The Villains I Taught Became Heroes

29 – Graduation – 5

***

Since the last attack, the warriors of the Eastern Summit were honing their skills.

It was only natural.

If it hadn’t been for Yi Hyun in the last attack, they would have suffered significant losses.

Unacceptable.

To have what one considered a considerable power and still not be able to protect one’s own without someone else’s help.

That’s why they thought.

They wanted to become stronger.

They wanted to become even stronger.

And it was something easily achievable.

Yi Hyun.

About a year ago, he came as the master of So Wol, the next leader of the Eastern Summit.

Because of him, the warriors of the Eastern Summit, who were in a rough, unpolished state, could rapidly become stronger, as So Wol had been taught to wield the sword by him in just a short year.

Therefore, this assault was nothing less than a task to announce their strengthened power.

And it was not only the warriors of the Eastern Top who had to resolve this task.

“I have to show them.”

So Wol felt the weight of the gazes directed at her.

The enlightenment gained through deep meditation allowed her to perceive everything.

The magical energy encapsulated in the flow of air enabled her to sense everything.

Those approaching from afar, those fighting to protect this place, and even the one behind emitting the most powerful aura while watching contentedly.

Thus, there was no room for retreat.

“I have to show that I can do it.”

“Miss!”

“The enemies are coming! It’s dangerous, please avo—”

“…Hah.”

With a low exhale, So Wol raised her sword.

In that moment, a pitch-black darkness began to envelop the night sky.

Certainly, it was a night with a crescent moon hanging in the sky.

But what emerged from the darkness she created was a moonlight so cold and pale that it felt chilling and terrifying.

As that light illuminated the battlefield, So Wol’s manifestation began to move.

“The Moonlight Sword is the sword of the mind.”

Recalling the teachings received from Lee Hyun, So Wol focused on the moon she had created.

The Moonlight Sword is a sword of the mind.

By embodying the moon created in the mind into reality, it aligns the world to oneself.

Although it was called a sword technique, it was essentially a power no different from supernatural abilities.

Maintaining it was never easy, but So Wol faced the enemies while sustaining the moon.

As one by one, enemies began to be detected in the moonlight, So Wol spoke to the warriors of the Eastern Top.

“Draw your swords.”

A voice that was cool and overflowing with confidence.

There was no difference from her usual voice, but it contained an irresistible magical power.

Enchanted by that power, the warriors who had not yet drawn their swords quickly unsheathed them.

“Attack.”

He breathes life into the moon created by his imagination.

At that moment, a sword of emotions shot out from the moonlight, beginning to inflict harm upon the enemies of reality.

“Uwaaa!”

“Aaaaah!!”

The cries began to echo.

Listening with delight to the agonizing screams of those struck by the moonlight sword, Sowol began to command the warriors.

The moon in the sky watched over this place, allowing Sowol to feel every situation.

Therefore, Sowol could dominate the battlefield.

No one could escape the moonlight, and no one could flee from this place.

“White warriors, move to the side gate. Laila, take five to the Socheondang. Chujagem, face the front.”

“Yes!”

“Understood! Miss!”

“I will follow the orders!”

The movements of the warriors became increasingly sharp.

From the moment they started to sense that Sowol’s commands dominated the battlefield, the battle was rapidly approaching its end.

Sowol’s orders were precise, and when there were shortcomings, the moonlight sword supported them.

A perfect battle. Watching the beautiful spectacle created by it, Ihyun admired.

‘Completely mastered.’

In the game, Moonlight Slash was a simple all-encompassing attack, but in reality, it was different.

The moon in the sky.

Through it, one could perfectly observe the battlefield.

If one could feel where the moonlight touched and understand how the enemy moved, that meant mastering the Moonlight Sword.

Ihyun calmly surveyed the battlefield, smiling at Sowol, who led the battle to victory.

[Job Quest – Sage]

[Raise two disciples to a certain level or higher.]

[1/2]

Since the conditions of the job quest have been fulfilled.

“Miss!!”

“Fantastic!”

It wasn’t difficult to repel the enemies who attacked the eastern summit. Not a single death occurred in this battle.

Of course, compared to last time, the warriors in the eastern ranks had become stronger, but Lee Hyun did not participate in this battle.

Nevertheless, the credit for achieving this result can be attributed entirely to Sowol’s razor-sharp command.

“Sigh…”

Receiving the warriors’ praise, Sowol released the moon. As the crescent moon, left in the darkness, signaled the end of her sword, Sowol subtly cast a glance towards Lee Hyun.

He was smiling with great satisfaction.

That smile, so dazzling and prideful, made Sowol clench her fist tightly.

“Master, you seem pleased.”

Enamored by that smile that filled her with pride, Sowol approached Lee Hyun with a smile on her lips.

At that moment, Sowol’s cherished disciple, Sojung-yang, began a serious conversation with Lee Hyun as they approached.

What could they be discussing?

As the sense of accomplishment that had filled her face gradually disappeared, Sowol tilted her head.

“What’s going on?”

Was there something more urgent than congratulating her grown disciple? Lee Hyun immediately left with Sojung-yang, and Sowol, who stood there dazed, breathed a sigh of relief as she received the cheers from the approaching warriors.

“Phew…”

“Miss! Are you alright?!”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

It wasn’t until Laila, who had fought diligently earlier, checked Sowol’s condition that she felt reassured.

There were no special injuries on her. Although she mostly commanded from the rear, Sowol had indeed fought against the enemies.

Checking for any possible wounds, Laila, who had been worried, playfully smirked at Sowol’s chubby expression.

“Why are you like this?”

“…It’s nothing.”

It was nothing.

With her blatantly plump lips sticking out, making her look visibly displeased to anyone who saw, Sowol’s honesty was questionable.

Such an insincere master.

Laila chuckled inwardly and poked Sowol in the side.

“Is it because Master didn’t praise you?”

From Noble mtl dot com

“…Ugh. No, not really? I’m going inside to rest!”

Caught red-handed, Sowol pretended nonchalance and headed towards her room as if escaping.

Laila, who was grumbling, asked Baek Musa to sort things out and headed towards Sowol’s room.

As she entered the room, Sowol was lying face down on the bed, wriggling around. The impressive appearance she had shown earlier was nowhere to be seen, and instead, she had the look of a girl who was upset about something.

“Ugh, if you like her so much, why don’t you confess first?”

Laila’s smooth leg, which had been wriggling, stopped at the sound of her words as she sat on the edge of the large bed.

Then, Sowol slowly began to move her pink hair.

After getting up from the bed, Sowol looked intently at Laila and sneezed.

“Hmph! What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m the successor of the Eastern Top, I have a pretty face, and my figure will improve later on! Why should I confess first when I have nothing to be disappointed about?!”

What an honest master she was.

It was clear that Sowol liked Yihyun, but still, she behaved like this.

At this rate, it seemed like she would spend her whole life just sulking in her own misery.

“But if you continue like this, someone else might snatch this master away.”

“Hmph! Someone else? Who…they wouldn’t…”

The light in Sowol’s pretty eyes faded away.

When her gaze turned towards herself, Laila shrugged her shoulders.

“To be honest, this master is popular. He’s talented, has a good personality, and his face isn’t bad either. He might like alcohol a little bit, but he doesn’t even have a prescription for it. Among the maids of the Top and the young ladies of the territories, there are quite a few who like this master.”

‘And that smile he sometimes shows…’

Laila recalled Yihyun’s smile.

Occasionally, that gentle smile he gave had a strange charm that made women’s hearts race.

“Think about it. If another woman stands by this master’s side, holds hands with him, hugs him, and even kisses him…”

“T-That won’t happen! That won’t!”

Sowol shouted with a pale face.

Seeing her like that, Laila felt a pang of conscience.

After all, the person she was talking about was the young lady she had served all her life, and also her childhood friend.

She thought that maybe she had touched on a sensitive topic for no reason, and tried to calm down the teary-eyed Sowol by softly comforting her.

“And, I’m understanding! I can laugh and let it go no matter who the master meets!”

“Oh, that’s a very kind thing to say.”

“As long as you stay by my side in the end…”

Once again, tears welled up in her large eyes. Laila tried to console the sobbing Sowol and forced a bitter smile.

“Ah, yes. But if things continue like this, it seems I won’t even be able to stay by your side, let alone reach the real end.”

Even when So-wol heard Laila’s words, he couldn’t help but burst into anger, poking her with some facts.

“Ah, okay. I get it. Just confess!”

The girl who couldn’t be honest finally revealed her feelings.

Smiling brightly at her, Laila nodded her head.

“Well done.”

‘The next move is mine!’

Of course, her inner thoughts were not solely for So-wol.

Once the decision is made, one must go straight ahead. So-wol stood up and headed straight to Sojung-yang’s room. However, the only person in his room was Sojung-yang. It seems Ehyun has been gone for quite some time.

‘How should I confess?’

Stumbling as he walked, So-wol pondered for a while.

“If Master wishes, I can date her, right?”

No. Saying that would only backfire.

Ah, it would be better if Master confessed to me first…

His steps felt heavy.

Ehyun’s place, where he always happily visited, suddenly felt farther away. After thinking for a long time, as So-wol headed towards Ehyun’s place, he noticed Ehyun seemed to be grabbing something.

“Huh? You came? I was just about to call you.”

‘You were going to call me? Could it be that Master was planning to confess to me first?’

A sweet pinkish imagination, like the color of his hair, involuntarily drew a smile on his face.

So-wol quickly erased that smile and spoke with a serious face.

“Did you see it?! My perfect mastery of the Moonlight Sword?!”

“Yeah. I saw it. Here, take this.”

“…What?”

What fell into her hand was a small sword.

As So-wol admired the beautiful sword that seemed to seal the faint moonlight, Ehyun put a bag over her shoulder.

“Proof of graduation. It’s the Moonlight Sword. Congratulations. You can now be called a true swordsman.”

“T-Thank you.”

It definitely looked unusual for an ordinary sword. So-wol, surprised, lifted his head and stared at Ehyun.

“But… what are you doing? Suddenly packing? Oh. Are you planning to go on a journey? Shall we go together?”

Seeing her packing, So-wol spoke brightly, dispelling any lingering anxiety. Ehyun, approaching her, gently stroked So-wol’s head.

“I’m thinking of leaving.”

“…What? Uh, why…?”

Facing the surprised girl, Lee Hyun calmly spoke.

“Because there’s nothing more for me to teach you.”