The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-174

Chapter 174 The Anti-Columnist (Part 3)

“Who is he? Is this idiot also in the Cold Department?” Figgy whispered to Vikir.

It was Granola De Reviadon, a tall and somewhat aloof-looking male student from the Hot Department. He was from the venomous Reviadon family, one of the seven great clans, and he also happened to be a top-ranking member of the 1st year class in the hot Department.

He glanced at Tudor with a mocking smile. “What’s with all the trembling and quivering? You guys are practically vibrating with fear.”

“What’s wrong with this lunatic?” Tudor interrupted Granola’s taunting, as if he were used to it.

But Granola didn’t stop. “Hahaha, I overheard your discussion earlier about the ‘Night Hound.’ You guys are so afraid that you can practically feel the vibrations. If you’re so scared, can you really call yourselves students of the prestigious Colosseo Academy? You’re all quite pathetic.”

“Then aren’t you afraid? He’s the one who actually witnessed the Night Hound,” Tudor said, pointing to Vikir.

Granola raised a smirking smile. “Is his name Bhikir? He witnessed Night Hound himself?”

“No, his name is Vikir.”

“Hmm, even bothering to remember the name of a commoner? Are you showing off your memory skills?”

Granola gave Vikir a cursory look, mixed with a bit of interest and disdain. Then he continued, “Anyway, don’t be so afraid of the Night Hound, you feeble and pitiful underclassmen. Weak people are usually the ones who fear the most, but I don’t believe that cowards hiding behind masks and lurking around would reach such a high level. And…”

As Granola finished speaking, he waved his hand to signal his comrades behind him.

At that moment…

Swoosh!

A light black mist began to envelop Granola’s body. It was a paralyzing toxin, dispersing like mist, mixed with mana.

Tudor, Sancho, and Figgy panicked and stepped back in response to the poisonous mist that Granola had released within the school.

“Granola, you insane moron! Is this the place for you to show off your skills?

“This is just for fun. I’m simply demonstrating my strong abilities.”

In reality, the poison Granola released and its quantity weren’t particularly dangerous. It was merely a paralyzing toxin that would cause numbness and stiffness for a few minutes.

However, due to Granola’s reputation as a member of the venomous Reviadon family, people reacted in fear and withdrew.

But there was one exception: Vikir.

Initially, Vikir also took a step back. But then…

“Hmm?”

At first, Vikir also stepped back, but soon he hesitated and stopped moving away.

He looked like he was about to continue retreating, but then something happened.

[Fwoosh!]

There was an entity that sucked in the black mist spewed by Granola. It was a creature with the appearance of a young spider attached to Vikir’s left wrist, like a wristwatch.

The creature saw the toxic mist that Granola had released and immediately began inhaling it.

The creature devoured the paralyzing toxin, leaving no trace. Then, it slightly shivered and exhaled, as if showing off.

Vikir couldn’t help but be thankful for this opportunity to help feed this little spider.

“His name is Granola, right? He’s from the Reviadon family, so he probably has a lot of toxins.”

Vikir began to observe Granola carefully.

Meanwhile, Tudor, Sancho, and Figgy were baffled by what had just happened.

“What? What happened to the poison?”

“It disappeared suddenly?”

“Whoa, I was really surprised. Was it fake?”

Even Granola himself seemed somewhat puzzled and looked around.

“Hey, where did my poison go just now?”

“Didn’t you just release it and let it go? Are you stupid?”

Tudor retorted, and Granola quickly regained his composure.

Granola argued, “I simply demonstrated my exceptional ability to these weaklings from the Cold Department who have only mediocre skills and brains.”

At that moment, Granola’s elite comrades from the Hot Department behind him burst into laughter.

“They should refrain from humiliating our academy with their mediocre skills. Well, this will be proven in the upcoming midterm practical exams.”

“The midterm practical exams are just a test that freshmen have to face for the first time. It doesn’t mean much, but it provides valuable experience.”

“Be quiet. Midterm exams are a matter of life and death for me. I’ll be totally serious. Only then can I find satisfaction in tearing apart mediocre talents like these trash.”

Then, Tudor, the leader of the group, stepped forward.

“Don’t insult my friends, Granola.”

Granola looked over Vikir and Figgy.

“Hahaha. By looking at the friends you keep, I can easily guess your level. You’re pathetic.”

The average skill level of the current academy freshmen ranged from Low-Tier Expert to Mid-Tier, while the senior class’s average was High-Tier Expert. Even though Tudor was two years younger, he was already a High-Tier Expert, while Sancho, was a Mid-Tier Expert, and Figgy, was a low-tier expert.

At this point, Sinclaire approached, calling for Vikir.

“Hey, what are you doing over there?”

Sinclaire, despite being a commoner, held the top position in the Hot Department. She smiled at Vikir and asked, “Did you finish reading the book you borrowed from the library last time?”

“Are you raising spiders or something?”

“Yes, I read books related to it. Want to discuss it later?” Vikir said politely.

“Okay, big brother”

“I’ve been studying this for future practical monster-hunting classes.”

“No, that’s not it.” Sinclaire said twirling her hair…

“P-Please, teach me. I need to do better on the written exam.”

Sinclaire’s eyes displayed sincere enthusiasm and curiosity as she looked at Vikir.

Seeing this, Granola’s expression twisted with complexity.

“Ugh, these commoners have no choice but to choose the ‘Union’ as a means of survival.” They stick together like pitiful weeds with their meager roots.”

He paused as he called Sinclaire.

“Hey, Sin-Sin-Sin… Sinclaire! There’s no need to learn from Cold Department trash, right? Come here. If it’s the written test, I’d rather teach you! You’re the leader of the Hot Department!”

“Associating with them would make the Hot Department appear less prestigious, which is why I’m trying to maintain our image…!”

Sinclaire, however, blinked her large eyes and tilted her head.

“Who are you?”

“What? What do you mean? Don’t you know me? You don’t know Gr-Gra-Granola De Reviadon! I’m the third son of the Reviadon family, the current vice leader of the hot department, and the future student council president! How could you not know me, a high-class noble with outstanding achievements? You should remember the name, and not Vikir’s or Bhekir’s or Vecker’s! If you’re just pretending not to remember my name for fear of losing your position, I’d tell you to stop futilely resisting your coming fate!”

Sinclaire, in a very embarrassed manner, hesitated and said, “I don’t… I don’t know you.”

“…”

“Sorry! I’ll make sure to remember from now on, Mr. Croaky.”

Upon hearing that, Granola seemed once again deeply shocked.

“…Unbelievable. How could she not know me?”

“Seriously, Granola. That girl is intentionally messing with your head.”

“Yeah, there’s no way she wouldn’t know you. This is why they’re commoners… ”

As his comrades consoled him, Granola’s two shoulders slumped in particular.

* * *

On the other hand, after leaving the corridor, Vikir and his friends arrived near the central staircase.

“See you later, big brother.”

Sinclaire waved to Vikir and headed toward the library. Once the men were alone, Tudor finally expressed his irritation.

“Ugh, that arrogant Granola. I hope he chokes during the midterm exams.”

“True. It’s a shame we don’t have 1vs1 duels during mid terms.”

Sancho, who usually avoided joining in when others criticized others, agreed with them this time.

Then, Figgy poked Vikir in the side.

“Vikir, what just happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“Sinclaire.”

“What about her?”

“Sinclaire.”

“What?”

Puzzled by Vikir’s response, Tudor, Sancho, and Figgy exchanged looks.

“Did something happen between the two of you?”

“Cause normally she’s not interested in anyone, but makes an exception for you?”

“Yeah, it felt like she was throwing hints your way with those glances.”

However, when they voiced their suspicions, Vikir firmly denied it.

“There’s nothing like that.”

Upon hearing Vikir’s denial, his friends became somewhat downcast.

“Is there something you’re not telling us? You know, rumors about you two being an item or something?”

Vikir’s eyebrows moved slightly in confusion.

“Why would you think that?”

Questioned by Vikir in a serious tone, Tudor casually replied, “Nah, it’s just that on the way back to the dorms, you were the only one who fell behind. So, you’re the only one without an alibi.”

“…”

“Also, when the security asked for statements, we all said we went back to our rooms and went to sleep, but weren’t you in the laundry room? Washing your pants or something. Hahaha.”

“…”

“Oops, sorry. It was just a joke, and I didn’t expect you to take it that seriously. I didn’t know you’d still be bothered by it. I’m sorry.”

Tudor laughed but immediately regretted it, and Vikir responded with a dry chuckle.

After that, Tudor poked Vikir’s side.

“Vikir, are you perhaps the Night Hound?”

“…”

Vikir raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Why would you think that?”

When Vikir asked in a serious tone.

“Vikir, you’re too serious! That’s even scarier because you don’t show any emotion!”

“Really, Tudor, it was a bad joke. Vikir probably still thinks about that ‘Pee’ night with regret and shame.”

Tudor was reprimanded by Sancho and Figgy, and he bowed his head in apology. Sometimes it’s challenging for a member of the prestigious Donquixote family to maintain their pristine image.

Vikir thought about the time before his regression when Tudor was known for his righteousness, integrity, and childlike innocence and smiled dryly, allowing them to continue with their teasing. But he wanted to make one thing clear.

“I’m not the Night Hound. He’s a monster at the Graduator level, and I’m just a struggling low-tier Expert.”

“You’re right; there’s no way Vikir could be such a villain.”

“Yeah! Vikir, let’s work on improving our skills and catch those villains ourselves!”

Vikir nodded in agreement with their words. He uttered, “Yeah, a wicked villain like the Night Hound will get what’s coming to him someday,” with determination. It was a reminder to himself.

Just then, a loud and noticeable cough echoed from the top of the stairs. Everyone looked up in surprise. There, a familiar face was looking down at them.

Dolores, the Student Council President of Colosseo Academy, Head of the academy newspaper club, and the saintess of Quovadis.

Dolores was standing there, peering at them curiously.