Episode 32: Midterm Exams (2)
The midterm exam is conducted in two main areas.
The first is the written test.
However, this written exam has little impact on grades and even less on Gaon’s ranking.
It’s merely a formal procedure.
Inspiration doesn’t approve of the current education system’s disregard for theory, but… what can he do?
Ultimately, all attention is focused on the other part of the exam.
That is combat.
Each student will engage in three battles, and after each round, guilds and organizations will begin their bidding.
So, is Gaon’s famous midterm exam really that important?
No.
In truth, the midterm exam doesn’t matter much to me.
What was truly significant in the original story was the demonic human forces’ attack that came along with the midterms.
It was the first incident that turned Gaon into a target for demonic Humans.
Therefore, rather than the exam itself, I need to prepare according to the flow of events.
However, there is one major difference from the original.
And that is Vanquisher.
In the original, Vanquisher did not attend the midterms, so there was no chance for them to meet.
But if they do end up facing each other…
One of them is bound to be torn apart.
Because Vanquisher’s very existence is based on one principle—exterminating Demonic Humans.
***
“That’s it for today’s lesson.”
The instructor wrapped up the class.
I stood up from my seat.
My task before the midterms was simple.
Ensuring the growth of key characters.
I turned my gaze to the left.
Cheon Yeoul was clutching the cross I had given her, silently looking up at me.
‘Cheon Yeoul is taken care of.’
Yu Hana… I planned to give her the Dongbaek Sword, so she was fine for now.
As for Kang Arin… even if I wanted to give her something, the items that suit her are incredibly difficult to obtain.
That leaves one last person—Sung Siwoo.
‘What should I do about him?’
According to the original plan, he was supposed to grow into a weapon of demon extermination through Fragments.
He would attract the attention of guilds, receive their bids, and gradually walk the path of a protagonist.
But… I completely forgot about the Fragments, and this stubborn guy still refuses to talk to me.
I tried speaking to him a few times, but he keeps ignoring me.
So, do I even have a reason to push him forward at this point?
Honestly, I had already made my decision.
‘Abandon him.’
For now, I’ll leave him behind.
I can’t make it work in time for this attack.
The midterms are next week.
There’s no way I can raise his level in time.
I lifted my head and looked toward the front of the classroom.
He was staring intently at the blackboard, where the word Vanquisher was written.
I’m sorry.
Abandoning the protagonist I had created and intended to nurture…
It wasn’t an easy choice.
***
The sun was setting, and the twilight crept in.
At 6 PM, I arrived at Building B’s training grounds.
As the automatic doors slid open, I saw students all around honing their skills in preparation for the exam.
The air was filled with the sounds of fierce strikes and surges of magical energy.
Yet amidst it all, Yu Hana was kneeling in silent meditation.
A descendant of a martial family.
Despite the noisy surroundings, she was completely undisturbed.
I carefully removed the Dongbaek Sword, which was slung diagonally across my back, and slowly approached her.
Sensing my presence, she opened her eyes.
Then, rising gracefully to her feet, she naturally walked toward me.
The training grounds had a vast communal space, as well as private training rooms for individual use.
“Should we go to the room? I already booked one.”
She gestured toward the training rooms, about to lead the way.
But I moved first.
Reaching behind me, I drew the sword and held it out to her.
A scabbard bathed in deep violet hues.
From within, a weighty aura subtly emanated.
-Wooooong-
The sword trembled violently.
As if it was struggling, resisting.
I don’t like you either, you bastard.
“Take it.”
I grumbled inwardly and spoke curtly.
Her eyes widened for a moment.
As if taken aback, her hand hovered in the air before I placed the sword into her grip.
And at that moment—
-Whirr.
The energy of the Dongbaek Sword gently spread out.
The trembling that had been so desperate before gradually subsided, finally calming down.
Looks like it likes Yu Hana.
I smiled lightly and continued speaking.
“It’s a really good sword. Let’s use it for today’s training. Probably for a while…”
But then—
“…Hey.”
I furrowed my brows.
A single clear tear trickled down Yu Hana’s cheek.
She looked just as surprised as I was.
“Ah… S-sorry. Suddenly…”
She hastily wiped her tears away with her palm, flustered.
But no matter how much she wiped, the tears wouldn’t stop.
“Why… Why am I crying…?”
She was crying, yet at the same time, she was smiling.
As if even she couldn’t control her emotions.
The murmuring of onlookers gradually grew louder.
-“What’s going on?”
-“Isn’t that Yu Hana?”
Whispers filled the training ground, all eyes drawn to Yu Hana standing in the middle, shedding tears.
‘This is a bit…’
Troublesome.
Silently, I took her wrist.
Then, without a word, I opened the training hall door and led her inside.
***
The person in front of her was quietly stretching, his back turned to her.
Yu Hana could feel his patience as he waited for her emotions to settle.
Haein made no sound, no movement.
Just as always, naturally.
He didn’t ask for anything. He didn’t rush her.
A silent consideration, as if telling her to take her time.
‘He’s kind…’
She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to collect her scattered emotions.
The feelings she had struggled to suppress had suddenly burst forth.
Memories from the past resurfaced, and she had no way to stop them.
She gazed at his broad, solid back—the one she had always wanted to lean on, the one she had relied on before.
But that back was carrying so much.
She swallowed hard.
Right now—
She wanted to run to him and wrap her arms around him.
To slowly trace the contours of his back, up to his strong shoulders.
To embrace him tightly, feeling his presence with her whole body.
And then, just like that…
To gently push him down.
To press herself against him, absorbing his warmth.
To let him set down his burdens, even if only for a moment.
To hear his breath, his heartbeat—to feel his heat up close.
And she wanted to tell him.
That it’s okay now. That she’ll share his burdens.
And then… as she whispered into his ear…
‘Haah…’
But she couldn’t.
If she did, everything would be for nothing.
All his efforts would be wasted.
Yu Hana quietly curled her fingers into a fist.
She suppressed her burning breath and slowly averted her trembling gaze.
Then, she rose from her seat and carefully approached the man she loved.
He turned to her, wearing the same gentle smile as always.
“Shall we begin?”
He didn’t ask why she had been crying.
He simply smiled, as always, silently.
That gentle smile stirred up her desires again, but she firmly pushed her emotions down.
“…Thanks. This sword looks really good.”
He replied with a sly grin.
“I’m just lending it to you.”
Liar. You’re just going to give it to me anyway.
Instead of his usual weapon, the spear, he drew a sword.
This was… that Technique.
He lightly swung the blade and began explaining a sword technique.
Hwa-jeop-geom (Flower-Butterfly Sword).
A sword style where flowers and butterflies move as one, unfolding in an elegant dance.
Each swing of the blade flowed like wind in motion, seamlessly connecting offense and defense in a graceful cycle.
It was a technique that matched the Dongbaek Sword perfectly.
He explained the strengths of the Flower-Butterfly Sword to Yu Hana.
And after finishing, he looked at her with a hint of nervousness.
The Yu Hana of today—
Every part of her carried traces of him.
Not just his techniques, but his way of speaking, his habits, even the way she gripped her sword.
So she had already more than learned this sword style.
But if it were the old Yu Hana?
“Prove it. Prove that it’s better than my swordsmanship.”
She would have said that with a sharp smirk, arrogance dripping from her words.
Yet even then, he would have only smiled more brightly.
He was always like that.
Always trying to convince her.
To make her follow his path, his way.
And now, once again, the moment had come for their swords to clash.
“Shall we give it a try?”
The duel began.
He wielded the Flower-Butterfly Sword, slipping through the gaps in her defense with precision.
One step, then another.
She was overjoyed.
To cross swords with him again like this.
To be able to stand against him, even in this way.
But if it were the old Yu Hana?
She quickly shifted her expression.
A frustrated face.
Eyes burning with determination, unwilling to lose.
And he—he smiled again.
That familiar look.
The way he would provoke her emotions, pushing her to climb higher.
“Frustrated?”
He didn’t say it, but Yu Hana could read his thoughts.
He always—
Used her frustration as fuel for her swordsmanship.
In the end, Yu Hana lost by a razor-thin margin.
She dropped the Dongbaek Sword onto the ground. But she didn’t throw it recklessly.
It was precious. She just placed it down a little forcefully.
She deliberately scrunched up her face.
As if wounded pride and bitter regret filled her expression, she spoke.
“…Teach me that too.”
A faint smile spread across his lips.
The situation was unfolding exactly as he had intended, and he seemed pleased.
“If you’re happy, then so am I.”
And softly, as if whispering to herself, she murmured:
“I’ll behave.”
…Because for you, I’d do anything.