NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19
As I stepped into the barrier, an elderly man stood proudly in the distance.
His lifeless white hair and beard were marked with the heavy passage of time.
Yet, his overwhelming blue eyes and firmly built muscles radiated a powerful presence.
The pure white sword aimed forward felt like it was distorting the very air around it.
It was the first time I encountered someone whose realm I couldn’t gauge even with my [Martial God (S)] and [Comprehension (A)].
A vast chasm existed between the old man and me, Kim Il-shin.
It felt as if I were witnessing an absolute being descending from the heavens.
“The great hero, Baek Ho-san.”
He had suddenly appeared in 1945 during the great distortion, saving countless people.
He was the one who single-handedly hunted down two of the beasts that were labeled as the seven great calamities back then.
Thus, he was not just etched in the history of South Korea but was, indeed, a legendary figure in the history of the entire world.
“Is that guy the Sword Demon?”
The sword, Ho-baek (皓白), wielded by Baek Ho-san, was also familiar to Kim Il-shin.
Once heralded as a prodigious talent, the swordsman had plunged into the Demonic Church, leaving behind only a desire to reach the peak of swordsmanship.
Thereafter, known for committing numerous massacres with his cursed swordsmanship, he acquired the moniker “Sword Demon,” being one of the bishops at the core of the Demonic Church.
Despite having a terrible reputation, Kim Il-shin wasn’t well acquainted with him.
The reason was simple. He was destined to meet his demise at the hands of Baek Ho-san. Right here, at this moment.
In an instant…
A flash of light erupted like dawn igniting the night, contained within Baek Ho-san’s sword.
The bright flame illuminated the surrounding space.
Swoosh—
The light flowed along a soft trajectory, like the stroke of a brush. From left to right, from dawn to dusk.
Eventually, the light advanced beyond the horizon in accordance with the unmistakable laws of this world, before sinking downwards.
However, the light hadn’t completely vanished.
While sinking, beams of light streamed down from the sky and clouds. It felt almost like an afterimage.
“What’s that…!”
“Huh….”
It was such an artistic spectacle that even enemies were entranced. Yet, Kim Il-shin could see its source.
Like light passing through a prism, every fragmented beam of light embodied a deadly strike.
Moreover, there was no time gap between the deadly strikes advancing like a storm.
Countless deadly strikes surged forth simultaneously.
It was truly a kill shot that sealed off every escape route for the opponent and annihilated them completely.
Boom!
The Sword Demon, who had been standing there, was shattered into pieces.
The splattering blood painted the nearby guards red.
“W-what? Sword Demon?”
“Could it be… Sword Demon…?”
The Demonic Church members who had believed they could withstand the great hero lost their footing in an instant.
Before they could react, the heavens roared.
Boom—!!
Baek Ho-san’s sword strike exploded high in the sky.
The reverberation shook heaven and earth, accompanied by snowflakes gently descending.
It was a divine punishment descending upon those who had served the false god.
“Run, run away!”
“If it touches you, you’ll die! Survive on your own!”
Winter arrived late in the name of an unnamed mountain.
Each snowflake that drifted, as if reaching the snowy field, was akin to a sword strike.
The guards who brushed against the snowflakes were mercilessly cut down, spilling crimson blood.
It was a sight as though disaster had struck.
Kim Il-shin felt an indescribable beauty in that place.
It was dreamy, as if he were dreaming. His mind was swirling with the trajectory of the falling snowflakes.
An uncontrollable surge of inspiration compelled him to take a step forward.
Thump.
His first step was like the gently falling snowflake.
Thump.
His second step, was the wind pushing against him.
Thump.
His third step melted away silently; it was all part of a cycle.
Snow Tracing Steps (雪踪步). The swordsmanship of an absolute being made it so that merely watching gave rise to a new technique.
In that very moment, Kim Il-shin looked up at the sky and thought.
‘…I need to get out of here now.’
While he longed to stay, the cloud of death was swiftly expanding its territory.
It would soon reach the barrier’s end, filling the entire area. If that happened, Kim Il-shin could not escape death either.
Voom—
Kim Il-shin rang the red bell thrice once more and slipped outside.
A few who noticed his escape hurried to follow him, but before they could, the door closed.
*
As I exited the barrier, the surrounding landscape changed abruptly.
From a battleground soaked in screams and blood, I returned to a tranquil mountain.
“Phew.”
Letting out a sigh, Kim Il-shin hurried down the mountain. He needed to return to the dormitory.
Soon, once the internal members of the Demonic Church were dealt with, the barrier would crumble, and Baek Ho-san would emerge.
Since he’s generally a good person, nothing would happen even if they discovered he was here.
However, he could easily find himself in a troublesome situation. He might face interrogation on why he was present at that time.
The chances of his lies being exposed were high, but telling the truth was also difficult. Thus, it was better to escape this place swiftly.
He had already achieved his objective.
‘I’ve gained a lot.’
A smile formed on Kim Il-shin’s face. Tonight had brought immense income.
His progress in the Moonlight Corridor had advanced during the fight against the assassin, and he had developed a new technique from Baek Ho-san’s swordsmanship.
These two alone were indeed significant gains, but there was even more.
It was the opportunity to witness the extraordinary swordsmanship of a great hero.
His perspective, previously constrained to a comparatively lower level, felt vastly broadened. The goal of strength had been newly established.
What would it feel like to wield a sword at the realm where Baek Ho-san resided?
He couldn’t help but feel excitement.
Though he couldn’t mimic his swordsmanship yet, one day he would be able to unfold it.
Moreover, he pondered what the higher realms held.
‘Let’s grow steadily.’
He felt no haste. If he continued on this path, he would soon be able to glimpse that realm.
Minutes later, back in the dormitory, Kim Il-shin took a shower and lay down on his bed.
Until he fell asleep, he continually reflected on Baek Ho-san’s swordsmanship.
*
The next afternoon. After preparing, Kim Il-shin opened the dormitory door and stepped outside.
It was soon time for the duel test.
As he stepped outside, Kim Il-shin found white gloves fitted over his hands.
The entire surface was smooth. These were gloves crafted from the scales of the Four Kings, made by Hanarín.
They had cost a staggering three million won to make, but he had no regrets.
It was a relatively affordable price considering the superior performance.
They boasted defensive capabilities strong enough to deflect a mana-infused sword, and even if cut, they had a function that allowed for recovery within hours.
The performance exceeded all the standards Kim Il-shin had set.
‘Hanarín’s skills are impressive.’
With that thought in mind, he walked ahead. The streets of the Academy were unusually bustling today.
Those granted prior permission could observe the Academy’s duel test, numbering in the hundreds or even thousands.
It was no wonder it was so crowded.
“Here, try our Academy’s special chicken skewers!”
“We’re renting out telescopes! It’s hard to see with the naked eye!”
Merchants within the Academy were bustling, eager to capitalize on the opportunity.
As a result, the atmosphere felt festive, as if a festival was underway.
Kim Il-shin proceeded to the test site, coinciding with the time he had been informed about.
It was a large building modeled after the Colosseum of Rome, easily visible from afar.
“Hey! No cutting in line!”
“Students, please come this way! Just a moment! No entry for outsiders!”
The area around the test site was even more crowded and noisy than elsewhere.
As he pushed through the crowd towards the waiting room, the staff checked Kim Il-shin’s student ID and let him in.
“Kim Il-shin confirmed. The previous duel isn’t over yet, so please prepare in waiting room number 3.”
He passed a long hallway and opened the door to Waiting Room 3, marked with a sign.
Inside the waiting room, thick with tension, many students were awaiting their duel order.
Kim Il-shin took a seat in the empty space and looked at the TV mounted on the front wall.
You could watch other duels happening on the TV in the waiting room.
In the center of the spacious Colosseum, he could see students fighting in six different duel arenas.
Among them was Seo Ye-ryeong, who was pressing her opponent with arrows infused with wind.
“Hey, the Fengjin Guild was here earlier.”
“I heard the Black Dragon Guild’s leader came in person?”
“Kim Seong-man from Class 2 is said to have already sealed a deal. He’s going straight in after graduation with a sponsorship.”
Many scouts from external guilds participated in observing the Academy’s duel tests.
They watched the duels to find the talents they desired, while students worked hard in battle, eager to catch the eye of the guilds they wanted.
Most students aimed to become high-ranking heroes in the future, enjoying wealth and fame.
Thus, the duel test, where they could display their prowess to the outside, was a golden opportunity.
“Hey, hey! Ba-ba-baek…!”
“What? What is it? …Whoa.”
Suddenly, the students in the waiting room began to make a fuss.
Not just them, but even the excited crowd in the stands went silent in an instant.
Students paused their duels to turn their heads, sensing something was amiss.
‘Has he finally arrived?’
Kim Il-shin wasn’t surprised by the phenomenon. He had foreseen that something would happen during today’s duel test.
“Is that person Baek Ho-san…?”
“Add an honorific. You impudent brat.”
“Oh, right. Baek Ho-san-nim.”
The great hero Baek Ho-san appeared in the stands.
He radiated an undeniably enormous aura as he entered and took a seat at the very front of the audience.
While everyone admired Baek Ho-san’s presence, Kim Il-shin quietly took a deep breath.
He was completely unprepared for what would happen next.