The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 59

The imperial palace in the capital of the Empire.

In the splendid office of Emperor Siegfried IV, a middle-aged man with deeper wrinkles than Marquess Lemnos, mysteriously, only two people remained.

They say having a private audience with the emperor, who holds the Empire in the palm of his hand, is worth millions.

Not many people get to have such a private meeting in the emperor’s office instead of the reception room where the vassals gather.

“I was surprised that you suddenly visited the Academy. Was it something I should have kept a secret from you?”

“Yes. There was something that absolutely needed to be checked.”

And Linda, the Empire’s leading Master, was one of the few people who could have such a meeting.

With no hesitation, they spoke freely to each other, having been friends since their days at the Academy.

The fact that the one with the lowest claim to succession held a combination of royalty and commoners was well known at the Academy. In the end, he was the one who became emperor, though.

The two maintained their unfettered friendship even now, which formed the foundation of the powerful reign of Emperor Siegfried IV.

What strength could be greater than having the most powerful person in the Empire as a friend?

“They sent a proposal for an exchange meeting between our Academy students and those from the western kingdom.”

“From Clover..? Didn’t they reject us for nearly ten years when we suggested it?”

Siegfried outlined the information that Linda should know.

He could handle the headaches himself or leave them to the vassals, but there were issues that only a ‘Master’ could handle.

There was nothing wrong with having students from different countries exchange with each other.

However, as soon as it became a matter of national pride based on the outcome, it was evident that academies with a clear skill gap would hesitate to request such an exchange meeting.

The Empire always tests and selects the best students, so recently, other academies wouldn’t dare to challenge them, but now, a long-awaited exchange tournament had come along.

There was no problem until this point.

“Yes… it’s strange. And yesterday, I was informed that a Sword Master would accompany the exchange meeting as an advisor.”

But if the Kingdom’s Master… the Sword Master comes along, the story changes.

“You’ll let a Sword Master into the Empire? That arrogant fool still hasn’t realized his place, I see.”

A Master is a strategic weapon of that nation, and letting one enter the heart of the Empire among students is clearly a declaration of war.

Linda’s lips curled into a smirk.

“That cocky one can’t possibly say he’s going to the Academy just to observe the juniors… Will you handle this?”

There was certainly the option to refuse, but it didn’t come to her lips.

Being border neighbors, she already knew the Sword Master’s personality well.

Even if they tried to prevent him from coming, he wouldn’t just stay away.

If banned, he would likely find an underground route to sneak in, making it more troublesome to manage.

It was easier to let him come in openly and then keep an eye on him.

“… I suppose I’ll just observe until they enter the Academy.”

“Not going to keep an eye on them until the end?”

“I have many things to do. Devoting all my time to that fool would be extremely inefficient…”

The emperor was surprised by Linda’s words of handing it off.

He was curious if that ‘Imperial Sword’ he knew of was truly the same.

Was the Linda, who never refused a fight and always sought out opportunities to battle, really going to pass on a showdown with a Master?

“You refusing a fight? The sun must be rising in the west.”

“The Academy doesn’t need to worry. There are shadows hiding there.”

The emperor’s eyes widened.

“Is that the reason for your sudden inspection…? Then I suppose there’s no need to worry.”

“Still, we should keep a precaution or two.”

—

Not long after classes ended at the Academy, in a vacant lot near the dormitory, the sound of dry metal echoed against the backdrop of dusk.

– Clang!!

“Ugh!!”

River dropped his sword and fell backward.

He had been trying to strike Atlas’s wrist with a True Sword, only to be countered and brought down.

Though he received a strong retort that was enough to make him lose his grip on his sword, there wasn’t a single visible wound.

Despite being a spar with a True Sword, it was astonishingly well-controlled.

However, River seemed displeased and picked up the fallen sword, angrily springing back to his feet.

“Calm down. Where do you think you went wrong?”

I stopped River, who seemed too heated to continue with the spar.

It’s fine for your heart to heat up, but if your head does too, that’s not good.

“Ah… Ah… Anyway, you adjust to my level, but I moved too hastily again…”

“That’s right; quick thinking and being hasty are different things.”

After contemplating for a moment, River spoke the answer.

He hadn’t been like this in the morning, but he didn’t seem to be in great shape.

Shimoa’s Vision Swordsmanship was a swift approach like a wolf, striking at the opponent’s weak points first.

The faster the movement, the more critical it was to deceive the opponent and exploit openings, but today that aspect seemed lacking.

“Let’s call it a day.”

“No, I can still do more…!”

“You can’t focus properly.”

Thanks to the training and the effect of the Elixir, River was getting quicker.

That was definitely showing results.

He was getting stronger and faster, and his Aura Blade was thickening.

But with that, his techniques needed to rise as well, and if that didn’t happen, there was a problem.

“That’s… my bad.”

He knew that his body wasn’t right, but River couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact.

At that moment, I was certain: River wasn’t his usual self.

“What’s troubling you?”

“As I said before… everyone around me is stronger…”

“That isn’t the case right now.”

River’s face revealed his embarrassment fully.

As soon as he heard the words, it showed everything—he was an honest kid.

But he didn’t seem willing to voice it out loud.

There was definitely something troubling him, but he didn’t intend to share.

Was it a problem he didn’t want to reveal?

“If you can’t focus, the effort is wasted. Go shower and let’s grab dinner.”

A strong feeling of unease crept over me.

This time, I wouldn’t let it slide easily; I’d take some drastic measures.

—

In the Academy, there is a cafeteria accessible to both faculty and students.

Though there is only one cafeteria, it is a bustling space where Golems busily prepare all sorts of dishes, offering a free feast of foods that commoners could only dream of tasting.

Numerous students gathered together, and while the noise was a downside, the place was beautifully decorated, making it a popular spot.

“Amy, don’t you trust me?”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

Then I began lamenting my woes to Amy, who had come out for dinner with me.

“Honestly, at my height, I don’t exactly inspire a trustworthy image, do I?”

I had this ideal image of myself, tallest at 185 cm, with broad shoulders and this face, powerful… I wanted to be like Andy.

Maybe Amy thinks I’m not trustworthy, just like River.

“Ah.. that’s not true!! Atlas is really reliable and someone you can depend on…”

As I vented my self-deprecating thoughts, Amy looked flustered.

Her eyebrows knit together as she listened.

“You’re kidding, right? You’re implying that someone like you would face death alone?”

“Ah, come on! That was an unfair question!!”

“You just feel hurt by that. What other person helps you train, listens to your worries, and even helps you find solutions…”

I genuinely felt hurt; taking care of these two has been my top priority since coming to the Academy.

They have no idea how worried I was they might go into some weird place alone and blow up, or face an enemy they couldn’t manage and explode like a pufferfish.

That still terrified me.

Especially since Amy had already been through something before.

“Atlas not being trustworthy is… probably a very personal issue.”

Amy narrowed her eyes at my words.

“You must think it’s a problem that won’t be solved by telling someone else. Maybe you’re afraid that revealing it will uncover some secrets you want to keep hidden, making things awkward between you two… Don’t you feel that way sometimes?”

“Self-introduction?”

“Geez… you were serious, and I didn’t expect that.”

As I said this playfully, she hit my arm with her left arm repeatedly.

“Sorry, sorry. I mean… I guess so. I’ve pretty much told you everything.”

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find anything left unsaid.

I had just one unresolved issue.

“… It’s about growing taller?”

“What’s more important than that?”

Truly just that one thing.

That one thing only.

My conflict with my parents was forcibly tied up when they passed away unexpectedly, and… everything big and small had been resolved long ago; everything else was settled.

“I hope your wish comes true too, Atlas.”

At the mention of a single wish, Amy smiled cheerfully.

Just then, someone shouted loudly from right next to us.

“Aren’t you being a little too much saying that in front of me?”

“Hey, it’s something I just said; don’t worry about it.”

River, who had been sitting next to us, furrowed his brow slightly, glaring at me as if he could devour me whole.

Seems like he couldn’t hold it in anymore after hearing everything till now.

If he had complaints, he should say so.

“… It’s not such a serious problem.”

Even though he said it was nothing serious, it was evident from River’s face that this was bothering him.

Who in their right mind would believe him just saying it’s no big deal?

“The problem is that there’s a problem.”

With River sulking beside us, how could I not feel anxious?

Neither Amy nor River seemed to realize how important they truly were.

They should realize their issues could be potential butterfly effects tied to much larger… destinies of the world.

They absolutely wouldn’t know, but I knew, and that’s why I couldn’t take it lightly.

“Are you really going to be this childish?!”

“Ah, I’ll be a bit childish, so bear with me.”

I changed my expression to the most childish one I could muster, trying to annoy him.

It might seem petty and childish, but I wouldn’t stop until he spilled the beans.

Given that the turning point had shattered, events I didn’t know of would continue to unfold, and now it was impossible to proceed based only on my knowledge.

I needed at least a hint, or I might just be lost.

“Geez… fine, I’ll tell you if you just let up.”

With my relentless teasing, River’s face had turned bright red, and he finally opened his mouth.