<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 160>
It’s exactly as I predicted.
When you teach someone one thing and they understand ten, people commonly call them a genius.
In that sense, our Spring is a genius.
“I’m not sure, but I’ll try.”
“Like this…? Like this?! Like this!! Oh? It worked!”
“Hard to believe, but I think I get it. I don’t really understand what Spring is saying, but I feel like I can just do it.”
To be honest, it was a result I had anticipated already.
She is my embodiment. Not in a metaphorical sense, but in a literal way; she carries a genuine ‘part’ of me.
The exceptional magical talent of a Demon Lord, the unmatched physical talent of a Sword Master…
Essentially, Spring inherited all my powers except for the ‘Giant.’
What that means is, almost everything I can do, Spring can do as well.
“Really? Can Spring do everything Dad can?”
“Hey~ Spring can become just like Dad when she grows up! How exciting!”
“Then, can Spring summon fluffies too? Oh… That’s not possible? Aw…”
Here, by “fluffies” Spring refers to my Giant, so named because it’s misty and resembles clouds.
Nonetheless, Spring was thrilled at the idea of being able to do everything like Dad until she learned she couldn’t summon the Giant, which promptly dampened her mood.
But I reassured her that she didn’t need to feel disappointed.
“Dad has the ‘Giant’ just like Spring has the ‘Bloodlines.'”
The sixteen different Bloodlines such as the ‘Dancer’ who distorts senses, the ‘Mouser’ with superior agility and kicking strength, the ‘Cooks’ who apply buffs to the food they prepare, and more.
Moreover, thanks to the Dragon Armor ‘Park Po-sil,’ Spring is also absorbing Japanese Bloodlines in real time.
All these Bloodlines are now blending into Spring’s ‘Sword Master’ abilities, causing her version of Sword Mastery to evolve into a form completely different from the original.
And that’s not all.
“Spring has ‘Berrie’ and ‘Po-sil.’ She knows how to handle ‘Dolls,’ and she also has the ‘Wings’ Dad gave her recently.”
“Wow… So Spring’s rich?”
“That’s right. Spring is rich with talent. Talent-rich.”
Spring is fully saturated with talent.
Spring doesn’t need any more talent. Now, she needs to combine what she already has and discover her unique form, just as I did by awakening the Giant and completing my combat style.
On the other hand, Song Saebyeok is different.
She’s a genius too, in her own way. She was born with many gifts.
It’s just that she lacks information or education about these innate talents.
To be blunt,
“You have no basics.”
“Basics… you mean?”
“Yes.”
She doesn’t understand anything about drawing out the soul of a weapon with ‘Alpha’ or how the ‘Oni’ absorbs magic.
She hardly knows anything about them, and as a result, she can’t use most of her abilities.
It’s as if you’ve given her a chariot and a cannon, but she’s sitting completely detached without utilizing them.
I understand where she’s coming from. Her environment left her with little choice.
Still, there’s a silver lining. She has excellent natural physical capabilities comparable to mine, ensuring an impressive container of talent, and the balance between her ‘Alpha’ and ‘Oni’ abilities is harmonious.
Most importantly, she met me before her development stagnated.
“Based on my analysis, Saebyeok, your progress should start with the ‘Oni.’ There’s potential for ‘Alpha’ to develop on its own, but ‘Oni’ cannot be used properly without proper education.”
“‘Oni’ is associated with eyes, or sight, and vision is the most active sense among all human senses. Since it processes vast amounts of information, it occupies a substantial portion of the brain.”
Absorption – Dissection – Manifestation.
Absorbing magic through a ‘Yoan.’
Dissecting mana from the absorbed magic.
Manifesting again through the ‘Yoan.’
This is the approximate mechanism of the Bloodline ‘Oni,’ which is considered one of the highest abilities among the Bloodlines with morphing properties—there’s no doubt about that.
“The materials say the Oni family records show that the absorbed mana must be completely used. If ‘residual mana’ remains, the Yoan is burdened, and the eyesight decreases…”
“But looking at it, I think this is too monotonous.”
While reading the Oni family materials, I pondered.
Why don’t they research further? Why don’t they question and reflect on their own abilities?
Without doubt or reflection, where is the challenge or research?
Extremely speaking, the Oni from a hundred years ago and the Oni now are exactly the same—no progress whatsoever.
“Calling this a ‘tradition’ is truly foolish. Isn’t it absurd? It’s like they’ve abandoned all efforts. Do magicians actually have thoughts, or not?”
“To me, humans are always meant to progress—better tomorrow than today, better day after tomorrow. I’m not talking solely about science, technology, or culture; magic and Bloodlines are no exception.”
I contemplated.
How could I develop ‘Oni’? And how could I guide it to work harmoniously with another Bloodline, ‘Alpha’?
Thus, my solution was:
Cutting Saebyeok’s body with a sword.
“Teacher, please, the sword, the sword, please put it down.”
“Ssh, don’t worry. Do you trust me?”
“Wait, just for a moment—”
“It won’t hurt.”
That way, while instructing Spring and remodeling Saebyeok, we were approaching the Academy graduation ceremony.
The anticipated day of the graduation ceremony.
People flowed into the grand lecture hall of the Korean Academy like a tide.
From the graduating students and their parentsto—
“Mom, it’s over here. Remember that kid I mentioned? That’s Dong-joon. This is Dong-joon. Dong-joon, this is my mom.”
“Where are you going? Miracle Academy? You said you’re going there? Great. I don’t know yet. I need to think more about it.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you. I’ve heard you were good friends with Yeon-ju? Thank you for taking care of her. By any chance, do you have time after the ceremony? My uncle wants to treat you to a meal.”
“Ha, I’m probably out of Optimum. I didn’t expect it, but still, it stings a little. Let’s have a drink after this, yeah?”
And there were juniors who came to congratulate their seniors.
“Yeon-juuu!! Over here, over here. Oh? You brought flowers? I was debating whether to buy some too. Where are they selling them?”
“Wow, the 4th-year disaster finally graduates. Now, it’s finally safe to participate in the School Ranking Battles.”
“Members of the Club ‘Great Magician’ please gather over here! Members of the Club ‘Great Magician’ please gather!”
Also present were the agents with whom the students would work after graduation.
“Whew, it’s been so long Kim. I heard you graduated from P.S.H. What have you been doing?”
“I’m with Miracle Corporation. Yeah, there’s Yeon Su-ji. Treats are fine, no complaints. If they weren’t, I would’ve left.”
“Optimum again this time, huh? Not surprising. People like them wouldn’t show up anyway in this kind of setting.”
“Why would Optimum bother coming for a place after taking all the main stuff?”
“Park Ki-Hyuk of the Sword Master, Jin Yu-ri of the True Dragon, Han Jun-woo, the only survivor from the Dancer lineage, and Merhem. They’ve already taken all the essentials.”
In no time, the lecture hall overflowed with people, and Dean Cheon Su-man, sitting on the podium, looked at the crowd below with a nostalgic gaze.
‘Finally…’
The neatly lined 4th-year students.
‘Finally…!’
Among them, one person stood out like a jagged rock.
‘Finallyy…!!’
Park Ki-Hyuk.
‘Freedom from that guy!’
Cheon Su-man clenched his eyes shut.
For the past four years, how many times had he been dragged around by Park Ki-Hyuk? Reflecting on it, it was apparent from the entrance exam that Park Ki-Hyuk wasn’t ordinary.
‘I thought he was a reasonable person when he offered Jin Yu-ri the leadership of the 1st team and took the 20th team himself.’
This perception of Su-man soon shattered completely.
“Everyone come closer.”
“From this point forward, you and I will fight. The rules are simple. You may use magic. Weapons are fine too. Do your best to knock me out. However, the ones who wet themselves retreat to the back. Understand?”
“Show me your best effort.”
By testing his juniors, he mercilessly beat them until they were broken.
And that wasn’t enough—he even assaulted professors.
“How dare you deceive a professor?”
“Never, how could I?”
“Incensed!”
Thus, the smallest team in Academy history, with only three members, was formed.
At that moment, Su-man should have realized that Park Ki-Hyuk was truly insane.
However, Su-man at the time saw Park as a slightly talented overachiever. Perhaps it was because of the fixed notion that Park Ki-Hyuk suffered from ‘Mana Deficiency Syndrome.’
For whatever reason, Su-man misjudged Park Ki-Hyuk’s abilities and soon came across a paper with the name ‘Yggdrasil’ written down as the advisor for Park Ki-Hyuk’s club, the ‘No Exit Hell.’
It was too late when Su-man attempted to mediate.
“Student Park Ki-Hyuk, the current situation is highly complex.”
“The professors apparently got a bit too aggressive with Student Park Ki-Hyuk. You must have felt upset. I understand that. Nonetheless, this isn’t right. Yggdrasil as advisor?!”
“As your faculty advisor, allow me to handle it. I’ll be as cooperative as possible, so how about we stop this here?”
It was already too late.
“It’s fine.”
Su-man finally realized.
Ah, this guy is insane.
After all, people are bound by common sense, but this guy has thrown it all out the window and strictly follows his own way—his very thought process is entirely different.
The worst part is that this insane person not only has overwhelming power but also an impressive background.
In short, there are no brakes.
Perhaps the disaster of the mid-term exams was foreseen.
<BREAKING NEWS> The Mysterious Magic Circle and the Academy Explosion Incident!!
(Exclusive) 10 teams of this year’s first-year mid-term exam have disappeared?!
A procession of parents heading to the Academy <Photo> Among them is even the Vice Chairman of the Great Superhuman Association…<Photo>
A parent representative: “We tried asking for detailed explanations, but they avoided answering.” Legal actions cannot be ruled out!
While Su-man kept making mistaken judgment after mistaken judgment, Park Ki-Hyuk introduced a new concept of magic called Apocalypse, and from that point on, Park Ki-Hyuk began to reign over Su-man’s mind.
From that point on, Park Ki-Hyuk was virtually untouchable in the Academy for four years.
Ultimately, during those four years, Park Ki-Hyuk accumulated countless achievements, but the Academy couldn’t claim a single piece of credit for them.
‘Where did it all go wrong…?’
Probably from the start. If only he had fully understood Park Ki-Hyuk from the beginning, no matter how humiliating, he could’ve clung tightly to build a strong personal connection.
Park Ki-Hyuk, unexpectedly very generous to those close to him, might’ve shared scraps of his success if a connection had been established…
“No, no.”
Su-man shook his head.
Being tied to such an extraordinary person might bring fame, but it would inevitably bring suffering. For Su-man, whose motto was to live a long and steady life, it was an individual to avoid entirely.
Park Ki-Hyuk has to leave the Academy as soon as possible.
Yeah, that’s it.
“Dean, I will…—”
“Understood!”
The pace of Su-man’s last farewell was unusually fast.
It’s said that that day’s graduation ceremony ended in the shortest time in history…
The Academy graduation ceremony was so quick, it was almost tasteless. Honestly, wondering why they gathered everyone just makes you curious.
“Is this really it?”
“You’re right. It was fast.”
“Good it was quick.”
“Dean Cheon looks happy about something. His face is bright.”
By this point, I was becoming suspicious.
“Surely, they’re not celebrating our departure, right?”
“Nah~ That’s probably not it.”
“Right, Ki-Hyuk. Even if it were, Dean’s not that cruel.”
“Tha, that’s true. Let’s grab food. I’ve reserved a place at a BBQ restaurant.”
Somehow, that day is more remembered for the BBQ gathering than the graduation ceremony.
Later, there wasn’t much else. Dropping Spring off at kindergarten in the morning, modifying Saebyeok in the afternoon, and conducting personal research in the evenings became a daily routine.
And then, finally, that day arrived!
A day so important that it couldn’t compare to my own graduation.
The day of the kindergarten graduation ceremony arrived.
“Sniff… Everyone, goodbye. I will never forget all of you…”
“Waaaaah! Teacher!!”
“Aaaaah! I don’t want to leave!”
“Mommmmm!”
The teacher’s tears sparked a chain reaction, and the children all dominoed into crying.
Honestly, it was a bit terrifying.
Fortunately, at least Spring didn’t cry and stayed composed.
“Hyun-Ji, are we really going to primary school together?”
“Yeah! Mom said we can.”
“Heehee, thank goodness. I was worried I’d get separated.”
“All thanks to Spring, right, Spring gave me mana—uh, not!”
“Shh, Hyun-Ji. ‘Secret.’ Se, cret. That’s it.”
“Ah…”
“Smile.”
“Here…hehehehe…”
“Hehehe…”
It seemed the kids were hatching some cute plans together. Since they’re about to become elementary school students, it’s the age when they should have secrets, right?
The other remarkable event was…
Yong-Joon.
Kwon Yong-Joon.
Yong-Joon from Happy Orphanage got into the Academy.
“Big brother…”
“Stand up straight. It’s not becoming for a guy to hunch. Be confident, and don’t be nervous.”
“Puff, puff.”
“I’ll only tell you this. In my opinion, there aren’t many kids better than you at the entrance exam. So if you just follow what I taught you, you’ll be fine. Understand? Go on.”
Ultimately, Yong-Joon ranked second.
Ironically, the first-ranked student was the daughter of the ‘Alpha’ family. Incredible, what a twist of fate. It truly felt like God was being mischievous.
When the team leader announcement took place, of course Yong-Joon became a team leader, and I also took part with Spring at the ceremony. When Cheon Su-man made eye contact with me, he startled badly.
“Hello.”
“Hm, who…!! Ah, surprised!! Why are you…?!”
…Why is seeing me so surprising?
Anyway, Yong-Joon was talking about how he hoped for guidance, and he repeatedly asked for help. What was odd was that every time I said, “Please take care of each other,” his demeanor would sour… Maybe his condition wasn’t good today?
As these significant days passed, enjoying time with Spring, one day during lunchtime, I received a call from Mary.
“Didn’t you forget our promise?”
“Ah…”
After hanging up, I told Spring.
“We’re going on a trip!”
“Trip!!”
Our first international father-daughter trip.
We’re heading to Saudi Arabia.
