Chapter 201 – Succession Ceremony (3)

“Huff, you were hard to find.”

Saki Hina complained as she brushed dried leaves from her clothes. At least this time, she was dressed more appropriately.

Yes, this actually resembled the traditional Japanese attire I was familiar with. Not like that provocative costume she wore earlier.

I watched her with a weary gaze. Hina pretended not to notice my eyes on her, shaking out her clothes with exaggerated motions, as if trying to forcibly change the mood.

She had shown up suddenly but clearly hadn’t thought through what to do next. Her eyes darted about like she was desperately searching for an idea.

I turned my head to the side. Ryozo was glaring at her with a look that could kill.

“Oh, look at those eyes. Is that how you greet your sister? Not even a ‘hello’?”

Seizing the moment, Saki Hina launched into a scolding. Though she stole furtive glances at me, she seemed determined to show who was in charge between sisters. But if she was going to do that, she could at least stop her lips from trembling.

Still, it was admirable that she didn’t back down. Most people wouldn’t dare face someone who had released that kind of bloodlust on them. But Hina wasn’t like most.

“Ha, ridiculous.”

Ryozo, who had remained silent, let out a dry laugh. She ran a hand through her hair, unintentionally messing it up.

“You show up out of nowhere and call yourself my sister. So annoying.”

Maybe realizing she’d hit a nerve, Hina gave a nasal laugh and covered her lips with her fan.

“Even if we have different mothers, we share the Saki name, don’t we? And in that family, who’s treated you more kindly than I have?”

Feeling she had control of the conversation, Hina grew bolder. She opened and closed her fan with smug satisfaction.

“And I see you’re doing well. Even made some friends.”

Every word added another crease to Ryozo’s forehead.

“But I’m still surprised. You always said you preferred being alone. What made you change your mind?”

“…….”

“It doesn’t seem like it was friendship. And you’re not the opportunistic type either.”

“What are you implying?”

Hina shrugged with a teasing smile and cast a sidelong glance at me.

“Nothing at all. I’m just glad to see my little sister—well, half-sister—has grown up.”

I simply observed in silence. Getting involved in other people’s family or emotional issues is never a good idea.

‘But what a strange relationship these two have.’

Perhaps noticing my discomfort, Hina abruptly fell silent. Then she turned her neck and looked at me.

“Why don’t you go ahead? Am I interrupting your family reunion? Should I leave?”

I stepped forward. She, in sync, stepped back.

“N-no! It’s fine, you can stay, Mr. Kang Geom-Ma.”

Hina forced a smile. Her cheeks trembled, as if she was barely holding her expression together.

“I actually came to apologize for what happened earlier today. I wasn’t looking for Ryozo.”

“And how did you know I was here? Don’t tell me you followed me. I made myself pretty clear, didn’t I?”

Hina shrugged. She smiled awkwardly as she explained.

“O-of course not. I got a tip from one of our staff that you were headed this way and rushed over.”

“Hmm. And here I thought you weren’t that stupid.”

Hina gritted her teeth. Of all Kojima’s children, she was undoubtedly the most loyal.

She was willing to do anything to earn her father’s approval. And that included winning over Kang Geom-Ma.

But now that she was face-to-face with him, her entire body trembled. Her fervent loyalty crumbled like a sandcastle in the tide.

The pressure from his bloodlust hung in the air like a dark tide. The sticky atmosphere clung to the skin.

In the quiet of night, Kang Geom-Ma’s presence provoked a primal fear.

He was beyond reckoning. Not even her father could control him. And she was supposed to win him over with conventional means? Ridiculous. No method would work on that monster.

“If you’re done, leave. Just seeing you is giving me a headache.”

Ryozo gestured as if to shoo her away. Hina covered her lips with her fan, hiding her grimace. But she couldn’t hide the red veins forming in her eyes.

“Hoho, still such a brat. Even here at the academy, your words are as sharp as ever. No wonder your siblings avoid you.”

“What a joke. As if it wasn’t because they hate me. Honestly, I’d rather be alone than laugh with those idiots.”

“…….”

“And Hina, why are you suddenly playing the big sister role? It’s obvious you’re just trying to look good in front of Kang Geom-Ma. Yes, I admit you were the only one who ever supported me a little. But in the end, you joined the rest, didn’t you?”

Saki Hina couldn’t answer. Because what Ryozo had just said wasn’t a lie. Just as she said, the rest of the siblings had always been too busy resenting Ryozo.

It was five years ago.

The youngest daughter of the fourth wife, from the lowest rung of the lineage, was suddenly declared heir by her father.

Everyone was stunned. From that day on, they turned their backs on her.

Even Hina, who had maintained a relatively good relationship with Ryozo up until then. She felt guilty about it, but she suppressed that feeling.

More than anything, Hina desperately wanted her father’s approval.

Still, unlike the other siblings, she never went too far with the bullying. That was her small bit of conscience.

Though in truth, she was simply less direct. In the end, she took part like everyone else.

Ryozo was subjected to Kojima’s brutal method of education. A form of instruction that wore down body and mind—but she absorbed it like a sponge.

Even in isolation, Ryozo endured. Her father’s approval meant nothing to her.

What mattered to her was that the more her father focused on her, the more respect her mother received within the family.

Of course, the more that happened, the more intense the hatred in her siblings’ eyes became.

But back then, Ryozo saw those glares differently.

She saw them as the envy of the defeated. And it made her laugh.

One by one, her allies in the family vanished.

The maids who helped her, the neighborhood kids she played with… all disappeared like ghosts.

Until finally, there was only one person left beside her in the Kojima household.

And then, her mother disappeared without a trace. At first, she thought she had gone on a trip.

But it didn’t take long to understand.

Just like the others who’d been close to her, her mother had vanished like smoke.

All orchestrated by Saki Kojima.

Ryozo ran to him that same day. And before she could even scream or demand an explanation, Kojima admitted it bluntly.

“Yes. It was me.”

“W-why!? I did everything you asked! What did my mom do wrong!? How could you just cast her out—someone you married for love!?”

“Ryozo.”

Kojima sighed and closed the book he was reading. Then he walked toward her, hands clasped behind his back.

“The only person I’ve ever loved is no longer in this world. Your mother knows that, and she never expected love from me.”

“B-but…”

“I’ll make it simple. Your mother didn’t love me either. She married me for her own reasons. Understand?”

Ryozo’s young face was soaked with tears and snot. Sobbing, she screamed.

“Even if you didn’t love each other, you didn’t have to make her leave! Was it my fault!? Did you think she’d distract me or something!?”

“Your mother left you by her own choice. I simply honored that decision.”

“That… that doesn’t make sense…”

Kojima turned his back on her. With a shadow cloaking his figure, he murmured quietly.

“She said she wanted you to achieve what you desire most. She asked me to tell you that.”

That day, Ryozo lost her entire family.

***

Silence, heavy with sorrow, spread across the area. Maybe it was the night breeze chilling the air, but Saki Hina’s head felt unusually clear.

For the first time, she didn’t feel resentment toward Ryozo.

Perhaps her blind loyalty had finally dissipated, letting a bit of fresh air into her mind. And if that was the case, she owed it to Kang Geom-Ma.

That damn brat. The more recognition she received from others, the darker Ryozo’s expression became.

‘Was Ryozo always capable of making that face?’

Her eyes, which Hina hadn’t seen in months, now shone with life. No doubt, that too was thanks to Kang Geom-Ma.

She still had that insufferable look. And it’s not like they’d suddenly become loving sisters. But even so…

‘Tch.’

Saki Hina turned around abruptly. In the end, her attempt to win over Kang Geom-Ma had failed miserably.

She had no reason to stay any longer. Besides, just making eye contact with Kang Geom-Ma made her knees shake.

Just as she was about to hurry off, Hina spoke up.

“Hey, Ryozo.”

“What?”

“Such a rude way to speak to your sister… Whatever. I just wanted to say I might be able to find out where your mother is.”

Ryozo’s eyes widened in shock. Hina, looking uncomfortable, scratched her cheek.

“Don’t get your hopes up. I’m leaving.”

And with that, Hina’s silhouette disappeared over the hill. Ryozo clicked her tongue and muttered,

“What was that supposed to mean?”

The calm returned to the area. While I stood there silently, Ryozo suddenly spoke.

“Vixbig sent you, didn’t she? Because I’m going to become a Hero of the Seven Stars.”

[Ah!]

A startled voice came from my pocket. Ryozo, completely deflated like a balloon, brought her hand to her forehead.

“Seriously… An AI that worries too much and doesn’t know how to keep its mouth shut. I’m going to have to review its code.”

[…]

Ryozo sank into the bench. Then she patted the seat beside her with her palm.

“Looks like this is going to take a while. Come on, sit and let’s talk.”

“…That…”

“I’m not angry. Kang Geom-Ma, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not a child who lashes out at the wrong person. It’s just that…”

Ryozo hesitated for a moment and took a breath. Then she lifted her eyes slightly and murmured softly.

“It just… hurt a little. I thought we were close, and yet I didn’t know anything about you.”

“……”

“But you can tell me your story later.”

Ryozo looked up. The clouds that had covered the sky were beginning to clear, and the moonlight bathed the academy.

Then she looked down again and turned to me. Her blue eyes sparkled clearer than ever.

“I’ll tell you how I grew up, Kang Geom-Ma. And when I finish my story… you can tell me yours.”

***

At the same hour, in room 313 of the academy’s annex hospital.

Chief Sung lay on the bed, deep in thought. He was close to being discharged, and afterward, he would be on extended leave before returning to the association.

“And now I have to come up with Kang Geom-Ma’s title…?”

Within the Hero Association, there was a special department in charge of assigning titles. The Swordmaster, Changseong, the Sage, and Kojima… all the Seven Stars’ titles had come from there.

So why had this task fallen to him, someone still hospitalized? Because of a direct order from Changseong.

“Weren’t you the one who personally witnessed Kang Geom-Ma’s actions? There’s no one more suitable than you to name him.”

Chief Sung let out a faint sigh. In a hierarchical system like this, orders were followed. And when it came from the number two of the Hero Association, there was no room to argue.

“Even so…”

Kang Geom-Ma had saved his life. To be able to give someone like him a title—just the thought of it made his heart race.

“It has to be a title just for him. Unique and irreplaceable.”

Chief Sung pondered deeply. The problem was that titles containing the character ‘검’ (sword) were already overused, Swordmaster, Sword Emperor, Sword King, Sword Phantom.

Suddenly, Chief Sung turned his head toward the window. The clouds covering the sky looked like a dark veil, reminding him of Kang Geom-Ma.

“…!”

He quickly pulled out a notebook and wrote down two characters.

His eyes, staring at what he’d written, were filled with resolve.

Chief Sung smiled, baring his teeth.

“Yes, this is it.”

Without wasting time, he took a photo of the notebook and sent it to Changseong. The reply came in less than a minute.

[Approved. Go ahead.]