I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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The content contained in the book was completely different from what Kim Il-shin had expected.

Until I opened it, I thought it might include his insights or new martial arts techniques like during the ruins.

The content of the book was invisible to others.

The difference between them and him was that he was learning the martial arts of the mad demon.

I harbored hopes that it might be another arrangement left for the successor.

“But… what is this?”

In reality, the content of the book was a chronicle of despair.

[“The things I gave up for futile aspirations stab into my neck like a dagger. I thought I was a practitioner who endured pain for a grand wish, but I was nothing but a trivial creature who merely refused an inevitable fate.”]

It was merely a disjointed expression of his feelings of emptiness and despair without any concrete explanations.

The only information to be gleaned from it was that the mad demon was severely frustrated after failing to achieve his goals.

“Why were they trying to obtain this?”

With that question in mind, he continued to turn the pages.

When there were only a few pages left, a notable sentence caught his eye.

[“…And so I declare. I will throw off my flesh and rise to a high divine seat.”]

Kim Il-shin’s eyes widened.

This was not something that could be easily overlooked.

To transcend the human form and become a god.

This suggested a new connection between the mad demon and the Red Heaven Religion.

[“It was nearly impossible to ascend to divinity with just human power, but I have found a way. First, I will gather the souls of my followers…”]

The mad demon described in detail the process to attain divinity.

A horrifying cycle of slaughter and unification. It was a gruesome process that made one frown just reading about it.

[“The progress is smooth. I can feel myself becoming a higher being more and more. But the unease doesn’t dissipate. What is this?”]

From the moment the mad demon became aware of his unease, his condition began to deteriorate.

He described his unexplainable unease and subsequent unpleasant feelings in a chaotic manner as if he were suffering from paranoia.

Rustle. Rustle.

The mad demon broke free from his unease only after turning two more pages.

[“Now I know the true nature of my unease. Even if I ascend to divinity, the humans of this world will remain as they are. They will crawl on the ground, unaware of anything. I cannot share my rank with them, so this is a tragedy, a dismal ending. What must be done?”]

Having attained divinity, the mad demon viewed humans as worthy of salvation.

And the method of salvation he conceived was exceedingly arrogant.

[“Only after all preparations are complete do I realize. Humans must not remain human. Merely recognizing existence makes one want to vomit. How trivial it is to live without knowing one’s own fate. One must shed their hateful flesh and perceive the afterlife.”]

He grandly elaborated on his plan over three pages, but summarizing it into one sentence would suffice.

[“I will kill all humans and create a new world.”]

That was the mad demon’s intent, and Kim Il-shin turned the last page of the book.

What was in the last page was a single line he left behind.

Having read the line, Kim Il-shin understood why the contents of the book were visible only to him.

[“So, my descendant reading this, carry on my will and paint the world red.”]

At that moment, the letters disintegrated into pieces and shot up into the air, embedding themselves in Kim Il-shin’s mind without any chance to evade.

Crack.

He clenched his teeth against the pain that threatened to cloud his consciousness.

Feeling danger, Kim Il-shin opened his eyes wide and endured the pain.

“Gah… Hah…”

Fortunately, the pain disappeared within seconds. The issue was it felt like it didn’t really.

Even though it was definitely a mental interference, he felt pain.

This meant that [Perfect Mind (S)] hadn’t completely blocked the attack.

It indicated that the mad demon’s power was beyond the laws of the world.

Once more looking at the book, the line on the last page had completely vanished.

It was a curse woven in the form of text. To manipulate the target in accordance with the user’s will.

“…I see.”

Having confirmed that, Kim Il-shin closed the book.

All the big questions were solved with this.

The mad demon’s goal of killing humans and bringing forth a new world aligned with the doctrines of the Red Heaven Religion.

He was indeed the god of the Red Heaven Religion.

“…I lacked this information.”

No user playing [COSMO] had discovered this information.

If one couldn’t learn the Ill Shin Pa Cheon Gong, one could neither enter the mad demon’s ruins nor become his successor or read this book.

But since there was no way to learn Ill Shin Pa Cheon Gong in-game, it was only natural.

“If you hide something like this in such a way, how are you supposed to find it?”

This also explained why the Red Heaven Religion sought to acquire this book, sending Verther and the Demon Slayer.

To them, this would be akin to scripture left by a god.

Thus, it was safe to think that they would never give this up.

As soon as they found out its true nature, they would attack immediately. Just like they did with Vernika, lurking for a favorable opportunity.

It would be nice if they only took the book, but that was never going to happen.

Moreover, since it was impossible to know what they would do with this book, he would prefer not to hand it over.

So there was only one option left.

“I’ll strike first.”

He had no intention of allowing an ambush like with Vernika. The one directing the situation would be Kim Il-shin himself.

“I need to start planning.”

There was still time before they discovered his identity.

*

“Grandfather. I’m here.”

“Ah, you’ve come. You’ve had a long journey. Come, sit down.”

The swordmaster greeted Hazuki warmly as she entered the barrier.

He called Hazuki over, tapping a cushion he had prepared in advance.

“Try some. It’s well-brewed.”

In front of the cushion was a steaming cup of tea.

“Thank you. It’s been a while since I’ve had tea made by you, grandfather.”

“Exactly, yes.”

Hazuki picked up the tea cup and took a sip.

The warm heat warmed her body and stabilized her mind.

After taking a few more sips of tea, Hazuki finally got to the point.

“Today, I met my father.”

“…I see.”

The swordmaster did not seem surprised. He was aware of the demon slayer’s appearance.

News of the events unfolding across the world had already spread far and wide.

Thus, he could vaguely guess why Hazuki had come to see him.

That was why he brewed tea to ease her tension.

“What do you want to do?”

In a concerned tone, the swordmaster asked, and Hazuki answered without hesitation.

“This time, I will cut him off with my own hands.”

The swordmaster looked into Hazuki’s eyes.

In her unwavering gaze, a resolute determination could be seen.

Seeing that, the swordmaster recalled the image of the young Hazuki from long ago.

On the day she heard everything about her father Norio’s past, Hazuki had said she would erase him with her own hands.

But back then, Hazuki’s eyes lacked the clarity they had now; they were murky and unstable.

The goal she set out of obligation only drove her down a thorny path.

“How I regret not stopping you sooner.”

You needn’t feel that way. You don’t have to bear the burden of responsibility.

When he saw Hazuki pushing herself, words he couldn’t say swirled around in his mouth.

The reason Hazuki was blocked by the wall after the demon slayer was killed by White Tiger Mountain was rooted in this.

Because the goal of breaking through the wall vanished.

The swordmaster hadn’t offered any particular advice to Hazuki, who was blocked by the wall, for that reason.

The reason you’ve grown quickly until now was because of your goal.

You need a goal as simple as killing your father to grow with that obsession.

How could a grandfather tell his granddaughter that?

But Hazuki was different now.

Currently, another goal other than eliminating the demon slayer had taken root in her mind.

Thus, the wall that had hindered her was long since crumbled.

“…Wow, when did you grow so big? Soon, I might have to look up at you.”

The swordmaster vaguely guessed that Hazuki’s growth was due to Kim Il-shin.

He didn’t know what about him had brought about Hazuki’s change, but he was just thankful that he had become a landmark for his granddaughter.

“That man is insatiable. The next time we meet, I won’t let him go before I stamp my seal on him.”

And in return, he decided to offer the most precious thing to himself.

He would probably like that too.

“Get up now.”

The swordmaster, holding a water-blue sword, spoke.

Suddenly calming down, his aura invaded the surrounding space, creating a tranquil domain.

The water-blue sword was aimed at Hazuki.

The voice of the swordmaster that followed carried the grandeur of nature.

“Watch closely.”

What unfolded was the essence of a sword that would never again exist in this world.