Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1)

“Hmm… I heard you had a beastly appearance, but you’re much more presentable than how Shun and Jin described you.”

To be honest, I had forgotten.

Mao Lang tilted her head slightly as she observed me. Then, she let out a long sigh and murmured.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Well, I’ve never seen them speak well of anyone.”

The heiress of the prestigious Iron Clan, the largest heroic family in the neighboring country.

A woman worshiped as a continental star at barely over twenty years old.

Relentless Iron, Mao Lang.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Despite all the misdeeds of the Mao twins, the prestige of the Iron Clan remained intact, largely thanks to her.

It was no surprise that those men jumped in excitement to take photos of her.

In Miracle Blessing M, due to the minor role of her country in the main story, she didn’t even appear. But in this world, her position and popularity were unmatched.

Possessing overwhelming strength that reduced her family’s flaws to mere insignificant imperfections. Her nickname, Relentless Iron, Mao Lang, was a fitting title for her swift and lethal kicks.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“I came to see you in person. You left my brothers half-disabled, so I should at least know what your face looks like, don’t you think?”

However, the fate between her and me was twisted. And Chloe was also involved.

‘Lucky me.’

Additionally, that revealing outfit surely played a role in her popularity. The cut that exposed her hips was quite striking.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

So many things had happened since then that I had almost forgotten… but now their older sister was here, in person.

Although it was a fight in an isolated dimensional space, it seems the aftermath was more severe than I thought. Both fled from the entrance ceremony with their tails between their legs.

That was it. During the class assignment test, I left the Mao twins on the verge of death.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Huh? That student knows Mao Lang?”

From the start, entering my stall with a group of thugs was a clear sign of her intentions.

The family resemblance was evident, after all. There was no way Mao Lang had a kind personality.

This kind of scenario was so predictable it was boring. She had come for revenge, of course.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“God, those two were already famous for being lunatics, but this is just too funny.”

“Oh, I heard something too. It seems that after that incident, the twins were so traumatized they wet the bed constantly, like patients with incontinence.”

“Ah, I heard one of my cousins, who’s an instructor here, mention something. The Chaos Twins were defeated by a black-haired student during the class assignment test. Could it be him?”

A couple whispered to each other. The rumor quickly spread among the people.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The men accompanying Mao Lang cast cold stares at the murmurers, who immediately shut their mouths.

The commotion died down instantly.

“Hey, shut up! Look at the situation, you idiot! Mao Lang is right in front of you!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

It was the kind of silence that only comes when you feel like your teeth might end up on the floor.

The side slit of Mao Lang’s outfit revealed her robust thighs, and then my gaze shifted to her iron boots.

Her leg technique, combined with the superhuman strength of her kicks, could generate actual whirlwinds.

‘Weapon Level S: Storm Leg.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The air inside the stall grew cold. Chloe, her eyes blazing with fury, lifted her kitchen knife. Mao Lang’s gaze lingered on her for a moment.

“…”

“Ha ha.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Mao Lang gestured with her hand, and one of her attendants stepped forward with firm steps.

A brief laugh from Mao Lang broke the silence. She shrugged and spoke lightly.

“Sorry, but this isn’t what you think. That incident happened months ago. What’s the point of stirring up the past now? I’m not a child.”

Tap.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The attendant took a chair and carefully wiped it down with a wet cloth before placing it in front of Mao Lang.

He stopped in front of a man who had been talking too much. The guy was trembling so much that his teeth chattered.

“Lend him to me for a moment.”

The man who had been trembling collapsed into it, his legs unable to support his weight. His friends had to hold him up to keep him from sliding to the floor.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

In my previous life, there were mobsters who tried to recruit me because of my knife skills. They started with money, then sweet promises, and eventually showed up with entire gangs of thugs.

‘Well, it was because I held the title of the best knife chef in the country.’

It was so absurd it was laughable. A sushi chef turned gangster just because he knew how to use a knife?

I clicked my tongue. The attitude of these men was irritating, but the worst part was the memory it brought back.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The current situation seemed to overlap perfectly with that memory.

Mao Lang crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knee. Her face showed a mix of confidence, amusement, and a hint of disdain.

‘This is annoying.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Chloe.”

“Why are you here!”

Chloe growled fiercely. Her eyebrows, furrowed in anger, knitted together tightly. It was an unexpected reaction.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

I looked at all the club members, communicating solely with my eyes. They responded with subtle approval through their facial expressions.

‘She understood.’

I called her name once. A brief and direct meaning: calm down. Chloe licked her lips and nodded.

For Chloe, the line between savagery and reason is blurred. A single word carries more weight for her than a long speech. Besides, one must quickly seize control of a situation with words to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Why are you here?”

Of course, I was also curious about why Relentless Iron, Mao Lang, had come to visit us.

‘It’s a relief that everyone understands quickly.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

‘…Is she crazy?’

Mao Lang let out a loud laugh. I watched her silently.

No matter how despicable her brothers were, it was rare to see someone mock them so openly in front of the person responsible for their state.

“There’s no special reason. I was just curious. Although my brothers are idiots, I must admit they have talent. By the way, did you know they now tremble in terror just from hearing your surname? You should’ve seen them—it was hilarious. Hahaha.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The atmosphere cooled down again.

Even the others in the stall seemed confused. Mao Lang stopped laughing and rested her chin on her intertwined hands.

She was no longer smiling.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Honestly… I’m somewhat grateful to you.”

With an odd look, Mao Lang stared directly at me and spoke.

“What?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“……”

Mao Lang lightly tapped her knee with her index finger. A satisfied smile spread across her lips.

“Shun and Jin—my family’s reputation was dragged through the mud because of those two. I tried to fix it somehow, but those guys are crazy. No matter how much I beat them, they never came to their senses. In the end, I had almost given up on them. But thanks to you, now they can’t do anything wrong. As a member of their family, I’m truly relieved. Thank you for stopping them from continuing to hurt others, including me.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

In fact, I could hear some people around us beginning to praise Mao Lang for her grateful attitude. They said her poise was worthy of the greatness of an entire continent.

‘…But.’

At first glance, it seemed like a wise and magnanimous tactic.

Instead of seeking revenge or intimidating me, she was praising me.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

‘Thank you for removing the obstacles in my path.’

Mao Lang smiled kindly, but her eyes remained as cold as ice.

Both were sharp enough to understand the true meaning behind Mao Lang’s words.

The tense faces of Ryozo and Speedweapon said it all.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Mao Lang’s status and popularity were comparable to Khan Elizabeth’s. However, her place in the succession of the Seven Stars was lower. The stigma of being the older sister of the disastrous twins was the main cause.

‘She aspires to the position of the Seven Stars.’

I, an unknown figure, had removed that stain for her. So, from her perspective, it was something to be thankful for.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

In short, although she thanked me for dealing with two obstacles, I had also tarnished her family name.

The fact that she brought her lackeys and, above all, that she was wearing her weapon, Relentless Iron, was a clear warning.

But I knew her intentions didn’t stop there.

In the end, I had turned two members of her family into cowards who couldn’t stop trembling.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

I furrowed my brow slightly before speaking.

She was using a tactic I had seen many times in my past life—hiding the true core of the problem while imposing her presence indirectly.

These types of people are much harder to deal with than simple villains.

‘Politicians.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Despite how sharp my response was, Mao Lang didn’t seem offended. She dusted off her clothes nonchalantly and stood up. The thugs accompanying her straightened their necks and followed suit.

“Is that what you think?”

“If you’ve said everything you needed to say, it would be best if you left.”

I maintained a respectful tone. Confronting Mao Lang directly would bring no benefit. Especially someone with such a dangerous personality.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Just when I was sighing in relief, Mao Lang threw a casual comment into the air with a smile.

‘Just leave already.’

Stop interrupting my business.

“Oh, by the way, Geom-Ma, there was one more thing I wanted to thank you for.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

She said those words naturally before turning around. The thugs also turned in unison and began to leave the stall.

“Hey.”

“I’m glad you opened a stall with a dish from my country—Chinese pickles.”

“……”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Immediately, all eyes focused on me.

“Don’t call kimchi that.”

I removed the bandana tied around my head. A prominent vein pulsed on my temple.

Mao Lang slightly turned her head to glance at me out of the corner of her eye.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Follow me, Mao Lang.”

There are some things that simply cannot be ignored.

Some things simply cannot be overlooked.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The festival atmosphere reached its peak in the afternoon.

***

“I’ll cut you.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Hey, hey! What’s going on?”

In the Joaquin Academy’s training grounds, a surprise event was taking place.

On a scorching summer day, even the breeze in the air felt boiling hot.

The coliseum, resembling an arena, was packed with a crowd that, despite sweating profusely, firmly held their places.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“What?! That Mao Lang accepted? Against a mere student? What’s the reason?”

“Well… I heard there’s a fairly political motive behind it, but whatever the reason, isn’t it exciting for us?”

“Well, it’ll be interesting to see how Mao Lang crushes the student.”

“Haven’t you heard? Mao Lang, Relentless Iron, is going to duel a student in an alternate space!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

At the center of everyone’s attention stood a man and a woman.

Depending on how the fight unfolded, the spectators would decide whether to give a thumbs-up or lower it with disdain.

The frenzy was palpable in the air.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Furthermore, if a continental star like Mao Lang requested it, the academy had no choice but to comply. The academy’s politics were entangled with too many threads.

Originally, a subspace duel wouldn’t have been easily permitted, but the will of these two individuals was firm.

Kang Geom-Ma and Mao Lang.

“Hmm… it’s been a while since I felt like this. It’s as if I’ve returned to my academy days. Well, even in my time, subspace duels weren’t common.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“But tell me, Kang Geom-Ma, are you sure? It’s good to be brave, but you might end up like my younger brothers. Your face is pretty, but if you lose your sanity, you won’t be able to get married in the future. Well, if you have the guts, you can marry me. I’m always open to accepting a subordinate husband.”

Mao Lang had a mocking smile on her lips. Kang Geom-Ma, without saying anything, loosened the cord of Murasame and spoke.

“…”

Mao Lang lightly tapped the ground with the tip of her foot, as if she were strolling. Her words and actions were relaxed. Then, she threw out a veiled taunt.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Kang Geom-Ma let out a faint sarcastic laugh.

“So this was what you were after.”

“The reason you came looking for me… provoke the last stain on the House of the Iron King, defeat me, and cleanse any blemish to strengthen your position.”

“Hmm?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Ha! You know what? You’re much smarter than I thought. But then, why did you fall for such a cheap provocation if you knew that?”

When Kang Geom-Ma untied the knot halfway, the blade reflected the light with a sharp gleam. He stared at the blade for a moment.

Then Mao Lang’s eyes widened for an instant, and she burst into laughter. It was the first time she had shown genuine emotion since she arrived.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Kang Geom-Ma drew the sword slowly, releasing a clear and sharp sound that blended perfectly with the summer air.

“Mao Lang, you will never become one of the Seven Star Heroes.”

A sharp blade is the mirror of a swordsman. The blurred figure began to take clear shape.

Swish⎯!

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

Her voice was soft, but it carried a cold anger. Kang Geom-Ma offered a faint smile.

“Tell me, Kang Geom-Ma, do people often say you have no tact?”

Mao Lang’s left lip twitched slightly. She forced her lips into a cold smile.

“Sometimes.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

“Ha, ha…”

“…”

“I was planning to end this with a single strike. But now I’m too angry. I’ll make you end up just like my brothers.”

Mao Lang let out a hollow laugh and then narrowed her eyes fiercely.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

[From this point on, we will deploy the subspace barrier.]

The mechanical echo filled the training grounds.

[May the heroes’ blessing be with you.]

“Oh, and don’t worry about the psychiatric hospital bills. I’ll cover them. Pleb…eian.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The momentum of her right leg carried a gust of wind. At the moment she used her blessing and her weapon, Relentless Iron, the space warped.

The shockwave spread beyond the alternate space, causing the ground to tremble as if a small earthquake had occurred.

Boom!!

When Mao Lang stomped her foot on the ground, the surface cracked.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The confusion lasted only a moment.

In Mao Lang’s field of vision, a flash of light shone for an instant.

‘Huh?’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 79: An Insignificant Bond (1) by Indra Translations.

The process and the result happened simultaneously.

Thud.

Slash⎯

Mao Lang’s head fell to the ground.