<THE DEMON LORD OF THE SWORDSMANSHIP FAMILY CHAPTER 7>
The Academy of Korea is famous for its educational system that emphasizes ‘cooperation,’ differing from those of other countries.
– No forest is completed alone.
This philosophy, reflecting the belief of Yggdrasil, the originator of the Academy who is still active, has guided Korea in its pursuit of development based on strict rules.
This applied from admission onwards with no exceptions.
In the entrance exam, the top students are given the position of ‘group leader.’
The group leaders recruit students suitable for their teams. Once the group is formed using all their abilities, the team becomes a single community.
Lessons, assignments…and even scores are shared in this community of fate.
Therefore, the group leaders were crucial.
They were the ones to set the direction for this community.
The method didn’t matter.
Whether leading the team with personality, coaxing them with skills, or suppressing them by force, all means were employed to demonstrate leadership.
Could they lead the community, or not?
This was the role and value of a group leader, the core of the ‘cooperation’ the Korean Academy pursued.
The grand hall of the academy.
Filled with people, the hall was as large as a football stadium.
From successful applicants and their families, to scouts and reporters from various agencies, everyone gathered for their own purposes. My mother and I sat in the front row before the stage.
“Huh, I’m nervous.”
“Mom, you’ve been through this before. Are you nervous?”
“Of course. Business and family matters are totally different.”
This was the third time, and even though I wanted to joke, I stopped. The trembling in my mother’s hand told me how sincere she was.
“What about giving up the first team? Will it be okay?”
“It’s fine with me, as you consented. Why? Does it still bother you?”
“Naturally, it’s the first group, after all. A first place might seem like nothing, but the symbol of first carries more weight than you think.”
Traditionally, the top student at the entrance exam became the leader of team one.
The leader of team one got the advantage of making the first greeting, leaving a strong impression on their peers.
These advantages later helped with the selection of teams, which was why historically, team one often became the representative of the year.
But I turned down this position as team leader, without any regret, completely and effortlessly.
Nothing comes free, of course. In return, I secured early contact rights with next year’s academy graduates.
For the benefit of Madam Kim present here.
“Mom will have no face to see you. It’s never enough to give gifts. Instead, we keep taking… Isn’t it better to pull out now? We don’t need prior contact rights. Optimum is excellent. The best!”
“It would still be nice to have.”
“…Yes, it would.”
“Then it’s settled. Consider it as a gift from your son and enjoy it.”
“But still, it’s not last place, right?”
“Haha. The protagonist always appears last, doesn’t it? And frankly…”
I smiled brightly at my mother.
“Mr. Kim’s son is too big to be judged by such an order.”
I will clearly state this: the children sitting behind me are not choosing me; I am gathering the clueless rookies.
If they miss me, it would be like kicking away their own fortune, and such an order doesn’t matter at all. That’s that.
Soon after, the induction ceremony began with Dean Cheon Su-man’s welcome speech.
With his deep tone, “It’s an honor to greet all of you, the hope and peace of this world,” sounded rather cute.
Isn’t a fox pretending to be a bear?
A mere few hours ago, Cheon Su-man proposed a deal to me. He was the typical fox—properly cunning, properly capable, and properly ambitious.
A wise fox that looked after its own interests while still following certain principles.
I personally like that type. At least you can have a conversation.
There are few people as frustratingly earnest as a purely good bear.
For example, the saintess, or someone like a saintess.
Lost in various thoughts, the tiresome lecture part was finally coming to an end.
“…You will face countless obstacles. You’ll be tested by numerous temptations. But never forget this: You are the future of this land, the peace of this world. If you ever feel like giving up, don’t hesitate to come to us. Behind you is us, the academy. Congratulations on your admission.”
The applause followed, the host’s brief introduction.
Then came the blinding flashes of cameras. One student stepped up to the stage amid everyone’s attention.
Now, the real show begins.
The highlight of the induction ceremony.
The announcement of the group leaders has begun.
“Hello. I’m Jin Yu-ri, the leader of team one. It’s an honor to be the first to meet all of you, my distinguished classmates…”
Princess Merhem was bored.
“… My advantage over other group leaders is the practical experience. This is something I’ll be firmly responsible for. Of course, we’ll discuss the details when you join our team…”
No matter how the 16th group leader with an adorable appearance was trying to show off his appeal…
“…I’m getting hungry.”
Right now, all she could think about in her mind was the leftover chicken from last night.
If the person she was waiting for wasn’t close to the last turn, Princess Merhem would’ve already used some excuse and headed back to the hotel.
“Uh, goosebumps!”
“Why, isn’t she actually cute? But how did she become a group leader? Do you know anyone?”
“She’s the daughter of the vice president of the Association, they say. They also say she was taught by the famous Mong when she was little.”
“Wow, Mong can handle both healing and front lines. That’s the aristocracy among aristocrats, right?”
“Golden spoon, so annoying.”
Golden spoons? Gold is so soft, why make spoons out of it?
Merhem’s boredom and hunger turned into random thoughts. She had to stop imagining spoons made of gold seriously when her attendant spoke.
“Princess, the man coming now is the group leader of team 17. His name is Kang Tae-seck. The powerful superhuman, known for the ‘Tae Rang Defensive,’ Pa Ung ‘Kang Man-hee’s son.”
“Son of a superhuman? But he seems weak.”
“Even if he is weak, it’s good to have connections with influential families.”
“Too weak, worthless.”
“At least remember his name if that’s Princess’s will.”
“Understood.”
Despite her elegant appearance, Princess Merhem was inherently lazy. She only tolerated this much arguing because it was someone who had been with her since her childhood; otherwise, she wouldn’t have listened at all.
“But Princess, will you follow the advice of Korea’s guardian spirit? Personally, I’ve checked, and it doesn’t seem like a good choice.”
“Why?”
“He’s known as the incapable one. He apparently cannot use mana due to Mana Deficiency Syndrome.”
“Isn’t that something I already know?”
“Additionally, I obtained a hospital record from just a few months ago. He did something so terrible it’s hard to speak of, and it resulted in memory loss.”
“Memory loss? That sounds interesting.”
Merhem’s reaction of interest changes the attendant’s expression.
‘Interesting’ means ‘keep going.’
Not wanting his Princess, who’s like a daughter, to end up under someone problematic like Park Ki-hyuk, the attendant tried to persuade her as much as he could.
But sorry to the attendant, Princess Merhem’s decision was already made. Yggdrasil’s presence was that impactful.
If this divine entity gave advice, then surely there was a reason.
As for the recommendation of Park Ki-hyuk…
“Welcome, Princess of the grassland.”
“As promised, I will give you the second place prize. As a prize, I will not recommend you as a group leader. You know better why. You’re a ‘fighter,’ not a ‘leader.’
“Here’s the second advice. Your color is special. So special it’s hard to blend with regular stuff. Thus, it’s important to find a color that can encompass everything, like ‘black’ that can encompass all colors.”
“Which is fortunate. There’s a person in this batch who perfectly fits your condition.”
“Park Ki-hyuk. He’s the blackest existence I’ve ever seen.”
With such serious advice not to miss, unconsciously Park Ki-hyuk’s name became firmly etched into a corner of Merhem’s mind.
Just as the announcement of team 19 ended, and now, that name appeared.
“…For reasons like these, as a speculation, it would be good for Princess’s capabilities to head towards team one where Jin Ryong’s Jin Yu-ri is…”
“Shh. Be quiet.”
Thud. Thud.
Legs long like a horse’s hind legs, arms sturdy like a gorilla’s.
The unconventional build of Park Ki-hyuk appeared, and in an instant, the noisy meeting hall fell silent as if all the mice had died.
Everyone was overwhelmed by his presence.
Just like their first meeting, Park Ki-hyuk smiled brightly at everyone and said:
“I congratulate you for having the opportunity to choose me. Whether you seize this chance or not is up to you. I wish you all the best of luck. That’s all.”
It was over.
Really, that was it.
There were no impressive catchphrases.
No tempting promises either.
Just a light suggestion, that’s all.
It’s your loss if you regret it, not mine.
Without any lingering sentiments, Park Ki-hyuk was walking off the stage.
“Interesting.”
I like it.
In Merhem’s sparkling eyes, Park Ki-hyuk’s image was fixed. Unknowingly, she was smiling.
*
After stepping down from the stage like a man, I got hit by my mother.
I didn’t know I didn’t mention my name.
Seems like the habit from the Demon Lord days came out. Not saying my name.
In the empire, I didn’t need to introduce myself. How could there be someone who didn’t know the Demon Lord?
Anyway, after a few days of exercise and working on my right arm, the welcoming party and OT arrived.
And for the first time, I meet them, the hopefuls who want to join my team.
“Group leader here! Over here!”
A cute girl waving her hand toward me and
“‘You’ve got the chance to choose me!’ Wow, the guy has incredible guts!”
The sword guy giving a two-handed clap.
“Bro! I came because I wanna work out with you! My pecs are already tingling.”
There’s even a muscle guy with exhibitionism like a barbarian.
Besides, there are the awkward guys who greet like marionettes whose strings are broken, groups forming cliques, and the bunch with furrowed brows as if they came reluctantly. What the heck? There’s even a sleeping one.
Their expressions overall.
The atmosphere is peculiar.
And their attitudes are haughty.
The situation is pretty clear. They definitely came as their second or third option.
Highly competitive teams, like Jin Yu-ri’s team 1 or Henry, the son of Titan’s, team 2 known as the first pick teams. These are the leftovers from there.
“The only comforting thing is…”
A foreigner with bronze skin is smiling at me from when I saw them during the entrance exam.
I’ve found one.
One who barks, one who listens. A boy just quietly reading a book.
That makes two.
“I’ve got exactly two.”
The rest are mediocre. Talents without much to assess.
Generally, the theory of the spirit is needed for guys like these.
How they develop depends on their own will and effort, these half-baked raw gems.
Half-baked ones, if they lack effort, determination, and even fire, teaching them for a hundred years is useless.
A stone that doesn’t want to move will remain a stone forever.
This is a lesson learned while teaching countless children as the crown prince of the Black Tower.
That’s why I prepared.
Whoosh.
I pulled out a heavy box from subspace.
They were protective gear, including headgear and gloves.
“Everyone put them on.”
“!!”
No point in making each other’s lives harder.
I drag only those who need dragging.
“From now on, I fight with all of you. The rules are simple. Use magic. Weapons are fine. Try your best to knock me down. If you’re scared, step back. Understand?”
The spirit of fight emanating from my body enveloped everyone.
They flinched.
There’s a misunderstanding these guys have.
What I’ve given you is an opportunity, not a promise.
You may choose, but I decide.
If you want to be chosen by me, you must prove it.
That you are a person I need or not.
Thus.
“Show me your best.”
BOOM-!!
