The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 290

Finally, it was the next day that I could return to Parker.

“Haah…”

I sighed as I saw the Commander collapsed, completely wasted.

If this keeps happening, I’m never coming back, seriously.

Did he really bring a whole barrel of alcohol and call it a single bottle?

As promised, it was indeed good alcohol, but there was so much of it that I couldn’t finish it all.

How can he be lying there so defenseless when there are so many people out to get his life?

Could it be that I trust him that much?

Thanks to that, I struggled to rid my body of the strong smell of alcohol before heading back to Parker.

“Thank you as always.”

“I’ll leave the cleanup to you.”

“Yes.”

Once I signaled, the maids waiting outside came in and began cleaning up the mess from the drinking party that had occurred late into the night.

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In the capital, dawn hadn’t even broken yet, but the sun was already rising in Parker.

It struck me just how much distance there was between the two places.

At this point, everyone must have woken up, so I better get ready quickly.

“Late, huh? Looks like you had a lot to do?”

“Ah! You scared me!”

I felt a presence behind me and turned to find River hiding in my bed.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come back.”

“There were so many incidents that I had a lot to report.”

“That’s a lot to report, so I guess you needed a drink or two? How many did you have?”

How many?

I looked up, and River was staring down at me without a hint of change in his expression.

His golden eyes sparkled.

“Who did you drink with? It smells familiar.”

Wow, he can tell… a chill ran down my spine.

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After finishing our morning exercises, everyone gathered to tell me what had happened.

“I reported everything upstairs, and we’ll be receiving support from the Empire and the Church Country in Parker.”

“Support?? Is there such a system?”

Amy found it strange that support was coming.

Until now, she had never thought it was possible.

“Yeah. It might have been forgotten since it’s the border area, but considering Parker’s financial state and current situation, it wouldn’t be strange to receive it.”

Support didn’t mean financial aid; it referred to the infusion of labor.

After all, Parker was struggling primarily due to a lack of manpower.

The Empire has a system in place that sends workers to such territories.

It’s not about putting in slaves, but rather resettling displaced people.

Unruly elements had already been removed through the Church and ideological scrutiny.

And the Church Country said they’d send new people for this place, which hadn’t been restored even once since it was attacked ten years ago.

The establishment of the Church would not only be religiously significant but also meant the building of a solid healing facility and minimal defenses against heretics.

There was still a chance for it to become a decent place.

While this system existed, the number of regions in the vast Empire that could benefit from it was exceedingly few.

Requests to the capital take a long time, and the review process takes even longer.

Unless it’s a place on the brink of collapse, support won’t be provided, and those in such dire situations often collapse before help arrives.

Ultimately, I could receive this support because I requested it myself.

“Thank you. Really… thank you so much…”

Amy held my hand and shed tears.

In some ways, it could be seen as a reward for Amy.

This incident had propelled her to the pinnacle of the Expert level.

Even if someone devotes their entire life to honing their skills, they cannot reach this level without the qualification.

Like I did, she must have surely crossed a painful line herself.

If that’s the case, shouldn’t there be some reward for her?

“It’ll take a while for them to arrive. Watching over that might be tough, so I’ve decided on our next destination.”

“Next destination?”

Originally, I was planning to stay here longer and send Gemma back, but since McKinto is going to handle that, that part will be on hold.

Instead, another destination popped up yesterday.

“I’m planning to go to the Principality of Prigia next.”

“Are you going to the Principality of Prigia? Why suddenly there??”

“It’s a place where all the large guilds gather, so there’s plenty to see, and there are also many dungeons around, which would be good for you guys to level up.”

The Principality of Prigia is the most developed city in the Empire aside from the capital.

Since it’s ruled by the Golden Ball, who governs the Empire’s treasures, if people are dealing with gold, they inevitably need to set up shop there to avoid inconvenience.

There are massive casinos and enormous Magic Towers, so there’s lots to see.

“If that’s the only reason, we could just go back to Narni. There’s another reason, right?”

River poked sharply.

If training were the only goal, it would definitely be better to use the Blade Mountain.

The blessed high ground of the Blade Mountain is the best place to refine one’s aura above any other.

Gaining experience might help, but merely fighting monsters for experience would be best accomplished in the Black Forest of the Academy.

There was no need to go to Prigia just for that reason.

“I received an invitation.”

I calmly pulled out the invitation I had received yesterday.

The golden envelope reflected light, but it gave off an illusion of glowing on its own.

When the famous Golden Ball’s invitation was revealed, everyone was taken aback.

“Is this the famous one? Wow… it’s my first time seeing it in person.”

“Me too… I’ve never received one before.”

“Really? We’re all five pillars, though??”

It was surprising that it hadn’t been given to the same five pillars, but considering Lucia’s situation, it wasn’t too weird.

With all the over-protection, she was rarely let outside the mansion, so even if an invitation came, how would Lucia even know?

If she went, it would probably just be Carlos going alone.

“Did you receive such an invitation?”

Do I really have to explain everything from here?

But I was at a loss for how to phrase it.

“Just say it as it is?”

That would be a suicide mission.

My relationship with Shaara is incredibly secretive.

It shouldn’t be revealed, and I don’t want to reveal it.

How could I possibly explain that Shaara tried to kill me, hired assassins, beat me nearly to death, and now I’m making her my subordinate?

So what should I say?

Should I say what I told the Commander, that I just thought nothing of it, and that it was sent without my input?

No, that would raise even more suspicion.

“I asked Shaara for it. I have business with the Golden Ball.”

A bigger lie to cover a smaller lie; I really have no business with the Golden Ball, but let’s stick with that for now.

Even if I said that, there’s no way to verify it with the Golden Ball.

While it’s not an outright lie since I do need to pay a visit to the Golden Ball at some point.

Since I’m determined to step out from behind the curtain and in front of the stage, I’ll need to greet him at least once as the Titan’s eldest son.

This party will be a good opportunity.

At the Golden Ball’s party, only the most prominent figures from the Empire… no, from the entire continent will gather.

“… Prigia agreed to such a request? That guy never helps unless it’s beneficial to him…?”

Lucia, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“Because he has some debts to clear, so he’s paying it back.”

River scrutinized the invitation I handed him and found something odd.

“It says here that companions aren’t allowed… so you’re going in alone?”

“I guess so…?”

Since the invitation doesn’t allow for companions, unless I get an additional invitation, I’ll have to go in alone.

“Then while you go into the party tonight, we’ll have to watch from outside.”

Hearing that suddenly pricked my conscience.

I had definitely planned to hang out in the Principality and then only show my face for a bit in the evening.

“Should I just go by myself on the day?”

“But I don’t really have any other place to go, so I’m okay with it.”

“That’s right, either way, we wouldn’t have been able to move without Atlas.”

Amy readily agreed to my suggestion to go to Prigia.

River seemed to think there was no other option either.

“But you have to make sure to hang out with us until the party.”

“Is there any other option?”

So, the trip to the Principality of Prigia was set.

The party is scheduled to be held a week from now.

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In one of thehideouts of the Demon Church, Satan’s Demon Bishop spoke to a Demon Evangelist wearing a skull mask.

“It’s time that Satan spoke of. Kidnap the noble lady of Prigia and force her to submit.”

“The Principality has tight security, do we have enough manpower for this?”

The Demon Church was facing the greatest crisis it had experienced in the past 200 years.

Out of nowhere, the Church Country and the Masters had started attacking the Demon Church’s hideouts.

It wasn’t just one or two; the majority of Masters were participating in the offensive, which made it incredibly hard for their small and nimble organization to counter it.

In such a situation, to strike one of the most prosperous cities in the Empire?

That could only be called a suicide mission.

Of course, the forces of the Demon Church often remain unharmed unless special measures were applied, so no matter how prosperous the city might be, they could definitely show them hell, but Prigia and the capital are a bit different.

Those two places had the Church Country stationed with Holy Knights and Inquisitioners.

Unlike the Academy, they were thoroughly prepared for demons, so even if a Bishop went personally, kidnapping would not be an easy task.

And Satan’s Demon Bishop was well aware of this fact.

“You don’t need to worry about that part.”

However, no matter how many other places were destroyed, Satan’s Demon Bishop always remained calm.

While other Great Demon’s Bishops appeared indifferent, declaring that they wouldn’t care if their subordinates died, he had a reason to be so confident: the various special weapons under development.

“I have already placed my agents within Prigia.”