Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 57

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius – Episode 57

Gu Yaja (2)

“Teacher, are you done talking?”

“Yes, everyone can come in now.”

I will avenge Gu Yaja, and Gu Yaja will make weapons for me.

Immediately after making the simple and clear contract, Iji, who had been waiting outside, knocked on the door.

When I said they could come in, the kids all rushed in at once.

It must have been quite cold outside.

It’s almost the end of April, but why are they so sensitive to the cold?

“……Just, imagine Assistant Instructor standing next to Isis all the time.”

“Ah.”

That’s understandable.

Anyway, to melt away the cold, the students sat around the furnace.

Five students took their seats, but where did one go?

As I looked around, I saw Isabel talking to Gu Yaja. She opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“Where are Eojang, Damro, and Ganjang-Makya? I never thought I’d get a chance to see the world’s greatest swords so suddenly.”

“……Miss, you know a lot about the swords I make.”
The typical blonde young lady, Isabel, asked with sparkling eyes.

In response, Gu Yaja, with his haggard eyes, looked up at her.

Blonde hair and white skin. She’s definitely not Asian.

Moreover, I could feel a unique aristocratic ease from her that I couldn’t feel from ordinary people.

Then─.

“─Are you a daughter of Leonhardt? It’s about time that family’s daughter entered the Academy.”

“Leonhardt! Don’t lump me in with those muscle-brained lions. I am a descendant of the noble Cheonlang [Heavenly Wolf], Sirius!”

“Hmm? Aren’t you?”

“Of course not! I’m completely different from those uncouth people!”

Isabel expressed her emotions intensely.

It was the first time I saw her, who is particularly cold to others, get angry at someone other than me. Although it hasn’t been that long since we met.

‘To think he’d touch one of Isabel’s sore spots. I guess he lacks consideration because he made it based on Shin Noya’s personality.’

The lion family, Leonhardt.

A great family located in Germany.

Like Sirius or Cheonho Baekga [Thousand Lake Baek Family], they are one of the Gucheon Se-ga [Nine Heavens Families], and they are famous for their innate physical abilities and mobility.

Each and every one of Leonhardt’s bloodline is a born warrior, and they are in charge of the top and front lines of Germany’s guilds and military.

In other words, Germany’s military power is practically Leonhardt’s monopoly.

Compared to Cheonho Baekga, which wields global capital beyond Korea, and the Sirius family, which oversees Europe, they are a bit lacking.

However, they wield absolute power in their territory, Germany.

But that’s only within their own country.

Whatever the case, Gu Yaja’s remarks were quite insulting to Isabel, who takes pride in being a member of Sirius.

Just as she dislikes me, the Sirius family considers Leonhardt as their arch-enemy.

“So, you’re saying you’re not a Leonhardt?”

“Of course not.”

“By the way, your reaction is interesting. Do you hate Leonhardt that much?”

“Of course!”

The nine families of Gucheon Se-ga are bound to keep each other in check.

The existence of competitors in an equal position, who can infringe on their absolute power as nobles, is always unpleasant.

Baek Seung-woo and Isabel, who had a prenatal marriage since childhood, are a unique case.

It is normal for families like Sirius and Leonhardt to fight each other.

However, the two families fight not only for political reasons but also because of the traits that were separated from their ancestors.

Sirius of the canine family.

Leonhardt of the feline family.

It’s an impossible combination to get close to in the first place.

Strictly speaking, foxes also belong to the canine family, so their relationship with Leonhardt is not good. But it’s mild compared to Sirius.

Those two families genuinely hate each other.

“I see, I’m sorry about that. You looked so much like the daughter of an acquaintance I saw a long time ago.”

“It’s okay, it can happen. So, where are the weapons?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Pardon?”

Gu Yaja said while picking his nose.

He added in a matter-of-course tone.

“While being chased by creditors and assassins, I lost most of my weapons or sold them off indiscriminately to raise funds. Maybe they’re in some rich man’s collection by now, or melted down by some hick who doesn’t even know the value of the swords.”

“T, that can’t be…….”

Isabel lowered her head.

Seo Yerin and Seong Yeonhwa, who were listening to their conversation from afar, almost lowered their heads as well.

One of the few opportunities to witness Gu Yaja’s masterpieces, also known as the century’s greatest swords.

An opportunity that swordsmen, spearmen, and even magicians couldn’t help but be interested in, disappeared for such a futile reason.

It was so unfair.

Gu Yaja, who got the impression that the atmosphere had become gloomy, frowned.

“What, did you want to see my swords that badly? They’re just replicas made after my ancestors’ work.”

“That’s why they’re more interesting. True masterpieces never lose their value even after hundreds of years.”

“……That’s also true.”

Gu Yaja couldn’t understand the students’ reactions at all.

Eojang (魚腸) [Fish Belly], Damro (湛盧) [Azure/Deep Black], Seungsa (勝邪) [Victorious Evil], Taea (泰阿) [Supreme Peace], Chukrujigeom (屬鏤之劍) [Sword of Belonging], etc. They were famous and great swords, but in the end, what he made were just imitations of what Gu Yaja of the Yue Dynasty made.

His skills were great for an imitation, but that was only possible because the original’s abilities were amazing.

He couldn’t understand why they wanted to see the swords that barely followed in the footsteps of the original so much, but he realized it thanks to the Assistant Instructor’s annoying face.

True masterpieces never lose their value in the face of trends and time.

Even if it’s his own work from later generations, the modifier of Gu Yaja’s swords does not disappear.

He scratched his head, feeling an emotion he hadn’t felt in a long time, and reached out to the floor.

Clunk! When he touched something on the floor, stairs leading down popped out.

The stairs were not deep, and what was stored there could be seen at a glance even from a distance.

Even though they had been neglected in the basement, they had not lost their radiance.

“Those are……?”

“Swords, spears, shields, rings. Are those all Grandpa’s works?”

“They’re old things that haven’t been oiled even once since I came here, but they’re the ones I made in my prime, so their performance is guaranteed. Maybe one of the swords I made is in there.”

The equipment made by Gu Yaja.

He even said he made them ‘in his prime’.

What would his works from his heyday be like?

The kids went down to the basement as if possessed by curiosity, wondering if there might be a sword like Makya.

They started talking, touching the swords and weapons and marveling at their excellent quality.

Are they that great?

Should I touch them too?

I followed the students into the basement.

Is it because they were made before Gu Yaja became the wreck he is now?

Certainly, the weapons were splendid.

「Dragon Slayer」

Grade: A+

Description: A greatsword made by the artisan, Gu Yaja. It is a sword made based on the legend of dragon slaying, and Doryongjigi (屠龍之技) [Technique of Slaying Dragons] flows along the blade. The crude and massive sword requires tremendous dragon power just to swing, but if you can wield this sword freely, you may be able to slay a dragon. Of course, this is just a possibility.

*Doryongjigi [Technique of Slaying Dragons]

A technique and energy for killing dragons, but also a collection of vain delusions of killing dragons. Therefore, the raison d’être of this sword is worthless, and the person who wields it must also be illiterate. However, sometimes you have to feel that something is meaningless and worthless in order to discover something truly valuable. Until that day comes, Doryongjigi will cut down vain delusions and illusions.

A greatsword that was too huge and heavy to be laid on the floor.

「Holy Spear」

Grade: S

Description: A sacred spear made by the artisan, Gu Yaja. It is a long spear that is sacred, strong, and boasts considerable elasticity. As a holy spear, it should have the power to deny evil, but it has no abilities because all its power was poured into durability. It’s just a holy spear in name only.

A spear that felt sacred with the harmonious combination of pure white and gold, but when you looked closely, it didn’t feel like anything was hanging on the wall.

It felt like the weapon of a betrayer who lacked faith. How strange.

In addition, various weapons were scattered everywhere.

All of them had obvious traces of being made roughly, but the technology contained within was real.

This is Gu Yaja’s smithing.

The students seemed excited at the thought of being able to order weapons from him.

“Hey, look at these arrows. They’re disposable, but they’re carved so delicately!”

“You idiot. That’s because they’re not disposable. Don’t you know that the arrowhead has a return magic inscribed on it?”

“The sword is also amazing! With this level of skill, you can make a sword as great as mine!”

“The staff here is also amazing. The jewel embedded at the end is unusual. Did you process this by hand too?”

Everyone was busy touching various weapons and admiring them.

It was a level that I was sorry to compare with the mass-produced C-grade products supplied by Chilseong.

While I was smiling slightly at them, Gu Yaja came up to me and spoke.

“So, what do you want from me?”

“Everything you can make.”

“Everything?”

“Yes, everything.”

Sword, spear, armor, axe, shield, gun…… anything is fine.

There may be weapons in this world that I have difficulty handling, but there are no weapons that I cannot handle.

If it’s equipment made by Gu Yaja, it will be able to replenish my lacking power.

“What level of quality do you want specifically?”

“I hope it’s at least above S-grade, and it would be even better if the equipment itself contains inner power.”

Normal equipment ends at F to S grade.

However, if the equipment itself contains special inner power or a story, it is treated as higher-level equipment. The system named five grades in order based on the inner power and story contained in the weapon itself.

Bihwa (祕話) [Secret Story], attached to equipment that exceeds S-grade and has the performance to become the protagonist of a hidden story with the equipment itself.

Ilhwa (逸話) [Anecdote], begins to make a name for itself in earnest, but is the protagonist of a story that is not widely known or has performance comparable to it.

Seosa (敍事) [Epic], as the name suggests, it has the power to appear in epic poems or to write a new epic with only the inner power and performance contained in the weapon.

Jeonseol (傳說) [Legend], a grade given to the protagonist of a folktale or an object related to it that has been passed down through oral tradition since ancient or prehistoric times.

Sinhwa (神話) [Myth], a grade that cannot be realized with human representation.

It is only attached to things that appear in myths or have abilities comparable to them.

These are classified into five stages.

I don’t know why there are only F to S grades for skills, but why there are 5 more grades for equipment.

That’s the author’s mind, and I can’t do anything about it.

All I can do is use those grades of equipment effectively.

“If possible, I would like to be able to request equipment of the Seosa [Epic] grade.”

“Impossible.”

Dori dori [Shaking head].

The old man shook his head and denied it.

Can’t do it.

Absolutely can’t do it.

Gu Yaja of the past might have been able to, but the current him is old and sick.

The dilapidated smithy implied his current state.

The current him was like the old and rusty hammer in his hand.

“I can never make it.”

“Why? I would understand if it was Jeonseol [Legend], but you couldn’t even make Seosa [Epic]. Wasn’t it because you created a Seosa [Epic]-grade weapon that you received the title of ‘Gu Yaja’?”

“Seosa [Epic] is not a realm that can be realized by just one blacksmith! Seosa [Epic] is the epic of a hero. It needs materials and an environment worthy of it, and above all, a story to be melted into the weapon!”

It was purely a miracle that he made a Seosa [Epic]-grade weapon.

He tried to recreate the sword that the legendary Gu Yaja of the Yue Dynasty made, but coincidentally, the legend related to the real Gu Yaja was imbued in the sword, and it appeared in later generations as a work one step lower than the original.

He did not create a Seosa [Epic]-grade weapon with his own power.

He was just copying the work of a blacksmith from a neighboring country who was not even related by blood, and was influenced by the original.

All of the Seosa [Epic]-grade weapons he made after that were named after the swords or demon swords that Gu Yaja made, so there were no weapons made purely by the old man’s power.

That’s why the old man couldn’t fulfill the request.

All of Gu Yaja’s works have already been reborn in modern times through his hands.

The reason why he could make a large number of Seosa [Epic]-grade weapons was because he only made one of each of the swords that Gu Yaja made.

All luxury goods were recognized for their value because there was only one genuine product.

However, if he made more of those named swords, they would be reduced from a unique item to a mass-produced item that could be made in large quantities.

Great weapons that appear in epic poems are only valuable if they belong to only one protagonist. If all the characters in the epic had the same weapon, the value of the weapon would be reduced.

That’s why Gu Yaja could no longer make Seosa [Epic]-grade equipment.

Hmm, I understand what you mean.

I nodded, understanding the old man’s situation.

“That’s none of my business.”

“……What did you say?”

“It’s funny, you explained it in detail. What’s the difference between that and saying you’re running away because you don’t have confidence? Was your desire for revenge only that much?”

“…….”

I provoked him.

It was a very obvious way to provoke someone’s desire for revenge.

However, regardless of East or West, there is no more effective way to stimulate the other person than this.

At least that’s what I’ve experienced.

“……Does that mean I can definitely get revenge if you make it for me?”

“Of course.”

Look at Gu Yaja right now.

His face was turning red and blue, and a cold determination was forming in his dull eyes. It worked very well.

That’s why I can’t fix my habit of provoking others.