The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 265: The Terror Live (4)

Chapter 265: The Terror Live (4)

“It’s‌ been a long‍⁠‌ time, Lord Leon.”‌

The‌ woman, Herya, bowed⁠ her head respectfully.⁠ She was a subordinate of Kuarne—and‍ also a homunculus.⁠‍

She‍⁠‍ had been created‍‍ from the corpse of Gregory, who‍ had been annihilated.‌ Kuarne gathered the‍ remains, pieced them‌ together, and brought‍ forth this creature.‌ Thus, Herya was born.

Sending⁠⁠‍ someone like her—an⁠ artificial creation—as an‌ emissary to Metatron’s son, Leon, was⁠ nothing short of‌‌ an insult.

Of⁠⁠ course, since they⁠ were in the human world, specifically‍‌‌ within the cradle‌‍ of heroes, Joaquin⁠ Academy, this was⁠ not her original⁠⁠‍ body but an‍ avatar.

Even‍ so, for Leon,⁠ it was enough‌‍ to feel insulted.‌ And he didn’t‍‍ hide his contempt.⁠‌

“How‍ dare you show‍ yourself here, Herya?⁠ Do you have‌⁠ a death wish?”‍‍

He‍ spat the words‌⁠ with a fierce‍⁠ expression.

“Wasn’t‍ it a condition‌‍⁠ of entering the‌ academy to sever‌ all ties with the Demon Realm?”‍⁠

“It⁠‍‌ was.”

Herya⁠ looked up. Her‍ face, pale as⁠ a ghost, resembled⁠ Kuarne’s.

“But‍ the situation has‌ changed. Even the‌ brilliant Kuarne didn’t‌ foresee the deaths⁠⁠‌ of three Corps‍‍ Commanders. Naturally, the‍⁠ plan needs a few adjustments, Lord‌ Leon.”

The‌ more Herya spoke,‍ the darker Leon’s‍ expression grew. His‌ hand, gripping the hilt of Balmung,⁠ trembled.

He wanted to draw⁠‌‌ and kill her‍‌‍ right there. But‍‌‌ he couldn’t. He‍‍ was in a position that didn’t⁠‌ allow it.

He‌ shut his eyes‍ tightly. A thousand‍ thoughts assailed him.‌

‘If⁠⁠‌ someone sees this…’‌⁠⁠

Should‍⁠ he kill Herya?‌‍⁠ Or the witness? Just imagining a “hero” like him‌ entertaining such thoughts‌ disgusted him.

‘I’d‍⁠ like to use‍ this sword to‌ slit my own‍ throat.’

But‌ even that, he⁠‍ couldn’t do. If⁠ he died, the‍⁠ world would fall‍ into ruin. Though⁠⁠⁠ he knew that,⁠ there were times‍ when he just‌ wanted to look‌‍ away.

In‍ those moments, his‍ late father appeared‍ in his dreams.‍‌‍ He would gently‌ pat his head and say.

— You are the‍‍ only one who can save this‍ world.

With‍‌‍ such a burden,‌⁠ Leon was only⁠ allowed the bare minimum. He couldn’t⁠ share anything with‍‍⁠ anyone. No one⁠‍ could understand. That⁠ was what it‌ meant to be⁠⁠ a hero, his‍⁠ father always said.

At⁠ first, he felt‌‌⁠ proud. But when‍⁠ he discovered what‌⁠‌ lay beneath, all‍ that remained was‌ revulsion.

‘I’m‌ just a tool‍⁠‍ to pull this⁠‍ world out of‍ the mud.’

Leon⁠‌ sensed it. He‌ was being manipulated⁠ by “a nameless‌⁠ entity.”

A mere puppet with‍‍ a single purpose.‌ This world was‍‌ as artificial as‌ he was—just another‍‌ piece on the⁠‍⁠ board.

“That’s⁠ why you must‌⁠ return to the⁠ Demon Realm with‍‍ me, Lord Leon. You know it‌⁠‍ yourself. There’s no⁠‍ point staying in⁠⁠ the academy. It‍ even seems your‌⁠‌ growth has stalled.”

“……”‍⁠

Herya‍ spoke in a persuasive tone. Leon kept his lips⁠ sealed.

“Tsk.”⁠‍

A dry sigh.

“You’ve gone soft among⁠ humans. What a shame.”

Herya‍‌‍ rubbed her forehead,‍⁠ shaking her head⁠‍ as if disappointed.‍‌

“If you insist on refusing me, I’ll have no choice.”⁠

“And‍ if you have‍⁠ no choice?”

“Then I’ll take you⁠ by force.”

Click.‌

Both‍‍ turned toward the⁠ sound. Silvery hair⁠ fluttered softly. Yu⁠‌ Sein walked into‌⁠ the sanctuary.

“I‌‍ smelled something awful‍‍ in this sacred‌ place—and it turns‍‌ out it was⁠ just a pest.”‍

Herya’s‍⁠‍ eyebrows arched. This‍ human seemed to‌ know her identity.‌

“Maintaining‌ this place is the saint’s duty,⁠‌ you know?”

Fwoosh.‌‌⁠

Sacred‌⁠ flames rose in⁠ a circle from⁠‍‍ the edges of‍⁠⁠ the sanctuary, rising‍ like bars.

Herya‌ looked at the‍ barrier and scoffed.

“Sacred flames that bind‌ the wicked? So⁠ what? I’m a celestial by-product. Look⁠ how free I am.”

“I‍ have eyes too,‍‍⁠ you know?”

Herya⁠ sneered. Yu Sein⁠ responded with indifference.⁠‌‍

“But⁠ your goal was‌⁠ to take the‍‌ boy behind you,‌‌ wasn’t it? Doesn’t‌‌‌ look like he’s⁠⁠ in any shape‍⁠ to go.”

The⁠‌‌ smile vanished from‌ Herya’s face. She‍‍ quickly turned around.⁠‍

Leon⁠ was clutching his‌‌⁠ chest and gasping for air.

Nephilim⁠‍ possess both divine⁠ and demonic natures.⁠‌ When their surroundings‌ skew too far⁠‍ toward one side,‌ the other reacts violently.

That’s‌ why Leon couldn’t‍‌ breathe properly.

Herya‍⁠ looked back at‍ Yu Sein. Her‌‌‍ eyes gleamed like‍ glass.

“You’re‍‌ making things difficult,⁠⁠ huh? But if‍ I kill you,‌‍ this sacred flame⁠‌ will vanish too.”‍

Snap.‌⁠

As‍ she snapped her⁠‍ fingers, the space⁠⁠ quivered. Void-attribute magic.⁠ That was how⁠ she, an entity⁠ of the Demon‍ Realm, had bypassed⁠‍ the academy’s defenses.⁠

“Kuarne‌‍ told us to‌⁠ stay discreet, but‍ seeing this, I’m‍‌ sure he’ll understand.”‍

Yu Sein covered her⁠⁠⁠ nose with a handkerchief. A trickle‌⁠ of blood ran⁠⁠ down from it.‍‍⁠

Frowning,‌⁠ she muttered.

“That breath so foul…”

In⁠⁠ a nasal voice.‌

“…Disgusting.”⁠‌

A vein popped on‍‌ Herya’s temple. Her‍ eyes glowed with‍ danger.

“You‌ damned fly!”

This⁠ time, it wasn’t feigned emotion. It‍ was genuine rage.‌‌

***⁠‍⁠

We set out to⁠⁠‍ find Leon. The‌ search turned out⁠‌ to be easier‍ than expected, thanks‍ to a message⁠ from Sein.

[Sein:⁠ Come to the⁠⁠‌ chapel. Hurry.]

She was in such‌‍ a rush that⁠ she only used‍ initials in the‌‌ postscript.

In any case, we‍‍ changed course and‍ headed directly toward⁠ the chapel.

‘Better⁠‌ to go there‍‍ than waste time searching aimlessly around⁠⁠ the academy.’

That⁠ was my initial‍⁠‍ thought, but as⁠⁠ we approached the‌⁠ chapel, what had‍ been just a guess became certainty.‍

“Urgh…”‍‌

An‌⁠ unbearable stench hit‍ us head-on. Ryozo⁠‍ and Saki covered‍⁠ their noses, grimacing.

Shail and Karon simply furrowed their brows,‍‍ but even they‍⁠ didn’t dare approach carelessly.

‘An‍⁠ incredible magical pressure.’‌

The‍‌⁠ energy emanating from‌‍ the chapel halted‍ us like an‌⁠‍ invisible barrier.

A place meant to‌‍ be filled with‌‍⁠ holiness had been completely corrupted.

We⁠ moved closer to‍ the door.

Then,‍⁠ shadows began to‌⁠‌ ripple and took‌‍‍ human form.

They⁠ quickly positioned themselves‌ as guards in‍‍ front of the entrance.

Their⁠‍ steely presence was‍ suffocating.

‘Damn it.’

I estimated each one⁠ to be between‍ B+ and A class. Taking them⁠ down wouldn’t be‍⁠‍ a problem…

The‍ real issue was‍⁠ how much time⁠ was left on‍ my Blessing of⁠ Insensitivity to Pain.‌‌⁠

‘Being‌ generous, I have maybe ten seconds‌‍ left.’

And‍‍ without knowing what‌⁠⁠ enemies awaited us‌ inside, I couldn’t‍⁠ afford to waste‍ the Blessing of‌⁠ the Sword God⁠‍ now.

The‌ magical pressure inside⁠ was immense. Even‍ my teammates had‍ frozen in place.‌⁠‍

This wasn’t an ordinary‍‍ enemy. Every second‍ mattered.

At‌⁠ that moment, Ryozo‍ shot me a sidelong glance. Then,⁠ without warning, he⁠⁠ slapped himself hard⁠‌ across the face.‌

Everyone‌ was stunned.

Within‍ seconds, his cheek‌ swelled. He spoke‍‌ through bleeding, split‌ lips.

“You’re almost out of⁠ time on your‌ active blessing, right?”

Abel‌‍ understood too, and‍ with a sudden⁠⁠⁠ motion, she tore‌ one side of‍⁠ her dress. She‌‍ revealed her leg without hesitation.

“We’ll‍⁠ clear a path‍ for you. Get‍‌ in there, Geom-Ma.”

She⁠‌ stood next to⁠‌ Ryozo. Her sword‍ slipped from its⁠ sheath with a smooth draw.

Ching.⁠‌

I blinked, staring at them.

‘Come‌‍ to think of‍ it, I did⁠‍ tell them about‌‍ the weakness of‍ the Blessing of‍ the Sword God.’⁠

That⁠⁠ was why that awkward incident had‌ happened.

But⁠ ironically, thanks to‌ that, Abel and⁠⁠‍ Ryozo instantly understood⁠ my situation.

‘If⁠⁠ I hadn’t told⁠ them.’

We⁠‍‍ would have wasted‍ precious time. Sharing‍ that weakness had⁠‌ saved us the‍‌‌ need to explain.‌‍ This was the‍ value of trust.‍‍

I nodded. The two⁠ of them gave‌‍⁠ me the slightest⁠ of smiles and⁠‌ exchanged a glance.⁠⁠

Then⁠⁠‌ their golden and⁠‌ sky-blue eyes sparkled‌‌ like sparks in‌‍‍ the air.

Crack.‌⁠‍

They⁠ instantly grew serious, and in a cold voice, warned‌ each other.

“We’re⁠ not in subspace.‌ Don’t tear off‌⁠ your leg by‌⁠‍ mistake.”

“Same‌ to you. Ah,‌‌ and I learned‍ something new—ripping your‍ skirt earns points.”

“……”‍

“At‌ least you did‌‌⁠ it right. It’s⁠‍ not embarrassing.”

Their‍‌ exchange made Karon‍‌ and Shail stifle‌‍ a laugh.

The icy morning air‍ seemed perfectly in⁠⁠‍ sync with them.

Both‍‌ aligned themselves beside Ryozo and Abel. Shail spoke to⁠ me.

“We’ll‌ risk our lives‌‌ to protect the⁠ ladies.”

She‌⁠‌ bowed like a cannon aimed straight‍ ahead.

Beside‌ her, Karon clenched‌⁠ his fists tightly‍ before opening them‍⁠⁠ as if shaking‌ something off.

Whoosh.‌

Wire‍⁠ cables unfurled like⁠‍ a carpet from‌ my feet to‌‍‌ the entrance of⁠‍ the chapel. They⁠ also formed barriers‌ on the sides.‍‌⁠ It looked like‌ a tunnel of⁠ wires.

“We’ll‍⁠ send you in‍ all at once.”‍‍

Before I could respond, Karon moved his‌ hand.

My‌ body tilted, and⁠⁠ my feet slipped.‌

“……!”⁠

A silver current pushed⁠ me forcefully into⁠‌ the chapel. It‌ felt like surfing‌‍ a wave for⁠ the first time.⁠‍

***‌

Herya’s⁠‍ magic rained down⁠⁠‌ like a storm.⁠

Statues,‍‌ columns—everything in the‌ sanctuary shattered with each explosion.

Boom‍‌ boom boom…!

But⁠ nothing touched Sein. The holy fire‌⁠ shielded her like‌‍ an unbreakable barrier.‌‌

Besides,‌ this was the‍ academy, and Herya was only an‌ avatar. Her power‍‌ was limited.

Even‌ so, the roar was terrifying. Though‍ weaker than the⁠‌ original, she was⁠ still a threat.‍

The⁠ line between life‌‍ and death became‌‌ blurred. If the‍ holy fire were‌‍ extinguished, Sein would‍‍ be erased without‍ a trace.

That’s‌ why she clung⁠ to it with⁠‌ everything she had.⁠⁠

Her‍ eyes were bloodshot,⁠ her mouth tasted of iron. Her body could take‌ no more.

Creeeak.⁠‌‍

The⁠ darkness tore open behind her.

The⁠ magical pressure filling the chapel began‍ to dissipate.

Like‌ sunlight drying stagnant‌‍ water, light scattered⁠ the shadows.

The‌ fragments of darkness‌‍ crumbled to dust.‍

Sein⁠‍ felt a sudden‌ surge of energy.‍‌

At‍‍ the same time,⁠‍ a chill ran⁠⁠ down her spine.⁠

That‌ presence made no⁠ distinction between friend‍ or foe.

“Hurry,”‍⁠

she said without turning⁠ around. Her lips‍ trembled.

“I‌⁠⁠ really feel like‌ I’m going to⁠⁠ die.”

Without‌⁠ responding, the Heavenly Sword moved forward.‌‌⁠

A black flash shot⁠ past Sein. The‍‌ shockwave and wind⁠ followed a second‌⁠‍ later.

It‌⁠ was an extraordinary‌ speed.

Herya‌‍ shifted to defense.‍ She formed a magical barrier like‌ a bubble.

She⁠‌ had heard of⁠⁠ the Heavenly Sword⁠‌⁠ a thousand times‍⁠ from Kuarne. What⁠ powers he used,⁠ how to counter‍‍ him. She thought she knew it⁠⁠‍ all.

But⁠‌ it took just‍ one second for her to realize⁠‍ that all of⁠‍⁠ it was arrogance.⁠

The‌‍⁠ Heavenly Sword, crossing‍⁠ both arms, slashed‌ in an X shape.

A wave of aura‍⁠ surged at the‌⁠ barrier.

Fwoosh!‌⁠

Herya’s⁠⁠⁠ magic burst like⁠‌‍ a soap bubble.⁠⁠‍

And‌‌ that was it.⁠⁠

Herya⁠⁠‌ was instantly torn‌‌ apart.

Her‌⁠⁠ dark blue blood‌ splattered on Leon,⁠ who stood beside‌‌ her.

Leon‌‍ raised his head.‌ His deep navy⁠‍⁠ eyes were dazed.‍‌‌

‘God-slayer, sword demon, the‍⁠ hero’s nemesis. And…’‌‌

The⁠⁠ Demon King.

From⁠‌ above, he looked‍ down at him‍⁠ with disdain.