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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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The Academy buzzed with talk of Atlas.
The freshman who challenged the Five Pillars and single-handedly destroyed the newspaper club.
A rising star.
With each incident, my companion grew more wary.
Atlas’s momentum is unsettling. He might have already made a pact.
He warned me of Atlas’s dangerous potential, after the hallway brawl, after the duel with Lemnos, after the newspaper club incident. He insisted Atlas would inevitably make a pact with a demon. I wanted to dismiss it, but I couldn’t. My companion had never been wrong.
Since the Devil’s Church incident in my territory, his guidance had been flawless, as if he could see the future. His warnings about Atlas made me see him differently. And the most cowardly part was, I didn’t fully trust Atlas either.
He had two faces. The kind, considerate angel before River and me, and the terrifying demon who unleashed his fury on those who crossed him. His shifting nature confused me. Watching him train with River, his companion’s warnings seemed absurd. But seeing him maim and cripple his opponents, those warnings seemed prophetic.
And then there was yesterday… The day after Atlas and Phrygia returned from their absence… what I witnessed that day shook me to my core.
My companion, sensing something amiss with Atlas’s sudden absence, urged me to find him. I found him in an empty classroom, seemingly having a secret meeting with Phrygia.
“…Master Atlas, would you… join me for tea this afternoon…?”
“No. Your followers are too noisy.”
I knew about the Golden Phrygia. I had heard the rumors. My companion despised her. She was supposed to be arrogant and haughty, yet she spoke with utmost respect.
“I’ll dismiss them.”
“Then it would be just the two of us. Even less reason to go. People would talk.”
“It’s… between you and Master Atlas. Nobody can say anything.”
“Their whispers are annoying.”
“Then… I’ll arrange a different location.”
Phrygia was practically begging. Atlas politely refused, but she persisted. I couldn’t understand their interaction.
-Tap.
As Shaara continued her entreaties, Atlas began tapping his fist against his palm.
“Shaara.”
“…”
The rhythmic tapping changed her expression. Her lovestruck demeanor vanished, replaced by fear and anxiety.
“I said no.”
“…My apologies.”
She closed her eyes, defeated.
“You may leave.”
She knows! Use the hourglass!
My companion shouted in my mind.
N-now?
I flipped the small hourglass pendant around my neck. A shattering sound echoed from above. A disorienting sensation, like my body inverting, and the scenery shifted. I was back in my dormitory.
That was close.
“She knew we were there?”
The Reversing Hourglass was a rare artifact I found thanks to my companion. Once a day, it allowed me to teleport to a previous location, up to twenty-four hours prior. Many teleportation artifacts existed, but the Reversing Hourglass was unique. It was undetectable and could bypass teleportation restrictions. I rarely used it, its limited use making it a valuable resource. My companion’s urgency suggested a serious threat.
What I witnessed was… disturbing. They were like lovers having a secret rendezvous.
But Atlas didn’t seem interested…
He had firmly rejected her advances. But perhaps… there were different kinds of love. I was surprised, but my companion was practically screaming in my mind.
Phrygia… speaking respectfully? To Atlas?! Is it too late?! Damn it!
They seemed friendly… Is that a problem?
Phrygia is a traitor! She only bows to the Emperor! And to demons! She sided with the demons and brought down the Empire!
He had said this before. He claimed all the surviving Five Pillars would eventually make pacts with demons.
She’s the Golden Lord’s heir! She only bows to the Emperor and her father! And now she’s treating Atlas like royalty!
You saw the fear in her eyes? Atlas has broken her. He might already be a demon!
“No…”
That couldn’t be… If Atlas had become a demon, I would have to kill him.
Despite my worries about Atlas, classes continued. Life as an exam entrant wasn’t easy. The recommended students looked down on us. I had seen their expressions change after noticing my brooch. Some exam entrants were already being bullied.
I was relatively fortunate. River protected me, shielding me from the worst of it, at least within the classroom. And Atlas… he always treated me kindly. I couldn’t treat him the same way after hearing my companion’s warnings, but he remained unchanged.
I took Magical Engineering Theory alone. I needed the knowledge to maintain my equipment, following my companion’s guidance. It was a challenging course, but my companion helped me understand the difficult concepts.
After class, some seniors called out to me.
“You’re that little guy’s pet, right?”
“Me…?”
“Come with us.”
The little guy’s pet… Were they talking about me? I wanted to protest, but the words wouldn’t come.
They mean… me and River…
Compared to them, recommended students from influential families, I, the daughter of a declining noble house, was insignificant. Why did they even bother with me? It didn’t make sense.
“Hmm~ so this is his type.”
“Exam entrants are always so… sturdy.”
“Relax. We’re not going to eat you.”
They surrounded me, appraising me like a piece of livestock. They didn’t seem particularly strong. I could probably take them all down and escape.
They’re from the Lypough family. Average nobility. Arrogant, but not malicious.
My companion offered timely advice. Not malicious meant they wouldn’t seriously harm me. Resisting would only cause trouble. Unlike Atlas, I couldn’t risk expulsion.
“Here.”
“What’s this?”
They handed me their bags.
“Juniors carry their seniors’ things.”
“…Yes.”
I carried their bags, four in total, including my own. I was used to physical exertion, but the bulky books and equipment were awkward to manage.
They did this every time we had our bi-weekly elective, making snide remarks, usually comparing me to a pet. But that was all. They didn’t demand money or inflict physical harm. Their jokes were cruel, but others resorted to violence for less. I could endure this.
“Hey! What are you doing?!”
Atlas, however, disagreed. He saw me carrying their bags and exploded. He was defending me, not himself.
“Take this, you trash!”
“?!”
He chased them away, then approached me, grinning.
“If this happens again… No, I’ll be around.”
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