The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 16

River had gone out to meet Atlas, but I couldn’t move.

I thought I should go, but my feet just wouldn’t budge.

I was scared of Atlas.

In the hallway, blood was splattered everywhere, and the sound of screams filled the air. People were trembling in fear, while some fled and others wielded weapons. Atlas, relentlessly severing limbs, wore a face that was entirely different from the one I usually knew.

It wasn’t a relaxed smile; it was a face full of rage…

He swung his sword, infused with hatred.

“Look at that cruelty… What you’ve seen until now was merely a mask.”

A heavy, smoky male voice echoed despite the absence of anyone around.

I wasn’t surprised.

After all, it was the voice of my most familiar soul companion.

A secret friend who had only ever appeared to me since childhood.

The one who had guided me to become who I am today.

“That’s the true face of Atlas Titan.”

“A demon who yearns to grow taller…”

“A mad killer who slaughters everyone who makes a mockery of his height.”

“But Atlas is… a good person…”

“Whether you believe it or not, the fact remains that Atlas is a ticking time bomb harboring hatred towards his own flaws.”

“That guy will deal with demons… and then it will be too late.”

“He will become an exceedingly troublesome demon.”

The voice, which had shown me how to survive since childhood, urged me to be wary of Atlas and kill him.

It cast a dark prophecy that Atlas would make a pact with demons and eventually become a demon himself.

I didn’t want to hear it.

Atlas was the first to extend a hand in the unfriendly environment full of unfriendly people at the academy.

“To judge him for sins he hasn’t committed yet… is that really right?”

“Have I lied in what I say?”

“Your very existence is all thanks to me.”

“The demon’s assault and the ensuing chaos unfolded just as I’ve said.”

“Trust me, just as you have until now.”

It was true.

My companion had never spoken a lie.

Everything he said had come to pass.

Even the fact that Atlas’s last name was Titan and not Nemea was real information from my companion.

The fact that he had deceived his lineage bothered me and created a distance between Atlas and me.

“Atlas is really a good person… even when I deliberately tried to keep my distance, he treated me with kindness and a smile…”

Despite intentionally distancing myself from Atlas, he showed no signs of it.

He must have felt displeased, yet he still treated me well like before.

While my companion’s words had always been right, I still couldn’t be sure whether Atlas would truly become a demon.

“Even if he appears fine now, Atlas Titan will surely betray us.”

“If he can’t shake off his complex about his height, his essence will never change.”

“Atlas is far more troublesome than the five pillars.”

“From what I’ve just seen, he’s getting stronger at an alarming rate. He may have already made a deal with demons.”

“If we don’t kill him now… you won’t stand a chance against him as you are.”

“But Atlas hasn’t made a contract with demons yet.”

“Hah… by then, it will already be too late…”

My indecision to the very end must have frustrated my companion, who sighed heavily.

“Well, it’s your life, so decide for yourself.”

“Will you die at the hands of the demon that is Atlas?”

“Or will you kill Atlas before he turns into a demon?”

“But remember this.”

“What has happened has happened.”

————————————–

Whether Lemnos dragged them in or they just followed, the academy became louder with the declaration of a duel in the throng of people.

“Are the Five Pillars really dueling? Who’s the opponent?”

“Atlas Nemea? Hera’s younger brother?”

“Let’s watch it at least. Where’s it happening?”

It was no longer just an issue for the freshmen.

A knife fight in the center of the academy was tantalizing gossip for upperclassmen too.

A bloody knife fight among the hot-blooded freshmen?

Moreover, one of the opponents was Lemnos, the fire of the Five Pillars?

This was bound to be fun.

Not only freshmen but also upperclassmen had no intention of missing this event that kicked off the new semester.

“The duel… let’s do it tomorrow! I can’t watch your face looking all swollen and painful right now.”

“No need for such consideration. Just do it right now..! This is nothing!!!”

“Don’t say you got distracted by swelling and that it hindered the duel after losing. Just let the swelling go down first.”

The duel is set for one day later… I wanted to do it immediately, but I’d rather not fight in my current state and be talked about behind my back, so I let him have one more day to let the swelling go down.

“This…”

With my somewhat arrogant remarks, Lemnos looked like he might explode at any moment.

Students watching from around were stirring.

For someone like Lemnos, who had never experienced being disregarded, it must have been a humiliating first.

If he snapped and rushed at me, it would benefit me, but it was curious why Lemnos hadn’t yet reached that breaking point.

“Then it’s a rare duel. What will you wager, Lemnos?”

“If I win, you have to arrange my duel with Lucia Russell.”

Wait, why would he include the duel with Lucia in my conditions?

“Shouldn’t that be something to discuss with Lucia, not me? Even if you win, it may not happen.”

“No, this is enough.”

Strange, but that’s how duels work.

The loser has to make a sincere effort to fulfill the conditions set during the duel.

I didn’t know if the promise related to Lucia would be upheld, but Lemnos seemed confident.

But I was glad he came out first.

“If that’s the case, then state my condition.”

I was thinking of saying something similar too.

“If I win, everyone, including you and those who got hit by me in the hallway, has to forget about that incident and not speak of it.”

Since Lemnos brought Lucia into it, I would bring up his subordinates too.

If I won, the fire of the Five Pillars, Lemnos, would demand that those carried away that day forget the humiliation of getting hit by me.

If the fire of the Five Pillars says to forget, what can they do?

————————————

The date, time, and conditions were set.

Somewhere, I could already tell that bets had begun on the outcome of this duel.

I wasn’t even sure if I was actually one of Nemea’s people or if I was just a five-pillar wannabe.

On the surface, all the odds should favor Lemnos, and I should have been a major underdog…

But most of those who saw the knife fight in the hallway placed their bets on me, giving me odds of around 6 to 4 against Lemnos.

The source of information was Senior Andy.

“Hey, senior, so who did you bet on?”

“I bet on you; my first paycheck at the academy is on the line.”

“I could throw the fight on purpose.”

“You? Hah! That’s a big joke… Let’s see tomorrow.”

As he left with a smile spread across his face thinking about money, I pondered why Lemnos had targeted me.

Lemnos sending his subordinates to do this was a first for me, even though it never happened in the original.

Edgar Lemnos… to put it nicely, is straightforward; to put it badly, he’s a fool.

His confidence in his abilities is sky-high, leading him to act arrogantly, but he’s not someone who understands the dark side of backroom dealings.

He’s good at causing trouble with a sword right from the start but not the type to poke at someone until they blow their stack.

“Then… there’s another one besides Edgar…”

…I couldn’t say there wasn’t someone who crossed my mind.

I had to find a way to deal with whatever was coming for the peaceful break.

As I was lost in thought leaning against the balcony, someone approached quietly without a sound.

“You… you don’t need to fight… I’ll fight instead…”

It was Lucia Russell.

Even though this place is so big, she surprisingly knows how to conceal her presence well.

“I heard Lemnos put my duel with you as a condition for your duel…”

“It was a bit absurd. Are you okay with that?”

I didn’t know the specifics of what had happened between Lemnos and Russell, but I could take an educated guess.

At this time… Russell must be under a dueling ban, and Lemnos, wanting to stand at the top of the Five Pillars, probably kept pressing for a duel, and Lucia must have been avoiding it.

Russell’s dueling ban is a family issue.

Lemnos probably thought of this method, knowing that he couldn’t do anything with just words…

But why was he bringing this to me? I needed to investigate Lemnos’ backstory quickly.

“… No, if it’s going to be like this anyway… then I’ll just do it. It’s about the dispute between Russell and Lemnos… I’m sorry for dragging you into this…”

Lucia apologized to me with a worried look.

Since Lemnos’ condition involved a duel with her, was she really going to step in herself? Her intention to solve this was admirable.

“I don’t like that.”

But that’s a whole different story.

This duel was not about anyone else; it was about me.

“…Why…?”

“I have my conditions to fulfill with that guy. I have to duel him without fail.”

“I’ll take that condition… and do it in your place.”

“Why should I trust you? If you lose, I’ll be expelled for sure.”

“….”

I was already entangled in this situation and didn’t have anyone else to rely on.

Besides, I wasn’t even sure who was stronger, Lucia or Edgar…

“You couldn’t even break free from my grasp before. You’re so weak.”

“… I’m strong…”

“Not really; you’re quite weak.”

“…I’m really strong!!”

Lucia’s voice rose in frustration when I called her weak.

“If you were that strong, you would have settled things with Lemnos already. You’ve been avoiding him, and that’s why he’s roaring like that.”

“…….So I’m saying I’ll deal with it.”

“If you were going to do it, you should have done it sooner. It’s already too late. I’ll handle my own affairs; just don’t interfere.”

I interrupted her assertion and turned away.

Lucia was still holding onto her coat’s edges and biting her lip, seeming to have more to say, but in the end, she said nothing more.

Hah… What a guilt trip…

“…Russell, if you have more to say, let’s talk tomorrow. I’ll give you the time.”

“…Okay.”

My curt response seemed to suffice to lift her spirits a little.

——————————————–

The next day, the academy buzzed with excitement.

Right after the start of the new semester, hordes of students, from freshmen to seniors, gathered to witness the clash of the two hot-headed freshmen.

You wonder how they even got here after being told it was during class?

Most just canceled their own classes, but some professors even skipped their class to come watch.

There was Andy, munching on roasted squid in the stands.

The arena where the duel happened was the Circular Arena we had used during exams.

And there… Lemnos and I stood at the center of the arena, glaring at each other as if ready to kill.

I wore my usual attire, a longsword on my back, the length of my height, while Lemnos donned the same clothes as yesterday, wielding his wavy sword… Flamberge.

Neither of us had donned armor or anything.

In a real fight, we’d wear it properly, but this duel was purely a battle of pride.

Excessive armor would show weakness and invite psychological attacks from the opponent.

It was annoying to have unnecessary schemes and pranks, but honestly, Lemnos’ straightforwardness was quite likable.

If only he had joined the Royal Knight Order, he might have developed well… What a shame.

As I regarded the scowling Lemnos, I decided to speak first.

“I’ll commend you for not running away.”

“Who are you to say that..!!”

“There are many spectators, so this time, don’t fall in one hit.”

“Let’s see if you can keep your mouth shut once the duel begins!!!”

Lemnos’ face puffed up, looking like it might explode any moment.

They call him the fire of Lemnos, and he certainly seems to have a blazing personality.

Let me apologize in advance.

What I said earlier was a lie.

I have no intention of taking him out in one shot.

I plan to toy with him as much as possible.

With a life lived on a winning streak, isn’t it time to crash into a wall or two?