034
There was also a professor at the Kratzia Academy who was a former member of the Royal Guard. His name was Gide Alburn, and he stayed at the Academy to teach self-defense and other things.
I got a call from Gide.
“Luka, you threw a knife at an Academy student?”
“It was a pocket knife. Even if it had hit me, it would have only been a minor cut.”
“Shanghai cases are difficult.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. My sword wouldn’t have missed.”
Gid was looking at the documents containing my personal information. His eyes widened slightly in surprise as he looked at my training results and evaluation items.
“Well, I understand that the Krachia Academy is not a comfortable place for you. But please be careful. I’m telling you not to cause trouble for adults. You’re smart, so you know what I mean. Even Heilas sent a troublesome guy.”
Gid muttered. He didn’t seem to have any intention of punishing or disciplinary action against me.
“I understand.”
“This is the first time a cadet from the lower classes has been dispatched to the Academy. I wonder what Heilas’ intentions are.”
Gide waved his hand and the hologram flew away. He looked out the window for a moment before continuing.
“You are like a wolf among a flock of gentle sheep. Children here do not learn how to fight.”
I agree with that.
“But they all acted as if they wouldn’t bite my teeth.”
Gid laughed out loud at my words.
“I also like people like you because I’m a former Royal Guard. Your record is impressive. You have excellent training results and a wealth of combat experience. You even received a medal of honor, so even if you’re an Irregular, you’ll definitely rise to fame. I think I understand why Heilas cherishes you.”
I had heard such compliments so often that I was no longer inspired. I waited for Gide to speak next.
“But in the end, the ones who command soldiers like us with one finger are elite bureaucrats from the academy. To you, the students here may look like sheep… … but among them, there are monsters in sheep’s clothing. They are strange monsters that are much scarier than wolves.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
I answered politely. Gid also smiled, as if he hadn’t expected much.
“… … Youthful spirit is good, but be careful not to encounter monsters.”
* * *
The way the students looked at me changed. In the past, they were neutral observers, but now there was even open hostility. It was because they found out that I had thrown a knife at a student. And it was for the sake of the witch Barbara.
At lunchtime, I sat on the bench and ate a snack. It was always the same spot.
“You messed with a troublesome woman, Luca.”
Enrico Lagan came up to me and spoke. His mouth seemed to move as if he wanted to explain.
“Anyway, everyone I met here was a pain in the ass.”
I said it as if it was nothing. Enrico hesitated and then asked me softly.
“Have you told Giselle my story?”
“Oh, I told you about me. Giselle remembers you as a good person. It seems to me that she was secretly aware of it.”
Enrico clenched his fists and made a face of glee at my lie. He started talking as if it was a compliment, even though I hadn’t asked.
“… … The woman you touched is Calesa Kano.”
“I know the name too. It doesn’t seem like it comes from a very prestigious family.”
I also know the major families of the empire.
“That’s how it is on the outside. The Kano family has deep connections to the lower classes. They run a gang behind the scenes and make money through illegal businesses. You’re from the lower classes too. You should tell your family to be careful. They’ll be digging up your background.”
“I came from an orphanage anyway. There’s no point in investigating my background. I don’t have anyone to take care of.”
I snickered. At best, there are only Gabriel, Gilda, and the people from the orphanage. Whether they die or not is none of my concern. I don’t have any family or acquaintances in the lower districts who could be a weakness for me.
“Really? Anyway, be careful. Calesa is a woman who needs to get revenge for what she’s been through. And she hates Barbara so much. One of the victims of Barbara’s curse is Calesa’s boyfriend.”
“Remember that.”
“Then again to Giselle… … .”
“I know. I’ll tell you a little about you.”
The reason Enrico approached me so kindly was simple: he did not have the courage to approach Giselle directly.
‘I want to help Enrico as much as I can, but… … .’
I scratched my chin as I watched Enrico disappear. There are things in this world that are physically impossible.
* * *
I deliberately didn’t return to the dorm until late. I think there was a curfew, but it wasn’t like I would get in trouble for getting demerits.
As the sun set, the crowds at the Academy thinned out. I deliberately walked toward the deserted gymnasium and warehouse.
‘It’s been a while.’
I relaxed my body by rubbing my shoulders. I activated my nervous system so that I could respond to external stimuli at any time.
‘Barbara’s Curse.’
There was no one in the Academy who didn’t know that I had helped Barbara. If the rumors were true, the rampaging android would attack me.
Androids are indispensable to the Empire. The Empire actively uses androids, even though it knows the dangers of artificial intelligence malfunctioning and going out of control. It cannot exclude efficient workers because of minor issues.
I was curious about the truth of the rumor, and my body was trembling. I wanted to destroy even an android. But I couldn’t destroy a healthy android.
Beep.
My terminal rang. It was Barbara calling.
I checked the message on my retina display. Barbara was worried about me not coming home after curfew. She thought I had become close to her since the last incident, so she contacted me often.
I looked up as I was about to reply. There was a noise around the corner.
‘Three people.’
I counted the number of footsteps and stared at the group turning the corner.
“You’re the dispatched cadet, Luca, right?”
There were three boys, both muscular and bad-looking, walking toward me, chattering amongst themselves.
“Do you have any business with me?”
I didn’t hide my disappointment. I threw out the bait and the wrong guy bit.
“Kalesa asked me to say hello to you. It’s the Kano family’s rule to repay what you’ve been dealt. I’m asking just in case, but you wouldn’t report to your superiors that you got beaten up by a regular student, would you? You’re an amazing Royal Guard cadet, aren’t you?”
The biggest student spoke briskly. He seemed to be a member of the Kano family.
‘You are not a gentle sheep.’
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The big guy looked used to fighting.
‘But it’s not a wolf either.’
Rather, it had a similar vibe to a back-alley gang. It seemed true that the Kano family was involved with the gangs of the lower districts.
“I’ll give you one last chance, dispatched cadet. Kneel down and apologize to Calesa. Calesa said she’ll let it go if you do that.”
The big guy chuckled. The two boys behind him chimed in as if they were his subordinates.
“I’ll give you one last chance to walk away with your limbs intact. I’m different from you. I’ve trained professionally in how to kill people.”
I gave a polite warning.
“What’s the big deal? You’re just showing off.”
He wasn’t the kind of person who would back down just because of words. I didn’t expect it in the first place. There are some people who have to experience it themselves to realize something.
Crack.
The creature clenched its molars hard. That was the signal to switch its body into combat mode.
Wow!
There was a sound of power being generated from the large limbs. There was a slight vibration throughout the entire body. At first glance, it looked very threatening.
‘You’re using a high-powered body that’s beyond your capabilities.’
So, normally, the output would be limited. Since it cannot be controlled by the brain, the state is changed by a physical switch.
Beatle.
The bulky man’s steps were unsteady. Sweat was already pouring down his face like rain, and the veins on his forehead were prominent.
“Shall we all three attack together? Let’s save time.”
I said this while jumping up and down in place. I didn’t even feel nervous because I found their appearance so funny.
Thud, thud.
Me and Dungchi walked towards each other. The two boys behind me were filming with their terminals. It seemed like they wanted to record the scene of them beating up the guard cadets. Yes, if that were actually possible, it would be something to brag about. It would be an achievement that even my great-grandson would be proud of.
Beep, beep.
My steps and the big guy’s stopped. The android on patrol spotted us and sounded an alarm.
-Do you need help?
The android approached me and spoke. Its inorganic metal face had only optical lenses that glowed bluishly.
“You, you punk. Did you get it right? I told you there’s no patrol this way at this time!”
He suddenly got angry at a student who was bigger than him. His excessive irritation and excitement were obvious. It seemed like his nervous system was already going into overdrive.
“Okay, I checked for sure! Androids don’t travel this way in the first place.”
“But why is that tin boy here? Hey, dispatched cadet. Let’s have a proper fight next time. Once we get together, whether we break or win, we’ll end it cleanly.”
The bulky man spat on the floor and bit his molars hard again. The vibrations ceased as his body output decreased.
“… … Wait, stand there. You guys don’t move either.”
I spoke as if warning. My intuition sensed danger.
“You want to fight in front of an android? The security guards will come running right away.”
The big guy ignored me. The other boys tried to withdraw as if they were shocked.
“Your timing is incredible, tin can.”
A male student pushed the android aside.
-Do you need any help?
The pushed android stumbled and then straightened up.
“Get out, I don’t need it.”
-That’s, fire, impossible. I, I, I… … .
Only then did the male student flinch.
The android’s voice was full of noise. Its movements were also strange. Its upper body was slightly bent, and only its head was stretched out in all directions.
The boy tried to step back at the android’s strange reaction.
Phew!
The android spun around and extended his arm. The chunk of metal in his fist struck the boy in the face.
Wow, that was a cool blow. The human’s head exploded as if it were a lie.
The patrol android is a combat-spec. It can easily shatter a human head with one blow. The male student’s skull was crushed, and pink brain matter and flesh were scattered like shrapnel through the back of his head.
“Huh, huh?”
The other male students, who were of different sizes, looked dumbfounded at the sight before them. Their eyes were filled with confusion as they saw such a gruesome sight for the first time.
Wow!
The android’s eyes were now red. It was in a state of battle. It recognized the students around it as enemies.
Squeak!
The android jumped up crookedly and tried to attack another student.
I bent my waist and knees and kicked the ground. I passed the big guy and faced the android.
Kyaang!
My foreleg struck the android’s side. The android flew about ten meters and then stopped by scraping the ground with its fingers.
-Do you need help?
The place where my kick landed only had a dent in the exterior. The android’s red eyes were fixed on me.
“Ba, it’s Barbara’s curse! The witch’s curse was real! It’s realooooo!”
The boy who survived thanks to my intervention fell backwards and screamed.
“A student from the prestigious Krachia Academy believes in curses and writes, tsk.”
I licked my lips and walked towards the android.
Kiiiiiing!
A loud noise erupted from the body of the android, which was lying face down like a quadruped. The output was far beyond its specifications, causing vibrations that made the surrounding sand tremble, and smoke was rising from the joints.
It’s a high output that can’t be sustained for even a few minutes. The tiny parts inside will start to move out of place.
‘You know you need this much power to fight me.’
This wasn’t a simple malfunction, it was a perfect fit.
“This is the work of humans.”
I spread my legs and took a deep breath.
