The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 415: Soybean Powder (2)

Chapter 415: Soybean Powder (2)

It‌⁠ had been a week since then.‍‌⁠

Seoul,‌‌⁠ which had been‌ torn to shreds,‌‍ began to see‌ its real estate‌ prices plummet.

The‍ people close to‌ me told me‌⁠ I didn’t need‍⁠ to feel guilty‍‌ about that.

Thanks⁠⁠ to them, I managed to shake⁠ off that uncomfortable‍‌ feeling a little.⁠

However,⁠‍ that was only‍‌ the opinion of‍ those around me.‍ It didn’t necessarily represent public opinion.‌‌

On Earth, citizens of⁠‍ Seoul would get⁠⁠‍ furious even if‌ a simple sinkhole‌‌ appeared in the‌ neighborhood, all to⁠‌ stop the news‌ from spreading.

The‌ reason? If it‍ made the media,⁠‍ housing prices dropped.

From‌‍ their point of⁠⁠ view, a sinkhole⁠⁠‍ was a man-made‍ disaster, whereas Kali⁠‌⁠ Yuga was a natural disaster.

If‌ you get strict, the second shouldn’t⁠ cause complaints. When⁠ a tsunami strikes,⁠ are you going to blame the‌ sea?

You⁠ can criticize the‍⁠ government for not‌ responding properly, but‌ blaming the sea—that’s‌ just a waste‌⁠ of time.

My‍ family and those‍ close to me‍ thought the same‌ as I did.⁠⁠‍

But for those who‍ suffered the disaster‍ firsthand—that is, the‌‌ citizens of Seoul—their‍ opinion might be‌‍‍ different.

And⁠‌ it was only‌‍ natural that they‍‍ harbored negative feelings toward me.

In‍ fact, during the‌‍ chaos caused by‌ Kali Yuga, groups‌ unhappy with me‌‌ had already been identified.

And⁠⁠ to top it⁠‌ off, I had‌⁠ used both Kali⁠ Yuga and all‍‌ of Seoul as the stage for‌⁠ a showdown.

On⁠‍ top of that,‍ all of it‌ had been broadcast‍ nationwide at some point.

‘It‌ wouldn’t be strange⁠⁠ if they took it out on‍‌ me.’

If⁠‍ in Seoul they⁠ raised hell even⁠ over a hole‌‌⁠ in the street,⁠ it wasn’t very⁠‌ likely they’d say:⁠‍

“Ah,‌ I see! Sir‌⁠‍ Heavenly Sword only‌‌‍ wanted to protect‍ us! That makes‍ sense!” and nod⁠‍⁠ along.

Even⁠‍ the people close⁠‍ to me expected⁠⁠ a pretty negative⁠ future.

But‌ they were all wrong.

Even‍ the most prestigious intellectuals had gathered‌‌ to analyze the situation, but the‌ outcome waiting for‍ us was one‌‍ no one had predicted.

***‍

“Geom-Ma.”⁠

Ryozo‌ shared her opinion⁠ with me privately.⁠‍

“From⁠‍‌ the start, we’re⁠‌ already stuck at‍⁠ the stage of⁠⁠⁠ convincing them that Kali Yuga was a natural disaster.”‍‌‌

Since‍⁠ that day, she‌ had been working‍‍ nonstop in every‍ sense. Most of‍ her tasks were⁠‌‍ related to cleaning‌ up the disaster.

“Both you and Yu‍‌⁠ Sein already explained‍ everything in detail,‌⁠ so we understand,‍ but it’s very⁠ likely neither the⁠ public nor ordinary‌‌ heroes will accept‍ it. Since we’ve‍ already decided the government will handle‍ this in coordination‍ with us, we just have to‍⁠ pacify public opinion.”⁠‌

“Do⁠ you have any‍⁠ ideas in mind?”‌

I asked while rubbing‌⁠ my bruised eyelid with an egg.⁠

Ryozo⁠ had called me‌ to the director’s‍ office, and when‌⁠ I arrived, I saw a basket full of eggs on the table.⁠

“No.”

She‌‌ answered in a dry, withered voice.⁠

That cold look wasn’t‌ directed at me. It was a veiled warning for‌‍ the protest groups‌⁠‌ that would soon‍ begin to appear.‍

“Geom-Ma,⁠ if you apologize,‌‌ it’ll be like‍‍⁠ admitting you’re guilty.‌ You’d be saying‍ I’ll be the‌‍ scapegoat. And that’s‍ exactly what Kali⁠ Yuga wanted, isn’t‍ it?”

She‍ was right. Ryozo rarely got things‌ wrong.

“The⁠ citizens of Seoul are looking for‌‍ a target to‍‍ dump their resentment on. For now⁠ they’re quiet, but‌⁠ if not tomorrow,⁠‍ soon protests and⁠ chaos will begin.‍ And if you‌⁠ show up at that moment…”

“Everything‍‌‌ will spiral out‍‌ of control.”

“So⁠⁠ don’t.”

This had nothing to‍‌ do with being‌‌ irresponsible. Ryozo insisted‌⁠ many times afterward‍⁠ that I bore‌⁠ no blame for‌ what happened.

Being an adult was‌ exhausting.

Back⁠⁠ in my student⁠ days, many things‍‍ were overlooked with⁠ the excuse of‍ being young.

But‍ now that I’m‍⁠ a recognized hero,⁠‌‌ a famous figure,‍‍⁠ and also someone⁠ who gets paid,‌⁠ plenty of people‌ must be desperate‍ to find some‍⁠ excuse to bring‌‌ me down.

And⁠⁠ for those impatient⁠ dogs, I, Kang⁠ Geom-Ma, was the perfect target.

After‍ all, I had‌⁠ every ingredient to‍⁠ make them hate⁠‍‍ me.

— I’m a special‍‌‌ ascended.

— I get along⁠ terribly with nobles.‍‌

— There are citizens‌ who oppose me‍⁠ just for existing.‌‌

That‍‍ last reason, actually,⁠ was because of‌ my family members.‍ Anyone would feel bitter when faced⁠‌ with such an⁠ imposing woman—and it⁠ wasn’t just one,⁠‌⁠ I had two wives!

Even⁠‍‌ I would get‍‌⁠ jealous if it‍ were someone else.⁠⁠⁠

And‌‌‌ besides.

‘Ryozo,‌ she…’

She⁠⁠ really implied that,‍⁠‌ if it was⁠⁠ for me, she was ready to‌ face the entire‍⁠⁠ world.

“You‍‌ just worry about⁠‌ spending time with‍ father. It’s been‍ a long time⁠ since you saw‌ him.”

By‌‍ “father,” she meant⁠‌ the Master.

He‌⁠‍ almost officially became “father” after Rachel started calling him‌ that, but—

— But Geom-Ma, your parents… back when⁠ I was still‌ director…

Media cut her off⁠ with a single‌‌‌ comment.

And‍‍ at that moment,‍ the Sword Master⁠⁠ shone with his‍ wit.

— He’s Kang Geom-Ma’s‍‍‌ father.

— …Father?

— It’s said he‌ spent a long‍ time training in‍⁠ isolation in Gehenna.‍⁠‌ At the time,‍‌ he even supervised⁠⁠ my swordsmanship practice.‌⁠

— But he looks‌‍ way too young…‍

— So what if‌ he does? Age‍‍ doesn’t matter if‌‍⁠ you can learn‌⁠ something. Even from‍⁠ a three-year-old child.⁠‌

— Look, coming from‌⁠ someone else maybe, but you, you⁠ old grouch, I don’t buy it‌‌ at all.

…It‍‌‍ was a clumsy‍ excuse, but it worked pretty well.‍ My family and‌ friends bought it.⁠‌‌

They,‍ upon seeing a single black hair,‌‍ completely surrendered. If they thought someone⁠ shared my blood,‍⁠ they melted with‍ affection.

Even⁠‍ with Yu Sein,‍ or with Chaerina,⁠‌ my old companions‍ couldn’t help falling‍ for it. This‌‌‍ already felt like a religious cult.‌⁠

The⁠‌‌ master, who until‍ recently had been‌‌‌ beating me to‍⁠ a pulp, fell silent as soon‌‍ as the Sword⁠ Master glanced at him. He didn’t‌‍ say anything, which⁠ was his way of agreeing.

It‌‌‍ seemed that, since⁠ it wasn’t that‍ important a matter,‌ he decided to‌‍ overlook it.
He⁠ didn’t like lies.⁠

— And with that,‌ I don’t want‍⁠ to hear that‌ nonsense again about⁠ him being your‌⁠‌ disciple.

It⁠‌ seemed there was⁠‍ some sort of‍‌ “deal” between them‍⁠‍ too, but when‍ I asked, both‌ the master and the Sword Master completely ignored me.‌⁠‌

How‌⁠ sad.

‘Tch.’⁠‌⁠

Ugh.‌

What‍‍ I tasted in‌‌ my mouth wasn’t⁠ just bitterness—it was⁠⁠ the taste of‌ blood!

‘Even⁠‍ if you’re an‌‌⁠ old grouch, this⁠‍ is too much!’‌

How‌⁠ could he do‌‍ this to me, his son he‌ hadn’t seen in‌‍ years?

I licked my swollen‍‍ lips.

Ryozo‍ smiled sweetly at‌ me and handed⁠ me another egg.‍

“This‌‌ one’s organic.”

“…Ah,‍ I see.”

What⁠⁠ a strange way⁠ to put it.‌

“The‍⁠‍ swelling will go‍ down soon, right?”‌‍‌

Her‌⁠⁠ comments were completely disconnected.

“If‌ you need more,‌‌ tell me. I can even rent‌⁠‍ out an entire farm.”

“…”

“What?‍⁠ Did you want‍ to say something⁠ else?”

“No,‍ it’s just that…”‌‌

I toyed with the‌ egg in my⁠ hands, searching for⁠‍‍ the right words.⁠

“About⁠‍ the gang boss—I‍‍⁠ mean, my father.⁠ Aren’t you going⁠‌ to say anything⁠ about him beating‌ me up?”

“Oh,‍ please. You call‍‍ that a beating?‍ That was family⁠⁠‌ education. E-du-ca-tion.”

I wanted to ask‌ if she thought⁠⁠ seeing my swollen,‌ bruised face every‌‍⁠ time I looked‌‌ in the mirror‌‍‍ was part of⁠ a lesson.

I was starting to doubt her qualifications‍ as an educator.‍

Maybe‍‌ she noticed my⁠‍ suspicious expression, because‌⁠‌ she turned her‍ chair. She gave‌‍‍ me her back‌⁠ and spoke while looking out the‍‌ window.

“Father’s⁠ right. Two wives‌‍ are enough. Even‍ if it’s not⁠‍ legally an issue,⁠ adding more could⁠‍‌ cause conflict. He’s‍ right, he really‌⁠ is. A wise‌ man.”

“But‌⁠ I… don’t have⁠ any intention of‌‌ taking more wives.”‍‍

“And‍‌ yet, you haven’t‍ been clear with‌‍ Rachel or with‌⁠⁠ the former director.‌‌ That’s the same‌ as giving them‍⁠‌ hope. Do you‍‌‌ understand?”

“Hmm.”‌

“Anyway,‍‍‍ Geom-Ma. I’d like‍ you to talk⁠ more with your father. I heard‌ you hadn’t seen‍ him in more⁠‍ than ten years.‌ Listen to him‌‍⁠ more, learn more…⁠‌ and take more‌ hits.”

“Hmm?”‍‍

Hits?‌

Did I hear that‍‍⁠ right?

“Today’s⁠⁠ the 13th, so⁠ see you tonight.”‍‌

I was practically kicked‌‌ out of the⁠ director’s office. I walked dragging my‍ feet, thinking.

Maybe⁠ today I can‌‍ actually talk to⁠‍‌ him a little?⁠

‘Though⁠‌‍ the others won’t⁠ leave him alone…’‌

And‍ since it had‍ been so long‌⁠ since I last⁠‍⁠ saw him, I also felt a bit uncomfortable.

Step,‍ step.

Walking‌ aimlessly, I soon‍‌ arrived home.

I took a deep‌ breath and opened⁠⁠ the door.

The‍ scene was exactly⁠‍ the same as⁠‌‍ yesterday. I stood‍‌ on the threshold,‍⁠ unable to step‌‍ inside.

‘This‌‌‍ is a disaster.’‍‌

They⁠ didn’t even notice‍⁠ I had arrived.‍⁠

“Father.‍ Was everything in order at noon‍‍ today?”

Rachel⁠ bowed with an‌‍ elegant curtsy, imitating‌‍‌ a noble young‌⁠ lady from a prestigious family.

The⁠⁠‍ master, who at‌‌ first seemed reluctant,‌ was now resigned.‍⁠‍

“Rachel.‌‌ Why do you⁠⁠ give me that‍ formal bow every‌ hour?”

“To‌‌ earn your favor,⁠ father.”

“Haha.⁠ I don’t even know what to⁠‌‌ say to something⁠⁠ so honest. You’re‍‍ so transparent it’s‌ scary.”

“I’m⁠ flattered.”

“It⁠‌ was supposed to‍‌ make you feel‌ embarrassed.”

Leaving⁠‌ that aside, lately⁠⁠ the internet was‍‍ in an uproar.‌ Rumors were spreading⁠ that the founding‍‌ hero had returned.⁠

The‌ problem was, they⁠‌ weren’t baseless—they were‍ very well-founded.

I had to ask⁠ the master about⁠‍ it,

“Fatheeeer!”‍

Like‌‌ now, he never‍ gave me the‍ chance.

“It’s⁠ ready~!”

A honeyed voice flew⁠⁠ toward the master.‍‌‌ Media, wearing an⁠⁠‍ apron, placed a dish with a purple substance in front of him.⁠

“Here‍‍ you go.”

“…Lady‌ Media.”

The‌⁠‍ academy’s first director,‍ using honorifics with‌‍ the former director.⁠

According⁠‍ to background, the‍ masterwas younger than‍‌ Media.

That‌ she was an‍ ancient was already‌ an open secret.‍

Since‌ she had a sense of age⁠‍ different from normal‍ humans, Media looked⁠⁠‍ like she was⁠ in her twenties.‌ The master, on‍⁠⁠ the other hand,‌ was in mental‌ conflict.

“How‍‌ can she look‍ like she’s in⁠‌ her twenties if‌⁠ she’s lived more⁠ than eighty years?”‌

He thought, horrified.

‘When⁠ is he going‌ to reveal he’s Balor Joaquin? If‍‍ this keeps up,‌ the family tree will get way⁠ too tangled.’

Although⁠‍‌ he would reveal⁠‍ his identity later,⁠‍‌ for now we‌ had to maintain⁠ this facade.

In⁠‌⁠ many ways, we’re⁠ a dysfunctional family.‍⁠ The fact that‌‌ this is my⁠‌⁠ family is a sad reality.

Hehehe.⁠⁠

“I‌‌ told you to⁠ call me more‍‍ casually.”

Media‍‌⁠ waved her hands with an awkward⁠⁠‌ laugh.

“Then‌⁠ I’ll speak casually.⁠⁠ What is this?”⁠

“Your‍ lunch.”

Whoa!⁠‌ Just seeing it‌⁠⁠ made my chest⁠ shiver.

“It was my father’s favorite dish.”

Finally,‌ the reason Victor‌ Poison, the previous⁠‌ president of the⁠ Association, had turned‌ into a lunatic‌‌ was revealed. It‍⁠ also explained his⁠ constant suicide attempts.⁠‍‌

It⁠ was because he⁠‌ lived threatened with⁠⁠ being poisoned daily.‍‍

“…This⁠ looks like something‌⁠ I saw in‍‍‍ Gehenna. Like something‍‍ an unknown monster‌ vomited after eating⁠ the wrong thing.”‌‍

“You⁠⁠ mean it’s an⁠ exotic dish!”

“Did‍⁠ your group cast‌ some kind of spell on Kang‌ Geom-Ma? That guy’s‍‍ power isn’t hypnosis,‍‍ but…”

While‌‌ the master shook his head, he‍‌ noticed me.

At‌‍ last he saw‍ me.

“Hey,‌ you!”

The‍⁠ chair he was‌‌‌ sitting on crashed‍ to the ground.‌ I turned around‍‍ immediately.

I felt a sharp‍‍ chill and fled⁠ without hesitation.

“You‍ brat! Stop!”

The‍‌ master chased me⁠ with the sashimi‌⁠ knife in hand.⁠

“Would‍ you stay still‌ if you were‌ in my shoes?”‍

“What‌‍ kind of madness⁠⁠ did you pull‍⁠ in my homeland,‍ huh? Did you‌⁠ get the Blessing⁠⁠ of some hypnosis⁠ app?”

“Please⁠ don’t change the‍ genre of Blessing‍⁠ of the Apocalypse⁠‍⁠ M 2nd!”

“You⁠ bastard!”

A peaceful day, at‍‌‌ last.

***‍‌

A while later.

“…That’s‌ how it happened.”⁠‌

I had escaped to⁠‍ the Sword Master’s temporary shelter.

As⁠‌ an extra note, I managed to‍‌ evade the master’s‍‍ pursuit by activating⁠‌ the “Blessing of‌⁠⁠ the God of⁠ the Sword.”

The‍ bald man had‌‍ rejuvenated and ran⁠‌ with great agility.‍‌ Since my lightning⁠ magic had been⁠ confiscated, I had‌ no other choice.⁠‍‌

“I‍⁠‌ see.”

The⁠ Sword Master frowned‍‍ with pity.

Abel‌⁠ brought some tea.

“Drink.⁠ It will calm⁠ your unsettled heart.”‍

“Thanks.”⁠‌

“Hehe,‌ well. Father is‌‍ incredible, no doubt,‌ but this…”

The‍ Sword Master cleared‌⁠ his throat as‌‍ he chose his⁠⁠‍ words.

‘He’s⁠ the only person⁠ besides me who‌‌ knows the master‍‌ is the founding‍‍ hero.’

That’s⁠ why he had‌ made his temporary‍‍⁠ residence my hiding⁠ place.

Also‌ because, seeing my‌ pitiful state, he‌ had extended me‍‌ a warm hand.‌⁠

With⁠⁠ his one hand,‍ he patted my⁠ back.

“Is‌‌‍ all this difficult⁠‍ for you?”

“I’m⁠⁠⁠ fine. I’ve gotten‍ used to it.”‍

“Living‍‌ as a renowned‍ hero, there comes⁠‍ a point where one questions humanity⁠⁠‍ as a species.‍‍⁠ Sometimes, in an‍ almost heretical thought,⁠ one thinks demons‍‍ are more understandable.”

In‍ his deep golden⁠ eyes, I found‌⁠⁠ comfort.

Because‌ it was me.‌‍

Because⁠‌⁠ I was Kang‍ Geom-Ma, his words‌‍ resonated in my chest.

“It’s absurd, isn’t it?‌ That demons, a completely alien species,‌‍ seem easier to‍‍ understand. That’s how⁠ misunderstood a savior⁠‌ hero is destined‍ to be.”

“Thank‌‍ you.”

“No‍‍ need.”

The⁠ Sword Master leaned‌⁠ a little closer‍‌ to me.

“After‌⁠ all, you only⁠ have me, don’t‌‍ you?”

“…Huh?”⁠⁠‍

“After‌‍ all, am I not your only⁠ master?”

What’s‍‍ this? I felt‍‌‌ a chill.

‘Looking‍⁠ at him again…’‍⁠‌

In‍ his solemn eyes‍⁠ shone a golden‍‍ madness.

I’d‌⁠‌ seen it before.⁠‌

Possessiveness.‍‌ Greed. Obsession.

“I‍ am your master.‌ Don’t forget it.”‌⁠‌