I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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“I’m, I’m supposed to be the Ruler?”

Hearing Kim Il-shin’s plan, Ttiltil was simply taken aback.

“Isn’t there another way?”

“This is the best way.”

“I know that, but…”

Ttiltil understood that this was still a better option than having the citizens and Rulers fight each other.

He also realized that if the Ruler’s side accepted the proposal, it would mean he had to step up.

If he won the duel, he could drive the Rulers away without further sacrifice.

‘If I can win.’

That also meant that if Ttiltil lost to Luke, it would all be over.

‘Can I win?’

Ttiltil had witnessed the strength of the Rulers countless times.

Their overpowering force that could devour even the monsters, which regular citizens couldn’t touch—power that was hard to believe could belong to humans.

Compared to Kim Il-shin, they would seem weak, but if measured against the average of the citizens, the Rulers were still monsters.

Facing alone an opponent he couldn’t guarantee to defeat even with the help of the trainees?

He found it hard to imagine even winning.

Moreover, he had never seen the full strength of the Rulers.

“Can I really win?”

“You can win.”

Kim Il-shin answered firmly to Ttiltil’s uncertain question.

But even after hearing that, Ttiltil couldn’t muster confidence.

Seeing Kim Il-shin answer that way surely hinted at some possibility.

However, it was Ttiltil who had to step into the duel.

It was uncertain whether he could even sprout possibility, and there were too many stakes to trust solely in that.

Until now, the confidence Ttiltil had was all thanks to Kim Il-shin.

He had gotten results simply by believing in him and following his words.

There was no need to take responsibility, and even if there were mistakes, he trusted Kim Il-shin to solve everything.

And indeed, that had been the case.

But now it was different.

All the responsibility lay with Ttiltil, and there was no backing to resolve it.

‘I, I…’

He knew he had to. He was well aware of that, yet he couldn’t solidify his resolve.

“Ttiltil.”

When Kim Il-shin called him with a warm voice, Ttiltil lifted his head.

“There are no fights in this world where the outcome is already decided.”

“I know. Of course, there’s a chance I could win. But…”

“No.”

Kim Il-shin shook his head. That wasn’t the meaning.

“What I’m saying is that you can’t always fight with certainty about the outcome.”

“Ah…”

“You can’t always be ready to fight. You can’t always face weaker foes.”

Kim Il-shin realized recently why Ttiltil had been so dedicated to his training.

Of course, there were reasons for revenge, but it was more due to his obsession with being prepared.

He had blamed his inability to go outside for years on a lack of preparation.

He had thought it was wrong to venture out without perfect preparation, and that thought had firmly settled in his mind over the years.

‘I have to break free from this obsession this time.’

Perhaps it was harsh to expect him to shed years of obsession overnight, especially through a duel with a Ruler.

But he had to do it. There would be no one to watch over him if not today.

If he cleared the quest and returned, he might never see his student again.

This was the final lesson for his future.

For the sake of his student’s dream of exploration, he had to thrust him into trials.

He firmly believed that his student, being his student, would be able to grow more without being crushed by the weight of the ordeal.

“Have you fought such battles too, Master?”

“Of course.”

It was hard for Ttiltil to believe, but it was true.

There had been very few fights in which Kim Il-shin was completely confident of victory.

“But how… weren’t you scared?”

“It was an unavoidable fight, and there was a goal. You have one too, right? You said you wanted revenge.”

“……”

“You never know when the opportunity may come again. You probably wanted to prepare more. Until you were certain you were stronger than the Rulers. But when do you think that certainty will come?”

Feeling as if Kim Il-shin was piercing through his heart, Ttiltil fell into thought and suddenly recalled.

He remembered how he had kept delaying his exploration to the outside world, claiming he wasn’t ready yet.

The reason he had been able to change and grow was also because of Kim Il-shin.

He had been able to grow stronger by training, trusting him.

‘……Ah.’

As he continued that thought, a spark lit up in Ttiltil’s mind.

‘Back then… I still had no certainty.’

Ttiltil looked at Kim Il-shin. That choice he had made back then was entirely based on trusting Kim Il-shin.

So this time too, just like always, he decided to trust him again.

“I will fight. Because you said I can win, Master.”

“Thank you.”

Kim Il-shin sincerely expressed his gratitude.

It wasn’t easy to bear such a large responsibility and make such a choice.

“Now let’s move.”

The citizens had already made their way close to the Rulers’ castle.

They had to intervene before they clashed in a serious fight.

“By the way, Master. Uh, I have a small request first…”

Just as Kim Il-shin was about to step, Ttiltil called him to a halt.

“A request?”

“Well…”

Ttiltil hesitated, struggling to find the words. Finally, as if resolved, he tightly shut his eyes and said.

“Could you… give me a name?”

“…A name?”

Kim Il-shin couldn’t help but pause. Suddenly asking for a name?

“We don’t have names until we turn ten. They say that if you give a name too early, you won’t live long. But my parents passed away before I turned ten. So I don’t have a name.”

He knew about that culture.

It was similar to how children in the Joseon Dynasty would be given childish names like ‘Dog Poop’ until they turned ten.

“Usually, other adults would choose those names, but I didn’t want that. My parents are the only ones I have. So until now, I’ve been Ttiltil. Haha…”

With an awkward laugh, Ttiltil continued mumbling while looking at the ground.

“But now it feels like I need a proper name. If possible, I’d really like it if you could name me…”

Kim Il-shin understood without needing to be told the deeper reason behind Ttiltil’s request.

Though their relationship had only lasted two months, it had carried great meaning for both of them.

“What would be a good name…?”

Kim Il-shin pondered deeply. Even though time was pressing, he couldn’t just give a name haphazardly.

Then a word came to mind.

“Cheongmok (靑木).”

A name encapsulating the meaning of being a solid pillar and providing great shade for those around while also spreading roots widely as it pursued dreams of the outside world.

“…Cheongmok.”

With an inscrutable expression, Kim Il-shin watched nervously as Ttiltil mulled over the name.

Perhaps he wouldn’t like it.

Fortunately, Ttiltil soon brightened and exclaimed.

“Thank you…!”

Thus, Cheongmok received a new name, and he and Kim Il-shin headed toward the Rulers’ castle, soon to face the final duel.

*

The duel arena was prepared with people encircling the vast castle garden.

Before the duel began, Cheongmok chatted with the people around him.

“Come back victorious.”

“You can do it!”

After exchanging greetings with several people, including Roham, Cheongmok finally stood before Kim Il-shin and his party.

“Hang in there, Ttiltil! Oh, wait, it’s Cheongmok now, right? Sorry, I keep mixing it up.”

“It’s alright. They’re both my names.”

“Really? Well, anyway, good luck! Just smash them to pieces!”

Unlike the visibly anxious people around, Hanarin remained cheerful.

But perhaps it was too much. It seemed like she was trying too hard to lift the mood.

Cheongmok guessed the reason but showed no sign of it, simply smiling.

“Just stay calm. Their personality will likely lead them to aggressive provocations, so don’t get shaken.”

“Thank you.”

“Make sure to win. My master’s disciple can’t lose to such an opponent, right?”

“Yes!”

Hazuki calmly offered advice once more, helping to refocus Cheongmok.

Finally, Kim Il-shin walked up to Cheongmok, choosing not to offer any advice or encouragement this time.

With their previous conversation having sufficed, he wanted to talk about future dreams instead.

“Your world is vast. Much more than you think. It’s incomparable to this city.”

“……”

“Make sure to fulfill your dreams. You can do it.”

Kim Il-shin’s words instilled confidence in Cheongmok’s aspirations.

Although he had just said that one could not always fight with certainty about the outcome, he wanted to leave at least one gift along the way.

Noticing that Cheongmok seemed to understand this, he nodded and smiled, and Kim Il-shin said one last thing.

“And everything we’ve been able to achieve thus far is all thanks to you.”

“……!”

“Thank you so much.”

Hearing an unexpected statement, Cheongmok had to suppress tears that threatened to spill.

He realized the end of this relationship was drawing near.

He wanted to be remembered with a smiling face, not a crying one.

“So far…!”

Barely holding back his tears, he bent his waist and shouted loudly.

“Thank you so much!”

As he lifted his head again, what caught his eye were Kim Il-shin, who was smiling proudly, Hazuki, and Hanarin, who was already in tears.

Behind the three benefactors stood those who had believed in him.

A long-established relationship that would continue moving forward.

And a relationship that, although it had only been a short time, he would never forget until the day he died.

“I’m off now.”

With that, Cheongmok made his way toward the duel arena.

“Have you come?”

Finally facing the target of his revenge.