The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 5
As soon as the second stage of the entrance exam ended, the academy fell into chaos.
1st Place – Park Ki-hyuk
The aforementioned student has been confirmed as the ‘Group Leader’ upon Yggdrasil’s recommendation.
Park Ki-hyuk?! That Park Ki-hyuk?
Everyone couldn’t believe their eyes.
Who was Park Ki-hyuk? A patient suffering from Mana Deficiency Syndrome.
Acclaimed as a prodigy for his natural physique, he fell from grace when it was revealed he couldn’t harness even a single bit of mana, thus marking the tragic end of a genius.
Essentially, he was someone who had been sentenced to d*ath as an “Incapable One,” someone who lacked all forms of mana.
But now, here he was – standing right in front of them, at the top of the entrance exam results!
How?
What was even happening?
The academy inevitably found itself bombarded with numerous inquiries. Those who couldn’t accept the results, those who suspected foul play, and even those demanding access to the data.
The academy’s bulletin board quickly turned into a chaotic mess…
Finally, the Dean of the academy, Cheon Su-man, had to step in.
“Yggdrasil, what exactly is going on here?! How did Park Ki-hyuk end up as the top student?!”
“He arrived first, so naturally he ranks first. Please calm down and take a seat.”
As Cheon Su-man sat down, wooden vines emerged to form a table.
Yggdrasil placed a teacup on it.
Cheon Su-man sipped his tea and continued, “The situation is serious, Yggdrasil. We’re receiving endless protests. I can’t tell you how many calls I received just last night.”
“I’ve always found humans exhausting. Why must you live in constant doubt?”
“We have no choice but to doubt! This is Park Ki-hyuk. He was officially diagnosed with Mana Deficiency Syndrome. He was judged as an incapable one who cannot use mana.”
“So what?”
“What do you mean, ‘so what’?!”
“Exactly. So what?”
“Listen here, Yggdrasil!”
“I believe only in what I’ve seen with my own eyes. In this second stage exam, Park Ki-hyuk placed first by reaching me through sheer individual effort.”
“Is that… possible? …Hmm… If that’s true, then at the very least, please provide evidence to help explain this situation. The situation is growing quite serious.”
“Surely, you’re not asking for the privacy of a student to be violated, are you? Cheon Su-man, the entirety of the exam’s authority lies with me.”
“But if this continues, the academy’s reputation will be…”
“That’s your problem. I don’t care what you call Park Ki-hyuk—whether it’s Mana Deficiency Syndrome or the Incapable One. All these labels come from a human perspective.”
“…Do you not worry about being suspected yourself?”
“Of course not. These are human doubts. They mean nothing to me.”
“….”
“And despite what you might think, don’t mistake this for me disregarding humanity altogether. I respect you. If pressed to choose between ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ in a binary sense, I’d say I like humans more. But…”
Yggdrasil stared at Cheon Su-man with an unblinking gaze.
“Don’t judge me, this existence, by human standards. And do not attempt to drag me into your politics. If you do, I believe I would be greatly upset.”
“…I apologize. I’ll be more cautious in the future.”
Yggdrasil, who had laid the cornerstone for the world’s top academy in Korea, couldn’t be swayed even by the academy’s dean, as obvious as day.
“On that note, let’s move on. Please explain just one matter – how did this recommendation come about? Surely, being the top scorer doesn’t automatically grant one the recommendation?”
“It’s as I previously explained. I tested Park Ki-hyuk, and he brilliantly passed.”
“Is that all?”
“What else is needed?”
“Yggdrasil, I respect and admire you. Weren’t you once my teacher?”
“Indeed. Hmm. Young Cheon Su-man used to be quite adorable. Those were some good old days.”
“Ahem. In any case, appointing the group leader so casually puts me in a precarious situation. You know as well as I do how crucial that position is for the first year students.”
“Very well. It is a system I myself established.”
The Korean Academy’s unique cooperative education curriculum, structured around team leaders and captains, aimed to cultivate ideal commanders in the modern world. While individual prowess remained essential, a commander’s charisma had become equally indispensable in contemporary combat formations.
“Let’s assume Park Ki-hyuk genuinely reached first place with an overwhelming display of force. Even then, the Group Leader position is a different matter. A group leader must care for their teammates, but this boy lacks mana altogether. He simply does not wield magic.”
“Pfft. Did you know, Cheon Su-man? Your recent statement has further reduced my trust in human credibility.”
Park Ki-hyuk, the boy who had shattered a carefully constructed illusion with merely the tiniest trace of mana, was supposed to “not know” mana?
How absurd.
This was why Yggdrasil believed only what she had witnessed firsthand—because humans tended to only believe what they wanted to.
“99 points.”
“…!!”
“The score I evaluated for Park Ki-hyuk. Will that suffice?”
The highest score ever recorded since the academy’s inception.
This was Yggdrasil’s controversial response.
“Oof.”
“What’s wrong, son? Does your ear hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt, but it’s itchy.”
“Oh, someone must be talking about our accomplished boy.”
That much is true.
I, once deemed an ‘Incapable One,’ managed to place first in the entrance exam, yet the silence following it seemed more curious.
“Mom, I have cotton swabs. Should I clean it for you?”
“I’m fine. It’s rude to eat like this in public.”
Promptly, there was a knock, and our food arrived. Today’s menu consisted of Chinese-style black bean noodles (Jajangmyeon) and sweet-and-sour pork (Tangsuyuk). Isn’t it a global rule that after exams, this combination is served? I thought I’d try to replicate it.
“Is this okay? I can get you something better if you wish. Would you like to switch your order now?”
“Eh, it’s fine. Passing exams doesn’t mean much. This is more than enough.”
“Oh, look at this boy. This isn’t just any test. This is the academy entrance exam. Do you know what the pass rate was this year?”
“What was it?”
“7.3%. Out of the second stage exams you took, there were fewer than 30 qualified students. And our son placed first among them. Imagine how proud I felt when I heard the news!”
“I’m more proud that you’re proud.”
“What?”
“Because I’ve made you proud, mom.”
“Of course, you’re my son. Children are always the pride of their parents. The food will get cold—eat up.”
It warmed my heart.
The word ‘family’—no matter how many times I hear it, it always feels so good.
Greater than any rank of first place,
I understood that my results were creating a lot of buzz outside. How could I not? With my ability to hear and see, it was impossible to ignore. A quick scroll through my phone shows that all the top news articles this week feature me. There’s no denying it.
The humorous part? There’s not a single positive comment.
One by one, doubt and distrust. Some people even question the academy, denying that the entrance exam was conducted fairly.
From my point of view, how ironic is it that these people, who doubt everything, don’t question my fall from grace due to Mana Deficiency Syndrome? Isn’t it more bizarre that a prodigy, proclaimed as naturally talented, could fall apart overnight? That, to me, is far more puzzling.
But now, the moment the fallen prodigy rises again, they bring out their judgmental ruler.
They demand proof of something that’s right in front of them.
Me, proving the results I’ve already achieved.
“How absurd.”
Enough. Stop thinking about it. Just considering it feels like my brain will rot.
I dip a slice of onion into the soybean paste and take a bite. The satisfying crunch of the onion spreads through my mouth. With the last bit of my noodles swallowed down smoothly.
“Shall I get an extra bowl?”
“Yes, please. It’s not enough.”
“Sure.”
The premium black bean noodles cost 25,000 won per bowl; the taste wasn’t bad, but the portion size left something to be desired. So, I ended up eating four bowls in total, along with an additional plate of sweet-and-sour pork.
Watching me eat, Mom smiled broadly.
“By the way, mom, I wasn’t the first to place first in the entrance exam, right? I heard my older brother and sister also topped their lists?”
“Yes, you’re correct. Who told you that?”
“Yggdrasil. She was quite pleased, mentioning how this exceptional talent runs in our family. Oh! She also asked about you and dad.”
“That’s a good soul…”
I omitted the part where she requested another child next. That elder, typical of a World Tree, had a pretty bad sense of time. Humans only live to be around 200 years old. Still, I was glad. Having the family praised felt like its own unique kind of pleasure.
“When dad returns from his posting, and Su-hyuk comes back, let’s all meet up. Min-ji will probably cool down by then.”
“Don’t overwork yourself, okay? I’m fine.”
“No, we all need to put in an effort—because you work hard, we must too. That’s what family is about.”
Though unclear, I realized the family had been deeply hurt by Park Ki-hyuk’s situation. Especially my sister, Park Min-ji, who left home due to the wound it caused, couldn’t even bear to look at my face, as I’d been told.
Yet, she visited frequently when I was in a coma, so she doesn’t completely hate me.
Nonetheless, it’s my responsibility to carry our family’s burdens and untangle these knots.
Thus, I intend to continue revealing all of my abilities without restraint. To erase the worries of the past altogether.
“This Jajangmyeon is delicious. I foresee more cause for celebration upcoming, so let’s stay here rather than complicating things.”
“Haha, our son is growing up! He’s becoming quite a man.”
“Responsibility comes with words. You’ll see.”
“Mmhmm.”
It may sound like a joke.
But I’ve walked down this path with the absolute ruler before.
With the experience of a Demon Lord and the body of a Giant, I currently possess strength far beyond estimation.
Truthfully, the controversy surrounding me now is going to pale in comparison to the shock everyone will face soon.
Look forward to it.
I’ll show you what it’s like to live truly stylishly.
“Ah! That’s right! I almost forgot. The Chilseong Group contacted us. They’d like to meet after that last incident. It might be worth your time.”
“Could it be what I think…?”
“If what you’re thinking is compensation, then likely.”
“Oh, I’m looking forward to it.”
Everyone loves gifts.
Thus ended a pleasant evening.
A few days later, I attended the meeting arranged by the Chilseong Group.
The location, accompanied by their lawyer, was completely unexpected.
“Whew, this place is big – it’s definitely bigger than our house.”
“Chilseong Group is named appropriately. While Optymnum has its strength, the likes of Chilseong within the top three groups hold immense wealth. Their history cannot be understated.”
“I agree.”
“Even so, there’s no need to feel intimidated. Our chairman only lacks material desires; if he so chose, items like these would be nothing to him. The true strength of the Sword Mastery family far exceeds such shallow material wealth. If there had been a clear solution, your… situation would have already been resolved long ago.”
The lawyer tried to reassure me, in case I felt overwhelmed.
Appreciative as I was, it was unnecessary.
It was practically a small castle in scale. Clearly the largest abode I’ve visited since coming to this world.
But by the standards of the empire or the countless castles I’ve crushed, even this seemed relatively small. Some fortresses were even the size of small towns.
Would I be intimidated by just this?
No, what truly concerned me was something else:
The chairman – the head of the Chilseong Group, akin to the patriarch of a noble family. Why had they invited me? Surely not simply out of pure kindness?
“I have an idea….”
“What might it be?”
“Why they invited me here.”
“Indeed perceptive, as the representative had said. Correct. It’s because you topped the entrance exam.”
In short, they wanted to establish a positive relationship with me, someone who had demonstrated strength by acing the entrance exams.
Plus, maintaining good relations with an Optimum Agent would be an added bonus.
“Actually, from the perspective of the Chilseong Group, the incident could present them with a certain opportunity.”
“Why is that?”
“Because what the agency needs most is strength. Merely gaining early contact with a confirmed prodigy like you during your entrance exam is itself an incredible advantage.”
“Feels awkward.”
“There’s no need for that. It’s the truth, and you shouldn’t be embarrassed by this.”
“What does that mean?”
“There’s an old saying: Kings are unaware of shame. The same applies to tycoons. If they want something, they will…”
The lawyer glanced back at me via the rearview mirror.
“…not hesitate to endure shame. The embarrassing part is only beginning.”
The lawyer’s words turned out to be nothing less than fact.
“I’m sorry!”
“Yeon Jae-hun.”
“I’m so, so sorry!”
“Louder.”
“I’M SORRYYYY!!”
Watching a fully grown man kneel, bang his head repeatedly, and cry before me…
…does all the embarrassment now belong to me?
