The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 20

“You’re saying you’re going to terrorize the Newspaper Club?? Absolutely not!! Do you even know where that place is?!”

It was rare for River to grab my wrist.

It seems he misinterpreted “terrorize” and thought I was going to really blow up their place.

He never acted like this when smashing Lemnos’s gang or during our duel.

“It’s just a protest, not actual terrorism.”

But when I think about it rationally, I have nothing to gain from causing a stir in the Newspaper Club, so it’s best to go as peacefully as possible.

The Newspaper Club in the Academy is such a place.

They don’t directly rule like a student council, but they are a quiet powerhouse you shouldn’t mess with.

In the original story, the Newspaper Club had an important role in foreshadowing significant incidents.

While there were occasional reports of the protagonist, Hayden Parker, causing havoc, they never posted fake news on the front page.

Someone is involved with the Newspaper Club.

There aren’t many people capable of manipulating the Newspaper Club in the Academy.

There are royals… and several professors among the Five Pillars, but professors tend to avoid confrontation with their colleagues.

The position of the club president is backed by the Principal.

“Will the Newspaper Club even listen to protests?”

“They have to listen.”

“Look, you’re giving me that ‘I’ll make it happen’ look again!”

“The Newspaper Club is a dangerous place..!”

River and Amy were teaming up to convince me not to go to the Newspaper Club, but they can’t stop me from going.

It’s fine.

I have my own place for trust, so I’m going.

If the Newspaper Club is cooperative in the conversation, there shouldn’t be any commotion.

——————–

As expected, the reports from the Newspaper Club were highly influential.

“Is that about the foul play in the duel?”

“It looks sneaky.”

“How could they show their face after that? If it were me, I would have dropped out.”

“They say dwarves are shameless.”

I was just walking toward the Newspaper Club’s office when I heard gossip from all directions.

Being too tall makes you stand out, but being short like me made me incredibly noticeable.

Negative feelings, bubbling just below the surface, were about to explode.

Good thing I went alone.

I bet they’re making terrible faces right now.

The Newspaper Club’s office has two sections.

There’s the office where we gather information and write articles, and then there’s the printing house that prints the finished newspaper.

The printing house uses a huge printing machine, so they have a separate building for it.

I arrived at the office where articles were written, and the club president’s office was located.

“Is anyone here?”

Still, I came here to talk.

I calmed my emotions and returned my expression to normal.

I knocked normally, as I didn’t barge in or anything.

After a moment, the door to the Newspaper Club opened, and a well-groomed man appeared.

“Who are you? Hmm… Are you a new student?”

He looked tidy, but his demeanor was shabby.

Looking at the dark circles under his tired eyes, it seemed he hadn’t slept well last night.

Then I caught a glimpse of something the man did absentmindedly.

He opened the door and looked straight ahead, then, not seeing anyone, he glanced downward.

It was a trivial action, but my annoyance level went up a bit.

He wasn’t at fault, but I felt bad due to the accumulated stress from my trek.

I knew logically that it was just a normal action, yet even the smallest things started to irritate me now.

“Are you here to apply for membership? Then please wait; the club starts from the third week, and we’re a bit busy right now.”

Perhaps because I showed up while he was tired, there was a notable tone of annoyance in his voice.

Seeing the color of my brooch, he must have thought I was here to apply for membership.

The Newspaper Club is indeed one of the more popular clubs in the Academy.

But my goal isn’t to join a club anyway.

“Is the president over there?”

“Why are you looking for the president?”

Right, he looks sleepy, so adding some annoyance to his voice is understandable.

I gestured toward the large door visible over his shoulder, and his expression twisted.

“I have business with the president, so could you just give him a heads-up?”

“The president isn’t here, so go back.”

“I know he’s in there. If the president says I can’t meet, then I’ll leave; just tell him that.”

“Can’t you understand simple words?”

The man pressed his forehead with irritation.

If we were of similar heights, he would have pushed my shoulder, but since I’m short, the most comfortable spot for him was to push my forehead.

-Crack!

My forehead tingled.

But I didn’t retaliate immediately.

I wasn’t here to fight, so I could bear with this much.

Calming down, I politely asked again.

“Just tell him to go away; the president doesn’t have time to deal with someone like you.”

“Senior, I’m addressing you out of respect. Isn’t it too rude to argue on a first meeting?”

“Look at this… you little brat, arguing back at a senior.”

He pushed my forehead again.

My head snapped back, but I returned to face him.

I’ll let this go just this once.

“Hey, what did you say? Is it rude to disagree on a first meeting?

Which class are you from, or what great family do you come from to act like this?”

Another Newspaper Club member pushed my forehead again.

“?”

But this time, I didn’t move.

When I didn’t budge like I was braced against the wall, the Newspaper member gave me a strange look.

The atmosphere grew tense.

I had heard it’s good to break the tension with a funny story at times like this.

“Senior, do you know what happens if you pick up a twig while walking?”

“What nonsense is that?”

-Crack!

The senior’s arm that was resting on my forehead snapped like a twig.

“Uh…?”

His arm went slack and drooped; it wasn’t just bent a little; it looked exactly like a twig snapping and flopping about.

“You… what is this…!! My… arm??”

Not fully grasping the situation, the Newspaper member glanced back and forth between his arm and me.

It seemed the tension hadn’t eased yet.

Let’s try another funny story to lighten the mood.

“Senior, do you know what the funniest tooth in the world is?”

“My… my arm… I don’t know… I don’t care about that!!!”

-Bam!!

The groggy-eyed Newspaper member soared dramatically into the air and crashed onto the desk behind him.

Silence descended in the office.

The members of the Newspaper Club glanced between the mess of the desk and me.

“It’s called a punch (Fun 齒).”

No one reacted to my punchline.

Since this world doesn’t have Chinese characters, I guess they wouldn’t understand what it meant anyway.

“Hmm, I guess they’re not laughing. That’s normal.”

It wasn’t even meant to be funny.

“Attack!!!”

“Prepare to intercept!!”

Only then, as the Newspaper member recognized the situation, he shouted, and all the club members sitting at the desks started to rise and move around hurriedly.

Where did they have weapons hidden? Each of them grabbed something and grouped up using the desks as shields.

But just four of them, dressed in short capes, remained seated to observe the situation.

“You… do you know where this is?!!”

“I have no business with you all, just need to speak to the president over there. Got it?”

“President?! Are you targeting the president!!!”

“No, I’m just trying to have a conversation.”

When I mentioned the president, the highest-ranking Newspaper member stepped forward.

“Ghrhh! Attacking the Newspaper Club, how do you plan to deal with the consequences?”

“But it was the Newspaper Club that attacked first.”

“What? Ah, I see. You’re the rumored dwarf, huh? You should just quietly pack your things…”

As the Newspaper member gestured, the four men who had been sitting in the corner rose.

These men, clad in short capes, all had heavy things strapped to their waists.

“They’re from the Swordsmanship Research Club! Don’t cause a ruckus if you want to return safely!!!”

“Wow, daring to break into enemy territory alone, you have a flair for romance.. do you want to join the Swordsmanship Research Club?”

“I’ll be reporting you guys to the president. Stop talking nonsense!!”

The Swordsmanship Research Club members were evidently amused that I had come alone to the Newspaper Club.

“Just don’t die, losing a limb is acceptable!”

“Oh dear, looks like it’s gotten serious. Let’s take it easy.”

When one of the Newspaper members yelled, the hesitant Swordsmanship members finally began to move.

Each one from the corners advanced skillfully, narrowing the distance.

Their actions were trained.

It seemed they were aiming for a swift takedown through a pincer attack.

If I get surrounded, I’ll be at a disadvantage.

I scanned the advancing Swordsmanship members and locked my gaze on one.

‘I’ll take that sword.’

I took the initiative.

“Whoa?!”

The Swordsmanship member was surprised as I appeared before him without any preparatory movement.

He was slow to react.

-Crash!!

With a solid footing, my uppercut sent the Swordsmanship member soaring into the air.

The Swordsmanship member, who had flown back hard, hit the wall and fell down.

“A dwarf has drawn a sword!!!”

The other Swordsmanship members cried out in alarm.

In my empty hand, a longsword was now gripped tightly.

While I was delivering the uppercut, I had snatched the longsword that was strapped to the member’s waist.

The reason I attacked that member first was that the longsword I had taken was of a length that felt most familiar to me at a glance.

The Newspaper members might not know, but the Swordsmanship members should at least fight me with a sword.

I gripped the longsword and assumed a familiar stance.

The sword tilted downward toward the ground, adopting the snake position.

“Bring the president out!!! I thought you’d be fine after writing such articles!!!”

“““Haaa!!!”””

The three members surrounding me rushed in unison.

Targeting the most vulnerable spot, my back, is an amateur move; I need to break through this encirclement first.

-Swoosh!

“Ahhh!!!”

I evaded the straight thrust from the first Swordsmanship member with my longsword, slashing through the ankle of his stepping leg.

With a flowing motion, I sent one of them packing.

I realized just now that these guys hardly ever fought someone as short as me.

They must need to lower their center of gravity more than usual, and I could feel their techniques were quite clumsy.

Such a phenomenon is something I often see with newcomers.

It’s annoying, but taking advantage of it is a benefit for me.