The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 58

Lucia joined in during the morning exercise time.

Ever since Amy and River were hospitalized, she seemed to have gradually tested the waters and gotten permissions from both of them.

Recently, River and Lucia have been sparring a lot.

River asked Lucia why she didn’t spar with Atlas…

“I don’t want to point a sword at Atlas…”

She’s rejecting it because it’s tough to swing a sword at me.

It seemed to be a problem stemming from my size, but since she genuinely seemed scared, I let it slide.

As a result, Lucia ended up sparring with River, who had consumed lots of elixirs while hospitalized and experienced a sudden rise in skill to intermediate level… and he lost all of them.

It doesn’t seem like he was overwhelmingly defeated, so I guess his pride is intact.

Just now, River, who had lost once, was discussing the spar he just had with Lucia.

“So… what happened…?”

“So…”

Hmm? Did the content change…?

As I listened closely, I realized Lucia was telling River about what happened yesterday.

“They’re whispering about something.”

“Whoa?! Atlas??”

“Did they speak ill of me?”

“I-I would never…!!”

I had seen them move with the Swordsmanship Research Club president that day, but she said she hadn’t seen anything afterward.

Listening to the tales from the president’s office layered with their side remarks made my face flush.

“I didn’t hear anything about your family at school… I want to know too…”

“What good would that do?”

“…I want to know more.”

I kept the conversation going in place of River at Lucia’s words.

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Once I changed my mindset entirely, we became really comfortable with each other.

Hera thinks of me like a real younger sibling, and I consider her a true older sister.

Well, she actually is a real older sister, after all.

We’re cousins by blood, you see.

In my past life, I had fond memories of being very close with my cousins, so I could interact with her easily.

Of course, the memory of her mother occasionally reflecting on her face created a sense of distance whenever I tried to get close.

While talking with me, Hera suddenly changed her gaze.

“Hey, little brother… have you thought about joining the Swordsmanship Research Club?”

“I absolutely won’t.”

What reason do I have to join the Swordsmanship Research Club?

All I could gain here is just networking at best, as I’d only be at the level of students.

If I wanted to expand my network, I might as well join the Student Council or the Newspaper Club, because I have no reason to be here.

“I couldn’t see you during your first duel, but I saw the ones after. Your swordsmanship fits best with our Swordsmanship Research Club.”

From how she spoke, it sounded like she didn’t see my first duel.

That’s only natural.

Both of my duels happened during class, so it would be strange for students who wanted to see that to skip class.

Though it felt nice to receive a recommendation for my swordsmanship, there was another reason I couldn’t join the Swordsmanship Research Club.

“Because I don’t have a good relationship with the club members…”

I’ve built far too many bad connections with the members here already.

I once made a scene in the Newspaper Club, then got into it with those who came to seek revenge afterward, and I beat up the latest batch too.

Even if Hera, the president, has no bad connections, my image with the other members is terrible. How could I be in the same club as them?

“You’re not on good terms, huh?”

But Hera frowned slightly and suddenly got up, opening the president’s office door.

Outside, a crowd of club members had gathered.

Some of them looked familiar.

I spotted the ones who had been beaten by me.

Hera shouted loudly at them.

“Does anyone here have grievances against him??”

“”””No, we don’t..!!!””””

“Well, there you have it.”

After hearing the members’ response, Hera smiled widely.

Of course, they would say no right in front of me…!

‘They all seem to have grievances, though…’

“Hmm… If it truly makes you uncomfortable, I won’t push anymore.”

Seeing my expression to her response, Hera looked a bit sullen again.

I really appreciated that she was incredibly honest and straightforward.

It would have been even better if she wasn’t reminiscent of Asia.

Whether she liked physical affection or not, she sometimes tried to pat my head. Since we were cousins, physical contact was fine, but every touch reminded me of Asia, making me flinch and avoid it.

During those moments, her slight sulking was quite cute.

“Well then, there will be an exchange meeting with Clover Academy from the western kingdom, so at least consider observing it.”

“Nothing will change from watching those things.”

Are they really planning to hold an exchange with another country’s academy?

‘…This wasn’t in the original work…?’

Episodes where the Devil Slayer Academy exchanged with other academies didn’t come up.

But realizing what the difference was, I accepted it.

In the original work, at this time, the Great Demon I had blocked was descending, causing a commotion around the world.

Now, almost no one seems to know if such a thing has descended, so I guess things are progressing normally.

‘If that’s the case, everything happening in the future will be completely unpredictable… Let’s think positively about the peace.’

While I was thinking seriously to myself, Hera patted me on the shoulder.

“Hehe, seeing my wonderful skills will change your mind, right? Your arms are way too skinny! Eat more nutritious food and swing your sword more, and you’ll grow in no time!”

Hera said this cheerfully, but I felt quite bitter.

Unfortunately, I’ve done what she said for over ten years, and it didn’t work.

While I’m sure she means well, it stings.

After that, we chatted away and said our goodbyes.

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Lucia, who had heard bits and pieces, spoke seriously.

“….If you’re not planning to do other club activities, isn’t it fine to join the Swordsmanship Research Club? It’s one of the strongest clubs in the academy, after all.”

“Who am I gonna learn from? This place is below my level.”

“Wow, that’s some confidence…”

“Sports clubs have a unique atmosphere. I can’t stand that vibe.”

I can’t tolerate the particular atmosphere of sports clubs where they try to bully new members to maintain authoritarian hierarchy.

If I… were to join there and end up stressed by such an atmosphere again, it could spark another storm in the Swordsmanship Research Club.

Not joining is better for both parties.

“Speaking of which, there seems to be an exchange meeting with a western kingdom academy coming up soon?”

“Yeah… I heard there is one.”

Lucia seems to have heard about it somewhere.

Despite her casual demeanor, she seemed quite knowledgeable due to the information sparrows around her.

“…They say the imperial academy always wins overwhelmingly in the exchange meetings, so everyone tends to avoid it, but it seems they proposed to hold it in the western kingdom this year.”

“Isn’t it because they’ve got some monstrous new students like Atlas?”

At Lucia’s words, Amy laughed.

“…?”

In that moment, I could see it.

As they mentioned people coming from the western kingdom, I noticed River’s shoulders flinch and tremble.

From the end of the morning exercise until we parted ways, River’s state remained odd.

————————————————–

After the classes ended, River approached me separately.

“Atlas, I have something to talk about. Do you have time?”

“What’s up?”

River came with a somewhat hesitant posture.

He was cute, fidgeting and unable to make proper eye contact while twitching his fingers.

“I was wondering if you could spar with me tonight.”

“Spar again tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh…”

I was a bit surprised but realized it wasn’t a bad thing.

Even if Amy carried most of Hayden’s fate, River wanted to grow stronger too.

Though he had gotten stronger from the elixirs last time, he was still far from the minimum benchmark.

If he’s coming to me asking to extend training time, that’s fine by me.

“If that’s what you want, sure.”

“Thanks a lot!”

When I readily agreed, River beamed with a smile.

“But why suddenly?”

“…..I’ve been looking a bit pitiful lately…”

After a little hesitation, River opened up.

“Everyone around me is strong. You are, and Russell is too… Even though Amy doesn’t normally engage in duels or fights, I know she’s stronger than me.”

River and Amy’s connection began when River defended Amy from getting bullied by nobles.

Until then, River thought of her as someone weaker than him, but he seems to have changed that thought recently.

Amy usually hides her strength to avoid being targeted by demons, but after spending this much time with her, it’s evident enough to see her skill at least somewhat.

What must have crossed River’s mind when he realized that?

It probably wasn’t very optimistic. Hence, he’d suggest the idea of training together in the evening.

“I feel really average. Not weak exactly, but also not strong. Everyone around me is stronger, so I can’t help but think that way.”

“That’s a good mindset. So should we start today?”

I was glad to see River firmly resolve to strengthen himself.

“Okay, I’ll get ready…!”

Seeing River smile brightly and head back to the dorm, I felt that I needed to increase my aura a bit more and slowly train his “mind-set” as well.

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The Clover Kingdom, located to the west of the Empire, commonly referred to as the western kingdom.

It might seem like an insignificant country, yet it could withstand the borders with the empire for one sole reason.

It was one of the few nations in the continent that had Masters.

“Well then, how did the ‘exchange meeting’ turn out?”

“The imperial academy has agreed, and we’re currently discussing the timing.”

“They must have informed you that I will accompany as an advisor to our Clover Academy, right?”

“Of course, that’s been arranged.”

In the royal palace of the Clover Kingdom, a report regarding the upcoming exchange meeting between the imperial academy and Clover Academy is being delivered.

The middle-aged man, who appeared to be listening to the report by the arrogantly seated man on the throne, was grinning from ear to ear.

At a glance, it seemed like the man on the throne was the king while the one bowing before him was the subordinate, but the scene was strangely peculiar.

The one bowing had the crown and staff symbolizing kingly authority, while the middle-aged man perched on the throne held only a lavish sword.

The man seated on the throne was none other than Adolf Roang, the Master and Sword Master of the Clover Kingdom.

And the one who was bowing before him was the true ruler of the throne, King Arnouveau III of the Clover Kingdom.

The Sword Master, who had occupied the throne, stroked his beard.

“It’s truly troublesome that my fiancée just hides away in the academy as soon as she comes of age…”