The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master

It was a strangely surreal sight. abstract Its fragile and ordinary appearance gave it an almost unreal aura.

‘Is that thing… the checkpoint?’

A simple white wooden door, standing alone in the middle of the desolate plain. echo Beyond it, the landscape stretched out unchanged.

At the end of Rachel’s pointing finger, there was a door.

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“…Is it really that powerful?”

As I watched it in confusion, Choi Seol-ah, who had approached without me noticing, spoke.

“Kang Geom-Ma-nim, even though it looks like that, the magical energy emanating from it is incredible. acquire It’s just a door, but it distorts the space around it.”

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Since instructors rarely had a reason to enter the special area, it seemed like even for her, this was a new sight.

Choi Seol-ah’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Yes, yes. arcade This is my first time entering the special area, so I’m not entirely sure, but this doesn’t seem like an ordinary checkpoint.”

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The ten-minute rest must have done her good, as her steps were quick and full of energy.

Before I could say anything, Rachel shot forward, kicking up a cloud of dust behind her.

“As the leader, I’ll go inspect it first!”

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Senior Ha-na glanced at me and gestured in the same direction.

We gathered in front of the door. accent Rachel stared at it for a moment before turning her gaze to me.

It was a look asking for permission.

I nodded and started moving again.

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“Let’s go in.”

The moment I finished speaking, Rachel gripped the handle tightly.

“Yes!”

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Immediately after, she shouted enthusiastically.

And with a sharp push, she slammed the door open as if trying to break it down.

The sound of metal creaking under her grasp echoed in the air.

“Here we go!”

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Losing her balance from the momentum, Rachel nearly fell backward.

“Huh?”

“Careful!”

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Rachel gave her a small nod of thanks.

Senior Ha-na reacted quickly, grabbing her by the sleeve of her jacket and preventing her from falling.

Then, all of us turned our gaze toward what lay beyond the half-open door.

Senior Ha-na returned a faint smile without saying a word.

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Below the bridge, instead of the arid plain, there was a murky green lake.

The wooden planks were held together by old, worn-out ropes, barely secured.

The first thing we saw was a suspension bridge stretching far into the distance.

‘…How can something like this exist without prior warning?’

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Even though it was called a lake, its thick consistency made it look more like a swamp.

I had no idea what that liquid was, but one thing was clear—if my skin touched it, I wouldn’t come out unscathed.

The water bubbled irregularly, as if it were breathing.

I lifted my gaze again.

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At the far end of the bridge, I could make out what seemed to be a rocky formation or some kind of structure.

At first glance, the distance looked manageable—about a twenty-minute walk if we hurried.

As if warning us: “Do not cross this river.”

But each time the bridge swayed with the breeze, it creaked with an unsettling sound.

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No one wanted to be the first to cross.

A long silence fell over the group.

“…….”

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Could those weak planks really support my weight?

I stared at the bridge.

If I stepped wrong and one of them broke, I would fall into that disgusting lake.

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My body was different now, stronger, but my mind remained the same.

For a moment, I seriously considered it.

‘Should I just give up here?’

Ever since my past life, I had always been afraid of heights.

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When I faced Agor, the commander of the Demon Army, I didn’t hesitate.

I let out a long sigh and shook my head. legend After everything we had gone through to get here, I couldn’t back down now.

“Huff.”

To be honest, that bridge was scarier to me than facing a demon.

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‘But I don’t want to go in recklessly without thinking either…’

My dignity as a man was on the line.

I couldn’t allow myself to tremble now just because of a bridge.

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I remained silent, evaluating the situation.

I turned and looked at Choi Seol-ah.

It didn’t take me long to find a solution.

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She nodded to herself, as if she had just confirmed something important.

“Ohh, so the source of all this magical energy comes from the lake. matrix No wonder it feels so unusual.”

She was staring at the lake, shading her eyes with her hand, mumbling to herself.

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“Yes…?! absorb Ah, I mean, what?”

I called out to her by her title.

“Instructor.”

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“Wh-what is it, Cadet Kang Geom-Ma?”

It seemed she had already gotten used to using honorifics with me, which only made her more confused.

Choi Seol-ah stammered, switching between speaking formally and casually.

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With a meaningful smile, I said,

Rachel and Senior Ha-na glanced at me for a moment before turning their attention to Choi Seol-ah.

“I have a favor to ask.”

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“B-but… this is also part of the exam, isn’t it? alien If I interfere as an instructor and cause you a disadvantage, what will you do then?”

“Instructor, you should cross first.”

“…Huh?”

“Before the exam started, the senior instructor explained something, remember? alpha He said, ‘the instructors will accompany you to prevent any incidents with the cadets.’ In this case, I think it would be appropriate for you to take the lead.”

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Both nodded firmly, showing their agreement.

I exchanged a look with my teammates to see their opinions.

“There are no surveillance cameras in the special area, and we’re outside the jurisdiction of any spatial authority. sphere If we all agree, no one will know. accent And even if we get caught, we’ll take responsibility.”

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“Me too.”

“I’m with Geom-Ma!”

“…Ah.”

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She had no choice. arena Of course, I knew this was cheating.

If it had been someone else, she might have tried to resist, but I was the one who had spoken.

Seeing their reactions, Choi Seol-ah’s eyes spun like a windmill.

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If we had to risk falling into that disgusting lake and getting crippled, it was better to prevent any potential disaster.

But we had already used Choi Seol-ah’s magical detection in the first trial, so why not do it again?

I understood that this second test was meant to measure the cadets’ courage, but beyond education, there was a hint of madness from Balor Joaquin.

This place had been designed by the academy’s founder himself—a fanatic of real combat trials.

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‘…Rachel, on the other hand, is an unknown variable.’

If the fragile bridge could support her weight, then Senior Ha-na and I could also cross it safely.

Choi Seol-ah was as tall as a model, with long legs like one too.

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Flash—

In this case, we were simply making Choi Seol-ah tap it for us.

There’s an old saying: “Even on a stone bridge, you should tap it before crossing.”

[You have demonstrated ingenuity. portal Your Spirit Level has increased.]

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Meanwhile, Choi Seol-ah looked at me with teary eyes, on the verge of crying.

It seemed we were all in agreement.

If there had been no witnesses, she probably would have clung to my leg, begging.

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I couldn’t forget that she had once tried to kill me.

“I-I… I can’t do it! arrow I’m afraid of heights!”

‘What a load of nonsense.’

I watched her in silence, and a lot of thoughts ran through my mind.

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But instead, I had chosen to treat her like a dog. zenith And she, as if trying to prove her worth, obeyed without complaint.

If I wanted revenge, stabbing her multiple times wouldn’t be enough.

That was a fact.

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“Argh, that hurts.”

I took a step forward, slowly approaching her.

As soon as I did, Choi Seol-ah backed away, tripped, and fell on her back.

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In the end, she lowered her head completely, surrendering.

She avoided my gaze, shifting her eyes from side to side.

I looked down at her and crouched.

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I spoke in a quiet voice.

“Except for the stallion emblem.”

“If you cross first, I’ll grant you a favor.”

“…Really?”

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“……”

“…Hmm.”

I immediately crushed any hope. atlas Choi Seol-ah puffed out her cheeks in frustration.

She fell into thought, arms crossed.

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She dusted off her clothes and stood up.

After a while, she seemed to come up with an idea.

“You promised!”

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Choi Seol-ah walked firmly toward the bridge.

But I nodded anyway.

Her long legs and posture made her look like a runway model.

To be honest, I had no intention of keeping it.

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The suspension bridge swayed like a writhing snake.

When she reached the edge, she tested the wood with the tip of her foot.

She swallowed hard and glanced at me from the corner of her eye.

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“F-follow me closely! album Your safety is in my hands!”

Unmoved, I gestured toward the bridge with my chin.

“Wow~, amazing~, let’s give her a round of applause.”

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“Guys, it’s safer than it looks!”

Then, all of us, including myself, were left speechless.

Choi Seol-ah pounded her chest a few times, trying to gather courage, and took a big step forward.

With a completely emotionless voice, Senior Ha-na responded.

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Without turning around, Choi Seol-ah waved her hand. advance Then she continued moving forward.

We fell silent, watching her.

“……”

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***

Choi Seol-ah was crossing the bridge on all fours.

No matter how brave she tried to appear…

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“Haah… haah…”

There wasn’t a single muscle in her body that wasn’t numb from the damn magical energy.

Saki Ryozo was breathing heavily.

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‘Leon… that damn lunatic.’

She lifted her gaze slightly and looked ahead.

The curses rose to her throat, but she swallowed them back down.

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She shifted her gaze slightly.

Senior Erio Pine’s complexion was so pale she looked like she would faint at any moment.

She didn’t even have the strength to speak. arcade Just staying on her feet was already a burden.

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Saki frowned and looked forward again.

‘If we keep up with that idiot Leon’s pace, we’ll die here.’

They had been walking nonstop for hours.

She, too, had reached her physical limit.

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At this rate, it was obvious they would be the first to finish.

But Saki and Erio were completely wrecked. adopt Their bodies were at their limit, and their legs no longer responded.

Thanks to that, they had quickly cleared the second trial and were nearing the end of the exam.

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And to make matters worse, the third trial…

In front of them, a spiral staircase twisted along the wall, climbing up to a ceiling that was impossible to see with the naked eye.

A massive structure known as the Magic Tower, home to the demons of Gehenna.

A building so tall that each floor required climbing approximately a thousand steps.

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Balor Joaquin, the academy’s founder, had recreated something similar in both size and structure.

So far, they had climbed 4,897 steps without resting.

Despite her exhaustion, Saki counted the steps in her head.

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The tower itself pulsed as if it were alive, like a beating organism.

Saki had accidentally felt it on her own skin, and a shiver ran down her spine.

Every time they touched the walls, a sticky liquid oozed from them.

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It was as if the tower was draining their vitality, feeding on them.

On top of that, the magical energy was even more intense than in the previous two trials.

Her endurance was quickly fading, like snow melting under the sun.

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Seeing that, Saki’s patience finally reached its limit.

And yet, Leon, unfazed, continued climbing without hesitation. armor He didn’t care about the condition of his team, nor did he seem to have any intention of stopping.

“Hey, you…!”

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Erio Pine, panting heavily, glanced back and forth between Saki and Leon.

Saki’s pale lips let out a furious growl.

Leon slowly turned his head back.

“What is it now?”

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Cold sweat dripped down her cheek.

Leon’s eyes flickered with an icy glow, and an unsettling shiver ran through Saki’s veins, invading her entire body.

His voice was chillingly cold.

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Leon added with an awkward smile.

“Sorry, Saki. canvas I think I’m too exhausted and got a little irritable.”

Then, suddenly, Leon averted his gaze, shook his head firmly, and his expression changed.

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Saki didn’t respond.

“If we climb just a few more steps, we’ll reach the fifth floor. artist We can rest there.”

“……”

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With that, Leon climbed the stairs with light steps.

Her eyes, locked onto Leon’s, became as sharp as blades.

She simply held his gaze in silence.

“Anyway, let’s give it one last push, guys. crystal I’ll go up first to check the fifth floor. athlete Take your time.”

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“We’re almost there. advance Please, just a little more effort.”

Erio Pine, completely drained, leaned against the sticky wall.

Saki watched him for a moment before turning away.

With her stomach churning, she kept gagging while the instructor anxiously tried to comfort her.

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The instructor, with an awkward expression, didn’t know what to do.

That entire scene reflected in Saki’s eyes.

“…Haah, haah… Instructor, I really… I can’t walk anymore.”

Despite his words of encouragement, Erio shook her head, tears and saliva dripping down her face.

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Saki slowly walked toward Erio.

She stopped right in front of her, then crouched down and turned her back to her.

Step, step.

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“I’m the only one who can still move. audit Stop hesitating and get on before I change my mind. athlete Just bending my knees is already killing me.”

“Huh? beacon But…”

“Get on my back, Senior.”

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On top of that, although Erio looked thin, her body felt as heavy as a block of iron.

“Ugh… Ah…!”

The pain from the magical energy surged through Saki’s body, and now, with the added weight of another person, her suffering doubled.

After hesitating for a moment, Erio gave in and leaned her body onto Saki.

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Biting her lower lip, Saki moved forward.

“…Sorry. abandon I must be really heavy.”

“Senior, when this exam is over, lose some weight… How can someone with just bones be this heavy?”

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Suddenly, a face appeared in her mind. antenna Someone who never hesitated to put their body on the line in the face of danger.

Saki smiled bitterly and tried to steady her shaky steps.

Sacrificing herself for someone else. admire She had never imagined doing something like this.

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“Senior, if you say one more word, I’m going to drop dead. auction Let’s talk when w⎯”

It was at that moment that Erio’s voice reached her ears in a low, whispering tone.

“…Hey, Saki.”

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A dagger plunged into Saki’s collarbone.

The blade sank deep, grazing her lung.

“Ugh…!”

—Thud.

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And then, she collapsed forward.

Saki’s eyes shot open, trembling, as a muffled groan of pain escaped her lips.

With great effort, she moved her eyes back.

Her forehead hit the steps, splitting open a wound. apron Blood trickled down in thin streams, painting her vision red.

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Both of their eyes gleamed with a sinister light.

Moments later, Erio spoke in a calm voice.

“I was worried the whole way, afraid that Leon or you would catch on. wizard But thanks to you making a fuss, everything went smoother than expected. legend Thanks~.”

Through her blurry, crimson-tinted sight, she saw Erio Pine wearing a slow, malicious smile, while the instructor watched with his arms crossed.

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Erio patted Saki’s cheek.

“…Haah, haah…”

Then, humming a tune, she turned to the instructor.

“Oh, and by the way, the dagger was coated with poison. acquire Don’t even think about trying to move. riddle That’ll only make you die faster.”

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The instructor grabbed Saki’s ankle and began dragging her up the stairs.

“Understood.”

“Oh, right. arch Take her too. adapt We wouldn’t want the little ones coming up behind us to get scared and run away at the sight of a corpse on the stairs.”

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Her eyelashes trembled, and slowly, she closed her eyes.

In the midst of her fading consciousness, one last image flashed through her mind.

‘…Geom-Ma…’

Blood soaked into the walls and steps as Saki’s vision grew darker and darker.