Chapter 24
The Sword Tiger and the True Dragon.
Undoubtedly, the two families that represent Korea.
Like the saying, "The Sword of the Tiger, the Spirit of the Dragon," these two families are praised as traditional powerhouses in their respective fields of swordsmanship and magic.
But what happens when there are two rulers on a single mountain? Inevitably, conflict follows.
Especially when the rulers are a tiger and a dragon?
They can't help but be conscious of each other, inevitably leading to competition.
It’s truly a clash of titans.
If you think that the difference in their fields means there’s no tension, you're mistaken. And if you believe that recognizing and respecting each other’s domain means they will yield, that too is a great misconception.
Acknowledgment only fuels the desire to surpass.
Knowing the other’s greatness makes defeat all the more unbearable.
It's not a matter of like or dislike—it's all about skill.
Proving oneself solely through ability. This is the pride of a noble family.
They are true rivals, engaged in a competition of goodwill.
For this reason, anyone from the Jinryong family must inevitably know about the Sword Tiger and must come to understand them.
“There’s no other family in the world that can compare to the Jinryong besides the Sword Tiger.”
“They say the Jinryong is known for magic, and the Sword Tiger for swordsmanship, but that’s only part of the story. Just as magic is a means to an end for us who control mana, the sword is merely a trigger for the Sword Tiger.”
“A tiger of the sword. A trigger that turns them into the most lethal predator in the world.”
Tiger, predator, battle maniac...
These were stories Jin Yoori had heard so often growing up that they had worn grooves into her mind.
Perhaps that’s why, at some point, she became curious.
What kind of people were the Sword Tiger, whom her family elders were so wary of?
A knight who sacrifices himself for justice? A swordsman who trains endlessly?
A beast that lives by instinct? Or a bloodthirsty killer?
It certainly began as mere curiosity, but as it grew like a snowball, it became interest, and eventually, she found herself developing a strange anticipation for someone she had never even met.
Thus, the first Sword Tiger she met, Park Ki-hyuk.
To be honest, she had been concerned. Wasn't he the one they said suffered from mana depletion? He was a figure surrounded by controversy because of it.
But Jin Yoori had also been someone who had "suffered" since childhood. She too had been a girl scarred by the experience of being cut off from the world, crossing the line between life and death several times each day.
But the past is just that—past.
What matters is the present.
So she hadn’t given up her expectations.
And in the end, Park Ki-hyuk did not disappoint her.
‘Wow...’
Beyond her expectations! Beyond her imagination!
Beyond anything she could have possibly envisioned!!
He stood over two meters tall, his body sculpted like iron, with a physique that seemed almost unreal.
His sharp eyes bore a coexistence of wildness and intelligence, and his rugged features radiated masculinity.
‘...He’s incredible.’
The Jinryong family is known for having an abundance of beautiful people.
Who was it that said, "DNA is extraordinary"? Once Jinryong’s blood runs through your veins, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a direct descendant or a collateral line; everyone inherits stunning looks.
But even among beautiful people, there are types. The Jinryong family tends to have the delicate features of traditional beauties, the kind often called "flower boys" and "flower girls."
In fact, even Jin Yoori herself was frequently mistaken for an idol or actress when sitting in a café.
But the Sword Tiger! Park Ki-hyuk!
He was completely different.
The men of her family, whom she had seen until now, looked like scrawny scarecrows in comparison to the sheer masculinity that exuded from him.
“Wow... Look at those muscles. He’s not just a beast-man, he’s a beast... no, a predator.”
“He’s a walking pheromone. You can’t help but be drawn to him.”
“Isn’t that what makes him even more attractive? He’s like an untamed predator.”
A face that was above average, combined with a body that transcended even that into something miraculous, transforming him into a masculine Adonis!
But what makes that man truly special is this.
An untamed, predatory beauty.
That’s what makes him dangerous. That’s what makes him intoxicating. If you’re not careful, you might just get addicted.
Perhaps, she was already addicted...
“Kyaa! What do I do!!”
She kicked her blanket in a flurry.
Indeed.
Even Jin Yoori, the true heiress of the Jinryong, was just an ordinary teenage girl who melted at the sight of cute cats and giggled at fluttering leaves.
So was it just about his looks?
What about his swordsmanship? His abilities? Where are those?
Do we really need to talk about that?
Everyone knows.
* * *
A calamity has appeared!
That’s what the first-year students called Park Ki-hyuk.
What could Park Ki-hyuk have done to become a disaster in an academy filled with superhumans—especially among the elites?
It all started with Group 14.
“I am Choi In-soo, leader of Group 14. I challenge you.”
The leader of Group 14, who had always claimed that Park Ki-hyuk's strength was overrated, confidently initiated a duel with 20 coins on the line.
And lost.
Lost so thoroughly that saying he simply lost doesn’t do it justice—it was an annihilation.
The group leader, who had endlessly bragged about his "combination of magic and martial arts," was rolling on the ground before he could even say "ma" from magic or "martial" from martial arts.
If it had ended there, it would have been a common match—a bold challenge met with a disgraceful defeat. Embarrassing, yes, but something one would only be ashamed of privately, unnoticed by others.
But then, Park Ki-hyuk whispered to the group leader, who was drenched in the despair of defeat.
“How many coins do you have? 68? That’s all? At this rate, you’ll be in the lower ranks... I’m not teasing you, I just feel sorry for you.”
“For that reason, how about we make a deal?”
You can set the rules however you want, bring as many people as you want, and we can settle this in whatever manner you prefer.
So.
“How about one more round, betting everything?”
A demon! A demon has appeared!
It was an irresistible proposal.
It was too tempting to refuse, with those 68 coins piled up in front of him.
And so, a 13-on-1 battle began.
With a perfectly coordinated team of tanks, dealers, and healers, Group 14 selected their best members. They even wore artifacts used in real combat, treating it as if it were a life-or-death battle.
But.
They lost.
They lost again.
When their ranged magic was shattered against the shield, they thought they could manage. Even as the tanks and melee fighters were embroiled in a dirty brawl, rolling in the dirt, they thought, "This is enough."
To be honest, even when the skeletons appeared, they thought, "I knew it."
What are skeletons, after all? Aren’t they just useless toys, barely used outside of learning the basics of summoning? Seeing the horde of skeletons rise, they even felt relieved.
Yes, the group leader could never have imagined that these skeletons he had dismissed would tear his team apart.
“W-what! Shield! Shield!!”
“Help! Qui... Urgh!!”
Skeletons clung to the tanks’ armor, immobilizing them, followed by surprise attacks.
Shattered, they regenerated from the blind spots and launched another surprise attack. Not only did they target vital spots with terrifying precision, but they even resorted to cheap tricks like throwing dirt to blindside their opponents.
With creatures willing to die in the fight, how could they stand a chance?
It was over.
The battle.
Group 14.
“Don’t be too disappointed. It was just bad luck. Give it a bit, and you’ll feel better. After all, you’ll soon have plenty of company.”
Thus began the so-called "Park Ki-hyuk Raid."
Park Ki-hyuk, who now had 120 coins to his name. Courageous souls, come forth and challenge him.
With 120 coins, you could easily take the top spot.
It was an offer too tempting to resist, and eventually, Groups 6 and 11 took up the challenge.
Group 11, in particular, boasted the largest number of members among the first-year groups, with 41 people.
They all drew their swords, determined to defeat Park Ki-hyuk and pass their midterm exams safely.
They failed.
They failed so thoroughly that they were scattered like dust, just like Group 14 before them.
It was only the third day since the midterms began.
With the full schedule stretching over a week, including the weekend, and with less than half of the exam period having passed.
Three groups had disbanded.
Because of just one person.
Park Ki-hyuk.
Unable to resist the overwhelming fear, the students whispered about him again today.
A calamity has appeared.
* * *
Jingle~
As I stepped into the school cafeteria, the atmosphere changed in an instant.
The moment I opened the door, the once bustling, noisy cafeteria fell silent as if by magic. Everyone turned to look at me in unison.
Hmm, should I greet them?
“Good morning?”
Gulp—
Silence.
An overwhelming silence.
Eyes trembling with fear as they gazed at me.
Their mouths didn’t move, but I could almost hear their thoughts.
The calamity is here! Damn it, I just sat down! Hey, hurry up and eat!
You don’t have any coins, do you? Got any? You go first. No, let’s go together.
Maybe this is what a silent outcry feels like. The place is as quiet as a mouse, yet it feels more chaotic than a marketplace, and after a moment.
Rush!!
The sound of everyone scrambling to leave echoed through the room.
A cold wind blew through the now deserted cafeteria.
“As I said, humans only understand after they’ve been hit.”
It must have started when I disbanded three groups. The kids began to avoid me.
How many times did I insist? I’m strong.
I never intended to hide my strength. My grades should have been proof enough.
But despite my constant reminders, there were still plenty of fools who insisted on labeling me as a mana-depleted weakling.
But look, everything's sorted out in one go.
Now, I’m sure there isn’t a single bold fool left who would dare call me mana-depleted or incompetent. It feels good to have untied that tangled knot.
“Calamity, calamity. I kinda like the sound of that.”
It’s quiet. Everyone’s run away.
There’s no need to stand in line. Naturally, since I’m the only one here.
It feels a bit lonely being the only one left in this vast cafeteria, but fear is just another expression of reverence.
An absolute being must know how to enjoy solitude.
And I am a man who knows how to savor loneliness.
“It’s so quiet; it reminds me of the old days, and I like it.”
Back when I was called the Demon King, this was my daily life. Even my comrades avoided sharing meals with me.
Of course, the saintess was an exception. She was a special case, so let’s leave her out of this.
Alone in the cafeteria, I leisurely collected my meal.
“Hello, ladies.”
“Oh, it’s Ki-hyuk. No wonder it got so quiet.”
“Ki-hyuk, you look more handsome every day. You’re becoming more manly. Do you have a girlfriend? Should I introduce you to someone?”
“Why do you always say unnecessary things? Welcome, Ki-hyuk. The usual set?”
“Yes, please, and make it plentiful as always.”
“Leave it to me. I’ll pack it nice and full. Hey, bring out a Ki-hyuk Set.”
The Ki-hyuk Set.
The name sounds fancy, but there’s nothing special about it.
It’s simply a combination of all the dishes on today’s menu.
Let’s see, today’s menu includes... a spicy stir-fry set, a mixed cutlet set, and about eight other dishes.
Normally, you’d pick just one from these.
But I just order them all.
What’s the point of choosing just one?
I’ve been doing this since the semester began, so at some point, the ladies named it the "Ki-hyuk Set."
Of course, my friendly attitude towards them plays a big part in this. You should always show respect to those who serve your food.
The ladies, full of energy, busily move about.
“Eat up.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Today’s menu is laid out before me.
Golden, crispy fish cutlet, topped with soft tartar sauce, beckoning me.
Oh, I’m drooling. I need to dig in. I’ll eat it and teach it a lesson.
“Wait a second.”
I almost forgot. I set down my fork and take a picture with my phone.
Isn’t it a rule these days to snap a photo of your food before eating?
“Breakfast of champions.”
#lightbreakfast #notabigeater #justagourmet #thankyouforthemeal
In truth, I’m not doing this to be popular. It’s purely for my mother’s sake. She wants to see how I’m doing, and as a good son, it’s the least I can do.
Sure enough, as soon as I post it, my mother sends me a message: “Our son’s eating less these days. Even if your stomach feels queasy, don’t skip meals~ (bear with a heart).”
Now that that’s done.
Let’s eat!
You’ve been aggressive since earlier. I bite into the fish cutlet with a crunch.
When the cutlet starts to feel a bit greasy, I scoop up a mouthful of the spicy stir-fry. The sweet and spicy flavors burst like fireworks in my mouth.
This is the crucial moment. Being exposed to such stimulation for too long can dull your appetite.
Balance is everything. I soothe my taste buds, now ablaze with flavor, with a bite of egg sandwich.
Ah, comfort...
Fish, pork, and eggs.
A perfect harmony of land, sea, and air—an absolutely flawless combination.
“Excellent, excellent.”
I think this every time, but when it comes to food, this place is unbeatable.
Compared to the bland meals of the Empire, this place is heaven on earth. Realizing what I missed out on during my time in the Empire makes me feel like my past life was meaningless.
Munch, munch.
Crunch.
Nom, nom.
I’m still hungry.
Even as I eat, I’m hungry.
Even though I’ve already devoured more than half of it, my spoon doesn’t stop.
Meanwhile, the door opens, and some kids walk in.
These kids aren’t the ones who were peeking at me from outside the door.
As usual, there’s Merry, dressed in designer clothes, leggings, and slippers, all decked out in luxury brands, and
“Ki-hyuk, good morning. It’s nice and quiet today.”
Jun-woo, in his polka-dot fur pajamas, who quickly takes a seat in front of his tray.
“Mixed cutlet, mixed cutlet...”
I smile cheerfully at the two of them.
“Welcome.”
My young friends.
……
...
“It’s time to earn your keep.”
My finger points to the kids who’ve been eyeing me nervously.
“Fetch.”
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