Chapter 304: Matters Only Adults Understand
5GPIn the director’s office, three soft knocks echoed at the door. Ryozo set her pen back into the inkwell.fPW
ZLnosiw“Come in.”Ggz
eQpAhLaThe door opened, and a tall, elegant woman entered with a model-like presence.wtHXEHD
b3zPEcV“Hot or iced coffee, Director?”ayCW4j
VwzQLbzChoi Seol-Ah held an Americano in each hand.OtOhfH
HzXOnce a villain, she had been reborn through Kang Geom-Ma’s “rehabilitation classes” into a completely new person.KA0n3jW
RtRL5t2Time had flowed on, and eventually, Choi Seol-Ah became the director’s personal secretary.pFnGjHA
WCUHE“Iced today. It’s a bit warm.”2JQ
57b6“That’s unusual. You always go for hot. And warm? In March? That’s prime weather for catching a cold.”eNyAk
KwKkMv9With that, Seol-Ah handed her the iced drink. The ice cubes clinked inside the cup.BU5v4
2yhs“I have a bit of a fever.”oYmn
On9Ix8“A fever? Don’t tell me you’re getting sick?”F4VOlP
YDWrnH“No… it’s not that.”eOI
1DQ4Ryozo hesitated, then averted her gaze. A fierce wolf by night, but by day, she was a kitten.XI5anS8
BrwP“Maybe from overwork. Don’t push yourself too hard.”qrkH9
xgw“You’re always consistent, Seol-Ah. Even when your boss doesn’t leave, you always go home on time.”NPEth
YXVS“That’s what the academy’s labor laws say, right?”8Z6
e93YTChoi Seol-Ah shrugged with a mischievous smile.bjsZPeS
NuAr“A woman who loves money that much talking about labor laws…”BW9lA
SnMJRyozo glared at her and took a long sip of her coffee. Like a tonic for the stomach, it felt like it was purifying her body.AXrs
Ptf0E9Y“Hmm.”vALLQ
8ThzbChoi Seol-Ah narrowed her eyes. Ryozo wiped her lips with the back of her hand and frowned slightly.zpFqZy
OnONdY“What are you staring at?”WVGY
GIjsu“Nothing, really.”eFal
NK2jgR4Choi Seol-Ah looked at her with a mix of confusion and curiosity.o7Hx09I
kfEE“You look really good. How should I put it? Your face is glowing, like you took some kind of tonic last night. Did you have something?”z7dmO
OR1Ryozo’s hand trembled slightly as she held her cup.MQp
lZeXgo“You did take something! Tell me what it was! As your secretary, I have to know everything about your diet!”W8Lu
wlCBh5“……”kbbdLhK
K0JV11Ryozo said nothing. Ignoring Choi Seol-Ah’s persistence, she kept working while sipping her coffee.fHtm1
l58cpUOBut…EYIj
kA7J“Tonic…”yZfz
uH6zJFor some reason…QBG
8O3a‘I want to have it again tomorrow.’rZpZ
yZZBHer cheeks curved with tenderness. The pen glided smoothly, as if tickling the paper with its tip.3bW
V6X7hXe***iles5sM
7ijJkCO‘This is fine…’ob8mT21
4XrI was sitting at a straight café table. Outside, contrails from airplanes floated across the sky. My arms were crossed and my chin rested on them as I stared out the window.DAjfJZb
GhccxCJoaquin Academy was located in Wonju, Gangwon-do—a place renowned for its pure air and crystal-clear waters. Just sitting on a bench and breathing was enough to feel cleansed.MMQf
Em5uLooking up at the sky had a similar effect.w2qCK0a
2sUWatching the clouds soaked in spring made it feel like my eyesight was improving. Even the fatigue in my eyes seemed to fade.YDSUJk
IzhUtXIn contrast, my body felt as heavy as if it weighed a thousand tons. I buried my face deeper in my arms.omDKd
ZUPX6chI was exhausted.KDunQ
27Pt2VEvery part of my body screamed in pain.Lno7g
8KcB‘I feel like my life is shortening in real-time.’ At this rate, I’d die young.4etM
fyz“Haa.”zbXtBzm
NLnavxTI’d spent the whole day with Director Ryozo doing all sorts of things.Wk657
yh1qAnd then again, when I opened my eyes. The accumulated damage to my stamina was beyond measure.jAj0jlh
9Zz7What’s the point of being the Heavenly Sword?ybRUIN7
FYqJw‘I’m a failure.’O8pb4jl
J8CnThe type who can only bottle everything up inside.rHum07q
Jm7xZLI can’t even handle my wife, who lives on coffee and sighs.o2uq
6tu5No one would understand. It’s such a personal issue, I couldn’t tell anyone.4l1
ZCzAnd even if I did, they’d call me insane. “How can you complain when you’ve got the two most beautiful women in the world as your wives?”s139xvz
Xu8yEven my fans from the Celestial God Cult would turn against me if they knew. Men would definitely become my haters.uOAOs
C0tv“President.”oc86F
LtENHOySomeone still calling me that spoke from the side.qGx
U3XIt was Speedweapon.wh17u7p
2WaI’d asked him many times why he kept calling me “President.” I thought maybe he hadn’t matured.Z0V3pcb
9CGKBut he always just said it was a habit.mj8cM
S9QHQaAnyway, Speedweapon was strangely consistent with things like that. That’s why he fit so well in the Hero Association.TAUu4
0WIxyHe was highly valued in the organization. Always dependable—the ideal civil servant.wIkpGs3
SAIsGENPlus, it seemed his distant relative, Changseong Richard of Mura, thought highly of him. He could only keep rising.12uZuB
facDNWThat guy, in the end, also used his lineage.gYP8jSJ
ta4In “Miracle Blessing M,” the system revolved around bloodlines. It was hard to root it out.TA5dMBt
bcS4fhz‘That’s just how this world is.’H5ZFND
a6bcVfBAfter ten years here, I had that seasoned veteran air about me.HDHk
fq2hoE“What is it, Speedweapon?”s6v5rt
6dd3UrDI replied without lifting my head.UIlWUw
ppu8“Well… it’s just.”s5I
HgewHe looked at me closely and frowned with sympathy.hzdeol
VeSrLOE“Jumping between the Human Realm and Gehenna is killing you. Your eye bags go down to your chin.”GQjln7
9wUI sipped my espresso in silence.q1TywLz
y5Qg4fIt tasted sweet.F7TC
tZk9jProbably because my mouth was already full of bitterness.dH7
ljOAwI‘You know, Speedweapon? It’s not the dimension travel that’s wearing me out.’59Izi
S8oJoaquin Academy has a spatial jump system. You can get to Hawaii instantly.2wA12AG
y2D0And I wield lightning magic. I can move at the speed of light.XPn
m3WYPZThat was originally the power of the First Corps Commander, Lycan. He’s my alter ego.Lt1a
Z4mRkt— Use it however you want.pmq6H
kzld“You sure you’re giving me all your power?”37krIm
X88— If needed, I’ll enter your body and use it myself.8ByKxDf
XRbKAJy“What is my body, a restaurant? You come and go whenever you want?”BSgEB
frRkO— Technically, that body is mine.mvupAbv
cvQ“Fine, thanks.”20zH
xmpHe handed over all his powers. Now he’s living the high life.3Ugq
QmA1wp4A lunatic.rXd
1IfhkVAnyway, what I mean is—M1FvI
Pj0The reason I’m so tired isn’t the travel.esT
T8e1“If you’re not okay, tell me, President… I mean, Kang Geom-Ma. I’ll talk to the association president. People say they’re overworking you.”3njVp
DOpbdW“They say that in the association?”q3OO
yPSVR“Where don’t they talk about you? You’re the hero who saved the world.”ehvcfrC
8yg“Speedweapon, you still say that cheesy stuff with a straight face, huh?”iLdfVtx
JaaeJ“So what. No one else is listening.”ef3rO8
DaaXZcKHe glanced around the café. It was a VIP café created through renovations at the academy.tvTc
v0RUVBut we were the only customers. The employee kept glancing our way.JajDN
PVbd‘She’s going to crumple that autograph page with how much she’s staring.’AgRP
PypTDYYAnd it’s not that the place was unpopular—on the contrary, it was always packed despite the ridiculous prices.SFsu
UMOMlCEspecially items with my brand—featuring my sashimi and Heavenly Sword drawings—sold like hotcakes.N3a
CHsj2‘That was Speedweapon’s idea too…’3oWoSPc
woYRuwSpeedweapon is the president of the Celestial God Cult. Having your fan club president as your friend… he’s nuts too.awPjA
ScWAnyway.NtQ
7ooROThe café had been emptied because my wife Abel rented it out with her own money.Z87nox
R7QaZ6RJust for me.o6lYb3X
GvqxykfSo I could rest peacefully before my afternoon special class.WNNxBM
DTMavKS“Speedweapon, don’t I seem like a kept man?”fvGHr
ymn“You’re not a kept man. You’re the pillar of an era.”EMszX
LgQ8WB“Please…”Ko6VH
4QUI messed up my hair in despair.2MIYDJE
tq4w“I told you not to say things like that between friends.”PCl
U11“I’m only saying it because your eye bags look like part of your outfit. Seriously, you’re a mess. You’re going to teach in that state?”EGkjnWX
q2Vr“I have to. If I don’t show up, Ryozo and Abel won’t be able to assert their authority. Word is the nobles want to revive the Senate.”CAwG
tREuI1Speedweapon grew indignant.Lzy737
rt1f“Those idiots never learn? After everything the Senate did to you? Again with that? They’re insane. That’s how people get when they’re comfortable—they start demanding rights and nonsense.”elISK
LHm0nS“That’s why I have to teach.”GQpr
xiOE23I said as I rested my head in my hands. Just then, a plane crossed the sky, leaving a white trail.YbiDE1
5QOBBod“I’d rather hear nonsense than see thousands die again.”JPmUCjw
aLB8LO“……”rHT4hju
WS7hYCSpeedweapon also looked up.XfAi
6kHThere was a time when a clear day like this wasn’t normal.oI62O
7FrzfqJust ten years ago.uO9NVN8
jiCYEC3We paused.DEq
EJLEi“I’ve decided.”UQmVI
Bd4MvVSuddenly, like it was a national policy, Speedweapon nodded by himself. Then, as always, he explained everything.rm8oWq5
Jj8“The association president is at the academy. I’ll talk to him. They’re forming a team to explore Gehenna anyway. Better we take initiative and gain real experience.”DbLEky
CeIHe stood up abruptly. Almost knocked the chair over, but I caught it.gsr
x4g4G“You don’t need to go that far.”Uk1Mrjw
hND“Let me do this. If Saki and Abel are doing everything for you, how could I not do something too?”8nB
cLmB3“You’re not them.”jTO
uuqSpeedweapon gave a thumbs-up.xyyCoVZ
M5H“I’ll go sort it out now. I had a good quarter, you know? If I ask, the president will agree no problem.”UTpt9
jx9Xtfb“No, wait…”6mV
9oQ0man“President.”jIywaOd
XJeSpeedweapon rubbed between his brows with his index finger.pwcn7
TekQx5W“That’s what friends are for. Take advantage of it—you got into Joaquin Academy using connections anyway.”eMw
E4ZcZ4mIs this idiot brainwashed?uxD
rgKHe had the most bureaucratic mindset possible.BV5Pz
hEV2Zf7And me—if I weren’t bouncing between the Demon Realm and here—I’d probably be dead. My life force drained dry.pb6SD
ovS“Ha, just stop, leave it.”HPzMN
EhG“No, that’s not it.”Ida1Bpe
L05vaZSI tried to push him back into his seat, but…zxVs
RfWiv“I’ll just take the sentiment.”wZHpg
OIY“You don’t listen even if someone shouts at you.”irUVlE
tpOWas he coated in oil or what? He slipped right past me.VFRtqO
rj24This called for more drastic measures.rll
ZyoI quietly grabbed my Daiso sashimi blade.K43L6I
yQQ[Activating Blessing of the Sword God—]XCqlKRT
MlmAnd then, in an instant—xHoAih
9Tm“What’s all this noise?”f0FseA
jkaThe rescuer appeared.jEE
ExMSJRThe two employees behind the counter instantly ducked like moles.RNI
reylLFhThere she was. A woman whose golden irises, cold as if carved from eternal snow, gleamed sharply.dBcTi
orSXU“Ah, Abel.”MwH3u
8db2Speedweapon, who had just been a wild colt, instantly calmed down.0OzbKh
Lg4He was scared of Abel.LqIM3Q
xA4SluMHe once told me that the deeper he went into bureaucracy, the more he felt Abel’s overwhelming noble presence.Fepjzx
1Cg0I64Descendant of the Sword Master. The Nibelung bloodline had only grown more fearsome.bfPCd00
qqRs7The Sword Master, the Sword Maiden, the Heavenly Sword.ojlhB
xGgph6xThree people whose names all began with “Sword.”dGGo
lV9s“I told you to rest, and look—Speedweapon, why are you bothering someone who did nothing wrong?”Ucf
AsuDU“N-no, I wasn’t bothering him!”t3c
A52420s“I don’t want to hear excuses.”HiDoWWR
BKGlWith a cold look, she dismissed Speedweapon, then turned to me with a soft smile.iSN64y7
Ahh“It’s almost time, isn’t it?”U5l3g
HxD4yTw“Still about an hour left.”o34H
fJkdLo“Hmm…”ObeYus
J7JqAbel examined me closely, tilting her head slightly while resting her cheek in her palm.y2pe9u0
pNu“That Seven Stars coat looks great, but it might be a bit intimidating for the kids during class.”uKXAn
TU425P“Yeah… maybe.”T5g
2SMXD1It really did look like I was flaunting my Seven Stars title.w4j
jZaxfwAbel stepped closer and straightened my tie.qKqI
xBNIThen suddenly, she sniffed.AXJ
Fs51E8S“Now that I think about it, you’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday, aren’t you?”YQD
2xhlo0z“Well… I had a drink with Speedweapon.”MCryp
ZGquCGBefore her stare completely locked onto me—qiA
zXen6– Speedweapon.bFL
fZYI used lightning magic. I shot him a plea at the speed of light.co0
QB4– My life is in your hands.TMln60d
DVYL0nA silent signal between men.TC1wsub
JDHa– Please save me.MVEQ
kyjQSThe transmission succeeded. Speedweapon seemed to pick up on it, and with a hesitant expression, he started speaking awkwardly.nFDblN
rAK“Y-yeah! We were drinking all night. That’s why we’re having coffee now, to cure the hangover.
Ha, ha, hahaha!”U2b1oZ
2ouuyWEven the laughter was well-executed.7OLu
C2g2GIf only his eyebrows hadn’t trembled so much.AutLh
BqwStill, thanks to Speedweapon’s quick thinking, I made it out unscathed. Abel turned her probing eyes away and smiled sweetly again.34UX4B
KrE“I left some clothes in the private dressing room. Go change. I’ll help you.”zHPWHmj
yopV“I can change by mysel—”3OYgjm
djeeR5v“I’ll help you.”hcwod2
82gCWDead silence.fa5xPwd
JfnHic!ubf
NSsThe hiccup of a staff member hiding behind the counter shattered the stillness of the world.QGT
It0NGrab!9MU8s5
84xKapAbel grabbed my wrist and dragged me off. Straight into a sealed, windowless room.ui7C
lzXT2Whip.sKW
AnplVI twisted my head in desperation. Speedweapon looked at me with sympathy.AwLPMH3
q7aHe slid his hand into his inner pocket and pulled out a recorder.6DaJ2JB
pjjmepAnd blew into it.BkD
y9pyThe gentle tune spread through the café.kyOs
QsPFSpeedweapon was a rare type of healer hero. His melancholic melody gave me buffs and lifted my spirits.WFZ0pDr
O0afROC‘Yes…’CLk5cVP
9G4yaLOPlay on, Speedweapon.0buJ
jqugePiri-ri-ri-ri—G4lX
CpXMkTThe exhaustion that clung to my entire body faded away.fMH
bZ47I felt my strength returning.t7aini
CduWYTYBut I won’t say what kind of “strength” it was.DDBTK
FyougBecause adults… have their own business.9Vh3U
htPc***oFi8
p48mThe classroom for the special lecture was the Tiger Class.XkEGMk
aBGLIi4Normally, events of national pride like this would be held in the Star Class, but they’d chosen the Tiger Class to encourage students who might feel inferior compared to those in the Dragon or Star Classes.VBL
Ggjd“Wow, what kind of person is he…”5dyT
LqcpA student murmured in awe, but her voice was lost in the commotion.LZW
ZkNx‘Noisy’ would be putting it politely. It was pure chaos.VBsgue
naUA literal mob. In the narrow space between the crowded students, everyone was pushing and shoving, trying to get closer to the podium however they could.VZM38Az
2FNebGAEven just an inch closer!vVqwzc
wNN937MTheir struggle was desperate. Like a scene out of a zombie movie.tqO2Xg
9svKKFaced with the chaos, the girl pursed her lips indifferently.eePtF
moH‘What’s so great about the Heavenly Sword?’hCd
eignxsStories always get exaggerated, don’t they? In the end, the Heavenly Sword was just another person like her. A Homo sapiens with two arms and two legs.scXpm3
me2OeAmbition was a virtue for heroes. Blind worship of someone was just another way of devaluing yourself.GID1
3GZeuC9Slide.F3J
VG7The classroom door opened to the left.Ykvexq
OIBLAs if nothing had happened, silence swallowed the room.O6XNl
Jj7Everyone strained their eyes so hard, they looked like they might pop out like frogs’.9zCi
Po0Kh48Step.R4h6
hWLPJGOne step.InovoeC
sjJFStep.552FNY
vJNTwo steps.VAaQ4OV
N113Step.w1bszT
c6SOn the third step, he stepped onto the podium.AsIHmK
RxXHe—the Heavenly Sword—wore a black coat embroidered with intricate detail.AIWWhH
iA3PThrough a small opening, a faint glimpse of his partially drawn sashimi could be seen.KhSldga
KV3tO“More of you showed up than I expected.”iWIz
XwRDEveryone watched him intently. Their concentration was so intense not a single detail escaped them.xqH
F68tXGulp.Occ
4qKThe girl moistened her lips with her tongue.FbxmeZ
5p5JeYF‘Don’t be fooled, stay strong. Whether he’s one of the Seven Stars or the Heavenly Sword, he’s still a person like you.’1NsQ8H
6vthShe forced herself not to fall under his spell.RWzGf
PsuwiIq“Nice to see you all.”V3np
8DSVDdBut just that greeting made the students’ souls bow in reverence.RecqnW
B9zC“As you know, I’ll be taking charge of you for the next few days.”KZpXve
K3dHer pores opened.xDx5
H7bF“I’m Kang Geom-Ma.”tZhkhSD
DIxzeHer heart pounded like a war drum against her ribs.VAH
vxjCh“To start, I’ll take questions.”518JU
4BbqySilence.lO0aYqS
ZTwcStirring.HjF6ZM
NWVCtZAction.jshzj
gQ8jY6Clack!jnI
ICVKIRtEveryone raised their hand at the same time. As if rehearsed, the movement was perfectly synchronized.B02Q
Yir7“What is this…?”cnIr0Dq
iHSCThe girl looked around, dumbfounded.tYO3TDz
Hg8GLike a bamboo forest, hundreds of arms were raised thickly around her.ZhQzEk
kH6It felt as though she alone had been left out.yy2o
3CNaOQQShe bit her lower lip. Finally, she looked down.eaJ
EuiShe felt humiliated.eqaK
TCnXZdxHumiliated, but…khW
T8lkcWBRustle—Bd7TmMa
voK5dhEven students who had tried to deny it wanted to stand out.0DS
FixCWDUShe, too, had grown up hearing the legends of Kang Geom-Ma.tPM
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