Chapter 1: It's Nice to Meet You All
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 1: It's Nice to Meet You All
Ten years have passed since I started my new life.
Looking back, I lived so fiercely that even I find myself impressive.
People often compare time to flowing water, but this life wasn't a gentle stream—it was a raging white-water torrent.
My age right now is only in my mid-to-late twenties. Yet, compared to the density of my previous life, this one has been incomparably event-filled.
If I were to write an autobiography of my life, it would turn into a thick, multi-volume novel perfectly sized to use as a pillow.
Hmm.
Actually, my autobiography is currently selling like hotcakes. I adamantly tried to decline, really.
I couldn't help it because my two wives nagged me endlessly. On everything I own.
Hearing this much, you're probably curious. Just what on earth did I do to brag about living a busy life and even publish an autobiography?
Well...
It's a bit embarrassing to say with my own mouth.
I saved the world.
At the tender age of seventeen, no less.
I enrolled in the academy intending to enjoy the youth I had lost in my past life, but my life went in the complete opposite direction.
They say the spicier your youth, the easier your later life is, but my youth was far too spicy.
Still, thanks to that, present-day me exists. As proportional to the spice of my youth, adult me is enjoying quite a few perks.
For instance...
People all over the world want me.
Not to mention, whether in the Human Realm or the Demon Realm.
I even received an offer to become the Demon King from Gehenna, but naturally, I turned it down.
I'm the very guy who halved their forces. I'm not crazy enough to become their leader. I'd refuse even if they offered me all the land in Gehenna.
They might have a natural instinct to submit to the strong, but I have no intention of rubbing shoulders with horned bastards.
Anyway, enough with the long preamble.
So, basically...
I am living as a character inside a game.
Under one roof with big-shot women.
Ah, of course...
[The Blessing of the Sword God is activated.]
Still holding the Blessing of the Sword God as well.
* * *
In front of the armament inspection desk.
“…Cadet. Is this really an armament?”
“Yes, Instructor Lee Won-bin!”
The male cadet raised his chin briskly.
He was filled with strict military discipline, and his eyes staring at Lee Won-bin were brimming with envy.
As the saying goes that bald heads are strong, the instructor inspecting the cadet’s armament, Lee Won-bin, was a hero among heroes who had been selected for the Hero Association's "Top 100 Hero of the Year" for five consecutive years.
However...
'To actually meet the instructor in person! Damn, his head is even slicker in real life?! As expected, Lee Won-bin of Luminescence!'
Lee Won-bin had rejected every single love call rushing in from top hero agencies, persistently remaining at Joaquin Academy.
A great man who refused to bend his banner of wanting to contribute to the future of humanity rather than chasing wealth and glory!
A true role model as an instructor.
However, there was a different reason why the cadet’s eyes were sparkling to a burdensome degree...
“I will ask you once more.”
“My answer will be the same no matter how many times you ask!”
The male cadet’s reply was exceedingly firm. Then, grabbing a Daixo sashimi knife, he spoke.
“I believe blaming one's tool is what only novices do. I am a hero candidate who inherits That Person’s legacy. I have no intention of backing down!”
Lee Won-bin stared at him quietly. Though nervous, the male cadet was thrilled inside.
'Does he see That Person in me?'
Every cadet lined up here... No, every hero admired That Person.
In this present era where peace had arrived...
The competition rate for Joaquin Academy was far fiercer now than back when the Corps Commanders were still alive.
The status of a hero remained absolute. And all of this glory was possible only because of That Person’s dedication.
Instructor Lee Won-bin was the visionary who had recognized That Person early on.
It was because of that. Though there were dozens of armament inspection desks, the line in front of Lee Won-bin was exceptionally long.
Grin.
Lee Won-bin smiled gently.
The cadet barely suppressed his desire to cheer on the spot. That smile—he had definitely recognized his potential!
Ah, he could hear it now.
The excited murmurs of the other cadets behind him.
However...
“Cadet.”
Lee Won-bin wiped the smile from his lips instantly as if it had never been there. He then let out a heavy sigh, as if finding it too exhausting to even get angry, loud enough for the people behind to hear.
“Do you know how many cadets brought a Daixo sashimi knife today... No, over the past ten years?”
“N-No.”
“A total of 9,432 cadets. Including you today, it makes 9,433.”
“Th-that many?”
Lee Won-bin nodded with a grave expression.
“Do you know what the contents of the class assignment exam are?”
“Just like ten years ago, it’s a Subspace Battle Royale...”
This year’s entrance ceremony was special. It was the tenth anniversary commemorating humanity’s victory.
Therefore, the Subspace Battle Royale was a bit of an event prepared by the current Academy Principal, the Immortal Archer.
“If you can survive with that Daixo sashimi knife, I will allow your armament. As you know, the upper limit rank for armaments is D-rank.”
“Ah...”
“If you get assigned to the Tiger Class, this instructor will take no responsibility.”
“I-I’m sorry!”
Snapping back to his senses, the male cadet hastily retrieved the sashimi knife and placed a proper piece of equipment on the inspection desk. Lee Won-bin passed him with a flick of his chin.
“I-It was an honor to meet you!”
“May the blessing be with you, cadet.”
Lee Won-bin stared intently at the retreating back of the cadet who fled as if running away. Then, he let out a short chuckle.
Just as he said, countless cadets had brought sashimi knives, but today felt oddly nostalgic.
“Will he finally show his face today?”
A student he was truly proud of, in the most literal sense.
He was currently traversing back and forth between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm, acting as the mediator of the universe. Over the last three years, the number of times Lee Won-bin had seen his face could be counted on one hand.
Even when he came to the Academy, he maintained a routine of merely seeing his two wives before leaving again.
Thus, he had rarely been able to attend the entrance ceremony of Joaquin Academy, his alma mater.
However...
'Today is the tenth anniversary.'
According to Saki Ryozo—the current principal and likewise Lee Won-bin’s former student—there was a very high chance he would attend today.
Perhaps because of that, the spectator lineup for this entrance ceremony was extravagant. The Old Seven Stars heroes went without saying.
The entire Golden Generation, who had enrolled together ten years ago, was attending. They were cherished former students who were now making a name for themselves in their respective positions.
'All that's left is for you to arrive.'
A moment after pulling his lips into a smile...
The cadets lined up in front of him came back into view. Mm, getting off work on time is out of the question again this year.
* * *
The Academy had been half-destroyed during the 2nd Human-Demon War. Except for a few major facilities, numerous buildings had been left as bare steel frames.
People had said back then...
Starting from that day, even if humanity won, Joaquin Academy would fade into the background of history. Its seven-hundred-year-old tradition would draw to a close with this generation.
“Hey, did That Person come today?”
“Who’s That Person, you damn nerd?”
“Ugh, you idiot...”
As a rule of thumb, pessimistic predictions never come true. The arena was buzzing with people.
The completely collapsed arena had undergone expansion after expansion, growing to more than twice its original size. The previous one had been the size of three soccer fields combined, but now it looked large enough to fit an entire neighborhood.
“Wow...”
A man whose hair color exuded the vibe of a delinquent gasped. His name was Speed Weapon. He was the explainer type.
“Setting aside her personality, Saki’s abilities are incredible. They’re so excessively good that it’s actually a problem.”
Indeed.
Mocking the voices of anxiety, Joaquin Academy succeeded in its comeback. Perhaps it had even surpassed its past glory.
“Saki only became human after marrying 'him'. Weapon, don't you remember Saki during our school days? That bitch was a total psycho.”
Someone nearby snickered. Speed Weapon turned his eyes toward that direction with a bored expression.
A blonde woman in a skin-tight outfit that fully exposed her voluptuous body—Rachel de Myura, a distant relative of Speed Weapon and recently one of the most popular heroes alongside All Mute.
“Rachel, do you really have to wear an outfit like that with everyone watching? Why am I the one feeling embarrassed?”
“Look who's talking. Wearing a tight suit like that to an entrance ceremony? Anyone looking would think you’re going to a funeral.”
The two bickered. They had been squabbling endlessly ever since arriving in Korea yesterday.
Weapon visited the Academy representing the Hero Association, and Rachel represented the Lancelot Company.
Attending the entrance ceremony had become a custom for both organizations, but this year, the two of them ended up coming. This wasn't a coincidence, but rather something both had actively pushed for.
“P-Please don't fight...!”
An auburn-haired woman tried to pull them apart.
“”Chloe, are you taking their side?!””
The two shouted almost simultaneously.
“N-No, that’s not it...”
Chloe Auditore da Sicilia.
Hailing from a high-born family of assassins, she had recently grown into a titan dominating the food service industry.
The Auditore family, which was already wealthy, had accumulated enough fortune that they could quit the assassination family business entirely.
Chloe pointed her gaze behind the two with a troubled look. Weapon and Rachel turned around, creaking like broken toys.
An awkward silence instantly fell over the space.
“...”
“Haha...”
There were two women standing there.
Both were breathtaking beauties. Weapon had seen everything there was to see during their student days, so he could look at them like looking at trees, but normally, they were pretty enough to make anyone lose their mind.
Furthermore, they were at an age where their looks were in full bloom. The men looking at them stared with open mouths, looking as if their souls had been stolen.
However, to Weapon, the two looked like Grim Reapers. Rachel also swallowed her spit nervously, seemingly tense.
“What are you doing?”
The tall beauty broke the silence. Rachel, who subtly released her grip on Weapon's collar, laughed sheepishly.
“L-Long time no see, Abel.”
The sword genius who had stripped away the title of being the Sword Emperor's granddaughter through her own strength—the Sword Princess, Abel von Nibelung.
She pressed her hand to her forehead and shook her head.
“What 'long time no see' when I saw you a week ago in America? And how old are you guys to still be fighting like that... The whole world knows you're 'his' friends. Fighting so shamelessly like that, whose face do you think you're smearing mud on?”
“Haha... Abel, you’re starting to resemble Lord Sword Emperor more and more.”
Weapon gestured with his eyes toward the VIP seating located higher up. The legends of the old era were likely having a reunion.
“What is that supposed to mean, Weapon?”
Abel glared fiercely, her eyes sharpening.
Hey, wait a second. Why are you touching your sword hilt? I'm your former classmate, you know?!
“Enough, sit down.”
The woman with sky-blue hair, who had her arms crossed so tightly her chest looked ready to burst, spoke.
Rustle.
She glided past her former classmates. She then sat one seat to the left of the center and took a sip of her coffee.
“Saki... She couldn't even touch bitter stuff when she was young, but now she’s a total caffeine addict.”
“She said life is bitterer, so coffee tastes sweet.”
At Abel’s words, Weapon nodded in understanding.
A moment later, Weapon hesitantly sat down in his designated seat. It was the very heart of the arena, offering a full view of the vast grounds in a single glance.
The very center of that heart was vacant.
Originally, it was the seat of the Academy Principal, Saki Ryozo. However, she had intentionally avoided it and sat to the side, with Abel on her right. It looked as if the two women were escorting the highest seat.
The attention of the crowd naturally focused on that spot.
Whether cadets or nobles, everyone showed signs of waiting desperately for someone. The eyes of a teenage fan waiting for an idol wouldn't be this intense.
“H-Hey, Saki.”
When Weapon whispered, Ryozo glared at him coldly. It was uncomfortable being right next to her, but curiosity won out. Weapon blurted out.
“What.”
“It's nothing else, but... is he really coming today?”
“I don't know.”
“Hey! If you don't know, who does?!”
Who do you think the people here came to see!
Although the entrance ceremony was a global event, it was an annual occurrence.
However, 'he' didn't show up just any day. It wasn't because he had celebrity disease, but because he moved in a completely different sphere—as the troubleshooter for both the Human Realm and the Demon Realm.
“He said he’d come.”
Ryozo muttered as if chewing on the words.
“...He said he would...”
The eyes are the window to the soul. Her tone was indifferent, but her sky-blue eyes were filled with anxious longing.
'I can't even say anything to that.'
Weapon smacking his lips together, soon turned his gaze forward. Expectation and tension—the arena was a crucible of emotions. The cadets whispered softly among themselves.
— Is That Person really coming today?
— I know, right... It's the tenth anniversary this year.
— I've been waiting for today for ten years.
— You were seven years old ten years ago!
A short while later.
Ryozo, who had been staring intently at her wristwatch, eventually stood up from her seat as if half-resigned.
The expressions of the cadets were complex and subtle. They were happy to enter the academy of their dreams, but disappointment at not being able to see That Person was evident on their faces.
Saki Ryozo felt the same way.
'Still, what choice do I have?'
As the principal, I have to do what I must. Guys, I'm the one who wants to see him more than you do. Muttering internally, she stepped up to the microphone.
“Welcome—”
Just as Ryozo was about to speak...
A shadow fell over the arena. One by one, people tilted their heads back so far their necks hurt to look up at the sky.
On a bright spring day without a single cloud, dark storm clouds suddenly began to gather. Just as a strong wind swept in, the clouds collided, unleashing a deafening roar of thunder.
KABOOM! BANG! RUMBLEEEEE!!
A transforming sky, vibrating air.
Lightning tore through the dark clouds. Every time the light flashed, a human silhouette seemed to flick into view.
An unannounced storm.
ROARRRRRR!!
Anxiety bloomed like mist inside the arena.
“...”
On the other hand, the expressions of the Golden Generation were filled with anticipation.
After all, they knew who brought this thunder.
SCREEEEEECH...!!
The thunderstorm reached its peak. Some cadets covered their ears and trembled violently, while a few swallowed their spit.
In the next moment...
Slash—
At that sound, the thunder stopped.
Slash—
Next, the sky split in two, and the pooled sunlight poured down, as if blessing the cadets.
Lightning.
A bisected sky.
A rapid succession of sudden phenomena.
FLASH!
Between the brightly opened clouds, a single dot glimmers. A rim of light softly smears over the edges of the clouds.
Immediately after...
BOOOOOOM!!!
A pillar of light strikes down, suddenly shaking the grounds. Everyone closed their eyes at the dazzling flash that made their eyes sting.
Ryozo was no exception.
She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them. Her vision was blurry from flash blindness. It was blurry, but...
“Sorry, am I late?”
His smile was crystal clear.
“Why are you so late?”
It had been two whole weeks. Trying to suppress her emotions, Ryozo wiped her lower lip and smiled brightly.
“You dummy.”
Sparks crackled like fine threads over his black coat and black hair.
“Had some business in the Demon Realm.”
Saying so, he turned his back while trailing electrical currents. Engraved upon everyone's retinas were two stark white characters.
天
劍
He brought the microphone to his mouth.
“Nice to meet you all.”
With one hand, he wrapped his arm around Ryozo's shoulder.
“First of all, congratulations on your admission.”
While holding a single sashimi knife in his remaining hand.
“I am Kang Geomma.”
A breathtaking silence fell over the arena.
“Th-The Heavenly Sword!”
That single cry opened the floodgates.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...!!
Heaven and earth shook. A roar no less powerful than the thunder that had terrified the cadets a moment ago—no, a roar twice as loud—crushed the grounds.
+++++++++++++++++++
《May the Blessing of God be with you》
+++++++++++++++++++
It was a day so bright it made the eyes ache.