Chapter 57
Chapter 57
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 57
Teacher, are we done talking now?
Yeah, come on in, everyone.
I'd avenge Guya, and in return, he'd forge a weapon for me.
It was a straightforward deal. Right after we'd sealed it, Iji, who'd been waiting outside, knocked on the door.
I told her to come in, and the kids piled in all at once.
It must've been pretty chilly out there.
April was almost over, and yet they were so weak to the cold.
...Think about itthe TA standing next to Isis the whole time.
Ah.
Fair enough.
Anyway, to shake off the chill, the students gathered around the furnace.
Five of them settled inbut where was the sixth?
I glanced around and spotted Isabel talking to Guya. She had a serious look on her face as she spoke.
Where are the Ezhang, Zhanlu, and Moye? I never imagined I'd get a chance like this to see the peerless swords of legend.
...You know a lot about the blades I forged, miss.
The golden-haired picture of a young lady, Isabel, asked with sparkling eyes.
Guya, his gaze weary, looked up at her.
Blonde hair, pale skin. She wasn't Eastern in the slightest.
And there was that air of aristocratic leisure about her, something ordinary folks could never pull off.
Which meant
You're a Leonhardt, aren't you? Their girl must be about academy age by now.
Leonhardt? Don't lump me in with those muscle-headed lions! I'm of noble Sirius bloodline, the Heavenly Wolf!
Hm? You're not?
Of course not! I'm nothing like those graceless brutes!
Isabel vented her emotions fiercely.
She was usually so cold to others, but this was the first time I'd seen her snap at someone besides me. Not that we'd known each other that long anyway.
Of all things, he had to poke one of Isabel's sore spots. Is it because he's modeled after Old Man Noya? No tact at all.
The House of Leonhardtlions.
A powerhouse family rooted in Germany.
Like Sirius or the Heavenly Fox Baek Family, they were one of the Nine Celestial Clans, renowned for their innate physical prowess and mobility.
Every Leonhardt was a born warrior, holding the top spots and front lines in Germany's guilds and military.
Put simply, Germany's military might was practically their domain.
Sure, they fell a notch short compared to the Heavenly Fox Baek Family's global capital or Sirius's dominance over Europe.
But within Germany, they wielded unchecked power.
Only within their borders, mind you.
Whatever the case, Guya's words were a grave insult to Isabel, who took fierce pride in her Sirius heritage.
Just as she disliked me, her family saw the Leonhardts as mortal rivals.
So, you're saying you're not a Leonhardt?
Obviously not.
Your reaction's intriguing, though. You really hate the Leonhardts that much?
Of course!
The Nine Celestial Clans naturally checked each other.
Equals who could encroach on one's absolute noble authority? They were always an irritation.
Baek Seung-woo and Isabel's childhood betrothal was the exception.
Families like Sirius and Leonhardt were supposed to feud.
And not just for politicstheir ancestral traits drove the rivalry too.
Dog-family Sirius.
Cat-family Leonhardt.
They were never going to get along from the start.
Foxes technically fell under the dog family too, so relations with Leonhardt weren't great either. But compared to Sirius? Child's play.
Those two houses genuinely despised each other.
I see. Sorry about that. You just reminded me of an acquaintance's daughter I met ages ago.
It's fine, that happens. So, where are the weapons?
No idea.
Pardon?
Guya said it while picking his nose.
He added in a matter-of-fact tone.
Chased by creditors and assassins, I lost most of themor sold them off haphazardly for cash. They're probably collector's items for some rich bastard now, or melted down into pots by some backwater yokel who never appreciated their worth.
N-No way...
Isabel hung her head.
Seo Ye-rin and Sung Yeon-hwa, eavesdropping from afar, nearly did the same.
A rare shot to see Guya's masterpiecesthe legendary peerless swordsup close.
Swordsmen, spearmen, even mages couldn't ignore it.
And it vanished for such a pathetic reason.
It was infuriating.
Sensing the mood sour, Guya scowled.
What, you that desperate to see my swords? They're just replicas of my ancestor's work, nothing more.
That's exactly why they're so fascinating. True masterpieces hold their value through centuries.
...Fair point.
Guya couldn't fathom the students' reactions.
Ezhang, Zhanlu, Shengxie, Tai'e, Chulu Sword, and more. Famous, impressive blades, surebut his were mere copies of the Yue kingdom's Guya.
Impressive replicas, but only because the originals were legendary.
He couldn't grasp why they craved blades that barely touched the originals' heelsuntil their exasperated glares clued him in.
True masterpieces endure fashion and time.
Even if his were later copies, the Guya blades label stuck.
For the first time in ages, emotion stirred. He scratched his head furiously, then reached for the floor.
Clunk! Something shifted, revealing stairs downward.
Not deep ones. And from afar, you could tell what was stored there.
Even abandoned underground, they hadn't lost their luster.
Those are...?
Swords, spears, shields, rings. No wayare they all Grandpa's work?
Haven't oiled 'em once since I stashed 'em here, but these are from my prime. Performance guaranteed. Might even be one of my peerless swords in the mix.
Guya's gear.
From his heyday, no less.
What would his peak creations be like?
The kids descended like moths to a flame, curiosity piqued by the Moye possibility.
They poked at blades and gear, chattering in awe at the quality.
That good, huh?
Guess I should check 'em out too.
I followed them into the basement.
Maybe because these predated his burnout.
The arsenal gleamed impressively.
Dragon Slayer
Rank: A+
Description: A greatsword forged by the master smith Guya. Crafted based on the legend of dragon-slaying, the blade flows with Dragon-Slaying Technique. Crude and massive, it demands immense draconic power just to swingbut wield it freely, and slaying a dragon might not be impossible. Of course, that's just potential.
*Dragon-Slaying Technique
A technique and aura for killing dragons, but really a bundle of futile delusions. Thus, this blade's purpose is worthless, and its wielder a blind fool. Yet sometimes, you must feel the meaninglessness to find true value. Until that day, it will cleave away vain fantasies.
A massive greatsword, too big and heavy to stand, lay on the floor.
Holy Lance
Rank: S
Description: A sacred spear forged by the master smith Guya. A long lance, holy, sturdy, and springy. As a holy lance, it should repel evilbut all effort went into durability, leaving no special powers. Just the name.
Pure white and gold blended for a holy aura, but up close? Nothing. It hung on the wall like a heretic's relic, faithless. Bizarre.
Weapons littered the place.
Sloppy craftsmanship evident, but the skill within was real.
This was Guya's wild artistry.
The students buzzed, thrilled at the prospect of commissioning from him.
Check these arrows! Disposable, but carved with insane detail!
Idiot. That's whynot disposables. Return magic on the tips, see?
The swords are amazing! At this skill, you could forge something on par with my blade!
This staff's nuts too. That gem at the end? No joke. You cut it yourself?
They fondled gear, gasping in admiration.
Chilseong's mass-produced C-ranks looked shameful by comparison.
As I smirked at them, Guya approached.
So, what do you want from me?
Everything you can make.
All of it?
Yeah. All of it.
Swords, spears, armor, axes, shields, guns... anything.
There were weapons tough for me to handle, but none I couldn't.
Guya's gear would fill my gaps, whatever it was.
How high-spec we talking?
Minimum S-rank. Better if infused with inner power.
Normal gear topped at F to S.
But with special lore or tales? They ranked higherfive tiers named by the system, based on the gear's embedded story.
Epitaph (): Beyond S, gear that could star in its own hidden tale.
Anecdote (): Gaining fame, but not widespreadprotagonist of obscure lore or equivalent.
Saga (): Fit for epics, or potent enough to birth new ones from its own merits.
Legend (): Tied to ancient myths passed down orally.
Myth (): Beyond human conception. Strictly for mythic artifacts.
Skills stopped at S, yet gear had these extras. No clue why.
Author's whim. Nothing I could do.
All I could manage was using them well.
Ideally, I'd commission Saga-rank too.
Impossible.
He shook his head firmly.
No way.
Absolutely not.
The old Guya might've, but now? Aged and broken.
His ruined forge screamed it.
He was like the rusted hammer in his hand.
I absolutely cannot.
Why not? Legend I get, but Saga should've been doable. Isn't that how you earned the 'Guya' titleby forging Saga gear?
A Saga isn't for one smith alone! It's a hero's epic. You need matching materials, settingand above all, a story to infuse!
His Sagas were pure miracle.
Recreating Yue's legendary Guya blades, a real legend attached by chance, birthing lesser versions for posterity.
Not his power alone.
Just copying a foreign ancestor's work, influenced by the original.
Later Sagas borrowed names from Guya lore toono pure originals.
Thus, he couldn't deliver.
His Guya works were all reborn via him once.
He mass-produced Sagas by making one of each Guya blade.
Uniqueness gave them value.
Duplicates? Mass-produced trash.
Epic weapons shine for one hero. Shared by all? Worthless.
No more Sagas from him.
Got it.
I nodded, considering his plight.
Why should I care?
...What?
Pathetic. All that rambling, but it's just 'I can't' in fancy words. Is your revenge that weak?
...
I provoked him.
A clich jab at one's grudge.
But across history, nothing stirred a foe like it.
From my experience, anyway.
...You saying if I forge it, revenge is guaranteed?
Of course.
Look at Guya now.
Face flushing, then steely resolve in those dazed eyes. Hit the mark perfectly.
That's why I can't kick the habit of needling people.