After returning, He became the greatest returner of all time

Chapter 22: Kim Gil-yong (3)

“So, does that mean I can learn the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique right away?”
“At your level, you’re more than qualified.”

Kim Gil-yong’s voice carried a hint of disappointment.

He must’ve been itching to put me through grueling training, given how rare new recruits were. But I had no intention of indulging him.

‘Still the same as ever.’

Actually, “still” might not be the right word.

The Kim Gil-yong I knew was from further in the future.

But he wasn’t any different from the one I remembered.

‘Always a man of sincerity.’

Honestly, I didn’t expect him to concede so easily.

I thought he’d make excuses to force at least some basic training on me, but he acknowledged my skill without resistance.

Thanks to that, I could immediately begin learning the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique.

“…This is the first time I’m teaching the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique to someone on their first day.”

Kim Gil-yong looked utterly bewildered.

He said that even skilled individuals usually underwent at least a month of basic training. Fundamentals and skill weren’t always directly correlated, but he still insisted on it.

“As the name suggests, the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique embodies the moment lightning splits the sky—a first-rate swordsmanship. I’ll demonstrate first, so watch carefully.”

Gripping a wooden sword, Kim Gil-yong stepped to the center of the dojo.

Slowly and meticulously, he began demonstrating the nine forms, all while explaining in detail.

“The Thunder Dragon Sword Technique pursues extreme speed, so the forms themselves aren’t overly complex. However, the distribution of power and precision of movement…”

I listened intently, observing the flow of his sword.

Though it was meant to embody splitting lightning, the slow demonstration didn’t convey its grandeur.

If anything, it seemed simple.

Most of the movements followed the shortest possible path for speed, making it appear straightforward.

As a technique focused on velocity, straight-line trajectories were natural.

So, as he said, learning the forms wasn’t the hard part.

But precisely because of that, the real challenge was channeling power from the feet to the blade’s tip with perfect execution.

Instead of just watching the sword’s path, I focused on his entire body’s movement.

Thanks to his slow, deliberate demonstration, deciphering the explosive flow hidden within the simple forms wasn’t difficult for me.

“Huu.”

Finishing the demonstration, Kim Gil-yong steadied his breath and prepared to begin training in earnest.

“Now, let’s take it step by step from the first form—”
“Can I try it right away?”

I cut him off.

“Huh?”

His head tilted in confusion.

He must not have understood what I meant, so I clarified.

“I’ve memorized it. Please check if I got it right.”
“…You memorized all of it in one go?”
“Yes.”

Kim Gil-yong stared at me blankly before finally nodding.

“Alright, show me.”

His tone suggested that seeing was believing—he clearly didn’t think I could’ve memorized it.

And he was right in a way.

Memorizing the forms wasn’t enough. The real key was infusing the movements with the correct flow of power.

—Swish.

I stepped to the center and began performing the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique just as he had.

Without a single hitch.

This wasn’t just because of my deep understanding of swordsmanship—though that played a part.

In my past life, I’d seen Kim Gil-yong’s sword countless times. We’d fought side by side through life-and-death battles.

I’d never seen him perform all the forms in sequence before, but I’d witnessed his swordsmanship enough to grasp its essence instantly.

Besides, this was just the basic version.

Several levels below the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique I knew from Kim Gil-yong in the future.

That’s why, after seeing it just once, I could replicate all nine forms flawlessly.

—Thwip!

The final thrust pierced the air.

Even I couldn’t believe it was my first time performing the technique—the transitions were that smooth.

I hadn’t just memorized the forms—I’d fully connected them.

It was like a baby taking its first steps only to sprint like an Olympian.

The beginning and the result—skipping all the steps in between.

As if to prove it, a message appeared before me:

[Thunder Dragon Sword Technique (Basic) Mastery: 99%]

“……”

Kim Gil-yong stood there, mouth agape, staring at the wooden sword.

His brain seemed to have short-circuited.

This was beyond absurd.

[Disciple Lee Geom-shin, Thunder Dragon Sword Technique (Basic) Mastery: 99%]

The same message floated before Kim Gil-yong’s eyes.

Though he was the instructor, the system determined mastery.

Meaning—Lee Geom-shin had nearly fulfilled all the requirements to learn the technique.

‘How is this possible?’

Even if he’d demonstrated it slowly, grasping the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique to this extent in one go…

For most people, this took at least three months.

And that was with consistent practice alongside basic training.

Sure, talent played a role, but the fastest before this had been a difference of a week or two.

But this monster—what the hell was he?

“No wonder nothing made sense from the start.”

Kim Gil-yong shook his head and let out a hollow laugh.

It had been ages since a recruit walked in on their own.

A rare occurrence—usually, even after distributing hundreds of flyers, no one showed up.

So, he pinched his cheeks with both hands.

Hard.

“…What are you doing?”

Lee Geom-shin watched him with a weirded-out expression as Kim Gil-yong stretched his face unnaturally.

“Ish thith a dweam?”

Kim Gil-yong mumbled through his pinched cheeks.

It hurt. But he still didn’t wake up.

Cupping his stinging face, he spoke.

The pain confirmed it.

“This is real?”
“You saw the message, right? I just need to polish the details a bit, and I’ll have it mastered.”

But the one who’d pulled off this dreamlike feat remained utterly unfazed.

As if it were nothing.

“I’ll try again, so correct me right away.”
“W-Wait!”

Kim Gil-yong frantically held out his hands, stopping Lee Geom-shin from charging ahead.

“Let’s stop here for today!”
“But there’s still plenty of time?”
“No, you must be tired! Rest well and come back tomorrow!”

He practically shoved Lee Geom-shin toward the locker room, blocking the door with his body afterward.

“Haaah…”

Kim Gil-yong exhaled deeply.

The foundation of his dojo had almost crumbled in a single day.

He’d expected at least six months—what kind of lightning strike was this?

At this rate, Lee Geom-shin would master the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique in a day, not a month.

‘…How much money would I lose?’

That was his first thought.

Survival instincts, perhaps.

He immediately smacked his own head several times.

Here I am, worrying about money when faced with a prodigy.

He felt pathetic.

When he first opened his dojo, he’d despised those who compromised with reality.

But now, nearly ten years later, he’d made countless compromises himself.

‘Geom-shin TV, was it?’

Squatting in place, he searched for Lee Geom-shin’s channel.

Three videos were uploaded.

“Huh?”

For a 1-star player, the view counts were unusually high.

The most popular video, uploaded just a day ago, was already nearing 80,000 views.

Unusually strong traction for a beginner.

“Was he already famous?”

Then again, with talent like this, it’d be stranger if he wasn’t known.

Kim Gil-yong recalled Lee Geom-shin replicating the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique flawlessly and began watching the videos one by one.

From tutorial clips to the Thornbush Forest strategy—he watched them all in one sitting.

“……”

After finishing, Kim Gil-yong was once again speechless.

This guy’s talent defied logic.

“How is he this adaptable?”

His physical abilities weren’t extraordinary, but his situational judgment far surpassed normal standards.

“…He might even be better than me.”

Especially in the Thornbush Forest’s final stage—his movements and decision-making were on a level Kim Gil-yong honestly couldn’t match.

It was hard to believe this was a 1-star player.

Kim Gil-yong nodded gravely.

It was obvious.

This kid was destined for greatness.

‘Could he reach Sword Saint level?’

Lee Geom-shin’s overwhelming talent made him think of only one comparison—the world’s greatest swordsman.

That’s how much potential he saw.

And if someone like this used the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique?

Skills wielded by famous players became trends overnight.

Even if a skill was previously considered mediocre, a top player’s touch could turn it into gold.

Its value would skyrocket.

‘And what if it’s a unique skill…?’

Needless to say.

The Thunder Dragon Sword Hall would explode in popularity, with aspiring disciples flooding in.

They’d open branches all over South Korea.

It was inevitable.

Kim Gil-yong recalled his first impression of Lee Geom-shin.

Well…

At first, he’d thought the guy was weird.

The way he looked at him was unsettling.

For a moment, his heart had skipped a beat—wondering if he’d fathered a secret love child.

That’s how deep the emotions in his gaze were.

Then, the prolonged staring made him wonder if Lee Geom-shin had other interests.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

But still, the guy was strange in many ways.

Now, though, knowing his talent, Kim Gil-yong’s perception flipped completely.

A golden goose.

That’s what Lee Geom-shin was.

How did such a treasure roll into his lap on its own?!

“Kehahahahaha!”

Kim Gil-yong burst into laughter, imagining the Thunder Dragon Sword Hall’s bright future.

They say when it rains, it pours—but this was a thunderstorm of luck.

‘Did I save a country in a past life or something?!’

The next day, back at the dojo.

Kim Gil-yong glared at me with the eyes of a wildcat.

“Do you remember the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique from yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“Of course you do.”

His bandit-chief face and sharp glare sent a chill down my spine.

But… I hadn’t done anything wrong?

“You lucky bastard.”

Ah. Jealousy.

“But don’t underestimate the remaining 1%. Even those who reach near-mastery quickly often struggle to take that final step, wasting a lot of time.”

This wasn’t an empty threat—it was a real possibility.

There’s a saying, isn’t there?

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

Skill training was similar.

You could reach 99% through effort, but that last 1% required a breakthrough—a moment of enlightenment to shatter the final barrier.

But that’s for geniuses.

‘I’m a regressor.’

I’ve already walked this path to its end.

So not only do I have the 99% effort—I’ve already attained the 1% inspiration.

That’s who I am.

[Congratulations!]
[Thunder Dragon Sword Technique (Basic) Mastery: 100% achieved.]
[Contract Quest completed.]
[Regression Record updated.]
[Episode: Thunder Dragon Sword Technique]
[Achievement Points +100]
[Current Achievement Points: 100P]