My first master was a gang member.
According to him, he wasn't just a street thug, but someone who dominated an era with his sword skills…
If a bald, fat man could dominate, then I could probably pacify a century.
Honestly, I didn't quite believe him, but since he said so himself, I let it go… even though he had a bloody past.
To atone for his sins, he cut off one of his wrists and opened this sushi restaurant with the belief that he could make people happy with his knife skills, he once told me.
Aside from his unpleasant way of speaking, his skill was truly 'real', and I learned a lot from him. Why, there are people like that. The kind of person you really dislike, but find it hard to hate.
'Boss, why do all gang members use sashimi knives?'
'Why are you curious about that?'
'No, it's just… in movies, dogs and cows run around with sashimi knives. I'm curious if it's like that in reality. Wearing black suits, with a knife at their waist! Then, 'Wah wah wah!' and they charge out.'
'Anyway, today's media is ruining young people, tsk tsk. Those thugs can't even afford a T-shirt, kid.'
Then the boss opened a gap of about 5 centimeters between his index and middle fingers, staring intently into my eyes, and said.
'You also eat with a knife, so you should know that not only humans, but all living creatures' bodies contract when a blade pierces the skin, right? Think about it, if you stab meat with a dull kitchen knife, can you easily pull it out? A sashimi knife has a narrow blade, so it can be repeatedly inserted and pulled out.'
'But why stab? When cutting fish. Why not people?'
'Hey, you kid. With a knife like these chopsticks, it's a wonder if you can cut anything. Fish are lying down, so you can cut them. If they're standing, you can't even cut bread, you idiot!'
'In comics, 'swoosh' and then 'clack' it cuts… Is it because your ability is lacking, Boss…?'
'Even if the God of Blades came, he couldn't do it. Stop talking nonsense and go sharpen the knives over there!'
Although 18 years have passed, my master's fierce backhand strike and the burning sensation are still vivid in my memory.
* * *
Swoosh—
The smooth trajectory of the blade cut through the silver flesh.
An arm wearing a gauntlet floated in the air, then slapped onto the ground.
"Huh?"
Mao Shun, whose arm was severed, seemed not to understand what had happened, tilting his head.
The cut was so clean that blood only gushed out a few seconds later.
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah! Motherfucker! Fuck! Motherfucker!"
In the scorching heat that followed, Mao Shun finally shrieked. Jiang Jianmo swiftly rolled the sushi knife in his palm, grabbed it backhanded, and slashed at Mao Shun's neck.
The swinging shoulders of Jiang Jianmo instantly blurred.
That was the last scene in Mao Shun's memory.
A red line appeared on his neck.
Immediately after, the screaming head fell. The rolling head hit the tip of Mao Jin's foot, who was standing behind him.
"Shun, Shun!?"
Mao Shun's empty eyes.
His originally triumphant expression gradually gave way to shock and terror. Mao Jin instinctively took a few steps back.
He saw it clearly, yet couldn't comprehend what had happened. The guy in front of him lightly sliced with a knife, and flesh was cut like butter.
Although he didn't know much about knives, he knew from common sense that a human body wouldn't be cut so easily.
There wasn't even the sound of bone and metal colliding, as if the bones and joints were precisely cut.
Could such skill be achieved by a human? And with such a cheap sushi knife.
Thump - thump.
His heart pounded within him.
Thump - thump.
The guy's fighting stance seemed clumsy, as if he was wielding a knife at a person for the first time, breathing heavily and trembling from 5-6 meters away.
But the knife handle was tightly pressed against his palm, as if it were a part of his body. Damn it, what is that guy?
Mao Jin thought. As someone called the genius twin of the Iron King Family, he quickly turned his mind.
'Although I don't know what it is, that guy is already tired.'
If that were the case, the situation could be reversed. Although chopping off his twin brother with one blow was a performance beyond shocking, the direct cause of defeat was carelessness.
Mao Jin suppressed the invading fear and clumsily picked up Mao Shun's severed arm.
That guy had only been muttering to himself since earlier, with no other movements.
"...24… 23… 22… ."
…Why is he counting? Mao Jin shook off the thoughts invading his mind and put his brother's gauntlet on his own right arm.
Clang.
"Ugh!"
The heavy feeling and pressure made the muscles in his arms swell. The family's secret treasure, an S-rank armament.
'Safety Gauntlet.'
The twins each inherited half, sharing the power equally, but this armament could maximize the user's potential when paired. Feeling his bones become incredibly hard, a bitter smile appeared on Mao Jin's lips.
"Although I don't know what trick you pulled… Die, cannon fodder!"
That being said.
The fear that had permeated his body was not easy to shake off. The more it was there, the more he had to overcome it. Mao Jin clenched his hands, activating three protections simultaneously.
The "Protection of Six Connections" which enhances defense, the "Protection of Six Ingresses" which instantly leaps towards the enemy, and the "Protection of Six Courage" which boosts power. Protections of a status that pariahs of the special admission class wouldn't even dream of.
"I'm going to blow your head open!"
As Mao Jin instantly closed in with a "whoosh" of cloud steps, the guy's shadow stretched and disappeared from his sight.
Whoosh—
A short sound of air being torn. An explosion followed simultaneously.
Thud—
Thud—
Thump—
Thud—
Thump—
Thud—
Thud—
Thud—
Clack—
At the same time, a bone-chilling burning sensation pierced through his entire body.
His neck was stiff as a stone, his head motionless.
Immediately after, he felt a heavy sensation in his mouth, and red liquid flowed down his chin like a spiderweb.
It flowed down.
Mao Jin barely moved his eyeballs to examine his body.
One knife in his chest and neck, four in his wrists and insteps, and three in his ribs and abdomen on both sides. A total of nine knives, their handles deeply embedded.
Ugh—wu—ugh—
His vocal cords were severed, and his scream was swallowed. His vision gradually blurred.
Despite this, that guy was still muttering to himself, counting.
"...4… 3… 2… 1."
At that very moment.
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"
With his gradually blurring eyes, Mao Jin clearly captured that scene. A ghost-like human.
Crying in the sky with a sword in his hand.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.
I moved my body slightly and felt the unfamiliar touch of a blanket.
Turning my head, white curtains blocked my vision on three sides, and the familiar smell of medicine permeated the interior. Was it a hospital?
"Hmm…."
I gently lifted my upper body, a short groan escaping my lips. I felt breathless, and as I inhaled deeply, a blood-soaked bandage fell off with a thud.
Gulp—
Just then, someone opened the curtain on the right.
"Dean, the student is awake!"
The man in the white coat shouted loudly, followed by footsteps.
"Oh, it seems he's awake."
"…."
A green-haired beauty in a black robe and a white-haired old man with luggage on his back. The beauty gently waved her hand, and the doctor bowed and stepped away.
'Why are these people here?'
Although I was seeing them for the first time, their faces were familiar.
Half a century ago, two of the Seven Star Heroes who subjugated the Six Demon King Legions.
Among them, Siegfried von Nibelungen, known as the strongest Sword Emperor among humans, and the current Dean, Medea Poison. The appearance of these living legends was astounding.
"When I saw you on screen, your spirit was even more evident, child. How is your body?"
"Ah, yes…"
The Dean sat on the corner of the bed. Each time she moved, the skin revealed between her clothes. My gaze couldn't help but notice.
Seeing my appearance, she gently pulled up her robe and pressed it tightly against my forehead.
"Look at you. You still seem to have a slight fever?"
Medea moved her hand to her thigh, pretending to compare temperatures. Shouldn't it usually be placed on the forehead?
Her hazy voice and enchanting smile were too dangerous for a healthy adolescent like me. Moreover, Medea was only outwardly so; inwardly, she was already seventy years old.
I started singing the national anthem in my heart.
"I seem to be fine now."
"If it hurts, just say so. Big sister will take care of you by your side. Just the two of us."
Medea's finger pointed to the first button of her robe. Just as the fourth verse of the national anthem was about to end, the Sword Emperor interjected unhappily.
"Medea, that's enough joking."
"Oh, you old geezer. Alright, alright."
Medea adjusted her clothes, which seemed about to slip off at any moment, and glared at him. I survived.
'Damn it, Sword Emperor! I trust you!'
If my body reacted to desire, I'd really be finished.
Expulsion would be one thing, but if the reason was "Regarding the matter of the Dean, who will turn seventy next year, being harassed by a perverted freshman"…
Would it be better to commit suicide and prepare for a third life?
"…Do you really have to call him that? The student is still here, you know?"
Isn't your much-insisted-upon chivalry 'what is said must be kept'? Are you going to go back on your word? The great Sword Emperor of the world?
The Sword Emperor ignored Medea's taunts and slowly turned his gaze to me. His sharp golden eyes seemed to be evaluating me, gently releasing his fighting spirit.
Under that piercing gaze, I instinctively drew in my ribs.
"What is your name?"
"My name is Jiang Jianmo."
"Let's get straight to the point. Jiang Jianmo, what exactly did you do?"
"Let's get straight to the point. Jiang Jianmo, what exactly did you do?"
"…."
Honestly, I vaguely remembered what happened. The scene of rapidly slashing at the trash twins with a sashimi knife quickly flashed through my mind. After that, the bluish-green scenery that permeated my eyes was my last memory.
'…'
The feeling at that time wasn't mine, but it was indeed me. As I thought, my answer was delayed, and a faint green sword light emanated from the Sword Saint's waist.
'There's no benefit to being targeted by that monster here.'
I must maintain a cautious attitude.
I know what kind of person he is.
A so-called "old geezer." But I already know how to deal with such people.
20 years in the catering industry, in other words, nearly 20 years of serving customers. It's time to show the strongest human the Korean spirit of service.
Explanations should be clear, and justifications concise.
"Although it was a placement exam, I thought their behavior was too extreme. Nevertheless, I believe my handling of it was indeed excessive. If this is punishment, I will gladly accept it, and whatever treatment I receive, I will unconditionally obey."
The Sword Saint stared at me slightly.
Honestly, I thought it was a good answer, but judging by his expression, it didn't seem to be the answer he wanted, and his reaction wasn't good. But I couldn't show more frustration here.
If I continued to maintain this attitude, I would eventually be controlled by that old knight's rhythm. A man should know when to boast appropriately.
A tough guy's bluff.
In Korea, this is called 'aura.'
I calmly faced those flickering golden eyes.
"…."
"…."
In the awkward silence.
Medea, who was looking back and forth between them, let out a deep sigh.
"Oh, you old geezer. You can't treat young people like that, can you?"
Medea said with a click of her tongue.
Then she immediately frowned and smiled at me.
"Although I say that, it was Zeke who helped you clear your blood vessels while you were unconscious. He's old and stubborn, so for my sake, forgive him, hmm."
"I should have told you not to say these things, Medea. Hmm, hmm."
"Little guy, he's shy."
'Sword Saint? Why?'
Unlike the stinging wound, my body felt as light as a feather… a bit exaggerated, like a wet feather.
"Jianmo, while you were unconscious, we saw what happened in Subspace. How you stepped forward to protect the poor female student! You were practically the prince of our dreams! No, a Hero himself!"
Medea winked one sticky eye. That look, unlike the Sword Saint's, seemed to regard me as prey. Drool… it seemed to have flowed a bit?
"And, I won't blame you for your actions in the exam, so don't worry. Honestly, they were admitted because of their family connections, convinced by the Academy elders, and those annoying twins dropped out themselves? That's great!"
Although those guys were in a different class than us, the thought of going to school with them still made me shiver. Hearing the news of their withdrawal, I instantly felt a wave of relief.
"We didn't come to ask you, but to tell you, so don't worry."
"Huh? What?"
A fresh smile appeared on her face.
"Jianmo, you are first place! Congratulations!!!"