I Became the Academy Chapter 164

Chapter 164

【 Temple of the Evil God 】

I looked at Eisen, breathing heavily.

If he made even the slightest move, I planned to cut down his other leg imdiately.

“……”

Eisen said nothing.

So, I spoke again.

“Lord Eisen, may I consider this my victory?”

“…Did I lose? ?”

“I’ll leave that judgnt to you, Lord Eisen.”

“……”

Eisen silently looked down at his own body.

His leg and right arm were deeply slashed.

And at his throat, a blade hovered.

Soon, Eisen nodded and looked back at .

“I… lost, huh. I really lost to you. Truly… I lost to you.”

He finally seed to accept reality.

Right after, Eisen collapsed to the ground.

His entire body had lost its strength.

“I lost, Gideon. I really lost.”

“I understand.”

“So, could you stop this rain? It’s cold, being drenched like this.”

“Ah… yes. Understood.”

I withdrew the Power of Peregrie.

At once, the dark clouds hanging over the arena vanished, revealing a clear sky once more.

“Phew…”

I exhaled deeply.

As soon as I withdrew all my strength, my body almost gave out and dropped to the ground.

But sohow, I managed to stay standing.

At least until the match was officially declared over.

‘Still, it’ll end soon.’

As the rain stopped and the clouds cleared away, the spectators who had fled from the rain slowly began to return.

And then, the referee reappeared in the arena.

“Lord Eisen Isrinbloom. Do you wish to continue the match—”

“No, as you can see, I’ve lost. Please proceed according to procedure.”

“Understood. Then… on the final day of the Academy Tournant! The winner of the Representative Finals is Gideon Kyrgram of Lysquare Academy!”

The mont the referee’s voice finished echoing, thunderous cheers and applause erupted from the stands.

The announcer shouted my na over and over… and Lisa, with a truly joyful yet relieved expression, clapped for .

Though I couldn’t see clearly from here, it seed that even her eyes — usually so calm and reserved — were slightly red.

“Haaah… huuuh…”

I was happy to have won, but I didn’t even have the energy to feel joy.

Honestly, I wanted to strike a triumphant pose I’d imagined beforehand, but I didn’t have the strength left to do even that.

I just wanted to collapse and fall asleep right here and now…

“…Hey, Gideon.”

Amid the cheers and applause, Eisen called out to .

He gestured for

to co closer.

Remaining cautious, I carefully approached and crouched beside him.

“Granberry Hotel, Room 611. Co there secretly after 7 p.m. I’ll keep the promise I made to you.”

“…Yes, understood.”

“Make sure you co alone. You understand what I an?”

“I’ll rember.”

“Good. Then… see you then. For now… let’s rest.”

With those words, Eisen lay flat on the arena floor.

I couldn’t hold out any longer either and sat down beside him.

There wasn’t a shred of strength left in my body.

“Haaah… I’m going to get scolded by Brother Rage later. He’ll say I ruined his plan, that I ssed everything up.”

“……”

I didn’t know what to say to Eisen’s words.

So I stayed silent, and Eisen let out a dry chuckle.

“Gideon, you can help us, right? I think you’re the only one who can save … and our family.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure to help you.”

After that, silence fell between us.

After a brief pause, Eisen spoke again.

“Between

and Sara… who was harder to fight?”

“…To be honest, both of you were about the sa.”

“Hmm… unexpected answer. To think I’m on par with Sara. Has my swordsmanship grown that dull?”

“Perhaps Lady Sara has simply grown stronger without your knowing.”

“…That’s true. Yeah, that sounds right.”

Eisen nodded, and I let out a small laugh in response.

‘Sara’s request… I ended up fulfilling it, after all.’

To finish the fight with the swordsmanship of the Isrinbloom Ducal Family.

It had been such a tense, razor-thin battle that I’d almost forgotten about her request.

But sohow, without even realizing it, I’d fulfilled it in the end.

“Gideon, make sure to bring our family’s matters to an end. Only then… can I go apologize to Sara.”

“Yes. I definitely will…”

“Gideon!”

Our conversation ended abruptly.

In the distance, Luke, Lisa, and the tournant staff were rushing toward us.

They hurried to check on us, who were lying on the ground.

Surrounded by those attending to us, I had no choice but to postpone my conversation with Eisen.

Everything after that passed quickly and without incident.

Once the match ended, I completely collapsed.

It took about an hour before I could finally get back up.

‘And right after that, they held the Representative Awards Ceremony.’

Just like the other categories, dals were awarded to the first, second, and third places.

Since I’d won first place, I had to attend — and Eisen, who took second, was there too.

But at that ti… there was a large bruise on Eisen’s face.

It looked as though soone had hit him hard.

I didn’t ask what had happened.

In truth, it wasn’t just .

Probably no one else dared to ask Eisen what had happened either.

Anyway, after the awards ceremony for the Representative Match ended—

“Phew…”

I lay sprawled on my dorm bed.

‘Tomorrow marks the end of the tournant.’

The closing ceremony of the long and grueling Academy Tournant was set for tomorrow.

They’d announce the final rankings of each academy and give out additional awards to students who showed exceptional performances in each category — things like that.

‘It’s practically certain that Lysquare Academy won.’

With my victory over Eisen in the Representative Finals, we’d gained a massive lead in points.

Thanks to that, Lysquare Academy’s overall victory was practically guaranteed — and it was all because of .

‘Still feel a bit bad about missing the party, though.’

Right after the awards ceremony ended earlier—

Luke suggested we hold a small party with the Lysquare Academy students.

He added carefully that, though I must be tired, it would be nice if the hero of the victory could at least show up for a bit.

But I declined.

I told him I was too exhausted and needed to rest.

‘Well, since I said that, the party was postponed to tomorrow… but I don’t even know if I’ll be able to attend tomorrow either.’

I glanced at the clock.

The ti to et Eisen was drawing near.

‘Hmm, at least Lisa seems to be doing fine.’

Until a little while ago, I had been spending ti with Lisa.

Thanks to her hugging

and keeping

company, I’d recovered so of my energy.

Anyway, thanks to Lisa, both my body and mind were refreshed — which ant it was ti to move.

With that thought…

“Hey, Siri. You’re back, right?”

“Woof!”

Siri suddenly jumped out from my shadow.

“Did you check the surroundings properly? Was there anyone around?”

“Woof! Woof-woof!”

“So, there was one person over there… and another one over there?”

“Woof!”

It seed that, now that the Tournant was over, the Hawkbat Family had assigned people to watch .

The doubts I’d been harboring for a while — and the massive storm I’d summoned earlier today — must have been more than enough to draw Andrew’s attention.

‘And I’m sure there are people from the Hawkbat Family stationed near Eisen’s lodging too.’

Right now, Andrew was likely focusing all his attention on the Isrinbloom Ducal Family.

If I were caught secretly eting with Eisen during all this, Andrew would no doubt co after

without hesitation this ti.

So, I had to go to Eisen in secret.

And there was a way to do that.

“Siri.”

“Woof?”

“Rember when you transported

through the shadows before? Could you do that again?”

“Whoa?! Ugh, ack, ah?! Oww.”

“Woof-woof!”

“Y-Yeah, good job, Siri.”

Because I’d been tossed out of the shadow, I rolled across the floor once before managing to land properly.

Siri soon followed

out of the shadow, wagging her tail brightly.

“Anyway, this place is…”

“Didn’t expect you to just pop out of a shadow like that.”

“Ah, Lord Eisen. Then this is Room 611… right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. You found it well.”

Eisen, who sat on the bed, wore his usual blank expression.

But judging by his eyes, he seed quite surprised.

“You startled . When you didn’t show up on ti, I thought you might teleport here or sothing. But… is that a Hellhound?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“…You’ve made a contract with it, haven’t you?”

“That’s correct.”

Siri wagged her tail and circled around .

“I’ve never seen such a ta Hellhound before. The ones living in Muktaba all try to kill people on sight.”

Eisen looked Siri over with curiosity before gesturing for her to leave.

When I motioned to Siri, she imdiately slipped back into my shadow.

“There are a lot of people from the Hawkbat Family surrounding my lodging. You know that, right?”

“Yes, that’s why I ca this way.”

“Good. The mont Andrew finds out I’ve been in contact with you… things could get really ssy.”

Eisen walked toward the curtained window.

After making sure the curtains were fully closed, he turned back toward .

When I got a good look at his face, however…

“Your injuries look worse than before…”

“Yeah. My lips are a bit swollen now, right? Probably more bruises around my eyes too.”

“Was it Lord Rage?”

“…My brother’s a perfectionist. He can’t stand it when plans go off track.”

Eisen let out a faint, bitter laugh.

“But for soone who’s a perfectionist, his plans are always a bit sloppy. He’s got great execution, but he always needs soone to patch up the holes. Anyway, let’s stop talking about him. I didn’t call you here for small talk.”

Eisen paused for a mont and took a deep breath — as if he were gathering his resolve.

“Gideon. I don’t know how much you already know, but the curse that god laid upon us… it’s strange. If I even try to speak the secret aloud to soone, my body is consud by unbearable pain. And if I actually speak it… my skin tears apart and my body begins to collapse from within.”

“Yes, I know. I saw it fairly recently… with my own eyes.”

“…You’ve seen it? That’s surprising. I thought this curse only afflicted our family.”

Eisen sighed, forcing a weak laugh.

Then, in a slightly trembling voice, he continued.

“Gideon, the mont I reveal the secret to you, my body will be drenched in blood. And when Brother Rage sees

in that state, he’ll imdiately realize what happened — that I told soone the secret. And chances are, he’ll know that soone was you.”

“Can the wounds not be healed? If I bring an Elixir—”

“An Elixir won’t help. Even the best healer in the Empire couldn’t save . This curse… well, let’s just say it’s divine. It’s not sothing human magic or potions can overco.”

I had expected as much.

Sakiel hadn’t been easily healed either, back then.

If even the Elves’ mystic arts couldn’t help, then human power certainly couldn’t.

“Once the curse takes hold, I won’t be able to step outside this room. And if I don’t show myself by tomorrow afternoon, my brother Rage will co to check on .”

“So you’re saying… I need to move before tomorrow noon?”

“That’s right. Take the people you trust and… leave tonight if you can. If you wait until morning, it’ll be too late.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Now listen carefully.”

Eisen took another deep breath.

Though his face remained expressionless, his whole body trembled violently.

Fear was clear in his eyes.

Still, steeling his heart, he finally opened his mouth.

“Northeast of Muktaba. Seru—ghhk?!”

Eisen suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth.

It looked like he was trying desperately to suppress a scream from the sheer agony.

“Huff… huff… hah… aaahh… ugh…”

“…Lord Eisen.”

“If I scream, the Hawkbat n outside might hear. Maybe even Brother Rage. So… I have to endure this.”

Eisen’s tears began to fall from the pain.

The face that had always been calm and expressionless was now twisted with terror and agony.

But even so, he continued speaking.

“Mid-slope of the Seru Volcano to the northeast. Beneath it… there’s a temple—kuaaah! Mmmph! Ghhhk!”

With just that one sentence, Eisen’s skin began to tear open.

Blood seeped through the ruptures in his flesh, and soon he was coughing up blood — a frightening amount of it.

“L-Lord Eisen, this won’t do! I’ll call soone right away—”

“Don’t… ughhh… don’t say that. Don’t… waste… my effort…”

Still sitting on the floor, Eisen continued to bleed.

Deep gashes opened across his body as if slashed by invisible blades.

And as he vomited more blood, the image of Sakiel’s tornt flashed in my mind.

“Ahhh… ugh… n-no… I have to endure it. Endure it, Eisen. Hold on… for everyone…”

Muttering faintly to himself, Eisen barely suppressed his screams.

Then, drenched in blood, he looked up at .

“You… heard what I said, right?”

“…Yes, I did.”

“Then… guhkk… go. Hurry. Go there… and… save our family… sohow.”

With those words, Eisen sank down against the wall.

He looked dangerously frail.

I watched him with deep concern, but he shook his head at .

“Go. Before Brother Rage notices. Go.”

“…Thank you, Lord Eisen.”

I bowed my head deeply to express my sincere gratitude.

Then I summoned Siri again — and stepped into the shadow.