Chapter 261: Blessing (4)

“Knox.”

When I called out to him, Knox barely turned his head while remaining crouched on the windowsill. With the black mask covering up to the bridge of his nose, he replied.

“Yes, Heavenly Sword.”

His voice sounded altered right away. Apparently, voice distortion was one of the functions of that black outfit that made him look like a thief.

‘Could that also be a type of weapon?’

I scratched my forehead and asked.

“You said earlier that there’s no humanity left in you. That’s a result of the training assassins from Auditore receive, right?”

“Yes.”

Knox nodded even with the mask on. I asked another question.

“Don’t you think that’s unfair?”

“What do you mean?”

Knox tilted his head, confused. I ran my hand through my hair.

‘Ah, damn. I shouldn’t have said anything.’

In all my lives, I’d never opened up to someone before. I felt awkward, out of place. Plus, digging into someone’s personal past made me hesitate.

But since I’d already spoken, I had to see it through. Once you draw your sword, you should at least slice a radish, as any good swordsman knows.

“If you hadn’t been born an assassin, you could be making friends, living like a regular guy your age. Dating someone, I don’t know… Doesn’t it seem unfair not to be able to do any of that?”

“Hmm.”

Knox crossed his arms for a moment in the same posture, then responded.

“Since you’re asking seriously, I’ll answer honestly. Sometimes, I’m curious about what guys my age think.”

He looked up and stared straight into my eyes.

“But I don’t feel envy, nor do I think my situation is unfair.”

“Why not?”

“To do my job well, feelings are an obstacle. Even if the target were someone close to me, I must stab without hesitation. To achieve that, in Auditore, we train all our lives to strip away emotion. It’s all for humanity, to leave a better present for future generations.”

At that moment, I saw it. A faint spark lit in his eyes, which until now had only reflected the sharpness of blood.

“That gives me pride. So even if I lack emotion, I don’t feel less human. On the contrary, I believe this state is the most optimal for me.”

In short, his pride as an assassin had replaced the absence of emotions. That’s why he felt neither sorrow nor regret.

‘Pride.’

I repeated the word in my mind and couldn’t help but smile. It was for that same pride that, in my previous life, I never let go of the sashimi knife, no matter what.

Come to think of it, my past life was also a constant sacrifice, just like his.

No friends, no free time, no partner or marriage. Everything that defines a normal human life, I set aside and lived only for sashimi, ever since I was seventeen.

And yet, I swear by the god of sashimi, I never felt unhappy. Every day that I improved brought me satisfaction, drawing me deeper into the art of slicing.

I wanted to be the best. That desire, over time, turned into pride and etched itself into my heart.

The achievement that comes in exchange for giving up ordinary things is both sweet and immense.

‘The best knife in the country.’

A nobody who used to wander the streets ended up being called that. If I had enjoyed everything else, I never would’ve reached that level.

“Heavenly Sword…?”

Since I wasn’t saying anything, Knox looked at me cautiously. He took off his mask and stepped down from the windowsill.

‘They say a superior’s silence is torture for a subordinate.’

Seeing him swallow hard, I looked at him with a slight smile.

“Thanks. Talking to you made me feel like something inside was released.”

Maybe it was too sudden a phrase. His red eyes widened twice as much.

“…I’m glad I could help.”

Knox didn’t ask further. Even if he didn’t understand what I meant, it was enough for him to see that the Heavenly Sword’s face had softened.

Thinking that, he put his mask back on and walked again toward the windowsill.

“Heavenly Sword.”

He stood with his back to me, hesitating a moment before speaking.

“I thank you as well. For risking your life to face humanity’s great evils. And also…”

For giving me the chance to work at a sushi restaurant, and above all, for teaching my sister what it means to be human.

Knox swallowed the words that had already reached his throat.

“Auditore will support Heavenly Sword with body and soul.”

Instead, he voiced another sincere sentiment and leapt gracefully from the windowsill. In an instant, the assassin melded with the night’s darkness and vanished completely.

I stared in the direction he had gone. I heard some dry branches crunch in the distance. Maybe he was leaping from branch to branch.

“…I appreciate it, but could you at least close the window?”

Shaking my head, I closed it. I figured I should reinforce the latch with two or three extra layers.

***

A December day, gripped by a cold wave.

Despite the freezing winter, Joaquin Academy buzzed with activity thanks to its cadets. Across every corner of campus, bright multicolored lights adorned the youthful scenes.

The Festival of the Seven.

The grandest event marking the year’s end. It was like Christmas on Earth. They only changed the name, but it was still very much a Christmas celebration.

In the dressing room.

“Oh, Heavenly Sword! It fits you perfectttt!”

The stylist, precise and efficient in appearance, licked her lips in admiration. Her crimson red lipstick made her enthusiasm even more vivid.

“Your height and proportions bring out the suit perfectly! And since you’re slim, it looks even better on you!”

“…”

While her words went in one ear and out the other, I stared at the full-length mirror in front of me.

There I was, blank-faced, wearing a tuxedo. The bow tie around my neck felt like a noose strangling me.

Maybe that’s why my face looked so flushed, as if blood had stopped circulating. Honestly, it was sheer embarrassment.

“I’m fine with the tuxedo, but can’t it be a normal tie?”

“No way.”

A firm reply. The stylist pushed up her glasses haughtily.

“You are the most influential hero today, Heavenly Sword. You must maintain composure and dignity.”

“What does that have to do with a bowtie?”

“Each occasion demands appropriate attire.”

As she adjusted the tie, she retorted,

“A regular tie is for the office. At a formal event like this year-end celebration, a bowtie is mandatory. Many distinguished guests will be present! What impression would it give if you, the Heavenly Sword, were improperly dressed? You’d be a laughingstock!”

“It’s not like I care.”

“Well, I do. I, Han Hye-Shin, will never let a client as valuable as you become a joke. Never.”

“…Fine. But loosen it a little. If I suffocate, that’ll be a reason to laugh too.”

“Oh, sorry! It’s just been so long since I dressed someone with such a perfect figure.”

Letting out an emotional sigh, she stepped back to admire me. I, resigned, sighed again and again.

Creak.

Just then, Director Media and her sister Meain entered the dressing room. The twins wore matching dresses in inverse colors—white for the younger, black for the elder. Like in Go, black goes first.

“Are you ready?”

It was the stylist who replied.

“Yes, Director.”

Media approached with firm steps and looked me over from head to toe. Meain, a step behind, joined her side.

‘Please, someone say this bowtie doesn’t fit!’

Deep down, I hoped at least one of them would say it while scanning me.

But that hope vanished with Media’s words.

“Wow, our Heavenly Sword looks amazing dressed like that!”

Both gave a thumbs up to the stylist.

“Great job, Miss Hye-Shin. You can tell the difference with an S-tier stylist used to working with celebrities.”

Meain added.

“That bowtie—excellent choice.”

“Thank you very much.”

The stylist replied with a modest smile. Amid the cheerful gossip of the three women, I was the only one left stranded, like a piece of furniture.

‘Yeah. Perfect. Just standing here like I’m part of the décor.’

Surrounded by that well-synced camaraderie, I felt a small sting of exclusion.

Clicking my tongue and licking my lips, I suddenly remembered something I had to say.

“Director, a moment.”

As I interrupted, the gazes turned to me. Since I’d broken the mood, I continued.

“I need to speak with you privately.”

“Oh, yes.”

With an awkward expression, she nodded.

“Then, I’ll step out to prepare Heavenly Sword’s makeup. Please speak freely.”

Sensing the tension, the stylist bowed and left without further words. A true professional—she immediately knew she was no longer needed.

Clearly, she had sharp intuition from working with stars.

“Shall I step out as well?”

Meain smiled as she spoke. I shook my head.

“I’d prefer you hear it too.”

“Understood. But just a second.”

Meain approached the door, shut it firmly, and muttered something in a low voice.

“I cast a silence spell so no sound escapes.”

Media made a strange gesture and explained to me,

“I mentioned it before, remember? My sister wandered the Demon Territory for decades.”

“Yes.”

“During that time, she developed a special condition. Her body accumulated a minimal amount of magical energy, so she can use simple spells.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t like using these terms, but… in a way, my sister isn’t very different from a villain. Though there’s a huge difference between her and those who can’t use blessings.”

Though I didn’t show it, her words were shocking. Blessings and magic are naturally opposed. They can never coexist in the same vessel. That’s a fundamental principle. But what Media said went against that principle.

‘Then… Meain can use both blessings and basic magic?’

I glanced sideways at her dark cotton dress.

Meain Poison.

‘I knew she was full of secrets.’

But she’s like an onion—peel off one layer, and there’s always another.

Media continued calmly about her sister.

“But she’s convinced she’s been blessed. Says she’s the only person capable of using both a blessing and magic.”

“Don’t say it like that!”

Meain interrupted with a mischievous smile. Media snorted and teased her.

“We were badmouthing you, sister, with the Heavenly Sword.”

“I heard everything, you know?”

Meain glared at her sister before turning to me. Her eyes sparkled playfully.

“If you want, I can teach you. It’s not professional, but I can cast simple spells.”

“No need. I don’t have mana anyway, even if I learned, I couldn’t use it.”

“True, hehe. Anyway, what was that serious thing you wanted to say?”

It had only been a day since Knox gave me his report, so I hadn’t had a chance to tell them.

Also, the Poison twins had been swamped with preparations for the Festival of the Seven, so neither had had any free time. That’s why I hadn’t been able to inform them about the villain infiltration.

‘I’ve already planned out a security measure anyway.’

If I spoke too early, I might blow my cover and let the villains scatter like cockroaches.

‘All things considered, and with only an hour left until the ball, this is the best time.’

Even so, I’d already taken precautions. I personally selected heroes from the Association’s staff to act as guards, with express orders to prioritize student safety.

Media, as another of the Seven Stars, had delegated part of the Academy’s management to me. Since she’d been so busy, I’d been handling the arrangements on my own for some time.

The only regret was that, after the conflict on Hawaii Island, a large part of our forces had been lost, so the available personnel was limited.

But if I, the Director, and the Senior were together, there was nothing we couldn’t handle.

‘As long as it’s not someone on the level of a Corps Commander.’

So, this was more of a routine report. At the end of the day, Media was still the Academy’s director and needed to be informed.

Just as I took a deep breath to speak—

Bang, bang, bang!

Someone banged on the dressing room door forcefully. All three of us flinched in unison and turned our gaze.

“H-Heavenly Sword! Miss Media, Miss Meain!”

It was the stylist from before. She was shouting desperately on the other side. Since the door was locked, she couldn’t get in.

“E-E-enemies! They’ve shown up—!”

Bang!

A sharp sound cut her off before she could finish.

“……”

The door, which had been shaking violently, fell into utter silence. Only a trickle of blood began to seep in beneath it, sliding into the dressing room.

Bang!

Without even coordinating, the three of us lunged forward, kicking off the stone floor at the same time.