I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes

< Chapter 29: Final Grade Announcement (1) >

“What do you think?”

Herion had a serious expression as he stared at the screen of Section 17.

To be precise, it was about the movements of Ceylon, whom Sinia referred to as ‘our 348th.’

“Yes? Ah-”

Herion looked back and forth between Ceylon and Sinia, as if he had just regained his senses, before returning to his serious face.

“What the hell is this?”

“What do you think it is?”

Sinia asked, turning to face him.

Her pinkish-red bangs fell long enough to cover her eyes.

The soft eyes that peeked out through it stared at Herion intently.

“Isn’t this clearly the movement of an assassin?”

“And?”

Herion asked in a serious, reprimanding tone, but Sinia remained nonchalant.

She remained the same as she had always been.

In response, Herion’s determination wavered. He scratched his forehead and spoke purely.

“I see the movements of an assassin. I can see his talent as an assassin. However, it doesn’t seem like he is officially skilled in assassination techniques.”

“Explain.”

“…It lacks consistency in form and technique. It seems more like he rely on talent. If I were to compare it to swordsmanship, it’s like wielding a sword with brute strength, rather than finesse.”

“So, in summary?”

“…”

An attitude as if coaxing an answer from a novice. Herion, though reluctant, replied honestly.

“I recognize it’s a movement of an assassin. I also see his talent. However, it doesn’t seem like he is formally trained in assassination techniques.”

“Indeed, Instructor Herion. You recognize it at a glance.”

“Is he from Harashin?”

A group of assassins whose existence has been passed down since ancient times, but whose true identity is still unknown to the world.

The source of the art of assassination.

Herion said it very carefully, as if he were saying a word he dared not mention.

Sinia shook her head.

“He is not from Harashin, you’ve seen it, Herion.”

“I have, so I’m saying this. How can you be sure? It’s possible that he intentionally hiding his assassination skills—”

Herion interrupted himself and reviewed Ceylon’s movements multiple times in the recording. Then, he sighed with a complex expression.

“Yes. It’s certainly not from Harashin, as you say.”

“Oh, why do you think so?”

“If he had received formal training in assassination techniques from Harashin… these movements wouldn’t make sense.”

Both swordsmanship and assassination techniques fall under the category of martial arts. Martial arts are skills acquired not only in the mind but also in the body. Even if one limits these skills through willpower, the habits and memories retained in the body naturally emerge.

“But…”

Then, the worst case scenario flashed through Herion’s mind.

“But?”

“What if he is an assassin that hiding his identity and can control all those habits and memories left in his body effortlessly?”

Herion hinted at this worst-case scenario with a grave expression.

“Fufuf…!”

“…Pfft.”

However, that grave expression didn’t last long.

Sinia burst into laughter, and Herion, feeling awkward, turned his head.

“Yes, I understand. It’s impossible, right?”

“No, no, Instructor Herion. Don’t be too embarrassed. It’s not entirely impossible, although it’s unlikely. Well, but if he were Harashin’s assassin, capable of doing the impossible…”

Sinia shrugged.

“Why else would he be fooling around with those chicks at the Academy entrance exam?”

“Infiltrating the Academy…?”

“Haha, Instructor Herion. That’s your problem. Is your imagination too rigid? Do you really think that a Harashin’s assassin at that level would just imitate these new students and try to infiltrate the Academy like this? Like this…”

Sinia made a gesture of opening her skull from both sides.

“Even if I, an Academy instructor, suddenly took off my skin and jumped out, it wouldn’t make a difference.”

“It’s terrifying. Let’s stop talking about this.”

“Alright, let’s stop talking about such unbelievable assassination stories.”

Sinia stared at Ceylon on the screen.

“Let’s go back to our topic, number 348.”

“Ha…”

Herion sighed, suddenly realizing what a complicated situation he’d gotten himself into.

“So that’s why you covered up the records of the second exam, and why you put Ceylon and Mizu Bauer in the same group for the third exam.”

“Wait!”

Sinia urgently raised her hand to interrupt Herion.

“What?”

“I put number 348 and Mizu of the Bauer family together to inspire him! But…”

“…But?”

“Hahaha! I didn’t expect him to react so passionately!”

Sinia clutched her stomach and giggled.

Herion gave her a cold stare.

“No, Herion! Listen to me! I distinctly said something like this when I covered up the incident in the second exam, didn’t I? If number 348’s assassin talent is revealed in the Academy exam, he could get into trouble, so be careful.”

“Is that being careful? Do I misunderstand the meaning of caution?”

“So, I’m confused too! No, why did number 348 suddenly do that? I’ve thought about it, but well, I can’t say I don’t understand his actions.”

Herion shook his head, remembering the rumors about Ceylon.

‘As Instructor Sinia mentioned, Ceylon recorded an outstanding performance that surpassed Drin and Kasha in the second exam. But at the suggestion of the examiner, he gave up on that performance. That alone would be frustrating enough…’

“He weren’t the kind of noble chicks who would just stay quiet. In a good sense, He went from being the most attention-worthy participants to being the most attention-grabbing ones in a bad sense. At his age, he should be conscious of others’ attention and crave recognition. Moreover, for a commoner participant like Ceylon, the Academy entrance exam is crucial. Did you not anticipate that he would react like this?”

Herion looked at Sinia with a cold, stern expression.

“If you say so, it must be true.”

Sinia scratched her cheek and avoided eye contact.

“No, of course, I anticipated it. But I didn’t think that our number 348 would be the one to react like this. Haha, maybe I lacked empathy.”

“You’re right, you’re the only one who could put yourself in that situation and still be shamelessly ironclad.”

So, although Herion misunderstood Ceylon’s character a bit, Herion now understood him completely.

Understood his psychological state.

Understood his rebellion.

Understood his existence.

Ceylon, an exceptional being, had been transformed into a mere cadet in Instructor Herion.

One that intrigued and bothered him.

Having silently observed Herion, Sinia finally spoke with the words “So.”

“Herion?”

“What is it? Why I sense something ominous?”

“Would you mind taking care of number 348?”

“…”

Herion lowered his head and covered his face with his hand.

“Is that so? Did I lose the bet and get a punishment?”

“Haha, a punishment indeed. If you put it that way, it seems like number 348 has become quite a burden, right?”

“Then why don’t you take responsibility for participant Ceylon instead of passing it on to me?”

“No, Herion. Think about it.”

Sinia lowered her back as if explaining to a child and raised her index finger.

“Imagine if you were another instructor, and I suddenly offered to vouch for the identity of Number 348. What do you think would happen?”

“I would probably think that you has some hidden agenda, making Ceylon appear even more suspicious for no reason.”

“Oh, come on! It’s a bit sad for me to say this, but isn’t my reputation within the Academy not that great? I feel so unfairly treated!”

“Unfair…?”

“Well, whatever, on the contrary, Herion, everyone in the academy agrees with everything you say, and even if you were to suddenly squeeze a female instructor’s ass, they’d probably just wink at you!”

“Can you make such crazy remarks even in front of my fiancé?”

“Well, anyway…”

Sinia grumbled and changed the subject.

“If you vouch for Number 348, who would dare to question it?”

“…”

It was obvious.

If Herion vouched for No. 348’s identity, and Sinia added her opinion to it.

There would be no one in the Academy who could dispute Number 348’s existence.

Except for the Headmaster, of course.

But-

Herion, with a weary expression, raised his face from his palm.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes?”

“You’re bringing someone with the talent of an assassin into the Academy, right?”

“Hmph… What would we do then? Will they kick us out of the Academy, and if so, where will number 348 go?”

It’s obvious.

With that kind of talent, he’s going to get noticed by Harashin sooner or later.

He’ll be taken by Harashin and turned into a monster they can’t handle.

Then-

“…”

“Oh, Herion, you’re having bad thoughts now, aren’t you?”

Herion shook his head.

‘What kind of thoughts am I thinking right now against a kid like that?’

Herion spoke with a mix of self-doubt and fatigue on her face.

“With a talent like that, of course Harashin will be interested.”

“So, should we keep him by our side as adults?”

“Even if he’s under the protection of the Academy, Harashin won’t give up.”

After saying that, Herion’s eyes widened.

As if realizing something.

“You can’t be…”

“What?”

“You’re trying to lure Harashin into Ceylon’s existence?”

Herion knew.

Sinia, for some reason, had been tracking Harashin for a long time.

“…”

Sinia, without being flustered by Herion’s sharp insight, replied.

“Oh, no, not really…”

It was all wishful thinking on her part; Sinia was visibly flustered.

Her gaze awkwardly averted, and her trembling eyes hidden behind her bangs that fell just below her eyes.