I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes - Chapter 42: My Troubled Brother, My Troubled Friend (1)

What are you?

If the first ‘What are you?’ that Redar asked me was a question, then the second ‘What are you?’ is a command.

Redar is demanding an explanation from me.

He wants me to justify my existence to him.

Redar took his hand off my shoulder.

Only then did I look around.

“Where is this…”

It was a place similar to the barrier where I had fought the golem during the second test.

An endlessly stretching white floor, like a sheet of paper, and nothing else.

“We’re inside a barrier.”

Actually, I already knew.

I felt something twitching in my peripheral vision as Redar approached me.

Then, I felt the influence of mana trying to move me somewhere.

Summoning.

Redar doesn’t know how to handle magic, so he probably activated an artifact of some kind.

The summoning was suitably strong as an effect of an artifact, but it was not enough to forcibly summon me.

That’s why I supplemented it with my own mana, assisting the mana’s operation to summon me.

If I ignored this summoning, I didn’t know what Redar would do in response.

Above all, I was thinking the same as Redar.

It felt like the perfect time for the two of us to spend some time alone.

I had to find out what he read about me from those chilling eyes.

What if he realizes that I am a master of assassination and dark magic, and the biggest bastard in the world and then snitches on me to our Miss Drin? And then I end up being hated by her?

‘Ugh…!’

The mere thought made me feel like collapsing.

If such a situation were to occur, I would have no confidence to continue living in this world.

“A barrier, you say?”

“Yeah.”

When I tried to play dumb, Redar held out his clenched fist, and showed me a ring on his middle finger.

‘I thought he was going to punch me.’

The gem embedded in the ring had dimmed as if it had exerted all its power.

Pretending to be shocked, I responded.

“Impossible…! Not only yourself but also summoning others into a barrier. Is that even possible…!?”

“This is somewhat valuable artifact, you know. Sigh, to think I would use it here.”

I guess I’ll have to find a place to hide in The Great Mana Field for a while.

Redar was mumbling and rubbing his eyeballs.

And then he distance himself from me and started to wander around the area.

His movements exuded confidence that he could easily approach and suppress me again, no matter how far apart we were.

“So, it’s about time you answered. What are you?”

“First of all, my name is Ceylon.”

“Alright, Ceylon. I’m Redar of the Lebringer family. And?”

“I participated in the academy entrance exam this time.”

“Right. And?”

“I’m a commoner.”

“And.”

Redar looked at me as if he was going to trap me in those large blue eyes.

I felt a strong pressure from his gaze.

That pressure was made up of a strong confidence that he could suppress me at any time.

Just like when he distanced himself from me.

I didn’t know the intention behind those eyes.

I didn’t know the intention behind those questions.

But at this moment, one thing was clear.

‘That’s a relief.’

It seemed that the worst-case scenario I was worried about didn’t happen.

Redar, that guy didn’t recognize the power I was hiding.

What he recognized was probably the talent for assassination that I’m currently showing, right?

Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for him to be so relaxed.

‘…Or not?’

It’s a possibility.

So far, I’ve brought the sense of the game directly into reality and found myself in difficult situations several times.

Even now, I brought the sense of the game directly and determined Redar’s strength based on the level in the game.

At this point in the game, Redar was around level 60, so he was at the 7-star level.

Based on the 7-star level, I thought it didn’t make sense for Redar to be so calm if he recognized my power.

But what if the current real-life version of Redar has received a huge upgrade?

What if he has the power to ignore even the power I’m hiding?

‘Ah, I don’t know.’

I decided to exclude the worst-case scenario.

If the situation goes according to that worst-case scenario, I won’t be able to escape my fate of dying to Redar no matter what I do.

‘This isn’t being optimistic, it’s being realistic.’

Redar didn’t recognize the power I was hiding.

He just recognized the talent for assassination that I have.

‘But how do I explain his overreaction compared to Sinia?’

If Redar just recognized the talent for assassination that I have, he would also have recognized that I haven’t learned assassination separately.

But his reaction was too aggressive compared to Sinia and the teacher.

‘Did he accurately recognize the potential of my talent for assassination?’

There’s a possibility.

His eyes can recognize not only the power of the opponent, but also the potential that the opponent has.

If Sinia and teacher saw my talent for assassination and judged ‘Isn’t that something we should take in and foster well?’,

Redar saw my talent for assassination and judged ‘If we leave it alone, it cannot be managed.’

“And?”

Redar’s question cut off my thoughts.

That’s a good thing.

Continuing to think from there would just complicate my head.

I decided to proceed with the conversation based on the conclusion I had drawn on my own.

He didn’t recognize the power I have.

He just recognized the talent for assassination that I have.

In this case, the best thing I can do is-

“And, I have received an evaluation from Instructor Sinia and Instructor Herion that I have a natural talent for assassination.”

“…”

Upon hearing that, Redar closed his eyes and fell into thought.

“Is that so. So, those two have already recognized you, and decided to nurture you in the academy?”

“It seems so.”

Redar shook his head.

“That’s a naive thought.”

“Excuse me?”

“Those two don’t know how dangerous your innate talent is. It’s not a power that should be nurtured in the academy- Arienne- this ordinary world.”

Redar opened his eyes again.

He looked at me with his four hundred eyes, which had become even more clear.

“Ceylon. I have a suggestion.”

“A suggestion-?”

“Let’s go to the Great Mana Field together.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard, today’s dish. That, you made it, right? You. You’re actually very skilled, aren’t you?”

Redar still held the chicken leg in his hand and took a bite.

“Oh~ I’m honored that it was to the taste of Sir Redar, The Omniscient Eye.”

“Do you know that ‘The Omniscient Eye’ is a nickname for making fun of me?”

“Oh…! Is it? It’s too cool to be a joke- My apologies.”

“Oh, forget it. So, back to the story. Ceylon. Do you know what was the most bone-chilling thing I felt living alone in the Great Mana Field for a long time?”

“What is it?”

Redar muttered, looking down at his own hands with resentment.

“That I’m terrible at cooking.”

“Oh my, Sir Redar, The Omniscient Eye-”

“…”

“Oops! Not Omniscient Eye, but omnipotent! Sir Redar has such a flaw…!”

“That’s what I’m saying. These damned eyes of mine don’t help at all with cooking.”

“Oh dear…”

“So, Ceylon. I need your talent. Come with me to the Great Mana Field, and cook for me.”

“I think that might be the worst proposal I’ve ever heard…”

“You’re talking as if it’s a confession, don’t tell me you swing that way?”

“Absoultely not. What about the esteemed Sir Redar?”

“Even if I did swing that way, I wouldn’t be interested in someone like you.”

“Now, that’s…! I don’t know whether to be happy or sad.”

I’m not sure what his intention was, but Redar created a relaxed atmosphere as if to say ‘be at ease.’

“So, what will you do? Will you come with me, or not?”

Pretending to think deeply, I crossed my arms and frowned.

“Just out of the blue like this…”

“Why would you even consider it?”

“Isn’t it a proposal worth considering?! Not just anywhere but the Great Mana Field- that too The Great Mana Field-!”

“Don’t worry. I promise on the name of Lebringer, I won’t let you die before me.”

“…But usually, don’t people say there will be no danger, no matter what?”

“I am of the belief that I cannot tell lies.”

“So it seems, you are not very convincing.”

“Also, Ceylon. There’s no such thing as absolute in practical combat.”

Redar emphasized, pointing with his index finger.

“But I promise you something more attractive than safety.”

“Um… Is there anything more attractive than safety?”

“Power.”

“Excuse me?”

With a completely serious face, Redar spread his index finger along with his middle and ring finger.

“What you can gain at the academy under Herion for 3 years.”

And then, he folded his middle and ring finger again and continued speaking.

“If you follow me, you can acquire that within a year at the Great Mana Field. Within a year, you can gain even more.”

“…”

Of course.

He took my silence in a certain way and continued to speak.

“I’m not saying that I’m a better instructor than those two. However, in the Great Mana Field, you can gain quality practical experience you would never be able to get at the academy. And, in the Great Mana Field, I can be as good a guide as those two, or even better. Most importantly-”

His index finger pointed at me.

“In the Great Mana Field, you can encounter Harashin, those guys, without much difficulty. Do you understand what I’m implying?”

“…You can’t be serious?”

“That’s right. I will provide you with maximum convenience to learn assassination skills. Surely, Herion and Dederer will not allow you to learn assassination skills. They will try to develop a fake swordsmanship that somehow employs your assassination talent. Isn’t that why you were taught Bauer’s swordsmanship?”

I was shocked.

This time, it was genuine surprise, not acting.

It was something else to find out that I had learned Bauer’s sword- but “I will do my best to help you learn assassination skills?”

It was not a statement to be made by the eldest son of the Lebringer family – the forefront of driving out the darkness more than any other forces.

“Is it alright for the eldest son of the Lebringer family to make such a statement?”

Confusion has its merits. It was easy to pretend to be confused. It might not even be an act.

“It’s because I’m the eldest son of the Lebringer family that I’m saying this.”

Harashin.

Redar mentioned those guys.