I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game-Chapter 283: Ma Count (4)

After being pulled from the pit and moved to the Sword Sovereign's residence, I regained consciousness before my teacher did.

The Sword Sovereign, explaining the reasons and objectives behind the recent training, offered me an apology. It was during this explanation that I also learned that she was not my grandmaster.

After hearing everything from the Sword Sovereign, my thoughts turned to one person in particular—my teacher, Baek Seol-hee.

'Teacher must feel an overwhelming sense of guilt towards me.'

Having been under her guidance for so long, I could easily predict what she might do next. My teacher had a strong sense of responsibility.

'She might try to break her sword or disappear from my life, thinking she's atoning for nearly teaching me a sword that could have killed me.'

The thought made my heart sink. The idea of her leaving out of guilt was something I could never accept. She was more than just a teacher to me.

In that sense, Alice's disappearance, while unfortunate, turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

It allowed me to secure a promise from the Sword Sovereign to grant any request.

And so, I came up with this plan.

After the massive explosion caused by the collision of top-grade mana stones and the Sword Sovereign's mana, Taebaek Mountain was left as a barren wasteland.

With the Magesu completely destroyed and Alice's safety ensured, the Sword Sovereign, my teacher, and I gathered together.

My teacher stood there, holding the neatly folded 《Guardian Armor of Verdant Growth》 I had given her, looking guilt-ridden. She appeared as if she was preparing to say goodbye.

Since she wasn’t speaking up, I decided to break the silence.

"Teacher, I've heard everything. I know what kind of sword you taught me."

"...!"

Her eyes widened, and then she closed them tightly. A whirlwind of complex emotions crossed her face—guilt, fear, and sorrow.

"I see... So now—"

"Wait. I’m not done yet."

I cut her off before she could continue.

"I’m going to learn a new sword technique."

As I glanced at the Sword Sovereign, who was standing nearby, she cleared her throat and spoke up.

"From now on, your disciple will need to learn the sword technique I’ve refined."

"..."

"Yes, even though he found a way to navigate the path thanks to your training, your sword is too dangerous. That's why I intend to overlay my 'Living Sword' technique onto it to prevent any side effects."

"I see..."

There was a hint of resignation and disappointment in my teacher’s voice. She seemed to acknowledge that this was the best course, even if it pained her that her disciple would learn from someone else.

Something about that made me feel uneasy.

I deliberately adopted a cold tone and stared at my teacher.

"But Teacher, you aren’t planning to disappear, are you? Thinking you’ll atone by hunting down demons and monsters while clearing the path for me?"

Flinch.

My teacher visibly trembled.

'...Wow, so it’s true. I’m glad I gave her that Guardian Armor. Without it, she would have caught the Magesu and then disappeared.'

I looked at her with an incredulous expression as she lowered her head in shame. I clicked my tongue in frustration.

"You know that’s a cowardly move, right?"

"..."

She «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» didn’t respond, but her silence was an acknowledgment.

"If you’re truly my teacher, then you need to take responsibility. For teaching me such a dangerous sword."

"...Responsibility?"

'Ah, so she responds to the word "responsibility."'

Even now, I didn’t feel good about saying things I didn’t mean.

Honestly, I didn’t care.

Now that I had found a way forward, it didn’t matter to me if things went back to how they were before. But my stubborn teacher would never accept that.

I turned to the Sword Sovereign again, and she spoke up.

"In order to refine that sword technique, the person who wields it needs to be present. The process of merging the techniques will take quite some time."

"But I don’t have that time. I have to attend classes at the academy, participate in party activities, and prepare for various things. I can’t stay by the Sword Sovereign’s side for the refinement process."

"So, Baek Seol-hee, you’ll have to take on that role."

"...What!?"

My teacher, startled, lifted her head. The look on her face was one of utter disbelief, as if she hadn’t anticipated this outcome. Confusion filled her eyes.

"Yes, Teacher, you’ll refine the Wolyeong Sword Technique with the Sword Sovereign and then come to my classes to teach me."

"I-I don’t have the right to—"

Her voice trembled.

"Are you going to avoid your responsibility?"

I looked her in the eyes and spoke in a serious tone.

"Th-that’s..."

She seemed utterly at a loss, her eyes shaking with uncertainty. But I had no intention of letting her off the hook.

Sigh

I let out a deep sigh.

"So, what happens if I keep using this unfinished sword technique, recklessly charge at someone stronger, and end up dead—"

"...D-disciple—"

"And if the Demon Slayers, who were taught by someone who refuses to wield her sword out of guilt, stop fighting, then demons will run rampant in this world, right?"

"..."

"That person should learn the new Ice Sword technique and continue to work with the Demon Slayers so I don’t have to face strong enemies."

"Alright, alright... I get it, Jin Yoo-ha. Enough."

In the end, my teacher surrendered.

I clenched my fist in victory, though only in my mind. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

My teacher and the Sword Sovereign had left.

The Sword Sovereign, possessing far too much mana, could barely move now that the Magesu, which had absorbed her excess mana, was gone. But with the Magesu dead...

I introduced her to a place.

Jeju Island.

Why Jeju Island?

Because there was a place there—the Ice Palace. It was originally powered by the mana of the Fire Dragon, but now, without the Fire Dragon, it had been left dormant.

If the Sword Sovereign, with her immense mana, were to take the place of the Fire Dragon and maintain the Ice Palace and its hot springs...

She could move freely, at least within that place.

It was unfortunate that she wouldn’t be able to leave the Ice Palace, but it was no different from how she was confined to Taebaek Mountain.

'And Teacher’s parents are there, so she’ll be able to see them often.'

When I reported this to Director Rina over the phone, she let out a dry laugh.

"...I sent you to learn swordsmanship from the Sword Sovereign, and you ended up blowing up an entire mountain. You really outdid yourself..."

Though she scolded me, there was a hint of gratitude in her voice as she added,

"Anyway, I’ll handle the aftermath of Taebaek Mountain’s disappearance. And thank you for protecting Seol-hee."

After all, Baek Seol-hee was precious to Rina as well.

"It was for my own sake, so don’t worry about it."

With that, I wrapped up the call with Rina. Lee Yu-ri, who was standing beside me, spoke up.

"So, are we going back to the academy now?"

"Yes, that’s right."

Lee Yu-ri, Kang Do-hee, and Alice were standing by my side.

"...I’m not ready for the academy yet..."

Alice muttered, but it didn’t matter. She was scheduled to enter next year anyway, and now that the Sword Sovereign was busy refining the Wolyeong Sword Technique with my teacher, Rina had arranged for the academy to take care of Alice.

"Let’s head back."

I said to my party members and Alice.

As we started our journey back, Lee Yu-ri’s expression suddenly stiffened.

"Wait, Jin Yoo-ha..."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Um, so... the mountain really did blow up, right?"

"Yes, it did."

I nodded as I looked around at the now flattened and barren landscape.

"Then... what about my shield?"

"Your shield?"

"The shields I left at the base of the cliff—!!!"

Oh.

I hadn’t thought about that.

After parting ways with Jin Yoo-ha at Taebaek Mountain, Baek Seol-hee left with the Sword Sovereign.

"So... an Ice Palace created by that Rina girl... Will it be really cold?"

The Sword Sovereign rambled on beside her, but Baek Seol-hee didn’t really hear her. Her mind was too consumed by the whirlwind of emotions—guilt, regret, and a deep love for her disciple.

'...Such a foolish disciple.'

Jin Yoo-ha had spoken with a stern expression, claiming it was his teacher’s responsibility to complete the sword technique and teach it to him. But how could she not see through it?

It was all just an act for her sake.

Did he even realize how awkward his voice and actions were when he was pretending?

To lessen her burden of guilt, he had tried to sound strict and critical, but to Baek Seol-hee, it sounded like this:

Don’t do anything rash. Please stay by my side as my teacher.

On top of that, he had even thought through the possibility of her not using the Wolyeong Sword Technique anymore, suggesting she learn the new Ice Sword under the guise of the Demon Slayers.

Baek Seol-hee clutched the uniform tightly to her chest.

I’m just lending this to you until I forgive you. So use it well and return it to me in perfect condition.

Ha.

That ridiculous line echoed in her ears.

"Truly, I have such an extraordinary disciple, far too good for a pathetic teacher like me..."

Yet, somehow, the cold uniform felt incredibly warm against her skin.