The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 336

The new semester orientation has ended, and it’s time to move officially to the classroom.

Everyone headed to the classrooms in the main building, but not me.

“I’ll move to a different building.”

“Did you really sign up for that class??”

“It would have been great if Atlas took the same class as us… What a shame.”

Everyone else had signed up for the same class, so they felt disappointed that I was going to a different one.

I felt the same disappointment, but I had a separate class that I couldn’t skip.

It was the Magical Biology lecture.

Everyone asked me why I suddenly wanted to take that, but after confirming that it didn’t matter for graduation, it was a request from Professor Praha.

“Uh… if it doesn’t matter what I attend… wouldn’t you just join my lecture?”

“Me? I don’t know anything about Magical Biology; wouldn’t that be a burden for the professor?”

“A burden?! Absolutely not!!! If you could just help fill the numbers, I would be… really… really grateful. I promise I won’t be a hassle!!”

Asking just to fill numbers really made it seem like he wasn’t popular.

“Was it Professor Praha? You seem pretty close with him…”

“He’s like my family doctor, so I have to take care of him.”

Lucia pouted, feeling a bit sad that I was heading somewhere else.

Professor Praha was the last key remaining that could grow my height.

He was the only one who had delivered results for me so far, so I had to give him some convenience.

“Wait… does that mean you won’t be attending together?”

“If we were taking the same class, sure. But you chose a different one.”

Gemma was taken aback by the news that I was heading to a different lecture.

Apparently, she thought we were all attending the same one.

“Don’t look so down. There’s overlap, so we’ll see each other then.”

“Right. So now Gemma will be attending the same lecture, let’s go.”

“Ugh… Fine.”

“Good, now, be nice. I’ll be waiting at our usual spot after the lecture.”

—

Professor Praha’s laboratory and classroom were separated, requiring quite a walk.

While it might seem inconvenient to go to a different area, the lab needed to be built to specific standards, making it better to keep the two separated, even if it was a bit of a hassle.

“Is this the Academy?”

The lab looked quite sophisticated, likely due to being expanded several times, but the classroom had a rather worn-out appearance.

Everyone seemed to be getting sufficient budgets, but they paid no attention to the building’s exterior.

Arriving at the classroom right next to the lab, I shivered from the inexplicable chill that swept through the entire building.

“Ugh, it’s sunny outside, but why’s it so cold in here??”

It was still too early in the season to be this cold.

Upon looking around, I realized it wasn’t just low temperature causing the chill; it was a mix of various reasons.

The building exuded a slightly eerie feeling rather than an old-world charm, which, combined with the sparse visibility of people, created an unsettling draft in the air.

“… Aren’t you the Titan, no, Atlas? You came all the way here; are you really attending the practical Magical Engineering lecture?”

“No, I’m here for Magical Biology.”

After walking down the hallway a bit, I spotted Albion, whose presence I found less than pleasant.

I hadn’t liked him even when he was strutting around acting all superior before, but lately, just seeing his face made me feel like I could break out in hives from his pretentious demeanor.

It seemed he had decided to take the Magical Engineering lectures starting this semester.

“Magical Biology? That must be Professor Praha’s class. I’ve heard he can be quite eccentric… but I suppose you needn’t worry about that, Atlas.”

As for my relationship with Professor Praha, it wasn’t like I hadn’t seen him once or twice, so it didn’t matter.

When I mentioned it was an unnecessary worry, it seemed he had more to say.

“But, I’ve heard that students in that class are no pushovers, so you’d do well to be prepared.”

“At most, they’re students.”

How tough could they really be?

I had seen all sorts of weirdos already, so there was no way I’d be intimidated by that.

“‘Those’ humans beneath ‘that’ elf, if you will. I did warn you.”

What’s the big deal about being under an elf, anyway?

Ultimately, all students are just younglings who graduate after a while.

With no worries, I headed off to find the classroom.

—

A short time passed before I realized that Albion’s warning was filled with genuine concern.

‘Should I leave?’

The moment I entered the designated classroom, a terrible sense of depression washed over me.

There were less than five people in the classroom, and each of them looked utterly drained.

And among them, three actually seemed too old to be called students.

From the looks of their faces, there was one around their 40s, another in their 50s, and even an elderly man who looked to be in his 70s.

“Hmm, a new student, huh? Coming to such a precious lecture… you have great taste.”

“You’d better not underestimate this class. We’ve been attending for over 20 years, you know.”

“Ah… I actually want to quit now.”

One of the older attendees, who had wrinkles set into his face, boldly laughed as soon as he saw my face.

To be attending lectures at that age… it was less unsettling and more terrifying.

What on earth was going on in this place?

I thought I had seen many things around the Academy, but this was a first.

“Ten years…? No, those who should have already graduated are what, doing here??”

“Listen closely, newbie… we don’t want another victim to appear, so pay attention. This lecture is…”

Just as the student, who looked to be in their 30s or 40s—should I even call them a student?—was going to say something, the classroom door swung open suddenly.

“Good morning, everyone.”

“… Ugh.”

It was Professor Praha, the owner of this classroom.

Upon seeing his face, the students promptly sealed their lips and returned to their seats.

Professor Praha, seeing me seated contentedly, flashed a satisfied smile, while the other upperclassmen looked at him with perplexed expressions.

What on earth was the nature of their relationship? I wasn’t sure, nor did I want to know.

Professor Praha stood at the podium and skillfully began the lecture.

“Hello! Some of you must have been here since last semester, and I see some familiar faces who’ve been here since last year… or the year before. This time, we’ve even got one more newcomer, which is a relief! Although I can’t see those two who were here last semester, having another one here makes it worthwhile!”

Did they urgently grab me to replace the two who dropped out?

“… I meant to say, it was not last year but twenty years ago.”

“Oh my, was it? Well, what’s twenty years or last year, it’s all the same, right?”

What kind of nonsensical conversation was that?

What could possibly have this lecture bring people back for twenty years?

Even if I had come in with interest, seeing those faces would make anyone want to run away out of fear.

Naturally, Professor Praha’s lectures were filled with highly specialized content.

Once the lecture began, the upperclassmen’s eyes sparkled as they focused intently, and even though I had a decent amount of knowledge to find clues about height, I struggled to keep up. I figured all the students who had timidly poked their heads in were probably long gone.