Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 57
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 57
Logan had never been fond of Raivenhardт, the principal.
The public called Raivenhardт the most honored knight, but to Logan, he was simply an unbearable fool.
Just as he was now.
“Well, how’s your body?”
“A chasm opened in the Central Library.”
Ignoring Logan’s words and broaching his own topic, Raivenhardт watched Logan’s brow furrow sharply.
“I don’t understand why people call such an unsociable bastard the most honored knight. Tch.”
“Honor and sociability have nothing to do with each other.”
Still at odds, Logan clicked his tongue and asked again.
“So, a chasm opened?”
“Yes. When the vice-principal’s people moved, I thought the vice-principal’s side had recovered the chasm, but that wasn’t the case.”
“Did the board chairman eat it?”
“The board chairman doesn’t enter a chasm unless he has no choice.”
“Then?”
“So I came to you.”
Raivenhardт regarded Logan with an impassive gaze.
“Did you enter the chasm?”
Logan’s brow creased instantly, but Raivenhardт continued without expression.
“The vice-principal would have moved at once. If someone like that couldn’t enter, it means you crossed the chasm in record time—and there are only a handful of people capable of such a feat.”
“Why would I go into that shithole.”
“I see. Then don’t go in.”
Raivenhardт stood up without expression, as though he’d said it once more just to be sure.
Still an unbearable fool.
“What the hell is in that chasm for everyone to be so desperate they can’t enter it?”
At that, Raivenhardт turned his head to look at Logan. His eyes, which had once been transparent, felt strangely murky.
“I don’t know.”
“…You don’t know?”
“Some say there is a god. Others say there is truth. As for me—”
Raivenhardт added flatly.
“I found a star.”
Raivenhardт turned and left.
Watching his retreating back, Logan placed a cigar between his lips.
‘If it wasn’t the principal, vice-principal, or board chairman, then who closed the chasm?’
Several names came to mind.
Still, the principal going out of his way to visit bothered him. It meant someone at least Logan’s level of strength was involved.
Another Sword Master in the academy?
Just then, Raivenhardт, his hand on the doorknob, turned back to Logan.
“Was his name Grave?”
“Yes.”
“Quite capable.”
Raivenhardт spoke briefly and left through the door.
‘Quite capable’—
It sounded like faint praise, but Raivenhardт was stingy with compliments. Even when speaking of the Knight of Radiance, he’d said only “usable.”
For such a man to say ‘quite capable’ of someone—
‘Definitely someone from the Intelligence Bureau.’
Logan exhaled cigar smoke and smiled contentedly.
* * *
‘The principal, Raivenhardт.’
Raivenhardт was the most honored knight. He even earned the title of King of Knights.
The problem was his corruption by the Foreign God.
Because of that corruption, the most honored Raivenhardт falls to the lowest depths.
The reason he is called the Apocalypse Star.
In the game, preventing the corruption of the principal, vice-principal, and board chairman was impossible.
The three would inevitably fall no matter what.
This time was no exception.
The three had already absorbed the Fragment of Foreign God.
The principal was certainly strong. His strength was so great it was impossible even to gauge.
Originally, I hadn’t planned to confront the principal directly.
It was more efficient to have Luna, who contracts with a great demon, or Taros, whose Black Magic stat was S+, face him instead.
But not now.
‘A chasm opened.’
By consuming the Fragment of Foreign God from a chasm, one could raise a stat blocked at S to S+.
Of course, a considerable amount of Fragments would be needed—
‘But Evangeline is here.’
By following Evangeline, who was essentially a chasm generator, I could monopolize the chasms.
Then, eventually—
I snapped my fingers lightly.
In any case, confronting the principal allowed me to confirm that he was monitoring Class 42.
He really was monitoring Class 42.
‘I was right to be cautious.’
I opened the office door and let out a low hum.
Hanswell greeted me warmly the moment he saw me. There was a curious note of anticipation in his expression.
“Grave! You must be exhausted! Did you run into any squads causing trouble on your way?”
“I didn’t.”
“Shame—I mean, fortunately.”
Hanswell, who had been smiling, hardened his expression. His disappointment was plainly visible.
He seemed to hope I’d absorbed another squad.
Because rumors about me had spread through the Elite Security Corps, no one was foolish enough to challenge me anymore.
It would be difficult to bring in more squads through force now.
But I was certain the remaining squads would join of their own accord soon enough.
It was thanks to Hanswell’s exceptional task distribution.
Originally, the Elite Security Corps’ task distribution had been terribly inefficient, so Hanswell’s ability stood out all the more.
In fact, squads receiving assignments from Hanswell saw their evaluations improve dramatically. If things continued like this, the remaining squads would surely come voluntarily requesting his task distribution assignments.
“Go on in and rest.”
“No, sir. I have the night shift.”
“Night shift?”
“I volunteered to support the New Student Welcome Ceremony at the request of the Student Affairs Department.”
“The Student Affairs Department requested it?”
“I volunteered.”
“You volunteered? …Does the Student Affairs Department know about this?”
Hanswell looked at me with a burdened expression, clearly brimming with expectation.
“I’m joking. It’s just, I thought if the Security Corps and the Student Affairs Department collaborated, it might create some good synergy.”
For a joke, my eyes were far too serious. Something felt decidedly off.
“I’ll do my best.”
I brushed it off and headed further into the office.
Inside was a large, bald man—Volcan.
Volcan was a villain who appeared early in the game.
There was an urgent need to reform him.
“Perfect timing. Let’s eat dinner together.”
“I prefer to eat alone—”
Volcan gave an awkward laugh. It was a polite refusal.
I ignored it and grabbed his shoulder. His muscles were so firm they felt like leather armor.
Just then, Milo swiftly approached and grabbed his other shoulder.
“Let’s eat together, sir.”
His sense of timing had become quite good.
Volcan had no choice but to nod.
“Very well.”
We headed straight to the Security Corps Cafeteria.
As I entered, several security personnel saluted. I accepted their salute naturally. Volcan looked at me as though bewildered.
I ignored him and filled my tray with bread, stew, and meat. It was a similar menu to what I’d eaten yesterday.
Volcan’s tray held only one piece of bread, one slice of meat, and a small portion of stew.
“Is that enough for you?”
“This is the standard portion.”
Volcan stared intently at my tray as he answered. Mine was piled high with jerky and bread.
“This is my standard portion.”
“Ha ha, enjoy your meal.”
Volcan withdrew his fork and knife and began eating. It was quite fastidious.
What was it that made Volcan transform into a Barbarian?
I needed to understand that to reform him.
I asked him directly.
“Any troubles on your mind lately?”
“…Troubles, you say?”
“Anything. Even trivial things are fine.”
“Ha ha, nothing in particular.”
No matter how many times I asked, no worthwhile answer came.
Frustrated, I clenched my fist and then released it. That’s when some sickly-looking men approached.
Hanswell would be pleased, I thought, and loosened my fist—only the men’s target wasn’t me.
“Hey, Barbarian. Who said you could eat in the cafeteria?”
A blonde punk tapped Volcan’s shoulder. Volcan’s expression hardened.
“No wonder. I said it smells like livestock in here.”
“You’ve ruined our appetite, you damned Barbarian.”
The others surrounded Volcan and hurled insults. Yet Volcan simply listened silently.
Milo quickly explained.
“They’re from Squad 13. They’re always picking fights with Volcan, but because they have connections with the Inspection Squad, we can’t touch them easily.”
I casually picked up a piece of jerky. At that, their gazes and Volcan’s turned toward me.
I pointed the jerky at them and asked.
“Are these your troubles?”
“What?”
Their faces twisted.
“You little bastard—”
Milo was about to rise as if prepared, when one of them pointed at me.
“Wait, that’s him.”
“Him?”
“The guy who beat up the squad leaders and unified the Security Corps!”
“Eek!”
The startled men exchanged nervous glances and bolted away like cowards.
“Seems you’ve become quite famous, sir?”
Milo wiggled his eyebrows and asked. He looked thoroughly delighted.
I clicked my tongue and turned my attention to Volcan.
On the continent, being called a Barbarian was worse than having your parents insulted. And it came from a fellow security officer.
It should have made his blood boil, yet Volcan just laughed.
“You’re really okay with that?”
“Ha ha, it’s fine.”
“You were just called a Barbarian and you’re fine with it?”
Volcan’s mouth twitched. Milo coughed awkwardly and glanced at me sideways.
Still, Volcan seemed genuinely fine with it. Now I was curious.
Why would he bother being a security officer if fellow members treated him like a Barbarian?
“Why are you a security officer?”
I asked bluntly.
Then Volcan carefully opened his mouth.
“I wanted to change how people see me.”
“Change how people see you?”
“Elysium Academy brings together talent destined to lead the continent. If I can improve perceptions here, won’t things eventually change? Of course, as a security officer, my influence is limited—”
Volcan trailed off, laughing. It was a shy, innocent smile that didn’t match his large frame.
Working hard despite discrimination for the sake of improving attitudes toward Barbarians—he was a person of genuine character.
What on earth could turn such a Volcan into a Barbarian villain? I had no idea.
Then Volcan continued.
“Of course, I have my limits, but my brother is different.”
“Your brother?”
“Yes, my brother. He just enrolled as a student this year. He’s far superior to me in every way.”
Volcan’s face brightened, and he laughed openly. I, on the other hand, frowned.
The game I’d been reincarnated into was a Romance Fantasy.
Fundamentally, all characters were Caucasian beauties. Dark skin was the darkest they got.
From how Volcan spoke, his brother seemed to have dark skin like him, but in my memory, no such student existed.
If there was, I would certainly have known.
“What’s your brother’s name?”
“Darkin. A fine name, isn’t it?”
Darkin—
A familiar name.
A student who goes missing at the New Student Welcome Ceremony.
The missing student is later found as a corpse.
With his skin completely flayed off.
“The finest brother.”
Volcan smiled proudly, like a father boasting of his son.
That proud brother disappears during the New Student Welcome Ceremony and is later discovered dead, his skin stripped away—
It was enough to drive even a man of character to madness.
This was likely Volcan’s breaking point.
But there was a problem.
I was in a game. There were certain events that had to happen in a game.
The terrorist attack by the Republic during the Entrance Ceremony was one of them.
Darkin’s disappearance also had to occur. Darkin had to vanish so the students would search for him, and Evangeline would break her taboo.
But of all people, he had to be Volcan’s brother—
If I saved Volcan’s brother, Evangeline wouldn’t break her taboo. But if I let his brother disappear and die, Volcan would become a Barbarian.
So then—
‘I’ll kidnap him myself.’
I nodded in satisfaction.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————