Academy Ankle Reaper

16. Soulmates

River went to meet Atlas, but I couldn’t move.

I thought I had to go, but my feet wouldn’t come off.

I was afraid of Atlas.

In a place where blood and screams oozing out in the corridors, people trembling in fear, people running away and people holding weapons were intertwined, Atlas, who persistently cut off his legs, had a face completely different from what he usually showed.

Not a relaxed smile, but a face full of anger..

He was swinging his sword with hatred.

-Look at that cruelty.. What you’ve seen so far is just a mask.

There is no one around, but a man’s voice sounds like acrid smoke.

I wasn’t surprised or anything.

It was the voice of the soul mate most familiar to me.

A secret friend that only I could see since childhood.

He was an advisor who made me who I am today.

-That’s the true form of Atlas Titan.

-Mine yearning to grow taller..

-Every maniac murder who kills everyone who makes fun of his height.

‘But Atlas… He’s a good man…’

-Whether you believe it or not, the fact remains that Atlas is a ticking time bomb that hates its own stains.

-That guy is going to make a deal with the devil… Then it’s too late.

-It will be a very annoying mine.

The voice that has been telling me the way to survive since childhood tells me to beware of Atlas and kill it.

Atlas made a contract with the devil and cursed that he would eventually become a demon.

I didn’t want to hear it.

Atlas was the first to reach out to the academy full of unfamiliar people and unfriendly people.

‘For something that hasn’t happened yet… To judge Atlas for a crime he hasn’t committed yet?’

-Was there a lie in what I said?

-It is all thanks to me that you are still alive.

-The devil’s attack and the commotion were all done as I said.

– Trust me as ever.

It is true.

There has never been a lie in what my companion said.

Everything he said came true.

The fact that Atlas is a titan, not Nemea, is the real information that your companion gave you.

Because the fact that I cheated on my last name stuck in my mind, I also developed a sense of distance towards Atlas.

‘Atlas is a really nice person… He didn’t show it at all and smiled at me even when I intentionally widened my distance…’

I deliberately distanced myself from Atlas, but Atlas didn’t show it.

It must have been unpleasant, but he treated himself well as before.

What my companion said was always right… But I’m still not sure if Atlas is really the person to become a Mine.

-Even if they look fine now, the Atlas Titans will definitely defect.

– His essence will not change unless he shakes off his complex about his height.

-Atlas is a much more troublesome opponent than the Five Pillars.

-Looking at your movements from a moment ago, the speed at which you are getting stronger is fast. He may have already made a pact with the devil.

-If I don’t kill you now… I can’t deal with you now.

‘Atlas hasn’t signed a contract with the devil yet.’

-Ha.. By then it was already too late ..

My companion sighed as if I was frustrated because I couldn’t make a decision until the end.

-Yes, it’s your life, you decide.

-Am I going to die from Atlas, who became a demon?

-Are you going to kill Atlas before he becomes a Mine?

-But don’t forget this.

-What happened happened.

—————————————————–

I wonder if Lemnos was dragging it, or if he just followed him, the noisy academy became more noisy thanks to the declaration of a duel in a crowded state.

“The five pillars are dueling? Who’s the opponent?”

“Atlas Menoa? Hera’s sister?”

“Let’s take a look. Where is it?”

It was no longer just a problem for freshmen.

The sword fighting that took place in the middle of the academy was an irritating gossip even for upperclassmen.

A duel between bloody freshmen after a bloody sword fight?

Even the fire Lemnos, one of the two swords of the Five Pillars?

This is unconditionally fun.

Not only freshmen but also upperclassmen did not want to miss the event held as soon as the new semester started.

“The duel… Let’s do it tomorrow. Seeing your face, Ting Ting Booun, makes my heart hurt.”

“There is no need for such consideration. Do it now..! This is nothing!!!”

“After losing, don’t say that your face is swollen, obstructing your vision and interfering with the duel. Let the swelling go down.”

The duel is in 1 day… I wanted to do it right away, but I didn’t want to fight with an injury and gossip about it, so I gave it another day to calm down the swelling on my face and come back.

“This…”

My words, which could be called arrogant, made Lemnos’s face almost explode.

Students watching from the surroundings also became agitated.

It must be the first humiliation experienced by Lemnos, who has never been victimized in his life.

Even if it exploded and rushed right away, it would be beneficial to me, but I only reached the critical point as to which one was the brake, and Lemnos didn’t explode.

“Then it’s a long-awaited duel. Lemnos, what are you betting on?”

“If I win, you must finish my duel with Lucia Russell.”

Why are you making a duel with Lucia a condition for my duel?

“Isn’t that something you should tell Lucia, not me? You don’t know if it will be fulfilled even if you win?”

“No, this is enough.”

It’s strange, but that’s what a duel is.

The losing side must strive to fulfill the conditions set for the duel with utmost sincerity.

I don’t know if the promise related to Lucia will be fulfilled, but Lemnos was confident.

But I’m glad it came out like that first.

“If you are, then tell me my terms.”

I was thinking of saying something similar.

“If I win, everyone I hit in the hallway, including you, will forget about it and say nothing.”

Since Lemnos also mentioned Lucia, not me, I will also mention all of your men.

If I win, Lemnos, the Five Pillars, will ask the kids who were taken that day to forget that they were beaten by me.

The five pillars tell me to forget, but is there anything special?

————————————

The date, time and conditions have also been set.

Somewhere, it seems that they have already started gambling on the outcome of this duel.

Edgar Lemnos, one of the Five Pillars, and I, whose authenticity is unclear, are really Nemean people.

If you look at the specs listed on the outside, all the votes are for Lemnos, so it’s normal for me to be a reversal of a huge percentage…

Most of the people who saw the sword fighting in the hallway walked up to me and said that the magnification was about 6 or 4 Lemnos.

The source of the information was senior Andy.

“Senior, so who did I bet on?”

“I bet you my first academy salary.”

“I could lose on purpose.”

“You? I’m kidding.. Then see you tomorrow.”

Saying that, senior Andy left with a smile on his face already thinking about earning money.

“Why did Lemnos target me?”

Lemnos ordered his men to come like this.

Edgar Lemnos… At best, he is upright and at worst, he is a two-headed man.

His confidence in his skills skyrockets and he behaves arrogantly, but he is not familiar with shady tricks.

It’s good to just bring a knife from the beginning and do something wrong, but it’s not like Edgar to order his men to touch him until they get angry.

“So… There’s one other person besides Edgar…”

…It’s not that there aren’t people who get stuck in their heads.

I’ll have to deal with it somehow for a peaceful vacation.

As I was leaning on the balcony and thinking about that, someone quietly approached me.

“Yes… You don’t have to duel… I’ll duel…”

“Something suddenly.”

It was Lucia Russell.

Even though it’s this big, it mysteriously hides its presence well.

“I heard that Lemnos… Put in a duel with me as a condition for your duel…”

“It’s kind of embarrassing. Are you okay?”

I don’t know in detail what happened between Lemnos and Russell, but I can guess.

At this time… Russell would be banned from dueling and Lemnos would keep demanding a duel because he wanted to stand at the apex of the Five Pillars, and Lucia would have avoided it.

Lucia’s ban on duels is a family matter.

I think Lemnos also thought of this method after saying only words and not being able to do anything about it…

No, why did you do that to me… I need to dig behind Lemnos quickly.

“…. No, if it’s going to be like this anyway… I’ll just do it right away… It’s an argument between Russell and Lemnos… I’m sorry I got involved…”

Lucia apologizes to me with her worried face.

Since the condition Lemnos set was a duel with himself anyway, is he going to go out on his own?

“I don’t like it.”

But that is another matter.

This duel is already my duel, no one else’s.

“…Why…?”

“I have a condition with him. I must duel with him.”

“I’ll bet on that condition…”

“What do I see and trust you? If you lose, I will be expelled.”

“…”

I’ve already been caught up in it, and I’m not in a position to lend someone else’s hand.

And I still don’t know who is stronger between Lucia and Edgar…

“You couldn’t even loosen my grip before. I was weak and fell into it”

“… I’m strong…”

“No, but I’m weak.”

“…I’m really strong..!”

Because you say you’re weak, Lucia’s voice rises as if she’s resentful.

“If you were that strong, you should have arranged the ranks with Lemnos a long time ago. Is he growling like that because you avoided a duel?”

“……That’s why I’m going to take care of it.”

“If you’re going to do it, you should have done it a long time ago. It’s already too late. I’ll take care of my business, so don’t interfere.”

I stopped talking and turned around with Lucia.

As if she still had a lot to say, Lucia held onto the hem of her coat and kept her lips shut, but in the end she said no more.

Ha.. It makes me feel guilty…

“…Russell, if you have anything else to say, let’s do it tomorrow. I’ll give you time.”

“…Yes.”

It was said bluntly, but it seemed to be enough.

Looks like his expression has become much more comfortable.

——————————————–

The next day, the academy was lively for the first time in a while.

As soon as the new semester started, a huge number of students, from freshmen to seniors, gathered to watch the two high-spirited freshmen who fought each other to death.

I opened it in class to tell you not to come and see it. How did you come?

Most of the lectures are self-learning, but some came to watch the lectures to see the professor.

Instructor Andy over there chewing the grilled squid is a representative example.

The arena was able to borrow the amphitheater that was used during the exam.

And… Lemnos and I were standing tall in the center of the arena, staring at each other as if we were going to kill each other.

I wore a longsword the size of my height behind my back in the clothes I always wore,

Lemnos also came with the same clothes as yesterday and equipped with a wavy sword…Flamberge on his waist.

We didn’t bring each other armor.

I would wear it properly in a real battle, but this duel is a thorough battle of pride.

If you wear too much armor, you will be subjected to mental attacks such as being frightened by the opponent.

I was annoyed that he did useless work and touched it, but after that, Lemnos’ behavior, which only shows a really honest appearance, is quite likable.

I think he would have grown up well if he just joined among the Imperial Knights… It’s a pity.

She spoke first to Lemnos, who was frowning.

“I’ll praise you for not running away.”

“Who said..!!”

“There are many audiences, so don’t fall down in one shot this time.”

“Let’s see if you can talk like that after the cheeky duel begins!!!”

Lemnos’s face swells up again.

I was told that it was Lemnos of fire, but it seems that it has a fiery personality.

Let’s apologize in advance.

What I said earlier is a lie.

I have no intention of defeating him in one hit.

I intend to play with you as much as possible.

If you’ve been living a life that’s been victorious like that, isn’t it the right time to bump into a wall once or twice?