Chapter 97: Final Exam (7)

“I’m not sure, but it’s clear she’s not planning to join us.”

“What the hell is that bitch doing?”

Erio Pine twisted the corners of her lips.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

“Perhaps living among humans has influenced her. Come now, calm yourself, Miss Erio. This is no time to lose your temper before the main event. I’ll take care of that black-haired cadet.”

Erio shouted furiously, while Paul shrugged indifferently before responding.

“You think I don’t know that?! What I want to know is why, why the hell did that damn traitor, Choi Seol-Ah, abandon us to side with that blood-soaked brat?!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

“Even if I end up losing, at the very least, I can wear him down. And believe me, I’ve been observing his strength for quite some time. I won’t make the mistake of underestimating him.”

Erio asked coldly, but Paul placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head in respect.

“Are you sure? No matter how favorable this terrain is for us, that boy defeated Relentless Iron at just seventeen years old.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

“Yes, leave it to me, Miss Erio.”

Paul paused, observing Kang Geom-Ma. His arms were tense, muscles visibly defined as he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, reflecting the intensity of the situation. After a moment of silence, Paul murmured in a low voice:

“If you say it with such confidence, I suppose you have a plan.”

“With so much magical energy in the air, and yet he remains composed… Impressive, as always. If we fought ten times, I’d lose nine. But…”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Gathering the scattered magical energy, Paul concentrated it in his hands, creating an aura so powerful that it made some of his hair levitate.

Snap!

Paul narrowed his eyes, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with a murky energy.

“…This place is not in your favor, Cadet Kang Geom-Ma.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

‘Following Miss Erio and signing a contract with the Fourth Corps Commander was definitely the right decision.’

Erio and Paul had lost their power after Agor’s death, even after selling their souls to become villains. However, fate smiled upon them one day.

Villains cannot use magic on their own. To do so, they must act as parasites to a Corps Commander, who provides the necessary magical energy. Without a master, magic is beyond their reach.

With a snap of his fingers, six spheres of earth emerged behind him, floating in the air. Each was the size of a cannonball. Another snap, and small sparks began igniting on the spheres, engulfing them in flames.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

For a Corps Commander-level demon to invade the human world, they need a vessel. The stronger the vessel, the more power the demon can manifest. That’s why Leon, with his near-limitless potential, was the perfect target.

Erio and Paul accepted without hesitation, and thanks to Fermush, they could now wield both fire and earth magic.

The Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush, offered them a contract. In exchange, they had to deliver Leon, the hero candidate.

‘Even though I said I wouldn’t underestimate him… There’s no way I can lose this.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

The magical energy saturating the air flooded Paul’s veins with an intoxicating sensation. Though he tried to maintain his composure, the euphoria made him smile.

However, it was too late for regrets. As much of a traitor as she was, she had no intention of changing her decision so quickly.

Meanwhile, Choi Seol-Ah watched from a distance, feeling a twinge of regret upon realizing that Paul could use two magical elements.

‘Could I have wielded two elements if I had signed a contract with a different Corps Commander?’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Tap. Tap.

Resolute, she stepped back a little further. She knew that far from helping, she would only be a hindrance to him. Besides, if things got worse, she already had an escape plan.

‘I just have to trust Kang Geom-Ma.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

That inhuman speed and precision in his attacks had left him impressed.

But there are countermeasures. Eliminate empty space.

‘Normally, I wouldn’t even be able to touch him.’

Paul advanced confidently, convinced that he had the upper hand. He had studied Kang Geom-Ma’s combat style during his duel with Mao Lang.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

What use is agile footwork if your movements are restricted?

This is an environment where magical energy, the core ingredient of magic, is abundant.

Even if he dodges this attack, I just have to keep striking.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

The fire-heated cannonballs launched instantly.

More than anything, that bastard Kang Geom-Ma is emotionally unstable. Even if his eyes seem colorless and transparent, his mind must be deeply shaken. The aftershocks will make the difference between life and death.

“I’m going all in.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Continuous, relentless bombardment.

A barrage surged toward Kang Geom-Ma like a meteor shower. Each time a rock collided, a thunderous crash echoed, shaking the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

The explosions rattled the ground, and dust and sparks filled the air. The environment became dry and oppressive.

Fiery sparks froze within the white dust, creating a dry and hazy atmosphere.

Choi Seol-Ah narrowed her eyes, trying to ignore the dryness of her eyelids. She observed the battle through her other senses—the heat, the sound of the explosions, and the scent of scorched earth.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Choi Seol-Ah shook her head to dispel a fleeting moment of doubt.

‘…There’s no way Kang Geom-Ma is losing, right?’

Despite the chaos, she couldn’t hear the distinct sound of a sword cutting through. Her eyelashes trembled with uncertainty.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

She had no choice but to trust her own decisions—or, more precisely, her own instincts.

Paul was undoubtedly a formidable enemy due to his ability to wield two types of magic simultaneously. However, what was even more frustrating was his combat prowess.

As soon as her eyes adjusted to the dry heat, she opened them wide. This was a life-or-death gamble. She was determined to witness it, even if it meant losing her sight.

Charging, launching, bombarding.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

He absorbed the magical energy from the environment, converted it instantly into magic, and released it in an instant. Choi Seol-Ah understood perfectly how absurd it was to accomplish such a feat.

‘…Paul, when did you reach this level?’

When she had seen him before, he hadn’t seemed this strong… Aside from his contract with the Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush, Paul must have experienced significant personal growth. That was the only conclusion Choi Seol-Ah could reach.

These three processes were executed in Paul’s hands within seconds. The surprise was evident in Choi Seol-Ah’s eyes.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Fiery rocks were embedded in both the ground and the inner walls. Paul’s pupils darted swiftly beneath his thin eyelids, searching for any trace of his opponent.

Otherwise, she would have felt an inexplicable sense of nausea for some reason. Believing what she wanted to believe was her only option.

Paul continued his offensive for several minutes. This wasn’t about precise attacks—it was a wild bombardment meant to limit his opponent’s movements. Before they realized it, the battlefield had completely changed.

That, too, was a fundamental attitude of a villain.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

All he could see was Choi Seol-Ah awkwardly standing in the distance, but Kang Geom-Ma was nowhere in sight.

Immediately, Paul heightened his senses, scanning for Kang Geom-Ma’s presence. There was no way he had just taken all of that silently. Paul had seen firsthand how incredibly fast Kang Geom-Ma was—so fast he was barely visible.

‘Where is he?’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

The glint of a sword flashed through a blind spot in his vision.

Paul focused and quickly rolled his eyes upward. At that moment, a chilling sensation ran down his spine, followed by a terrifying shiver.

Just as he was about to turn his head—

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

“Ugh!”

Paul’s mouth opened, letting out a pained gasp.

The razor-sharp tip of the knife pierced through the dust and struck Paul’s side and collarbone.

Shing!

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

“!”

Paul’s pupils contracted, then dilated once before locking onto Kang Geom-Ma.

The vivid sting of a blade made his eyes widen instantly.

A sharp, cold pain shot through his stomach.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Slash.

The sight of Kang Geom-Ma’s glowing eyes staring at him from up close was the last thing Paul expected to see. He had no time to react.

As Kang Geom-Ma twisted his body and swung his sword, a flash of silver light sliced cleanly through his forearm.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

“Aaaaahhh!”

The scream came late, only after the searing pain consumed him.

Paul’s right arm detached and floated through the air, spraying fresh blood. His mind, sluggish from the shock, momentarily froze.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Though Kang Geom-Ma could have ended him immediately by severing his head, he only inflicted wounds on his arms and sides, avoiding vital areas. This left Paul thinking—why?

Paul cursed as he staggered backward, trying to put distance between them. His eyes, now darkened with terror, revealed an even deeper fear than before.

“Damn it!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

His gaze instinctively drifted toward Leon, who lay with his crushed forearm and blood pouring from his side.

‘From the beginning, this was never about winning or losing.’

‘No way…’

Paul’s pupils trembled. Kang Geom-Ma was returning exactly what had been done to Leon and Saki.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Kang Geom-Ma watched him in silence, his colorless eyes filled with something beyond mere killing intent. Just by looking at him, Paul’s body trembled, and his jaw quivered involuntarily.

“Aaaaahhh! Argh!”

Only then did Paul realize that, far from buying time, he had been completely manipulated.

Paul screamed again, his mind trapped in a whirlwind of fear. Desperate, he waved his remaining hand in a frantic, pleading motion, as if trying to grasp onto the last remnants of his strength.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Paul concentrated all his power into a single spell and launched it with everything he had.

Without his right hand, he could no longer conjure fire. Instead, he gathered all the scattered magical energy around him.

From behind Paul, a grotesque, spiked rock emerged once more.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

Paul’s face filled with shock.

‘…No way. Is that—?’

Kang Geom-Ma watched in silence, gripping his sword tightly. An intense energy began to radiate from his knuckles, enveloping the entire blade. A soft blue light began flowing along the edge.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

As Paul struggled to process it, Kang Geom-Ma raised his sword.

It was an aura, a technique only the most powerful experts could wield. Paul was completely baffled at seeing something that lay far beyond his understanding.

And in a low, chilling tone, he spoke.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

The piles of earth split cleanly in two, crashing against the walls with a thunderous impact. The brilliant blue light surged forward, cutting through Paul without stopping.

Slash.

The blade vibrated.

“Die.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

“This… can’t be…”

Paul tried to touch his chest, but his body split cleanly in two.

A straight red line appeared from the top of his head down to his groin.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

The villain who was once Paul was reduced to two perfectly severed halves.

Thud.

***

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

She rubbed her eyes as if trying to wake from a dream and opened them again.

It was an unbelievable sight.

Choi Seol-Ah’s pupils, as she watched the scene unfold, widened at least three times before shrinking back down.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

And then—this situation.

Kang Geom-Ma’s arm seemed to blur for an instant before something flashed.

“This is insane.”

Her gaze locked onto “that”—what had once been Paul. His body, cleanly sliced in half, was rapidly losing its warmth. Choi Seol-Ah felt a buzzing in her head.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

The impact left her speechless. It was such a monstrous sword strike that it seemed to completely defy the laws of physics.

Was that even an attack? In Choi Seol-Ah’s eyes, everything had happened faster than lightning. It even seemed as if auras had been woven into the motion, and at such a young age, he could control that energy so incredibly.

Choi Seol-Ah’s gaze naturally shifted toward Erio.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

To Kang Geom-Ma, Choi Seol-Ah was an ally, while Erio was an enemy. Erio’s lips twisted under the weight of the shock.

As she watched her, a deep smile crept onto the corners of Choi Seol-Ah’s lips.

Erio’s face was utterly lost in confusion and despair. Her reaction wasn’t much different from Choi Seol-Ah’s. But their positions were clearly opposite.

Even back in her villain days, Erio had looked down on her and openly belittled her. But now, she was trembling like a drenched rat.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

“Idiot.”

“……”

Choi Seol-Ah looked at Kang Geom-Ma’s back. Smoke rose from his shoulders. The scent of burnt air lingered in her nose from the heat of friction that had swept through the air.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 97: Final Exam (7) by Indra Translations.

For Choi Seol-Ah, that was more than enough.

The safest place in the world was, without a doubt, by his side.

As she watched, Choi Seol-Ah became certain.