I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

---

Fortunately, the misunderstanding was cleared up quickly. Though to be honest, saying it was a misunderstanding feels a bit off.

Lee Yeonwoo realized immediately, upon seeing Kim Ilshin’s baffled reaction, that she had misunderstood the situation.

With an expression as if she were ready to atone for a grave sin, she started to apologize, and her face turned so red it seemed about to burst.

Kim Ilshin was seeing for the first time that a person’s face could actually turn that shade of red.

After a little time passed, once Lee Yeonwoo had regained her composure, she suggested that they go to her office.

She wanted to use some materials there to explain in more detail.

Kim Ilshin agreed, and soon they arrived at Lee Yeonwoo’s office.

‘It’s really messy.’

Various books and documents filled the large office floor, leaving no space to step.

Empty energy drink cans were scattered here and there for good measure.

It was the complete opposite of the very tidy office of Joo Chae-rin.

In fact, it resembled a long-abandoned storage room more than an actual office.

“Please wait a moment. Let me handle this first and this as well…”

Even in such a disheveled environment, Lee Yeonwoo managed to locate the necessary materials without hassle.

She looked like a veteran farmer weeding a field.

Seeing such a sight made me think that maybe this was just her unique way of organizing things.

‘It’s not that she’s lazy; perhaps she just doesn’t feel the need to tidy up.’

After all, she could throw things around and still remember where everything was.

It might be hell for those watching, but she seemed comfortable with it.

While Kim Ilshin was having such thoughts, Lee Yeonwoo found all the materials needed for her explanation.

She laid them out on the desk and began her explanation.

“This is a ruin discovered a long time ago, but at first, we didn’t know what kind of ruin it was, and we couldn’t figure out how to enter it, so it was left untouched.”

Lee Yeonwoo pointed to a photo on the desk.

It was a picture taken from above the entrance of the ruins, showing strange patterns engraved on it.

“Do you see the inscription here?”

“An inscription? I thought it was some kind of drawing.”

“It looks that way, but it’s actually made up of letters. This is an ancient language that we recently succeeded in deciphering.”

“What does it say?”

“…Only the heir of the Ilshin Pachungong can open the door; if you wish to take the test of your predecessors, enter.”

The heir of the Ilshin Pachungong.

If that referred to someone who had learned the Ilshin Pachungong, then Kim Ilshin must be the only one in this world.

“And here, I found something peculiar as well.”

What Lee Yeonwoo pointed to was a photo of a disc roughly the size of a palm, hanging in the center of the ruins entrance.

“You can pour mana into this disc. Only by inserting mana that fits the shape of the device connected to this can the door be opened.”

“So, we need to pour the mana of the Ilshin Pachungong into that?”

“Yes, exactly. Through research, we’ve figured out what process is required to create that form of mana, but…”

Suddenly, Lee Yeonwoo’s expression turned gloomy as she lowered her head.

She seemed to be recalling the daunting time that had passed.

“I’m really clumsy, and I just can’t manage to follow that process with my own body… Even if I asked someone else, it would be the same. Since it’s complex, we couldn’t break the door if we wanted to; I was about to give up…”

Kim Ilshin started to understand why he had never heard the name of “Mad Mage.”

To begin with, it’s hard to acquire books containing the Ilshin Pachungong, and even if you do, no one can master it, so opening the door to those ruins was impossible.

As time went by, Lee Yeonwoo ended up giving up her research and thus the ruins were completely forgotten.

“But then…!”

Lee Yeonwoo lifted her head and looked at Kim Ilshin, her eyes pleading like a drenched puppy.

“I found you, Kim Ilshin. The martial arts you used in the duel, it was the Ilshin Pachungong, right…?”

Taking a deep breath, she fumbled her words. I could see her eyes getting a bit moist.

“No, it doesn’t have to be, I just need you to pour mana into it once with me. Please…”

She looked like she was ready to bow her head to the ground at any moment.

‘I guess I have to accept.’

Once the topic of the Ilshin Pachungong came up, I had no intention of refusing.

Especially since the term “the test of your predecessors” mentioned at the entrance caught my interest.

Maybe this was an opportunity to further evolve the Ilshin Pachungong.

“Alright. But there’s one condition.”

“Really?! Just say anything…! Oh, well, not anything…”

“Let me enter the ruins with you. I’m curious about what’s inside.”

“That’s fine…!”

Lee Yeonwoo beamed as though it was her biggest wish.

“I need someone to protect me while I move and investigate. If it’s Kim Ilshin, I can trust you.”

It was a satisfying answer for Kim Ilshin, but the phrase “while moving” stuck in his mind.

It meant protection was needed not just during the investigation, but also while traveling there.

Kim Ilshin asked about it and Lee Yeonwoo answered candidly.

“Oh, the ruins are at the foot of Baekdu Mountain.”

After hearing that answer, Kim Ilshin had a bad feeling. He suspected this wouldn’t go smoothly.

Baekdu Mountain, located in the northernmost part of South Korea.

Because of the dense mana emitted by the mountain, strong monsters inhabit the area.

Additionally, due to its geographical position close to the border between China and Korea, it’s a place where countless outlaws who commit crimes slip away.

“How about we leave right away next weekend…? I’ll make sure attendance is taken care of; it’s pretty much a favor I’m asking of you, Kim Ilshin…”

Lee Yeonwoo was entirely focused on that and didn’t care about such trivial matters.

She was just overjoyed that they could open the door to the ruins and inspect what was inside.

‘Can I trust her and go…? …What a useless thought.’

Having already accepted, he had to go for the “test of the predecessors” written at the entrance.

With five days remaining until departure, he planned to prepare as much as possible in that time.

“Then it’s settled for then.”

“Okay…! I’ll prepare the transport.”

After finishing up their schedule and supplies, Kim Ilshin stepped outside.

The next place to go was the training facility.

Though he was a bit delayed due to unexpected events, he couldn’t skip training.

*

Early in the morning, Kim Ilshin sat cross-legged on the floor and looked at the small box in front of him.

The elegantly decorated platinum box, resembling a jewelry case, held elixirs inside.

Thanks to securing the top position in the recent test, he obtained this elixir personally crafted by the academy’s head, Pan Haeyul.

Clunk.

Kim Ilshin opened the box and took out the elixir. The pale blue elixir gave off a refreshing sensation.

A calm scent like that of entering a dense forest wafted through the air.

Just seeing it was enough to tell how much pure energy was condensed within the elixir.

“Whew.”

Kim Ilshin took a deep breath, assumed his posture, and placed the elixir in his mouth.

The elixir melted away in an instant as if he had swallowed his own eyes, spreading a chilling energy throughout his body.

As soon as he started circulating mana throughout, the chilling sensation vanished in a moment.

The intake of the elixir was complete.

The power of the perfectly absorbed elixir filled Kim Ilshin’s mana circuit entirely.

It was a fascinating phenomenon to witness again.

‘Is it about half the strength of a Hwajeongdan?’

Perhaps because it was mass-produced, it didn’t contain as much power as a Hwajeongdan.

Of course, that was more than enough performance.

The effectiveness of the Hwajeongdan had been exceptionally good, and Joo Chaerin’s massive outpouring was remarkable.

‘Now I should be above average.’

Finally, Kim Ilshin’s mana reserves reached the average level of academy students.

This was thanks to his previous mana training and the elixir.

However, having the same amount of mana didn’t mean he was equivalent to them.

Kim Ilshin’s pure mana had superior performance compared to others.
And he also had the physical talent that allowed him to use it even more efficiently.

“Ugh…”

After finishing the elixir, Kim Ilshin stood up and threw on the backpack he’d left by the door.

The bag was packed with various items prepared for different situations, like ropes and first-aid supplies.

Since they were going into Baekdu Mountain, this level of preparation was essential.

After stepping outside, Kim Ilshin headed toward the entrance of the academy and spotted Lee Yeonwoo standing in front of a sturdy-looking Retona.

Since he had informed her that he would take care of the essentials, she had come out with only the bare minimum.

“You arrived quickly.”

“Ah, here you are…! Should we leave right away…?”

“Sounds good.”

As Lee Yeonwoo opened the car door, her expression was brimming with uncontainable excitement.

Kim Ilshin and Lee Yeonwoo climbed into the backseat of the Retona. Surprisingly, the interior was quite comfortable.

“How’s the ride…? It’s not inconvenient, right? I received it when I entered the academy, but this is my first time riding in it today. I don’t really go out much…”

“Is it self-driving?”

“Yes, that’s right. I don’t have a license…”

Lee Yeonwoo entered their destination on the back seat screen. Their destination was Incheon Airport.

The plan was to first fly to a nearby airport and then drive to the entrance of Baekdu Mountain.

Vroom-

With a smooth start, Kim Ilshin and Lee Yeonwoo set out for Baekdu Mountain.