I Became a Swordsmanship Genius at the Academy

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Kim Il-shin and Hanarin arrived at the Mountain Workshop shortly after departing.

The Mountain Workshop had such a peculiar appearance that it was hard to guess its purpose just from the outside.

It resembled an hourglass, with stalactites hanging from the ceiling and buildings stacked up from below.

It looked more like decoration than a building built for any specific purpose.

“Just go in here.”

Passing through the relatively small entrance compared to the overall size of the building, Kim Il-shin faced a long hallway lined with doors on both sides.

‘Very modern.’

The interior of the Mountain Workshop was neatly arranged.

Not a speck of dust could be found on the floor or walls, and the doors on the side operated electronically.

It was in complete contrast to its rough exterior.

“Are those devices to assist with calculations?”

“Yep. They’re really important. If even one of them breaks, we can’t work.”

Beyond the systematically placed doors along the hallway were numerous unknown mechanical devices.

It looked like a complex server room.

It was a scene that hinted at the immense power of the mountains they were soon to handle.

This meant they had set up so many large facilities solely to utilize the power of the mountains.

The ‘work preparation’ Hanarin had done in advance must have included the maintenance of those devices.

“We’ll work over there, right?”

“Yeah. That’s the main workshop.”

At the end of the hallway lay the spacious main workshop, in the center of which stood a large machine.

Hanarin explained it was called a “Essence Concentrator.”

It was a device that would allow the power of the mountains to be harnessed for use.

According to the explanation, dozens of thick cables resembling wooden columns were connected above the Essence Concentrator.

They were firmly attached to the stalactite touching the top of the building.

It seemed they would draw the power of the mountains through that.

In the center below the Essence Concentrator was a device that looked much like a mini MRI, perfectly sized for inserting the Hyeonwool Sword.

“Do I just put the Hyeonwool Sword here?”

“That’s right. We just need to apply pressure, so it’s set up simply.”

Hanarin spoke nonchalantly, but upon hearing those words, Kim Il-shin felt his breath hitch.

‘If this is simple, then what does complex setup look like?’

He couldn’t even begin to imagine.

He felt that choosing to become a tester was a very good decision.

“Now, prepare, we’re about to start.”

At that moment, Hanarin, who had been busily manipulating something in front of the monitor, spoke.

It was time to begin the operation.

Woong.

Kim Il-shin pulled out the Hyeonwool Sword. A more ferocious aura surged through his grasp.

“Can I just put it in right away?”

“Yep.”

He inserted the Hyeonwool Sword into the Essence Concentrator. Since it was custom-made, it fit perfectly.

“From now on, it’s up to you. When you apply pressure to the sword, the internal power will start rampaging, so no matter what happens, don’t let go of the sword.”

Hanarin added an explanation.

“You can only proceed according to the design if the sword doesn’t move until the work is done. If it comes out a bit, it’s an immediate failure. Got it?”

“How long will it take?”

“A minimum of five hours.”

With the power embedded in the Hyeonwool Sword to withstand for at least five hours.

Having witnessed a fragment of that power last time, he felt tense, but it was worth a try.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Not ‘do my best’; it’s something you must do… But if it really gets tough, you can let go. No matter how good the sword is, it’s just scrap if there’s no one to use it.”

“I understand.”

Nodding in response, the Essence Concentrator soon began to operate.

Clank. Wheeeeeen!

The large Essence Concentrator taking up most of the main workshop let out a tremendous noise.

Kuuuuung!

It felt like an earthquake as a colossal rumble resounded from above.

At the same time, the immense flow of mana was felt descending.

“Now it starts! Put all your strength into it!”

The power of the mountains that flowed down the thick cables passed through the Essence Concentrator, and soon shot directly into the Hyeonwool Sword.

Woooon—!!

And so began the rampage of the Hyeonwool Sword.

The pressure applied and the vibrations seemed to resonate beyond Kim Il-shin’s grasp, shaking the entire building.

‘It’s stronger than I thought…!’

He immediately split the mana circuits into three.

Operating the Cheonji Myeowon-gong at full intensity through each circuit, he poured the heated mana into his grasp.

‘… It’s enough.’

He soon got a sense of it.

He could gauge how quickly he needed to operate the circuits and how much mana to use to withstand the vibrations.

With maximum control, it felt possible to stretch it to ten hours.

“You’re doing great! Now for the coating!”

What Hanarin meant by ‘coating’ was the process of wrapping the outside of the Hyeonwool Sword with a barrier made of mana.

It was an idea inspired by how Kim Il-shin had previously halted the black radiance that flowed from the Hyeonwool Sword.

The idea was to completely coat the outer part so that no radiance could leak out.

Goooon…

“Done! Success!”

Hanarin shouted joyfully.

Moments later, the black radiance that erupted from the Hyeonwool Sword couldn’t penetrate the coated barrier.

If Kim Il-shin could just hold on like this, the operation was as good as successful.

‘That’s…’

At that moment, an unusual flow of mana caught Kim Il-shin’s eye.

It resembled a black flame, emanating waves he found very familiar.

‘Right now, it feels possible.’

He acted faster than he thought.

Straightforwardly extending his mana, it passed through the outer barrier and infiltrated within the Hyeonwool Sword.

‘It’s difficult to completely dominate.’

It was like a small stream entering the scene of a fire; it wouldn’t be possible just with that alone.

But there was an immense pressure continuously flooding in from outside.

If he used that, he could guide the flow of the flames.

‘First, circulate.’

He used mana to carve a path, guiding the flames to circulate throughout.

During the process of circulating in a circle, the scattered shards were absorbed into the flames.

As the circulation was repeated, all the flames soon settled onto a single flow.

The next preparation was ready.

‘Compression.’

The flames, moving like a snail’s shell, gradually gathered inward.

The aimless rampaging flames began to clarify, and simultaneously, they started to take on distinct shapes.

“Hey! What are you doing right now?!”

Only then did Hanarin sense something strange and exclaimed in alarm.

However, it had already fallen on deaf ears for Kim Il-shin, who was lost in a trance.

“No, what’s he doing…!”

There was nothing Hanarin could do in this situation.

It seemed dangerous to disturb Kim Il-shin in that state, but leaving him as he was felt precarious too.

“… Huh?”

At that moment, something strange caught Hanarin’s eye.

A gauge indicating the estimated time required.

Just before, it had surely displayed [6:45], but now, an incomprehensible time of [3:15] appeared instead.

“… Why is this happening?”

Hanarin immediately began checking other metrics.

Before long, she realized what was happening.

‘In that situation, moving the internal power, and even the results being far beyond expectations…? Is that even possible for a person…?’

It was hard to believe.

Guiding the erratically rampaging power as planned, under the pressure of enormous force, was nearly impossible.

Theoretically, it was possible. There were even two methods of achieving it.

Of course, both were nonsensical methods.
First. Calculate every action occurring within the Essence Concentrator with zero error.
‘Or…’
Second. Just do it by instinct.
In either case, Kim Il-shin found it utterly incomprehensible.

‘For now, let’s just observe.’

One thing was certain: the stabilization process was progressing successfully.

Though the unease didn’t vanish, for now, all she could do was trust Kim Il-shin.

Fixing her anxious gaze on Kim Il-shin, Hanarin fervently prayed.

Regardless of the outcome of the operation, she just hoped Kim Il-shin wouldn’t get hurt.

*

Kuuuuung!

“What the hell is this? Did something explode again?”

A dwarf waiting outside the Jangsan Cave murmured anxiously at the sudden vibration.

It had barely been ten minutes since they finished the mining restoration work.

If the earlier tremor was caused by a collapse in the mine, they needed to rush there without rest.

“They said they’d use the Mountain Workshop today. It’s probably that.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

“Should we just go and grab a drink right now?”

“Sounds good.”

Thinking about it, the noise was too deep to be from the mine collapsing.

As the relieved dwarf gathered his shovel, he was about to leave when…

Kuuuuuuung——!!

A tremor far greater than the last shook the ground.

Barely regaining his balance, the dwarf shouted at his companion.

“What’s going on! This one’s too big! Is it really an earthquake?”

“…….”

However, his companion stood frozen, fixated on the sky above.

“Huh? Why suddenly—”

The dwarf couldn’t finish his sentence because, without warning, a shadow loomed over him.

Feeling something odd, the dwarf looked up.

“…What the hell.”

He witnessed the movement of a gigantic mountain approaching the Jangsan Cave.