Chapter 73: The Nation's Best Swordsman (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 73: The Nation's Best Swordsman (2)
If anyone were to ask me how I felt right now, there would be no better word than "dumbfounded." Shaking off my bewilderment, I parted my lips to speak.
"Nox, what are you doing here?"
"..."
He had a bandana tied around his head and wore a T-shirt with a massive "Korean Sushi" logo printed across the chest. He looked like a part-time sushi restaurant worker through and through.
No wonder Chloe was shocked.
Nox's face flushed bright red. He hesitated, his mouth twitching, before finally squeezing out a reply.
"I-I'm working part-time..."
As if I couldn't tell.
What I wanted to know wasn't what he was doing, but why he was working at a sushi joint. Nox was a high-society noble, a member of the Auditore family—one of the wealthiest households in this entire world.
Yet here he was, working part-time at a sushi restaurant. It was so absurd I almost burst out laughing. Sure, there was a chance he had taken an undercover job to hide his identity as an assassin, but...
The sheer energy in his voice when we walked in was still vivid in my mind. In all my twenty years of working with knives, I had never heard a shout so full of genuine, heartfelt passion.
Unaware of my thoughts, Nox hung his head and stammered. His entire face was so red-hot that it was practically indistinguishable from his crimson hair.
"..."
An awkward silence settled over the restaurant.
Nox silently fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. At this point, even I felt embarrassed for asking.
"Hey, rookie! What are you doing standing around instead of seating the customers?! Get to work!"
A loud voice boomed from the counter. The owner, a stocky man with bronzed skin and the stubborn look of a veteran chef, barked fiercely at Nox.
"I'm sorry, Boss!"
"You begged me for a job for three days and nights straight, and now this? Hurry up, seat the guests, and take their orders!"
"Ah, yes..."
The owner's words made Nox's face turn an even deeper shade of red. His eyes spun as if his deepest, darkest secret had just been laid bare.
...Three days and nights straight?
Soon, Ryozo, who was standing behind me, placed a hand on my shoulder. Shaking her head, she signaled with her eyes that we should just sit down. I gave a small nod.
Passing by Nox, my club members and I took a seat in the corner.
Chloe sat across from me. The excitement she had shown earlier was completely gone, replaced by a complex, subtle expression. Though she didn't show it, she was undoubtedly screaming in shock on the inside.
But at this rate, she would end up chewing on gravel instead of enjoying the sushi she had been looking forward to. While the situation was baffling for all of us, this was our first club dinner, so I decided to speak up to ease her distress.
"Nox probably has his reasons. Since we're here, let's just focus on enjoying the food. You were the one looking forward to this the most, Chloe."
At my words, Chloe gave a small nod, her head still lowered.
"...Yes."
Personally, I hoped Chloe and Nox's relationship would smooth over, but the rift between them seemed deeper than I thought.
Well, until recently, Nox had been nothing but a typical noble steeped in elitism.
Even though his attitude had completely flipped now, it wouldn't be easy for Chloe to adjust to this sudden change.
I let out a short sigh and flipped through the menu. The insane prices flashed past my eyes like a speeding train. A single piece of sushi was a whopping 20,000 won.
Fucking highway robbers.
As I stared blankly at the menu, Ryozo, who was sitting next to me, slid her hips closer, pressing her body against mine.
Her sky-blue hair brushed over her shoulders, and a faint, sweet scent drifted into my nose. Pointing her index finger at the menu, she began explaining the items one by one.
"They say the assorted sushi platter is really good here. It comes with twenty different types of fish. And the price is pretty reasonable, isn't it?"
"...Is 400,000 won for a single set what you call 'reasonable'?"
When I frowned and shot back, Ryozo tilted her head slightly.
"Hmm, did we focus too much on budget-friendliness for our first club dinner? Do you want to go somewhere else?"
"...Forget it, never mind. Just order whatever you want. You guys are paying anyway."
"Okey-dokey!"
Ryozo acted like she knew everything, but in the end, she belonged to a completely different world than me.
No matter how often I experienced it, I could never get used to this class divide.
Maybe I should just open a raw fish restaurant here later.
Ryozo flipped through the menu a few more times before calling for a server.
A moment later, Nox approached hesitantly. Chloe's shoulders flinched slightly.
Seeing her reaction, Nox swallowed a groan and diligently wrote down Ryozo's order. His hands moved briskly.
"Four assorted sushi platters, a Coke, and a Sprite... is that correct?"
Nox reviewed the order one last time. Perhaps because he was still adjusting, his tone was a bit stiff, but he was thoroughly professional when it came to customer service.
Now that's a model employee.
Once the order was placed, the sushi was served in just a few minutes. The vibrant, five-colored sushi pieces were neatly lined up on the platters.
"Whoa, this looks fucking delicious!"
"Right? Even in Japan, places like this are rare. They're good."
"I know! The ingredients look incredibly fresh. Now I see why the wait is so long!"
Weapon drooled as he spoke, and Ryozo and Chloe chimed in.
Ryozo, in particular, seemed to miss the taste of home, snapping photos from multiple angles.
On the other hand, I merely observed with a furrowed brow.
"..."
"What's with that face? Do you have an upset stomach?"
Ryozo, still taking photos, tried to read my expression. I scratched the tip of my nose and replied.
"It's a bit awkward to say this when you guys are buying, but..."
Mid-sentence, I glanced sideways toward the counter. At that exact moment, my eyes met the owner's, who was prepping fish. He sneered at my unenthusiastic expression.
His gaze was venomous. Displeased by my reaction, he suddenly began sharpening his sashimi knife on a whetstone.
It's fine for a chef to have pride, but...
There was a fine line between pride and stubbornness.
A true chef should humbly accept and reflect on even negative feedback from customers. Yet, this restaurant's owner seemed immensely confident in his skills.
"The ingredients are good, but—"
I shrugged, making sure the owner could see me, and continued. I deliberately raised my voice.
"The knife work ruined it. The fish is crying."
The moment the words left my mouth, the owner's face contorted in rage. He stopped sharpening his knife and marched over, his heavy footsteps thudding against the floor. Panic and shock washed over my club members' faces mid-meal.
"...Excuse me, customer. What did you just say?"
The owner's eyes burned with intense pride. I crossed my arms and replied coldly.
"Exactly what you heard. I mean, your skills aren't terrible, but they're nothing to write home about either. Honestly, I don't think this is worth the price you're charging."
At my words, veins bulged on the owner's bronzed forearms. The attention of every customer in the restaurant shifted to us. Sensing the heavy atmosphere, the owner let out a short snort and spoke.
"If you're so knowledgeable about knife work, why don't you show me yourself? I'd love to learn a thing or two from you."
The owner pointed his thumb toward the counter, a mocking sneer playing on his lips. His tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Normally, speaking to an Academy cadet like this would be considered highly unprofessional.
He was just trying to humiliate me in public because I had bruised his ego.
For an adult, it was incredibly childish.
...But.
I let out a cold smile. A vein throbbed on the owner's temple. He raised his voice even louder.
"You might be confident in your knife skills since you're a Joaquin Academy cadet, but I, Mansur, have been living by the blade for twelve years. If your skills are better than mine, I'll gladly admit defeat and make your meal free of charge."
Owner Mansur spoke with a fierce scowl. Without a moment's hesitation, I stood up from my seat.
"A man doesn't go back on his word."
"...Huh?"
Caught off guard, a drop of cold sweat rolled down Mansur's cheek. A stir rippled through the watching customers.
As the murmurs grew louder, Mansur's expression faltered. He scratched the back of his head and let out a long, heavy sigh.
"...Sigh. My damn temper got the best of me again. Look, my apologies, customer. Let's just pretend this never happened, so please, just eat and go."
Mansur waved his hand dismissively. Ignoring him, I took a step toward the kitchen. Everyone's eyes followed my feet.
"W-Wait!"
Mansur tried to stop me belatedly, but Nox shook his head and held him back.
"Boss, let's just watch for now."
"Hey! Are you crazy?! How can we let an outsider into the kitchen?!"
Nox stared quietly at Mansur before speaking in a low voice.
"It might not be my place as an employee to say this, but... you can trust him."
"Hey, Nox. What's gotten into you? You usually just work quietly. And do you even know how much that red snapper costs?!"
Mansur scolded Nox, utterly baffled. But Nox only stared at me with resolute eyes.
It was as if he wanted to engrave my every micro-movement and gesture into his memory. Wearing a faint smile, I stepped into the kitchen. The pleasant, briny scent of fish mingled with the metallic tang of blood.
An untouched red snapper lay on the cutting board.
Beside it was a bluish sashimi knife, finely sharpened on a whetstone and glistening with moisture.
"It's been a while."
A smirk was reflected on the polished steel. I gripped the sashimi knife.
Chiiing—!
`[The Blessing of the Sword God — Food is activated.]`
The blade blurred. The sashimi knife lunged toward the red snapper in a magnificent arc.
* * *
"Whew, I guess my skills are a bit rusty since it's been a while."
Having finished prepping the red snapper, Kang Geomma wiped his brow. He was the only one speaking in the entire restaurant.
Countless blank stares darted back and forth between Kang Geomma and the sliced red snapper. Naturally, Mansur's eyes were among them.
"..."
The filleted white flesh glistened like white jade under the lights.
The cuts were flawlessly angled, and not a single shred of meat remained on the bones.
Unbelievable.
Even after several moments, the vivid image of the swordplay lingered in Mansur's mind.
Though he had made quite a name for himself in this industry, he had never seen such breathtaking skill. His mouth hung open in sheer, numbing shock.
It was an astonishingly fast display of handiwork. But if it had been merely fast, Mansur wouldn't have been this shocked. Mansur shifted his gaze to the red snapper.
The cells along the cut surfaces glistened, plump and intact like glass beads.
Was that blinding speed meant to prevent the cells from bruising?
Kang Geomma smiled faintly and addressed the onlookers.
"Would anyone like a taste?"
At his question, an elderly gentleman sitting at the counter raised his hand. He was a raccoon-like old man whose heavy eyelids almost completely obscured his pupils.
"May this old man have a taste?"
"Of course."
The elderly gentleman smiled quietly, picked up a piece, and chewed. His Adam's apple bobbed heavily as he swallowed.
"..."
A brief silence fell over the room. Even the sound of people swallowing their spit died down.
"!"
The old man's closed eyes snapped wide open.
Immediately, a glistening stream of tears rolled down the wrinkles of his eyes.
"T-This taste!"
The old man grabbed Kang Geomma's hand. Geomma could feel the texture of his deeply wrinkled skin.
"Young man, would you be interested in doing business with me? To think I'd taste such raw fish before I die! Every piece of sashimi I've had until now was mere child's play!"
As the old man gestured urgently, a sharply dressed man in a suit stepped forward and offered Kang Geomma a business card. Seeing this, one of the customers whispered to their companion.
"Wait, isn't that old man Chairman Baek Jong-hwon? He's the top tycoon in our country's food industry."
"Oh my god, it really is. I've seen him on TV. He's a giant whose single word can fluctuate food prices. His net worth is easily in the top ten in the country."
"He's famous for having an incredibly picky palate. That cadet just got scouted directly by Chairman Baek Jong-hwon. That's insane."
"I know, right? He even shed tears."
Murmur, murmur.
"Young man, partner with me right away. Why let such talent go to waste?"
"I'm still a minor, though."
"What does age matter in this industry? If not now, this old man will make sure to stay alive by any means necessary until you graduate. You must come work under me."
"...Haha."
As the commotion grew, Mansur became increasingly bewildered. He hesitantly approached Kang Geomma and asked.
"...May I try some too?"
"It's your fish, Boss. Go ahead."
Mansur nodded and took a bite. He closed his eyes, savoring the flavor.
A jolt of electricity seemed to shoot through his right temple and exit through the left.
"Ah."
Mansur gasped in spite of himself. It was a mind-blowing taste that made his knees go weak. Ultimately, he fell to one knee before Kang Geomma.
"Master, please accept me as your disciple!"
With those words, Mansur prostrated himself on the floor.
"...Please stand up, Boss."
"No, Master. I was foolish. Please, take me under your wing!"
Kang Geomma scratched his cheek.
"A discipleship is a bit much, but I can offer you some personal advice."
Mansur nodded eagerly and pulled out a pen and paper. Kang Geomma chuckled softly and added.
"Boss, your skills aren't bad, but you still lack an understanding of how to use the knife. Try using a left-handed sashimi knife instead of the one you're using now."
"A left-handed one, you say?"
"Yes. Looking at the cut surface, too much force was applied from your right arm, which bruised the flesh. Just changing the knife will bring a massive improvement. As for the rest, you'll naturally figure it out after a few more years in the kitchen, so I'll leave it at that."
"...May I call you Master?"
Kang Geomma shook his head in disgust. Mansur clung to his pant leg, pleading desperately.
Confusion and shock filled the customers' eyes. One or two of them began to stand up from their seats.
"Excuse me, can I have a bite too?"
"Me too, please! I'll pay whatever you want!"
"Hey, buddy! Can't you see I was in line first?"
"Apologies, everyone, but he is currently speaking with our Chairman Baek Jong-hwon."
A minor scuffle broke out.
Kang Geomma wore a troubled expression before whispering something to Mansur.
"A bet is a bet, so we won't be paying. Instead, I'll pay for our meal with this."
Kang Geomma flicked the blade with his finger. Mansur nodded instantly.
Clap—!
Kang Geomma clapped his hands loudly with a satisfied smile, silencing the commotion. Once it quieted down, he spoke.
"I've asked the owner, and he has agreed to let me serve the customers today."
"Oh, yes!"
The crowd answered enthusiastically, and Kang Geomma smiled with satisfaction. He gripped the knife once more and moved his arm. His smile was bright.
Watching him, Chloe murmured.
"...So Geomma can make a face like that too."
Saki Ryozo glanced at Chloe's profile before turning her gaze back to the counter. She smiled faintly and nodded.
"Yeah."
At that moment, Weapon rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.
"Should we help out too?"
"Hey, Weapon, where are you going?!"
"Our club president is having so much fun. How can we, his club members, just sit back and watch?"
"Good grief."
At his words, Ryozo pinched the bridge of her nose before rolling up her sleeves as well.
"Chloe, let's go too."
Chloe glanced at her brother standing nearby. Nox parted his lips hesitantly before giving a reluctant nod.
"I'll show you a few things."
"...Yeah, thanks."
The siblings also walked in step toward the chaotic kitchen.