The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 393: The Master (2)

Chapter 393: The Master (2)

“Ohhh!”‍‌

The‌ painting professor couldn’t‌ contain the exclamation.⁠‌ His gaze was‌ fixed on Victoria’s‍ canvas.

“Impressive,‍ Your Highness.”

Behind⁠‌ him, the other‌ graduate students gathered⁠‌ curiously to observe.⁠ Their faces carried‍⁠ the same astonished⁠⁠ expression.

“That⁠‌ mixture of violence‌ and tenderness… rough and crude, but‌‍‍ precisely because of‌ that it allows‌⁠‍ the structure to‌ stand out…”

“You’re‌ exaggerating, professor.”

“Exaggerating?⁠‍ Not at all, Your Highness. If anyone is being‍‍ humble here, it’s‌⁠ you.”

The‌ students nodded as‍ well. Just as‌‍ the professor said,‌ Victoria’s work conveyed⁠‌ an overwhelming force.‍‍ Something unprecedented emanated‌‍‍ from the canvas and made whoever⁠ looked at it‍‍ shrink back.

The⁠ color was only⁠‍ black. The stroke,⁠⁠‍ rough, made it‍‌‌ difficult to recognize⁠ the figure at‌ first glance, but⁠ it seemed to‌ be the silhouette‍‌ of a man from behind. The⁠‍ man gripped reins‌‌ tightly.

Around‌‌ him, a cloud‍‌‍ of dust surrounded‍ him.

Ahead,⁠ a point of light shone, like‍⁠⁠ the entrance to‌⁠‍ a tunnel. The title was Sköll⁠⁠ and Hati. A scene from that⁠‍ day.

“Now‍‍‍ that I think‌ about it… what happened to Sköll‌‍ and Hati? The⁠ last I heard‌ was that they‍⁠‌ were taken in⁠‍ by a foreign‍ order…”

“The subject itself may‍‍ not be that⁠ special, but what⁠ makes this painting‌ unique is that⁠‌ the narrator is‍ you, Your Highness.”‌‌

And⁠ that was true.⁠⁠ Victoria had fought⁠ in the Parsy‍‍ exchange alongside the⁠ Heavenly Sword, paired‍ as a priestess.‌‌

She‌ had taken those‌‌‍ memories and turned⁠‍ them into her‍‍ Happiest Moment.

A glorious instant for‌⁠‍ Joaquin, and at⁠ the same time,⁠‍ a gesture of‌ respect toward her⁠⁠ teacher.

As‌⁠⁠ an educator, the professor could only⁠‌‍ feel proud.

Victoria‍ shrugged lightly with‍‍ a small smile.‍

‘I‍ didn’t do it⁠ with that intention,‌‍ but…’

With‍‌‌ this, she had‍ engraved in her‌ classmates’ minds that⁠⁠⁠ her relationship with‍ Kang Geom-Ma was‍‍ something special.

Of⁠‍‌ course, as a princess it might‍⁠‌ seem inelegant to‌⁠‌ boast in such⁠‍ a way. But⁠‍ since it was⁠⁠‍ about the Heavenly‍ Sword, idol of⁠ all, it was‍ forgiven.

At‍‌‍ that moment, another⁠ black stain caught the professor’s eye.‌⁠

The‌ subject was dark,‍⁠ and the artist was too. Kang‌ Geom-Ma’s famous cousin,⁠ Chaerina. She worked‍ silently, apart, but‍‍‌ she hadn’t managed⁠ to escape the⁠ professor’s radar.

“Ohhh…!”

A second exclamation burst‍ from his mouth.⁠

He‌ hurried closer, and the other students‍‍ followed in a rush, like mice.‍ Victoria also turned, frowning.

The‌ professor stroked his‍⁠ chin as he‍‍ contemplated the canvas.⁠‍ Finally, with a face full of‌‍ mixed emotions, he‌ addressed Chaerina.

“It’s⁠ a magnificent piece,‍ but… it seems‍‍‌ to stray a bit from today’s‌ theme, don’t you⁠⁠ think, student Rina?”‍‍

Victoria‌‍ thought the same.‍‍

It⁠ was an extremely‍‍ somber painting. The‌‌ background, covered in‍⁠ absolute black. In the center, a man brought his⁠ sword down. Well‍‌ executed, yes, but‍ in clear contradiction‍⁠ to the keyword‌ happiness.

“…No.”‌

Chaerina‌⁠ extended her hand.‌

“When⁠⁠ I see this image is when I’m happiest.”

With‍ the tips of⁠ her fingers, she⁠‌‍ caressed the cheek⁠‍ of the man inside the canvas.⁠‌

***⁠

I left Meian’s laboratory⁠⁠ almost fleeing.

“Would⁠ you lend me⁠ your husband for‌ a while?”

If‌ those words had‍‍ been taken literally,⁠‍⁠ it would have‌ ended in disaster.‌‌ The impact was‍‌ obvious.

Luckily,⁠‍ Ryozo and Abel‌ were mature enough‌ not to interpret‍‌ it literally.

Even‍⁠ so, the looks‍‍ they gave me⁠ were still piercing.‌⁠ The mere fact‌‌‌ of having been‍ alone with Meian,⁠‌ and worse yet,‌⁠ naked in the⁠ middle of her Blessing, was reason‌‍ enough.

‘Of⁠ course…’

Even‍‌‍ if they understood⁠‍ the truth, it‌‍‍ was normal for‌‌‍ them to be‍⁠ upset. And if⁠⁠ they showed no reaction at all,‍ that would be‍⁠⁠ the sign their‍‍ feelings for me‌‌ had cooled.

It⁠‌ was precisely because⁠ they loved me‍ so much that‌‌‍ they reacted so‍ sensitively.

“…Tonight‍ will be torture.”‌

I’d‌ have to come⁠⁠ up with a convincing strategy to‍ appease them. I admit it—I’m clumsy⁠‍ with these things.⁠‌ When I feel‌ uncomfortable, I tend⁠ to evade the⁠⁠‍ situation.

In⁠‍⁠ those moments, I turn into a human candle. The‍ opposite of when‍ I burn in‌ combat. I give‌‌‍ off the sense‌⁠‍ that I’m fading‍ away, sweating as‌⁠ if drops of‌‍ wax.

If the Sword God,‌ who granted me⁠ his Blessing, saw‌‍‍ me like this,⁠ he’d give me‌ a sermon.

But whatever. Now I’m‌ the Heavenly Sword.⁠

“…Yeah,⁠ I’m definitely shaken.”⁠

I muttered as I walked.

It’s‍⁠‍ a bad habit, I know.

And‍ I know it’s⁠⁠‌ hard to change‌‌ what’s ingrained in‍ your character.

Especially⁠ because I spent‍‌ entire decades without⁠ a partner. For⁠⁠ me, reading the⁠‌‍ hearts of others was never easy.⁠

“…”‍‌‌

Suddenly,‌⁠ a doubt struck⁠ me.

Not‍ about my prolonged‌ singleness—that I understood‌ well.

It‌‌⁠ was something else.⁠‍

‘Why⁠ am I so used to evading⁠ difficult situations?’

I,⁠ Kang Geom-Ma, am‍⁠ not a man‍‍⁠ of soft character.‌⁠ My style should‌‍ be standing up‍‌ with a “boom!” and slamming the⁠⁠ table, not running⁠‍ away.

I frowned. I thought‌⁠‍ and thought as‌ I wandered aimlessly.‌ And the conclusion‌ I reached was‌‍⁠ this:

‘…What if deep down‌⁠ I’m carrying some⁠ kind of trauma?’‌

It’s⁠ said that those‌ who suffer a serious accident sometimes⁠‍ block the memories⁠ in their minds.⁠ Could that be‌ my case?

It‍‍⁠ seemed like an‍ absurd explanation. But⁠‌‌ if it wasn’t‍‍ something like that,‍ then not even‍ I could understand‌⁠ myself.

Because‌ every time Ryozo‍‌ or Abel pressed‍ me too much,⁠‌ I made excuses‌ to escape.

Also,‌ ever since I finished adapting to this life, the‍‍ memories of my‍‌ past existence had⁠ been seeping through‌⁠ more and more.‌‌ The memory of⁠‍ a possessed one, gradually fading away.⁠

It⁠‍ made no sense to dig into⁠‍‍ that past now.‍‌ The life of‍‍⁠ Kim ○○ was⁠‌ marked only by‌ shadows. Nothing good⁠⁠ would come from‍ stirring that up.

I already had enough⁠ problems.

‘I have to contain‍ Chloe’s Blessing. Also‌ find the Villain‌ Union headquarters. And,‌⁠ uncomfortable as it‍ is, contact the‌‌ Emperor at some‍ point. And on⁠ top of that…’‍‍

I turned.

The‌ thick trees cast‌⁠ their shadows over⁠ me. Between the‌‍ leaves, pieces of‍‌ sunlight glimmered. The‌ landscape of Joaquin Academy.

The‍ world I had⁠‍ protected.

The‍‍ world I had‍‌ to continue protecting.⁠⁠

“The⁠ second apocalypse won’t‍‌ take long to arrive.”

It⁠ had been quite‍‍ a while since‍ the tragedy of⁠‍‌ Parsy. People’s memory⁠ was beginning to⁠‍⁠ fade. And it⁠‍ was precisely at⁠‍‌ those times that‌‌‌ disasters tended to⁠ erupt. It was‌ something I had‌⁠ learned from experience.‍

Dark⁠ clouds were approaching.‍ And that was‌ why I hurried to finish my‌ “pending tasks.” To‍‌⁠ be prepared before⁠ it happened.

The‌⁠ next end was‍ already brewing. Far‍ away, on the other side of the continent.

‘With‍‍ all this on‌ my plate, I don’t have time⁠ to dig into⁠‌ a possible PTSD.’‌

My‍ character problems were almost embarrassing compared⁠ to the urgency⁠⁠ of the situation.⁠ The priority was⁠‌ dealing with Chloe‍ and her imminent‌‍ awakening.

If‌‌⁠ allowed, she’d spiral out of control.‍

A yandere in frenzy.‌

Just‍‍ the thought of‌‍ it made my⁠ heart pound.

“Good thing I went⁠⁠‌ directly to Meian.”

She‍ had focused on‍ the idea of⁠‌‌ fusing the essence‍⁠ of Blessing with⁠‌ magic.

And‍‌‍ the intelligent Ryozo‌ nodded seriously.

With⁠⁠ that basis, finding a method to‌‌ contain the awakening‌ of a Blessing‌ was the priority.⁠‍⁠

We’d‌ have to meet‍ more often with‌ the academy faculty.‍

‘If‌ magic and Blessings‍ are more alike⁠ than we thought…’‌

Could⁠ there also exist‌‌ some kind of‌ “magical awakening”? I had never delved‌ that deeply into⁠‍‌ it.

Magic⁠ was my support;⁠‌ my real strength,⁠‌ the edge of⁠ my sashimi.

A curious fact is‍‌ that Lycan, the‍‍‍ original corps commander‍‍‌ of electric magic,‍⁠ wasn’t a great‌⁠ scholar in his‌ own art either.

He‍‍ was like me.⁠‌⁠

He‌⁠ preferred close combat.‍‍

For‌ him, magic was‌‍‍ just a support‌ tool.

So‍‍‌ asking him about‌⁠ “magical awakening” would⁠ be useless.

“How⁠‌‌ ironic… I have‍ the First Corps‌‌‌ Commander as a subordinate, and still I have no⁠ one to talk‌ to about magic.”‍

I sighed and ruffled⁠ my hair, resuming‍ my steps.

“Ah.”‍

A floral fragrance came⁠ with the wind.‌

There‌ she was, someone‍ unexpected.

Victoria,⁠‌ sitting on a bench, looking at the sky. In‍ her palm, also‌‌ raised toward the‍ sun, there were⁠ black traces. As‍ if she had‍‍⁠ rummaged through a pile of charcoal.‌

“Ah.”‌

She⁠ startled upon noticing⁠ my presence. Her‌⁠ eyes, once distracted,⁠⁠ instantly regained life.‍‍

She‌‌ tried to stand,‌ but I gestured‍‌ for her to⁠‌ stay seated. I was the visitor, it would be‍⁠ discourteous for her⁠‌ to get up.‍‌

Just‍ as I was turning, her voice⁠ reached me and stopped me.

“Heavenly‍⁠ Sword. I…”

I shifted my gaze.‌⁠ Victoria, who had‌⁠ been hesitating, gathered‍‍ courage and spoke.⁠

“Lord‌⁠ Heavenly Sword, what was the happiest‍ moment of your⁠ life…?”

All‌‌ of a sudden?‍

I frowned, and Victoria’s‌ cheek flushed. Even the curve of‍ her ear had‍‍ turned as red⁠ as a cherry‌‌ tomato. At this⁠ rate, she was‌ going to let‍‌ off steam.

“No, it doesn’t have any special meaning.⁠‍⁠ It’s just that⁠⁠‍ that was the topic of today’s⁠ conversation class. So,‍‍ since I ran‍ into you by‍‌ chance, I thought‌‍ I’d ask. If‌ it makes you‍ uncomfortable, it doesn’t‌⁠ matter.”

“There’s‍ no reason for it to be⁠ uncomfortable.”

I stepped closer with‍‍⁠ heavy steps and sat beside her.‍‍ The bench shook. Victoria stiffened, staring⁠‌ straight ahead.

Why‍⁠⁠ was she so‌ nervous?

Setting⁠⁠⁠ aside my puzzlement,⁠ I thought of‌‍ a proper answer⁠ to her question.⁠

A happy moment… difficult.‌

Not‌⁠ because there were‍ few, but because there were too many. It was‍ hard to point‌ to just one.‍‍‌

But‍ Victoria didn’t seem‍‌‍ to be asking‌⁠ about simple everyday‌‍‌ happiness.

Rather,⁠ something more fundamental.‍⁠

“The⁠ happiest moment of‍‌ my life…”

I rubbed the chest of my coat‌‌ with my thumb.⁠‍ Inside the inner⁠⁠⁠ pocket was that‌ solid, reassuring sensation.⁠‍‍

“I⁠‍ think it was‌‌ when I held‌ a sword for‍⁠ the first time.”‌⁠

The⁠ day I grasped‍⁠ a sashimi.

It‌ was the day‍ when, for the⁠ first time, I was given a purpose in life.‍‌

A moment that allowed⁠ me to escape the shadows of⁠ the past and‌ dream of the‌‍‌ future. Whether in‍‍ my previous life⁠ or in this‌⁠‌ one, the sashimi‌‌⁠ was what saved‌ me.

“…I‍ see.”

Victoria’s⁠‍‌ gaze turned somewhat‍ gloomy. She looked‌ like a drenched‍‌ cat.

Had⁠ I said something‌ inappropriate?

“It‌ seems I still don’t understand enough⁠‍⁠ about you, Lord⁠ Heavenly Sword…”

She‌ murmured bitterly.

“About‍⁠ me?”

“Ah,‍ it’s nothing.”

She⁠⁠ quickly stood up.‌⁠⁠

After⁠⁠ brushing the leaves‌ stuck to her⁠ skirt, she bowed‍ her head to‌ me.

It‍⁠ seemed she was‍⁠ going to leave‍ just like that,⁠ trailing melancholy behind‍⁠‌ her.

“Victoria.”‍⁠‌

Now‌ it was my⁠⁠ turn.

“The⁠ days I spent‌ with you were‍‍‍ happy too. Sure,‌‌ we saw terrible⁠‌ scenes, but in‍ the end we‌⁠ overcame them and⁠ here we are, aren’t we?”

“The…⁠‍ moments you spent⁠ with me, you‍ mean?”

“Yes.”⁠

“…”‍

Victoria‌‌ hesitated. She bit‌ her lower lip with a coy gesture.

“It’s an honor for‍⁠ you to say‍‍ that. I felt‍ the same.”

Victoria‍ smiled softly.

“To‍⁠ be honest now,‌‌ at first I thought you and‍ I weren’t compatible‌ by nature. But,‍ paradoxically, maybe because⁠ of that we knew how to⁠‌ complement each other‍‍ better in critical‌ situations.”

“Incompatible‍ by nature…?”

It‌‌ was true. She, born as an‌ imperial princess, and‍‍ I, a promoted‌⁠ special student, were‌ at opposite extremes.‍‌ Then why did⁠⁠‌ those words lodge‌ themselves in my⁠⁠⁠ chest?

“Incompatible…‍‌‌ incompatible…”

Ah.‌‍ Like a hammer‍ of realization, a flash struck my‌‌‌ temple. I shot up as if⁠‌‌ someone had hit‍⁠‌ the nerves in‌‍ my knee.

“…Lord‍‌ Heavenly Sword?”

I grabbed Victoria by‌‍ the shoulders.

“Thank⁠‍ you, Victoria.”

“E-eh…?”

Suddenly,⁠ from her forehead⁠‍ came a sound‌ like that of‌‌‍ a boiling kettle.‌

“Thanks‍‍⁠ to you, I think I understand.”⁠

Not‍ just the blessing,⁠‍‌ but also the‍‌ awakening of magic.⁠‍

The‍‍‍ answer had been⁠⁠ far too close⁠⁠‍ all this time.‍‍