31 - Selena (2)

The first time she glimpsed his marksmanship, it was nothing more than that of a beginner—nothing more, nothing less. The kind of result you'd expect if a mage suddenly aspired to be an archer. Selena's judgment had been spot on.

But then, Lev Denek started putting in more effort than expected. Even when professors occasionally stopped by to assess the cadets' talents and potential,

Shiiik!

he paid them no mind, fawning over no one, utterly absorbed in his practice. Days passed, one after another. Some nights, he'd drag his exhausted body to the range even at late hours for more training.

By the time Selena took a real interest in watching him, his progress had outstripped her expectations. It was no longer the form of a mere practitioner. A bit exaggerated, perhaps, but it carried the unmistakable sensations of an archer—one who had sniped living targets, felt the thrill of the kill.

Even if he was chasing the same heights as her, it no longer felt out of place. Selena could sense it clearly.

Watching him grow made her confront herself anew. Starting from the lowest rung among archers, yet practicing relentlessly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠without pause—it was the kind of dedication that made her want to applaud, pushing past his villainous past.

So she wanted to help more. To ensure he wouldn't crumble against the wall of talent like she once had.

At first, she'd only meant to correct his form.

'That's all it was supposed to be...'

Shiiiiiik!

The crossbow everyone had mocked, the weapon deemed lacking in flair and power—now it fired bolts as if fused to his body.

He had grown to the point where everyone unanimously called him an archer. Even she, who couldn't use Wind Archery herself, had once swallowed bitter words about being half-baked...

Kuuk...

Selena's grip tightened unconsciously.

Lev Denek. He had extended his hand first. Likely one of those human customs—a handshake.

She held conservative views on physical contact, but he faced expulsion if he lost the duel. This might be the last chance.

With their complicated bond, a parting like this seemed fitting. Like reaching out to her past self, Selena finally clasped his hand.

* * *

Click. As I grasped Selena's hand, my status window popped up.

'Skill Theft.'

Through Skill Theft, I could peek at her archer skills.

'Wind Archery...'

Among them, the Wind Archery I sought was, as expected, in the unselectable category.

'As expected.'

Wind Archery was stuck at level 0 due to the Sharptee curse. Normally, fairies would start at level 1 upon meeting the wind spirit.

Yet Selena, the third main heroine in Reincarnated Hero, couldn't use Wind Archery even by Chapter 3—thanks to that hack author. Kaeran in Chapters 1 and 2 ignored the ordinary archer Selena, leaving her presence faint until later.

...Pisses me off just thinking about it.

Anyway, this worked in my favor.

Skill Theft's condition was the lowest-level skill among all of hers, so only Absolute Vision Lv.1 qualified now. No duplicates either, making it practically unusable.

But lifting the Wind Archery disablement would let me snag her Lv.0 Wind Archery as a loophole—exclusive to her. Proof? No acquisition difficulty listed.

Jackpot if it worked.

I calmed my racing nerves, focused my mind, and activated Abyssal Curse Lift from my skill menu.

Shwoong.

Mana drained from my body in an instant, flowing into Selena.

This choice would have the biggest impact yet. She'd be a perfect archer minus Wind Archery—now she'd wield it.

Did it work? Felt anticlimactic. Like removing one debuff in-game. Classic vibe.

Selena spoke then, sounding slightly uncomfortable.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

"..."

"Do human handshakes usually last this long?"

Her impassive face showed faint bewilderment. She tried to pull away.

I held firm.

"...?"

Kuuk!

Next skill: Skill Theft.

Chclang!

Her selectable skills rearranged.

'Yes!'

Those four letters: Wind Archery, selectable. I selected it mentally.

A fairy-exclusive skill—basically a hidden one for me. Game just got way easier. How do you counter stealth + Wind Archery?

As I loosened my grip, Selena yanked her hand free.

"Any more is unnecessary contact."

"Ah, sorry. Got too excited."

"...?"

Calming my elation, I packed up. Next task awaited.

I wasn't satisfied with basic Wind Archery.

Selena's face held a hint of puzzlement: What the...?

"Congrats."

"What...?"

"You've got good news coming."

Leaving her more confused, I bolted from the range.

* * *

Alone in the practice room, Selena stared at her hand after Lev left.

"..."

The lingering warmth faded, cooled by a gentle breeze.

First time grabbing a man's hand, probably. Handshakes were human custom; few fairies mingled that way, except those who did.

Even Gailon avoided touching her, knowing her aversion to physical contact.

"Why?"

Yet his handshake... hadn't felt bad. She'd have shaken it off if unpleasant, but midway, a strange tingle hit, and something pent-up released.

As she pondered this mysterious energy—

-Ah, sorry, got too excited.

-Congrats.

-You've got good news coming.

He vanished after those cryptic words.

What stuck most: his joy. Joy over what? Helping her and shaking hands?

Selena, whose sole interest was archery, felt her mind whirl.

But she cooled her head in such moments.

"Stay composed."

Closing her eyes, she summed it up in one line.

'Lev Denek...'

Reciting it calmly, like poetry.

'Lev Denek has feelings for me.'

With his trouble-magnet personality, joy likely came from external stimuli or others. Thus, he was thrilled to shake hands with "Selena."

Could be just gratitude for training help. But the clincher?

Humans flee when hiding emotions—a selfish trait she'd seen since childhood.

Lev bolted too. In context, not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠malicious. Embarrassment-driven, most likely.

"...Hoo."

Selena sighed softly.

His actions touched her, truly. But she had little interest in human romance, and he might leave soon anyway. No room for seriousness.

'Still, I'll watch tomorrow's duel...'

Thud!

Something dropped from afar. Heading there, no one in sight—past midnight, cadets gone.

And there... a fatigue-recovery elixir, popular among cadets, often out of stock.

"Payment received."

Murmuring the note on the vial's corner, Selena packed and headed to her dorm.

* * *

Clarice Academy, Rapha Blue Dorm. Back like Selena, Aria sat on her bed, hugging a pillow.

Her favorite pudding was takeout that day. Bought to eat after practice, still unopened.

She'd witnessed it. Lev Denek and Selena's new dynamic.

She knew they trained together. Still duty-bound to monitor him, she'd checked occasionally, casting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠recovery magic. No black mana detected—pure training.

But at the end, grasping hands, his mana surged. Not black mana, no incantation...

Only one reason: emotional turbulence disrupted his mana flow.

Mages fail spells without focus; she'd seen it plenty with Melissa.

Conclusion: Lev got so rattled by Selena he nearly blew all his mana.

"Was it that good...?"

Her tone turned curt, businesslike.

Back in Evenbauer, shoulders brushed in the shaky carriage. Fingers grazed passing recovery potions. "I meant to repay this!" Unintended blanket skinship.

And healing sessions—long ones, no mana ripples.

Poof...

Aria buried her refined face in the pillow.

Felt like she'd lost something.

She hadn't defined her feelings for Lev yet. But Selena? Undeniably stunning—tall, fairy beauty, figure...

'She is beautiful...'

Commoner Aria had never dwelled on her looks. Even nobles envied her ethereal beauty...

"Wait... a sec..."

Aria lifted her head, pale purple hair cascading like silk threads.

He might target campus heartthrobs. Consider: mana surges happened with...

"Lady Yeriel... Lady Selena, and... Lady Melissa too, she said... And..."

Those three were beauties, sure.

"Lord Edwin...?"

"..."

...No way.

A chain of misunderstandings nearly formed in the deep night.