Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 92
A barrack steeped in a stark, barren atmosphere.
Amid the heavy air of impending war, boys and girls gathered around a book.
The bookor more precisely, a worn-out notebook splayed open too many times.
"So, why the hell did you call me here again?"
Seung-woo couldn't figure out why he had to be here amid all the novel nonsense. We were retreating from the eastern front, pushed back by the horde of demonic beasts.
In the process, tens of thousands had been killed or woundedhundreds of thousands injured.
Even for a militaristic nation that treated its entire population as soldiers, this was the worst possible situation, one that couldn't be shrugged off.
Hell, they'd even lost a key zone equipped with strategic weapons.
All they could do was pray that the high-ranking demonic beasts with their superior intelligence wouldn't figure out how to activate them. The silence and desolation surrounding the barrack stemmed from that tension and anxiety.
"Wanted you to proofread this for me?"
"...Aren't you sick of it yet? I did it last month too."
"Nah, not sick of it at all."
"Even if you're not, in a situation like this, I expect you to fulfill your role properly."
A stiff tone, like some old geezer way past his prime.
He looked like a handsome guy, but his speech was pure military. Kindness was a pointless poison on the battlefield.
It was only natural.
"...Ten minutes. That's all the time I can spare for you."
"I don't need more than that. Just called you to catch a breather."
"So, what's it about this time?"
"Remember Nam Hwa-yeon I mentioned before? This is some side note to add to that. Need your input on it."
Nothing major, just trivial stuff.
A conversation so forgettable he couldn't even recall it now.
What he'd said, what he'd heard.
Not a speck remained in his memory. But even now, that moment stuck with him because of what happened right after.
A swarm of self-destructing demonic beasts dove from the sky, turning everything into chaosa symphony of vibrations, the stench of blood, and mangled flesh that barely resembled humans anymore.
A shocking scene burned into his brain, impossible to forget no matter how much he wanted to.
...This damn war had a new surprise every single day.
And that sense of novelty?
Probably because soldiers died every day, only for fresh recruits to fill the gaps over and over. Watching those spots fill seamlessly without a hitch made him sick to his stomach.
Damn it, when the hell is this war going to end?
And even if it did...
Would he still have his sanity left?
* * *
A week had passed since training with Seo Ye-rin began.
Even after lunch and the end of classes with the other kids, her lessons weren't over yet.
On top of that, tomorrow was the day of the long-awaited Martial Arts Practical Evaluation.
She and I had to wrap up all preparations by tonight.
"Is channeling your will into swinging the spear coming easily?"
"...What do you think, Teacher?"
"Not at all."
"...You know me well."
I'd been carving out every spare moment of my time for Seo Ye-rin.
Precious time I could've spent reading those six magic tomes.
But the results? Total bust.
The investment had tanked.
"...Teacher, I, um, have a question."
"Shoot."
She shot her hand up like she was in class, so I set aside my assessment, nodded, and told her to go ahead.
Then Ye-rin voiced her curiosity.
It wasn't a tough question.
"If we'd stuck to your original curriculum... when were you planning to teach this during after-school sessions with the others?"
"Willpower. You mean intent?"
"...Yes."
"Wasn't planning to teach it at all."
"...Pardon?"
What was so shocking?
Intent wasn't something you could just willpower your way into.
More precisely, it wasn't something you should willpower your way into.
Channeling your will into striking something meant constantly harboring the mindset to wound or kill someone.
Half-hearted resolve wouldn't cut it.
That was the realm of intenta place you didn't even glance at without full commitment.
"You're quick to grasp my lessons, but even at that pace, mastering intent would take at least a year. So I had zero intention of teaching it."
"...So you're saying I'm not good enough...?"
"Pretty much."
"I see."
At my answer, Seo Ye-rin bowed her head and raised her spear.
Her eyes burned with fighting spirit now.
I could feel her fierce determination to master intent no matter what. Alright, if the student's this fired up...
Teacher can't just sit idle.
"Come at me like always today. But"
As I rolled up my sleeves and approached,
I caught her flustered expression.
Fair enoughtelling her to charge with those skinny limbs holding a spear felt a bit off. But even with this body, handling you right now would be a breeze.
"From here on, it's real combat."
"P-Pardon...?"
"Didn't hear me? I'll say it as many times as needed."
All I had to do was not use my hands.
I took my stance.
The moment I did, flames filled the training hall's ceiling.
Pyrokinesis
The flames hovering in midair coalesced with telekinesis into a slender, tangible blaze, forming a single spear.
"I'm not moving. Only the spear, controlled by telekinesis."
Swinging a spear without touching it.
Not some fancy telekinetic sword technique. Just manipulating a flame spear with telekinesis.
Anyone determined could pull off the trick, but it wouldn't be easy.
Right now, in this state, I could probably only manage basic forms.
"Come on. Break this spear."
Spear arts? Spear techniques? Nah, just spear forms made of flame.
All you need to do is dismantle them with your talent.
You can definitely do it.
Time's the issue, though.
'At least a month, two at most. Hope it doesn't drag till summer break.'
Kagagagang!!
I watched Seo Ye-rin clash with the flaming spear in the air and thought to myself.
Hope it doesn't take too long.
By the time this ends, you'll be stronger, surebut know this is just the beginning.
I sincerely hoped she'd get that.
* * *
As expected, Seo Ye-rin struggled against the flame spear executing preset forms. Her movements and counters improved over time, but...
Just as predicted, the evaluation arrived before she could break it.
With 1,991 first-years testing on the same day, the schedule was packedno other lectures, just this. Maybe because classes were canceled,
Professors and TAs from other subjects came to observe.
I was among them.
"Whoa, TA-oppa looks so handsome today too."
"Is it 'cause he's with the other TAs? He seems extra sparkly."
"Hey, saying that makes it sound like the others are dull by comparison. What if they overhear and hold a grudge?"
"If I'm getting grudged, make it Baek Seung-woo TA..."
Today, as usual, my looks drew attentionpersonality be damned.
At first, it flustered me, but now it was NBD.
I walked around stone-faced, but my tail seemed thrilled by the interest,
swishing side to side~
Putting on a full fan service show.
Of course, with it behind my back, I couldn't see it this time either.
"...I just wanna touch it once."
"You too? Same."
"I'm into this kinda thing."
Unaware of the chatter among the students, I just waved back vaguely.
Too many peopledozens of TAs and all 1,991 first-yearsfor chit-chat.
A wave would have to do.
"That wave... it's for me, right?"
"Bullshit. It's for me."
"Wow, those slender fingers, that tail, that hair..."
"Dude, you're a guy. Why're you blushing? Just kidding, right...?"
Aggro pulls with a wave anyway.
To avoid drawing more, I kept my mouth shut.
That was the plan.
Until
"You're that TA who was with Professor Nam Hwa-yeon back then. Here to see your students?"
"Ah, yes. That's right."
Professor Namgung Seong-jin suddenly approached and struck up a conversation.
As I tried to excuse myself from the awkward vibe,
I spotted the log in his hand.
That's the wood for the test, huh.
Lemme seenot applewood or birch.
Lots of rings, gives off a sacred vibe...?
Hold up, sacred aura from a log?
This guy's using something special for the eval, not just any wood.
'He's using Shin Dansu?!'
Shin Dansuthe sacred tree symbolizing Korea.
A world tree linking heaven and earth, featured in myths.
The rarest, priciest wood mortals can obtain.
That size? Probably worth over 100 million won each.
I stared at Namgung Seong-jin in disbelief at the absurd extravagance.
"Ahaha, that look. You know what tree this is."
"...Why's Shin Dansu here?"
Shin Dansu was expensive.
Even if he scored them cheap at 100 million a pop,
1,991 first-years each snapping one? That's 199.1 billion won for one eval.
Makes no sense. I shot him a "you serious?" glare, and he burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha! Shocked, eh? Looks like Shin Dansu and has similar properties, but it's not the real deal."
"Not Shin Dansu...?"
"A subspecies. Grown from seeds off the real Shin Dansu. Still infused with its sanctity. Like a Half-World Tree, if you will?"
"!!"
I was speechless.
Fair enougha half version was a fraction of the original's cost, worth it.
But half Shin Dansu? Parasitic offshoots clinging to towering real ones.
Mongrels sucking faint nutrients, gaining unique traits.
Like responding to willpower easily.
They don't cut or process normally.
Only pure intent serves as the axe to fell half Shin Dansu.
"Everyone's got great spirit. This year's batch deserves the golden generation label."
"...Golden generation."
"Oh, didn't you know, TA Baek Seung-woo? The first-years this year are exceptionally leveled up."
"I know. Three from the Nine Heavenly Clans."
"Right, Leonhardt and Sirius. And one more family..."
"You missed the Iris Family of Greece."
"Ah, right. Iris Family of Greece. Forgottheir kid hasn't stood out yet."
"We'll see."
How long can you say that?
Today, the Iris kid will etch deep into Namgung Seong-jin's eyes. And every student and professor's.
Spreading that name and family far and wide.
Or maybe Namgung Seong-jin already knows.
'This guy's... obsessed with realm breakthroughs, right?'
Smooth sailing since childhood, but hit a wall at the Hwagyeong realm. Ditched his comfy Namgung heir spot to join Chilseong's order.
Reason's kinda wild.
Teaching students, feeding off their growth to advance his own realm.
Probably.
Even if wrong, something similar.
Those eyes tell it all.
Various students took their tests, and soon it was Kyle's turn.
As he approached, Namgung Seong-jin couldn't hide his excitement and anticipation.
Sparkling like crazy.
How pumped is he?
'With that confidence, even without expectations, curiosity's natural.'
I followed Namgung Seong-jin's gaze to the protagonist.
His resolute eyes.
Where the hell's the 'blockhead' in that?
'Maybe the title's misleading?'
Starts as a fool, grows mentally into a geniusbut they skipped the growth part for the title.
Look at that stride, that confident poise.
Kyle sauntered up like this test was a joke, making professors and TAs guess he had something up his sleeve.
Look at that boldness.
Even the waiting students lost composure, staring at his hands.
"A wooden sword...?"
"He's nuts. Totally nuts."
"Going full floor for him, huh? Thanks, Kyle, you bastard!"
In his hand: a wooden sword.
A plain one, no edge.
Dunno where he stashed the issued iron onecarved this himself.
No enchantments, no special wood like world trees or Yggdrasil. Looked like oak.
He brought that wooden sword to the practical eval.
The first one ever.
As all students and TAs thought he was insane,
Only four pairs of eyes watched Kyle with keen interest.
"Teacher! Teacher! That sword looks no joke!"
"The sword... has no enchantments or tricks... Pure skill. R-Right, Teacher...?"
"Oh ho, what spirit. TA Baek Seung-woo, what do you make of student #97?"
"Why's everyone asking me? And why you too, Professor Namgung Seong-jin?"
In order: Seo Ye-rin, Seong Yeon-hwa, Professor Namgung Seong-jin.
And me.
"Huh? A professor asking a TA weird?"
"I'm not under you, Professor."
"Right, forgot. Your stance and aura make me mistake you for one of the underlings."
Confusing a martial artist for a mage.
Is that what a Martial Arts prof says?
Grateful he sees my broken body as warrior material, but that's ancient history.
Sharp on the surface, but surprisingly ditzy.
And.
"Why're you two here again?"
"Just spectating for a bit!"
"Me too... followed Yeon-hwa."
"Don't you have tests?"
Yours are soon.
Like two hours.
...Fine for spectating.
Rushing 1,991 first-years in one day meant insane wait times.
I patted the seats beside me, telling them to sit.
And like flowers, they flanked me.
"Whoa, jealous..."
"Who? Center or sides?"
"Sides, obviously! What kinda dumb question."
Wait, was I the flower?
Not important, so I brushed it off.
But the tail, praised like it had its own mind, danced.
Female TAs and some male ones behind joined the compliments. Oblivious to it, I suddenly felt my tail muscles ache.
Why's my tail hurt?
Brushed it good this morning.
Maybe that fur lotion I bought doesn't suit it.
"TAs cheering hard too. I should take notes."
"Professor, what's with the random comment?"
"Not aware? Nah, it's nothing. Just surprised you're cheering for a kid like that."
Dunno what Namgung Seong-jin's getting at.
But one thing's clear.
He's been grinning like an idiot.
Dunno why he's lowballing Kyle.
I saw with my own eyes him pick Kyle for his group last time. Dunno if he takes the protag as disciple in the original,
But having that master-disciple bond, he'd know his growth.
Especially in martial artsswords especiallyfor this guy.
'Maybe testing my eye for talent.'
No need, but his weird remarks kept drawing me there.
And rightly so.
Seogeok!!
A single, drawn-out slash.
No prep, no wind-upjust a blunt wooden sword cleaving the half-Shin Dansu log.
No mana on the blade.
Swing strength? Peak athlete level.
Nothing special.
But.
Thud!
The log split in half, hitting the ground.
On the wooden sword, Kyle's intent to cleave in one stroke faintly shimmered.
Intent made manifest.
Surpassing manas fearsome power, the boy who poured heart into his weapon aced the test flawlessly.
A protagonist-worthy, clean performance without excess.
"Excellent. Not even 100 test-takers in, and already a top grade."
"!!!"
The thirtieth examinee in the practical evaluation.
Kyle Iris.
Top grade confirmed.