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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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In any group, there’s always someone who stands out, for better or worse. Atlas stood out for the worse. In formations, he was always at the very front, otherwise, he’d be completely invisible. And those who dared to point this out usually ended up in the infirmary.
To Andy Robinson, and other trainees from the same period, Atlas Titan was a nightmare. Two years Andy’s junior, he was the worst mad dog in the Knights’ history. Ankle Hunter, Black Gremlin, Injustice Butcher, Physical Therapist, Etiquette Injector – the nicknames were endless. Andy himself had been on the receiving end of Atlas’s fists after a careless remark.
Until Atlas graduated from trainee status… even after becoming a full-fledged Knight, finding someone in his cohort who hadn’t been beaten by him was the harder task. His presence in the Royal Knights was unparalleled.
Even with a triple-digit count of infirmary visits caused by him, Atlas was never punished for violence. Those who reported him were forced to run laps around the training grounds for the offense of “whining after being beaten by a junior.” In the Royal Knights, strength reigned supreme. The very system that justified the seniors’ hazing now worked against them.
Rumors in high society claimed that the Titan family considered their eldest son an embarrassment, barely acknowledging his existence. If that was considered embarrassing, what did it make those who were constantly beaten by him?
I hadn’t intended to chase him. Annoyed by his blatant staring, I glared back, and he ran. Chasing him was instinctual.
That’s Senior Andy.
I recognized him mid-chase. The fleeing professor (presumably) was my senior from the Royal Knights. I racked my brain, trying to recall him. He wasn’t memorable. Which meant he hadn’t offended me during my trainee days. Back then, I was a volatile mess, ready to explode at the slightest comment about my height.
Why was he running? It was more than just avoiding eye contact. He wasn’t someone I had wronged significantly, as far as I could remember. Perhaps he was part of a group that ganged up on me, and I’d caught him in the crossfire. But those seniors were just trying to protect their pride, so I didn’t hold grudges.
“Senior, have I wronged you? Why are you running?”
“W-why would I run from you? It’s been years, hasn’t it? Four years?”
“About that.”
Four years meant we hadn’t seen each other even before I left the Knights. As an ordinary Knight, Andy’s rank and duties were different from mine.
“So why did you run?”
“Why did you chase me???”
Now that he mentioned it… why did I chase him? He ran like he had something to hide.
“I chased you because you ran.”
“I ran because you were chasing me!”
“Why would you be scared of me? That’s ridiculous… What are you doing at the Academy, anyway?”
“I… I retired… I couldn’t keep up anymore…”
“That’s a shame. You could have become a Master.”
“Did you eat something weird? Why are you being so nice?”
“You complain even when I’m being nice.”
I wasn’t just saying empty words. He had potential. If he continued training without incident, he could have reached Master level by middle age. He must have broken under the pressure of actual combat. It couldn’t be helped. The Royal Knights, being the elite force, were often deployed to dangerous situations.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be busy?”
Spring was the season for suppressing monsters and barbarians at the border. He shouldn’t have time to be here.
“Something important came up, so I resigned.”
“The Captain accepted your resignation?”
“Who knows?”
“Then you deserted. Can you handle the consequences?”
“That’s why I need your help, senior.”
“My… help?”
“You understand that my presence here is a secret, right?”
“Why should I…? I’ll be in trouble too if you get caught!”
As Andy remained uncooperative, the longsword embedded in the floor edged closer to his neck with a grating sound.
“This isn’t a request.”
Andy gulped.
The sword sliced through the stone floor as if it were pudding, stopping just short of his neck. Andy could cut stone with a sword infused with aura. But cutting stone so effortlessly, without aura… that was beyond his comprehension.
“Cooperate, and I’ll reward you handsomely.”
Andy groaned.
Watching Andy’s dejected figure shuffling away after his surrender was satisfying. It erased the earlier unpleasantness.
Finding a collaborator within the Academy… what a great start.
With a faculty member on my side, and one assigned to the freshmen no less, things were looking up.
Despite finishing her exam, Lucia Russell remained in the waiting area. There was no need to stay after the exam, as dormitory assignments were handled elsewhere, yet she waited by the entrance to the testing arena. The other students whispered amongst themselves, observing her after the earlier incident.
“Why isn’t she leaving?”
“Is she waiting to beat him up when he comes out?”
“Poor guy.”
She was waiting, but not for that reason. She wanted to apologize to the little person for her thoughtless words. Calling him “small” must have hurt, especially in a society dominated by taller beings. She would have been offended if someone called her “bear-like.” She regretted her insensitivity.
Though annoyed by their whispers, she didn’t bother correcting them. Social interaction was difficult. Like the waiting area, the testing arena was visible from inside.
The little person stood facing a new golem. This one had a pointed head, unlike the previous one. As the signal to begin sounded, a flash of light erupted from the golem’s head, followed by…
The golem splitting in two.
“?!”
I didn’t even see it…
“The golem self-destructed?”
“What happens to his test now? Is it over?”
“Lucky him…”
“I wish that happened to me… Some people have all the luck.”
To the other students, it appeared as if the golem had simply broken apart. But that wasn’t what happened.
The little person destroyed it!
He moved faster than Lucia’s eyes could follow, cleaving the golem in two before it could fully execute its attack. The clean cut filled her with confusion. The golem’s attack, the one it had used, was on a different level compared to the practice golem she faced. Such power…
It wasn’t a misunderstanding. The strength that had immobilized her was real. She felt ashamed for dismissing him as simply “cute.” Small people, if they didn’t maintain themselves, could easily become stout like dwarves. Yet, he maintained a perfectly balanced physique. It must have taken immense effort. And she had simply found him adorable…
What happened next was even more baffling. After staring at the bisected golem, and then briefly at the ceiling, he returned to the waiting area. Gathering her courage, Lucia called out to him.
“Excuse me…!”
But the moment the door opened, he vanished. Literally vanished. He moved with the same blinding speed he displayed in the arena, disappearing from the waiting area in an instant. Staring at the empty doorway, Lucia felt a pang of disappointment.
Does he hate me…?
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After my heartfelt conversation with Andy, I walked towards the dormitories. I had initially planned to observe the protagonist and enjoy some rest. My life as Atlas had been a relentless race, with little time for relaxation. But with Hayden Parker’s whereabouts unknown, I couldn’t afford to rest.
I had to find him quickly. This unresolved issue was a thorn in my side. I had considered the possibility of his absence. But I needed confirmation. If not, I had to prepare for the impending threat. If it couldn’t be stopped… thousands would die.
“Th-thank you for earlier!”
Lost in thought, I was startled by a voice. The red-haired girl, the presumed protagonist who was late to the entrance ceremony.
“Did you make it to the ceremony?”
“…Yes.”
She blushed crimson, probably remembering the countless stares she received when she burst through the doors during the performance. This was convenient. I could ask for her name. There was still a slim chance she was Hayden Parker.
What’s done is done.
That was Hayden’s catchphrase, a constant reminder of his failure to save his family.
“This seems like fate. Let’s introduce ourselves.”
“M-me?”
“I’m Atlas Ti-… No, Nemea. Atlas Nemea.”
“I’m… Amy Parker!!”
I inwardly cheered at her surname. The name was different, but the surname was right. Amy’s blush deepened, perhaps flustered by the sudden exchange. Did she share Hayden’s red hair because they were related? If so, did that mean Hayden hadn’t enrolled yet?
“Do you have an older or younger brother…?”
“Uh… I’m an only child…”
My head throbbed.
“That’s not possible… Any cousins…? Have you heard of Hayden Parker?”
“No… I… The only people I know with the same surname are my parents…”
I’m doomed.
There was no Hayden Parker. It was almost certain now. The protagonist… the Devil Slayer who was supposed to hunt demons… didn’t exist in this world. The first demonic invasion was imminent… and I had to face it without him?
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