Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 74

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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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Chapter 74
“The Empire Language! So difficult!”
Darkin fumbled through his broken Empire Language, but Elena refused to give up.
“Which part don’t you understand?”
“……Understand? I understood!”
“Then I’ll ask again. Was there anything that seemed off?”
“Off?”
“Something that didn’t match your usual experience.”
Elena was a formidable interrogator.
I needed to dangle some bait.
I raised my hand casually and spoke.
“I saw a black cat in the Interior.”
“A cat?”
Elena’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“Yes, it was a black cat.”
“Ah! I saw one too! A cat! A cat wearing a hat!”
“I saw it as well!”
Darkin and Andy jumped in to agree.
“The Director-.”
Elena muttered something low, then quickly led Karel and the others away.
Only then did Logan approach me and ask in a quiet voice.
“What happened in there?”
Logan had sharp instincts. It was pointless to lie to him.
I needed to give him partial truth.
“There was a specter of an Imperialist.”
The wrinkles around Logan’s eyes deepened.
“That’s strange.”
“What is, sir?”
“I checked the forest myself.”
There was no way Logan would have missed a dangerous Imperialist specter.
It was likely someone had deliberately released it.
“Who do you suspect, sir?”
“Hard to say.”
Logan tapped ash from his cigar.
Acrid smoke drifted through the air.
“If that thing goes missing, I’m the one who takes the hit—it was a Student Affairs event, after all. But it’s not a major blow. Just a minor headache.”
Logan frowned as if something didn’t add up.
He was right. For someone to orchestrate something in the Forest of Disappearance, the payoff seemed small.
The math didn’t work.
Of course it didn’t.
Because I wasn’t the target.
‘They were aiming for Volcan.’
In the game, Volcan was the villain who topples the Rear Gate. If my suspicion was correct, Darkin’s disappearance was likely the catalyst for him becoming a villain.
If the Imperialists targeted Volcan, it was a brilliant move.
Even Logan hadn’t seen it coming.
But Volcan was just a Security Corps member. Not many knew how dangerous he was.
Among those who did and had influence over the Forest of Disappearance—
‘There’s only one.’
Someone with access to the Forest of Disappearance and knowledge of Volcan in Class 42.
That someone was—
‘The Principal.’
If the Principal wanted to provoke Volcan, he might have manipulated the Imperialist specter.
The question was motive.
The Principal was currently being checked by the Vice-Principal and the Director.
So why would he risk so much to target Volcan?
‘To bring down Elysium Academy—’
In the game, the Principal was a villain who threatened not just the Academy but the entire continent.
It wasn’t particularly surprising that he’d want to destroy it.
The problem was that this was happening sooner than expected.
Normally, the Principal loses control after Hanswell dies.
Hanswell was fine right now. So why was the Principal already making moves?
“Do you have anyone in mind to suspect?”
Logan’s tiger-like eyes glinted.
If I could use Logan, the head of Student Affairs, I could keep tabs on the Principal. He might also know information I didn’t.
After my calculations were done, I opened my mouth carefully.
“This is classified, but—”
“What is it?”
I made a show of looking around cautiously before speaking.
“I have information that the Principal is watching Class 42.”
“The Principal is watching a mere Security Corps member?”
“Yes. Actually, when I met the Principal before, I accidentally said Class 41, and he reacted.”
“You tested him?”
“I thought it was a good opportunity.”
“To test him in that split second—you’ve got nerve.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed.
I found myself marveling at how menacingly he could deliver a compliment.
“So?”
“The student who nearly vanished is Volcan’s sibling—the one handling the Rear Gate in Class 42. If Darkin had actually gone missing, Volcan would have gone berserk.”
“The Rear Gate would have been in danger?”
“It’s just a guess.”
“Hmm—”
Logan scratched his beard with his thumb.
After a long silence, Logan spoke, tossing the words out casually.
“The Principal and I are Academy classmates.”
This was information I’d never heard before. Logan gazed into the distance as he continued.
“He was quiet back in our Academy days. Had no friends. I felt sorry enough for him that I tried to look after him. Of course, he rejected it, told me not to bother him. Stubborn bastard.”
In the game, the Principal had been the most honorable knight. That’s why his fall to the lowest depths was so dramatic—but to think he had no friends.
“There’s a rule that the strongest graduate becomes Principal, so he was forced into the role. But inside, I bet he’d love to quit. Still, he’s not the type to drag the Academy into crisis……I don’t understand.”
Logan trailed off.
‘The Principal wants to quit being Principal.’
Quite—no, exceptionally useful information.
“Keep this to yourself. Don’t file a report.”
“Understood, sir.”
“I’ll look into this myself.”
It was a clear signal to back off. I was relieved to hear it.
Directly confronting the Principal was too risky.
But I didn’t nod immediately.
“If the upper ranks ask about this situation, I’ll be in a bind if I know nothing……”
“Are you asking me to brief you right now?”
Logan’s eyes crinkled. I shook my head, feigning surprise.
“Just a hint would be enough, sir. I’m truly sorry, but I have my own position to consider—”
“Ha—”
Logan let out a short snort.
Then pressure crushed down on my shoulders. A true Sword Master, indeed.
I deliberately trembled as if struggling against it.
But I didn’t avert my gaze.
Logan, who had been staring me down, twisted one corner of his mouth.
“Right, you’ve got the backbone for it. Of course I’ll share—it came from your intel.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head in gratitude.
Then Logan grabbed my shoulder.
“Ever thought about transferring to Student Affairs?”
Student Affairs was one of the Academy’s most important organizations. Especially when dealing with students, it wielded the most power.
It was a very tempting offer, but I couldn’t accept it.
“I’ll let the National Security Bureau know.”
If Logan reported to the National Security Bureau, my cover as a Bureau agent would be blown.
“That’s fine.”
“Fine?”
I swallowed my pain and declined.
“Yes. My role is to serve as a Security Corps member. I will be faithful to the duties assigned to me.”
Logan’s lips curved into an unfamiliar smile.
“These days, students refuse transfers to keep out of major organizations, but you’d rather stay in the Security Corps—”
Logan seemed to have misunderstood.
I nodded along. Then Logan launched into a lecture.
“Are there even major organizations anymore? If everyone flocks to the Empire and the Magic Tower Coalition, who’ll gather intelligence? A boat with just a sail won’t move—you need oars too. Remarkable fellow.”
“It’s only natural, sir.”
“Natural things aren’t natural these days. That’s what makes them extraordinary. Right! Good.”
Logan grabbed my shoulder.
“I’ll back you up for sure.”
He looked at me with those fierce eyes.
The kind of fierce that made you think he’d push you off a cliff.
An unexpected gain, having Logan, the head of Student Affairs, backing me—
Though the risk was just as high.
If it came out that I wasn’t actually from the National Security Bureau, Logan’s eyes would truly turn murderous.
So—
‘Just don’t get caught.’
I nodded quickly.
“Yes! I’ll trust you, sir!”
Logan laughed with satisfaction.
I laughed along.
What excellent camaraderie.
* * *
“What did the Student Affairs head say?”
The moment Logan left, Milo asked urgently.
He still seemed anxious.
I thought to myself—this is why you should live righteously.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and spoke.
“He said to join Student Affairs.”
“Damn! Now Student Affairs too!! So, so what did you tell him?”
Milo burst out in frustration, then urged me on desperately.
“I said no.”
“As expected!”
Milo’s eyes sparkled with significant relief.
He’d misunderstood why I refused.
“I refused because I have circumstances that prevent me from going. Not because I prefer the Security Corps.”
“Of course I know! Brother! Trust this younger brother!”
“What—”
“I’ll make sure to educate you properly! Right, brother?!”
Milo patted Volcan’s shoulder.
Volcan was so tall and Milo so short that it looked ridiculous, though Milo was dead serious.
Something seemed off, but I didn’t feel it was worth clarifying.
“Let’s head back.”
We returned to the Security Corps immediately.
Scarlet was there to greet me, as always.
She held out a wine glass.
The liquid inside was a deep purple. At this point, she wasn’t even hiding the poison.
‘My throat’s dry—perfect timing.’
I reached eagerly for the glass, but Milo suddenly snatched it. Then he downed the drink in one gulp.
A one-shot.
“Milo?”
“Ugh. Come on, stop this childish nonsense.”
“What?”
“Grave just came back from rescuing a missing student. Is this how you treat him?”
“Milo.”
“What, Scarlet.”
Milo looked up at Scarlet stubbornly. Scarlet’s eyes, which usually curved in a smile, hardened.
Milo’s shoulders flinched, but he didn’t back down.
“Volcan.”
Milo called to Volcan. Volcan stepped forward with an awkward expression.
“……He’s right. Grave is a legitimate member of Class 42.”
“Brother?”
“It’s decided!”
“What in the world is……”
At Volcan’s declaration, Scarlet’s surprise was evident.
Milo grew bolder.
The momentum seemed to be shifting in his favor.
Then, Ludrick, who usually stayed quiet, stood up.
As the tall Ludrick rose, the room suddenly felt cramped.
‘Spear Ghost, Ludrick.’
In the game, Ludrick was a villain who made mountains out of knights’ corpses.
Ludrick inhaled deeply on his cigar, surveying the room.
As his gaze fell on them, Volcan and Milo visibly flinched.
‘They fear Ludrick.’
Then the door opened and Hanswell entered.
With the classes I’d consolidated, that made 12 total. Hanswell now managed the duties of 13 classes.
A normal person would be crushed under such work, but Hanswell’s complexion was better than before.
His face was positively radiant. He was even humming.
“Grave, did you bring in another class? Or did you pick one up? Hm, what’s going on?”
Sensing the odd atmosphere, Hanswell’s expression stiffened.
Milo bared his teeth, glancing at Ludrick.
“I said stop this childish stuff.”
Hanswell surveyed the situation and nodded immediately.
“Right. Grave’s workload now exceeds what the rest of Class 42 handles combined. If you can’t help, don’t get in the way.”
“Exactly!”
Ludrick twisted one corner of his mouth.
“Weren’t we supposed to leave Charlotte’s spot open?”
The moment Charlotte’s name was mentioned, Volcan flinched and furrowed his brow. Hanswell’s lips also pressed tight in apparent surprise.
‘……So Charlotte is a sore spot.’
But Milo didn’t back down. He stepped forward, looking up at Ludrick.
“Can’t that wait for later?”
“You’ve grown.”
Ludrick looked down at Milo and exhaled cigar smoke.
Tension thickened the air.
It was an amusing development in its own way, but if I let it continue, things could get complicated.
Setting aside my regret, I raised my hand.
All eyes turned to me at once.
“I have a good idea.”
I curved my lips into a wide smile.
Milo’s expression turned anxious.

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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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