[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Side Story Chapter 20: Academy (4)

After the 4th period, a break was waiting for me.

We were told to have lunch and then rest well until the afternoon classes began.

Isn't that wonderful?

"Where is everyone thinking of going?"

"I heard there's a cafeteria inside the Academy. They say students and faculty can all use it."

"I heard we're allowed to go to restaurants outside, too."

The students gathered with their own groups of friends and went to eat.

I could only watch them with envy. Because I was alone.

"Lord Geisel! Allow me to escort you!"

"Do you have a restaurant in mind?"

"There is a restaurant outside the Academy that is run by my family."

Geisel was also about to leave the classroom with his two cronies.

But just before crossing the threshold, he stopped and said this to me, didn't he?

"Theodore Haksen, it seems you have no one to have a meal with?"

A slight sneer appeared on Geisel's lips.

I was a little dumbfounded.

To think his spirit was not broken at all after getting beaten so badly during the duel.

That, in its own way, is impressive.

"If you don't have anyone to go with, you can join us..."

"Theo-oppa!"

A familiar voice rang out thunderously.

Wouldn't you know it, Hazel came striding into the room.

And it was not just Hazel. The Princess was with her, too.

"Her, Her Highness the Princess is here!"

"T-To think I would get to see the Princess!"

"Who's that next to her? She's really cute."

The moment the two of them appeared, everyone's gazes were focused on them.

Ignoring all that, Hazel walked right up and wrapped her arm around mine.

"You're hungry, right? The Princess knows a good restaurant. Let's go, quickly."

I went outside with the two of them.

Geisel glared at me as I left and then let out a wail.

What is wrong with that guy now?

* * *

The restaurant the Princess brought us to was in a quiet location.

From the outside, it looked ordinary, but the interior was very lavish.

The clothes the staff were wearing also looked extremely expensive.

As soon as we sat down, food was laid out on the table as if they had been waiting.

Every single dish was delicious.

"I'm glad it suits your tastes."

"It's the best!"

Hazel answered immediately. `1

The Princess looked at Hazel as if she were adorable.

"By the way, Theo. I heard you beat Geisel Huko in the 4th period?"

I could not help but be surprised by the Princess's question.

How could she possibly know what happened during the 4th period?

"Rumors spread quickly at the Academy. Especially rumors about famous people like you."

Ah, I see.

Since it happened at the outdoor dueling grounds, there must have been many witnesses, so the rumor must have spread fast.

"Everyone is showing immense interest in this incident. Geisel Huko is famous for being a genius, you see. And they're saying you defeated him with overwhelming skill."

"Oppa, is that for real? But you're weak, Oppa. How did you win?"

Hazel asked as if she found it fascinating.

This girl says rude things so casually.

But she is right. I had never received any training at all before enrolling in the Academy.

"Before enrolling in the Academy, I learned a training method and swordsmanship from my uncle."

"Really? What did you learn?"

"Um."

It's hard to explain. Because I do not really know what I learned either.

"I don't really know either."

"What do you mean?"

"My uncle said it's a training method that activates the brain to perfectly analyze the enemy. But the explanation was too complicated."

At my explanation, the expressions of the Princess and Hazel changed strangely.

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Ah, no, it's not. He said it's safe as long as I follow the rules."

"Rules?"

"Don't use it more than three times a day. Train with it every day. Stop if your nose starts bleeding. And..."

With every rule my uncle mentioned, the expressions on the two of them got even worse.

"...Well, if Lord Damien made it, it must be safe."

Hazel said, letting the matter drop.

Actually, I think she just wanted to focus on the meal quickly.

As soon as the conversation ended, she started putting food in her mouth.

"Ah, that's mine!"

"Finders keepers."

The two of us ate as if we were competing with each other.

The Princess watched the two of us as if she found us adorable.

* * *

After the meal was over, I returned to the classroom.

It was to attend the afternoon classes.

The afternoon classes were just as difficult to understand.

I had to endure the pain of my head feeling like it was going to explode.

By the time all the classes were over, I was utterly exhausted.

"Hooo."

I was packing my bag with a sigh. Suddenly, my shadow shot straight up, didn't it?

"U-Uwaaah! What is that!"

Geisel, who witnessed the sight, screamed. At the sound, everyone looked my way.

"The, the shadow is moving?"

"A, a ghost!"

The other students were terrified as well.

But when the shadow transformed into the shape of a wolf, the screaming quickly subsided.

"A, a wolf?"

-Pant, pant pant.

"It looks like a large dog...?"

Munchi rubbed his head against my hand. I patted him all over with both hands.

"What's wrong?"

-Big Master! There's a call!

"From Uncle?"

My face brightened. I immediately asked Munchi to connect me with my uncle.

-Okay!

Munchi scattered back into a shadow and then formed a large mirror.

Soon, the scenery in the mirror changed, and my uncle appeared.

"Uncle!"

-Oh, Theo. Are your classes over? Did I perhaps call too early?

-No! Class just ended!

"That's a relief, then."

My uncle said with a smile.

-So, did you have a good first day at the Academy?

"Um..."

-Judging by your reaction, it seems you had a hard time keeping up with the classes.

"B-But I beat one person in swordsmanship class with the technique I learned from you!"

-Very well done. As expected of my nephew.

I chatted with my uncle with a wide grin.

Then I noticed it. The fact that the other kids had gathered around me.

"Th-Theodore?"

One of them mustered up the courage to speak to me.

"A-Are you by any chance... ta-ta-talking with L-L-Lord Damien Haksen?"

"Uh... yeah?"

At my words, shock appeared on everyone's faces.

"Th-Then perhaps... c-could I... j-j-just once... ha-have a w-word... I mean..."

Aha, so it seems they want to speak with my uncle.

Well, it's not a difficult request. I asked my uncle.

"Uncle, the other kids want to talk to you, is that okay?"

-There's no reason why not.

I turned the mirror toward the other kids.

They scrambled over each other to get to the mirror.

"L-Lord Damien Haksen! It is an honor! And another honor to behold your esteemed face!"

"Uwaaaah! I can't believe I'm actually seeing Lord Damien Haksen!"

"I, I-I have a question! A question!"

The reaction was truly explosive.

Watching the kids go wild over my uncle made my own shoulders square with pride.

"Th-Theodore Haksen... C-Can I also speak with Lord Damien..."

"No."

I cut him off flatly.

What has this guy done to deserve to meet my uncle?

"..."

At that moment, despair appeared on Geisel's face.

It was so deep and dark that even I flinched.

"...But I'll allow it today."

I quickly changed my words.

It felt like he would cause a major incident otherwise.

"Th-Thank you so much!"

Geisel laughed gleefully and ran to the front of the mirror.

And so, the sudden meeting with my uncle ended much later.

* * *

"I should end the communication here. I have some business to finish."

Saying so, Damien Haksen deactivated the magical communication.

The mirror floating in the air vanished without a trace.

"Well then, shall we finish the rest of our conversation."

Saying so, Damien Haksen turned around.

A scene from hell was spread out before him.

Over several dozen people were impaled by chains and fixed in mid-air.

"K-Kill me... please... just kill me already..."

"I was wrong I must have been crazy I won't do it again please just kill me now."

"Damien... Damien Haksen..."

Those impaled by the chains let out horrifying screams.

"Didn't I tell you earlier? To give me the answers I want."

Damien flicked a finger in the air.

Dark mana congealed, and new chains pierced their bodies.

"Kraaaahk! Kaaaaahk!"

"Kill me! Kill me, you son of a bitch!"

"Uheheheng, Mommy! Moommyy!"

The screams grew even louder.

It was a scene as if hell had descended upon the mortal world.

But Damien did not bat an eye.

"You used everyone from adults to children as sacrifices, and yet you whine in pain from this much suffering?"

Damien did not torture his enemies.

The only exceptions were dark mages.

They roamed the outskirts of the Empire, capturing its citizens and using them as sacrifices for dark magic.

Even newborn babies who could barely walk had lost their lives at their hands.

"I will ask again. What are you dark mages thinking, collecting the thought-forms of the Demon Kings?"

Until recently, the dark mages had been in a state of disarray.

They were nothing more than rats hiding to escape the disaster known as Damien.

But suddenly, the dark mages' actions had begun to become organized.

They started collecting the thought-forms of the Demon Kings and gathering sacrifices from all over the Empire.

This was also evidence that a new central figure had emerged.

"Speak. Then I will kill you without pain."

At Damien's question, one of them laughed with a gurgling, phlegmy sound.

"Damien... Haksen... Your time to act all high and mighty... is almost over... Soon... you will... despair... suffer... and submit to us..."

"Submission, you say."

Damien stroked his chin and fell into thought.

Snap.

When Damien snapped his fingers, the chains disappeared.

The man who had been spewing hatred at Damien stared at him with a bewildered face.

"I have this sickness where I can't stand still when I see things like you."

Damien threw something toward the man.

It was a Demon King's thought-form and a longsword.

The man caught the two reflexively.

He plunged the Demon King's thought-form into his chest and infused the longsword with dark mana.

A vivid Aurablade enveloped the longsword. It was not at the level of a Sword Master.

A Grandmaster.

It was the supreme state said to be one step above a Swordmaster.

"Damien Haksen!"

The man let out a roar and swung his longsword.

The Aurablade slashed at Damien's neck.

A sneer appeared on the man's lips.

The Aurablade was a famed sword that could cut through anything.

Only another Aurablade could block it.

No matter how strong Damien was, he could not possibly withstand having his bare skin cut by an Aurablade...

"Pathetic."

But contrary to the man's thoughts, the Aurablade was blocked by Damien's skin and could not advance any further.

"What... this is impossible..."

"Do you understand now? Just how futile a dream you are all chasing."

Damien grabbed the Aurablade with his bare fingers.

With a slight application of force, the Aurablade and the longsword shattered completely.

"The Demon Kings could not do anything to me even when they were whole. Did you really think you could oppose me by gathering mere thought-forms?"

The man looked up at Damien with a dumbfounded face.

Damien once again used dark mana to create chains.

"Well then, let's start again. This time, you will give me the answers I want, even if I have to scrape your brains out."

In the forest shrouded in darkness, screams echoed late into the night.

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]