The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 25

The academy where the precious bloodlines of the Empire gather has strict security.

If it weren’t safe, the principal’s head wouldn’t still be attached to his shoulders, especially with members of the royal family occasionally enrolling.

No one with mediocre skills would even set foot on the grounds of the academy, which is built on a remote island.

It truly seems like someone has stealthily increased the headcount inside the academy without anyone noticing.

From daytime until now, there haven’t been any regular ships traveling between the mainland and the academy, yet at some point, he managed to slip onto the island.

Fearlessly invading the academy is none other than the infamous assassin known as the Black Crow, who has recently been causing a stir in the back alleys of the imperial capital…

He had the uncanny ability to accept a request in the morning and arrive at the academy before the sun reached its peak.

‘Normally… I wouldn’t even think about accepting such a dangerous request…’

He knows just how difficult it is to succeed in an assassination request at the academy.

At first, he declined.

The method of contact was ridiculous, and the contents were even more absurd.

The requester is a noble from Prigia.

For a noble from Prigia, currently enrolled at the academy, to ask for the elimination of a fellow student from the same year without leaving a trace by tonight… It seemed like a request that could lead to trouble.

Contacting on the same day and requesting to erase someone without a trace overnight? What kind of nonsense is that? Even if such a request was reasonable, asking it to be done at the academy is even more ludicrous.

No matter how strong the five pillars of support might be, carrying out an assassination request at the academy is far too risky.

There’s a danger that one could be caught up in political struggles and become a scapegoat.

Yet, in the end, he had no choice but to accept the request.

‘With your ability, it should be possible, right? I’ll give you double this time.’

‘Money isn’t the issue. It’s my head…’

‘And add double to that.’

‘No amount can make this worthwhile!’

‘Add double.’

‘You really think money can fix everything?!’

‘Add double.’

‘Hmm… I’ll think about it…’

‘If you take care of it today, I’ll give you double.’

‘…Let me prepare right away.’

Upon reflection, it seemed worth a shot.

He was a latecomer whose recognition skyrocketed since a year ago; he needed to build his reputation.

To stand against already established names, he had to undertake tasks that others hadn’t.

If he manages to assassinate a student, someone who all the assassination guilds in the Empire avoid, that should be enough.

‘Just taking care of an unknown illegitimate child shouldn’t be too dangerous.’

Fortunately, the target is an illegitimate child who isn’t known anywhere… Even if he does the job, there should be no backlash.

He’s not being swayed by money.

It’s all for his reputation.

The assassin, the Black Crow, transformed into a crow and soared through the sky, observing the situation.

Though it was a spontaneous decision, sneaking into the academy was a perilous venture.

The only bridge leading in is layered with several layers of defensive magic set up hysterically by Principal Gordon, and many installations are present around the academy buildings and dormitories.

The Black Crow is a top-tier assassin.

While he can sneak in without being detected by merely avoiding the defensive magic, to erase the target without a trace as per the request, he needs to capture the exact moment when the target is alone.

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As he quietly hid and observed the target, an opportunity arose.

The target began to enter a seldom-traveled forest.

Not just any forest, but a deep forest that the academy deemed off-limits for students.

From the fact that the target is taking gloves and pockets, it seems they are planning to collect herbs inside the forest?

The chance has appeared quickly.

In that forest, he should be able to proceed with the clean-up effortlessly.

The target began wandering around deep within the forest to collect herbs.

The indications suggested that they were a member of the dwarf race, but their herb-collecting skills were quite skilled.

After glancing around, the target dashed forward and picked up essential herbs.

‘This job might end up being easier than I thought.’

The target delved deeper, collecting herbs.

The deep forest is home to both precious herbs but also dangerous monsters.

So far, lucky enough not to encounter any, but if they venture deeper, beasts will surely appear…

If he goes deeper, he could neatly dispose of the target and toss the corpse to the monsters.

The target discovered another herb and ducked behind a tree.

For a moment, the Black Crow lost sight of them.

It wasn’t a huge deal; it had happened several times before.

As he circled around to resume his watch, though appearing as a bird, the Black Crow wasn’t a real bird.

He spread his wings and moved to another tree, getting into a position where he could see the target again, but the target was gone.

‘Where could they have disappeared to?’

Taken aback.

Maybe they fell into a hole? Looking down didn’t give any indication of such.

Others might have taken them; he strained his ears to listen, but no sign of a creature of similar size was in the vicinity.

It felt as if they had truly vanished.

‘This is absurd, where could they possibly…’

“Did they disappear, perhaps?”

– Swoosh!

Right after, the Black Crow’s right wing was suddenly torn off.

“?!!!!!!!!”

“Not screaming is a bonus point for you. You have the basics down.”

As he fell from the tree, his transformation dissolved.

‘Where the hell is this coming from??’

The voice that echoed from above reached him even as he fell, but chillingly, the Black Crow still couldn’t see the owner of the voice.

Though he felt the sensation of having his wing ripped off, there was no presence from behind him.

He was sure someone was behind him; no matter how much he turned, the voice only echoed in his ears.

“Prigia sent you, right? How much were you offered? Enough to buy an island far away, perhaps?”

He already understood all the details of the request.

Was the request itself a lie?

Had he been lured into this?

His right wing—now his right arm—was bleeding profusely from the shoulder, which had been torn off.

Using the assassin’s technique, he stopped the bleeding, but was still unable to ascertain who the voice belonged to.

He didn’t know who they were, but the Black Crow was sure they possessed a higher skill level than him.

The request was a failure.

He had to escape as quickly as possible.

“Considering that amount of money, I thought it would be a request that others wouldn’t touch?”

– Crack!

The Black Crow’s left leg snapped, tumbling over the roots of a tree.

The blade had sliced his left leg, leaving no foothold for him.

Though he crashed to the ground, his life wasn’t over just yet.

He managed to rise up with his remaining leg.

“So, are you saying creatures like you can only manage to be second-rate?”

Someone stood in front of him.

A familiar figure he had seen all day, accompanied by that voice he had just heard…

Only then did the Black Crow finally see who had been standing behind him.

“Seems like this request… led to some trouble for me.”

And that was his last memory.

————————————-

Shivering from the cold air and strange sensations, Shaara Prigia opened her eyes.

“Where is this…?”

With such dense trees, she couldn’t tell whether it was day or night.

The damp leaves, moss, and hard, thick roots… Shaara Prigia found herself deep inside an unknown forest.

“Is this a dream…?”

She couldn’t think of it as anything else.

Her last memory was definitely falling asleep in her dormitory.

With calming scented candles and a plush bed, in a properly decorated room…

But now she was surrounded by the foul smell of rotting leaves, hard tree roots, and cold air—it felt like a nightmare.

“Yowch!”

As she stood up, a sharp pain shot through her foot.

Had she stepped on a sharp stone? A scratch appeared on her soft foot, and fresh red blood seeped out.

“This isn’t… a dream?”

“Awake?”

Feeling a presence above her, she looked up to see someone perched on a branch.

It was too dark to see clearly, but just by the voice she recognized who it was.

The arrogant… Atlas Nemea, who had so infuriated her today.

“Did you… kidnap me?”

“Yeah.”

Atlas answered nonchalantly and landed right in front of Shaara.

She was in a state of confusion.

More than how Atlas had managed to kidnap her, she was astounded at how he was still alive.

As soon as she had walked out of the private bar, she had placed a contract for his assassination.

‘He had assured me he would finish the job before sunset…!’

Having boasted he could take care of it by tonight, he should have been dead by now. How could he still be alive?

But that question was quickly resolved.

“Do you recognize this?”

Atlas tossed something in front of Shaara that he held in one hand.

A pair of pitch-black shoes rolled to a stop before her.

“Foot… ankle?”

What she thought was just a shoe turned out to be something significantly heavier as it thudded upon dropping.

On closer inspection, it was an ankle still wearing a shoe.

“The monsters were hungry and had a nibble. I should have recovered something in better shape, but this is all I managed to salvage.”

Shaara understood then.

Those two ankles belonged to the assassin she had hired.

How they ended up like that was beyond her imagination, but she knew better than to panic.

“Who is this?”

“Playing dumb? Ah— that’s right, you wouldn’t even know their face. You likely didn’t meet them in person to hire them…

But at this point, you should have an inkling, right? Don’t try to evade it.”

She had hired a first-rate assassin.

If they were to give away the requester’s information, they would have committed suicide, so how did he know?

‘…It’s obvious he guessed I must be the only one capable of issuing such a request based on the circumstances.’

Yet what benefit would there be in pretending not to know the assassin? After pondering over it, she concluded she could confidently play the field.

While hiring an assassin, she hadn’t done anything that would leave traces.

Only Atlas’ assumption that she sent them, should suffice as a problem.

“If I hired them… what would you do then? Would you run off and beg Russell to whip me again?”

– Crack!

A strange noise rang out from somewhere, but she brushed it off.

Here, stepping forward with confidence and flipping the situation with someone who thinks they have the upper hand is the right answer.

After standing and puffing out her chest to speak, Atlas’ eyes widened.

“I don’t know who fed you this nonsense, but if you think the words you’re saying could harm me, you’re seriously mistaken.”

This isn’t enough to pose any problem for Shaara.

Even if she had attempted to have the assassin kill Atlas, who could believe it?

Why would Shaara, of all people, need to hire an assassin to eliminate some unnamed student?

Russell might believe Atlas, but even that amount wouldn’t be a problem.

The assassin is dead, so there is no evidence left.

The worst she might achieve would be to express her regrets.

“Why are you mad? Want me to beat you like Lemnos?”

Shaara relied on her background.

She believed in the power of gold, the second-greatest authority in the Empire, following the Emperor.

Merely having her family hold power scattered intangible influence all around… power controls people with just a few words.

The Golden Ball is an ordinary person, yet by waving his hand, many extraordinary beings scurry to action.

What role do Russell and Lemnos play?

Ultimately, it’s the weak masses that drive the world, not the strong individuals.

And to control them is power, not strength.

Atlas strode closer.

Look at that, even Lemnos… and Atlas— they’re all just pumped up with adrenaline but won’t dare…

– Boom!!!

Flames burst forth right before her eyes.

“Uh… uh…”

Her vision turned white, as though fireworks had exploded in her brain.

Coming to her senses, Shaara found herself sitting on the moist, rotten leaves.

Her cheek burned.

“Blood…?”

She raised her hand to her soft face, and blood streamed from her mouth.

It felt like her inside had been torn.

What just happened? Confusion overcame her.

She couldn’t think straight, her mind spinning.

As her scattered thoughts began to return, she felt a sharp pain on her cheek.

Unable to stand properly, she sat there, dazed, when Atlas approached closer.

“Get up.”

“Wh-what do you want… from me?”

What on Earth was happening? Did he actually hit her?

To what end was he doing this?

She couldn’t comprehend.

Does he really think he can get away with this, being the child of Nemea, who isn’t even known?

Her confusion was overflowing, but Atlas didn’t show any signs of halting.

“Hit me again, you crazy girl.”

– SNAP!!!

“Eek?!”

Her hair was yanked painfully.

He grabbed her cherished silky golden hair and lifted her high.

Tears welled in her eyes from the pain in her scalp.

“Clenching your teeth will break your molars.”

“W-what??”

– Boom!!!

Again, blinding white sparks exploded in her mind.

“Not again… you did it again…!! Twice…!!”

“Shut up.”

– Boom!!!

– Boom!!!

– Boom!!!

Her face had received enough blows that she couldn’t even count anymore.

It hurt.

She couldn’t think of anything else.

With every slap from Atlas, her face turned as her mind felt blindingly assaulted.

All that remained after that was the pain felt in her face and neck.

Shaara’s face became a mess.

Her once fair cheeks were swollen as red as a tomato, veins pulsing angrily around her eyes, and blood dripped from her lips.

Surprisingly, her teeth hadn’t broken, but her head spun so much she couldn’t even stand on her own, left powerless in Atlas’s grip.

“You… you know who I am…”

For reasons she didn’t understand, those words slipped out.

“I know very well.”

Being pulled up by her hair, she locked eyes with Atlas.

“You clueless little brat.”

His gaze, once resembling deep blue seas, looked murky as if covered in shadows.

“Do you know where you are? You’re deep in the heart of the forest, the very deepest part. Even the professors can’t step foot here.”

“Th-this is…?”

With Atlas holding her by her hair, he shoved her against a log and gently placed his right fist on it.

As he adjusted the angle of his left hand holding her hair, she felt her gaze directed downwards, forced to watch her own hand resting on the log.

Atlas began to slowly knock on the log with his fist, just like he did moments before.

What was he trying to do?

Her question was swiftly answered.

“Is the crazy girl literally asking to get killed right after turning her back?”

– Thud!!!

Right after his words finished, Atlas’s right arm plunged into the log.

A deep hole was made in the thick log.

It was an astonishing sight.

He was driving his arm straight through this solid log as if piercing soft bread.

“Do you think if I kill you here and toss your body to the monsters, anyone would even realize you’re gone?”

Atlas’s fist tapped gently against Shaara’s abdomen.

The rhythmic knocks reminded her of the hole he had just made in the log.

Just as he had done with the log, he knocked slowly and deliberately.

As if to say she should remember this sensation, this rhythm.

“Try speaking boldly like usual. Just give me a reason why I should spare you.”

It didn’t hurt as fiercely as a slap, but Shaara’s face turned pale.

Though his punches didn’t deliver severe pain, every rhythmic knock felt as though memory of the log was stamped into her mind.

Atlas’s increasing delay made her feel the log was somehow becoming a stand-in for her.

Thud Thud

Her thin nightgown was all she wore, and she vividly felt the cold, solid touch of his knuckles against her stomach.