Chapter 230 – Subject (3)

An elegant interior, a room that looked like a hotel. And yet, the atmosphere was quiet, as suited a hospital room.

Saki Kojima was lying in bed, the backrest slightly tilted. At his side, his daughter Saki Hina was tending to him. Since her father had been hospitalized, she hadn’t left his side for even a moment. No, rather than a daughter tending to her father, it was more like a subordinate attending to her master.

Slice, slice.

Saki Hina was peeling an apple. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

Her father was reading a book. Judging by the cover, it seemed to be a historical work about the ancient Seven Stars.

“Do you have something to say, Hina?”

Kojima’s sudden question made her shoulders jolt. She nicked her thumb with the knife and started to bleed. She quickly grabbed a tissue and wrapped it like a bandage.

“No, I just came to check on your condition, Prime Minister.”

“I’m fine.”

“Yes…”

Hina finished cutting the apple into bite-sized pieces.

‘As if he’s really fine.’

Last night, her father Kojima had been admitted with both ankles shattered. As soon as she found out, she flew in immediately from Japan.

Kojima seriously injured? A Hero of the Seven Stars? Until she arrived, Hina had thought maybe he had just fallen down the stairs. Even heroes could make mistakes and bang up their knees.

It wasn’t the most convincing explanation, but it was the most acceptable. But seeing him in person made it obvious. Her father, Kojima, had taken a real beating.

At that moment, her eyes widened in disbelief.

‘My father was beaten?’

He might not be at the very top, but Kojima was one of the strongest humans alive. Why is he the most powerful man in Japan? Not because he’s Prime Minister or the head of the Kojima Clan, but because of his strength.

Kojima is considered the ideal of archers. In this modern era dominated by firearms, he had rendered projectiles obsolete.

His arrows traveled at subsonic speeds, and their destructive power rivaled ballistic missiles. He had reduced guns to mere toys.

And that Kojima was defeated by someone? Was that even possible? Only two people came to mind.

‘The Swordmaster or Changseong.’

But there were no slashing wounds, so the Swordmaster was out. And from what she knew, he was near the Gehenna Portal. As for Changseong, he was also busy with official duties in Europe.

‘Both are off the list for now.’

Then, by process of elimination, only two candidates remained.

‘Media Poison… or…’

…The Heavenly Sword, Kang Geom-Ma.

Hina’s fingers trembled slightly. The tissue wrapped around her thumb was already soaked. She shut her eyes tightly and shook her head.

‘No, impossible.’

Just fractured ankles? If it had been Geom-Ma, he would’ve severed the Achilles tendons outright. He’s not someone who holds back like that. In her mind, a film noir scene played out.

‘Black. Sashimi. Barrels.’

A shiver ran down her spine like an electric shock. Her back bristled, and her face went pale.

Lately, even the color black made her nervous. She slept with all the lights on out of fear of the dark.

‘And those dreams where he shows up they’re giving me insomnia…’

Hina took a breath. Calm, calm. Like a mantra, she repeated it several times. She tried to reassess the situation calmly.

‘If it wasn’t Geom-Ma, then the only possible one is Director Media.’

Comparing the shattered ankles with their relationship, it was the most likely option. But it still felt strange.

‘Madam Media is powerful, sure, but…’

The other three—The Heavenly Sword, the Swordmaster, and Changseong—were clearly stronger than Kojima. But Media was known more for her intelligence. She didn’t seem like someone capable of beating him so brutally.

Hina glanced to the side.

For someone who had sustained serious injuries, Kojima was far too composed.

The only instruction he’d given was to keep the hospitalization secret. Other than that, he just read in silence.

‘If I ask who it was, he definitely won’t say.’

It would be humiliating. And if she dared to ask, she might even be expelled from the house.

Then, perhaps feeling her gaze, Kojima looked up. His eyes narrowed slightly with unease.

“Do you have something to say?”

Hina flinched.

“Ah… just…”

If she hesitated, he’d be suspicious. Her father’s eyes, like a predator’s, could detect lies instantly. She had to say something—anything.

“I was wondering… about Ryozo’s mother. My stepmother. Where is she?”

It was the only thing she could come up with. Either way, it was a question she had always meant to ask.

‘I made a promise to Ryozo.’

She didn’t have to keep it, but her conscience wasn’t completely dormant.

“……”

But it seemed like a bad choice. Her father furrowed his brow. Hina lowered her head in silence. Her bangs fell like a curtain.

“I’m sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have asked while you’re in a hospital bed…”

“It’s fine.”

Tap.

Kojima closed the book. Hina adjusted her hair and clothes. After a few seconds of silence, Kojima spoke.

“I don’t know why you care, but Ryozo’s mother is in Korea.”

“Huh? In Korea? Why…?”

Before she could ask more, Hina held her breath. Her skin crawled. The air grew heavy. Her gaze turned on its own toward the door. A sound was heard.

Thud. Thud.

The sounds of bodies collapsing and knees shattering.

No, wait… this is…

‘That black aura… it’s…!’

The memories from the day before came rushing back.

Creak.

The door opened and shoes crossed the threshold. A dark tide swept into the room.

“Y-you…!”

Hina’s pupils dilated and constricted. Black eyes. Her mouth opened on its own.

“Heavenly Sword…”

Kang Geom-Ma spoke.

“I didn’t knock because the matter was urgent. Oh, right. Also—

He leaned against the wall and pointed outside with his chin.

“I think you should re-educate your men.”

Hina foamed at the mouth and collapsed backward. It was a hospital, but in that instant, her insomnia was cured.

Before losing consciousness, she thought as her eyes closed. Nightmares always come without warning.

***

“…Your entrance was quite a spectacle, Heavenly Sword.”

Kojima frowned. I pulled my finger out of my ear and replied.

“The Joaquin Academy Hospital is a public facility. And yet they let the hallway get blocked up like a clogged sewer?”

“Ha… Fine. Since there’s space now, have a seat and let’s talk.”

He looked toward the chair where Hina had been sitting. She had fainted the moment I entered.

I lowered my gaze a little. Her navy blue hair was spread across the floor. I looked at her briefly, then turned back to Kojima.

‘He doesn’t even flinch with his daughter passed out on the ground.’

Now I was sure. Just more proof of his character. Just as Media had said, he was the one who provoked Senior Ha-na. With that confirmed, it was time to change my tone. I shoved my hands in my pockets.

“I’d rather stand. I don’t think this will take long. And I didn’t come to debate. I came to inform you.”

Kojima’s gaze turned cold.

“Allow me to warn you. If you’re acting this arrogant just because you’re one of the Seven Stars, you may come to regret it.”

“This is how I act.”

I placed my foot on a chair and leaned toward him, looking down at him.

“…Because only with you, Kojima, do I allow myself to be this disrespectful. I’m not a particularly tolerant person.”

“……”

Kojima’s dark circles twitched. His eyes burned with rage.

“You’ve got guts. Fine then, tell me. What’s the reason you barged into my hospital and plowed through my guards? I hope you have a legal justification…”

“I said I came to inform you, not answer questions. I’m the one asking questions.”

“What the hell—”

He finally cracked. The veins in his hand popped. But just as he was about to erupt, I interrupted, whispering into his ear.

“What the hell did you say to Meain?”

“……”

He went silent. Just shot me a murderous glare. I returned it with a cold stare.

The air froze. Then, Kojima let out a bitter laugh. A crooked smile formed on his face.

“I asked her to awaken my daughter, Saki Ryozo.”

“…What?”

“At first, I asked her to awaken me, but she said I was too old. So there was no other choice. The Kojima clan must produce an Awakened, and Ryozo is the only one with potential.”

“……”

“Do you really think I didn’t know? Meain Poison, that hypocrite, playing student in your club. I noticed from the succession ceremony. Come on! She’s my master. You think I wouldn’t recognize her presence? I’m an archer! Maybe others wouldn’t, but nobody fools me.”

A murky laugh echoed in the room.

“Even so, I smiled. I thought it was an opportunity. If there was a bond between them, Ryozo would accept any request from Meain without hesitation.”

Kojima continued rambling.

“If you’ve already heard from Media how I ended up like this, then I’m sure you also know about Awakening. Yes. I plan to make my daughter Awakened, even if it costs her humanity and life.”

“Crazy bastard.”

“No. I’m completely rational. One day, my daughter will understand. She’ll thank me for having my ankles broken to turn her into an Awakened.”

After saying all that, Kojima looked exhausted. I replied with all the patience I could muster.

“Without her consent? Why do something so vile?”

“Geom-Ma, you know better than anyone.”

Kojima curved his lips. Cold sweat slid down his cheek.

“No matter how hard you try. In the end, the world only watches the Hero. Even if you’re the youngest of the Seven Stars, you’ll never surpass him. The world will forget you and worship him. I won’t let my daughter suffer that same humiliation. What happened with my wife was enough.”

His eyes gleamed with madness. Cold as ice.

“At the very least, let her become an Awakened and leave something behind for humanity. That’s the minimum.”

He placed his hands on my shoulders. My expression turned to stone.

“Geom-Ma, you’re Ryozo’s friend. Please, if you can convince her, I’ll cancel the warrant against Meain. And as Prime Minister of Japan, I promise full support for the Heavenly Class.”

“……”

I stared at him in silence, then brushed his hands off. I shook off my shoulders like he had tainted me.

I looked back. Hina, lying on the floor, was breathing faintly. She was pretending to be unconscious, but she was awake. Her uneven breathing gave her away. I thought about nudging her with my foot but let it go. What was about to happen wasn’t something she’d want to see.

Step.

I walked over to the window and closed the curtains. The room went completely dark. Kojima shouted.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I pulled a sashimi knife from Daiso out of my coat. I wasn’t going to waste a Murasame or Eternal Frost on this guy.

Shiiing.

Kojima’s eyes opened wide. He shouted like he was having a seizure.

“This is a hospital! I won’t tolerate this kind of threat, Geom-Ma!”

“As you said, this is a hospital.”

I placed the tip of the knife in front of his nose.

“And this isn’t a knife. It’s a scalpel.”