The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 259: Blessing (2)

Chapter 259: Blessing (2)

One⁠ day before being⁠ discharged.

For⁠ security reasons, the⁠‍ room was restricted‍‍‍ to close family‌⁠⁠ (?). But I decided to open⁠ it to certain‌⁠ people, only those⁠ I myself had⁠ authorized.

The⁠‌‌ reason was simple. Staring out the‌ window, alone and⁠‍‍ in silence, was⁠‍ becoming unbearable.

When⁠‌‍ a few late-autumn⁠ leaves fell outside,⁠ I felt like⁠ the tragic hero⁠ of a novel.‌⁠⁠

As⁠⁠ if, the moment⁠ that last leaf dropped, I too⁠ should close my⁠‌ eyes forever.

Besides,‍‌ by then my‍ body was practically recovered. So I didn’t need to⁠⁠ worry too much‍ about security.

Unless‌‌ someone had a liver the size‍‍ of a watermelon,‌‌ who would dare‌⁠‍ break into my⁠⁠ room?

And‍ if any intruder‍ arrived, I planned‌ to gift them⁠⁠ generously a Daiso‍ sashimi knife.

Whatever‍ the case.

That’s⁠ how the room,⁠ which until then‍‍ had been completely‍ silent, turned into⁠ total chaos. Because‍ the students of‌ the Heavenly Class‌ arrived with a bang.

Speedweapon⁠ and Chloe came⁠ in the morning;⁠ Rachel and Horntail‍‍‌ in the afternoon.⁠⁠‌ They took turns‍ coming in pairs‌⁠ to visit.

“Woooah!⁠ Great job, Heavenly‌⁠ Sword!”

Honestly,‌ I regretted letting‌ Speedweapon in. He‍ talked nonstop, like⁠‌‌ a hawker unpacking his goods, and⁠ my ears and⁠⁠‌ brain nearly collapsed.‍⁠

“…Good‍ job.”

Chloe‍‌ was much calmer.⁠ From a corner⁠ she sighed in⁠‍‌ relief between sobs.‍

Speedweapon⁠ showed me endless news about me⁠ from portals and⁠ fan forums.

Since‌‍ I hadn’t wanted⁠ to check anything⁠⁠ out of laziness,‍‌⁠ I listened as⁠‍ if it were‍⁠ a radio broadcast.‍‍

“Heavenly Sword, you’ve already‍ hit 200 million‌ members on your‍‌ fan site! That‍⁠ alone gives you‌‌ more influence than‍ at least ten‍‍ heads of state.‍ And look at‍ this news, ‘From‍ Heavenly Sword to‍ Heavenly God. The‌ followers of his⁠‍ faith keep growing.’‍‍ They even founded‍ a religion to‍⁠ worship you!”

And‍‍ that religious group‍‍ is called none‍⁠⁠ other than the‌‌ Church of the‌‍ Heavenly God…

A dangerously absurd name⁠‌ in a world‍ where demons truly‌‌ exist.

On Earth they’d stone‍⁠ you for that.⁠ Luckily in this‍ world religious freedom⁠‌⁠ is fully guaranteed.‌⁠

There‌‌⁠ is no other‌‍ cult as sectarian‍‍‌ as that.

Hero‌ Worship.

Speedweapon‍⁠‍ said it was neither too rare‍ nor too common.‍ In this world,‍⁠ since the gods‍⁠‌ were exterminated, people⁠ aren’t exactly devout.

The largest religion now‍‌‍ is the Outer‍ God Cult, but⁠⁠‍ it’s very secretive‌‌‍ and avoids exposure‍ at all costs.⁠

That’s⁠‌‍ where Yu Sein⁠ works as a “saint” (albeit a fallen one).

‘Seeing it that way,⁠ that cult doesn’t‌‌ seem so reliable either.’

In‌ religions, beyond their⁠ doctrines, image is what matters.

And in this case,‌‌ the mere fact‌‌ that Yu Sein‌‍ is their saint‍‍‍ already undermines their⁠⁠ credibility. Not to‌ mention a religion‌ that has me‍‍ as its leader.⁠⁠

It‌‌⁠ just makes you want to sigh.‍‍‌

‘But⁠‍⁠ if they can‍ exterminate an S-rank‌ beast with only the academy’s holy‌⁠ knights…’

I suppose the Outer⁠‌ God Church isn’t as useless as‌‌‍ it seems. I’m‍ not saying that‍ just because they⁠‍‍ gave me a magic crystal, okay?‍‌⁠

That‌⁠‍ would be too⁠ materialistic a view.‍ Even if I’m⁠‌ a K‑gamer.

“……”‌‌

Anyway.‍

After‍⁠ a while of⁠ chatter, Speedweapon and‍ Chloe said goodbye.‍

In⁠‍ the afternoon, Rachel and Horntail arrived⁠⁠ with a modest gift (a premium meat set) to‍ celebrate my discharge.‍‍

‘I⁠‍‌ didn’t expect that‍‌‍ combination.’

I didn’t show it,‍‍ but I was⁠⁠ a bit surprised‍⁠‌ by their visit.‌ They got along‌‌‍ very well.

From⁠‌‌ what I heard,‌‌ during my absence⁠ Rachel helped Horntail‌‌ adapt to the‌ academy quite a bit.

Of⁠ course, Rachel had‍ no idea Horntail⁠‍‍ was a dragon.‌

A smile slipped out⁠ of me.

And‌⁠‌ I became curious.⁠

How⁠⁠ did they forge‍‍ a friendship that‌ transcended species? Even among humans, forming‌ a strong bond⁠ takes time.

“Vegetables‍‌ are a trap‍ for muscle growth!‌ Body and mind⁠⁠ strength comes from‌ meat!”

Horntail‌‍⁠ raised her arm vigorously.

“The‍ human body only⁠‌‌ needs water and‌⁠‍ protein! If you’re‍⁠ going to eat⁠‌ vegetables, you might as well starve!⁠ A beast’s heart‌‌‌ is born from‍‍‍ meat!”

Next‌ to her, Rachel crossed her arms⁠‌‌ and nodded proudly.⁠⁠

“Exactly!”‍⁠

Thinking⁠‍ about it, I wasn’t so curious‍ anymore.

‘…Horntail.’

I looked at her‌⁠ pityingly.

A girl who used‌‌ to beam at⁠⁠ a piece of‍ bread—how did she end up like this? Though calling it “corruption” when‍‍‍ it’s a demon‍ is odd.

‘I’m⁠ sure Choi Seol-Ah‍⁠‍ will take care‌‍‌ of educating her.’‍

Otherwise‍ her purse won’t⁠‌ survive. She’ll have‍⁠ to re-educate her‍‌‌ at least to‍ plug the holes⁠⁠ in her bank account.

‘Anyway,‌ it’s not that⁠‍ bad.’

To‌ me, the hospital‌ isn’t exactly a pleasant place. I see it as⁠‍ a tourniquet through‌ which the living‍‌ and the dead‍ pass.

But‌ now that hospital⁠⁠ was full of‌ bustle. The smell‍ of death had‍⁠ faded, and vitality‍⁠⁠ filled the air.‍⁠ Also, since it’s‌‍‌ a VIP room,‍‌ we weren’t bothering anyone.

After‍ the morning group’s‌ visit and the afternoon’s, night fell.‍‌

I set about tidying‌ the bed in preparation for tomorrow’s‍‍ discharge. I opened⁠ the window to⁠‍ air out the‍‍ room and let‍‍‍ the moonlight bathe⁠‌ me.

Click.‌

The‌‌ door opened. The⁠ nighttime group, Abel‍⁠ and Ryozo, had‌‍ just arrived.

“You⁠⁠⁠ came?”

A morning shift, an⁠⁠ afternoon shift, and⁠⁠ now the nighttime‌⁠ team. I greeted⁠ them naturally.

When⁠‌‌ I did, Abel‌⁠ and Ryozo returned‍‍ the greeting with‌ a shy nod.‌

The⁠ atmosphere was strange.

They weren’t uncomfortable with me but with⁠‌ each other.

“How⁠‍ do you feel?‌‍‍ Are you okay?”‌

Ryozo, who had entered‌‍⁠ first, was the‍⁠ first to ask.‌ Abel, for her‍ part, closed the⁠ door carefully behind⁠‌ her.

“My⁠ grandfather told me‍⁠ you lost consciousness‍‌ right after the‍ battle with Fermush.‌ Were you badly hurt?”

“You⁠‍‍ know these things‌⁠ happen to me⁠ all the time.”‍

I replied as I stacked the pillows‌ onto the duvet.‌

“It happened during my‍‌ placement exam, during⁠‌‌ midterms, and also finals. When my⁠⁠‍ blessing activates and‍ a certain time‌ passes, it knocks⁠ me out.”

The‌⁠ two stood blankly‌ for a moment.

In‍‍⁠ this world, one‍ doesn’t usually speak‍ openly about one’s‍ blessing. It’s like‍‌ revealing your own‌‍ weak point. Stupid.‍

Even‌⁠ though demons are‌ the main enemy,‍ there are also‌ internal foes. In⁠‌⁠ nobility, someone who⁠‌ is your ally⁠‌ today might become‌‍ your enemy tomorrow.‌

That’s‍ why nobody asks‌‌‍ about others’ blessings‌ or limitations. Talking‌‌ about it is‌⁠ only for very‍ close people—family, spouse, or betrothed. At‍ most, friends who‍ have shared life‌ and death.

So‌ the fact that⁠‍ I spoke of‍⁠ my blessing so⁠ casually was significant.‌‌

But I was a Miracle Blessing M player. And among⁠ all of them, probably no one‌ knows Abel von‍ Nibelung and Saki⁠⁠ Ryozo better than⁠‍ I do.

Except⁠⁠⁠ maybe Yu Sein,‍‌ who openly declared⁠‍ herself reincarnated.

And⁠ even without counting‍‍ just those two,‌⁠‍ everyone who came‌⁠ to visit me‍ today are people⁠‌ of great character.‌‍ After all, volunteering⁠‌‌ to risk their‍ lives for humanity‌‍ is not common.⁠‍

That’s⁠‌ why I said‍‍ it.

“You‍‍ make me feel‍‍ embarrassed if you’re⁠ so surprised.”

I trusted them. I wanted to share⁠ a bit more‍⁠ of myself.

I wasn’t going to‍‍ tell them I’m⁠ possessed, but showing⁠‌ a weakness is a way to‌ ask them to‌ trust me too.‍

But‍ then the problem arose.

“……”⁠

Ryozo‌‍ and Abel looked‌⁠ at each other in silence.

Then,‌ at the same‌ time, they turned‍ their heads toward‍ me. Their eyes—hers⁠‌ like the sky,⁠⁠ the other like‍‌ the moon—shone coldly.‌‌

“Hey…‌ girls.”

I broke out in⁠⁠ a sweat in‌⁠⁠ an instant.

I never imagined a simple phrase could‌‍ be interpreted so‍‌⁠ differently by both.‌⁠‍

I could only blame‍⁠ my naiveté for‌⁠ not being born‌‌ in this world.‍

***‌‍

“Puhahaha!”

Volundr,‍‌ the blacksmith of‌ Joaquin Academy, burst‌‌ out laughing, clutching his belly after hearing my story.⁠‌

He‍ even had tears‍⁠ forming in his‌ eyes.

I stared at him⁠ expressionlessly.

Wiping‌ the corner of⁠ his eye with his thumb, Volundr‍⁠⁠ asked me, still‍⁠ grinning.

“So,‌ after telling that‌ to the two‍ girls and not‍ knowing how to respond, you came⁠ running here, Heavenly‌ Sword?”

“And‍‌‌ you find that funny? I swear⁠ I almost died.‌ Those stares were⁠ trying to kill‍⁠ me.”

With a mocking tone,‌ Volundr scolded me⁠ instead.

“But‌⁠‍ you know what‍ that meant, right?”‍⁠‌

“I just told them‌‌‌ a bit about why I was‌ hospitalized.”

“You’re so clueless about‍‍ the world.”

Volundr⁠ swirled his jar⁠‌ of rice wine⁠⁠ and downed it‌‍ in one gulp.‌ Then, reeking of‌‌ alcohol, he continued.‌‌‍

“Listen, Heavenly Sword. What‍⁠ you told those⁠‍ girls is practically‌‍⁠ a marriage proposal.⁠ And that’s being⁠‌ kind. The softest‍ interpretation is a confession.”

“It‍‍‍ was that serious?”

Volundr⁠ banged his jar‍⁠‌ against the corner⁠ of the chair‌‍ and drank again‍⁠ quickly.

“Both‌ of them are‍ nobles, right?”

I nodded.

“Yeah.‍ One’s from the‌‍ Nibelung family, the‌ other from the‌⁠ Saki family.”

“The‍‌ first is a descendant of the‍ Swordmaster Aaron Nibelung,⁠ and the other‍ from the legendary⁠‍ archer Saki Yoichi. They’re heirs to‍⁠‌ some of the‍ most prominent lineages.”‌‌

Volundr⁠ let out a long sigh and raised a finger.⁠‌‌

“Listen⁠‍‍ carefully. You were‌ a commoner until‌‌ recently, so you‍ don’t know this,⁠ but nobles have‍ codes. Even saying⁠ ‘let’s grab a meal’ doesn’t mean⁠ the same thing⁠‌⁠ to them. You‌⁠⁠ following me so‍ far?”

“Yes.”‌

“And‌ especially, nobles guard‌ anything related to‍‌ their blessing with⁠ utmost care. It’s⁠‌⁠ the root and‍‍ foundation of their‍ houses. That’s why‍ they receive strict⁠ training on how⁠‌ to handle that‍ matter.”

“…I‌⁠‌ see.”

I wasn’t in a position to criticize⁠ how Horntail needed⁠‍ to be educated.‍‍‍ I was just‍‍ as bad—if not‍⁠ worse.

“Now, imagine you told‌⁠ them, ‘my blessing⁠‌‌ does this and‌ that.’ How do‌‍ you think they’re⁠ going to interpret‍⁠ it?”

“I‍‍ get it.”

Still, I tried to⁠⁠‌ defend myself.

“But⁠ they’re not exactly‍⁠ girls steeped in‍ noble culture. On⁠‍ the contrary. That’s‍‍ why I was⁠‍ so surprised. In‌ daily life, they⁠ never showed that‍‌ side, and then‌ suddenly they change‌ completely and confront‌⁠ me. They even‌‍⁠ mentioned something about‌‌ choosing a partner⁠‍‍ for the upcoming‍‌ festival ball. It‌ was too sudden.”⁠

“Heavenly‌⁠ Sword… no, Kang⁠‌‍ Geom-Ma.”

Volundr set the jar⁠‍‍ down on the‌ workbench.

“Don’t‌‌ try to analyze‍ feelings with logic.”⁠‍

With⁠ a serious face,⁠ all traces of‍‍⁠ his smile gone,⁠ he said.

“It’s⁠⁠ not that they‍ don’t understand. They‍ said it fully‌⁠ knowing what it‌‍ meant. Even so,‌⁠‌ they set aside⁠ their pride and‍‌⁠ spoke up. Because‍‌⁠ you always stayed⁠⁠ ambiguous, and they⁠ couldn’t take it‍ anymore.”

“……”‌⁠

“And⁠⁠⁠ when you respond‍ with ‘there must‌ be some hidden meaning,’ you’re hurting their feelings. If‍ someone opens up‍ from the heart,⁠ you should respond‍⁠ in kind. That’s‍⁠ what decent people⁠‌ do.”

With‌ that, Volundr scratched⁠ his head. He pushed the jar‍ aside and sighed.‌

“I‌⁠ must be drunk. Getting all serious⁠‌ with a kid.‌ Anyway, what I meant is this—don’t‍‌⁠ be disrespectful to‌ those ladies. I know you’re clueless‌⁠ about women, but‍ at least keep to the basics.”‌‌‍

I stared at him.‍

“Ahjussi.”‍‍⁠

“What?”

“Why⁠‌ are you single?”‍⁠

A vein popped on‍‌ his temple. His‌ hand reached for‍ a hammer but‍ ended up grabbing⁠‍ another jar instead.‍‌

“That’s‍ enough. Your reforged‍ weapon’s right there.‍‍ Take it and‍ leave. You’re sucking the life out‍ of me.”

“Ah.”

A smile escaped me.⁠ Volundr clicked his‌⁠ tongue in irritation.⁠

“What’s‌‍ the point of‍ being strong if⁠‌‍ you’re incomplete as⁠ a person?”

Today,⁠ his rice wine‍ tasted more bitter‍‌ than usual.