The Academy's Delinquent in Charge, Episode 41
Baek Iljin frowned and covered his ears. The Heavenly Demon Sword’s voice was making such a loud fuss that his brain was on the verge of ringing.
‘Be quiet for a bit. My head is ringing.’
-No, how can I be quiet after seeing that!
‘What are you talking about.’
-The sword that girl in front of you is holding.
Hearing those words, he raised his head to see Seol Hayun holding a sword there. It was a sword with a white hilt and a blue blade.
‘So what about it.’
-That’s the blade your father stabbed into me. A useful blade made entirely of solid cold iron. I’d wondered if he pulled it out one day to sell it off, but to think it was in the Dang clan’s secret vault.
Having given favorable comments about the blade, the Heavenly Demon Sword gave a harsh critique about the hilt.
-But they made a cheap hilt that doesn’t even fit and slapped it on shoddily. Rather than using that kind of hilt, it’d be better to leave it to the local blacksmith.
Listening to those words and looking, the blade was slightly thicker than an ordinary sword, so there was a tiny gap between the hilt and the blade.
Even so, the hilt was not so shoddy as to deserve the Heavenly Demon Sword’s harsh criticism.
‘That hilt looks much more refined.’
-W-what?! It’s because you’re still young and your sense of aesthetics is lacking!
When Baek Iljin kept staring at the sword she held, Seol Hayun approached and held it out.
“Take it.”
“Wasn’t that for you to use?”
Seol Hayun shook her head. She had only checked it because she liked the chill emanating from the cold iron, but since she used palm techniques, she had no need for a sword.
Just as Baek Iljin received the sword and was about to turn around after giving his thanks, a hand as white as snowflakes was placed gently on his shoulder.
“Wait.”
“What’s wrong?”
“……Take this.”
Seol Hayun took something out from her bosom and held it out. It was a bread covered in white powdered sugar.
Baek Iljin raised his head and looked at her as if surprised. However, Seol Hayun’s head was bowed as she held out the bread, so he couldn’t see her expression.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah.”
This time, Seol Hayun turned around first.
-Popular, aren’t you. Is popularity genetic?
‘What are you talking about.’
-Nothing.
Baek Iljin put the bread into his subspace and drew the sword from its scabbard. With a smooth hiss—a sleek blade gleaming with blue light reflected the light.
‘Hoo—’
-Try using it.
Baek Iljin gripped the sword and swung it.
-Oh, is it really your first time holding one? Your form is quite good.
He hadn’t felt it when he swung once or twice, but after swinging dozens of times, he felt a slight gap between the hilt and the blade.
‘That’s a bit of a shame.’
-Smash that cheap hilt. And insert me into it.
Since the gap bothered him, doing as the Heavenly Demon Sword said was correct. However, the fact that he would have to carry the Heavenly Demon Sword with him always if he did so was displeasing.
‘It can’t be helped.’
It would be noisy, but he couldn’t abandon the sword his father had used.
Baek Iljin held the sword and stood in front of Dang Jain. And pointed at the sword.
“Professor. I will use my wish ticket.”
“What wish tick—... ah!”
The event when she taught Taekgeuk Fist before the placement exam flashed through her head.
‘Right, Baek Iljin drew the flag back then.’
Dang Jain nodded and asked.
“Alright, what is your wish?”
“I will take this sword.”
“Huh?”
The weapons here were all going to be given as gifts if one received high marks on the practical assessment anyway, and Baek Iljin was more than capable of receiving high marks.
Of course, Baek Iljin knew this as well. But enduring the Heavenly Demon Sword’s nagging complaints until then was worse than using the wish ticket.
“Well, if you say so, Baek Iljin.”
“Yes, thank you.”
-Hmph, you don’t know how blessed you are that a mere non-Heavenly Demon can wield me.
‘You don’t have to be used. Into the subspace...’
-I’m saying I’m blessed. That you would use me is the blessing. Haha!
Baek Iljin lightly ignored the Heavenly Demon Sword’s words and raised his internal energy in his hand. And twisted the sword hilt horizontally.
Dang Jain tilted her head and watched.
Crack—
The hilt, unable to withstand the grip strength, shattered into pieces. With a clatter, the blade body, having lost its hilt, fell to the floor.
“W-wait. Baek Iljin! What are you doing?”
Baek Iljin picked up the blade and untied the Heavenly Demon Sword hanging at his waist, immediately inserting the blade into the Heavenly Demon Sword.
The blade was quite thick, but even after inserting the blade into the Heavenly Demon Sword’s opening, a large gap remained.
To the extent that if he turned the hilt backward, it would fall right out.
‘What?’
-Tsk, wait a moment. So impatient.
As soon as the words ended, some kind of energy emanating from the Heavenly Demon Sword filled the gap, firmly securing the blade.
‘Amazing.’
-This is this body’s ability. You acknowledge it now, don’t you?
Baek Iljin also inwardly acknowledged the Heavenly Demon Sword’s words. A sword that not only spoke but also displayed such wonders would be rare in this world.
Having watched the entire series of actions, Dang Jain asked Baek Iljin.
“What is that sword hilt? It doesn’t seem like an ordinary item.”
“It is my father’s keepsake.”
“Ah....”
At the word “keepsake,” Dang Jain nodded. The moment she tried to say something more, the break bell rang.
[Ding-dong— It’s time to drink some fresh air.]
Chris poked Ji Taegyeong’s side with his elbow. And tilted his chin toward Baek Iljin, who was eating the sugar-covered bread.
“Looks like Seol Hayun has feelings for Baek Iljin? Shouldn’t you take care of him quickly?”
“Hoo, wait. Now is not the time.”
“Wow, what’s this? Is that the Ji Taegyeong I knew?”
“Shut your mouth and wait. I’ll make that bastard a cripple.”
Chris gulped upon seeing the madness dwelling in Ji Taegyeong’s eyes.
“What, how? In a one-on-one...”
Bang—
The desk hit by Ji Taegyeong’s fist overturned.
“I told you to wait.”
“Ah, okay.”
Namgung Jongsun, who was in a bad mood because he hadn’t received any bread, spoke gruffly.
“Ji sunbae, it’s not like you’re alone here, so let’s be quiet. And is that desk even yours?”
“Namgung junior, your martial arts are weak but your mouth is quite fierce?”
Ji Taegyeong shot back without backing down.
“What? Want to go again? You just kept running away and got lucky winning.”
“Tsk, if you attribute the difference in real combat experience to luck, there’s nothing to say.”
Muyong Seok stopped Namgung Jongsun, who was about to retort again.
“Jongsun, there’s no need to pay attention to trash that couldn’t even advance a grade.”
As Muyong Seok stepped in, Chris beside Ji Taegyeong also stepped in.
“Ha, these days the first-years have no manners. Are the broken ribs from getting beaten by Wonjin all healed already?”
“Aren’t you a first-year too? Stop showing off just because you entered a year earlier and stay put.”
Before anyone knew it, freshmen had gathered around Namgung Jongsun, and repeat students had gathered around Ji Taegyeong. Among them were second-year repeat students who were Ji Taegyeong’s seniors.
In the explosive situation, Baek Iljin, having swallowed all his bread, opened his mouth.
“Both of you are noisy. Go fight outside.”
In that instant, the scene where Ji Taegyeong had been defeated in a duel flashed through the students’ minds.
Namgung Jongsun, Ji Taegyeong, Muyong Seok, Chris—no, no one in the classroom could object to his words.
The repeat students gave Ji Taegyeong looks as if telling him to say something. Because at this rate, it would look like everyone was scared of one freshman.
Bearing the full burden of their expectation, Ji Taegyeong opened his mouth.
“Th-there are seniors here older than you and who entered before you. Do you have to talk like that?!”
“....”
Once the words were spat out, the rest was easy. Ji Taegyeong continued to press Baek Iljin with a demanding tone.
“You mannerless brat. It’s because of guys like you that people say we need an expulsion system!”
Chris gulped as he watched Ji Taegyeong cross the line.
‘This Ji Taegyeong bastard, his brain must be broken after smashing his head against a mortar a few times last time.’
By this point, the ones getting desperate were the repeat students.
“Taegyeong, stop.”
“He must have gotten the message by now...”
Those trying to stop Ji Taegyeong halted when they saw the item he took out.
“A North Wind cloak?”
“Isn’t that something only North Wind executives wear?”
“Looks like Taegyeong got into North Wind?”
“Wow, he’s a first-year repeat student but he’s an executive of a major club?”
Hwangbo Sujeong, recognizing it, hardened her expression and poked Baek Iljin’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“Iljin, I think it’d be better to stop here.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s go to the training ground. Next period is at the training ground.”
Watching Baek Iljin and the Hwangbo twins get up and leave the classroom, the repeat students who had been unable to speak finally opened their mouths.
“Th-that mannerless bastard.”
“Was he not raised properly at the dinner table?”
* * *
2nd Period, Training Ground.
Looking at the freshmen and repeat students standing far apart, Dang Jain let out a sigh.
‘Isn’t this year’s batch a bit severe?’
Even in her time, there had been power struggles between freshmen and repeat students, but not to this extent.
‘At this rate, I’m worried about when they go on missions later.’
The special missions class was exactly what its name implied—a class that carried out special missions. With this kind of mess, rather than teamwork, the probability of dying during a mission while acting solo was high.
Still, it was fortunate that not all freshmen had bad relationships with the repeat students. For example, Wonjin and Wongak stuck together every time like fellow disciples from the same sect.
‘And fortunately, their individual skills seem higher than in our time.’
Dang Jain said to the students.
“From now on, you’ll have time to learn the martial arts you chose in first period. Everyone, take out your manuals and weapons.”
The students each took out manuals and weapons from their bosoms.
“From now until class ends today, you’ll begin individual training. If there’s something you don’t understand or are curious about, ask immediately.”
Then Elia raised her hand.
“Professor, we haven’t learned any separate mental cultivation methods, so individual training will be difficult.”
‘Ah, right! Look at me spacing out.’
Dang Jain was a novice professor who had only been employed for a few months, so she hadn’t thought of this part.
Hastily taking out an internal energy cultivation method, Dang Jain gathered the students who didn’t know mental cultivation methods.
“The rest, begin your individual training.”
The students looked at the manuals they had taken out and began their individual training.
Baek Iljin also opened the Okcheonghyegeom manual. It was a copy, not the original, but it was quite old and the color had faded.
‘Where the mind goes and the sword is placed, life is saved; where the mind is absent and the sword is placed, life is harmed.’
From the first page, the content was difficult to understand. And as he went to the later pages, only increasingly abstract nonsense was written.
The Heavenly Demon Sword, reading the Okcheonghyegeom formulas together, spoke.
-Hmm, in my opinion, Okcheonghyegeom is not a flowing sword but a dull sword.
‘What does that mean?’
-Stillness within motion: there is movement amidst stillness. Motion within stillness: there is stillness amidst movement. Softness merely follows; it is not forced.
‘Explain simply.’
-It means don’t force softness. If you learn this sword technique leaning too much into softness, it’s no different from a half-baked one.
‘Stillness within motion, motion within stillness....’
Taken literally, it meant a slow sword, but there was no opponent who would accommodate a slow sword.
-What makes it possible is the principle of late departure, early arrival.
‘You mean a slowly drawn sword arrives first.’
-That’s right. Reading the opponent’s trajectory and attacking or defending first—that is the essence of Okcheonghyegeom.
‘I see.’
-Training the dull sword will be quite arduous. Without letting the sword tip waver, move it only 1 cm per half shichen (1 hour).
‘If you’re going to say 1 cm, couldn’t you just say 1 hour instead of half shichen?’
-Shut up and focus on training! You might collapse, so be careful.
As the Heavenly Demon Sword said, beginners learning the dull sword often trained for half a day without swinging the sword even once and collapsed.
Baek Iljin nodded, closed the manual, and gripped the Heavenly Demon Sword. He assumed the upper stance and closed his eyes.
And then put strength into it, swinging the sword downward quickly.
-You! What are you doing!