I Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy Chapter 26

Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy

Chapter 26

“Your master’s friend was really the Heaven Demon?”

“Is there such thing as a fake Heaven Demon? But how do you know about him?”

Anyone who’s read a few martial arts novels would know.

Heaven Demon is one of the pillars dividing the martial arts world split between righteous and evil factions.

He’s the absolute ruler of the place called the Evil Sect or Heaven Demon Divine Sect.

Even when my work was being serialized, Heaven Demon was quite a hot topic.

Not just in traditional martial arts novels, but he would cross over to fantasy worlds to beat up dragons, reincarnate to modern times to become a gang boss, reincarnate to open a bakery, and there were even novels about him raising children.

“I don’t remember exactly, but I think I saw it while looking up old stories.”

“Well, he was quite famous in the martial arts world. Still, he never once beat me.”

I thought he would be pretty strong since he even beat up a dragon, but to think his friend was Heaven Demon.

“You said you had two close friends? Then who’s the other one?”

“A guy with the surname Zhang, called Sambong, always mumbling about taiji or something, a big-nosed Taoist who loves drinking. He created a sect called Modang or Mudang. Don’t you know him either?”

Z-Zhang Sambong?

***

The Vice Principal thought he could just dodge, so he moved his body to the left to avoid the flying sword, but it was a useless action.

BOOM! CRASH! BOOM! CRASH!

Most of the sword energy fragments flew toward the Vice Principal, but some hit the barrier causing explosions.

Despite having three layers of barriers surrounding the arena—the original one made from magic stones, plus two more created by the teachers—all but the last layer were completely shattered.

Even the last barrier looks quite precarious… And this happened despite most fragments heading toward the Vice Principal. If my sword energy had been perfect, an accident might have occurred.

I never put this much internal energy into it during practice, so I didn’t know, but as my master said, its instantaneous destructive power really is the best.

But the Vice Principal who took most of the fragments is still standing.

Of course, he doesn’t look too good.

His clothes have holes in several places, and blood is seeping through the torn fabric.

It seems even the Vice Principal’s iron body, which can withstand aura swords, couldn’t completely block sword energy.

“This is beyond what I expected. I never anticipated that this kind of attack using a sword would be possible.”

It’s exactly as my master predicted.

No matter how much practical experience the Vice Principal has, this method would never appear in this world without martial arts.

“That was clever, but now you have no sword. And your promised first attack is over.”

Right, now I don’t have a sword, and that gentleman will start attacking.

But the match has already been decided.

“Let’s look at the current state. Surely you’re not going to insist that it wasn’t an effective attack?”

The Vice Principal’s expression darkens rapidly.

“No…”

“No what? Didn’t you agree earlier?”

This serves him right.

If the Vice Principal would concede the first attack, this was my plan from the start.

Though I just learned it recently and my sword energy is imperfect, fighting properly against such a monster who’s still standing after withstanding the Heaven Demon’s sword technique would definitely mean defeat.

It was only one attack, but the holes in the Vice Principal’s clothes number 5… No, easily more than 10.

Although I couldn’t kick his butt, I’ve basically achieved the ten hits I told my master about.

I was really lucky.

“B-but… I did say that, but I haven’t done anything yet, so ending like this…”

“Did I ask you to concede the first attack? It was you who conceded, Vice Principal.”

“…”

“If you have nothing to say, let’s call the referee.”

I thought he’d come up right away, but it seems he’s busy cleaning up since my sword energy fragments destroyed much of the barrier.

“W-wait. Fine, I’ll let you pick up your sword again.”

I don’t know if he’s worried about losing face or if his competitive spirit makes him want to fight me properly, but this is too pathetic.

“No thanks. I’ve already won, so why should we fight more?”

“With so many students waiting… Look, even the students you teach are cheering like that. Isn’t it a shame to end it like this?”

“Our teacher is the best!”

“Swordsmanship is the future!”

“You’re handsome, Kang Shin-hyeok!”

When I did well, my students went wild.

But that last one shouting sounds like Jinsu, and while I appreciate the support… Hey you, am I your friend?

Your second semester attitude score is going to be zero.

Anyway, seeing the cheering students made my heart waver slightly, but not a chance.

“I’m not disappointed at all.”

Finally, things outside the arena seem to have settled down, and the referee climbs up to the arena.

“The magic stones maintaining the arena barrier are severely damaged, so two more magic department teachers have agreed to create another barrier.”

“That’s not necessary. The match is already over.”

“What? Ah…”

The teacher serving as referee sees the Vice Principal’s condition and can’t hide his bewildered expression.

“What are you talking about, Teacher Kang? It’s not over yet.”

No, this old man…

“Vice Principal, this looks pitiful, so please stop.”

THUD—.

As Kim Man-dong stamped his foot with his words, part of the arena built with solid rock cracked.

It seems like he’s taking his anger out on the floor, but no matter what, I absolutely won’t fight.

“I clearly said before the match began that it would be an effective attack, didn’t I? As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

Look at your condition right now.

Your clothes are full of holes and blood is… Wait, the bleeding has already stopped?

Even so, anyone can see this is absurd.

“If that’s what the Vice Principal says, then I suppose that’s how it is. So the match will continue.”

This is so ridiculous I’m speechless.

Hah… Right. I momentarily forgot.

The teacher serving as referee is also a practical skills teacher and a hunter.

Of course, I expected there might be biased judgments since all the practical skills teachers at the school dislike me.

But I thought it would be fine since Kim Man-dong didn’t seem like the type to tolerate such unfairness….

“Teacher Kang, shouldn’t you go pick up your sword? I’ll allow you that much consideration.”

I really feel like cursing right now.

What was the original author thinking when he portrayed this character as fair and just?

What’s just about this absurd nonsense?

Even if he’s not doing this because of his pride but genuinely wants to fight me, this is still wrong.

I’m completely disappointed in the person called Kim Man-dong whom I had somewhat respected.

“Very well.”

It’s unreasonable nonsense, but I answered and picked up the sword that had fallen to the floor.

There’s no point in arguing here—it wouldn’t be accepted, and I’d just look weird again.

Fortunately, my recovery speed has increased since reaching the peak, so I’ve almost fully recovered the internal energy I used earlier.

Though the chances are slim, I can’t just meekly lose to someone who pulls such tricks.

Thinking I’ll somehow humiliate him, I created some distance.

“Then we shall resume.”

Before the referee could even step down, Kim Man-dong rushed quickly toward me.

He seemed faster than anyone I’ve faced so far, but not so fast that I couldn’t react.

WHOOSH.

A fist about the size of my face flies at me, but I barely manage to twist my body and avoid it.

CRASH!

But unable to avoid the following left hand, I twisted my sword to block it.

With a flash of light, I was pushed back, which is absurd.

Clearly it was a bare fist that hit my sword with sword energy, if not sword force, yet there’s not a single wound and he’s perfectly fine.

Each blow goes beyond heaviness—it feels like a huge steel boulder crashing into me.

WHOOSH.

Just now, I barely avoided a fist flying at my face by turning my head, but the air pressure brushing my cheek sends chills down my spine.

CRASH! CRASH!

Continuous attacks pour in.

He’s not using his feet, probably conscious of counterattacks, but even with just his two hands, I’m struggling considerably.

I dodged what I could and blocked the rest. We haven’t collided even ten times yet, but my wrist feels like it’s about to break.

Thinking there’s no hope if I just keep blocking, I retreated using the recoil from the collisions.

I was prepared for him to follow right away, but thinking he’d gained the upper hand, he doesn’t follow and acts leisurely.

“Are you thinking of using the same technique as before?”

No way.

The Heaven Demon Sword Technique consumes a considerable amount of internal energy for its explosive power.

I could use it again if I pushed myself, but a technique I’ve already shown once probably won’t work again.

And he probably won’t wait for me either.

Without answering, I focused solely on infusing internal energy into my sword.

As the sword energy grew denser, he rushed in quickly, as if unwilling to give me time.

Now I don’t have any secret moves prepared.

Though I’m not significantly slower and managed to block and dodge fairly well, the difference in endurance is too great.

While the old man’s fists, which have collided dozens of times with my sword infused with sword energy, are completely fine, my wrist bones will break after a few more blocks.

Honestly, just holding out this long against an S-rank without major damage is enough to prove my skills.

I could surrender, but my desire to not boost the confidence of the old man who insisted on restarting the match is stronger.

With all my students watching, I can’t do that.

Unlike before, I blocked an incoming fist with my left arm instead of my sword.

SMACK! CRACK!.

Despite infusing internal energy, pain rushed in with the sound of breaking bones, but I endured it and swung my sword in a diagonal slash at the Vice Principal’s left arm.

It feels like piercing metal rather than flesh, but I pushed the blade all the way through.

Yuk-cham-gol-dan (肉斬骨斷), sacrificing flesh to cut bone.

Even if my skills are lacking, it’s gol-cham-yuk-dan rather than yuk-cham-gol-dan.

Because this is the best I can do right now.

***

When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

Rubbing my eyes and looking around, it doesn’t seem like a hospital… Ah, it looks like the school infirmary I’ve visited a few times before.

Did I faint?

At the end, I gave up my left arm and slashed at the Vice Principal’s left arm.

Of course, since it wasn’t sword energy, it ultimately bounced off.

And then I don’t think I reacted to the Vice Principal’s following attack, probably getting knocked out then.

It’s a bit embarrassing to have fainted in front of so many people, but I’m still somewhat satisfied.

The sword wound I made on the Vice Principal’s right arm.

It was a tiny sword wound, probably not even three inches, but I clearly saw blood flowing from it.

Surely he didn’t insist that wasn’t a valid wound too?

Ah well… It doesn’t matter now.

Whether I won or lost the match, I’m planning to get exempted from the training no matter what.

After playing along with his unreasonable nonsense, if he has any conscience, he’ll naturally exempt me.

“Oh, Teacher Kang, you’re awake?”

Hearing me rustling, the curtain was drawn back.

I saw the health teacher in a white coat—so it was the infirmary after all.

“Ah, yes. How long have I been here?”

“About four hours.”

That means it’s past 11 o’clock now.

She couldn’t go home until this hour because of me, which makes me feel sorry.

I try to put strength in my arm intending to get up and leave right away, but… Huh?

I can’t put much strength in my arm.

“You should lie down a bit more. The magic has completely healed you, but your bones were completely shattered, so it will take about two more hours for your sensation to fully return.”

For a moment I was worried I’d become disabled, but the health teacher’s words reminded me.

In the original story, healing magic could heal most wounds, but there was this kind of discomfort.

“I’m sorry. You couldn’t go home because of me.”

“It’s fine. I live in the dormitory anyway. Besides, the Vice Principal specifically asked me to watch over you until you woke up.”

Causing the problem and then providing the solution?

Just try not exempting me from the training tomorrow.

“I’m fine, so you can go back to the dormitory now.”

Since the health teacher is also a hunter who uses healing magic, she probably doesn’t look at me too favorably either.

Besides, being a young woman, it would just be awkward to stay together.

“I don’t want to.”

“Excuse me?”

“Actually, my father also told me to just leave when curfew time came, but I waited on purpose.”

Waited on purpose… Wait a minute. Father?