Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Changed Routines and Rooftop Misunderstandings
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A few days after being discharged from the hospital, my daily life had changed.
I no longer saw any text overlays, and I stopped checking the novel updates.
I was tempted by curiosity to peek just a little, but I held back. I'd decided not to look anymore. It was obvious there'd only be more useless nonsense anyway.
At the academy, a new class on practical combat against magic beasts had been added to the curriculum. It was originally scheduled for the second semester, but after the recent magic beast attack, the principal had moved it up.
The class was simple. Students would fight captured magic beasts one-on-one.
Slash-!
—Kek!
The goblin in front of me collapsed. I shook the blood off my sword and reverse-summoned it.
Was that really me, the total loser getting beaten up by goblins in the park? I wanted to say my chest swelled with pride... but nah, not really. It was just one goblin, after all.
During the picnic, I had people to protect, and they overwhelmed me with numbers. In a real one-on-one, even an ogre wouldn't stand a chance against me.
"Excellent work, Anis."
A middle-aged male teacher said. His name was Kantwell. He was the dignified, kind-looking instructor who always emphasized the mindset of a hero in theory class. His slightly plump build only amplified that impression.
The performance is top-notch.
The sword Han U-sol gave me was exceptional. It didn't have any fancy special abilities, but it was light. And it sliced through the goblin's armor like butter.
My hunch was right. At least mid-tier quality.
I sidled up to Han U-sol and whispered. His ability had to stay secret, so I kept my voice barely audible.
"...Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Weapons... bring more."
No, bring them all!!
#
After combat class ended, it was time for theory.
"The goblins we fought in the last class came from the summon stone found in the park. Heroes who handled the scene captured a few."
Every student had taken turns fighting a goblin. Not a single one had lost.
"Goblins are low-tier magic beasts. In a one-on-one, you all handled them easily because they're weak."
"But they never travel alone. They move in packs. Like everything else, no one stands against numbers."
"So don't get cocky just because you took down a goblin easily. In real combat, you'll face groups more often than one-on-ones."
"Never underestimate even weak magic beasts."
"Of course, you all know this already. I just said it again out of an old man's worry."
Kantwell, who had been stern-faced, relaxed with a gentle smile.
Indeed, the students who'd been through the incident had learned that lesson the hard way. Magic beasts that kept coming in greater numbers no matter how many you cut down.
It must've felt like a real horror movie. Even I had come that close to dying.
"The summon stone discovered this time was special. The longer it stayed active, the more beasts it spawned, and stronger ones appeared. I'm proud of all of you for holding out and fighting bravely to the end."
Kantwell said, turning his gaze to me and Han U-sol.
"Especially Anis and Han U-sol, who fought desperately in the depths of the park to protect the civilians. Truly outstanding. Everyone, give them a round of applause."
Clap clap clap.
Applause erupted, and all eyes turned to us.
Was it embarrassment? Or just a weird feeling? I ducked my head.
"The ten civilians they saved must be grateful too."
...Ten?
Not fifteen?
...Guess it was ten in reality.
Sometimes reality and the novel differed like this. Usually with numbers.
"And later, the principal will personally present you with commendations. Keep that in mind."
Oh...
A reward payout, and now commendations. What to do? I'd never gotten one before.
Was it on stage? What if I messed up from nerves?
Kantwell continued.
"From what the heroes on site said, ogres and orcs showed up later, followed by trolls. No casualties—we're lucky."
Trolls. Magic beasts that regenerated endlessly as long as their heart was intact, like immortals. Burning wounds stopped the regen, but they were still a pain.
If the real heroes had been even a little later, we were screwed.
"They captured the ogres and trolls and tamed them."
150 years after the Heavenly Demon War.
Angels and demons had vanished, but people still firmly believed they existed.
They just didn't show themselves, but traces of their power lingered.
For example, demons summoning magic beasts from other realms.
Or contracting with villains to corrupt them.
Or the barriers angels had placed over cities still standing strong.
The abilities every human possessed were powers granted by angels too.
Though the abilities humans inherited weakened with each generation, which was a problem.
These days, powerless children without abilities were being born, leading to worries that the angels were losing strength.
Well, they say the magic beasts demons summon are getting weaker and fewer too.
People could only speculate that both angels and demons were fading.
Anyway, "taming magic beasts" was one of the angels' traces humans could detect.
Angels tamed captured beasts to serve humans. How? No one knew, not even me.
People just shrugged it off as "angelic power."
Made sense. If they granted abilities to newborns, taming beasts couldn't be hard.
You'd occasionally see ogres or orcs hauling rebar at construction sites.
The locals treated it normally, but I'd stared for ages out of fascination.
But "taming" feels off. More like...
From fighting them, I knew magic beasts had emotions.
Tamed ones? No emotions. Blank eyes, like soulless robots following orders.
...Isn't that taming. More like brainwashing.
...But who cares. Not my problem.
I stopped wasting brainpower on it and thought constructively.
Need to get more weapons from Han U-sol...
I'd already asked, and he'd smiled and said sure.
But there was a snag.
...Yoon Na-rin is in the way.
With her always nearby, finding a moment to receive weapons was tough.
She'd find out eventually, but Han U-sol's ability was secret for now. Couldn't take weapons openly in front of her.
Plan was to sneak to a quiet spot after theory class while she napped.
But the girl who used to crash on her desk the second class started? Lately, she stayed wide awake.
...Hmm.
Half-listening to Kantwell's lecture, I pondered how to ditch Yoon Na-rin.
###
...Anis is acting weird.
...She's keeping her distance from me more than usual today...
At first, I thought she was down from that weird talk last time, but no.
She looked better than ever since we met. The timid, gloomy vibe was gone.
"Hey!! Let's hit the canteen!!"
As class ended, Anis yelled at Han U-sol with sparkling eyes. Does she love food that much?
"Na-rin. Want anything? We'll grab it."
Hmm...?
Again. Normally she'd invite me along, but it felt deliberate, like she wanted me gone...
"...Just a canned coffee."
"Got it!"
Anis dragged Han U-sol out like she was in a rush. He followed with an awkward smile.
Yoon Na-rin's instincts screamed.
Something... something's up.
Come to think of it, since the picnic, Han U-sol's gaze on Anis had softened. Deeper affection, maybe.
Anis had been paying him more attention lately too.
This... no way!
I'd heard Han U-sol saved Anis at the critical moment during the magic beast fight.
Pure Anis falling for him? Not surprising.
And he was the first to visit her after she woke. Maybe he confessed, and they're dating now.
Yeah. Worth celebrating. I'd rooted for them inwardly. I could congratulate them happily.
But... it stung a bit. No need to go so far to shake me off.
Want some alone time, huh...
I got it. Natural for a girl in love.
...Still.
It hurt. A mischievous impulse bubbled up.
...Gonna tail them.
Yoon Na-rin slipped out and followed secretly.
Anis and Han U-sol headed not to the canteen, but the rooftop.
Knew it. Canteen was a lie.
Alone on the rooftop, though.
They might already be dating!
Curious, Yoon Na-rin enhanced her hearing with mana.
Voices from behind the closed rooftop door.
—Anis? W-wait! You're too excited!
—Hurry up...! I'm in a rush!
"......?"
Yoon Na-rin doubted her ears.
...No way.
At the academy? Innocent Anis?
Her brain froze, rooted in place.
...No, it can't be. No way.
She denied it, but reality was cruel.
Yoon Na-rin knew "no way" often meant "yes."
Her gut said her bad feeling might be right.
—Hah... Hurry...! Hurry and give me "that"!
—A-alright! I got it!
More sounds leaked. Anis pleading breathlessly with Han U-sol.
...She didn't want to believe it, but her suspicions hit home.
...H-Han U-sol...! You bastard...!!
Premonition turned certainty, fury surged.
Horny beast...!
What did he do to pure Anis?
How'd he corrupt that blank slate in days?
He exploited her inability to refuse pushy advances, forced himself, trained her into depravity...!
Han U-sol...! How dare you touch Anis...!
Bang-!!
She kicked the door open and charged.
"Gasp! Na-rin!?"
"Han U-sol, you bastard!!! What are you doing to Ani—?"
She planned to beat him senseless, but the scene wasn't what she imagined.
Han U-sol handing a freshly made spear to Anis.
Anis reaching for it.
Both froze in shock at her intrusion.
"......?"
Yoon Na-rin blinked blankly, then muttered.
"...What."
#
——Bang!
After academy ended, Yoon Na-rin slammed into her dorm room and headbutted the wall.
Overhearing and imagining pervy stuff? She felt like a total perv, mortified.
"...If they knew what I thought, they'd see me as a pervert......"
——Bang!
Another headbutt.
"So embarrassing...... Seriously... Taking this to the grave..."
Lying in bed, she thrashed under the covers until falling asleep.