There’s a Monster Inside Me

Chapter 13

Our last location to find was the ‘First Sword Training Ground.’

“This should be somewhat easy, right?” 

As Dol Jin-dallae thought, the sword training ground was relatively easier to find compared to other places.

 The Thousand-Year School was a place for training divine individuals with spiritual powers, but they valued physical abilities as much as spiritual ones. 

Therefore, learning basic swordsmanship was considered natural even for those who weren’t martial shamans who used physical force.

“Anyway, since they’ll be doing martial training at the sword training ground, it shouldn’t be too far from the lecture spaces, right?” 

Jin-dallae thought carefully. 

Her guess was accurate. 

Without me needing to intervene, we were able to find the First Sword Training Ground before long.

CLANG! CLANG! 

A strong smell of sweat wafted from the training ground where metallic sounds echoed. 

“Since we have plenty of time, shall we watch for a bit?” 

Gurumi sat down in the outer courtyard of the training ground. Seeing him touch his thick arms built from sea work, he seemed to be itching to move. 

My face froze like plaster as I glanced at the training ground. 

Two people in training clothes were crossing swords. 

Brilliant golden hair scattered under the pouring sunlight. 

An elegant silver blade rushed toward the opponent, contrasting with the gold. 

CLANG!

CRACK! 

With the sound of breaking metal, the student on the opposite side knelt down. 

“…I lost. Thank you for the match!” 

“Your skills have improved. Challenge me again anytime.” 

Geum Tae-min smiled at his opponent who was bowing his head. 

“Next.” 

The instructor standing behind called out loudly. 

It seemed Geum Tae-min was conducting guidance matches in place of the instructor. 

A class on infusing weapons with divine power. 

Tae-min’s skills were such that even the instructors had to concede to him. 

Having been promoted repeatedly, Tae-min was already a top-level divine power user who could take the graduation exam anytime, but for some reason, he didn’t leave the Thousand-Year School. 

In my past life, many wondered why Tae-min wouldn’t leave the academy. 

If he were to graduate, the Geum family would ensure his appointment as a royal court shaman, and he could become the Royal Guardian Sorcerer who presided over all royal ancestral rites and ceremonies. 

No one knew at that time. 

That in that wicked heart, an evil desire no one could imagine was surging! 

Geum Tae-min wanted to destroy the Thousand-Year School. 

He had no intention of leaving until he saw the academy fall. 

“Then, I ask for your guidance.” 

While the fire in my heart was blazing, I came to my senses at a familiar voice. It was Senior Pureum Usol.

She, who was nothing short of noble with every step, bowed her head to Geum Tae-min. 

I recalled Senior Usol’s appearance from my past life. 

Back then, she was missing half of her left arm. 

Nevertheless, the sight of her wielding a sword with just her right arm and soaring was so brilliant that it made my heart ache. 

…Now her arms are perfectly fine! 

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!… 

My heart began to race. 

“Pureum Usol.” 

Geum Tae-min extended one hand to welcome Senior Usol. 

As a member of the Geum family who frequented the palace as if it were his own home, Tae-min would naturally know about Senior Usol’s status. 

Desire flashed in his golden eyes. 

I suddenly thought that perhaps there was another greed in that man’s belly that sought to devour everything in the Thousand-Year School. 

I recalled what Senior Usol had said in my past life.

 “After losing my arm, my complicated personal issues became simpler. So you need not feel guilty.”

It occurred to me that the ‘complicated personal issues’ Senior Usol mentioned might not just be about family and bloodline. 

Perhaps one of them was Geum Tae-min’s ambition, desiring her noble character? 

“Pureum Usol, they say you’re unparalleled in swordsmanship?” 

“You flatter me.” 

Geum Tae-min praised her while slowly stroking his longsword. 

It seemed this was their first guidance match. 

“Please play a gentle melody.” 

Geum Tae-min looked toward the end of the training ground. 

A musician was setting up there with a geomungo. 

“So the sound we heard earlier came from here!” 

Jin-dallae’s eyes widened. 

Amidst the clashing metal sounds, we had clearly heard geomungo melodies. 

A tune echoing through a bloody sword training ground! 

It was strange. 

But that’s how Geum Tae-min was. 

Every time he took up his sword to destroy an opponent, he wanted music to be heard, poetry to flow. 

As if the sword he wielded was some heavenly art. 

In the past, I had watched him entranced. 

And I wasn’t alone. 

Countless juniors would beat their chests in admiration whenever they saw Tae-min’s swordplay. 

The geomungo performance began. 

The beautiful performance and the golden immortal looked dazzlingly brilliant. 

Throughout all this, Senior Usol remained expressionless. 

“Let’s begin.” 

Geum Tae-min announced the start with a smile like a heavenly gentleman. 

He slowly raised his sword. 

The silver blade gleamed, creating dozens of exquisite colors. 

The two circled each other, letting their swords flow downward lightly. 

Tension flowed in their eyes as they measured each other. 

“Dragon reverse scale!” 

Suddenly, I heard a voice through my skin. 

The words transmitted through my skin could only be heard by me. 

I looked down at my wrist with trembling eyes. The white jade bracelet that had been sleeping had opened its obsidian eyes with a flash.

‘Dragon’s reverse scale… I see. The rumors weren’t false.’ 

I recalled what I had heard before. 

A rumor that Geum Tae-min’s sword was made from a dragon’s reverse scale. 

The reverse scale sword was said to gleam with dozens of brilliant colors, and the moment one became entranced by its light, their head would fall. 

I thought it was nonsense, but his sword was really made from a dragon’s reverse scale! 

His use of the dragon’s reverse scale meant he was granted immense dragon divine power. 

In terms of spiritual power, it might equal hundreds or thousands of years of cultivation. 

Who could possibly face Geum Tae-min with such backing? 

TRING… 

The moment the geomungo string was pulled strongly, Geum Tae-min leaped into the air. 

As the flashing sword rushed forward, Senior Usol frowned. 

She was definitely dazzled by the light. 

Senior Usol blocked Geum Tae-min, changed direction to divert his force to the ground, and immediately attacked the opening. 

CLANG! 

The cold sound of blades clashing was fierce. 

The two bodies that had become entangled separated with a jump. 

Alert again. 

Watching the two exchanging tense sword strikes, I realized something. Senior Usol’s sword was an ordinary practice sword. 

Natural, since she was trying to hide her identity and family. 

In contrast, Geum Tae-min had the reverse scale sword imbued with tremendous divine power… 

At a glance, their skills seemed evenly matched, but what if Tae-min didn’t have the reverse scale sword?

Could he have possibly handled Senior Usol? 

I looked at the two with a perspective I didn’t have before. 

This time, Senior Usol raised her sword to attack. 

CLANG! CLANG! 

Geum Tae-min was pushed back steadily. 

Exclamations poured from everywhere. 

But only for a moment. 

THOOM… 

With the resonance of the geomungo, Senior Usol’s attack subtly twisted, and Geum Tae-min seized that gap. 

Now it was Senior Usol being pushed back! 

“The sound is irritating!” 

The white jade bracelet wrinkled its eyes tightly. 

‘Sound… the sound…’ 

The geomungo player sitting at the side caught my eye. 

THOOM!.. 

With his performance, Geum Tae-min flew through the air. 

CLANG! 

With the powerful collision, Senior Usol’s body was pushed backward. 

THUMP…

Even while rolling on the ground, Senior Usol didn’t take her eyes off Geum Tae-min. 

Senior Usol’s blade rushed again toward the golden hair… 

THOOM! THOOM!… 

Again the geomungo sound. 

And again, Senior Usol’s attack was slightly misaligned. 

Again Geum Tae-min’s counterattack. 

“Ah!” 

I understood exactly what the white jade meant by ‘irritating.’

The geomungo sound… Every time Senior Usol attacked, the pitch would be off by a half-step. 

Very subtly. 

Sometimes the rhythm… 

It creaked imperceptibly so that no one would notice. 

And each time, Senior Usol’s blade would slightly miss… 

I realized there was some correlation between the two. 

Can I do it?

I fiddled with the round ball of thread I had in my pocket. 

Cotton thread that Yeolmae had thoughtfully provided in case my clothes tore. A sharp black needle was inserted into it. 

The divine object I obtained by immersing my entire body in the swamp! 

“Wow, both of them are amazing! Really cool!” 

“Is this what we’re going to learn too?” 

While Gurumi and Jin-dallae whispered, I quietly placed the needle on the grass. 

Thin but persistently connected divine power… 

The needle, having received its command, moved stealthily like a crawling worm. 

THOOM! THOOM!… 

With the quickened geomungo melody, Geum Tae-min’s attacks gained speed. 

Whenever the two blades collided, Tae-min would try to take the higher position, making Senior Usol look up at him. 

FLASH! 

Dazzling rays of light piercing the eyes! 

Beautiful and brilliant from afar, but making the opponent’s eyes unbearably cold. 

Another strange attack. 

Despite this, Senior Usol endured with all her might. 

CRASH! 

She pushed Geum Tae-min away with force. 

“Indeed, you never disappoint me!” 

With the sunlight at his back, Geum Tae-min showed a satisfied smile. 

A Detested smile! 

‘Never disappoint you? Nonsense. Senior Usol doesn’t train to satisfy the likes of you!’ 

I mentally hurled a barrage of curses at him. 

Wiggling… 

Meanwhile, the needle climbed up the edge of the musician’s geomungo. 

Now, wait there… 

“Shall we finish this?” 

Geum Tae-min took a proper offensive stance. 

The musician was also preparing to pull the geomungo strings for a finale. 

My needle too had completed all preparations and was waiting for the moment. 

THOOM!… 

The geomungo note faltered. 

Geum Tae-min’s airborne body also wobbled slightly. 

Not missing the moment, Senior Usol began her counterattack. 

Seeing Geum Tae-min sliding down, the musician quickly pulled the strings. 

“…!” 

The geomungo was silent. 

With the string broken and even the main string that should be hooked by the thumb gone, the performance could no longer continue. 

“W-what’s happening?”

While the musician was checking the geomungo, the small black needle crawled weakly on the ground and returned to me.

From then on, Senior Usol did not let go of the air.

Now it was Senior Usol who attacked with the sun at her back.

Neither the blade of Yeokrin that caused dazzling brightness in the light, nor the energy of hundreds of years it conveyed, was of any use in the face of an obvious difference in skill.

Pushed back continuously. overwhelmed mindlessly.

Now only one last move…!

“S-stop! Time’s up. Stop!”

The instructor shouted loudly.

The instructor and everyone watching the guidance match looked greatly flustered.

Senior Usol immediately stopped her whirlwind of attacks. She sheathed her sword as if without the slightest lingering attachment.

Ah, I wanted to see Geum Tae-min kneel down. What a shame!

Everyone watched, Entranced as she spun around like a water-filled swallow.

“Thank you for the match. I learned a lot.”

Senior Usol bowed respectfully toward Geum Tae-min. There was neither joy nor satisfaction on her face.

She wasn’t a small person who would rejoice over the mere fact of defeating Geum Tae-min.

On the other hand, Geum Tae-min’s expression, biting the inside of his mouth and unable to suppress his humiliation, was quite a sight to see.

Geum Tae-min gathered his patience and managed to force a rotten smile.

“Nice skills. I look forward to next time.”

The seemingly impressive celestial realm expert was pulling up the corners of his trembling mouth, wearing a stiff smile.

Outwardly smiling, but inwardly swallowing blood.

“Do any of you have something like a towel?”

The one who offered a handkerchief embroidered with elegant evening primroses was Gurumi.

“I’ll borrow it!”

“Uh, wha… what?”

As soon as I snatched the handkerchief, I ran at full speed.

“Senior, I respect you!”

Senior Usol looked surprised by my sudden appearance.

Fortunately, she accepted the politely offered handkerchief, probably thinking it would be impolite to ignore it.

Senior Usol, who had barely wiped the sweat from her forehead, gazed at the handkerchief.

“This… I’ll wash and return it.”

“No need. I can wash it!”

“No, I’ll wash and give it back. By the way… Bada Maru, how are you here?”

“I’m honored that you remember my name. Today the freshmen assignment included The First Sword Training Ground. Thanks to that, I observed an amazing performance. It’s truly an honor!”

“I see.”

Senior Usol said she understood and soon walked away.

I gave a long bow to Senior Usol’s back and then moved toward Jin-dallae and Gurumi.

The eyes of the two people looking at me were expanded as if they would pop out.

Questions poured in, but they seemed disappointed with my answer that she was ‘the senior who guided me to the Thousand-Year School.’

Well, what answer did they want? Did they think I had some other connection with that great person? How ridiculous.

Geum Tae-min turned around and disappeared with his gang. 

Seeing his stiff back made me feel like even nonexistent indigestion was subsiding.

The thin needle that had cut the geomungo string returned safely, and no one noticed this incident.

That’s how we received the final stamp from The First Sword Training Ground.

Leaving dark gazes behind. We were intoxicated with the joy of the nine-tiered refreshment table.