The Academy Life of a Sick Mafia

Chapter 05

I’d never even heard of a place called Lemaos, so what was she talking about?

“It wasn’t… Huh? Oh… You’re a transfer student, so you wouldn’t know about the closed-off Lemaos. Then why did you pretend to be coreless…?”

“…I need to clear up this misunderstanding. I genuinely have no detected core.”

“Oh… Really? Got it.”

Apple’s expression clearly showed she didn’t believe me. I was already upset about having no core, and now this, not even teasing.

“I don’t know why you think I was pretending, but I’m a bit offended.”

“Y-Yeah! Of course not! Sorry, my lady… I believe you…”

‘I messed up! She must mean don’t pry.’

Apple sweated nervously, watching my reaction. Luckily, my frown eased after her quick apology.

“It’s fine. Can you tell me about this hidden Lemaos town? I’m curious why you thought I’d go there.”

When I changed the subject, Apple happily continued.

“Yeah, Lemaos town was a student town that existed before. There are three towns now, but there used to be four: Midriba in the east, Sereb in the west, Cardia in the south, and Lemaos in the north.”

“Why was it closed?”

“North Lemaos was like a huge commercial hub connecting the three towns, but there was a mountain range above it, and bandits often came down, causing trouble. Then fights broke out between the shops there, so the academy just closed it.”

So they didn’t mention it because it’s closed. Bandits frequently coming down did make it seem risky to keep operating.

“Are there students living there even though it’s closed?”

“Now, it’s where poor students who can’t afford town or dorm fees, students expelled from towns for breaking rules, or those who want to escape the academy’s strict ability-use regulations live.”

Apple bit her thumbnail while explaining.

Lemaos had a black market dealing in items banned by school rules, including one that could temporarily create a secondary core.

Thinking of that rumor, Apple considered her options.

Using that item to open a dantian core and training with a Midriba-born Lemaos student to learn ki techniques would be ideal.

Living in Cardia would limit her time with Midriba students, so training in Lemaos would be far more efficient.

If she succeeded in generating ki from a dantian core, she could apply for Swordsmanship right away!

It’s a roundabout path, but getting into Swordsmanship would be worth it.

“Anyway, I thought you’d obviously go to Lemaos. You’re coreless, so you weren’t assigned to any town, and you seemed like someone who hates being bound by rules.”

“…If I’m not assigned to a town, where do I stay?”

“You’d stay in the integrated dorms at the academy’s main building with middle schoolers or find a nearby inn or boarding house.”

“I see.”

Since adapting to this new environment was urgent, staying with peers was better than middle schoolers.

Living in an inn or boarding house would reduce contact with students, which seemed like a worse choice.

“Alright. Let’s go to Lemaos together.”

I could check the vibe and change my mind later if it didn’t feel right.

“Huh? If you weren’t planning to go, you don’t have to! I only suggested it because I thought you were headed to Lemaos…”

“It’s fine. It sounds interesting. I also want to hang out with you.”

“Uh, what? Why, why, why?”

Startled, Apple asked in a panic, and I, feeling a bit shy, chuckled quietly.

‘Why? Because you’re the first friend I made here, silly…’

‘Oh no! This is it… I’ve been marked as her lackey. I’m doomed!’

We were thinking completely different things.

✦ ✦ ✦

The magic circle to Lemaos was up a small path on a hill above the main building.

Walking through untended weeds growing between broken bricks, I soon saw an arched stone entrance.

Beyond it was a magic circle glowing with dark light.

Welcome to Lemaos←Demon Realm lol Get lost

The old sign was covered in childish student graffiti. Lewd drawings were a bonus.

Apple, standing before the gate, looked terrified and clutched my sleeve.

“My lady, I’ll handle your chores like a slave, so protect me if something dangerous happens…”

“Well, you, with at least a potential core, might have to protect me.”

“…Ugh! Fine, I’ll try fighting too, but you have to guarantee my life, please…”

What a disloyal and unreliable leader, but having been noticed, she was just a powerless minion.

It was her fault for approaching me because I was pretty.

“My lady, can you pull out your student ID? We need it to activate the teleportation circle.”

I took out the student ID I’d received earlier.

“To Lemaos!”

As Apple shouted the activation phrase on the large magic circle, its light engulfed us.

✦ ✦ ✦

Lemaos town was also called the Demon Realm.

‘I think I get why.’

A dense forest of tall, dark green trees loomed above the town in a massive mountain range.

The entire town was hidden under the mountain’s shadow, making it very dark.

With a red sunset, the town, tucked under the shadow, contrasted sharply with the crimson sky.

The jagged shadows of black trees looked like a crude monster’s teeth, and walking deeper felt like being swallowed by a beast.

Caw! Caw!

Don’t cry, crow. It makes it feel even more like the Demon Realm.

I frowned.

Walking further, I saw a plaza.

Buildings with cracked bricks and broken windows.

Tapes haphazardly plastered over window holes.

Uniforms hung on clotheslines sagging like spiderwebs in narrow alleys.

It was a bit like the streets of Nipi Kingdom’s capital.

The difference was the abundance of bright neon signs here. Since the town was dark, they used eye-catching fluorescent signs to highlight shop names.

Some lights flickered or were off due to lack of mana, but signs on buildings maintained by diligent students shone brightly.

The overall vibe was eerie, but those lights added a certain charm.

Thud!

A student suddenly bumped my shoulder.

“Oh, sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

There were pickpockets. I’d already encountered a couple on the way.

Since this was a place for troublemakers who couldn’t afford boarding house fees, there seemed to be more dishonest kids than in other towns.

As a rich-looking freshman, I was a tempting target for some itchy fingers. With that in mind, I tossed a stolen wallet over a pile of filth.

“Gasp, my wallet! Where’d it go?”

“Here it is. Be careful, there are a lot of shady kids around.”

Apple, receiving her wallet, clutched the worn leather tightly and nodded.

“I heard Lemaos had a lot of pickpockets, but I didn’t expect to get targeted right away… Thanks, my lady.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I’d noticed someone eyeing Apple’s wallet and beat them to it.

My eldest Ebenkera brother was a quick-handed jerk, so I could handle amateur pickpockets.

‘I think I get what this place is like.’

Hyena-like gazes followed us persistently from blind spots.

Two small-fry kids walking alone would probably get picked on soon.

Should we join a small faction?

I followed Apple here impulsively, but living on the outskirts of school law required some planning.