The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 335

Let’s go back a few hours.

On the day of the academy’s opening, when students become stronger, it’s a mix of emotions as the new semester begins.

Some sighed deeply at the thought of having to return to the academy after over two months of fun and endure boring lectures, but there were certainly those who were happy to see their friends again.

Since the friends made at the academy were from different regions, it’s not uncommon to find themselves in a situation where they can’t see each other when they go home.

On this school journey to the academy, one person was bouncing with excitement.

“Are you that happy?”

“How could I not be! It feels like I could fly in the sky!”

Gemma, unable to contain herself, kept jumping around until I tightly grabbed her arm to stop her.

You might wonder why I’d stop her from being so excited and bouncing around, but just a moment ago, outside the mansion, she jumped up and flew about 10 meters before landing. It did seem a bit excessive.

Gemma was decked out in various items I had bought her that day.

Her neat outfit and moderately fancy bag filled with various writing tools and books made her look just like a student.

And it seemed she really enjoyed how she looked. Seeing her happy made me feel good too.

“Oh… so everyone is heading in the same direction.”

“There should be quite a few who didn’t come because of the morning lectures.”

“Seeing this crowd really makes you feel like the semester has truly started. Well, we did have a good time for two months!”

As we chatted nonsensically while heading to class, I suddenly felt like people’s gazes were directed at me.

Is this some sort of self-consciousness?


I wanted to think they were just glancing at Gemma, whom they had never seen before, but then I heard the voices.

“Oh… it’s Atlas…”

“That… Titan? Wow… no wonder they didn’t pay any attention and just charged in… they must have some backing.”

“Yeah, it definitely felt weird when I thought about it.”

It seemed they were indeed talking about me.

“Good to see you, Titan. When I saw your face on the way to school, it really ruined my mood. Could you please go somewhere else?”

“…I’ll keep your advice in mind.”

When the newspaper club president casually approached, I shot out a sharp retort, and he immediately backed off.

It was disgusting to see him sniffing around for scraps of information, looking for something to dig into.

It felt quite refreshing.


I didn’t get this feeling when I showed off my expert-level skills, rampaging through the crowds.

I would usually think of it as just dirty and unworthy of my time, but now I really felt fear.

Could it be that they were reminded of their past actions?

“Still, I suppose I won’t have anyone bothering me now?”

“I’m worried they might bother me in a different way.”

“It seems everyone recognizes Atlas’s true worth.”

“I didn’t like this kind of attention.”

“Isn’t it better to try to gain some favor rather than being ignored?”

Since Amy, who had always been dismissed due to her lesser family background, was saying this, it hit me harder.


Let’s avoid saying anything too arrogant or unnecessary.

——————-

Andy, the new swordsmanship instructor at the academy, was very much looking forward to the new semester.

Thanks to the achievements he made in the first semester, he had returned home over the vacation to receive compliments, and he felt pumped up for the new semester.

As soon as the new semester began, Andy decided to get right to the most important matter.

“This is a transfer student who will be staying at the academy from this semester. Please make a simple self-introduction.”

It was time to introduce the newly arrived transfer student.


Since he had informed them in advance, the transfer student standing at the front was supposed to start their self-introduction upon hearing Andy’s words, but…

“You’re pretty high-handed. You must know who I am, right?”

“Uh? Me? Uh??”

Gemma’s incredibly aggressive demeanor made Andy’s face turn pale.


Sometimes, it’s not uncommon for children from prestigious families to enter the academy and, not long after, act as though they’re still the big shots, often saying such things.

But no matter how great they think they are, they’re just frogs in a well, and the professors at the academy, protected under the royal name, would simply laugh and bring them back down to reality.

If it were someone worthy of bowing to… it could only be the occasional visit from someone of the royal family, right?

However, this time was a bit different.


Andy knew exactly who the frowning Gemma was.


After Atlas visited the principal concerning Gemma’s transfer, there was significant interest in Andy, who had taken over Gemma.

Gemma was the only daughter of the Dragon Lord, who stands shoulder to shoulder with the royal family… or perhaps even more than that.


The only daughter of the Dragon Lord who rules all dragons.

That said, I wasn’t completely clueless and figured Atlas must have socialized her pretty well, considering he brought her.


Casey was also quite intimidating, but Atlas had taught her well.

All Andy could do was stare at Atlas, hoping he would somehow handle things.

“….”

“Uh?!”


Then, just as Andy wished, upon hearing Gemma’s words, Atlas frowned and glared at Gemma, causing her to jump in surprise.

“That… was a harsh statement.”

“Ha… haha! Just kidding! The main instructor gets these kinds of jokes all the time, so it’s no big deal!”

After lightly apologizing to Andy, she began her self-introduction.


Andy, though he said it was nothing, was clearly sweating buckets, proving that it was a big deal for him.

“I’m Gemma Aurum, a Gold Dragon. Although we are different species, I want to be friends with everyone!”

At the mention of being a Gold Dragon, murmurs spread throughout the class.


Some knew, but most were shocked at Gemma’s background, something they were previously unaware of.

Now and then, you’d see Green Dragons or Wyverns flying in the sky, but Gold Dragons were a legendary existence with a notably low population.

————

As soon as Gemma boldly returned to her seat after her introduction, she was sternly scolded.

“Gemma, there’s a hierarchy at the academy. What do you think will happen if you confront a professor directly?”

“U… I’m sorry…”


Gemma, who had been so confident on the podium, began to whimper a bit when met with a slightly intimidating atmosphere.

Andy sometimes scolded students when he felt like it, but he only did that in places where other students wouldn’t see it.


Disrupting the hierarchy usually leads to chaos within the group.

“You know, don’t be too harsh on her.”


As Gemma started to get teary-eyed, River chimed in, saying to stop scolding her.

He had no intention of going further anyway.

“Do you think the older guys knew enough to beat up someone like me? It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t been punched by you in the knight squad!”

“It’s alright to hit those who think they’re better just because they came a little earlier. I didn’t say a word to the real important instructors.”

“That feels familiar…”


Casey recounted my glorious achievements in the knight squad, but in the end, they were just seniors.


The hierarchy applies to instructors or the commander, but the bugs that think they’re hot shots just because they’ve been here a year or two are fair game to be beaten up.

“Hmm~ Is it because of Atlas… or rather, are you here because of Atlas? This sounds interesting.”

“What do you need Woodville for?”

Starting yet another pointless conversation, Andy left the talking to others while he smiled and chatted privately until, suddenly, Dorothy Woodville, who had been sitting in the front row, showed interest in us from her seat further back.

Why was the one who always sat in the front now sitting at the back?

“There are various reasons, but the most important one is a party.”

“Ugh, a party?”


Mentioning a party suddenly reminded me of the events that took place in Prigia.

With a sly smile, Dorothy continued to explain.

“It’s not some grand ball; it’s just for our class to gather and have fun to celebrate the beginning of the semester. We’ve rented the hall on the first floor of the main building, so you can come and enjoy after lectures. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to come… but it might be the perfect place for you, Gemma, to have open conversations.”

“Oh… that sounds like it could be fun!”


I knew that Woodville was targeting Gemma, hoping I’d get caught up too, but even if Gemma was the only one interested, it would still be a win for them.

“It’s nothing too complicated, just a chance to get closer, so think it over.”


I couldn’t help but feel that there were ulterior motives, even if I pretended not to see them.

.

.

.

With her transfer, Gemma was able to easily take center stage in the class.


Being a Gold Dragon didn’t matter much because when she polymorphed, to the outside world, she was just a beautiful blonde lady. She was not only filled with kindness and knowledge, having been raised not to just be left alone in the nest by her lord.


Unlike me and Casey, who would throw punches at the slightest annoyance, or Lucia, who would run away from unwanted attention, Gemma exhibited no such behavior; she didn’t challenge River to a duel over actions she disapproved of.

Thinking this through, it was obvious we were a group of misfits?