The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 363

Wendy stood in the middle of the hallway as if she were some kind of guard.

“My student is in really bad shape right now. He got smashed by a Leviathan’s tail last night, so he’s not in any condition for visitors. You get what I’m saying?”

She’s basically saying, “Don’t even think of bothering him; he’s too messed up for that,” which feels more like a threat.

I’d have to see for myself if that was true, but she seemed dead set against anyone doubting her.

The investigators sent by the Imperial court held significant power, reflecting the authority of the royal family, so most people avoided crossing their paths unless they were fearless or foolish.

It’s not just because she’s the sister of the greatest sword fighter.

I knew well that when it came to the two sisters known for their formidable strength in the Empire, a sword was closer than words.

“…A very simple question will suffice. If you find it hard to believe, feel free to join us; what do you say?”

Still, I couldn’t back down this easily; my pride wouldn’t allow it.

With a guard like her, Investigator Albert felt even more compelled to keep pushing.

What’s so suspicious about this student named Atlas anyway?

He looked like the key to unraveling the whole case, and I couldn’t just give up on him.

“Go ahead. I’ll be right here; if you can leave, then maybe just try to go.”

At that, Wendy showed more clearly and plainly what she really wanted with her actions.

For a moment, Albert felt as if the killing intent she radiated was the shape of a sharp sword piercing through his throat.

It seemed like if he took even one step closer, she’d swing that sword for real.

‘Is she really thinking of killing me?’

He didn’t think her intent was just to scare him. The tale of how she had broken the arms of Count Damian at a party for being rude to her was still told like a legend.

Though the party had turned into utter chaos, no one could punish her for it.

That’s because the Emperor had allowed it.

Similarly, if he mistreated an investigator acting on the royal command, it wouldn’t go unnoticed. But the Emperor would surely have a fonder attachment to the blade among the Empire’s finest than to an investigator who could be swapped out at any time.

Even an investigator feared by dukes ended up feeling powerless before the Emperor’s executioner.

“As someone who serves the same master, there’s no need for us to be like this.”

“If you have something to ask that kid, ask me. I’ll answer for him.”

He had been told that Atlas was injured enough to be unvisit-able.

But to say he’d answer on behalf of someone else? That was questionable; was this something the knights coordinated beforehand?

Or was there an issue they could talk about but not meet over?

“I suppose I can’t do anything if that’s your decision. I’ll withdraw for today. I’ll come back when he’s conscious again.”

“Good thinking. If you really want to have an Incident Hearing, just come find me tomorrow.”

“…Sure.”

Swallowing his bitterness, Albert left the hospital behind.

Going straight at this situation was impossible. Surely there’d be another chance.

As long as he held the title of investigator, he was not one to give up easily.

———————————

“Whew… That should be enough.”

In the dead of night, someone stealthily moved through the underbrush, making their way across the shadows.

Dressed in black, with a bag full of something, he was Bern, a student currently enrolled in the Academy and a new student.

Right now, he planned to dump the innards of monsters he had collected in the bag at a remote mansion about 15 minutes from the dorm.

Earlier in the morning, Bern had impulsively committed a crime, and this time he chose the innards to make an even stronger impression.

The monster guts from the Black Forest, even if they don’t rot, produced a terrible odor that could cause severe damage.

The target residing in the mansion was Atlas, a new student and the star of yesterday’s commotion.

Now that Atlas was hospitalized, it was the perfect opportunity.

If someone were to ask why he was planning something like this… it was simply that he just didn’t like that guy.

Growing up under parents who operated a textile shop in the southeast territory of the Empire, Bern had developed his talents and got into the Academy.

He just never liked Atlas from the start.

From being a recommended student to wielding violence over countless others without punishment, to fighting tooth and nail with the Five Pillars at the start of the semester only to become chummy with them by the end, and wasting money on artifacts he couldn’t afford in a lifetime, it all irked him.

And just when he thought he wouldn’t be seeing Atlas anymore in the dorms, he found out he was living in a mansion on Academy grounds.

The little guy was somehow surrounded by girls, and that rubbed him the wrong way too, among other things.

Then there were those twins that showed up yesterday.

No matter how he thought about it, Atlas deserved this kind of comeuppance.

Back at the mansion, Bern took an artifact out and waved it around near the front door.

It was a masterpiece he had personally created to temporarily disable any detection magic under level 4.

‘The lights at the mansion… are off. They’re probably all sleeping.’

Even with the owner hospitalized, Bern still had to think about the residents.

Annoyingly, there were two female housemates living there with Atlas.

How does a guy live with two girls under the same roof? Wasn’t that against school rules? Yet he had always disregarded the Academy’s rules without a care in the world.

Meanwhile, Bern had never even touched a girl in his two years at the Academy.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and he decided he’d even go so far as to pee on their property.

When he reached the front door again, a lot of the paint and refuse he had thrown around earlier in the morning had been cleaned up.

Atlas must be unable to do it himself since he’s in the hospital; guess the two housemates cleaned it up.

It infuriated Bern that such cute girls would go through the trouble of cleaning up after him, and the dark fire burning in his heart only grew larger.

“Damn, I can’t forgive this… that arrogant little dwarf…! So what if he can swing a sword a bit better…!”

As he muttered to himself, he suddenly spotted a large star shining before his eyes.

-Boom!!!

“Huh?!!”

There was definitely no one around, yet someone flew in and smacked Bern in the back of the head, smashing his face into the ground.

He felt like a star was spinning in front of his eyes.

“C-Come on, who the heck is this…?”

As soon as Bern staggered to get up, someone casually grabbed him by the collar.

“Ugh, Ughhhh???”

Having been lifted into the air, Bern realized that it was a girl holding him up as he struggled to resist by clenching her delicate hands, which felt flimsy and didn’t budge an inch.

It felt as if he was being held by a golem in human shape.

“What are you doing?”

Maybe because of a magical distortion, a distorted voice pierced through Bern’s ears.

“Who sent you? No, why are you doing this?”

“What… what do you mean…”

“Seems like you still don’t get it.”

The strange girl who had lifted Bern tossed him headfirst to the ground and picked up something lying nearby.

“Ugh??”

She stuffed Bern’s head into the sack full of monster guts.

With his face shoved into the bag, Bern could hardly breathe.

The stench hit him first, and on top of that, it was stuffed in so tightly that his nostrils were blocked, making it hard to breathe.

“What… why are you doing this to me…!!”

“Once more, I’ll ask you. Why did you do this?”

Asking him repeatedly why he did it was like igniting a spark in Bern’s consciousness.

He’d been thinking about this since the first semester, but why now all of a sudden was he expected to explain himself…?

He knew Atlas had been taken away, but that didn’t make any sense as a reason to act like this.

What would happen if Atlas was discharged and found the culprit? What? Would he die?

Ah, how would he even pinpoint a culprit?

It was clear this attack was going to be futile, and Atlas wouldn’t know a thing in the hospital, while only two roommates would end up suffering.

But truthfully, he didn’t just have it out for Atlas.

Bern had the same feelings towards the Five Pillars and the Royal Princes.

But these were just idle fantasies of a powerless weakling letting off steam, so why take action now?

He had always hesitated out of fear of the consequences, but what changed all of a sudden?

Something had stirred in him that morning, and he felt a burning urge to do this.

Seeing Bern freeze up, the odd girl, Amy Parker, pulled him out of the bag and checked his condition.

“…You’ve been possessed by a demon.”

“A demon? What are you talking about? Why the hell would I… AAAAAAH!!!”

A demon? What crazy nonsense was this?

Thinking she was out of her mind, Bern suddenly felt a pain as if acid were poured directly onto his head.

“W-What did you just pour on me, you crazy girl!!!”

“What I just poured is Holy Water. It contains holy power that only increases recovery abilities for regular folks.”

Holy Water? This stuff?

No way.

It felt like his scalp was being torn apart; how could this be holy water?

It hurt way more than being tortured with his face in the bag just now.

It was as if she was playing a cruel joke on him.

“You won’t feel it at all, but there is a demon within you.”

Saying that, the girl drew a sword gleaming a strange white light against the darkness.

“What… what do you plan to do with that…!!”

“Don’t worry. I may not know much, but I’m a pro at dealing with demons, okay?”

As the sword drew closer to him, Bern’s complexion grew paler.