Chapter 228: Issue (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 228: Issue (1)
The axis of the earth twisted in an instant. A flock of birds preparing for hibernation burst into a panicked flutter. Terrified wild beasts were driven from their homes, their eyes gleaming with horror. The full moon resting upon the mountain peak shuddered finely.
Against the backdrop of the convulsing world, Meain descended the stairs with measured steps. With every beat of her neat flats treading upon the ground, heaven and earth shook in unison.
Thump— Thump— Rumble—
At that, the Archery Saint feigned composure as he looked up at his master, All-Power. His surprise showed only in a fleeting flinch. That was all. He had witnessed this power a few times in the past, though back then, he had only watched from afar...
'Her body should be weakened from wandering the Demon Realm, yet her presence is as overwhelming as ever.'
It was enough to send a chill down his spine. Truly, was this the realm of Awakening?
Thanks to this, he became certain. Decades ago, when he had caught only a passing glimpse, he had been uncertain. But now, he was seeing it clearly with his own two eyes.
The corners of the Archery Saint’s lips twitched. All-Power spat out words in a cold voice.
“Just so there’s no misunderstanding, I haven’t awakened the power of Awakening.”
“I am aware. But I also know that the depth of your potential has deepened thanks to Awakening. And...”
Trailing off, the Archery Saint glanced around. A purple veil enveloped the area in a hemispherical dome. A Subspace Barrier was unfolding.
“Contrary to your threat to kill me, you are still as kind as ever. To think you would deploy a Subspace Barrier for your disciple’s sake.”
All-Power gave a sharp snort. Her steps were slow and fluid, yet unmistakably advancing toward her disciple, the Archery Saint.
“Unfortunately, murder is forbidden inside the Academy. Besides, it’s bedtime for the kids. It’d be rude to wake them up with all this noise, wouldn’t it?”
“Rude... you say...”
His twitching lips drooped. His expression turning momentarily sorrowful, the Archery Saint stretched his hand out to the side.
“Forty years ago, when my wife lost her life because you refused to join the war... do you not feel sorry to her?”
A long shape shot out from the ring on his ring finger. A bow bereft of ornamentation, retaining only the raw texture of cedar. An S+-Rank Armament—Ameno Habaya.
“If only you had brought this power of yours, my wife would not have died. And even if she had, she would have unlocked the Awakening of her Blessing and never been forgotten.”
The Archery Saint nocked an arrow against the bowstring with a sharp creak.
“...Kojima, you really have lost your mind. Now you’re blaming me for Cheolsim’s death?”
“You may condemn me with whatever words you wish, Master. However, no matter what happens here today, I will learn the secret to Awakening.”
A close distance of barely twenty paces. The sharp arrowhead locked onto All-Power.
“Because I will never allow my daughter to be erased from people’s memories.”
All-Power knitted her brows.
“With zero regard for your daughter’s wishes or lifespan, simply out of your own selfishness?”
“My daughter will understand one day. It is only natural, as she is the daughter of Saki Kojima.”
All-Power finally couldn't hold back and burst into a laugh.
“Pfft! Hahaha! I don't think she will at all.”
“On what grounds do you say such a thing? I find that extremely offensive.”
Her eyes returning to a cold chill, All-Power spoke.
“Because she’s in the same club as me.”
KABOOM!
An explosive leap was followed by a barrage of echoing impacts.
The commotion reverberated solely within the confines of the Subspace Barrier blanketing the area.
* * *
One day, two days, three days passed.
I leaned back into my chair. The backrest tilted way down. Completely exhausted, I merely tilted my stiff neck from side to side.
“Ugh, I’m gonna herniate a disc at this rate.”
Slight exaggeration, but over these three days, I felt like I’d slept only an hour a day—meaning three hours total.
And even that wasn't comfortable sleep in a bed. It was more like entering a state of suspended animation while slumped back in a chair like right now.
I had been buried under work to the brink of dying. But fortunately, as of today, I was finally freed from some of it.
Staring up at the ceiling of the archives, I muttered to myself.
“Tomorrow’s finally the opening day for Heaven Class.”
Since it had to be conducted in secret, speed was everything. And we achieved our goal just one week after the decision was made.
My club members and I burned through our sleep to hit the deadline. Though a few Association staff residing at the Academy lent a hand, the bulk of the practical work was handled by the members.
Looking back, I chuckled to myself.
The very class students were meant to attend was built from the ground up by the students themselves. It was a pretty ridiculous situation. Usually, this kind of work was for adults, not teenagers. On top of that, the members had zero obligation to take it on.
Yet, driven by a sense of duty, they volunteered their help.
Their proactive initiative had started that night Senior paid us a visit.
I had explained the reason for founding the class, something I’d previously glossed over. Though I usually dodged the topic, I took the opportunity to pour out everything I’d kept pent up.
Of course, I couldn't explain every single detail. Some parts couldn't be explained without revealing I was a possessor.
So I summarized it appropriately into a fitting, abbreviated context.
The gist of it was this: I had assembled Heaven Class with Leon at its center. Every single member was an elite I had meticulously handpicked after careful thought. And the objective of all this was to help Leon awaken as a Hero.
I gave it my all, lecturing with whatever silver tongue I possessed.
When the members asked if it was really necessary to create a whole new class, I replied that the movements of the demons were just that suspicious.
Furthermore, as long as they were around me, the chances of them becoming targets of the demons were high. Thus, they needed a clear understanding of how precarious the current situation was.
Immediately after hearing my words, the members' expressions turned grim. Having already caught wind of things, it wasn't an entirely shocking revelation for them.
Two Corps Commanders had shown up within a single year. That was more than enough of a sign that the demons were up to something. On top of that, I—a Seven Star Hero—had just stated it as an absolute fact.
Shadows falling over their eyes was a natural reaction. Being told they were exposed to danger... it would be stranger if they just took it nonchalantly.
But their anxiety was short-lived. Grasping the gravity of the situation, they immediately took the initiative to help me. Saying they couldn't just sit idly twiddling their thumbs, they stayed up through the nights with me without hesitation. At that moment, I felt a genuine surge of emotion swelling in my chest.
In this life, I was a complete orphan. I had parents, but they disappeared. Normally, I would have lived in agonizing solitude, but the members filled that empty void. Without them, I would’ve been no different from some thug holding a sashimi knife.
“Making myself feel sappy for nothing.”
Laughing dryly, I slowly straightened my back. Then, I pulled up the daily newspaper on my smartphone and began reading through it. It was a habit I’d formed ever since receiving the title of Seven Stars.
'I need to familiarize myself with the faces of key political and business figures through the screen so it won't be awkward when I meet them later.'
If I played dumb every time I saw someone, my reputation would hit rock bottom. I didn't care much for myself, but I had to consider the dignity of the Sword Emperor, who had recommended me.
“First thing in the morning... seriously...”
In my past life, I used to walk around the dawn fish market with my boss. Now, right at break of day, I was taking in the scent of ink instead of fishy stench.
[Lancelot Agency’s former representative resigns due to corruption and scandal. Consequently, "All Mute, Kahn Elizabeth" has been appointed as the new representative.]
[Iron King Family’s Mao Twins: "We deeply regret the atrocities we committed in the past. As a token of remorse, we have decided to join the Shaolin Temple."]
Familiar names gracing the headlines.
“All Mute becoming the representative of Lancelot Agency is one thing, but those Tyrannical Twins going to Shaolin Temple?”
I could hardly picture it. Wondering if it was fake news, I leaned in to examine their photo closely. Heads completely shaved, hands cupped in a martial salute. Their eyes were solemn and serious. The eight dots branded on their foreheads were equally striking.
“Did these pieces of trash actually reform?”
Well, that didn't erase the deeds they had committed. Isolating them from society like this was definitely for the better.
I scrolled down. Having roughly skimmed the front-page features, it was time for the minor articles to pop up.
Just then, text caught my eye. It was printed so small in a tiny corner that I almost missed it.
[Archery Saint, Saki Kojima, transferred to 'Joaquin Academy Affiliated Hospital' due to worsening health during his visit to South Korea. Spokesperson claims simple flu, but... (...)]
I tilted my head.
“Why is this printed like a tiny speck of dust?”
Even if it was just the flu, the health of a Seven Star was undeniably a major international affair. Father Time spares no one. The average age of the Seven Stars was close to seventy. There was always a risk that a minor injury or mild ailment could escalate into a grave illness.
Therefore, the health of the Seven Stars was directly tied to the safety of humanity. Whenever a Seven Star Hero fell ill, the whole world was turned upside down. The press and the public alike routinely went into a frenzy.
Yet this article was barely visible unless I narrowed my eyes. There was only one reason for this.
The Archery Saint’s side was deliberately trying to cover up the truth.
“And this article is just a stray fragment they failed to scoop back up.”
Besides, logically speaking, hospitalized for the flu? Does that even make sense? He wasn't a newborn, but an old man well past his sixties.
As if proving my hypothesis, the article was pulled down right then. In the blink of an eye.
“Which means it’s definitely not just a simple flu.”
Staring intently at the screen, I soon closed my phone. Then I gently massaged the skin around my eyes.
“I'm on the verge of being hospitalized myself, worrying about someone else.”
Besides, the Archery Saint was a man surrounded by controversy. So much so that he once made the Sword Emperor and Spear Saint—who were usually at each other's throats—unite in shared disgust. He possessed a personality so rotten that even his own daughter recoiled from him.
My impression of him wasn't much different. Though affable on the surface, his twisted nature leaked out here and there. I got the distinct feeling from his tone that he treated people like objects.
'If he were truly in critical condition, he would've returned to his homeland instead of checking into the Joaquin Academy Affiliated Hospital.'
Just as I ended my thoughts and stood up to get washed, Bzzz— the smartphone I had put away vibrated. I stared quietly at the back of the device before pressing the screen to my ear.
“Yes, Academy Principal.”
[Ah, Geomma. You picked up right away.]
Her voice was slightly flustered. The emotion the Academy Principal was feeling reached me loud and clear: awkward embarrassment.
“Is something wrong?”
[Well... you see...]
Medea collected her tone before continuing.
[Did my sister... did Meain Poison tell you anything?]
“She came by in person three days ago to tell me she’d take on the role of professor in charge of Heaven Class. So I registered her name yesterday. Anyone who needs to know already knows, but the official announcement goes out this afternoon. Along with the news of All-Power’s return.”
[Ah, right, there was that too... But that’s not what I’m talking about...]
Falling silent for a moment, Medea let out an even deeper sigh.
[The thing is... I think... a wanted advisory is about to be issued for my sister, Meain Poison...]
“...Pardon?”
What in the world is she talking about? A wanted advisory? A bounty? Why?
[Don't panic, just listen carefully...]
Medea gave a painful, rueful laugh.
[...Your professor in charge... just rendered the Prime Minister of Japan half-crippled.]
The phone slipped from my hand and dropped with a clack. The glass screen shattered like a cookie against the floor.