Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4)

On an early summer day, with the fresh scent of grass wafting through the air,

The green leaves on the trees sparkled like jewels under the sunlight, and the songs of birds gently brushed the students’ ears.

After the written exams, the academy was teeming with students enjoying the outdoors.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

All the club members were staring at Chloe. amber Even Speedweapon, who carried himself with an intimidating air, like someone who could take down a tiger with his bare hands, swallowed hard, noticing the change in the air.

However, the atmosphere among the cadets sitting on a blanket on the lawn was different. auction It wasn’t fresh; it was tense—almost chilling.

“Chloe?”

In a secluded spot among the bushes, a couple whispered sweet words to each other, while on a nearby bench, a group of girls giggled conspiratorially, gossiping about a classmate.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Speedweapon called her name questioningly, but the aura surrounding Chloe was strange, as if she weren’t herself.

Her vacant eyes and slightly stiff face gave her an unsettling presence. audit It was as if the saying, “A woman with resentment can bring frost even in the height of summer,” had come to life.

“….”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“Hey! shadow Get away from her quickly!”

“What’s going on now? attic Kang Geom-Ma, you know her better. avalanche Do you know why she’s acting this way?”

“What’s wrong with Chloe? admire Why is she acting like this?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Saki tilted her head, confused, while Chloe mirrored the gesture, tilting her own head at an odd angle.

“…”

Placing one hand on the ground, I subtly slid backward to put more distance between Chloe and myself.

Her red-tinged eyes seemed to sink deeper into an unsettling white. ‘What’s that called again? arctic Scleral occlusion?’ I’d heard about it before but never seen it in person.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Her gaze was filled with hostility, and the light in her eyes was fading little by little.

“Kang Geom-Ma?”

Chloe, once a girl with an innocent expression, now had the eyes of a venomous snake.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

At that moment, Chloe, who had been staring at me, spoke my name in a single, thin syllable.

“Chloe, that’s because your number is classified.”

Her voice, sharp and fragile, sent a chill through me—something I hadn’t even felt when facing the Siren or the Buffalo King.

“…You never gave me your phone number.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

She kept murmuring with her small lips, almost inaudibly.

I tried reasoning with her, but my words didn’t seem to reach her.

“You’re always surrounded by other girls… except for me.”

“I only want the best for Kang Geom-Ma, but…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“…Kang Geom-Ma always makes me feel sad.”

‘What the hell is she talking about?’

“…You promised to be my prince.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

‘…Great.’

It was clear that two conflicting personalities were battling inside her.

The part about being surrounded by girls I could let slide, but prince? academy Definitely not.

Chloe, who had been babbling, began to speak faster, murmuring incessantly. armor Her pupils dilated and contracted in an endless cycle.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

This was Chloe entering yandere mode.

Ryozo, still bewildered, came closer and touched my shoulder.

I’d never get used to this, nor did I want to. arctic She had been calm for a while, and I’d let my guard down.

“What the hell is wrong with her?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Chloe’s expression darkened even more at the physical contact. echo I lowered my voice and responded in a whisper.

“…Ryozo, do you know what a yandere is?”

Ryozo stuck out her tongue and made a grimacing expression.

“Yan… what? absorb Ugh, those English words are so difficult. action Remember, I’m Japanese. orbit I’m not used to this.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Even I, someone not particularly into subcultures, knew what a yandere was. afford How could someone like Ryozo, from Japan, not know? alpha Then again, maybe she was pretending ignorance.

Her hand brushed against what looked like a box cutter.

Meanwhile, I noticed Chloe subtly reaching into her pocket.

‘What the hell?’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

‘Guess I’m no better.’

The image of myself that morning flashed through my mind—heading out with Murasame at my waist but forgetting my phone.

Chloe still seemed to have some self-control left, so I figured this was my chance to calm her down.

‘Why does Chloe always carry a box cutter?’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Ryozo, rubbing her forehead, shot daggers at Speedweapon with her eyes, but she didn’t seem to realize he’d just saved her neck.

Meanwhile, Ryozo kept holding onto my sleeve, feigning cluelessness and seemingly enjoying the tension.

What a hit.

Speedweapon, sensing the gravity of the situation, gave her a sharp flick to the forehead and pushed her away.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Even though I had read her diary, where she’d expressed twisted feelings toward me, was this all because I had helped her during the placement exam?

‘Why is she reacting like this to me?’

Meanwhile, Chloe was slowly unsheathing the box cutter, her movements making it clear there was no room for discussion.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Also, as a member of Auditore, shouldn’t she have undergone training to suppress emotions? anchor Was this really love? abandon Or something darker?

Tap, tap.

The method, of course, was conversation.

Various thoughts raced through my mind. auction But for now, calming Chloe was the priority.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Chloe took a step forward, murmuring my name while the box cutter’s blade advanced with a plastic scraping sound. arrow Her crimson eyes seemed to glow even brighter.

I recalled the yandere videos I’d watched before bed.

After the tense situation from last time, I still felt guilty for cutting Chloe’s hair.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I resisted the urge to draw Murasame.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

When conflicts arise, you should try to resolve them with words. admire Isn’t that the clearest difference between humans and beasts?

“Crazy.”

Sure, it had been self-defense; I did it to save my life. aspect But resolving every conflict with weapons wasn’t always the solution.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Meanwhile, Ryozo was watching Chloe and me with an overly bright expression. airport Her face carried an irritating mix of amusement and curiosity, as though enjoying the spectacle rather than trying to intervene.

Despite his strong appearance, he was as soft as butter inside and seemed frozen by Chloe’s peculiarity.

Speedweapon let out a low exclamation of amazement, his face stiff with shock.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Chloe murmured while holding the box cutter, the blade partially extended.

‘She’s getting a good smack later. arctic I can’t let this slide.’

“Kang Geom-Ma.”

At that moment, an unusually cool breeze, unfitting for the midday heat, brushed past my ear.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“From now on, I’ll make sure you only look at me.”

She stepped forward, her eyes blazing with intensity.

“Why don’t we try resolving this through a conversation?”

“Chloe.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

One of her eyebrows arched slightly.

“Conversation? attic You don’t even contact me.”

“…Our relationship?”

“Chloe, I wanted to speak with you face-to-face. arrow Communicating through a piece of junk like a phone would be too cold for our relationship. alien Don’t you think?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Moving toward her with steady steps, Chloe, perhaps caught off guard, hesitated for a moment and retreated slightly. anxiety The fingers holding the pink box cutter trembled almost imperceptibly.

I took a step forward.

I countered Chloe’s threats with determination. anxiety Slowly, her expression seemed to soften.

“Yes, our relationship.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Finally, I stopped just in front of her. anxiety Chloe tilted her head slightly to look up at me.

‘Time to flex my “wit.”’

‘If I say the wrong thing now, I’m getting stabbed.’

I took a deep breath to maintain my composure, masking my confusion with an air of tranquility. advance This was the moment to employ “man’s deception”—to project confidence.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“Kang Geom-Ma?”

A series of video fragments flashed through my mind like a train passing by, each leaving behind a faint sense of exhaustion. apple The tension was so intense that I could almost smell a faint burning scent.

I quickly scanned my memory, recalling the yandere videos I’d watched on YouTube.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“…Huh?”

Hearing her call my name, I slid one hand into my pocket and extended the other to gently pat her head.

“Chloe, thank you for caring about me so much.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

‘Now’s my chance to close the gap.’

A soft, surprised sound escaped her lips, as though she were too flustered to speak.

Chloe’s eyes, previously shrouded in a dark aura, began to regain their light.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

I leaned toward her ear and whispered softly.

“In Buffalo Dungeon, it was the same… I always trust you. arctic So please, don’t get too upset.”

I lifted my head and nodded firmly. wizard A deep blush spread across Chloe’s cheeks.

“Really?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“Hehe~”

“Of course. armor I hope I can continue relying on you in the future.”

An indistinct sound—something between a sigh and a giggle—escaped Chloe. alien Moments later, her expression softened completely, melting like snow under the sun.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

I let out a long sigh of relief. acquire Chloe, now fully calmed, started bouncing slightly in place, her face lit with joy.

Speedweapon, noticing the situation had de-escalated, also sighed in relief. admire For some reason, Ryozo stood nearby with a squinted expression, mouthing something incomprehensible.

“Phew.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Only then did I realize my hand was still gripping the knife handle in my pocket tightly.

‘What’s her deal now?’

As the tension finally dissipated, the fresh air of early summer returned, wrapping around us.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

On an early summer day, with the fresh scent of grass hanging in the air, Speedweapon and Ryozo walked together toward their respective dormitories.

***

I slowly let go, noticing that my palm was completely damp with sweat.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

As they walked, Speedweapon muttered. arctic He hadn’t known Kang Geom-Ma for long, but in every recent incident, Speedweapon had been present without exception.

“Kang Geom-Ma, that guy…”

Though their buildings were different, they were side by side, so they shared the same path.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

‘The boss is changing.’

An unsettling sense of dissonance wouldn’t leave him alone. armor At first, when they met, Kang Geom-Ma seemed like a typical classmate with a cold demeanor.

That’s why he felt he understood, at least in part, Kang Geom-Ma’s personality and behavior.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

But recently, something had shifted in his gaze—a deep coldness that seemed to intensify over time.

And today was no exception.

The aura he exuded now felt like someone whose humanity was slowly eroding.

Although Speedweapon tried to maintain a confident front around him, he occasionally felt a chill run down his spine.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

‘…A twisted kind of love.’

The recent incident still occupied his thoughts. accent At one point, Chloe had unleashed a terrifying killing intent.

It was clear that if something concerned Kang Geom-Ma, Chloe was willing to go to any lengths.

Chloe’s affection for Kang Geom-Ma was so obvious that even a passing child would notice. apple Yet Kang Geom-Ma always made an effort to maintain some distance, avoiding crossing a dangerous line.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

‘But that guy, Kang Geom-Ma…’

While her behavior differed from that of ordinary people, her dedication to Kang Geom-Ma was absolute.

Given her upbringing in a family of assassins, it was natural for Chloe to have a limited understanding of human emotions.

Speedweapon shook his head.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

On the surface, his words and gestures appeared kind, but Speedweapon—and only he—noticed something else.

A faint chill ran through Speedweapon’s entire body.

When Chloe’s demeanor had completely shifted, Kang Geom-Ma managed to calm her down.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Kang Geom-Ma had kept one hand in his pocket, gripping a sashimi knife. zenith He was prepared to use it without hesitation if the situation required it.

He preferred to reason and persuade, but he knew when to invoke fear through the threat of violence if necessary.

‘The boss blends persuasion with violence.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

‘Without a doubt, Kang Geom-Ma will go far.’

In their age group, he had no rivals in strength. anchor Furthermore, he balanced compassion and ruthlessness perfectly. august Though now they ate together and shared trivial conversations, Speedweapon felt that in the future, Kang Geom-Ma would become someone he wouldn’t even be able to meet eyes with.

From one perspective, it could make him seem villainous. arrow Yet Speedweapon saw it differently. anchor That ability was an inherent trait of a leader. silence And Kang Geom-Ma, at only seventeen, already seemed to possess it.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Leaving those thoughts behind, Speedweapon turned his head to look at Ryozo, who was typing something on her phone with an annoyed expression.

That thought, instead of filling him with fear, gave him a strange sense of exhilaration.

“What’s up with you now?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“You’ve been pouting for a while.”

“And what does that matter to you?”

“What?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

Ryozo replied curtly, prompting Speedweapon to stifle the urge to flick her on the forehead.

However, when she was around Kang Geom-Ma, she sometimes let slip a more sincere side of herself.

Speedweapon knew Ryozo well enough to understand that she rarely showed her emotions.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“…Never mind that. atomic What are you doing on your phone? avalanche Checking the exam answers to see if you messed up?”

“Can you stop spouting nonsense?”

Speedweapon didn’t fully understand why, but he sighed and changed the subject.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“I’m deleting some videos I uploaded to YouTube.”

Ryozo shot him a sharp look, making Speedweapon glance away, pretending to be interested in the horizon while nervously whistling.

Without lifting her eyes from her phone, Ryozo muttered something.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“I always figured you just lazed around, but look at that—you’re actually productive. atom So, how many views do your videos have?”

“It wasn’t anything serious. action I just uploaded stuff out of boredom, like random trivia.”

“What? anxiety You had a YouTube channel?”

Reluctantly, Ryozo turned her phone toward Speedweapon.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

“Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, the dangers of an economic bubble, tips for dealing with a yandere…”

Saki quickly pulled her phone back. armor But Speedweapon, intrigued, mumbled the titles of the videos he’d glimpsed.

“Happy now?”

Displayed on the screen were Ryozo’s uploaded videos, with view counts nearing half a million.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 53: A Brief Moment of Freedom (4) by Indra Translations.

The topics were wildly varied and, frankly, difficult to grasp.