The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 97

The incident caused by the seemingly emotionless transfer student, Casey, was brief but incredibly impactful.

At first glance, her small and delicate appearance made it hard to imagine, but when I heard she knocked a corn (snack) aside, everyone silently thought of someone from our class.

That small, cute-looking person transforming into a nightmare, chopping off legs the moment they were teased.

Everyone whispered and hesitated to approach Casey, but she seemed to prefer it that way.

Atlas had advised her to make friends now that she was at the Academy, but Casey thought having only Atlas around was more than enough for her.

She preferred being seen as intimidating over coming across as easy.

Yet among the students, there was one person who boldly approached Casey.

“Do you have a moment?”

“…What is it?”

While everyone at the Academy wore restrained attire, this girl seemed to flaunt a slightly more extravagant outfit.

Dorothy Woodville’s hair, a bright brown reminiscent of well-seasoned wood, flowed in two pigtails, and her dark green eyes sparkled.

She looked full of confidence and regarded Casey with a very intriguing gaze.

“I wanted to build a friendship. I won’t be a nuisance, but can we have a short chat?”

“I’m the kind of person who finds no fun in anything, so my interest will likely wane quickly.”

Casey rejected Woodville’s proposal.

Just a moment ago, she’d gone along with a similar request and ended up caught in a strange trouble.

The girl who’d tried to use magic was still glaring at Casey from the corner of the class.

“No way! I’m sure we can become friends.”

But Woodville didn’t back down.

“First… I see. It seems you’ve been involved in some annoying task. Would you like me to help keep the flies away? This isn’t putting you in my debt; it’s just a gift from me.”

Casey became even more wary of Woodville after hearing that.

One of the things Atlas always taught him was to be most cautious of those who show kindness without any expectations upon first meeting.

Looking back now, Atlas himself fits that description, but I have no idea what he was thinking when he said that.

“I have nothing to offer you, nor anything I want to give.”

“That doesn’t matter. I really like talented people like you.”

Despite being refused once more, Woodville persisted in approaching Casey.

“I’m not expecting anything great. I just want you to be my friend. If we chat once and you don’t like me, you can ignore me from then on.”

“…”

Atlas had said that now that she was at the Academy, it wouldn’t hurt to make some friends her age.

Just once wouldn’t be too bad, right?

He could ignore her from then on if she seemed like someone he didn’t get along with.

“Okay, just once is fine.”

“When’s the next lecture? If the timing works for you, I know a great place.”

Dorothy Woodville beamed at Casey with a bright smile.

——————————————

I met Andy for the first time in a while.

As I approached with a ferocious atmosphere, he immediately knelt down and begged.

“I just found out this morning too…!! The Commander contacted me directly, what choice did I have!!”

Having suspected this to some degree, I wasn’t angry.

After he explained the situation, we wrapped things up by saying Casey would handle the incident she’d caused.

Well, if he knew he was only there because the Commander sent him, he should’ve handled it himself, right? Was there really another choice?

Thinking about it, that’s even more infuriating.

I should make him work harder later.

Then Andy informed me about the meeting that had taken place that morning.

“Hunting Festival?”

“We decided not to have the mid-term skill assessment this time, right? Instead, they proposed doing it this way.”

The Hunting Festival usually involves a hunting festivity.

At the Academy, it’s a festival where we split an area of the dangerous ‘Black Forest’ to hunt the native monsters and earn points.

Professors conduct preliminary investigations of the Black Forest, setting aside a safe area and using magic or artifacts to establish it, releasing just the right amount of manageable monsters for students to hunt within that designated zone—a truly entertaining activity for nobles.

I knew they often did it in a festival-like manner, but I had never heard of substituting it for the mid-term skill assessment until now.

“How long has it been since the demon terrorist incident? Have they lost their minds?”

“Right? But it does make some sense.”

Andy then explained why the Hunting Festival might be acceptable.

“The Hunting Festival can create a festive atmosphere while still allowing a degree of skill assessment for students. It’s absurd to substitute all evaluations with it, but participating students could potentially receive extra points.”

“Isn’t that just a benefit for the physically capable students?”

Only the students learning combat directly would gain extra points from the festival.

With many students at the Academy, like Perda and Prigia, who barely have any combat training skill sets, it’s unlikely the pencils-pushing types would welcome the idea of combat courses being the only ones that count.

“It’s not all strictly that. Since it’s a festival, there are plenty of things to enjoy even without hunting monsters.

The Hunting Festival isn’t too difficult, and they only release monsters that can be captured with just a moderate effort, so combat students might view it as a way to relieve stress…

After a series of unfortunate events, it seems they want to demonstrate that they’re still standing strong in spite of everything.”

“What happens if something goes wrong again…?”

Thus far, the Hunting Festival has been conducted under strict control, but who knows if this one will be the same.

The last incident in the dungeon occurred even with perfect control, but an upper-level being appeared, overriding those controls creating chaos.

As I worried, Andy crossed his arms and leaned back.

“The Principal and the proposer will handle it, someone like me shouldn’t have to worry…”

Maybe there was something that bothered him during the meeting because he wore a sulky expression.

“Who’s the proposer?”

“Professor Buckingham.”

—————————————-

Between classes, I carved out some time to have a one-on-one with Shaara.

Things were really hectic lately.

It can’t have been more than a few minutes, but I was constantly shifting places.

This time, the meeting was held in an empty clubroom, where simple refreshments had been prepared by someone.

Last time, I’d just asked for a glass of warm milk, and on the table, there was a glass of white milk, perfectly heated.

“You remembered what I mentioned.”

I grasped the handle and took a sip.

The precarious temperature, which might feel hot at first, was exquisite.

“I prepared it as you asked. Does it suit your taste?”

“Mmm, it’s good. Thanks as always.”

“It’s only natural.”

At my gratitude, Shaara’s face turned slightly red.

“Have you heard about the new transfer student?”

“Yes, I heard about it beforehand. Do you know her… personally?”

“She’s like family to me, so please don’t fight with her or anything.”

“…Understood.”

Her mention of being like family made her expression darken.

If she talks to Casey the way she did with me, I would have to stand by Casey’s side.

I wondered if Shaara understood what I meant as she hung her head low.

The angle was just right.

“Okay.”

-Swish!

“…!”

As I gently stroked the head of the bowed Shaara, she flinched sharply.

Since it was a small round table, my arms easily reached her.

Shaara’s hair was small and nicely shaped, long, and voluminous, feeling pleasantly soft to the touch.

“Shaara, both you and that girl are really important to me, so don’t fight.”

“…Y-yes…”

She looked like she was trying her best to hold it together, but I could see the corners of her mouth twitch.

After a few seconds of my affectionate stroking, Shaara maintained her posture, perhaps hoping for more, but once she realized it was over, she quickly lifted her head as if nothing had happened.

“Now, let’s get to the main point. Today, there’s a discussion at the faculty meeting about the ‘Hunting Festival.’”

Her smile was gradually creeping back.

“I just heard about it too. Is it going to be a big problem?”

“The fact that the Hunting Festival is happening isn’t the issue; it’s who proposed it.”

“Professor Buckingham?”

“…Yes, the Hunting Festival is highly likely to be a trap.”

“Is that really a trap?”

I thought that guy had grown tired, but it seems he’s still quite energetic.

“Yes, Professor Buckingham still harbors resentment toward Atlas. He might not have the support of other professors, but he could go rogue if he feels cornered.

While I expected nothing from him, his eagerness to host the Hunting Festival suggests he likely has other agendas.”

I had to enroll in the Academy, so I was aware of it, but I had never heard of such a thing as the Hunting Festival occurring.

Looks like the flow of the original story has been thrown off completely.

At this point, aside from rough character settings or background knowledge, I have nothing to reference.

“It seems the Principal is fond of it, so the Hunting Festival will likely proceed… But if you don’t participate, isn’t that an option?”

If Atlas refuses to take part, whatever plans they have won’t be executed.

“Hmm…”

I pondered it carefully.

Given how strongly Shaara spoke, it seems Buckingham was indeed expressing some hidden agenda.

There have already been two incidents at the Academy.

Would it really be okay if I just didn’t participate?

If they are truly targeting me, they might not cancel their plans simply because I didn’t enter; they might just release the monsters in a chaotic way, turning it into a festival-like event.

It led me to a very simple conclusion.

“Then… should I play the part of a competitor?”

“Y-yes…?”

I know who’s trying to scheme, so why should I sit back?