The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

The family home I returned to after a long time looked unchanged on the outside.

The silence lingering in the mansion, cold and as massive as the memories, was unbearable.

Even after not having entered it once in the six years since I turned 17.

I came back because my parents had passed away, but I was the only one dressed in mourning attire.

During the time letters were exchanged, the funeral had already concluded, and since the mourning period was over, everyone else had moved on from the sadness of losing them. Only I, the late and foolish unfilial child, remained in grief, wearing black.

As I walked through the wide hallway, I tugged at my collar with my finger to relieve the suffocating tightness.

This mourning attire was tailor-made eight years ago, yet it still suited my body.

Every step in this familiar place brought back memories, most of which were unpleasant.

Like the times I was scolded by my father, or when my mother hurled sharp criticisms at me, and the whispers from the retainers gossiping behind my back.

They weren’t the greatest parents.

The mourning clothes felt constricting.

I tugged my collar again to loosen it.

No matter how much I adjusted it, the discomfort remained.

I had returned because I should, but the mansion was as uncomfortable as ever.

Even being in the middle of a dungeon swarming with monsters would be more comfortable than this place.

Once my business is finished, I should get out of here as fast as I can.

Is the closest option the knight order? Honestly, I’d feel more at ease turning myself in and ending up in the underground prison.

As I passed through the wide hallway, I faced a door so massive it overwhelmed my small frame.

For ordinary members of our family, reaching the doorknob would be an easy stretch, but for me, I had to reach over my shoulder.

Without knocking, I flung the door open.

The door swung open, revealing a room that greeted me with an understated elegance rather than extravagance.

This was the office where the heads of the family conducted their business, originally intended for the imposing figure of Atlas Titan, the father with a back as broad as the Pacific Ocean, who would sit there working with a commanding presence—but he was no longer of this world.

In the office meant exclusively for the head of the Titan family, a new owner was quietly handling documents, not flinching at my sudden intrusion.

“Seems like you fit right in.”

“Oh…”

Upon my presence, she paused her pen, raising her head.

The new occupant of the Titan office was a woman with not overly sharp features.

Though she lacked the imposing stature of our late father, she resembled him in her firmly shut mouth and slightly raised eyes, much like a mountain that had never known luck. And that resemblance extended to my own face as well.

Her bright golden hair, tied back for convenience, shone under the sunlight pouring through the window, casting her sapphire-like blue eyes upon me.

With the same hair and the same eyes, she was my sister, Metios Titan, born of the same womb.

The title and status of the Titan family were inherited not by the eldest son Atlas, but rather by his sister.

“It’s you, brother. I didn’t recognize you at first.”

“Jumping straight into a quarrel as soon as you see me—I see you want to have a sibling spat after so long?”

“A quarrel? I was just having a staring contest with the documents. How could you possibly notice?”

I felt a spark of irritation as she trampled my feelings, but knowing she had always been like this, I brushed it off as just a minor annoyance.

If a stranger had behaved like that, I would’ve thrown a punch right away.

“Congratulations. As a woman, and second-born at that, you’ve taken on the role of head of the family—your name will go down in history.”

“The scenery here is quite nice… but I’ve been too busy to sleep for three days straight. I’m so worn out, I could lay everything down right now.”

There was a deep fatigue visible in Metios’s eyes.

With both parents passing suddenly, she must have had a mountain of things to deal with. Considering our father’s stubbornness, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had spent three days straight managing things without stepping away from her duties unless it was absolutely urgent.

“And… I’m fine, but I worry about other people saying bad things about you.”

“I’m okay; those guys probably don’t even know I’m alive. You should be more concerned about yourself.”

Our parents’ sudden deaths would give people plenty to gossip about; they’d certainly take jabs at me for being the second child, especially since it was a woman inheriting the title above the eldest son.

Questions like why the eldest son didn’t take over and whether there was some kind of trick at play in their simultaneous deaths—they’d think it was strange from the outside looking in.

“This place was originally yours. Are you completely fine with me taking the head role?”

“You’ll do a better job than I would.”

My sister, with hands that appeared delicate like any noble girl’s, had blisters on her fingers that could only come from handling a pen not typical of noblewomen.

Ever since she ran off to join the knight order, I no longer had a place in this household.

I had thrown everything away and fled, and now Metios took my place.

So it was only right that she was the one sitting there.

Her expression showed she wasn’t entirely satisfied with my answer as she pouted slightly.

“Let me change the question. If I have to give you orders, would you feel uncomfortable?”

“Consider it a concession; I’ll also give you appropriate respect. But you know me, if it gets bothersome, I can always run away.”

As long as it wasn’t something truly ridiculous, I could agree to family requests.

“That’s a relief. I was worried you’d had a change of heart… Since that’s settled, I’ll speak without hesitation. As the head of the family, I hereby give you your first order. Brother, enroll in the Academy.”

“…Why?”

My expression soured at the completely unexpected command.

Should I run away now?

——————–

The world into which I’ve reincarnated is based on the web novel “Academy’s Devil Slayer.”

As the title suggests, the primary storyline revolves around the Academy.

The academy, training talented individuals expected to carry the shining future of the Empire, has countless applicants not just from the Empire but from across the continents… even from beyond the seas.

Among the Academy’s many youthful and ambitious humans, a perfect environment for demons to infiltrate exists, as the protagonist, who lost their parents to a demon’s brutality in childhood, fuels their hatred and hunts the demons lurking within the Academy.

The Academy, the center of the novel, witnesses all kinds of incidents and accidents, and although I’ve reached a higher level for a human, if I get caught in the midst of the main story involving non-human beings, one wrong move could result in losing my head.

Having raced forward until now, how unfortunate would it be if I got caught up with a Great Demon before even experiencing true peace?

For that reason, I really don’t want to get entangled with the Academy.

“Our family is a noble one, so we received a recommendation.”

“Just in case, are you telling me to enroll as a student? I wouldn’t mind if it were instructors or professors, but I don’t have anything to learn there…”

Whether it was voluntary or not after the reincarnation, I could honestly say I lived my life quite diligently.

Starting from the recognized knight order, I’ve reached a point where I can do more than just the basic tasks. Unless the instructors at the Academy were genuine masters, they couldn’t teach me anything.

Yet ironically, the masters I know in the Empire certainly wouldn’t be idle enough to teach at a place like that.

Though I can’t use magic properly, I’ve gained quite a bit of knowledge.

In the knight order, I also learned how to deal with mages, knowing that the best way to do so was to understand the workings of their magic.

I’ve also studied standard academics and refined cultural aspects since childhood.

Since what I learned before reincarnation applies well in this world, I had confidence that I wouldn’t be seen as ignorant anywhere, but being told to enter a place of learning threw me for a loop.

“There may be nothing to learn, but there are things you can gain. When did the Academy ever become strictly a place for learning? If it’s content you already know, that would be convenient for you.”

“Some people enjoy a carefree life of wandering and wouldn’t know that; however, with both of our parents suddenly gone, the state of our territory isn’t quite good.”

“Thinking of this as a vacation and going to gather some helpful information would be good.”

“How is that a vacation?”

Most people know that while the Academy appears glamorous on the surface, it is a social circle where powerful nobles shower recommendation letters so that even those with no talent can get in without taking exams.

Even if it isn’t purely an educational hub, other nations are eager for the opportunity to get in line at the Academy, where influential figures who will someday lead the Empire gather. Elves, dwarves, halflings, and beastfolk already see through the facade and are just sending token offerings.

“I’m technically a deserter, so I can’t be doing things they can trace me for.”

“How about entering under our mother’s family name? Just concealing the Titan name will help greatly.”

“Yeah, but that’s still… embarrassing… I’d be surrounded by rookies… If my fellow trainees saw me, they’d be rolling on the floor laughing.”

“You speak as if you have friendly peers within the knight order. Even so, it’s not like you’re officially enrolling under your own name, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Metios continued confidently, seemingly intent on getting me into the Academy.

“But you know… it’s a matter of feelings…”

“Here’s a draft of a research paper from a professor currently working at the Academy.”

As I continued to object and dodge, Metios pulled a document envelope from her drawer and handed it to me.

“About a method to boost physical growth using orc marrow…? What’s this?”

“It’s a project supported by a professor at the Academy on behalf of our family. I was continuing funding it for you, brother, as you’ve been concerned about your height…”

The paper contained research regarding enhancing the growth of the human body.

While it primarily focused on using orc marrow, deeper exploration into various elements that could stimulate physical growth seemed to delineate future possibilities.

As I skimmed through the thick document, I began to piece together the professor’s intentions based on shared keywords.

‘Though they haven’t named it yet… this feature is undoubtedly the Elixir of Growth.’

The Elixir of Growth must exist.

But could it be true that it had yet to be created?

Hadn’t it existed since the past but instead was something yet to be made in the future, something I just hadn’t discovered?

I couldn’t conclusively say this research would certainly become the Elixir of Growth, but the potential was clear.

“If you really can’t go, the only course left is to promptly cut off funding for this research given our territory’s recent issues.”

“You know how to negotiate with me well.”

“Of course, I’m your sister.”

Ultimately, I found myself yielding and deciding to enroll at the Academy.

In that instant, something I had thought I would never be involved with in this life was now set in motion.

——————–

I tugged at my collar again.

It was the third time already.

Whether she realized it or not, Atlas was evidently bothered by even the slightest constriction as long as he was within the mansion.

After this long time, my older brother stood tall, his stature still proud, but he appeared to be beleaguered.

Though his heart might be steadfast, his body was under duress.

This place was anything but good for him.

Atlas was a good older brother.

He never tried to vent the stresses he faced due to not being tall enough on someone weaker like me, nor did he crumble under the irrational hatred and mocking that poured onto him.

In the end, he had given up on our family and ran away, but still…

Having left the family, he should have stopped caring about his ‘height’ and simply lived his own life, yet even after escaping the clutches of the parents who tormented him, he still persisted in his efforts to grow taller.

‘I wish he would take a break…’

Seeing him still troubled made me decide to push for his entrance into the Academy.

The Academy would be a place where he wouldn’t have to strain himself.

Having undergone horrific training under the former head, Chronos, he was already beyond the level where he had anything left to learn in the Academy.

Besides, he would be entering off a recommendation.

With a backing from our family, even if he were to change his last name, there would be no one who dared to annoy him there.

All I hope is that, given this chance, my brother might finally get to relax a bit.

‘Why is there this nagging feeling of unease…?’

Despite sending him away to rest comfortably, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he might get caught up in some troubling incident.