Chapter 305: Why is everything so suddenly silent?

[Progress toward world perfection: 98.99%.]

[Please repair the deficit as soon as possible.]

[Complete the perfection of the world.]

[You must renounce ‘humanity.’]

[It is an unnecessary impurity to perfection.]

…Chzz, chzzzt.

[If not fulfilled, the repressive force will intervene directly.]

[This is an inevitable causality, already predetermined.]

++++++++

《Watch over them》

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Slash—

The fuse blew. My mental universe shattered just like yesterday.

The floating fragments quickly dissipated, and I returned to reality.

I woke from the dream.

Sharp pain. Damn it, the same dream again.

‘What is this supposed to mean?’

I’m not a teenager to be having wet dreams or anything like that.

I’d gone ten years without strange dreams. Why now, all of a sudden?

I felt awful. I must have sweated liters in my sleep; my back was soaked. The mattress must be drenched too. And right in March, when the cold seeps into your bones?

‘World perfection?’ What does that even mean? To me, the world is already perfect as it is. And not just for me.

The false gods were annihilated. The Corps Commanders, who were the greatest threat to humanity, I personally eliminated.

Though the world still bore scars from the war, it was slowly recovering. Healing always comes with pain.

Joaquin Academy still stood, and our relations with the demons had stabilized.

Whenever minor conflicts arose, Leon, Horn, or I took turns resolving them.

There were no visible problems.

Yet that mysterious voice kept warning me in dreams.

And that final phrase wouldn’t leave my mind.

‘Watch over them.’

I remember seeing that phrase when I first manifested the Blessing of the Sword God using the World Tree, Yggdrasil, as a catalyst.

“…Haah.”

I covered my eyes with the back of my hand. Thinking about this alone led nowhere.

But it was okay. I wasn’t a clueless teenager anymore.

I am the Heavenly Sword now and surrounded by capable people. In terms of connections, I’m the most well-connected person in the world.

Besides…

‘I know someone who’s an expert in these things.’

The saint, Yu Sein.

As a reincarnated soul, Yu Sein knows more about the universe’s secrets than anyone. Even more than me, a possessed.

She never told me everything, but she would answer faithfully when asked.

It wasn’t that she hid things on purpose—she just didn’t volunteer information.

After so many reincarnations, she’d grown bored with life. Even so, she always did her duty.

Now that I think about it…

‘It’s been a while since I saw her.’ What is she up to?

Probably… gaming all night.

Yu Sein is a video game addict. Lately, she’s been obsessed with a virtual reality game.

I heard she lives holed up in an apartment in Wonju, Gangwon-do.

That’s relatively close to the academy, so I should visit her soon.

“Nnngh…”

I groaned as I got up. My hand reached out of bed and grabbed a water bottle.

Gulp, gulp.

My throat moved, the water trickling down my abs like little streams.

“Hmm…”

Just then, Abel, who had been sleeping next to me, rubbed her eyes and sat up.

Looks like I woke her. As you can guess, today was an even day. In other words, Abel’s day.

Well, it was already past midnight, so technically it was Ryozo’s turn. Crap.

Even I’m not sure anymore.

‘Better not think about it.’

At home, I was like a drifting plant.

I tried to respect Abel and Ryozo’s opinions as much as possible. Please don’t judge me for lacking a strong personality.

They’re both eloquent. I’m not.

But I’m not so messed up as to draw my Sashimi sword during a family conversation.

“…Did you have a nightmare?”

Abel asked, concerned, as she pulled the sheet up to her chest. Dangerous in many ways.

“Sorry for waking you.”

“It’s fine.”

Abel covered her mouth as she spoke, then looked out the large window next to the bed. I turned to look too.

“……”

“……”

A clichéd phrase, but the night sky looked like it was spilling stars.

There was no star brighter than her eyes.

Her symbol was a pair of shooting stars.

“It reminds me of that day,” Abel said.

“The day we met?”

“Yes. Wow… We were teenagers.”

She chuckled.

“We still are. We’re in our twenties.”

“And you say that like you’re old. You’re in your twenties too.”

“Oh, right…”

Even saying it felt slightly embarrassing.

“Geom-Ma, you’re the same as always. You haven’t changed.”

Abel smiled even more.

“In what way?”

“That mix of adult and child. You say we’re still teens, right? So, you’re still a kid-adult.”

“I’ve been told I looked old in my twenties, but I haven’t heard ‘old on the inside’ in a while.”

“That’s why I like you.”

Just like that.

“My parents died when I was young.”

I knew that. Of course I knew. I’m the one who killed her father, the Lich King. I stabbed my future father-in-law.

“Maybe that’s why… I’m drawn to men I can trust.”

“That sounds like a daddy complex.”

“All emotions come from some internal lack. I guess so. At first, I was attracted to you because you reminded me of my father… but now…”

Abel folded her legs and rested her cheek on her knees.

“…Now, I just like you.”

“You’re doing this on purpose. You know I’m not good with these kinds of things.”

“Caught you.”

Abel stuck out her tongue slightly and tapped her forehead.

Seeing that made me chuckle.

At that moment, I suddenly noticed the coat rack. Hanging on it was the black coat Abel gave me just before class.

I pointed to it with my chin and said.

“That coat’s nice.”

“Right? It cost quite a bit.”

I didn’t ask how much. If Abel says it was expensive, then it must be.

I always try not to lose my sense of value around her and Ryozo.

Maybe remembering the clothes prompted Abel to change the subject.

With eyes shining like stars, she asked.

“So, how was the class today?”

“…”

Where was I even supposed to begin?

I scratched my cheek, trying to figure out what to say.

***

A few hours earlier.

“The content of the class won’t be complicated. Practical experience is the most important. That’s my philosophy.”

Watching the cadets nodding in unison was quite a spectacle. It almost looked like a religious ceremony.

In fact, nine out of ten students in that room were members of the Demon’s Celestial Church fan club. It was practically a fan meeting.

The students were deeply moved to see their idol in person.

And not only that—but he was teaching them!

Everyone felt their hard work to get into Joaquin Academy had paid off.

“Knowledge is important too. But this is just my opinion, based on personal experience.”

The Heavenly Sword drew his Sashimi. He spun it in his palm like a pinwheel. Even that looked cool.

“Basic physical training will be taught by the instructors.
I’ll focus the classes in a different direction.”

“In what direction?”

One student bravely raised their hand. Despite the jealous glares, he remained unfazed.

“Good question.”

Kang Geom-Ma praised him. The student nearly leaped with joy.

He felt as if he’d grown wings.

However…

“The group placement exam was a battle royale in a dimensional space. Except for those from the Heavenly Class, the rest of you probably died at least once, right?”

“…….?”

Clap. Kang Geom-Ma clapped.

Instantly, a purple shroud covered the classroom.

And before they had time to react, he followed up.

“First, we’ll get used to dying.”

…Huh?

“The first week, you’ll die once a day. The second, twice. We’ll ramp up from there. Ten years ago, the Heavenly Class was dying up to twenty times a day, but that felt a bit excessive.”

He said it as if showing mercy.

Soon, the classroom was completely absorbed into the dimensional space.

From that moment on, even if their throats were slashed, they wouldn’t die in real life.

“You’ll feel a slight prick.”

Kang Geom-Ma rotated his wrist.
The sheath of Murasame slid open, revealing its silvery edge.

[Activating the Blessing of the God of Insensitivity to Pain.]

[Activating the Blessing of the God of Transfer.]

[Activating the Blessing of the God of Regeneration.]

Flash—

[The three blessings will protect the world from the slash.]

[Given the world’s burden, duration is limited to 60 seconds.]

+++++++++++++++

《May the blessing of the gods be with you.》

+++++++++++++++

Wings were torn.

***

“So you killed them all in one strike?”

“I didn’t kill them—it was in a sub-dimensional space.”

Abel looked incredulous. Then, as if giving up, she slowly shook her head.

“No, forget it…”

Expecting common sense from her husband was asking too much.

She loved Kang Geom-Ma.

But that didn’t change the fact that several screws were loose in his head.

He was a nearly divine being in his detachment, completely lacking empathy. He couldn’t be compared to a normal person like her.

“Young people these days are really weak-willed. Just get poked with a sword and they’re already screaming, spitting blood. Back in our day, you’d get stabbed in a sub-dimensional space and laugh it off.”

Kang Geom-Ma, the school days you and I remember are very, no—very different. But it’s okay. I love you just the way you are.

“Young people today can’t compare to us.”

“Right. There are no more Corps Commanders. Demons still cause some problems, but with the elder dragons holding strong, they can’t stir up much trouble.”

“And that was thanks to you.”

Abel wrapped her arms around his neck as she spoke. The warm touch on his back sent a chill down Kang Geom-Ma’s spine.

At that moment—

Buzz—

The smartphone screen lit up.

He asked for permission with a glance. Abel mumbled something as he checked the message.

It was from Speedweapon. Abel also read over his shoulder. Both of them tensed.

“……”

“……”

The mood turned heavy instantly.

Kang Geom-Ma silently swung his legs off the bed. Abel let go of him without resistance.

“I’ll be back soon.”

He said as he put on the black coat Abel had gifted him. His hands emerged through the sleeves.

“Yes. Teach them well.”

She replied with a deep look in her eyes.

“Show them what happens when they mess with our family.”

Kang Geom-Ma took up his sashimi and walked out of the room.

***

The entrance ceremony gathered nobles from around the world.

They used the opportunity to accompany their children and visit Korea.

As usual, they stayed for several days in hotels in Gangwon-do after the ceremony, rather than returning to their countries immediately.

But this year, their stay was longer than usual.

They had already made up their minds.

They would use this ceremony to directly express their demands to the current director.

And so, that night, they cornered Ryozo to present their demands. From her perspective, it was like stepping on a landmine.

An oval roundtable, reserved exclusively for distinguished guests.

“Director.”

A middle-aged man with a kaiser-style mustache broke the silence. He was a marquis of the British Empire and a key figure in the Bannibelung group.

“I believe it’s time to restore the Elder Council system at the Academy. Thanks to your leadership, Joaquin Academy has flourished. However…”

Politeness meant little when his words dripped with sarcasm. Furthermore, this marquis had once confessed to her and been rejected. He held a grudge ever since.

‘That was when I had just started dating the Heavenly Sword.’

Ryozo silently clicked her tongue and lifted her chin.

“Go on, Marquis Sard.”

“As I was saying, it worked because you’re exceptional. A genius that perhaps appears once in a hundred years. But future directors won’t be at your level. That’s why we need foresight.”

The marquis swept his gaze over the table with suggestive emphasis.

The other nobles began to echo his words.

“That’s true. It’s only worked under your leadership.”

“Future directors may not be as capable as you.”

“We ask that you consider this.”

The marquis smiled smugly and pressed further.

“We’re not proposing a return to the corrupt system of the past. On the contrary, we have a modern alternative solution we’d like to present…”

Ryozo leaned back in her chair. The ceiling looked like a blank canvas.

And on that canvas, the face she longed to see appeared.

‘Kang Geom-Ma… this is exhausting.’

As director, she couldn’t simply ignore the nobles’ complaints. Dealing with them was part of the job.

She suddenly felt a renewed respect for the former director, Media Poison. That woman had endured twenty years surrounded by nobles likely ten times more arrogant than today’s.

A headache loomed.

She shut her eyes tightly as her nape throbbed. The marquis kept speaking, his tone growing more animated.

“And therefore—”

Just as his speech reached its climax—

BAM!

The door swung open with force.

“Who dares—!?”

The marquis turned around, visibly annoyed. Ryozo opened her eyes and looked away from the ceiling.

“Y-You!”

The marquis went pale—so pale he looked like a corpse.

“Exactly.”

A black-clad figure leaned against the doorframe. A dangerous spark gleamed through his bangs.

“Who do you think you are, raising your voice at the director?”

His footsteps echoed softly.

A crimson energy enveloped him. The marquis’s heart was crushed by the sheer pressure. Eyes wide with fear, he collapsed face-first onto the table, foaming at the mouth.

Thud!

”…..!”

Everyone froze in shock.

“This is an academy, so I’ll respect freedom of speech.”

Kang Geom-Ma took the vacant seat beside the director.

Ryozo stared at him.

“Why the sudden silence?”

“Go on—keep talking like you were.”

Because she had never felt so protected in her life.