NOVEL WEB Chapter 9 - Iroaz Academy
The 7 months remaining in Mistilteinn’s world passed like an arrow.
Lee Dojin’s dantian was filled with 2-star Reverse Heaven Divine Technique internal energy.
Did it end after dying a hundred times?
No. After confirming that crossing the death line helped in understanding sword paths and the opponent’s movements, Lee Dojin died at least a thousand times by his master’s sword.
And he was able to reach halfway through the Third Form of the Reverse Heaven Sword.
“Today is the last day, disciple.”
Dan Cheonwoo picked up his sword.
“Should we clash swords until the very end?”
Lee Dojin picked up his wooden sword.
Dan Cheonwoo twisted his mouth.
“If I had said that, it’s obvious you would have suggested sparring.”
“You caught me, Master.”
Lee Dojin couldn’t help but smile.
They now knew each other too well.
A gentle breeze blew through the gaps between the many trees.
He stomped his foot on the ground and advanced.
His body stretched like taffy and flickered.
He swung the wooden sword.
It was the sword path of Soul Pursuit, the First Form of the Reverse Heaven Sword that he had swung hundreds of thousands of times here.
Master also moved his arm.
Soul Pursuit extended, aiming for each other’s necks.
Clang!
The two sword strikes bit at each other like living dragons.
“At least with Soul Pursuit, you’ve reached my legs, you sword-obsessed fool.”
Swords were tilted at each other’s necks.
Dan Cheonwoo was genuinely impressed.
By his disciple’s talent before his eyes. And by the longing that surpassed it.
Just one year.
Achieving this level in just one year would be counted among the best even in the history of the Central Plains martial arts world.
“You flatter me, Master.”
“Keep going forward, even my original self would acknowledge you as the successor of the Reverse Heaven Sword.”
Lee Dojin bowed.
“Don’t forget that recklessly using your life was only possible here.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Dan Cheonwoo grinned.
It was a modest succession ceremony that no history would remember.
But for Dan Cheonwoo, summoned here through the Moonlight Wood, it was a meaningful succession ceremony.
Even more so for Lee Dojin.
“Reaching the Fourth Form. You’ll be able to do it on your own, Dojin.”
“I will accomplish it.”
“What you’ve learned is none other than the Reverse Heaven Sword. Don’t go getting beaten up somewhere. You’re the 3rd generation successor of the Reverse Heaven Sword.”
“Yes, Master.”
“And don’t bow your head so easily.”
Dan Cheonwoo’s body started to disappear.
“…It was quite a satisfying entertainment, disciple.”
Lee Dojin stared blankly at the scene.
“I entrust my disciple to you, Mistilteinn.”
Mistilteinn nodded deeply.
Whether it was an illusion or just an avatar, Sword Emperor Dan Cheonwoo, clearly Lee Dojin’s first master, disappeared.
Lee Dojin felt his chest becoming stuffy, as if something was blocking it tightly.
Mistilteinn faced Lee Dojin.
“Get ready, Master.”
Before he could answer, his vision went dark.
I opened my eyes.
Instead of Mistilteinn’s world, I saw the ceiling of the living room.
[Please stabilize yourself.]
The voice of Mistilteinn in Advice Ego state echoed in my head.
I slowly raised my body.
A terrible sense of dissonance enveloped my body.
The body that had been trained for a year in Mistilteinn’s world time, 6 months in real time, had returned to its original state.
But what’s important is not this physical body.
I sat cross-legged while holding the Moonlight Wood wooden sword.
And I operated the Reverse Heaven Divine Technique.
Colorless energy currents writhed throughout my body.
“The internal energy remains.”
The 2-star Reverse Heaven Divine Technique clearly remained in my dantian.
What’s left now is to train the physical body as before, to properly execute the forms of the Reverse Heaven Sword.
The time remaining until the Academy entrance exam on March 2, 2046, is 10 months.
There’s enough time.
Grumble!
…First, I need to eat something.
I swung the wooden sword alone.
Eat, sleep, swing the wooden sword, and operate the divine technique.
After falling into a state of no-self and swinging the wooden sword thousands of times, sometimes I missed the noisy Master.
Time passed quickly.
I climbed various mountains to build stamina and muscle strength.
My body had already reached the state just before parting with Master.
March 1, the day before the Iroaz Academy entrance exam.
Since I might be late if I left on the morning of the exam day, I took the train and arrived in Seoul in advance.
I booked a room at a hotel near Iroaz Academy.
Since I was alone anyway, I wanted to go to a cheaper motel if possible, but there were no motels nearby.
“It’s the 12th floor, sir.”
The hotel front desk staff handed me the hotel key with their characteristic business smile.
I entered the room, took a shower, and lay on the bed.
Since I had swung the wooden sword to my heart’s content until now, I needed to adjust my condition the day before the entrance exam.
I closed my eyes.
By my will, I entered my heart, Mistilteinn’s world.
Gurgle…
The sound of flowing river water echoed in my ears.
Mistilteinn was sitting demurely on a rock.
Her flickering green eyes looked directly at me.
“You’ve come, Master.”
Mistilteinn’s voice echoed in my ears.
“Yeah, Mistilteinn.”
I sat next to Mistilteinn.
“Thank you, I’ve come this far thanks to you.”
I meant it sincerely.
Without any exaggeration.
That day, the day I dropped out of Athena Awakened High School. If I hadn’t picked up Mistilteinn.
If Mistilteinn hadn’t chosen me, I wouldn’t have even come near Iroaz Academy.
A talentless loser who couldn’t even awaken mana.
Human trash who couldn’t even step foot in the hunter world.
I would have sat down, condemning myself like that.
Thanks to Mistilteinn, I became able to use mana, internal energy when holding a wooden sword.
I also met Master Dan Cheonwoo.
What made me who I am now was nothing other than myself and Mistilteinn.
“It’s all thanks to you.”
Mistilteinn tucked her long white hair behind her ear and smiled shyly.
“Master, all egos that descend to this world recognize themselves as tools. Tools for their masters. The being that sent us down programmed us that way.”
I shook my head.
“You’re not just a tool. You’re my only helper.”
Mistilteinn nodded.
“That’s right, I’m your helper, Master.”
And she rested her head on my shoulder.
“Because you made me think that way. Not a tool, but a helper.”
“I’m counting on you from now on too.”
“Yes, Master.”
Mistilteinn stared for a moment at the spot beside her where Lee Dojin had been before returning to reality.
And she murmured softly.
“Master has already given me salvation.”
An ego cannot freely choose its master.
The criteria are unknown, but it activates for a subject that meets the conditions.
And until then, the ego’s world is nothingness.
A black void with nothing.
No nature, no forest. No trees. No rivers.
Not even able to see one’s own body.
Just a black world of darkness.
Mistilteinn had been trapped alone in that darkness for decades.
Only after entering Lee Dojin’s heart did Mistilteinn’s world bloom from darkness.
On that day when Lee Dojin dropped out of Athena.
Mistilteinn and Lee Dojin had saved each other.
On the day of the Iroaz Academy entrance exam.
I checked out of the hotel and came outside.
It was just past 8 AM.
Iroaz Academy.
The largest, best hunter training institution in South Korea.
Carlton Academy in the USA, called the world’s No. 1 ranked hunter training institution. Iroaz Academy was evaluated to be on par with that Carlton.
Of course, the facilities and scale were cutting-edge.
“Welcome to Iroaz Academy, everyone. Please line up according to the group you were assigned after applying for admission.”
While the tone used was respectful to the audience, the voice and face were not.
A voice that sounded like it had taken down dozens of monsters just yesterday.
A face that anyone could see lived on the front lines of raids.
He was wearing a name tag necklace that was too small for his huge build.
Iroaz Academy Combat Division Entrance Exam Chief, Spear Instructor Park Cheol-woong.
Well, I thought you’d need that level of presence to suppress the hot-bloodedness of these 20-year-olds who had just become adults and all thought they were strong.
I lined up in Group 2 that I was assigned to.
Since the exam groups were randomly assigned, my class rank hadn’t been determined yet.
There were 10 groups in total.
“As all applicants know, Iroaz’s entrance exam is conducted in a battle royale system. The total number of people entering each exam venue is 20. Two people are selected from each group.”
Everyone paid attention to Park Cheol-woong’s words.
“It takes place in a virtual space
Park Cheol-woong slowly looked around at the students.
“Iroaz is not responsible for trauma, PTSD, etc. from what happens in the Colosseum. Anyone who wants to give up on the entrance exam, please go home now.”
No one raised their hand.
Everyone was holding their weapon. Swords, spears, bows, gauntlets, axes.
Various weapons.
The combat division battle royale entrance exam is participated in by all awakened combat classes except the ‘magician’ class.
It seemed that a separate entrance exam was prepared for the magician class.
I was carrying a black wooden sword bag with the Moonlight Wood wooden sword on my back.
Tap tap-
Someone tapped my shoulder.
A man who was probably the same age was behind me. He was holding a spear in his hand.
“Hi? Oh, you’re not a repeat applicant, are you?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Nice to meet you. Hey, looking at it, it seems like we’ll be entering the exam venue together. This must be fate. What’s your weapon? A sword, right?”
“A wooden sword.”
“Huh?”
“I said it’s a wooden sword.”
“A wooden… sword?”
The guy looked at me like I was crazy.
“Two from each group, please enter.”
Finally, it was my turn.