The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

Looking side to side.

Choi Seol-Ah was blatantly imitating a spy. Even though she had been a villain, these kinds of infiltration games made her heart pound. It felt like she had gone back to the past.

With the rabbit mask on, she drew even more attention.

But Choi Seol-Ah didn’t care. Excited, she kept watch over the surroundings and slipped quickly into a narrow alley. Only then did she take off the mask.

“…Do you want the whole world to know?”

A man was already there, reigning like the boss of that alley. Half-shrouded in the shadows cast by the buildings and the red streetlights.

“Ah! At least make some noise!”

“Kang Geom-Ma, you should learn to hide your presence when you move.”

It was her lord, Kang Geom-Ma.

“Hehe… lord. Even if you are the Heavenly Sword himself, in this kind of spy work I’m the expert.”

“Let’s see what kind of nonsense you come up with this time.”

“In these situations, if you act too suspiciously, people take you for a lunatic and stop paying attention. Besides, just look at this place.”

He looked at her with pity-filled eyes.

“So you don’t mind being treated as crazy.”

“Of course not!”

How lively.

“Even if they take me for crazy, never more than they take you, lord…!”

…Aaaagh!

A blood-curdling scream burst out from the entrance of the alley right after.

The one leading the operation was none other than Kang Geom-Ma.

“Operate.” A word he had once used with Victor Poison and had kept stored since then.

Yes. It had been a long time.

“…I’m sorry, loooord!”

The demonic doctor, Kang Geom-Ma, was taking command.

***

Since it wasn’t right to waste time in the middle of the bustling market, Choi Seol-Ah and I moved elsewhere.

“Sniff, sniff.”

She sobbed the whole way.

“Now I’ll never be able to get married…”

“You’ve done too many bad things. Don’t even think of marrying and having a happy family, dedicate yourself instead to serving for life.”

“Ah! Then I’ll dedicate my whole life to serving you, lord!”

Crack!

“Kyaaaaaaa!”

Seriously, it was like she was determined to draw attention.

But maybe thanks to her plan.

“It’s hot.”

“That’s right. Young ones, enjoy while you can. When you get old, your whole body hurts and even if you want to, you can’t have fun anymore~.”

The passersby smiled, throwing us looks like we were lunatics, and went on their way. Both Choi Seol-Ah and I had our caps pulled down low, so no one recognized us.

‘Disguise is always convenient.’

If I cover my black hair, no one ever recognizes me.

Ring~.

The phone vibrated in my pocket. The caller was Ryozo. A check-in call.

Perfect. It was like she had been watching from somewhere, right at the perfect time.

‘She’s too tied up with official matters to come to this kind of mission.’

The other companions were also devoted to their respective tasks. Chloe was our comrade and friend. If there was any way to avert her death sentence, no one would refuse to help.

‘Even the academy professors had offered their help.’

My chest tightened with emotion. It felt like the strength of those feelings was about to burst my ribs.

‘I’ll save you, Chloe.’

I answered while walking.

“Yes, Ryozo.”

— Oh, Geom-Ma. How’s it going?

“I think it’s fine.”

Before explaining, I gestured to Choi Seol-Ah. Then continued.

“I don’t know how Secretary Kim pulled it off, but it looks like Pertinax X accepted.”

— Secretary Kim has unexpected skills. She seems half airheaded, but she gets things done. Anyway, getting Pertinax to make his auction house available was half the job, so it’s perfect.

“Exactly.”

I didn’t show it, but I felt relief too.

‘We needed the Pertinax Auction House to be on equal footing with the rival house.’

The bid to get the object that would save Chloe. The core of the plan wasn’t simply “winning the auction.” Winning with money meant losing the match.

It was undoubtedly the emperor’s challenge to me. I don’t know how he found out, but. With Chloe’s health as a hostage, he was throwing another gamble at me.

Even if Knox and I gathered enough money scouring half the world.

‘The emperor would crush us with an even greater sum.’

It was a battle that couldn’t be won with money.

The emperor’s wealth wasn’t counted in millions or billions, but in astronomical scales.

And resorting to violence wasn’t an option either.

‘The timing is too delicate.’

After the Seoul tragedy, my public image was sky-high. And the higher you climb, the greater the fall if you drop.

If I pulled out the sashimi knife now and went for a blatant robbery, everyone would say again that I’d never changed, and the avalanche of criticism would bury me.

“Pfff…”

— I know. The emperor is an even harder opponent for you. He’s the same type as that man, isn’t he?

That man was Saki Kojima.

The emperor and Saki Kojima shared some similarities. But there were also differences.

Saki Kojima was a cold schemer led by his own desires.

‘The emperor… I don’t know.’

Impossible to decipher. When I faced him, his expression showed not the slightest flicker of emotion. So dry and withered that for a moment I doubted if he was even human.

“There’s no other way. If I beat him this time, he’ll never be able to lift his head again.”

— Geom-Ma, you’re the only person in the world who can talk about putting the emperor in his place. That’s rebellion on a global scale… but you know? My heart races with excitement.

“And you’re the only one who could be excited about something like that, Ryozo.”

— That’s why we match so well.

“I suppose.”

On the other end, Ryozo laughed softly.

— Ah, the meeting point is turn right at the corner, then go diagonally. You’ll see a sign with the place’s name.

“Than…”

My heart stopped for an instant.

‘How?’

How the hell could she give me the exact location?

‘Already before…’

The call came at the perfect time.

Too perfect.

A chill ran down my spine. Instinctively, I looked up.

On the streetlight, tangled with cables, a security camera slowly turned. Inside it, a red dot blinked.

It was watching me.

— Geom-Ma? Something wrong?

Her kind voice pierced me.

“…Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”

— Right? Nothing’s wrong, right?

Yes.

— Don’t get sidetracked with Secretary Kim, go straight to the place. Understood, Geom-Ma?

Yes.

— This plan was designed by you, so we’ll cover you. Don’t think about the risks, just do what you always do. Got it? Cheer up~

Click.

I hung up.

My body froze on its own.

Wham!

Choi Seol-Ah, who was behind me, bumped her forehead into my back.

“Ow!”

“Don’t stick so close to me!”

“But it was your fault! Why are you scolding me?”

“Back off! I said back off!”

“Unfair! So cruel!”

After that absurd quarrel in the middle of the street, we kept walking.

Choi Seol-Ah’s childish sulking didn’t matter. What mattered was that if I wasn’t careful, I’d end up dead.

Anyway.

The walk wasn’t long, but full of distractions.

Finally, we arrived at the place Ryozo indicated. An old sign greeted us. The destination was an old real estate office.

From the outside it looked like the typical place where old men gather to play go.

Cling.

And, as expected, it was.

“Excuse us.”

“Hmm?”

Two old men were hunched over a go board. Behind me, Choi Seol-Ah peeked her head curiously.

“Oh! They’re playing stone-pushing!”

“Shut up. That’s not what it is.”

“Lord, look yourself!”

“What are you talking about…?”

Hmm. Such energy. Not bad.

I put aside my surprise and approached the one who seemed to be the owner.

“Sir.”

“Hmm?”

He seemed hard of hearing.

“I am Kang Geom-Ma.”

“Eh? Genma?”

“No, that’s not how you’re supposed to do it!”

Choi Seol-Ah butted in again.

“The director gave us a password for this kind of thing, remember! You have to use it!”

“…Bah, what nonsense.”

“In espionage those things are basic.”

“Yes, yes. You do it then.”

“Hehe.”

Choi Seol-Ah crouched by the go board and grinned mischievously.

“You know? The moon is very beautiful tonight.”

“…”

“…”

The old men shot up from their seats. Their bent backs straightened instantly.

The go board flipped and the stones scattered through the air.

“This way, please.”

“Heavenly Sword, and you as well, rabbit princess.”

With all courtesy, the old men escorted us.

Choi Seol-Ah shot me a proud look, as if boasting.

Yes, yes, how clever you are.

I sighed and stepped into the inner room of the real estate office.

***

There were visitors.

Not just one, but several.

“Heavenly Sword!”

With flawless posture, like a martial movement, they saluted me.
Choi Seol-Ah, startled, clung to me.

“At ease.”

“Understood.”

They remained firm.

They were the imperial guards.

“It is an honor that you summoned us.”

They were my central force for this operation.

What irony. Using the imperial army to deliver a slap to the Empire itself.

And even so, they accepted. They knew, but came at my call without a single complaint, without one missing.

“Honor doesn’t count here. Perhaps in this mission what gets damaged will be precisely your honor.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Samsuk stepped forward as representative.

“It was you, Heavenly Sword, who saved our honor, nearly lost, and our lives. Entrust us with any task.”

“Give the order!”

“Give the order!”

The energy they radiated was at its peak.

I felt even myself infected with that fervor, and I spoke again.

“The information I asked you for beforehand, tell me.”

“Yes.”

Samsuk unrolled a scroll.

It was made of flammable material, designed to vanish without a trace upon contact with fire.

“This is the list of sponsors of the new auction house. Indeed, the Empire has provided funds, but the amount is minimal. It doesn’t even reach the level once invested in the Pertinax Auction House in its golden age.”

“Then, is the rumor false that the emperor is the true patron behind that new auction house?”

“Very likely.”

With a grave expression, Samsuk continued.

“Frankly, it is almost impossible that His Majesty would take personal interest in a simple auction house. If anything, he would have created one of his own.”

“Hmm.”

“What is confirmed is that the house has put up a particular object for auction.”

When I heard the name of the object, my pupils widened.

‘That’s…’

I knew it.

An item within the range of knowledge available to a user of Miracle Blessing M. It was inevitable to be shocked upon hearing it.

“…That object can be used to save Chloe?”

It seemed it had a use I hadn’t known.

Whatever the case, first I had to make sure I obtained it.

I nodded toward the imperial guards.

“Thank you for your work. Ah, you already know, but there is one more favor.”

“The Lady of the Sword already conveyed it to us.”

Thank you, Abel.

“Then, I will also count on you that day.”

“Heavenly Sword!”

With that cry of obedience, the guards dissolved.

Only Samsuk remained, to bid farewell in person.

“Thank you, Heavenly Sword.”

“The grateful one is me.”

And I truly meant it.

Perhaps perceiving my unease, Samsuk shook his head.

“We all know that by doing this we are betraying the Empire. Even so, we collaborate of our own choice. Do not carry that debt.”

“If the emperor discovers you and you are left without shelter, come to Joaquin. In the graduate school there are plenty of spots.”

“There aren’t plenty of spots!”

Choi Seol-Ah burst out.

“If there aren’t, we’ll take yours and that’s it.”

“Lord!”

“Hahaha! Just saying it is enough for me.”

Samsuk laughed lightly.

“But still, Heavenly Sword… even though now we are doing spy work for you, it was the Empire that raised and fed us. Even if we must die boiled in a cauldron, we will remain part of the Empire.”

“……”

In the depths of his eyes I saw that determination.

“I understand.”

I held out my hand for a shake.

“Then, do your best as spies. Let the emperor not discover you. I don’t want to see you boiled in a cauldron.”

“So it shall be.”

Our calloused hands clasped.

“We’ll see each other that day.”

Leader Samsuk also withdrew from the room.

Then, Choi Seol-Ah, who had remained with arms crossed in silence, spoke to me.

“…This was your idea, lord? Not the director’s plan, but something yours, original?”

“Yes.”

“Turning an entire group of imperial guards into allies?”

“Exactly.”

“Wow… seriously. How corny, how crazy.”

“Choi Seol-Ah, if there are spies like you…”

I gestured with my chin.

“…There must also be someone to send them.”

Ten years later.

Kang Geom-Ma had become that kind of person.