32 – Midterm Exam (2)

The midterm exams unfold in two broad arenas.

First, the written.

However, this written exam does not greatly affect the scores, nor, by extension, Gaon’s rankings.

It is merely a formality, nothing more.

The Principal may frown upon the current educational system’s neglect of theory… but what can be done?

Ultimately, all attention is focused on the remaining arena.

That is, direct combat.

A total of three battles will take place, and bids from guilds and organizations commence after each round concludes.

So then, these celebrated Gaon midterm exams.

Are they truly significant?

‘No.’

In truth, the midterms hold little importance for me.

What truly became crucial in the original narrative was the assault by the Demonic forces that coincided with the midterms.

It was the first incident where Gaon became the Demons’ target.

Therefore, I too need only prepare to align with that flow, rather than the exam itself.

However, one major divergence from the original narrative exists… and that is Vanquisher.

In the original, Vanquisher did not attend the midterms, so there was no opportunity for the two of us to meet, but should we cross paths….

In that case, one of us will surely end up torn limb from limb. Vanquisher’s psyche is fundamentally, the eradication of demons.

“Class is dismissed for today.”

The instructor finished summarizing the lesson and spoke.

I, too, rose from my seat.

My tasks to complete before the midterms were straightforward.

The growth of the key figures.

I turned my gaze to the left.

Chun Yeo-wool was clutching the cross I had given her tightly in her hand, gazing up at me silently.

‘Chun Yeo-wool is taken care of.’

Yoo Hana. I promised to give her the Camellia Sword, so she is fine for now.

And Kang Ah-rin… Even if I wanted to give her something, the items that suit her are considerably difficult to procure.

Then… the last one is Sung Si-woo.

‘What to do.’

According to the plan, he should embark on the path of growth, becoming a weapon to destroy the Mā through the Shard.

Attracting the attention of the Guilds, receiving powerful support through bidding, slowly walking the path of a ‘protagonist.’

But I completely forgot about the Shard, and this brat is still stubborn. I’ve spoken to him a few times, but he still ignores me.

So, is there any reason for me to drag this kid along at this point?

Actually, I’ve already finished pondering it.

‘Abandon.’

I’ll abandon him for now.

It’s too difficult with this raid.

My midterm exams are next week, for crying out loud.

There’s no way I can raise him up in time.

I lifted my head and looked at the front.

He was staring intently at the word “Vanquisher” written on the blackboard.

I’m sorry.

Abandoning the protagonist that I tried to create, and even raise…

…wasn’t easy, to be honest.

*

The sun was slowly setting, and twilight was creeping along the ground.

6 PM. I arrived at Training Area B.

As the automatic doors opened, students who had come to train in line with the exam period were honing their skills in various places.

Fierce striking sounds and mana fluctuations filled the training area.

But in the midst of it all, Yoo Hana was kneeling, quietly lost in meditation.

A scion of a martial family.

She was completely unfazed by the noisy surroundings.

I carefully lowered the camellia sword diagonally slung across my back and slowly approached her.

As my footsteps drew closer, she slowly opened her eyes.

And gently rising from her spot, she naturally approached me.

The training area had a large communal space, and individual training rooms available for use.

“Shall we go to a room? I reserved one.”

She was about to lead me to a training room.

But I made the first move.

I drew the sword from my back, offering it to her.

A scabbard steeped in a deep, violet hue.

From within, a dense energy pulsed, subtly radiating outwards.

-Hooommmmm…

And the sword trembled relentlessly.

As if writhing, desperately resisting.

I don’t like you either, you brat.

“Take it.”

I grumbled inwardly, speaking tersely.

Her eyes widened for a moment.

I pressed the blade into her hesitant hand, her fingers grasping at the air.

That instant.

-Whirrr.

The spirit of the Camellia Blade blossomed gently.

The quivering, which until now had thrashed wildly, gradually subsided, finally settling into a quiet stillness.

It seems Yoo Hana pleases it.

I smiled lightly and continued.

“It’s an exceptional sword. Let’s train with it today. Probably for a while now…”

But then.

“…Hey.”

I furrowed my brow.

From Yoo Hana’s eye, a single, crystalline tear trickled down.

She seemed just as bewildered.

“Ah… S-sorry. It just… came out of nowhere.”

Unable to stem the flood, she began furiously wiping at the tears with the heel of her hand.

But no matter how much she wiped, the tears wouldn’t stop.

“Why… why is this happening…”

Even as she wept, she was also smiling.

As if she’d lost control of her own emotions.

The gazes of those nearby were slowly beginning to converge.

“What’s this?”

“Isn’t that Yu Hana?”

A low hum of voices.

All eyes turned toward Yu Hana, tears glistening in the center of the training grounds.

‘This is… somewhat problematic.’

Troubling.

I quietly took her wrist in my hand.

And promptly opened the training room door, ushering her inside.

*

The man before her stood silently, his back turned, stretching.

Yu Hana could feel his patience, waiting for her emotions to settle.

Haein made not a single sound.

Just like always, naturally.

Neither demanding nor rushing her.

A silent consideration, as if telling her to calm herself.

‘So kind…’

Lightly touching her forehead, she tried to gather her scattered feelings.

The moment her carefully concealed emotions burst forth.

Memories of the past resurfaced, and she couldn’t quite contain them.

She gazed at his broad, solid back. A back she always wanted to lean on, and had leaned on often.

But he carried so much on that back.

She swallowed hard.

Right now, this very instant—

She wanted to run to him and embrace his back.

Slowly, inching up his back to his firm shoulders.

Embracing him tightly, so she could feel it with her whole body.

And, in that state…

She wanted to slowly push him down.

Pressing her body against his, feeling his warmth,

So that he could set down all his burdens, even if only for a moment.

She yearned to feel his breath, the thrum of his heart, the warmth radiating from him, up close.

And to speak.

To say, it’s alright now. That she would share the burden, carry it with him.

And then… to press a kiss to his ear….

‘Ah…’

But she couldn’t.

Because then, it would all be for naught.

All his efforts would be rendered meaningless.

Yu Hana quietly curled her fingertips inward.

Suppressing a heated breath, she slowly, reluctantly, averted her gaze.

Rising from her seat, she cautiously approached the one she loved.

He turned his head, wearing his usual gentle smile.

“Shall we begin?”

He didn’t ask why she had been crying.

He simply smiled, silently, as he always did.

That tender countenance brought another wave of yearning, but she firmly, resolutely, suppressed her emotions.

“…Thank you. It looks like an incredible blade.”

He chuckled, feigning nonchalance.

“I’m just lending it to you.”

A lie. He’d probably just give it to her in the end.

He drew a sword, not his customary spear, his favored weapon.

This… this was it.

He lightly brandished the blade and began explaining the swordsmanship style.

The Hwajeopgeom (花蝶劍), the Flower-Butterfly Sword.

A swordsmanship where flower and butterfly become one, elegantly unfolding.

With each swing, the wind flowed like dancing, offense and defense seamlessly linked in a sublime martial art.

A technique that suited the Camellia Sword perfectly.

He explained the merits of the Hwajeopgeom to Yu Hana.

And after finishing his explanation, he looked at her, seemingly a little nervous.

The Yu Hana before him now—

His essence permeated every nook and cranny of her being.

Not just the technique, but his intonation, habits, even the way he gripped his sword.

So, she had long since mastered the Butterfly Sword.

But the Yu Hana of that time?

“Prove it. Prove it’s better than my swordsmanship.”

She would have said it like that, corners of her lips sharply upturned, dripping with insolence.

And he, even in the face of such brazenness, would have smiled even brighter.

He always did.

He tried to persuade her.

To make her follow his way, his path.

And so, the moment of sharing swords returned.

“Shall we try it?”

The spar began.

He unfurled the Butterfly Sword, piercing deeply into her defenses.

One step, then another.

She was so elated.

To be able to share swords like this again.

To be able to meet his sword, even in this way.

But, if it were the Yu Hana of the past?

Yu Hana instantly changed her expression.

A face etched with resentment.

Eyes burning with unwillingness to lose.

And a smile bloomed on his face once more.

It was a familiar expression.

That method of stimulating her emotions, of pulling her to greater heights.

‘Frustrated, aren’t you?’

He didn’t ask the question aloud, but Yu Hana could read his thoughts.

He always,

used her frustration as fuel for her swordsmanship.

Yu Hana ultimately lost, by the narrowest of margins.

And then she throws the Camellia Blade to the floor. Not carelessly, though.

It is precious, after all. Just placed it down with a bit more… *oomph*.

Deliberately, she scrunches her face.

As if pride wounded, or unfairly wronged, she speaks to him.

“…That… teach me too.”

A faint smile flickers across his lips.

Seemingly pleased, somehow, by the situation unfolding exactly as he’d intended.

If you are happy, then so am I.

And she whispered the words to herself, repeating them like a secret promise.

‘I’ll be a good girl.’

…Because for you, I can do anything.