Chapter 34: Things Are Unusual This Time as Well (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 34: Things Are Unusual This Time as Well (2)
The Joaquin Council of Elders.
They were the five high-ranking officials who sat at the very top of Joaquin Academy’s hierarchy. A group of gloomy old geezers who pulled the strings of the world’s most prestigious academy while remaining buried in seclusion.
Some might ask, "Isn't the Academy Principal the supreme authority?" To that, I could only offer an ambiguous answer.
While it was the Principal’s role to review and approve major matters within the academy, the nature of Joaquin Academy—a place where the children of every prestigious family in the world gathered—meant that a single person could not wield absolute power.
Given the academy's status in this world, the events that transpired within its walls carried weight far beyond local concerns. If a Principal were to abuse their power with impunity, the repercussions wouldn't just be an internal school matter; they would escalate into a social crisis involving the highest echelons of society.
The Joaquin Council of Elders was born from that background. They maintained their legitimacy by claiming to be the descendants of five of Valor Joaquin’s seven disciples, and they had served as a check on every Principal throughout history.
To use an Earthly comparison, the position of Principal was like a Prime Minister—the primary decision-maker. The Council of Elders, on the other hand, functioned like a parliament or congress.
Thanks to their political savvy in representing the nobility and their rock-solid legitimacy, there were very few periods in the long span of seven hundred years when their status had waned. Perhaps the only time was when the Seven Stars heroes subjugated Basmon.
Consequently, the influence each individual member held was immense even outside the academy. However, water that remains stagnant for too long without circulation is bound to rot. To put it simply, the current Council was a bastion of deep-seated corruption. Even during my time playing Miracle Blessing M, they were the ones who constantly interfered with and obstructed the protagonist Leon’s every move.
The demons at least had a one-dimensional but clear justification—they were the enemies of humanity. In contrast, the Council moved solely to preserve their own vested interests.
No matter how noble the seven disciples of Valor Joaquin might have been, their descendants were destined to stagnate under the weight of inherited power.
Because of this, their image among players was so poor that they were perceived as an evil force even worse than the demons.
‘But why are those old geezers looking for me?’
I crossed my arms and furrowed my brow. Chloe, who had been cowering behind my back, suddenly sprang up like a startled rabbit upon hearing Nox’s words and raised her voice.
“Are you saying you came for Sword Demon Kun because of that?”
Chloe’s eyes trembled slightly, as if she hadn't yet fully shed her fear of Nox.
In response to her question, Nox let out a deep sigh and shook his head slowly.
“You’ve been away from home for too long and have lost your touch, Chloe.”
The very fact that an assassin specialized in ambushes had shown up in broad daylight meant he surely had another motive.
Chloe, seemingly pouting, hid behind my back again with a huffy expression. Nox stared at her for a moment before continuing his explanation.
“Auditore does not kill without a clear justification. Even if it is an order from the Academy’s Council of Elders. There is a fine line between a purge and a slaughter. If we fail to maintain that boundary, we are no different from wild beasts crazed by the scent of blood.”
“…….”
I blinked. His demeanor was the complete opposite of his usual arrogant attitude. Every word Nox spoke came as a fresh shock.
Nox glanced at me. When our eyes met, he awkwardly turned his head away and continued speaking as calmly as possible.
“Regardless of the request, the verification process takes at least two months before we officially accept it. I have absolutely no interest in what you’ve been up to, but the Council of Elders is strangely obsessed with you.”
I tilted my head while listening quietly with my arms crossed. The questions were piling up.
Why did those old geezers want me dealt with, and why was Nox, a member of the Auditore family, going out of his way to tell me this?
However, my sharp senses—which functioned as a permanent passive ability—refused to dismiss Nox’s words as lies. The Blessing of the Sword God was quite convenient in situations like this.
“It’s not just me; there’s a sense of unease within Auditore as well, so the general consensus for now is to postpone the request. The fact that they requested this secretly without going through the Principal is one thing, but an order to eliminate a mere student also goes against Auditore’s convictions. However, since it is a direct request from the Council of Elders, it is difficult to ignore. If the pressure continues, Auditore will have no choice but to proceed with an investigation into you, Kang Geomma.”
Nox’s expression seemed to flicker for a moment before he hid his presence and added, “Whatever the case, you are also a member of Auditore, Chloe, so I told you because you needed to know.”
I had felt this since the first time I saw him, but this guy seemed genuinely worried about Chloe. The way he kept stealing glances at her previously injured leg confirmed it.
Perhaps due to his family’s influence, his way of expressing himself was beyond clumsy—it was sharp—but even the most grueling training couldn't erase the bond of affection. That was what it meant to be family. My nose felt a bit prickly for some reason.
Nox had come under the pretext of the Auditore family’s convictions, but in the end, he had shared this information for Chloe’s sake.
Furthermore, the reason he chose to visit at midday was likely to check how much her condition had improved.
Until just a while ago, he had seemed like a guy without a shred of humanity. Now, the eyes that used to look at me with disdain had become quite mellow.
Of course, my well-being wasn't even a blip on his radar.
Besides, having a dark, brooding guy worry about me wasn't exactly a pleasant thought.
Regardless of his intent, it was a fact that thanks to Nox, I had learned about the Council of Elders’ clandestine assassination plot.
“I’ve said what I needed to say.”
With that, Nox turned to leave. Was it just my imagination, or did his back look a bit lonely? I called out to him.
“Nox.”
Nox reflexively turned his upper body and head back. I gestured for Chloe to sit for a moment and approached him.
Nox flinched and took a step back in embarrassment. Soon, I stood right before him. I scratched the back of my head and spoke.
“…So, uh.”
Standing in front of him, the words of thanks didn't come easily. After all, I was the one who had beaten him to within an inch of his life not long ago. Giving him a thank-you now, after thrashing him like a dog on a hot summer day, would probably seem entirely insincere.
Unable to find the words, I wiped my mouth. A subtle tension hung between us. Surprisingly, it was Nox who spoke first.
“Do not let Chloe get hurt again.”
“……?”
Nox wore an expression that silently demanded an answer. I nodded as if to say I understood. Only then did his guard lower slightly.
“Chloe is probably happiest when she’s by your side. Even as her family, I’ve never seen her like that before.”
Nox’s voice trailed off as he muttered quietly. Then, he straightened his back and asked, “I’ll ask one thing. How can you be so strong?”
“…….”
I shifted my gaze upward and scanned Nox’s face.
His face was full of questions. He was markedly different from the arrogant person he had been before. His fierce impression had softened considerably.
I thought his spirit had been completely crushed by my intimidation, but it seemed the boy’s will wasn't so easily broken.
A mindset that bows but does not break. I knew that was the first step toward a great leap forward.
…The problem was, I couldn't think of a specific answer to give him.
He probably didn't know that my ability made me a forty-second sprinter. I was in a position where my life was threatened daily by incidents that erupted unpredictably.
The reason for my strength? To me, strength meant having the skill to face constant threats at any time. Like… that Sword Emperor fellow?
In other words, as someone with a volatile strength that lasted less than a minute a day, I didn't think I was at a level where I could lecture others on strength.
‘Still, it would be rude to just brush him off after he helped me….’
Nox had leaked family secrets to me, an outsider.
I guessed he was subtly hinting for me to take good care of Chloe.
I chose my thoughts carefully and spoke with a heavy tone. Nox perked up his ears, waiting.
“Nox, you lack desperation.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Nox’s eyebrows twitched as his expression brightened with interest.
“No matter how much of an Auditore assassin you are, there’s a certain vibe that comes from social experience. But you don't have any of that. I’ve worked in various places since I was young and experienced many things. I believe the accumulation of those experiences is what made me who I am today.”
I glanced at the bewildered Nox and scratched my neck.
“If you stay trapped inside the academy, you’ll soon hit a limit in your growth. So, go out and gain some social experience. If you work until you’re dripping with blood and sweat, you’ll definitely gain something.”
Nox looked like he had a lot to say, but I turned around without hesitation. Ignoring the gaze I felt from behind, I walked away with light steps.
* * *
Even during the final afternoon class after lunch, questions lingered in my mind. The professor’s raspy lecture faded into the background like white noise.
‘The Joaquin Council of Elders is targeting me.’
Even when I tried to guess why my existence was a thorn in their side, I couldn't reach a proper conclusion. However, the fact that those old men in their backrooms were my enemies was worth considering.
I muttered bitterly and began scribbling with my pencil to retrace my recent actions.
「Top of the class at academy entrance.」
「Crushed Nox of the assassin family in a subspace sparring match.」
「Sliced up that fish-headed bastard during the midterm exams in place of a dying Leon.」
“…….”
Looking at what I’d written, I realized I’d stirred up quite a lot of trouble.
Up until the entrance ceremony, I’d been going on about being average, safe, and trouble-free, but at this rate, it looked like I was desperate to stand out.
I could only console myself by saying it was all necessary to save my own skin.
Of course, it was ridiculous to think the Council of Elders would target me for just these things. There was surely something more sinister lurking beneath the surface.
As I was calmly organizing my thoughts, a sudden sense of dissonance flashed through my mind, making me knit my brows. My gaze immediately fixed on my notebook.
「Leon attacked by a Mermaid on Scopuli Island.」
‘…Scopuli Island… Leon… Mermaid….’
I carefully retraced the events of the midterm exam. The group of mermen that had gathered in a pool not far from our assigned area as if on cue. And the Majin Mermaid that appeared as if waiting for the moment Leon let his guard down. Thinking back, it was strange.
Even though it could have targeted any of the team members, that fish bastard had accurately targeted only Leon.
With my arms crossed, I began to piece together the fragmentary information in an instant. A few seconds were enough to reach a conclusion.
‘…It wasn't me they were targeting, it was Leon.’
I didn't know the Council’s deep intentions, but I was certain their goal was Leon, not me. I was likely perceived merely as an obstacle that interfered with their objective.
No matter how well Principal Medea had kept things quiet, it was far too naive to think that news wouldn't reach the ears of those fox-like old men at the top of the nobility.
The fact that they were targeting Leon, a Hero Candidate, suggested the possibility that one or all of them were aligned with the demons. It wasn't certain, but based on the Council’s actions in the original story, it was worth suspecting.
‘Those bastards.’
An emotion starting from deep within my chest rose to my throat. To those old foxes who had rotted in their positions, was preserving their own interests more important than the safety of humanity or the academy?
Even if they were corrupt, for people belonging to the academy to try and harm a student…
Once again, I realized just how rotten the ethics of those in high places were.
I briefly considered going to find them and performing a sword dance, but I dismissed the thought.
I only had suspicions; no concrete evidence had been found yet.
I could go and indiscriminately slaughter the Council in a fit of rage, but now was not the time. Not yet….
“…Whew.”
I would wait until all the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.
‘When that time comes, I’ll cut them all down.’
Having reached that conclusion, I turned my head to look out the window.
The landscape was ripening into a golden hue under the setting sun, and shadows stretched out behind it like tails.
The blend of the elegant, man-made buildings and the natural glow of the sunset was enough to make me momentarily lose my sense of reality.
However, there wasn't even a ripple in my mindscape. The faint sunset merely flickered in my eyes as a simple phenomenon. Not a single emotion bloomed.
After staring blankly for a while, I turned my head toward the lectern.
The professor was silently filling the green chalkboard with details about the mythology of this world. His square glasses glinted in the light streaming through the window.
「During the period when origins could not even be traced—@#$, numerous gods existed in the heavens. Those who reigned over all things, championing order and prosperity. However, even those who appeared nearly omni%#^% could not avoid extinction. The one who exter#%minated them was—」
I was interested in the mythology itself, but because of the professor’s messy handwriting, I could only guess the content.
I looked away from the chalkboard and thought deeply about what I needed to do right now. My top priority was strengthening my armament.
I needed an assistant—a party member—to help with that.
‘Chloe will help if I ask….’
I wanted someone who was more of a strategist type rather than a powerhouse like Rachel.
As I tapped the desk with my fingernail, a face suddenly flashed through my mind.
“Speed Weapon.”
I let out a grin and stared at the chalkboard where the myth was being recorded character by character.
「—Among the gods who were of the same race and nearly omniㅈᅥᆫpotent, he was the greatest and strongest absolute god. The ㅚshin (Outer God) who cut down all the gods of heaven and brought an end to the age of myth.」
I couldn't tell what most of the scribbles were, but I wrote down the last few lines in my notebook. After all, studying was part of a student’s duty.
「Humanity of later generations dared to call that being….」
Finally, the chalk left a period, signaling the end of the lesson.