The Angel Who Drew the Holy Sword (6)
The professors of Central Superhuman Academy. Excluding the Demon King's army, they were unequivocally the strongest force across both the otherworld and the present realm. Realizing they couldn't defeat the Demon King on their own, they had established the academy to raise a hero, while also manipulating the present realm from the shadows through it.
Klein Professor asked,
"Vice Principal, isn't Hongwol your disciple? Even if the time you taught her was short."
"However, she's a being who will become the Demon King's lackey. It would be better for Miss Hongwol if we end her life here today."
Park Jinho sheathed his sword without a flicker of expression, while Rusa fastened her gauntlets. Rusa muttered with a mocking sneer,
"Man, we really don't suit this professor gig."
"Well, indeed."
"Enough chit-chat! Time to fulfill our duty."
Park Jinho asked Klein,
"Has Hexi settled in?"
"The archery professor has been in position for quite some time. She won't say it, but she's probably full of complaints."
"Hmph, everyone's lost their minds. Anyway, make sure to relay it clearly. If any fugitives appear, eliminate them without fail."
"How many times do I have to tell you? Can't you see my big ears? I'm getting neuroses, so ease up!"
Thwack— Rusa, smacked on the head, grumbled and bit her lip.
"Fucking hurts for real…."
With that, Klein, Rusa, and Park Jinho Professor headed toward the Central Academy main building. To deal with the thieving cats in the basement.
Meanwhile, what situation was unfolding in the basement of the Central Academy main building? To put it simply, utter chaos.
A few beastkin collapsed after challenging the holy sword and getting struck by divine punishment. Over there, another one tried and had their entire body engulfed in sacred flames.
"Gaaahhh! Clan leader!"
"Damn it! Let go!"
Dalgoyang clan leader Jeogwol hadn't foreseen this. The Dalgoyang clan were all masters of demon swords. And theoretically, the holy sword was just another demon sword containing white magic.
Heavenly mana, white magic—it was used for healing, purifying lands tainted by other magics, and creating barriers to repel demons… Jeogwol had thought it was the most human-friendly magic.
In fact, most superhumans made this mistake. Think about it. Compared to black mana rising from hell, red mana that burns everything in the world, or yellow mana that was pure lightning itself, it naturally seemed like a safe power.
Thus, they assumed a holy sword containing white mana would be… easy to draw. Why? Because they handled demon swords with other dangerous mana just fine.
"White magic… is such a dangerous power?"
Therefore, Jeogwol had made the wrong judgment. Naturally, someone from the clan would easily draw the sword, and they could just steal it away.
"Clan leader. We need a decision."
Now, the Dalgoyang cats had only two options left. Flee like this and blow their last chance to use the holy sword, or have the clan's best—Jeogwol or Hongwol—challenge the sword.
But if Jeogwol or Hongwol failed to draw it and ended up incinerated and incapacitated like the others… That too would mean the end of the Dalgoyang clan.
"Damn it…."
They had too many enemies for that. In the end, clan leader Jeogwol had no choice but to decide.
"Retreat. Resisting the Demon King's curse has a higher survival chance than everyone burning to death trying to draw that sword here."
"Clan leader… but!"
The gate Soya had maintained began to close. In its place, a blue barrier formed. Terrified, Soya couldn't bear to look beyond it at her own kind.
"It's been a while, thieving cats."
The first to appear was Klein Professor. Pretending composure, Jeogwol greeted him.
"Indeed, it's been a while. Chief mage of the Demon King Subjugation Force. Klein Porfurogenetos."
"Oh? You dumb cats actually memorized my full name."
Jeogwol immediately assumed a stance. The other Dalgoyang cats followed suit.
"We'll leave peacefully this time… Open the gate."
"Hahaha. Have you ever seen such brazen thieves? No thank you."
The moment Klein refused, Jeogwol leaped forward. Leaving a sonic boom behind, she aimed for Klein's nape.
However….
"Park Jinho!"
"It's been a while, Jeogwol."
The white moonlight sword said to be granted to the Dalgoyang clan leader, and the blue Cheonggu holy sword granted to the Cheonggu Guild master. Those two legendary swords clashed according to their masters' wills.
"Jeogwol, didn't I tell you last time? There won't be a next opportunity."
"Kuh…."
With that, the two swords parted, then reformed their stances. The moment of truth began.
Their superhuman senses stretched time to its limits to respond to the impending crisis. Now, they could perceive one second as over a minute.
This was the stage of the moment. They advanced one step further. The stage commonly called the moment within the moment by superhumans.
In a time so short even other superhumans couldn't perceive… They clashed with their ultimate techniques.
I'm… being pushed back…!
After one second passed, Jeogwol had no choice but to shout,
"Everyone, run!"
The Dalgoyang cats tried to bolt upon hearing her. But a fairy blocked their path.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Rusa approached not with her usual cocky swagger against students or examinees, but like a pro fighter, stepping meticulously.
Silence fell in an instant. Though Rusa approached calmly shaking, the atmosphere felt profoundly unsettling. And of course, those steps weren't mere approach.
Even as Rusa simply moved with her steps, one or two cats were struck by invisible forces and collapsed.
This was the most aggressive footwork in Fairy Fighting Method: Eden Grasha. In Korean, it could be interpreted as something like "Calm Before the Storm."
Calm before the storm meant a storm was about to hit.
"Fairy Fighting Method, Chapter 1."
Hongwol charged at Rusa, casting aside her fear. As always, Hongwol was a warrior before she was a girl. And a warrior fights for something greater than themselves.
Something greater. Her kin. She needed to buy time for her kin to escape.
"Moonless Dawn."
Thus, Hongwol and Rusa clashed. Naturally, Park Jinho held the advantage, and Rusa was overwhelmingly dominant.
Despair spread. Is today the last day for the Dalgoyang clan…?
It was a thought that crossed everyone's mind here at least once.
* * *
Refri ran until his lungs felt like bursting. Only then did he finally reach the Central Academy main building.
Haaak. Haaak… I need to invest more in Strength stats.
His Strength stat, governing physical ability, was 10—superhuman lung capacity compared to boys his age, but Refri still felt it lacking.
That's not what's important right now….
What mattered now was stopping the professors' massacre quickly. If they slaughtered the Dalgoyang cats like this, Gumyo Fortress would fall straight to the Demon King's army.
Of course, if Hongwol died too, the Dalgoyang wouldn't be a threat anymore since they'd be extinct….
The Dalgoyang not being a threat if they all died here? Then wouldn't letting the professors massacre them be the safe choice?
Would the curse-lifted Dalgoyang cooperate with humanity? Wouldn't it actually benefit humanity if Hongwol died here?
No, Hongwol can't die.
Why? Just because!
A guardian angel had to protect someone. To prove that in this world, there was at least one person who believed in you without reason—that even if prayers to the high heavens were ignored, someone by your side would hear them….
Refri had to prove that as an angel.
I-it's not just because. I'm not some sucker running off to save people without reason. Saving Hongwol and the Dalgoyang will net me tons of Angel Power, repay the debt solidly to the grateful Dalgoyang, and besides, they ultimately hate the Demon King. If they survive, they'll be eternal enemies of the Demon King's army.
Refri suddenly spouted a torrent of excuses. Well, whatever—let's go with that.
"A barrier. Probably Klein-style."
A blue barrier blocked Refri from descending to the basement. A physical separation barrier cast with Klein Magic.
Unless you used the same Klein Magic, dispelling it would take ages.
Klein Magic Lv.1 Activated
But Refri had the grimoire containing the essence of Klein Magic. Even so….
"Too advanced…."
It was a spell too hard to dispel. Then…!
'Guardian Angel of the Genius Witch' Used
Using the title now… Refri became a being who had borrowed the talents of humanity's top magic genius, Soya, to this extent.
Thus, 'Klein Magic Lv.1 + Klein Core Grimoire + Guardian Angel of the Genius Witch' combined to barely create a hole big enough for one boy to pass.
"Hoo."
And naturally, Klein wouldn't fail to notice.
The fact that Refri had used his magic to make a tiny gap in the barrier.
"You've finally mastered Klein Magic, Refri. And skillfully enough to breach my barrier."
Klein smiled warmly for the first time in ages. He hadn't expected himself to smile like this… He was a bit surprised at himself.
"Hmmm, so this is why all those heroes wanted to raise disciples…."
Seeing that talented boy wield his magic proficiently. It was truly joyful. Even if he died, this boy would continue honing magic.
"I must teach him more."
Klein stopped his soliloquy that no one heard. Because a boy was descending the stairs at the end of the hall.
The boy ignored him completely and headed straight into the fierce battlefield without hesitation. Klein watched him with a worried expression.
"Auuu."
Soya pulled down her hat brim and decided to stand still like a tree. No matter what, it didn't seem like she'd get out unscathed.
S-Soya isn't here….
So, reality denial with the brim down was the answer. If she couldn't see herself, it was as good as those terrifying professors' violence not existing.
No. Hiding in the darkness like this meant she was perfectly concealed. Soya's escapism had escalated to near-animal levels of thinking.
Sniff— Suddenly, a black magic-affinity scent wafted over.
Soya cautiously lifted her brim to trace the source of the fragrance.
"Soya."
There stood the boy. Her one and only friend, Refri.
"R-Refri."
"I made a gap in the barrier. Escape through it."
"…What about you? Where are you going?"
Refri smiled and said,
"I… have something to do."
With that, the boy left.
"…Then I can't go either."
Watching the departing boy, Soya could only mutter that.
Fierce battle. A bloody fight for a race's survival. A clash between the strongest in the human realm.
Any description fit. The fight unfolding here deserved all those modifiers.
"Everyone, stop!"
A boy bellowed at the top of his lungs. A few hesitated upon hearing his voice.
An angelic voice?
Even Rusa, lost in battle, glanced back.
"Everyone, stop fighting!!!"
The boy shouted until his throat tore.