Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Barter's Identity
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This had to be some kind of joke, but Hector's expression was more serious than I'd expected.
I paused for a moment before asking.
"Could it be, brother, that you were actually learning from that guy?"
"That's true... but 'could it be'?"
"Your face looked so messed up, I figured he was just beating on you out of spite."
Hector let out a sigh.
"...Sir Barter can be a bit rough in spars, sure. But he's making time out of his schedule to teach me personally, so I can't complain about that much. A knight's training is supposed to be harsh."
I knew that much.
The Bednicker Family's training camp curriculum was modeled after the knight orders' regimens, after all.
"Sir Barter is an outstanding knight and an excellent instructor. When it comes to teaching, he's on par with the Grand Master Teacher."
"That good?"
"Yeah."
Hector touched his face.
"The wounds looked flashy, but they weren't the kind to scar or linger. Look at my face. The swelling's already gone."
True enough.
"Then why were you like that back then?"
"Like what?"
"When your face was all puffy. You looked totally dejected."
"That was..."
Hector hesitated slightly before sighing.
"...self-loathing. No matter how skilled Sir Barter is, I'd been sparring with him every day since arriving at the Academy without even grazing his sleeve. I was clinging so stubbornly that he went a little harder on me that day. Of course, he apologized."
"..."
They say hidden truths are usually disappointing, and this was exactly that.
To the point of feeling empty.
Hector glared at me as he continued.
"The worst spar of my life was against you, anyway. If I hadn't gotten healing from a high priest, I'd have shown up to training camp with my face all swollen."
"...Yeah."
I had slapped him around pretty hard back then.
Hard to argue, so I changed the subject.
"Got it for now. So Barter's trustworthy, right?"
"It's Sir Barter. He was the one who first told me there were strange undercurrents in the Academy. And since I've seen him use a Blessing, he can't be one of the 'dolls' you mentioned."
"So what's that guy's deal?"
"..."
Hector hesitated briefly before saying.
"You've heard of the Imperial Special Task Force, right?"
I asked back in mild surprise.
"No way, he's with the Task Force?"
"Yes."
Only then did it click.
The Imperial Special Task Force.
A direct arm of the Imperial Family, a special organization carrying out elite operations that were secretive or unusual.
Due to the group's nature, everything from its size and headquarters to the exact missions was a mystery.
Some dismissed it as a mere myth...
But the Bednicker Family knew it was real.
We had no choice but to know.
Because one of the Iron-Blooded Duke's many identities—our Family Head—was an agent of the Imperial Special Task Force.
'So even the Imperial Family has caught wind of the Academy's weird vibes?'
I felt a bit relieved.
At least this empire wasn't completely hopeless.
Anyway, if Barter was Task Force, it fit why the Goodspring Family had suddenly joined up.
Explained why they'd been heading to the Academy.
Hector had been our point of contact, so they'd probably coordinated closely.
I thought for a moment before saying.
"I'm not meeting him right now."
"Why not?"
"If our group gets any bigger here, it'll draw too much attention too fast. Way beyond what I anticipated. So don't tell Barter about me yet, brother."
"What about the info you shared?"
"Go ahead and pass it on. Make up some excuse for the source."
"Hmm... Understood."
"And stick close to that guy for a while."
Hector looked at me.
"What about you?"
"I'll move separately with the sprouts for now. Oh, and I'll send Karon your way."
Hector and Karon didn't need me watching their backs.
They could more than handle themselves.
"So you'll keep operating apart from Sir Barter? He might have intel unique to his side."
"I'll meet him eventually, but I'll pick the time. Where does he usually hang out?"
"The swordsmanship division in the training hall."
"Got it. Then in three days—nah, make it four—I'll head there."
Hector nodded.
"Understood."
* * *
The next day.
I headed to "Your Mom's Trumpet Blast" early in the morning.
"Boss? I'd like to rent the place for about a week. And it'd be great if you cleared out too."
"...What the hell kind of nonsense is this first thing in the morning? Fine for business, but where am I supposed to stay for a week—"
"100 gold."
"...I'll handle my own accommodations. Haha. Use it however you like. Smash the furniture if you get bored."
I bought out the shop from the owner and turned it into a temporary hideout.
My guess was that the commercial district had the loosest surveillance in the Academy.
And this place was tucked in a nice obscure corner—perfect for secret talks.
Next, I summoned Seren.
She showed up early, sat across from me, listened to my rundown, and ended up with a totally dumbfounded look.
"For real?"
"Yeah."
"..."
Seren looked speechless.
Her eyebrows furrowed and relaxed, she twirled her hair, fidgeted with her fingers.
Then she sighed.
"...This is five times worse than I imagined."
"Is it?"
Hard to gauge how serious she found it, since it was subjective.
"...We need to get a better read on the Academy's situation first."
"How?"
"There's a 'Mana Fundamentals' lecture this afternoon. Most popular class in the Academy—102 cadets enrolled."
"Oh."
Well deserved rep.
102 meant nearly a tenth of the Academy's students.
"I'll check how many of those hundred are dolls your way."
"How? Checking one by one would take all night."
"I'll use my Blessing to drop the classroom temp a bit. Enough for breath to show. It's February still, a bit chilly, so it won't seem off."
"Ah."
Made sense.
"Nice plan. Meet back here around dinner after class. Bring Mir, Sharl, and Pam."
"Got it."
I left the shop and headed to the platform. No classes, but I had another stop.
Truth was, I had two reliable helpers.
Ones far stronger, more trustworthy, and loyal than the unblossomed sprouts.
Keian and Arjan.
I'd loop them in too.
They'd boost our forces, and they wouldn't be sloppy enough to pick up tails.
They'd help with surveillance and intel gathering.
Plus, servants probably got less scrutiny than actual students, so I might even send them outside the Academy depending.
'Staying in the Blue Pavilion, right?'
As I sat recalling the Academy map in my head, someone plopped down across from me.
"Hey."
Awkward voice, stiff expression.
Glen Scarlet.
Déjà vu hit as I waved.
"Good morning."
"Uh, yeah. Heading to class?"
"Nope."
"Oh..."
Glen shut his mouth and eyed me.
Looked like he had something to say but couldn't spit it out.
Then another group of cadets boarded.
I naturally glanced their way, then checked if they were dolls.
"..."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Three out of the twenty were dolls.
"Saw Professor Ron's assignment? Total asshole. Says if your hair doesn't—"
"Gasp, Professor Ron! Good day!"
"...!?"
"Psych!"
"Youuu...!"
A girl cadet burst into giggles.
A brown-haired girl in the middle, getting teased.
She acted annoyed but lightly punched her friend's shoulder with a playful grin.
Human reactions, natural expressions.
But the brown-haired girl was a doll.
Her friends around her—and even herself—had no clue, but that was the truth.
"Ha..."
Somehow felt like human dignity itself was trampled.
Too lofty a thought for a guy like me?
"Hey, Ruan."
Glen called me again.
I glanced over, and he said.
"N-no real business or anything, and if you haven't eaten breakfast, wanna hit the shops with me?"
"The shops?"
"Yeah... I know a good food spot..."
Glen ducked his head into his oversized hat after saying it.
I pondered briefly but nodded easily.
"Sure."
Keian and Arjan could wait.
Glen's motives piqued my curiosity more.
"R-really? Thanks!"
Glen's head snapped up, face lighting up.
The tram soon reached the commercial district.
Glen hopped off with noticeable excitement and asked me.
"Any favorite foods?"
"Anything tasty works."
"Cool. Hope it suits you..."
Seemed like he had a regular spot.
I quietly followed the leading Glen.
He navigated the streets like a pro—surprisingly often?
But oddly, his steps led toward shadier alleys.
Specifically... near "Your Mom's Trumpet Blast."
No way the place he was taking me was my new hideout?
A twinge of unease as I trailed, but luckily he passed it and went deeper.
"Here."
"...Hm."
The sign read "Tomatoes So Tasty They'll Kill You."
'Do back-alley joints all have Southern-style names?'
I followed Glen inside, puzzled.
"Welcome."
A soft voice greeted us.
The place was quiet, with a rough-looking guy inside.
The owner?
His clothes suggested it, but he didn't look past his thirties. Too young for a shopkeep.
And those subtle muscles screamed skilled fighter.
"Like booze?"
"Lately, yeah."
"Here...! Two tomato beers and tomato stew, tomato salad please!"
"..."
Living up to the name.
Anyway, the tomato beer came first.
Slightly red hue, and the flavor was decent on the first sip.
"Good?"
"I usually hate tomato smell, but this is tasty."
"Phew..."
Glen grinned and downed his beer in one go. Surprise lightweight? No, heavy drinker.
The owner returned with food and a fresh beer.
"No more than five today."
Tone said regular customer.
Glen nodded vaguely and grabbed his beer again.
"You hold your liquor."
"Yeah... Love the stuff. Makes me forget..."
Conversation lulled.
Glen could drink.
By the time I'd half-finished my first, four empties sat in front of him.
When his face got a bit flushed, he spoke.
"...I hate the Imperial Family."
Normal folks slur and glaze over with booze, but he was the opposite.
His usual mumble sharpened, and aside from the flush, his expression was sharper than sober.
"Guess what I hate as much as them?"
Not really asking.
Glen laughed and answered himself.
"The Goodspring and Bednicker bloodlines."
"..."
"The Imperial Family's most loyal dogs."
Multiple presences stirred inside the tavern then.
About ten Academy cadets poured in through front and back doors, surrounding our table.
Quick scan: some familiar faces, some not.
"Long time no see."
One familiar was Talis.
Big bandage on his nose bridge—Evan's damage not fully healed.
"Ruan Bednicker."
Glen said.
"You're starting to piss me off."
Figured I was busted for not using my full name? Truth was I'd been busy, but no excuse would fly.
Glanced around.
Talis and his crew, plus some upperclassmen-looking cadets.
All athletic department? Ripped builds showed through clothes.
"Hm."
Unexpected, but not shocking or exciting.
Glen's true colors or drunk rambling—neither blew my mind.
Makes sense. I'd uncovered the dean's secret last night. For bigger shock, Glen would need to be the Demon King or something.
No chance, so I chuckled.
"Still got a smirk left, huh."
My attitude bugged him? Talis sneered and approached.
"Guess you haven't clocked the situation. Right now, you're—"
Crack. Talis's voice cut off.
I'd smashed his face into the table.
"..."
As murmurs rippled, I thought perfect timing.
'If I play this right...'
Today, I'd nail down Glen Scarlet's true identity.