Sohona Academy. The purpose of this school is to produce heroes.
Why does the world need heroes? It's simple. Because there are demons.
The academy's founder, the hero Siros, once said,
"The existence of Valthero and Sohona ensures that we will always have heroes to fight against the demons."
It's not just a matter of national defense anymore; it's a global necessity. The academy's reputation spread across the world, making it a hub not only for locals but for talented students from various regions. Competition here was intense beyond words.
Kang Gom-ma had entered the academy thanks to the blessing of the Sword God M, which earned him enough merit to pass the entrance exam. Despite this, many considered him to be an underdog, especially when compared to students from prestigious families. However, Kang Gom-ma had his own perspective: rather than wasting time focusing on what others thought, he intended to use the time he had to maximize his efficiency and get ahead.
With the entrance test just around the corner, there wasn't much time left for him to prepare.
"…It's impressive."
Although I had expected a prestigious school, I hadn't imagined the sheer size of the academy. The first thing I noticed was that it felt more like a small city than just a school.
The elegant buildings lining the campus immediately caught my eye. The Victorian-style architecture gave off a dignified air, and the neatly trimmed gardens showed how diligently the staff maintained the grounds. However, towering over everything was the massive structure of the main building, its peak resembling the tip of a castle turret.
I sat down on a bench under a nearby tree. Clouds drifted lazily across the sky, and I leaned back, enjoying the shade while trying to clear my head. I tried not to think too much about the world I had left behind, but inevitably, memories of my former life crept into my mind.
When I dropped out of high school, I began working full-time at a small restaurant. I never had any ambitions to speak of; I simply wanted to make ends meet. At the time, I was abandoned by my family, and my mother passed away shortly after. Before long, I was left entirely on my own, trying to make a living with just my knife skills. People eventually started calling me the best knifeman in the country. Sure, that title came with some pride, but what good was it?
I glanced down at my watch. Thirty minutes until the entrance exam. I sighed. The time seemed to drag, each second ticking away slower than the last.
The sunlight filtered through the leaves, and I closed my eyes briefly, imagining what it would be like to graduate from this academy and return to a normal life. But my thoughts were quickly interrupted by the distant sound of approaching footsteps, bringing me back to reality.
I let out a small sigh of regret and slung the shabby bag over my shoulder. It was filled with my clothes and some basic necessities. I had just returned from the general store, having bought a few last-minute items like a 2.5 kg bag of rice and a few cans of food.
"This is just a test. I'll have to grip the knife tightly."
Thinking back on it, I had never had the chance to properly wield a knife since coming to this world. After all, for almost 20 years, I had handled blades almost every day. Even though I hadn't used one for a year here, my skills hadn't dulled.
I recalled the words of my first master:
"You should never let a day pass without using a knife. Keep it sharp, always. Got it?"
Of course, I had let a year pass since then. But it wasn't as if my hands had forgotten their touch.
Inside my bag, I found the sashimi knife I had bought. It wasn't anything fancy, but the balance was decent enough. The weight wasn't too heavy, and the material of the blade seemed sturdy. I felt unexpectedly satisfied with my purchase.
"This isn't bad at all."
It was a knife I had bought from the discount bin, and it felt good in my hands. If I wanted something better, I would've had to spend a lot more money, but for now, this knife would do just fine.
I couldn't help but smile as I pulled it out. Even the small scabbard attached to my waist belt seemed to fit perfectly. As soon as I secured the blade, a message popped up in my vision with a light ting sound.
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[Weapon conditions met.]
[The Blessing of the Sword God has been activated.]
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"Huh? What's this all of a sudden?"
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[You have met the requirements for No Weapon (無武).]
[The effects of the Blessing of the Sword God have been activated!]
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What the—?
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[You are using an item that exceeds your skill level.
Your physical condition has decreased significantly.]
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My body suddenly stiffened. I felt a strange pressure run through my veins. My grip faltered as my hand, wrist, and entire arm began to feel numb. It was as if my muscles were being compressed, causing my body to tingle painfully.
Ziiiing—
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[Synchronization complete.]
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After that final message appeared:
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<
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A mysterious female voice echoed as if it were piercing through the depths of my mind. The faint sound grew louder and sharper, triggering a splitting headache as though my brain was being split open.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!"
The pain was unbearable, like needles piercing my brain over and over again. In an instant, a torrent of incomprehensible information rushed into my mind, so fast that my senses could barely keep up with it. It felt as though someone had forcefully crammed knowledge into my head, overwhelming my consciousness.
My head throbbed with a blinding pain, as if something was digging into my skull. The unbearable sensation continued to hammer at me, filling my mind with an intense burning heat that spread like wildfire through my body. It was a pain far beyond anything I had ever experienced, driving me into a state of delirium.
Suddenly, I felt a weight lift off my body, like a boulder being removed from my chest. My head cleared, and I noticed that my vision, which had been spinning moments earlier, was gradually returning to normal.
I instinctively clutched the knife in my hand. It was as though the unbearable sensation from earlier had been wiped away completely, leaving me with the same calm clarity I had when I first gripped the blade. Slowly, my breathing returned to normal.
I stood up, shaky at first, feeling my blood circulate through my body again. A tingling sensation ran through my veins as I tried to get a grasp on my bearings. For a moment, I thought I had been knocked unconscious.
"Damn it… what the hell just happened?"
Shaking my head, I tried to clear the lingering effects of the mysterious synchronization. I felt a sharp, lingering ache in my muscles as I stumbled slightly, trying to walk straight. My entire body was still reeling from the aftermath of the experience.
The pain was finally beginning to fade, though I still felt weak, as though I had just run a marathon. However, there was something different about my movements now. My body responded with a strange precision, and my steps seemed lighter.
"It seems like… this Blessing of the Sword God has something special about it after all."
Every time I tried to activate the Blessing, I felt as though I wouldn't be able to handle using it again. The pain was unbearable, and if this had lasted more than a few seconds, I wouldn't have been able to recover. Even though I had only tested the blade for a short time, the strain it placed on my body was overwhelming. This was clearly no ordinary blessing.
I had assumed that with a name as grand as Blessing of the Sword God, I'd gain some exceptional powers. But if this was the limit, wasn't it practically useless? I could barely feel any increase in my abilities, and the only thing I got in return for using it was near-total exhaustion. What kind of blessing was this, meant to be wielded by the world's top warriors?
Just as my body trembled uncontrollably from the aftereffects of the exertion, I heard a voice echo in my mind.
"Phew… Alright, time for the practical test."
A loud voice interrupted my thoughts.
"In ten minutes, we will begin the practical entrance exam at the testing grounds. All students, please gather there immediately."
I shook off my fatigue and checked the time. There were only twenty minutes left before the test would begin. I hurriedly packed up my belongings and strapped the sashimi knife to my waist, fastening it securely.
As I adjusted the knife in its scabbard, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. Was this really going to work? Would this weapon be enough?
Still, maybe the first experience with the Blessing was the worst of it. Perhaps it wouldn't always be like this. I rubbed my wrist absentmindedly as I tried to calm my nerves.
"Ahhhhhhh! What the—stop it! Agh, stop!!"
It wasn't me. It was the sound of a cry nearby.
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In a large open space set up for the practical exams, rows of students stood in anticipation. Behind the testing area, banners bearing the academy's insignia fluttered in the breeze, symbolizing the prestige of the world's top school for hero training. The event was a grand affair, attended by notable officials, academy staff, and even high-ranking heroes.
Among them, there were figures observing the students closely, calculating their future potential. A middle-aged man with a sharp, hawk-like gaze approached the students, his eyes narrowed.
"Hmph. Seems like you've had a tough time making it here," he muttered under his breath.
There was no reply.
At the center of the testing grounds stood the imposing figure of Sigrifrit von Nivelton. He was the direct descendant of Aran Nivelton, one of the heroes of the legendary Valthero, and the heir to the Nivelton family, a noble line of swordmasters. The man known as the "best human alive" stood under the bright sun, his golden hair shining as he gazed coldly at the students.
"..."
He barely glanced at the students lined up before him, his eyes devoid of any interest as if they were mere insects to him. He turned his head toward a subordinate, and with a slight nod, signaled for them to begin.
"Ah, so you're planning to just relax and enjoy the view, I see?"
The subordinate gave a quick salute before swiftly leaving, their figure disappearing under the sunlight.
Sigrifrit remained standing, arms crossed, surveying the surroundings in silence. He watched the scene unfold with a detached expression, his face betraying no emotion.
Meanwhile, a green-haired woman dressed in a dark robe descended from a nearby tower. Her robe billowed out behind her as she moved, and her sharp eyes scanned the scene before her with a focused intensity.
"Oh my, Sigrifrit. It's been quite a while!"
"Ah, Medea. I didn't expect to see you here, not after all this time. And look at you, still hanging around the academy, I see. Aren't you just lounging around, like always?"
Medea, a woman with a bright smile, approached Sigrifrit, teasing him with her words. She tugged playfully at her long green robe, standing with an air of confidence and beauty.
"Are you still interested in playing around with the hearts of the young women here? Or perhaps you've finally grown tired of them?" Medea teased, raising an eyebrow and giving him a sly smile.
"Hmph. You misunderstand me. I don't play around with them. It's just that human emotions are always interesting to observe," Sigrifrit replied coolly, brushing her off with his usual indifference.
"Right, right. You always say that, but you haven't changed one bit," Medea laughed, giving him a light pat on the back.
She then took a seat next to Sigrifrit, her sharp eyes never leaving the testing grounds as she prepared to observe the upcoming exam.
"Anyway, Sigrifrit, you've changed a lot."
"Changed? How do you mean?"
"Well, you never used to show up to places like this. You've always hated these types of events and dealing with lower-ranked heroes like these students."
Medea waved her hand dismissively toward the gathered students, clearly showing her lack of interest. Sigrifrit simply responded with a short laugh.
"Are you thinking of getting married soon? Perhaps you've grown soft in your old age? Maybe you'll finally settle down and start a family. You should hurry before the kids end up marrying off all the suitable candidates," Medea teased, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"What? Are you serious?"
"Oh, come on. You know me. It's not like I'm getting any younger either. Look, the academy has already approved eight marriage candidates for me. I'm sure you'll be next on their list," Medea said, half-joking but half-serious.
Sigrifrit rolled his eyes, clearly tired of the conversation. He leaned back, trying to change the subject.
"Let's just focus on the test at hand."
Medea chuckled at his discomfort, turning her attention back to the arena. "You always were bad at taking jokes."
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As the casual chatter between them continued for a few more minutes, the energy in the atmosphere shifted slightly. Medea leaned back in her chair, glancing at Sigrifrit.
"So, what's this test going to be like?" Sigrifrit asked.
"You really don't know?" Medea replied, her eyebrow raised.
Sigrifrit's eyes flicked toward her in surprise, clearly waiting for an answer.
"Why would I know what this nonsense test is about? They don't tell me anything useful. I'm just here to watch, like everyone else."
Medea clapped her hands together, smiling.
"This year, we're going with the usual method. It's a battle royale system. We divide the students into groups of ten, and the last one standing in each group is the winner."
"..."
Sigrifrit frowned.
"You really didn't know about the battle royale?"
A moment of silence passed between them before Medea stretched her legs out in front of her, crossing them casually.
"Alright."
"Then what's the big deal? Go ahead, explain it. You might want to tell me before I completely lose interest," Sigrifrit said, lowering his voice with a hint of sarcasm.
Medea's voice, which had been playful moments earlier, turned more serious.
"It's called Battle... and Royale. Apparently, it's some kind of popular game among the academy students these days."
"...Idiots."
The tension between the two giant personalities was palpable.
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[The practical test is about to begin. All students, please equip your weapons.]
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The announcement for the start of the test echoed through the arena.