Academy's Silver Gatekeeper
Ch. 98

Shortly after sparring with Suhyeon began, a thought occurred to me.

'Was I crazy for a moment?'

I think I was arrogant. I think I overdid it unnecessarily. I was too presumptuous. Those thoughts kept rising one after another.

'Why is she so fast!'

It wasn't just fast either. Swift swordsmanship wasn't all of Suhyeon. With each strike, heavy power was being infused. This was like a dump truck running at sports car speed.

If this had been a promotion evaluation to Silver. If I had properly manifested my trait, I wouldn't have been pushed back like this. I might have been evenly matched, or even overwhelmed Suhyeon.

But that was never what I wanted.

What I want now. No, what I need most right now. Is to grasp exactly what my current state is. Where my limits lie.

'For that, I have to endure with the resolve to die!'

Clang—! Crash—!

I gritted my teeth. Otherwise, I felt like I might let out a scream unconsciously. How embarrassing would it be to ask for a sparring match first, then cry that I'm dying?

"Huff, huff..."

After creating distance, I briefly observed Suhyeon's condition.

Her eyes that turned red after awakening as the Crimson Witch. Now they're emitting an even redder aura than usual.

It means her trait is taking full effect. Additionally, it seemed like the sub-trait berserker mode was manifested.

'Really fortunate. That the Crimson Witch trait is properly manifested, really fortunate.'

Entering battle and losing reason to become an extremely wicked murderer. In a state where she couldn't even bring out any device to offset the berserker mode.

That was Kim Suhyeon, the Crimson Witch, as described as a 'villain.'

But now, instead of blooming in a twisted way after being brainwashed. As an 'ability user' Crimson Witch, Suhyeon has perfectly awakened. Thanks to that, she doesn't lose her reason even while in berserker mode.

"Examiner."

The fact that she could converse so normally was clear proof of that.

"Are you okay? Just say the word. If you just say it, anytime..."

Her voice and expression are full of concern for me. If I just said let's stop now, she looked ready to quit the sparring immediately.

"Suhyeon."

The answer I should give here is just one.

"You're doing so well. So I'm very grateful." 

"Ah..." 

"So, please just a little more."

Though difficult, and though painful. This is a path I must endure for 'myself,' no one else. I should be grateful that Suhyeon, not an enemy, stands before me.

"Yes! Examiner! I'll do my best!"

Suhyeon, shouting like that, grips her sword again and charges.

...Hmm, should I have added to do just a little more of your best? I worried that if she really did more, my neck might fly off.

I don't know how much time passed after that. When I swing, Suhyeon blocks; when Suhyeon attacks, I defend.

Every time sword clashes with sword, an unfamiliar sensation fills my entire body. Though we held no killing intent, this was almost combat level, not sparring.

The emotions surging in my chest was spine-chilling, but I didn't let it show outside. This situation, this atmosphere was exactly what I had wanted.

"Huff, huff..."

My heart and lungs felt like they would burst at any moment. Perhaps because I was handling real swords instead of wooden ones, muscle pain developed in both arms. Both legs also felt noticeably heavier.

I looked at Suhyeon. She also showed slight signs of fatigue. If it had been her initially, she would have collapsed from stamina issues long ago. But now she has the Crimson Witch trait. She would be less tired than me.

So if we continued fighting like this, my defeat was obvious. It wouldn't be strange if I could no longer withstand Suhyeon's offensive and collapsed. That's right. Yeah. Originally, that should be the natural progression...

Clang—! Clash—!

I was still withstanding all of Suhyeon's attacks. I even regained the composure to insert counterattacks in between.

Certainly, my body should have been exhausted long ago. But why do all of Suhyeon's movements appear even clearer than before?

'As if, as if my current physical state is at its peak, this absurd delusion...'

Is it... a delusion? Is it really a delusion?

'My body definitely feels heavier than before... Why am I enduring better than before?'

I was able to find the reason before long.

It shows clearly. Suhyeon's movements and the trajectory her sword draws. How I should move, what way I should attack, everything is drawn out.

The Gatekeeper trait still isn't properly manifested. Nevertheless, my physical condition felt better than ever. Right now, in this state, it felt like I could cut anything.

Crash—!

One step forward, about to thrust one inch of sword beyond that. Suddenly, a figure intervened between Suhyeon and me.

The moment he launched his body, this thought struck Kang Minseong's mind: What on earth was he thinking, why was he interfering in those two's fight? If he could, he wanted to grab his own collar and ask that.

As the proud head of the Kang family. As someone who values the honor of swordsmen. To carelessly interfere in a duel between two swordsmen fiercely exchanging blades. Moreover, it was between his beloved granddaughter and future grandson-in-law.

Crash—!

But that regret was completely erased by the familiar sensation transmitted from the sword's edge.

The sword is still crying. That intense cry passes through his hand and is engraved throughout his body. Thanks to that, he could be certain. If he hadn't intervened at this moment...

'One of them would have been seriously injured.'

No, precisely, his granddaughter might have been in more danger. The sword's cry currently being transmitted was also deeper from the grandson-in-law's side than the granddaughter's.

"G-Grandfather?" 

"Chairman!"

Kim Suhyeon and Baek Seojin, who had stepped back, were startled and sheathed their swords. It was natural for them to react like that since Kang Minseong suddenly appeared in the middle of their exchange.

"Are you alright?"

"You're not hurt anywhere, are you?"

Normally, he would have laughed, saying "Hey! You kids. Who's worrying about whom!"

Even the fights of his grandson and granddaughter, whom others called geniuses, were mere child's play to him.

However, at least at this moment, he couldn't say that.

'Suhyeon is one thing, but Baek Seojin, this young man is really... I know and yet don't know.'

The first appearance he showed wasn't particularly admirable.

The basics were decent and he had practical experience, so it wasn't bad. But by Kang Minseong's standards, Baek Seojin was hard to call a skilled swordsman.

Barely blocking, attacking but the finish was disappointing. How exactly did he fight the Elder, how did he land an effective hit on that Kwak Hyuk? He didn't want to doubt him, but such thoughts unconsciously arose.

'He certainly was like that. But at some point, the atmosphere completely changed.'

At the last moment, precisely when Baek Seojin was just about to swing his sword. Kang Minseong felt his spine chill and immediately moved.

There was no killing intent. He wasn't aiming for the opponent's vital points either. Rather, Kim Suhyeon's attacks that had been pouring down earlier were much more dangerous. If he had intended to intervene, that would have been the right time.

"Grandfather?"

"...Ah, ah. Yes. Suhyeon. Um, sorry. This old man was too interested in your sparring with the Examiner, so I stupidly interfered. Really sorry. Examiner Baek Seojin. I'm sorry." 

"Not at all, Chairman. I was thinking of finishing anyway."

Baek Seojin, waving his hand, approached Kim Suhyeon. He said he was really grateful, and thanks to that, his confused head seemed to clear up a bit.

"Aah! That's great!!"

Kim Suhyeon smiles brightly, seemingly very happy to be helpful. Kang Minseong, who had been looking at his granddaughter briefly, turned his gaze to Baek Seojin.

"..."

The thought that he was truly an unknowable young man grew stronger.

That fierce and heart-stirring presence he felt earlier. That rough wind that he had never received even from his own children, grandson, and granddaughter. He could be considered S-rank without any problem.

But now, as if asking when that happened, he's calm. Peaceful beyond compare. As if trying to say that all those things felt earlier were 'your imagination.'

"Grandfather. But what brings you suddenly to the Academy?"

Kang Minseong had been trying to observe Baek Seojin further. But immediately after Kim Suhyeon's question, that was disrupted.

"Hmm? Ahaha! I came because I missed our granddaughter... if I said that, you'd scold your grandfather, right?"

"I told you not to do that."

"Yes, yes. I remember. Don't worry. It's not for that reason I came."

He said he came on business, just had a brief free moment. So he came here thinking he'd just see his granddaughter's face for a moment. At Kang Minseong's words, Kim Suhyeon nodded.

"But Suhyeon. Isn't it almost time for your lecture?" 

"Eh? Ah, aah! Oh, that's right!"

Was it because of the unplanned sparring with Baek Seojin? Originally, she should have headed to the lecture hall leisurely, but now she couldn't. Less than 5 minutes remained until the next lecture.

"I-I'll be going now, Examiner! I'll see you later!"

Saying that, Kim Suhyeon hurriedly ran toward the main building. Watching that scene, Kang Minseong chuckled and clicked his tongue several times.

"She could at least greet this old man too, that girl."

"..."

Couldn't you keep such thoughts to yourself? It feels like you're saying it for me to hear.

"Examiner Baek Seojin."

While I was carefully grumbling inwardly, he suddenly called me. Startled by being called, Baek Seojin unconsciously responded loudly with "Yes?"

"Why are you so surprised?" 

"Well..."

"Never mind, just tell me a story. What happened that you were doing that with our Suhyeon?"

Right. I knew he'd ask about that part. Thinking so, Baek Seojin first informed him about the meeting content from earlier.

Though it was a secret meeting, the person in front of me was Kang Minseong. Probably nine out of ten times he came to the Academy to meet Ma Hakjun. If so, he would hear about that meeting content anyway, was his conclusion.