The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

The widely reported allegations against Atlas quickly spread throughout the Academy, still simmering from the heat of the duel.

“Cheating? Of course, it makes no sense that he could dodge that fiery sword so well.”

“Yeah, Lemnos’s state was a bit strange too.”

“To go against five pillars? That’s gutsy.”

Those who found it hard to believe that Lemnos could suffer a humiliating defeat were busily cursing Atlas over the cheating allegations, but the real problem was elsewhere.

“If the duel is declared invalid, give me my money back!!!”

“Manager, come out!!!”

“Return my tuition!!!!”

These were the voices of those who had gambled on the duel’s outcome.

With Lemnos’s loss, the money they lost was causing them to crowd together, demanding refunds since the duel was deemed void.

The front of the lottery sales office, which had firmly shut its doors against the allegations, quickly descended into chaos.

And as for me, the person at the center of the incident…

“Come out, head of the department!!! Did you really think you could get away with writing this kind of article!!!!”

I was causing a ruckus in the Newspaper Club, which had printed this kind of rubbish.

————————————————

Fast forward a bit to the past,

The front page of the newspaper that was issued as an alert to the whole Academy that morning featured an article about the duel from the previous day.

Duel Invalid?! The Ugly Truth of the Dwarf Race!!

In the duel, Atlas Nemea, a dwarf, won against Edgar Lemnos. Atlas Nemea entered the duel without using the Aura Blade, raising speculations about whether the duel’s result could be declared invalid.

The duel between dwarf Atlas Nemea and Edgar Lemnos took place at 2 PM yesterday. Edgar Lemnos showcased his flamboyant fiery sword with the Flamberge, while Atlas was seen without even using the Aura Blade.

Even without the Aura Blade, Atlas continuously dodged Edgar Lemnos’s attacks.

A mere dwarf mocked the Imperial five pillars’ Vision Swordsmanship with his bare body.

Could one possibly face the five pillars’ Vision Swordsmanship without even utilizing the Aura Blade?

Miss Hera, a senior and the head of the Swordsmanship Research Club, stated,“He might have cheated.”

What would happen if cheating occurred in a duel?A second-year student who cursed his opponent’s sword with a spell the night before a duel last year was expelled, and the duel was declared void.

Principal Gordon Freeman commented on this matter, stating,“If there is any cheating, the duel will be deemed invalid.”

Professor Buckingham Houston, who teaches Combat Magic, remarked,“To commit cheating in a sacred duel, it’s about time someone went before the Disciplinary Committee.”

‘They’ve written this so well.’The level of gossip writing is truly top-notch.

The article titled “Duel Invalid?! The Ugly Truth of the Dwarf Race!!” was sprinkled with provocative keywords and raised suspicion while saying absolutely nothing of substance.

There “might” be a chance that the duel will be declared invalid.Atlas Nemea “might have cheated.”“If there is cheating, this duel is void.”In a sacred duel happening in the Academy, if one dared commit “cheating, they must be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.”

All the phrases denying the duel itself were ridiculous, but what made me angrier was something else.

“So… a dwarf, huh…”

They’ve written that I’m a dwarf in both the article’s title and body.I was already angry about the scrawled duel but adding this kind of nonsense just pushed me over the edge.

-SNAP

Veins throbbed on my forehead.I crumpled the newspaper.

I felt myself slowly regressing to that time.

The Atlas Titan from back then…Me, who had just jumped out of Titan and entered the Royal Knight Order for an apprenticeship, was returning little by little to the state of me from back then when even the slightest provocation would cause an explosion due to the stress I endured at Titan for nearly seven years.

I had improved a lot living alongside the laid-back knights and fellow members of the Snow Country Exploration Team.

Isn’t it just better for my mental health to get expelled quickly and reform the Snow Country Exploration Team again?

“Atlas!! Look at this.. those jerks!!”

“I’m already reading the paper..!”

As I held the newspaper, River and Amy ran toward me, also holding a newspaper.

Seeing the reason I needed to stick around the Academy, my mind returned to normal.

Yeah, I need to deal with those devilish jerks first.

“Come on, smile!! You’re scaring Amy!”

River grabbed my face and started smoothing out the wrinkles as if doing a facelift.

I guess I must have had a scary face again.With me on the verge of blowing up, I probably looked pretty intense.

Watching River frantically rub my face while Amy looked anxious was surprisingly effective.

The subtle citrus scent emanating from River’s little hands cleared my mind.

“Alright, I’ve decided.”

As I suddenly stood up, River looked surprised.

“Where are you going, Atlas?”

“I’m going to confront those who wrote this.”

I tore the crumpled newspaper to shreds and scattered it into the air.

The saying that the pen is mightier than the sword is true.Because what these guys do with their pens is far more threatening and painful than any sword in the Academy.

“I’m going to commit some score-settling against the Newspaper Club.”

With such a dangerous weapon in hand, I would obviously have to brace for counterattacks.

———————————————

The Newspaper Club was one of the Academy’s prides with a long-honored tradition.

Alongside clubs like the Swordsmanship Research Club, Practical Magic Research Club, Horticultural Club, and Mountaineering Club, it was established alongside the Academy and had an important mission: to gather and disseminate all kinds of information.

Since they collect both good and bad news about students, it is also the most powerful club among students.

Aside from the peculiar exceptions like the five pillars who reign based on external power, the President of the Student Council and the head of the Newspaper Club are, without a doubt, at the pinnacle of the Academy’s power.

Information breeds further information… and he who manages it is the head of the Newspaper Club, who will surely secure a comfortable position in the Empire’s government after graduation.

Such an important position could not just be occupied by anyone.

The head of the Newspaper Club has always been directly appointed by the principal.

“What’s the reaction to today’s article?”

“Very good.”

In a lavish room resembling that of an actual noble’s office, a neatly groomed man with his hair slicked back sipped black tea and spoke to a male servant with dark blue hair.

This well-groomed man, Malcolm Dunmore, currently held the position of the head of the Newspaper Club and was, interestingly enough, the real Earl Dunmore, who ran the territory.

The information gathered in the Newspaper Club holds power not only within the Academy but also extends its influence into society.

Thus, the head of the Newspaper Club holds such a powerful position that only a special individual chosen by the principal can be appointed…

The conditions for that are… Firstly, they need to have a decent level of ability to sift through information, and,Secondly, they need to keep their cool to avoid getting any foolish thoughts when confronted with dangerous information,They also need to be tight-lipped to avoid unwarranted disclosure,And finally, they ought to have a position that doesn’t get overly swayed by third parties.

Having inherited the title of Earl at a young age due to his father’s early demise, Malcolm easily met these conditions while running the territory fairly well.

It might seem tough, but if managed well, being the head of the Newspaper Club allows one to carry all sorts of explosive information upon graduation and live richly, certainly a worthwhile endeavor.

One could even flaunt their power quite comfortably at the Academy.

However, today was not a day he was pleased with.

While glancing at the printed newspaper before him, Malcolm clicked his tongue.

“I don’t know who it is, but to be featured like this… Maybe it would be better if they got expelled through this opportunity.”

“If they have been spotted by the five pillars and Professor Buckingham, it’s over.”

Though he did what was asked, he had many grievances.

Such speculative articles were not typically written by the Newspaper Club.Once the Newspaper Club starts favoring specific families in personal issues like duels, it becomes endless.Other similar families would constantly pester them, wondering why only one side is being favored.

Therefore, the club had typically restrained itself from personal issues, but this time was special.

“What could I do if I’m ordered to do so?”If one is to be ordered, then they must comply.No matter how well-respected the head of the Newspaper Club is within the Academy, there are many in the Empire stronger than “Earl Dunmore.”

Atlas Nemea, whoever they may be, had caused quite a stir shortly after the new semester began.

“Remarkable achievements, I must say. How many have they downed so far?”

“Six dropped out due to duels… at least twenty injured, and all this involves Professor Buckingham’s class… that stubborn old man must be fuming since he has knocked down half of his class.”

While his previous activities remain unknown, the more they investigated Atlas Nemea, the more incredible facts emerged.

Not only was it astonishing that the five pillars enrolled at once, but what kind of bad luck has struck this year for all the new students to turn out this way?

“The more I look at it, the more fascinating it becomes… I want to see it in person,”

“Wouldn’t they just curse at us if they see us after this article comes out?”

“Well, someone has to bear the brunt of it.”

At that moment,

-BAM!!!

“An… attack!!!”

“Who’s the culprit!!!”

Loud sounds started to echo from beyond the firmly shut door of the head’s room.

Malcolm was in the head’s office; beyond that door was the office where the other members were working.

Sounds of crashing furniture, people stumbling, screams, and cries became a cacophony.

“An attack?”

“Shall I go out and check?”

The man standing before Malcolm… his subordinate, the Sword Expert Patrick, wore a serious expression and picked up his sword, which was standing beside him.

Who on earth would be daring enough to directly attack the Newspaper Club? It is not a small club that could operate smoothly.

“No, I was hoping those Swordsmanship Research Club members were assigned to handle it quickly.”

I held Patrick back.If he went out, things would escalate.

I had arranged for a few guards from the Swordsmanship Research Club in advance, so the situation would soon settle down.

However, the noise just wouldn’t cease.

“Come out, head of the department!!! Did you think you could just sit there after writing this kind of article!!!!”

Then—

-THUD THUD!!!

The head’s office door burst open, and a person was thrown inside like a sack.

Or rather, it would be correct to say that a person was thrown against the door, causing it to open with force.

The person who was dumped inside the head’s office like luggage was one of the guards brought in by Malcolm from the Swordsmanship Research Club.

Taking advantage of the open door, I looked out at the office, which had turned into utter chaos.

Both members of the Swordsmanship Research Club and the Newspaper Club had all collapsed amid shattered furniture.

“Did you leave the guards as rookies, messing around like that? One’s got some guts to do this!”

“You… How dare you trespass here!!!”

Patrick finally drew his sword.

But the student who did all this came inside as if nothing was wrong.

Who could dare commit such an outrageous act? It was curiosity that led me to look at the student striding confidently into the head’s office.

Malcolm’s gaze shifted slightly downward.

“This… I don’t even need to go looking.”

It was none other than the dwarf in question.