The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

“Tell me, Senior. alpha Why does your name appear on the employee list?”

The cold air enveloped the classroom where only Saki Ryozo and San Ha-na remained.

“……”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

‘From the beginning, there was something strange.’

Saki Ryozo recalled her first impression of San Ha-na. portal An ordinary appearance, so common it was instantly forgettable. acoustic Neither her character nor her attitude had any distinctive traits. silence Furthermore, San Ha-na rarely voiced her opinions, no matter the topic of conversation.

Saki had felt an inexplicable discomfort at her excessive normality. sphere Her instinct, which rarely failed her, picked up on details others would easily overlook.

Faced with Saki’s sharp interrogation, San Ha-na merely tilted her head slightly. amber Her expression was so calm it seemed as if she didn’t understand what Saki was talking about. sphere Saki twisted her lips in irritation.

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“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Saki opened her eyes wide as she scrutinized San Ha-na. portal Her appearance seemed as blurry as a shadow shrouded in mist. silence The more Saki observed her, the more irritating San Ha-na’s carefree demeanor became.

San Ha-na simply looked at her through her glasses without uttering a word. altitude That brazen indifference made Saki let out a dry laugh before speaking again.

Once she focused her attention on something, she couldn’t help but observe and analyze it until she understood every detail. riddle It was an instinctive skill, honed by being raised in a ruthless family where only the strong survived.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Or is it that you simply don’t want to talk?”

⌜San Ha-na⌟

As she spoke, Saki lightly tapped a piece of paper with her fingernail. meadow San Ha-na shifted her gaze toward Saki’s finger. afford There, her name was clearly written.

The setting sun painted the classroom walls in deep reddish tones.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

Saki pronounced San Ha-na’s name deliberately, spitting out each syllable with disdain. avalanche Then, she spoke with conviction:

“Professor San Ha-na.”

“San. august Ha-na senior. canvas Or should I address you by your official title?”

“……”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“…What exactly are you?”

A dry chuckle escaped San Ha-na’s lips. ability The cold tone of her laughter made Saki take a step back. arena Her eyes flared with anger.

“Pfft.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“…What?”

The tension in the air became palpable. alpha San Ha-na kept her smile and finally broke the silence.

“Hmm, Saki. meadow I understand the last meeting left you a little tense, but… don’t you think you’re taking this a bit too seriously?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

Saki, somewhat thrown off, quickly reviewed the documents again. amateur Her pupils trembled as she reread the details.

“I mean, you don’t seem like the type to mistake someone for someone else just because of a shared name.”

San Ha-na gestured toward the document with a calm expression, as if entirely unbothered. acquire Still smiling, she glanced at the papers on the desk.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

‘…How could I have missed this?’

In one corner of the document, there were details about the movements and location of the person listed. silence During the festival, this person had been outside the academy on official business.

The name was indeed San Ha-na. atomic However…

‘…Something doesn’t add up.’

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

The information about academy employees was stored in a subspace system accessible only to the director. accent Altering that data was virtually impossible.

But given how small the text was, it was almost impossible to spot it at a glance. galaxy In fact, it was impressive that San Ha-na had noticed it so quickly.

‘Could the data have been tampered with?’

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

Could Media be involved? meadow The possibility seemed exceedingly slim. antique A cold sweat trickled down Saki’s back as she tried to make sense of the situation.

‘This doesn’t make sense…’

Even Saki, with her skills, could only read the data, not modify it. sphere Access to the system was strictly limited to the academy’s director, Media.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Don’t worry, Saki. atom Even you can make mistakes. aspect You’re not a machine, after all. portal Don’t you think?”

San Ha-na, calmly observing her, spoke in a soft voice.

She had always prided herself on her meticulous attention to detail, and discovering an oversight like this felt like a blow to her pride.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Saki, I don’t know how things are in Japan, but in Korea, there are a lot of people with the same name. alien It’s just three syllables, isn’t it?”

San Ha-na’s tone was gentle, almost as if consoling a child. sphere Saki pressed her lips together in frustration, unable to respond.

San Ha-na’s smile remained unwavering. sphere Although she was only a year older than Saki, her demeanor exuded a sense of calm and maturity that seemed far beyond her age. atom The sharp vigilance in Saki’s gaze began to soften gradually.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Well, it seems like we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding now, so I’ll take my leave.”

“…Ah, yes. amateur I mean, yes.”

“……”

“You were probably overly focused after the previous meeting. armor When someone is too tense, misunderstandings like these are inevitable. canvas After all, we know there are enemies hiding within the academy. apron Your level of alertness is exactly right.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

San Ha-na smiled gently, adjusted her glasses, and turned on her heels to leave the classroom.

Scattered emotions and an uncomfortable sensation lingered in Saki’s chest, making her bow her head in guilt. arcade The situation had completely flipped.

Saki watched her in silence, her heart still racing with confusion and unease.

For Saki, bowing her head to someone was an utterly foreign feeling. crystal A bitter taste filled her mouth, as if thick smoke weighed down on her chest.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

‘Damn it…’

San Ha-na smiled enigmatically as she headed for the door. portal For a few seconds, the atmosphere felt strange.

Reaching the entrance, San Ha-na turned her head slightly and spoke.

Suppressing the urge to continue questioning, she knew pressing further would only deepen her own embarrassment.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“As someone with a bit more life experience, let me give you some advice.”

“Saki.”

“…Yes?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“A guy as dense as Geom-Ma will never understand your feelings if you don’t express them directly.”

A meaningful smile spread across San Ha-na’s lips. atom The lenses of her glasses glinted once more as she spoke softly.

Saki’s face turned bright red in an instant. agent Her lips quivered as she stammered.

“W-What!?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“W-Wait…!”

San Ha-na waved as she exited the classroom. agent Saki stared at the door she had disappeared through. accent The dim light of the setting sun cast shadows across her flushed face.

“Personally, I’m rooting for you, Saki! timber Really! voyage Anyway, I’m off now! harbor Good luck on the exam!”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

My dark circles were deep, and my body was exhausted, but staying calm this time was especially difficult. timber And that was because…

The dawn slowly began to paint the horizon. acquire I was sitting on a railing, gazing at the landscape. zenith At this hour, I would usually be deep asleep, but my eyes had opened on their own.

***

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

Of all the possible students, why did I have to be on the same team as her? atomic With everything else I already had to deal with, now I had to endure this additional stress.

“Hah… The final exam doesn’t bother me, but the team leader…”

It was Rachel.

The reason I avoided Rachel was simple: we were incompatible. acoustic I confirmed that with certainty when we were on the same team during the midterm exam.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

Somehow, she had gotten my phone number and, whenever she had the chance, would send me messages inviting me to watch Rhetflix in her room or suggesting I stay for ramen. amber It seemed my number had already gone public.

Her personality was one I never wanted to encounter again. acid To be more precise, her shameless flirting made me incredibly uncomfortable.

When I asked Speedweapon about it, he explained that Rachel simply bought a new phone every time I blocked her.

Of course, I blocked her number. acquire But even then, messages kept coming from new numbers. autumn Most impressive of all, she always signed off with her real name, as if she were proud of it.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

As a player familiar with the story, I understood the intentions behind Rachel’s actions.

According to Rachel, “No man can resist after ten attempts.”

Speedweapon patted me on the shoulder with a pitying expression, telling me there was nothing he could do to help and wishing me good luck with a thumbs-up.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

Rachel had witnessed my duel with Knox, my confrontation with the Demonic Siren, and my victory over Mao Lang.

She wasn’t looking for an emotional bond with me—she was trying to secure a strong bloodline. anxiety Her flirting and provocations were just a means to that end.

And somehow, I had become her target.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

A shiver ran down my spine as an image of a heart-shaped pupil flashed briefly in my mind. beacon If I wasn’t careful, I would end up dragged into the Changseong family, where I’d be drained until I was nothing but a hollow shell. amateur I mentally reinforced my determination to stay firm.

‘Originally, that target was Leon.’

As a member of the Changseong family obsessed with genetic supremacy, it was natural that I seemed like an attractive prospect to her.

By the way, despite her appearance, which suggested extensive romantic experience, Rachel was single since birth.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Mo-so…” [1]

The game developers probably intended to add an ironic twist to her character…

I scratched my head and flopped back onto the bed.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

I let my increasingly heavy eyelids close slowly…

Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin~ Hey!

The exhaustion I had been ignoring hit me like a truck. arrow After all, I had woken up at least three hours earlier than usual. riddle It was natural to feel this way.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

The sudden sound of a pop song used as an alarm jolted me awake. aspect I opened my eyes wide and glanced irritably at the clock on the wall.

A day yes and another Rolling in the Deep~!

It was five in the morning.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“…Who the hell is calling at this hour?”

I fumbled for my phone and picked it up, squinting against the artificial light glaring at me.

Even though the summer sunrise came early, it was still dawn. adapt Even the roosters hadn’t dared to crow yet.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

[Saki Ryozo]

[019-XXXX-XXXX]

Seeing the name, I raised an eyebrow slightly.

[Support Role]

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

I stared blankly at the phone, debating whether to answer. auction Eventually, I slid my finger to accept the call.

That thought crossed my mind, but the answer came quickly. attic Since she usually slept during the day, nighttime sleep was probably difficult for her. abstract I’d heard Speedweapon mention it once while talking to her.

‘She’s awake at this hour?’

Ryozo sometimes sent nonsensical messages, but this was the first time she’d called me directly.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Yeah? atlas What’s up at this hour?”

Given that this call came right after our meeting about tracking down villains, it was likely she’d found something suspicious while reviewing the data.

Even though I was exhausted, I couldn’t complain. accent If she’d stayed up all night, how could I whine as the club president?

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

It was so absurd I almost laughed out loud. amber I suppressed my growing emotions and responded calmly.

—W-What? aluminum You weren’t asleep?

Having someone call at the crack of dawn and ask that…

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“Alright… so why are you calling at this hour? crystal Did you find something strange while reviewing the data?”

—W-Well, I don’t usually sleep much at night.

“I woke up earlier than usual. anchor What about you?”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

Her response was so unexpected that I couldn’t help but blink in surprise.

At my question, there was a moment of silence.

—…..

—…Do you think I only call when there’s something important to say?

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

Now that I thought about it, it was true. athlete Knowing her personality, she’d address anything truly important in person. alert Text messages from her were usually just jokes or casual chatter.

Since I didn’t respond, Ryozo seemed to hesitate before speaking again.

‘So why is she calling me now?’

—…I just wanted to wish you luck on the exam.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

“…Ah.”

The cool and rational Ryozo, who always maintained clear boundaries, had just said something surprisingly warm.

Her tone shifted slightly, leaving me momentarily speechless.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

—Anyway… I’m going to hang up.

“Wait a second.”

Given her personality, it seemed out of character. avalanche There was undoubtedly more behind it, but deciphering her intentions was beyond me.

Still, her words were a gesture of encouragement, and I decided to take them as such.

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

⎯……

—Uh, uh, why?

The silence of dawn returned. alien Thinking the call had disconnected, I checked my phone screen, but the call was still active.

“Good luck to you, too.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

The call ended abruptly after those words.

Finally, a shy voice came through.

“…Thanks.”

Content of The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master - Chapter 90: Final Exam (1) published by TrungTu Reads.

I set the phone down on the desk and scratched my chin.

The day of the final exam had begun.

I considered going back to sleep, but the soft light of dawn was already starting to illuminate the horizon.