The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 169

“Ha ha, you’re definitely the Master! You’ve got quite the presence!!”

“Just like the academy faculty, everyone here is impressive! Ha ha!!”

Late at night, Master Hulan was having a drinking party with the academy faculty.

This was already the fifth round of drinks or more.

The faculty at the academy were in high spirits thanks to the visit of a Master, of whom there were fewer than ten in the world, and they were doing their best to engage with him.

Even though he wouldn’t do anything for them, having a personal acquaintance with someone who possessed national-level power could be beneficial at some point in life.

Hulan didn’t particularly dislike this treatment.

As long as they didn’t ask for too much, the people at the academy were still respecting the boundaries Hulan had set.

At most, they asked for his autograph, wanted to take a photo with him, or didn’t request him to invade another territory or kill someone.

As a Beastman with many traits of a dragon, Hulan often ran into unnecessary troubles roaming in small towns, so he was grateful for the absence of such issues here.

He planned to leave after finishing his midterm tests, but it had been a long time since he settled somewhere for more than a week.

Staying for less than two weeks might seem questionable as “settling,” but he considered it as such.

After a long drinking session, it was coming to a close. Everyone else had passed out, but despite consuming that much alcohol, Hulan managed to get up without any issues.

“Hulan!”

After the gathering wrapped up, around ten Beastmen suddenly appeared in front of him, brightening his mood as he returned to his accommodation.

They were of different tribes, each wearing a brooch showing they were students of the academy.

Since they attended the empire’s academy, they were likely heirs or potential chiefs of prominent clans.

It seemed they’d waited until the drinking party ended.

“Please return to the alliance!!”

“Is it you guys again? I told you I’m not interested.”

Since news broke of him attending the academy, they had repeatedly come to bow their heads before Hulan.

After meeting with them so often, Hulan frowned, feeling bored.

It was irksome to have to repeat himself to them multiple times, but they were fellow Beastmen met in a distant land, so he didn’t want to dismiss them too harshly.

“To unite various tribes with different customs, dragon blood is essential! The current chief is unable to unite the tribes!”

“Though we showed a terribly ugly scene in the past, we humbly ask you to lead us, even if just once!”

What they were ultimately asking for was for Hulan, who had left the alliance, to become their great chief.

It was quite hilarious that they were asking Hulan, who had run away from that position, to assume it.

Being young, they likely didn’t understand enough yet.

Discontent with the current situation, they were under the delusion that if a special prophet led them, everything would magically improve.

He understood that it’s typical for them to have such juvenile thoughts, so he tried to counsel them gently.

“The great chief does not rule over others. Everyone has different customs and instincts, just as you said. That diversity is our strength as Beastmen.

So, it’s natural for us to clash, and it might seem we can’t unite.

But I know that when a tremendous common enemy appears, we bond together more firmly than any other races.”

…And is being ununited really a problem right now?”

“Yes…?”

“For us to unite as one group, it was to confront an enormous enemy we couldn’t otherwise withstand.

Are we facing such an overwhelming enemy even now? Are we unable to win unless we unite?”

“Yes! The humans…!! Those filthy humans are still alive, aren’t they?!”

“Humans are the enemy… That’s not even worth listening to.”

“Please…!! Please have mercy on your kind! You are the only Master among Beastmen and the last remaining descendant of the Dragon…!! Please!!”

The notion of him being the last remaining descendant of the Dragon lingered in his mind.

‘… In the end, the conflict hasn’t ceased.’

It had been long ago, but back when he left the Beastman Alliance, the Dragon Beastmen were not alone.

While they weren’t many, there had been around ten, and now being the last one was quite shocking but also something he could handle.

His decision to wander stemmed from the sight of his kind, blinded by greed and tearing each other apart like beasts.

‘What’s so special about being of dragon blood? We’re all just the same beast at the end of the day…

It doesn’t seem fitting for you who are living lavishly in a human academy with money from your fellow tribe members to say that.’

Judging that there was no worth in continuing to listen, Hulan turned his back and walked away.

“Another refusal… Hulan, are you really not going to help us?”

“You! Questioning the blood of the dragon! That’s sacrilege!!”

When a Beastman with cat-like features expressed doubt, another, resembling a dog, snapped back.

Among the Beastmen bowing their heads in the hallway where the Master had disappeared and the faculty were passed out from drinks, one murmured quietly.

“I get it. This is… a test, right?”

“A test? What are you talking about?”

As the other Beastmen stirred at his words, he pressed on.

“It’s a test to unite and prove ourselves, right?”

“Uh… I guess so! It’s definitely checking if we’re worthy!”

“Good thing I was preparing something then.”

“I will definitely prove it.”

——————————

Not long after the test began, the day of the much-anticipated physical verification, now reformulated as sparring, arrived.

As had been announced previously, the test would take place in the arena, and the entire grade gathered there, buzzing with excitement after a long time.

It was… yeah, I think this is the first time since my duel with Edgar.

Even if they didn’t openly stare, I could feel the multiple gazes on me, insistent and impossible to ignore.

They probably didn’t want to meet me.

After all, I’ve made a mess of things while toying with my opponents in the past.

“Hey, Atlas.”

“Edgar, right?”

While checking attendance by gender and being separated, Edgar approached me after spotting me from afar.

“I haven’t seen you around the dorm lately. Did you move?”

“I couldn’t stand being in that dump where outsiders could come in when I was away.”

“That’s definitely irritating if someone barged in while you weren’t there.”

Recalling that scene, Edgar let out a wry laugh.

“About the test opponent… You probably won’t care who it is, but if I had my choice, I’d prefer if it were you. I have faith that if I face you seriously, I won’t mind losing.”

“Am I some sturdy training dummy?”

“Pretty much, but not just a dummy that takes a beating—you’re one that fights back fiercely too.”

“But then you’ll just end up flat on your face again in front of everyone.”

“If it’s the result of giving it my all before losing, I’d gladly take a dive.”

What a refreshing response.

It’s a change so surprising I nearly can’t believe it.

It feels like Edgar is a completely different person from when I first met him.

Apparently, crossing that wall into Expert proficiency brought some enlightenment.

Lucia has adapted without much change, but some people do genuinely change their character like this.

[Ah…]

The announcement echoed throughout the arena.

[Due to feedback that individual performances wouldn’t have enough showcasing time, we’ve completely revised the format. Instead of pairs, we’ll be moving to a battle royale format with twenty participants at a time, continuing until only one remains.]

This was absurd.

Initially set up for a series of one-on-one matches simultaneously, it was absurdly changed to a battle royale format where they’d throw down until only one remained.

Just recently, they changed the exam contents, and now they’re doing it again on the day itself?

Clearly, everyone had lost their minds.

“You crazy bastards!! You’re changing it again on the day?!!”

“Seriously, this is too much!!”

“I only practiced for one-on-one!!”

[Students, if you’ve been preparing diligently as usual, there should be no issues.]

It sounded like the announcer was taunting the students who were screaming in disbelief.

Looking around, I spotted journalists with artifacts recording everything.

——————————

Having exchanged simple pleasantries with Atlas, Edgar Lemnos encountered someone familiar while heading to join Zieg.

“Hey, Lemnos.”

“What’s up, Bolt?”

It was Bolt Jin, a Tiger Beastman and a foreign student from the Beastman Alliance.

“It seems like there’s cause for concern… The atmosphere is getting weirder by the day. Be careful.”

“Me?”

Why was he suddenly warning me right before the test?

It felt suspicious.

“It’s not just you. It’d be best for anyone who’s relatively known to stay on alert.”