The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 44

Atlas looks really happy today.

His usual expression is different.

I can tell because I’ve been observing him a lot.

He used to walk around with a blank face or a pouting expression, but recently he seems to be smiling with his eyes.

Sometimes he even hums a tune or whistles.

Being so small and doing that makes him look a bit like a fairy.

He mentioned growing about 0.1 in height in front of a tree this morning… It must have made him really happy.

Lately, I’ve been talking to him more often.

Originally, Atlas would hang out mostly with Amy Parker and River Shimoa, but since they’re hospitalized until next week, he’s been spending time alone.

Before that, he either sought me out first or I would talk to him when the other two weren’t around.

It’s not that I don’t like them, but we didn’t have any personal interaction.

Atlas is my friend, but they’re friends of my friend.

When the three of us are together, I’m scared to speak up.

Seeing Atlas with them definitely means they’re nice people.

He seems to have high standards when it comes to making friends.

That’s why Prigia probably allows people to circle around him but keeps them from getting too close.

They both act like there’s nothing between them, but if you observe just a bit, you can realize there’s something going on.

Still, having had almost no proper friendships, I was afraid to initiate a conversation.

Atlas and I were moving to another classroom for our next class, Combat Magic 101.

“Atlas, is your Combat Magic report… done? I find magic really hard… I managed to finish somehow, but I’m not sure if it’s good.”

“I put it off for three days, then downed a glass of warm milk last night and finished it in an hour.”

Even though he’s a Five Pillar, he’s just a student.

I always have to work hard to get good grades so that I don’t bring shame to my family name.

I don’t know about other families, but since Russell consistently took classes related to swordsmanship, he was really weak in subjects like this.

“Finishing it in an hour… that’s impressive.”

This report was difficult, yet he managed to get it done in just an hour…

Thinking about it, I’ve never seen Atlas struggle with other subjects even though he’s skilled in swordsmanship.

“I’m not aiming for top grades like you guys, so I finished it quickly. That nasty Buckingham gave us a tough assignment this time around.”

“The topic was… analyzing the battle of the Krea Basin and suggesting what could have been done better, right?”

The battle of the Krea Basin is a real battle from the Empire’s history.

It’s often mentioned because it was a rare battle where the Empire was mercilessly defeated, and this report for Combat Magic 101 was to analyze that battle and suggest improvements.

However, the focus had to be on the mages, not the infantry or knights.

– Let’s train a hundred Masters before the battle and wipe them out, shall we?

– Our ancestor, Count Paleon, never lost a battle at that age. I strongly condemn the Imperial court for not deploying him in that fight.

– Isn’t it enough if we just drop a Meteor?

– Is anyone threatening the Emperor with a sword to fight over there? If we don’t fight, we can’t lose, can we?

Such nonsense won’t work.

Since I had to write about where the mage units should have positioned themselves and what spells they should have used, it was incredibly difficult for me, who had focused on swordsmanship.

Atlas always says he just needs to graduate, so he takes it easy.

But no matter what the topic was, it still seemed impressive that he could submit assignments without any blocks.

No one found it strange for Atlas and me to be walking together.

Since the incident with the Newspaper Club, rumors have spread that he’s under Russell’s protection.

When the two of us walk side by side, I can see the crown of his head if I lower my gaze slightly.

Seeing that golden orb of hair that looks soft enough to fit in the palm of my hand makes me really want to pat it, but I held back, thinking he would absolutely hate it.

I recalled what happened this morning.

When Atlas was overjoyed and hugged me, spinning around, I had sneakily tried to hug him back.

Since he lifted me up, I only barely got my shoulders around him due to our height difference, but it felt incredibly cute.

It was just for a moment, but it made me really happy.

A strange thought crossed my mind.

Since he looks so happy now, maybe he would allow me to…

“Hey… Atlas.”

“What?”

“Can I… pat your head…?”

I blurted it out without thinking.

He would roll his eyes and definitely say no.

“Sure. But only until we get to class.”

“… Well, I guess there’s no helping it…”

He wouldn’t really allow it.

Atlas, who’s always conscious of his height, doesn’t like acts that clearly emphasize the height difference between us.

Hugging or patting his head would be direct warnings.

He accepts it as a joke if I just say I’m going to do it, but he freaks out if I actually try.

But didn’t that sound a little strange just now?

“Wait…? Did I just hear that right? You said I could?”

“Yeah.”

What could have caused such a change of heart?

Atlas took my hand and placed it on his head.

“Just remember, we’re only doing this until we reach the classroom.”

“Okay…!”

I carefully moved my hand that was resting on his head.

Atlas has a good proportion, so his head is small for his height.

The feeling of his shiny golden hair covering my hand is incredibly soft.

It reminded me of the puppies I used to pet when training as a child.

I gently stroked his soft hair.

Normally, he wouldn’t show any displeasure outwardly, but his eyebrows would be furrowed in annoyance; however, he was very calm right now.

I desperately wished for this state of Atlas, who looked so joyful, to last for a long time.

Next, I should try the hug that was rejected last time.

————————

The world looks beautiful.

Could it be because I finally caught a proper lead?

Things that I would normally have rejected, things that would have unpleasantly struck me, all sound positive now.

Right now, it feels like… like I’ve been digging through a dark tunnel without an end and I finally see the light toward the exit.

No matter how unpleasant something might happen, thinking about how I grew today makes me smile again.

I seem to naturally become more positive the more I laugh.

This is probably why they say a person’s environment shapes them.

Who am I…? The man who is 149.6.

The miraculous man who shattered the wall of 149.5 that had stagnated for ten years and is now just 0.4 away from breaking through to 150.

Now that I’ve broken that barrier, I might gain some acceleration.

What if this time’s drug helps me grow to 180 all at once?

For example…

“Atlas… can I pat your head…?”

“Sure.”

I could definitely ask to pat his head.

“We’re planning a little party at Prigia, and if you could join us, I think it would be even more special and enjoyable.”

“Let me know when you set a time; I’ll consider it positively.”

“Really?!”

The reason I disliked gatherings like this was that they usually made fun of my height, but if I’ve grown taller, then those whispers should disappear… So there would be no reason to refuse the party.

From now on, I’m going to keep growing.

“Atlas, let’s have a duel…!!”

“Sure, why not?”

I even accepted Edgar Lemnos’s duel request.

I thought he would take at least a month to prepare, but what could have changed his mind…?

I planned to set an actual date later.

All sorts of people flocked to me, and I positively considered everything they said.

Some responses made me wonder if it was okay afterward, but who cares?

Who am I?

The man who broke through 0.1…!

“Are you the infamous new Dwarf student…?! You really spoiled our club members last time; as the Chief Member of the Swordsmanship Research Club, I…!!”

“Rude humans won’t be forgiven.”

– Bam!!!

I kicked the leg of a man who started babbling in front of me, keeping him from standing on two feet.

“Gah! My… my leg!!!”

Nonetheless, I couldn’t be kind to a rude guy.

“Chief Senior! How could you attack someone while they’re talking? That’s cowardly!!”

“Since I’m in a great mood today, if you leave now, I’ll let you off the hook, so scram.”

“Ugh… Just wait!!!”

A few people beside him looked ready to jump me, but when I offered to let them off, they hurriedly fled.

The class was slowly wrapping up, so I decided to visit River and Amy in the hospital.

————————

When I arrived to visit them, River was grumbling as he looked at the shelf in his hospital room.

“It’s nice that Atlas brings gifts each time, but isn’t this getting a bit excessive…?”

“There’s a ton of it on the back mountain. Don’t worry about it.”

The shelf was filled with various fruits and herbs.

The flowers that looked fragrant were all varieties that could be made into tea, and the herbs were all beneficial for both of their symptoms and the ones I thought would help River’s power-up.

I’ve even used some of those herbs a few times since they were fine to brew as tea.

Hmm… did I bring too much?

“Are you talking about the back mountain that’s known as the Deep Forest?”

“You know it well.”

“Is that place dangerous? Just stop going there.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course! Every year, people go there to collect rare materials from the Deep Forest and end up getting into accidents.”

Having lived for a while, I’ve heard enough about that.

But River was genuinely worried about me, so I appreciated it.

“You look really happy today. Is it because we’re here?”

“Of course not. Speaking of which, you both probably don’t know yet…”

Now that I think about it, they wouldn’t have any clue what happened to me since I went to talk with Professor Praha after they left yesterday.

“Hehe… I grew taller.”

“Really?”

“Seriously?? How much did you grow?”

Both River and Amy gasped in surprise.

They know how much I value my height, so their astonishment was evident.

“So don’t freak out, but I grew a whole 0.1.”

“0.1… huh.”

Their reaction seemed a bit lackluster.

They probably thought that number wasn’t a big deal… But it’s a huge deal to me.

“You might think it’s just that much, but it’s a change I’ve had in ten years.”

“Was it because you went with Professor Praha yesterday to get checked out?”

“Yeah! We’re analyzing why I hadn’t grown until now, and if we can resolve that…!! If we fix the root cause, I should grow really fast too.”

“Got it. I’ll be cheering for you.”

Though River seemed a bit ambivalent upon hearing the 0.1 figure, I could tell he was sincere in his encouragement.

“Ah… this ‘rapid growth’ where I grew 0.1 in just a day is frightening… What if when you guys get discharged next week, you don’t recognize me?”

I crossed my arms and laughed.

For some reason, both of them looked at me with pity, but I didn’t care.

As long as I feel good, that’s what matters.

There would be a regular check-up from Professor Praha soon.

After that, I’d visit the laboratory and try out the second drug I had completed.

If it works again… no, it will work.

Mental state is also a crucial factor.

I’ll keep thinking positively.