The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

The impression is strongly that of a prodigy.

He kept his black hair at shoulder length for easier management.

His face wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t beautiful either, just an average one sprinkled with freckles.

Even his clothes gave it away.

He wore neat-looking attire, but it had seen better days.

It seemed like he had been wearing clothes he bought to avoid looking shabby when starting school for several years.

“I’m Rio. I’m in my third year, and this is my third Hunting Festival. Want to team up with me?”

“With me…?”

“Yes!! It’ll be hard to find a team member as good as me. I’ve maintained a top ten ranking since enrolling… I even made it into the top five in the last Hunting Festival. What do you think? Sounds good, right?”

Suddenly asking to form a team left Amy quite flustered.

She searched her memory but could not recall seeing a senior named Rio.

“Have we met before…?”

“No, it’s our first time meeting.”

“Then could you tell me why you’re asking a complete stranger to join your Hunting Festival team?”

Why would someone propose a team-up for such an important festival to a person they didn’t know?

Having a teammate is crucial in the Hunting Festival.

Even if they’re hunting prey in a controlled environment, the Black Forest is still the Black Forest.

If you think too loosely, accidents are bound to happen, leading to serious injuries.

Given that bonuses and cash prizes are at stake, this is a matter requiring careful selection, so Amy wondered what kind of person would make such a sudden offer to a stranger.

If there was a valid reason, she would consider participating willingly, but otherwise, she planned to decline politely.

Just then, laughter echoed behind Rio.

“Hey, don’t bother the junior.”

“Don’t you guys have anything better to do? Stop following me around!”

A few students were mocking Rio.

From the color of their brooches, it looked like they were all third years, just like Rio.

They were all recommended students, while Rio was an entrance exam student.

“Hey, new student, let me give you some advice: teaming up with him will definitely make you regret it. He’s been rejected by twenty people in the same year, and now he’s trying to grab someone clueless like you.”

“No way!”

“Way! Want me to list the names of the twenty students that rejected you?”

“They all refused because those idiots kept getting in the way… I have no problem with that!”

The senior student, sneering, seemed very despicable to Amy.

How many people could look at that scene favorably?

It was okay to say Rio had been rejected by students in the same year.

But being able to specifically recall who had rejected him felt very unpleasant.

Amy recalled a moment earlier.

Rio had bumped into her while being chased by someone.

‘Did he follow me around to keep track of things? What a creepy person.’

Could it be he had spent all day today being obstructed by that group?

Thinking he had to flee into a maze-like general store to escape them made her feel quite sorry for his situation.

“Do you really think you have no problems? Not knowing your place is also a crime.”

The first student stepped forward.

“Hey, do you really think talking like that will help you win? Wake up.”

The student took a step closer to Rio, who stumbled backward.

As he took steps back, Rio’s complexion grew paler.

“Yeah, just let me be. I should be packing up my things and leaving the Academy since my scholarship has been cut. Ugh.”

“How could you say that? If I don’t see you now, when will I see you again?”

“You think you can act high and mighty just because you’ve got decent grades? That’s rich. You really think you can elevate yourself above us?”

As the shelf drew near, the student’s hand stretched out and poked Rio’s shoulder.

In a normal situation, it would just be a brief bump, but Rio’s condition was far from normal.

Pushed by the shoulder, he lost his balance and fell backward against the shelf.

-Crash!

“Ugh!!”

He likely didn’t hit his head, but he collided with the shelf, causing various items inside to tumble out.

“Stop it now!”

This was too much.

Unable to watch any longer, Amy decided to confront the third years, knowing it might lead to conflict.

[b][Detection of Shock, Activating Protection Protocol][/b]

Suddenly, the shelf split in two, and a bulky golem emerged from inside.

[b][Reason Identified: Student Conflict Detected… Students are advised to exit promptly.]

“What’s wrong with this golem??”

[b][Resistance Will Result in Forced Enforcement.]

“Whaah??”

As Amy didn’t comply, multiple hands attached to the golem grabbed the students in front of her and lifted them off the ground.

“You dumb tin can, put me down right now!! Do you know what family I belong to?!”

“Who’s controlling this?!”

The students who had been seized struggled, but the golem’s grip proved too strong to escape.

“Let’s use this chance to run.”

“Uh…!!”

In that brief moment, Amy took hold of Rio and ran out of the maze-like general store.

——————————————

“It’s cold water.”

“… Thanks.”

After avoiding the commotion in the general store, Amy supported Rio to a secluded garden.

Rio held a wide bottle cap that could serve as a cup, took a sip of water, and slowly regulated his breathing.

His earlier frantic breaths gradually calmed down.

“What… just happened…?”

“… I showed my junior an embarrassing side… I’m sorry….”

Rio couldn’t meet her gaze, likely embarrassed by what had just transpired.

“Were you asking me why you wanted to team up with me?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been rejected by all my classmates… so I was just looking for anyone to join me for the Hunting Festival…”

“Your skills seemed fine, but you were turned down by everyone in your own year…?”

It was hard to believe he truly was rejected by everyone.

If what Rio had said about his abilities was true, he would be quite skilled, so why was he without a teammate?

“I’ve been marked by the professors… the nobles called me arrogant. I should’ve just been satisfied with barely maintaining grades good enough for a scholarship, but I aimed for the top of the year…

I keep getting warnings for being too arrogant, and now I’m completely out.”

“I should have just been satisfied with studying and getting a scholarship in the Academy…. The professors seem to be targeting me on purpose, giving me only C’s for all my assignments.

I don’t stand out among other students, but they won’t even meet with me. At this rate, I won’t get a scholarship….”

For entrance exam students, not getting a scholarship would lead to only one outcome.

That is, ‘dropping out.’

Academy tuition isn’t free and is quite expensive.

It’s a reasonable amount for a lord who possesses a territory, but for common citizens, it’s a sum they can’t even dream of.

While those working for the country get their tuition funded by the Empire, commoners have no such privilege.

Instead, entrance exam students must study hard to earn scholarships to merit their place at the Academy.

If they fail to pay tuition, they’ll first be kicked out of the dormitory and prohibited from entering Academy buildings, forcing them to exit via the bridge.

“I thought that if I were capable, I could manage even with a humble background. I had no idea everyone was merely tolerating me….”

Rio offered a weary smile.

– Why are you in shock? You almost fell victim too.

Lost in thoughts, his companion snapped him back to reality.

‘That’s true…’

Upon reflection, Amy realized she’d nearly fallen victim to the recommended students several times.

On the first day of school, having become more recognizable, many students sought to approach her.

– You were told to just take it easy when the nobles were annoying you. Pushing too hard would only lead to breaking.

There were times when it was hard to endure, but the companion had suggested she simply endure.

After all, since all those coming at her were fools, they’d eventually leave after satisfying their sense of superiority.

Back then, she had a hard time understanding why she should just endure, but now it all made sense.

– If you’re going to fight, do it thoroughly like Atlas—be prepared to destroy everything. The moment you show any weakness, you’re as good as eaten. You probably can’t do that, so keeping the peace is the easier way.

Amy realized how lucky she had been.

If River hadn’t stepped in… if Atlas hadn’t drawn all the attention to himself…

The thought alone was terrifying.

She could have managed to survive somehow, but she wouldn’t have been able to enjoy her time at the Academy as she was now.

“You might not know me, but I’ve seen you once or twice while passing by.”

“Me?”

“The small one you hang out with… I doubt there’s anyone at the Academy who doesn’t know them.”

“Don’t say things carelessly. If you heard that nearby, they would’ve come running immediately.”

That sounded dangerous, so she quickly intervened.

If Atlas was nearby, he’d have dashed over at the first word he heard.

“Oh… really?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be careful….”

Realizing how serious Amy was, Rio covered his mouth with his hand.

“Right… teaming up with someone like me will only bring you trouble… I’ve been quite the jerk…”

Rio smiled resignedly, as if having given up on everything.

He wanted to form a team with her as much as possible, but worries were just as strong.

What kind of demerit would arise if he teamed up with someone constantly bullied by all third years?

Would they still participate in the Hunting Festival?

As he pondered, his companion spoke again.

– Amy, team up with that person.

‘Are you recommending him? Why??’

– If you don’t team up now, you might end up making a deal with a demon.

‘…………. Really?’

– If you don’t find a teammate, what kind of future do you think awaits him? You’d just be waiting to decide when to submit a withdrawal notice. And that fragile mindset is the easiest target for demons to infiltrate.

Hearing that, she felt she could no longer refuse.

This was practically a threat telling her to team up.

Since not doing so could lead to Rio potentially becoming a fallen human, it would likely fall on Amy to handle that mess.

“… Let’s team up.”

“Really??”