I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game-Chapter 278: Teacher Qualifications (2)

The Sword Sovereign, who had been quietly watching Baek Seol-hee, suddenly knelt before her and pressed her forehead to the ground.

"It was my fault."

"...Sword Sovereign."

Baek Seol-hee's gaze was cold as she looked at the Sword Sovereign.

"You need to explain why you put my disciple in such danger. If you don’t..."

Baek Seol-hee’s voice trailed off as her eyes darkened. The Sword Sovereign, still bowing, began to speak.

"The purpose of this training was—"

"I know what the training was meant to accomplish. What I’m asking is why you didn’t intervene to save my disciple at the last moment."

The intention of the training was clear: to instill a fear of death.

But what truly bothered Baek Seol-hee was why, despite the dangerous nature of the training, the Sword Sovereign hadn’t stepped in to ensure Jin Yoo-ha’s safety. If this wasn’t explained to her satisfaction, Baek Seol-hee was prepared to engage in a life-or-death battle with the Sword Sovereign.

"...That’s because..."

The Sword Sovereign hesitated before speaking.

Eighteen days earlier.

After dropping Jin Yoo-ha into the pit, the Sword Sovereign stood guard day and night.

This was a brutal training that risked his life, so she had to take full responsibility for his safety.

As one day passed, then two, and then a week...

"Let us see Jin Yoo-ha!"

"Sword Sovereign, get out of the way."

Lee Yu-ri and Kang Do-hee, unable to bear it any longer, came to confront her, insisting they had to see Jin Yoo-ha.

"I refuse."

Each time, the Sword Sovereign shook her head.

When their patience wore thin, Lee Yu-ri and Kang Do-hee even attempted to attack her, driven by desperation.

However, no matter what they did, they couldn’t defeat the Sword Sovereign.

"Huff, huff..."

Panting and covered in dust, Kang Do-hee and Lee Yu-ri struggled to stand after their failed attempts, but the Sword Sovereign hadn’t moved an inch.

"Give us Jin Yoo-ha..."

"Move aside, Sword Sovereign..."

What on earth did that boy mean to them for them to go this far?

Seeing their desperation, the Sword Sovereign realized she had no choice but to explain. She needed to tell them the purpose of this training, knowing that if she didn’t, they might cross a dangerous line.

"Jin Yoo-ha’s sword is one that kills its wielder."

"What... What do you mean, his sword kills him?"

"That’s ridiculous. Jin Yoo-ha wouldn’t—"

The Sword Sovereign sighed deeply.

"Haven’t you ever found it strange?"

"...Strange, how?"

"Didn’t he always rush into the most dangerous situations, ahead of everyone else? Into places where he could easily lose his life, as if he had more than one life to spare?"

The Sword Sovereign continued with a lazy expression.

"This boy would face enemies far beyond his level, or situations where he should absolutely flee, and yet he would never retreat."

"..."

"..."

Lee Yu-ri and Kang Do-hee fell silent, unable to deny her words.

They had indeed noticed that Jin Yoo-ha was always the first to charge ahead.

Despite taking precautions for safety, when things went wrong or danger was imminent, he was the first to throw himself into harm's way.

"That’s why he’s been able to break through his limits and grow at an astonishing rate. But it can’t continue. He’s been incredibly lucky so far. But what if his luck runs out?"

Lee Yu-ri and Kang Do-hee’s eyes trembled with realization. It wasn’t hard to guess what would come next.

"If he doesn’t change, one day you’ll be the ones left behind, watching as Jin Yoo-ha dies first."

The Sword Sovereign clicked her tongue, listening to the helplessness in their voices.

"This training is necessary to correct that."

Lee Yu-ri and Kang ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Do-hee clenched their fists as they looked down at the ground where Jin Yoo-ha was trapped. But just watching him starve and suffer in silence...

Seeing their hesitation, the Sword Sovereign drew her sword from her waist. It was an old, worn iron sword, long neglected.

But this sword had been her companion for a lifetime.

"I swear on this sword that no matter what happens, I will ensure Jin Yoo-ha’s safety and return him to you unharmed."

Vrrr—

The old iron sword began to glow with a bright blue light.

"So go and get stronger, so he doesn’t feel the need to throw himself into danger alone."

At her words, Lee Yu-ri and Kang Do-hee, though biting their lips in frustration, nodded.

The Sword Sovereign continued to guard Jin Yoo-ha, while Lee Yu-ri and Kang Do-hee trained even harder, driven by her words.

Then, Lee Yu-ri and Kang Do-hee returned to her with worried expressions. The Sword Sovereign frowned.

"...It’s only been a week since I told you—"

"Alice is missing."

"What...?"

"She was watching me train... and then said she was going to check on Kang Do-hee..."

Kang Do-hee shook her head.

"She never came to me. When she didn’t show up after a while, I thought something was wrong and came to report it."

Despite hearing this, the Sword Sovereign didn’t initially think much of it.

‘Did she go off to train on her own?’

Her granddaughter had always been a bit absent-minded. She probably got fired up watching those two train and decided to train herself.

"Then could I ask you two to find her? She’s probably at the training ground behind the mountain."

With that, Kang Do-hee and Lee Yu-ri nodded and left, but three days passed without any sign of her granddaughter.

"Where could she have gone...?"

The Sword Sovereign grew concerned.

Her granddaughter’s whereabouts were limited, yet she hadn’t returned home in three days. And she wasn’t the type to venture out alone.

So, the Sword Sovereign decided to leave her post briefly. She thought it would be fine if she just found her granddaughter and returned quickly.

She glanced at the ground where she had been standing.

‘Hmm... He’s strong enough. He has innate resilience. He should be able to last another week easily.’

That was her mistake.

Her granddaughter was nowhere to be found.

And as she searched for her, a sharp instinct warned her that Jin Yoo-ha was in danger.

Her expression hardened, and she rushed back, opening the ceiling of the pit.

What she found was Baek Seol-hee and Jin Yoo-ha, both collapsed on the ground.

A headache throbbed in Baek Seol-hee’s temples.

She had to exert every ounce of her willpower to suppress the murderous intent welling up inside her.

So, in the end, this was all because of the Sword Sovereign’s careless decision. And because of that negligence, her one and only disciple had nearly lost his life.

"...So, did you find your granddaughter?"

The Sword Sovereign shook her head.

"They’re still looking... but no, not yet..."

The Sword Sovereign’s voice trembled with unease as she spoke.

"Idiot."

Baek Seol-hee’s voice was sharp, causing the Sword Sovereign to lift her head.

"Then why are you here, instead of searching for her?"

"I thought it was more important to explain everything to you first, so I waited until you woke up. I swore on my sword that—"

Baek Seol-hee was genuinely furious.

Kim Malsook.

She knew that Alice was the Sword Sovereign’s granddaughter, her disciple.

Yet, this fool was sitting here babbling like an idiot while her own disciple was missing.

If she wanted to atone with death, wouldn’t it make sense to find her disciple first, then seek forgiveness?

What was so special about that damned oath on her sword? She had never liked this woman, and now she liked her even less.

At that moment—

"What do you mean, Alice is missing...?"

Jin Yoo-ha, who had woken up, blinked his eyes and sat up, looking at them with a confused expression.

"Disciple, this matter is between me and the Sword Sovereign. You should—"

When Baek Seol-hee tried to dissuade him, Jin Yoo-ha narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

"Master, I don’t think you’re in a position to say that. You were trapped with me."

"But you—"

"Well, my mana has mostly returned now."

Jin Yoo-ha, still looking tired, opened his subspace tattoo and pulled out a calorie bar. He unwrapped it and handed it to Baek Seol-hee.

"Eat this, Master. You haven’t had anything yet, right?"

"..."

"Come on, who told you to give me all your food?"

Baek Seol-hee found herself with the calorie bar in her mouth, and Jin Yoo-ha smiled at her.

"Master, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here."

"..."

Baek Seol-hee swallowed her words.

‘I’m not worthy to be your master.’

But now wasn’t the time for such confessions. They needed to find the Sword Sovereign’s granddaughter first. Everything else could wait.

Baek Seol-hee opened her subspace tattoo and pulled out a syringe.

"What’s that?"

"It’s an injection that temporarily restores physical strength."

"...That exists?"

"It’s an item only issued to the Demon Extermination Squad. It borrows future strength, which means you’ll be immobilized for ten days afterward. It’s illegal."

"Give me one, too."

"No."

"Come on, Master."

Jin Yoo-ha held out his arm to her, insisting.

"..."

"I don’t want to let you go alone. And besides, I think I can help."

Jin Yoo-ha looked at Baek Seol-hee with a determined expression.

He had already figured out the situation.

While trapped in that pit, he had gone over the story of the Velvetra game countless times in his mind. He recalled even the smallest details and throwaway lines from the characters’ interactions.