The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

Choi Seol-Ah opened her mouth in astonishment.

“Wow…”

A soft sigh escaped between her teeth.

Balor Joaquin was sitting on the ground, adjusting his greaves. He looked like an ancestral hero straight out of the history books.

‘Seeing him with my own eyes…’

It was an overwhelming feeling. Even if she was a former villainess, Choi Seol-Ah was also a graduate of Joaquin Academy.

Balor Joaquin noticed her gaze and let out a faint laugh.

“Don’t worry about how worn out the armor and weapons look. Believe it or not, they were made with full blessing by the best blacksmith of my era.”

“The best blacksmith of your era… Him?!”

Choi Seol-Ah held her breath. Her hands, covering her mouth, trembled slightly.

“He, Hephaestus?”

She used to frequent auction houses, and whenever an item at a record price appeared, it was almost always the work of Hephaestus.

‘Damn it! So close and I didn’t realize!’

She never imagined that masterpieces created by Hephaestus would remain inside the academy, let alone in such good condition.

‘If I could sell that… how much would I make…’

Choi Seol-Ah swallowed.

Balor Joaquin, not knowing or perhaps knowing, smiled mischievously while boasting.

“Well. Do they still remember his name? He always went around saying he wanted to be a blacksmith remembered in history… looks like he made it.”

Clank.

Balor Joaquin stood up, supporting himself on the ground. Then, he unsheathed his sword just two spans.

“The same with the weapon. He put in more effort than with the armor. It can withstand that power, so it’s not just anything.”

“That power… Do you mean the Lord’s, I mean, the Heavenly Sword’s?”

“You’ve got a good eye. Did you notice just by looking at it from behind the palm tree?”

“Well… I have some experience.”

Choi Seol-Ah unconsciously rubbed her abdomen. In the past, she had taken several stabs imbued with the blessing of the God of the Sword. Just remembering it made her stomach twist.

Balor Joaquin, as if he had already decided to use her as his assistant, admitted bluntly:

“It’s the same power, but the output difference is abysmal. Heavenly Sword… ugh, it bothers me to call that brat that, but anyway.”

The Lord was the disciple of the founding hero? How?

Choi Seol-Ah, however, did not show her confusion. After all, the founding hero had appeared in person. Everything had already been a mess of causalities for a long time.

Besides, when it came to the Lord, everything seemed possible. That guy… wasn’t human.

Balor Joaquin continued speaking.

“He has the original, and I have a weakened version. On top of that, I have to pay a greater price and can’t even bring out one hundred percent.”

“How unexpected. I thought you, as the founding hero, would have the original or be stronger.”

“What kind of way of speaking is that?”

“Eh?”

“Just because he has the original doesn’t mean he’s stronger than me.”

…Isn’t it the same thing?

Balor Joaquin pointed at himself with his thumb, proudly.

“Kang Geom-Ma still has a long way to catch up to me. Even if his power output is lower, technically I’m much more skilled. And besides, I’ve rejuvenated, so he’s far from surpassing me.”

Of course, he was glad about the impressive growth of his disciple, or rather, his son.

But for that very reason, Balor had to remain as an unscalable wall. When one loses the objective, one loses the path. Without a compass, the future becomes uncertain.

And that path inevitably ends in deep tedium and nihilism. The stronger one is, the faster that stain corrodes the soul.

Surpassing the master.

When a disciple surpasses the master.

The master must do everything possible to prevent it. That is the fate and the contradiction of an outstanding disciple and his master.

Ruuummble.

The dust accumulated over the things in the warehouse rose. It was a vibration.

== ==

CAUTION

Hello. I am Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd.

The Emergency Inspection has been completed. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused and we commit that it will not happen again… (to be continued)

== ==

Balor Joaquin diverted his gaze from the pop-up window and directed it outside.

Lightning was pouring down like a downpour. Within that sinister red light, Balor read a clear murderous intent.

“The enemy is getting desperate.”

It was time to leave.

Balor Joaquin quickly headed for the exit.

Choi Seol-Ah, seeing his back moving ahead, murmured unintentionally.

“As far as pure skill… I think my Lord is a little better.”

“…?”

Those words stopped Balor Joaquin in his tracks.

“What?”

“Well, it makes sense. Unlike the founding hero, the Lord uses any sashimi he has at hand. He always says that an expert doesn’t blame his weapons.”

“……”

Smirk.

“On the other hand, the founding hero seems to be more picky. Though if it’s not so, I have nothing else to say.”

“You…”

Balor Joaquin looked at her coldly.

“Do you frequently get hit by Heavenly Sword?”

“N-no, that’s not true!”

Smirk.

Balor Joaquin let out a sarcastic laugh, turned around, and left.

“I’m telling you it’s not true!”

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

Choi Seol-Ah stayed in her place, trying to justify herself indignantly.

“I’m telling you it’s not true!”

***

Choi Seol-Ah ran desperately after Balor Joaquin.

Rumble!

The commotion outside the building grew even louder. The students were in complete chaos. Suddenly, status panels appeared in their eyes and lightning bolts rained down from the sky.

“Kyaaaaah!”

“Instructor Joto Mate! Take the kids to the bunker!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

And in the middle of all that, evacuation was also necessary. It was literally total chaos.

Compared to that, the commotion in the warehouse was nothing. Maybe just before, when Balor and Choi Seol-Ah had been there. But now, only a few shelves had fallen over.

Clatter.

From the tremor, the curtain rod collapsed.

And when the curtain slid aside, the silhouette of a person appeared. It was a girl with black hair, Chaerina. She had already been there even when the other two were present.

Strictly speaking, she was the one who had arrived first.

“In the end, you came too.”

Chaerina murmured.

“The one who drove that man away from Earth and made him wander aimlessly through this world.”

Her tone showed no emotion.

A rough and dry voice.

“…And at the same time, the one who saved him from hell.”

Clink!

The full-length mirror couldn’t withstand the vibration and fell. Although the glass fragments barely held their oval shape, the reflection of Chaerina was completely shattered.

As Chaerina silently watched her broken reflection, a new emergency window appeared.

It was another announcement from Kali Yuga.

== ALARM ==

The recent Emergency Inspection has no relation to the game’s developing company.

We ask all players to enjoy the “Golden Age” to the fullest without confusion.

Enjoy magic with all your strength.

== ==

Ha.

An empty laugh escaped her lips.

“They don’t even bother hiding it anymore.”

The message was blatantly direct. Kali Yuga was desperate.

Its goal was to break the boundary between reality and Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd.

Chaerina turned her head toward the window.

Even amid the chaos, some students continued casting spells. Their faces were filled with ecstasy, joy, and desire.

The eye that dominated the sky poured down lightning as if encouraging them to keep using magic.

‘At least two-thirds of the world’s population must accept this end for it to manifest its power as a True Deity.’

Even if it’s an Apostle of Suppression, manifesting as a True Deity after Ragnarok isn’t easy.

So it will break the boundary between illusion and reality, as if they were oil and water.

“…Denying Kang Geom-Ma in this world.”

There was a high probability that people would begin to accept only Kali Yuga and erase the existence of Kang Geom-Ma completely.

‘Apostle of Suppression?’

No way. How ridiculous.

Kali Yuga was going against the will of suppression by trying to seize this world for itself. It was ironic, because Kang Geom-Ma didn’t even consider this world his property.

To Chaerina, this world was nothing more than a cage that trapped Kang Geom-Ma, the real Kim ■■.

And yet. For Kang Geom-Ma, this world was his refuge.

A kind of reward for the previous life in which he wandered aimlessly.

That’s why she was jealous.

“Don’t be so happy… in a world where I’m not…”

Even though you promised you’d come back someday. You didn’t even bother remembering your promise.

‘Why does this world fight so desperately…?’

Why does it do everything it can to protect itself?

It irritates me.

I hate this world.

I’m angrier at Kim ■■ than at anyone. I wish I could contact Kali Yuga right now.

Maybe it makes more sense to form an alliance with that giant eye and normalize this world. That would also fit with the promise I made to containment when I crossed into this world.

Crack—

Her fingers crumpled the hem of her shirt. Chaerina loosened the hand pressed against her chest.

“Just this once.”

It’s simply that Kali Yuga’s actions are disgusting.

Chaerina’s change.

It was only because this “Apostle of Suppression” was using its power driven by personal desires.

Chaerina brought both hands together in front of her navel. In a triangular prayer gesture, the rubble floated as if the area had become weightless. Her skirt and hair also rose into the air.

“The true name is Hela.”

She softly moved her lips.

An ethereal tone flowed in the air.

───────────

Hell sang.

…….

She herself knew it.

She was fully aware, more than anyone. She knew what motivated this instability.

All these mistakes were largely intentional.

The external justification of Kali Yuga’s desire was just an excuse. In the end, even Chaerina let herself be carried away by her emotions, and she was turning into an enemy someone who could still be considered an ally.

Even if she had to trade this entire world for it, she wanted to take him away.

‘I…’

She still didn’t have the courage to face your sadness. She still didn’t have the endurance to withstand your reproachful gaze.

That’s why, at least this time, I won’t sing a requiem. But a hymn for you.

“Kang Geom-Ma.”

Because I love you…

Still… still I don’t want to be hated.

Someday you’ll reproach me for this.

I hope it’s as late as possible.

That was Chaerina’s intimate and true feeling.

‘Maybe that day…’

For Chaerina, that day would be the End of Times.

***

The end was approaching, and the sword moved.

Swish!

“Gyaaaaaaaaah!”

The Emergency Inspection Cut struck the enormous eye once again.

“Tch.”

Even so, it wasn’t enough to cut through the eyelid completely. With each cut, the eyeball shrank in size.

As a result, the number of lightning bolts it fired toward the surface also decreased significantly.

‘At least there won’t be more victims outside the island of Hawaii.’

That was a relief… but it was still too soon to be optimistic. This wasn’t an isolated incident.

It was a world-scale disaster.
It wasn’t even clear if the giant eye on the island of Hawaii was the true host.

‘There are too many problems to solve first.’

Reducing or eliminating the eye wouldn’t be enough.

The synchronization between reality and Blessing of the Apocalypse M also had to be broken.

It was as if oil were trying to mix with water. Only complete separation would prevent it from seeping back in.

Looking down, Yu Sein was sweating profusely. She was using her divine power to the maximum to block Kali Yuga’s mental interference over people.

But it was clearly not easy. Like trying to stop a rising tide with a wall.

‘I have to destroy all those eyes before it’s too late.’

It wasn’t the time to measure the situation. He had already been fighting seriously. But now he intended to go all out.

If he worried too much about the burden this could place on the world, they’d all end up as puppets of Kali Yuga.

‘Let’s go.’

At that moment.

“……!”

An electric current ran down his back.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Looking around, the faces of his companions had also turned pale.

Even he felt his blood freezing in his veins, how must the others be?

He shook his head to clear it.

‘This is…’

The same as what he had felt right before the Farsis disaster.

[Hey]

It was Yu Sein.

Looking down, he saw her moving her bluish lips.

[The board flipped.]

‘What do you mean by that?’

[You already know how Blessings, magic, and awakenings work. Everything happens when two completely opposing forces collide.]

A comment out of nowhere.

‘Explain it simple.’

[It seems like my divine power was about to try to stop it, but suddenly the power of hell pushed me from behind. Because of that reaction, Kali Yuga’s interference with reality is receding.]

‘So that bastard’s attempt to turn the world into a game fell apart, huh?’

Yu Sein nodded.

[Look up.]

“…That is…”

The eye that had been unique was now divided into multiples. He immediately realized that these were all the eyes spread across the world, now gathered together.

Having exhausted its power, Kali Yuga had summoned them all to the island of Hawaii. The eyes, piled up like clay, began to form the figure of a monster.

Like the ones they had seen when facing the scattered villain cells.

Numerous arms.

A body covered with eyes like sores. Bluish, grotesque skin.

A true rakshasa.

One.

[Look at its face. It’s scared shitless.]

Fear was reflected in each of those eyes.

[Guys, let’s go.]

Yu Sein bestowed divine power upon all of us and said.

[May the Blessing of the Gods be with you.]