The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

For three days, having no classes didn’t really change what I could do much; no events were taking place.

Even though going out wasn’t an option, the academy was unusually crowded as all the students were outside.

Even the café, which I had never seen filled, was packed with people.

“Is that her? The Sword Master’s…”

“Hmm… So if she’s here, does that mean she’s going to Clover Kingdom?”

“I guess so?”

“How did that engagement happen, anyway…?”

Thanks to some loudmouth making a scene, people were whispering while sneaking glances at River wherever he went.

It wasn’t even that amazing what they were saying.

Of course, it was fascinating enough to throw a comment here and there.

River was the kind of guy who would rush out to challenge anyone who talked trash about him, while I was the crazy one who would knock someone out without even bringing up a duel.

I learned from Sister Hera that rumors about us had reached not just the new students but even the upperclassmen.

“Atlas… Should we change our seats??”

Amy, seemingly bothered by my fidgeting, asked first.

Even though they were gossiping about River, I still felt really uncomfortable, even as a bystander.

I hadn’t gotten used to the prying eyes or whispers aimed at me, even if I wasn’t the focus.

“Sorry for being the cause…”

“… No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m just being unnecessarily sensitive… Let’s just grab our drinks and move.”

“Okay.”

After picking up our drinks at the café, we headed to the usual training spot.

Unlike me, who was a pressure cooker about to burst from the curious stares, River was completely unfazed.

‘I used to be like that…’

I couldn’t even remember when I started to feel the need to shield myself from those kinds of looks.

It felt like a memory from too long ago to even think about now.

“Ah, it feels like I can finally breathe~”

As we left the academy building, the crowd began to thin out.

Staying in the building just meant dealing with Clover Academy students, and I didn’t care about that at all since I had given up on my reputation and was already living like a ghost.

“Huh~~ The weather is nice again today.”

“The assignments aren’t too much, it’s peaceful.”

The weather was great with just the right temperature and bright sunshine. It was the perfect day for a nap in a good spot.

“Speaking of which, how’s Atlas doing with that height growth thing from last time?”

“Hmm… it’s a bit complicated, but I’ll summarize it for you.”

River mentioned while looking at the height record carved into a tree.

He had confidently claimed he’d shoot up, yet he was still stuck at 0.1. Naturally, it piqued curiosity.

“Since I’m way stronger than those who had the original effect, it’s not producing the same results, so I have to change to a stronger substance, but that’s not easy at all.

So now I’m even looking into legends. Apparently, something about the Essence of Werewolf…”

“The Essence of Werewolf?”

“Uh??”

Amy looked at him with wide eyes, but River seemed shocked hearing the term Essence of Werewolf.

It might be ridiculous, but was it that startling?

“It’s nothing, um… right, it’s nothing.”

River stumbled on his words, flustered.

Now that I think of it, Shimoa was supposedly known for its werewolf swordsmanship; I wonder what he knows.

“Eh?!”

This time it was Amy who suddenly gasped in surprise.

She hadn’t said anything; how did that come up?

“No, it’s nothing. Um… yes, it’s really nothing!”

Amy, just like River a moment ago, waved her hands in a desperate gesture that insisted it was nothing.

‘Why are they both acting like that?’

A bad feeling stirred within me.

It seemed like Amy hadn’t heard the legend about the Essence of Werewolf yet, and I was about to explain it when I sensed a presence approaching from a distance.

“Whoa, I think that’s her!”

“Yeah, I saw her!”

Hearty-looking men surged toward us.

They were unfamiliar students I hadn’t seen at the academy.

All of them were students from Clover Academy.

Considering they were from a neighboring country, there wasn’t really a racial difference, but they were all dressed uniformly as they entered a foreign land.

They soon surrounded us, curiously eyeing us… no, really they were staring at River.

“Is it true that you’re the Sword Master’s fiancée?”

“How did that happen? The Sword Master hasn’t even left the country…”

The group that had been a little distant tightened their encirclement around us.

Unlike the academy students, they didn’t seem to care about our reactions.

‘If they don’t move, I guess I gotta do something about it.’

“Atlas… If you hit them now, it’ll become a diplomatic issue! The Sword Master is here too…”

As I thought about swinging my fist to clear a path, Amy grabbed my arm.

Sure, it’s a diplomatic issue, but when has hitting a noble ever been a problem? If trouble arose, I’d just take care of whoever come after me.

It might sound like a brutal way to end the chain of hatred, but that’s how I’ve lived so far.

Then, from among the group, a sharp voice rang out.

“Clear out.”

A woman strode through, deliberately pushing her way past the crowd.

With elegantly styled purple hair, she appeared with a thin sword at her waist, dressed in an outfit different from the other Clover Academy students.

She was definitely the student representative.

I remembered the event continuing after the Sword Master had taken to the skies.

She parted the crowd and stood in front of River, crossing her arms as though rating him.

That attitude felt incredibly arrogant.

“Hmm… You don’t seem to have bewitched him with your beauty, so what kind of deal did you have with the Sword Master?”

The student representative, who was speaking very unpleasantly, was met with River’s lack of a smile.

And I felt the same.

Amy quickly grabbed us both by our arms as if we were about to leap into a fight.

“Let’s get away from here quickly…!”

Searching for a gap created by the student representative’s appearance, Amy desperately tried to steer us away from Clover Academy’s students.

But the student representative blocked Amy’s path.

“Where do you think you’re going? I’m the one speaking here.”

“We have business to attend to, so we’ll pass now…”

Watching Amy try to exit peacefully while River got dragged along, the student representative clicked her tongue and grinned wickedly.

“…So you’re the Sword Master’s fiancée; I thought you were something impressive but turns out you’re just a loose woman.”

–Smack!

The moment I heard those words, rage boiled in my head.

Did that witch just say what I thought she said?

“I don’t know what kind of price you paid to take her place as his fiancée, but I can’t accept you becoming a part of Clover Kingdom. Your dignity doesn’t match.”

I felt my blood rush to my head at her rude remarks.

“Ah… Atlas, stop!!!”

Amy grabbed my arm, sensing what I was about to do, but it didn’t halt me.

Even though I heard her words, my head was no longer processing anything.

My hand was pulled way back.

.

.

.

.

.

The punch I aimed at the student representative’s abdomen never landed.

“River?”

“I’ll take care of this.”

My fist was stopped just in front of River, who stood in defiance.

If I had been a moment slower in realizing this, River would have been sent flying.

That was a very dangerous act.

Did he really think I could stop myself?

River didn’t even look back at me.

“Got something you wanna say to me?”

As I was about to charge forward, another student stepped in front of River.

“Do you know who you’re being rude to? This is the heir of Duke Alban, Margaret Alban, who rules over the Suar Plains!”

“Pfft.”

Hearing his lengthy introduction, River merely smiled.

Margaret glared at him with fury in response to the laughter.

“What’s funny?”

“Not much, just that it’s kind of hilarious. Clover Kingdom is barely bigger than Prigia Principality and has a smaller economy, so bragging about being a duke here is a little rich, don’t you think?”

In an instant Margaret’s face turned a deep crimson.

They were boasting about their status on the kingdom side, but considering the overwhelming power difference between the Empire and the Kingdom, they were just frogs in a well hopping around outside.

“You’ve got nothing to lean on…!”

“I don’t have much to brag about either, but I’ve got confidence in my sword skills—if you’ve got so much to say, care for a duel?”

“…!”

The moment River adjusted the hilt of his sword at his waist, Margaret grabbed her own sword’s hilt too.

Right on the brink of a sword fight, a fierce energy radiated from both of them.

“… I’m leaving.”

“Four!!”

After a brief look of contemplation, Margaret ordered for her group to retreat.

Like they barged in, they quickly scattered out again.

‘I won that Qi Conflict. Thank goodness.’

Though aura doesn’t always correlate to actual skill, skilled investigators usually have a remarkable intensity.

Margaret, slightly overpowered by River’s aura, tucked her tail between her legs and fled.

Watching the Clover Academy students retreat, River clicked his tongue.

“Tch… Just insignificant pests.”

“That was impressive!”

After successfully driving Margaret away, River smiled brightly, playfully tugging at my face.

“Atlas, stop frowning! You look terrifying!”

He was clearly enjoying this.

He wanted praise for handling the tense situation without any fuss.

“Told you I could handle it, right?”

“Yeah, you’re amazing.”

I thought while watching Margaret flee in the distance.

… She was definitely carrying a sword at her waist.

I heard she was coming to an Exchange Meeting with the swordsmanship research club tomorrow.

‘I should consult with my sister.’

It seems like I have to attend this Exchange Meeting after all.

I tend to hold grudges.