I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

---

“Months must have passed, yet it hasn’t changed much since my last visit. It seems like everyone but me has given up on the research…”

Lee Yeon-woo, who was slowly walking and examining the overall appearance of the ruins, stated.

‘No wonder.’

Considering the conditions to open the door of the ruins, their judgment was reasonable.

Even if I somehow deciphered the inscription above the entrance, there wouldn’t be anyone other than Lee Yeon-woo capable of figuring out the form of mana that serves as the key.

Even Lee Yeon-woo would have eventually given up if she hadn’t discovered Kim Il-shin, who mastered Il-shin-pa-cheon-gong.

“This is the key area I mentioned that can open the door to these ruins.”

Lee Yeon-woo pointed to the circular disk in the center of the entrance.

The vines surrounding the disk and the wear from the wind and rain were noticeable. It was a sign of how long these ruins had existed.

“Place your palm here, then channel the mana of Il-shin-pa-cheon-gong into it. Then the door will open.”

With excitement brimming in her voice, Lee Yeon-woo stepped back, and Kim Il-shin stood before the disk.

After clearing away the interfering vines and dust, he placed his palm on the disk.

Goooo…

As he skillfully manipulated Il-shin-pa-cheon-gong, a strong vibration was felt deep within beyond the door.

It felt like a welcoming embrace. More precisely, it was greeting the successor of Il-shin-pa-cheon-gong.

Kim Il-shin pushed the mana he summoned from his whole body into the disk. The mana flowing beyond the disk moved quickly along the open path.

Clank!

Immediately, a mechanical movement felt from within, accompanied by a sound that echoed as if a lock was being released.

‘It opened.’

Even without applying much force, the door of the ruins gradually began to budge.

I was curious about what lay behind it, but I didn’t open it right away.

Turning his head, Kim Il-shin asked Lee Yeon-woo, who wore an overwhelmed expression.

“Can I open it?”

He asked, wondering if she might want to do the honors, but Lee Yeon-woo answered cheerily without any such concern.

“Yes! Please do it with your hands, Kim Il-shin…!”

With her confirmation, it was now his turn to open the door. Kim Il-shin put strength into both hands and pushed the thick door open.

Kugugugugu…

The heavy sound preceded the gradually revealing inside of the ruins. There was an unexpected new space unfolding before them.

At the end of a corridor, extending in a straight line with geometric patterns laid out in a regular pattern, a blazing desert bathed in sunlight stood.

‘An illusion barrier, huh.’

An illusion barrier is a type of barrier technique where the user manifests whatever they wish inside the barrier, typically used to confuse the enemy and entrap them inside.

However, the illusion barrier ahead was far beyond such trivialities.

When illusion barriers develop to a higher dimension, they can create not only phantoms but also tangible entities.

The gates that generate artificial dungeons were inventions made using that principle.

However, even the gates require multiple supercomputers connected to function properly.

Without such support, maintaining such a vast space for that long was no easy feat.

“Can you believe such a high-level illusion barrier existed in ancient times…? Let’s hurry and see what’s inside…! I’m so curious about what awaits us…!”

It was just as Lee Yeon-woo, excited about the new discovery, stepped into the ruins.

“Freeze!”

A familiar voice came from the direction Kim Il-shin and Lee Yeon-woo had passed.

It was Park Seong-jun’s voice, whom they had encountered at the entrance checkpoint of Baekdu Mountain.

“What the…!”

Lee Yeon-woo gasped, covering her mouth in shock as she faced Park Seong-jun and his group stepping forward confidently.

It wasn’t the fact that they had been following her that surprised her.

Their condition was so disheveled that it overshadowed any such thought.

“Umm… Are you okay…? Should I call for rescue…?”

Concern dripped from Lee Yeon-woo’s voice directed at them. It matched the horrific sight before her.

None of the three had a whole body, and particularly, Park Seong-jun looked as if he had rolled on the streets for months.

The blood and dirt caked on him made it impossible to recall the face she had seen at the checkpoint.

“Shut up!”

Hearing Lee Yeon-woo’s words, Park Seong-jun flailed his arms in indignation.

Then, pointing to Kim Il-shin and Lee Yeon-woo, he continued.

“Lee Yeon-woo, and you! Sorry, but it’s better for you to turn back now. We will now conduct our investigation of this ruin.”

“What do you mean…!”

“If you intend to resist, it’s better to give in quickly.”

“Whether or not to rebut that doesn’t matter,” Park Seong-jun interrupted her and pointed to his companions.

“You see, both of them are C-rank heroes. It means we can bury you without anybody noticing. Let’s resolve this peacefully, shall we?”

Tension washed over Lee Yeon-woo’s face as she fully grasped the situation.

Instinctively, she pulled on Kim Il-shin’s collar.

It was an action born not from anxiety but from the thought that she needed to protect him.

‘I can’t let Kim Il-shin face two C-rank heroes…’

The initial rank assigned to graduates who have completed the academic program at the academy is C-rank.

Moreover, they looked to have considerable experience, so there was no doubt they were far stronger and more dangerous.

No matter how talented he was as a first-year graduate, facing opponents like them would be extremely challenging for Kim Il-shin, who was only a third-year student.

“I’m going to do things as usual. Any spells?”

“I can use them right away.”

Park Seong-jun’s comrades were already radiating a murderous intent strong enough for Lee Yeon-woo to sense, preparing for battle.

Leading with a dagger was Bae Gi-tae, while Han Joo-hyun chanted spells behind him.

It looked as though they had practiced countless times together in a natural manner.

Seeing that, Lee Yeon-woo made her decision.

‘… Let’s give up.’

It was a choice Lee Yeon-woo had no option but to make.

Of course, if she backed down here, all the research efforts she had put forth until now would go to waste.

Even if she reported it after escaping Baekdu Mountain, reclaiming her rights to investigate the ruins would be next to impossible.

There was no clear evidence that they had been following Kim Il-shin and Lee Yeon-woo either.

Besides, the rights to a ruin that hadn’t been completely investigated were inherently vague.

Kim Il-shin’s thought that the tracking wouldn’t stop as long as nothing abnormal happened stemmed from that reason.

Intercepting them right after the door opened was certainly the easiest and fastest route.

‘But there’s nothing I can do…’

Lee Yeon-woo couldn’t put a student in danger because of her own desires.

She felt entirely responsible for the situation because she had failed to notice their tracking beforehand.

With eyes tightly closed, Lee Yeon-woo said with a trembling voice.

“Stop it. We’ll give up…”

“What are you talking about?”

At that moment, Kim Il-shin grabbed Lee Yeon-woo’s wrist.

He understood her feelings that had led to such a choice, but for Kim Il-shin, this was precisely the situation he had wanted.

“Since it might be dangerous, you should step back.”

As Kim Il-shin said that, he drew the Hyeonwol sword and stepped forward.

“Wait! Kim Il-shin, student…?”

Lee Yeon-woo, who had immediately run out to stop him, suddenly halted as if some sudden force had restrained her.

Kim Il-shin walked forward without a trace of hesitation, even facing two C-rank heroes.

Both she and Park Seong-jun’s group could only be left stunned at that sight.

“You’re making a foolish choice! Hey, finish this quickly!”

Park Seong-jun shouted imperatively from behind Bae Gi-tae.

“Shut up… Tch. I don’t have a hobby of dealing with kids like you, but I guess I have no choice.”

Bae Gi-tae’s body began to blur, showing his distaste, before it completely vanished.

Behind him, Han Joo-hyun was focused on his spell.

“Visibility spell…! We need to take out the wizard first!”

Lee Yeon-woo’s desperate shout was certainly a conventional strategy against them.

Those who ventured to face Bae Gi-tae and Han Joo-hyun would invariably choose that method, but it was the wrong choice.

The ground in front of Han Joo-hyun was lined with magic traps that activate when stepped on.

They were set up discreetly in preparation for battle.

‘If they act hastily to deal with the wizard, that’s where it ends.’

Since the traps had to be set using minimal mana to remain undetected, their effect wasn’t overwhelming.

At most, they would momentarily bind someone’s feet.

However, that split second was extremely fatal when Bae Gi-tae was invisible.

They had never once experienced defeat since the inception of that tactic.

Swoosh.

Kim Il-shin did not fall for that trap.

With his sword poised, he closed his eyes and calmly surveyed his surroundings.

‘Can’t see me, huh? Are you trying to sense me somehow?’

But to Bae Gi-tae, that was merely laughable.

No matter how sharp Kim Il-shin’s senses, there was no chance he would detect Bae Gi-tae’s location.

In his stealth method, there was no indication whatsoever.

Bae Gi-tae, without any hindrance, approached Kim Il-shin without resistance.

Even at that time, Kim Il-shin remained motionless, his eyes still shut.

Seeing that, Bae Gi-tae was convinced of his victory. A mere finishing touch would conclude the game.

‘I won’t kill you!’

Just as he thought that and drew his dagger…

Tilting.

With a sudden sharp pain felt in both ankles, Bae Gi-tae’s view tilted downward.

“Wha, what?”

Before he could grasp what had occurred, his body rolled to the ground.

Dazed and inhaling dust, Bae Gi-tae lay bewildered.

A cold voice resonated from above him.

“I won’t kill you.”