The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

As I moved back to the village with Gemma and Amy, I noticed our group arguing about what to do around the Dragon Wagon.

“Hey, it’s Atlas! And Gemma too… everyone’s here!”

“Were you all safe?”

It seems they were worried since we had disappeared.

Just as I was about to explain the situation, Perda spoke to me with a serious expression.

“What happened? A skeleton dragon and a Gold Dragon suddenly burst out… that was Gemma, right?”

“Atlas!!”

“Ugh!!”

Lucia pushed Perda aside and hugged me tightly.

“Ugh… I’m glad you’re safe. I… thought something was wrong…”

Seeing the Dragon Undead scattering dreadful magic made Lucia tremble and tear up.

“It’s okay, let me talk too.”

“Everyone’s here, right?”

“Seems like it. Why do you ask?”

Confirming that everyone had gathered, I pulled out a teleport scroll from my pocket.

“A scroll?!”

Albiion raised his hand defensively as he sensed what I held, but I was faster in tearing the scroll.

As the scroll ripped, light flashed everywhere, and in an instant, the surroundings changed.

We all successfully teleported to the capital.

“Wha… what the!! If you’re going to use a scroll, let us know beforehand!!”

“It was annoying to stand there and explain in detail. Anyway, we made it, so what’s the big deal?”

Everyone was surprised when I suddenly used the teleport scroll after confirming we were all present.

The chef from the Titanic, who had been tagging along, seemed unable to believe that he had instantly arrived in the capital, shaking his head repeatedly.

“Did we really arrive in the capital?”

“Wow… that was simple.”

The five pillars were surprised that they didn’t have enough funds to buy a single teleport scroll, as they initially planned to enjoy a cruise on an even pricier airship.

“I was hoping to feel like I was traveling for once… but it turned into an interesting adventure, didn’t it?”

“It was chaotic, but it was an experience I wouldn’t have chosen otherwise.”

Although only two days had passed since we boarded the Titanic, it felt like I had gone through an event that would be challenging to encounter again in a lifetime.

A Gold Dragon wielding public authorities? When would I ever face such a thing again?

Gemma, the main party involved, had her head hung low like a criminal.

“So, are we all parting ways here?”

“I guess so. I’m heading back through the teleport gate.”

“Your father’s going to be mad…”

“It’s not our fault, right?”

Edgar took Albiion and headed toward the Magic Tower.

“I’m going to stick around the capital for a bit longer, so anyone who wants to hang out, just let me know!”

Perda said that and took the women she came with away.

“I…”

Lucia hesitated to speak.

By the rules, Lucia was also meant to take the teleport gate to Russell from here.

But after our schedule of at least a week ended up wrapping up in just four days, it was only natural to feel regret.

“Lucia, what are you thinking? We agreed to train together. Just until then, don’t worry about it. I’m going back to my family’s estate, so why not come with me?”

“Is it okay for me to go?”

“What’s stopping you? You said you’d help me train, but we couldn’t really do that on the airship. We should take this opportunity to do it right.”

That was the initial plan, but as Carlos and I reached an agreement, Lucia was already set on training hard in Blade Mountain.

She looked very happy when I said we didn’t need to rush back.

“….”

Shaara silently left as she saw everyone dispers.

Once everyone had gone their separate ways, only six of us remained.

“I guess we’ll have to stay here for the night.”

There were many places to stay in the capital.

I had my personal accommodation in the Knight Order’s barracks, and there was also the room that we were using as the Snow Country Exploration Team Hideout.

There were lots of high-end hotels I knew, so we could choose anywhere.

But wait, the Snow Country Exploration Team Hideout would still be occupied by them, so it might be best to avoid that place.

“Are you going there, Mister?”

Casey subtly hinted toward the barracks.

It felt like home since I had stayed there with the Knight Order, but it wasn’t suitable for three more people.

“We need to book a different place. What kind of trouble would I stir up taking them there?”

“You’re going to solve everything anyway, right?”

“What do you think I am?”

As I was pondering where to find accommodations, Gemma was fidgeting anxiously.

“Ugh… am I going to part ways here too?”

“Yeah, I forgot about you.”

Originally, I intended to leave her at the palace now that we’d arrived in the capital.

Seeing everyone finding their paths made her think it was her turn.

After thinking about what to do for a bit, some defenders came forward.

“Isn’t it too cruel to leave her behind? She helped us earlier, after all.”

“She came out because she was frustrated and now you’re saying she has to go back… it’s sad. Let’s keep her here a little longer.”

They started to appeal to emotions.

Since she provided considerable aid when we dealt with the Dragon Undead, I felt it was a bit unfair to just shove her away.

And she was receiving good training too.

“Then let’s put it on hold for now. I’ll arrange for accommodations, so everyone stay in.”

“Do we not have to go back?”

“I’ll think it over later, so for now just don’t cause any trouble and behave.”

Gemma nodded like a little puppy.

“What about you?”

“I have some things to take care of, so I’ll finish those first before I go.”

I wanted to rest comfortably as well, but there were too many things I needed to do.

I needed to return the borrowed Dragon Wagon to the guild in the capital and stop by the Knights Order’s barracks for an incident report.

Thinking through my trajectory, it made sense to return the wagon first since I wouldn’t have anywhere to park otherwise. So I decided to head to the barracks first.

There should be enough parking space there.

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“It’s late.”

“Sorry, I was with my group…”

As soon as I stepped into the Commander’s office in the Royal Knight Order’s barracks, those were the words that came out.

“Your group—are they students from the same Academy? Are they perhaps the children of Lemnos and Russell?”

“Yes.”

“Make sure to introduce them to me next time. I’ve seen them around, but I could hardly approach Edgar, that kid, since he was such a troublemaker,” he chuckled.

“Everyone went back to their territories right after arriving in the capital.”

“Oh, really? That was quick.”

When I mentioned everyone had vanished, the Commander grumbled and used Sword Control Technique to pull out a small dagger to offer me a chair.

“Sit down. Now, let’s get to the point. Tell me about today’s events as you experienced them.”

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“Hmmm…”

As I spoke about what I had witnessed, the Commander’s lips pressed together tightly.

-Boom, boom, boom

Behind us, the Commander’s great sword Astrafe spun at a remarkable speed as if it wanted to be used as a generator.

The things I reported must’ve been profoundly shocking.

“The nearby villages around the capital mysteriously vanished… and it’s all the work of the Demon Church. They even went as far as digging large tunnels to prepare for an attack on the Imperial Palace… and they seem to have many more undetected tunnels.”

If you wrote this down in the marketplace, it would be dismissed as absurd conspiracy theories, yet it was happening in reality.

The Commander frowned, evidently vexed by the situation.

“Heh heh heh… those damn bastards.”

“Commander, is something wrong…?”

“I suspected there were rats, but I never imagined they would strut around so openly. Not in a remote territory… doing this near the capital? And no signs at all? What a joke.”

The Commander’s anger was directed more at the Empire’s nobles than the Demon Church.

Knowing they had crept so close without him realizing was infuriating.

“Well done, Atlas. You’re the only one I can truly trust.”

He suddenly came over and started to pat my head.

“Has there been any report to me about this?”

“No. Hearing that a whole village has been burned to the ground for the first time. For such an incident, I should have received a report, but someone must’ve cut it off below me intentionally.”

His face showed signs of extreme fatigue that wasn’t easily visible to others.

“This is how I live. Meanwhile, those bastards wield their might under the Emperor’s trust and try to restrict me out of fear. The imbeciles, blinded by fear, tend to do things they shouldn’t. That’s why we need Shadows. Masters operating under the Shadows who can directly tell me what the scum can’t hide—like you and Wendy.”

“You said before that we should stop being Shadows, didn’t you?”

“That was sincere as well. Who would dare speak differently in front of the heir of the Titan House if you’re known as the Master?”

“Even if I step up, won’t I still be unable to stop the whispers behind the scenes like this?”

“That’s right. Wendy probably can manage it on her own. I was very tired when I said that.”

Leaning against me while stroking my hair, the Commander looked down.

“I wish someone would support me each time this happens.”

The look in his eyes sent chills down my spine.

“I was just joking.”

“Then… ”

“We will start extensive investigations centered around the places you mentioned, and at the same time, conduct surveillance. I don’t expect to catch everyone, but hopefully, a bloodbath will help them come to their senses.”

What sounded like a light comment from the Commander felt terrifyingly suffocating.

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After the investigation concluded, I headed over to the guild to return what I had borrowed.

“This matter can’t just be brushed aside. Tomorrow, I must request an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, and I will call the head of the Magic Tower too.”

It certainly was a considerable issue, but unease churned in my stomach.

I parked the Dragon Wagon out front and entered the Adventurer’s Guild when a familiar voice greeted me.

“You’re here, you really came!!”

“Gotcha, you damn captain!!”

“What?”

Suddenly, my vision went dark.

“Shut up!!”

“Arghhh????”

What welcomed me in the guild were the playful antics of my old comrades.