I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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It was the day Kim Tae-sang first met Kim Il-shin.

[Is this Kim Tae-sang? I’ve come all prepared.]

Kim Il-shin personally sought out the hideout, a place never leaked to the outside.

Overwhelmed with fear at the thought that terrible things could happen if he resisted, Kim Tae-sang hastily opened the door.

“I shouldn’t have opened it then… I really should’ve called the police…”

It was the first time he was meeting a client in person.

Seeing the sword Kim Il-shin was wearing nearly made Kim Tae-sang faint. That sword could easily kill him if things went wrong.

Kim Il-shin confidently strode into the hideout and flopped down onto the beloved sofa.

It was a cherished item, the most expensive one he had ever bought.

“…I wasn’t supposed to let anyone sit on it.”

[That spot…! Ah, never mind. Can I bring you something to drink? You don’t want anything? …Can I sit in front of you? Ah. Yes.]

Kim Il-shin immediately proposed the request.

The request was to investigate the movements of Jeokcheonggyo.

If any specifics were gathered about the people who had entered Cheonji Myeongsang on a particular day, they wanted to be informed.

[Uh, um. Ahem… I-I can’t take this request! Sorry!]

Kim Tae-sang overcame his fear and turned down the job.

He knew all too well that he absolutely couldn’t get involved with Jeokcheonggyo.

He had previously refused any requests related to them as well.

Kim Tae-sang knew very well how dangerous they were. After all, crazies are always the scariest.

[Are you going to hit me…? …You really won’t? Then are you going to stab me? Am I going to die here? Or are you going to slice me—oh, I’m sorry.]

Kim Il-shin reassured Kim Tae-sang with a gentle voice.

Then he suggested hearing what the compensation was and deciding afterward.

[I’m really sorry, but no matter how much you offer—Huh? How could…!]

The compensation Kim Il-shin offered was the location of the magic book that Kim Tae-sang had been searching for!

Moreover, if he accepted, he would provide the information right away and even accompany him to find it later.

Hearing that, Kim Tae-sang fell into deep contemplation and ultimately accepted the request.

He thought this would be the very last time he’d seek out the magic book and then retire.

He completed the request, being careful not to get caught by Jeokcheonggyo, and afterward, with Kim Il-shin’s help, he finally laid his hands on the water-stained magic book.

Filled with the joy of reaching the end of turmoil, Kim Tae-sang felt elated.

However, that happiness was torn apart horrifically in less than three seconds.

It was because the title of the magic book in his hands was unlike what he had anticipated.

[Life Magic White Paper… Volume 1? Th-then does that mean there’s a Volume 2…?]

It felt like he had fallen into an inescapable, sticky swamp.

Only endless despair swirled in his hazy mind, and it was in such moments that demons tend to appear.

[Did you not know there was a Volume 2? Ah, so that’s why you didn’t say anything. I thought you didn’t need it. Oh, what am I gonna do.]

A snake’s tongue gradually tightened around his breath.

[Wouldn’t you need Volume 2 as well? No, you don’t need to. It says here Volume 2 is the real deal. You need to read Volume 2 in order to use magic? Wow, that’s quite the marketing strategy! This is why there’s only one copy in the world. For the author’s personal collection. What company would publish this? Right?]

And then, as if doing him a favor, he presented the choice. Saying this was the only way to escape from despair, he pushed him to decide.

[…I can help you, but, how about one more request? You just continue with what you were doing. It’s not that hard.]

It seemed somewhat reasonable at first glance, but behind it lurked even more horrific pain.

However, foolish and weak, humanity could not resist that temptation.

Even knowing the future, they could only comply.

[I’ll do it…]

[Good thinking. Just one more, and you’ll be done.]

The next request was to observe and report on the movements of Jeokcheonggyo in detail.

The scope of the investigation was vast, unlike the previous request.

A small mistake occurred because of that, and he eventually stood out in the eyes of Jeokcheonggyo.

Then he discovered his name had made it onto their surveillance list.

How much he cried in bed that night.

But Kim Tae-sang persevered.

Once the appointed time passed and he obtained the next volume, the awaited happiness would finally arrive.

[One note from the author: Thank you so much to the readers who bought this book! The real advanced course starts from the next volume! You’ll buy it, right? I believe in you, dear readers!]

—There were times he thought that way.

The damned writer, blinded by money, stretched the content all the way to Volume 3.

[Volume 3, huh?]

The pure joy felt in the whispering voice of the demon.

*

“Cough, sniff… That’s how it turned out. I’m really not a bad guy…”

“I see. You’ve had a hard time.”

“Thank you for understanding…”

Park Eun-ho offered a routine comfort to Kim Tae-sang, whose eyes were swollen.

He had only asked about his relationship with Kim Il-shin but ended up listening to a long-winded lament.

“So, this is a letter that Il-shin left behind?”

“Yes. He asked to deliver it to you if he didn’t hear from him in a week.”

“Did he anticipate this situation…? So why me of all people?”

Kim Tae-sang quenched his throat with orange juice given by Pan Hae-yul, then spoke.

“He said you’re the most trustworthy person.”

“…Hmm, I see.”

Being trusted by someone he cares about is always a good thing.

Especially when that someone was Kim Il-shin, whom he secretly admired as a hero.

Park Eun-ho struggled to suppress a smile, but he couldn’t avoid Pan Hae-yul’s gaze.

“Park Eun-ho. You don’t have to hold back your laugh.”

“Cough. Ahem. …No, it’s not that.”

Park Eun-ho steadied his flustered emotions with cold water and asked.

“Do you know what the letter contains?”

“No. I have no idea.”

A letter written with Kim Il-shin keeping his disappearance in mind.

It probably contained unusual information.

“I’ll read it first.”

Park Eun-ho carefully opened the envelope, took out the letter, and began to read.

“…!”

Before long, his eyes widened, and his face grew serious.

His trembling gaze eagerly scanned the letter.

“Hoo…”

After reading the letter, Park Eun-ho let out a deep sigh.

It was a sigh filled with relief.

According to the contents of this letter, finding the main base was their trap.

They were carrying out a much larger plan hidden beneath that bait.

If he hadn’t received this letter, what would have happened? Just thinking about it made him dizzy.

The subjugation team would have suffered catastrophic losses, and their plans would have progressed smoothly.

“We all owe this guy a great favor.”

Park Eun-ho had no doubt about Kim Il-shin. There was no reason to doubt him.

“What did it say…?”

“We almost fell for their trap.”

As Park Eun-ho began explaining, Pan Hae-yul’s expression also turned serious.

“Isn’t it possible that Kim Il-shin’s predictions could be wrong?”

“That’s highly unlikely. He provided many supporting arguments, too. It seems to be intended for persuading other people.”

“…We need to act quickly.”

“Yes. We have a lot to do.”

While such a conversation was ongoing, Kim Tae-sang, who had been sitting quietly, raised his hand and spoke up.

“Then I’ll take my leave now… Can I have an access pass? Ah, never mind. I’ll just figure it out myself—”

Muttering shyly, he tried to get up.

But he couldn’t exit. Park Eun-ho stopped him.

“What’s that? Why didn’t I prevent you from blocking your ears?”

“…What?”

Park Eun-ho tapped the bottom of the letter he was holding.

“It says here that you should be able to find the location of the consciousness awakening ceremony in no time.”

A massive anxiety engulfed Kim Tae-sang.

He tried to refuse immediately, but Park Eun-ho was quicker.

“I heard you agreed to take Volume 3 as compensation for delivering this letter. But as far as I know, there are actually five volumes.”

“…What?”

Kim Tae-sang felt as if he had been hit hard on the head with a hammer.

If there were five volumes, it meant he had to go through this ordeal two more times.

“T-This damn bastard…!”

Unable to hold back his curses, Park Eun-ho said calmly.

“If you wrap up this request well, I’ll make sure you get the other two volumes in one go.”

“Is that really true…?”

“Right. I’ll pick reliable people and assign them for protection. No, it might be better to work together here. We wouldn’t know what those guys might do if they found out you visited. We’ll provide any equipment you need.”

After a moment of contemplation, Kim Tae-sang squeezed his eyes shut and accepted the proposal.

“Alright. But you must keep your promise…!”

“I swear on my honor.”

Having completed the deal smoothly, Park Eun-ho and Kim Tae-sang shook hands.

Park Eun-ho was deeply grateful to Kim Il-shin.

He delivered crucial information while also introducing such talent.

With Kim Tae-sang, who possessed the best abilities in the industry concerning information gathering, Park Eun-ho couldn’t help but take a keen interest.

That was why he had kept him close under the pretext of safety.

The closer they were, the more interactions they could have.

Park Eun-ho looked at Kim Tae-sang with warm eyes and thought.

‘If he wants to work hard, I should save him now.’

If Kim Tae-sang had realized this, he would have been dumbfounded.