The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

When the surroundings finally calmed down, the workers cautiously stood up. Out of habit, they adjusted their safety helmets and looked up.

“Oh my God…”

It was a sigh he hadn’t uttered since the hair began growing above his lip.

The rugged terrain had vanished without a trace, and the dense forest had turned into a brown plain. The clouds torn by sword slashes drifted slowly across the sky, and the wounds in space were being gradually closed by the Blessing of Regeneration.

His eyes, belatedly, focused.

“…”

“…”

Before them stood a man wrapped in a halo of light reminiscent of the sun. Backlit, only the line of his mouth was barely distinguishable. Some of the workers couldn’t help but let out a disbelieving laugh.

“…It’s different, very different.”

It was, by all accounts, a divine miracle.

***

Until recently, development in Gangwon-do had been hell due to the rugged terrain. Entire mountains had to be cleared, and twenty-ton trucks could barely make it through, causing bottlenecks that sickened both machines and people.

But that was until five minutes ago.

Suddenly, the Heavenly Sword, Kang Geom-Ma, appeared. And with his mere arrival, he ripped out all the obstacles that hindered the development of Go-eun City.

“Construction companies must be trembling right now…”

The site manager, dressed in a suit and safety helmet, murmured with his neck stiff from the chill.

At that moment, a shadow loomed over him—Kang Geom-Ma had gently descended to the ground.

“Mr. H-Heavenly Sword!”

“Sorry for causing a stir without warning.”

Kang Geom-Ma calmed the man who was nervously flustered.

“E-excuse me? Of course I was startled, but… you’ve opened the way as if you’d unblocked our meridians!”

It wasn’t just clearing a path. It was like turning a bedridden patient into an Olympic athlete.

‘If you consider what “civil engineering” means in urban development…’

What Kang Geom-Ma had just done meant the construction timeline had been reduced by at least half.

The manager felt as if a weight of years had melted off his chest.

“I really appreciate your words.”

“Ah-ah.”

And for the Heavenly Sword to smile at him, it felt like a blessing upon his entire family.

“I’ll give it my all, Mr. Heavenly Sword.”

“Does that mean you haven’t until now?”

“N-no, that’s not it…!”

The man’s face turned white. Kang Geom-Ma scratched his eyebrow with his thumb, a bit embarrassed.

“You seemed tense, so I tried to joke. My apologies.”

“Haha, what a sense of humor you have…”

One more of those jokes and he might’ve had a heart attack. The manager tried to calm his racing heart.

Kang Geom-Ma, meanwhile, looked around and suddenly asked.

“That building is progressing quickly. Is it important?”

“It’s a cultural center. As far as I know, the director of Joaquin Academy emphasized it should be built, and the president remembered. That’s why our company started with it before anything else.”

“If Ryozo specifically requested it, it must be a very important cultural center.”

Though, to be honest, Kang Geom-Ma couldn’t help but find it odd. He didn’t know much about urban planning, but making the first building a cultural one seemed unusual.

‘If Go-eun requested it specially, there must be a reason.’

He was curious, but the manager already seemed nervous enough. He didn’t want to pressure him further, so he was about to leave when the man spoke up on his own.

“Just so you know, it’s an aquarium.”

“An aquarium?”

“Yes. At first, I was surprised too. Normally, urban planning doesn’t begin with cultural facilities, much less with an aquarium in such an inland area.”

“An aquarium, huh…?”

Kang Geom-Ma chuckled softly, somewhat subdued. The manager opened his eyes wide.

“Eh? Was that another joke?”

“Ah, sorry. A memory from the past suddenly came to me.”

The man relaxed, relieved, and with an awkward smile dared to ask.

“It must be a good memory.”

“Yes.”

Kang Geom-Ma nodded.

“A good memory, without a doubt.”

His black eyes sank into the past.

***

Back then.

Yes, it was just such a humid summer.

Just breathing made sweat pour down, and the moisture-laden air felt like wading through a canal.

Even the Academy, concerned for the cadets’ health, had declared an official rest period.

It was the start of summer vacation.

Back then, I was still the same.

“…So hot.”

I lay around in the dorm room in my underwear, killing time.

At eighteen, I had status, prestige, and even popularity; I lacked nothing to be considered a king.

But in reality, I was introverted, someone who avoided mingling with people.

Even during those summer days when youth was in full bloom, I stayed locked in my room.

I almost forgot.

The difference between the me of this year and last year.

[One hour later. Main entrance.]

I had a girlfriend.

I, who in all my lives had remained untouched by love, was starting my first relationship!

Of course, reality was far from the romantic fantasies I’d had.

Even after officially acknowledging that we were dating, Ryozo and I had to be very careful in our behavior.

We felt like our words and movements were more restricted than ever.

‘If it were only the cadets’ stares, maybe…’

But it was like the whole world had set their sights on us to shoot.

It was more suffocating than the humid summer air.

“Even so.”

Vacation was the season when cadets retreated like a receding tide.

We had a little free time left.

At most, a week.

And since Ryozo knew that, she arranged to meet on the first day of break.

“Better get up.”

I folded the blanket, freshened up, and got ready to go out.

“Ah.”

I almost forgot.

I had to properly close the window.

‘Just in case Chloe…’

Of course, Chloe never actually crossed the line of sneaking in.

But for some reason, I always felt her gaze drilling into the back of my head while I slept.

I’d long been used to the intense stares of girls, but Chloe’s was different—burning, sticky, piercing.

“Hmm.”

I drew the curtains even in the middle of summer and headed to the meeting spot.

Tap, tap.

At the main entrance of Joaquin Academy stood a clock tower.

It was a well-known spot, used by cadets as a meeting point.

As the tower came into view, I saw Ryozo’s silhouette casually leaning against it.

Even though she wore her cap pulled low, I recognized her instantly.

The hair falling in three strands like waterfalls under the brim stood out too much.

I purposely stopped at a distance.

If I got too close, the paparazzi hidden outside the gate would pounce like wild dogs.

‘Stay sharp.’

I sent a message, and Ryozo immediately turned her head.

Recognizing me, wearing my own cap, she smiled.

But right after, with a serious gesture, she tilted her visor slightly lower.

I responded with a slight nod.

Ryozo was the first to start walking. I followed her.

She kept an awkward distance between us, even after leaving the Academy.

‘We can’t even talk.’

We had to communicate via messages.

─────〈Ryozo〉─────

Ryozo: Don’t you think even celebrities don’t keep their relationships as hidden as ours?

Me: There’s no other way…

Ryozo: What fate is this of ours? What must we have done in past lives to have to hide like this in this one?

Me: Even so, I like it. Even if it’s like this, I’m happy to be with you.

──────────────────

A good while passed without her response.

I glanced sideways. She was watching me.

When our eyes met, she walked on as if nothing had happened.

─────〈Ryozo〉─────

Ryozo: Promise me one thing.

Me: What thing?

Ryozo: That you’ll only say those words to me.

Me: ……

Ryozo: Answer me.

Ryozo: Answer me.

Ryozo: Answer me.

Me: Yes.

──────────────────

It might sound a bit childish.

But both she and I needed that kind of relationship.

We both had lives marked by lack.

We leaned on and completed each other.

Anyway.

Despite everything we’d been through, our destination was Busan.

Ryozo’s mother had invited us.

It still wasn’t known that Ryozo and Cynthia were mother and daughter, so at her mother’s house we could feel a bit of freedom.

After a bus ride—again with our seats separated—we finally set foot on Busan soil.

Then at last, we walked side by side.

Ryozo wiped my sweat with her handkerchief and said,

“It’s hot… we really are overdoing it, huh?”

“If we’re going to sweat, might as well let it all out at once.”

“If you’re too positive, people start seeing you as dumb.”

“In any case, Ryozo, in front of you everyone seems dumb. Since the inferiority complex is shared, I don’t feel particularly offended.”

“I take that back. Geom-Ma, you have the talent to annoy people cleverly.”

“Thanks.”

Ryozo glanced at me sideways, a little annoyed.

I, like a guilty thief, nervously moved my lips.

“…Did I say something wrong?”

“Your hand.”

“My hand?”

“Give me your hand.”

Ah.

I barely touched her fingernails with the tips of my fingers, playing a little. Then Ryozo frowned and yanked it from me all at once.

“Since you’re such a klutz, I forgive you.”

“Is that an excuse to forgive me?”

Ryozo kept walking, looking straight ahead. After hesitating a bit, she opened her mouth.

“I don’t like a Kang Geom-Ma who’s good at small things like holding hands or that kind of contact.”

Her grip tightened.

“Yes, better a clumsy Geom-Ma than a smooth one. A thousand times better.”

“Okay, I get it. But let go a bit.”

“Deal with it.”

…Yes, ma’am.

By the way.

“This path doesn’t seem to lead to your mother’s house.”

“We’re not going to mom’s now.”

“Then?”

“I looked it up and found that there’s an aquarium in Busan, a big one.”

“You want to go there? It’ll be packed.”

I wasn’t in the mood for another spy-style outing.

“Aquariums are full of families, so no one will notice.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Even if someone recognizes us, I wanted to take you.”

“Have you been before?”

“No. First time?”

“Then why did you want to take me?”

Ryozo blinked slowly.

“Geom-Ma, you like marine organisms, don’t you?”

Instead of saying fish, she said “marine organisms.” An academic approach.

But did I really like marine organisms?

“You worked at a sashimi restaurant, and your weapon is a sashimi knife. So, doesn’t that mean you like marine organisms?”

Ah.

Seems my girlfriend is pretty open-minded, maybe too much.

She doesn’t distinguish between the edible and the decorative.

‘If I say no here…’

I felt like she’d classify me as a rare organism too.

“I always wanted to go to an aquarium, thanks.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

Ryozo pressed the visor of her cap down tightly.

Under the shadow on her face, a smile formed.

I thought about pinching her cheek but let it go.

We followed the coastal road until we reached the aquarium in front of the beach. But, damn it.

〈Closed for rest〉

“……”

“……”

As if we had planned it, we looked at each other.

Ryozo opened her mouth slightly, but suddenly her face darkened.

Right after I said I loved aquariums, it turned out to be closed.

Besides the shadow on her face, worry spread across mine.

‘Now what?’

I thought quickly.

As things stood, Ryozo would be in a bad mood all day. I didn’t want to disappoint someone who had looked forward to this day so eagerly.

‘Is that it?’

I wrapped my arm around her waist.

“W-what are you doing?”

“I’ll take you to an even better aquarium.”

I pulled her close and took off into the sky.