TRPM 68

chapter 68

Time passed, and it was finally Yeon Mirae’s special swordsmanship lecture day.

Naturally, the news that one could attend a swordsmanship lecture by an Aura Master had drawn a huge crowd to the lecture venue at the Cheolhyeol Guild.

Of course…

“Even the broadcasting station has come.”

It was a lecture by an Aura Master, after all. That alone was enough to make it a hot topic.

It’s not as if no Aura Master had ever taught their swordsmanship to others. The Russian Aura Master Sir Sergei, from whom Arthur learned, is one example.

Yet Yeon Mirae’s lecture inevitably drew public attention.

“I said anyone who truly wants to learn the sword can come.”

An unspecified multitude. In other words, she had essentially declared that she would teach the sword to anyone who came.

From the beginning, this included awakened individuals who could use aura, guilds with friendly ties to the Cheolhyeol Guild… even awakened individuals who used other energies, guilds hostile to Cheolhyeol, foreigners, and even ordinary civilians who hadn’t awakened.

Naturally, those who heard this news and had any interest in swords flocked to the lecture.

“First, I’d like to clarify one thing in front of everyone gathered here.”

Speaking into the microphone in front of the large crowd, Yeon Mirae said:

“My special lecture is scheduled to last only one day. Listening to today’s lecture alone won’t make you reach the level of an Aura Master.”

…Hearing this, people murmured among themselves.

It was obvious. One day of lectures isn’t enough to become an Aura Master.

No, even before that—

“Just listening to an Aura Master’s lecture doesn’t make you an Aura Master, right?”
“If that were the case, the world would be overflowing with Aura Masters.”

Some frowned at such arrogant words, as if one could become an Aura Master simply by attending a lecture.

“You there, you seem to doubt my words.”

“!”
“!”

Yeon Mirae did not miss that voice. She pointed to those muttering and said:

“You’re free to doubt me, but for the sake of a smooth lecture, I’ll first show you some proof.”

“Eh?”
“Proof?”

Everyone tilted their heads at her words. Proof? What proof was she talking about? And proof for what? Most people there were puzzled.

“Geon-woo? Ha-eun? Could you come out for a moment?”

The subsequent call, summoning me and Ha-eun, likely deepened their curiosity. Although it was known that we were Yeon Mirae’s disciples, our exact abilities were not widely known. And why call us out at this particular moment?

While the crowd pondered this, Ha-eun and I, who were already prepared, approached the podium where Yeon Mirae stood. She then addressed us—loudly enough for everyone present to hear:

“As I mentioned earlier, would you two show everyone your abilities?”
“Yes.”
“Yes!”

Immediately after her words, I drew my sword and manifested a Sword Aura (劍罡). Ha-eun cast Sanctuary, a healing spell renowned as one of the highest-level spells.

“……”
“……”
“……”

The Sword Aura resembled the Aura Blade, typically exclusive to Aura Masters. Sanctuary, generally requiring multiple mages to cast, was known to be impossible for a single caster unless they were an Archmage. Yet here were two children who had just graduated elementary school demonstrating these abilities, leaving everyone speechless.

“For those who know, these children have trained under me for several years. Of course, their talent made this possible, but both have now reached the levels of Aura Master and Archmage, respectively.”

Yeon Mirae’s words essentially meant she had raised the youngest Aura Master and youngest Archmage.

“Wait a minute… Aura Master is impressive enough, but… an Archmage too…! Isn’t that an entirely different field!”

Some voiced their disbelief. Even after seeing it with their own eyes, they could hardly accept it.

Yeon Mirae, with an exaggerated sigh, responded to the skeptic:

“Before becoming an Aura Master, I researched and organized various martial arts, magic, and supernatural abilities in the world. While swordsmanship is my specialty, I am not incapable of teaching other skills.”

In other words, she could teach not only aura-using knights but also mages, psychics, and elementalists.

“If there are no further questions, we will begin the lecture.”

No one dared interrupt her.

Amid the confusion, Yeon Mirae’s lecture was groundbreaking.

Before meeting me, she had struggled because she could not use aura. That long experience of starting from the bottom gave her the ability to instantly identify what a non-genius swordsman was lacking.

‘She experienced what both geniuses and ordinary or less-talented individuals would.’

Paradoxical, isn’t it? This contradictory experience made Yeon Mirae unparalleled as a swordsmanship educator.

Ordinary geniuses cannot understand the average or less talented, and vice versa. But Yeon Mirae, being a genius who also understood the average and less talented, could tailor her instruction to their perspective.

Indeed, in just a few hours of lecture, several swordsmen visibly improved their skills.

“Unbelievable…”
“I can compress my aura to this extent…”

Not only that, rumors spread that even viewers of the broadcast outside the venue had produced a new Aura Master after witnessing her lecture. Of course, that person was already on the brink of becoming an Aura Master, but it still proved Yeon Mirae’s teaching ability.

And of course…

“…An elementary school graduate wielding an Aura Blade…?”
“Even as a disciple of an Aura Master… to be an Aura Master at that age…?”

During the lecture, I demonstrated Sword Aura.

“Even if offensive magic is clumsy, an Archmage in middle school… is that possible?”
“And that too, learning from an aura user rather than a typical mage…?”

Ha-eun, who cast Sanctuary, also received attention.

Moreover, since we were Yeon Mirae’s disciples, our eventual entry into Cheolhyeol Guild was considered inevitable, which boosted the guild’s popularity. While Cheolhyeol Guild’s value had been steadily rising, this accelerated it even further.

Additionally…

“(Is there something special about Korea?)”
“(Yeah. Why are there so many powerful people in Korea?)”
“(We should send our kids to study in Korea, even if we go into debt.)”

The number of students wanting to study abroad in Korea surged after the appearance of a middle school Aura Master and Archmage. Many foreigners began moving into our neighborhood. The reason was obvious.

“(Think about it. Yeon Mirae, her disciples… and even Ryu Ah-young, the pioneer of Manifestation powers… all live in the same neighborhood, right?)”
“(So something must be there….)”
“(And investigations suggest the Artist might live there too.)”
“(The Artist? Korea’s Dark Knight in disguise?)”
“(Yes. The Artist first appeared in Yeouido, but the second appearance with his companion… was in that neighborhood.)”
“(That’s the neighborhood….)”

As a result, property values in our neighborhood rose rapidly, and construction noise filled the area daily to accommodate the crowds.

“Ugh… I can’t sleep these days.”
“Exactly. It’s good our kids are strong enough to protect themselves, but this is enough to make me think about moving.”
“……”

Listening to our mothers, I remained silent… Perhaps I had been a bit hasty, considering the noise from construction. At least, despite the crowd, safety hadn’t worsened. After all, who would dare commit crimes in a neighborhood housing two Aura Masters, an Archmage, and possibly the mysterious Artist?

Meanwhile…

The Oracle, causing terror worldwide, was growing irritable.

“(Kyaa…! How did it come to this…!)”
“(P-please calm down, Oracle!)”
“(Ha…! Ha…!)”

Seeing her subordinate trembling on the ground, she briefly considered throwing something at them in anger but regained her composure. The subordinate had only reported the facts; they did nothing wrong. Killing them would also lose her other subordinates’ trust.

Although she became the leader of a terrorist group thanks to her prophetic powers, her combat skills were mediocre, so suppressing dissatisfaction with force was unrealistic.

“(…Damn it…!)”

Still, she couldn’t help feeling frustrated.

“(Again, Korea…! Korea is the problem…!)”

Korea. The country where the Artist, who ruined the future she had foreseen, resided. While she and her followers wished her prophecy would fail, this was extreme…

“(After causing terrorism worldwide, I drew all the competent awakened to Korea…!)”

The Oracle had planned to focus terrorism in Korea in the coming years while keeping foreign awakened occupied elsewhere. That way, awakened individuals busy clearing dungeons would struggle to stop her. Yet…

“(Why are awakened from other countries flocking to Korea…!)”

As if mocking her, awakened from other countries poured into Korea. The Oracle never imagined her plan would be so thoroughly blocked.

She knew the reason: Yeon Mirae’s lecture, and the middle school Aura Master and Archmage confirmed during it. Of course, this was only the visible part. She suspected someone was behind them.

“(…Must be the Artist….)”

Yeon Mirae was an awakened member of Cheolhyeol Guild, itself believed to be connected to the Artist. It was likely the Artist ordered Yeon Mirae to train the middle school Aura Master and Archmage and reveal them intentionally. At least, that was the Oracle’s conclusion.

“(…I’ve completely lost in this game of wits….)”

Even though she was usually confident relying on her prophetic powers, she had been defeated in strategy. Pride wounded, she resolved:

“(…I will go to Korea myself.)”

Yes. The battlefield was Korea, and her absence there had slowed her response. To play the game properly, she had to engage on equal footing. Thus, her journey to Korea was decided.

Later, at Incheon International Airport, the central hub of Korea…

My scout doll observed a group of people.

‘Hmm…’

They thought they were hidden, but I could see them: the traces of magic and spells on their bodies.

And…

‘Is that the woman?’

At their center, a woman. The surrounding space slightly distorted around her.

‘That woman must be the Oracle.’

The Oracle hadn’t noticed me, but I had discovered her.