CHAPTER 14

The Academy had four dormitories, all located near the campus.

But the newly built fifth dormitory was different.

It wasn’t just far from the Academy—it was also far from the city and any nearby roads.

A basin surrounded by mountains.

And not just any mountains—these were untouched, wild lands. Calling them “hills” was a joke. Aside from a narrow path leading to the dorm, there was no sign of human presence.

How could such untouched nature exist in the middle of a huge city like Bryce?

The answer was simple: this was a cemetery.

For centuries, these mountains had served as the city’s public graveyard.

Due to the risk of poison spreading, bodies of those who died in battle were usually cremated.

But some people—desperate to bury their loved ones—broke the rules. That’s how this nameless mountain got the nickname Grave Hill.

—We’ve received a reply from the Academy. There’s room in the new dormitory, so you can move in right away.

Of course there was. Who would want to live in a place like this, surrounded by graves?

“Only someone whose family has been destroyed… just kidding. Mine hasn’t been wiped out. Not yet.”

I looked up and saw a red orb floating above the distant trees. I waved at it and kept walking.

The dormitory was at the very end of the forest trail.

A four-story wooden house built in a rough, simple style.

Bigger than I expected. Even the front yard had been cleared out pretty well.

—Highwind—

A sign stood alone in the middle of the yard.

Highwind was one of the eight main families of the Sword King bloodline. Ranked fifth in hierarchy, they were known for incredible swordsmanship.

Maybe the fifth dorm was named after them?

If so, then the fourth dorm would be called Granble—since the Granble family was ranked fourth.

Swish, swish…

In the yard, I saw someone around my age sweeping with a broom. I stopped and stared at him.

“…Huh?”

Our eyes met. The kid tossed the broom aside and ran straight toward me.

“You’re here!”

“…”

“You finally arrived! You’re a new student, right? Me too! I’m Eric Newt. Well, not really from the Newt family.”

“…Adopted?”

“Yeah. So just call me Eric. I’m not used to the new family name yet. Anyway, isn’t this place kind of ridiculous?”

Eric looked around the dorm and grumbled.

“I had high hopes for a brand-new dorm, and this is what we get? Even if the Newt family is low-ranked, putting us out in the middle of a mountain for four years? Isn’t this straight-up discrimination?”

“…”

“I got here two days ago—and I was the only one here! No dorm master, no staff. I asked the admin office, and they said they didn’t even hire anyone yet. Said the budget went into building the dorm instead. Can you believe that?”

“…”

“Apparently, not many students are being placed here this year. I thought all new students would be sent here, but the ones with decent backgrounds squeezed into the old dorms. They built this one just to dump rejects and adopted kids like us out of the way. Am I wrong?”

“…”

“Right? You’re adopted too, aren’t you? Or maybe a regular admitted student? What’s your name?”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you a freshman?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

Eric frowned, worried. I stared back at him in silence, gathering my thoughts.

He had a friendly look.

Even while sweeping earlier, he looked cheerful. Kind eyes, a warm smile. From the way he talked, he was clearly sociable and easygoing.

Being an adopted son from a branch family didn’t matter. In the Sword King line, adopting promising kids was common. And in my current situation, I had no right to judge anyone’s lineage.

I wasn’t the type to care about that anyway.

My best friend used to be the cook’s son. We played in the fields, caught bugs, and ate weird stuff together.

Status didn’t matter. Honestly, I might even become good friends with Eric.

But…

His body smelled.

Like a dead animal buried under fragrant flowers.

Of course, no such smell exists. It’s just how I felt it.

Which means—this is poison.

Eric was carrying poison inside his body.

And not just that—he was hiding it. Using some special method to suppress the poisonous aura so that no one could detect it.

Cleverly.

Even a skilled inspector might miss it.

“Incredible… I might be the only one who can sense this.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Eric looked puzzled. I smiled instead of answering.

There’s only one group in the world that carries poison and hides it:

Spies from the Poison King’s line.

He looked like a normal 15-year-old boy, but inside, he was an enemy spy with poison flowing through his veins. Far stronger than those lackeys I met in the poison cave.

But can he even use that power now?

Just like the Sword King’s clan uses aura to strengthen their bodies, they use poison to do the same.

It’s called Venom Amplification.

So if Eric’s hiding his poison, he probably can’t fight at full strength.

At least—not right now.

“Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ray. No big deal—I was just shocked at how weird this dorm is.”

“Ah, I thought you didn’t like me. Phew.”

Eric let out a relieved sigh. I clapped in my mind and smiled.

What a performance. So convincing.

No wonder he can pull off being a spy. I wonder what kind of face is hidden behind that innocent mask.

“Still, I was shocked too when I first arrived. There’s only a bed in the room and nothing else. I mean, there is one benefit.”

“What’s that?”

“You can pick any room you want. Oh, except for the room at the far right on the second floor—that one’s mine. Pick anything else.”

“You said you got here two days ago?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re early. Classes don’t start for a few more days.”

“Well, I thought it’d be good to meet other freshmen early. But I didn’t know the dorm would be like this.”

“No students, no dorm master, no staff?”

“Exactly. It’s just you and me here.”

Eric spread his arms wide in frustration.

“Ugh… how are we supposed to live here? The Academy told me only one other student was confirmed to move in.”

“That’s probably me.”

“I guess it is.”

Great.

I nodded and picked up a twig from the ground.

“So, you’re my first friend. Let’s get along. Looks like it’ll just be the two of us for a while—wait, what are you doing?”

“Picking up a stick.”

“To help me clean?”

“Yeah.”

Cleaning is important. I quietly jabbed the stick into Eric’s solar plexus.

No warning. Just a smooth, natural motion.

Thud.

That’s why I love unified sword techniques. No need to carry a weapon. Even when I attack, it’s hard to tell it’s an attack.

Eric probably let his guard down because of that.

“Guh…”

He coughed blood, completely confused.

How long would that innocent expression last?

I shoved him down and pinned him, raising my hand.

“Come down. Now.”

“Cough… what did you just say…?”

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

I reached for the red orb hovering in the sky.

My family. My friend. And also—the deadliest poison in the world.

“Ugh…”

Eric squirmed, groaning, then went limp.

Dead?

No way. Just a trick.

Black mist started seeping from his body like rotting flesh.

Ssssss…

But I didn’t flinch.

“…Why?”

The moment he twitched, I stabbed him again with a disappointed face.

“Your poison is weak.”

Collarbone. Solar plexus. Side.

“Guh! Aaargh!”

He writhed in pain as I pierced vital points.

I didn’t know where to stab. I just followed the strongest poison signals in his body. Then again, anywhere you stab with a blade can be fatal.

Splat!

Black blood gushed from his body.

It was poison too. The kind that numbs your senses and clouds your mind.

“At least this one’s strong.”

Strong enough that I could sense its effects.

I kept stabbing, drawing out every last drop of poison.

“Aagh! Kgh…!”

He hid a lot of it.

With every stab, black venom burst out. It was like his body had no organs—only venom.

“Ugh! Agh!”

“Is this some kind of pouch? You stuffed this into your body?”

“You… cough… you bastard…”

“No wonder the Sword King’s clan didn’t notice you. You’re a spy, right? From the Poison King’s line. How many more like you are hiding here?”

“Grr…”

Eric shut his mouth.

But the scent of poison gave away his origin.

“Hmm… I recognize this.”

“…?”

“It’s the same smell from those lackeys I killed. Not quite the same, but close. Are you also from the Poison King Cult?”

“…!”

His face said it all.

I can’t believe the cult was this close.

“You… you know about the Poison King Cult? Are you… counterintelligence?”

Counterintelligence.

The Sword King clan’s secret group. Their job was probably tracking enemy spies.

“Damn it… was there a leak?”

Suddenly, Eric’s appearance crumbled.

His face wrinkled. His clean skin sagged, dark spots blooming. He looked like a man in his 50s.

The cheerful boy who smiled just moments ago… gone.

“So poison can change your face. You paralyze nerves to smooth out wrinkles?”

“…”

“Impressive. How old are you really? Around 50? How do you change your voice—also poison?”

“O Poison King… savior of the unchosen… protector of the fallen…”

He suddenly began chanting like a prayer, eyes closed.

“Go ahead and do what you want, Sword King dog.”

“What?”

“Even if I die, I won’t talk. Do whatever you want.”

“Perfect.”

“…”

“Don’t say anything. You don’t need to.”

Because I’ll do the talking.

The red orb floated down to eye level. I reached my hand into it.