Chapter 81: The sashimi became ■■ (1)

A chill ran down the spectators’ spines.

The subspace had determined a winner.

The victor: a student from Joaquin Academy, Kang Geom-Ma.

The loser: Relentless Iron, Mao Lang.

It was a difficult situation to believe.

Mao Lang, of the Iron King Family, had been cut down in a single exchange.

In reality, no one knew exactly how many cuts had taken place.

The only thing the spectators could perceive was a single slash.
They barely managed to catch it.

The verdict of the sacred subspace was absolute.

Even civilians knew how senseless it would be to question it.

But reality and perception are different matters.

To the eyes of the crowd, Kang Geom-Ma had simply swung his knife, and Mao Lang had collapsed with an “Ack” as if she were dead.

They couldn’t even perceive that single exchange.

It seemed as if the process and the outcome had reversed in an instant.

No matter how fast someone was, could a human being move at such speed?

As the shock spread through the arena stands, Kang Geom-Ma began to walk slowly.

Step, step.

He was heading toward Mao Lang.

A shiver ran through the spectators’ skin.

‘Is he really planning to finish her off…?’

It was a duel in subspace, outside the bounds of reality.

Mao Lang might have been emotionally shattered, but she had no physical injuries.

A broken heart can heal as long as the limbs remain intact.

However, a severed limb would never regrow, no matter how strong one’s will.

That’s right. That black-haired boy seemed intent on cutting Mao Lang for real.

The arena staff, who had been observing the duel, reacted in alarm.

They, too, had been paralyzed by shock, but if this continued, it would turn into a massacre.

Kang Geom-Ma frowned.

‘What the hell are these guys thinking?’

Did they really believe he was going to attack her in front of everyone?

He felt irritated. He wasn’t some uncontrolled executioner who swung his knife without thought.

“Hah.”

Kang Geom-Ma let out a sigh and sheathed his knife.

He gestured with his hand, signaling them to back off.

Seeing his clear sign that he had no intention of attacking, the staff finally slowed down.

Some of them even showed relief on their faces.

To be honest, none of them wanted to get close to the student.

Even at seventeen, the pressure of his presence crushed them.

Kang Geom-Ma stopped in front of Mao Lang.

The joints in her arms, which were supporting her on the ground, trembled visibly.

“……”

Mao Lang’s eyes were cast downward. Before her stood a monster who defied all norms.

The mere presence of Kang Geom-Ma seemed to drain the last of her strength.

He stared at her. His eyes were as cold and sharp as a blade. Then he spoke in a low voice.

“Did you drop a coin or what?”

At his words, Mao Lang slowly lifted her head.

Was this a joke? But his eyes were far too cold for that.

Not only did he possess strength, but also a razor-sharp intelligence.

He wasn’t the type to say something so absurd without reason.

But no matter how much she tried to grasp the meaning of his words, she couldn’t understand.

Or rather, she didn’t dare to try.

How could an ordinary person comprehend a monster like this?

In the end, Mao Lang lowered her head.

The depths of her heart groaned with a dull noise, as if it were cracking.

Kang Geom-Ma stared at her for a moment longer, his gaze empty and devoid of emotion.
That look terrified her.

And yet, Mao Lang gathered the last bit of courage she had left and tried to speak.

“You…”

Just as she opened her lips, Kang Geom-Ma abruptly turned away.

He didn’t give her the chance to continue.

Without another word, he started walking.

“……”

Mao Lang watched Kang Geom-Ma’s back as he walked away.

She had no idea what that disregard meant.

A sparrow could never understand the thoughts of a phoenix.

Tap.

Suddenly, Kang Geom-Ma stopped in his tracks.

He slowly—very slowly—turned halfway.

An indescribable pressure crushed Mao Lang’s reasoning.

Kang Geom-Ma glanced at her from the corner of his eye and spoke.

“Don’t ever call kimchi that… whatever it was. If you do it again…”

Kang Geom-Ma flicked his wrist. The sheath of his sashimi knife slid open by an inch.

Clang.

A cold, metallic soundmechoed from the blade.

Mao Lang swallowed hard and nodded.

“…Ah, understood.”

Kang Geom-Ma said nothing more. By now, she had surely gotten the message.

Honestly, it was embarrassing that kimchimhad turned out to be his detonator.

Instead of speaking further, he left only silence.

The other side would fill in the meaning with their imagination.

It was a lesson he had learned after falling into this world, after experiencing some intimidation.

Moreover, the [Blessing of the Sword God] infused his voice with a degree of mental presence

Even his most indifferent words carried a deep impact.

Ironically, Kang Geom-Ma himself was unaware of this.

A moment ago, when he had exerted his strength, he thought Mao Lang had simply been frightened.

However, Mao Lang interpreted his actions in a completely different way.

‘The fact that he revealed the blade of his sashimi knife at the end…’

It wasn’t just a threat. It was a political statement.

A Korean wielding a Japanese sashimi knife. Perhaps it was his way of symbolizing a union between Korea and Japan. Maybe that was why he insisted on using a particular sashimi knife.

Therefore, he had offered her, someone representing China, a choice.

‘Join me, or…’

“Ha.”

Mao Lang let out a hollow laugh. Then she looked at the back moving away from her.

A lone, melancholic silhouette.

Instinctively, she reached out her hand. Between her fingers, she caught a glimpse of his black hair.

She had seen those people who were called geniuses. During her student days, it had been All Mute, and in society, the Seven Star Heroes.

But that boy walked in a domain unreachable even through effort.

“……”

She clenched her fist tightly.
At that moment, she let go of her admiration for geniuses.

The misunderstood are infinitely lonely.

Mao Lang clearly understood the meaning of those words in his eyes.

***

The hallway leading to the waiting room of the combat arena.

Mao Lang staggered forward, supported by her assistant. An overwhelming fatigue coursed through her body, to the point that she could barely move a finger.

The assistant asked with concern.

“Are you alright, Miss Mao Lang?”

“It was a subspace battle, so I don’t have a single scratch. I’m fine. But… I feel somewhat guilty toward my people. At the end of the day, I represented the continent. But losing to a seventeen-year-old boy… isn’t that an international humiliation?”

“……”

The assistant’s face darkened, but Mao Lang smiled slightly.

“I want to say that, but don’t worry. Kang Geom-Ma… that boy won’t take long to reach even greater heights. By the time that happens, my reputation will naturally rise as well.”

The assistant felt deep admiration. Despite her defeat, she was already calculating the political implications.

‘As expected, Miss Mao Lang understands the games of power very well.’

She never lets herself be carried away by trivial emotions, and that was one of the reasons her assistant respected her so much.

Mao Lang shrugged, brushed her hair back with her hand, and added,

“It’s better that this happened now. If it had happened later, it would have been even more humiliating. You’ll see. Both All Mute and Mahatma Sindbad will soon bow before him. I just had the misfortune of drawing the lowest number in line.”

“The cadet… is he really that impressive? No matter how much of a genius he is, I don’t understand why you rate him so highly.”

Mao Lang responded with a dry laugh.

“That boy is a monster.”

***

Exclusive Visitor Lounge at Joaquin Academy

Tap, tap, tap.

Men with cameras hanging around their necks typed furiously on their laptops. Most of them had excited expressions. For them, this festival had turned into an unexpected goldmine.

“Hmm.”

One of them paused his fingers. The cursor blinked on the screen.

『The Continent’s Star, Mao Lang, Has Fallen!…』

The man rubbed his temples as he tried to organize the scattered words in his mind.

“Hey, Reporter Yoon! Why the long face?”

“Oh, Reporter Han.”

Reporter Han approached, sipping on an instant coffee. His disheveled hair and relaxed expression reflected years of experience in the field. He grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth.

“Why are you so serious on a day like this, Yoon? Look around! Everyone is excited. There was already plenty to see at this festival, but this headline just dropped straight from the sky.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

Just an hour ago, a first-year cadet had defeated Mao Lang, the Relentless Iron Lady. Most had expected a one-sided beating, but the outcome had shocked everyone. Reporter Yoon was still trembling from the impact.

“What do you think, Reporter Han?”

“About what?”

Reporter Yoon spoke in a shaky voice.

“I just can’t understand it. How could a mere cadet defeat Mao Lang? I was there, but I couldn’t even see what happened in the fight. Plus, there isn’t enough information on that cadet to write a solid article…”

Reporter Han scratched his chin before replying.

“Who knows? People like us will never truly understand the world of heroes. Our job is to enjoy it when a great story comes along. Yoon, a journalist shouldn’t overthink things. Our job is to add the spices the audience likes and let them do the rest.”

“That’s true, but…”

Reporter Han gently massaged the back of Yoon’s neck as he added,

“Why are you like this today? You’re usually famous for how well you write your articles. In the past, journalists used to investigate deeply and expose the facts, but those days are gone. Just do what you do best. Give the audience what they want. After all, we have a great character now—a genius cadet who defeated the Relentless Iron Lady. Just throw in a few catchy keywords at the end.”

“…I understand.”

Reporter Han grinned widely.

“That’s the spirit! Once the festival is over, let’s go out for a drink. Anyway, I’m off.”

With those words, Reporter Han walked away. Reporter Yoon watched his retreating figure and muttered to himself.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”

It was an unusual concern for him. Normally, everything was just routine.

A journalist’s job is simply to spread the gossip. But something in his chest still felt off.

He shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside, and returned to typing.

People always love new faces, especially when there’s an exciting narrative attached to them.

As the direction of his article became clearer, a smile formed on Reporter Yoon’s face.

Tap, tap, tap.

The rhythm of the keys sounded like a melody in the air.

『The Monster Who Humiliated the Continent’s Star…』

The noise stopped for a moment as he carefully chose his words. He knew that a good headline was everything.

“…A bit sensationalist, but it works.”

Muttering to himself, his fingers moved decisively.

『The Sashimi Saint.』

When he finished, Reporter Yoon stared at the screen for a moment.

Then, satisfied, he snapped his laptop shut and murmured,

“I owe Reporter Han for this one.”

He stood up, adjusted his camera, and walked away with a bright smile.