Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: 37-2. The Professors Are Moving Too Fast.
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Baek Mok-ryeon surveyed the students with a triumphant air. The woman with brown hair adorned with a white magnolia flower caught everyone's eye.
"I am Dennis's lover. Baek Mok-ryeon."
The male students stared at her stunning beauty, utterly entranced. They were so captivated that they even forgot to swallow their drool.
Kainel had changed a lot since meeting me. Now, he just looked indifferent even at another woman.
Ariel was glaring daggers from beside him, and I was there too, so no harem route for the Light Hero.
Suddenly, a sense of dissonance hit me as I watched the male students' attitudes shift in an instant.
'Is she really that pretty?'
She was famous on the community boards, sure.
Honestly, I couldn't tell. In reality, I'd only ever had eyes for Pine—eating, sleeping, and eventually getting dragged into the game and possessing this body.
I glanced at the Glass Knight sitting far away. Pine flinched and trembled the moment our eyes met.
Yeah, that's why I'd come all this way—to see her like this for real.
"Magnolia, sorry for calling you out when you're not feeling well."
"Nonsense. How could I sit still when I get to be with my husband?"
Was this really the Heavenly Demon I knew? The temperature difference was shocking. Calling him "husband" too? It felt like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head.
"If it's too much, I'll apply for paternity leave. This'll be the last time."
I was at a complete loss for words. The classroom buzzed with shock at the bombshell announcement.
Pine and Kainel turned their heads, looking around as if they had no idea what was being discussed.
"Eep!"
The sound of a pen dropping mid-note. Ariel, the quickest on the uptake, buried her face in her desk from embarrassment. I felt the exact same way.
'They really went and made an egg together.'
The male students who had been ogling Baek Mok-ryeon with lecherous eyes now turned their stares on Dennis instead.
Their expressions screamed, How did you land a beauty like that?
"..."
Was the blue-haired dragonkin making an appearance?
That explained the subtle smirk he'd had on his face earlier.
He'd really made it big. Our protagonist. I hadn't even seen his kids in the sequel, Black Heart.
I had no idea how much of a butterfly effect I'd caused. It didn't feel real, so I kept letting out dry chuckles. Good thing I was wearing the helmet.
"Anyway... let's continue with the differences between dragons and humans."
The blue-haired professor regained control of the class.
"The biggest difference between dragons and humans seems to be mana capacity, but... Licht."
"That's an insurmountable trait."
Baek Mok-ryeon clung tightly to Dennis's side, as if afraid someone might steal him away, chattering on possessively. It matched the lore about dragons' strong possessiveness.
"Well, even so, I don't know much about spells like magic!"
Then why come lecture? To ward off female students eyeing her husband? As I pondered that, Baek Mok-ryeon made her move.
"But there is one universal truth that applies to all things in the world."
The Heavenly Demon began writing on the blackboard.
The chalk's clicking echoed quietly through the lecture hall.
Dragon Gate.
The words on the board were clearly "Dragon Gate." Weren't the differences between humans and dragons about mana?
"Boy."
The Heavenly Demon smiled softly, clearly pleased to see me after so long.
She was using formal address because it was class time—probably to hide our connection. Favorites make other students uncomfortable.
"Do you really think the only difference between humans and dragons is mana?"
"..."
I pondered the meaning of the words she'd written. It was the gateway a dragon had to pass before ascending. Why bring it up when explaining human-dragon differences?
'The waterfall carp turn into dragons after passing through...'
Were humans the carp here? I recalled stories from my training. She'd said "Heavenly Demon" was just a title people gave.
"Is it the difference in effort, Heavenly Demon?"
"Kuhuhu! Exactly. That's why dragons and true dragons differ too."
Maybe she was using humans as a metaphor—those who had to earn their qualifications through effort. I voiced the sudden realization. Her expression said I'd nailed it.
"Humans are beings akin to true dragons."
Starting points could vary, sure. Like Ariel with her innate mana reserves, or Kainel chosen by the holy sword.
"Pitiful creatures who strive to earn their qualifications."
But they still tried. The heroes and mages hurt by the Hero Cult didn't break even in the final battle with the Head.
Holy sword-chosen heroes took opposite paths. One trusted only his territory, overconfident in his power.
'...After I pointed out the Light Holy Sword's weakness, Kainel started trusting people.'
Without them, I couldn't have saved Pine. I owed my spot here, listening to this lecture, to that hero couple.
"True dragons start as serpents, pass through the imoogi stage, and become dragons. But these arrogant dragons? Nothing like that!"
Dennis probably wanted to tell the students this part. The blue-eyed man nodded slowly.
"They hatch from eggs as hatchlings and that's it. It's what I lamented most when I came to this world."
Bam. Baek Mok-ryeon punched the board. The "Dragon Gate" section shattered. A bit excessive, but...
There were grim legends and folklore about ancient imoogi turning into evil spirits after a thousand years. Fair enough.
"To become a higher being inherently requires corresponding effort. That's the fundamental difference between dragons and humans."
Using true dragons as an example, she explained the gap between humans and dragons. Born with "qualifications" versus earning them yourself—heaven and earth apart.
"Now you see why I brought a true dragon-like, yet different, being here. Licht."
As Baek Mok-ryeon's explanation wrapped up, Dennis continued calmly.
"To reach the pinnacle, you must delve deep into your own magic and comprehend it through effort."
He conjured golden magic circles in both hands and held them near my body. Like in the club last time—a mana circuit check spell.
"Licht's affinity is darkness."
I'd vaguely noticed during the Magic Hat fight. Kainel and Pine's attacks barely landed, but my demonized skills hit true.
"So how do you take this 'darkness' to its extreme?"
"Since I'm the Black Knight, maybe focus on defense?"
Shadow fangs infused with inner energy had hidden Pine's identity before, so defensive magic seemed fitting.
The game had shadow hiding skills or black magic.
"Let's get more specific."
"There's a saying: 'He who is near ink becomes black.' Boy."
The story had diverged from what I knew. Magic recommended by Knight Heart's protagonist couple. "He who is near ink becomes black." It darkens surroundings. If applied...
"...Turn other attributes into darkness? Is that it?"
Like ink spreading in water, convert surroundings to darkness. It could boost Kainel's attacks.
Counter enemies adapting by changing attributes.
'Or steal their light. Could even block Magic Hat's tricks at the source.'
In my old reality, black dyes absorbed most light. Turn disadvantages into advantages.
"Now you're getting it, Licht."
Satisfied with my answer, Dennis chuckled lowly. I hadn't expected to receive such guidance.
"Make that your goal for this semester."
The pinnacle of water magic, huh? But to cast, I'd need to clasp hands. Would our Pine get dyed in darkness?
Black-haired Pine. She'd look gorgeous. Just imagining it made my heart race. Long black hair flowing like a black rose replayed in my mind.
"Next. Mardol."
As if sensing my thoughts, Dennis called Pine. I dodged the approaching armored Glass Knight and sat back down.
"Mardol's 「Mirror Mirage.」 It summons illusions with physical substance, right?"
Dennis began as he looked at Pine.
The spell from the year-end exam. He'd had questions watching her earth-twisted glass clones.
"Why limit such a great spell to offense only?"
"Pardon...?"
It had enough utility to support Licht even in the Head battle. Following his advice, Pine first created a clone.
"...So solid. Is this necessary?"
Baek Mok-ryeon touched the clone, pointing out the flaw. Was hardness the issue? Pine wondered.
"Is it wrong...?"
"It means it's too rigid."
Soft. Pine Granasia had never considered such an application in her life. She'd always blamed her weakness for her mother's kidnapping.
"Mirrors reflect 'reality.' What if you could even replicate the 'reality's' texture?"
"Even soft things?"
"Yes. Getting it now, Mardol?"
Not glass statues, but true doppelgangers.
"Magic isn't just for battle. Make clones that fool allies, and they'll fool enemies too."
"But... is there really a need...?"
Pine couldn't see the point. What good were soft clones for swordplay, or if they got hurt?
"Isn't there someone around you want to capture? First wife."
Even through the masterpiece disguise, she seemed to see right through.
Unable to stand it, Baek Mok-ryeon whispered. The golden-eyed wolf glanced at Licht behind her.
"...There is."
Gulp. Pine swallowed unconsciously and began preparing to capture her prey again.
Glass cannons with low durability? Overwhelm with numbers.