Oh Gyeong-hyeon was displeased with Jo Seon-woo. He hated seeing an unknown newcomer making waves, thinking that a newcomer had no place dominating.
Had Jo Seon-woo’s skills been proven?
No. The only notable achievement was stopping the breath of a dragon at the entrance ceremony.
‘Isn’t it just overblown to make such a fuss over breaking a mana circuit by chance?’
Oh Gyeong-hyeon thought.
A mana circuit could be broken by even a small shock at times.
Why all the fuss over just breaking one?
Oh Gyeong-hyeon believed it was all because the so-called scholar was bragging.
He thought it was necessary to teach such pretentious upstarts a harsh lesson about reality.
That the world is not so easy.
Oh Gyeong-hyeon convinced himself that his anger wasn’t due to jealousy over Seon-woo’s performance at the entrance test.
But when he saw Professor Kang Tae-woo and Cheon Dohwa speaking with Seon-woo on Friday,
Oh Gyeong-hyeon felt an uncontrollable rage.
Could people of such high standing really not see that Jo Seon-woo’s skills were just a facade?
Oh Gyeong-hyeon particularly seethed at Cheon Dohwa.
‘Cheon Dohwa. You ignored me when I tried to approach you.’
As the youngest of the prestigious Shingeomcheon family, Cheon Dohwa had outstanding prowess.
With a sharp nose, attractive double eyelids, glossy black long hair, and eyes as dark as the night sky.
Oh Gyeong-hyeon wanted to connect with Shingeomcheon and flirt with the beauty, Cheon Dohwa.
But when Oh Gyeong-hyeon approached Cheon Dohwa, he was cleanly dismissed.
At that moment, Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s inferiority complex exploded.
Objectively, Oh Gyeong-hyeon should have felt out of place when the two showed interest in Seon-woo.
They were stronger than him. Stronger individuals often see things others don’t.
But Oh Gyeong-hyeon couldn’t accept that.
In his worldview, he was always the strong one.
Oh Gyeong-hyeon grinned tightly as he held his sword.
A magic weapon he had personally obtained from Germany. The Inferno Sword.
He hadn’t originally intended to use this.
But his mind changed. He would use it willingly to crush Seon-woo.
Some might criticize him for overdoing it, but it was Seon-woo who suggested using personal weapons first.
Every magic weapon contains magic.
The Inferno Sword’s magic is Hellfire.
Using it could not only win the sparring match but also burn off an arm or leg entirely.
Seeing Seon-woo’s pathetic struggle, Kang Tae-woo and Cheon Dohwa might reconsider.
Imagining that scene made Oh Gyeong-hyeon smile uncontrollably.
However, when Seon-woo finally appeared in the arena,
“Huh…?”
The sword Seon-woo held was an ordinary iron sword.
He had said he would bring a personal weapon, but had he not even brought a magic weapon?
At that moment, an impossible thought crossed Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s mind.
‘Am I being disregarded?’
Veins bulged on Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s head, and he gripped his weapon tightly.
At this moment, Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s mind was filled with thoughts of correcting Seon-woo’s attitude, ignoring the sparring itself.
Lost in reason, Oh Gyeong-hyeon launched his first attack—a fast and sharp killing strike aimed at Seon-woo’s neck.
“Oh? Oh?”
Even the spectators noticed the blatant intent and winced at the expected gruesome scene.
As the crowd closed their eyes in anticipation,
Clang!
Instead of the sound of flesh being sliced, a sharp, metallic clang echoed.
‘He blocked it…?’
Oh Gyeong-hyeon looked at Jo Seon-woo’s calm face as he received his sword.
A faint breeze carried an ominous feeling.
He hadn’t shown up in his winter coat at the duel arena.
He had originally planned to, but the improved hanbok turned out to be more expensive than he thought.
It would be painful if it got burned or torn during the duel.
As he entered the arena in his combat gear, he saw the crowded stands.
Had there been this many spectators in the game too?
He didn’t have the luxury to check who was there one by one.
Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s eyes narrowed, and he charged at me with the intent to kill as soon as he saw my weapon.
The duel started without the judge’s command.
While the judge and the spectators were flustered, I alone maintained my calm.
Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s attacks were straightforward.
A frontal strike aimed at my neck.
Seeing that, I smiled.
The Danpung Sword Technique was a martial art that suited me well.
That’s partly because I have high potential with both swords and magic, but also because my evasion potential is low.
There are ways to increase potential, but evasion is a lower priority compared to mana sensitivity.
The Danpung Sword Technique has separate forms for offense and defense.
It’s a martial art that can protect me in place of evasion.
- Danpung Sword Technique. The Form of Defense.
I raised my sword and gathered my mana.
- The Front Form. Headwind.
I laid my sword diagonally and parried the attack.
Clang! The swords clashed.
The sword felt light. Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s eyes widened in surprise as his sword was pushed back.
He quickly corrected his stance and launched a follow-up attack.
Maybe he’s an elite even if he’s rotting.
This time, the attack came from the left front at an angle.
- Danpung Sword Technique Left Front Form.
But you know, the Danpung Sword Technique is good for both offense and defense.
- Gentle Wind.
I deflected the angled thrust with my sword’s edge.
Clang! The sound was longer than before as I blocked his attack.
Since I had shifted his center of gravity to the side, he couldn’t immediately change his stance and attack again.
The Danpung Sword Technique at Agora Academy was a martial art that required three weekends to obtain.
What does that mean? It means you had to forgo three weeks of training or various events.
The Danpung Sword Technique was so good that it was worth enduring such disadvantages.
And yet, I obtained it in just one day?
I thought, looking at Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s trembling eyes.
Even though my stats and skills are dismal, with the Danpung Sword Technique, couldn’t I defeat a minor character like you?
Oh Gyeong-hyeon retreated, stepping back. A good choice.
His face was filled with bewilderment.
I had blocked his attacks twice. It wasn’t just luck.
Now it was my turn to attack. I raised the tip of my sword.
A wind that shouldn’t be there pushed against my back.
- Danpung Sword Technique. First Form Sil wind.
I approached Oh Gyeong-hyeon faster than he had retreated.
That’s the essence of the Danpung Sword Technique. Even without a defensive stance, it’s faster than most defensive stances.
- True Wind.
It was an ordinary thrust, but the wind pushed the sword along with it.
He widened his eyes and blocked my sword.
Immediately after blocking, I saw his eyes widen slightly.
It seemed my sword was easier to block than he expected.
The arrogance that had faded from his face due to fear returned.
Yes. If it was so good for defense, it probably isn’t as good for offense.
It was clear he was thinking this.
Well, is that really the case?
I prepared for the follow-up attack.
- Danpung Sword Technique Second Form. Gentle Wind Cutting.
A diagonal slash.
Clang! The expression of the guy blocking my sword stiffened slightly.
- Danpung Sword Technique Third Form. Gentle Breeze.
The confidence had completely vanished from his face.
‘Is the sword going to get faster from here?’
His expression revealed his thoughts clearly.
I smiled with delight.
This is also the essence of the Danpung Sword Technique. The longer the fight goes on, the faster and stronger the attacks become.
The Danpung Sword Technique is an offensive martial art.
The damage dealt when executing a series of strikes is something no one can ignore.
Moreover, it provides a defense-form skill with consistent performance, making it an overpowered technique.
His face turned anxious. He widened his eyes and gritted his teeth.
It seemed he was about to use a magical weapon.
Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s personal weapon is the Inferno Sword. It’s a powerful weapon imbued with Hellfire magic.
If struck head-on, it would surely turn me into a roast.
I watched Oh Gyeong-hyeon as he infused mana into his sword.
Is that really okay?
Oh Gyeong-hyeon had previously launched a surprise attack aimed at my neck.
If he uses Hellfire magic here, and pours it out at full power without control, with so many eyes watching, can he handle the aftermath?
“I’ll kill you, you bastard!”
Oh Gyeong-hyeon even explained his intentions to avoid any misunderstanding.
He shouted and swung his sword.
Flames erupted from the tip of the sword and quickly grew to engulf 1% of the arena.
The people in the stands jumped up. Unless they were fools, they knew what kind of magic that was.
It was high-level magic that could take a life with a single strike, even against a C-class monster. Hellfire.
The spectators’ concern grew as they saw me engulfed in flames, and Oh Gyeong-hyeon laughed with glee.
The moment he thought he had won, I prepared the next form.
- Danpung Sword Technique Front Form. Headwind.
Usually, martial arts with both offensive and defensive forms can’t switch freely between them.
You can only use defensive forms while defending and offensive forms while attacking.
But Danpung Sword Technique is different.
- Danpung Sword Technique Fourth Form Touching Wind.
It allows free switching between offense and defense, and can even be used in non-combat situations.
I used the sword technique to cut through the Hellfire.
Oh Gyeong-hyeon looked astonished at my unharmed appearance. I smiled at his face.
Why? Didn’t you know?
This is magical swordsmanship. When I execute my sword technique, the wind comes along with it.
The wind attribute is stronger compared to fire. Hellfire is powerful, but the Danpung Sword Technique is a better martial art.
No matter how low my skill level with Danpung Sword Technique is, it shouldn’t be impossible to endure a few seconds in Hellfire.
My mana is starting to run low. My mana pool, insufficient for using this sword technique, is its only drawback.
But it’s okay. I’m thinking of ending the duel soon.
Gentle Wind was used not for attacking but for escaping Hellfire.
A strong wind swirled around me, extinguishing the flames, and I quickly moved behind Oh Gyeong-hyeon.
He tried to turn around, but it was already too late.
I had aimed at his neck and used Hellfire magic. Cutting off his heels should be acceptable.
“Ugh!”
Just before Gentle Wind ended, I cut off his heels.
He screamed and collapsed to the ground.
Blood dripped down. He won’t be able to stand up until he receives treatment.
Since it wasn’t completely severed, he’ll recover with rehabilitation.
Besides, he’ll meet me again as a demon and offer me items anyway, so there’s no need to be lenient.
The assistant professor overseeing the duel blew the whistle and entered the arena.
He formally separated me from Oh Gyeong-hyeon, who was down, and began to call for the medical team.
Normally, the duel would end here.
But I had something to do. I made my decision and drove my sword into the dirt between the professor and Oh Gyeong-hyeon.
Then I shouted at the professor.
“Stop!”
The professor, momentarily bewildered, took a few steps back and seemed about to say something to me.
However, he was left speechless by the look on my face, which seemed to reprimand him.
As I turned my body toward Oh Gyeong-hyeon, his face became quite a sight.
His eyes widened slightly, and a sneering smile appeared, as if to say,
‘What are you doing now? Are you really going to make a childish victory declaration?’
I looked down at him with a neutral expression and thought,
What else? Think about it. What should you be doing now?
It’s time for scholar rate farming.
“Confucius said, ‘When a disciple is at home, he should be filial to his parents; when he goes out, he should respect his elders, be cautious and sincere, and be trustworthy. He should love all people and be especially close to those who are virtuous. If he has surplus energy, he should learn literature.’”
The assistant professor and Oh Gyeong-hyeon’s eyes widened. Is he really giving a lecture here?
Yes, I am. You made a mistake, so listen to it especially thoroughly.
“Confucius said, ‘A disciple should be filial at home, respectful and cautious outside, sincere and trustworthy, love all people, be especially close to the virtuous, and learn literature if he has surplus energy.’
But have you ever earnestly practiced even one of these things?”
- Scholar rate changed: 50%! (Implementation of ‘Victory Lecture’ event!) (Current Scholar rate: 50%)
The arena, previously noisy from the unexpected victory, fell silent with my clear voice.
Ah, I savored the increasing scholar rate with a victorious smile.
If translated plainly, my words meant this:
‘You, are lacking in every aspect as a person.’
His face showed anger as he widened his eyes.
Why? Are you upset? If you were angry, you should have won.
In that sense, take another hit. My scholar rate is still insufficient.
“Also, Confucius said to Zhong Gong, ‘Even if the calf of a spotted cow has red fur and straight horns, though it is not used as a sacrificial offering, how can the mountain and river gods allow it to be neglected?’
Confucius valued a person’s character and abilities over their personal status. Why cannot you do the same?”
- Scholar rate changed: 50%! (Continued lecture!) (Current Scholar rate: 100%)
Oh Gyeong-hyeon, filled with rage, cursed loudly and continued to thrash about until his friends came to escort him away.
Meanwhile, I maintained a noble expression, shaking the fan I had pulled from my sleeve.
- Quest completed: One-on-One Duel
You have not only proven your filial piety but also enlightened him with the path of a true scholar!
Rewards: Increase in proficiency used during battle, 1mL of Fox Spirit’s Blood
- Swordsmanship (sword) proficiency increased: Beginner lv.4 → Beginner lv.6
- New proficiency acquired!: Wind Magic
- Wind Magic proficiency increased: Beginner lv.1 → Beginner [v.2]
- Mana Sensitivity proficiency increased: Beginner lv.1 → Beginner [v.3]
The long-awaited system window appeared. I was particularly pleased with the proficiency details.
Satisfied with the evenly increased proficiency from using the sword and Danpung Sword Technique instead of the bow, my smile grew.
Among the blood left by Oh Gyeong-hyeon, there was a red object reflecting the sunlight all by itself.
Upon picking it up, I found it was a small vial of red blood.
‘Ah, this is how it’s given.’
It’s a top-grade elixir that boosts strength and agility stats. The Fox Spirit’s Blood.
It seems Oh Gyeong-hyeon must have dropped it. Now it’s mine.
It was a flawless duel.
Nice win