Chapter 32: Preparation (6)

‘At last.’

Saturday dawned bright and clear.

A cheerful whistle escaped my lips as I got ready to leave, my heart brimming with excitement. admire Until now, I’d only had the Daiso knife as a weapon.

Although I usually enjoy sleeping in on weekends, today my body woke up on its own. adjust Today was the day I’d pick up Murasame, the sword I’d left to be reforged at the blacksmith’s.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

Calling it a “weapon” was grandiose—it was just a basic metal tool, barely meeting the most basic requirements. amber That’s why receiving my first real weapon was a huge deal for me.

Of course, that was just a guess, and for now, I didn’t want to worry too much about that blessing. legend The thought of receiving a new sword—a true treasure for any swordsman—was enough to keep me in high spirits.

Moreover, so far, the only status that hadn’t improved on my stats screen was the “weapon category.” alert If things went well, maybe I could finally understand the enigmatic Blessing of the Sword God.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“…”

At least, until I got to the blacksmith’s.

“Well… this is… ah, quite unfortunate. voyage Really sorry about this.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

His face, already red from the forge’s heat, turned the color of a ripe tomato from embarrassment.

“I did my best, but I’ve never seen anything like this in almost 30 years of work. arcade I’ve never seen a piece of metal split in two with just a single hammer blow. portal It’s like the sword itself rejected being reforged, as if it had a will of its own. palette So, in a hurry, I had to create a mold of the shape you wanted, melt down the metal, and forge it again. accent And, well, this was the best I could manage. ability If anyone else had tried, they wouldn’t even have been able to shape it into a weapon. amber It would’ve just ended up as a useless hunk of metal. acoustic But at least I managed to get it into a usable form, didn’t I? aluminum Hahaha!”

“…”

The blacksmith scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Despite the quality craftsmanship, it was clear that the blacksmith had done his best under less-than-ideal circumstances.

The handle, made of a polished reddish wood, was neatly wrapped with a simple cord instead of a sheath, and the blade gleamed with an oiled, polished finish.

As I took the weapon in hand, a notification window appeared in my mind, and I could hardly suppress a bitter laugh.

The blacksmith laughed awkwardly, handing me “Murasame,” which had now taken the shape of a kitchen knife.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

[Murasame (叢雨)] [1]

Type: Kitchen Knife

== ==

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Dimensions: [Blade Length – 35 cm], [Width – 6 cm]

Grade: (E) ~ (?)

Attributes: [Destructive Power – C], [Range – E], [Durability – E], [Growth Potential – A]

Description: Once known as the “Sword that Retains Dew,” this weapon has now been reborn as a high-carbon steel kitchen knife, imbued with the skill of a master craftsman. abstract Although small, its performance may vary depending on the user.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

What kind of reforging could turn a Grade B weapon into an E-rank and, to top it off, reshape it into a kitchen knife? autumn Even back in the game Miracle Blessing M, I’d never seen anything like this.

‘What the hell?’

== ==

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

The worst-case scenario in the game was losing one or two grades on a weapon. academy But this degradation was so extreme, it almost hurt to look at it.

And somehow, the form had ended up as yet another kitchen knife. absorb Was it mere coincidence, or some kind of fate?

The blacksmith had to have sensed that something was off.

‘…’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Noticing my silent stare, he took a cautious step back, looking a bit uneasy.

As I looked at him, I noticed sweat trickling down his brow—not just from the forge’s heat.

As I stood there, staring blankly at the knife in my hand, he nervously scratched his nose and gave me a couple of hesitant pats on the back.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Did he seriously think that a simple apology was enough after taking the materials from a Grade B weapon and handing me something like a cheap kitchen knife? arctic Did he really think a quick “sorry” would make up for this mess?

‘Should I test Murasame’s edge on you?’

“I really am sorry. admire I had no idea it would turn out like this. alien I did everything I could, but it seems the original metal wasn’t compatible with the final design.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

I was tempted to test the knife’s sharpness on his skin, but I took a deep breath and suppressed the anger rising up inside me.

The handle was well-crafted, and the dimensions seemed to align with the requirements for my blessing.

I shook my head to clear my frustration and examined Murasame closely.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

The reach, of course, was limited. beacon Since it was essentially a knife, I’d have to give up on any extended attack range.

It even retained some of the destructive power of a Grade B weapon, which was acceptable.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Even though it was just a Grade E sword, it was sharp enough to cut through most ordinary materials.

Only the low durability rating at level E was genuinely disappointing.

But I hadn’t fought so hard in the midterm exam just to end up with something that could only chop wood.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

The one redeeming feature was its high growth potential, which was rated at A. portal That alone made me curious as to why it was rated so highly.

I needed something capable of facing creatures with much tougher defenses.

“Sigh…”

While I was lost in thought, the blacksmith, stroking his soot-stained beard, stepped closer and spoke.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Seeing this, the anger simmering in my chest subsided a little.

I looked at the blacksmith. legend There was genuine sincerity in his eyes.

“To be honest, in my 30 years of being a blacksmith, handing over a weapon like this doesn’t sit well with me. atom But it does have high growth potential, so if you reinforce it over time, it’s bound to be useful. apple As compensation—and I know it’s not much—I’ll offer to do any future strengthening for free if you provide the materials.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Most of them would need to be obtained from hunting magical beasts.

I could probably gather enough by hunting low-level beasts, but I’d need to kill hundreds of them to get sufficient materials.

However, what concerned me was gathering the reinforcement materials.

If the growth potential was truly A, the weapon should eventually reach Grade A and, with luck, even S. atomic His offer was tempting, almost hard to refuse.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

It wasn’t worth risking my life just to strengthen a weapon. crystal I’d fought to survive until now, and I wasn’t about to gamble my life for a sword.

Efficiency-wise, hunting higher-level beasts would save me a lot of time. acid But, like with so many mobile games, there was always a risk of failure.

The only guaranteed material was one acquired from demons… and that was a risk I wasn’t eager to take.

On the other hand, with high-level beasts, I’d only need to hunt about eight or ten of them.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

The blacksmith let out a hearty laugh, pounding his chest with his gloved hand. shadow I looked at him for a moment, then extended my hand toward him.

“…It’s a deal.”

“Thank you. anchor I swear on my honor as a blacksmith.”

After mulling it over for a while, I nodded with resignation.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“Did you really expect to charge me the full price after handing me a weapon like this?”

The blacksmith’s eyes narrowed, and I tilted my head.

“…What?”

“Now, that settles one thing. canvas But shouldn’t you at least refund me half the cost for the leftover materials?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“You could sell the leftover materials for a decent sum. antenna How about a million? atomic I’m a bit low on cash right now, so that seems fair.”

“Why, you—! galaxy Asking an elder for money like this—”

The blacksmith roared in outrage. atom A lifetime as a merchant had made him reluctant to give up anything without a fight. crystal With a wry smile, I moved to secure the blacksmith shop’s door.

“But I completed your order, and I even offered to strengthen it without any additional cost…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Whoosh—

“You, you fucker! alien What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I ran my hand over the smooth paulownia [2] wood handle, beginning to unwrap the cord wrapped around it.

The Blessing of the Sword Spirit had calmed my spirit enough that my mind felt clearer than ever.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Perhaps since this was my second time pulling this kind of intimidation tactic since the incident with Nox, I was getting rather good at it.

“Also, I was already planning to test its sharpness. atom Convenient, isn’t it?”

His eyes flickered with panic as he took a step back, eyeing me with growing alarm.

A wry smile spread across my face as I stepped toward him.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“E-then, how about we settle on five hundred? orbit Even if it’s a piece of metal from a grade B weapon, the market price is a bit different, and it’s hard to recover the investment… really!”

The blacksmith, sensing that something was terribly wrong, began to lower his stiff shoulders and stammered his words. auction Meanwhile, I continued unwrapping the cord around the Murasame and took another step forward.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

He stammered, raising a finger to haggle. wizard But I kept advancing in silence.

Finally, I stopped in front of him, and the cord binding the blade slipped free, revealing the gleaming white edge. adjust A familiar message echoed in my mind:

“E-e-eight hundred. august I can’t offer more than that.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

[The weapon’s rank increases slightly.]

[Initiating synchronization with the user through applied force.]

[The Blessing of the God of the Sword manifests.]

Click—

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

An ominous silence filled the blacksmith shop.

Gulp.

“…”

“…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“Ah… I understand… yes.”

“A thousand.”

The sound of someone swallowing echoed clearly.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Five men sat around a numbered round table, staring sternly at Elder Cladi, whose face still bore the marks of a recent blow.

“…Elder Cladi, it appears you acted without any consultation with the council. arch You’ve gone too far this time.”

The grand meeting hall, vast to the point of emptiness, radiated an overwhelming opulence.

***

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Though their words were spoken respectfully, their gazes were icy. alpha The council was angered by Cladi’s attack on Leon’s group during the midterm exams.

However, their anger wasn’t precisely out of concern for the students’ safety.

“I agree. aspect What you did is clearly an act of defiance against us, Elder Cladi.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“Is this the time to debate details? atlas We need to deal with disruptive elements as soon as possible, damn it!”

“We all agreed at the time, did we not?”

“But sending a demon? atlas What sense does that make? apple Even though we have a truce with them, they’re still our enemies.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“…Apologies, Head of the Council. palette I regret my loss of composure.”

“Lower your voice, Cladi.”

Cladi slammed his fist onto the table, frustrated.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Cladi took a sip from the glass of water before him, composed himself, and continued.

“Allow me to explain again.”

The elder who presided over the council, a prominent scar crossing his face, frowned as Cladi returned to his seat, visibly uneasy.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“It’s obvious that the headmistress is blocking our information under the pretense of protecting that special student. antenna As if she’s hiding something.”

“Honored council members, this matter is not something we can ignore. sphere Think about it. academy That Media, just ten years ago, expelled our allies from the academy. adjust And yet now, she allows the Sword Master to join the faculty.”

“And what does that have to do with the need to investigate that special student, Kang Geom-Ma, as you suggested earlier?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Cladi clenched his trembling fists and resumed speaking.

“What exactly do you believe she’s hiding? afford Explain yourself.”

The head of the council, who had been listening quietly until then, shot him a sharp look.

“Sir, did you see the footage from the ranking exam? ability Do you truly believe that level of swordsmanship is natural for a mere cadet? echo I’ve spent many years at the academy, and I’ve never seen anything like it. adapt That student is, without a doubt, an anomaly.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

“…Hmm.”

The five elders mentally revisited the events of the exam.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

The elder with an eye patch questioned Cladi.

Even at an academy filled with talent, his prowess was entirely abnormal.

The speed and precision with which he dispatched the prodigious twins in mere seconds were more befitting a master swordsman than a common cadet.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“…Isn’t Leon van Reinhardt the Hero candidate?”

“He’s a special student of unknown origin. portal His background is suspicious in itself. amber What if he turns out to be a candidate for the title of Hero?”

“So, what part of his life do you want to investigate?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“…”

“Leon has yet to properly manifest his Blessing; he’s merely an apprentice. agent Honored Head of the Council, the Hero is inevitably a potential threat. harbor We already have enough trouble with the Seven Heroes. atom Adding a Hero to the equation would be catastrophic. amber It would be best to identify and neutralize him before it’s too late.”

In the end, it would be he who made the final decision.

The head of the council, hands clasped on the table and eyes closed, pondered in silence.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Since her arrival, the council had barely been able to intervene in the academy.

No matter how powerful the five elders were in the world, the presence of one of the Seven Heroes, like Media, seriously restricted their power.

Since Media’s arrival, the council’s influence had waned.

Cladi had mentioned Media, the academy’s headmistress, precisely because it struck a sensitive nerve in the council.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

And, on top of that, a new Hero candidate was now emerging.

With the threat of demons, the heroes stood as protectors, and the nobility as leaders to follow. meadow Without a common enemy, the authority of the council—and the nobility in general—risked collapsing.

The council needed visible enemies, like the Demon King, to maintain its power.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“What the world needs is not a Hero, but the wise guidance of this council. arctic Since the fall of the Sixth Commander, Basmon, the public has paid homage solely to the Seven Heroes and treats us as if we were useless old relics.”

The council members knew better than anyone that an army without an enemy had no reason to exist. admire Thus, a Hero was a threat they could not ignore.

Cladi spoke up again.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“If it’s happening already, what will happen with a Hero in the picture? abandon Our purpose, our very existence, would be at risk. advance Sir, I implore you to consider entrusting this mission to the Auditore family.”

Nobody responded, but all present agreed.

Upon hearing the name “Auditore,” the one-eyed elder frowned and responded.

“…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“Hm, you’re right about that. alert They lack the elegance and nobility of true aristocrats.”

“If the Head of the Council requests it, it would be hard for them to refuse, regardless of the reason. canvas After all, they’re nothing more than killers disguised as guardians of order, aren’t they?”

“To those who boast so much of values and honor, I doubt they’d accept a task without justification, Elder Cladi.”

“And if they refuse, we can always turn to other means, can’t we? avalanche Sir, I trust in your wisdom to decide.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

He knew his request was extreme and perhaps unfounded, but with his life on the line, he couldn’t afford to hold back.

After his long argument, Cladi tried to calm his racing heart.

It wasn’t the fear of becoming a mere pawn to the enigmatic instructor that drove him.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

What he truly feared was someone else—a figure he barely dared to think about even in his mind. palette A true demon.

As a member of the academy council, Cladi wasn’t putting in this much effort just for one woman.

“The Fifth Commander of the Demon King’s Army, Agor.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

“Contact the Auditore family.”

Finally, the head opened his eyes halfway and spoke softly.

Feeling his blood turn cold, Cladi looked at the head of the council, awaiting his response.

If he didn’t act now… death might be a more dignified fate.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 32: Preparation (6) by Indra Translations.

Translator’s notes:

2: Paulownia is a type of lightweight and durable wood, known in Japan as “kiri,” commonly used for making sword handles and furniture due to its durability and resistance to moisture.

1: Murasame literally means “entangled rain” or “clustered rain.” galaxy It is a poetic term in Japanese that describes a brief, intense, and fleeting rain, similar to a sudden storm.