The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 375: Graduate Program at Joaquin (4)

Chapter 375: Graduate Program at Joaquin (4)

In‍‌ this world, a graduate school is⁠ a rather foreign‍⁠ educational institution.

Heroes, after graduating from⁠⁠‍ the academy, usually⁠‍ head straight to⁠ the battlefield, so‍ they don’t even‍‌‍ go to college—how⁠⁠ could graduate school‍ not be even‌ stranger?

That’s‍⁠‌ why what most⁠ worried Ryozo before⁠ embarking on the⁠‌ ambitious project of⁠ founding one was‍‍ the “capacity.”

And⁠‌ I don’t mean⁠ garden, but admission⁠ capacity. That is,‌ the number of‍‌⁠ students.

‘What‍ if, after the‌⁠⁠ inauguration, the only‍⁠⁠ thing running through‌‌ the halls is‍ the cold wind?’⁠‌

“We’d‌ get flooded with‍‍ complaints.”

‘They‌‌ might even stage‌ sit-ins, saying what⁠ the hell we⁠‍ did with those⁠ expensive tuitions…’

That’s‌ already an area⁠ where I couldn’t⁠⁠ help.

My⁠‍ sword only rises‌ against injustice; if‍⁠ it’s a legal‌‍⁠ protest, I’d just⁠ have to watch‌‍ in silence.

‘It’s‌⁠ not like I’m‍‌ a dictator.’

Anyway.⁠‍⁠

I’ll get to the‍ point—the problem that⁠‌‍ almost gave my‌ wife a headache⁠⁠ took a pleasant turn.

Recruitment⁠ of new students‍⁠ went smoothly.

To⁠‌ give a concrete‌ example:

“The‍‌ enrollment period was⁠‍ one month, but‌ we filled the‌‌ entire capacity in‌⁠ just two days.”‌

Ryozo⁠‍ pushed her glasses up to her‌ forehead.

She‍⁠⁠ spun several times⁠⁠‍ in her chair,‍ as if to⁠ cool her excitement.‌‍

“Of‍ course, there might be a few‍‌ duds among them,‍⁠⁠ but even with‍⁠‌ that, I don’t‍⁠ think we’ll have‍ any problem with‌ lack of students.”‍

“How‍‌ many spots were‍‌‌ there?”

“Initially,⁠⁠ not many. Two‍‍‍ hundred fifty. But⁠ the number of⁠‍ applicants was ten thousand.”

A 400 to 1 ratio?

“Ah,⁠ I just checked‌ and we’ve already‌ passed twelve thousand.⁠ In that time,⁠‍ two thousand more.”⁠‌‍

Correction.

600⁠ to 1.

If⁠ Yu Sein were⁠ here, he’d have said: “It’s like‍‌ multiplying modern slaves.”⁠‌

***⁠⁠

“…It‍ far exceeded our‌⁠ expectations.”

“Yes,‍ and we barely‍ even advertised.”

Ryozo‌ was right.

We didn’t organize any‌‍‍ promotional event. It‍⁠ was Ryozo’s idea‍ that instead of‌ spending on that,‍ we invest more‌ in strengthening the⁠ internal structure.

“Advertising generates interest, yes.⁠ But that’s all.‍ An educational institution‌‌ shouldn’t become hallway‌‌ gossip.”

We⁠ had to stand‍ out through results.‍⁠ If the output is good, people‌ will gather on‍ their own.

‘Joaquin‌ Academy is the perfect example.’

As far as I know, Seoul National‌⁠⁠ University doesn’t even‍‍ publish admissions campaigns.‍‍

Simply‍ put, everyone wants‌‍ to go.

Besides.⁠⁠

“The‍ budget issue also‌‌‌ plays a role.”‌‍

It‍⁠ turned out that‍⁠‌ producing the educational‌ materials cost much⁠ more than expected.‌

‘And‍‌ the money I’m pulling from the‌ imperial treasury is‍‍ already reaching its‌ limit.’

The‌⁠ book “Fundamentals of‌ Magic,” pushed forward by Choi Seol-Ah,⁠⁠ had entered a full revision phase⁠⁠⁠ with the incorporation‌‌ of the new‌‍ faculty.

That‌‍ new group was‍‌‌ led by Valerion,‌ along with high-ranking‌‍ members of the dragon race.

Once⁠ the Lord got‍ involved, the dragons,⁠⁠ who had previously‍‍ been conservative, started⁠⁠⁠ extending their hands.⁠‍

“Thank⁠‍ the Dragon Lord,⁠‍‍ Geom-Ma. To be honest… I still can’t fully believe‍⁠ it. But grateful⁠‌ I am, that’s for sure.”

Ryozo⁠‌ doubted my first‍⁠ report.

Not until Valerion transformed,‌ just like with‌ Speedweapon, did she‌‍ believe it.

“Since it fits the⁠ purpose of the‌ graduate school, we‌ shouldn’t hesitate to‌‍‍ bring in that‌‌ kind of elite‍‌⁠ staff.”

And‌ she’s absolutely right.‌ But… everything has⁠‌ a limit.

‘How was I supposed⁠ to know the‍‍ dragons would accept‍⁠ their salary like‍‌ that?’

To⁠ them, money is‍⁠‍ nothing but paper.⁠‌ Nothing more, nothing less.

In‌‌ the ecology of‌ Gehenna, if you‍ wanted something, you‌⁠‍ simply took it.⁠

Although⁠⁠‌ Ryozo tried to‍‍⁠ explain the concept⁠‍ of “exchange,” they‍‌ didn’t quite understand‌‌ it.

***‌

“You’re telling me that⁠⁠ to get what‌‍ I want, I have to use‍ this yellow, musty-smelling⁠⁠ paper?”

“My‍ initial idea was‌ to give you‌ a debit card,‌ but that seems‍ too complicated for‌‌‍ you.”

“Hmm…⁠‍ I don’t really get it.”

“What⁠⁠ exactly don’t you⁠⁠‍ understand?”

“Isn’t⁠⁠ it enough to⁠ just take what‌‌ one wants?”

“…Pardon?”‍‍

“In‌⁠ Gehenna, what belongs⁠⁠ to the weak‌ naturally passes to‍ the strong.”

“Then…”‌⁠‍

“Yes.‌⁠ If you, Celestial‍‌ Sword, desire something⁠‌ of mine, you‌ may freely take‌ it. It’s clear you’re stronger than‌ me, even as⁠ I am the‍ Dragon Lord. If⁠ you wish, I’ll‍ even give you‍ my magic eye.”‌

“Ah,‌⁠ no, no…”

“There’s⁠‌ no reason to‍⁠ be surprised. The‍‍ First Dragon Lord‍⁠ also gave his Ring Eye to‍‌ the founding hero‌‌ in a similar situation.”

Chief…‍‍⁠ You truly are‌ a mafioso.

Your disciple just learned⁠⁠⁠ a great lesson.

***‌

Thus,‌⁠ the matter of‌‍ salary payments gave‌‌ Ryozo quite a headache.

Free labor has its‌‍ limit.

Also,⁠‌‌ if you don’t‍‌ pay fairly, issues⁠‌ may arise later‍ on.

Ryozo,‌‌ Abel, and I spent nearly a whole week racking our brains over‍ it.

We⁠‍ felt uneasy about‌⁠⁠ not paying them…‍‌ But they said⁠ they didn’t need⁠⁠ money.

Just‌ as our worries⁠⁠ were deepening, a problem-solver appeared.

Valerion’s‌‍ granddaughter, Horntail, crossed‍‌ belatedly from the⁠ Demon Realm to‍ the human plane.‌

“Long‍‍ time no see!”

She‍‍ played a decisive‍⁠ role in solving⁠‍ this problem.

“I‍ think we just need to give⁠ them that.”

“Huh?”

At⁠ that clear response, I slapped my⁠‍ forehead. Though, on‌⁠ the other hand,‌ I was worried.⁠

“You‍ see it that‌⁠⁠ way because you‌⁠ have a pure mind, but will‌⁠ fully grown adult⁠ dragons really fall⁠ for something that‌ simple?”

“They‌ will.”

“Hmm…”⁠

I let out a silent sigh.

And‌ what if we‌‌ hand it out⁠‌ without thinking and‍‍ then they get‍ mad, saying we‍‌ treated them like‌‍ fools?

‘If that happens, fixing‍ it would be‍ a nightmare.’

But‌⁠ unlike me, always‌‌⁠ so concerned, Ryozo‍ is a decisive⁠ woman. Typical of⁠‌ an academy director⁠‍‌ in her twenties.⁠

“Let’s‌ try it first.”⁠

And‌ so it was.⁠

That‍ happened today.

In‍‌‌ two days, the‌‌ graduate school opens.‌ Before that, we‌ had to win‌ the dragons’ hearts.‌

Only⁠ then could we‍ keep them long-term.⁠

I walked with Horntail⁠‌ toward the academy’s‍ special pavilion.

The‌‌ dragons were camping there, as it‌ was a place⁠ with an environment‌ similar to the⁠ Demon Realm.

‘Will‍‌⁠ this really work…?’⁠⁠

My⁠‌ steps grew heavy‌ with concern. Though,‌ honestly, that worry‌ was bought.

The⁠‌ destructive power of‍ that… the “A++‌‌‍ grade Hanwoo” was‌ truly overwhelming.

— O-ohhh…!

The dragon race opened‍ their eyes in⁠‍‍ unison. They couldn’t take their eyes‍⁠⁠ off the floral⁠ marbling of the meat.

Seeing‍⁠ them so amazed‍⁠‌ was a good⁠ sign. It meant‌⁠ it worked.

‘Isn’t‌‍ it an overreaction‌‍ to transform…?’

They‌⁠ exhaled so heavily⁠⁠ through their noses‌‍ that they ended‌ up transforming into dragons.

Dragons surrounding a grill‍‌⁠ with a human‌‌⁠ in the center.⁠

If‍⁠ someone saw it‍ from outside, it‌‌‌ would be quite‌‍‌ a strange sight.⁠‌‍

But‌ if you get‍ distracted, you lose.‍‍ So I continued with the mission.‌⁠

“I’ll⁠ begin.”

Since⁠ it was a special occasion, I placed the meat‍‌ on the grill‌ myself.

Sizzle…!

The‌‍ brilliant sound and‌ aroma stimulated every sense.

The‍‍ dragons, as if⁠⁠ hit by a jolt, twisted their scales.

Their‌⁠ jaws trembled with the tingling of‌⁠ salivation.

‘When‍‌⁠ I worked at‌ the sushi restaurant,⁠ I sometimes served‍ raw meat too.’‍⁠‍

Some‌ drunk customer would‍ complain about why‌‌‍ I brought raw‌ meat.

So,‌‍‌ at the start‍⁠‌ of my career,⁠‍‍ I sometimes grilled‍⁠ it for them.⁠‌

‘Over‌‌‍ time I stopped,‌⁠ of course.’

Not‌‌‍ because those customers‌ disappeared, but because‍‌‍ I learned to‌ deal with them.‍

—You⁠ gonna end up‍ as raw meat⁠‍ yourself, or are⁠‍ you gonna eat⁠ it?

I’ll‌‌‌ eat it.

Pff.‍

That’s‌‌ a good memory⁠ too.

Sizzle…!⁠

The⁠ dragons focused even‌⁠ on the moment‌ the fat dripped onto the coals.⁠⁠

Suddenly,‌‍ I had a kind of existential‌ crisis. What are⁠⁠⁠ we even doing⁠ right now?

I felt emotionally drained.‌‌‍ While placing the⁠ grilled meat on⁠ the edges of‌ the grill.

“I’ll‍ show you how‍‍ to eat it!”‌

Horntail‍ split her wooden‍⁠‍ chopsticks. She rubbed⁠ them carefully and‍⁠‍ picked up a piece.

The tip of the‍‍ chopsticks soaked in⁠ fat.

The dragons’ jaws were‌‍ drenched in saliva.‌‍

Nom!

“Huuugh…!”‍⁠‌

The‌ sound Horntail made‍⁠ was a mix‌ of moan and‌ sigh… definitely suggestive.

And‍‍ she kept eating‌ nonstop, completely out‌⁠ of it.

‘Wasn’t‍‍ this a taste‍ test? She’s having dinner!’

The⁠‍ dragons, not wanting‌‌ to be left‌‍ behind, also grabbed⁠ their chopsticks. Though‌ they held them‍‌‌ clumsily, they tried⁠‌ to use them… but often crossed‌‍ them incorrectly.

“Damn⁠‍‍ it!”

A young dragon, frustrated,⁠ cursed aloud.

Forgetting⁠‍ all composure, he stabbed the meat⁠ with his chopsticks like a fork.‍

“Ah…”

His⁠‍ vertical pupils sparkled⁠⁠‍ intensely. The scales⁠ around his eyes‌‍ glistened.

‘Is he… crying?’

The young dragon looked‍ off into the distance wistfully. With moistened corneas, he‍ muttered.

“This…‍ is magic.”

I felt the prestige‌‍⁠ of the magic‍⁠ that would be taught in graduate‍‌ school crumble.

In⁠ the next instant,⁠‍‌ the dragons rushed‍ toward the grill,‍⁠ swishing their tails.‌

I stepped back. A cloud of dust‌ rose.

Within‍‍ it, the dragon⁠⁠ race fought with‍‍‍ chopsticks like swords. I watched them.⁠‍

‘Will the Joaquin graduate⁠‍ school be okay⁠ like this…?’

I’ll⁠ have to talk‌‌ seriously with Ryozo⁠‌‌ and Abel about‌‌ this.

Anyway.‍

‘With⁠ this, the key⁠‍ staff salary issue‍⁠ is resolved.’

I wiped the sweat‍ from my forehead.‌ Taking advantage of‌⁠ the dragons being‍‌⁠ distracted, I left the special building.‍

Looking⁠‍ up at the⁠ sky, I headed‌⁠ to the director’s‍ office.

There⁠‍ were more than‍‍ a few voicing⁠ their dissatisfaction with⁠⁠ the creation of‍ Joaquin Academy’s graduate⁠ school.

But‌⁠ it must be⁠ said—curiously, the noble‍ factions that used‍ to fiercely oppose‌‍ me were silent.‌‌ Let’s say they⁠‌ were in their‌ “cool-down period.”

Those people don’t attack⁠ me all the⁠ time.

They only appear when‍⁠‌ I’ve almost forgotten⁠ them, make a scene… and leave⁠⁠‍ with a lesson.

This‌⁠‍ time, the ones‌‍ expressing the most‌ displeasure were members‍ of the Association‌ of Special Student⁠‌ Graduates.

I’m‍ in a similar‍‌ situation to them. So, to some‍‍‍ extent, I understand‍ why they act⁠ that way.

‘They’re‌ resentful.’

They never had that⁠⁠ option. Special students‌‌ from Joaquin, due⁠ to their social‍‍ origin, often ended‌‌‍ up joining the⁠⁠ Association out of⁠ obligation.

And‍‍ suddenly, a graduate‌‍‍ school appears.

It’s‌‍⁠ logical they’d feel frustrated by their‌ situation.

Thinking‍‌‌ about that, I returned to Ryozo.⁠‍ I told her⁠ the dragons were⁠‍ satisfied.

“Good⁠ job, Geom-Ma.”

“Hahaha…”

I left out the‌‌‍ details. I didn’t‍ want to break‍‍ Ryozo’s expectations.

So,‍ as we walked‌ toward the director’s‌ office, I voiced‌‌ the concern on‌‌ my mind.

“Did⁠ you see yesterday’s‍ statement from the‌‍ Association of Special‍ Student Graduates? What⁠ do you plan‍ to do about⁠‌ it?”

“What am I going‌⁠‌ to do? Nothing.‌‍‌ Leave them be.”‌

“And‌ if tomorrow, at⁠ the inauguration, that‌ negatively affects public⁠⁠‌ opinion?”

Ryozo‍⁠⁠ stepped from her⁠‌ main seat to⁠ the sofa beside‌⁠ me.

“Having‌ some negative opinion is better than‌‍ none. The fact‍⁠‌ that there are‌ people discontent also⁠⁠‍ means, on the‌‍⁠ other hand, that‍ there are those who support us.”‌

Ah…‍‍‌

“It’s‌‌ just that their‍ voices are smaller.⁠ Ignoring criticism completely‍⁠‍ isn’t good either,‌ but if we‌⁠ accept too much, we won’t be‌⁠ able to do‍‌ what we must.‍ When opening a new path, there’s‍⁠ always a degree⁠ of pain one‌‌ must carry.”

“…”⁠‍‌

Ryozo⁠ looked at me‍‍ with just her⁠‍ eyes. Her blue‍ pupils shone brightly.‍‍

“You know what I mean, right?”

Of‌‍ course I do.⁠ I’m aware.

Lately,⁠⁠ an online current‌ has been forming‌ that fears me⁠‌ and wants to‍ stop me.

Though⁠‌ still small, it’s‌ growing like a snowball.

But‌⁠‌ there are also those who support‍‌ me. Even some‌‍ who were once‌ my enemies.

Ryozo‌ was comforting me‍⁠ indirectly. She knew‌‌ that if she‍ said it outright,‍ I’d take it‍⁠ awkwardly and brush‌ it off.

‘Truly…’‍⁠

How‍ lucky you are,‍‌‌ kid.

Once‌ again, I was⁠ glad to be‌‍ Heavenly Sword.

***‍‍⁠