<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 42>
On the hill where the field can be seen at a glance, No Hae-chun’s gaze was fixed on one spot.
The desperate struggles of Kumus and the crumbling earth unfolded before him.
It was a battlefield resembling a child’s coloring book, with blue grasslands being torn apart in real time by brown holes.
Amidst this scene, Park Ki-hyuk, wielding a great sword, and an army in white were steadily cutting down Kumus.
“… Incredible.”
Park Ki-hyuk swung his great sword down violently. There was no form or technique—just a simple downward strike.
It was embarrassing to even call it swordsmanship; it was such basic groundwork.
However, someone had once said that the development of techniques begins with recognizing a lack. To compensate for one’s deficiencies and overcome someone stronger than oneself.
The humans of the beginning were weak.
They had no fangs to sever prey’s throats like a wolf. No sharp claws like a lion. No jaws like a hyena.
Humans had nothing tangible to boast of in the wild. To address this lack, humans chose ‘technique’ for survival.
But.
What if a human started without any lack?
What if they were already complete?
What if they had fangs superior to a wolf’s and claws sharper than a lion’s?
Would techniques even be necessary?
That’s what No Hae-chun saw in Park Ki-hyuk’s actions.
Swing, swing, and another swing. Even as Kumus lashed out like a whip, ParkKi-hyuk persistently struck the main body.
With just the downward strike.
“In the past, this guy held out for 47 attempts. So, you, entertain me more!”
Park Ki-hyuk grinned as he swung his sword down.
I will k*ll you.
I will definitely k*ll you.
Nothing but raw killing intent. A primal sword untouched by any technique or insight.
This was Park Ki-hyuk’s sword.
No Hae-chun shivered.
Even after watching for several days, it was still a chilling sight.
“Hmm… it’s hard to calm down.”
Thus, Park Ki-hyuk’s battles had a primal aspect to them. They were the fiery battles of a man that stirred the heart.
No Hae-chun unconsciously stroked his beloved spear.
Of course, No Hae-chun also had his days as an active warrior. A fiery time when the presence of a spear made any opponent or obstacle seem trivial.
Park Ki-hyuk’s battle was as primal and stimulating as the fiery days of his youth, awakening a fierce fighting spirit even in No Hae-chun, who thought himself already cool-headed.
At that moment, when No Hae-chun was struggling to subdue his surging fighting spirit, Park Ki-hyuk’s battle entered a new phase.
Crack-crack… Whoosh!
Cracks began to form on Kumus’ seemingly unbreakable exterior, and black bl**d gushed out of the wounds.
“44 times. Broke earlier than expected. Are you weak, or have I grown stronger?”
In response to Park Ki-hyuk’s question, Kumus answered with a scream.
A scream that sounded like it could rend the heavens, and then Kumus’ face appeared.
Kumus spat venom at Park Ki-hyuk.
Whoosh!
The venom spat out with all its might fired like a breath attack. Anywhere it touched, it emitted smoke, causing everything to lose its original form.
Even someone as great as Park Ki-hyuk would be fatally injured if hit by that. Of course, he has no intention of letting it hit.
He skillfully dodged it.
And at that moment, the skeletons forgotten due to Park Ki-hyuk’s savage attacks began climbing from the sides onto Kumus’ body.
Like ants clinging to candy, Kumus was swiftly covered by the army of skeletons.
Creak… creak!
Kumus thrashed as if annoyed, but the skeletons clung on persistently.
When Kumus’ bulky body was completely covered with skeletons,
A hexagram rose up behind Park Ki-hyuk’s back.
The moment identical hexagrams appeared on the foreheads of the skeletons,
Hell Blaze
Hell Blaze, the flame of hell, erupted.
Sinister blue flames engulfed Kumus. Kumus writhed painfully, screaming as if its body were being torn apart. Desperately trying to survive and escape, but the blue flames burned all living things as if trying to consume everything, and within moments,
Before Kumus could take seven steps, Kumus turned into a pile of gray ash.
Seeing this, No Hae-chun summarized.
“Mag… Magic is as fiery as the sword.”
And so it was.
Meanwhile, while No Hae-chun relaxed on the hill watching Park Ki-hyuk’s battle in comfort, Jin Yu-ri was going to extreme lengths to observe every move Park Ki-hyuk made.
“Woah-.”
The Orb showed Kumus being consumed by the blue flames. The colossal body of Kumus being burnt away in real-time—a sheer force of destruction that was awe-inspiring.
However, Jin Yu-ri was not amazed at its power.
“Is it possible to use Hell Blaze this way?”
Hell Blaze, the flame magic.
An official 5-level magic of the Magic Tower, it lives up to its name in terms of power. Many magicians, including Jin Yu-ri, often used it.
Yet, using Hell Blaze like this—putting it on the skeletons to use as bombs—she had never seen before.
“Easy target setting, decreased magic range, increased mana efficiency, reduced mana consumption…”
Instantly, the revolutionary advantages of Hell Blaze came pouring out.
At the same time, Jin Yu-ri realized anew,
“Is he really a genius?”
Could someone who’s not a genius think up such an innovative idea?
Alright, thinking is possible for everyone. But implementing it into reality is an entirely different field.
Starting from when he displayed the unheard-of magic Apocalypse,
His brain is just as sexy as his physique!
“I want it. I want it so much.”
His approach, his thinking, his skills.
Everything he has, I want all of it.
“Ugh…”
Watching the orb, Jin Yu-ri was bouncing around like a fan watching an idol star, unsure of what to do with herself.
And someone was watching this from behind.
Merhem.
“Yu-ri, what are you doing?”
“Mom! You scared me.”
“You haven’t eaten yet. What are you doing? If you don’t eat now, you’ll starve until dinner. Did you forget about the start at 1 PM?”
“But I want to watch Ki-hyuk hunting!”
…What are you going to do about it?
What’s the connection between Park Ki-hyuk hunting and you starving?
Merhem looked at Jin Yu-ri with a face that had gone cold.
Regardless of whatever happened, Jin Yu-ri was in a great mood, and hence, it was impossible to dissuade her.
“Look at this! The Hell Blaze using skeletons! If you’re not amazed by this revolutionary approach, it’s job abandonment as a magician!!”
Was this what it felt like to explode into a bomb? Jin Yu-ri unleashed her emotions without any breaks.
Something about the incantation, something about resonance, control of summoned creatures, and the groundwork of swordsmanship was for magic.
Whatever the power of that hellish magic called Hell Blaze might be, at least to Merhem at this moment, Jin Yu-ri was far more toxic and dangerous than that hellish something.
“Stop! Lower your voice. My head hurts.”
“Am I the type not to get excited?! This is innovation. It’s radical! Aren’t you surprised?”
“You…!”
Isn’t it more surprising the antics you’re pulling?
Merhem desperately swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue, reminding herself to endure.
“Huff… So, Yu-ri, what is it you want to say? That Ki-hyuk is amazing? I know. Haven’t I known Ki-hyuk longer than you?”
“Mary is lucky. I envy her.”
“Envious enough to… wait, who said you can call me Mary? We’re not that kind of relationship yet!”
“Could I have entered the 20th group from the beginning and learned? I really want to learn magic from Ki-hyuk. Is there any way?”
“Hmm…”
This was the main topic. Merhem looked straight at Jin Yu-ri.
A sincere expression.
Merhem could see the honest desire in Jin Yu-ri’s eyes for magic.
“Have you asked him?”
“No…”
“Surprising. I thought you’d whine and beg.”
“I… I’m a magician too… How can a magician ask to teach someone else’s vision? I have a sense of propriety too.”
“Hmm, how about trying to sincerely ask him? Like you just told me.”
“… A little scary. Actually, very scary.”
“Afraid of being rejected? You get rejected often enough.”
“That… just… it… might… look uncouth, won’t it?”
“…Being honest here, you’re not yourself, are you, Yu-ri? The Yu-ri I know doesn’t even know the word ‘situation,’ does she?”
“Ah, I don’t know. I don’t really understand myself either.”
Jin Yu-ri fidgets with her fingers. Her wandering eyes, the look of a girl who doesn’t know her own feelings.
That look is cute, making Merhem’s lips involuntarily rise.
“Try asking seriously. In my opinion, Ki-hyuk won’t refuse. He’s surprisingly weak when it comes to connections.”
“Come to think of it, he’s weak with kids too. Watching how he acts with Spring, it’s hard to believe it’s the same person.”
“That’s right. If he hadn’t formed a bond, he wouldn’t know, but once a bond is formed, Ki-hyuk cherishes it. If he disliked you, he would have refused you outright since the club days.”
“So… so… then, do I have a chance?”
“Yes, and this is purely my prediction, but…”
Merhem stared at Jin Yu-ri.
“Ki-hyuk seems to be particularly weak towards you.”
A brief silence.
After a while, both laugh lightly.
“Oh, come on~ probably not~” they laugh, dismissing their idle talk.
But they didn’t realize.
That what they dismissed as “probably not” might be true.
Cold sweat trickled.
“I beg you, accept me.”
Accept what?! What situation is this?! I don’t understand what’s going on at all.
“I’ll do whatever you ask, if you accept me.”
Normally, Jin Yu-ri would be giggling and pulling my leg, but now,
Why is she suddenly kneeling?! And what does “do whatever” mean?
“Fell in love at first sight. Now, I want to learn your magic…”
“…”
I hurriedly cover Jin Yu-ri’s mouth with my palm.
The posture looks strange.
I’m over 2 meters tall with a large build. Naturally, my palm is big too. But Jin Yu-ri is 168 cm tall, with a small face.
Hence, without meaning to, my palm covers Jin Yu-ri’s entire face as if intending something impure.
As evidence, there, those people sneaking peeks are giving us weird looks.
What’s going on here?
I feel guilty for something I haven’t done. I grab the kneeling Jin Yu-ri and bring her to the rear of the tent.
“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
“Merhem said I should talk sincerely. Please accept me. Teach me.”
“You should know what you’re asking to be accepted for before I decide whether to accept or not, right?”
Finally, Jin Yu-ri explains clearly.
She was moved by my magic, to the point of tears. She wants to learn magic from you. Accept her as a disciple.
Cutting out the beginning and the end and saying “accept me,” really makes me want to slap her.
“Whatever you say, you’ll do. Accept me.”
“Huff, I can’t hit you for this.”
“…It’s scary, but I’ll endure it. I’m ready.”
“Oi! Ah! You, stop talking. It’s frustrating.”
My head is pounding. For some reason, I feel more tired from these last 10 minutes than from hunting all day.
I grabbed coffee from the support machine.
Caffeine helps me feel a bit better.
“Okay, let’s recap. You saw me hunting today and now you want to learn my magic, right?”
“Yeah, if you accept me, I’ll do anything…”
“Shh! Stop saying useless things.”
When I reprimanded her, Jin Yu-ri casts her eyes down. She was trying to read my mood, which was oddly cute for someone like her.
“Alright, I’ll teach you.”
“Wha, really?! Really??!”
“Since you asked to teach.”
“But, that’s too easy. I mean, didn’t you say that magic to a magician is like vision, and it’s not supposed to be taught easily?”
“True, but you’re fine.”
I had been thinking about letting you in anyway. I was just waiting for the right moment, but now that you mentioned it, it’s perfect.
The concept of ‘bloodline inheritance’ in this world is much more special than I imagined.
There’s no need to go far. Just the ‘Sword Master’ within me is already something that surprises even me with its extraordinary power.
Then there’s the true lineage of magic from Korea, the Jin-ryong.
Honestly, it would be a lie to say I’m not curious as a magician. What kind of power does Jin-ryong possess?
Moreover, those eyes, the ‘Dragon’s Eyes.’
Looking at them, it’s clear they glimpse the truth.
This is intriguing. If I teach you magic in exchange for research, it’s a win-win deal, isn’t it?
Regardless of all this, Jin Yu-ri’s request is hard to refuse.
d*mn the residual impression left by that saintess.
“Th, th, th, th…”
“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Are you malfunctioning? Why’s your face so red? Are you hot?”
“I, I, I…”
“…What’s with you? Did something happen? I’ll teach you magic, so what’s the issue?”
“Yes! I love it!!”
Suddenly, Jin Yu-ri ran away.
Left alone, I looked at Jin Yu-ri’s disappearing back as she hastily vanished, thinking.
I will definitely teach you.
I will teach you so thoroughly that respect for a master is engraved deep in your bones.
Definitely.
