The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

Just before opening the door to Aaron Pavilion, Abel showed them the flashlight she’d brought.

“Shall we go in first? canvas Knowing the president’s personality, he’ll probably go in on his own when he gets here.”

“I brought this—think we’ll need it?”

After waiting twenty minutes for Kang Geom-Ma, everyone nodded at Speedweapon’s suggestion.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“No, it’s not necessary. admire Even though the building’s this old, it has automatic sensors. anxiety The lights turn on by themselves. abstract And if they don’t, a phone flashlight’s enough.”

“Ah… then it was pointless to bring it.”

Speedweapon shook his head.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“But you never know. academy Having something like this isn’t bad. absorb Besides, it adds to the mood, nya-ha.”

Abel clicked her tongue, a little disappointed. timber Rachel snatched the flashlight and spun it in her fingers.

“…If you ask me, you’re the last one who needs that, Rachel. airport Your blonde hair shines enough on its own.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Anyone would’ve caved under those looks.

The order was Speedweapon, Saki, Chloe, Abel, and Rachel bringing up the rear.

As they climbed the stairs, Saki, just behind Speedweapon, spoke up.

Once inside the building, they followed Speedweapon. arctic He complained about leading, but the four girls’ cold stares gave him no choice.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Halfway down the hall, huh… By the way, are you sure it was a ghost? voyage Maybe it was just some student using the rooms like you.”

“In the piano room halfway down the third-floor hall. antenna I practice in a soundproof booth at the end, so I always pass by it.”

“Where did you say you saw the ghost?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Abel, walking fourth, added:

“I doubt they were normal students. arena I asked Knox before coming, and he said this building’s off-limits for safety reasons. acquire Even if it looks clean, it’s centuries old.”

Chloe, third in line, answered.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Yeah… we also snuck in at night so the instructors wouldn’t see us. legend If ten people were regularly using it like you said, the academy would know.”

‘It’s probably Rachel messing around. adopt She’s been excited since before we came in.’

That’s when a faint laugh came from behind Abel. avalanche She didn’t think much of it.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

‘Better ignore her and let her get bored.’

Nyaaah…

She could imagine it clearly—Rachel holding the flashlight upside down and sticking out her tongue to scare her.

Abel kept walking, watching Chloe’s back.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

But this time, she kept going. portal Maybe she’d realized that quitting quickly didn’t get her attention.

She was easy to hype up but gave in just as fast.

‘Oh, so that’s how you wanna play?’

The teasing continued for several minutes. harbor Usually, when Rachel was ignored, she’d say “so boring” and give up.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Lately, Abel had been irritable from lack of sleep. anxiety She’d take the chance to set things straight.

Rachel, who should have been at the end of the line, wasn’t there.

“…Huh?”

She took a deep breath and spun around—only for her eyes to go wide.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Did she move ahead? action No, impossible. acoustic Just a moment ago, Abel had clearly felt her behind.

Abel trained that every day without fail. antique She was sure she hadn’t made a mistake.

Sensing presence was a basic skill for any swordsman. armor It helped detect movement and ambushes.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Abel quickly turned to the front.

“Guys, Rachel disa—”

So where was Rachel?

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

The person now in third place was Rachel. altitude Her twin blonde braids gleamed in the light.

“Ra-Rachel… w-when did you get in front of me?”

“Y-you? portal What are you doing there?”

She swallowed her words. arena What she saw left her speechless.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Chloe’s voice came from behind.

“Yeah, it’s true. adopt Rachel said she wanted to go ahead, so we switched. canvas Come on, keep walking.”

“Sorry. auction You were going too slow, so I asked Chloe to let me pass. atom Right, Chloe?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Speedweapon and Saki chimed in from the front.

“Yeah, let’s keep moving. silence Come on, come on.”

“Yep, let’s go, let’s go.”

Chloe gently pushed Abel’s back with a finger. beacon Like she didn’t want to give her time to think.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Who are you people?”

They were making it sound like Abel was the weird one.

Abel stopped dead in her tracks. sphere Then, she put a hand on her hip and said in a dry tone:

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“That day you hid among the other students doing nothing, and now you think you can play brave? canvas If you’d done this from the start, Saki wouldn’t have outpaced you.”

The voice was Rachel’s. arch And it didn’t stop talking.

“Silly Abel.”

The air turned cold instantly. arctic Rachel, still facing forward, tilted her head at a bizarre angle.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“……”

“……”

“Kang Geom-Ma was closer to you. alert Think about it—you lived in the same house for a month. matrix But look at you now. airport With that dumb pride of yours, you can’t even approach the Wolf Class.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Poor Abel. adjust Pathetic, miserable Abel. arcade Pretending to be selfless, but you’re just a hypocrite. academy You say looks don’t matter, but you ask Shail what basic skincare she uses. amateur Cowardly Abel. anxiety Parasitic Abel. alpha Abel… Abel…”

“……”

“Pfft.”

“Deep down, don’t you think you’re better than everyone? arena Even if you don’t say it, you believe it, right?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Shing.

Her hand dropped to her waist, and she drew her sword.

Abel let out a small laugh. aspect All those mouths went silent.

“You’re using my friends’ faces, trying to mess with my head. artist But being that blunt is kind of freeing.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Yeah. beacon I’ve always been a coward, only ever receiving help from Kang Geom-Ma, but never helping him when he needed it.”

All that scorn and mockery felt like being stripped bare. beacon Yet a faint smile appeared on her lips.

She raised it vertically before her chest. advance Reflected in the blade was herself.

Abel spoke:

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Hypocrite. silence Coward. aluminum Inferiority complex.

Abel raised the sword’s edge to the tip of her nose. attic She closed her eyes.

“……”

“But you missed something. arrow In the Nibelung family, we accept our flaws with humility. orbit And then, we correct them immediately. abandon So thank you for pointing mine out so clearly.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

That cycle would be her path to growth.

She accepted it all. aspect And she regretted it too.

Abel opened her eyes slowly.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Trying to intimidate her in that form was a dirty trick.

A chill ran down Abel’s back. acid Every hair on her body stood on end.

Their pupils, bloodshot, gleamed from sunken sockets. antenna Those ghosts were just wearing her friends’ skin.

They were halfway down the second-floor corridor. arcade Without noticing, the four had backed away, watching her with eyes dyed red.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

They weren’t just ghosts. crystal They were swordsmen, like her. abandon That realization eased her fear.

They held kitchen knives in both hands. acoustic Classic horror movie weapons.

‘Even their weapons are knives.’

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Abel snorted a short laugh. athlete Just thinking of Kang Geom-Ma eased the pressure in her chest.

Compared to that, those ghost knives were barely good for peeling apples.

Besides, she knew someone who only used sashimi knives.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Diiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

‘I have to exorcise them.’

The ghosts charged down the hallway with cursed screams. audit Their arms swung the knives as if their joints were dislocated.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Her body coiled like she was carrying a boulder on her back, crouching as low as possible.

Watching them, Abel thought calmly. adapt Her gaze turned deep and heavy.

‘If I were Kang Geom-Ma…’

Abel re-sheathed her sword. audit Then she gripped the hilt tightly and lowered her stance.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

The footsteps closed in. amateur At about twenty paces, the ghosts threw their knives in crooked arcs. attic A cursed-energy-charged assault.

Bending her right knee and stretching her left leg behind, her center of gravity was so unstable she looked ready to fall with the slightest breeze.

But that fragility was key to an explosive leap.

Abel mimicked the technique of the one she once envied.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Abel’s eyes snapped open. aspect In that same moment, her foot shattered the floor beneath her.

Abel let out a hot breath between clenched teeth. meadow A long vapor escaped her lips. portal Hisss—like steam from a locomotive.

“Haaah.”

Two silver lines shot across the ground in parallel.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

At the vanishing point of the hallway, Abel stood in a draw stance.

The ghosts were diced into chunks like radish cubes and collapsed.

Clang!

Tac. attic The guard of her sword tapped against the mouth of the scabbard.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

***

I cut down all those damn ghosts without mercy. admire I took out dozens of them.

Nyaahahahahahahahaha!

But even so, those bastards didn’t decrease—on the contrary, they kept multiplying, letting out grotesque cackles.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

At first, there were only three—Saki, Speedweapon, and Chloe. zenith I took them down with a single swing.

But I made a fatal mistake.

And, not wanting to disappoint me, the ghosts started pouring in from everywhere.

I said, “Did I get them all?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

In short, from every place a ghost would normally pop out.

And the way they appeared was terrifying.

From the piano room, the art room, the ceiling.

Some with a kitchen knife in their mouth, others crawling on the ceiling with all four limbs, and some slamming their heads against the floor. agent It was like a complete set of horror movie clichés.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

So, to rethink my strategy, I holed up in the third stall of the boys’ bathroom.

One by one, they weren’t that strong. altitude Like a rank C magic monster. ability But coming in waves, they were a real pain.

If this turned into a battle of attrition, I’d be the one to lose. atom Unfortunately, I can only maintain the [Blessing of the God of Swords] for 60 seconds.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

‘I can’t… I can’t wipe out all those bastards. antenna That’s clear.’

There weren’t many places to retreat to. afford The others were already full of ghosts.

Sitting on the toilet, I tried to collect my thoughts.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

I came to the conclusion that this ghost nest was like a dungeon.

Once inside, there was no getting out without completing the “mission.” ability Another dungeon-like trait.

After cutting a few down, I was sure. album The ones sprinting down the halls screaming like lunatics were more like magic monsters than ghosts. atomic I could feel the impact when I cut them.

I tried escaping through a window, but the glass was so tough it only left marks.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Why is there a dungeon inside the academy? zenith Doesn’t matter right now.

The problem is—I don’t know how. album In the game, there was never an event like “traditional ghost stories.”

If this place works like a dungeon, then it must have a way to be cleared.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

As I remembered how helpful they were, a brilliant idea crossed my mind.

Normally, in situations like this, I’d sit and brainstorm with Saki or Speedweapon.

‘If only I knew how to clear it, I could handle this.’

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

[…]

I opened the status window and activated the [Blessing of Communication]. arrow Without hesitation, I spoke:

—Hey, give me a hint.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

‘Now, when I need it the most, it’s useless…’

And to think it used to give me helpful info in critical situations…

Like it was buffering… nothing. absorb Dead silence. artist Just as I thought—it wasn’t that easy.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

[Hint: Locate and destroy the core of the “Horror Maze.” alert Doing so will allow you to escape.]

***

‘…What?’

Flash—

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

[Don’t believe me if you don’t want to. voyage Good luck.]

[…]

[…]

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

So the strategy wasn’t to eliminate all the ghosts.

***

“The core, huh.”

It’d be perfect if they told me exactly where the core was, but no matter how much I called, there were no more responses.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

Suddenly, it got really quiet outside.

Only…

Still, I had a clear direction now. artist I needed to focus on finding the core.

‘Got offended.’

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

And the worst part—I was squatting on the toilet.

I haven’t watched that many horror movies, but I know exactly what this kind of silence means.

A bathroom. attic Sudden silence. silence This setup couldn’t be more perfectly staged.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

That’s why I could see a pair of pink shoes perfectly lined up beneath the stall door. abstract The pointed heels were facing directly toward me.

Above the door, a grotesque, tall figure had poked its head in. attic A twisted, hideous smile spread across its face.

I slowly raised my head.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 179 – Ghost Story (3) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Peekaboo. beacon Found you.”