness and chivalry that the guys, who would feel the gap more than anyone, had shown at the crossroads of choice.

That’s why I say.

“Because that’s what friends are for.”

If the path that the raised sword would show was martial, then what should be contained in it was chivalry.

“I never thought I’d hear such words. It’s getting interesting now. Isn’t it?”

I aimed my sword at the opponent without a word. In the blink of an eye, Peng Geun-u’s saber rushed to my nose.

Clang!

The sword that was raised reflexively is pushed back mercilessly. In that gap, the swords of Gu Dong and Lee Huimun were shot from both sides.

“Ha!”

Peng Geun-u’s saber pushed me away and then went towards the swords on both sides as if it were being shot.

The two were also sent flying by the unrestrained footwork that dug in exquisitely and the saber that contained a considerable amount of internal energy.

“If this is all, I’ll be disappointed.”

Peng Geun-u seemed to be playing around.

But even so, no one rushed in. Because the strength was keenly felt from the blow just now.

Peng Geun-u, who was walking with a relaxed face.

On the other hand, Lee Huimun and Gu Dong were just controlling their slight internal injuries, tightly gripping their respective weapons. They probably never thought they would be pushed back even though they had attacked together. It was a desperate one exchange.

From the basic realm to the martial prowess, internal energy, everything, the opponent was superior.

‘I have to make a strategy.’

I rolled my head, forming a triangular formation in the center of Lee Huimun and Gu Dong.

I have to face Peng Geun-u with a small amount of mana and two first-rate martial artists.

Originally, it might be possible for three first-rate martial artists to beat one peak-level master, but the problem was the realm.

Even within the first-rate level, the realm is divided.

In this place right now, I was the only one who was a proficient first-rate. Judging from the use of his forms, the change of his internal energy, and his movements, Lee Huimun and Gu Dong seemed to be still at the stage of mastery.

There was only one way to solve this urgent situation.

‘They have to overcome the wall in this place.’

In my case, I needed time because my body couldn’t keep up with my growth, but Lee Huimun and Gu Dong had a foundation they had built up until now.

All that was left was a trigger.

I began to talk about their problems one by one, which I could see in my eyes, while blocking Peng Geun-u’s threateningly falling saber.

“Gu Dong! Do you know why Shaolin is called the beginning of martial arts?”

A sudden Zen question. It was not something to say in a precarious situation.

“It’s because Shaolin contains the subtlety that pierces through the basics of all martial arts.”

“What are you doing now?”

Peng Geun-u showed his anger as if he were dumbfounded and gripped his saber strongly. But I didn’t stop talking.

“Being hard is not everything. Being simple is also relative.”

I pointed out the problem I had seen during the battle.

Gu Dong showed a movement that was hard but could look dull. So I advised him to move more flexibly.

“Being flexible is being simple. Don’t just endure with your waist, but try to tilt along with your leg movements.”

“What a ridiculous thing to say!”

Peng Geun-u swung his saber at Gu Dong, who had subtly straightened his posture.

Clang!

Gu Dong, who had received the saber strike in an instant, was pushed back. But his appearance was different from before. Although he was pushed back by Peng Geun-u’s saber, he was more stable than before.

“What is this…?”

“Lee Huimun! Don’t just be fast, but strike the opponent’s intention! It’s not about competing with speed, but about breaking the opponent’s flow of consciousness!”

“How do you do that?”

“Trust your intuition! You should know!”

I shouted with confidence.

Peng Geun-u’s saber was getting heavier and heavier. Perhaps because he had had an enlightenment from the friendly match last time, he looked even stronger.

I could feel that he was growing by one layer even within the peak level.

“If your draw is even a little late, you’ll be cut down as you are!”

“I don’t care!”

Our joint attack was basically a joint attack technique where two people blocked Peng Geun-u’s saber and one person poured out an offensive from the side to break the series of attacks.

I, who could at least match him head-on, and the sturdy Gu Dong defended, and Lee Huimun, who was capable of fast and sharp attacks, played the role of breaking the series of attacks.

Thanks to that, we were able to continue the confrontation, but there was no decisive blow. There was only one chance during the joint attack, but no attack was enough to break through Peng Geun-u’s protective qi.

An unfair fight. But fighting with a master meant that.

“The struggle ends there. Your swordsmanship is still lacking. Hurry up and bring out that sorcery!”

Peng Geun-u, as if he knew this, swung his saber and urged this side.

But I had no intention of doing so. Again, a saber and two swords clashed, and sparks flew in the surroundings.

“Keuk!”

Peng Geun-u’s saber had a faint saber qi, so my internal injuries were accumulating little by little.

But I blocked the saber, feeling like I was coughing up blood, and shouted.

“Stab!”

Peng Geun-u put strength into the saber, which contained the saber qi, as if he were annoyed. The intention was to cut me down with the sword before a counterattack came. A killing intent was transmitted beyond the sharp blade.

“Damn it!”

Although Lee Huimun was rushing in from the side, Peng Geun-u’s saber was already pushing down to my shoulder. It would be too late to draw now.

In that instant-like time, I thought of the end.

I’ll be cut.

I had thought so.

Clang!

Lee Huimun’s draw from his waist in an instant. Along with the sound of the air being split, it felt as if the world had slowed down for a moment.

Clang!

The tip of Lee Huimun’s sword deflected Peng Geun-u’s saber. Peng Geun-u, who had felt the danger, had switched his saber to a defensive one in an instant.

It looked slow, but it was fast. No, it was beyond fast, it was fierce.

“These guys…!”

The moment Peng Geun-u was about to jump out, wrapping his saber with saber qi, Gu Dong went out first and clashed with him.

“Cough!”

Although he had suffered an internal injury from forcibly using his internal energy, the sword—combining the hardness and flexibility of Shaolin—temporarily blocked Peng Geun-u’s saber.

“What?”

And the moment I seized the opportunity, I rushed in quickly. At the same time, Lee Huimun’s sword was shot from the side.

In an instant, the 3-person formation, which had been focused on defense, had switched to an offensive. Along with their rise in realm, it was so natural.

Clang!

Peng Geun-u, who had sent Gu Dong flying with his brute force, roughly deflected Lee Huimun’s stab and then aimed for me.

“You’re late.”

The saber, which had deflected two ultimate techniques of a proficient first-rate martial artist, was not enough to reach me.

“I don’t even need to use sorcery on you.”

A thick mana formed on the blade, which was raised in an upper cut stance.

At this, Peng Geun-u’s two wide-open eyes, with an expression of disbelief, were reflected in the darkness.

“Because the swords of the three of us are enough.”

The blade, which was clad in all the remaining mana, flashed, and I swung the sword as it was.

(End of Chapter)