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The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master Chapter 321: One of the Two Will Die (2)

Chapter 321: One of the Two Will Die (2)

Director’s​ Office, Joaquin Academy.‍​⁠

“What​⁠‍ happened was…”

Sung‍⁠ Yuchang explained to‌ Ryozo what had⁠ occurred earlier.

Even⁠​ as he spoke,‍ he kept checking⁠ his phone over‌​​ and over. An​​‍ urgent report could‍⁠ arrive at any‍‌ moment saying that‌‌ Parsy Academy had⁠‌ been “wiped off​ the face of​⁠ the earth.”

Because‍⁠​ he knew how‍‌​ deeply Heavenly Sword‌‌‌ cared for Joaquin​ Academy. And because‍⁠⁠ he knew all​ too well his‌​​ resentment toward the‌⁠ nobles, Sung Yuchang​‍‍ couldn’t help but​ feel anxious.

He⁠‍ didn’t think well‍ of Parsy Academy​ either. But the‌⁠ nobles were utterly‍​‌ crushed under the​⁠‌ overwhelming weight of‌ Heavenly Sword.

The⁠‍⁠ more they were​ oppressed, the more‍‍ they twisted in‌​ resistance. The nobles’⁠ pushback only grew⁠⁠ stronger, and they​ demanded a way‍⁠ out.

That⁠ was the decisive​​ reason behind Parsy​‌​ Academy’s creation.

The⁠​ nobles, terrified of‍‌⁠ Heavenly Sword, hid​ their children in⁠⁠‍ another school.

The​ Hero Association acted​‌ as a bridge‍‍‍ between Heavenly Sword⁠ and Parsy Academy.‌‌‌

Since⁠⁠‍ Sung Yuchang became‌‌ president, the Association‌ had served as⁠ mediator.

In⁠⁠‌ any case—

‘Heavenly​​ Sword understood everything.’‍‍

That’s‌ why he accepted‌‌ the creation of‍⁠ Parsy Academy without​‍⁠ complaint.

‘As⁠ long as they‍‌ didn’t provoke him,‍‍ there would be‍⁠‌ no problem.’

As​ long as they‌ didn’t…

But⁠‌​ they did, and‌⁠‍ now there was​⁠​ a problem.

“So,​​‌ in summary, Heavenly‌‍ Sword and the‌⁠ Lady of the⁠​​ Sword went to​​‌ threaten Parsy Academy?”‌‍‍

That‍‌‍ was Director Ryozo’s‌​ question immediately after‍ Sung Yuchang finished‌ explaining the situation.​‌‍

For‌​‌ a moment, Sung‌‍​ Yuchang was speechless.⁠​‌

He‍​ had come seeking​‍ her judgment in‍‌ this unprecedented situation,‍​ but her reaction‍‍ was surprisingly indifferent.​‍‌

“Parsy‍⁠‍ Academy is on‌ the verge of​ being erased from​​ existence, Director…”

“It​ almost was—but you‌‍​ placed the Lady​​‍ of the Sword‌ next to Heavenly​ Sword precisely to‌⁠​ avoid that, didn’t​ you?”

Ryozo⁠‌ replied calmly while⁠ flipping through documents.‌​

“I‍‌‌ know Heavenly Sword‍ usually listens to‌⁠‍ the Director and⁠⁠ the Lady of​​ the Sword, but‍ this time was⁠ different… If we⁠​ let this continue,​​ it’s going to⁠‌‍ be a disaster,​‍​ Director!”

“But⁠ that disaster isn’t‍ Joaquin Academy’s problem,‌‍ is it?”

“Directorrr!”‌

Sung​​ Yuchang shouted in‌ desperation. Ryozo sighed​⁠​ deeply and rested‍⁠​ her elbows on‌‌ the pile of⁠ papers, fingers interlaced.⁠

“You‍⁠‍ made two mistakes.”‌‌

“T-Two‌ mistakes? What do‌⁠ you mean…?”

“The​​‍ first was assuming​ the Lady of⁠⁠ the Sword would​​‍ be more rational⁠​ than Heavenly Sword.‌ He may seem‌ impulsive, but he’s‍ the calmest, most‌​​ composed person I know.”

“That‌‌ sounds very biased…”​⁠​

“Listen‍ to the end.”⁠‌

“Yes…”‌

Ryozo​ continued.

“If‌‍ he always did‍​ what he wanted,​⁠⁠ he would’ve annihilated‍‍ all the demons‌⁠​ in the Second‍⁠ Great War and​‌ ended it there.‌ But he didn’t.‍ He knew that‍‍‌ would only cause⁠ humans to fight⁠‍​ among themselves. That’s‌‌ why he let‌ them live as⁠ a ‘necessary evil.’‌⁠ He has a sharp grasp of​‍‍ international strategy.”

It‌ wasn’t just flattery.‍ Though Heavenly Sword⁠​‌ had a violent‌​ streak, he wasn’t‌‌ the type to​‌‌ destroy entire factions.⁠‍⁠ Sung Yuchang completely‍⁠ agreed.

“He⁠​‍ may look like‌ a volcano, but​ he knows when​⁠ to cool down.‍‍​ The Lady of‌ the Sword is⁠‌ the opposite. People​⁠ get fooled by⁠‍ her appearance, but​​ of everyone I know, she’s the​⁠ most combative. Maybe‌‌⁠ only the Sword​⁠​ Master could compare.‌​ You know her‍​ temperament, don’t you?”‍‍

The‍ mention of the⁠‌​ Sword Master twisted‌ Sung Yuchang’s expression.‍ Damn, why hadn’t‍ he thought of​⁠ that?

“If‌‌‍ only Heavenly Sword⁠​ had gone, the​‌​ worst-case scenario would’ve‌⁠⁠ been the death​​ of a director.‍‌ But with the⁠‍‍ Lady of the​⁠ Sword there, things‌‌‌ could escalate much⁠​‌ further.”

“Isn’t‌​​ it already a problem if a director dies?”

“Compared‍​ to the disappearance​ of an entire⁠ institution, that’s a minor issue.”

There⁠‍‌ was no way​‍​ to argue with​⁠ that.

“The​⁠​ Director is incredibly‍‌​ calm. It’s like‍⁠‌ she already knew‍‍​ this would happen.”​

“Rather‍ than knowing, I deduced it.”

Ryozo⁠‌​ shrugged. But Sung⁠ Yuchang sensed she‌‍ was lying. She‌‍⁠ knew he’d contact‌​​ the Lady of‌‍ the Sword. And‍ that instead of‍​‌ moderating the situation,‌⁠ she might end⁠‌ up triggering it.‍‌⁠

Ryozo​‌⁠ had foreseen everything‌‌ and still did‌ nothing. That meant‌ she had a plan.

Though‍⁠‍ quite intelligent, Sung‌ Yuchang couldn’t grasp⁠⁠⁠ the full scope‍‌⁠ of her intentions.‍‌‌

She​ had managed to​⁠ rebuild Joaquin Academy‍ in her early‍​ twenties. She was‌ regarded as the‍​​ most brilliant director⁠​⁠ in history.

“…I’ll‌ trust that you​‌‍ have everything under​​ control…”

He‌​ had no choice‍​ but to place⁠ his trust in⁠‌ her. Ryozo responded⁠⁠‍ with a faint‌ smile.

‘By‍ the way…’

Didn’t​‌​ she say he’d‍‌​ made two mistakes?​⁠

“What‌‌ was the second‍​ mistake?”

“…”‌‌

Ryozo​‍ paused, then said.⁠

“Today​⁠ was my turn.”⁠‌​

“Sorry…?”⁠‍​

“It​⁠​ was an odd-numbered​⁠‌ day.”

Ryozo‍⁠ repeated with a tone full of​​ frustration.

“It​⁠⁠ was an odd-numbered‌⁠ day!”

Who​​ would’ve guessed? The‍​⁠ routine between Ryozo⁠‍ and Abel was‍‌‌ a constant silent‍‌‌ war.

***⁠

A storm of blood⁠⁠ swept through Parsy‌ Academy.

When‍ Abel pointed Notung,⁠⁠‌ the Parsy director‌ surrendered.

For⁠ a Nibelung to‌ draw Notung was⁠‍⁠ a clear acceptance‍​ of combat. Parsy‌ Academy had declared​⁠‍ war under the⁠⁠​ guise of an‌⁠⁠ “exchange.” They were‌ out of excuses.‌

Had‌‌​ they continued resisting,⁠‌ I would’ve “erased”​⁠ Parsy Academy myself.⁠‍‌

“One⁠‌‌ representative per grade.​ Three in total‍​⁠ for the exchange.‌‌‌ The details will‌‍ be written separately…”‌⁠⁠

The⁠‌⁠ Parsy director drafted⁠‍⁠ the agreement, reading‍‌‌ out each word‌‌ slowly.

With​‌‌ the tip of‌ Notung brushing his​‍ forehead, his handwriting‌‌ looked like a worm crawling.

“Everything‍ seems to be​⁠ in order.”

Karon⁠‌​ checked the documents​⁠ thoroughly and confirmed.​⁠

Even‌‍⁠ so, the director,⁠‍ trying to preserve‍‍‍ some dignity, muttered.‍‍

“That⁠ agreement must be‌ honored. About the​​ loser shutting down,​‍‌ I mean. I—no,​‍ we students of​‌‌ Parsy will make‍‌ you eat your‍‍‌ arrogance.”

We‍​‌ didn’t respond harshly⁠​‌ to his threat.‍ After all, a fair duel had‍⁠‌ been agreed upon,⁠⁠ and the phrase‌ “our students of‍ Parsy” carried some‌ weight.

It⁠‍‍ was a relief⁠‍ that he wasn’t⁠‌⁠ just a coward.‌​ The more intense⁠​ the rivalry, the⁠‌‌ sweeter the victory.‍

Neither⁠ Abel nor I said it out⁠‌⁠ loud, but we‌ both thought the​‍‌ same thing.

The‌‍⁠ heroes of Miracle‍‍ Blessing M were⁠‍‌ quite different from‌⁠ the usual hero‍ image.

‘That‍⁠​ was just an⁠‍‌ excuse…’

To⁠‍​ be honest—

We​‍​ still aren’t fully⁠⁠‌ grown-ups.

We‍‍ still want to​ burn.

***‌

The⁠​ original plan had‌ been to return⁠ immediately to Korea⁠‍⁠ and report the‌⁠ situation to Ryozo⁠⁠‌ in person.

But‍⁠ Abel suggested we​‍ rest at least‍​‍ one day at⁠​ Castle Sigurd. According⁠⁠‌ to her, it‍‌ was because of‌​ the fatigue from‌​‌ travel.

“If⁠⁠⁠ it took us‌‍⁠ less than two⁠ minutes to get‌ here?”

Abel⁠ fell silent, and‍‍ her defender, Shail,‌‌‌ stepped in for‍ her.

“Seriously,‌‍ Heavenly Sword, you‍ really have no‍​ sense of tact.”‌‍

“If⁠​ you know I have no tact,‌ shouldn’t you explain‌‌​ it to me?”‌

“Women‍⁠​ who explain everything‍⁠​ tend to lose⁠‍‍ their charm.”

“…What​ the hell…?”

I turned to look‌​​ at Karon.

He‌​ just shook his‍ head, reminding me‌ we were in​ the historic neutral‍ nation of Switzerland.‌‍

I was led to‌​ Castle Sigurd like​ a criminal, and‌⁠⁠ the day passed‌‍‌ like that.

“Aaaah!”‌

As​ she stepped out​‍ the front door,‌⁠ Abel stretched with‌ force.

The​​ radiant sun lit‌‍‌ up her skin⁠‍⁠ with a fresh⁠​‍ glow. Maybe because‍⁠‍ she had slept‌ in her childhood‍⁠⁠ home, she looked​⁠ especially refreshed.

“……”‍​

I couldn’t say the⁠‍‌ same.

Far‍​‌ from recovering from⁠‌ the trip, I had spent the⁠ night awake, accumulating​‍‍ toxins. I had‍‍ long since maxed‍‌ out my [Body‌ Level], so I didn’t feel any‍ physical fatigue, but​ my soul had‍ aged ten years‍‌ in one night.‌‌‌

“Take​​‌ care, Heavenly Sword⁠ and Lady Abel.”‍​​

Shaile‍ and Karon came​‌ to see us⁠​ off.

I wanted to enjoy‌⁠ the reunion more,‍​ but under the‍‍‍ circumstances, we had⁠ to leave immediately.​‍ I simply burned⁠‍ both of their‌ faces into my‍ memory.

“Hmm?”⁠⁠⁠

Something​​ strange…

Didn’t‍⁠ they look younger​⁠⁠ than they did​‌ ten years ago?‍​

Even‌ considering that Shail⁠‍ and I weren’t‍ far apart in‌‍​ age, the blush‍​ on her cheeks​⁠ made her look⁠ like a young‌‍ girl.

And‍​ even though Karon​‌‍ was over sixty,⁠⁠‍ he could easily‍ pass for a man in his⁠‌ forties.

No‌⁠‌ noticeable wrinkles, and⁠‌⁠ his hair roots⁠‍ were an intense‍⁠‍ black.

Could​‌ living in the​ pure nature of‍‌‍ Switzerland really rejuvenate​​ someone? I was⁠‌​ glad to see‌‌⁠ them healthy, but⁠‌ something didn’t sit‍ right.

‘I’ll‍​​ have to ask‌‍​ Lycan when I get back.’

I summoned lightning in‍​ a clear sky.‌⁠

I’d‍‌⁠ done it several‍ times in front‌​ of Shail and‌ Karon, but each⁠ time they opened‍ their eyes and‍‌ mouths in amazement.​‍⁠ It seemed they⁠ never got used​‌ to the fact⁠ that lightning was‌‍ my mode of⁠ transport.

Crack!‍‌‍ Crack! Krrash!

With‌‍‍ their farewell, we​⁠ literally disappeared like‍​ a flash of‌​⁠ lightning.

From‍​​ Abel’s point of‍ view, we returned⁠‌‌ to Joaquin Academy‌‌‍ in the blink⁠ of an eye.‍ She had fully‌⁠‌ recovered her energy‍⁠ (unlike me), so​ we headed straight​ for the director’s​ office.

There,⁠​ Ryozo greeted me‍‍ with a rather⁠⁠ cold expression.

Foolish​⁠‌ me, I had⁠​ just remembered that⁠​ yesterday was an⁠​ odd-numbered day. I whispered in her‍‌ ear that I’d​ take full responsibility​ for the day‍​ after tomorrow. Only‌​ then did the‍​‌ director’s expression soften.​‌

Inside,⁠⁠​ I was already‌‌‍ dry and withered.​​‍

In‌​‍ any case, after​ hearing the story,​‍ Ryozo nodded silently⁠ and called all⁠‌ the faculty through⁠⁠‍ Choi Seol-Ah.

Since⁠​​ they had only‌⁠ learned of Parsy‌‌ Academy’s sinister plans‌⁠ the day before,‍ everyone assembled with​⁠ maximum discipline.

In​​ their eyes burned‌⁠‌ a living fury.‍

The​‍ tension before war⁠ filled the room⁠‌ when Ryozo finally‌‍ opened the meeting.​

“Yesterday,⁠ Heavenly Sword and​​​ the Lady of⁠ the Sword personally‍‍ visited Parsy Academy.‍⁠‌ They were able⁠ to confirm that⁠‌‍ Parsy did indeed‌ propose the exchange.”​‌​

Lee‍​ Woo-Bin ground his⁠‍ teeth.

“Those‌⁠‍ bastards!”

“Director!‍ Give the order!⁠⁠ I’ll go myself​​ in place of‌‍‌ Heavenly Sword and​‌‌ crush Parsy Academy!”⁠​

It‌‌ was clear that​ with just one‍ order from Ryozo,‌⁠ he was ready⁠‌ to destroy Parsy⁠ then and there.⁠‌‍

Choi‍​ Seol-Ah, occupying one​‍‌ of the main⁠‍‌ seats, also showed⁠‌ enthusiasm quite sincerely.‌‌‍

Since⁠‌‌ when had she‌​ been so passionate⁠‌ about Joaquin Academy?⁠‌ Probably never.

More‍ likely, it was​⁠ out of fear‍ of losing her‌​‌ position. If Parsy⁠‌‍ offered better conditions,‍‌ she wouldn’t hesitate⁠‍ to feign hesitation‍ and then betray‌‌‌ us. That was‍⁠⁠ Choi Seol-Ah, utterly‌‍‌ self-interested.

As​​‍ Ryozo remained silent,​‌ the tension in​‍ the room slightly⁠‍‌ eased.

Sung‌ Yuchang, who had⁠⁠‌ arrived at some‌ point, gave me​ a signal with‌​⁠ his eyes and​‌ then fixed his​‌​ gaze on her‍ lips.

“The‍⁠‍ board is set.”‍‍‍

Ryozo‌ hated long, flowery​ speeches like those‌‍​ of past directors.‌
She always got​ straight to the‌ point.

“Erase‍ them. Parsy.”

The‌‍ director declared it.‍⁠

“Eliminate⁠ them… legally.”

A brief silence.

Then,⁠⁠​ as if rehearsed,‌‌​ all the faculty‍‍ stood up with‍⁠⁠ a loud stomp.⁠

Tap.​

Without‌​ a word, they⁠⁠ gave a perfect​‌‍ bow.

A mixture of savage‌ fierceness and educator‌⁠ dignity radiated from⁠ them.

‘The​​ era of peace⁠⁠ lasted ten years.’​

They⁠‍ had endured long⁠⁠ enough. It was‍​ time for them‍‍ to be unleashed.‌‌​

***⁠‌

Later,⁠​ in the director’s‌ office.

Ryozo,‍⁠⁠ Abel, Sung Yuchang,​⁠‍ and I.

The​‌‌ four of us​‌‍ held a private‍ meeting. The members‌‌ were remarkable—one of⁠​‍ the Seven Stars,‌‌‍ the academy’s director,​ a noble of​⁠ stature, and the‌​‍ president of the‌⁠​ Association.

The‌ major decisions had⁠ already been made⁠⁠ in the faculty‌​⁠ meeting.
Now it was‌‌ time to discuss​‌ the details.

“Given​‍‌ how things have⁠ turned out…”

Sung⁠‌ Yuchang broke the​‌ silence with a sigh.

“The​ Association will handle‍‍‌ organizing the exchange⁠‌‌ event. We’ll notify​‌ Parsy Academy of⁠⁠‌ the same immediately.‌ Agreed?”

“Yes.”​

“Of‌​ course.”

“Proceed‍ as you said,‌​​ President.”

Unanimous.​‌

Sung‌ Yuchang wiped his‌‍‍ forehead with a handkerchief and continued.‌

“Then,‍‍⁠ we need to​⁠ select one representative‌‌ per grade, but​ the event is⁠‍ fast approaching. We’ll‌‍⁠ leave the selection‍ to each academy’s⁠​ discretion.”

My​ turn.

“There’s‌ nothing to think‍‍‌ about.”

I looked away from‍ Sung Yuchang and‍ locked eyes with‍ Ryozo. She was​ pale, likely due‌ to a certain​ “group” that had‍‌​ been pestering her.‌‌

“For⁠‍​ first year, Leon⁠ will go. For‌‍⁠ second, Abel.”

This⁠⁠​ was the perfect‌‍ moment to get‌⁠ rid of the‌ annoying ones. I hadn’t done all⁠‍​ that theater yesterday‍⁠‌ morning for nothing.‌‌

“And⁠⁠‍ for third year,⁠‍⁠ I’ll take care‌​⁠ of it myself.”⁠‍

I have an interview​⁠‌ waiting, Princess Victoria.⁠‍

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