The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

The head of the Titan family, Metios, collapsed, but it did not cause a big commotion.

In the annex, six families rooted in the treacherous Blade Mountain were gathered, and it would not be good if the fact that the Titan’s head had collapsed got out.

Upon confirming Metios’s collapse, the butler quickly called for the family doctor.

“…”

Metios, who had fallen, was moved to the bedroom near the office.

The family doctor, examining her condition, bypassed me and spoke directly to the butler.

“Fortunately, it’s not a serious illness, just exhaustion. If she gets some rest, she will recover soon.”

That was a comforting piece of news.

The butler left the bedroom without saying much.

Inside the quiet bedroom, only Metios and I remained.

“…..”

Sleeping, Metios looked incredibly peaceful.

The last time I saw her, she had a face marked by constant overwork and lack of sleep.

A heavy sense of guilt settled in my chest.

While I hated everyone else in the mansion during my childhood, the only person I didn’t hate was Metios.

My sweet younger sister, whose blood was so precious that it wouldn’t hurt to put her in my eye.

But there was no choice but to dig up Cronos’s grave.

Since I was going to do it anyway, I thought it better to inform her beforehand, but I hadn’t considered that Metios wasn’t in good shape.

This girl didn’t harbor hatred for our father, unlike me.

“… I’ve made you see something unpleasant.”

As Metios tried to get up, I pressed her forehead down with my hand, forcing her to lie back down.

“Stay lying down.”

Completely subdued by just my one finger on her forehead, Metios looked flustered, but all she could do was look up at me and try to persuade me with words.

“I still have a lot of work left to do.”

“I’ll help you, so just rest for a bit.”

She wasn’t dense enough to be incapable of paperwork.

Once Metios regained her strength, the two of us could handle it together.

“You’re really neglecting your health. Taking care of yourself is part of a head’s duty.”

As I gently pressed my fingertips against her forehead, I could feel just how weak Metios was.

Ever since I thought she had no way out, I believed Metios had been training, but perhaps she didn’t possess the physique of a warrior, as her level was low.

At best, it seemed to be mid-expert level; for someone her age, it was average, but considering she came from a prestigious family, it was on the lower end.

Reaching expert level alone is something to be admired, but from my perspective when I was a master at her age, she appeared far too feeble.

“I’m fine.”

“Then don’t collapse.”

“Brother, you’ve overcome worse, so how could I complain?”

Seeing Metios continue to try to get up, I pressed several acupressure points.

“Brother… what is this…?”

“It’s a pressure point that helps you take a break without any worries. Don’t think about anything and focus on your recovery.”

“You can do things like this… you’re quite impressive as a knight.”

Once she realized she couldn’t move no matter what she did, Metios smiled for the first time.

It’s been years since I last saw her smile, even just a little.

Perhaps she was finally letting go; I hoped that was the case.

Carrying something all the time would surely bring her to the breaking point.

Metios seemed to take my words positively and began to rest quietly.

I pulled a chair over and sat beside her.

Given the height of the bed, the difference in eye level between me sitting and Metios lying down wasn’t that much.

It could be that my own height was short, but even considering that, the bed was quite high.

As we spent time together in silence without much conversation, I suddenly wondered if we had ever been in such a situation before.

‘… It seems not.’

This was the first time.

I had never spent time alone with Metios without any particular reason.

Always dragged around by Cronos, I hardly had the chance to meet my younger sibling who was growing at a normal pace.

I would occasionally run into her or spend a short time together, but while living in the same mansion, we barely saw each other.

Our father and mother had intentionally kept us apart.

It was likely they aimed to minimize connections between me, the blemish of the family, and Metios, who could potentially become the next head.

Still, I was grateful that, as far as I remembered, I hadn’t treated Metios harshly.

But I also felt regret.

I had left this kind child alone in this mansion, without even considering the pain she might have been experiencing, because I found it hard to manage myself.

“… Brother.”

Suddenly, Metios, who had been lying quietly, opened her eyes slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry for what happened a little while ago.”

If she referred to what just happened, there were two things.

Stopping her from digging up Cronos’s grave, and hiding the fact that my funeral was held without my permission.

It seemed she didn’t intend to condone the heinous act, so I interpreted the apology as referring to the latter.

But that wasn’t why I was angry at Metios.

“… I’m not blaming you. What could you have done about Cronos’s actions?”

It was a simmering anger toward the piece of trash of a father who did unnecessary things until the end.

“Now you don’t even call him father.”

“Did you despise him?”

“… He was very cruel.”

She didn’t affirm but neither did she deny it.

We both understood that he wasn’t a good father.

“… Are you really thinking of digging up our father’s grave?”

“I have to confirm it. If it’s true… it would be a huge problem for you. If Cronos commits evil under his face, the consequences will fall upon you.”

“No matter how much I try to stop you… you are set on doing it.”

“Yes.”

“… Brother, our father loved you.”

That was nonsense.

He might have felt that way when he first realized my unusual constitution, but undoubtedly, it had twisted into hatred midway.

That’s why it should be in the past tense that he loved me.

I swallowed the words that were about to come out.

After seeing the father I thought was dead move again and realizing that I, who was alive, was digging deeper, I thought I’d be okay by now, but each time I returned home, the hatred boiled over.

I should have stayed away after all.

But seeing the only remaining flesh and blood, I couldn’t shake off my reluctance.

—————————

Riding the griffon that every man in the empire dreams of, Herbert Anemoi, the heir to the Anemoi family and a member of the Sky Knights protecting the empire’s sky, was incredibly bored.

While it was good that he was accompanying his father to the meeting at Blade Mountain, waiting for the meeting was incredibly dull.

If his father had heard this, he would have cringed and choked.

Though it was acceptable to arrive just in time for the meeting, getting there early was meant to allow them to align their discussions to gain the upper hand. Living in the same perilous mountain, it was hard enough to even see each other’s faces, and this opportunity allowed them to build camaraderie.

Even the head of Russell, one of the five pillars, was participating in this meeting, so it would have been fine just to make an appearance, but having been raised too sheltered at home, the foolish Herbert still didn’t know how to conduct himself, choosing to waste this golden time lounging about in a hammock.

“Ughhh… I’m so bored. They call this the ruler of the mountains, but how can a place be so dull?”

The Titan’s Territory was vast and had a small city, but there was little to do.

It was indeed a pleasant place to live, but that was about it; it was exceedingly boring for someone used to the nightlife of a big city.

Yet there was one interesting thing for Herbert.

‘That head here just turned of age… should I try to charm her?’

The current head of the Titan family, Metios Titan, whom he had met only once upon arriving in Titan.

Apart from her tall stature, which was annoying, she had quite an attractive appearance.

Just looking at her, one could tell she was a naïve virgin who knew nothing about men.

Though she tried to hide it, the deep-rooted fatigue in her every minor action was apparent.

Being alone in a territory like this must have been lonely and tiring for her.

“A little push and I feel like I could topple her… wait a minute. Then would I be the next head of Titan?”

Herbert Anemoi Titan—what a pretty good name.

“If I become the head here, I need to fix this boring city first. I’ll develop Blade Mountain into a tourist city and create lots of entertainment.”

While completely ignoring that no one was going to give him anything, he was already picturing a future where he had Metios as his partner and redeveloping the city in his mind.

‘… Huh?’

Something interesting caught his eye.

A beautiful woman with hair shining like golden sunlight and eyes of a bright amber hue that glimmered beautifully.

She wore a headpiece resembling a white flower, looking like a delicate bloom in the spring, leaving him mesmerized.

Unlike Metios, whose tall height was bothersome, this woman’s figure was perfect.

With a stature that seemed ready to be embraced perfectly by him, not only was her beauty outstanding, but her allure was also undeniable, even covered in clothes.

Herbert suddenly stood up from the hammock, thinking that he had a preference for blonde women, considering Metios and this woman.

No matter where she was from, he thought confidently that a person of her caliber wouldn’t possibly be here right now, so he tidied up his outfit and approached her.

“Excuse me, beautiful lady, may I have a moment of your time?”