Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1)

A woman softly knocked on the principal’s office door.

It was past midnight on the second day of the festival.

Knock, knock.

“Come in~.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

The woman who entered was All Mute, Khan Elizabeth.

“It’s been a long time, Principal.”

Before Media could finish speaking, the door swung open. The woman bowed respectfully at the waist in greeting. Her short, orange hair brushed against her shoulders.

She wore a suit with the American flag emblazoned on it, fitting perfectly to her toned figure without a trace of unnecessary fat.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Media smiled warmly as she gestured toward a chair beside her. All Mute bowed again politely before taking a seat.

“That’s right! It’s been five years since you graduated, hasn’t it, Ellie?”

“Yes, I am.”

“In any case, welcome. Are you enjoying the festival?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“You know, Ellie? You still answer just as stiffly as when you were a student.”

All Mute frowned slightly.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Are you also following current trends? What was that again? ‘Soulless’ or something?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

She thought over the words in her mind and replied.

“My goodness! You’re so literal it’s adorable.”

“Soul? Less?”

“I already have a religion.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“Ellie, you came here because you want to know more about our Kang Geom-Ma, didn’t you?”

All Mute tilted her head with a perplexed expression. Media sighed and shook her head before returning to the conversation.

“….”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

The “our” that Media had added before his name felt unsettling.

Ellie furrowed her brow slightly as she thought of a face. A black-haired cadet. According to Media, his name was Kang Geom-Ma.

‘…But.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Tap, tap.

“Who exactly is this student called Kang Geom-Ma?”

Media had never spoken about a student with such familiarity. In her mint-colored eyes, there was something beyond mere appreciation.

Media lightly tapped her temples with her fingers. Ellie let out a sigh, dispersing her thoughts.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“He can control mental domain.”

“Ellie, you can control it innately as well, can’t you? What’s wrong with him being able to do the same?”

“Hmm, depends. In what sense are you asking?”

A faint trace of hostility flickered in Ellie’s eyes. Media tilted her head.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

All Mute slammed her hand onto the side table. Immediately, the atmosphere in the office grew heavy.

“Ellie.”

“Principal! I didn’t come here to play word games!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“…!”

“You’ve become quite disrespectful since the last time we met, don’t you think?”

At the same time, a sharp noise rang out as a crack spread like a chain across the windows behind her.

Media softly spoke her name.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Media hadn’t even lifted a finger. She simply sat there, resting her chin on her hand, looking at her. But that alone was enough to make Ellie’s heart pound violently.

After all, Media wasn’t called the Sage just for show.

It felt as if an invisible weight was crushing her.

Her eyes, half-hidden beneath her lashes, gleamed coldly. Seeing that expression, Ellie’s entire body began to tremble slightly.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Though her relaxed demeanor masked her true power, those who knew her strength never dared to treat her lightly.

Even other Seven-Star Heroes like Changseong and Saki Kojima would break into a cold sweat when Media revealed her true nature.

She was the Tyrant, Media.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

‘This pressure is overwhelming.’

Ellie could feel it clearly in her very skin.

The fact that the academy’s elder council couldn’t control her was proof of her power.

All Mute swallowed with difficulty. Media watched her for a moment before smiling calmly.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“Are you going to stand there all day?”

Ellie awkwardly sat back down. Finally, Media leaned back against her chair.

“Ah, ah… I apologize.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“…I understand.”

Media smiled bitterly before continuing.

“In any case, I don’t know what rumors you’ve heard about Kang Geom-Ma, but due to my position, I can’t provide you with information on a student. As the principal, I have to treat all students equally.”

“Sorry, I got a bit worked up. Lately, I’ve been stressed out because of that bastard Sieg. I think I’ve become a little sensitive.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“If you’re curious about something, go and find out for yourself! Do you remember?”

“What was it?”

Ellie reflected for a moment before nodding.

“Besides, Ellie, do you remember what I used to tell you so many times when you were a student here?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“Why the rush? It’s a festival! Relax and enjoy it.”

“I was planning to leave tomorrow at noon, but…”

“Come on, Ellie, don’t be so formal with me. How long do you plan to stay at the academy?”

“Thank you for your time, Principal.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Ellie hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking,

“Hmm? Something else?”

“Principal.”

Media waved a carefree hand, dismissing her. Just as Ellie was about to leave, a lingering doubt stopped her.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“You said you treat all students equally… does that apply to that student as well?”

A peculiar line formed at the corner of Media’s lips.

“Hmm, let’s see. To be honest, our Kang Geom-Ma isn’t just a student to me.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Clack.

Ellie shut the door without saying another word.

“He’s more like… a man?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

She murmured as she rubbed her arms, her skin covered in goosebumps.

“Kang Geom-Ma… what the hell are you…?”

A chilling sensation ran down her spine.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

***

Last night, while resting in my dorm, I organized my thoughts. The past two days had been exhausting.

The festival was already coming to an end.

The image of the club members sweating under the sun kept lingering in my mind.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

I made a quick decision. Before opening the stall, I gathered the club members.

I remembered the original purpose of the festival. It was something we had started for fun, but the unexpected crowd had turned us into tireless workers.

‘I feel like we’ve spent this festival just working.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

‘And to think he was the one who insisted on doing this…’

Even Speedweapon, who had originally been the one to suggest this idea, raised his arms enthusiastically.

Hearing my words, the club members’ exhausted faces began to light up with renewed energy.

“Today, we’ll only work until noon. In the afternoon, everyone will have free time. What do you think?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

As soon as we opened the stall one last time, customers started pouring in immediately.

However, after two days of constant work, the club members had become quite skilled. Plus, the promise of a free afternoon gave them extra energy to push through.

Maybe because it was the last day, the crowd seemed even bigger than the day before.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Chloe, who was skillfully chopping green onions, called out to me.

“Kang Geom-Ma.”

By now, she could prepare ingredients with precision without even looking at the cutting board.

It was surprising how someone who had been so clumsy in the kitchen had improved so much in just two days.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

I didn’t have any concrete plans. Maybe I’d wander around the festival or go back to the dorm to rest.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Do you have any plans for this afternoon?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

‘Now that I think about it, she’s the one who worked the hardest.’

Besides, before the festival started, she had mentioned something similar. After thinking for a moment, I replied.

Chloe had handled most of the kitchen tasks, stepping in for me while I barely worked 50 seconds a day. I had only helped with chopping ingredients in moderation.

But from the way Chloe was looking at me, it seemed like she wanted to spend time together.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Chloe’s big, round eyes widened even more, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. I nodded with a smile.

“R-Really!?”

“I don’t have any plans. If you have time, would you like to walk around the festival with me?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“Of course!”

Her cheeks immediately turned red, and her lips trembled slightly.

“Would that be okay for you?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board echoed in a nearly hypnotic rhythm. It was like watching a circus act.

Then, she refocused on the cutting board.

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

‘Chloe has a natural talent for knives.’

It was hard to believe that Chloe had reached this level in just two and a half days. Some customers even started recording her movements on their phones.

As I watched Chloe’s profile, I suddenly felt an intense gaze piercing the back of my neck. I slowly turned around.

Ryozo was staring at me with narrowed eyes and an obviously annoyed expression.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

I let out a quiet sigh and continued working. With the end so close, it was easy to get distracted, but I had to stay focused.

‘What’s her problem now?’

I briefly wondered about the reason for her anger but just shrugged it off. Maybe it was something related to Speedweapon, as usual.

When our eyes met, she pursed her lips tightly and turned away abruptly.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

‘For you, it may just be another customer, but for that person, it’s their first meal here.’

That was something my first master always told me.

‘A chef must serve their customers with dedication until the very last moment.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

I could almost hear his voice clearly. A faint smile appeared on my lips.

I rolled my aching shoulders and kept working.

“That man always knew the right things to say.”

* * *

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

Finally, the business was over.

Everyone stretched, letting out relieved groans, before dispersing to enjoy the festival. Only Ryozo decided to return to the dorm, saying she was too tired.

There was only half a day left of the festival, after all. Their response was a unanimous “Yes!”

I told the club members to leave the cleaning for tomorrow.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

I returned to the dorm. I took a cold shower to wash off the sticky sweat and left quickly.

She had probably been more exhausted from arguing with the journalists over the past two days than from the physical work itself.

‘In the end, mental work is more tiring than physical labor.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

‘I guess I should wait somewhere.’

I checked my phone for the time. There were about 30 minutes left before my meeting with Chloe.

The reason was simple—my room didn’t have air conditioning, and the inside was hotter than outside. It was… depressing.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“…This is nice.”

It wasn’t far from the meeting spot, and barely anyone was passing by. I sat down on the bench and leaned back.

I decided to find a place to rest my body. As I moved my legs, a street-side bench under the shade of a tree caught my attention.

An unusually cool summer breeze brushed against my cheeks. The humidity was low, so I didn’t feel sticky, which was a relief.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

‘The meeting time is approaching.’

I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. The fresh scent of leaves filled my lungs.

I was about to drift off, but I shook off the sleepiness.

Drowsiness slowly crept in.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“May I sit here?”

It was an old man leaning on a cane. He pointed at the empty space beside me with his cane.

As I let out a wide yawn, someone stopped in front of me.

I stared at him for a moment before sliding over to make space. The old man smiled kindly, nodded in gratitude, and took a seat.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“The heat gets harder to bear with age.”

For a moment, neither of us said anything. The atmosphere was already quiet, but now it felt even more silent and slightly awkward.

The old man pulled out a handkerchief and began wiping the sweat from his forehead before breaking the silence.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“What do you want to say to me?”

I glanced at him indifferently before looking straight ahead again.

Hearing my question, the old man tilted his head curiously.

“…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“What do you mean?”

I spoke without looking away from the front.

The old man looked at me with a neutral expression.

“You traveled from far away, didn’t you?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 83: Festival – Encounter (1) by Indra Translations.

“You’re a young man with good intuition.”

A faint smile formed on his lips.

“The Head of Auditore, Altair.”