Bad Born Blood

Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Greedy
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< Chapter 34 >

There was a professor at the Accretia Academy who was a former member of the Imperial Guard. His name was Gide Albun, and he stayed at the academy to teach subjects like self-defense.

I received a summons from Gide.

“Luka, I hear you threw a knife at an academy student?”

“It was a pocket knife. Even if it hit them, it would’ve ended with just a scratch.”

“Causing an injury is a problem.”

“I had no intention of hurting anyone. My knife wouldn’t have missed its mark anyway.”

Gide was reviewing a file containing my personal records. His eyes briefly widened as if surprised while going over my training results and evaluation scores.

“Well, I understand that Accretia Academy isn’t a comfortable place for you. But restrain yourself. I’m saying don’t make things difficult for adults. You’re smart enough to understand what I mean, right? Hemillas sent me a troublesome one.”

Gide muttered to himself. He didn’t seem inclined to impose any punishment or disciplinary action on me either.

“I understand.”

“This is the first time a cadet from the lower classes has been dispatched to the academy. Even me, I’m curious about Hemillas’ intentions.”

Gide waved his hand, dismissing the hologram. After briefly gazing out the window, he continued speaking.

“You’re no different from a wolf dropped among a flock of gentle lambs. The kids here aren’t learning how to fight.”

I couldn’t disagree with that.

“But they all act as if they’re immune to my teeth.”

At my comment, Gide burst out laughing.

“As a former Imperial Guard myself, I appreciate people like you. Your record is impressive. Outstanding training results, overflowing real combat experience, and even a medal for military merit. With that kind of profile, there’s no doubt you’ll rise in rank, Irregular or not. I can see why Hemillas values you so much.”

By now, I’d heard that kind of praise so often it didn’t faze me. I waited for Gide’s next words.

“But in the end, it’s the elite bureaucrats from this academy who’ll command soldiers like us with a flick of their fingers. These students may look like lambs to you, but… among them, there are monsters hiding in lamb’s clothing. Being far more terrifying than a mere wolf.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I replied perfunctorily. Gide chuckled, as though he hadn’t expected much from my response.

“…It’s good to have youthful vigor, but be careful not to confront a monster.”

* * *

The way the students looked at me had changed. Before, it was neutral observation, but now there was open hostility. It was because the story of me throwing a knife at a student had gotten out. And all for that witch Barbara, no less.

I spent lunch sitting on the same bench every day, eating a simple meal on the go. It was always the same spot.

“You messed with a troublesome woman, Luka.”

Enrico Lagan approached me, his expression itching as if he couldn’t wait to explain something.

“Everyone I’ve met here has been troublesome anyway.”

I spoke as if it were no big deal. Enrico hesitated for a moment before asking me quietly.

“Have you, by any chance, mentioned me to Giselle?”

“Oh, I did mention you. Giselle remembers you as a good person. If you ask me, I think she’s secretly conscious of you.”

At my lie, Enrico clenched his fist and broke into a joyous expression. As if to repay me, he started spouting things I hadn’t even asked about.

“…The woman you tangled with is Kalesa Kano.”

“I know the name. Doesn’t seem like her family’s that influential, though.”

I was familiar with the empire’s prominent families.

“Not publicly, no. The Kano family has deep ties to the lower districts.They run gangs from behind the scenes and make money through illegal businesses. You’re from the lower district too, right? You should warn your family to be careful. They’re probably digging into your background as we speak.”

“I’m an orphanage kid anyway. Digging into my past won’t get them anywhere. There’s no one I care about enough to worry over.”

I chuckled lightly. At most, there was Gabriel, Gilda, or the people from Orphanage 72. Whether they lived or died wasn’t my concern. I had no family or acquaintances in the lower district who could be used against me.

“Is that so? Either way, be careful. Kalesa is the type who has to repay any slight she suffers. And she absolutely despises Barbara. One of Barbara’s curse victims happens to be Kalesa’s boyfriend.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Then about Giselle again—”

“I know. I’ll subtly bring you up.”

The reason Enrico was trying to befriend me was simple. He didn’t have the courage to approach Giselle directly.

‘I’d like to help Enrico if I can, but…’

I scratched my chin as I watched him leave. There are some things in this world that are just physically impossible.

* * *

I intentionally avoided returning to the dormitory until late at night. There seemed to be a curfew, but receiving demerits wasn’t a big deal.

As the sky grew darker, the crowds at the academy thinned out. I deliberately wandered near the sparsely populated training ground and storage areas.

‘It’s been a while.’

I massaged my shoulders and lightly loosened up my body. I activated my nervous system to be ready to respond to external stimuli at any moment.

‘Barbara’s curse.’

Everyone at the academy knew I had helped Barbara. According to the rumors, a rampage android would come to attack me.

Androids were indispensable to the Empire. Despite knowing the risks of malfunction and rampage, the Empire actively employed them. Eliminating an efficient worker over minor issues wasn’t an option.

I was curious about the truth behind the rumor, and my body was itching for action. I wouldn’t mind smashing an android. But breaking a perfectly functional one wasn’t an option.

Beep.

My terminal rang. It was a message from Barbara.

I checked the message through my retinal display. Barbara was worried since I hadn’t shown up past curfew. Ever since the last incident, she seemed to think we’d grown closer and often reached out.

I was about to reply when I looked up. There was movement beyond the corner.

‘Three.’

I counted the footsteps and watched as a group rounded the corner.

“You’re Luka, the dispatched cadet, right?”

It was three burly male students who looked rough around the edges. They were snickering among themselves as they approached me.

“Do you need something from me?”

I didn’t bother hiding my disappointment. I’d thrown out bait, but the wrong fish had taken it.

“Kalesa asked us to send her regards. It’s the Kano family’s creed to repay any debts in full. Just asking, though—you wouldn’t go crying to the higher-ups about getting beaten up by regular students, would you? A grand cadet from the Imperial Guard like yourself?”

The largest of the three spoke with a cocky tone. Judging by his demeanor, he was likely a member of the Kano family.

‘So, not a lamb.’

The large one seemed accustomed to fighting.

‘But not a wolf either.’

He gave off more of a back-alley gang vibe. It seemed true that the Kano family was tied to the lower district gangs.

“I’ll give you one last chance, dispatched cadet. Kalesa says she’ll let it slide if you kneel and apologize to her.”

The big one chuckled as he spoke. The two male students behind him chimed in, fawning like lackeys eager to please their leader.

“I’ll also give you one last chance to walk out of here with your limbs intact. I’m not like you. I’ve been professionally trained in the art of killing.”

I issued a formal warning.

“What’s so great about that? Quit showing off.”

He wasn’t the type to back down with words. Not that I expected him to. Some people only learn by experiencing it firsthand.

Crunch.

The large student clenched his teeth tightly. It was the signal to switch his prosthetics into combat mode.

Whirrr!

A mechanical hum signaled an increase in energy output from his arms and legs. A faint vibration rippled across his entire body. At a glance, it was an intimidating sight.

‘He’s using high energy output prosthetics beyond his limits.’

That’s why he must’ve restricted the energy output under normal circumstances. Since his brain couldn’t handle it, he relied on a physical switch to change modes.

Stagger.

His steps wavered. Sweat poured down his face as though it were raining, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

“All three of you coming at once? Might as well save us all some time.”

I bounced lightly in place as I spoke. Seeing their state, I didn’t feel even the slightest tension—just amusement.

Step, step.

The large student and I walked toward each other. The two behind him were recording the scene on their terminals. They must’ve wanted to capture the moment they took down a cadet from the Imperial Guard. Sure, it’d be something to brag about if they could actually pull it off. A feat worth telling even their great-grandchildren about.

Beep, beep.

Our steps halted. An android patrolling the area spotted us and emitted a warning sound.

–Do you require assistance?

The android approached, its metallic, emotionless face lit by faintly glowing optical lenses.

“You idiot! Are you sure you checked properly? You said there were no patrols here at this time!”

The large student exploded in anger at one of the others, his irritation and agitation painfully obvious. His nervous system was already showing signs of overload.

“I-I checked thoroughly! There aren’t supposed to be androids patrolling this area!”

“Then why the hell is that tin can here? Hey, dispatched cadet. Let’s call it a day for now and pick a better time later. Once we fight, win or lose, we’ll settle things cleanly.”

The large student spat on the ground and clenched his teeth again. The vibration stopped as his prosthetic’s energy output decreased.

“…Hold it. Stay where you are, all of you.”

I warned them, my tone sharp. My instincts had picked up on danger.

“You want to fight in front of an android? Security will be on us immediately.”

The large student ignored my warning. The other male students, looking deflated, started retreating.

“What timing, you tin can.”

One of the students shoved the android aside.

–Do, do you require, assistance?

The pushed android staggered before regaining its posture.

“We don’t, so get lost.”

–That is, im, impossible. I, I… am…

It was then that the student flinched.

The android’s voice was riddled with static. Its movements were bizarre. While slightly hunched over, its head twisted erratically in every direction.

Startled by the android’s unsettling behavior, the student instinctively stepped back.

Thud!

The android spun around and extended its arm. Its metal fist struck the student square in the face.

Wow, what a clean hit. The human head shattered as if it were a lie.

The patrol androids were equipped for combat. Destroying a human skull in one blow was well within their capabilities. The student’s skull had been crushed, with pink brain matter and flesh bursting out the back of his head in fragments.

“W-What?”

The large student and the other one stared at the scene in stunned disbelief. Their eyes, filled with confusion, betrayed their shock at witnessing such a gruesome sight for the first time.

Whirrr!

The android’s optical sensors were now glowing red. It had entered combat mode and was identifying the surrounding students as hostiles.

Screeeech!

The android, crouched like a beast, leaped toward another student to attack.

I bent my waist and knees, then launched myself off the ground. Passing by the large student, I intercepted the android.

Bang!

My foot slammed into the android’s side. It flew a dozen meters, dragging its fingers across the ground to slow itself down.

–Do you require assistance?

The spot where my kick landed had only left its outer shell slightly dented. The android’s crimson optics locked onto me.

“B-Barbara’s curse! The witch’s curse is real! It’s real!”

The student who had survived thanks to my intervention fell flat on his back, screaming hysterically.

“How disgraceful for a student of the prestigious Accretia Academy to believe in curses. Tsk.”

I smirked and advanced toward the android.

Vrrrrrooom!

A deafening noise erupted from the android, which now crouched like a quadrupedal beast. The energy output far exceeded its standard capacity, causing vibrations so intense that the surrounding dirt trembled. Smoke was rising from the joints of its frame.

It was outputting at a level it couldn’t sustain for more than a few minutes. Its internal components would already be dislodging one by one.

‘It knows it needs this level of energy output to fight me.’

This wasn’t just a rampage caused by a simple malfunction. Everything about the situation fit together perfectly.

“This is someone’s doing.”

I spread my legs and steadied my breathing.