Chapter 109: The end of the first semester (2)

As soon as the midnight chaos ended, I quickly left the villa.

The Sword Master and the Director shot me looks as if they wanted to talk to me, but I gestured for them to postpone it.

Perhaps they understood my intent, as they didn’t try to stop me. They only added that they would take care of everything that remained to be done.

The death of one of the Elders was a serious matter, and handling the aftermath would be crucial. Even so, with the villains’ corpses piled up in the villa and the evidence secured by the Auditore, it would be difficult for the other Elders or nobles to speak up too easily.

After all, a single misstep could put even their own heads in danger.

Upon arriving at the dormitory building, I sent a message to Speedweapon, who was probably waiting in the Director’s office.

The message simply said that everything had ended without any major problems.

Speedweapon responded briefly with a “Rest well when you get back.”

Although he surely had many questions about the details of the incident, he didn’t ask any. It seemed that the only thing that mattered to him was knowing that I was safe.

Despite his apparent fragility, he was a deeply considerate friend in many ways.

I smiled slightly as I quickened my pace. My whole body felt heavy and uncomfortable.

‘I’ll take a bath as soon as I get inside.’

After rolling around in the dust earlier, I was a complete mess.

On top of that, the stench of various unpleasant odors was unbearable.

When I reached my dorm room, I stopped in front of the mirror to check my clothes.

I hadn’t noticed before, but my uniform was stained red and yellow, torn in multiple places.

“Tch.”

The uniform, already expensive as it was, was completely ruined. If it were just stains, I could have taken it to the laundry, but this was beyond repair.

Unfortunately, secondhand versions of the Joaquin Academy uniform didn’t exist.

Wearing this uniform wasn’t just a status symbol—it was also proof of authority.

In fact, even in dungeons with strict entry procedures, wearing the Joaquin Academy uniform made things much easier.

Only now that it was torn and ruined did I realize how incredibly practical… and absurdly expensive it was.

I had a spare uniform, but with the approaching summer heat, it wouldn’t be enough. Luckily, vacation started tomorrow.

Moreover, all the villains infiltrated in the academy had been eliminated, including Professor Damian, the one who had gathered them.

There probably weren’t any left.

Even if there were survivors, without their leader, they would surely scatter and flee.

“Phew…”

I let out a long sigh and tossed the ruined clothes into a trash bag.

Before bathing, I stood in front of the mirror.

I stared at my reflection in the flawless glass. Eyes sunken from exhaustion, hair even more discolored than before.

My face had changed—its lines and features had become sharper and more defined.

A face that had changed too much in too little time.

I let out a bitter laugh at how different I looked.

“It’s not like my appearance changing is the real problem.”

What did it matter if my face had matured and become more attractive?

The real change wasn’t in my appearance—it was in who I was as a person.

I looked at the palm of my hand. The part that gripped the sword’s hilt was covered in rough calluses.

Though not entirely unfamiliar due to my past life, the process that had led to these calluses was completely different.

In my previous life, these calluses were a testament to my growth as a chef, from cutting fish over and over again.

The rougher my hands became, the prouder and more satisfied I felt. I saw those calluses as a kind of medal.

But now, what am I?

These calluses weren’t from cutting fish—they were from taking lives.

I don’t regret it in the slightest. Every single person I cut down deserved to die. I’m not weak enough to lose sleep over eliminating that kind of scum.

Then why does this discomfort keep building inside me? The reason was simple. There wasn’t a single trace of emotion in my hands as I wielded my sword to end my enemies.

Just three months ago, I trembled in fear while facing my peers of the same age in the subspace.

Now, I simply wield the Sashimi without hesitation. No doubts, no second thoughts.

At first, I thought this was due to the Blessing of the God of the Sword, but after today’s events, I changed my mind.

Of course, the blessing plays a part, but more than that, I think it’s the inherent nature of this body.

My thoughts started leaning in that direction, filling me with unease and a bad premonition.

Who really is Kang Geom-Ma, the body I reincarnated into?

In this world, even the parents who raised me at first seemed to have disappeared as if they had never existed.

From the very beginning, why was I thrown into this world as just an ordinary citizen?

It was probably the work of some incomprehensible entity, but what was its purpose? What was it trying to tell me?

These questions came one after another, with no end or clear answers.

“…….”

I was so lost in thought that I forgot I had entered the bathroom to wash up.

I lightly slapped my cheeks—hard enough to feel a slight sting on my skin. It was a habit I had when trying to clear my mind.

As I looked at myself in the mirror, I murmured.

“Until now, I’ve just been running without stopping.”

I needed to take a moment to breathe. And just in time, vacation was about to start.

My initial plan was to explore dungeons diligently during the break. However, I decided to tweak that plan a little.

If I kept pushing myself like this, it would only be an endless cycle.

Facing enemies, cutting them down, slicing them apart—over and over again.

If I continued like this, I felt like I would truly end up losing myself.

That’s why I decided to take a break.

Besides, the other club members would likely return to their homes. Attempting to explore dungeons alone would be too risky.

I exhaled slowly, and my mind gradually settled. The chaotic emotions inside me subsided.

I turned on the shower faucet. High-pressure streams of water hit my face.

A refreshing sense of cleansing washed over me as the water carried away the filth. Blood, sweat, and exhaustion mixed together and flowed down the drain.

***

The next day arrived.

From early in the morning, the classroom was filled with the lively chatter of students.

“What are you doing for vacation?”

“I’m not sure, I think I’ll just spend time at home with Mom and Dad. What about you?”

“I’m going on vacation with my family to our villa in Hawaii~. If you have time, come visit us!”

“Oh, really?! Of course, I’ll go!”

The atmosphere in the classroom was filled with excitement. And it was no surprise—vacation started tomorrow.

After an exhausting semester filled with endless academic tasks, a well-deserved break had finally arrived. It wasn’t strange that everyone looked so cheerful and radiant.

To be honest, I also felt a little lighter, as if something inside me was floating. Come to think of it, in my past life, I couldn’t remember ever taking more than a few days off. After all, I started working when I was seventeen.

So this long period of rest felt both unfamiliar and exciting at the same time. Although, realistically… I would probably just stay locked up in my dorm room.

With my parents in this world gone, there was no way I would visit my home. That address likely didn’t exist anymore, or maybe some distant relative lived there now.

To avoid any possible trouble, I preferred to simply stay in the comfort of my dorm, lounging around.

If I felt like it, I might exercise a bit and gather information in the library from time to time.

I turned my head to the right.

Chloe was sitting with a gloomy expression, completely out of place in the lively classroom.

I thought about asking her what was wrong, but I stopped myself. I remembered that last night, many members of the Auditore family had been killed in battle.

Even if Chloe hated her family, the death of a relative would always be a reason for sadness.

Maybe it was best not to say anything and just offer silent support from a distance.

At that moment, I heard Chloe murmuring something softly.

“I don’t want to be away from Geom-Ma during vacation…”

“……”

I immediately discarded the idea of comforting her. A shiver ran down my spine, making me tremble.

Did she really prefer to be near me over mourning her family’s death? This level of thinking was definitely wrong in many ways.

A yandere girl’s mindset was something that an ordinary person like me could never understand.

‘Chloe is a serious case.’

I turned my head to the left.

Ryozo sat with her arms crossed and her lips pressed tightly together, her expression completely different from the joyful energy that filled the classroom.

Her eyebrows were furrowed in a deep “V,” making her stand out.

‘…What’s up with her now?’

Her expression was filled with concern, though for reasons different from Chloe’s. It was as if the two people sitting beside me were the complete opposite of the lively mood in the classroom.

Ryozo, who was usually carefree and spent her time sleeping, had a completely darkened expression.

Ryozo, who always naps. I thought this time of year would be her favorite…

‘Does she hate vacations that much?’

By the way, Ryozo had been discharged from the academy’s affiliated hospital yesterday.

Although her condition had improved significantly, it was decided that she would receive additional treatment in her home country.

‘Well, considering the injuries she suffered, it’s not something that heals after just a few days in the hospital.’

As I pondered this, our eyes met. Ryozo’s face instantly turned red, and she quickly turned away, avoiding my gaze.

Then, without looking at me directly, she murmured casually.

“What about you? What are you doing for vacation?”

“…I have no plans. I think I’ll stay at the academy.”

“What!? You’re going to stay at the academy for an entire month?”

Ryozo suddenly looked at me, but when our eyes met, she quickly looked down again, as if embarrassed. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again in a soft voice.

“Do you really have nowhere to go?”

I shrugged indifferently.

“No, I don’t.”

“I see…”

Her response was filled with discomfort, as if she didn’t know what to say.

It was obvious that she was thinking about something, probably suspecting that there was something unusual about my family situation. And to be honest, she wasn’t wrong.

‘I had a family, but they’re no longer here.’

Ryozo’s eyes wandered around, as if searching for the right words.

As I watched her hesitate, a small smile formed on my face.

“Ryozo, I hope you have a great vacation.”

“……!”

Ryozo blushed even more.

…What’s wrong with her? Could this be what Speedweapon mentioned about PTSD? The always calm and logical Ryozo is acting like this?

As I tried to hide my confusion, Lee Woo-Bin and the Sword Master entered the classroom.

The unexpected arrival of the Sword Master caused a commotion among the students. It was the first time he had appeared in class since his retirement as a hero of the Seven Stars.

It seemed that the issue of his retirement had been somewhat settled. His presence ignited excitement in the classroom, turning hushed whispers into a deafening buzz.

“Silence! Silence!”

Lee Woo-Bin slammed his palm on the desk. The students, thrilled about the upcoming vacation, didn’t seem to listen to him.

After spending a semester together, the students were much more comfortable with him compared to the start of the term.

It took Lee Woo-Bin five minutes of trying before the classroom finally quieted down. With a look of exhaustion, he began to speak.

“I understand your excitement, but remember that you are students of Joaquin Academy. I ask you to maintain your composure when you are outside. The academy’s reputation depends on your behavior.”

“Yes!”

The students responded in unison, full of energy. Finally, a smile appeared on Lee Woo-Bin’s face.

“At least your responses prove that you are Joaquin Academy students. In any case, I’ve already sent the guidelines via email, so I won’t drag this out. Always be mindful of your conduct and present your best selves to your parents. That’s all.”

After finishing his speech, Lee Woo-Bin stepped back, giving the floor to the Sword Master.

The buzz quieted instantly. The students were visibly nervous, probably worried that the Sword Master would start a long speech, similar to those given by the Director.

The Sword Master’s reputation as a “stubborn old man” was well known. If he started talking, it could turn into an endless lecture.

The Sword Master scanned the classroom with his gaze. His attention briefly stopped on me before he began to speak in a direct tone.

“Only ignorant old men talk too much. I’ll keep it short. I hope to see you all stronger next semester. That’s all.”

He concluded his speech concisely and decisively, leaving the students in shock.

Even I was impressed. The Sword Master—the very definition of a stubborn old man—had given such a brief and direct speech. It was almost unsettling.

The students quickly stood up from their seats, exchanging goodbyes before rushing out of the classroom.

Lee Woo-Bin and the Sword Master remained in place, watching as the classroom emptied.

In no time, the room was completely vacant—except for Chloe, who approached me with a pale expression.

“…Geom-Ma, have a good vacation.”

“Chloe, you too.”

“…Yeah.”

Chloe replied in a weak, almost lifeless voice. I hesitated for a moment but decided to encourage her a little before she left.

“I hope to see you stronger when you return. So, please, make the most of your vacation.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up at my words, and she nodded enthusiastically.

On the other hand, Ryozo still had a gloomy expression. I wanted to say something, but I decided it wasn’t my place. Emotional counseling was a job for professionals, not me.

Chloe left the classroom with light steps, while Ryozo dragged her feet toward the door.

‘I should go rest too.’

I was about to gather my things when, suddenly, the Sword Master approached me.

‘…Ah, right.’

I remembered that yesterday, he had that look as if he wanted to talk to me. Maybe he had been waiting for everyone else to leave for that reason.

The Sword Master stopped in front of me and, after staring at me for a moment, spoke.

“Do you have any plans for vacation?”

“……Huh?”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard. It was an entirely unexpected question.

As my mind filled with doubts, the Sword Master continued to stare at me.

That look felt oddly familiar. It was the same gaze customers had at the fish market, waiting for a direct answer.

Suppressing unnecessary thoughts, I answered.

“I planned to stay at the academy to train.”

“…I see.”

He responded briefly, and an awkward silence filled the space between us.

Just as I was thinking of leaving, the Sword Master made an unexpected proposal.

“Then why don’t you come with me?”

“……Huh?”

I was completely caught off guard by his sudden suggestion.

Before I could say anything else, the Sword Master looked me straight in the eye and silently opened his mouth.