Chapter 13

EP.13 Two Masters (1)

The academy was abuzz with talk of the monster.

After the [Magic Barrier] was fully formed.

A monster that had not appeared in the academy for almost a few years.

Moreover, its rank was high, causing many students to be injured or killed.

Perhaps because everyone was prepared as Holders, a somber and mournful atmosphere did not form.

However, the sudden appearance of the monster and the story of its hunt were very interesting topics for those who only listened to boring lectures every day.

"Jang Juyeon took it down in one hit, right?"

"Wow... even with the same fire attribute, can that be possible?"

"It's Epiclun. His stats are off the charts. At Jang Juyeon's level, attribute differences can be ignored."

"I heard that Moon Ga-eun from the advanced class also helped."

"Has anyone seen Jang Juyeon's Flare skill? They say once it catches fire, it doesn't go out even with water magic."

In any lecture room.

In any class, the same conversation could be heard.

Unfortunately, my story was not part of the conversation.

...Actually, I just delayed the time and let Jang Juyeon deliver the final blow.

Perhaps it was only natural.

On the other hand, there were people who recognized my efforts.

"Thank you so much. Thanks to Holder Joo Dae-hyun, Chae-eun was able to get through without any injuries."

Kim Chae-eun's father and a Warrior-class professor, Kim Myung-hyun.

Before the lecture, he kept expressing his gratitude to me.

I should have been scolded rather than thanked...

I scratched my head in embarrassment.

"Chae-eun saved me. If it weren't for her Ice Binding magic, I might have died right there."

"Originally, that's how it is with the Mage class. After the Warrior class works hard on the front lines, the spotlight goes to them. They're so sly. Sometimes I feel like giving up on the Warrior class..."

"...Really?"

"Oops. Anyway, thank you so much. Because Holder Joo Dae-hyun worked hard on the front lines, Chae-eun was able to use her magic comfortably."

I was trying to catch the Sizzling Salamander.

I should have just delayed the time and waited for Jang Juyeon.

If I had, I wouldn't have been hurt much, and I wouldn't have worried Chae-eun.

Once its tail was cut, it went berserk...

Seeing that, I felt I was still far from being a proper Holder.

Thinking back to that moment, I lightly waved my hand.

"Not at all. Chae-eun just wanted to run away, but I insisted on blocking it. I feel bad to Chae-eun and to you, Professor."

"Haha. In the end, it was Chae-eun's choice. There's no need to feel guilty about that. Instead, Holder Joo Dae-hyun, who tried to protect the students, should be praised. Well done."

"...Professor, you can speak informally if you want."

"Ah, it's fine. I'm comfortable with formal speech."

Before this incident.

Professor Kim Myung-hyun didn't know that Chae-eun and I were friends.

He was even more pleased when he found out we were neighbors.

Raising a neighbor as a student.

That was one of his bucket list items.

...Professor Kim Myung-hyun, like Chae-eun, had a unique side.

"Ah, Holder Joo Dae-hyun. If it's not too much trouble, could you tell me about the situation when you faced the Sizzling Salamander? I find it amazing that a mid-level Holder like you faced a B-rank monster."

"Um, well..."

To be honest, it's hard to say I faced it.

When Chae-eun first used [Frozen Fog], I cut off the monster's tail with [Chain Strike]...

But after that, I was hit so hard that I couldn't even regain my senses.

My abilities, just entering the D-rank.

The difference with a B-rank monster was much greater than I thought.

But I felt embarrassed to say it, so I glossed over it.

"The sword momentum you taught me helped. I smoothly deflected the monster's attacks and used the Chain Strike skill for counterattacks. The gap eventually narrowed, but..."

"Wait a moment. You used Chain Strike?"

"Yes? Ah, yes."

"Holder Joo Dae-hyun, what level is your Sword Rune?"

"Um... 4? I got Chain Strike at level 3."

Hiding a Holder's rune information is standard, so I hesitated for a moment, but I didn't think much and told him.

After all, Kim Myung-hyun is the professor who teaches me about swords, and he can probably gauge my level just by looking at my skills.

But Professor Kim Myung-hyun's face turned blank when he heard my answer.

"Level 4...?"

"Yes."

"Chain Strike... is a skill that requires at least level 5 in the Sword Rune..."

"......?"

I didn't understand his words at first.

I always thought it was a bit fast.

Unlike runes that come with skills from the start, like [Deadly Poison] or [Lizard's Scales], normal runes for weapons like [Sword] or [Dagger] require a lot of levels to gain skills.

However, [Quarter Knife] and [Chain Strike] are both skills that are derived and obtained when the corresponding rune reaches level 3.

I thought [Quarter Knife] was my only talent.

After all, [Dagger] was the first rune I had.

On the other hand, [Chain Strike] is a derived skill obtained by learning and internalizing Professor Kim Myung-hyun's elegant sword techniques.

In the original story, there was no information about this skill.

So I thought [Chain Strike] was a skill I learned from Kim Myung-hyun and obtained when my [Sword] rune reached level 3.

But Kim Myung-hyun denied it.

A skill that should be obtained at level 5, I got at level 3.

So...

Does that mean I have talent in [Sword] as well?

"Holder Joo Dae-hyun, would you like to be my exclusive student? I think you would be more than enough."

Professor Kim Myung-hyun asked me with a subtle look.

It was like the face Chae-eun made when she tried to get me to cook for her.

A proposal I should have accepted immediately.

But for some reason, I hesitated.

Ah...

It feels like I'm being recruited for a graduate school.

Professor Kim Myung-hyun, reading the hesitation in my eyes, quickly followed up.

"If you become my exclusive student, I'll help you learn the ultimate skills I have. I'm the first exclusive student in my teaching career."

"I'll do it."

Without hesitation, I accepted.

It was too big a reward to refuse.

* * *

"Hey, Joo Dae-hyun!"

After accepting Professor Kim Myung-hyun's proposal, the next class was immediately.

<Sword Momentum and Battle Breathing>.

Pak Jin-woo, whom I hadn't seen in a day, patted my shoulder.

I asked him, curious about something.

"Where were you yesterday?"

Pak Jin-woo should have been there to face the monster yesterday.

He would have delayed the time, and that would have led to being called by Professor Tak Won-ho, continuing the story.

In the process, he would have caught Professor Tak Won-ho's eye and become his exclusive student.

Now, with the story twisted, that possibility is slim.

"Yesterday? I was practicing sword skills. It was a free period."

"Are you crazy? You were practicing again?"

"Yeah. I usually practice when I have free time."

Originally, Pak Jin-woo should have encountered the monster on his way to class, like me