The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

The Day of the Event.

“Waaa…!”

Media looked around, exploring the festival scene, a bag of popcorn in her hand.

The one accompanying her, the Sword Master, muttered with disinterest.

“Isn’t this the same academy you’ve been at for decades? What’s so different that you’re gaping like that?”

Tsk.

“Seriously, the insensitivity of old men… Hey! The atmosphere is completely different! Can’t you feel it? Even the decorations!”

The Joaquin Academy, true to its Western name, had European-style architecture as its motif. This was only one of the countless lines of the world, but this one proclaimed the “Miracle Blessing M.” The distinction between Eastern and Western cultures was not that sharp.

Even so, the lanterns that lit the night always carried a special flavor when they came from the East.

“…Well, yes. It’s beautiful.”

“Sieg, you’ve always been like this. Never admitting anything outright.”

It was the hour when the sun seemed to graze the horizon. The sky glowed with the splendor of sunset.

“It’s just… keeping composure.”

“Composure, you say…? Hey! Are you going to keep stealing my popcorn? You said a while ago it was old people’s snacks and you didn’t want any!”

The Sword Master, who was reaching out his hand, suddenly froze, as if he had been caught red-handed.

“The world is dangerous lately, I had to check they weren’t poisoned.”

“I’m an ancient. Immunity to poisons is passive in me.”

“That’s true… seeing you eat that junk as if it were real food…”

Media furrowed her delicate brow.

“Confiscated.”

“You! Is it necessary to hide it like that? I only have one arm! This is abuse!”

“When kindness is repeated, some people think it’s a right.”

“…!”

Their bickering faded into the sounds of the surroundings. Students and visitors enjoyed the festival without paying attention. The atmosphere was too enchanting.

As the sun fell, lanterns lit up around the area. What, in isolation, could seem like a lonely, sad flame, now resonated across the whole space, wrapping the atmosphere in an oriental air full of melancholy.

“Huuh…”

The Sword Master ran his hand through his hair with his single arm. Abandoning the popcorn, he cast his gaze around.

“The academy, which seemed unchanging, shifts quite a lot just with a new name for the festival.”

“Exactly.”

In Media’s glasses, the small flames of the oil lamps reflected.

“When I’m at Joaquin Academy, sometimes I feel the illusion that time stops. And for someone of my ancient race, that illusion comforts me deeply.”

The ancients and humans were different, starting from the most basic thing—lifespan.

To the ancients, human life seemed as fleeting as a melting candle. Too short. Sharing life was difficult, since the innate limits of existence were different.

Even so, Joaquin Academy had gone seven hundred years without changing much—neither in prestige nor appearance.

“…”

The Sword Master observed Media’s profile. The lanterns split her face into light and shadow. He couldn’t find words. Since their student days, they had been together.

‘She may be the only person I can call a friend.’

Though heroes lived longer than humans…

‘The ancients live nearly a thousand years, if they fulfill their cycle.’

He himself, or Changseong, someday would leave earlier, and Media would remain alone. That feeling of abandonment.

The Sword Master shook his head, casting away those thoughts. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of the funerary festival, but emotions overwhelmed him.

So he said something nonsensical.

“…This year, a lot has changed. Joaquin’s graduate school, this commemorative festival…”

“Yes.”

Media smiled softly.

“And I like it better this way.”

“You don’t seem saddened.”

“Saddened? Are you confusing me with yourself?”

“…”

“In the past I wished everything around me would stay the same, that no one would age. But now…”

At that moment, a child accidentally let go of his lantern, which floated up into the sky. Far from crying, the boy watched the light disappear in the distance, shining more beautifully for being extinguished before its time.

Media did not miss it. She handed the child her own lantern, and when he bowed deeply, she responded with a smile before continuing her walk with the Sword Master.

They walked aimlessly. Few young people recognized them; once, even in a department store, they caused crowds.

But even the Seven Stars were heroes of an era. Every few centuries, new powers arose, and their titles would end up just pages in history, like lanterns devoured by the night.

Media spoke again.

“With these changes, I feel life is fuller.”

“You think so?”

“Of course, and in a positive sense. Sieg, you know it too. With the nobles we lived everything, the best and the vilest. And now…”

“The appearance of Kang Geom-Ma changed everything.”

The Sword Master smiled with pride.

‘My disciple. My precious son-in-law.’

He would not allow anyone to take him away, not even Balor Joaquin, the founding hero.

He remained silent about Balor’s identity. Balor himself didn’t seem to care, but the Sword Master preferred not to speak, because he feared the struggle for Kang Geom-Ma would fall into Balor’s hands. That thought alone made him desperate.

‘If Media finds out…’

Insults would rain on him—petty, selfish, vile. He would endure it.

‘Geom-Ma. My precious!’

But a bad feeling invaded him. He couldn’t see either Kang Geom-Ma or the founding hero.

Were they speaking alone?

‘…I must find them.’

Unaware of his agitation, Media continued.

“Thanks to Geom-Ma, the world moves each day toward a better tomorrow than yesterday.”

“I admit it. In the past, though we carried the great title of Seven Stars, we never managed to change the world.”

“Perhaps that very title was a shackle that limited our movements.”

“How shameful to think of it.”

The Sword Master made a bitter gesture.

“There is no shame. Geom-Ma is also one of us, one of the Seven Stars. We should be proud.”

“Ah, now that you mention it… I’m thinking of retiring from the Seven Stars soon.”

“Last week Richard told me the same.”

“That guy… well, his time to step down has come too.”

In truth, neither the Sword Master nor Changseong were weakening; on the contrary, they continued to grow in strength. The reason for retirement was to send a message—the change of an era. If they occupied the seats forever, the heroic world would stagnate. And now, with Geom-Ma leading the new era, it was the perfect time to step back.

Though they hadn’t spoken directly, the Sword Master and Changseong shared that thought. Rivals or not, both desired the same thing—a healthier world of heroes.

Footsteps resounded among the crowd. While they talked, a huge sphere rose before them.

“Uoooooh!”

The people applauded and shouted.

An instant later, the sphere revealed its nature.

A hot air balloon, with a massive globe on top.

“Were hot air balloons in the program?” asked the Sword Master.

Media answered uncertainly.

“I heard that, since today is Joaquin’s anniversary, they couldn’t skip it. Maybe they’re using it to enhance the festival’s mood.”

“Indeed…”

“Want to see it up close? I know you love those things.”

“Hmph!”

Though he grumbled, Media pushed forward, making way through the crowd. The Sword Master followed reluctantly.

“Ugh!”

A panting voice greeted them. It was Rachel.

“I’m going to die!”

“Just a bit more!”

“Cheer up, Rachel-nim!”

The crowd cheered. Rachel, exhausted, once again brought her mouth to the balloon’s valve and blew air inside.

“…?”

Seriously? Is she inflating that by lung power?

A revered heroine like Rachel turned into an air pump… the Sword Master blinked in disbelief. Rachel was strong, no doubt. But to rely on her in these circumstances was another matter.

Swallowing hard, the Sword Master muttered.

“Media.”

“If it’s to retract your retirement, I won’t allow it.”

“….”

Regret filled me.

***

It was the first day of the festival. Some time had passed and the sun had already collapsed beyond the horizon. Ryozo, Abel, and I walked, the grass crunching beneath our feet.

“It’s really crowded down there.”

“That’s why I like this side better.”

Abel spoke first, and Ryozo picked it up.

“If the commemorative festival only had a gloomy atmosphere, it would be heavy.”

“Exactly.”

I added something too.

“It’s like when at funerals they sometimes play cards or go-stop. They say that if you only cry, the deceased doesn’t like it.”

“Kang Geom-Ma, that comparison…”

The words Abel left hanging, Ryozo immediately caught.

“You sound like an old man.”

“….”

“But really, Kang Geom-Ma, you’ve always been like that. As a cadet, you seemed like an adult-child and at the same time a three-year-old brat.”

Abel’s warmth surrounded me from one side.

“Your father told me that as a child you were even worse. You misbehaved so much they first thought you were mute.”

“That man really… Ugh!”

Pain stabbed my other side. Through tears I looked, and saw Ryozo pinching me while scolding.

“How can you speak of father like that?”

“No, I… fine, I was wrong.”

“You must always be respectful to father.”

“Yes, yes.”

The boss had Ryozo and Abel’s absolute support. Even I didn’t receive as much. It felt like the blessing of the hypnosis app wasn’t mine, but his.

“By the way.”

The low grass tickled my ankles.

“Why are we going there?”

We climbed the small hill behind the academy grounds. Anyone who knew, already knew—we were heading toward the bench I often visited, and where, in my first days, I had met Abel for the first time.

“There are too many people down there. Besides, Kang Geom-Ma, you like quiet places.”

“That’s true… but.”

“Does it feel sudden to you?”

I nodded. Ryozo answered.

“I’m INTP and Abel is ESFP. Both of us have the P trait, improviser. Even if it’s sudden, we understand, right?”

…Not exactly the angle I had in mind.

“Ah, wait a moment!”

Abel quickly stepped away from me.

“I… I. I left something at home!”

What was with that tone of such forced acting?

“What did you leave?”

“T-t-that… my wallet!”

“What do you need a wallet for, just to go to a bench?”

“…Maybe there’s a fee to use it!”

A fee to use a bench?

What a broken academy.

“You two keep walking for now.”

Abel went down the hill without looking back. I was left open-mouthed watching her leave, when this time Ryozo spoke.

“I also forgot something.”

“What did you forget, Ryozo…?”

“My sweet yokan.”

Well, that made more sense than Abel’s.

“I’ll be back soon.”

With a similar excuse, she too left.

‘Obvious as day.’

I scratched my chin and continued toward the intended place. Before long, the bench appeared. And beside it, someone was occupying it.

He only turned his eyes toward me.

“You’re here.”

“Boss.”

I squinted at him and sat at his side. Suddenly, I found myself alone with him.

“….”

“….”

Silence fell between us.

‘Why so awkward?’

I spent years with this man fighting in my previous life. Back then, I just thought of him as some bald old man.

‘But ever since I came to this world, my perception changed.’

The founding hero.

Balor Joaquin.

When I discovered the boss’s identity, I was pretty shocked. Maybe that feeling stuck with me. For some reason, with him, who had returned here without me really understanding why, there was this distant atmosphere.

Even when I wanted to talk, there were always too many obstacles, too many interruptions.

‘Excuses, nothing more.’

Each of us had gone through our own things. The past where we had shared so much was too far away now. That’s why ordinary conversations didn’t come naturally.

Someone had to muster the courage.

“What is this ridiculousness about inventing a Buddha’s birthday?”

And, as always, that someone was the boss.

“I said they shouldn’t make a festival for my birthday, but in the end, the academy’s second director instituted it…”

“Well.”

I laughed.

“I thought you were a historic egomaniac.”

“And aren’t you one?”

“….”

He shut me up.

“I’ve returned in time so many times that the concept of birthdays almost doesn’t exist for me.”

Speaking like that, the boss leaned back against the bench. The lanterns began to rise at that very moment.

“Did you know? The day you came to this world was exactly today.”

“If even I forgot, how do you know?”

“Because the day of your disappearance was today. And I was your legal guardian.”

Ah.

The boss moved his lips.

“How is it for you, being in this world?”

His fingers curled into a fist.

“Doesn’t matter if you resent me. After all, it was like throwing my obligation onto you…”

“I’m happy.”

I looked at the countless lights swaying. Each one of them was a human heart.

The wish to comfort civilians caught in tragedies.

The wish to honor the birth of the founding hero.

“…I see.”

Clap.

His broad hand covered my head.

“Happy birthday.”

All those emotions seemed to bless the soul of a son.

“Happy birthday to you too, father.”