The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

‘At last.’

Although I usually enjoy sleeping in on weekends, today my body woke up on its own. agent Today was the day I’d pick up Murasame, the sword I’d left to be reforged at the blacksmith’s.

A cheerful whistle escaped my lips as I got ready to leave, my heart brimming with excitement. apron Until now, I’d only had the Daiso knife as a weapon.

Saturday dawned bright and clear.

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Moreover, so far, the only status that hadn’t improved on my stats screen was the “weapon category.” autumn If things went well, maybe I could finally understand the enigmatic Blessing of the Sword God.

I couldn’t stop smiling.

Of course, that was just a guess, and for now, I didn’t want to worry too much about that blessing. armor The thought of receiving a new sword—a true treasure for any swordsman—was enough to keep me in high spirits.

Calling it a “weapon” was grandiose—it was just a basic metal tool, barely meeting the most basic requirements. matrix That’s why receiving my first real weapon was a huge deal for me.

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“…”

“Well… this is… ah, quite unfortunate. academy Really sorry about this.”

At least, until I got to the blacksmith’s.

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“I did my best, but I’ve never seen anything like this in almost 30 years of work. adapt I’ve never seen a piece of metal split in two with just a single hammer blow. aluminum It’s like the sword itself rejected being reforged, as if it had a will of its own. august So, in a hurry, I had to create a mold of the shape you wanted, melt down the metal, and forge it again. antenna And, well, this was the best I could manage. alien If anyone else had tried, they wouldn’t even have been able to shape it into a weapon. alpha It would’ve just ended up as a useless hunk of metal. portal But at least I managed to get it into a usable form, didn’t I? harbor Hahaha!”

The blacksmith scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

His face, already red from the forge’s heat, turned the color of a ripe tomato from embarrassment.

“…”

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Despite the quality craftsmanship, it was clear that the blacksmith had done his best under less-than-ideal circumstances.

The blacksmith laughed awkwardly, handing me “Murasame,” which had now taken the shape of a kitchen knife.

As I took the weapon in hand, a notification window appeared in my mind, and I could hardly suppress a bitter laugh.

The handle, made of a polished reddish wood, was neatly wrapped with a simple cord instead of a sheath, and the blade gleamed with an oiled, polished finish.

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Type: Kitchen Knife

== ==

[Murasame (叢雨)] [1]

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Dimensions: [Blade Length – 35 cm], [Width – 6 cm]

Attributes: [Destructive Power – C], [Range – E], [Durability – E], [Growth Potential – A]

Grade: (E) ~ (?)

Description: Once known as the “Sword that Retains Dew,” this weapon has now been reborn as a high-carbon steel kitchen knife, imbued with the skill of a master craftsman. aspect Although small, its performance may vary depending on the user.

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‘What the hell?’

== ==

What kind of reforging could turn a Grade B weapon into an E-rank and, to top it off, reshape it into a kitchen knife? echo Even back in the game Miracle Blessing M, I’d never seen anything like this.

The worst-case scenario in the game was losing one or two grades on a weapon. orbit But this degradation was so extreme, it almost hurt to look at it.

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‘…’

The blacksmith had to have sensed that something was off.

And somehow, the form had ended up as yet another kitchen knife. galaxy Was it mere coincidence, or some kind of fate?

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As I stood there, staring blankly at the knife in my hand, he nervously scratched his nose and gave me a couple of hesitant pats on the back.

Noticing my silent stare, he took a cautious step back, looking a bit uneasy.

As I looked at him, I noticed sweat trickling down his brow—not just from the forge’s heat.

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I was tempted to test the knife’s sharpness on his skin, but I took a deep breath and suppressed the anger rising up inside me.

Did he seriously think that a simple apology was enough after taking the materials from a Grade B weapon and handing me something like a cheap kitchen knife? adjust Did he really think a quick “sorry” would make up for this mess?

‘Should I test Murasame’s edge on you?’

“I really am sorry. atlas I had no idea it would turn out like this. advance I did everything I could, but it seems the original metal wasn’t compatible with the final design.”

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The handle was well-crafted, and the dimensions seemed to align with the requirements for my blessing.

I shook my head to clear my frustration and examined Murasame closely.

It even retained some of the destructive power of a Grade B weapon, which was acceptable.

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Even though it was just a Grade E sword, it was sharp enough to cut through most ordinary materials.

Only the low durability rating at level E was genuinely disappointing.

The reach, of course, was limited. harbor Since it was essentially a knife, I’d have to give up on any extended attack range.

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“Sigh…”

I needed something capable of facing creatures with much tougher defenses.

But I hadn’t fought so hard in the midterm exam just to end up with something that could only chop wood.

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I looked at the blacksmith. crystal There was genuine sincerity in his eyes.

“To be honest, in my 30 years of being a blacksmith, handing over a weapon like this doesn’t sit well with me. alpha But it does have high growth potential, so if you reinforce it over time, it’s bound to be useful. zenith As compensation—and I know it’s not much—I’ll offer to do any future strengthening for free if you provide the materials.”

The one redeeming feature was its high growth potential, which was rated at A. august That alone made me curious as to why it was rated so highly.

While I was lost in thought, the blacksmith, stroking his soot-stained beard, stepped closer and spoke.

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However, what concerned me was gathering the reinforcement materials.

If the growth potential was truly A, the weapon should eventually reach Grade A and, with luck, even S. acoustic His offer was tempting, almost hard to refuse.

Seeing this, the anger simmering in my chest subsided a little.

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Most of them would need to be obtained from hunting magical beasts.

On the other hand, with high-level beasts, I’d only need to hunt about eight or ten of them.

I could probably gather enough by hunting low-level beasts, but I’d need to kill hundreds of them to get sufficient materials.

Efficiency-wise, hunting higher-level beasts would save me a lot of time. airport But, like with so many mobile games, there was always a risk of failure.

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It wasn’t worth risking my life just to strengthen a weapon. afford I’d fought to survive until now, and I wasn’t about to gamble my life for a sword.

The only guaranteed material was one acquired from demons… and that was a risk I wasn’t eager to take.

After mulling it over for a while, I nodded with resignation.

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The blacksmith let out a hearty laugh, pounding his chest with his gloved hand. auction I looked at him for a moment, then extended my hand toward him.

“…It’s a deal.”

“Thank you. aspect I swear on my honor as a blacksmith.”

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The blacksmith’s eyes narrowed, and I tilted my head.

“Now, that settles one thing. advance But shouldn’t you at least refund me half the cost for the leftover materials?”

“Did you really expect to charge me the full price after handing me a weapon like this?”

“…What?”

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“But I completed your order, and I even offered to strengthen it without any additional cost…”

“Why, you—! riddle Asking an elder for money like this—”

“You could sell the leftover materials for a decent sum. voyage How about a million? voyage I’m a bit low on cash right now, so that seems fair.”

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I ran my hand over the smooth paulownia [2] wood handle, beginning to unwrap the cord wrapped around it.

Whoosh—

The Blessing of the Sword Spirit had calmed my spirit enough that my mind felt clearer than ever.

The blacksmith roared in outrage. antenna A lifetime as a merchant had made him reluctant to give up anything without a fight. beacon With a wry smile, I moved to secure the blacksmith shop’s door.

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A wry smile spread across my face as I stepped toward him.

His eyes flickered with panic as he took a step back, eyeing me with growing alarm.

“Also, I was already planning to test its sharpness. ability Convenient, isn’t it?”

“You, you fucker! arctic What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

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The blacksmith, sensing that something was terribly wrong, began to lower his stiff shoulders and stammered his words. action Meanwhile, I continued unwrapping the cord around the Murasame and took another step forward.

Perhaps since this was my second time pulling this kind of intimidation tactic since the incident with Nox, I was getting rather good at it.

“E-then, how about we settle on five hundred? afford Even if it’s a piece of metal from a grade B weapon, the market price is a bit different, and it’s hard to recover the investment… really!”

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Finally, I stopped in front of him, and the cord binding the blade slipped free, revealing the gleaming white edge. sphere A familiar message echoed in my mind:

He stammered, raising a finger to haggle. album But I kept advancing in silence.

“E-e-eight hundred. arrow I can’t offer more than that.”

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[Initiating synchronization with the user through applied force.]

[The Blessing of the God of the Sword manifests.]

[The weapon’s rank increases slightly.]

Click—

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“…”

An ominous silence filled the blacksmith shop.

“…”

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“A thousand.”

Gulp.

The sound of someone swallowing echoed clearly.

“Ah… I understand… yes.”

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The grand meeting hall, vast to the point of emptiness, radiated an overwhelming opulence.

***

Five men sat around a numbered round table, staring sternly at Elder Cladi, whose face still bore the marks of a recent blow.

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Though their words were spoken respectfully, their gazes were icy. canvas The council was angered by Cladi’s attack on Leon’s group during the midterm exams.

“I agree. admire What you did is clearly an act of defiance against us, Elder Cladi.”

“…Elder Cladi, it appears you acted without any consultation with the council. artist You’ve gone too far this time.”

However, their anger wasn’t precisely out of concern for the students’ safety.

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Cladi slammed his fist onto the table, frustrated.

“But sending a demon? academy What sense does that make? acquire Even though we have a truce with them, they’re still our enemies.”

“We all agreed at the time, did we not?”

“Is this the time to debate details? matrix We need to deal with disruptive elements as soon as possible, damn it!”

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“Allow me to explain again.”

“…Apologies, Head of the Council. adopt I regret my loss of composure.”

“Lower your voice, Cladi.”

The elder who presided over the council, a prominent scar crossing his face, frowned as Cladi returned to his seat, visibly uneasy.

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“Honored council members, this matter is not something we can ignore. absorb Think about it. zenith That Media, just ten years ago, expelled our allies from the academy. atomic And yet now, she allows the Sword Master to join the faculty.”

“And what does that have to do with the need to investigate that special student, Kang Geom-Ma, as you suggested earlier?”

Cladi took a sip from the glass of water before him, composed himself, and continued.

“It’s obvious that the headmistress is blocking our information under the pretense of protecting that special student. beacon As if she’s hiding something.”

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“Sir, did you see the footage from the ranking exam? atom Do you truly believe that level of swordsmanship is natural for a mere cadet? ability I’ve spent many years at the academy, and I’ve never seen anything like it. arctic That student is, without a doubt, an anomaly.”

Cladi clenched his trembling fists and resumed speaking.

The head of the council, who had been listening quietly until then, shot him a sharp look.

“What exactly do you believe she’s hiding? zenith Explain yourself.”

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The speed and precision with which he dispatched the prodigious twins in mere seconds were more befitting a master swordsman than a common cadet.

The five elders mentally revisited the events of the exam.

“…Hmm.”

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“So, what part of his life do you want to investigate?”

“He’s a special student of unknown origin. abstract His background is suspicious in itself. alert What if he turns out to be a candidate for the title of Hero?”

Even at an academy filled with talent, his prowess was entirely abnormal.

The elder with an eye patch questioned Cladi.

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“…Isn’t Leon van Reinhardt the Hero candidate?”

“…”

“Leon has yet to properly manifest his Blessing; he’s merely an apprentice. amateur Honored Head of the Council, the Hero is inevitably a potential threat. echo We already have enough trouble with the Seven Heroes. atomic Adding a Hero to the equation would be catastrophic. voyage It would be best to identify and neutralize him before it’s too late.”

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Cladi had mentioned Media, the academy’s headmistress, precisely because it struck a sensitive nerve in the council.

In the end, it would be he who made the final decision.

The head of the council, hands clasped on the table and eyes closed, pondered in silence.

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Since Media’s arrival, the council’s influence had waned.

Since her arrival, the council had barely been able to intervene in the academy.

No matter how powerful the five elders were in the world, the presence of one of the Seven Heroes, like Media, seriously restricted their power.

And, on top of that, a new Hero candidate was now emerging.

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The council members knew better than anyone that an army without an enemy had no reason to exist. adjust Thus, a Hero was a threat they could not ignore.

Cladi spoke up again.

The council needed visible enemies, like the Demon King, to maintain its power.

With the threat of demons, the heroes stood as protectors, and the nobility as leaders to follow. august Without a common enemy, the authority of the council—and the nobility in general—risked collapsing.

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Nobody responded, but all present agreed.

“…”

“What the world needs is not a Hero, but the wise guidance of this council. echo Since the fall of the Sixth Commander, Basmon, the public has paid homage solely to the Seven Heroes and treats us as if we were useless old relics.”

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“To those who boast so much of values and honor, I doubt they’d accept a task without justification, Elder Cladi.”

Upon hearing the name “Auditore,” the one-eyed elder frowned and responded.

“If it’s happening already, what will happen with a Hero in the picture? legend Our purpose, our very existence, would be at risk. meadow Sir, I implore you to consider entrusting this mission to the Auditore family.”

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“And if they refuse, we can always turn to other means, can’t we? autumn Sir, I trust in your wisdom to decide.”

“If the Head of the Council requests it, it would be hard for them to refuse, regardless of the reason. atom After all, they’re nothing more than killers disguised as guardians of order, aren’t they?”

“Hm, you’re right about that. accent They lack the elegance and nobility of true aristocrats.”

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As a member of the academy council, Cladi wasn’t putting in this much effort just for one woman.

He knew his request was extreme and perhaps unfounded, but with his life on the line, he couldn’t afford to hold back.

It wasn’t the fear of becoming a mere pawn to the enigmatic instructor that drove him.

After his long argument, Cladi tried to calm his racing heart.

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“The Fifth Commander of the Demon King’s Army, Agor.”

If he didn’t act now… death might be a more dignified fate.

What he truly feared was someone else—a figure he barely dared to think about even in his mind. beacon A true demon.

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Feeling his blood turn cold, Cladi looked at the head of the council, awaiting his response.

“Contact the Auditore family.”

Finally, the head opened his eyes halfway and spoke softly.

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1: Murasame literally means “entangled rain” or “clustered rain.” altitude It is a poetic term in Japanese that describes a brief, intense, and fleeting rain, similar to a sudden storm.

2: Paulownia is a type of lightweight and durable wood, known in Japan as “kiri,” commonly used for making sword handles and furniture due to its durability and resistance to moisture.

Translator’s notes: