I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 261

261

Outside the banquet hall lay the knights’ training ground.

If one were to choose the most meticulously maintained place within the palace, given their emphasis on martial prowess, the training ground would undoubtedly be it.

After the Royal Guard members who would participate in the sparring were selected, Seonghyun extended his hand towards everyone in the area, as if bestowing a blessing.

As he activated Holy Ground [a skill that enhances the abilities of those within its area of effect], the eyes of the Royal Guard members awaiting the blessing began to gleam with a newfound intensity.

“Th-This is a blessing…”

“Unbelievable. I don’t feel any particular magic, but…”

The unfamiliar energy coursing through their bodies was creating such a significant difference compared to before that simply calling it ‘becoming stronger’ felt inadequate.

It felt as though it was imparting not only magical power, the standard measure of strength, but also guidance on how to utilize that power, and to what extent.

“Then, let’s begin the sparring.”

The Royal Guard Captain, also momentarily elevated to a level he could scarcely have imagined, felt his heart pounding. However, he couldn’t afford to appear flustered in front of Seonghyun, so he did his best to maintain his composure.

The sparring between the Royal Guard and the guild members yielded far more positive results than anticipated.

Because they were fighting under the influence of Holy Ground, they struggled to adapt to their own remarkably enhanced abilities.

This was a rare opportunity to adapt and learn in real-time while engaging in combat akin to a genuine battle.

‘It might be better that they’re not magical beasts.’

The Royal Guard also possessed considerable experience, perhaps owing to their history as soldiers of Pellian, who had been fighting magical beasts for generations.

Inhwan and Sangyeon were demonstrably displaying more advanced techniques, and the guild members were showing at least a similar level of improvement.

“Thank you for your great generosity.”

Naturally, the Royal Guard, who now regarded the guild members with a sense of awe, assumed they were being shown mercy, rather than considering themselves equals.

Like the guild members, the Royal Guard also gained valuable insights from this sparring.

Even at similar levels of strength, combat styles differed significantly based on the environment in which they were developed.

They had tested their power near its limits and discovered new possibilities, leading to far greater enlightenment than they would have gained from fighting magical beasts or sparring amongst themselves.

“How was the sparring?”

The Royal Guard Captain, renowned for his exceptional martial prowess, inquired while wiping away sweat.

The fact that he held his own against Sangyeon in the sparring was a testament to the Royal Guard Captain’s strength.

“Everyone is excellent. I don’t think you need to worry about magical beasts or anything.”

“You flatter us. More than that, thank you for requesting the sparring first today.”

The reason Pellian valued martial prowess above all else wasn’t simply because might made right.

The constant war with magical beasts made it a necessity.

Power was synonymous with survival, making it a natural priority.

However, after Seonghyun’s visit, the magical beasts had vanished, leaving them anxious with no outlet for their power except for internal sparring.

Magical beasts could appear anytime, anywhere, and in any form, but they felt as though they were stagnating.

In this situation, Seonghyun had appeared and opened up new possibilities and paths.

“It was helpful to each other.”

“His Majesty will be back soon. Would you mind waiting a moment?”

“Of course.”

The Royal Guard Captain longed to request a sparring match with Seonghyun, but he was so intimidated by the mere thought of asking that he couldn’t bring himself to voice the request.

“Did you wait long? I’m sorry.”

“No. The sparring just ended perfectly.”

“That’s a relief.”

Arno returned carrying a small box.

“How was the sparring with the Royal Guard?”

“Everyone had a considerable level of skill.”

“Haha, it’s all thanks to the blessing. If it’s not rude…”

“Sounds good.”

Seonghyun replied as if he had been anticipating the question, even before Arno had finished speaking.

“It’s an honor.”

As Seonghyun rose from his seat and walked towards the training ground, the Royal Guards, who had been conversing amongst themselves, fell silent.

“Please teach me a thing or two.”

Arno said respectfully, clasping his hands together, and Seonghyun nodded with a smile in lieu of a verbal response.

Arno’s swordsmanship was indeed formidable.

As if to demonstrate that he had never neglected his training since that day.

‘It’s definitely faster.’

Seonghyun, who had been merely dodging Arno’s sword for a few exchanges, frowned slightly and deflected the blade.

“Arno.”

“…I’m sorry.”

The reason was simple.

He hadn’t been using his full power.

“Are you looking down on me?”

“Yes? Ah, no! That’s definitely not what I meant.”

“Come at me with all your power. I’m trying to teach you now.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

Arno’s subsequent attacks targeted only vital areas or strikes that could have a fatal impact on the battle.

Places like the neck, heart, and eyes.

Each attack was swift and precise, but of course, none even grazed Seonghyun’s clothing.

“Keuk!”

With each attack, Arno emitted a short groan.

Every time an opening presented itself, Seonghyun would strike him with the handle of his sword, just enough to momentarily cut off his breathing.

“Cough.”

The sparring continued, but the situation wasn’t improving for Arno.

The attacks remained sharp and fast, but his breathing was still being cut off with each exchange.

“Huk… Huk…”

Everyone watched the sparring match with bated breath.

Not because of the tension, though.

All eyes were fixed on Seonghyun, who endured Arno’s attacks until they ceased to evolve, before finally speaking.

“Let’s stop here.”

“Ah, I can still do more…”

“Nothing will change. Growth doesn’t only come from pushing yourself to the absolute limit.”

“…”

Seonghyun’s attacks precisely targeted all of Arno’s vulnerabilities.

Even the vulnerabilities that arose simultaneously with the attacks.

“What did you feel?”

Even though he understood what Seonghyun was asking, the words that came out seemed inadequate.

“…I felt a wall.”

A wall so high that it defied imagination.

That was the sentiment shared not only by Arno but by everyone present.

“Arno. First of all, your sword is sharp and fast.”

Arno held the position of king of this country.

So I wondered if it was right to make a separate place and talk about it, but what Seonghyun was talking about now was not only about Arno.

“But, all of its destinations are fixed.”

Each of Arno’s sword strikes was potentially fatal.

However, that very characteristic acted as a disadvantage.

“The attack itself is not monotonous. It’s an attack that shows several variables, but that doesn’t matter. After all, the attack is one of these three: eyes, neck, heart.”

“Ah…”

It was also a characteristic of Pellian’s historical swordsmanship.

“This is not to say that this is wrong. However, it can be difficult if you meet an opponent like me.”

“I see. I understand what you mean.”

“This is not only for Arno. Sangyeon. How was it?”

“Huh? Ah… It was definitely a strong tendency to aim only for vital points. It would be fatal if you allowed one attack, but it would be difficult to succeed in one attack unless the level difference is significant.”

The Royal Guard Captain also nodded in agreement with Sangyeon’s words.

The two’s battle was fierce, but Sangyeon was a little ahead.

“I don’t know swordsmanship well, so the evaluation itself is presumptuous, but Pellian’s swordsmanship is extremely efficient and extremely practical.”

It wasn’t swordsmanship created against people.

“However, that magical beast that everyone saw that day. If it’s a magical beast with knowledge of swordsmanship like that magical beast, you don’t know what kind of variables will occur.”

A sword created only to fight magical beasts.

But paradoxically, it was becoming difficult to fight magical beasts because of that.

“Aiming for the opponent’s vitals is a very good judgment. You can end a battle that might be long quickly. If you succeed.”

Not only the guild members but also all the Royal Guard members focused on Seonghyun’s words.

Because it was a precious time to gain great teachings.

In that way, Seonghyun, who briefly explained what advantages and disadvantages Pellian’s swordsmanship had and how to maximize the advantages and eliminate the disadvantages, returned to the palace with Arno.

“I have received great grace again this time.”

“No. It’s a reward for the banquet.”

“Are you… going back now?”

With a look of regret on his face, Arno handed Seonghyun the small box he was holding.

“It’s what we have kept as a national treasure.”

“A national treasure? Such a precious thing…”

“If you hadn’t been there at that time, not only the national treasure but also the entire Pellian would have disappeared. You are the one who deserves to receive it.”

“Then… I will gratefully accept it.”

The received box was so light that it seemed like there was nothing inside.

“I don’t know what’s inside. However, Pellian’s first emperor left the box himself and created an engraving on it with magic.”

When Arno, a descendant of Pellian, poured magic into the box, the hidden engraving began to appear.

[To the hero who will save Pellian in the future]

It wasn’t as special an engraving as I thought, but the strong will of the first Pellian emperor was evident enough to leave it as an engraving.

“I couldn’t give it to you at that time, but the hero who saved Pellian… is only you.”

The owner of the box was already decided from the beginning.

Arno had completely forgotten about the existence of this box, but he realized it belatedly after Seonghyun returned that day.

The guilt that he couldn’t deliver it in time was growing, and then Seonghyun appeared again.

“I’m sorry that I have to give it to you without formality because I don’t know when you will return.”

“No. I will use this in the place where the predecessor wanted it, in my name.”

“If you go back today, will you be able to come back again?”

The door connected to this Pellian this time was not a special door like last time.

A generally opened level 2 door [a portal to another world or dimension].

Therefore, Seonghyun could come here anytime he wanted, but that also meant that other hunters could come in without any problems.

“Yes. Anytime.”

He didn’t mention that other hunters might come.

Because that would never happen anyway.

It was enough to demand complete ownership of this level 2 door from the association and make it so that only guild members could enter.

‘It might be better.’

The stronger the magical beast, the higher the intelligence.

Intelligence almost like a human, no, intelligence surpassing humans.

Pellian’s Royal Guard and the Royal Guard Captain would be a new stimulus to the guild members who had only faced magical beasts.

“I will check this when I get back.”

“Yes. You can do as you please.”

It was time to leave.

Seonghyun first reached out to Arno.

As if treating a friend.

“…”

Arno, who had been looking at the hand for a moment, also took the hand.

“See you again.”

“…Yes.”

In that way, Seonghyun headed to where the guild members were.

“Let’s go back now.”