Chapter 56: The Hero Goes to the Academy (part 3)

But what could she do?

The arrow had already left the bow, and the swordsmanship academy dojo challenge was set in stone. There was no point in arguing with a decision that had already been made. Ji-eun could only pray that Shihyun wouldn’t cause too much trouble.

‘Well, she’s not going to kill anyone, right?’

The swords used in swordsmanship academies were specially made for training. Ji-eun knew this from her brief stint at one.

They trained with blunt swords, so even Shihyun couldn’t kill anyone… could she…?

‘…Could she?’

Of course not.

But Ji-eun suddenly imagined Shihyun beating someone to death with a training sword. Bludgeoning them to a pulp, then muttering something absurd like, “Guess blunt swords can’t dismember people.”

‘Good heavens.’

Ji-eun quickly shook her head, banishing the bizarre thought.

Someone must be hypnotizing her. There was no other explanation for such a strange image.

“…Right. She does have some common sense. That won’t happen.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Nothing.”

Ji-eun sighed deeply, rested her chin on her hand, and asked, “So, which dojo… I mean, academy are we going to first?”

Shihyun simply handed her the smartphone.

Ji-eun’s eyes widened at the name of the swordsmanship academy displayed on the screen. She was surprised because it was completely unexpected.

“This one? You want to go here first?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Is there a reason?”

Shihyun smiled meaningfully.

“Just curious. I wonder if the number one academy is…special.”

The academy Shihyun chose was the Korean Swordsmanship Academy.

The academy where Joseon’s Best Swordsman, Choi Sangcheol, trained.

Although they had made plans over sundaeguk, they couldn’t go to the academy right away.

They didn’t have a camera, essential for outdoor broadcasting. While they could use a smartphone, the video quality would be much better with proper equipment.

“Let’s go to my place and get my equipment.”

And it wasn’t just the camera.

They also didn’t have a cameraman.

“I’ll film for you today.”

“Are you sure? I feel so bad…”

“There’s no other way, is there? Just buy me dinner later.”

Fortunately, Ji-eun agreed to be the camerawoman. She said she had done some solo outdoor broadcasts, so she was probably proficient with camera angles.

“But shouldn’t we get permission from the academy?”

Ji-eun said, as if suddenly remembering.

“Shihyun, you have no affiliation with them. You can’t just barge in and start filming. Let’s contact them and get permission.”

“Okay.”

Shihyun agreed and picked up her phone. She called the Korean Swordsmanship Academy.

[Hello, this is the Korean Swordsmanship Academy. How can I help you?]

“Hello, I’m calling because…”

Shihyun explained her plan to the woman, presumably a receptionist. The woman seemed flustered at first, then transferred her to someone else.

[Hello, this is Kang Gu-il. I understand you’d like to film here?]

Apparently, Kang Gu-il was someone in a high position at the academy. Shihyun enthusiastically explained her plan. It was less of a proposal and more of a rambling explanation.

After finishing, she swallowed nervously.

If the academy refused, there was nothing she could do. She would have to scrap the dojo challenge idea and film herself taking lessons at the academy instead.

But thankfully, her proposal seemed to pique their interest.

[There are a few issues, but it sounds interesting.]

“R-Really?”

[Yes, I play Arfellium and watch streams, so I’m aware of your popularity, Ms. Shihyun. We can grant you permission if you agree to a few conditions.]

“Oh, thank you.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Shihyun listened to Kang Gu-il’s conditions. They weren’t unreasonable. Quite generous, considering she had asked for permission on the same day.

“Understood. Let’s do that.”

[Alright then.]

Shihyun ended the call and turned to Ji-eun.

“I got permission.”

“Really? That was easy. I was expecting today’s filming to be canceled.”

“Canceled?”

“Shihyun, who gives filming permission on the same day…? Everyone would refuse.”

Shihyun admitted she had been a bit impulsive.

“But they agreed, so it’s all good, right?”

“Right. You should be grateful to the Korean Swordsmanship Academy. They’re very kind.”

Everything went smoothly after that.

They took a taxi to the Korean Swordsmanship Academy. Fortunately, rush hour was over by the time they picked up the equipment, so the traffic wasn’t too bad.

It felt like they had just left, but Shihyun soon found herself crossing the Han River in a taxi.

As she gazed at the river, Ji-eun, sitting next to her, asked, “So, are you going to duel with the instructors there right away?”

“No, not right away. I’ll be sparring with some of their trainees first. I heard they’re second-string pro gamers.”

“They always send the weakest ones first.”

Ji-eun muttered indifferently.

“Second-string trainees will be no match for you.”

“Probably. But it can’t be helped. It was one of their conditions.”

“Hmm, I wonder what they’re thinking. I mean, it’s embarrassing either way if their dojo gets challenged.”

“That’s true.”

As they chatted, they approached their destination. The Korean Swordsmanship Academy, occupying the entire third floor of a large commercial building, came into view.

Shihyun calmed her slightly racing heart and smiled.

‘I wonder if Choi Sangcheol is there?’

Someone like Choi Sangcheol would definitely hear about this. He might have come to the academy, or he might not care.

‘I hope he’s there.’

Shihyun licked her lips.

Choi Sangcheol.

The number one ranked player in individual matches, a top professional gamer, Joseon’s Best Swordsman, and the owner of a body with a 99% synchronization rate. It was only natural that she was interested in him.

‘I really want to duel him.’

He was the best swordsman in Korea. It would be thrilling to cross swords with him.

“I hope he’s there.”

Shihyun muttered as she got out of the taxi.

[Congratulations to Choi Sangcheol on winning the Arfell Cup!]

A banner celebrating Choi Sangcheol’s victory greeted her at the entrance of the building.

“Tsk.”

Yoon Seong-il, an instructor at the Korean Swordsmanship Academy, frowned as he watched two women casually enter the academy.

One of the cadets standing next to him asked, “Instructor, why the long face? Don’t you like them?”

“No, not really.”

“Why? The stuffy academy air feels fresher now that they’re here. Wow, her face is so small. How can someone be that beautiful?”

Yoon Seong-il glanced at the two women.

‘…She is pretty.’

The cold-looking woman with flowing black hair was undeniably beautiful. Stunning, even. Actress-level beauty. He wondered why she wasn’t in the entertainment industry.

That woman must be the famous ‘Shihyun13’.

Although he hadn’t watched her streams, he had heard enough rumors to know the basics.

She had apparently scored higher on the test than the academy’s pride, Choi Sangcheol. Because of her, Choi Sangcheol was being told to give up his title of Joseon’s Best Swordsman.

Yoon Seong-il scoffed at such claims.

‘What does a score against a machine even mean? True skill is shown against another person.’

Programs still couldn’t match humans.

The stagnation of AI development was proof enough. To claim superiority based on a score against an AI was laughable.

‘Besides…’

Yoon Seong-il clicked his tongue.

He didn’t like the idea of them using the academy for their broadcast.

And the content was a dojo challenge?

‘How disrespectful.’

If the higher-ups hadn’t approved the filming, he would have thrown them out.

‘What do they even know about swordsmanship?’

His frown remained even after the filming started.

“…?”

His expression only changed after Shihyun completely demolished the second-string pro trainee who was her first opponent.