Chapter 231: The Archery Saint's Daughter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: The Archery Saint's Daughter
Kojima faced the sashimi knife. Such intimidation, eyes brimming with hostility—this situation was all too familiar to the Archery Saint.
With blue eyes, the Archery Saint glared past the blade at the boy holding it. Kang Geomma's expression was serene, but the light in his eyes was fierce.
‘This isn't a sashimi knife; it’s a scalpel.’
The Archery Saint sneered inwardly.
‘Fine, I’ll give you credit for grit at least.’
Raiding his hospital room with a Daixo sashimi knife... Though the presence of his guards had vanished in an instant, their life signs remained intact, meaning he must have dealt with them all using his Mindscape Domain. To control a domain so freely at his age...
‘The Heavenly Sword is truly something else.’
To a genius, age was a mere numbers game. Those who treated age as a privilege were bound to be people with nothing else to boast about. The one who could empathize most with a young genius was the Archery Saint himself. After all, he too had become one of the Seven Stars shortly after turning twenty.
‘However, the Heavenly Sword and I are starkly different.’
It was a difference in martial prowess. Outwardly, they were both Seven Stars, but Kojima didn't even reach his knees. The Archery Saint was fully aware of this. Kojima wondered: If the Heavenly Sword were to undergo an 'Awakening,' if he received its essence from All-Power... just how strong would this man become?
‘The Heavenly Sword as an Awakened...’
He would become a transcendent being—forget sitting at the same table, one wouldn't even be able to make eye contact with him. He might surpass Balor Joaquin and step into the realm beyond. Yet even such a man was not a true Hero. Ultimately, he would run into an invisible wall.
"Kang Geomma."
The Archery Saint spoke his name instead of his title. His voice hovered somewhere between solemnity and cold composure.
"If you wish, you may hack me to pieces with that blade. No, you may even kill me."
The Archery Saint spoke as if offering advice. As mentioned before, the Archery Saint was a seasoned politician. He read and manipulated the opponent's mindset. This was a blind spot for raw talent—a realm of pure experience. Martial power aside, mentally, the boy was still a minor. A sly tongue would be more than enough to wind him around his finger.
"Unlike certain people, I won't give you old-fashioned lectures about not being swayed by emotions. However, the responsibility falls entirely on you. Meaning, letting your emotions rule you could ruin your future plans. I will certainly make a diplomatic issue out of this on a global level..."
Before the Archery Saint could even finish his sentence, Kang Geomma moved his hand. Holding the knife in a reverse grip, the blade pierced the thigh muscle. It was a swift stroke.
Thump.
Only after the sound of tearing flesh echoed did the Archery Saint look down. The plain, unpatterned blanket was slowly staining crimson. His once-dignified eyes trembled.
"Aaargh... Mmph...!"
Kang Geomma's left hand smothered the scream.
"Did you rent out the whole hospital? Shut up."
His pupils were vacant, devoid of emotion. After a silent gaze, Kang Geomma twisted the hilt clockwise. A searing agony coiled around Kojima's groin.
Kojima tried to scream again. But only the salty taste of the hand lingered in his mouth. He reached out to strike back, but before he knew it, another knife was pinned through his palm like a stake. Even with an archer's sight, he hadn't seen it coming.
As the pain surged once more, the Archery Saint's mind turned to mush. All sorts of negative emotions tangled together in his head.
"Hey, Archery Saint," Kang Geomma spoke.
The gleam in his eyes was low and deep. Yet at the same time, it was rough and fierce as a beast's.
"You already got your ankle smashed for wagging your tongue, and you're running your mouth again? I heard your intellect is second only to Lady Medea's. So why is your learning ability so terrible?"
"...Mmph... Mmph!"
Watching the squirming Archery Saint, Kang Geomma tilted his head sideways. There was something the Archery Saint had overlooked.
A seasoned politician? In his past life, Kang Geomma used to be drinking buddies with men like that. Having dealt with all sorts of crafty old political foxes, Kang Geomma knew their type inside and out. And what those men habitually babbled about was "the future."
To escape the immediate moment, to dodge trouble, they told constant lies and spewed sweet talk.
Plan for the future?
'Bullshit.'
On Earth, he had saved money desperately, dreaming only of a blind future. A comfortable retirement, a better home, because he didn't want to live miserably. But Kang Geomma in this world was different. War was going to break out in no time. Promising a distant future was foolish. Even right now, Permush would be invading soon.
In dark times, the future was like a candle flame. It wouldn't be strange at all if a storm blew in and snuffed it out at any second.
So he didn't look far ahead. He focused strictly on the present, placing total faith in the decisions made by his current self.
The biggest reason Kang Geomma had survived in this world so far was precisely his belief in himself. Thanks to that, he had adapted flexibly to every single moment.
‘I’m a swordsman, not a politician.’
Kang Geomma pulled his left hand away from the Archery Saint's mouth. Then, flicking his wrist, he spoke.
"Do you know what guys like you always say at a time like this? 'Can you handle the consequences of this?!' 'How dare you humiliate me?!' That kind of crap. Well, looking at your face, it seems like that's exactly what you were going to say."
Kang Geomma retrieved the three sashimi knives one by one. Then he placed his hand over the wounds and channeled the Blessing of Regeneration into them. Fresh skin bubbled and bound together over the injuries.
The Archery Saint looked down at his palm. The pain remained, but the blade wound was completely healed. He knew the boy wielded swords like a demon, but he could even combine it with a healing blessing? And why bother healing him? Lost in suspicion, the Archery Saint suddenly felt a chill.
"Don't tell me... you healed me..."
Only now did the Archery Saint truly look at the monster standing before him.
"Quick on the uptake, aren't you?" Kang Geomma nodded.
The Archery Saint guessed what was about to happen to him. At the same time, he realized why he had thought of the sashimi knife as a scalpel earlier.
‘This bastard has no intention of killing me.’
Incision with the knife, suturing with that bizarre ability—he was going to conduct this brutal surgery over and over.
The Archery Saint was far from a moral man. But even he couldn't help but be appalled by this demonic idea. This thing was no hero. He even questioned if the boy was human.
‘Did the Sword Emperor know the true nature of this fiend when he passed on the title of the Seven Stars?’
He must have known. The Sword Emperor's insight pierced right through to the true nature of things. He gave up his seat knowing Kang Geomma was this kind of monster.
Watching the appalled Archery Saint, Kang Geomma spoke.
"Archery Saint, you're looking at me like you're seeing a devil, but to my eyes, you look like a far more evil bastard. At the very least, a guy who treats his own daughter like an object shouldn't be making that face at me."
"Why on earth are you going this far!? Just because Ryozo is your friend? For such a petty reason, you intend to make an enemy of Japan?!"
"No."
"Then for what?!"
Kang Geomma dumped a bundle of sashimi knives out of his coat pocket. Selecting a suitable knife, he answered.
"What I said 'no' to was your question about making an enemy of Japan."
He picked up a knife. The blade was sharp, glinting with light.
"Just Japan? No, I could make an enemy out of the United States too."
It was a bluff. For someone whose peak form lasted only one minute, taking on an entire nation was impossible. He had merely blurted it out to break the man's spirit.
However, the Archery Saint's face turned deathly pale.
Wasn't Kang Geomma a heaven-sent hero who had vanquished two Corps Commanders? This butcher possessed power capable of redrawing world geography. Considering that, this single sentence was overwhelmingly heavy to the Archery Saint. Of course, this was entirely his own delusion.
Kojima felt his heart sink. His composure, which he always maintained, cracked. Lying on the hospital bed was merely a fragile human being.
"...Mad. You've gone completely mad. That way of thinking is no different from a Demon's."
A Demon's way of thinking, huh? If you knew what kind of entity is presumed to dwell inside me, you'd faint. Kang Geomma let out a dry smirk.
"Looks like you finally understand the feeling I had toward you earlier."
"Stop...!"
Just then, two hands suddenly lunged out and grabbed the sashimi knife. It was Hina, who had been 'pretending' to be unconscious. Because she gripped the blade tightly, drops of blood dotted the blanket.
"I—I apologize on his behalf as his daughter. Heavenly Sword, please show mercy to my father! I will accept whatever demands you make!"
"Hina!"
Her father roared in anger. Hina, her eyes wet with tears, snapped around to glare at the Archery Saint.
"Prime Minister! No, Father! Please, stop this already! You, who always lectured us to maintain composure—you are being the most foolish one here!"
Every joint in Hina's hands burned with sharp pain. She did her best to ignore Kang Geomma's gaze fixed on the side of her face. She was terrified to death that she might die soon. Even so, she raised her voice.
"And how could you do such a thing to Ryozo?! 'If she becomes an Awakened, her name will be etched in history'? 'She'll thank me later'? That is nothing more than your own selfishness! Have you ever had a real conversation with Ryozo before saying such things?! I didn't expect a normal family, but did you really have to go that far?!"
The Archery Saint's daughter poured out her anger, grief, and disappointment toward her father.
"Tell me, Father! Do your children have to fill the void of your own inferiority complex?! Why do we, your children, have to fight each other because of your greed?! You even treat Ryozo, your intended successor, as nothing more than a tool for your twisted ambition!"
Her tears mingled with the drops of blood.
"...Is that... is that really important enough to risk your own life right now?! If you fall into even worse condition, what are those of us left behind—no, what am I supposed to do?! No matter how terrible a father you are..."
Even if she couldn't call her father 'Father.' Even if he was far from gentle. Even while taking on all the dirty work.
The reason she ultimately stayed by his side was... because as damn awful as he was, he was still her father, still family, and she still respected him.
"I'm not asking you to be warm and gentle, Dad... I just wish you'd acknowledge, even a little bit, that you have a family... That's all I hope for."
Saki Hina collapsed to her knees. She sobbed, her bare hands still clutching the blade.
Kang Geomma glanced at Hina, then withdrew the sashimi knife. Then he took hold of Hina's torn hands.
"...Th-this is..."
Hina stared blankly at the cluster of light wrapping around her wrists. It was warm. Having finished healing her, Kang Geomma shifted his gaze back to the Archery Saint.
"Originally, I intended to completely shatter you mentally right here, Archery Saint."
The Archery Saint barely seemed to register his words. His face had long been drained of blood, and his eyes were unfocused. He seemed genuinely shocked by Hina's outburst. Kang Geomma let out a sigh.
"Because of your daughter, I'll stop here for today. Instead, I'm adding two conditions to what I mentioned before. The generous support for the Heaven Class you talked about earlier, plus deploying a large number of Japanese heroes to the Gehenna Gate."
The Archery Saint looked up at Kang Geomma with desolate eyes. Kang Geomma stared back and pressed him.
"Nod if you understand."
"..."
With a half-dazed expression, the Archery Saint merely nodded his head. A few strands of hair stuck to his forehead.
Kang Geomma scratched his head and walked toward the door. Right before stepping out of the hospital room, he suddenly turned around.
"Uh, what was it... Saki Hina, was it?"
Hina raised her eyes with a sullen expression. Her eyes were swollen red.
"Instead of using weird charms on people, try showing your sincere self like you did just now."
"...P-pardon?"
"You're a beauty, so you don't need to use something like the Blessing of Temptation. It actually backfires. Anyway, since I'm leaving quietly today thanks to you, try demanding something from that old man. If he has a conscience, maybe he'll toss you a bone."
Hina paid no attention to his final words. Her face simply flushed as red as a late-autumn persimmon.
Kang Geomma wondered why she was reacting like that, but soon brushed it off. He had somewhere else to be right away.