Sweeping the Academy with a Wooden Sword

“…A wooden sword?”

The hunter who was about to point his sword at Lee Dojin tilted his head, looking at the wooden sword in his hand.

The Awakened Management Bureau agent knelt down and closely examined Lee Jin-woo’s corpse.

He took out a device like a tablet and held it over the face.

Zing-

“It’s confirmed. The 10th executive of the New Humanity Society, Lee Jin-woo. Trait-type lightning ability user. Estimated hunter rank A-class. Is it correct that you killed this person?”

Lee Dojin nodded at the agent’s words.

“Yes.”

Another agent standing nearby opened his mouth towards Lee Dojin.

“Please present your hunter identification.”

Lee Dojin didn’t answer and checked the faces of the people surrounding him.

Since what Lee Dojin was holding was a wooden sword, they didn’t immediately enter a confrontational state, but every single one had their hand on their weapon.

‘Awakened Management Bureau. Special Police.’

It was obvious that getting involved with the police would be troublesome. And since the Awakened Management Bureau had priority in investigating villain death cases, should he stick with them?

If he revealed that he was an academy student right now in this situation surrounded by so many people, it seemed like it would become quite tiresome.

“This bastard, should we subdue him first? He can’t show his ID.”

Just as the hunter was about to draw the sword at his waist, in a hair-trigger moment.

“Wait.”

Someone grabbed the hunter’s shoulder.

A red-haired woman was standing behind.

“Ah, Sword Empress.”

The hunter whose shoulder was grabbed immediately bowed.
The four Awakened Management Bureau agents and three special police officers did the same.

Every single one of them bowed their waists neatly.

For anyone working in the hunter-related industry here in Korea, it was impossible not to know of the existence of Sword Empress Yoo Seol-ah.

Not just her name, but her face as well.

The position of one of the held such a standing.

“This is a person whose identity I vouch for. So let’s talk with the Awakened Management Bureau side. I’ll explain so that there’s not even a sliver of doubt about the incident. Is that alright?”

Yoo Seol-ah spoke while looking at the special police.

The special police officer nodded.

“Since the Sword Empress is guaranteeing his identity, as long as we receive a detailed outline of the incident from the Management Bureau, we won’t concern ourselves further.”

Yoo Seol-ah gave an eye-smile.

“Yes, then. We’ll be going.”

Yoo Seol-ah embraced Baek Hwayeon, who was still sitting down, and got into the Management Bureau’s vehicle.

Lee Dojin silently got into the seat next to her.
Yoo Seol-ah smiled at Lee Dojin.

“Well, nothing much will happen. When we get off at the Management Bureau, just follow me.”

“Understood.”

There was no choice but to do so anyway. Because I don’t know what’s what.
The vehicle that entered in front of the Hunter Management Bureau very quietly pulled into the inner parking lot.

When Sword Empress Yoo Seol-ah suddenly barged into the Management Bureau, a department head who had been idle hurriedly came down.

“We’re going to the top floor.”

“Ah, yes. Yes.”

The department head just nodded at Yoo Seol-ah’s words. Although the 20th floor, the top floor of the Management Bureau’s main building, was none other than where the Director’s office was,

There was no one who could say anything about the Sword Empress meeting the Director.

In the spacious waiting room in front of the Director’s office.
Lee Dojin explained to Yoo Seol-ah how he came to kill Lee Jin-woo of the New Humanity Society.

Baek Hwayeon remained in the waiting room, while Yoo Seol-ah and Lee Dojin stood in front of the Director’s office.

The door of the Director’s office opened.

Awakened Management Bureau Director Kim Jung-woo was completely flustered because of the Sword Empress who had suddenly barged into the Management Bureau.

“I heard that you vouched for the identity of the person who dealt with the special management villain in the Myeongdong Hunter Shop Street, Sword Empress.”

“Yes, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Yoo Seol-ah bowed her head in return to Kim Jung-woo, whose hair was full of white, then put her hand on Lee Dojin’s shoulder beside her.

“The one who took down that villain is this friend here. Iroaz Academy 1st year student Lee Dojin.”

Kim Jung-woo’s experienced eyes quickly scanned Lee Dojin’s entire body.

“Oh, a 1st year student… took down a special management villain. That’s quite an impressive achievement.”

Lee Dojin stared at Yoo Seol-ah. There was a question in those eyes.

“Was it okay to just say that? That I’m a student?”

“Of course. It might be the first time a 1st year student has taken down an A-class villain, but there are quite a few students who have encountered and hunted monsters while still students.”

Kim Jung-woo nodded greatly as if agreeing with the Sword Empress’s words.

“In both cases, according to the law, if one academy instructor proves that they are an academy student and vouches for their identity, the achievement is officially recognized. Could you write up an incident summary? Director? I’ll dictate it for you.”

The Management Bureau Director typed on the keyboard while sweating profusely.

“Then, I’ll write up the incident summary.”

Director Kim Jung-woo, who ended up doing work usually done by low-level employees, was flustered but couldn’t refuse.

Because he guessed the reason why she had barged into the Director’s office just to make him do this task.

“Iroaz Academy student Lee Dojin went out with fellow student Baek Hwayeon. By chance, they encountered 2 members of the villain group New Humanity Society, and student Lee Dojin took down one of the two, New Humanity Society executive Lee Jin-woo. The remaining member of the New Humanity Society fled the scene.”

Yoo Seol-ah waited until Kim Jung-woo finished typing.

“According to the Special Management Villain Act, on-site summary execution is permitted for villains with an estimated rank of B-class or higher by those with a hunter license. Iroaz Academy instructor Yoo Seol-ah vouches for student Lee Dojin’s identity. There are no issues with this on-site summary execution.”

Kim Jung-woo’s hands moved quickly.

“Please put an information disclosure restriction, Director. Do it yourself.”

Kim Jung-woo put the information disclosure restriction without saying anything because he had expected this.

“With this, except for the deceased Lee Jin-woo, the rest of the individuals will be treated as non-public. It’s not good to catch the eyes of villains.”

The ones who’ll find out will find out anyway.
The Sword Empress swallowed her afterthought.

“Thank you.”

Only after the situation was settled did Lee Dojin realize that he had committed his first murder.

“Did I kill him needlessly?”

He felt no guilt at all about killing Lee Jin-woo.

Thinking about the information that could have been obtained if he had captured him alive, he only wondered if he had killed him too hastily.

Yoo Seol-ah slowly shook her head.

“Even if student Lee Dojin hadn’t killed him, he would have died soon after being captured. Because the leader of the New Humanity Society has messed with the hearts of all members using blood techniques.”

Lee Dojin furrowed his brow.

“…You mean he made it so he could kill his subordinates at any time?”

“Yes. The bigger problem is that they remain loyal to the organization even knowing that there’s something in their hearts.”

Are all villains that crazy?
Lee Dojin felt a sudden wave of fatigue.

“I’ll receive Lee Jin-woo’s bounty first and pass it on to student Lee Dojin. It’s not good to leave traces. It should be about 500 million won.”

“Thank you.”

The Sword Empress chuckled while looking at Lee Dojin.

“I don’t know how many times you’ve said thank you.”

What can I do?
Grateful things keep happening.
If the Sword Empress hadn’t been there, a commotion would have occurred, and if that had happened, reporters and the media might have gotten involved.

Lee Dojin recalled the red eyes he had seen at the end.

“Do you know about Ryu So-hye, the vice leader of the New Humanity Society?”

“Hmm? Was Ryu So-hye the other member of the New Humanity Society who was at the scene?”

“Yes.”

Lee Dojin briefly explained how Ryu So-hye had left the scene.

“Hmm, you’ve caught the interest of quite a troublesome opponent.”

Yoo Seol-ah smiled brightly.

“I’ll have to pay a bit more attention to the people approaching student Lee Dojin’s surroundings.”

‘You’re a bit scary too.’

With today’s events and having received so much help recently, he couldn’t voice that thought out loud.

“Do you think Hwayeon was disappointed in me?”

Lee Dojin worried about the possible shock Baek Hwayeon might have received.

Yoo Seol-ah stared intently at Lee Dojin.
The corners of her mouth trembled slightly. As if she couldn’t contain her interest.

“Hwayeon won’t be disappointed because student Lee Dojin killed someone. Because that person was a villain. She might have been a bit surprised though?”

Yoo Seol-ah thought for a moment and then murmured softly.

“Rather, she probably admires student Lee Dojin even more now.”

“What?”

Lee Dojin couldn’t easily understand Yoo Seol-ah’s words.

“Shall we get up now?”

Yoo Seol-ah stood up.

Saturday night had deepened.
Though he had only caught one villain. Anyway, the matter was settled, so it was time to return to Iroaz Academy.

Lee Dojin approached Baek Hwayeon, who was sitting in the waiting room. She had her eyes closed as if thinking about something.

“Hwayeon, let’s go.”

“Oh, okay!”

Baek Hwayeon jumped up at Lee Dojin’s words. And she clung tightly to Lee Dojin’s side.

‘Fortunately, it seems the Sword Empress was right.’

It doesn’t seem like she’s disappointed because he killed someone.

Sword Empress Yoo Seol-ah said one thing while looking at Baek Hwayeon.

“There’s no use in raising a disciple.”

“W-What are you saying!”

Baek Hwayeon’s face turned bright red.

Since Baek Hwayeon wasn’t at the academy on weekends, Lee Dojin returned to the dormitory alone.

Although he was quite physically and mentally fatigued, there was one thing he needed to check.

It was to find out the true name of the high-grade wood used in the Yeorae wood prayer beads received from and to check if the ‘Song of the Tree’ worked.

Lee Dojin sat in a proper posture wearing the wooden prayer beads.
The voice of Mistilteinn in Advice Ego state echoed in his mind.

[Starting interaction.]

[Deciphering the true name of this wood.]

[True name – Taesan (泰山)]

[Starting the ‘Song of the Tree’.]

[Please prepare.]

Mistilteinn sang an incomprehensible song.
The image of Mistilteinn praying with her hands clasped looked reverent this time as well.

A tree sprang up from the ground.

[Summoning a person.]

The historical value of the Taesan wood was calculated, and a green stem came down to form one life.

Like the first teacher Sword Emperor Dan Cheonwoo who appeared with the historical value of the moonlight wood, the person with the greatest historical value experienced by the Taesan wood appeared.

[Fist King (拳王) Hwangbo Seryeong]

Fist King?

Black hair spread out like a lion’s mane.
The woman wearing old gray training clothes slowly opened her eyes.

“But I died.”

Hwangbo Seryeong slowly stood up. And stared at Lee Dojin in front of her.

“Who are you?”

Green stems wrapped around Hwangbo Seryeong’s body. It was making the Hwangbo Seryeong born in Mistilteinn’s current world aware of her own state.

“…So I’ve become a being derived from the tree’s memory.”

Hwangbo Seryeong let out a hollow laugh. For a while.
And then stared at Lee Dojin again.

“What do you want to get from me?”

Lee Dojin pondered for a very brief moment.
No matter how he thought about it, only one thing came to mind.

“Um… first, would you fight me once?”

He gripped the wooden sword.

“Huh.”

Hwangbo Seryeong let out another hollow laugh.

“Quite a bold kid, aren’t you.”

A golden aura flowed from Hwangbo Seryeong’s body.
Both of them stomped the ground hard.