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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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Despite the loss of six freshmen, the Academy continued its lively rhythm. River and Amy seemed to be sharing the protagonist’s fate, the minor events falling to Amy, the major confrontations to River. River excelled in combat demonstrations during class, while Amy stumbled upon special items while chasing stray cats.
“You could have feigned an attack, then struck a beat later.”
“A fake-out leading to a real attack… that’s difficult.”
“It wouldn’t be an advanced technique if it were easy.”
River and I had developed a friendly rivalry. She had quickly gotten over her initial discomfort about the… sniffing incident. We trained together every morning, exchanging blows and advice. My guidance became increasingly advanced as she rapidly improved, her talent, combined with her hard work and enjoyment of combat, leading to significant progress. Thanks to her, the initial skirmishes posed little threat.
As our training session ended, River, wiping her forehead with a towel, asked,
“Atlas, why do you hold back in class?”
“Personal reasons… And there’s no need to stand out.”
I maintained a facade of mediocrity in class. Attracting attention was the last thing I needed. Being praised by these youngsters wasn’t my goal. River, however, seemed puzzled.
“There’s no shame in being strong. It’s always an advantage. It’s unsettling seeing the person who defeated me acting weak in class.”
“I’ll consider it.”
“Lady Seymour, here’s some water.”
“Thank you, Amy.”
“You’re welcome!”
Amy, who had been stretching nearby, approached with a waterskin. She had been joining our morning training sessions, offering support and refreshments.
“Do you have another one?”
“Yes, here… Huh?!”
She froze, startled by my gaze as she reached for another waterskin. She had grown closer to River but still maintained an odd distance from me. She didn’t seem to dislike me, but she’d recoil whenever our eyes met, as if remembering something unpleasant. Had someone been badmouthing me? I wanted to ask, but considering my past actions, I wouldn’t be surprised.
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The class factions were beginning to solidify. Most students gravitated towards the Five Pillars, but our class was different. Lucia Russell’s aversion to crowds disrupted the usual hierarchy.
“Good morning, everyone~”
“Good morning, Lady Woodville.”
With the tiger unwilling to claim the throne, the fox took its place. Dorothy Woodville, the charming, brown-haired girl who entered the classroom to the attention of everyone, was that fox. The eldest daughter of the Woodville family, owners of the second largest trading company in the Empire, she had positioned herself as the leader of our class. Many had challenged her, but her silver tongue and sharp wit quickly silenced them. Her eloquence was remarkable, considering the general disdain for nouveau riche families among the old nobility.
With the factions stabilized, some students seemed to have grown bored.
“Oops, sorry, didn’t see you there.”
Someone deliberately bumped into me in the hallway. With their positions secured, they were looking for… playthings. Slavery was forbidden within the Academy, so they sought to subjugate weaker students. And for some reason, I was their target. They’d provoke me, hoping I’d retaliate, giving them an excuse to challenge me to a duel and subsequently enslave me.
My mediocre performance in class must have made me seem like an easy target. Their subtle provocations were irritating.
Should I just crush them?
I could, but I decided to be patient. Charles, with his missing ankles, served as a warning. Besides, there were too many witnesses.
Cleaning up would be a hassle.
And these were just pawns. Crushing them wouldn’t solve the problem. I needed to find the mastermind.
I’ll crush them when I find out who’s behind this.
I was investigating, and I was close.
“Another ‘personal reason’?”
River, seeing me tolerate their harassment, seemed puzzled.
“You could easily defeat them one by one in duels… Should I do it for you?”
“Not yet.”
“Fine, you’ll handle it… But like I said, it bothers me seeing you like this. Resolve it quickly.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“It’s annoying.”
She left to prepare for class. I wanted to keep a low profile, but being targeted made that impossible. Beating them up individually would be too messy… I needed a quieter approach…
I felt a gaze upon me. Lucia Russell. Still as imposing as ever. I always wondered what it would be like to have her height.
“What is it?”
She hesitated, then spoke softly,
“…Sorry.”
“For what?”
“I’ll… handle it…”
She turned and walked away. What was that about?
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Lucia walked briskly towards a dimly lit lounge, furnished with plush sofas. A private bar, one of the Academy’s secret spaces, reserved for the Five Pillars.
“Lemnos, leave him alone.”
“Oh? Russell, you can talk! You’ve been so quiet, I thought you were mute.”
Edgar Lemnos, sipping whiskey, nodded. The heir to the Lemnos family, known as the Empire’s Red Dragon, he was a giant of a man, even larger than Lucia, with short, dark red hair and a muscular build visible even beneath his clothes.
“Leave him alone.”
“Leave who alone?”
He feigned ignorance. The students harassing Atlas were from Lemnos’s class, his close associates. Everyone knew this.
“Atlas Nemea, the little person in our class. He’s not someone you should mess with.”
“What if I do?”
“If you do…!”
Lucia’s temper flared.
“Are you finally going to duel me?”
“…”
Her raised hand froze. Lemnos and Russell, the two strongest families among the Five Pillars. Outwardly allies, they constantly competed for dominance. A duel wouldn’t be difficult. But… she was forbidden from dueling by her father. She wouldn’t disobey him, despite her desire to fight. Her expression hardened.
“Haha, just kidding. I don’t know who this Atlas is, but I’ll tell my classmates to back off.”
Lemnos laughed, his eyes devoid of humor.
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I didn’t need to search for the mastermind. He revealed himself.
“Hey, little person! Duel me!”
I was surprised by his boldness, but seeing his face, I understood.
“Edgar Lemnos… A Five Pillar wants to duel me?”
It was baffling. Why would one of the strongest members of the Five Pillars bother with someone like me?
“You’re the one who drove Charles Fraser to withdraw, aren’t you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about…?”
How did he know? Only the faculty should know about my involvement in Charles’s withdrawal. The whispers among the students intensified. They hadn’t known about the connection.
“This isn’t a request.”
His followers surrounded me, weapons glinting menacingly at their hips.
This makes things easier.
A direct confrontation. He was a true warrior. I preferred this to the constant whispers and petty provocations. This was my chance to establish dominance. I inwardly cheered, preparing for the duel.
“Very well… a duel…”
“Stop!”
Someone pushed through the crowd, blocking my path. River, her face a mask of anger.
“Ganging up… You call yourself a future Five Pillar? Shame on you!”
There was no need for this. She must have thought I was in danger.
“Seymour, it’s fine…”
I was fine. I didn’t want her getting involved. I tried to gently push her aside, but a shout erupted.
“Stay out of this!”
-Thwack!
A flash of red.
Blood.
Whose blood?
I traced the source. Lemnos’s thick arm, swinging through the air. And River’s face, blood spraying from her split lip. She had taken a blow for me. Something snapped.
-Crack.
A sound like something breaking inside my head.
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