Chapter 137: Teacher of the Sword (1)

Han Hae recalled something his seniors often said. As irritating as it was, whenever the Guildmaster described a Gate using words like "hardship" and "adversity," it meant they was in for a fight that could bring them to the brink of death.

"Fuuuccck! This is fucking rough!!"

Metal clashed against metal as he parried the skeleton's attack. Though he thought he had timed his defense correctly, the impact still sent him staggering backward.

He swallowed hard and looked up at the Skeleton Knight before him. While Han Hae had been pushed back several steps, the skeleton had only retreated two. Its heavy longsword, steeped in black mana, radiated a sinister, unsettling aura. In the sockets where human eyes would have been, eerie flames flickered as if mocking him.

Just as a surge of anger welled up within him for reasons he couldn't explain, Han Hae suddenly felt a chilling presence behind him. Instinctively, he hurled himself to the ground.

A worn, rusty dagger sliced through the air above. The skeleton that had crept up behind him silently to land a fatal blow backed off again.

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Han Hae panted. "Fuck! What the...

gasp!

...hell! Hah! No way... This thing's just a Level 35 monster?"

He had rushed into the center of the Gate and charged at the skeleton the moment he spotted it. After all, it was just a skeleton. Even if it retained fragmented memories from its life, how skilled could a skeleton possibly be with a sword?

These were only the first two skeletons he had encountered in the Gate, yet after more than an hour, he still hadn't managed to finish the fight.

—You let your guard down, didn't you?

Han Hae had no response to Kim Ki-Rok's voice crackling through his earpiece.

"I'm sorry! I'll knock them down as soon as possible!"

—No. Just hold out as best you can.

Han Hae froze, confused. "What?"

—Before we assign you a proper spirit instructor, that skeleton will be your substitute teacher.

"Uh, I don't quite get it... Shit!"

Still confused, Han Hae shifted his left leg back, braced himself firmly, and swung his sword in a heavy arc. This particular stance allowed him to absorb the force of his opponent's attacks without being easily pushed back.

The skeletons, empowered by mana from the Demon Realm, weren't slow. In fact, they were alarmingly fast and strong, especially for creatures made entirely of bone. If he got caught while retreating and staggered even a little, they would immediately follow up with more attacks.

Another clash of metal rang out once again as Han Hae blocked a blow. Though he absorbed the shock through his longsword, he was still pushed back. Gritting his teeth, he fought to stay on his feet.

—You don't understand, huh? That's fine. What matters is understanding your task. Do you remember why I picked the Graveyard of Blades as your first Gate?

"Yes."

Kim Ki-Rok had told him it was because of the legendary swords, the Gate rewards, and a teacher.

—When I mentioned that third reward, I wasn't just referring to the spirits dwelling in the Graveyard of Blades. The monsters here... the skeletons... they're also your teachers.

Only then did something click for Han Hae. His head snapped up. "Ah!"

It was said that, unlike typical skeletons, those imbued with Demon Realm mana could use the sword techniques they wielded in life. He had scoffed at that idea initially, but facing them now, he knew it was no exaggeration.

The skeleton directly in front of him fought with an orthodox heavy sword style that reminded him of a High Knight. Meanwhile, the other, hungrily eyeing his flank for an opening, used a rough, unpredictable style more akin to that of a mercenary.

—By battling skeletons that fight as they did in life, you'll learn their sword techniques. You'll have to steal their combat experience through real fights.

Although Han Hae understood it now, the real question was whether he'd even survive long enough to attempt it. Learning two distinct sword styles while barely clinging to life was no easy feat.

—That's why I told you to engage a Skeleton Knight one-on-one. But you didn't take my instructions seriously, did you?

"I'm sorry."

—No need to apologize to me. I'm not the one paying the price. Mr. Seh-Hyuk?

—Yes, should I take one of them?

Following Kim Ki-Rok's orders, Kang Seh-Hyuk had stayed out of the fight. But there had been several close calls. Still, this was Kim Ki-Rok they were dealing with.

—A Hunter let his guard down during a Gate run.

A chill ran down Han Hae's spine as he narrowly dodged a blow from the Skeleton Knight and quickly moved to intercept any follow-up attacks.

—If this had been a full-party operation, that carelessness could have endangered everyone.

Han Hae gritted his teeth and blocked a strike coming from his blind spot, barely in time. He had no rebuttal. Kim Ki-Rok was right.

—So leave him be. You may intervene only if things reach a truly dangerous level, something on par with facing an Orc Lord.

—Ah...

Ha

... Understood.

Kang Seh-Hyuk hesitated, wanting to object, but ultimately accepted Kim Ki-Rok's instruction. He who tied the knot must untie it; this was Han Hae's responsibility to resolve.

Staring straight at the skeleton, Han Hae took a deep breath and called out, "Senior Seh-Hyuk."

—Hm?

"Please lend me a shield."

—You got it.

As soon as Kang Seh-Hyuk replied, a shield came flying toward him at a terrifyingly high speed and embedded itself into the ground.

Han Hae yanked the shield out of the ground and strapped it on. Judging that it would be more beneficial to learn from the Noble Skeleton Knight with the refined, knight-like swordsmanship that was efficient in both offense and defense, he adjusted his stance to match that of his opponent.

The Noble Skeleton Knight charged straight at him, while the Mercenary Skeleton Knight circled around, drawing a semicircle and watching carefully for an opening to strike.

Han Hae took a short breath, then turned and bolted.

It was a shift in tactics. Earlier, he had stood his ground, blocking the first skeleton's strikes while eyeing the mercenary. Now, he had accepted that Kang Seh-Hyuk wouldn't step in unless the situation became extremely dangerous.

That was fair. In the end, he was on his own.

***

Watching Han Hae retreat, Kang Seh-Hyuk felt a flicker of relief.

"Good thinking. He's eliminated any angles from behind him."

A tactical retreat? Sure, that could be a valid option. But Han Hae wasn't simply fleeing in panic. He had stopped in front of an old, weathered building—presumably the gravekeeper's house they'd seen near the tomb's entrance—and was preparing to make his stand.

—Not bad. He's alone, and his available weapons are limited. Sword Manipulation is out of the question due to its mana cost. In a disadvantaged state like this, there's only one thing he can use to tilt the fight.

"Terrain."

—Exactly. Use the terrain.

The Mercenary Skeleton Knight, which had been edging sideways in search of an opening, abruptly halted. For a brief moment, it stood there motionless, just staring at Han Hae. Then it slowly shifted to flank alongside the Noble Skeleton Knight.

***

"The kid knows how to use his head," said the old swordsman spirit.

"Well, he's made his share of mistakes, but given his age, it's understandable," added the female mercenary spirit.

"And he takes responsibility," noted the female knight spirit. "He's trying to clean up his own mess."

The three spirits stroked their chins as they were exchanging opinions.

After a moment of consideration, the female knight, Ainess, spoke. "Swordsman Han Hae possesses an ability that lets him control blades with his mind alone. So, there's no need for us to reconsider our decision to teach him. However, we do need to decide the order in which we'll train him."

The female mercenary raised her hand. "Uh... in that case, I'll go last. My style's a hybrid, part orthodox knight swordsmanship used in war, part techniques I borrowed and adapted from my comrades. It's unconventional. If I go first, I might just confuse Han Hae and mess up his foundation."

Ainess nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll teach Swordsman Han Hae first," the old swordsman offered.

"That puts me second," Ainess replied.

"No. Lady Ainess should go last."

Ainess turned to look at him. "I... should go last?"

That clearly contradicted what they'd just discussed. But the old swordsman remained firm. "

Hohoho.

Lady Ainess."

"Yes, Sir Hunt?"

"You are a prodigy."

"Well... I wouldn't go that far."

"You were the third youngest to reach the rank of Swordmaster. That

is

what we call a prodigy. Han Hae has talent, yes, but no more than that. And while you may also have a gift for teaching, he simply isn't ready for your instruction. Not yet. That's why you'll be third."

After a moment of silent reflection, Ainess gave a small nod. "Understood. Then I'll teach Mister Han Hae last."

The female mercenary, who had originally volunteered to go last, also agreed to Hunt's revised order without complaint.

Hunt was an Aura Knight and one of the greatest swordsmanship instructors ever known. He had earned his resting place in the Graveyard of Blades, reserved for only the most exceptional swordsmen, and no one had opposed his burial there. In life, he had guided five of his students to the rank of Swordmaster. He was, without question, a master of the sword and its teachings.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

***

Han Hae returned to camp three hours after first encountering the two skeletons. His body was exhausted, his mind was even more so.

The fight had been anything but easy. Han Hae had faced two enemies alone while trying to read and steal their sword styles, a task that demanded both strength and precision. By the end, he was completely drained, teetering on the edge of sleep. But rest would have to wait. The old swordsman, Hunt, approached with a smile and immediately began his training.

Fortunately, the session wasn't about pushing his already battered body further. Instead, it focused on reviewing the battle he had just fought. Discussing the fight with Hunt—mentor to five Swordmasters—was in itself an invaluable learning experience. After an intense and focused session, Han Hae finally wrapped up for the day and stumbled back to his tent.

Near the campfire, Kim Ki-Rok rose from his seat, shaking off his drowsiness. "

Yawn...

Maybe I should've brought more people."

Since this Gate's purpose revolved around Han Hae's growth, only he and Kang Seh-Hyuk were available to keep watch.

With a groan, Kim Ki-Rok sank back into his chair in front of the fire. Should he pass the time with a drama or a movie? Or maybe kill some time with a portable game console? Neither option appealed to him.

This was his 92nd Attempt.

He had already seen every film, drama, and played every game that could be loaded into a Gate-compatible device. Others might still find entertainment in them, but for Kim Ki-Rok, the novelty was long gone. In the end, all he could do was stare at the dancing flames, slowly losing himself in the firelight.

It was then that someone approached. "

Hahaha.

I figured you might be bored, so I came to keep you company."

"Do you have something you'd like to ask me?" Kim Ki-Rok replied.

Old swordsman Hunt's eyes widened slightly. He let out a soft chuckle of surprise, then smiled again. "Well, there's that too. May I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

Hunt floated down and settled beside Kim Ki-Rok, his gaze fixed on the fire. After a pause, he spoke slowly. "Most people might not notice... but I can recognize talent."

"I see."

"I assume your Discernment Skill lets you do the same."

"It does."

"Then I have one question. Are you..."

Hunt turned his head and looked at Kim Ki-Rok, who was still poking at the bonfire.

Hunt's ability wasn't limited to identifying swordsmanship talent. When he encountered someone with the aptitude of a merchant, he could instinctively sense their knack for negotiation and trade. The same held true for magicians, Elementalists, and other gifted individuals.

That was why, when he met Kim Ki-Rok, he had been genuinely shocked.

"Are you really a human?"