Chapter 69: New Member (1)

Step, step.

…After leaving the principal’s office.

A silence settled between us. zenith A silence so oppressive that it almost took my breath away.

The sound of the Sword Master’s and my own footsteps filled the hallway of the main building. arctic He walked ahead, as if guiding me, while I closely followed behind him.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

Upon hearing those words, I felt like my heart had sunk. canvas Even now, a few minutes later, I still felt a tingling sensation at the back of my head. abandon I frowned in confusion.

“I will pass on my position as one of the Seven-Star Heroes to Kang Geom-Ma.”

The reason for this uncomfortable atmosphere was, of course, the explosive announcement the Sword Master had made just moments before.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Sword Master, could you stop for a moment?”

I simply licked my lips and moved my feet. riddle I was cautious about how to start speaking. avalanche But I felt I would regret it forever if I didn’t push forward, so I hesitantly opened my mouth.

‘He must be taking some kind of tonic, no doubt.’

I lifted my gaze to look at the Sword Master’s back. avalanche His steps were so quick that he was increasing the distance between us rapidly. antique Still, his stride was filled with dignity and poise.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

He observed me silently for a few moments. admire The sunlight filtering through the windows illuminated his golden pupils. shadow After a few seconds of subtle tension, he spoke.

‘So he was acting to ease the principal’s worries.’

Only then did he slow down and looked over his shoulder at me. legend The lightheartedness he had shown in the principal’s office had vanished, and his eyes now reflected his usual sternness.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Is it about inheriting the title of one of the Seven-Star Heroes?”

“It must have been a shock for you. afford But, as I said before, it’s a decision I’ve thought about a lot. riddle I’m sorry for not telling you earlier, but I wanted to announce it in front of Media once my decision was final.”

His voice, sharp and perceptive, whispered in my ear as if he had anticipated it. aspect I shivered and nodded. matrix Then, he came to a full stop and leaned against the wall.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Uh, that…”

“Do you know why the Seven-Star Heroes have remained just four all this time?”

He let out a brief exhalation and, suddenly, asked me a question.

I hesitated to answer. legend I had never asked myself that question, but thinking about it, something did seem odd.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

Hearing my answer, the Sword Master gave a slight smile and spoke again.

Even though fifty years had passed, those three positions remained vacant. attic I had always vaguely thought it was a way to honor the fallen heroes.

“…Isn’t it to honor the comrades who passed away?”

The Seven-Star Heroes were supposed to be seven. acquire However, after the battle with Basmon, where three heroes died, only four remained.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“To be honest, the reason is quite simple.”

He shook his head and ran a hand through his silver hair, which showed the traces of time. august Then, he added:

“Well, you could interpret it that way. anchor Ah, of course, I don’t mean to belittle those friends who are gone. album Thanks to their sacrifice, you and I can stand here today. wizard But, leaving those positions vacant for that reason alone is an insufficient explanation.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

I blinked in surprise. ability The Sword Master let out a brief laugh. adopt Then, he pushed away from the wall and looked at me with eyes full of determination.

“The strength of the demons is overwhelming. abstract Although we humans are more numerous, if the demons unleashed their entire army, they would wipe us out in less than six months. abandon Negotiations and agreements only work if both sides are equal in power. legend The only way to contain them is with strength.”

“…?”

“It’s because no hero stronger than us has appeared until now.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“It’s better not to have half-measures. timber Think about it—if a Seven-Star Hero were defeated by a mere demon beast, do you think humanity would retain its faith in us?”

The Sword Master shook his head emphatically.

“I suppose not.”

“And what does that have to do with keeping three positions vacant?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Being a Seven-Star Hero isn’t just a prestigious title. airport It’s a symbol to contain the demons and represent humanity. absorb Isn’t there a famous saying that with great power comes great responsibility? arctic Though this idea has faded over time.”

He had used his position as a Seven-Star Hero to rule Japan as a lifelong prime minister. absorb He was also Saki Ryozo’s father, so I didn’t want to speak ill of him, but public opinion considered him practically a dictator.

‘Saki Kojima, the Master of the Bow.*’

The Sword Master briefly frowned. echo I could guess who he was thinking about.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

Even Chloe occasionally mentioned her family, but Ryozo always avoided the topic.

‘In the game “Miracle Blessing M,” while the other Seven Heroes, Jeolgung and Changseong, were mentioned, they never actually appeared. amateur That’s why their character and actions remain a mystery.’

‘…Now that I think about it, Ryozo never talked about her family.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

When I said that, the Sword Master looked at me with an expression of disbelief. aluminum He tilted his head several times while examining me.

“I understand your words, Sword Master, but that doesn’t answer my question. academy Why me?”

…Ah, this isn’t the important issue right now. arcade I got carried away by the Sword Master’s words, but what I truly wanted to ask had nothing to do with why there were only four heroes. academy I shook off those thoughts and, in a quiet voice, asked.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Huh?”

“I’m saying this because you seem not to understand. athlete The reason I want to give you my position is because you’re stronger than me. arch And by a large margin. beacon That’s a fact.”

“…Kang Geom-Ma, are you pretending to be clueless, or are you really that dense?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

However, my memories of that battle were so blurry that I couldn’t take full credit for it. acoustic As I got lost in my thoughts, the Sword Master stared at me and spoke.

I couldn’t respond. amber In a way, he was right. antenna After all, I had defeated Agor, the Fifth Corps Commander.

“…Ah.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“…!”

“Your power seems to have a time limit.”

His voice was calm. apple Though it confused me for a moment, I nodded. admire After a brief silence, he spoke.

“I’ve always been curious about one thing. attic But now I need to know.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

It wasn’t something I tried to hide, but it also wasn’t information I wanted to disclose.

My heart pounded violently. adapt I felt as though he had discovered my weakness.

Thump, thump, thump.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Don’t worry too much. silence It was just a guess. album It’s impossible for a human to use such immense power without restrictions. academy Even you, Kang Geom-Ma.”

“Ah, and the idea that the limitation is temporal was just speculation. arch In the assignment exam and on Avalon Island, you seemed to tire out after about a minute.”

Our eyes met. athlete He studied me for a moment and then shrugged.

“……”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

I listened to his words silently, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of revealing my secret.

After a moment of reflection, I made a decision.

On one side were the benefits of telling him my limitations, and on the other side was the risk.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Sword Master.”

“I have something to tell you about my power.”

His smile vanished as he saw my serious expression. orbit I took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“So, what you’re saying is… when you manifest the blessing, extreme pain comes as the price for the power, and you suppress it with another blessing, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

A moment after I finished my explanation, the Sword Master nodded as if he understood.

***

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

I watched him silently. timber Feeling my gaze, the Sword Master patted my shoulder, as if to reassure me.

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan on telling anyone. wizard And the idea of using one blessing to suppress another is quite innovative. arch You definitely have talent, no doubt.”

I had explained the Blessing of the Sword God and the Blessing of Pain Insensitivity. zenith Of course, I omitted specific details. audit No matter how trustworthy the Sword Master was, revealing my weaknesses always required caution.

I told him this with the intention of seeking his wisdom, not his sympathy or understanding.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“But sometimes, it’s important to know how to manage your strength. canvas You don’t want to always fight against the clock. anxiety For that, you need a master with experience and⎯”

He left the sentence hanging, a smile appearing on his aged face.

“⎯I needed a disciple with exceptional talent.”

He touched his forehead with his index finger.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“M-Master of the Sword!”

But the Sword Master had already turned and begun walking with agile steps.

“I’ve chosen you as my successor, so it’s my duty to pass everything on to you. attic Even though I decided to retire, thinking about it makes me restless. adopt Anyway, when everything is ready, I’ll call you. apple In the meantime, enjoy life at the academy, ha ha ha!”

I blinked in surprise. audit Then, the Sword Master stroked the empty sleeve of his right arm and let out a clear laugh.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“……”

However, he seemed not to hear me, and in an instant, he reached the end of the hallway. apple He was surprisingly fast for someone his age.

I reached out a hand to stop him.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

I must have hit my head on the island. atom Or maybe it was a side effect of Agor’s mental magic.

“Thinking of attacking someone who’s helped me…”

For a moment, I considered using the Blessing of the Sword God to catch up with him, but I quickly shook my head.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

After that incident, the weekend passed.

I sighed and pulled my hands out of my pockets.

* * *

It was the last free day before returning to classes, and I planned to rest completely, but…

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“…What’s supposed to happen now?”

I let out a short sigh. arrow The words the Sword Master had left me as a task kept swirling in my mind, and I couldn’t rest well.

“Haa.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Complaining won’t change anything.”

I had planned to ignore small changes in the storyline, but at this rate, the whole plot might go completely off track.

As I suppressed the thoughts churning in my mind, I walked down the hallway of the teachers’ building.

The background noise of students chatting helped calm me down a bit.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

Imagining myself wielding a sword on a battlefield covered with blood and corpses gave me chills. arrow And, above all, it was a huge burden.

Honestly, the benefits of being a Seven Star Hero were tempting, but when I thought about the Second War between Humans and Demons that would occur in three years, I wanted to refuse immediately.

As the Sword Master said, the succession process would take at least half a year. aluminum Until then, maybe I could convince him to change his mind.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

Driven by curiosity, I walked over.

A small smile appeared on my face. antenna I lifted my head and looked around. athlete A group of students was gathered in a specific area of the hallway.

“Even so, returning to classes after so long doesn’t feel too bad.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Yeah, even if the student council president were in that club, I wouldn’t join.”

It was the bulletin board, covered with posters.

“Did you see this? acquire What kind of poster is this? antenna God, it’s so tacky.”

“The background is annoying, but isn’t that blue hedgehog color strange?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

As I got closer, the murmurs of the students became clearer. echo I looked over their heads toward the board.

‘Some of them are definitely going to go bald in the future.’

Since I was tall, I could see the tops of their heads perfectly.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

The design was so bad that it left me speechless.

“Wow, it’s horrible.”

I ignored that thought and focused on the garishly colored poster that was causing such a stir.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

As I got a little closer, the students looked at me and stepped aside to let me through. apple When I looked at the poster up close, I froze.

In my past life, I was a cook and businessman, so I understood perfectly the importance of good advertising. antique Even if it was just a club poster, this was terribly bad.

“New members wanted for the ‘Exploration Club.’ Made by Speedweapon.”

My pupils widened, and my lips parted involuntarily.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“What the hell is this…?”

At the same time, during lunchtime in the academy courtyard.

I couldn’t finish the sentence. airport Embarrassment suddenly hit me.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

However, my attention was fixed on Speedweapon, who was smiling happily while congratulating me on my recovery.

“Hey! armor Do you know how worried we were while you were in the hospital? absorb I’m glad to see you’re okay. meadow Oh, by the way, we prepared everything for the club while you were gone.”

The members of the travel club and I gathered again. arcade Chloe cried while clinging to me, and Ryozo, indifferent, offered me a red bean cake. auction The atmosphere on the grass was full of relief and joy.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“…I saw the poster.”

“Oh, yeah? aspect I made sure it was eye-catching. alpha There’s no way you didn’t see it.”

Speedweapon rubbed his nose, expecting a compliment. atomic I held back my smile and spoke in a low voice.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

I didn’t know how to react. apple I appreciated his effort, but praising him would mean accepting that poster disaster.

My businessman instinct rejected that idea. crystal So I just weakly nodded.

“……”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“Sorry… Speedweapon is so stubborn. atomic I tried to stop him, but I didn’t expect him to put up the posters at dawn.”

“Sorry, Kang Geom-Ma. artist I should have stopped him.”

Chloe muttered with frustration as she bit her lip. airport I turned my head and saw Saki rubbing her forehead, dark circles under her eyes.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

Creating this club was crucial for hunting demons in dungeons and strengthening Murasame with materials obtained. adjust I couldn’t let a poster ruin our plans.

The early summer sun filled the air with the scent of grass. acid Despite the pleasant weather, the mood among the club members was gloomy.

‘With this, we won’t get any more members.’

“…You did your best.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

Speedweapon took his phone out of his pocket and answered with a confused expression.

Ring, ring, ring⎯!

As I searched for a solution, a phone rang with a sharp tone.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“What is it? wizard Did they tell you to take down the poster? arcade Makes sense, it’s an abomination.”

“Hello…?”

After exchanging a few words, he hung up. abstract Ryozo looked at him curiously.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 69: New Member (1) by Indra Translations.

“…No.”

“What?!”

“They said someone’s coming for the club interview.”

“Then what is it? antique Don’t be mysterious.”