I Became the Genius Mage of the Martial Academy

It’s dangerous.

No matter how the opponent was in a state where he could only use one arm due to injury, the other side was a peak-level master of at least the instructor level.

‘Can the two of us face him?’

On the other hand, this side only had two first-rates. It was a power where it was difficult to easily guarantee victory or defeat with just numerical superiority.

“You take the lead.”

I stood diagonally behind Baek Hasin and glared at the master from the Heaven-Shattering Martial Sect.

Baek Hasin gave a slightly dumbfounded look, but since it was an opponent he couldn’t be careless with, he took a step forward as he was told without a word.

It seemed he thought it was better to follow my instructions rather than giving an opinion and giving the opponent an excuse.

At a glance, it was a situation where a guy who was a former top student was using himself as a bait in a crisis.

Baek Hasin’s favorability might go down because of this, but it couldn’t be helped.

‘It’s right for Baek Hasin, who is at the end of the first-rate, to face the vanguard.’

Baek Hasin, who could make a sharp response beyond his realm due to his talent, was suitable.

In the meantime, I would aim for a gap from behind and check and assist.

The basic tactics were not bad. But isn’t there a saying like that? Everyone has a plausible plan.

Clang!

“Keuk!”

It was as he said. I assisted Baek Hasin, who was being pushed back by the intruder’s sword, and swung my sword together, but on the contrary, I was just sent flying.

Even though we entered from several angles at the same time to take advantage of the 2-on-1 numerical superiority, the opponent was advancing firmly and steadily, taking advantage of the subtlety of the heavy sword.

‘It won’t work with swordsmanship.’

I gathered the mana in my circle. An ordinary magic couldn’t face a master of that level.

‘Either I catch him off guard, or I overwhelm him with firepower.’

I sent a signal to Baek Hasin, who was barely deflecting the opponent’s sword strike while preparing my magic.

“I’m going to use what I used in the friendly match. Are you okay with that?”

“I’m not okay!”

Baek Hasin shouted, stepping back. Since it took time for a big magic, it was not suitable for a situation where every second counted.

“Tsk! Then let’s switch. Get ready!”

I clicked my tongue lightly and rushed in from the intruder’s blind spot. I aimed for his head and flew a sword strike, taking advantage of the gap where Baek Hasin was being pushed back, but the enemy blocked it right away.

Clang!

My palm tingled.

Seeing that he was gathering his sword qi in that instant, it seemed he was planning to send me flying as I was. At the same time as the collision, my internal energy was shaken, and my internal injuries began to accumulate.

I thought I had finally landed a blow, but on the contrary, I was in a position where my stamina would be consumed. It was a failed surprise attack, but I wasn’t that disappointed.

‘Because I expected it.’

The moment I, the enemy, and Baek Hasin were lined up in a row, I shouted loudly.

“Now!”

I immediately changed the flow of my mana and flew a light magic right in front of the guy who was glaring this way.

Flash!

A flash that exploded in an instant. I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth, blocking the opponent’s sword. As if he were flustered by the disappeared vision, I could feel the sword that was pressed against mine pushing me away as if it were exploding.

Even though I had prepared, my body floated.

I straightened the staggering sword with my half-closed eyes and looked at Baek Hasin, who was rushing at the opponent who had lost his vision.

‘It was worth it to explode the light magic from the opposite side of Baek Hasin.’

Like an eclipse, the enemy’s head had blocked the light magic from Baek Hasin’s vision.

An enemy whose vision had disappeared and Baek Hasin, who was fine with his half-closed eyes.

The opportunity was on this side.

Baek Hasin aimed for a ghostly gap and swung his sword.

Swish!

A sword path that continued, drawing a sharp trajectory. But at the tip of the blade that passed the enemy’s chest, only a faint trace of blood scattered.

‘Was it shallow?’

At that level, it was a minor injury.

But perhaps because the intruder had become wary of the unexpected attack, he retreated for the first time.

In a state of being injured, even a wound like that seemed to be a considerable burden.

I also controlled the internal injury that had occurred from the collision with the sword qi and widened the distance with the enemy.

‘Time is on our side anyway.’

Since the King of Insects, Go Dugyeong, had already chased out the super master and had caused a commotion, the professors and instructors in the academy would also be flocking here.

From a student’s perspective, there was no need to overdo it, and they just had to hold out against the enemy.

Of course, the other side also knew this, so they were not just standing there. They immediately regrouped and rushed at me.

It seemed they had recognized this side as more dangerous than Baek Hasin.

I barely deflected the sword strike that was being shot at a speed that was difficult to follow with the eyes and performed a Naryeotagon to avoid the follow-up blow.

A technique that would have been impossible without the talent of [Peerless Body]. But even with such means, I couldn’t endure the enemy’s attack for long.

Because the debuffs that were fatal to a long-term battle, such as stamina and physical strength, were limiting my body. My internal injuries were getting worse, my muscles were screaming, and my bone joints were tingling.

Although I was able to barely escape the crisis with Baek Hasin joining in late, it was quite close. Even with all my strength, it was difficult to last more than two exchanges by myself.

‘Is there this much of a difference?’

My stamina is gradually reaching its limit. Having no choice, I gathered my mana, looking at Baek Hasin who was fighting the intruder.

Rather than clumsily interfering with a sword in my current state, it was better to show off the specialty I could do.

‘Although Baek Hasin will have to hold out in the meantime.’

He was fighting surprisingly well for a first-rate. Seeing the sword qi that was faintly visible in the middle, it seemed he was reaching the wall of the peak level in real time.

It was an explosive growth worthy of a protagonist who was strong in a real battle.

Fwoosh!

In the meantime, a fireball formed around me. I could see the enemy being flustered by the unfamiliar sight. Although it was a good time to attack, I didn’t.

It was obvious that even if I shot a fireball like this, it wouldn’t work on a peak master who was spreading a protective qi, albeit faintly.

On the contrary, putting pressure like this and limiting the opponent’s movements would be helpful to Baek Hasin.

Baek Hasin’s sword strike, which had seized the given opportunity, drew a profound trajectory and struck down on the enemy.

‘That’s?’

The Heavenly Demon Swordsmanship. The hegemonic sword that he had been unable to use because he was not used to it had deflected the intruder’s sword.

Clang!

The intruder, who couldn’t withstand the impact for a moment, took a step back.

The enemy also looked flustered by the sudden change in the offensive.

I didn’t miss that gap.

Woooong!

A fireball, which had been compressed to the size of a fist before I knew it, was shining in a reddish-yellow color at the tip of my finger.

A radiant flame bullet. I aimed it at the enemy, containing all my mana.

Perfect timing.

Clang!

The radiant flame bullet, which was shot, creating a shockwave, exploded on the enemy.

Craaaash!

Along with the explosion, a hot wind blew in the area.

The dust that had been scattered settled, and what was revealed was the sight of the enemy standing with a sword, covered in blood.

It seemed he had tried to block by raising his sword late, but in a state of being injured and tired, and on top of that, with only one arm, it must have been too much.

“Cough!”

The opponent who was coughing up blood, as if he had hastily gathered his protective qi.

At the same time, Baek Hasin rushed at the opponent.

Although the opponent also responded skillfully, the tide of victory or defeat had already turned.

After a sharp first exchange, Baek Hasin’s sword, which had been pushing the opponent, flashed.

Swish-!

The enemy who fell with his neck cut.

A faint black energy was formed on Baek Hasin’s sword, who was standing in front.

It seemed he was in a state of immersion, as if he had gained some enlightenment.

I endured, even though I felt like I was about to collapse, and approached the enemy.

‘If you’ve defeated an enemy, the basic thing is to pick up what they’ve dropped.’

I was checking if the opponent had anything useful, but just then, I felt something vibrating from inside my collar.

“What is this?”

At the unexpected reaction, when I brought my hand to it, I could feel the metal piece that was in my bosom ringing.

It was the very key I had obtained from Oh Chosam through a deep conversation.

‘Don’t tell me?’

I quickly searched the opponent’s bosom. What came out from there was a small gray metal piece. At a glance, it looked like a plate or a part of some shape.

‘This is…’

One of the fragments that the guys wanted. It was the legacy of the Heaven-Shattering Demon.

‘It’s better to keep it.’

I immediately picked up the fragment.

And so, when I brought the key close, it stuck like a magnet and became a part of the metal piece.

It must have been a smaller piece than what the super master had taken. It seemed the enemies had been planning to take it in a distributed manner.

As I was standing still, lost in thought, I could feel Baek Hasin’s presence from behind. It seemed he had come out of his state of self-forgetfulness.

“Have you come to your senses? It seemed you had gained an enlightenment, so I stood guard.”

I calmly explained the situation and then asked Baek Hasin back to divert his attention.

“What are you going to do about Baek Cheong?”

Right now, I had used up both my stamina and mana. If Baek Hasin didn’t help, it was virtually impossible to provide support.

“Of course, I have to help. Where is he…!”

At those words, Baek Hasin looked around as if he had realized it late. Then, a low voice was heard from behind.

“Ah, you were worried? Thanks.”

When I turned my head, what was there was Baek Cheong, dragging the head of a fallen enemy with one hand.

He was in a state without a single wound. To think he had faced a master of that level alone and had knocked him down perfectly.

Although the opponent must have been no pushover, he was worthy of a genius who carried the future of the Huashan Sect.

“I was trying to capture him alive, but he committed suicide at the end, you know?”

Baek Cheong added as if it were a pity. It was an attitude that didn’t seem to have had a life-and-death struggle.

“What are you going to do now?”

Baek Hasin suddenly asked me. Seeing that he was leaving the choice to this side, it seemed he was trying to show a little sincerity for having followed his will and for having stood guard.

“Now we’ll hand over the intruders and then return to the exam site.”

Since we had passed the King of Insects’ test and had taken care of two peak-level masters, it meant we had done all we had to do.

“They’re coming just in time.”

I could see the instructors coming up with the sound of battle in the distance.

* * *

After the situation was settled, we headed to the canyon where Instructor Jeongmuk was waiting.

“Are you three, no, four the only ones who passed?”

Instructor Jeongmuk, who had heard the whole story, took the luminous pearl and then headed to the academy with us.

Seeing the blood on the hem of his clothes, it seemed he had quickly taken care of the intruders and had come back to wait here.

“The actions you took were certainly dangerous and reckless. But it was also a matter that required that much determination. You’ve worked hard. Although it was a variable outside the exam, the academy, which failed to control that variable, also has a responsibility. In this case, I will make a recommendation and grant you extra points.”

“It’s not certain, I see.”

Although Jeongmuk was showing a favor, it was not set. Since I was receiving it anyway, I could have added a word or two and gotten something out of it.

“Is there anything else you need? If praise is not enough, I can give you a guidance duel based on this battle.”

Then, Jeongmuk, who had seen through that intention as if he were a ghost, looked at me fiercely.

Come to think of it, this much seems to be enough. Because it’s difficult to receive a guidance duel from a chief instructor like Jeongmuk with extra points.

I casually stepped back and said slyly.

“Baek Hasin says he wants to receive a guidance duel.”

“Huh? Me?”

“You don’t have an opponent soon anyway. It would be good to exchange swords on this occasion.”

Considering his growth speed, there would be no one to face him in swordsmanship among the junior students except for Baek Cheong or Peng Geun-u.

“Hmm, that sounds good.”

Baek Hasin, who also went along with it. It seemed it was because he was a guy with a strong desire for improvement in the first place.

“What about you?”

I shook my head. Along with a gaze that said to shut up if you have any sense.

My whole body already felt like its muscles were torn, and if I were to receive a guidance duel on top of that, I would become minced meat.

It was better to just pass the buck to Baek Hasin.

Since Baek Cheong also didn’t seem to care, it was decided that Baek Hasin would receive the guidance duel.

“Then I’ll receive it first!”

It seems I added something useless.

“…Alright, anyway, with this, all the exams are over.”

As the junior student building got closer, Jeongmuk disappeared with Baek Hasin, and we each scattered to our dormitories or the training ground.

Of course, since I was at my physical limit, I was heading to the dormitory without a doubt.

‘Maybe it’s better to go and get treatment.’

Considering the severe muscle pain that was coming late, the creaking joints, and the internal injuries, that was wise.

And so, just as I was about to go to the medical office where Go Wontae was, I slowly stopped my feet.

“You can come out now, right?”

At the faint presence, when I looked at the tree that was standing behind, Baek Cheong poked his head out from behind it.

“Haha, you caught me?”

“You were deliberately showing it, what do you mean?”

If Baek Cheong had been determined and had followed me, it would have been much more difficult to notice.

“What’s your business?”

“Ah, it’s nothing special.”

“Then that’s that.”

Just as I was about to turn around, Baek Cheong’s laughter was heard.

“Ahaha, you’re so impatient, huh? Are you really okay?”

At this point, I had no choice but to ask, even if it was out of annoyance. While thinking of ignoring him and leaving if it was really nothing special.

“What is it?”

But the words that followed were enough to hold my feet.

“Actually, I saw it. You hiding something you stole from the enemy you defeated.”

‘Damn it.’

I turned around with a stiff expression.

In the tense silence, Baek Cheong was just grinning with an expression whose intention could not be read.

(End of Chapter)