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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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Lucia joined us for our morning training. She had been showing interest since Amy and River’s hospitalization, and she must have gained their permission.
Lately, River and Lucia had been sparring often. River had asked her why she didn’t spar with Atlas, but she had refused, saying that “I hate holding a sword against Atlas”. She was likely intimidated by me. I didn’t try to push it.
So, River was now sparring with Lucia, who was now fully healed after being exposed to my tonics. And losing every time. They were not completely one-sided, she was at least keeping her pride intact. After losing again, they began chatting about their previous sparring match. “So… what happened?”
“Well…”
Huh?
They were talking about something else.
They were talking about the events from yesterday. “What are you guys talking about?”
“Ugh…?! Atlas?!”
“Did you talk bad about me?”
“N-no, we didn’t…!!”
They had seen me with the head of the Swordmanship Club, but hadn’t seen what had happened afterward. I blushed, listening to them discuss what had happened at the club’s office.
“We never heard that you had a family here… I want to know what happened….”
“Why do you want to know?”
“…I just want to know more about you.”
I began speaking before River could say anything.
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After that, we became closer. Hera was very friendly, acting like my sister and I accepted her as such. We were related, after all.
We were cousins, who shared some blood. I could treat her like family, even if the familiar scent and face reminded me of Asia.
One time, Hera suddenly changed her expression.
“Brother, have you thought about joining the Swordsmanship Club?”
“No, I won’t.”
Why would I join the club? The only thing I could get from there was connections. I could get connections from other clubs too.
“I saw you during your last duel. Your swordsmanship would fit right in.”
She must have not seen my first duel. It was understandable, it was during class. She praised me for my swordsmanship, but I couldn’t join for another reason.
“I have a bad history with your members…”
I had created too many enemies in the Swordsmanship Club. I had beaten their members. And if I joined, my relationship with the other members would be strained. She was nice, but it was a big problem.
“A bad history… you say?”
Hera frowned. She opened the door to the office. Her members were outside, some I recognized. Hera yelled, “Do any of you have complaints about him?”
“No…!”
“You hear that?” She smiled. ‘They would say no anyway…’
“Umm… if you’re still uncomfortable, I won’t push it.”
She looked disappointed again. She was honest and straightforward. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that she resembled Asia.
She also liked physical contact. She tried to pat my head often, but I flinched away every time, because it made me think of her.
“If you don’t like it, there’s a student exchange event at the Clover Academy. You can take a look at it.”
“It won’t change anything.” A student exchange?
‘I didn’t see that in the original story.’
There were no such episodes about student exchanges in the Devil Slayer story. But then I understood why. That was because of the incidents related to the greater demons in the original.
They were likely proceeding now, since that no longer occurred.
‘If the future is going to be different… that’s fine.’ It was going to be better, I hoped.
She patted my shoulder “You can try and see it for yourself! You can make a choice if you see what they have. You’re too skinny brother, eat something more nutritious and swing your sword, and you’ll grow up soon enough.”
She was smiling and I had to smile as I was too pained by her words.
I had done that for more than a decade, but to no avail. It was a well-intended advice, but it hurt.
We talked some more then parted ways.
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Lucia looked serious “It would be good for you to join, If you aren’t going to join another club. The Swordsmanship Club is one of the strongest at the Academy.”
“Who would I learn from? Their skill is trash.”
“Wow, you’re so confident.”
“Sports clubs have their own vibe, and I hate that.”
I couldn’t stand the hierarchical system, and if I joined and got stressed, I would cause another massacre.
It was best for everyone if I didn’t.
“By the way, it seems there’s a student exchange program with the Clover Academy.”
“Ah, I heard something about that.”
Lucia knew a lot of things, even though she didn’t seem like she would. She had lots of connections.
“…Apparently, the Empire’s Academy always wins so no one wants to do it… but Clover Academy asked this year.”
“Maybe they have a monster of a student, just like Atlas?” Amy said with a chuckle.
“…”
That’s when I noticed something. River’s shoulder twitched when she heard the words of the Western Academy. She had been acting strangely since the training session ended.
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After class, River came to me. “Atlas, I need to talk to you.”
“What is it?” She was acting nervous, fidgeting with her hands. It was cute.
“I… I wanted to know if we could train together tonight.”
“Training tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay…”
Why was she suddenly suggesting this? It wasn’t bad, though.
I had decided that I needed to make her and Amy stronger. They were still lacking in comparison to my goal.
If she wanted extra training, I would be happy to help her.
“I’m okay with that.”
“Thank you.”
She smiled brightly. “Why the sudden change?”
“Recently… I’ve been feeling insecure.”
River hesitated. “Everyone is strong. You, and Russell… Amy doesn’t seem to enjoy fighting but I know she is stronger than me.”
River and Amy’s first connection was due to River stopping some nobles from hurting Amy. She had seen Amy as weaker than her, but it had changed recently.
Amy hid her strength to prevent herself from being targeted, but River could tell she was not weak.
What had she thought when she realized that? She was not being happy, so she wanted to train more often.
“I’m a bit average. I’m not weak, but not as strong as you, either. I’m always with people who are much stronger than me, and that started bothering me.”
“That’s a good mindset. Let’s begin today.”
“Yes! I’m going to prepare.” I was happy that she had made up her mind.
She went back to the dormitory with a smile. I needed to also work on their ‘soul’ if I wanted them to grow stronger.
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The Clover Kingdom, located west of the Empire. It was a small country, but it had survived because of one important reason. They had a Master.
“So, how’s the student exchange going?”
“The Empire’s Academy has accepted, we are coordinating schedules.”
“I will be going as an advisor, that was settled, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
A man in the Clover Palace was hearing a report about the upcoming student exchange. He was a middle-aged man, he looked like a nobleman, but was sitting on a throne. The man who was giving the report was the actual King of Clover, Arnuvo III.
He was wearing the crown and holding the scepter while the old man who was sitting on the throne was only wielding a sword, he was Adolf Roang, a master, who is called the ‘Sword Saint’ in the kingdom.
He was stroking his chin “My fiance is hiding in that academy… I will be able to see her now.”
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I forgot to mention last chapter but it feels like author pulled out “Asia” from nowhere. Who is this? How are they related to Atlas? Why does he not like being reminded of them? Is it his mom?