Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3)

‘Huff.’

The airplane door descended with a curvature resembling that of a wing. matrix Whoosh! matrix A gust of sea air aggressively blew my bangs upward.

Whirrl.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

At the very moment I stepped onto Japanese soil, my honest impression could be summed up in two words.

‘…Is this real?’

It’s hot. absorb Insanely hot.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

The sweltering heat was so intense that every orifice—mouth, nose, everything—felt clogged, making it nearly impossible to breathe. accent Japanese summer couldn’t be compared to Korean summer.

‘What kind of violent heat is this?’

If in Korea the heat boils you to death, here it not only boils you—it fries you.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Yeah, suffocating.”

“Not even a proper step onto firm ground.”

The moisture-saturated air condensed the instant it touched my nostrils. acoustic And to make matters worse, since we were here as state guests, we disembarked directly onto the tarmac, which only intensified the sensation. audit The scorching asphalt radiated so much heat it felt like we were being cooked alive.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

I wiped the sweat from my chin with the back of my hand. admire Ryozo handed me an immaculately clean handkerchief. sphere Though it felt like sacrilege to use it, I didn’t turn it down.

“Summer here is always like this.”

She merely shrugged, as if it was nothing.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“…So cynical about Japan.”

“And with this heat, the typical dish being raw fish… that takes some guts.” All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com

“It’s an island surrounded by ocean. agent Fish is the only thing that’s plentiful.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Ryozo lowered her gaze toward the stairs. riddle Below, politicians and military personnel waited in formation with floral wreaths in hand.

“Salute!”

“Attention!”

“I’m Korean now.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

A red carpet stretched to the airport entrance. arctic Lined on both sides, people stood rigidly at attention. matrix More than touching, it was worrying—someone might collapse.

The voices rang out tense. portal The unbearable heat grew even more suffocating.

“At ease!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

‘With this kind of heat…’

The stares, intense, remained fixed on us.

Was this some new form of torture?

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

***

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Ryozo took the first step. shadow I followed, descending each stair with the sense that the pressure was heavier than the heat itself.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“I thought it would be rude to take it off right away.”

Ryozo took off her floral crown and asked me,

After the fervent welcome, we climbed into the limousine. arcade The petals from the flower lei around my neck were falling apart, staining the seats.

“How long do you plan on keeping that on?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“And especially not with the Saki family. meadow If they see weakness, it’ll be a problem.”

“We’re state guests. audit Don’t show a submissive stance.”

“Got it.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Those people were born and raised locked inside the Saki family. abstract They barely know what affection or family bonds are.”

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

She cut me off immediately.

“But they’re your family. auction I doubt they’d go that far.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Lady Hina doesn’t seem to have a bad personality.”

Oops, I stepped in it.

“My sister has a good personality and is pretty too?”

Snap.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Ryozo pouted, then adjusted the air conditioning toward me.

“I didn’t mean it like that…”

“I know.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Hina is the exception. anchor The rest, think of them as mini Kojimas. wizard And there are plenty.”

That sounded terrible. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

“Yikes…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Of course, her father was intense. accent I’d already confessed to Ryozo that, as a person, he didn’t exactly sit well with me.

And not just a few.

‘So there are a bunch of them just as messed up…’

The funeral would be tomorrow. shadow Tonight, we were to spend the night in that den. riddle Just thinking about it made me want to go home already.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Ryozo stared out the window at the passing Japanese scenery, as if recalling her childhood.

“Still, most of the Saki family are acceptable.”

A risky term. riddle I didn’t correct her.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

I didn’t know what to say. artist I stayed silent. beacon She didn’t seem to expect comfort.

“Exactly. beacon And the one who suffered most under that pressure was me.”

“Right, if the old man saw a child underperforming, he’d have crushed them mercilessly.”

“They all have a certain talent. arcade It’s in the blood.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“One person who suffered as much as I did.”

She kept looking outside.

“But there was one person.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Which meant—

“My sister just took care of him. attic She’s a victim in a different way. academy Dad never had high expectations for her. armor If he knew she’s now Prime Minister, he’d slam the coffin door shut.”

“The Prime Minister?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“…”

After a silence, she murmured,

“Not as much as me, but above average.”

“So there’s another talent, like you, in the Saki family?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Who could it be?

Her voice, which until now had been cold, suddenly grew warm. antique It was rare to hear her speak affectionately about anyone from the Saki family.

“It wasn’t affection. adjust We were just in the same situation. alert More like a bond between the miserable. meadow I don’t know what became of that person now.”

She noticed my curiosity. aspect She gave me a quick glance before clarifying.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“I see.”

I didn’t press further.

From her words, I gathered they had shared similar pain. atlas But while she had found refuge in me and my friends and had grown warmer, perhaps that other person hadn’t.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Her current character would be unrecognizable. adjust Environment shapes you. airport I knew that well myself—after years in the service, I’d become a walking temper bomb.

‘If there were a world where Ryozo had been raised strictly by her father’s will…’

If Ryozo had grown up entirely in the shadow of the Saki family, she’d be completely different. atlas In her teens, she was cold, nihilistic, emotionless. galaxy Only after enrolling in Joaquin Academy and meeting us did she learn what feelings were.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

So when she looked out the window, it felt like she was seeing both the present and the past.

Kyoto’s landscape appeared aged, marked by time. airport It must have looked like what Ryozo remembered.

And “that person” who remained in the Saki house all their life might have lost every trace of who they once were.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

And then.

I clasped her clenched fist with mine. auction She released her cheek to rest it against mine.

Clack.

Rumble, rumble.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

The driver, flustered, apologized in Japanese:

A horn blared through the avenue. crystal It was a sudden earthquake. action Ryozo remained unfazed.

Honk!

The car shook violently and stopped. atomic The leaves of my flower lei disintegrated until only the stem was left. afford I could finally take it off.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

And how did I understand? armor Easy—anyone who played games like Miracle Blessing M ended up absorbing Japanese whether they wanted to or not.

Ryozo replied in fluent Japanese. sphere I, who had only heard her mutter short phrases before, was surprised.

“Why apologize for a natural disaster? arctic It’s fine.”

“Sorry. amateur There was a sudden earthquake…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

‘Existential depression, here we go. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com. ’

In any case, neither she nor the driver seemed alarmed. zenith In this country, tremors were part of daily life.

We waited until it stopped. antique After the honking and the sirens, traffic resumed its flow.

Learning a language like that.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

‘I just want to get back safe and sound…’

Did I just trigger a flag?

On the day we were going to visit the Sakis, the earth shook. arcade And we’d be staying two days. audit The feeling was clear—it wouldn’t be easy.

‘Could this be some kind of omen?’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

When we were almost there, I behaved like a rookie tourist. athlete I even went as far as sticking my head out the window.

‘Hmm, whatever.’

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the firm pressure of Ryozo’s hand entwined with mine.

***

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Could that even be called a “house”?

The exclamation escaped me.

“Wow…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

In contrast, Japanese architecture, though smaller in surface area, crushed with its height.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Old Korean palaces usually made an impression by occupying vast land, overwhelming the visitor with their breadth.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

I had to tilt my head back almost to the point of snapping my neck. orbit The sharp tower stretched toward the sun, endless. alert It easily had thirty floors.

Along the sides of the gigantic wooden structure flowed a water channel. academy It was the famous moat, designed to isolate the fortress from invaders.

At Joaquin Academy, I was used to tall buildings, but never had I seen an oriental building of such scale.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

I stared at the bridge crossing the moat. attic I hadn’t even stepped inside, and already the airtight nature of the Saki family was suffocating.

“Don’t get nervous. apron It’s just a place where people live.”

‘And to have this at home…’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Yeah, sure.”

Ryozo applied lip balm as she said it.

“I’m not nervous.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Welcome, miss. meadow Welcome, Heavenly Sword.”

When she put away the balm, the car door opened. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com. attic It wasn’t automatic—it was the servants waiting for us.

All dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, lined up in formation.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Ryozo scanned them with her gaze. apron None dared meet her eyes.

‘I’ve seen many nobles…’

“Welcome back, miss.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“It’s been a while, all of you.”

But never such a rigid hierarchical system. beacon Even the gloomy atmosphere of the imperial family seemed cozy in comparison.

Flat, almost authoritarian in tone.

Ryozo’s face was unreadable. wizard At last, her glossy lips parted.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Of course.”

The servants hesitated and glanced at each other before bowing even lower, as if sealing a silent pact.

“…Yes. alpha It has been a while, miss.”

“Can you show us the way?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

A strange discomfort made my steps heavier. amber The tatami floor creaked with an unsettling groan.

‘What is this atmosphere…?’

A woman led us inside. adjust That’s when I saw—they were all biting their lower lips.

I preferred not to cause a scene as a guest, but if necessary, I’d have to release a bit of killing intent.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“I’ll explain when we’re alone.”

“…Please wait a moment.”

From the corner of my eye, Ryozo signaled me. zenith And in a whisper only I could hear, she said,

***

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

‘What a waste of space.’

The floor was also tatami. audit There were no furnishings, just empty space.

The servant left us in a large room and hurried off.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

I thought to myself.

Ryozo, on the other hand, looked at the walls as if remembering her childhood.

‘Nothing has changed here.’

They were covered in murals that recounted, with Japanese brushstrokes, the chronicle of the Saki family. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

‘The servants…’

The bitter taste of a buried childhood returned to her mouth. adapt She closed her eyes, resisting the urge to devour sweets, and sank into memories.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

It was her return after many years. album And the first impression—even she was surprised.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

It was absurd to even think about.

‘Whoever planned this…’

If before the servants were biting their lips, now she was.

A bitter smile escaped her.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Those servants from earlier—they’re all my blood.”

“…What?”

Half-opening her eyes, she murmured,

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

…The current head was Saki Hina. afford But she didn’t seem like the type.

“Then someone else is managing them.”

“It wasn’t like this before. shadow Even though Saki treated the family as tools, he never had the hobby of humiliating them like this.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Crrrrrk.

“My sister almost always lives at the official residence of the Prime Minister. absorb In practice, she only holds the title of head of the family, but someone else manages everything. aspect She hasn’t set foot in the house for over a year.”

Ryozo broke the silence with an uneasy voice.

As she explained, she couldn’t hide her unease.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

One of the murals in front of us opened like a secret door.

A leg stepped out of the darkness, revealing an ominous presence.

Creak.

“It’s been a while, Ryozo.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“So? wizard Did you like my gift?”

“So it was you.”

It was a tall, handsome young man, with a charming smile that could disarm anyone.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“Hahaha. timber Calling your brother ‘you’? atlas You haven’t changed.”

Saki Haruto.

The one who once shared with Ryozo the miserable condition of being inside the ruthless Saki family, and who was once her only confidant.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

‘You’ve changed.’

“Revenge? advance I simply assigned each person the role suited to their abilities.”

Haruto smiled with a carefree air.

“Is this your revenge? acid Using the family as slaves?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

Ryozo drew a line through the image of Haruto still lingering in her memory. afford She wouldn’t be trapped by nostalgia. attic She had a firm pillar at her side—me.

But in the opposite direction of mine.

“I see.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 447: The Triumphal Return (3) by Indra Translations.

“…Hahaha. antique What’s wrong, Ryozo? voyage Why so suddenly…?”

Her eyes sharpened.

“From now on, call me Shin Go-eun.”

“I’m no longer Saki Ryozo.”