Chapter 52
Chapter 52
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 52
Seo Ye-rin's eyes sparkled as she watched the process of teaching Lee Ji unfold right beside her. The optimal curriculum, tailored by analyzing each individual.
Of course, the students didn't seem to see it that way.
But the thought that she could receive something like that too had her staring at me with bright, eager eyes that belied her usual stoic expression.
It was too much pressure.
I appreciated how much she was looking forward to the training regimen I'd prepared, but pressure was pressure.
'How harsh must her training have been...'
What's the use of being born into a fine family under a great grandfather?
All the instruction she'd ever gotten was basic spear arts.
That line of thinking stirred up more pity for herand doubt toward her grandfatherthan any sense of burden.
No, why had he let a kid with such outstanding talent end up like this?
'I get wanting her to reach the next realm through her own efforts alone.'
But I just couldn't wrap my head around her grandfather's mindset.
With talent like hers, a little proper support could've sent her soaring. Seo Ye-rin seemed downright pitiable.
Just look at her now.
If I'd sprouted a fox tail, she'd have had a puppy tail wagging away. If she were a beastkin, it probably would've been spinning like a propeller behind her.
She looked that overjoyed.
"First things first, before we startcould you show me your spear arts?"
"...The Seo Family Spear Art?"
"Perform it from beginning to end, right here in front of me. Any family rule against showing it to outsiders?"
She shook her head no and immediately readjusted her grip on the spear.
Actions over words, it seemed.
Swish.
She swung the spear in a wide arc, flowing through a series of moves that showcased polished, high-level spear arts. Not bad at all.
Not bad, but painfully straightforward and monotonous.
Her spear arts lacked any personal flair.
I pointed it out to her first thing after her demonstration.
"Let's start by adding some color to your spear arts."
"...Color?"
"Right. The color of your spear arts."
Martial arts come in as many varieties as there are personalities and tendencies.
Yet the spear art Seo Ye-rin had learned was nearly colorless and odorlessno distinct style at all.
It was so plain it failed to play to her individuality or strengths.
Somehow, she'd still reached a level of power equal to the protagonist's. A little nudge from me here, and she'd soar.
"What I'm saying is, let's layer in some of those 'subtleties' people talk about."
"Teacher! You said that stuff wouldn't work for me!"
"Kid, you haven't even built a proper foundationwhat subtleties? Go swing that axe already."
Lee Ji was drenched in sweat, heaving a massive double-headed axe onto her shoulder.
Her petite frame paired with that giant axe made her look like a dwarf.
I half-wondered if some distant ancestor really had been one.
"Teacher, you're always so mean to me!"
"Pipe down and train. Keep whining, and I won't teach you a thing next class."
"Ahaha! Axe swinging is the best!"
A quick threat involving the next lesson, and Lee Ji fell right in line. Sweet kid, but man, her pouting could be a headache.
Once I confirmed she was back at it, I gave Seo Ye-rin's spear arts a proper evaluation.
Seo Family Spear Art, right?
It was fluid overall.
The forms flowed with supple grace, attack-to-defense transitions smooth and freelike water running downstream.
Too basic, though. That was the issue.
"A spear art like yours would pair well with flow, variation, illusion, or speed styles."
"Flow...? Illusion...?"
"Putting them together like that makes it sound weird. Don't read 'em as one word."
I closed my eyes for a moment, recalling the sensations tingling in my fingertips.
All the spear arts I'd mastered.
I began sifting through for ones that'd suit Seo Ye-rin.
"You said you're a supporter, yeah?"
"...Yes."
Come to think of it, back in the library, we'd clashed over some healing studies books. Spear art subtleties for a supporter... what fit?
"You don't buy into that 'best supporter philosophy' where you wipe out every enemy so your allies never take a hit, do you?"
"...Huh?"
"Nah, if you don't, we're good."
I'd seen kids with some wild ideas like that, so I checked.
Mumbling past it, I had a rough idea of what to teach.
"For starters, light intro to Variable Spear Technique and Severing Spear Technique. If they don't click, we'll switch later."
"Variable...? Severing...?"
"And you're a spear user? Makes sense if you never studied a wide range. Variable lets you flip between offense and defense on a dime, swinging in endlessly tricky ways. Severing disrupts your foe's rhythmperfect support-tool."
Big words, but practice made 'em straightforward enough.
With talent rivaling the protagonist's, Seo Ye-rin would pick 'em up easy.
Plan: teach the subtleties of Variable and Severing Spear Techniques, forms included.
"Here, I'll show you. Mind lending your spear?"
"...Here."
"Thanks."
That plastic spear from yesterday, made of composite resin.
Read like that, it sounded flimsybut Chilseong gear meant top-tier mana conductivity.
Infuse it with mana
Whoosh!
The blade honed razor-sharp in an instant, the tip needle-pointed.
No longer just a training tool.
I let that eerie chillnot your everyday plastic vibeguide my arm in a wide swing.
Swish. Mana coursing through, the spear whipped wide, its edge carving a wheel in the air. I swept it broad next, yanking the shaft in for a close grip.
Pulled it inward sharp for a defensive block.
Swoosh!
Then whipped it outward in a sweeping arc, blending attack and riposte seamlessly.
Offense to defense, fluid and tricky, I varied every swing.
Seo Ye-rin watched, rapt.
"Wow..."
She gasped in awe.
Cunning and sly like a serpent, baiting out reactions.
That had to be the pinnacle martial art she'd craved.
If I'd had No Yu-ra's mind-reading knack right then, I'd have jumped.
Just like she thought: snake-like subtlety defined this spear art.
Hence its nameCunning Serpent Spear Method.
Impressive insight on her part.
Clueless to it, I flowed straight into the Severing Spear subtlety.
Hwoom!
The spear sliced the wind.
I pressed on with strong, crisp swings, forms unyielding.
Less fluid now, but sturdier, more preciseradiating from every motion.
Demonstrating like that in front of Seo Ye-rin, I noticed the other students' stares shifting.
Eyes doubtful when I'd taught Seong Yeon-hwa? Now they all gleamed.
* * *
"Got nothing for me?!"
"You're already half-polished. Mess with that, and your whole martial foundation shakeshow 'bout that?"
"Aw, c'mon! Me tootechniques! Teach me techniques!"
Lee Ji and Seo Ye-rin? Clear gaps to fill.
Seong Yeon-hwa was the problem child.
Planning her lessons, I'd brimmed with confidence.
Swordsmanship was my main gignot magic.
Childhood onward: self-invented sword arts, every style and trick under the sun.
Plenty to share with a martial path junior.
...Hadn't figured she'd outpace my expectations so hard.
'Peak realm down pat. Sword-Body Union and Three Flowers Gather at Apex? Ancient history for her.'
Peak: wield sword ki like a pro, earn true warrior cred.
Sword-Body Union: man and sword as one, wielded like a limb.
Three Flowers Gather at Apex: essences harmonizing toward the core.
Seong Yeon-hwa was a full-fledged warrior. Player material.
My help? Unnecessary.
Lucky if I didn't get in her way.
"You know it. You're walking your own sword path. Me meddling too much? Not right."
"Then meddle just right!"
"Sigh. How do you nail every word without tripping?"
I sighed, clutching my head.
True, within reason, I had mountains to teach.
No promise it'd help her, though.
Sword lessons? Way too soon.
Varied experience later? Fine. But firming her path now? Could poison it.
One real help now.
Bump her realm up.
"Wanna push for Five Qi Return to Origin?"
Five Qi Return to Origin.
Post-Three Flowers: essence-qi-body unified, power always maxed.
Body ails? Essence-qi harmony pulls peak force. Flip side too.
Mana dry? Qi-body balance. Mind drained? Essence-body fix.
Untalented? Gawk at sky, thumb in mouth. That's the realm.
And she was gunning for it.
"For real? That doable?!"
"I can help."
"Isn't that the elixir-overload stage?"
"Cheat way, yeah. Proper method? No elixirs needed."
Warriors fall for it sometimes.
Prime elixirs = realm leaps, easy.
Low tiers only. High-end? Diminishing returns.
Folk say the "drug high" fades.
"Your caliber? Elixir-crutch bad. Own power conquest way better."
"So how?"
Seong Yeon-hwa pressed.
Simple answer.
"Gain enlightenment."
"...Enlighten-mint."
"Enlightenment. 'Ri' in the middle."
"Yeah, enlighten-mint."
"..."
Her mangled Korean grated since earlier.
Foreigner pass usually, but fellow foreigners Isabel and Isis? Nailed it.
Hate comparing, yet...
Chinese roots, most Korean-looking of the trio exchange kids. Worst Korean.
What nonsense.
'Gotta teach her Hangul.'
Later.
Homework for Korean. Slow burn.
Today's packed: future curriculum rundown.
"So, how do enlighten-mint?"
"...Enlightenment's obtained, not done. Naturally."
"Gotcha, Teach!"
"...No 'Teach'."
'Teacher' awkward enough. 'Teach'? Worse.
Seong Yeon-hwa latched onto it, though.
Ignored me, kept 'Teaching'.
Fine. Your funeral.
"So Teach, what's step one?"
"Meditation to start."
"I rock meditation! Dad's orders since kid days!"
She dropped into lotus pose on cue.
Form screamed long practice.
Prestige martial heir, through and through.
Yeon-hwa'd handle it fine.
Sloppy speech aside, model student.
I gazed fondlyfelt a poke at my back.
Not weapon kids. Magic duo: Isis and Isabel.
Itching for their training assignment.
"Teacher, our training?"
"Mages, right? Core different from those weapon swingers."
"Course I prepped your curriculum."
Bold flex. Felt the hype build.
Hm. Not that hype-worthy.
Whatever, it'll work.
"Alright, cast some magic."
I spread my arms.
"You lot? Glancing over's enough. Go on."
"...Pardon?"
"What?"
They stared, baffled.
No, seriouslyfor mages, a quick scan gives real-time feedback?