Chapter 31: Preparation (6)

The director’s office at Joaquin Academy.

Media observed Siegfried, the Sword Master, with narrowed eyes.

She stroked her chin, lost in deep thought, her hair gleaming like white sand at sunset.

With a heavy sigh, Media broke the silence and addressed him.

“What is going on?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. No.”

“Stop apologizing!”

Media was exasperated.

In the fifty years they’d spent together, she had never heard an apology from the Sword Master twice in one day.

His attitude was so different from his usual self that he almost seemed to be suffering from dementia.

Media crossed her arms and legs, staring at him intently.

“So why did you do it back there? One of the instructors informed me that you and Geom-Ma were fighting. If I hadn’t stepped in, what would’ve happened? And to make matters worse, you used The Blessing of the Sword Spirit against a cadet. Speak up, you stubborn old man!”

Media shot him a sharp look. Siegfried, with a sheepish smile, took a sip from his teacup before answering.

“Without using the blessing, I would’ve been at a disadvantage.”

“…What?”

Media, stunned, pretended to clean out her ears. She looked at him again, but his tone was sincere, without a hint of humor.

Had she just heard that from the proud Siegfried? The notion that he could “lose” seemed inconceivable.

Even though his hair had turned gray and his face was lined with wrinkles, Media knew better than anyone Siegfried’s strength.

Through meticulous discipline, he had never missed a single day of training.

His skills with the sword grew sharper and more refined with age.

“Kang Geom-Ma may be talented, but he’s still no match for someone with your experience.”

“He’s already reached the realm of enlightenment.”

“What? Already?! You didn’t start mastering it until you were nearly thirty. Changseong managed it at forty. And you’re telling me he’s reached that level at seventeen? Does that make any sense?”

Siegfried carefully set his teacup on the table and responded.

“I don’t know. But if there’s something that compensates for a lack of experience…”

“Oh, my god…”

Media covered her forehead with her hand, stunned, as she recalled the cadet’s expression during the duel.

There was an intense coldness in his dark eyes. Although she had hidden her reaction from the others, she too had felt a chill.

The thrill she’d felt after half a century had stirred something within Media.

Even though she’d left the front lines when she took up the post of director, she couldn’t forget that feeling.

It was the oldest, most powerful emotion known to humankind: fear.

It was a fear that felt like a knife through the lungs.

That strange sensation, which she had only felt once before when she first encountered Basmon, the Sixth Corps Commander, she now felt faintly in the presence of Kang Geom-Ma, a mere cadet. It was like a rabbit standing before a lynx.

‘Could it be due to the meaning behind his name, Geom-Ma…?’

Media pressed her temples, trying to clear her mind. As director, it was absurd for her to feel intimidated by a student.

From the start, she had known Geom-Ma was special, but now it was impossible to gauge the extent of his potential.

A quiet silence hung between them for a moment. The Sword Master continued to sip his tea, savoring the taste in silence.

Media broke the silence, her expression one of irritation.

“So… who won?”

Siegfried paused, setting his teacup down with a loud clink that echoed on the table.

“Why ask such an obvious question? Ah, really.”

“Then why don’t you just tell me the result instead of being vague? Don’t tell me… Zig, did you lose? Even using the blessing and The Sword Spirit’s aura?”

“Of course not! As talented as Kang Geom-Ma may be, he’s not on my level. Besides, I wasn’t even fully armed!”

“Why are you getting so defensive? Aren’t you the one always saying that a true master doesn’t blame his tools? Are you saying Geom-Ma was just an ‘amateur’ with cheap equipment?”

“I-I…!”

Siegfried sprang to his feet, his face tense. Media casually twirled her pinky finger in her ear, unfazed. Finally, the Sword Master sank back into the sofa, defeated.

“So, did you lose or win? Just give me a straight answer.”

“Of course I won.”

Media raised an eyebrow, looking at him skeptically. Siegfried avoided her gaze, a bead of sweat trickling down his brow. Media smirked knowingly.

“Kidding.”

“Damn it…! You don’t trust anyone!”

Their bickering, filled with exasperated shouts and sarcastic laughs, went on for another two hours.

***

Looking up at the ceiling of my room, I recalled the duel with Siegfried.

The ceiling, which had initially felt strange, now seemed familiar and comforting.

I stroked my chin, reflecting on the events of the day. I had accepted the Sword Master’s provocation and drawn my weapons. Though it felt like a dream, I was certain of what I’d experienced: the realm of enlightenment.

Before the world of Miracle Blessing M reached its peak, the Sword Master had imparted various teachings to Leon.

From basics like stance and fencing techniques to the refined art of swordsmanship and the efficient use of blessings, he had also covered abstract concepts like the realm of enlightenment.

It was the highest domain, attainable only by the most perceptive and advanced masters.

An active state that one enters when their skill and understanding of their weapon exceed a certain level.

I know that even within this world, only a select few heroes can freely enter and exit the realm of enlightenment.

Of course, Leon also reached this realm after three years of private, one-on-one lessons with the Sword Master. I remember it well, as it was around then that I quit the game.

But why had I been able to reach the realm of enlightenment so quickly? I thought about it, and the answer came easily: in my past life, I had spent twenty years mastering the knife, to the point of being considered the best in the country.

It was only natural that my level of understanding and skill would be the highest when it came to handling a sashimi blade.

Moreover, each time the blessing of the sword manifested, it showed a level of concentration beyond normal human perception…

My life here, entangled in chaos, and my past life seemed harmoniously interwoven in many ways, allowing me to face and overcome situations. The thought brought a strange, euphoric smile to my lips.

Suddenly, I stood up. Rather than staying stagnant, I decided to confront my situation, resolving it step by step.

The other cadets had been looking at me with a mix of envy and fear, which I didn’t particularly enjoy.

I thought about training a bit and grabbed my two knives. Although the cheap Daiso knives were already quite worn out, I didn’t want to discard them.

I had grown attached to them, and more importantly, my skill with these knives had proven invaluable at the academy.

If I mishandled a longsword and it broke, the excruciating pain might last me days.

I had moved past my initial skepticism about The Blessing of the Sword God. Without this blessing, I would probably have died several times over by now.

In two days, I would receive the refined Murasame, and the anticipation kept me on edge.

It wasn’t just about sharpening a sword; it was about enhancing my weapon, something that excited me as a swordsman.

Unlike other games, Miracle Blessing M was relatively forgiving when it came to weapon refinement failures.

It wasn’t one of those ruthless games where failed attempts destroyed your items. I felt relieved to be in this world instead of one that drained your savings with no mercy.

Still, the situation remained frustrating.

I gripped the knife with a forced smile. I was now determined to go to the training room and attempt to master the realm of enlightenment.

If I could learn to control that state, I could train without necessarily activating the blessing.

The forty-second limit on the blessing was still far too short, so attempting any combat without preparation was risky.

As I gathered my things and turned off the lights, an idea popped into my mind.

“No harm in trying.”

In the darkness of my room, I drew one of the knives from my belt.

I didn’t need to close my eyes to focus; my senses sharpened as soon as I held the weapon.

I concentrated all my attention on the handle. Gradually, I felt everything else fade from my mind.

Recalling the sensation of merging with the weapon, my sixth sense expanded, coalescing into an intangible mass.

Then, a blue energy ignited, wrapping around the knife like a flame.

Instantly, the knife, unable to withstand the force, crumbled to dust in my hands.

I muttered, stunned by what had just happened.