The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 380: The Apostle (1)

Chapter 380: The Apostle (1)

Daily‌ life in the‍‍ Joaquin Academy graduate‌ program is full‍‌‌ of elegance.

The‌ official wake-up time‌ is eight o’clock.‌ Both in the morning and at⁠ night.

That⁠ is, 08:00 and‍⁠ 20:00 are the hours at which⁠‍ graduate students are⁠‍ officially supposed to‍ wake up.

Although‌‌ this is something‌⁠‌ established by regulation,‌‍‍ if a professor‍⁠⁠ calls, you must‍‌‌ get up like‍‌ a bee and‌ fly like a butterfly.

Graduate‍⁠‌ students are not granted autonomy. Their‌‌‍ fate is completely⁠ subject to the⁠⁠ whims of the⁠ professors.

— Assistant Ji Changhyuk?‌

It‌‌ was 22:00.

Ji⁠⁠ Changhyuk sat up⁠ in bed, half‌‌ asleep.

“Yes,‍ yes…”

— Could you come‌ now?

“Why…?”‍‌

Ji⁠‌ Changhyuk’s voice trembled.‌ The black bags‍ under his eyes‍⁠ reached down to‌‍‌ his Adam’s apple.‍ Professor Kim (Choi⁠ Seol-Ah, on the⁠‍ other end of‌ the line) replied⁠ coldly.

— Can a graduate‍ student question a professor’s orders?

“I’ll⁠‍ correct my attitude…!”⁠

— It’s urgent. Come‍⁠‍ to my office‌ as soon as you’re ready. Ah,⁠ and bring my socks from the‌⁠ laundry room. Thanks.

Click.⁠⁠

“…”‌‍

The‌⁠ dark screen of⁠‍‍ the smartphone.

For‍ a few seconds,‍ he stared at⁠ his reflection.

Eyes⁠ full of blood⁠ vessels, cheeks completely⁠ sunken. Even his⁠‌ lips had dry,‌ peeling skin.

‘Is‍ this face still‌⁠ human…?’

Ha…‌‍ haha…

A hollow laugh escaped⁠ unintentionally.

“I’m‍‍ not human…”

Because⁠ of a bad⁠⁠ decision, a promising‍‌ young man had‌‌ fallen to the‍‌ level of a slave. Even if‍‍ he wanted to‍‍ escape, it was‌‍⁠ too late. His‌‌ soul had been⁠‍ completely domesticated.

‘Is‍ that why they‌⁠⁠ call it assistant…?’‍

Ji‍‍ Changhyuk began to get dressed, picking‍ up his clothes⁠‌ without enthusiasm. The⁠⁠ night air was⁠ cold.

But colder still was‌‍ the hollow he‌‍ felt in his‌‌ chest.

Kind⁠‌ by nature, Ji‌‍ Changhyuk was a good guy. His⁠ parents always worried,‍‌ telling him that‌ if he wanted‍ to be a hero, he also‍ had to learn⁠ to be arrogant.‌

“Damn⁠ it…”

If‍ a personality change⁠‌ was what his‌ parents wanted, then⁠ the Joaquin graduate program fulfilled that‌ purpose perfectly.

Even if the process‍‍ had been inhuman,⁠ the result was⁠‌ that Ji Changhyuk‍‌ became the great‍‍ “Giga Changhyuk.”

“It’s⁠‍‌ fucking freezing… damn‌ it.”

Despite‌‌ it being May,‍ he was shivering.‌‍

Hugging‍ himself for comfort,⁠‍ he walked toward⁠‍‌ the lab. Around⁠ his darkened eyes⁠ shone a thin⁠‌ line of tears.‌

***‍‌

In‌ a graduate lab.

There⁠⁠‍ was a sofa‍ completely occupied by‍ a pair of‍ long legs. Their⁠ owner was Choi Seol-Ah.

Choi‌ Seol-Ah was lying⁠ down flipping through a women’s magazine.⁠‌

‘Let’s‌ see what new‍‍ bags came out this time.’

The⁠‍ lab’s display cases‌ were full of⁠ luxury goods. Branded⁠ handbags still with‍ tags, perfumes, and‌ other items proudly‍‌ displayed their presence.⁠

Was‍‍ this place a graduate lab or‍ a luxury boutique?‌‌ But the graduate professors didn’t care.‌ For them, a “lab” was synonymous‌ with “place to‍‌ laze around.”

Tap.‍‍

The‍‌‌ open women’s magazine⁠‌ fell on Choi‍ Seol-Ah’s face. Laughter‌⁠ bounced off the‍ paper.

“Hehehe!”‍ Pure happiness, total‍‍ bliss!

‘The⁠‌ graduate program is‌ the best! My⁠ own earthly paradise!’⁠

At⁠⁠‍ first, when the‌‌ creation of the‍ graduate program was‌ being discussed, Choi⁠ Seol-Ah had been⁠ one of the staunchest opponents.

Her‌‌ previous experience doing‍ a master’s in education—the only real⁠ graduate program in‌ existence in this world—was a painful⁠‍ memory.

Cunning⁠‌⁠ and vile by‌ nature, it wasn’t⁠⁠‌ that she pitied‍‌ the students’ suffering.‍

It⁠‌ was like when someone refuses to‍ pee in the‍ direction of the‌‍ barracks where they‌⁠ did their military‌ service. Something like‌‌‌ that.

The‍ education graduate program‌ was for Choi Seol-Ah an indelible‍ mark, a trauma.⁠⁠‍

Just hearing the word⁠ graduate gave her chills. And now,‍ that same hell⁠ had taken root⁠ in Joaquin Academy!‍

‘I‌‌ really wanted to⁠‍ run away at‌ that moment…’

What‍ was once hell‍‌ due to being‌ in a position‍ of inferiority, now became paradise after‍ a change in⁠ hierarchy.

Choi Seol-Ah had been‌ recognized for her‍‌ work editing academic⁠⁠‍ materials and was‌ appointed professor. Though⁠ she was still⁠‍ the director’s secretary, he could handle things himself.

The‍ magazine on her‍ face rose and‌ fell with her⁠ breathing. From under‌ the paper, she⁠⁠⁠ murmured as she‍ sniffed the air.⁠

“The‌ air… tastes sweet.”

Sleeping,‍ eating, lazing around,⁠⁠‍ and still the‌‍‍ money kept multiplying.‌ From time to⁠⁠‌ time, she did‍ roll call before‍ class, just to‌ kill boredom.

It‌⁠ was a delight.⁠

“Yes…‍‍ My life starts‌ now.”

Gotta⁠‍ squeeze more out‌ of this situation.

And‌‍ exploit the slaves‌‍ more!

‘Hehehehe!’⁠⁠‍

At⁠ that instant, the curtain was yanked⁠‌⁠ open. The magazine was pulled away⁠ and the white⁠⁠‍ fluorescent light attacked‍⁠ her corneas directly.⁠ It was like a needle to‍‍ the eyes.

“Kyaaa!”

Choi‌‍ Seol-Ah screamed, covering her eyes. The‍ person who had‌ pulled away the‌ magazine spoke.

“Having‌‌ a good time?”⁠

Frozen.‌

“…Hehehe.”‌

She sat up from‍⁠ the sofa and,‌ lowering her hand,⁠‍ discreetly placed it‌‌ over her butt.‌ Tears rolled down⁠ her cheeks.

“What‍ brings you here,‌‌‌ my lord?”

Kang⁠‍ Geom-Ma, with the⁠⁠ white light behind‍‍ him like a halo, looked down‍ at her. His gaze was so‍ cold that even⁠ an insect would⁠ receive more warmth.‍⁠

“You’re‍ already a full⁠ professor. To come‍ to the lab⁠ now you need‌‍‌ permission from Professor‍⁠ Kim.”

“Hehe.⁠ Well, it’s a newly founded institution.‍⁠ If the rules are broken from‌ the start, discipline is lost.”

“And‍ who do you⁠⁠ think is the‍⁠ least disciplined person‌ in this place?”

“Objectively⁠⁠‌ speaking… me, right?”‌

“Ah,⁠⁠⁠ so you knew?”⁠‌‍

“Hehe…”

Kang‍‌ Geom-Ma rolled up‍ the women’s magazine.‌ It had the‌ perfect shape of‍⁠ a bat. It‌⁠ even seemed to⁠ meet the criteria⁠‌⁠ to receive a blessing from the⁠ God of the‌ Sword.

‘As‍ long as it’s‍‌ recognized as a sword…’

He⁠‍‌ was reading her‍‌ mind. Choi Seol-Ah,⁠ with a sharp‌‍ survival instinct, could‌ detect emotions just‍‌ from the smell⁠ of the air.⁠⁠

She‍ immediately prostrated herself.⁠⁠

“I‍ have committed an‍⁠ unforgivable crime, my⁠ lord!”

She‍‍⁠ was ready to‌‍ lick his shoes.‍‍ Literally. Whenever she‌‍ crossed the line,‍⁠‌ she ended up‍‍ pointing her tongue‍ at his boots, which always led to a kick.‌‍

“It’s⁠‍ not that serious.⁠‌ I don’t think‍⁠ you really want‌‌‍ to die.”

“You⁠‌‍ know me so‍⁠‌ well, my lord!”‌⁠‌

“It’s‍ been ten years⁠ already.”

“Already‍‌ that long? How‌⁠ horrifying.”

He‍‌ raised the magazine‍‌ bat.

“As‌‌‌ horrifying as it‍ is charming. You’re‍‌ all I have,‌⁠ my lord. Woof⁠⁠ woof. Please take‍‍ care of me‍ for another hundred‍‌‌ years.”

Ugh.‌

He lost strength in his hand. The bat made of‍ magazine loosened too.⁠‌

“…Besides, you’re much older⁠ than me. Even‌‌‌ when I was⁠‌ a student, you‍ were already an‌‍‌ instructor.”

Kang‍⁠ Geom-Ma tossed the‍‍‍ magazine aside and⁠ sat on the‌‌‍ sofa. Choi Seol-Ah⁠‍ approached on her‌‌ knees.

“It’s⁠⁠‍ not that big‌‌ of an age⁠ gap, my lord…”⁠

“What‍‌ are you talking‍ about? You finished‍⁠‌ grad school, were an instructor, and⁠ have been at⁠ my side for⁠⁠⁠ ten years. That‌ easily puts you‌‌ close to forty.”‍⁠

“Ah…‍ I hadn’t told⁠ you this. I entered grad school‌ as a minor. Back then, the‌‌‍ education grad program‍‌‍ had few applicants, so they didn’t⁠ check age much.‍ Even if they‌‌ had, I would’ve‌ made it in‌⁠ anyway.”

…What?⁠⁠

“Isn’t‌ graduating from the⁠‍‌ academy a requirement‍ for grad school?⁠ That’s just logical,‌ right?”

“I⁠ enrolled earlier than‍ the others.”

“How?”⁠‌

“By‌ forging documents, of⁠⁠ course.”

Ah.⁠

Of⁠ course it was‍⁠ illegal.

“Back‍‌ then, the Villain‍‌‍ Alliance was still⁠‍ active. I’d been⁠ part of the⁠ Alliance since I was very young,‍‌ and all those‌ annoying procedures were⁠ handled for me.”‍‌

“I’m‍ genuinely curious… Then,‌‌ at what age⁠ did you enter‌‍ the Academy?”

Choi Seol-Ah poked her‌ cheek with her⁠ index finger as‍‌ she tried to‍‍ remember. Right. It‌ must’ve been at‌‌ least twenty years‌⁠ ago. Is she‌‍ doing a YB‌‍ cosplay now?

“Thinking‌ about it, I was nine.”

“…?”⁠‌

My‌⁠ head hurt. It‌‌ was like getting‌‌ hit on the‍ temple with a rubber mallet. I stared at her⁠ wide-eyed.

“You entered the Academy,⁠⁠ which is for‌‌ seventeen-year-olds, at nine?”‍

“It’s⁠‍ because I was‍ very tall since⁠ I was little.”‌‍

“How‍⁠ tall were you⁠ at nine?”

“I think about five centimeters shorter than⁠ now.”

In‌‍ terms of height,⁠⁠ she could pass.⁠

“And‍ your face?”

“Come‍ on, at that⁠⁠ age we all⁠‍ have kid faces.⁠‌‌ Nine or seventeen,‍ it doesn’t change‍⁠ much.”

I no longer knew⁠⁠ when all of⁠ this had gone off the rails.‍‌

‘She’s‌ not lying. This‍⁠‌ woman wouldn’t lie about something like‌‌ this.’

Meanwhile, I mentally calculated‍ her age. If‌‌ she entered at‌ nine, and it’s‍ been about 19‌ years…

“You…”

No⁠‌ way.

“You’re only a year‍‍ younger than me?”⁠

“Seems‍ like it.”

Choi‍ Seol-Ah nodded with⁠ displeasure. I stood‌ there speechless, overwhelmed‍‍ by a sensation⁠‌ of betrayal of‍‌ unknown origin.

“……”‌

“……”‍⁠

“Wanna‍⁠ be friends?”

“H-ha,⁠‌ hahaha.”

“I’ve‍‍⁠ committed an unforgivable‌ sin.”

The⁠ atmosphere in the⁠ lab turned icy.‌

Choi Seol-Ah slid backward on her knees.‌ She was planning⁠ to escape while‍ Kang Geom-Ma wasn’t‍‍ looking.

It‍ was just a moment. From the tight pocket of⁠ her pants came‌⁠‌ a strong vibration.‍‍ Right now, seriously?⁠

Choi Seol-Ah sighed in‍‍‍ resignation. Since she‌⁠ couldn’t escape, she⁠‌‍ could at least‌ take it out‌‍ on whoever ruined‍‌ her chance. Given‍‌‍ the situation, it‍‍⁠ was probably one‌⁠ of the graduate‍⁠ students…

“…Huh?”‌

Choi⁠ Seol-Ah let out⁠⁠ a dazed sound.‍ Kang Geom-Ma, who finally realized her⁠ escape plan, approached‌ her. Still, Choi‌‌‍ Seol-Ah didn’t take⁠ her eyes off‌‍ the phone.

‘Why‍⁠ this number?’

She‍ turned pale, even‌ more than if⁠‌ she were being⁠ called by a ghost. Because the‌ sender was—

Choi‌ Seol-Ah lifted her chin. Her black‌⁠ pupils gleamed.

‘Isn’t⁠‍ this the organization⁠⁠ that was wiped out by that‍ person?’

***‍‍

The‌‍‍ United States is⁠ a young nation⁠ without much history.‍‌

Although‌‍ its national power is supreme, in⁠⁠ a world that⁠ values tradition and‌ history, its influence‍ loses weight.

Maybe‍ that’s why, as⁠ compensation, the U.S.‌ developed a unique‌‌ hero system. The⁠ most representative case‍ is hero companies⁠ like Lancelot Company.

The⁠‌‍ power of hero⁠‍ companies is based‍‍ on two pillars:⁠‍ exceptional treatment and‍‌ character-building. For heroes‍⁠ who value fame‌‍ over honor, they were dream organizations.

But‌‌ that only applies‍ to foreigners.

A true American, for⁠⁠ the sake of⁠ their still-young history,‌ must still devote‌‌ themselves to their‍‌‌ nation. All Mute‌‌‌ Elizabeth was such a heroine.

“Phew…”⁠‌⁠

All‍‌‌ Mute wiped the‍ sweat from her⁠‌ forehead. She was⁠‌ standing atop a mountain made of‌‌⁠ demon corpses.

“Never thought a dungeon‍‌ would pop up⁠ like this in⁠ the Texas plains.”⁠‍

“Right!”

A clear voice responded. Rachel made a great leap as‌ she released her‌ power. In an‌ instant, she reached‍⁠ the same height‌‍ as All Mute‌ and brought her‌‌ hand to her⁠ forehead like a visor.

Rachel‌‍ looked into the⁠ distance.

The⁠ dungeon resembled an⁠ ancient temple corridor.⁠⁠ Darkness pooled densely at the vanishing point, and from‌⁠ there stone pillars⁠‌‍ rose progressively as‌ perspective dictated.

“Shall we go deeper?”⁠

Just‌ as Rachel bent⁠ her waist to⁠ leap forward, All⁠⁠ Mute extended her‍ arm to block her view.

All‌‍ Mute spoke.

“This⁠ isn’t a dungeon an ordinary person⁠‍ can enter.”

She‌‌ said it while‍ looking toward the‌‌ darkness, not toward‌ Rachel.

“Much‍⁠ less one where‌ twelve people can‍ hide behind the‍ pillars.”

At that moment—

Fwoosh.‌

A figure emerged from⁠ the darkness between⁠ the pillars.

Some⁠‍ wore coats, others‍‍⁠ sweatpants, others doboks⁠ (martial arts uniforms).‍‍‌

The⁠ variety of outfits⁠‌ made them look like a group⁠ on a field‍ trip.

Clothing‍ with nothing in⁠ common. Gender ratio‌‌ completely mixed.