Chapter 98: Resolution (1)

Erio Pine’s eyes widened even further.

It was already well known that Kang Geom-Ma was strong. Recently, in a duel within the dimensional space, he had defeated one of the continent’s stars, solidifying himself as an unparalleled prodigy.

‘What… what the hell is that monster!’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Suddenly, her legs faltered, and her knees began to tremble.

Although the nickname might sound like a joke, Kang Geom-Ma’s skill was undeniable. That’s why Erio had considered multiple variables and studied strategies to counter him in case they ever crossed paths. But all her efforts crumbled like a bursting bubble.

People called him the “Saint of Sashimi.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Though Paul had not realized it during his fight, Erio, who had been watching, was utterly horrified.

“How can this be possible? And on top of that, he’s only seventeen, with a face still as soft as a child’s. How can a human like him exist, regardless of age?”

Kang Geom-Ma’s strength was beyond any expectations. Moreover, the pressure he exuded didn’t just weaken her will to fight—it made it disappear completely.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

The word she had been repeating in her mind slipped from her lips. Then, Kang Geom-Ma’s dark eyes locked onto her.

“A demon.”

A monster. No, more than that…

He was someone whose depths of power could not be measured.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Erio screamed desperately. Every hair on her body stood on end.

The sound of a single step made Erio feel as if her entire body had frozen. Kang Geom-Ma moved forward, his empty, cold gaze fixed on her.

Step.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“You’re a demon, stay away!”

Step.

Hearing those words, Choi Seol-Ah let out a small, sarcastic laugh. How could a villain like Erio Pine call someone a “demon”? It was ridiculous. Seol-Ah shook her head, feigning pity.

But Kang Geom-Ma’s steps continued.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

‘I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die…’

In her mind, there was only one thought repeating over and over.

Another step forward. Erio’s face turned completely pale.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Finally, she clenched her teeth and forced her paralyzed mind to move.

First, she needed to live. Then, there would be time to think about revenge.

She looked around, searching for a way out. Should she try to escape? No, after seeing how fast Kang Geom-Ma wielded his blade, she knew she had no chance of running away.

‘No matter what, I have to survive.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Now that she thought about it, Paul had been preparing to cast magic even before she could use hers. Paul had boasted about his power, yet he was torn apart in an instant.

What if she launched a magical attack to distract him and then fled? But she didn’t sense any magical power in the air. She quickly glanced at Paul’s severed body.

‘Could it be that… he consumed all the magical energy?’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

A cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

Erio quietly turned her head.

However, something felt off. The amount of magic Paul had used before his death wasn’t that much—why? A fleeting question. But Erio quickly figured out the answer.

No matter how strong magical power was, its total amount wasn’t infinite. If used excessively, it would eventually run out.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“…”

A ferocious force radiated from the knife, repelling the magical energy in the area. She wondered if that was possible, but it was the undeniable reality.

Her eyes landed on the sashimi blade.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Meanwhile, that crazy monster was still approaching. There was no time to waste.

With a swift motion, she shaped the earth into a sharp dagger and pressed it against Saki’s jaw.

“If you take another step, I’ll rip this bitch’s head off!”

Without hesitation, she grabbed the unconscious Saki by the hair and lifted her up.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Just as she was about to reach them, something felt off.

Yes, there was no safer method than taking a hostage. Erio slowly moved towards the stairs, using Saki as a shield.

At that moment, Kang Geom-Ma’s steps came to a halt.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

At that instant, Saki’s lips moved.

She glanced at Saki and noticed something strange—the dagger that should have been embedded in her clavicle was gone. The wound was still bleeding, but the blade had vanished.

“Wh-what does this mean?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Before Erio could react, Saki pulled out a hidden knife from her chest. Gripping it in a reverse hold, she plunged it deep into Erio’s abdomen.

“…!?”

Squish!

“It hurts… let me go already.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

The curved blade pierced through her navel, puncturing her intestines. The venom coating the weapon quickly spread through her bloodstream.

Erio screamed in agony, collapsing to her knees. Saki, exhausted, staggered toward a nearby wall, struggling to keep herself upright.

“Argh—!”

“Aaaahhhhhh!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

With her face twisted in pain, Erio lifted her head and asked.

Saki let out a weak chuckle. Her light blue hair fell over her face as she gasped for breath.

“How… how did you do it?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“…Idiot.”

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

“You put on an act before… why couldn’t I do the same? Besides… in my family, we always build immunity to poison. Archers like us coat our arrows with venom to gain an advantage.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

The poison had spread to her neck, making the veins in her body stand out in a dark purple hue. Her facial muscles twitched, but most of her internal organs were already failing.

Saki, too, had exhausted all her strength. But with great effort, she straightened her back and continued speaking.

Erio cursed in a distorted voice.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“…Ah.”

Erio clutched her lower abdomen, lifting her eyes in fury. But the poison had reached her brain, and her vital functions were shutting down.

“I didn’t block the poison with an aura, I just… slowed my heartbeat. If I had taken a second longer, I probably would have died.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

With a final breath, Erio’s eyelids closed, and darkness consumed her vision.

Thud.

A faint groan—that was Erio’s final will. Immediately, her life force flickered out completely.

Saki, completely drained, let her head fall forward.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

The face she had longed to see at the brink of life and death was there, looking at her.

She looked up, barely able to keep her eyes open.

Her body wobbled, about to collapse, when a firm hand caught her face.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“…Still, you saved me just in time.”

“I’m the one who’s dying here. Why do you look like that?”

“And about that request I made a few days ago…”

“……”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“Please… let me stay like this a little longer.”

Saki smiled faintly, resting her face against Kang Geom-Ma’s chest.

***

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Even that faint sound of breath seemed ready to fade away, like a candle flickering under the wind.

Ryozo leaned against my chest. Her already pale face had lost all color, and her breathing was weak and uneven.

“Ryozo!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

With every cough, blood spilled from her wounds and her mouth. Alarmed, I quickly assessed her condition.

“Cough, cough.”

Even though I called her name loudly, Ryozo only slightly moved her lips, as if she wanted to respond, but suddenly she started coughing.

“……”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

A jagged wound cut across her chest, making it clear she had taken a nearly fatal blow. Though it seemed to have barely missed her vitals, the damage was severe. The damp, suffocating air inside the tower prevented her bleeding from stopping.

It seemed like a miracle that he was still alive. His side was destroyed, and one of his arms was so damaged that it looked like a torn rag.

I glanced aside for a moment. Though Ryozo’s condition was grave, Leon’s—lying about ten steps away—was even worse.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Nothing is more useless in a critical situation than the feeling of despair. I quickly assessed their conditions and made a decision.

‘At times like this, you have to keep a cool head.’

It was urgent to act immediately. If I hesitated any longer, both of them would be lost beyond salvation. I clenched my teeth and, after taking a deep breath, tried to stay calm.

‘First, I need to stop the bleeding.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Choi Seol-Ah tilted her head in curiosity, her eyes filled with confusion.

“…What is he doing?”

I took off my uniform jacket and, with a quick motion, cut the edge with the sashimi knife. Then, with my bare hands, I started tearing the fabric into strips.

Despite the urgency of the situation, she looked at me with a mix of fascination and detachment. Seeing her face completely devoid of empathy or concern, even when someone was on the verge of death, made my blood boil for a moment.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

‘After all, she gave me the sashimi knife and helped me get through this.’

But what could I do? Her ability to feel emotions had probably faded long ago. I didn’t have time to scold her.

Reaching out to her for a weapon had been a risky bet. If Choi Seol-Ah hadn’t handed me the sashimi knife, I would probably have been finished right then and there.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Maybe it was because of the stallion emblem of the Corps Commander, or perhaps due to some kind of emotional connection I couldn’t understand. The only thing certain was that I had benefited from her decision.

However, for some reason, she abandoned the villains who used to be her allies and chose me, even declaring that she would serve me as her new master.

At that moment, Rachel and Senior Ha-na also arrived on the fifth floor. Rachel, whose face already looked haggard, was completely stunned upon seeing the scene before her. She quickly approached me and asked in an alarmed tone:

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“…Wh-what happened here?”

Both nodded, still bewildered, but obeyed. Even Choi Seol-Ah, who seemed lost, began rolling up her sleeves to help.

“I’ll explain later. Rachel, Senior Ha-na, please bring Leon here.”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

If she had continued staring at me without doing anything, I probably would have lost my patience entirely. But before I could even tell her what to do, she was already moving.

‘She has a strange way of grasping things.’

Rachel approached Leon, but her eyebrows furrowed in disgust. He was completely covered in blood, barely breathing in weak gasps. Since Rachel interacted with him frequently, it was understandable that her expression darkened.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

Seeing him up close, his condition was even worse than I had anticipated.

His broken bones had pierced through the skin at the elbow, and his side was bleeding even more severely than Ryozo’s.

The three of them worked together with extreme care to drag Leon over to where I was and laid him down.

Rachel requested the help of Senior Ha-na and Choi Seol-Ah. Under normal circumstances, she would have roughly thrown Leon over her shoulders, but in his current state, a poorly calculated movement could further twist his fragile bones.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“Is Leon going to die like this?”
Rachel murmured with a worried expression.

This wasn’t a case for first aid—it required immediate surgery.

I shook my head and replied.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“What…?”

“No, he won’t die.”

“I’ll save him.”

My low and firm tone seemed to calm her, and Rachel nodded. Then she asked me,

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“U-understood.” Rachel swallowed nervously. Then, I turned to Senior Ha-na and continued speaking.

“First, we need to realign his bones and stop the bleeding. If we don’t do it soon, it will really be too late.”

“What should I do?”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“And what about me…?”

“Understood,” Ha-na responded calmly, which made me give a slight smile of gratitude. She seemed to pick up on my intent and responded with a small smile of her own.

“Senior, Rachel, hold Leon firmly so his posture doesn’t shift. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Choi Seol-Ah, who had been timidly watching from the side, awkwardly asked as if she were waiting for a task. Her eyes gleamed, resembling a puppy waiting for someone to throw a frisbee.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“You… no, Instructor Kim, use this to stop Ryozo’s bleeding.”

I tossed her the pieces of fabric I had just torn and said,

Choi Seol-Ah quickly understood, nodding, and began working skillfully, wrapping the cloth around Ryozo’s upper arm and applying pressure to stop the bleeding.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

I exhaled deeply, trying to steady my mind. I needed absolute concentration.

“Huff.”

Meanwhile, Rachel and Senior Ha-na knelt down and held Leon’s arm firmly.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

I would have to realign the bones that had pierced through his flesh and put them back together. I had never done anything like this before—I had only sliced fish spines, not repaired human bones.

‘Is this what they call a coma?’ I thought. A single wrong move could send him straight to death from the shock.

I lifted Leon’s eyelids with my index finger to examine his eyes. His pupils were unfocused, completely blurred.

However, if I left him like this, he would die anyway. I had no choice but to try.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

The plan was to use the [Blessing of Transfer] to channel the [Blessing of Regeneration] into Leon’s body and numb him.

The plan seemed perfect in theory.
If this level of precision and recklessness had occurred on Earth, it would have been clearly impossible.

Then, I would quickly realign the broken bones and immediately apply the [Blessing of Regeneration] to stimulate cellular multiplication in the damaged bones and tissues.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

When this blessing manifests, the mind cools like ice, and the senses sharpen to an almost lethal edge. These two traits drastically increase the precision of movements.

However, if I don’t also use the Blessing of Pain Insensitivity, the extreme pain will overwhelm me. Saving someone while drowning in such excruciating pain that I might spit blood?

‘The Blessing of the Sword God.’

But in this world, the rules are different.

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

On top of that, the Blessing of Pain Insensitivity only lasts about seven more seconds. If I go over that time, the effect will wear off, and Leon will wake up from the “anesthetic.” Everything must be done within that window. Cold sweat dripped down my cheek.

I’m not a saint or anything like that. But if he dies, who will face the Demon King? Without Leon’s unique blessing, the [Blessing of Miracles], there is no way to defeat the Demon King. The system has literally set it up that way.

‘…In my past life, I owned a sashimi restaurant, and now I’m a surgeon in this world?’

‘Ah, fuck.’

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

I needed both hands free to treat Leon, so this was my only option. I tilted my jaw slightly and loosened the sword’s sheath.

I swallowed the sigh that was about to escape and bit down hard on Murasame’s hilt.

[Your ingenuity increases the level of your mind.]

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

I immediately reached out toward Leon.

[The Blessing of the Sword God, ‘Excellence,’ has been activated.]

Shing⎯

[Containment ability adjusts the process to the user’s skills.]

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

“Ugh!”

The bones were realigned, though somewhat crudely, and the bleeding had significantly decreased.

A few seconds later, thanks to the speed of the intervention, both Ryozo and Leon began showing visible signs of recovery.

***

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

However, blood started flowing from my nose, running down to the edge of my jaw.

My body collapsed, exhausted, into Rachel’s arms. They were warm.

“Geom-Ma!”

Translation of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 98: Resolution (1) by Indra Translations.

It felt as if every part of my body was being slowly crushed. But I found myself letting out a weak laugh, having squeezed every last bit out of the pain reduction effect at level 2.5.

“…Haha… damn it.”