Midterms are divided into two main categories.

The first is the written exam.

But this written test doesn’t significantly impact grades—let alone Gaon’s rankings.

It’s just a formality.

The old man had always disliked how the current education system downplayed theoretical study... but what could he do?

In the end, everyone’s attention naturally gravitated toward the second category.

One-on-one combat.

Three matches in total, with bidding from guilds and organizations opening after each round.

So then, with all the hype surrounding Gaon’s midterms—

Are they really that important?

No.

To me, the midterms aren’t all that meaningful.

In the original storyline, the real turning point wasn’t the exams themselves—it was the surprise assault by the demon forces that came with the midterms.

That was the first time Gaon became a direct target of the demons.

So instead of obsessing over the midterms, I should be preparing in alignment with that timeline shift.

That said, there’s one big deviation from the original...

And that’s Vanquisher.

In the original, Vanquisher never participated in the midterms, so there was no chance of crossing paths.

But if we do end up facing each other...

One of us is going to be torn limb from limb. Vanquisher’s core ideology revolves around one thing—Annihilate All Demons.

“That’s it for today’s class.”

The instructor wrapped up the lecture.

I stood up as well.

The prep work I needed to complete before the midterms was simple.

Ensure the growth of the key characters.

I glanced to my left.

Cheon Yeoul was quietly clutching the cross I gave her, staring up at me.

Cheon Yeoul—check.

Yu Hana. I was planning to give her the Dongbaek Sword, so she was good for now.

As for Kang Arin... even if I wanted to give her something, the kind of gear that suits her is far too complicated to handle casually.

Which leaves... Sung Siwoo.

What should I do with him?

According to plan, he was supposed to take the path of a demon-slaying weapon through the Fragment.

He would attract guild attention, get support through bids, and gradually step into the role of the “protagonist.”

But I completely forgot to hand over the Fragment, and this guy’s still stubborn as ever. I tried talking to him a few times—he just ignored me.

So the real question is: do I even have a reason to drag this guy along anymore?

The answer was already clear.

Drop him.

Just drop him for now.

There’s no salvaging him during this upcoming assault.

Midterms are literally next week.

There’s no way I can raise him up in time.

I lifted my gaze to the front of the classroom.

He was still staring at the chalkboard, eyes locked on the word “Vanquisher.”

Sorry.

Abandoning the protagonist I created and intended to nurture—

Wasn’t exactly easy.

***

The sun was already dipping below the horizon, dusk crawling across the sky.

6:00 p.m. I arrived at Training Hall B.

As the automatic doors slid open, students who were prepping for the exam were scattered throughout, sharpening their skills.

The space was filled with the sounds of violent impacts and surges of mana.

Amid all that noise, Yu Hana knelt silently, meditating.

A daughter of a martial household.

She was unfazed by the chaos around her.

I carefully removed the Dongbaek Sword, which I’d slung diagonally across my back, and slowly approached her.

As I neared, she gradually opened her eyes.

She rose smoothly to her feet and walked over to me with practiced grace.

The training hall had one large shared space, along with individual rooms for private training.

“Want to head into one of the rooms? I already booked one.”

She was about to lead me toward the training rooms.

But I moved first.

I took the sword off my back and held it out to her.

A deep purple tint shimmered across the sheath.

A heavy aura faintly leaked from within.

Wooooong...

The sword kept trembling in my hands.

As if resisting—struggling to reject her.

Hey, I don’t like you either, alright?

“Take it.”

I grumbled internally and said it curtly.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Startled, her hand hovered in the air for a second before I placed the sword into it.

In that moment—

Whrrrm.

The energy radiating from the Dongbaek Sword softened.

The violent trembling slowly faded, then settled completely.

Seemed like the sword approved of her.

I chuckled lightly and added,

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“It’s a damn good weapon. Let’s train with this today. Probably for the next while too...”

But then—

“...Hey.”

I furrowed my brow.

A clear tear rolled down from the corner of Yu Hana’s eye.

She looked just as surprised as I was.

“Ah... s-sorry. That was sudden.”

She started wiping her face with her palm, clearly flustered by the tears that wouldn’t stop flowing.

But no matter how much she wiped, the tears kept coming.

“Why... why am I crying...”

Even as she cried, she laughed.

As if she couldn’t understand her own emotions anymore.

The surrounding students were starting to turn and stare.

– What’s going on?

– Isn’t that Yu Hana?

Whispers spread.

All eyes in the training hall turned to Yu Hana—crying in the center of it all.

This is... not good.

Troublesome.

I quietly grabbed her wrist.

Then opened the training room door and led her inside.

***

The figure before her quietly turned his back, loosening his shoulders in silence.

Yu Hana could feel it—he was giving her time, letting her sort out her emotions without saying a word.

Haein made no noise.

He simply acted like he always did, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ naturally.

He didn’t ask anything of her, didn’t rush her.

A quiet kindness, as if telling her to take her time and calm down on her own.

So gentle...

She pressed her fingers lightly against her forehead, trying to gather herself again.

Her emotions had spilled out despite her efforts to contain them.

Memories from the past had resurfaced, and she hadn’t been able to control them.

She stared at his broad, solid back—the kind of back she’d always wanted to lean on, and once had.

But that back was burdened with so many things.

She swallowed hard.

Right now—

She wanted to run up to him and wrap her arms around that back.

To slide her arms up over his sturdy shoulders and hold him tight, feel him fully with her entire body.

And like that...

She wanted to gently push him down.

Pressing close, skin to skin, to feel his warmth seep into her.

To let him set down his burdens, even if just for a moment.

To hear his breath, his heartbeat, his heat—up close.

And then, to tell him—

That it’s okay now. That she would help carry his load.

And maybe, as she whispered that, kiss him softly by the ear...

Haa...

But she couldn’t.

If she did, everything would fall apart.

All his effort would be for nothing.

Yu Hana quietly curled her fingertips into her palm.

She stifled her ragged breath, slowly lowered her trembling gaze.

Then, rising from her seat, she gently walked over to the man she loved.

He turned his head with the same gentle smile he always wore.

“Shall we start?”

He didn’t ask why she had cried.

He just smiled, quietly, as always.

That kindness stirred a fresh wave of desire, but she forced it down, calming her emotions.

“...Thanks. The sword... it looks amazing.”

He grinned, feigning nonchalance.

“I’m just lending it to you.”

Liar. He was obviously going to give it to her eventually.

Instead of his usual spear, he picked up a sword.

This was... that one.

He swung it lightly and began explaining the sword art.

Hwajeop Sword Style—Flower and Butterfly Blade.

A sword technique where flower and butterfly moved as one, flowing gracefully with every strike.

Each swing of the blade drew the wind in a dance, linking offense and defense in an elegant, seamless rhythm.

It paired with the Dongbaek Sword beautifully.

He explained the strengths of Hwajeop to her.

When he finished, he looked at her, a little tense.

The current Yu Hana—

Already bore his imprint in every corner of her being.

Not just in technique—but in her speech, her habits, even how she held her sword.

So she’d already learned more than enough of Hwajeop.

But if this had been the old Yu Hana?

“Prove it. That your sword art is better than mine.”

She would’ve smirked sharply and snapped at him, her tone laced with arrogance.

Yet even at that attitude, he would’ve only smiled brighter.

He always did.

He tried to persuade her.

To have her follow his way. His path.

And now, that moment of shared swordplay had come again.

“Shall we give it a try?”

Their spar began.

He launched into the Hwajeop Sword, lunging with fluid precision, aiming for every gap.

Step by step, closing in.

She was thrilled.

To cross swords with him again, even like this.

To face him this way once more.

But the old Yu Hana would have—

Her expression changed instantly.

Frustrated. Eyes flashing with defiance, unwilling to lose.

A familiar smile formed on his face again.

That look he always wore when he pushed her to higher ground, stirring her emotion.

Frustrated, aren’t you?

He didn’t say it, but she saw it in his eyes.

He always—

Used her frustration as fuel for her swordsmanship.

In the end, Yu Hana lost—by the narrowest of margins.

She tossed the Dongbaek Sword to the floor—but not recklessly.

It was precious. She just placed it down... a little firmly.

She purposely frowned.

As if her pride was hurt, like she couldn’t accept the loss. Then she said to him—

“...Teach me that too.”

A faint smile spread across his lips.

He looked pleased, as though everything was unfolding exactly as he’d hoped.

If you’re happy, I’m happy too.

And she whispered to herself like a vow.

I’ll behave like a good girl.

...Because for you, I’d do anything.