The Academy’s Ankle Reaper – Chapter 57

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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Hera had learned about her half-brother about a week into the new semester.

“They were all defeated?”

“Yes, they all returned with heavy injuries.”

The members she had sent to escort the News Club were defeated. They were all strong, but they had been defeated without being able to fight back.

They hadn’t been ambushed in a narrow space. They had been beaten, even after they were surrounded by a large number of people.

“Was it really that midget who dueled with Lemnos?”

She recalled the interview from the previous day. It was about a kid who had fought Lemnos, without using an Aura Blade. That was more difficult than fighting with a sword. At least you can block a sword with something, but you can’t stop a flaming sword.

The newspaper from that morning detailed that event. A freshman had defeated the heir of Lemnos, and the four senior members of the Swordsmanship Club.

He was a rare individual. She had wanted to see his skills for herself. “It’s been a while since we had a talented freshman. What’s his name?”

“Captain… it’s on the newspaper.”

“Oh, my bad.”

She had skimmed it too quickly. She picked up the newspaper, and read it properly. “Atlas… Nemea?”

Why did he have the same name as her?

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She didn’t eat that night. She was shocked. ‘Nemea…? None of my siblings are planning on attending the Academy?’

She had been avoiding thinking about it, but there was only one explanation, ‘……Father… had an affair…’

There were no illegitimate branches of the family. As far as she knew, only her parents and siblings inherited the Nemea surname. The colors of her parent’s hair wouldn’t result in blonde hair. He must have seduced a village girl or a small noble’s daughter.

“He is a freshman… about 20 years old… When I was learning to walk…” I don’t remember that, but I know my father was going on lots of missions back then, during the border disputes.

“Why is he suddenly appearing now? And with the Nemea surname?”

The fact that he had enrolled so close to her graduation worried her. And the fact that he had defeated her club members. “Is it a message for me…?”

Maybe he wanted revenge, maybe he wanted her to know that he existed. She was getting more and more curious about him.

She created a scenario in her head: a bastard child, who grew up in poverty, the son of a woman who was seduced and abandoned. “Aaaahhh!! Father why?! Does he know what Mother will do?!”

Patro Nemea, was a man who had an affair and abandoned his child.
As Patro’s image turned into an unfaithful man, her sympathy for Atlas grew.

She watched him from afar. He always seemed annoyed, like the world was unfair to him. He had been abandoned by his father, and the world.

“He’s… so small. And I am so big…”

He was very small. Like he was malnourished as a child.

She felt sorry for him. He was so small, unlike her, even though they were family. “How difficult it must have been…!”

She learned that he would attack anyone who insulted his height. That was Atlas’ way of protecting himself.

Atlas was extremely strong for someone who had lived through so much hardship. He had defeated Lemnos, and the best members of the Swordsmanship Club. He was amazing.

She began to see him as a younger brother. She wanted to become his ally.

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It was too late, but she had to go somewhere else.

They had some time before the next class, so she had time to talk to him. She went to her office, where her club members were training. They stared with hostility. A member brought tea. After he left, she sat on the couch.

“Relax. I’m not here to hurt you. I wanted to speak with a family member.”

“Family…?”

The stares from the other members were intense. They had come to protect her, but now they were confused. ‘Why does it always have to be so complicated’

“It’s not been long since I learned about you, but I know how difficult it must have been.”

He had a difficult life, but not one that Hera could trace. She must have made up a story based on what she heard.

Hera wiped a tear with her cape and said, “Atlas, you can always lean on your sister. You must have had a hard life!”

“Oh, Captain?!”

“Call me big sister. You can.” She opened her arms and hugged me, my face buried in her chest.

It was like when I hugged Russell, she was too tall for me.

Her scent was familiar and comforting. Her voice, her mannerisms, they all created an uneasy feeling. ‘No…’

Her brown hair, the look on her face, it was all like Asia. My tormentor.

“Atlas is panicking, please let him go!”

“That’s right, he can do it himself, and he clearly wants you to stop!”

River and Amy saw my discomfort and helped me escape.

‘What the hell was that?’

“Oh, sorry, I got carried away.” She said with a smile, like she was embarassed.

She seemed kind and caring, but after seeing her face, I could only think about Asia.

“Atlas… you have family at the Academy?” River asked.

“It’s… complicated.” I had never talked about my family before.

“Atlas probably couldn’t say it. He’s not in our family registry. He must have had a bad past.” She explained to River.

“I won’t ask you any questions. I’m just glad that you’ve grown up so well. Even if you are on your last year here, it’s wonderful that I got to see you!”

Hera was clearly acting like I was her long lost brother. I felt bad for Patro.

Should I correct her? I had conflicted feelings. ‘No, Hera is technically related to me, right?’

She was family. My cousin, to be more precise. We shared a grandparent. We both had the Nemea surname.
My mothers were sisters. It was all correct. It was fine. She was a real cousin, I could think of her like that. We had a lot of cousins in my previous life.

“I wanted to remain low-key, but you managed to find me.” I said, without any hesitation.

“Remain low-key?! You’re part of my family now, don’t ever say that! ”
Hera smiled at my words. I wanted to think positively, but when I looked at her face, Asia came to mind, it was difficult to talk to her.

But whatever the truth might be, it didn’t matter. I needed her to see me as a family member. It was easier that way.
Sorry Patro Nemea… uncle. I’ll fix everything later.

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