Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 77

"One thing I need you to promise."

Irina, heading to the training hall with Kang Minseong, spoke up.

"Don't blame me if your granddaughter gets hurt."

"Aren't you the one causing the injury?"

"No. It was your granddaughter who accepted the proposal in the first place. It's unfair to put all the blame on me."

"Then there's the option of going easy or just letting her win."

"...Are you serious?"

As Irina glared, Kang Minseong laughed out loud. Then, shaking his head a couple of times, he continued.

"I just hope you won't be too excessive."

"That's unexpected. I thought you'd try to stop the duel right away."

In truth, that's what he wanted. He wanted to prevent it. The honest feeling in Kang Minseong's heart was that he didn't want to stop it. His granddaughter being utterly defeated right in front of him, not even in private? He worried he might get angry without realizing it.

But recently, even Kang Minseong had realized his own mistake. The way he had loved his granddaughter until now was ultimately incorrect. If he truly loved her, sometimes he needed to be stern.

'Suhyeon can do it. She can succeed. I shouldn't just worry and embrace her. Suhyeon can also succeed now. Yes, she will definitely do well.'

Perhaps his overprotection had further eroded Kim Suhyeon's self-esteem. While his actions stemmed from concern, to Kim Suhyeon, it might have seemed like he didn't trust her.

"...Suhyeon is no longer the child from the past. She'll do well."

"Oh? What's this? This is quite different from the rumors circulating."

"What rumors about me?"

"Overprotective. Doting grandfather. An old man who never grew up."

"Why you."

As Kang Minseong raised his fist, Irina brought her head forward as if saying "Go ahead, hit me." Irina was probably the only person who could act like this in front of Kang Minseong.

"Oh my."

A sigh that seemed to say, "You're truly not right in the head."

"Old man. I have a question."

While they were descending to the first floor and heading to the training hall, Irina asked a question.

"By any chance, did you teach Seojin oppa your sword technique?"

"Seojin oppa? What's your relationship with the Examiner?"

Really, both granddaughter and grandfather. Why is that the first thing you both focus on?

With a sigh, Irina snapped that this wasn't the important part.

"Please, just answer the question. It's important."

"Do you perhaps have feelings for the Examiner?"

Kang Minseong persistently clung to that point. Slightly annoyed, Irina retorted, "So what if I do? What are you going to do about it?"

"Hmm."

Kang Minseong rubbed his chin, deeply contemplating something. He even muttered, "I should have a conversation with him later."

"Oh, come on. Old man."

"Why do you suddenly ask such a question?"

"Why else? Because I heard from Sister Jiyoon."

"You mean about how the Examiner broke Kwak Hyuk's spear with a gentle breeze and inflicted a fatal wound with a cool breeze?"

Irina snapped back, asking what else could it be? She stared at Kang Minseong, indicating that since it was already out in the open, there was no need to hide the truth with strange words or change the subject.

"What do you think, Irina?"

"No changing the subject, old man."

"I'm not changing it. I'm just asking."

In the distance, Kim Suhyeon could be seen waiting for Irina in the center of the training hall. With a real sword in hand, she seemed to have a tremendous determination for this duel.

"...You're not just any old man, are you? Of course, you wouldn't have properly taught him. He's not your grandson or granddaughter, just a complete stranger."

"He's not a complete stranger. He could become my granddaughter's husband."

"Yes, yes. Save your hopes for later."

So, was her assessment correct? Irina's gaze asked. Kang Minseong answered as he continued walking.

"As you said. Just because he was Suhyeon's benefactor, I showed him once. That was all."

"Even showing it once is remarkable. The story that you wouldn't show it to others even for a fortune is quite famous."

"...Why are you suddenly asking this, Irina?"

Step—

Before entering the training hall where Kim Suhyeon was waiting, Irina shrugged her shoulders as if it was obvious.

"That water ghost bastard may be an idiot, but he's not a weakling. Against such an opponent, Seojin oppa delivered a perfect counter with a gentle breeze. Is this even possible? Even your disciples, not to mention your family members, couldn't replicate even half of that technique, right?"

Irina knew this because she had experienced it firsthand from Kang Minseong years ago.

The delicate technique that only Kang Minseong could perfectly execute. Even though it was incomplete, it had perfectly neutralized her attack.

This wasn't just because the technique, that sword, was amazing. It was possible because Kang Minseong had such a high level of comprehension. Even his grandson and granddaughter, Kang Dogyeong and Kang Jisu, who were potential future S-rank ability users, couldn't replicate it.

"But Seojin oppa, after seeing it just once, executed it almost perfectly."

"..."

"What do you think of Seojin oppa, old man?"

Kang Minseong didn't answer the flying question. It meant he thought she already knew his answer.

"That's why I want Seojin oppa for myself."

With a smile, Irina advanced to the center of the training hall. Kim Suhyeon, who had been waiting, approached.

"You're late."

"I deliberately took my time. To make you nervous."

"You have a twisted taste."

"It's the privilege of the strong. So, are you upset, Miss?"

Despite Irina's deliberate taunting, Kim Suhyeon showed no notable reaction. Finding her opponent unresponsive to her provocation, Irina grumbled, "No fun."

"As I've already said, the duel method is simple. You just need to inflict any kind of damage on me to win. Conversely, I win if I subdue you. There's no time limit, but the duel ends if it's deemed that further fighting is impossible."

"I agree."

"Just to be clear, I'm not responsible for injuries. So if you think you can't continue, surrender immediately..."

"Continue until I collapse. I won't surrender either."

At Kim Suhyeon's answer, Irina tilted her head quizzically. Her expression suggested she wasn't sure if she'd heard correctly.

"Did you not understand what I said? I'm saying surrender if you don't want to get hurt. Don't think about your pride."

"I've heard that injuries in duels are common."

"Don't compare children's play with a duel against me."

A slightly angry voice. Faint magical energy flowed through it. Enough to make any ability user flinch and even tremble. But Kim Suhyeon didn't waver at all as she continued.

"That's how I want it."

"...You really are crazy."

‘I never expected those words to come from my mouth.’ Sigh, Irina shook her head.

"Fine. If that's what the person wants. I'll give it to her. Just don't blame me later."

With those words, Irina slowly loosened one shoulder.

"What about your sword? Aren't you going to draw it?"

"No. I don't use a sword against a chick."

With those words, the duel between the two women— or rather, the one-sided "assault"—began.

BOOM—!

Concepts like giving the first move to a weaker opponent, or allowing them three attacks, and such.

For Irina, these were not even worth considering.

"I hope you're not dead?"

Irina snickered as she spoke. After the dust settled, Kim Suhyeon's low voice was heard from within.

"...Of course not."

"Good. That's how it should be. I haven't even touched your body yet."

It might sound impossible, but unfortunately, it was true.

Irina hadn't directly struck Kim Suhyeon's body. She had merely manifested her magical energy to deliver a shock. If she had wrapped that magic around her fist, it wouldn't have ended just like that.

"Hah!"

Despite being devastated by a single blow, Kim Suhyeon showed no hesitation. She kicked off the ground and in an instant, closed the distance and gained the high ground.

Incredible speed. Definitely not something an ordinary student should be capable of. At that rate, she could easily slice through a person with a downward slash.

But the problem was, her opponent was none other than "Irina."

"Slow."

Even yawning, Irina swung her hand as if shooing away an annoying fly.

CRACK—!

With that single swing, Kim Suhyeon spun through the air before crashing into the training hall floor. For Kim Suhyeon, it was a speed she couldn't even imagine, coupled with overwhelming power. Additionally, her own momentum was used against her, so the impact must have been tremendous.

'Normally, this would be a knockout.'

Though an ability user's body is considerably tougher, it's still human. Excessive impact causes pain, and even more force leads to injury. Irina had planned to end it once she collapsed, before things got to that point.

"Ugh!"

But Kim Suhyeon was getting up, gritting her teeth.

"I warned you. Don't push yourself."

"I told you too. I won't surrender, so subdue me properly."

"Wow. This is really frustrating."

Shaking her head, Irina suddenly disappeared. In that moment, neither Kim Suhyeon nor even Kang Minseong could track her.

"Then let's chalk up one loss for today."

WHACK—!

Kim Suhyeon, after taking the hit, crumbled on the spot.

Thump.

Kim Suhyeon lay unconscious. Irina looked down at her. Strangely, Irina's expression seemed slightly unusual.

'Look at this girl.'

Just as Irina's attack was about to hit Kim Suhyeon's torso, Kim Suhyeon had tried to target Irina's armpit with her sword. A vital spot directly connected to the lungs. She had aimed for it almost instinctively.

Though she hadn't succeeded, she had read Irina's movement— if only a small, blurry part of it—at the last moment.

'This might be... not as good as Seojin oppa, but a decent form of entertainment?'

What started as a duel proposed just to beat someone up a bit had unexpectedly turned into catching a big fish for Irina.