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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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The news of my alleged cheating spread through the Academy like wildfire.
“Cheating? I knew it! There’s no way he could dodge the Flame Blade like that.”
“Yeah, Lemnos seemed… off.”
“He’s got guts, going against a Five Pillar.”
Those who couldn’t accept Lemnos’s defeat readily embraced the cheating accusations. But the real problem was elsewhere.
“If the duel is invalid, I want my money back!”
“Manager, come out!”
“Give me back my tuition money!”
The gamblers who had bet on the duel were demanding refunds. The lottery booth, its doors bolted shut, was besieged by angry students.
And I…
“Get the editor-in-chief out here! You think you can get away with publishing this trash?!”
…was causing havoc at the newspaper club, the source of the tabloid trash.
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Earlier that morning, the front page of the Academy newspaper featured a special report on the duel.
Duel Invalid?! The Ugly Truth About the Little Person!
Atlas Nemea, a little person, defeated Edgar Lemnos in a duel. Atlas Nemea did not use Aura Blade during the duel, raising questions about the validity of the result.
The duel between Atlas Nemea and Edgar Lemnos took place yesterday at 2 PM. Edgar Lemnos displayed his Flame Blade, a powerful Aura Blade technique, while Atlas Nemea was observed not using Aura Blade at all.
Atlas Nemea, despite his inability to use Aura Blade, repeatedly dodged Edgar Lemnos’s attacks. The little person seemingly toyed with the Five Pillar’s secret swordsmanship.
Is it possible to counter a Five Pillar’s secret technique without using Aura Blade?
Hera, a third-year student and head of the Swordsmanship Research Club, commented, “There’s a possibility of cheating.”
What are the consequences of cheating in a duel?
Last year, a second-year student, Student A, was expelled for cursing his opponent’s sword before a duel. The duel was declared invalid.
Headmaster Gordon Freeman stated, “If cheating is confirmed, the duel will be invalidated.”
Professor Buckingham Houston, the combat magic instructor, commented, “Cheating in a sacred duel is a serious offense. He will be referred to the disciplinary committee.”
What a load of garbage.
The article, with its sensational headline, was filled with speculation and innuendo, devoid of any actual evidence. There was a possibility of cheating. Atlas Nemea might have cheated. If there was cheating, the duel would be invalid. If he cheated in a sacred duel, he should be referred to the disciplinary committee.
But what angered me most was…
…Little… person…
…the repeated use of the term “little person.”
-Crack.
My blood boiled. I crumpled the newspaper in my fist. I was reverting back to my old self, the volatile Atlas Titan from my early days in the Royal Knights, easily provoked, fueled by years of pent-up frustration.
Maybe I should just get expelled and rejoin the Northern Exploration Team.
“Atlas! Look at this! These bastards!”
“I’m already looking at it!”
River and Amy rushed towards me, newspapers in hand. Seeing them, my resolve solidified. I had to stop the demons.
“Relax! You’re scaring Amy!”
River grabbed my face, smoothing out my frown. I must have looked terrifying. I was on the verge of exploding. Her small hands, radiating a faint citrus scent, calmed me.
“I’ve decided.”
I stood up abruptly, startling River.
“Atlas, where are you going?”
“To see the people who wrote this.”
I ripped the crumpled newspaper to shreds. The pen was mightier than the sword. Their words hurt more than any blade.
“I’m going to give the newspaper club a one-star review.”
They used their pen as a weapon. They should be prepared for retaliation.
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The newspaper club was one of the Academy’s oldest and most prestigious organizations. Founded alongside the Swordsmanship Research Club, the Practical Magic Research Club, the Gardening Club, and the Hiking Club, it played a vital role in gathering, analyzing, and disseminating information.
Its access to information from various sources made it the most influential club among the students. Excluding the Five Pillars, who derived their power from external sources, the student council president and the editor-in-chief of the newspaper club were the most powerful figures in the Academy. Information bred more information, and the editor-in-chief, privy to all of it, was guaranteed a prestigious position in the Imperial administration after graduation.
Such an important position wasn’t entrusted to just anyone. The Headmaster personally appointed the editor-in-chief.
“How’s the reception of today’s article?”
“Excellent, sir.”
Malcolm Dunmore, the current editor-in-chief, a man with neatly combed black hair, sipped tea in his opulent office, addressing his blue-haired assistant, who resembled a butler. He was also the current Earl of Dunmore, actively managing his territory.
The information gathered by the newspaper club wasn’t limited to the Academy; it had far-reaching consequences. The editor-in-chief, wielding such power, had to meet strict criteria: discernment in selecting information, self-awareness to avoid abusing sensitive information, discretion, and a secure position to avoid external influence. Malcolm, having inherited his title at a young age and successfully managing his territory, met all these requirements.
It was a demanding position, but the rewards were substantial. Access to a wealth of information, a guaranteed prestigious position after graduation, and considerable influence within the Academy. But today, he was dissatisfied.
He frowned at the newspaper on his desk.
“Whoever he is, he’s made some powerful enemies… Expulsion might be a blessing in disguise.”
“He’s finished, with both the Five Pillars and Professor Buckingham against him.”
He had followed orders, but he was unhappy. The newspaper club avoided publishing speculative articles. Taking sides in personal disputes would open a Pandora’s Box of complaints from other families. He had made an exception this time, due to pressure from above. But what choice did he have? He might be the powerful editor-in-chief, but there were many in the Empire more powerful than the Earl of Dunmore.
Atlas Nemea, whoever he was, had made quite a splash since the start of the semester.
“He’s quite the character. How many has he taken down already?”
“Six withdrawals through duels… over twenty injured, all from Buckingham’s class… No wonder the old man is furious. He lost half his class.”
Atlas Nemea’s background was unknown, but the more they investigated, the more unbelievable his actions seemed. It was unusual enough for all Five Pillars to enroll in the same year, but this year’s freshmen were exceptionally… chaotic.
“He’s… intriguing. I’d like to meet him.”
“If he sees us after this article, he’ll probably curse us out.”
“That’s the price we pay.”
Suddenly,
-Crash!
“We’re under attack!!!”
“Who is it?!”
Loud noises erupted from beyond the closed door. Malcolm’s office was separated from the main office by a single door. The sounds of crashing furniture, falling bodies, screams, and grunts mingled in a chaotic symphony.
“An attack?”
“…Should I go check?”
Patrick, Malcolm’s assistant, a mid-level Sword Expert, reached for his sword. Who would be foolish enough to attack the newspaper club?
“No, I’ve assigned guards from the Swordsmanship Research Club. They’ll handle it.”
He stopped Patrick. He didn’t want to escalate the situation. The guards would take care of it. But the commotion continued.
“Get the editor-in-chief out here! You think you can get away with publishing this trash?!”
Then,
-BAM!
The door burst open, a body flying through the air and crashing into the wall. The impact opened the door. It was one of the guards from the Swordsmanship Research Club. He looked through the open doorway. The office was a mess. Both newspaper club and Swordsmanship Research Club members lay scattered among the debris.
“You publish this garbage and hire these weaklings as guards? You’ve got guts!”
“You… how dare you…!”
Patrick drew his sword. But the attacker, unfazed, walked into the office. Malcolm, curious to see who would be so brazen, looked at the student. His gaze shifted downwards.
“Well… this saves me a trip.”
It was the little person himself.
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