Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 118: Special Training 8

"10, 9, 8..."

Kuran, sitting in the Special Class, suddenly began to count down.

If this had been any other classroom, the students would have looked at him like he’d lost his mind. But here, in the Special ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Class...

"...6, 5, 4..."

The students simply glanced at the clock and nodded. It was time for him to arrive.

"2."

While most students' arrival times varied slightly from day to day, there was one person who was consistent to a fault, barring any extraordinary circumstances.

"1."

The students turned their gaze toward the door.

Click!

"Aha! A glorious morning to you all! It is I—the self-proclaimed, world-renowned, and universally recognized handsome clown, Loki!"

The classroom door swung open with violent force as a figure burst inside.

Even Clara, who hadn't bothered to look up from her book, knew exactly who it was. There was only one person ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who would throw a door open that aggressively every morning while shouting such a boisterous greeting.

"I don't know whether to be impressed by Loki for ripping that door open every single day without fail, or by the door for still being functional after all that abuse."

Just as one of the students was marveling at the door's resilience...

Creeeeeak.

An ominous groan echoed from the hinges.

Crash!

The door fell flat onto the floor.

"............."

Silence filled the room.

Everyone stared blankly at the tragically shattered door. They had all suspected it would give up the ghost eventually, but to think today was the day...

"No! Mr. Crimsjabra!"

Loki lunged for the fallen door, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wailing in mock sorrow. To an outsider, it would have looked like he had just lost a lifelong friend.

"Please tell me 'Crimsjabra' isn't the name he gave the door."

"I'm afraid it is..."

"But unless you're insane, why would you give a door a name like that?"

"He is insane."

"Ah."

After about ten seconds of theatrical grieving, Loki stood up as if nothing had happened. He brushed the dust off ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his clothes and tucked the door into his Pocket Dimension. He smiled, looking quite satisfied with himself.

"Perfect. Good as new."

The students stared at the classroom entrance. Where the door used to be, there was now a gaping hole revealing the hallway. Even a student who had never stepped foot in the Special Class would realize something was wrong at a single glance.

"Hmm. If Professor Elicia notices, let's just say it broke because of the wind."

Loki nodded to himself, looking proud of his quick thinking. The students had plenty to say, but they chose to hold their tongues.

"We'll worry about the wind-damaged door later. Let's see... it looks like everyone is here except for Mr. Lucas."

Loki scanned the room. Clara was still buried in her book, while the rest were watching him.

"Well then, shall we get ready?"

Loki pulled a massive trumpet out of his Pocket Dimension. Before anyone could stop him, he blew into it with all his might.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-paaaaam!!!

The thunderous blast echoed through the Special Class. It was a blessing the room was tucked away in a corner of the basement; otherwise, other classes would have come charging in to complain about the noise.

Loki felt Clara’s icy glare. He felt a bit bad for her since she was trying to read, but he had a very good reason for this.

Swish!

With a series of flamboyant movements, he rolled out a red carpet across the classroom floor. While everyone was still reeling from the sudden appearance of the carpet, Loki gestured toward the wide-open entrance with both hands.

"Now! Come forth, our shy Miss Sepia...! Gack!"

"I told you to stop doing this! It's embarrassing!"

Sepia, who had just arrived at the classroom, began slapping Loki repeatedly on the back.

When she had told him she was stopping by the restroom and to go on ahead, and he had replied, "Then I shall prepare for your arrival, so take your time," she really should have been more suspicious.

"What's with the red carpet?! And why is the door gone?!"

The door had been perfectly fine yesterday, yet now it had vanished.

"Well, you see, the wind was so strong that it simply collapsed. I've disposed of it safely so no one gets hurt, so you needn't worry."

"Ha! I bet you caused another accident."

It was obvious. No one else would make a door disappear.

"Miss Sepia, it is wrong to accuse someone based on mere suspicion without evidence. Such behavior could lead to an innocent person suffering a grave injustice."

Loki lowered his head slightly.

Wait, did I actually hurt his feelings? Sepia wondered.

"...Are you... offended?"

"Though, of course, it was my fault the door disappeared."

Loki struck a pose, spreading his arms wide. "Ta-da!"

"............."

"Ack! Miss Sepia! Stop! You hit a bone! I'm losing sensation in my back! Is this normal?!"

The Special Class students watched the scene with amusement. At this point, it felt more awkward if the classroom wasn't this chaotic. Even Clara, who sat regally reading her book, didn't tell Loki to be quiet, despite his exaggerated cries of pain.

"Many rumors have been circulating in just a single day."

Loki listened as Gashurin recounted the rumors that had spread since it was revealed he was the Emperor's disciple.

"There's a rumor that you're actually a noble or royalty hiding your identity. Another says His Majesty the Emperor raised you in secret from a young age so you could become Lucas's guard knight. And then..."

Every single one was such a "gem" that Loki didn't even know where to start debunking them.

"And there is one rumor even more absurd than those."

"More absurd than what you've already told me?"

The current ones were ridiculous enough. Loki was genuinely impressed by people's imaginations.

"Let's hear it. What is it?"

"That you are actually... the Emperor's hidden son."

Even Gashurin trailed off, clearly finding it preposterous.

"............."

Loki was equally speechless. That was about thirty miles past anything he had imagined.

Just then, Lucas walked through the open entrance. Seeing Loki, he waved happily.

"Ah, my little brother is already here."

He dropped a joke that would have horrified any student outside of the Special Class. Loki looked at Lucas and thought, He's getting weirder too.

Lucas had seemed normal enough before, but since starting at the Academy, he was slowly losing his grip.

What if I become weird too?

They say people are influenced by those around them. Loki felt a genuine surge of concern that his "normal" self would be corrupted by the influence of the Special Class students.

* * *

Professor Elicia called the roll and then spoke.

"Everyone is here and on time. Sigh... Please, try to actually focus on the lesson instead of causing trouble like a certain someone."

At her words, the students snickered and glanced at me.

Hmph. I should say something here, I decided, standing up.

"Everyone, just as Professor Elicia said, let's not cause trouble and instead enjoy a normal, pleasant Academy life like m—Augh!"

Before I knew it, Professor Elicia had moved to my side and flicked me hard on the forehead. In the past, she used to stick to verbal warnings, but lately, her hands had been getting a lot more involved.

As I nursed my forehead, everyone else wore expressions of deep peace and satisfaction.

I've memorized all your faces. Just you wait. I'm going to make you all eat mint chocolate and pineapple pizza later.

Professor Elicia pressed down on my head and spoke.

"By the way... why is the classroom door in that state?"

The students said nothing and just stared at me. You disloyal brats.

"Professor! There is no use crying over spilled milk. I believe who spilled it is unimportant. Isn't the mark of a wise Academy student to focus on how to solve the problem instead?"

"Sigh... So it was you. Anyway, let's begin the lesson."

Professor Elicia let out a long sigh and walked to the podium.

Aha! My sincerity reached her!

Professor Elicia's lessons were always the same. The entire Special Class would attack her at once, and we would all get thrashed together. Or so it should have been.

"Now that I think about it, we have the Emperor's disciple in our class."

Professor Elicia let out an ominous comment.

Wait, she doesn't mean...

"Loki, I'll be giving you some 'special attention' today."

That was code for "I'm going to focus all my hitting on you."

"Haha! Here, I am merely one of your ordinary students, Professor. The others might feel discriminated against, so let's keep things equal and—"

"No, I couldn't possibly do that. I'm quite eager to see the skills of the Emperor's disciple."

Professor Elicia gave a predatory smirk. Hearing those words from a woman who could even beat the Emperor was terrifying.

Right then, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind. If I was being treated like this because I was the Emperor's disciple...

"In that case, wouldn't it be better to give that special attention to Mr. Lucas, who is the Emperor's actual son?"

I said, using Lucas, who was standing next to me, as a human shield.

"Wait! Loki! Why are you dragging me into this?!"

Well, you called me your 'little brother' earlier, didn't you?

"Big brother! As my elder, please protect your little brother at a time like this!"