The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 180

21. Hero: The Delinquent Examinee

I remember my first encounter with Old Man Cheonma.

He was Sion’s main weapon in the game, an Ego Sword.

Because it was such a powerful sword, I planned to secure it from the start.

I won the bet against Phillip and asked Lord Lloyd for access to the secret vault where the Cheonma Sword was kept.

A plain sword wrapped in old cloth, standing alone among the colorful gold and silver treasures.

That appearance resembled Henon, the illegitimate child who was the only blemish and nuisance to the Lloyd family, so I felt a sense of kinship.

-Hey, you son of a…!

It wasn’t easy to build a friendship with Old Man Cheonma.

He was quite eccentric.

“Do this, do that, your swordsmanship is terrible,” he’d say. He didn’t like rough men’s hands and told me to hand over the sword to a beautiful woman.

I was dizzy all day from his nonsense.

To deal with this, I had to choose an extreme method.

Locking him in a latrine or dropping him in it.

I’m telling you now, I even put him under 24-hour pressure by sitting on him with my butt.

Unfortunately, I had eaten a lot of chicken soup that day, so it was a day when I passed a lot of gas.

The old man, who had a pleasant chemical warfare experience, listened well for a few days, but eventually started talking about women’s hands again.

No matter what I did, the effect didn’t last more than three days.

It was tough to be with Old Man Cheonma, but it wasn’t all bad.

He was always serious and enthusiastic about swords.

Ninety percent of my swordsmanship was formed under Cheonma’s guidance, and it was thanks to the old man that I achieved the unbelievable feat of becoming a Sword Master at a young age.

If I really hated Cheonma and Cheonma really didn’t like me, would this result have come about?

Absolutely not.

Even if we bickered, the old man and I were already spiritual partners, and no matter what we fought about, it was like cutting water with a knife [meaning, it had no lasting effect].

The old man trapped in the sword had no one to talk to but me, and I, a stranger, had no one to confide in but the old man.

When training was over and there was time left, I would look at the moon in the sky and chat with the old man.

It was one of the few leisure times I had since coming to this world.

The old man talked a lot about his hometown, the Central Plains Continent, and was careful about what he said about his time on the Arnia Continent.

Nevertheless, what I was sure of was that Cheonma was a Grand Sword Master, surpassing the Sword Master standard here on this continent.

The old man was… the greatest swordsman in the world.

*

“Kuh-heuk!”

The giant’s finger was cut off.

Fresh blood flowed from the severed area.

The Kraken looked back and forth between the giant and Cheonma with a dumbfounded expression.

“What? What happened?”

“What do you mean what happened? You almost died just now.”

Merlin, who was sitting on the wreckage and watching with a blank expression, said calmly. He got up and waved his hand. At the same time, a system window appeared.

[The World Tree Yggdrasil is with you.]

[An aura of nature dwells in the area.]

[All stats of allies increase by 300%.]

[Recovery, lifesteal, and regeneration reach max.]

Kukwakwakwakwa!!!

The sacred World Tree emerged from the ruins, revealing its miraculous appearance.

The sapling I summoned was also great, but compared to the main body, it was nothing more than a baby.

Merlin, who summoned Yggdrasil, calmly ordered the giant.

“Restore your body.”

When the giant put his severed finger on the severed area, the wound miraculously healed and the finger was reattached, and the severed surface of the Kraken also wriggled and a new octopus leg popped out.

It was a miracle brought about by the World Tree’s tremendous healing power.

“Hooh?”

Cheonma smiled deeply at this sight. Judging from the old man I knew, it was clear that he was feeling competitive.

“Old man, what is your identity? Are you some kind of final weapon that the kingdom prepared without our knowledge?”

“This humble one was just stopping by a fabric store to buy clothes, and I also met a maiden.”

“There’s a limit to nonsense. Do you expect us to believe that now?”

“What does it matter whether you believe it or not? You’re all going to die here anyway.”

The Kraken tried to step forward, scattering his murderous intent, but Merlin stopped him and stepped forward.

“You seem quite strong. Shall we introduce ourselves? I am the Druid Merlin. You must have heard of me.”

“This humble one is Cheonma. You can’t have not heard my name.”

“…I don’t know. Who are you?”

“How dare you utter such a trivial name in front of me?”

The ruler of the Arnia Continent and the strongest on the Central Plains Continent.

From the beginning, the two were like water and oil that could not mix [meaning, they were fundamentally incompatible].

Of course, there was a moment when they could have become close, but that opportunity disappeared forever when Merlin killed the maiden at the fabric store.

“If we capture him and torture him, something will come out. I hope you maintain that strange Cheonma concept even then.”

[The test begins.]

[The clear conditions are revealed.]

[Survive against Cheonma for 1 hour.]

The first thought I had after hearing the test content was this.

‘This is doable!’

The test I expected was to win against Cheonma. But if it’s not about winning but about enduring, the difficulty is much lower. Since I win just by stalling for time, if I just run away like this…

Squeak!!

What just happened?

It was truly a flash of swordsmanship.

I couldn’t even see it, and before I knew it, my neck was falling off my body.

Then came the soul-tearing pain.

“Kkeuaaaaaa!!!!”

[The test has failed.]

[Promotion is not possible.]

Flash!

“Keuheoeoeok! Heok! Heoeok!”

I was back in reality.

My whole body was drenched in sweat as if I had a nightmare.

Above all, this pain that penetrates my brain.

This feeling that not only my body was hurt, but also my soul and spirit, was so unfamiliar.

I failed the test for the first time.

I had always passed even the most difficult tests in one go, so this failure was quite unexpected.

Moreover, it would have been better if I had simply failed, but the penalty for failure was painful.

The pain now was like… my bones and flesh were playing separately and my soul was being separated.

I’m glad I failed after becoming a Sword Master and my body and soul matured.

If I had failed when I was working in the North, I might have gone crazy from the shock to my soul.

Of course, it’s still dangerous now.

Because I haven’t passed the test yet.

One shock is bearable, but if I fail several times, there is a risk that my soul will be shattered no matter how strong my mental strength is.

-Hey, brat, your condition is unstable. Did something happen inside?

Old Man Cheonma spoke to me with his consciousness, worried.

“Actually…”

I told him everything from beginning to end.

Cheonma’s answer after hearing the situation.

-Hmm… I would advise you if you asked me how to deal with that tree-hugging bastard, but the opponent is me. It’s difficult.

“Don’t you have any weaknesses or solutions that only you know, Old Man? Aren’t you yourself?”

-If I had such a thing, would I have risen to the position of Cheonma? At the time, my power was perfect itself.

“You were so perfect that you were sealed in a sword and are now bickering with me like this.”

-Hey, you! There are circumstances…

As expected, he’s not helpful in this area. In the end, it’s a problem I have to solve. Just as I was about to grab the golden branch again, Cheonma said quietly.

-Hey, brat.

“What.”

-Feel the opponent’s swordsmanship. You have already surpassed the limits of humans. It is up to you whether you want to look beyond that.”

An ambiguous story.

I pondered his words and grabbed the golden branch.

Spot!!

[The test begins.]

[The clear conditions are revealed.]

[Survive against Cheonma for 1 hour.]

This time, I won’t be defeated as easily as before. I opened my eyes wide and watched Cheonma’s hand move.

And…

Flash!

[The test has failed.]

[Promotion is not possible.]

“Euaaaak!!!”

It hurt like I was going to die.

No, it hurt just before I died.

What’s so fast?

[The test has failed.]

[Promotion is not possible.]

[The test has failed.]

[Promotion is not possible.]

[The test has failed.]

[Promotion is not possible.]

[The test has failed.]

[Promotion is not possible.]

[The test has failed.]

[Promotion is not possible.]

“Kkeuaaaak!!!”

I staggered and raised my upper body.

I took out a mirror from the subspace and looked at myself, and all the blood vessels in my eyes had burst.

Above all, my eyes were not focused.

I could clearly feel that I was going crazy.

-Hey, brat, do it moderately. Unlike the body, the soul can hardly recover once it’s damaged.

“It’s okay.”

I was more determined because the test opponent was Cheonma, even if it was someone else.

Because he was someone I had to catch up with and surpass someday.

Another reason was my rivalry with Merlin.

Judging from the test time limit, Merlin fought against Cheonma for at least an hour.

But I, a Druid and Sword Master, go down in 1 second?

This was a matter of talent, so I couldn’t just let it go.

My soul was shaken by several failures, but there were some gains.

What I realized about Cheonma’s swordsmanship was that speed was not the problem.

As soon as he swung, the slash was already there.

It was like teleportation.

In the first place, since I can’t see it coming, there’s no point in opening my eyes wide and trying to avoid it.

Then the solution is simple.

Avoid it before the slash even starts.

[The test begins.]

[The clear conditions are revealed.]

[Survive against Cheonma for 1 hour.]

As soon as the test started, I rolled to the side without Cheonma even gesturing.

And my choice was excellent.

A transparent line was drawn where I had been just now.

‘Good!’

I cheered inwardly.

I just need to keep going like this.

First, I will survive as much as possible to accumulate data and complete the strategy.

That’s how I’ll last an hour.

That was my plan.

“Huh?”

The Cheonma in my memory uttered a question for the first time. He couldn’t believe that his attack had missed.

“How did you avoid it?”

“It would be hard to get hit by such a slow attack.”

“Slow… But you were avoiding it before I even attacked. Do you have some kind of mental ability?”

“Find out for yourself.”

I shouldn’t give Cheonma a chance.

I immediately went all out.

[Enhanced Bind]

Kukwakwakwakwa!!!

The MAX Bind under the protection of Yggdrasil was truly enormous.

Even I was amazed.

Numerous tree roots sprouted from the ground, each as thick as a centuries-old zelkova tree [a type of tree known for its size and age].

It was so grand that a slight earthquake occurred due to the vibrations.

The risen tree roots swallowed Cheonma in an instant according to my will.

“Yes! That’s it!”

The Kraken next to me cheered.

But I couldn’t laugh.

Because my intuition, which was sharpened to the limit, was sending a warning.

“Damn it.”

I lightly spat out a curse word and flew my body to the side. At the same time, a violent pain ran through my arm.

Squeak!!

“Keuheok!”

“Savior!!”

I’m glad I followed my intuition.

That monster old man sent a slash just before he was bound by the Bind.

It was okay that my arm was severed.

I realized this while fighting Cheonma, but the World Tree’s overpowered blessing restored most amputations as long as my head wasn’t separated.

I need to make things happen faster and more flamboyantly.

I was at a disadvantage as the fight became more static.

[Wood/Crystal Shield]

Kukwakwakwang!!!

A skill I initially used as a shield to block attacks.

Now the terrain itself has changed.

The shield that pierced the ground rose like a mountain, blocking the space between Cheonma and me.

Seriously, this is doable…

Squeak!!

The mountain range was bisected horizontally.

The majestic mountain range that had risen sank in just 10 seconds after its appearance.

“There are many annoying skills.”

I knew it.

When I turned to the side, the cowardly glutton Kraken had already run away.

On the other hand, the giant was lowering his posture and looking for Cheonma’s weakness, but he was cautiously holding back, knowing that recklessly rushing in would be a dog’s death [meaning, a pointless and foolish sacrifice].

[Golem Summon]

[Wood/Crystal Rain]

The golem skill and rain skill that Merlin uses.

Hundreds of golems wailed and pillars the size of meteorites destroyed the earth.

Such power to call forth a great disaster alone.

I deeply felt why Merlin became the ruler of the Arnia Continent.

I also clearly realized why Cheonma was the greatest swordsman in the world.

Flash!!

The domain of the sword.

The expanded version of the domain that Lord Lloyd had once mentioned in passing unfolded.

Every time the hemispherical domain expanded, everything inside it was crushed like fruit in a blender.

The targets were all equal, whether they were golems, tree roots, or crystal pillars.

“Ah…”

Merlin would have been shocked, but as a Druid and swordsman, it was too amazing a scene.

Is this what Columbus felt when he discovered the New World?

My vision blurred and then a single tear ran down my cheek.

‘You have already surpassed the limits of humans. It is up to you whether you want to look beyond that.’

I finally understood Cheonma’s words.

It was my will whether to explore the universe beyond.

In the past, I became a humble adventurer.

And it was time to travel again this time.

[Time limit 00:59, 58, 57…]

1 minute like this?

I can last long enough.

If I pour out all kinds of skills and run away, I can stall for time.

If necessary, I can throw the giant as bait.

But I didn’t.

I deliberately disarmed and stood in front of Cheonma with my bare body.

“Are you giving up suddenly?”

Cheonma frowned at my sudden action. I smiled at him and said.

“You always brag about being handsome, so I wondered how handsome you were, but you’re just an ordinary guy.”

Squeak!!

My vision spun.

At the same time, my neck felt empty.

As expected, the appearance remark worked directly on Cheonma, who was sensitive about his face.

“Let’s see each other again. Let’s see each other until I get tired of it.”

[The test has failed.]

[Promotion is not possible.]

“Kkeuaaaak!!”

I covered my head and got up.

The Cheonma Sword next to me speaks.

-Did you fail again? But this time you lasted a little longer.

“I deliberately failed.”

-What? Why did you do such a stupid thing!

To be honest, it’s a stupid act, but I couldn’t pass because of curiosity.

The domain of the sword that Cheonma showed at the end.

The potential of a Druid blessed by the World Tree.

In my opinion, true success was only possible if I solved all these questions.