The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

“…Yu Sein.”

That night, as I lay in bed, I went over the events of the day.

Before leaving, she left me with a phrase as if it were a farewell.

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That mysterious tone matched Yu Sein’s voice exactly.

— May the blessing of the gods be with you.

Every time a blessing manifested, the voice of a woman resonated in my mind.

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She had mentioned the penalty of ‘divine punishment’ multiple times.

I used the Blessing of the God of the Sword to sharpen my perception and observe her carefully, but I didn’t detect even the slightest lie in her gaze.

But after saying that, Sein walked away, insisting that she couldn’t tell me anything else.

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Since it was our first time seeing each other, there was no way for me to understand her true intentions.

…Then, why did she decide to transfer to the academy?

Not only was there a limit to what she could tell me, but we also had to restrict our meetings.

‘She even said that we shouldn’t meet too often.’

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As I tossed and turned in bed, I sat up and leaned against the wall.

‘She said she came to help me level up.’

However, analyzing the context of our conversation, in the end, Sein was trying to present herself as my ally.

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As I stared at the moon, I pulled a stone out of my pocket.

It was the Stone of Immortality.

The brilliant glow of the full moon shone through the window at an inclined angle.

The cold surface ran down my back.

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Absorbing the moonlight, it radiated a seductive glow.

Rough… coarse.

I ran my fingers over its surface.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

Even though it had been purified, the stone remained a concentrated mass of pure mana.

I stared at the stone for a long time.

This fragment of rock was more dangerous than most magical beasts.

Did it feel like fish scales before being cut with a knife? anchor It had a completely raw texture.

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‘…But will this be enough to strengthen Murasame? admire If, for some reason, Volundr fails…’

Just imagining it made me tremble.

All the effort I put in during the holidays would collapse in an instant.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

Especially since, based on my experience playing Miracle Blessing M, the failure rate wasn’t even that high.

Around 7% at most?

If that happened, I would experience something far beyond simple anger.

The problem was that Volundr had already failed before in a refinement process.

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“Ah, this is making me anxious.”

I had no choice but to believe in Volundr tomorrow.

But… even if I didn’t trust it, I had no alternative plan.

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“Well… but thanks to that chance of failure, when the enhancement succeeds, the satisfaction multiplies.”

The pulse in my fingers transferred to the stone, making the cold fragment vibrate as if it had a life of its own.

I put the stone back in my pocket.

My heart pounded with excitement.

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***

The next day, during lunchtime, I went straight to find Volundr.

Maybe it was because, deep down, I was still Korean, but the thrill of enhancing an item was inevitable.

The risk of gambling was terrifying.

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By the forge, where embers were spitting sparks, a burly figure was greasing a massive hammer.

As soon as I opened the door, a blast of hot air and the strong smell of sweat hit me in the face.

“Sir, I’ve arrived.”

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Even so, he set aside what he was doing and pulled out a chair, motioning for me to sit.

“…What? arctic You again?”

I wasn’t sure if it was his craftsmanship etiquette or his fear of my persistence, but despite his lackluster attitude, he at least maintained courtesy.

Volundr turned his head slightly and sighed.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

There were weapon blueprints, order forms, measuring tools, pencils—just a pile of things.

Volundr cleared the clutter off the table.

“I wish it had been longer. abandon A month was shorter than I expected. accent Anyway, sit.”

“It’s been a while.”

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After organizing what was necessary, he brought over a teapot and some battered rice liquor cups.

‘Seriously? riddle Drinking alcohol in front of a customer, and a student at that?’

Without saying much, he filled one of the cups.

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“I’ll tell you now—I’ve got a mountain of backlogged orders since the semester started. atom Even if I accept yours now, it’ll take at least a month, maybe more.”

This guy never changed.

Volundr took a long sip. aluminum Then, wiping his lips with his forearm, he asked.

“So, what did you bring this time? palette Knowing how impatient you are, I doubt you spent the holidays doing nothing. arctic Did you come back with A-rank magical beast materials again?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

The liquor cup stopped just before reaching his lips.

“…What?”

“I brought something that makes A-rank materials look insignificant.”

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Volundr’s eyes followed the stone as it rolled across the surface.

“W-Wait…! advance Don’t tell me…?”

I pulled out the stone and placed it on the table.

His voice trembled uncontrollably.

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“Wait, wait, wait! acid Isn’t this a mana stone?!”

Holding his breath, he carefully picked up the stone with both hands.

His dilated pupils scanned the crimson stone meticulously.

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Volundr let out a breathless chuckle.

“Yes. afford Its official name is the ‘Stone of Immortality.’ What do you think? accent Isn’t it a material that completely outclasses A-rank ones?”

“…Hah. anxiety Damn, this is…”

I nodded.

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“Is it possible to enhance a weapon with this?”

He looked like a child who had just received a new toy.

He couldn’t take his eyes off the stone.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

“I’ll be honest with you. absorb I’ve been doing this for decades, so I won’t lie. album Can you enhance a weapon with a mana stone? antenna Sure. academy Even though it’s an extremely rare mineral and I’ve never worked with one, there are records of it being done before.”

Volundr hesitated at my question and scratched his eyebrow awkwardly.

His tone grew more serious as he continued explaining.

“Ah… well.”

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With just one touch, he had already determined its nature.

“…But the problem is the refining process. accent I don’t know if you’re aware, but if you make even the slightest mistake while handling it, the energy inside can go out of control. beacon Right now, it looks like just a simple rock, but the malice trapped within is immense. beacon No less than an A+ rank magical beast, maybe even higher.”

I had almost forgotten, but in Miracle Blessing M, Volundr was recognized as the best blacksmith in the game.

Damn, that’s impressive.

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“Tch—it’s a compliment, a compliment! altitude Anyway, back to the point. athlete Can this be used to upgrade a weapon? timber Yes. alpha But before that, the malignant energy inside the stone has to be purified.”

Volundr quickly tried to backtrack.

A vein throbbed on my temple.

“I’m not going to ask where you got this I doubt you’d tell me anyway. autumn After all, you’re Kang Geom-Ma. aluminum If it’s your doing, nothing surprises me anymore. arctic Nothing less from the Saint of Sashimi.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

“Even if there were, it would be impossible. action If a human tries to refine it by artificial means—cutting, polishing—the magical energy would dissipate. shadow There’s only one way to do it suppress the malice within the stone with human willpower.”

“There’s no one to entrust it to—I don’t even know anyone capable of doing it.”

Volundr shook his head.

“So, can it be refined? atlas Or should I entrust it to someone else?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

“In simple terms, you have to tame it with sheer will. auction To put it in a way you’d understand, it’s like domesticated a wild beast and turning it into a pet.”

The concept itself made sense.

“…?”

I fell into thought.

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Purifying it before smelting was a necessary process.

“This whole ‘suppress it with will’ thing… how exactly do I do that?”

So, how was it done? action I asked him directly.

Although some of the malice had already dissipated, the stone remained what it was.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

“It’s not complicated. airport When I activate my blessing and strike the stone with my hammer, its magical energy will erupt all at once. academy At that moment, you’ll have to place your hands on it and suppress it. ability That should do the trick.”

“Hey! abstract Do you think I ended up at Joaquin Academy by pure luck? audit Of course, I have one! …Though my blessing is completely useless in combat, so I was never a hero…”

“…Since when do you have a blessing, Ahjussi?”

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“……”

“Anyway, here’s the summary. antenna Yes, the weapon can be enhanced. wizard But I can’t do it alone. antenna If the energy inside this stone is truly at an A+ or S-rank magical beast level, then my willpower alone isn’t enough to suppress it. acoustic Unless it’s someone on the level of the Seven Heroes, I doubt anyone could handle it.”

For a moment, sadness crossed his face. arctic He shook his head to chase away the thoughts and added.

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He handed the stone back to me with a look of frustration. auction He bit his lip, powerless.

I glanced back and forth between Volundr and the stone.

‘…Hmm.’

His pride as a blacksmith had taken a hit.

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If I wanted to strengthen other stones in the future, I needed him to gain experience now.

If we could overcome this first hurdle, the two future enhancements would be much easier.

I couldn’t let Volundr give up so easily.

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His pride was bruised.

I looked up. wizard Volundr was drinking his liquor with a bitter expression.

I grabbed him immediately.

“Ahjussi!”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

“I’ll be the one to suppress the stone’s energy.”

If I left him like this, he’d get drunk and become completely useless.

“Cough! palette W-What did you just say?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

He first looked at me like I was insane, then furrowed his brows tightly.

“Hey! harbor Do you even know what you’re saying?! afford If something goes wrong, you could lose your sanity forever!”

Volundr choked.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

I was grateful in my heart.

Suddenly, Volundr shouted at me. action Despite his harsh tone, his voice was full of concern for me.

“I’ll handle it.”

But for Volundr, defending his personal feelings was more important.

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I looked him straight in the eyes. alpha He flinched and set his glass down. sphere A cold air lingered in the hot space.

‘Originally, I hadn’t planned to say anything.’

“I defeated the demon that spat out this mana stone.”

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Volundr’s voice was steady, though he stammered slightly. artist As if it was something he had expected.

“…I see.”

“I saw how eager you were to enhance the mana stone earlier. aspect Wouldn’t it be a shame to give up?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

Besides, during my three years in the Ministry of National Defense, I also trained my mental resilience. beacon How could I succumb to something so trivial?

In my past life, I had been rolling in the dirt since I was seventeen.

“……”

“And I won’t go crazy or anything. portal Even though I’m like this, I trust my mental fortitude.”

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“…!”

“Huff!”

Volundr’s expression hardened for a moment, deep in thought. acquire Then, he closed his eyes tightly and bit the spout of the kettle.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

Volundr looked at me with wide eyes.

He let out a sharp breath as he downed his liquor. acoustic His already flushed face turned bright red.

“…Alright, let’s do it. antenna I’ll try to control the amount of magic power that leaks out as much as possible.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

Volundr smirked.

“Let’s light up the forge.”

“First, let’s lower the blinds.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

Volundr quickly completed the preparations for the enhancement.

Enhancing a weapon using a mana stone.

***

Would he ever get another opportunity like this in his lifetime?

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

But his heart was pounding.

He postponed all the accumulated orders and lowered the shop’s shutter.

Basically, he had closed the business for the rest of the day.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

The searing heat coursed through his veins like liquid fire.

Gulp. ability He swallowed hard.

He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the warm air of the forge.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

A heat intense enough to melt liquid metal enveloped his body.

Whooosh.

As he pressed the bellows with his foot, a shower of sparks scattered across the smithy.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

He raised the hammer above his head. arena Before striking the stone, he glanced toward Kang Geom-Ma.

“Let’s begin.”

‘This temperature should be enough.’

But Volundr didn’t lose focus and fanned the flames even more.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

Upon impact, a sharp cracking sound echoed throughout the workshop.

Clang!

Kang Geom-Ma nodded silently.

At that moment, Volundr activated his blessing and poured all his power into the Stone of Immortality.

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A chill ran down Volundr’s spine.

Ssssssssss—

A dark mist, denser than the very shadows, suppressed the heat of the forge.

A crack immediately formed in the stone, and from the opening, a black smoke began to seep out.

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“…Ughh.”

A sinister energy invaded his mind, gnawing at the edges of his vision.

It was a power beyond comprehension.

His fingers began to lose strength around the hammer.

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Beside him, a soft sound of a sword being unsheathed echoed.

Shiing.

Kang Geom-Ma had drawn his Sashimi and, unfazed by the overwhelming energy around him, extended his lone hand.

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[However, the opponent’s level is insufficient to trigger the program.]

[Unauthorized external intrusion detected.]

Beep—

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 142 – Weapon Enhancement published by TrungTu Reads.

The moment his hand touched the source of the devouring magic…

Kang Geom-Ma spoke with absolute composure.

[‘Mind’s Rank’ will be activated to suppress ‘Energy of Immortality.’]

“Is this all you’ve got?”

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[The Blessing of the Sword God: Annihilation has been activated.]

……Fwoosh!