Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 146

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius – Episode 146

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius 146

Northern Winter (1)

“Not bad… quite sharp.”

Because her chest was deeply cut, the clothes she wore inside her armor fell to the ground.

Her full-body armor, too.

Even the functional underwear she wore to cushion her bare skin beneath the armor.

The knight commander was left with nothing but a body full of muscles and scars, as if returning to the form she had at birth.

“Sharp? I think it was more than just that.”

“Indeed, the inviolable armor bestowed upon me by the Lord boasts defensive capabilities comparable to a fortress. For your aura to slice through such armor like paper is truly abnormal. Frankly, on a personal level, I’m almost envious.”

“This power? Or my mastery?”

“Both.”

There was no shame on her face as she met my eyes.

Knight Commander Termia, not bothering to cover her nakedness, immediately assumed her next stance. I, too, with an unwavering composure that belied my youthful age, carefully scanned the beautiful woman’s nude body.

“If I had power like yours, the Lord would not have made such a decision.”

“You’re so consistent. What’s so appealing about a noble who doesn’t save citizens in this inferno?”

I didn’t blink even while talking.

I stared at her intently.

Where should I cut to kill her?

The chest is meaningless.

I aimed for a weak spot, but breaking through the ribs and destroying her organs was nearly impossible. Should I aim for the joints or cartilage then?

“I feel a chilling intent. Are you planning to kill me?”

“Well, there’s no need to kill you, but there’s no need to save you either.”

“Then take my head. There is nothing more disloyal to one’s lord than a defeated knight.”

“Truly a statement befitting a knight obsessed with honor. It makes me want to cripple you by severing your limbs, then keep you alive.”

The war of nerves mixed with arguments ended with that conversation.

We both knew that further conversation was pointless.

Swish.

I raised my cursed sword once more.

Thump! Thump!!

She prepared to wield her shield, as large as her body, and a one-handed sword like deadly weapons. However, before wielding her weapons.

There was one last thing to say.

“Ah, and let me correct one thing.”

“Speak.”

“The Lord isn’t failing to save the citizens. This inferno is his will. We are merely loyal to that will.”

“I thought he was just standing by, but he’s also committing arson and murder. The North is a truly interesting place.”

“Is the South, where you and the children came from, any different?”

“Hmm… considering that the higher-ups are just as crazy, there’s not much difference.”

Even where I came from.

Even though there were no people who directly killed citizens like the lord here, there were those who indirectly killed people with incompetent decisions and commands.

“So, I killed them all and rose to the top.”

“That’s a rebellion.”

“That’s right. It was no different from treason.”

“Then…!”

“But when I killed them and rose to the top, the number of people dying decreased. Surely, there must be quite a few who survived thanks to my rule from above. In that case, was my rebellion entirely without value?”

“!!!”

It was amusing to watch Termia’s face as she agonized and pondered.

Loyalty bordering on faith eventually turned into madness, making the girl a knight commander. Furthermore, she became a knight without knightly virtues, prioritizing orders over shame even when exposing her scarred body in front of men.

‘Humans who doubt and agonize over their own significance are always interesting to watch.’

The life of Knight Commander Termia was solely about loyalty and fanaticism.

However, she was gradually wavering as the end result of that loyalty led to the massacre of innocent people.

The process of a knight, no better than a wild beast roaming freely through the fields, becoming human through deep contemplation, a knight without free will.

As someone who lives a life under laws and precepts, having lost my self-identity, this is a contemplation I can never have.

This spectacle is the best entertainment for me.

‘But there’s no more time to delay.’

The end of the night is approaching, and dawn is coming.

After that, the dawn will rise, and we will all be driven out by the program designed in the other world.

If that happens, the predetermined destruction will naturally lead people’s lives to ruin.

“Contemplation is good, but shouldn’t we settle things first?”

“……”

A word that brings a person lost in thought back to reality.

Then, the person who returned to reality once again became a knight no better than a beast, forgetting free will, valuing honor, and unconditionally loyal to her lord.

However, her face was definitely better than before.

“…Thank you.”

“How many times have I told you to drop that tone?”

“Until just now, I was averting my eyes from what I didn’t want to see. As a result, I forgot what was important to me and only spouted harsh words.”

“So, you’re not going to fight me?”

“No.”

Clang.

The woman readjusted her sword and shield.

Until just now, she seemed intent on simply relying on strength to swing them, but now her stance clearly held a form.

She has become an intellectual using techniques from a barbarian.

“This is Knight Commander Termia’s last stubbornness. Can you indulge me until the end?”

“I’m planning to capture and kill your master right now, though.”

“Then you have no choice but to indulge my stubbornness even more.”

Madness and fanaticism.

The knight commander, who had been devoted to serving her lord and country, was at a crossroads.

Will she live a life like a machine, obeying orders and forgetting free will, a life no better than a beast?

Or will she break the shackles around her neck even now?

Everything will be decided after the life-or-death struggle between me and her is over.

“Before the fight, may I hear your epithet?”

“Sword Saint.”

“Sword Saint… an arrogant epithet, but somehow I feel a dignity befitting you.”

“What about yours?”

I wondered what Termia would answer to this question.

I was very curious about the answer.

“Until just now, ‘Knight Commander Termia’ for seven years meant me. But long before that, the Wandering Swordswoman symbolized me.”

“Then?”

“Wandering Swordswoman Termia, dares to draw her sword against the Sword Saint.”

Bang!

She casually threw away the shield she had held to protect her lord.

To think that the epithet of a wandering swordsman would be attached to someone so unsuited to it.

‘No, perhaps it suits her perfectly.’

A bird born outside the cage spent a long time in the cage and has now finally come out.

Having experienced freedom and restraint, she has finally come out of the cage by her own choice. How can this not be wandering?

“Come.”

I decided to receive Wandering Swordswoman Termia’s sword in place and immediately responded to her sword. Footwork boasting overwhelming speed and jumping power, and the strength to swing the sword quickly.

Termia, who abandoned the armor she received from the Lord and the shield to protect him, was very quick with her sword.

‘Even a swordsman who has seen the end of quick swordplay is not this fast!’

It’s not just her movements that are nimble.

The intent contained in the tip of the sword is pursuing swift freedom.

Clang—! Clang──!!

The cursed sword and the one-handed sword clashed, and sparks flew.

Sparks continued to fly as the battle continued.

However, I, who held the sword, did not move even a step from my spot.

“To think you can deflect my power so casually! Truly befitting your epithet!!”

The sword contained the ignorant power of an ogre [a monstrous, giant-like being].

The moment that sword and my sword collided, the power contained in the sword kept scattering.

Transplanting flowers and grafting trees [a metaphor for redirecting energy or force].

A subtle move of deflecting the sword.

How can one overcome a saint with mere skill?

“You think someone like you can surpass me with a sword? Seriously?”

“Unless you try… there are things you won’t know.”

“Good mindset.”

But that only works for opponents of equal caliber.

Softness overcomes hardness.

Softness overcomes hardness.

But no matter how soft, it is powerless before overwhelming strength.

Even if you can deflect it, softness is worthless if you can’t repay it.

That’s why I will hide steadfastness within softness.

Does the reed before the autumn wind easily bow its head?

It never breaks.

Clang──!!

Her sword, wielded based on strong strength and free intent.

My sword landed on top of that sword.

The sword wavered before the innate strength, but it did not break.

“What is this…!!”

The overwhelming strength and quick swordplay faltered before the lightly swung sword.

Outwardly gentle, inwardly strong.

The true nature of that gentleness will only be known to those who know the inside.

“My victory.”

“!!!!”

This is the end of our fight.

The conclusion has become clear, so there was no need to cross swords any further.

The knight commander is no longer needed.

This is what both I and she felt at the same time.

Then it’s time for Termia and the knight commander to say goodbye.

「Sword Aura (劍罡)」[A technique focusing on the manifestation of sword energy]

Light dwelled on the sword.

That was the ideal of a swordsman resembling the starlight of the Big Dipper, pointing the way for lost fools.

「Sword Sphere (劍丸)」[A technique involving the creation of a sphere of sword energy]

Above that, a sphere spun around.

The sphere revolving around the sword resembled a planet or a star.

Termia’s eyes sparkled as she blankly watched the spectacle.

Maybe it was because the starlight was reflected.

Her eyes were now full of light and vitality.

“Sword Saint, huh? Was it not the Saint of Saints, but the meaning of star?”

She said absurdly.

But there was no way to deny this much.

She thought.

‘The range is too wide to avoid.’

Then, concentrate all the magic power on the body and desperately block it.

Before her, who was determined, the eyelids that had been closed all along while crossing swords fluttered.

At that very moment.

“!!!!”

Suddenly, her eyes opened.

Along with the beautiful celestial bodies,

Between Termia’s vision, who was fascinated by the dazzling spectacle.

The dawn star of blue eyes twinkled.

“Ah……”

Beautiful.

The eerie eyes resembling blood and flames were gone.

The blue eyes that replaced that place were like the blue starlight shining faintly in the dawn sky.

I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

“Be proud.”

Seungwoo, who contained countless stars, said to such Termia.

At one time, it was possible to create and handle thousands at the same time.

Now, only thirteen spheres were the best.

The combination of Sword Aura and Sword Sphere.

The fusion of the ultimate and the extreme only shows its true value when the two are combined.

The appearance of the spheres rotating around the sword was like an artistic work that contained the creation of the universe drawn by the Tai Chi [a Chinese cosmological concept].

“Be crushed by the dream realm that all martial artists yearn for.”

Thirteen spheres seem like a small number.

But this is the culmination of the myriad stars symbolizing the Sword Star (劍星) [a celestial body associated with swordsmanship].

The number is enough with this much.

It is enough to kill more than double, unless it is a natural disaster.

“I will give you the opportunity to witness the Sword Saint’s sword up close, but instead.”

Termia was startled by the wave of magic power comparable to the ultimate strike boasted by a Ranker [a high-ranking individual].

She instinctively took a step back.

I understand enough.

At least, unless it is an individual that has deviated from the standard of living things, most would have died with this much.

But you have to pay the price for seeing this.

The thirteen sword spheres that are still rotating like stars orbiting in the universe.

The trajectory drawn by the spheres was truly like an artistic work that contained the creation of the universe drawn by the Tai Chi.

Fine art needs a value worthy of it.

Therefore─.

“─I will take your death as the ticket price.”

That’s enough.

As of today, ‘Knight Commander’ Termia dies.

Kwagagagagang──!!!!

The star’s sword that swallowed the flower garden in an instant.

She raised her sword and used all her magic power to block my sword.

Although the scars on her body increased as a result.

I’m sorry to Termia, who is full of joy thanks to blocking it desperately.

My sword rushes in once more.

「Star Cluster Wave」

That appearance is like a wave of star clusters.

Those who live on the ground will only be swept away.

Termia was desperately defending.

[The Sword Saint’s ability is unleashed!]

[The Milky Way is raging!]

The sword formed one huge orbit.

There was a miracle of creating the world with one sword.

No matter how much of a descendant of the ogre, who is also a symbol of force.

In front of the majestic waves of stars, it was no different from a mere speck of dust.

[An abnormally powerful blow!]

[The grace (恩光) [divine favor] residing in the Milky Way deprives all magical concepts in the area.]

Kwagwagwagwagwang────!!!!!

The star-studded waves swept away the clouds above the sky, and an unknown concept descended on the false celestial bodies above it.

[The data within the range of the 「Star Cluster Wave」 is collapsing!]

[The resources that make up the night sky are significantly insufficient.]

[Temporarily, the 「Star Cluster Wave」 replaces the sky.]

This world is already a destroyed world.

In the end, they are already gone.

It is meaningless to make even a knight who is no better than a beast into a human.

Everything that is happening on this land now is like the playback of an old video.

The stars whose positions have been fixed for a week above that sky are the proof.

But today.

What was hanging over the heads of people living a false life was not a false celestial body as usual, but a self-illuminating Milky Way.