The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 406: Face to Face with the Lion (7)

Chapter 406: Face to Face with the Lion (7)

The‌ End is a phenomenon.

It‍ cannot be on‍ the same level‌‍ as the body‍⁠ commanders I defeated‌ in the past‌ or the false‍‍ gods.

The‌‌ first were individual⁠ entities, the second‌‍⁠ were collectives.

The‌‍ End does not⁠‍ have a body‌‌‌ as such.

These‌‍ entities manifest only through the will‍‍ of the power‌‌ of suppression to destroy this universe.‍

The‍ false gods had‍‌‌ to manipulate the‌ world, so their‌‍⁠ goal was not‍ total annihilation.

Although⁠ in essence, they‍⁠ did indeed have⁠ genocidal inclinations toward humanity.

Anyway.‍‍

‘I‍⁠ cannot stop this⁠‍⁠ alone.’

Slash!‍

I swung the sashimi.

I tore apart the⁠⁠ lightning emanating from⁠ that giant’s eye.⁠‌ Without stopping, I stretched out my‌⁠ arm and clenched‌‍‌ the air tightly.

KWA-ROOM!‍ KRRRROOM!

The clouds churned.

The⁠ lightning drew tree⁠‍⁠ roots in the sky filled with‍‌‍ energy. From beyond‌‌ the black clouds,‌ something enormous seemed‍ to groan.

“Sword⁠ that defeats the‌⁠ sword.”

Thousands‌‌ of sashimis pierced⁠‌ through the clouds.‌

And⁠‍ an instant later,⁠‌‌ they emerged again.‍‌ Their half-burned Daiso⁠⁠ tags fluttered like tails.

“Overcharged.”‍

The⁠ sashimis, charged with‍⁠ electricity, pecked at‌‌‌ the bolts. In‌ that clear sky,⁠ a chase began‌ between the lightning⁠ of the End⁠‌ and my sashimis.⁠

“Hah-ha!”

It⁠ was a battle‍‍ cry.

Abel⁠ cut the remnants⁠‌⁠ with precision, scattering‌‌ them.

Elegant.‌‌⁠

A swordsmanship so precise‍‍ that it was beautiful. Neither lacking‍ nor excessive.

A sword dance that could be considered perfect without fear⁠ of exaggeration.

My‍ Thunder Dragon had given her wings.‌⁠ She literally looked like the spirit‍ of the sword.‌‍

Even⁠⁠ those who couldn’t‌ flee were left‌‌ stunned, staring at⁠⁠⁠ her.

“Damn it!”

One of the bolts⁠ Abel hadn’t managed‍⁠ to cut fell‍ to the ground.‌ There were people⁠ at the impact‍ point.

“Shit,‍‌ change position!”

A yellow flash grazed⁠⁠ Abel’s shoulder.

It‌ was Rachel.

“The‍ best defense is…!”‌⁠

Rachel‍ spun her double-bladed⁠ spear like a windmill.

“…The‍‌ attaaaack!”

A silver circle deflected‍ the trajectory of‌‌ the bolt. Not⁠ even the lightning⁠⁠‍ of the End‍ could pierce through‍‌ that colossal kinetic‍ energy.

“Let’s‌‍⁠ go!”

“Yes!”⁠‌

Leon‌⁠‍ and Media charged⁠ toward the densest‌ lightning. As expected‌ from the Hero‍ and the Sage,⁠ their movements were‌ on another level.⁠

Leon,‌‍‌ the Nephilim.

Angel‍⁠‌ wings.

The⁠‍⁠ Sword of Good‍‌ and Evil, Balmung.

Leon⁠ glided through the gaps in the⁠‍ fire net like a butterfly. When⁠‌ the timing was‍‌ right, he struck‌‍ the lightning with‌ Balmung and deflected‍‌ it with a powerful twist.

Whoosh!‌⁠‌

Ryozo fired arrows at‍‌ the exact moment‍ to interrupt the lightning from the‌ enemy eyes.

She‍ did not have⁠ the extraordinary physical‍ abilities of Abel⁠‌ or Rachel. So⁠ she created the optimal combat environment⁠⁠ for her allies,‍ weaving a net‍ in the sky‍‌‌ to give them‌ the advantage.

“Heavenly‌‌ Net.”

The‍ name of her‍‍ technique was no⁠ exaggeration. The arrows⁠⁠ she fired always⁠ interfered at least⁠‌ once with the‌‍ lightning.

As‍ she drew the‍‌ bowstring, Ryozo glanced at me.

She drew a soft‌ curve with her‍ lips.

Even‌ in the middle of a desperate‌ situation, Ryozo smiled.⁠‌ Whenever she looked⁠ at me, she smiled.

“Since⁠‍ my days as‌‌ a cadet, there‍ were only two‌‍ scores for me‍ 10 or 0.”‌‌‍

“……”

That‍ gave me comfort.‍‍ Even if the‍‌ world, the universe,‌‍‌ the power of‍⁠ suppression, and even⁠⁠ the past denied‍‍‍ me.

“I‍‍‌ always shot thinking⁠ that if I missed, I’d die.⁠ And I never missed.”

“……”‌‌

You, and yours, affirm‍‍⁠ me with a smile.

“Do⁠⁠ you know what⁠‍ the secret is?”⁠⁠

You‍ know. You know‍‍ that this calamity‍‌ is completely my‌ fault.

“When⁠‍‌ I imagine the⁠ face of the⁠ person I hated‍ most back then‍⁠ as the target,‌‌ I always hit‍‍ the center. You‍ say the essence‍ of an archer‌ is to have‍⁠ a mind calm‌ like water? Nonsense.”‌‍

“…Ryozo…”‌‌

“In‍‌ the end, the‌ bow is fired‌ with emotion. That’s‍‍ the difference with a firearm. Whenever⁠ I shoot, I imagine the face‌ of the person‌‍ I hated most‌⁠ back then.”

The‌ drops of sweat‍ shone like pearls‌‍ in the air.

Ryozo‌⁠⁠ looked at me.⁠

“Geom-Ma,‌ even if you‌ always have that‍ expressionless face, I can see your⁠⁠‌ emotions. While you⁠ swing the sashimi‍⁠ with all your‌‌‍ strength, you’re still⁠ fighting yourself.”

…Haha.‌

“Really… I can’t with‍⁠ you.”

“Geom-Ma.”‍

My face reflected in‍ her transparent pupils.⁠

“Do‍‍ what you believe‍ is right.”

“Ryozo…”⁠⁠

“We’ll⁠‍ cover your back.”‍‌

Instead‍ of taking my‍ hand, Ryozo nocked⁠‍ another arrow onto⁠‍ the string.

“If‌⁠ you keep wanting‌‌ to do everything‍ alone, the next‍ target in my‌ imagination won’t be‍ the bullseye, but you. Keep that‌ in mind.”

That‍ must not happen.‌‍

“Thank‍‌ you. You woke‍ me up at‌ once.”

Ryozo‍ cut it off⁠⁠‍ firmly.

“Don’t‍ thank anyone so easily. Neither me‍ nor anyone else.‍ I… no, we‍ stay by your⁠ side because you‍‍ inspire us with‌ your firm attitude.‌ Don’t feel guilty‌‍⁠ toward anyone. If‍ you think something‌⁠ is right, do‍ it. I’ll handle‌‍ the calculations, Abel⁠‍ will clean up‌ the mess, and⁠ the rest we’ll⁠ resolve as well.”‍

“……”⁠

“You‍ are…”

Another⁠ arrow was fired.‌‌

“…Our‍ pride.”

That phrase pierced my‍ chest like an arrow.

***

Thanks‍ to the intervention⁠ of Kang Geom-Ma‍⁠ and his group, Hawaii suffered relatively⁠ little damage from‍ the End.

But⁠ only relatively. Not‍⁠ everyone was safe.‍

“Graaaaah!”⁠⁠⁠

Those⁠‍⁠ struck by the‍‍ lightning twisted in agony.

With‌ bulging eyes, they⁠‍ clawed at the‌ ground with bloody fingernails.

“Ugh…⁠‍ Aah! It hurts…!”‌‌

On‌⁠ the skin of⁠‌ the irradiated, blood⁠ blisters began to‌ sprout. Before long,‍‌⁠ marks engraved with‍⁠⁠ blood appeared.

They weren’t mere scars—they‍⁠ were blood insignias.⁠⁠

“…N-no… it doesn’t hurt‌ anymore…”

After⁠ screaming in pain for a long‌ while, several began‌ to rise with⁠⁠ strange expressions.

They‌⁠⁠ opened and closed⁠⁠ their fists.

“I‌ feel… as if‍⁠ strength is flowing‍ into me.”

“Yes…‍‍ this is power.‍ I think I understand what kind‍‍ of power it‍ is.”

A purple glow coursed‍ through their bodies.‍

“Magic.”‌‌

One of them snapped‌ his fingers as⁠ he muttered. A ball of fire‌⁠⁠ formed in his⁠ palm.

Fireball.‌‍

Without⁠ a doubt, it‌‍ was a fire-type⁠‍ spell.

“I‍ can… I can‌ use magic?”

“Me⁠ too!”

“What‍ is this?!”

Their‌⁠ expressions were unsettling.‌

Although‌‌ they seemed confused,‍ they couldn’t suppress‍⁠ the spasmodic smiles‍⁠ creeping across their⁠‍ cheeks.

Their⁠‍ faces screamed euphoria—one that words could⁠ not explain.

“This…‌ is the Golden‍ Age they spoke‍ of.”

As‍ soon as someone whispered that, he⁠ darted out like‍ an arrow. Toward‍ the lightning.

His pupils had shrunk‌ with madness.

“Idiots!‌⁠‌ If that lightning⁠⁠‌ hits you, you‌ can use magic! Who cares about‌ a few seconds‌⁠⁠ of pain!”

“Looking⁠‍⁠ at it that‍ way…!”

“Damn‍‍‍ it! I need‍ more! More lightning!”⁠

“Damn‍‍‌ it! Throw rocks⁠ from above or‍ something! Stop that‌ lightning! You guys⁠ are already strong,⁠ that’s why you‍ want to get‍‌⁠ rid of it, but we’re trash,‌ so we need⁠ to be hit⁠ more!”

The⁠ situation was taking‌‍‌ a disturbing turn.‍‍‍ They were blaming‌ the heroes fighting⁠ for them.

Welter,‌ who had been⁠⁠ watching everything, was⁠ stunned.

“What‍⁠ the hell is going on…?”

The people had been‌⁠‍ suddenly overtaken by‌ greed. They were‍ even drooling.

One‍ thing was clear—that‌⁠ lightning was dangerous.⁠‍

Fortunately,‍‌ Kang Geom-Ma was‍‍‍ in Hawaii, which⁠⁠ was why the‌ damage had been⁠ contained.

But⁠‍ this was probably happening all over the world. And‌ if there were‍‍ worse places, there‌ would be many,‍ but none would⁠ be better.

Thump.‍⁠

Someone⁠ rammed their shoulder into Welter’s as⁠‍ they passed. He‍‌ was heading straight⁠ for the lightning.‌‍

Welter⁠ grabbed the back‍⁠‌ of his neck‍⁠ and slammed him‌ into the sand.‍‌

“Grrr…⁠ Let go! I told you to‌‌ let go!”

“You⁠ no longer have‌‌ human eyes.”

His⁠⁠‍ pupils reeked with‍⁠ a foul stench.‍

“Lady Saint.”

“Wait.‌‌ I’m thinking.”

Even⁠ with lightning raining⁠ down from the⁠‍ sky, Yu Sein‍ remained pensive, chin⁠⁠ resting on her hand.

“Damn it.”

She⁠‌ clicked her tongue.⁠‌

‘What‍ patience this End of the World has.’

Although‍ it had shown‍‌ signs constantly, the⁠‍ End itself was⁠‍ still in its‍‍‍ preparation phase.

It⁠ had appeared in‌‌ the form of‌‍ a mobile game.⁠⁠‍ It had planned‌ to lure users‌ in and only⁠ appear when the⁠‍ timing was right.⁠

But‌ they had been⁠‌ completely caught off‌‍⁠ guard. The release‍ of “Blessing of⁠‍ the Apocalypse M 2nd” had barely⁠ been out for‌ a month, and already the cataclysm‍ had arrived early.⁠‍

‘Although‌‌ the scale is‌ smaller because of‌‍⁠ that—that’s as far‌ as it goes.’‍

She,⁠⁠ who always faced⁠‌ everything calmly, now‍ had a deeply⁠‌ somber look.

It‍⁠ was then that‍⁠ Welter felt a chill. Turning his‌⁠⁠ head, a red⁠‍ light washed over⁠‍ them.

“……!”⁠

Just‌ as he feared,‌‌⁠ the lightning was‍‌ coming toward them‌ too.

Even‍⁠ though it had‌‍ already been split‍⁠ multiple times by⁠⁠ Kang Geom-Ma’s group,⁠ it was still‌ fast.

‘The⁠‌ lightning is too‌‍‌ fast!’

Someone‍‌‌ was going to⁠‌ be struck. One‌⁠ of the two,‌‌ for sure.

“If⁠ someone has to⁠⁠ take it…”

Welter‍‌⁠ lunged without hesitation.⁠‍

He‌‍‍ embraced Yu Sein.⁠

“Welter!”‌

The‌ red glow settled‍‍ on her face.‌

“Guh…‍⁠ Aaaargh…”

The‌ pain Welter felt‍ was so immense‌‌‍ it pulsed like‍‌ a vibration. His‌ veins bulged from‍⁠ his neck.

“Oh,‌‍ oh foreign God…⁠ please look upon‍ me with compassion…‍⁠ Protect the Saint!”‍

Even while being destroyed⁠‍⁠ from within, Welter pleaded. Then he rested his forehead‌⁠ on Yu Sein’s‌‌ shoulder.

……‍‍

“Hey.”‌‍⁠

She⁠⁠‍ shook him.

“……”‍

“Welter.”⁠‌

“……”‍

“Wake‌‍ up!”

“Hngh!”⁠⁠‌

Welter jerked his head up. He blinked⁠ several times until his gaze regained‌ focus.

He⁠‌ looked exactly the‍ same as before‍‌‍ being struck by⁠ the lightning.

And‌ the magic?

Snap.⁠

He‌⁠‌ snapped his fingers.‌

Nothing happened.

“……”‌

Th-this…!⁠‌⁠

Welter⁠⁠ clasped his hands⁠‍ together and bowed.‌⁠⁠

“Oh,‌ foreign God. Thank⁠‌‍ you for protecting‍ me!”

“Protecting⁠‍‌ you, my ass.”‍‍‌

“…Pardon?”‌

Welter was bewildered by⁠ Yu Sein’s cutting⁠⁠ words.

“What⁠⁠⁠ you said isn’t‌‌ that far-fetched. If‌‌ you survived the‌‌ lightning, it’s because⁠‌ of what’s inscribed‌ on your cloak.”‌⁠

“You mean…?”

A cross-shaped symbol drawn‍‍ on the wrinkled‍ cloak.

“The⁠ Seal of Cain.”‌‌

“Since‍⁠ someone had already‌ ‘claimed’ you, even⁠ if another wanted‌⁠ to afterward, they⁠ can’t.”

“I-is that even possible?”⁠⁠

“I‌ understood… huh?”

Did⁠‍⁠ I hear wrong?‌

“What‌ must a game‌ have?”

“A‍‍ player. And…”

Ah.⁠

“A‌ monster.”

“There’s no time for⁠ more explanations. If⁠⁠ you mention Kang‍ Geom-Ma’s name, they’ll‌‌‍ cower and crawl‌⁠ over here. If‌⁠ you tell them‍⁠ to subjugate humans,‌⁠ they’ll obey.”

The‌ demons melt for⁠ Kang Geom-Ma.

“Alright,‌⁠‍ I understand… for⁠‌‍ now.”

“The‌‌ second step is⁠ that we create‍‌‍ a new game‍ within this reality.‌ From Kali Yuga’s‌ perspective, this would‍ be… a bug.”‌

“My‍ head’s starting to‌ hurt.”

How‍‍ does she expect‍ someone who doesn’t⁠⁠⁠ even know multiplication⁠‍ to understand differential‍‌‍ calculus, Lady Saint?⁠‍‌

“We‍‍ have to raise⁠ the dignity of‌‌⁠ the character Kang‌‌ Geom-Ma above that⁠ thing that casts‌‍‍ spells. Then, the⁠‌ host will appear⁠⁠ on its own.”⁠⁠

“Isn’t‍ that why those‌ bulging eyes are out there trying⁠‍ to block everything?”‍

“Exactly.”‍

“So‌‌ what do we‌ do?”

“That…”‌

Yu‌⁠ Sein’s voice faded.‌‍

“…We’ll‌ have to think‍ about it.”

It⁠ was at that‍ moment.

“In‌‌ clichés, there’s something‌‌ like this.”

Someone‌‍ suddenly barged into‌⁠ the conversation. Yu‌‍ Sein and Welter turned their gaze.‌‌‌

“‘I⁠‌ am powerful’ doesn’t⁠‌ have as much‍ impact as ‘I was recognized by⁠⁠ such a person.’⁠ Believe me. I’ve‌ designed games, so‍⁠ I know this⁠‍ well.”

A man in a Hawaiian shirt and sandals approached.

Yu‍ Sein’s black eyes widened as they‌ met him.

“H-how…?”

“And‌ if that ‘such‌ person’ happens to‍ be the progenitor‍ of heroes.”

A man with black‍ hair.

“Wouldn’t⁠‍ that raise my‌ son’s status quite⁠ a bit?”

He‍ bit into his⁠ ice cream with‌ force.