Chapter 308: Kang Geom-Ma, the Star Instructor (1)

Saki Ryozo and Princess Victoria. From the beginning, the tension between the two women was palpable.

Even with the director seated, the student Victoria looked down on her with disdain, creating an atmosphere thick with hostility.

“Princess.”

It was the director who broke the silence. A deep sigh brushed against the tip of her pen.

“Showing up unannounced in the director’s office is a violation of the rules.”

“Even if I had requested a formal audience, you wouldn’t have granted it. I believe you’re the one neglecting your staff. I said I wanted to come in and they let me through without question.”

“…”

Saki glanced at the closed door. A moment later, the hinge trembled slightly. Choi Seol-Ah, who had been pressed against it, flinched.

Her paycheck would be docked this month. Pretending to nod in resignation, Saki turned her attention back to the princess.

“In any case, someone of your status can’t be bound by regulations. After all, you’re the princess of the British Empire.”

A wrinkle formed between the princess’s refined brows.

“…Since the entrance ceremony, you’ve shown blatant disregard for people, Director. And you don’t even hide it. Don’t you think that shows a lack of social maturity?”

“Victoria, student.”

Ryozo’s eyes widened slightly, issuing a warning.

“Don’t cross the line.”

At that moment, the window hinge creaked. Victoria’s proudly raised nose, as if it might pierce the ceiling, lowered slowly.

“Perhaps I’m not ready to be an adult either,” Saki murmured, holding back her anger.

“Hik, hek!!”

Finally, Victoria exhaled the breath she’d been holding and coughed heavily, clutching her chest.

Saki observed in silence, and only once the coughing subsided, she spoke again.

“You know perfectly well that the measure against Marquis Sard wasn’t a personal punishment, Princess.”

“Krrrk…”

Victoria ground her teeth, glaring fiercely.

“I understand your stance completely, Your Highness. But that was a legitimate sanction. It was the shadow clan Auditore themselves who intervened.”

“Are you saying the Auditores are above the system?”

The director replied coldly.

“Let me turn the question back to you—are you above academy regulations, Princess?”

“…”

“Then close the door and leave.”

Saki pointed her pen toward the door.

Victoria opened her mouth, but finally clenched it shut and turned abruptly, sending a gust of air through the room.

“Princess.”

Saki called just as Victoria grabbed the doorknob.

“Even if I don’t particularly like you, there’s one obligation every student must uphold.”

“…It’s hardly appropriate for someone who releases spiritual energy at a student to speak of obligations.”

Victoria slightly turned her head to retort.

“If that’s the effect my presence has, then…”

The sharp gaze of an archer locked onto her profile.

“If you meet Heavenly Sword, you might die.”

Victoria swallowed hard. She knew the current director didn’t joke.

***

At the same time.

Elsewhere on the Joaquin Academy campus, a national-level meeting was underway.

The exact location was a secluded path near the special building.

More precisely, beneath bare branches trembling in the March cold.

There, like a plague of rats… no, rather, like tiny shadows the size of acorns, several figures gathered.

They formed a perfectly orderly line. At the center, a squirrel proclaimed the meeting open.

“(Did everyone sleep well during hibernation?)”

Though it was actually a rodent’s squeak, we’ll translate it into human language for convenience.

“(Yes, sir. Did you have a peaceful night as well, Commander?)”

“(Hehehe.)”

The lead squirrel smiled proudly.

“(I’m free from hibernation. While you all slept, I stored enough acorns to welcome spring.)”

“(Ooooh! Our worthy king!)”

“(Only you do we revere. Ramen.)”

Basking in the praise, he smiled.

His identity was… the ancient founding hero who once fought Balor Joaquin as an equal.

The only mortal recognized by the Sword God, the First Corps Commander, Lycan.

Once, Lycan had it all—a demon, a swordsman, a name of glory.

Now, he lived a new life as Ramzy Thunder, a squirrel.

What began as a hobby had become second nature. It was no longer a disguise; it had become his skin.

“(Lord Lycan.)”

A squirrel approached with a bow. The distinctive stripes on his back marked him as the secretary.

“(What is it?)”

“(It’s not major, but we’ve received reports that some acorns in this area are showing anomalies.)”

“(Hmm? Show me.)”

“(I anticipated this. I brought one to confirm.)”

The secretary pulled an acorn from his mouth, cheeks deflating instantly.

“(As you can see by the color, it’s not a typical acorn. But it’s not rotten either.)”

“(Hmm…)”

Lycan rotated the acorn between his paws, examining it.

“(This is…)”

“(Have you discovered something?!)”

“(Ohhh! Lord of Acorns! Only ramen, ramen eternal!)”

“(Silence.)”

With a solemn voice, he brought calm. An owl took flight, and some leaves fell from the tree.

“(It’s tainted with demonic energy.)”

“(Demonic, you say…?)”

“(It means there’s energy here that shouldn’t be.)”

The squirrels trembled in fear. They didn’t fully understand, but if their lord was serious, that was reason enough to be afraid.

“(W-what should we do?)”

“(Please, give the order… a command!)”

“(I will issue my decree.)”

All the squirrels snapped to attention in unison. More orderly than any army.

“(From now on, if you find an acorn like this, report it immediately to the secretary. Specify exactly where and from which tree it was taken. And above all, under no circumstances are you to eat it.)”

“(Yes, sir!)”

“(Good. Dismissed.)”

The group of squirrels scattered nimbly.

“(Lord Lycan.)”

“(I want to be alone for now.)”

The secretary was the last to leave. Seeing Lycan’s serious expression, he saluted respectfully and vanished into the underbrush.

“(Something is not flowing as it should…)”

He murmured while staring at the crescent moon hanging among the clouds.

“I’d better check for myself.”

Whoosh—

A sudden wind blew. In the next instant, the branch Lycan stood on charred slightly, leaving only a trail of golden particles.

He recalled his past.
The time he was thrown alone into a strange world.

Compared to those days of absolute suffering…

He now lived a comfortable life.

Step by step, we’ll uncover this new mystery.

***

Yu Sein, with a serious expression, said she would handle the investigation. She told me to focus on my current life for now. So, I decided to follow her advice.

The next day.

“Good morning.”

As in recent days, I stepped up to the podium. I glanced broadly across the classroom.

“Hmm.”

The numbers had dwindled significantly. On the first day, you couldn’t even squeeze in a pin, but now there were so many absentees that it was possible to memorize who was who.

My teaching style had been so harsh that many students had dropped out.

‘Maybe I overestimated them a bit.’

Heroes are tough folks. And even more so at Joaquin Academy, where the toughest among the tough are trained. I thought they could take it.

“G-good… morning, Mr. Heavenly Sword…”

Everyone greeted me instinctively, but their voices sounded like the sigh of a terminally ill patient.

After dying several times in subspace, they seemed withered. Their pupils were so dull they looked like the undead.

Seeing them like that reminded me of what Ryozo told me last night.

— Kids these days can’t be treated that harshly.

The fact that she said it with that scolding tone while being part of “kids these days” herself was kind of cute.

Anyway, I decided to take her advice. It was time to change the class approach.

Besides, I didn’t have many days left with chalk in hand. Maybe about fifteen?

After that, I’d return to my real job.

Monitoring the situation between the Demon Kingdom and the human world.

‘Since it’s the final stretch of the course, I’ll leave a good impression.’

I spoke casually.

“There won’t be a dying-in-subspace class today.”

“E-excuse me… what?”

Everyone blinked, confused.

But soon, color returned to their faces. It was like watching the undead come back to life.

“R-really?!”

“Yes. I think my special training was too intense.”

“Sniff, f-finally…!”

“Though I still don’t think it was wrong.”

“Hearing someone say they’re never wrong… but coming from you, sir, it sounds almost convincing.”

Amid all kinds of emotional reactions, I continued.

“Today, I’ll just be doing a demonstration.”

With those words, the room nearly erupted with joy. The atmosphere heated up.

Clap.

I snapped my fingers to cool things down a bit. At the same time, I deployed the subspace.

[May the Hero’s Blessing be with you.]

By now, they should be quite used to the purple veil.

After dying so many times here, some could no longer tell it apart from reality.

Clap.

I snapped my fingers again. The environment vibrated.

A dark mass began to take shape—a group of humanoid enemies.

“Ah!”

“K-Kentarous!”

I had generated a projection—or perhaps a summoning—of Kentarous within the alternate space. Though illusions, they felt incredibly real.

The Kentarous group surrounded the students, wielding cold weapons with menacing intent.

They weren’t real, but their eyes glowed with a sinister light from the shadows. Maybe that made them even scarier.

“……”

“…..”

Even so, the students kept their composure. As I said, this was a training center for the toughest.

They were no longer like before, when they died without strength.

They could now clearly recognize humanity’s enemy.

And from their gazes, I could tell—they were even sharper than ten years ago.

That was thanks to how well the academy was functioning today. And the ones who made that foundation possible were Ryozo and Abel.

As a husband, I had to live up to their efforts. My instincts told me so.

“I see that most of those who remained use swords.”

Probably why they clung to this class with sheer will. Because they admired swordsmanship.

“I-I used a shield, but after seeing Mr. Heavenly Sword…”

“Me too! Same here!”

“Good posture.”

I smiled a bit and reached for my waist.

Chiing.

Murasame slid from its sheath like shedding skin.

The impact was immediate. A thunderous roar filled the classroom, like a swarm of bees approaching.

[The Blessing of the Sword God manifests.]

My world lost its color.

I love this moment. When I hold the sword, I feel cut off from the world.

The students’ cheers fade one by one. I focus entirely on the inner voice.

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

《May God’s blessing be with me》

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

Sashimi released a flash of cutting light.

Flash!

A lightning bolt exploded in the students’ vision.

They couldn’t see a thing.

Slash—

A slicing sound slammed into their eardrums. A sharp buzz followed.

“Uuugh…”

Everyone felt their ears go deaf, like they were submerged underwater.

And when they finally opened their eyes…

“Ha… ha, haha…”

Dozens of Kentarous lay in pieces.

The entire subspace had been cut through.

“T-this is what they meant by…”

“The Heavenly Sword.”

A sword capable of cutting through dimensions, just like the myths say.