Chapter 235 – Genius (1)

Rachel’s fall happened in an instant. The students who witnessed the scene were horrified. Among them, Speedweapon had gone completely pale. He wasn’t the only one—everyone was breathless.

‘He-he’s insane…’

He cursed internally. His lips, wrapped around the flute mouthpiece, were dry.

Now that he thought about it, this was the first time they’d faced the President, Kang Geom-Ma, head-on. He’d always been beside them as a reliable ally. But in combat, his eyes were different.

He was a demon with a sword. And now Speedweapon instantly understood why those who had clashed with him trembled just remembering it.

Those dark eyes scanned everyone present. His emotions were so taut that his pupils looked calm, like the eye of a storm—black and still.

The students gulped, raising their weapons. Exposed to pure terror, their teenage minds clouded until only survival instinct remained.

Kang Geom-Ma stood before the rest of the class, keeping a careful distance.

Blade angled forward, he readied himself fully.

Though tense, the students managed to take position.

In the midst of the uneasy silence, Chloe broke the ice.

She drew her katana and her form blurred. She activated [Blessing of the Crow] and took the first step.

A red streak cut a clean, straight path toward Kang Geom-Ma. In a blink, that crimson figure was already upon him.

Speedweapon gaped. Chloe’s speed wasn’t normal.

‘Was Chloe always this fast?’

He knew she was in the combat team of the exploration club. But this speed was outrageous. If she went any faster, she’d break the sound barrier. That battle-hardened blessing, combined with her velocity, turned her into a genuine assassin.

Swish!

Up close now, she flipped and swung the katana in a low arc. A strike charged with momentum and rotation, nearly subsonic.

But in terms of speed, no one could beat Kang Geom-Ma.

He didn’t stop her immediately. He preferred to assess her through a few moves before countering. After all, this was just training, limited to one minute under the [Blessing of Insensitivity to Pain].

Kang Geom-Ma stepped diagonally back. The katana barely grazed his lower side and passed harmlessly.

Taking advantage of the opening, he shoved her with his shoulder. Chloe, thrown off balance, faltered. He then swept her legs from behind to capitalize on her instability. But she managed to absorb the fall using abdominal force.

Tap.

Kang Geom-Ma sighed. That she endured surprised him. Still, the astonishment was brief. He immediately struck her chin with an uppercut. Her head snapped back. Then he hooked her ankle again, toppling her. This time, between the legs.

“Ugh…!”

She couldn’t hold on any longer. Chloe stumbled and fell flat. Her head thudded against the floor. Her vision blurred.

Then Kang Geom-Ma thrust the sashimi blade into her carotid artery. Crack. The blade stuck once in the neck bone.

Shuk!

The spark of life vanished from Chloe’s eyes. Second victim, after Rachel.

At that moment, another blade flashed from the flank. Abel had snuck up unnoticed. Her strike targeted Kang Geom-Ma’s side with even more intensity than Chloe’s, thanks to her flawless posture.

But precisely because of that, it was predictable. This type of attack was vulnerable to variations.

Kang Geom-Ma twisted his torso to dodge while launching a counter at the same time. His knife barely nicked Abel’s waist, while her straight sword missed his hip by a hair.

A weak gust sliced through the air. Kang Geom-Ma used the momentum from his waist to leap into a spinning motion.

Whirl!

Only his back was visible to Abel’s golden eyes. Time seemed to freeze.

Abel thought. How can a human move with such flexibility? With no support, from such an unstable stance, he pulled off a full spin midair.

Like a gymnast. And then she noticed something else. Normally, Kang Geom-Ma relied on his swift swordplay. But now, he was using his body more than his hands.

‘Why…?’

While that question crossed her mind, something pressed forcefully against her head. Kang Geom-Ma was doing a handstand on her crown.

She didn’t have time to react before the sashimi blade sliced through her neck like someone plucking ripe fruit. The light vanished from her golden eyes and her body collapsed.

Thud!

Everything had happened so smoothly it looked slow. That’s precisely why those watching felt such a deep chill.

Kang Geom-Ma landed softly and clicked his tongue. He was so used to killing in one blow that holding back was difficult. That’s why it had turned into a circus act.

‘Oh, right.’

He checked the time quickly. About 30 seconds left on the [Blessing of Insensitivity to Pain]. He flicked the blood from his blade and looked around. Counted who remained. Leon, Ryozo, Horntail, Speedweapon. All of them frozen.

‘Great. Only the ones I’m laziest to deal with left.’

It wasn’t that he’d enjoyed taking out the other three, but Leon aside, the rest were his closest friends.

‘Do I have to treat them like Rachel, Chloe, and Abel?’

He hesitated for a moment. Then shook his head. If he did that, he’d probably be the one hurt. Among them was a Hero—and a dragon.

He’d shown enough for today. This was a good point to end the demonstration. Honestly, he was sick of keeping up with Meain’s games. It wasn’t just annoying—it was exhausting.

‘This isn’t just training.’

He sensed it. There was a deeper purpose beyond what was said.

‘I’d like to stop here, but…’

The momentum of battle wouldn’t let go. And once a sword was drawn, there was only one way to end it. A kind of unspoken rule among swordsmen.

Kang Geom-Ma pulled another sashimi knife and gripped both tightly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils.

Everyone except Leon slowly backed away. The boy who laughed with them yesterday now approached like a wild beast. Baring his fangs, and despair painted on their faces.

Even with his eyes closed, Kang Geom-Ma could feel their trembling. And he hated it.

‘Let’s end this.’

With that decision, Kang Geom-Ma opened his eyes slowly. And as he exhaled the breath he’d held, he charged forward.

***

The fight ended with a predictable result. Even if they were the so-called “golden generation,” the gap between them and Kang Geom-Ma was overwhelming.

There were no surprises. It was a complete and utter victory for Kang Geom-Ma.

The reason Meain suggested the “Kang Geom-Ma versus everyone” exercise was to get a general sense—to see how long the students of the Heavenly Class could last against a Seven Star. Based on that, she planned to design the curriculum and guide each according to their capabilities.

But…

‘I didn’t expect it to be on this level.’

Since she had assumed the identity of San Ha-na, Meain had been carefully observing Kang Geom-Ma. Of course. She had faked her identity and infiltrated Joaquin Academy just to stay close to him.

The reason was a prophecy she found years ago in the Demon Realm.

She didn’t clearly remember the details—it was very old—but the general content spoke of a “human with black eyes and hair.” According to the prophecy, a power belonging to an “existence” revered as a god by demons resided within such a human.

One example given was the Founding Hero, Balor Joaquin. Her doubts didn’t last long.

Meain had wandered the Demon Realm for decades to suppress her own blessing’s awakening. The information she had seen and heard with her own eyes and ears confirmed the prophecy was real.

‘A human with black eyes and black hair has a deep connection to the demon god—or rather, to an outer god.’

And that was when Meain felt a bitter irony.

Why would the god of demons grant power to a human rather than to its own followers? Moreover, what fate awaited a human who used that power? What consequences would the wielder bear? Wouldn’t such dark power bring harm to humanity?

Nothing was certain. Only questions without answers.

Even the end of Balor Joaquin, the possible predecessor of that “power,” remained a mystery. The history books only said he vanished without a trace.

Anxiety and curiosity grew in Meain’s heart. The more she explored the Demon Realm, the more uncontrollable they became.

So, as soon as she heard that a black-haired student had enrolled at Joaquin Academy, she returned to the human world.

‘I must see it with my own eyes.’

If the prophecy was true, she had to make a decision.

‘If I determine that the bearer of that power is a threat to humanity…’

Then she would act, no matter the cost.

‘Forty years ago, I lost three of my disciples because I didn’t participate in the war.’

She wouldn’t sit back a second time. If he was a threat, she would eliminate him before it was too late.

However, Meain acknowledged that this was deeply arrogant and selfish. Over time, she had come to understand that. Even now, she felt it.

The students were gasping for air, touching their necks to check if they were still attached, or silently sobbing while staring at the ceiling, completely defeated. Kang Geom-Ma was walking up to each of them, asking if they were okay.

And each time he did, they recoiled in fear.

It seemed the trauma wouldn’t fade soon. While it probably wouldn’t destroy their relationship with him, it clearly wouldn’t be the same as before.

‘If at least it had been a chaotic brawl…’

Meain lowered her gaze slightly. The second hand of her watch made a full circle. Only a minute had passed.

In other words, Kang Geom-Ma had taken them all down in less than 60 seconds. And he had been deliberately holding back. Even with the future Hero among them, it didn’t make a difference.

Meain looked at Leon again. His slack expression and dull dark-blue eyes said everything. There was no need to guess how he felt. After all, she was the one who had discovered and brought him to Joaquin Academy.

Humiliation, despair, helplessness—the Hero was breaking down in front of a wall far too high.

It was then that—

“Senior.”

Kang Geom-Ma approached her. His furrowed brow made it clear he wasn’t in a good mood.

“I think the kids are pretty shaken. Why don’t we end class here for today?”

It was a suggestion disguised as a command. And when the Heavenly Sword himself said it, there was no room for debate. Meain nodded slowly.

“You’re right. Seeing how they are, it doesn’t seem wise to continue class today. So for today we’ll stop here, and tomorrow…”

“Senior.”

A voice like ice cut her off. Kang Geom-Ma turned his neck side to side.

“Come outside for a moment. I want to talk to you.”

An inexplicable weight pressed heavily on Meain’s chest.