Chapter 286 Academy
The Longji Mountains stretch gently across the landscape, their towering fir trees stacked one upon the other, creating a cool, leathery hue. With the arrival of late autumn, after the brief, sweltering heat subsides, the forest mist grows thicker, like water-soaked silk, gently drifting across the treetops and the tall, pointed roofs of the buildings.
"That's him," a group of young men in academic robes patterned with vines and thorns gathered together and whispered to a blond boy who was reading alone not far away. "He's a civilian freshman who just started school. A few days ago, he beat up the young master of the Shrike family and broke half of his ribs."
"Kenneth Shrike?" someone chuckled. "Hasn't that guy already considered the first-year class leader position a sure thing? How did he get beaten up by a civilian freshman?"
"That's easy," another person said with a cryptic tut. "Young Master Shrike thought it was just a beautiful canary, but it turned out to be a ferocious peregrine falcon."
——But even this group of aristocratic children who were used to absurdities had to admit that the face was really beautiful, incredibly beautiful.
The blond boy, isolated and ostracized by them, seemed to have heard the gossip and raised his head slightly, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth that made one hold one's breath, afraid of disturbing the others. Kennett Shrike was blinded by this soft and clear smile, mistakenly thinking that this person was an object of abuse and entertainment.
As long as they were from a respectable family, a noble lady would not be allowed to attend the predominantly male Saint Bartolomeo Warlock Academy. However, in a place where a large group of restless young men gathered, some of the more attractive commoner students, regardless of gender, were willing to trade their bodies for resources.
At least at this moment, everyone believed that this civilian freshman with stunning appearance would be the next target to be hunted.
Amidst the conversation, a tall young man with black hair and brown skin emerged from the shadows beside the topic center like a ghost. His iron-blue eyes gave a warning glance to the group of bored aristocratic students. The cold murderous intent implied in his eyes made the students, who had not experienced much, feel their scalps tighten. They pretended to be busy and dispersed.
Young Ole snorted softly and slowly averted his gaze. He glanced at his friend, who was still reading beside him, and suddenly made an awkward sound: "...Don't keep smiling like that, or some people will take advantage of you."
"Why are you laughing?" The other man took a moment to calmly glance at him, his blue eyes no longer concealing an icy indifference, like the deep sea. Combined with the gentle smile at the corners of his lips, it sent a chill down Ole's spine. How blind must one be to think this man was harmless and easy to bully?
He was silent for a moment, then decided to change the subject: "That Kennet Shrike swore to make you look good."
"Let him do it." His friend lowered his head with disinterest and turned another page, his attention almost entirely focused on the book in his hands. "After all, accepting challenges from other students is also one of the headmaster's responsibilities."
"...Hey, the first-year selection hasn't started yet." Ole's face suddenly darkened. For a moment, he wanted to punch that arrogant man in the face. "And why do you think the first-year position is yours and not mine?"
"I never said that." Young Azuka said with false surprise. "Of course you can try to defeat me - as long as you can."
However, until they were forced to leave the St. Bartolomeo Warlock Academy and start fleeing, Orel still did not get what he wanted.
Thinking about it now, this period of time was simply the most relaxing and enjoyable time since Azuka left Asachi Valley. The only trouble he had to deal with was a group of boring and stupid noble students. Compared with the suffering he experienced later, it was so gentle, peaceful and innocent.
That night, a nightmare filled with blood and fire kept pursuing him. He had no choice but to eagerly absorb all the nourishment he could, constantly draping himself in perfect armor, and tearing apart all prejudices and unwillingness in an unquestionable manner. So much so that a year later, all the teachers and students of St. Bartolomeo's School of Warlocks knew that their civilian chief was an exceptionally "perfect" student with excellent character and academic performance, outstanding abilities, and even a gentle and kind personality. He was a unique genius in the entire history of the school.
Beloved by his teachers and admired by his classmates, young Azuka is like a beggar suddenly blessed with too much wealth, desperately collecting every possible "good thing," fearing to miss even a single one. Meanwhile, his nemesis is caught in the horror of the Divine Punishment Incident, imprisoned by the Inquisition and treated as a precious experimental subject by the Church. Tormented by the grief of having lost everything, he suffers endlessly...
Someone touched his hand, and Azuka snapped back to reality, meeting the cold, penetrating grey eyes of his old enemy.
"What's wrong with you?" those eyes asked. The blond youth was silent for a moment, then, concealed by the wide opening of his robe, quietly grasped the other man's hand and slowly squeezed it. The black-haired youth was silent for a moment, then gave him a gentle squeeze, as if to comfort him.
Azuka's eyes softened instantly.
...This time it was different. He successfully changed many things. At least that person was by his side now.
The scene seemed to be repeated, a group of aristocratic students were standing not far away, whispering and chatting to each other, the young man became the center of the topic. The only difference was that the person in front of Percy Brody was Tron Batman with a gloomy face.
"...You are still alive." Little Batman said with mixed emotions. He didn't even know what he felt in his heart.
"And alive and well." Percy sneered. He glanced at his classmates. Some of them looked away guiltily. It seemed that his disappearance had caused many people to have some different thoughts.
Percy stared at the familiar chief badge on Little Bartman's chest, and curled his lips expressionlessly: "Are you disappointed? Mr. Bartman, you can only satisfy your chief desire when I'm not around? But I think this badge will probably be returned to its rightful owner soon."
Little Batman was stunned for a moment before he flew into a rage. The subtle strangeness he had felt in his heart had long since vanished without a trace. "Oh, really? That's much more plausible than that ridiculous story about you having to rely on the kindness of your ordinary brother to survive!"
Then, with the rest of the students watching with unperturbed composure, the two of them engaged in another heated argument. Little Bartman grew increasingly alarmed as the argument went on. In just a few months, this pretentious kid's taunting skills had somehow improved dramatically, becoming even more sharp and vicious.
In the past, he would always maintain his aristocratic reserve and elegance, and at most would refrain from making a few sarcastic remarks. But now, he was easily angered to the point that the veins on his forehead were throbbing.
The professor, in a disguise, stood behind his cousin, waiting for a long time, but the elementary school quarrel continued unabated. Finally, growing impatient, he stepped forward and pointedly warned, "Mr. Bateman, Master Brody is here to attend an appointment with the dean. If there's nothing else, please..."
The angry little Bateman immediately interrupted him angrily: "I'm talking to Percy Brody, who the hell are you?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, little Bartman suddenly felt a chill on his back. He dodged sideways rather awkwardly, and a chain of light brushed past his ear and pierced through the stone statue behind him. The explosion sent rubble flying, prompting a suppressed cry of surprise.
"That's enough. If you're not convinced, I'll see you on the training ground. I'm always here for you." Percy Brody raised his chin and slowly scanned the students around him. His eyes were so cold they seemed to be covered in frost. "Of course, I'll be sure not to kill you."
"As for you, please save whatever you have to say for when you beg for mercy on the training ground." He curled his lips at the frightened and angry little Bateman who was covering his ears. "Now - please get out of my way. You're blocking my way."
Then, Percy Brody, accompanied by two attendants, walked through the silent crowd towards the dean's office. The tense atmosphere only became lively again when their figures disappeared at the end of the corridor.
"What the hell!" a student couldn't help but mutter, "Why is our chief becoming more and more terrifying..."
He seemed to have tacitly agreed that little Batman would return the chief position.
"Maybe it's because he just happened to be angry?" The other person shrugged. "If you locked me up for a few months, I would definitely be even more angry than him."
"How dare he yell at you like that!" Percy, who had disappeared from everyone's sight, was still muttering indignantly: "Stupid Tron Bateman, he's so blind!"
The professor couldn't help but twitch his lips: "Guess why I disguised my identity."
"Can you handle the inquiries from the school?" He simply changed the subject: "If not, I'll say it later and you'll repeat it. Azuka will use magic so that only you and I can hear it."
"I can do it." Percy pursed his lips and insisted stubbornly, "It's just a trick. It's a compulsory course for nobles."
The black-haired young man glanced at him and said nothing more, which meant he agreed.
Edmund, the dean of St. Bartolomeo's School of Magic, looked to be in his forties or fifties. He was sitting in a soft chair in the dean's office, slowly stirring the silver teaspoon in the cup.
"Brody's kid." The other person placed the cup on the table lightly. "I think you should know what it means to be absent from school for nearly half a year. Even third-year students who are out on field training have to return to school regularly to give reports."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Dean, but I'm powerless." Percy Brody stood straight in front of him. "I was imprisoned by the Democrats, and only now found a chance to escape."
The other party raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Is that so? This is the first time I've heard of it."
Bullshit, Percy cursed in his heart. This old fox must not have heard this for the first time.
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