Chapter 138: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (2)
Chapter 138: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (2)
The dormitory cafeteria radiated light and heat even in the predawn hours.
This was because many students began their training early in the morning, and the cafeteria had to prepare breakfast even earlier to accommodate them.
Only a tiny fraction of geniuses could enter the Academy on talent alone.
The vast majority of students had earned their place by honing their skills through bone-shaving effort. For such individuals, early morning training was usually a deeply ingrained habit.
As I stepped into the bustling cafeteria, a chilling silence descended over the noisy room.
I could feel eyes glancing at me from every direction. Hmph, a disinterested sound escaped my lips.
The records said I had provoked the Imperial family and that painful memories would remain.
If that were the case, only one thing would follow.
Ostracization, followed by all-encompassing pressure and threats.
No matter how royal one was, they were supposed to live as ordinary students within the Academy.
Of course, that rule was rarely followed, but as long as the regulation existed, I didn't have to worry about the Academy officially penalizing me for crossing a royal.
However, that was only the official stance. Unofficially, all sorts of retribution were possible—and had happened before.
For instance, the attitude the students were displaying toward me right now.
Some sent glares filled with hostility, while others trembled in fear and avoided my gaze.
I felt like a leper.
A being that would bring disaster if approached.
The weight of the Imperial family's name was that terrifying. Even though there was only one person I could have possibly offended.
Cien, the 5th Princess of the Empire.
She was the top student of the first-year Magic Department and boasted the widest social network in the Academy.
First of all, her personality—unusually sociable for a royal—received nothing but praise. She was popular even among commoners for her habit of being considerate to others regardless of their status.
And above all, she was beautiful.
Though she was far from the line of succession, I had heard rumors that she was particularly doted on by the Emperor due to her charming personality and flower-like appearance.
But that Princess had marked me. At the very least, there must have been a reason.
How could I find out the details?
I fell into thought for a moment. Since I was on the Imperial family's bad side, I needed to keep my distance from those close to me. Otherwise, I would only cause them trouble.
That meant Reto, my reliable brain, was out.
Celine, Seria, Senior Elsie, Senior Delphine, and even Emma were off-limits.
It was just as I was stroking my chin, lost in thought.
Someone bumped into my shoulder with a dull thud as they passed by.
A tray flipped over, and food splattered across my pants.
My eyes flicked to the side. I saw a male student standing right next to me, making it obvious he had bumped into me on purpose.
He was a third-year in the Swordsmanship Department. I didn't know all my peers, but I recognized his face.
He wore an annoyed expression and spat out a curse.
"Fuck! Hey, are you blind? Why the hell are you standing there?"
How classic, I thought, a faint smile playing on my lips.
The reaction of his group was just as predictable. They pretended to hold the student back while throwing mockery my way.
"Stop, stop it. You think he can see anything right now?"
"His life is already over."
I silently watched their retreating backs as they snickered and tried to walk away. Then, I lightly lifted my foot.
Thwack.
A clean kick swept his ankle from front to back.
It was a sudden ambush. Even if the opponent was from the Swordsmanship Department, he was mid-tier at best; he was no match for my current skill level.
The man’s body momentarily slid through the air before slamming face-first onto the floor. It must have been painful, but worse, the spilled food splattered messily, ruining his clothes.
The student, his friends, and even the other students watching in the cafeteria stood frozen at the sudden retaliation.
I flashed a bright smile.
"Sorry, my mistake. You should really watch where you're going."
The student’s face turned beet red as he finally processed the situation. He scrambled to his feet, his voice trembling with rage.
"Y-you crazy bastard...!"
But that was as far as he got.
As I stared at him blankly, the student faltered and eventually averted his eyes. His friends did the same.
It was a reaction I couldn't quite fathom.
The student's friends patted his shoulder and practically dragged him away. Their whispering reached my ears.
"Holy shit, his eyes are terrifying..."
"They call him the Hand Axe Murderer for a reason. You think he's actually killed people?"
What nonsense. Where else could you find a peace-loving noble like me?
I let out a hollow laugh and lowered my gaze. The tray was still rolling on the floor.
And reflected in it, my eyes looked... a bit...
They looked so fatigued that I pressed my temples, wondering if I had seen wrong.
My mind wasn't clear yet. I must still be half-asleep.
Now wasn't the time for this. I had something I needed to do immediately.
My eyes followed the retreating group of students.
I evaded the thrusting sword with a single step.
The moment it grazed me, the man's arm followed awkwardly. I grabbed it and performed a shoulder throw.
Thump!
A shockwave echoed through the back alley.
"...Gah!"
With a choked groan, the man’s eyes bulged as he was slammed into the ground. I felt the presence of two others behind me.
I didn't even need to straighten my upper body.
I drew my hand axe and swept it backward, crushing the leg joint of the man approaching from behind.
"Aaaargh!"
A scream erupted along with the sound of bone snapping. As he stumbled and collapsed, the balance of the third person approaching me wavered.
That was the end of it.
My sword, still in its scabbard, struck the side of the man's head.
There wasn't even a scream. His eyes shook for a second before his body slumped over.
About four or five people were down. They were either groaning or unconscious, unable to make a sound.
Reattaching the sword to my waist, I brushed off my hands.
My gaze turned toward the wall. There, a single male student remained, leaning against the wall and dragging his legs as he tried to crawl away from me.
His face was already covered in bruises. Of course, they were all marks I had given him.
It was the student who had picked a fight with me in the cafeteria. His eyes were already clouded with terror.
"Y-you... are you insane?! Don't you know violence is forbidden at the Academy?!"
"Like someone said, my life is already over, so I've got nothing to lose. If you don't want an axe mark on your skull, you'd better shut up."
At my calm voice, the student let out a terrified whimper.
I walked over with steady steps and knelt slightly to meet his eyes.
"Actually, I really hate violence... so I'm in a very bad mood right now. Why did I have to use violence on you guys? So, let's just settle this cleanly by you giving me what I want. Okay?"
Seeing the student's face turn deathly pale, I gave a satisfied smile.
It was efficient and fast. I thought about how it would have been better if things were like this from the start.
Then, a sudden question popped into my head. Why am I doing this?
Just because he picked a fight once, I dragged him to a back alley and wrecked his entire group?
Wasn't this excessive? I looked no different from Senior Elsie.
But the more I questioned it, the more my head throbbed. My mind was still hazy. I felt like I was wandering through a half-dream.
I shook my head. I didn't have time for this.
I decided to focus more on my goal.
My eyes turned back to the student. He was on the verge of tears now.
To reassure him, I put on a warm smile.
Thunk.
My hand axe slammed into the wall right next to his head.
Faint cracks spread across the old wall from the blade. Finally unable to hold it back, tears began to stream down the student's face.
This should be enough to stop him from trying to get revenge, I calculated. Then, I asked in a gentle voice.
"Tell me everything you know about what happened between me and the Princess. Every single detail."
In a trembling voice, the student began to spill the story I had been curious about.
Cien, the 5th Princess of the Empire, was a woman of both beauty and talent.
As a member of the Imperial family rumored to carry the blood of dragons—a race said to have gone extinct long ago—her talent for magic was extraordinary.
Despite being a first-year, people often compared her skills to the top students of the second and third years. Her appearance was also nothing short of exquisite.
She had dark blue hair that held the elegant glow of the night sky and pale gray pupils that exuded a mysterious atmosphere.
In particular, her eyes sometimes seemed unfocused, which only added to her secretive beauty.
She was the Emperor's cherished daughter, a hidden jewel of the Imperial Palace, and a woman of remarkable talent.
When such a woman offered a greeting with a kind voice, who could possibly fail to respond favorably?
Until now, Cien had never doubted that hypothesis. Except for her early childhood, she had never been treated poorly in her entire life.
At least, not until she met a certain man that day.
Splash!
A stream of water scattered through the air.
Cien had been smiling. That fact remained unchanged even as the clear, transparent liquid rained down upon her hair.
Her entire body was drenched.
Water dripped from her hair, and her uniform and cape soaked up the moisture. Even then, Cien couldn't comprehend the reality of what had just happened.
So, she had no choice but to keep smiling. She was frozen in place.
Fatigued golden eyes were fixed on her. He held a canteen in his hand. It was painfully obvious that the man was the culprit who had doused her.
He spoke in an emotionless voice.
"...Is the water-dousing refreshing, Your Highness?"
There was a faint hint of mockery in those dry words, and only then did the Princess realize he was a human being with emotions.
Her lips trembled while she maintained her smile; it was the only thing representing her true feelings.
She thought to herself.
This guy is a total lunatic.