Seo Yerin's eyes sparkled as she watched the process of teaching Lee Ji-han up close. The best curriculum tailored to each individual.
Of course, it didn't seem like the students thought the same way.
The thought that she could also receive such training made her look at me with bright eyes, contrary to her usual calm demeanor.
It was too much pressure.
While I was grateful that she had such high expectations for the training I had prepared, it was still overwhelming.
'How exhausting must teaching be...'
What's the point of being born into a good family with a great grandfather?
The only teaching she received was basic spear techniques.
Thinking this far, rather than feeling burdened, I felt pity for her and suspicion toward her grandfather.
No, why would they leave such a talented person like this?
'I understand her grandfather's desire for her to reach greatness on her own, but...'
I couldn't comprehend her grandfather's intentions with my own mind.
With such talent, if she had just been given proper support, she could have soared high. I felt sorry for Seo Yerin.
Look at her now.
If I had a fox tail, she seemed to have a puppy's tail. If she were a beast-person, her tail might have been spinning like a propeller behind her.
She looked that happy.
"Before I start teaching, can you show me your spear technique?"
"...The Seo Family Spear Technique?"
"Perform it from start to finish in front of me. Is there a rule that you can't demonstrate it in front of outsiders?"
She shook her head from side to side and immediately adjusted her grip on the spear.
It seemed she preferred to show rather than tell.
Swish~!
She swung the spear widely, performing various movements and showcasing a highly refined spear technique. Not bad.
Not bad, but it's too straightforward and monotonous.
Her spear technique lacked her own unique color.
I mentioned this to her first after her demonstration.
"Let's start by adding some color to your spear technique."
"...Color?"
"Yes, the color of your spear technique."
Just as there are various types of personalities and tendencies, martial arts also come in many forms.
However, the spear technique Seo Yerin had learned was almost colorless and odorless, lacking any distinct tendency.
It was so bland that it failed to bring out her own personality and strengths.
It was surprising that she had managed to achieve combat prowess comparable to the protagonist with such a technique. So, with a little push from me, she could soar even higher.
"Let's add what's often called 'subtlety.'"
"Teacher! You said I couldn't do that!"
"Hey, you haven't even built the basics yet. What subtlety are you talking about? Go swing your axe."
Lee Ji-han, sweating profusely, carried a large double-edged axe on his shoulder.
His small frame paired with the massive axe made his look like a dwarf.
I even wondered if he might have had a dwarf ancestor somewhere down the line.
"Teacher, you're too harsh on me!"
"Shut up and train. If you keep this up, I won't teach you anything next class."
"Ahaha! Swinging the axe is so much fun!"
When I threatened Lee Ji-han with withholding lessons for his constant complaints, he immediately obeyed. He's a good kid, but sometimes he's so annoying it drives me crazy.
After confirming that Lee Ji-han had resumed his training, I evaluated Seo Yerin's spear technique.
The Seo Family Spear Technique, was it?
Overall, it was a smooth spear technique.
The stances flowed very fluidly, and the transitions between offense and defense were seamless. It was like the movement of flowing water.
The problem was that it was too basic.
"With this spear technique, something like 'Flow' or 'Change,' or even 'Illusion' or 'Speed' would work well."
"Flow...? Illusion...?"
"It sounds weird when you say it like that. Don't say it like that."
I closed my eyes for a moment and recalled the sensations I felt at my fingertips.
The various spear techniques I had learned.
I began to filter through those that Seo Yerin could learn.
"You said you're a support position, right?"
"...Yes."
Thinking back, when we met in the library, we had a dispute over healing books. What kind of spear technique subtlety would suit a support?
"You don't happen to believe that the best support is to annihilate all enemies so that your allies don't get hurt, do you?"
"...Huh?"
"Ah, never mind if you don't."
Sometimes there are kids with such strange values, so I had to ask.
I glossed over my words and roughly figured out what to teach her.
"First, I'll teach you the basics of the 'Change Spear Technique' and the 'Severance Spear Technique.' If it doesn't suit you, we can switch to another spear technique later."
"Change Spear...? And Severance Spear...?"
"A spear practitioner doesn't know this? Well, if you haven't learned a variety of spear techniques, it's understandable. The Change Spear Technique freely switches between offense and defense, wielding the spear in unpredictable ways. The Severance Spear Technique disrupts the opponent's flow of attacks and can assist in a support role."
The words sound grand, but in practice, these techniques aren't that difficult.
With Seo Yerin's talent, comparable to the protagonist, she should be able to learn them easily.
So, I planned to teach her the subtleties of the Change and Severance Spear Techniques, along with the spear techniques that embody those subtleties.
"I'll show you right now. Can I borrow your spear for a moment?"
"...Here."
"Thanks."
The plastic spear made of synthetic resin I saw yesterday.
Just reading that makes it sound weak, but this is equipment made by Seven Stars, with excellent mana conductivity.
So, if you infuse this spear with mana─
──Swish!
The spearhead sharpened instantly, and the tip became pointed.
The synthetic resin spear was no longer just a training tool.
I let my body feel the cool sensation that you wouldn't get from ordinary plastic and swung my arm widely.
Swish!
With mana infused, I swung the spear widely, drawing a cold arc with the tip. Then, I stirred the spear and pulled the shaft to hold it short.
Immediately, I pulled the spear inward to perform a defensive move.
Swoosh!
I swung the spear outward, taking a counterattack stance while attacking.
In this way, I seamlessly switched between offense and defense, wielding the spear in unconventional ways.
Seo Yerin, who was watching this.
"Wow...."
She let out an exclamation.
The spear technique, as cunning and crafty as a snake, drawing out the opponent's reactions.
That must be the advanced martial arts she had longed for.
If I had the ability to read people's minds like Noh Yura, I would have been startled.
As Seo Yerin thought, this spear technique embodies the subtlety of a cunning snake.
Hence its name, the Sabulhon Spear Technique.
An exceptionally keen eye.
But, unaware of her insight, I immediately demonstrated a spear technique embodying the subtleties of the Severance Spear.
──Whoosh!
The spear split the wind.
I continued to wield the spear with strong, concise movements, maintaining my stance.
While the overall fluidity decreased, an even greater strength and precision emanated from the spear technique.
As I demonstrated the spear technique in front of Seo Yerin, the gazes of the other students began to change slightly.
The eyes that had been filled with doubt now sparkled when it was time to teach Sung Yeon-hwa.
***
"Aren't you going to teach me anything?!"
"You're already half-complete. If I intervene unnecessarily, it might shake the martial foundation you've built so far."
"Ah, don't say that! Teach me a technique! Please!"
Lee Ji-han and Seo Yerin clearly had things to learn.
Their shortcomings were obvious.
The problem was Seong Yeon-hwa.
When I first planned to teach her, I was confident.
My main expertise isn't magic, but swordsmanship.
From a young age, I've mastered various swordsmanship techniques and skills, including those I created myself.
I had an abundance of techniques and knowledge to pass on to a junior walking the path of martial arts.
...But I never expected her to be far beyond my expectations.
'Not only has she already reached the peak, but she has long since attained the realms of Divine Sword Unity and Three Flowers Gathering.'
The peak realm where one can wield sword energy and be recognized as a true martial artist.
The realm where the person becomes the sword, and the sword becomes the person, wielding the sword as naturally as one's own limbs—Divine Sword Unity.
The realm where the three yang energies harmonize, and one begins to realize the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit—Three Flowers Gathering.
Seong Yeon-hwa was already a full-fledged martial artist and hunter.
She didn't need my help.
In fact, it would be fortunate if I didn't get in her way.
"You know it too. You're already walking your own path of swordsmanship. It's not right for me to intervene unnecessarily."
"Then intervene appropriately!"
"Sigh, how can you not understand a single word I say?"
I sighed and grabbed my head.
Well, as she said, if I intervene within reasonable limits, there's a mountain of things I could teach her.
But there's no guarantee that it would actually help Seong Yeon-hwa.
In that sense, teaching her swordsmanship now was premature.
Unless it was to gain diverse experiences and insights later. Learning now could be detrimental as she solidifies her own path.
So, the only thing I could help her with right now was one thing.
To help her reach a higher realm.
"Then, shall I give you a push to reach the realm of Five Qi Converging to the Origin?"
Five Qi Converging to the Origin.
The next stage after Seong Yeon-hwa's Three Flowers Gathering, where essence, energy, and spirit unite, allowing one to exert their full power at any time.
Even if the body is in pain, the harmony of essence and energy allows one to display their best martial prowess. The same applies in reverse.
If mana is lacking, the harmony of energy and spirit compensates; if mental strength is lacking, the harmony of essence and spirit balances it out.
It's a realm where the untalented can only stare at the sky and suck their thumbs—that's the realm of Five Qi Converging to the Origin.
And she was now advancing toward that realm.
"Really? Is that possible?!"
"I can help."
"Isn't that a realm that requires a ton of elixirs?"
"That's the shortcut. Using the proper method, you don't necessarily need elixirs."
Some martial artists have this misconception.
That, with excellent elixirs, leaping realms isn't impossible.
But that's only possible at lower levels; the stronger the martial artist, the less effective elixirs become.
In crude terms, the 'drug effect' wears off.
"For a martial artist of your level, relying on elixirs isn't great. It's more effective to achieve it through your own strength."
"Then what should I do?"
Seong Yeon-hwa asked.
The answer was simple.
"Gain enlightenment."
"...Enlightenmint."
"Not 'enlightenmint,' but 'enlightenment.' The middle consonant is 'ㄹ.'"
"Yes, that's what I said, enlightenmint."
"...."
Her awkward Korean had been grating on my ears since earlier.
Normally, I'd think it's because she's a foreigner, but in this situation, even Isabelle and Isis, who are also foreigners, use Korean perfectly.
I don't want to compare, but I can't help it.
She's Chinese, and among the three exchange students, she looks the most Korean but speaks Korean the worst.
What kind of nonsense is this?
'I need to teach her Hangul too.'
Let's put that aside for now.
I can assign Korean as homework and teach her slowly.
Today is tight with explaining the future curriculum.
"So, how do I do enlightenmint?"
"...Enlightenment isn't something you do, it's something you gain. Very naturally."
"Got it, Teach!"
"...Don't call me Teach."
The term 'teacher' is still awkward, but 'Teach' is even more so.
But Seong Yeon-hwa seems to have latched onto the term 'Teach.'
Despite my words, she called me 'Teach.'
Well, do as you please.
"Then, Teach, what should I do first?"
"First, start with meditation."
"I'm good at meditation! My dad made me do it since I was young!"
Upon hearing my words, Seong Yeon-hwa immediately sat in the lotus position.
Judging by her posture, she must have meditated frequently since childhood.
As expected of a successor from a prestigious martial family.
Yeon-hwa will do well on her own.
Her speech might be awkward, but she's a top student.
As I looked at her fondly, I felt a hand poking my back from behind.
Unlike the other students, it was Isis and Isabelle, who use magic instead of weapons.
They were curious about what kind of training I would offer them.
"Teacher, what kind of training do we do?"
"We're mages, right? Our training should be fundamentally different from theirs."
"Of course, I've prepared your curriculum too."
Seeing how confidently I spoke, they seemed to have high expectations.
Well, it's not that impressive of a curriculum.
It'll work out somehow.
"Now, go ahead and use your magic."
I spread my arms and said.
"You guys only need me to oversee things roughly, so go ahead."
"...Huh?"
"What?"
They looked at me with bewildered eyes.
No, I can give real-time feedback on your magic just by glancing at it, you know?
***
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