Chapter 34: This time, too, it’s nothing unusual (1)

The Elders of Joaquin Academy.

The five elders who form the council of Joaquin Academy are the highest-ranking members within the institution—shadowy figures who run the elite academy from behind the scenes.

Some would say that the academy’s director holds the highest authority, but to me, that answer seems ambiguous.

While the director reviews and approves important matters for the academy, it would be unwise for a single individual to hold all the power in an institution of global renown that educates the heirs of the most influential families.

The influence of Joaquin Academy extends far beyond local matters; if a director abused their authority, the consequences would not only impact the academy but could become a problem for the entire high society.

That’s why the Joaquin Academy council exists.

These elders are descendants of five of the seven disciples of the founder, Valor Joaquin, and have watched over each director throughout the years.

If we were to compare this power structure to something on Earth, the director would be akin to a prime minister, and the council of elders, to a parliament.

Through political prowess and long-established legitimacy, the elders have maintained their status almost unchanged for 700 years.

Only the constellation heroes ever managed to push them back by defeating General Basmon.

The elders’ influence is immense, even outside the academy; however, like stagnant water that ultimately rots, this council has transformed into a force of corruption—a faction seeking to preserve its own interests.

Demons, at least, act with a clear purpose of opposing humanity, but the council of elders pursues only the perpetuation of their privileges.

Although they are the descendants of Balor Joaquin’s noble disciples, the inheritance of power tends to corrupt.

As a result, in the game Miracle Blessing M, players view the council as a force even darker than the demons themselves.

‘Why on earth are those old men interested in me?’

I frowned, crossing my arms. Chloe, curled up behind me, jumped like a rabbit upon hearing Knox and raised her voice.

“Does the council want to go after Geom-Ma just because of what happened?”

Although Chloe still seemed nervous around Knox, he sighed, shook his head, and replied.

“You’ve been away from home so long, Chloe, that you’ve lost all sense.”

Knox, a trained assassin specializing in surprise attacks, had come in broad daylight, which suggested his intentions were not what they appeared.

Chloe, annoyed, went back to hiding behind me, while Knox, glancing briefly at her, continued.

“The Auditore family doesn’t kill without a clear reason, Chloe, even if the order comes from the council of elders. Cleaning up and massacring are different things, and anyone who doesn’t understand that difference is nothing but a bloodthirsty beast.”

“…”

I blinked, taken aback by Knox’s seriousness, so different from his usual arrogance. Sensing my gaze, Knox looked away and continued, trying to maintain his composure.

“Before accepting any assignment, we always conduct an evaluation process that takes at least two months. I don’t care what you do at the academy, but the council of elders seems oddly fixated on you.”

As I listened, my suspicions grew. I didn’t understand why these elders wanted me dead, nor why Knox, a member of the Auditore family, had come to warn me.

The instincts granted by my blessing told me Knox wasn’t lying.

He continued, his expression darkening for a moment before he regained his composure.

“Many in the Auditore family also feel that something is off about this assignment. Besides, the fact that the council bypassed the director and is trying to assign this task secretly raises suspicion. Plus, an order to eliminate a mere student goes against our principles. Still, since it’s a direct request from the council, we can’t ignore it entirely. If the council pushes hard enough, we’ll be forced to investigate further, Geom-Ma.”

I noticed Knox casting a concerned glance toward Chloe, particularly at the leg she’d injured.

Although his attitude was rigid, I had the impression that he truly cared about her.

Even if he used his family’s principles as an excuse, it seemed clear that he’d come here for Chloe.

“I’ve said everything I came to say.”

Knox turned to leave, and for some reason, he looked more solitary than before. I called after him.

“Knox.”

He turned slightly, just enough to look at me out of the corner of his eye.

I gestured for Chloe to stay seated and walked over to him.

His reaction was to take a step back, visibly unsettled. Finally, I stopped in front of him and scratched the back of my neck.

“…Well, I…”

The words of thanks wouldn’t come out easily. After all, Knox was the same guy I’d nearly left for dead not long ago.

Thanking him now, after almost killing him, didn’t seem sincere, nor did it feel like the right time.

Surprisingly, it was Knox who spoke first.

“Don’t let Chloe get hurt again.”

“…?”

He looked at me, waiting for a response. I nodded, and that seemed to ease his tension a little.

“She seems happier when she’s with you. Not even her family has seen this side of her.”

Knox muttered these words and, straightening up, looked at me with a more resolved expression.

“There’s just one thing I want to ask you. How can you be so strong?”

“…”

I looked at him closely. His face no longer held that arrogant pride from before; he seemed genuinely interested in my answer.

His previously sullen expression also seemed softened.

I wouldn’t have expected the same boy I’d once intimidated to have such a resilient spirit. Learning to adapt without breaking is key to making great strides forward.

…The problem was that I didn’t really know how to answer him.

Knox didn’t know that my ability only allowed me to fight for forty seconds before wearing out, nor that I barely managed to survive the problems I faced every day.

To me, true strength meant being able to confront the constant threats that appeared, like the Sword Master.

I wasn’t exactly the best example of strength; if anything, my power was limited and temporary.

But Knox had revealed confidential family information by coming here. He had done it because, deep down, he trusted me to protect Chloe.

“Knox, your problem is that you lack a sense of urgency.”

“What do you mean?”

Knox frowned, confused.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re an assassin from the Auditore family; there’s something that only real-world experience can teach you, and you’re missing that. I’ve worked in various places since I was young, and everything I’ve been through has shaped me.”

I looked at Knox, who still looked puzzled, and scratched my neck.

“If you stay only in the academy, you’ll stagnate. Go out there and gain some experience. You’ll spend a lot of time sweating and working hard, but you’ll also gain some resolve in the process.”

Knox looked as if he wanted to respond, but before he could say anything, I turned and walked away, ignoring his curious gaze.

***

Though it was the last class of the afternoon after lunch, a persistent question lingered in my mind. The professor’s droning metallic voice faded into a low, distant hum.

‘The council of elders at Joaquin Academy is after me.’

No matter how much I tried to understand why my presence bothered them, I couldn’t come to a clear conclusion.

However, the fact that those old men cloistered in their offices were my enemies was a fact worth considering. As I reflected on this, I began scribbling in my notebook, retracing my steps so far.

「I entered the Academy as the top student.」

「I defeated Knox, the assassin from the Auditore family, in the duel in the subspace.」

「In the midterm exam, I killed that damned siren instead of Leon, who was on the brink of death.」

“…”

Looking over what I’d written, I realized how much trouble I’d gotten into. During the entrance ceremony, I’d thought about keeping a low profile, slipping by without complications, but seeing this, it seemed like I’d been doing everything possible to stand out.

I tried to convince myself that all of it had been necessary for survival.

Yet it didn’t make sense for the council of elders to target me solely because of these incidents.

There had to be something darker hidden in their motives.

As I tried to organize my thoughts, a sudden and disturbing idea crossed my mind.

Instantly, my gaze fixed on my notebook.

「Leon was attacked by a siren on Scopuli Island.」

‘…Scopuli Island… Leon… Siren…’

I recalled the events of the midterm exam. The merfolk had gathered near the pool, not far from our designated area, as if they were waiting for something.

Then, the demonic siren appeared and attacked Leon at the exact moment he lowered his guard. Thinking back, it was strange.

Despite having all team members as potential targets, that creature had attacked only him. I crossed my arms and allowed the loose pieces of information to fit together. It didn’t take more than a few seconds to reach a conclusion.

‘…I wasn’t the target. It was Leon.’

Though I didn’t fully understand the council’s intentions, I was certain their true target wasn’t me but Leon. I had only become an obstacle in their path.

As much as Director Media tried to conceal information, it was naïve to think anything could escape the ears of those old foxes at the top of noble society.

The fact that they tried to dispose of Leon, a hero candidate, suggested the possibility that one or even all of them were allied with demons.

Though I couldn’t be certain, remembering the council’s actions in the original story made it a reasonable suspicion.

‘Damn bastards.’

A rage that started deep within my chest grew until it filled my throat. To those old foxes, concerned only with their power, the safety of humanity and the Academy was irrelevant if it interfered with their interests.

To an extent, I had expected them to be corrupt, but conspiring to harm one of their own students… It was disgusting. Once again, I grasped the depths of moral decay among those in high places.

For a moment, I thought of seeking out those elders and cutting them down with my sword. However, I set that thought aside.

I had no concrete proof, only suspicions. I could go and cut the council to pieces, but now was not the time… not yet.

“…Haa.”

I would wait until all the pieces fell into place, like gears meshing perfectly.

‘At that moment, I’ll destroy them all.’

With that decision made, I turned my head to look out the window. The last rays of the setting sun bathed the landscape in a deep gold, casting long shadows. The old stone architecture, combined with the warm natural light, made me momentarily lose my sense of reality.

Even so, I felt nothing. My eyes registered the sunset’s glow as a mere phenomenon; no emotion rose from the view. Leaving my gaze on the horizon, I turned my attention back to the front of the class.

The professor continued filling the green chalkboard with words about this world’s mythology. His square glasses reflected the light streaming through the window.

“During times so ancient that it’s impossible even to speculate their origin, the heavens were populated by countless gods. They were beings who ruled over everything, representing order and prosperity. However, even these beings, who seemed close to omnipotence, could not survive extinction. What annihilated them#% was―”

I found mythology interesting, but with the professor’s rushed writing, I could only get a vague sense of the content.

I looked away from the board and considered what I needed to do next. My priority was strengthening my weapon.

I would need a partner for that, someone who could help me.

‘Chloe will surely be willing to help…’

I’d prefer someone with strategic skills over someone with a more straightforward approach, like Rachel.

As I drummed my fingers on the desk, an image crossed my mind.

“SpeedWeapon.”

A faint smile crept onto my lips as I watched the professor continue writing on the chalkboard, detailing an ancient history.

「…The supreme god, the greatest and most powerful among the gods, who ended the era of myths by cutting down all celestial deities.」

Though I could barely decipher most of the text, I copied down some of the final phrases into my notebook; after all, studying was also part of my responsibilities as a student.

「Future generations would come to call this entity…」

The professor, finishing the last sentence, placed the final period with the chalk, marking the end of the class.