A Peak 3rd Grade Warrior?

"You want to talk?" Bukjin asked with a smirk. "But just a moment ago, when I was offering my proposal with kind words, someone decided to ignore my hospitality. My sword is quite upset now, so you want to talk only after things have come to this?"

"Y-yes, that's right! Let's talk! Let's use our words! I'll accept your favor!" Bing-ryun squeezed out a forced smile as he replied. However, his heart was thumping wildly against his ribs. Bukjin's blade was still pressed against his chest. Every time Bukjin laughed or spoke, the sword trembled along with him.

It hurts, damn it! Bing-ryun was screaming internally.

"So, you're accepting my favor? Is that right?" Bukjin said, as if suddenly realizing something. "Fine. Since you've decided to accept it, shall we discuss how you'll show your appreciation? As you can see, my sword is very angry. If you can find a way to soothe its temper, it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠might consider your acceptance of my favor genuine..."

Once you have the momentum, crush them completely. That was Bukjin's motto. He felt the need to push even harder. In a situation like this, if he showed even a hint of backing down, the other party would find room to look down on him. That would only lead to more annoying trouble later.

Bing-ryun was flustered by Bukjin's words. Soothe the sword's temper? Am I supposed to apologize to a piece of metal? Or is he telling me to crawl between his legs? If I do that, my reputation in this academy is finished...

Just as Bing-ryun was feeling utterly hopeless, a voice that sounded pathetically servile drifted over from behind Bukjin.

"Young Master! I have just realized a truly terrifying fact! I went to buy something for our breakfast just now, only to discover that we don't have a single penny to our names!"

It was Wang Chung.

You idiot! You finally show up now? Breakfast? Breakfast my foot! I'm the fool for trusting you! Bukjin cursed Wang Chung relentlessly in his mind.

At that moment, Bing-ryun's eyes sparkled. He spoke up as if a brilliant idea had just struck him.

"I'll compensate you with money! How about fifty copper coins...?"

"Hmm? Really? Well, I'm not the type of person to fuss over whether an amount is large or small... but for some reason, my sword still seems quite angry."

"U-uh? Ah! I misspoke. Eighty copper coins! No, wait—one silver coin! How about that?"

"Oh, dear sword, why won't you let go of your rage?"

"T-twenty! Twenty silver coins! It's everything I have!"

"Oh! How strange! My sword suddenly feels much better!"

"I'll give you the silver... Bukjin, so please, can't you just move this sword away?"

"Ah, right, right. My apologies. I forgot. But you're not giving me this money against your will, are you?"

"Of course not!"

"If you don't want to, you don't have to..."

"No, no! I'm happy to give it to you!"

Bing-ryun felt like crying. With a sword tip digging into his chest, how could he possibly say no? Upon hearing Bing-ryun's confirmation, Bukjin swiftly retracted his weapon.

Slice!

A small trickle of blood ran down from the spot where the blade had been pricking him. It wasn't a deep wound, though—just a shallow nick on the skin. Clutching his chest, Bing-ryun felt as if he had just returned from the brink of death.

Right then—

Ding-dong-dang!

The bell announcing the start of classes echoed through the air. Bing-ryun and his lackeys scrambled away, fleeing as fast as their legs could carry them. They were all students from a different class than Bukjin. The other students who had gathered to watch the commotion also hurried toward their respective classrooms.

The students were still in a state of shock from the scene they had just witnessed. They tried their best to calm their racing hearts. A common thought occupied all of their minds: the notorious deadbeat failure, Im Bukjin, was unexpectedly strong.

From now on, any student who thought of seeking revenge on Bukjin would have to carefully weigh their strength against his first. Otherwise, they would end up following in the footsteps of Bing-ryun, who had gained nothing but humiliation.

Once the situation was settled, Bukjin let out a sigh of relief. He had been a bit startled, but he had managed to resolve the situation successfully. However, he knew this was only temporary.

At this level, can I be considered somewhat of an expert?

Bukjin turned his head to look at Wang Chung.

"You useless traitor. Where did you run off to just now? How dare you try to sell me out..."

"Young Master, please calm down. I truly did go to buy breakfast for you. And I had a bit of an emergency at the restroom..."

"A restroom emergency? Shall I make it so you never have to go to the restroom again?"

"Y-Young Master! Please, calm down!"

"And if I won't?"

"Y-Young Master, that's not what's important right now. You must get to class. The teacher won't let it slide if you're late. Since your status isn't what it used to be, the teachers who used to suppress their anger because of your family are surely looking for any excuse to punish you."

"Dammit. I'll deal with you later."

Bukjin looked over and saw the teacher, Jeong Sam-seok, entering the classroom. He let go of the cowardly traitor Wang Chung and rushed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inside.

I already got on the teacher's bad side yesterday, so I have to be careful today.

Bukjin scurried into the classroom like a rabbit with its tail on fire.

On the second floor of the Faculty Building, the smile on Mok Simwol's face slowly stiffened.

How did this happen? Bing-ryun lost?

From her perspective, it looked like Bukjin had used some kind of sword technique. When on earth did a degenerate like Bukjin become so strong? It had happened in an instant. In a single moment, Bukjin had suppressed Bing-ryun, a 3rd Grade Warrior.

That level of skill was something only a 3rd Grade Warrior who had reached the peak of their cultivation could achieve.

Im Bukjin is a Peak 3rd Grade Warrior?

There were only a handful of students in the entire second year who possessed that kind of strength.

How did he do it? It makes no sense!

Countless questions swirled in Mok Simwol's mind. The current situation was making her extremely irritable. It was because Bukjin, whom she had dismissed as a useless piece of trash, had displayed such unbelievable skill.

If I dumped him, shouldn't he be rotting away in a corner, waiting for death? How dare he fight back? I can't forgive this.

An inexplicable rage boiled within her heart.

"Junior Sister Mok, are you alright?"

Gwan Bi-do asked with concern, noticing her stiff expression.

"Pardon?" Mok Simwol replied, snapping back to reality. She realized she shouldn't be letting her emotions show right now. She quickly suppressed her feelings and adjusted her expression, slipping back into her role as the 'Goddess of the 3rd Academy.'

Once she had her emotions under control, she shook her head and offered a gentle smile.

"I'm fine, Senior Brother. I was just a bit surprised because I didn't know Im Bukjin was hiding his strength."

Gwan Bi-do nodded in agreement.

"I was quite surprised as well. I never imagined Im Bukjin would have trained Teacher Jeong Sam-seok's Close-body Triple Link to such a high level... From what I saw, it looks like he's been secretly practicing it for a very long time."

"What? You mean the technique Im Bukjin just used was the Close-body Triple Link?"

"Yes. Those three linked forms are the sword techniques Teacher Jeong Sam-seok teaches. They're basic, but their practical application is excellent. If mastered properly, even a 2nd Grade Warrior could momentarily overwhelm a 3rd Grade Warrior."

"I see."

"Hmm? Don't tell me you've never practiced the Close-body Triple Link, Junior Sister Mok?"

"I'll be honest. I think I was too arrogant. To be honest, during class, I felt that a sword style consisting of only three forms was too simple and crude. So, I didn't pay much attention to it. But seeing it now, I think I was wrong."

"To recognize your mistake and admit it so quickly... as expected of you, Junior Sister ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Mok. But there's a solution. I have a commentary manual with me. It contains the insights and secrets of the Close-body Triple Link, as well as its counters. If you're interested, you can take it and use it as a reference."

"Really? What kind of incredible person could have written such a commentary?"

"Haha, Junior Sister Mok. 'Incredible person' is far too much praise. It's just a book I put together when I was bored."

"Wow, truly? As expected, Senior Brother Gwan, you really are talented enough to represent the 3rd year in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition! I'm truly impressed! If I run into any difficulties while practicing later, would it be alright if I ask you for help?"

"Haha, of course! You're welcome anytime!"

Mok Simwol left the area with a look of deep gratitude as she gazed at the manual. As he watched her go, a faint smile played on Gwan Bi-do's lips.

As a 3rd year student, Gwan Bi-do was set to graduate in six months. With his grades, passing the advancement exam and entering one of the top three intermediate academies in Unmong City would be no problem at all. He looked back on the three years he had spent at the 3rd Academy. He felt that those years had passed so smoothly that they were almost boring. If he could make Mok Simwol, the Goddess of the 3rd Academy, his own before graduation and enjoy the remaining time, it would be the perfect reward for himself.

The National 3rd Junior Academy consisted of three grades in total. Each grade had ten classes, and each class was made up of forty students. Every grade had a Grade Dean who was responsible for it, and three Executive Principals oversaw the entire student body. Each class was assigned a homeroom teacher who was responsible for everything that happened within their class.

The structure of the organization wasn't much different from the schools Bukjin had attended on Earth in his previous life. However, the difference lay in the very ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clear hierarchy. The power held by the Grade Dean was immense; they even held the authority over the personnel decisions for the homeroom teachers. They also had the power to evaluate and select them.

The subjects the students studied were vastly different from those in schools on Earth. The curriculum at the junior academies in Unmong City consisted of five core subjects.

These five subjects were mandatory for all students in every class. It was also common for a single teacher to teach more than one subject. Jeong Sam-seok, the teacher instructing Im Bukjin, was an outstanding Martial Arts teacher. He was also a Hyeongi teacher with a deep understanding of the basic theories of mystic energy.