Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 19

19. The Top Graduate and the Second Rank

What could the Imperial Guards possibly need help from a scholar for?

The question from the new Imperial Guard was understandable.

However, even the new recruit who answered didn’t know the specifics.

“I don’t know either. But the report written by that person is quite popular among the instructors, apparently?”

“What report are you talking about?”

Someone asked, but everyone else was equally clueless.

With no answer forthcoming, the new Imperial Guards’ curiosity quickly shifted to other topics.

However, the sharp animosity towards the scholar among the Gold Military Instructors had definitely diminished.

Distinguishing between friend and foe and clarifying one’s stance was also an instinctive habit for martial artists.

***

“Stop!”

Instructor Do-jin’s loud voice echoed, causing a sigh to escape from Yun-hyun, who had been watching the sparring match.

“Hmph.”

The surrounding instructors seemed to share the same sentiment, with disappointment evident in their eyes.

“If he had been just a bit faster…”

Instructor Il-chung-hyun nodded in agreement with Yun-hyun’s words, adding,

“Hesitation at that crucial moment was the cause of his defeat. It was due to overlooking the advantage in distance that the opponent’s spear possessed, but…”

Yun-hyun’s brush was already racing across the paper, recording Il-chung-hyun’s words.

Even so, as if unable to shake off his disappointment, Yun-hyun muttered,

“Still, it’s a pity. If he could have unleashed his sword energy [a martial art technique] there, it would have been a victory for sure.”

A slight sigh escaped from Instructor Il-chung-hyun’s lips at Yun-hyun’s words.

“Scholar Yun, as I’ve said before.”

Instructor Il-chung-hyun looked at Yun-hyun and continued,

“The records remaining in the Munyeon Pavilion are about those who can be called the absolute masters among the experts. Just because they freely wield sword energy doesn’t mean that all martial artists can generate it.”

As Yun-hyun nodded, Il-chung-hyun asked him cautiously,

“Has the storyteller you recently summoned been talking about sword energy?”

“No. Actually… the Munyeon Pavilion’s level has been raised recently, and I was able to see new sparring records. From there…”

Il-chung-hyun smiled gently.

“Congratulations on the level increase. It seems His Highness the Crown Prince has finally recognized Scholar Yun.”

“No, it’s not that… Anyway, that doesn’t matter anymore.”

Yun-hyun wore a bitter smile.

In fact, if it was about recognition for his work, he had already received it.

After all, he had been maintaining his position as a scholar of the Changryong Pavilion for eight years, nine years by the calendar, without being dismissed.

‘I’m such a fool. I could have easily realized it if I had thought about it a little…’ Yun-hyun muttered inwardly.

Even if he hadn’t heard the story from Changryong Pavilion’s administrator, Sa-il-cheon, while sharing a drink recently, he should have already guessed what it meant to be recognized as a scholar of the Changryong Pavilion.

—The Changryong Pavilion is the end of the world, the tomb of scholars. There’s nowhere else to go.

Sa-il-cheon, rarely drunk, had said that.

Come to think of it, the scholar of the Baekho Pavilion in the past was also like that.

He had achieved outstanding results, but wasn’t that precisely why he spent his entire life as a scholar of the Baekho Pavilion?

So, the hope that Yun-hyun had dreamed of in the Changryong Pavilion never existed in the first place.

“I should just diligently fulfill my duties. Isn’t that a person’s duty?”

Yun-hyun said with a resigned tone. However, Instructor Il-chung-hyun shook his head.

“No one knows how life will change. Isn’t that where the fun of living comes from? Don’t be disappointed and wait for the right time.”

“I…”

Yun-hyun was about to reply when.

“Ready!”

Yun-hyun turned his head at Instructor Do-jin’s loud voice.

Two new Imperial Guards were preparing for a new sparring match.

Both choosing swords as their weapons, they glared at each other without backing down an inch.

“Oh, aren’t those two the top graduate and the second rank from this year’s military examination?”

With someone’s voice, the instructors’ gazes focused on the sparring arena. The top graduate and the second rank refer to the top and runner-up of the military examination. Instructor Il-chung-hyun also watched the sparring arena with keen eyes.

“I heard that the top graduate and the second rank were separated by only a sheet of paper in the military examination. This will be interesting to watch.”

Another instructor’s words were enough to pique everyone’s interest.

As if to meet those expectations, the energy emanating from the two people in the sparring arena was quite unusual.

Yun-hyun, who was watching, as well as Instructor Do-jin, who was conducting the sparring match, were visibly tense.

“Start!”

With Instructor Do-jin’s command, the sparring match began.

The eyes of the two swordsmen gleamed sharply, and the new Imperial Guard who took the second rank launched the first attack.

Clang.

The sharp sword strike was ineffective against his opponent.

The new Imperial Guard who took the top spot blocked the attack too easily.

“Hmph.”

It was a sneer.

The second rank’s expression hardened.

“This, this bastard…”

For a martial artist, pride is sometimes something that cannot be exchanged for anything.

And for some, the title of ‘second rank,’ which means runner-up, is actually an insult.

The second rank’s face flushed instantly.

“Haa!”

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

The second rank’s sword strikes were fierce.

However, the instructors who were watching frowned instead.

“Tsk.”

“He’s crossed the line.”

“To get so easily agitated like that…”

The instructors shook their heads.

Il-chung-hyun was no different.

“His strength is excessive. He’s so focused on offense that his swordsmanship has become rigid.”

Yun-hyun fully agreed with those words.

The second rank’s movements were terrible.

He was so impatient that he often created openings with large movements, and as a result, he was frequently pushed into counterattacks.

It looked like he was pushing forward, but he was actually being played by his opponent’s taunts.

‘It’ll be over in five moves at most.’ Yun-hyun muttered inwardly.

And exactly five moves later, the second rank had his neck exposed to the top graduate’s sword.

“Stop!”

As the top graduate’s sword reached the second rank’s neck, Instructor Do-jin ordered the sparring match to be stopped.

The second rank stared at the top graduate as if he couldn’t believe it.

But the top graduate’s eyes were cold.

With a flick, the new Imperial Guard who took the top spot said, withdrawing his sword from the second rank’s neck,

“To be so easily provoked by such a small taunt and become flustered.”

With a cold gaze, the top graduate said,

“That’s why you’ll be the second rank forever.”

The second rank’s face contorted.

The gazes of the instructors looking at him felt like mockery piercing his heart.

And that wasn’t all.

It was as if the laughter and ridicule of the other new Imperial Guards were ringing in his ears.

“Kuh.” The second rank lowered his head.

The top graduate turned and moved towards his place.

It was at that moment.

“Oh no!”

Yun-hyun, who was watching, jumped up from his seat.

The second rank’s eyes were bloodshot.

He didn’t care that this was the Imperial Guard training ground, nor that the person in front of him was a colleague.

—You’ll be the second rank forever.

Only the cold voice, like a sentence, echoed in his ears.

It felt as if the mocking laughter and contemptuous glances of his colleagues were pouring down on him.

He had been defeated.

And he had shown an extremely unsightly appearance.

But for him, who could not accept his defeat, the sparring match was not over yet.

No, it shouldn’t be over.

Whoosh.

He didn’t realize when he had picked up his sword, nor what sword form he was using.

But he knew one thing clearly.

The back of the person who had insulted him was defenselessly in front of his sword, and the surprised face of his opponent was turning to look at him.

At this moment, victory was his.

And there was no one who could interfere with this victory.

“Instructor Do…!”

Pak.

Just as Yun-hyun shouted towards Instructor Do-jin in the sparring arena, a sharp sound of air being torn apart was heard from the side.

But Yun-hyun didn’t need to look to the side.

Like a streak of arrow, Instructor Il-chung-hyun was shooting out.

“Instructor Il-chung-hyun!”

“Instructor Do-jin!”

Only Yun-hyun was the exception.

Even in the midst of all this, Yun-hyun was calmly watching Instructor Il-chung-hyun.

As if not to miss even a single movement of Instructor Il-chung-hyun.

Pararak.

Instructor Il-chung-hyun, who had been shooting out like an arrow, rotated his body and changed his posture.

At the same time, a blue blade appeared from his waist.

‘Hoo.’

Only then did Yun-hyun let out a sigh of relief.

Instructor Il-chung-hyun would be able to deflect the second rank’s sword.

Thinking that, Yun-hyun’s eyes widened.

‘Huh?’

A strange light was faintly flickering on Instructor Il-chung-hyun’s blade as it fell towards the second rank’s sword.

‘That, that’s…!’

The top graduate felt the killing intent approaching from behind.

But when he turned his head, the opponent’s sword was already lunging towards him.

His body, honed over many years, had already begun to move instinctively, but he couldn’t help but feel that ‘it was over’ crossed his mind.

That was a judgment as accurate and clear as his outstanding talent.

‘Kuh.’

Just as the top graduate braced himself for the worst.

Wooong.

With a strange sound, he witnessed a faint ray of light cutting through his eyes and plunging down.

And that light cut through the second rank’s sword as it passed.

Swish.

The second rank’s sword, which had been lunging towards him, was cut in half before the top graduate’s eyes as if it were a lie.

And soon, a dull impact covered them.

Thud.

“Kuh.”

With a groan, the top graduate and the second rank were pushed away in opposite directions.

And Instructor Il-chung-hyun descended between them.

Thak.

“What foolish acts are these!”

Instructor Il-chung-hyun, standing like a mountain, shouted loudly.

But no one answered.

The top graduate and the second rank were collapsed as if crumpled, and the new Imperial Guards didn’t even know what had happened.

The new recruits didn’t even notice that the second rank’s sword, cut in half, was lying at Instructor Il-chung-hyun’s feet.

“What, what’s going on?”

“What just happened?”

But no one answered.

Everyone had seen the second rank suddenly using lethal force.

They had also sensed the inevitable tragedy that was about to unfold before their eyes.

But at the last moment, Instructor Il-chung-hyun had appeared as if by magic and subdued both of them at the same time.

“Instructor! Are you alright?”

Instructor Do-jin asked.

“I’m fine.”

Instructor Il-chung-hyun said, looking down at the fallen top graduate and second rank.

“I told you to refrain from excessive competitiveness, but to do such reckless things! This matter will not be taken lightly!”

It was a stern warning, but admiration flowed among the new Imperial Guards.

Relief spread across the instructors’ faces as well.

“Hoo, indeed…”

Yun-hyun also let out a long sigh of relief.

As expected of Instructor Il-chung-hyun.

Recalling the lightning-like skill that had just unfolded before his eyes, Yun-hyun smiled. And once again, he admired Instructor Il-chung-hyun.

Then suddenly, Yun-hyun frowned.

“Oh dear.”

Ink had splattered not only on his clothes but everywhere.

It was because he had jumped up with the brush in his hand, and he had unknowingly imitated Instructor Il-chung-hyun’s movements.

He had wielded the brush like a sword, so it was natural for ink to splatter everywhere.

“Tsk tsk.” Yun-hyun clicked his tongue and gathered his ink-stained official robes and the ruined records.

Meanwhile, Instructor Il-chung-hyun, standing in the middle of the training ground, was looking at Yun-hyun with a subtle expression.

‘Just now, clearly…’

Yun-hyun getting up and Instructor Il-chung-hyun noticing something strange happened almost simultaneously.

No one other than them had noticed the second rank’s sudden actions.

Even Instructor Do-jin, who was closest, hadn’t.

How should he accept that Yun-hyun, who wasn’t even an Imperial Guard, had noticed the situation first?

After pondering for a moment, Instructor Il-chung-hyun shook his head lightly.

Cleaning up the aftermath was more important than that right now.

“Instructor Do, have them taken to the medical office.”

“Yes.”

After the two were carried away and the area was cleared, the sparring match continued again.

And by that time, Yun-hyun had barely managed to finish organizing the ruined records.

Yun-hyun’s eyes lit up again as he immersed himself in the sparring match.

And so, another day of Yun-hyun was passing by.