Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 29
Volcan’s appearance was every bit as fierce as I’d seen it in the game. A head taller than me, completely bald, dark-skinned, with forearms thick as another man’s thigh—
He looked like a barbarian king.
His personality, however, was quite different from his appearance.
“I hear this is your first time guarding the Rear Gate. It’s not particularly demanding work, so take it easy and just watch what I do today.”
His accent and manner of speech were odd, but Volcan was endlessly kind and gentlemanly.
If that was a barbarian, what was Mylo supposed to be?
“……Why do you look at me that way?”
“What do you mean?”
“The women just now looked at me the same way they look at you—”
“You’re imagining things. But is he always like that?”
I gestured toward Volcan and asked.
“Yes, Volcan enjoys helping others and being considerate. That’s why his nickname is ‘Easy Mark.'”
“Easy Mark?”
In the game, Volcan wore intestines like a necklace draped across his shoulders.
And that Volcan’s nickname was Easy Mark?
“Yes. Even though Group 42 is something everyone despises, Volcan volunteers with both hands raised. The others dump all the work on him and go to sleep. Those bastards.”
“They dump all the work on him and go to sleep?”
“Yes, they literally just go straight to bed. They’ve got him figured out perfectly. But a man should do his own duties. Those lazy dogs. Ptui—!”
Mylo spat with a sharp sound.
True enough, even now with two subordinates like us around, Volcan was gathering everything needed for the shift by himself. He was every bit the easy mark.
Just then, Mylo gave a low chuckle and added,
“Still, at least we’re on duty with Volcan. I was tired, but I’ll actually get some rest.”
“Didn’t you just say a man should do his own duties?”
“Ah, well, since we’re in the same unit, it’s fine.”
I was freshly reminded that Mylo was a rotten one.
Anyway—
‘They dump all the work on Volcan and go to sleep?’
I was beginning to understand why the Rear Gate fell so easily to Volcan in the game.
If the Rear Gate guards dumped their work on Volcan and went to rest, whether the gate opened or stayed shut depended entirely on what Volcan decided to do.
‘Is that an act he’s putting on?’
In any case, Volcan was an early-game villain, unlike the other villains in Group 42.
It would be best to convert him as quickly as possible.
But because the Principal was Hanswell’s trigger button—her psychological weak point—there was real danger in running around openly converting Group 42 villains without drawing attention.
If absolutely necessary, there was no help for it, but still, it was cleaner to first provoke Volcan into making a move against me.
‘I need to create an opening.’
The target was the barbarian Volcan. Scratch him, and his true nature would show itself quickly enough. Then I could convert him.
The method was simple.
‘I’ll do what Evangeline does.’
I nodded and followed Volcan.
The Academy at night had the complete opposite atmosphere from daytime.
Despite the moon being out, it was abnormally dark.
It was because of the Principal.
Witches hate the moon. They especially fear the full moon. The moon strips away a witch’s veil.
The Principal, being the mother of a witch, naturally hated the moon as well.
So the Principal had obscured the Academy’s moon.
That’s why the Academy’s nights were so dark.
‘It should be about time for a response.’
When I applied to the Guard Corps, I’d dangled a witch bait on the test paper that the Principal would bite on.
The bait should have already reached the Principal. That she hadn’t responded yet was likely due to her caution.
The Principal was extremely careful. So careful that she wouldn’t even leave her office except for events like the entrance ceremony.
Still, a response would come soon enough.
The Principal was a witch’s mother, after all.
Then we arrived at the Rear Gate.
The Academy’s Rear Gate was less ornate than the Front Gate, but it was still larger than the front entrance of most cities. Even at night, there were many people at the Rear Gate.
“All manner of provisions and supplies are transported through the Rear Gate. That’s why the Rear Gate is busier at night. There are two squads of elite Guard Corps stationed here, and four times as many regular guards.”
Volcan explained kindly. As he said, the area around the Rear Gate was a marketplace jumble of carts and carriages.
“Oh, Volcan! You made it!”
A guard spotted Volcan and waved with a smile. Then he caught sight of Mylo and his face immediately twisted.
“M-Mylo too.”
“What’s with that tone? You want a fight?”
“Haha, Mylo just came from the morning shift and must be irritable. I ask for your understanding.”
Volcan smoothly restrained Mylo, who was already raising his fists.
“Ahem, Volcan. I’ll ask you to handle the inspections. We’re short-handed today.”
“If you’re short-handed, you should run around yourself, you ass—”
“I understand. You can trust me. Haha.”
Volcan naturally took charge of Mylo and headed toward the inspection post.
The Rear Gate guard was organized into three teams. One team kept watch from atop the gate, overseeing all approaches. The other two teams inspected incoming carts and carriages.
We were assigned to one of the two inspection teams. An inspection team consisted of five elite guards.
“Oh, Volcan! Ick! Mylo!”
“This bastard—”
“Haha, you’re all working hard.”
“Ahem, Volcan. Inspections are busier than usual today, you see. On top of that, I’m not in great form—”
The elite guard who spotted Volcan began his pitch with obvious familiarity.
He didn’t even bother acting tired, openly grinning at the prospect of slacking off. Volcan simply nodded without objection.
“I’ll be watching, so take a little break if you need to.”
“Haha, that’s why everyone loves Volcan.”
The guards tittered and cleared the space.
This was my chance. I raised my hand and delivered a line worthy of Evangeline.
“Isn’t that a violation of the Duty Regulations?”
The guards looked at me with eyes that said, ‘Who the hell are you?’
“Five to a unit is regulation duty. If everyone leaves, isn’t that a breach of regulations?”
“What’s this punk’s problem?”
“Well, he’s new. He doesn’t quite understand yet—”
“A newbie got no business talking back.”
“Does the Duty Regulations not apply to a newbie? I’ll be reporting this to the Inspection Unit.”
The moment the Inspection Unit was mentioned, the atmosphere dropped like a stone. I could see the killing intent in their eyes.
A newbie on his first shift contradicting them and threatening an inspection report—it was a situation where fists would fly even without Mylo involved.
But Volcan—
“You’ve already grasped the Duty Regulations? Your dedication to the post is remarkable. We should all learn from you.”
He praised me, eyes shining.
It was decidedly the wrong reaction.
Volcan even bowed his head slightly as he stepped in to mediate.
“The Duty Regulations are sacred. Given the times we’re in, someone might come from above to check. Just in case, would you two mind staying? I can handle the inspections alone—you’d only need to keep watch.”
“Ahem, times being what they are, I suppose—”
“Resting up top or down here amounts to the same thing—”
The hostile atmosphere dissolved instantly thanks to Volcan.
And Volcan even gave me a thick thumbs up.
“That was excellent advice. Clearly, real talent has joined our unit.”
It wouldn’t be easy.
But there was still time.
“Since this is your first inspection, watch what I do today. If you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime.”
Volcan sent Mylo and me aside and began the inspection alone.
Volcan lay flat on the ground, checking even the underside of the carriage, not missing a single spot. Yet his inspection speed exceeded that of the neighboring team of five.
As Volcan began inspecting, the backed-up carts began flowing smoothly through.
The guards and merchants cheered as they watched Volcan.
“Volcan! Volcan! Volcan!”
Volcan’s name echoed from every direction.
Volcan didn’t boast or rejoice. He simply continued the inspections in quiet dedication.
I watched intently for any fault, but there wasn’t even the smallest gap.
‘This isn’t good at all.’
I tapped my fingers absently.
“What’s wrong?”
Mylo asked with a long yawn. I pointed to Volcan and asked,
“Did you notice anything odd about Volcan?”
“Huh? Odd, you say?”
“Like… being a barbarian.”
Mylo’s face hardened at the word ‘barbarian.’
On the Continent, calling someone a barbarian was quite the insult—as offensive as cursing someone’s parents.
“……Volcan isn’t that kind of person.”
Mylo spoke firmly, his face filling with displeasure.
“That kind of person?”
“Yes, though Volcan’s skin is dark like a barbarian’s, you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance. Even if Volcan’s skin is black, his heart is white.”
Mylo blurted out quite the racially charged remark without hesitation.
“I didn’t say that much. Anyway, you’re saying there’s nothing particularly wrong?”
“No, is there something I’m missing?”
Mylo asked in a very cautious tone, his face full of unease.
“I’m not sure, but you always seem to know something. ……Is there something about Volcan?”
I turned my gaze toward Volcan.
Volcan lay on the ground, checking the carriage underside.
He looked like a diligent guard. Nothing like a villain who would breach the Academy’s Front Gate and lay down a red carpet of blood and flesh.
Unfortunately.
“We’ll find out by poking him.”
“……Huh? Poking him—? Not ‘time will tell’?”
Instead of answering, I walked toward Volcan.
“He really isn’t like that—”
Mylo grumbled but unclenched his fists and followed behind me.
It wasn’t particularly reassuring.
* * *
‘Calling Volcan a barbarian—’
Mylo muttered inwardly as he watched Grave.
What is a barbarian?
Creatures who tear humans apart raw, who kidnap children and enslave them, who rape indiscriminately regardless of gender—barbarians are more demonic than demons themselves.
And yet Grave called Volcan a barbarian—
Of course, Volcan’s dark complexion did make him look somewhat barbaric.
But that was only appearance.
Volcan was refined enough to cut bread with a knife and eat it with a fork. He couldn’t possibly be a barbarian.
However, because it was Grave who posed the question, Mylo felt a flicker of doubt. ‘Could it be…?’
Then Grave stepped in front of Volcan. Volcan, who had been examining the carriage, turned his gaze toward Grave.
“Since this is your first day, just observe from behind. You’ve been on morning shift and must be tired. You can rest if you’d like. I won’t tell Scarlet, so don’t worry.”
Volcan spoke in a kind voice.
Rather than work the newbie, Volcan was telling him to go rest—
If that Volcan was a barbarian, what could you call Grave?
“I have a question.”
“Haha, you’re full of enthusiasm. By all means, ask away.”
But this was Grave, who had even discovered the republicans through unconventional methods. I was curious how he’d identify a barbarian.
Then Grave looked at Volcan and asked,
“Are you a barbarian?”
Mylo’s jaw dropped.
Asking if someone was a barbarian was even worse than cursing their parents. Among mercenaries, asking if someone was a barbarian was equivalent to issuing a duel challenge.
And he asked it straight out?
If it were Mylo, his fists would have flown immediately.
But Volcan didn’t throw a punch.
“No. People often misunderstand because of my skin tone, but I was born and raised in the Empire. I am an Imperial citizen.”
Volcan answered in his kind voice.
Of course it was Volcan.
There’s no way such a Volcan could be a barbarian.
Then Grave looked at Volcan and asked matter-of-factly.
His voice was monotone, as if he were simply asking after someone’s health.
The problem was, the content was anything but monotone.
“Then, are your parents barbarians?”
Mylo’s mind reeled.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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