The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

[Ah, and don’t worry—when I said she disappeared, I didn’t mean she was kidnapped or anything like that.]

“……”

The AI that introduced itself as Ryozo’s companion, Vixbig, continued sending messages.

[As you may know, entry and exit from the academy is controlled by the system at night. acquire Although, for someone like me, Vixbig, disabling that kind of security is as easy as scratching my belly.]

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An egotistical AI—what a thing…

Trying to prove she was truly an AI, Vixbig sent over a bunch of feats—photos and videos of her playing baduk against professionals. portal More than proof, it felt like more showing off.

Vixbig, who had promised to get straight to the point, went on bragging endlessly. riddle She talked about how extraordinary she was as an AI and about Ryozo’s greatness as her creator. absorb She sounded more like a religious fanatic than anything else.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

[Sorry, I got a bit sidetracked.]

Still, I decided to believe she was an AI thanks to her ridiculous behavior. atom Honestly, once she mentioned “Ryozo,” I was already paying attention. sphere The problem was she just wouldn’t shut up about herself.

“Didn’t you say this was urgent?”

I hadn’t seen a single normal person in this world. adjust And if I was even thinking of an AI as a “person,” maybe I wasn’t all that sane either.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“…Wait a second…”

[Oh, and you can speak aloud. album I’m analyzing your facial expressions in real time via the camera.]

Vixbig replied immediately.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

[W-we’re in a crisis! matrix I had no other choice! timber I, Vixbig, have a very strict ethical system. riddle I was designed to be extremely human-friendly.]

I cut her off flatly.

Did she just say she hacked my phone? timber I frowned. anxiety As if she realized the issue, Vixbig hurried to justify herself.

“Enough excuses. antique What does Ryozo disappearing have to do with contacting me? voyage It doesn’t sound dangerous. arctic Don’t tell me you reached out just because your master stepped out for a stroll.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Let’s say Ryozo really did disappear. apron Then why was this AI wasting time talking to me? acoustic She claimed she could hack the academy’s entire security system without issue. august If things were serious, she could have tracked Ryozo down herself. alien She could even tap into all the cameras.

And lastly, my gut. album I had just met her father, Saki Kojima.

The reason I tolerated her nonsense was simple—I had questions.

And now, right after that, Ryozo disappears and the AI contacts me like it’s been waiting for this moment. anchor It all lined up a little too perfectly.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

[…]

“Tell me straight. acquire You’re hiding something, aren’t you?”

[…It’s true that Ryozo has disappeared.]

In a case like this, silence usually meant “yes.” galaxy And if this AI wanted to act like a human…

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“W-wait! athlete Please wait!”

Shing.

In the dead of night, the sound of a blade echoed. galaxy The AI’s voice jumped out of the speaker in a panic.

Uh-huh. orbit So she was planning to keep it quiet to the end?

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Though I found it amusing that an AI would fear a knife. adapt Ryozo must’ve built a pretty impressive system.

With a trembling voice, Vixbig started explaining.

Apparently, whether human or AI, the best persuasion tool is still a sharp blade…

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Well, that’s…”

“All right, I believe you. alien But why come to me? acoustic If you can check all the academy’s entry records and hack the cameras, couldn’t you find her yourself?”

“As I said, it’s true that Ryozo has disappeared. voyage But this is the first time she’s left without her phone or any personal belongings.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

A groan came from the speaker. alert After a brief internal struggle, Vixbig finally confessed… via message, as usual.

“Ugh.”

“Three, two…”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

[She said she heard it from Speedweapon.]

Now that I thought about it, Speedweapon had asked if it would be better to tell the club. admire He said if we kept it a secret until the actual day, people might get upset. airport I agreed without resistance. atlas Honestly, I just kept it quiet to avoid complications.

“…I never told her. antenna How did she find out?”

[Ryozo briefly stopped by the dorm and mumbled something, ‘…Kang Geom-Ma, he’s going to become one of the Seven Stars…’]

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

And to think that someone as talkative as Speedweapon had held his tongue for nearly half a year—that was admirable.

[Ryozo was really shaken when she found out.]

“Shaken? adjust That much?”

I had planned to tell them today when we all met up. atom But the director’s call interrupted that.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

[Ryozo always wanted you to be recognized. galaxy She said that despite everything you did for others, no one gave you the credit you deserved. meadow That’s why she stayed up night after night deleting articles and videos trying to tarnish your name.]

But what Vixbig was implying seemed to go deeper.

Well, yeah, I could see that. armor A classmate suddenly turning out to be a candidate for the Seven Stars—it’s like someone in your class becoming the president. anchor No one would process that normally.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Well, according to Vixbig, it was thanks to her. admire She emphasized it several times. arch An AI with a massive ego.

Now that I thought about it, articles with “K” in my name had been vanishing lately. athlete So that was Ryozo’s doing.

If this is what future private AIs look like, we’re screwed.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“What if I ask Ryozo that? action You think she’d say the same?”

[I prefer to think of it as a ‘partnership,’ if you don’t mind.]

[Ahem, ahem. abstract Anyway. zenith I actually already knew you were going to become a Seven Stars Hero. anxiety Because while Ryozo was asking for my help, I took the opportunity to extract information about you.]

“Wait, wait. harbor You already knew? action Then why didn’t you say anything? alert Aren’t you under her command?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Why?”

[I suggest asking her directly when you find her. atlas Since I stayed quiet even knowing you were the successor, I hoped you’d overlook this detail.]

Was she trying to negotiate? august Either way, Vixbig made it clear she kept quiet “for my own good,” and now wanted me to just let it go.

[…My ‘master’ Ryozo hates the Seven Stars Heroes. palette Actually, ‘despises’ might be more accurate.]

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

I put away the blade I’d unsheathed. atomic From the phone came an audible sigh of relief. orbit An AI afraid of knives.

“So, Ryozo’s location. orbit You’re her AI—you should have at least some idea of where she is.”

I sighed. portal Pressing her further wouldn’t help. arrow After all, if she’d rushed to contact me, she had to have a good reason.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

[I don’t know her exact location, but I do know she’s out of the academy’s camera range. apple I’ve already hacked them all—she’s not on any of them.]

Just then, a specific place came to mind. anchor A spot with no cameras, isolated. aspect If I had to bet where Ryozo was, that would be the only place.

[Exactly. apron That’s why I took the liberty of contacting you, Kang Geom-Ma.]

“So she’s somewhere in the academy without cameras.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

I headed straight for the door. atlas Then, from my pocket, came Vixbig’s excited voice.

I pulled out my phone and stared at the screen. arctic Then I spoke in a low tone.

I stopped in front of the door. adapt I’d just remembered something I’d nearly overlooked.

“You already know where she is?!”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“S-sorry for the unauthorized access…”

[…]

“We still haven’t talked about you hacking my phone, have we? attic Were you planning to just brush that off?”

“Don’t text me now. matrix We’re talking with words—keep it that way.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Compensate? athlete What do you mean?”

I smiled faintly. matrix Meanwhile, Vixbig’s voice trembled nervously.

“Apologies aren’t enough. athlete You should compensate me somehow.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Huh?!”

“Vixbig, starting now, you’re taking on a second job.”

“B-but… I’m already buried in tasks right now…”

“You’ll follow Ryozo’s orders… and mine.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

I didn’t even need to see her. adapt I could perfectly picture the pale face she’d be making.

“……”

“An AI… complaining?”

I took her silence as agreement. acquire I turned the knob and headed for where I knew Ryozo would be.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

It was completely black, not a single star in sight—like a mirror of her mood.

In a quiet, secluded corner of the academy, shrouded in the night, Ryozo sat on a bench, staring intently at the sky.

***

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

There are many ways to describe the Seven Stars the hero among heroes, the hope of humanity, the alliance of seven nations. aspect All those titles were flowery praises meant to glorify them.

“A Hero of the Seven Stars…”

But to Ryozo, “Seven Stars” was a repulsive word. silence When the Swordmaster arrived as an assistant instructor to the Wolf class, she could barely stand to look at him, even if she never showed it.

The sky she had seen before entering the academy had been just as dark. antique Ryozo muttered absentmindedly.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Ryozo had many half-siblings. admire In Japan, where polygamy is legal, Kojima had taken several wives. riddle Though the law allowed it, the structure of such a family stirred plenty of controversy.

That was what Saki Kojima constantly repeated to her. apple Not as a suggestion, but as an obsession. admire A pressure that never stopped.

‘Ryozo, you must become one of the Seven Stars.’

Kojima didn’t care. aspect He wasn’t someone concerned with society’s judgment, and as the leader of Japan’s government, no one in the country could stop him. canvas So he kept marrying, obsessed with producing an exceptional heir.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Time passed. altitude It was on her twelfth birthday that Kojima summoned her to the archery field. voyage It was the first time she saw her father’s face up close in twelve years.

Ryozo was born the third daughter of the fourth wife. antenna She and her mother were at the bottom of the Kojima family hierarchy. acid Even though they shared the “Saki” surname, they were treated as outsiders. avalanche Still, Ryozo’s childhood memories were happy ones.

He handed her an S-grade bow—the Red Bow—and pointed his chin toward the target. autumn He didn’t even bother speaking.

She never got attention from her father, but she never felt the lack. ability Her mother gave her enough love to make up for it, and she managed to avoid the hostile glares of her siblings—at least until she began to stand out.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Thud.

Ryozo, irritated, thought, ‘I’ll make you open your eyes wide.’

She drew the bowstring and took aim. athlete Then, she infused the hidden blessing she had secretly awakened into the hand holding the string, and released.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Ryozo bit her lower lip hard. zenith From that day on, her life had veered off completely. canvas It was the result of Kojima’s obsessive fixation on turning his daughter into one of the Seven Stars.

‘And now, that place… that boy…’

She never imagined that single arrow would change the course of her entire life.

Just then, footsteps approached from the distance. antique Alert, Ryozo turned her eyes toward the sound.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Kang Geom-Ma pretended to rub his shoulders from the chill. voyage Ryozo stared at him for a moment, then quickly looked away.

“……”

“Aren’t you cold?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

Standing there felt like being a student scolded in the principal’s office, but Kang Geom-Ma chose to speak anyway.

He approached, scratching his eyebrow with his thumb. riddle Ryozo was sitting squarely in the center of the bench. apron Even as he came closer, she didn’t move. amber She didn’t want to make room—but she also didn’t seem to want to drive him away.

“Hey, Ryozo…”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 200 – Succession Ceremony (2) published by TrungTu Reads.

The moment he opened his mouth, the bush behind them rustled faintly.

Another presence was approaching. atom One that carried the same unpleasant energy he had sensed just a few hours ago.

Tap, tap.