The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 310: The Man Who Became a God (1)

Chapter 310: The Man Who Became a God (1)

Let’s⁠‌‌ sum up the⁠ situation.

“So…”‌‍

The‍‌ world was progressing‌‌ toward perfection without⁠ a single complaint.⁠‍

Friction between the Human Realm and the⁠⁠ Demon Realm persisted,‌‍ but rarely escalated⁠‌‍ into serious issues.⁠⁠‌

They were minor skirmishes‌‍‍ at best, symbolic⁠⁠ protests from the⁠‍⁠ demons—the losers of‌‌ the war. Even⁠‍ the most naturally aggressive among them‌‌ had no desire‌ for another conflict.

‘Because‌‌ they know.’

The⁠‍ demons knew well that they could⁠ not endure the⁠‌ pain that would‌⁠ follow another war.

In⁠ other words, their‌‍ protests were a last act of‍ desperation.

The⁠⁠‌ false gods, the‍‌ main enemies, had⁠⁠ long since disappeared.

It‌ wasn’t just that‌⁠ they had retreated⁠‍‍ from history—their existence⁠ had been literally‌⁠⁠ erased from the‌ universe.

‘And‌‌ yet…’

Heroes⁠ were still manifesting‍ blessings.

‘If‌⁠ they were from‍‍ the pre-war generation,⁠‍‌ that’d make sense…’⁠

But‍ even those born after the war⁠ still possessed blessings.⁠‍

It was a situation‍ that completely contradicted‌ the world of‌‍ Miracle Blessing M.‍⁠‍

“You⁠‍ noticed it too,‌ didn’t you?”

Yes,‍ I had noticed.‌‍

“That something is flowing‌⁠ oddly.”

Of‍ course I had⁠‍ sensed it.

“But you chose to‍ ignore it so⁠‍⁠ you wouldn’t have‌ to leave your⁠ comfort zone.”

“……”‌

She⁠ had described my‍⁠⁠ mental state with⁠‌ total precision.

“Listen closely.”

Yu⁠⁠ Sein let out‍ a deep sigh⁠‍⁠ and brushed her‌ bangs aside, then‍‍ spoke in a solemn tone.

“All‍ worlds have a predetermined form of‍ ending. Whether it’s‍‌‍ the universe you⁠ come from, or‍ mine, every universe‍‌ has a lifespan.”‌

“Then…‌⁠ this world’s lifespan…?”⁠

When I trailed off,‍ Yu Sein nodded.⁠

“That’s right. When you‍‍ destroyed all the false gods, this⁠ world was supposed‍‍ to end. But look around—has it‌ ended? No. On‍⁠⁠ the surface, it‍⁠ looks like a rare happy ending.”‍⁠

“……”‍⁠

“It’s‌ because you love‍⁠ this world too‌ much. Kang Geom-Ma,⁠‌ the one and⁠ only Sword God‍ in this universe—you‍‌ don’t want this‍⁠ world to end.⁠‍ That’s why your‌ subconscious has bound humanity to this⁠ world. Because you‌ want it to‌⁠⁠ last. Because you⁠ don’t want it⁠ to return to⁠‍‍ the void.”

I remained silent, swallowing⁠‍ hard.

I knew Yu Sein‍ wasn’t saying this‍‌ to scold me.‍

And‍ yet, it felt‍⁠⁠ like a leaden⁠ stone was sinking‍ deeper and deeper‍ in my chest.

“…Then,‍ the reason blessings‍ haven’t disappeared… is‌‍ because without them,‌ this world would⁠ lose its purpose…”‍‍⁠

“Yes.”

“And‌‍‍ the one holding‌ that chip bag‍ closed—the one you‍⁠ just popped… is‍⁠ also me.”

“Exactly.”‌

“Then…‌ mmph.”

Yu⁠ Sein suddenly came‍ close, standing right⁠ in front of me, her eyes‌ locking onto mine.‌ She pressed a finger to my⁠‍⁠ lips.

“Shh.”‍

“?”‍

If‌‍ someone saw us‍ just then, I’m‌⁠‌ sure my face would’ve been portrait-worthy.⁠

“If you, an absolute‌‌ god, say that‌⁠‍ word, it could⁠ influence the world’s⁠‌‍ timeline. Kang Geom-Ma,⁠ you’re no mere‌‌ human. Strange as‌‌ it may sound…‌‌ you are a god. Second only⁠‍ to divine suppression⁠ in power, and‍ capable of interfering‍ with the laws‌ of the universe⁠ itself…”

I wasn’t clearly hearing‍‍‍ what she was⁠‍ saying. All I could taste was‍‌ salt.

Naturally,‌ it was the‌‍‍ same hand she’d‌ just used to⁠‌‍ eat those chips.⁠

Wait‍‌ a second.

Come to think of‍‌‍ it, that finger—she’d⁠ been sucking the⁠ salt off it while eating.

Damn‌ it!

“Puh,‌ blegh.”

I gagged and spat‍‌‌ into the air⁠‌ while Yu Sein‌⁠‍ frowned.

“A‍‍‍ little shared saliva‍‌ between family is‌‍ no big deal.‌ Don’t be so dramatic.”

Yu‍‍ Sein stepped back‍ and dropped that‌‌ line nonchalantly.

But‌ if she was⁠‍‍ going to say‌ that, I had‌⁠ a few words‌ of my own.⁠⁠‍

“Don’t‌⁠ you remember that this whole family‌ thing is just⁠ a façade? God…⁠ puah, puah. Did‌‍⁠ you soak your‌⁠‍ hand in seawater⁠ or what? And‌‍ I used to⁠ be a master‍ chef in my‌‍ past life, but‌‍ this has more‌ salt than any‍ filet I’ve ever⁠ cut.”

The‌ serious atmosphere came‍‌⁠ to an abrupt‌⁠ stop.

“Hmm.”

Yu‍⁠ Sein looked at‍ me with a blank expression, as⁠⁠ if she’d seen a ghost.

From my perspective, her dark eyes gave‍‍‍ me a bit⁠‍‌ of a chill.‌‍

“Now‍‌‍ that I think‍ about it this‌⁠‍ is the first⁠ time.”

Yu‌‍ Sein brushed her‍ thumb across her‍ lower lip.

“The⁠⁠‌ first time I’ve‍‌ done something like‍⁠‌ this with anyone.”‌

The‍‌ corners of her⁠⁠ lips, usually drooping‍‍⁠ and dull, lifted just a bit.‍

I’d⁠ like to believe⁠⁠ it was just⁠⁠ my imagination.

At‌ least, that’s what‌ I want to‌ believe.

***‌⁠

Beneath‌⁠ the Surface of‌ Gehenna, Leon and‍‌ Metatron advanced step‌⁠ by step, cautiously.⁠ But despite their heightened alertness, the⁠⁠ underground of the‌ Demon Realm was‍⁠ in utter silence.‍‍

Though‍‌ it seemed the darkness devoured their vision, it posed‍⁠ no obstacle for‍⁠ them. Their wings‌ shone with such‍ brilliance that they⁠⁠ lit up their‍⁠‌ surroundings completely.

“There’s‌ nothing here, Father.”‍

“So‌⁠ it seems.”

Even⁠⁠‍ with their perception⁠‌ sharpened to the‍ limit, they sensed‍‌‍ no suspicious presence.‌

The‍⁠‌ only unusual thing‌‌ was the existence‌ of numerous winding paths so deep‌ underground.

But‌ considering the place⁠ they were in,⁠ that made a certain amount of‍⁠ sense.

Step,‌ step.

The‍ two men continued‌ walking aimlessly. By‍‍⁠ now, they were⁠‌ beginning to feel⁠ a bit disappointed.‌

Perhaps‍⁠ they had gotten⁠⁠ worked up over‍ the recent strange‍‍⁠ phenomena for nothing.

“Looks‍‌‍ like it was‌ just a false⁠ alarm.”

“Better‌⁠ that way, don’t⁠ you think?”

Leon‌ scratched his cheek‌‍ with a sheepish⁠ expression.

“Yeah,‍⁠ I guess I still haven’t shaken‍ my old habits.⁠⁠ I don’t get‌ why I feel‌⁠ disappointed by this…”‌‌

And‌ just then—

Step.‌

Metatron‌ extended an arm⁠ and stopped Leon.‌

“Father?”⁠

But‍‌ Metatron only showed‌ him his imposing‌‌ back. At his⁠‍ feet, the dust‌‍‍ and pebbles were trembling with a strange energy.

Flash!⁠‍

Leon⁠ let out a grunt.

His⁠ eyes stung. His‌⁠ retinas had been⁠⁠ hit by a sudden burst of‍ light.

“You‍ were careless, my⁠⁠‌ son.”

Metatron‍ turned to him‌‍ with a calm‍‍ smile. On his⁠‍ back, two additional‌‌ pairs of wings‌ unfolded.

Though⁠ he had lost‌ them all to⁠⁠ torture in the‍ past, through the‌ meticulous care of⁠‌ Meain Poison, he⁠⁠ had regenerated them—now⁠⁠ boasting four pairs.‍

“I’m⁠⁠ okay.”

Leon‌‌ rubbed his eyes‌⁠ hard.

“But…‌‌‍ what is it?”

“Look⁠ there.”

Metatron⁠‌ gestured with his⁠ chin.

“What⁠ is that…?”

In‍ the direction he‍‌⁠ indicated stood what‍ looked like an⁠ egg.

But‌⁠ its size made‍⁠ it far from‌⁠ ordinary.

It‍⁠ was massive. Too massive.

“It‍ looks like an‍ egg, for now.”‍

As they approached, they⁠ confirmed it—it was‌ even larger than⁠ it had seemed⁠ from afar.

The‌‌ egg towered over‍ Metatron, who was‍‌‌ nearly three meters‍ tall. At a glance, it had⁠‌ to be at least five meters⁠‍ high.

They‌⁠‍ weren’t entirely sure‍ if it could⁠ truly be called⁠ an egg, but when they tapped‍⁠ it, the texture‍ clearly felt like‍‌ a shell.

“Could⁠⁠‌ it be a dragon’s egg?”

“That⁠ would be nice,⁠‍⁠ but I don’t⁠‌ think so.”

Metatron⁠ pointed to a spot on the‌ egg’s surface.

There‌⁠ were letters inscribed⁠‌ on it. Leon‍ tried to read‌‌ them, but the‌ language was unknown‍‍‍ to him.

Frowning,‌⁠⁠ Leon scratched his‍‍ head, and Metatron‌⁠ let out a faint smile.

“Foolish⁠ boy.”

He‌‌ gave him a light flick on‍ the forehead.

“What⁠ did you even⁠ go to the‍⁠‍ academy for? It’s⁠⁠ Old Runes.”

“But⁠‌ runes are obsolete.‍ They don’t even‌ teach them at‍ the academy anymore…”

“Oh,‌⁠ really? Huh… Well,‍⁠⁠ back in my day they were‌‌ quite popular. Then‌ again, it’s a mistake to compare⁠‌ my sense of‍‌ time to that‍‌ of humans.”

As‌⁠ Metatron reflected on⁠ the past with⁠ his wise eyes,⁠⁠‌ Leon pointed at the letters.

“So,‍ what does it‍ say?”

“Let’s‌‍⁠ see…”

Metatron barely leaned forward⁠ to read when—‍‍‌

A voice emerged from‌‌ a blind spot‍⁠ in their perception.‍‌

Both⁠ turned their heads‌‍‌ toward the source‍⁠‌ of the sound.‌‍

A pointed foot stepped out from the‍ shadows.

“It⁠⁠ means ‘Judgment Day.’”‍

The man who emerged‌‌⁠ from the darkness‍⁠⁠ smiled, baring his‍ teeth.

At‍⁠‌ the sight of‍ the intruder, Metatron’s⁠ face showed an‌ expression so complex‍ it was hard‍ to describe.

It‌‍ was a former lord of the‌‌ Demon Realm, and‍‍‌ the direct superior‌ of his younger brother.

“Long‌⁠ time no see, Metatron.”

The‍‌⁠ First Corps Commander—Lycan.⁠

The⁠ clash between him⁠ and the leader⁠‌ of the angels, Metatron, had just‍‍ begun.

***‍‍

I had returned to‌⁠‍ the academy. But I didn’t go‍ straight home.

I decided to take⁠⁠ a walk.

“There’s⁠⁠ no one here.”⁠⁠

Maybe‍ because it was⁠ the weekend, or because it was‌‌ still April and⁠‌ the last chill‍⁠ of spring lingered,⁠‍ the academy was⁠⁠ deserted.

Always‌ surrounded by students,‍ I briefly thought‍ it had all been a dream.‍ A meaningless thought,‌ but it crossed‌⁠ my mind nonetheless.‌

I walked for a few minutes until‍‍ I came to⁠⁠ a stop.

A solitary bench greeted‌⁠ me.

“It’s‍⁠ been a while.”⁠‍

Its‌ paint was peeling‍‌ as if gnawed‍⁠‍ by mice. Beneath⁠‌⁠ it, between the⁠ legs, weeds had‍‌ forced their way‍ up through the‍ asphalt.

It⁠ was the bench‍‍ I used to‍ sit on when‌⁠ I chewed on‍‍ my loneliness during⁠ my student days.

It‌⁠ was here that⁠ I first met‌ Abel. And also‍ where Ryozo once⁠‌ called me an “idiot.”

‘It’s been a long time.’

I sat down, feeling‌ the fleeting nature‌‌‍ of the passing years.

I leaned my head back loosely and⁠‌‍ gazed at the⁠ evening sky as‌ dusk slowly spread.‍

Sitting‍ there, a baseless⁠⁠ melancholy washed over⁠‌ me.

Peace had bloomed beneath‍‍ military boots. Like‌ the grass beneath‌⁠⁠ my feet.

Even⁠‍‍ that insignificant weed⁠ had sprouted by‍ drinking the blood⁠⁠ of the heroes who fell ten⁠ years ago.

‘Perhaps‍⁠⁠ that’s why.’

I never step on‌⁠ even a single‍⁠ blade of grass‌⁠ at Joaquin Academy.‌

Someone⁠ might say it’s⁠‌‍ ridiculous, coming from‌⁠‍ the God of‍ the Sword, but—⁠

To‍ me, who was‍ cast off from‍‍ a miserable planet called Earth, this world and Joaquin‌⁠ Academy were a gift from my⁠‍ first boss.

They‌⁠‌ hold a special‍ meaning.

But‌‍ the countless heroes⁠ who died in‌‌‍ the Second Great‍ Human-Demon War gave‌⁠ their lives willingly.‍⁠

Pushed‌ by the system,‍ in search of‌ artifacts.

I recall with shame‌⁠ the version of‍ myself who moved‌ passively back then.‍‍

‘If‌ I had been‌ one of them,⁠ would I have‌ made the same‌ choice?’

I’ve‌‍ asked myself this over and over,‍‌ but never found‌ an answer.

No.⁠

‘I‌‍ didn’t.’

Guilt⁠ tightens around my‌ chest like a rope.

Suddenly,⁠ the weeds rose‍‌‍ and took the‌ shape of hands,⁠‍ as if trying to grab my‍⁠ ankles.

“I…⁠⁠ refused to become⁠ a god. I insisted I was human.”

And⁠⁠⁠ because of that,‌⁠ at times, the⁠‌ weight of responsibility⁠ binds my feet‍‌ and crushes my⁠‌‍ shoulders. I get⁠⁠ chills often. It’s‌‍‍ because I’m still‍⁠ just a mere⁠ human.

I locked myself inside‌‍ a prison called‌ emotion, and out of pure selfishness,‌⁠ I resisted the‌‍ world’s completion.

Yu⁠‍ Sein said that‍ if I kept⁠‌ clinging to this‍⁠⁠ state, the world‌ would be destroyed.

Tight.‍

A pressure crept up‍ my calves.

The‍ inner conflict sparked⁠‍ like static.

‘If‌ I let go‌ of my humanity, would everything be resolved?’

But‍‌ if I did…‌ what would happen‍ to the family‍ I built?

What‌‍ would become of‌ Ryozo and Abel?⁠

Those⁠‌ human thoughts still‌‍‌ anchor me to‍ this reality.

Yes.⁠

I was afraid. It’s‌‍ a truth I’ve⁠⁠ never admitted to anyone.

The‌⁠‌ more the people‌ of this world‌‍ idolize me, the‍ tighter the chains‌ of guilt wrap around my arms‍⁠ and legs, shackling‍ my soul.

“Haa…”‌

I rested my elbows‌ on my knees‍⁠‌ and leaned forward.‌

A heavy sigh made‍ the weeds sink‍‌ back.

‘I’m‍‍ sorry… Maybe, because‌⁠ of my ambition,‌‍⁠ their deaths will⁠‌ amount to nothing.’⁠‌‌

I berated myself.

Luckily,⁠ I was in a secluded part of campus. If any student had seen me, they‌‌ probably would’ve been⁠⁠ scared.

Rustle.‌‍

At⁠‍ that moment, I felt a gentle‍⁠ touch on my‌ shoulder.

Instinctively,‍‍⁠ I turned around.⁠‍‍ A branch had‍ dipped down from⁠ a tree, and⁠ a five-petaled flower‍⁠ had opened on‌‍ my back.

Like⁠ a human hand‍ caressing me.

With all the warmth‌ of youth.

I sat still, bewildered.‍

The‍‍ hoot of an⁠ owl snapped me⁠ back to reality.⁠‌

“How ridiculous.”

I let out a small laugh and⁠ took the branch‌ as if shaking‍‍ a hand. Then⁠ I carefully plucked‌ one petal and⁠ let it drift⁠ away on the‌ evening breeze.

“All⁠‌ right, I get‌ it.”

I brushed off the⁠ dust and stood⁠ up.

“I’ll⁠ stop whining.”

A pear blossom that heralds the start‍ of spring. Its‍ meaning is affection,⁠ comfort, and solace.‍‍