I wondered what Hector meant, but his expression was far more serious than I expected. I paused for a moment, then asked, "Could it be that he was actually teaching you?"
"That's right. What else could it be?"
"Your face looked so battered I thought he was just taking out his anger on you," I replied.
Hector let out a sigh. "Sir Barter can be a bit rough during sparring. Still, I can't really complain. He's giving up his own time to train me. Knight training is meant to be brutal."
I was well aware of that. The curriculum at the Badnikers' training camp had been modeled after the knights' training regimen.
"Sir Barter is not only a brilliant knight but also a great instructor. His teaching skills rival those of a Great Master," Hector praised.
"That impressive?"
"Yes." Hector touched his face. "The wounds were deep, but they didn't leave scars or last long. See? The swelling is already gone."
That was certainly true. I asked, "Then why did you act like that back then?"
"Back then?"
"When your face was swollen, you looked miserable."
"Ah..." Hector paused for a moment, then sighed again. "It was shame. No matter how strong Sir Barter is, I sparred with him every day since arriving at the academy but never even grazed his collar. I pushed myself so hard that Sir Barter went a bit too far that day. He apologized afterward, of course."
It was one of those times when the truth turned out to be duller than the rumors. A part of me felt strangely deflated.
Hector studied my face and added, "Still, the worst sparring I've ever had was with you. If I hadn't been healed by a high priest, I would've shown up to the training camp with my face twice its size."
I remembered slapping him across the face more than a few times. I couldn't argue with that, so I changed the subject. "Anyway, Butter is trustworthy, right?"
"It's Sir Barter," Hector corrected. "He's the one who told me there was something strange going on at the academy. I've also seen him using blessings. He's no puppet, not like the ones you mentioned."
"What is his identity?"
Hector hesitated before answering, "You've heard of the Imperial Special Forces, right?"
I blinked, surprised. "He's part of the Special Forces?"
"That's right."
Suddenly, it all clicked into place. The Imperial Special Forces operated directly under the imperial family. They were elite agents assigned to special or covert missions. Because of the secretive nature of their work, details like their numbers, base locations, and assignments remained a mystery.
For this reason, many dismissed the Imperial Special Forces as a myth, but as a Badniker, I knew they were real. I had no choice but to know since one of the Iron-Blooded Lord's many identities was that of an Imperial Special Forces agent.
So the imperial family had noticed something unusual at the academy. That gave me some relief. The empire was not so blind as to ignore these events. Barter's role in the Special Forces explained why the Goodsprings suddenly joined us and why they headed to the academy. Hector was leading our side, so perhaps they had spoken at length beforehand.
After a moment's thought, I said, "I'm not going to see him now."
"Why not?" Hector asked.
"If more people get involved, things will get too big. We'll draw attention faster than expected. So don't tell Barter about me," I explained.
"And the information you gave me?"
"You can share that. Just come up with your own excuse for the source."
"Got it."
"Brother Hector, stay with him for now. Move together."
Hector looked over at me. "What about you?"
"I'll try to move with the hero disciples. Oh , and I'll assign Charon to your side."
Hector and Charon didn't need my supervision. They were more than capable of handling their parts.
"You're not going to coordinate directly with Sir Barter? He might have intel only he's aware of," Hector reasoned.
"I'll meet him. But I'll choose the time. Where is he staying now?"
"At the swordsmanship department in the training center."
"Alright. Then two days... No. I'll be there in three days."
Hector nodded. "Understood."
***
The next day, I headed to Your Mother's Trumpet early in the morning.
"Boss, I'd like to rent the place for about a week. If possible, I'd also appreciate it if you could step out during that time," I said.
He raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about this early? Putting aside my business, where am I supposed to go for a week—"
"I will give you 100 gold coins," I offered.
He let out a low chuckle. "Say no more. You can use it as you like. Feel free to smash the furniture if you get bored."
I rented the store and turned it into a temporary hideout. Just as I'd expected, the academy paid the least attention to the surrounding shopping area. This particular bar sat in a quiet corner, far enough from the main path to avoid suspicion. It was the perfect place for a discreet conversation.
I called Seren. She arrived early, sat across from me, and listened intently. When I finished, she stared at me, stunned. "Really?"
"Yes."
Seren looked speechless. Her eyebrows furrowed, she twisted a strand of hair, and her fingers twitched. Finally, she sighed deeply. "It's five times worse than I thought."
"Is that so?" I asked. It was a subjective view, but I wasn't sure how seriously she took the situation.
She said, "First, I need a clearer picture of the academy's current state."
"How?"
"As it happens, there's a Mana Fundamentals class this afternoon. It's the most popular course on campus, with 102 students enrolled."
"Oh . " It was definitely a popular class. There were 102 students, which meant almost one-tenth of the academy's students.
"I'll find out how many of those 102 are puppets, like you said."
"How? Checking each one would take all night."
"I'll use my blessing to lower the temperature in the classroom until their breath becomes visible. It's February, so the cold won't seem out of place."
"Ah." I was convinced. That was a clever method. "Good. I'll meet you here again this evening after class. Bring Mir, Charles, and Pam with you."
"I will."
I left the bar and headed to the tram stop. I didn't have class, but I had to visit another place first. In fact, I had two helpers. They were far stronger, more reliable, and loyal than the hero disciples who hadn't blossomed yet. They were Kayan and Arjan. I intended to share the situation with them.
They would not only boost our strength but also move carefully enough to avoid drawing attention. They would be invaluable for surveillance and intelligence gathering. After all, the academy's watch over servants was more relaxed than over the students themselves. Depending on the circumstances, it would even be possible to send them out of the academy unnoticed.
They said they were staying in the Blue Building. As I settled down, reviewing the academy's map in my mind, someone sat across from me.
"Hello." Glenn's voice was hesitant, and his expression awkward.
I waved, a faint sense of deja vu washing over me. "Good morning."
"Y-yes. Are you going to class?"
"No."
"I see..." Glenn fell silent, his eyes fixed on me. He looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
A group of students boarded the tram again, catching my attention. Suddenly, I felt the urge to check whether they were puppets.
I chuckled quietly. Three of the twenty people on board were puppets.
"Did you see Professor Ron's assignment? It's awful. No wonder people lose their hair..."
"Whoa , Professor Ron! Hello!"
"Just kidding."
"You!"
A female student burst into laughter. The girl with brown hair in the middle, the one being teased, looked annoyed but lightly punched her friend's shoulder in response. Her reaction felt natural and human. Yet, she was a puppet. Neither she nor her friends knew it, but that was the reality.
I sighed. Somehow, my sense of human dignity felt trampled. Maybe that was too grand a thought for someone like me.
Then Glenn called again, "Excuse me, Luan."
I turned slightly, and he said, "Um, if you don't have any plans and haven't eaten breakfast yet, why don't you come to the shopping area with me?"
"The shopping area?"
"Yes... I know a good place to eat," Glenn replied, lowering his head as if to hide under his oversized hat.
I paused for a moment before nodding. "Okay."
There was no need to see Arjan and Kayan right now. More than that, I was curious about Glenn's purpose.
Glenn looked up with a bright smile. "R-really? Thank you!"
Soon, the tram arrived at the shopping area. Glenn stepped off with visible excitement, glanced at me, and asked, "Do you have a favorite food?"
"I eat anything that tastes good."
"Really? I hope it suits your taste..."
Apparently, there was a tavern that Glenn frequented. I followed him silently as he led the way. He moved through the streets with the ease of someone familiar, but his steps grew slower and heavier.
We made our way toward the back alley where Your Mother's Trumpet was located. Was that where he was headed? I trailed him with a touch of unease, but he passed by my rented hideout and continued deeper in.
"Over here."
We arrived at a store with a sign that read Tomatoes Delicious Enough to Die For.
Are the names of the back alley stores all in the southern style? Curious, I followed Glenn inside.
"Welcome," a soft voice greeted us.
The place was empty except for a rough-looking man who likely owned the tavern. Despite his casual clothes, he looked younger than thirty, too young for a typical owner. His muscles, however, suggested real skill.
"Do you like alcohol?" Glenn asked.
"I've been drinking a lot lately."
"Over here! Two glasses of tomato beer, tomato stew, and tomato salad, please!" Glenn ordered.
The tavern's name suited it perfectly. The tomato beer arrived before the food. Its color was a deep red, and when I took a sip, the flavor surprised me with its richness.
Glenn asked, "Is it good?"
"I'm not usually a fan of tomatoes, but this is delicious."
"I'm glad..." Glenn grinned and gulped down his tomato beer in one go. Surprisingly, he drank like a seasoned regular.
The owner returned, placing another beer mug alongside the food. "You can't have more than five beer mugs today."
His tone made it clear Glenn was no stranger here.
Glenn nodded and lifted his beer mug again.
"You handle your liquor well," I commented.
"Yes... I like alcohol. It helps me forget..." His voice trailed off for a moment.
Glenn really could drink. By the time I'd finished half of my first beer, four empty beer mugs sat in front of him. He didn't speak again until his cheeks flushed slightly. "I hate the imperial family."
The more an ordinary person drank, the more their eyes lost focus and their words started to slur. But this guy was different. His usually hesitant voice grew sharper, more deliberate. Aside from the faint flush on his cheeks, he looked more alert than usual.
"But do you know what I hate as much as the imperial family?" Glenn didn't expect a response. He replied to his question with a smile, "The bloodlines of the Goodsprings and Badnikers. The imperial family's most loyal bastards."
At that moment, life stirred inside the tavern. A dozen or so academy students poured in through the front and back doors, quickly surrounding our table.
I scanned the crowd and spotted both familiar and unfamiliar faces. "It's been a while."
One familiar face was Talis, who had a large bandage across his nose. He clearly hadn't fully recovered from the wounds Evan had dealt him.
"Luan Badniker," Glenn stated. "You're starting to get on my nerves."
Did he think I had approached him while hiding my surname? The truth was, I simply hadn't revealed it because I was distracted. Still, I doubted that reason would hold any weight.
I glanced at Talis, his friends, and the academy students nearby who looked like seniors. Were they all part of the physical training department? Their well-trained bodies showed clearly through their clothes.
It was unexpected but not entirely surprising. I wasn't sure if this was Glenn's true nature or the poor judgment that came with his drunkenness, but his behavior did not shock me. After all, I had just learned Alderson's identity last night. Glenn would have to be at least a demon king to surprise me further. Since that was unlikely, I laughed.
"Still laughing, huh?" Talis walked up with a smirk, clearly irritated by my attitude. "I don't think you've grasped the situation yet. Right now, you—"
His words ended abruptly with a crunch as I slammed his face onto the table, and the room erupted in chaos.
Good timing. Hopefully, today I will finally learn who Glenn Scarlett really is, I thought.