Chapter 231 – Kojima’s Daughter
xIDmDWKojima faced the sashimi blade. That threat, that gaze full of hostility—it was a situation far too familiar to him.gNgk
YVeKfVxWith his blue eyes, he looked past the knife at the young man wielding it. Kang Geom-Ma’s face was calm, but his eyes were feral.ybF3q
3Wh‘This isn’t a kitchen knife. It’s a scalpel.’DGX
QGYKojima smiled to himself.fdhDHB
g2Kc‘Well, you’ve got to admire the nerve.’avKZ
zAFxHe’d burst into his hospital room with a cheap sashimi knife. Had just neutralized the entire security team in one blow—though they were all still alive. He’d done it using sheer mental force. To handle a field like that so deftly at his age…korCxQA
ADJ1bh‘Heavenly Sword really is a monster.’tDiwIq
BLA57For a genius, age was just a number. Only those with nothing else to offer clung to their age like a badge of honor.Gjn
oKLi49DKojima knew this well. He, too, had become one of the Seven Stars just after turning twenty.CJc
MQb‘But between him and me the gap is immense.’kGfw
LPqfA difference in strength. Even if they were both hailed as heroes of humanity, he didn’t hold a candle to him. Kojima knew that. And he wondered—if that boy received the secret of the Blessing Awakening from Meain, how far could he go?mbbop
89sS1f‘A Kang Geom-Ma who has Awakened.’l4C
q3WoHsYou wouldn’t just be unable to sit beside him. You wouldn’t even be able to meet his gaze. He might even surpass the legendary Balor Joaquin. And yet, he still wasn’t the Hero. He kept stumbling against that invisible wall.Qzp6J
dLo“Geom-Ma.”KhL03v
aVxyalThis time, he used his name, not the title. His voice was solemn and cold.bVvaO
LkliO“If you want to, you can stab me with that knife. Even kill me, if that’s what you wish.”W1l9Llb
N1iHe spoke as if offering advice. Kojima was a seasoned politician. He knew how to read and manipulate people. In that regard, the boy was still inexperienced. A bit of rhetoric should be enough to sway him.aGC0Lts
QKl“I won’t lecture you with lines like ‘don’t act on emotion’. But if you do this, you’ll have to bear the consequences. I mean, you might ruin something important down the—”niZM
M0AKBefore he could finish, Kang Geom-Ma moved. Holding the sashimi knife in reverse, he drove it into his thigh.Slb
ETCThud.Ls8s
IRJC4mFOnly when he heard the sound of flesh tearing did Kojima look down. The white bedsheet slowly stained red. His solemn expression began to tremble.93vs
HhibyJf“Guh… ngh…!”E3Kb
WSSZl5rKang Geom-Ma’s left hand clamped over his mouth.Kaf
ctIe“Did you rent the hospital? Quiet.”BBUm
qkzHis empty eyes stared without emotion. Then he twisted the knife clockwise. A sharp pain shot through Kojima’s groin.qiLepHg
iw6He tried to scream again but only tasted the bitterness of the hand in his mouth. He tried to fight back, but another blade had already been stabbed through his palm. He hadn’t even seen it coming.K2r
OO72L5OThe pain returned, muddling his mind. Negative emotions swirled without end.irsNE6m
hkbEZO“Kang Geom-Ma. You…”qSkaib
yfzxKang Geom-Ma spoke. His eyes gleamed with deep intensity, but his tone was savage and sharp.y75
2rA“You got your ankles broken for running your mouth and you’re still talking? Aren’t you supposed to be the sharpest after Media? Why are you such a slow learner?”SOeG
LXmdtG“…Mmph… mmph!”1Oxpl4
ddeKang Geom-Ma tilted his head while looking at him. There was something Kojima hadn’t anticipated.nCm
bNJA seasoned politician? In his past life, Kang Geom-Ma had dealt with all kinds of politicians and bureaucrats. He knew them well. They always talked about “the future.”PHRN
yMxMEqTo avoid responsibility. To delay consequences. Pretty words wrapped around lies and manipulation.dTBGC
QYYtGz‘Think about tomorrow’?F10J
KyEV1Jg‘What a joke.’70v5o
sjRtBack on Earth, he worked himself to death dreaming of a decent retirement. But in this world, war was imminent. There was no room for fantasies.gXml
9NThE4In a dark age, the future was like a candle in the wind. That’s why he didn’t look far ahead. Only at the present. And he trusted his judgment completely.87b
kyOaThat was his survival instinct.hlUg3u4
QreFSP‘I’m a swordsman. Not a politician.’YVJev
62PGwEKang Geom-Ma removed his hand from Kojima’s mouth and flicked his wrist.GlD
cMPAHEo“You know what guys like you usually say at this point? ‘Do you think you can handle this?’, ‘How dare you insult me?’—and from the look on your face, you were about to say exactly that.”oIT
hmhowOHe retrieved all three knives one by one and placed a hand over the wounds, transmitting the Blessing of Regeneration. The flesh began to close.ut6U
TIL6Kojima looked at his palm. Though the pain remained, no visible wounds were left. He already knew Geom-Ma was a master of combat, but he could use healing blessings too? And why heal him?iarM6u
OiqNYAs he pondered it, a chill ran down his spine.dcd3z
1iTV“Don’t tell me… you healed me so you could…”NpiUKk
pbr73Finally, he realized what kind of monster stood before him.cNkQlfb
Aw7JY20“You’re quick on the uptake.”dUh
p5c3Kang Geom-Ma nodded. Kojima understood what was coming. And why he called the knife a scalpel.qMvr
ssXL‘This guy has no intention of killing me.’1ne
l9wX0EHHe’d dissect him with a sashimi knife and then stitch him back together with a creepy skill.dNNmc
aTPpTXKojima wasn’t exactly a moral man. But even he was horrified by the idea. That wasn’t a hero. Not even a human.8zAgE
M5mKn‘Did the Swordmaster know what kind of monster this kid was when he gave him the position?’2XtVQj
x3u4e6Of course he did. He had a deep vision. He knew who Kang Geom-Ma was. Looking at his pale face, Kang Geom-Ma spoke coldly.EeS
8eKMQxd“Kojima. Even if you feel like you’re standing before a demon, to me, you’re the more disgusting one. If you treat your daughter like a tool, don’t you dare give me that look.”5NLjwj
YuqLnA“Why are you doing all this? Is it because Ryozo is your friend? Are you going to turn against Japan just for that?”wAnuZZ
eKx3Nb“No.”lWGrZ
5zr“Then why?”mC0vlw
vpQKang Geom-Ma pulled a handful of sashimi knives from his coat. As he picked one, he answered.NcBX6X
NLYE0“What I’m denying is the question ‘are you going to turn against Japan?’”A4GW
ZgEKHe picked one. The finely sharpened blade gleamed in the light.ZRT
wohhM“Japan? I’ll turn against the United States if I have to.”pAUGKaF
MkMuOIt was bravado. Someone who could barely last a minute couldn’t possibly fight an entire nation. He only said it to break his spirit.Wi5cY
LwZBut for Kojima, it was more than enough to terrify him.ZBWCsP
fC4fAfter all, Kang Geom-Ma was the heaven-blessed hero who had eliminated two Corps Commanders. A butcher powerful enough to shift the world’s balance.GofCfN
1KahTBJTo Kojima, those words weren’t just threats. Even if it was all his own delusion.OuH7
CzpnA chill pierced his chest. His usual composure shattered. After all, he was lying in a hospital bed.5gFB
4t2s“…You’re insane. Completely insane. Your way of thinking is no different from a demon’s.”CSY
RJGGUMWDemonic thinking? If you knew what you suspected lived inside me, you’d faint. Kang Geom-Ma let out a dry laugh.PF3p1
4s0“Looks like you finally understand how I felt about you a moment ago.”okUPfCG
nYd4oEh“Enough…!”ySMJNX
GR1XGK9Then, two hands shot out and grabbed the sashimi knife.OIU
9UpanusIt was Hina, who had been pretending to be unconscious. She clutched the blade so hard that blood dripped onto the bedsheet.cYOO
v8MdW“I… as his daughter, I apologize. Heavenly Sword, please… show mercy to my father. Whatever you ask, I’ll accept it.”atZ
eXwLQQE“Hina!”uFaGvYA
qZrYYIKojima exploded, but Hina stared at him with tearful eyes and glared.chBO
jexTt3q“Prime Minister… no, Dad! That’s enough! You, who always talked about keeping calm, are now the most irrational of all.”Iu1r
f9MHer finger joints ached. Even though Kang Geom-Ma’s gaze bore into her profile, she forced herself not to look away.EZihBZ
aMLm4dfShe was terrified. Even so, she raised her voice.qqYv
U3j“And how can you do that to Ryozo? Turn him into an Awakened just to leave your name in history? That she’ll thank you later? That’s pure selfishness. Have you even really talked to him? I’m not expecting a perfect family, but this is too much.”WZS
y2NKojima’s daughter poured out her anger, her sadness, and her disappointment.KN8KKC8
zUae“Tell me, Dad. Do children have to fulfill your insecurities? Why do we have to fight over your ambition? Even Ryozo, your heir, you only see him as a tool?”cWDx
5xKHLHer tears mixed with the blood falling to the floor.f3QAx
MBaK“…And is that so important you’re willing to risk your life for it? If your condition worsens… if you fall into critical condition… what am I supposed to do? Even if you’re a despicable father…”elk
e30hzh9Even if she couldn’t call him father. Even if he wasn’t affectionate. Even if he left her with all the burdens.wHN3
Ol2cLBEven so, she stayed by his side. Because despite everything, he was still her father. Because she still respected him.syfUQ7A
c5PAu“I’m not asking you to be loving, Dad… I just want you to remember you have a family. That’s all.”9a9WgRr
OCSPKtSaki Hina dropped to her knees. With her bleeding hands gripping the knife, she broke down in tears.CADmKH
XcxX8Kang Geom-Ma glanced sideways at her. Then he withdrew the sashimi knife. He took both of Hina’s hands.CpEE
oviDjnm“Huh…?”MT6894Y
z6u4HShe looked in shock at the glow surrounding her wrists. It was warm.5UHkgK
33ZQmhAfter completing the healing, Kang Geom-Ma looked back at Kojima.YPUai1i
UPz0oc“Actually, I had planned to break you mentally today, Kojima.”Uh4
NjMiwjWHe barely heard it. His face was pale, his gaze unfocused. He truly seemed shaken by his daughter’s words. Kang Geom-Ma sighed.g9R
bOmO“Thanks to your daughter, I’ll leave it at that. But I’m going to add two more conditions to what we talked about. In addition to full support for the Heavenly Class you mentioned before, I want Japan to deploy heroes en masse to the Gehenna Gate area.”k0QOyrM
w4DNjoKojima looked up with vacant eyes. Kang Geom-Ma looked him directly in the eye and added,NyYz1cU
RsxV“If you agree, nod.”rCW
xhUcLw“……”KHa
IjHaVt0Half in a trance, Kojima nodded. A few strands of hair fell over his forehead.MDU
TzzEKang Geom-Ma scratched his head and walked toward the door. Just before leaving, he turned again.rBjJLTR
tvKEj“You… Saki Hina, right?”T49A
E5GihPHina looked up shyly. Her eyes were swollen.znMYWvn
YnuUquG“Instead of using strange charms, show that sincere side like you did just now.”tdKIC5
zseDm“Y-yes?”rFIW
LxNTbu“You don’t need to use the Seduction Blessing or anything like that. You’re pretty. But that kind of thing just puts people off. Anyway, I held back today because of you, so ask that man for something. If he has a shred of conscience, he’ll at least give you the scraps.”ts8dQ
z23Hina didn’t hear that last part. Her face was as red as a ripe autumn persimmon.2BuF9
KRmznKang Geom-Ma wondered what was wrong with her but quickly let it go. He had somewhere else to be.uTPIryP
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaAt least Hina have some sense in her.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaOho
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaHe’s serious.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaHell yeahh.
Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaNo words.
Santiago. Bernal
MortalQue coqueta el geoma