Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Growth, Doubts, and a Hair-Raising Scare
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"...Sniff."
On the way back to the dorms in Yoon Kang-woo's car, the quiet sniffle broke the silence inside the vehicle.
Yoon Kang-woo glanced at me through the rearview mirror, and Yoon Na-rin turned her head to look as well.
"Ah, no. I wasn't crying."
It was just a sniffle because my nose was stuffy.
I've never shed a single tear in my entire life.
"Yeah. I know."
Yoon Na-rin smirked with that knowing look on her face. My cheeks burned.
No, I really wasn't crying. I felt so wronged.
――People cry sometimes when they're alive, don't they?
A voice echoed from somewhere.
In the lower right corner of my mind. That's where the Grand Master resided now. He'd just moved in.
From now on, the Grand Master would teach me about justice and chivalry, guiding my path as I aimed for Mid Master status.
But Grand Master, I really didn't cry.
Sure, my eyes got a little misty, but no tears rolled down my cheeks, so no count.
"...I really didn't cry."
"I see."
"......"
A strangely warm atmosphere filled the car. Even the stern Yoon Kang-woo, who'd been all stiff and formal, had softened a bit after hearing Yoon Na-rin's story at the café.
The car sped toward the dorms.
After classes ended, Han U-sol walked down the hallway, lost in thought.
Anis's cold words lingered in his ears.
Until now, Anis had kept him close because of the dagger.
Every time, it felt like she relied on him, needed him. Deep down, Han U-sol had felt satisfied.
[Put the dagger away.]
Cold words.
Anis had just told him to put the dagger away.
But that icy tone and gaze felt like she was rejecting him, pushing him away.
It made him feel like she didn't need him anymore.
His chest ached.
'......'
Han U-sol tried to ignore the pain in his chest and shifted his thoughts.
Over the weekend and into classes, Anis looked worn out.
The smell coming from Anis hadn't gone away.
The acrid stench from the magic beast.
Come to think of it, the magic circle in the church basement had faintly carried that scent too. The heroes on scene had speculated it was a magic beast summoning circle.
Han U-sol was confused why that smell, tied only to magic beasts, was coming from Anis.
'...No, that smell doesn't have to come exclusively from magic beasts.'
The heroes had only guessed; they weren't certain. It could have been some other kind of magic circle.
...Anis couldn't be a magic beast. There were humanoid ones like goblins or ogres, but none perfectly human-shaped.
'...Or maybe Anis is hiding something.'
The magic beast and that magic circle were both linked to demons.
Was Anis connected to demons too, hiding it?
'No, what am I thinking?'
She was a girl who'd devoted herself purely to saving people.
She'd thrown herself into danger to rescue civilians and despaired at the sight of the dead.
The idea that she was tied to humanity's enemies, the demons? Absurd.
Han U-sol shook his head.
Anis was just Anis.
A girl pursuing the same goals as him. Just someone who wanted to save others and become a hero. That's all.
He shouldn't let some smell throw him off. Act natural, like always.
Lost in thought, he'd arrived at his destination. Han U-sol knocked on the principal's office door.
Knock knock.
――Come in.
The old man's voice seeped through the door crack.
"Excuse me."
He opened the door to find the elderly Fergus Dee reading a thick book with a serious expression, greeting him.
"Welcome, Han U-sol."
"Ah, yes. Hello."
Han U-sol looked around. Only Fergus was in the office. Had Yeriel not arrived yet?
"Yeriel asked me to guide you when you came."
Fergus closed his book, stood, and approached Han U-sol.
"Let's go."
As Fergus gestured lightly into the air, the space shifted.
A vast white room. Empty except for a bed in the center.
"This is...?"
"It's a room inside the principal's office, hidden with spatial and illusion magic."
Keep it confidential; don't tell anyone, Fergus added.
"Lady Yeriel. Han U-sol is here."
"...Hello."
"...Yes. You've come."
The golden-haired woman rose from the bed, her feet touching the floor.
"Shall I introduce myself again?"
She opened her golden eyes softly and spoke.
"I am the angel who governs souls, the last remaining Final Angel."
"I am Yeriel."
"Welcome, son of Auriel."
The next day, after classes, I headed to the training grounds to check how much stronger I'd gotten.
My mana had doubled. So my power, around level 50 before, was now like level 100.
But the gap between level 50 and 100 power wasn't just double.
Krunch! I punched with my gauntlet-equipped fist, and the training robot shattered.
These had solid durability but didn't move, and I'd smashed it in one hit. Before, it took at least five or six strikes.
I nodded in satisfaction.
"...What? Isn't that too strong?"
"Wasn't her mana around 4000? How's her physical ability this high?"
Yoon Na-rin and Reisi marveled from behind.
Compared to Han U-sol, who had similar mana, I seemed plenty strong.
Probably level 100 physical stats plus enhanced body reinforcement from increased mana.
The synergy of those two.
I'd felt it before, but even with the same mana, I was way stronger than others.
This world's people got physical boosts from mana, but my body was like a game character—solid base stats from the start, and huge level-up gains.
I reverse-summoned the gauntlet.
'...The inventory summon limit's loosened up too.'
Until now, only low-level gear. But with mana growth, mid-level weapons up to level 100 limit were summonable.
Of course, Han U-sol's gifts were still better, so I wouldn't use them much, but more weapons were always good.
'...Me.'
Yeah, me.
I'm fucking awesome.
Super prodigy-level growth.
'Gonna get busy soon.'
Superstars draw attention.
Interview requests might flood in. A secretary? Time to manage my schedule...
...Ah.
Come to think of it, Han U-sol didn't come to the training grounds. From now on, he'd train elsewhere with that Yeriel person.
Things between us were still awkward. We both pretended the early morning incident never happened, but the strained vibe lingered.
Yoon Na-rin kept prying about what happened, but I had no clue how to explain, so I stayed quiet.
'...But who is this Yeriel?'
No one by that name in the hero rankings.
Tch. I clicked my tongue softly.
Getting training from a hidden master. Protagonist perks as expected.
'...This guy's gonna catch up to me fast again?'
Sure, he's the protagonist, so he'll surpass me eventually, but losing the academy's top spot after just three days? Too sad.
'Hm... But if he gets stronger, I can get even better weapons?'
That works, right? We're on awkward terms now, but he's protagonist-level generous; if I shamelessly ask, he'll probably make some.
'...Maybe not?'
Thinking back to his stingy side early semester, maybe not. Hard to say.
I glanced at Reisi and Yoon Na-rin, focused on training. Their eyes were sharper than before.
I turned away and dove into my own training. Knowing mana could grow, I pushed harder than usual.
"Heavenly Demon Shattering Punch!!"
Training lasted late into the evening.
Back in my dorm room, I closed the door. The room was quiet.
Yoon Na-rin had eased my mind, but the hallucinations persisted. Negative thoughts still flooded when alone.
But it wasn't as tormenting. Familiarity? Or because I'd resolved to steel my mind and become a Mid Master. Maybe the Grand Master in me was helping.
I headed to the bathroom for a shower.
Glancing at the wall, the familiar graffiti was there.
[This is the world inside the novel 'Acamedy Academy.']
Wrong. Backwards, dumbass.
[This is the world inside the novel 'Acamedy Academy.']
...Quick feedback here.
Shhh―
I turned on the shower and stood under the water. Droplets cascaded from my hair down my body to the floor.
Yoon Na-rin had caught my fall.
But I was still precarious.
I hadn't climbed back up yet.
One misstep, and I'd tumble again.
So, stay sharp and overcome it.
Climb back up.
I lathered shampoo generously and washed my annoying long hair.
Mid-wash, a bad feeling hit. I lowered my hands and looked at my palms.
Clumped and tangled in them were...
...pitch-black strands of hair.
"...Gasp."
Fuck, fuck. Why so much? My hands were covered in hair.
After the shower, the drain clog confirmed it: way more than usual.
Th-this...
No, no way, right?
I rushed into pajamas and jumped into bed.
Click―
I snapped a photo of my crown with my phone. It looked... something...
Less full than before, maybe.
'...No. Still full.'
Yeah. Still looked thick to anyone. Not balding. I brushed it off, pretending it was nothing.
――Hair loss happens in life sometimes.
"......"
I ignored the Grand Master's voice, lay down, and my phone chimed.
Ding―
"......Hic."
Thud. Seeing the notification made something drop in my chest.
The previous incident flashed back, chest tightening. Something squeezed me. That event had become trauma.
As I froze at the alert, the Grand Master inside spoke.
Overcome it.
Don't fear mere novels, strings of words.
As one aiming for Mid Master, show no shame.
Stand up, he urged.
...Yeah. Can't fear this.
I'm aiming for Mid Master.
Greater trials await; how can I falter at this trifle?
I relaxed, steadied my face.
Resolved, I tapped the screen and started reading.
Minutes passed; scroll reached the end.
...Hm. As expected.
Nothing much.
Frog in the well scared of the sky, then shocked by a lid? I'd panicked needlessly; embarrassment hit.
With it came anger. At the author.
You bastard. Made me flinch for nothing.
Fuming, I hammered the keyboard, leaving a comment.