The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

The Prigia Principality has always been bustling with people, but recently, it seems even more crowded.

The residents of the principality didn’t even need to explain why; they just knew.

Surely, it must be because of the Golden Ball party happening a week from now.

For those not in the inner circle, it was a rare opportunity to make a good impression on the Golden Ball—an event where it was hard to even catch a glimpse of his face.

Only 300 invitations to the party were sent out from Prigia. Out of those, 50 were personally selected by the Golden Ball, while the remaining 250 were carefully filtered by his vassals to invite those appropriate for the occasion.

There were rumors of people selling invitations separately, but generally, being on the guest list was quite an honor one could boast about anywhere.

It meant that one was deemed worthy enough to attend the Golden Ball’s party.

Elves from the forest, nobles from the Beastman Alliance, princes from the Five Kingdoms Coalition, and leaders of various major guilds—all the influential people of the continent were gathered, yet looking closely, they were all chosen to fit Prigia’s preferences.

Ultimately, this party was a strategic move to fortify and elevate the stature of Prigia.

“The Church’s carriage is here!”

“Look at the banner; it’s the Saintess!”

Of course, the Church was always among the invited, typically only attended by saints or bishops, but it seems a rare occasion has arrived where a Saintess will be present.

—————

The next day, we all gathered and set off toward the Prigia Principality.

Having been there before, I didn’t even need to check the map.

As soon as we moved a bit, Prigia appeared before us in an instant.

“Are we really going to walk from here?”

“Yeah, since Lucia’s entering too, we should give them a chance to prepare on that side.”

While others might not have known, among us, Lucia was one of the five pillars.

We could have entered the principality directly, but it would be better to go through the checkpoint.

No matter how psychopathic Prigia was, they’d surely put in extra care since a friend’s daughter was visiting.

But just five minutes later, I regretted that thought.

About 30 minutes after we decided to enter the principality, we hadn’t even moved from our spot.

If viewed from above, wouldn’t we look like a swarm of ants?

“Whoa, there are so many people… Are all these folks trying to get into the principality?”

“Looks like they’re gathered for the party.”

At first, I thought I was imagining things.

A sea of people filled the road to Prigia.

I kept looking back, wondering where the end of the line was, but couldn’t see it at all.

As it turned out, not only was there a high volume of people trying to get in, but it seemed the checkpoint was conducting a very thorough inspection.

From a distance, I could see many people being turned away and clustered around, looking defeated.

In the past, while there had been long lines for merchants trying to enter the principality, it had never been this jammed.

“It seems they’re checking a lot more rigorously because of the party.”

We, who just arrived, were dumbfounded at the length of the remaining line, while those in front showed clear signs of exhaustion from the long wait.

There were even a few people setting up folding chairs and dozing off since it would inevitably take a while.

“Hey~ I’m selling folding chairs, jerky, and water!”

Some were selling snacks and chairs in the middle of the chaos.

“Is this guy cutting in line?”

“This was my spot originally!!”

“What nonsense is that!”

“Can’t you see the bag I left here?”

“Are you talking about that ragged hat? Do you think just because you threw that down, I’d say, ‘Oh, sorry, I’ll step aside now’??”

Disputes were breaking out in various corners.

With the line stretching longer, arguments over cutting in line and saved spots were rampant.

Waiting aimlessly is clearly not suited for anyone’s temperament.

So I decided to ask those waiting in front how much longer it might take.

“How much longer do we need to wait?”

“Hmm, what? I didn’t even notice there were people behind me!”

The merchant who’d been sitting and napping jumped up in surprise.

“Ugh… I reckon you’ll have to wait at least six days to get in. Are you okay with that? You don’t seem prepared…”

“… Six days?”

“Right. I’ve been waiting here for about two days, so that sounds about right.”

To wait for six days in this desolate place?

I had received an invitation, and with the party set for a week away, six days would mean I’d be late.

“… Yeah, I guess I need to find another way in.”

“That was quite the instant resolve.”

“Six days seems excessive! We’ve gotta go on!”

Just as I was about to act on that thought, I suddenly felt a carriage coming up behind me.

At least I wasn’t the last one in line, I thought, but then I sensed something odd.

The carriage didn’t stop.

At this point, it should have halted behind me.

Then, right after, a carriage zoomed past me and sped toward the checkpoint.

“What on earth is that?”

Moments later, the carriage passed through the checkpoint without a hitch.

“Isn’t that cutting in line??”

“Those people already went through the inspection beforehand. If you look at the back of the carriage, there’s the Prigia mark, right? That’s their pass.”

“Passed the inspection beforehand? Where’s the logic in that?”

“Sure, that’s impossible for normal folks. Only people with confirmed identities get that treatment.”

To get inspected in advance and then just stroll in whenever they wanted? Where do they even do that?

But the moment I heard they were selling those passes, it clicked.

“If that’s the case, I should have set that up in advance.”

“Considering the gold it would cost to get one of those passes, that makes sense.”

“Huh??”

“It’s the Church’s carriage!!”

As soon as I heard the carriage rolling in, the atmosphere became buzzing.

A delegate from the Church… I wouldn’t be surprised if the Golden Ball invited a bishop or saint!

“That carriage hasn’t got a pass, but it will definitely pass through, right?”

“Probably. Just bearing the Church’s flag is enough to make it more than a pass.”

Indeed, the Church’s carriage had no pass.

No matter how prestigious the Golden Ball was, it seems they hesitated to sell passes for the Church.

They likely understood that maintaining good relations with them yielded far greater benefits.

“Should I ask that guy for a ride?”

“Cough, me?”

“You know people in the Church.”

“Hmm… That’s true but…”

If someone I knew happened to be passing by, I’d ask them for a lift without a second thought. Sadly, my connections within the Church were limited.

I knew the Pope, McKinto, the Saintess, and a few others, but most didn’t recognize me.

“I’d rather not intervene unexpectedly if I don’t even know who’s riding.”

So, I decided to remain quiet.

The Church’s carriage passed us by.

“Sigh… Should I wait for the others?”

“Others? Who’s that?”

“What if more people are passing by?”

As I was wrapping up my thought, the carriage that just passed us suddenly stopped.

The curtain was drawn back, the window opened, and a veiled figure peeked out.

“Ugh!”

Just by that sight, I could tell who it was.

There was only one young woman in the Church with a bishop-level title.

“Oh dear! Atlas, what are you doing there?”

Saintess Carmel greeted me as she recognized me.

“Saintess, it’s not safe to show your face like that.”

“I’m sorry, Johan, but I’m just so happy to see familiar faces.”

At that moment, one of the holy knights following the Saintess approached the carriage and asked her,

“Do you know him?”

“Yes, we became friends at the Academy. It’s only for a moment, so it should be fine, right?”

Carmel slightly lifted her veil and winked at the holy knight.

I could see the serious knight’s face muscles relax a moment.

“Uh… Ahem!! Understood. But please be mindful not to take too long.”

The knight quickly stepped back, fixing his expression.

“Haha, he may seem strict, but he’s quite compliant, you know?”

I suppose that’s because you asked him.

Without needing to mention it, Carmel was smiling brightly, self-aware.

—————

After I explained the situation, Carmel’s face brightened.

“Ah~ You received an invitation, but the line is too long, and you’re worried about getting in? Then let’s go together! I’ll vouch for you, and we’ll be through in no time.”

“No, it’s alright. I can get in on my own.”

While the offer was incredibly tempting, riding in the same carriage as Carmel was a big concern for me.

Even with the window open, the sweet scent of flowers wafting inside was hardly something I could overlook—imagine how intense it would be if I got in.

Even River, with his good sense of smell, was trying to avert his face.

“Hehe, if you just go in and get caught later, it’ll become troublesome, you know?”

“That’s true. I have an invitation, so I can just go in, right?”

“The invitation serves a similar purpose, but only the invited person can enter with it. Your companions will have to wait… Are you okay with that?”

That hit hard.

If it were just me, I could manage somehow, but it was unbearable to leave my companions stranded.

“Then… I’ll rely on you.”