The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 400: Face to Face with the Lion (1)

Chapter 400: Face to Face with the Lion (1)

Ryozo⁠ had not forgotten‍ the previous dream.⁠‍‍ With her perfect‍‌‍ memory, she held‌ onto the last‌‍ fragment of that⁠‌‌ vision that was about to fade.⁠

The‌‌ wisdom of the‍ ancients.

Gaia,⁠⁠⁠ Mesther.

She⁠⁠ had to preserve‍‍ the message and‌‍ the legacy she left behind: the⁠ Yggdrasil. No matter‌ what, without fail.‌⁠

A life of nearly‍ ten thousand years⁠ was no different‌‌‌ from history itself.

And⁠ history was an‌ answer sheet to⁠‍⁠ glimpse the future.‌

‘Gaia⁠‌ reached out to‍ me through the‍ World Tree, Yggdrasil. To deliver some⁠ kind of message.’‍‌⁠

For‍ now, she didn’t‌ understand it well.⁠⁠ She would have⁠⁠ to reflect on‍⁠ it with time⁠‌ and analyze it⁠‍‌ calmly.

So Ryozo decided to‍ engrave the contents‌ of the dream into her mind,⁠ without omitting a single word.

…Not⁠‌‍ even a minute‌ had passed since‌⁠‌ she decided that,‌ when.

“What⁠‌ is that…?”

Ryozo⁠ went blank for‌‍ an instant.

***‌⁠

‘What is Geom-Ma doing here?’

That was her first⁠ reaction, but she‍‌ immediately understood the‌ full picture.

As soon as she‍‌ disappeared, Speedweapon surely‍ contacted him. With‌⁠‌ Geom-Ma’s character, he‍ wouldn’t have hesitated‌ a single second‍‍ to come.

Not⁠ only Geom-Ma, she⁠ also saw several⁠ familiar faces. They‍ were people from‌‍ Joaquin Academy and others among the⁠ most powerful in‍‌ the current world.⁠‍‍

‘They‌⁠ came to completely‌ wipe out the⁠‍ villains.’

Up to that point,⁠ everything was fine.⁠‌

A moving moment of⁠ the protective husband,‍ Kang Geom-Ma.

But,‌‌‍ but…

However…‍‌

“Why‍‍‍ is he with‍⁠⁠ Rachel?”

Hugging‌ her!?

The‍ scene opposite of‌⁠ the marital moment‍ was etched vividly⁠ into her retinas.‌‌

They⁠ were even embracing‍‍‍ in the air,⁠ as if on purpose.

Too…⁠

Too⁠‌ shameless.

“Already‌ awake?”

A sharp voice reached her from the⁠ side.

“Already‍ awake?”

It‍ was Abel. She⁠ was using her‌‌ sword as a cane to stay‌‌ standing, trembling.

Seeing‍⁠ her like that,⁠⁠⁠ something burning surged‍⁠ in Ryozo’s chest.‍‌ Amidst crossed emotions,‍‌ she noticed the‍‍ dirt stuck to‌‌ Abel’s body.

Ryozo grew alarmed.

“Abel,‍ are you hurt?”‌‌

“…No.⁠ Nothing happened to‍ me.”

“Even‌ so…”

Abel‍ smiled softly.

“You’ve‌ changed a lot,‍ Ryozo. Before, it‍ seemed that not‍ even if you⁠ were stabbed would⁠ a drop of‌⁠ blood come out.‌ And now you’re‌ hurt yourself, but‍‍ you worry about⁠ a little dirt⁠ on me.”

“Does‍ that surprise you?”⁠

“Not at all. It‌ just makes me‌⁠ happy.”

It⁠ seemed like she⁠⁠‍ was mocking her.‌

Since‌⁠ Ryozo was usually⁠‍⁠ the one doing‍⁠ the teasing, that‍‍ feeling was strange.⁠‍‌ She touched her‍‌ temple with her‌‌ delicate hand and⁠ asked.

“And‍‌‌ the villains?”

“There.”⁠‍

Abel‌ didn’t explain further,‍ just turned her‌‌ gaze to the⁠⁠ side. The corpses⁠‍ of the twelve⁠‍ villains lay cold. At a glance,‍ it looked as‌‌ if they hadn’t‍⁠ even been able‌ to resist.

‘When‌‌ they attacked me⁠ they were so‌‌‌ full of energy…’‍‍

What‍‍‍ a dramatic end‍⁠ for all of‍ them.

And then…

“Yes.‌⁠⁠ Geom-Ma took care⁠‍ of everything. In‍⁠ truth, the plan‍⁠ was to all‍⁠ go in together‌⁠ for a fast‍⁠⁠ strike. We didn’t want you to‍ get hurt.”

If‌ Kang Geom-Ma set‍‌⁠ his mind to⁠‌⁠ it, he could‍ erase an entire‌ island.

But⁠‌ that wasn’t the⁠‍ only reason. Ryozo‌ understood it thanks‌ to her conversation‍ and memories with⁠ Mesther.

Geom-Ma⁠‍ is strong.

Too‍‍ strong.

Though‌‍ she already knew‍ it, seeing how‍ he annihilated the⁠⁠ angels made her‍ realize he was‌‌ suppressing his power‍ to the bare⁠⁠ minimum.

Even‌ a simple cut from Geom-Ma was‍⁠⁠ more than enough‍ to destroy the world.

That’s‌‍ why he now‍ mainly used magic,‍‍‌ not his sashimi.‌⁠⁠

‘So⁠‌‍ that the world‌‌ doesn’t collapse.’

Also‌‍ why he brought‍‌ help on this mission to assault‍⁠ the villains’ base.‍‌‍

The island of Avalon,‌‍⁠ where Yggdrasil was⁠‌⁠ located, was connected to the very foundation of the world. If he‍⁠‌ released his power⁠ here, the overload‍‌ would affect the‍‍ entire planet. That’s⁠‍‍ why Geom-Ma brought‍⁠ reinforcements.

‘All⁠‌ because I was‍ hurt…’

Even‍‌ though the lightning‍‍⁠ and the tsunami‌‌‌ had calmed, their‍‌ traces were still present.

The⁠⁠ sky was still⁠‌‌ in eclipse and‌‌ the island of⁠‌ Avalon, devastated.

Ryozo‌ lowered her gaze.⁠

Geom-Ma’s‌‍‌ frenzy. Everyone present‍‌ had gone into⁠ combat mode to‌‌‌ stop him.

Yes.‌

She now fully understood‍ the situation.

“And‌ what does that‌ have to do⁠‍ with Rachel?”

“That… I don’t even⁠‌‍ know.”

Abel⁠‍‌ averted her gaze.‍‌

“She⁠ just said she‍‌ was sorry a few times and⁠ then, out of‍⁠ nowhere, hugged Geom-Ma…”‍‌

“Out of nowhere?”

“Yes.‍ Just like that,⁠ suddenly.”

Ryozo‍‌ blinked.

Though she had reconstructed⁠ the scene only‌‍ with fragments, this‌ was incomprehensible.

“And⁠‍‌ what changed after‍ she hugged him?”‍

She‍‌⁠ asked again.

“First,‌ the tsunami stopped.”‌‌

“…”

Abel’s voice was colorless, flat.

“Then,⁠⁠⁠ the lightning.”

“…”⁠⁠

Her⁠ golden eyes lost their shine.

….⁠

“Oh.‌‍ And now his‌‌⁠ hair is turning back to its‍⁠ original color.”

Ryozo also lifted her⁠⁠⁠ gaze. Like black⁠⁠ ink spreading on⁠⁠ a white canvas,‌ his natural color‍ returned.

Against‍ the backlight she⁠ couldn’t see his‌‍ expression. Geom-Ma only‍⁠ remained frozen.

Even‌ so, that strong‌‌ man passively accepted‍⁠ Rachel’s embrace.

“Wow.”⁠⁠‍

Ryozo’s⁠ eyes were empty.‍‌

“So⁠ our Geom-Ma likes…‍ the big ones,‌ huh?”

At‍‌‌ that moment, Kang‌ Geom-Ma’s shoulders trembled.‌

***⁠‍

The⁠‍ vision, once blurry, began to clear‍ little by little.

I lowered my gaze.⁠⁠

At‌‍ my feet stretched⁠ a completely devastated‍‍ field. In the⁠⁠ blink of an eye, Yggdrasil had⁠‍⁠ turned into an‍ empty shell, and the island of Avalon, into a wasteland.

Belatedly,‍⁠ I felt the‍⁠ blood flow back into my numb‍ head.

A slight headache.

A deep sense of⁠ guilt.

‘Did‌⁠ I lose consciousness…?’

I remembered how a dark red impulse‍ devoured my thoughts.⁠ In the end,⁠ what I feared‌‍‍ most happened…

With⁠ a brief glance⁠‌ around, it seemed‌‌ those I brought‍‍ with me had‌ joined forces to‌⁠ contain me.

“…Ah.”‌⁠

Huh?⁠⁠‌

Just‍‌ as I was‍⁠‍ about to let⁠‌‌ out a sigh,⁠ the air got⁠ stuck in my‌⁠ throat. Like a prisoner bound with⁠ ropes.

The⁠ knot tightened a little more and‌‌ my eyes lowered‌ to my chest.⁠ Were my arms‍‍ tightly bound?

“Did you regain consciousness?”⁠⁠

A warm breath struck‌ the back of‌‍ my neck. And‍ something else was⁠ pressed against my‌‌‌ back. Something violent.‌⁠‍

Turning,‍‍ with the cracking‍ pain of my‍‌⁠ muscles, I confirmed‌ it. It was‌ Rachel, as expected.‍ The difference from⁠⁠ her usual look was that now‌‍‍ her pupils were in normal shape‌ and not hearts.‌

“Thank⁠ goodness…”

Rachel‌⁠ rested her forehead‍⁠ against my back.‍

“I’m⁠‌⁠ really glad.”

…

Without time to process‍⁠‌ the situation, a sharp gaze pricked‌‌ my cheeks.

From‍‍ below.

“……”⁠‌

“……”‍

Ah,⁠ I’m screwed.

***‌

Meanwhile,‍‌‍ main headquarters class⁠⁠‍ at Joaquin Academy.‌‍

The‍‍ meteorological phenomenon that‌ began on the island of Avalon‍‍ was not limited⁠‌‍ to a small‌ area. It even reached Korea.

A professor, noticing the strange weather, decided to end the‌‌ class early.

“When‌ the weather gets⁠‍‌ this ominous, stay‍ in the dorms.⁠ If you wander‍⁠ around you might⁠‍ attract the wrath‌ of the gods.”‍

In‌‌ a world where‌‌‌ magic and blessings‍‍ exist, locals were‌⁠‌ sensitive to superstition.‌ Bad weather was‌ a sign of disaster. Before the‍⁠⁠ Second Great Human-Demon War, black clouds had covered the‌ whole world.

But‌⁠‍ the current generation,‌ which had never‍‌ lived through war,‌‌⁠ could only celebrate‌ it.

“Yes!”‌‍

“That⁠‌‍ answer sounds way‌‌ too cheerful… I wonder if I did the right thing ending class‍ early.”

“Uh…‍⁠ yes, professor…”

“I’ll‌ be the one‌‌⁠ to give notice.⁠‍‌ Go quickly to‍ the dorms, it’s‍ dangerous out. I’ll⁠ tell the other⁠⁠ teachers the afternoon⁠ class was canceled⁠⁠ due to rain.”

The‌ students, excited, began⁠ packing up. Student⁠ A was no⁠‍‍ exception, humming happily.⁠ His heart pounded⁠‌ at the thought⁠ of playing video⁠‌ games.

Blessing‍ of the Apocalypse‌‍ M 2nd.

It‍⁠‌ was a popular‌ game that, aside‌⁠ from its toxicity‌⁠ and high cost‌⁠ of microtransactions, received‍⁠⁠ good reviews. The⁠ gameplay was acceptable, but it had‌‍ a strange addiction,‍‍ and the graphics‌ didn’t tire the⁠ eyes. Word of‌ mouth spread it‌ without advertising.

“Hmm?”‍

He‍⁠ was about to⁠ leave when he‌ noticed Chaerina staring‍‌ intently out the‍ window.

Chaerina‍ was always serious.⁠ Her hair, dark‌ as ebony, and‍ her blank expression‌ gave her a monochrome aura. That⁠⁠ coldness could dizzy⁠⁠ anyone. And, besides,‌‌‍ she had a stinging hand.

‘Ouch!’‌

His‌‍‌ peculiar tastes almost slipped out.

As⁠‍ Student A quietly opened the door—⁠⁠

…

Chaerina‍‍ touched her chest with the back‍ of her hand,‍ as if something⁠‌‍ were crawling over her heart.

And⁠ suddenly.

Thump.‍‍ Thump.

She⁠ pounded her chest‍ hard.

“This…?”⁠⁠‌

She‌‌ bit her lips‍ in fury.

“How‌‌‍ is it possible⁠ that this was⁠⁠ enough to stop‍‌ me!?”

That⁠ day, Student A saw for the⁠ first time a real emotion on‌ Chaerina’s face.

***‍⁠

Four⁠‌‌ days had passed since then.

The⁠ Villain Union’s structure‌‍‍ had been practically‌ annihilated. It was‍⁠ surprising how easy‍ it had been.‍⁠ But of course,‍ they knew that‍ if I found⁠‌‌ them, they would be completely wiped out, so they‍⁠ desperately hid.

Ryozo’s efficiency in locating‍‌ the organization’s base⁠ with so little⁠ information deserved praise.‍⁠‌

“We⁠⁠‌ won’t announce publicly‍ that the Villain‌‌ Union has been‌ destroyed.”

Ryozo⁠⁠ proposed the following.

There‍ were still infiltrators‍‌ related to the⁠ organization who had⁠ not been identified.‌ Believing the Union‌ was still active,‌⁠⁠ those individuals continued‌‍ to act arrogantly.⁠⁠ So we would‌‌‍ let them keep‌‌ coming out, keeping‌‍ the “Villain Union”⁠ alive as a phantom company.

Everyone agreed. It was‌ the perfect opportunity⁠‍ to eradicate, root⁠⁠ and branch, those⁠⁠ who allied with‌ the scattered villain‌ network.

With‍ that settled, the‍‍ reconstruction of Avalon Island began in‌ coordination with Joaquin‌⁠‍ Academy. Fortunately, progress⁠‍‌ was fast, thanks‌‌ to the participation⁠‍ of a Korean‍ construction company that‌‌ had already built‌⁠‍ the graduate school⁠⁠ building.

We‌‍‌ still haven’t gathered‌ enough information for⁠ a complete summary.‌‌

But‍‌⁠ although the process‌ is slow, I feel I’m getting⁠‍ closer to the‍ cause of the‌ problem.

The‍ awakening of magic.

The‌ fall of the‌‌⁠ Villain Union.

These‌ events seem to‍ be leading toward‍‌ something greater—a second‍‍‌ catastrophe.

‘It⁠ must be near.’⁠⁠

The‌⁠ signs are beginning‌‍ to appear.

I trust my intuition‌ completely. The Second‍‍ End of the‍‍‍ World is near.‍

‘But‌⁠‌ that’s separate…’

Now‌ I must face my own personal⁠⁠‍ apocalypse.

“Damn‍‍ it! And Ryozo…”

Rachel,⁠‍⁠ even with the‍ situation still unsettled,‍ declared it in‌ front of the‌‍ Sword Master, Media,‌ and Meian, during⁠ a meeting to⁠ report what happened.‌

“…Third‍‍‌ what?”

Asked⁠‌‌ the Sword Master.‍ Rachel slightly raised‍ her pinky finger.‍‌

“Pfff!”‍⁠

Finally,⁠⁠‌ the Sword Master⁠ spat out the‌ black tea he⁠ had in his mouth. Through the⁠ rounded rainbow of⁠‍⁠ droplets, the visibly⁠ distressed faces of‌‌ Ryozo and Abel‍ were reflected.

I have no right‌⁠ to comment.

I remain in a vow of silence‍‍⁠ about “that” matter.⁠

‘Please.’‌‍

As‍ I slowly turned‌‌ into a vampire⁠ swordsman, Rachel continued‌‍ talking as if‍ nothing.

“Ah,⁠‌ I didn’t mean⁠‌⁠ like, just like⁠ that, of course.”⁠

“Not‍ just like that⁠ and not in any way!”

The‌‍ Sword Master shot‌‍⁠ up to his‌‌ feet.

“Huh?‌ Why not?”

“B-because⁠‍ that’s complete indecency!”‍

“What’s⁠ indecent about it? After the Second⁠‌ Human-Demon War, polygamy‍ is legal, isn’t‌ it?”

“Of⁠⁠ course. As long‌ as you use‌ Zero Coin, it’s‌⁠ fine.”

Media,‌ who had set‍‌ her cup on⁠ the table, added⁠‍ naturally. No, wait,‌ director, if you also side with‍⁠ her, you’re putting‍ me in an⁠‌ unsustainable situation.

“Yay!‍‍ Though I would‍‌⁠ feel a little⁠‍⁠ weird about taking another girl’s man.”⁠‌

That’s⁠⁠ exactly what you’re‍ doing, Rachel.

“If I, more than‌ those two…”

Rachel‌ elegantly spread her‌ fingers.

“Enter his room first,‍‍ then I become,‌ fair and square,‌‌ the third wife⁠ of Kang Geom-Ma,‌ right?”

……⁠⁠

The‌‍‌ atmosphere in the‍‌ room turned icy.⁠‌

I truly gagged.

‘Please,‍⁠‍ some ally…’

Media,‍ perhaps noticing the⁠ desperate plea in⁠ my face, discreetly⁠‌ raised her hand.‍‍ Good, if the⁠ wise woman raises her voice, Rachel‍‍ will have to‌ back down at‍ least once.

“I’m⁠⁠ already one of‌ the Seven Stars.”

“…Excuse‌ me?”

Rachel was left speechless⁠‌‌ too.

“I’m‍‍‌ telling you, I’m‌ already part of‌ the Seven Stars.”⁠

Media‍‌ repeated it with‍ emphasis.

I instantly became a human target.

The⁠ gazes of Ryozo‌⁠‌ and Abel pierced‍⁠‌ into me.

“……”

“……”‍

Save me.