The Angel Who Drew the Holy Sword (1)
Fairy Fighting Method, True Cheonggu Swordsmanship, and Klein Magic. As far as Refri knew, these skills were considered the pinnacle in their respective fields.
As Rusa had said, the Fairy Fighting Method was an elf royal martial art containing the essence of a thousand years, with no other fist or close-combat technique able to match its caliber.
Cheonggu Swordsmanship was a martial art renowned for its strength in the human realm. Any superhuman swordsman would dream of learning it at least once, which spoke volumes about its fame.
This "standard" Cheonggu Swordsmanship was already incredibly powerful, but its true nature could only be seen when wielded with a holy sword. That was called True Cheonggu Swordsmanship.
There was only one user: Cheonggu Guild Master Park Jinho.
Park Jinho's True Cheonggu Swordsmanship was... 'Terrifyingly powerful. If it weren't for the Demon King, he could've taken one of the Demon King's arms by now.'
It was known to be extraordinarily strong.
Finally, Klein Magic... 'Unlike other magic systems focused on academic research, Klein Magic emphasizes practicality and combat. That's why it's easier to learn and far more powerful than others.'
Of course, "easier" still meant he'd have to borrow Soya's magical talent just to grasp it.
'Professor Klein explained it so simply, so why does it all look like alien script?'
Refri set down the Klein Magic tome. It was a book Professor Klein had lent him out of favoritism, an item of terrifying value rivaling ancient grimoires.
Naturally, that also meant Klein Magic was equally powerful.
Of course, without Soya's talent, even understanding a single sentence was a struggle.
'What a shame...'
In other words, becoming a magic angel was still a distant dream.
"Hoo..."
Refri put down the magic tome and sank into thought.
He just needed to endure these three classes a bit longer to raise their levels, then pick a department once they were all decently leveled.
But which department should he choose? Each had its pros and cons.
The Martial Arts Department had great classmates, but the professor was too violent. The Swordsmanship Department was the strongest and largest, but it had a military vibe.
The Magic Department seemed the most decent, but Refri lacked magical talent. Plus, his classmates hated him.
"Hmm..."
As Refri pondered, a pot beside him began bubbling.
"Hmm... It's almost dinnertime. Why hasn't she come back?"
The boy tasted the stew. Perfect umami and spice, with a comforting aroma that went beyond home cooking.
"Scary good..."
This was the power of master-level cooking. One taste made you crave more, tempted to swallow the whole pot.
"I'm hungry."
But Refri couldn't eat alone. It would cost him the angel power from "staying with the lonely girl."
'Guess I have to go find her.'
Refri threw on his coat and stepped out of the cathedral. Winter had passed, easing the chill, but evenings were still brisk.
Luckily, he found Soya quickly. Her signature condescending voice echoed from a park not far from the cathedral.
"What? What did you just say?"
And from the sound of it, she was fighting again.
Refri smiled faintly. 'Preventing discord among future heroes is an angelic deed'—another chance for angel power.
"You touched something that isn't yours... I said you're shameless. Witch."
"Who are you calling shameless?"
In the park, two girls faced off. One was Soya, in her black mage hat and robes, clutching a sinister grimoire. The other was taller, with flowing pink hair—Hongwol.
Why were they fighting? Refri hid carefully behind a tree. He wasn't there to watch a brawl, but he needed to know why.
"Think about it. Without the boy, you couldn't even get into this school. And even if you did, dorm life would've been hell."
"It's true he helped me, but that's none of your business!"
"No conscience, huh? Is that all he was to you? Why would Refri even bother with someone like—"
Hongwol leisurely stroked Soya's shoulder.
"So you act cute and clingy to win his favor. You're nothing without him. Still don't get it? You're just a parasite."
"Shut up."
Rumble— Boom—
Soya cast a hand of darkness. The pinnacle of black magic, Four Heavenly Kings Demon Magic, which even skilled mages needed ten minutes to chant—she pulled it off silently, with full power intact.
"It's none of your business. He doesn't see me that way...!"
"Does he really?"
"And I—I don't care about him either!"
But Hongwol sneered, brushing aside all the black hands. Offense demands defense, and Soya didn't know how to defend.
"Kyaa!"
"Don't care, huh? Then why not dry your hair with magic in the morning? Why not teleport straight to class instead of walking with him? Why?"
Hongwol trampled Soya, flashing a cruel sneer. Soya... sniffled again.
"You think you wouldn't do the same?"
"...What?"
"You think you wouldn't, huh?!"
Silence fell. Hongwol's sneer vanished; she bit her lip, then muttered blankly.
"Yeah, I wouldn't. The Mooncat Clan doesn't walk with men—we own them."
"...Good for you. For a bunch of thugs."
"I'm Hongwol, next head of the Mooncat Clan. You think I'd act cute for a guy? Beg for attention? Never."
With that, Hongwol vanished.
Left alone, Soya wiped her tears with her sleeve and grumbled.
"That damn black-magic-hating cat..."
Soya brushed off the dirt and snapped her fingers. With a flash of blue light, she vanished.
"Teleport?"
Refri muttered. What? Hongwol was right? Casually casting teleport, something even mid-tier mages struggled with?
"...Kinda scary."
Soya was growing too fast.
Back at the cathedral, Refri pretended ignorance.
"Huh. Soya, where've you been rolling around?"
"Oh, this... It's nothing."
If she wanted to brush it off, fine. Refri dusted her robe and tossed it in the laundry.
"Refri, you..."
"Yeah? What?"
"If someone stronger than me, taller, richer... anyway, someone like that asked to live together, what would you do?"
Refri asked while preparing dinner.
"Why out of nowhere?"
"Just... hypothetically."
"Doesn't matter who asks. We promised to live together, right?"
No one offering to live together could match the daily angel power from Soya.
The boy placed the stew in the center and smiled.
"So... I'm not leaving you."
Sweet words. Of course, they masked Refri's greed for more angel power, but...
Still, Soya was touched. She dropped her arrogance, mumbling awkwardly like a kid.
"You better keep that promise. Breaking a vow with a black mage... might bring something scary."
And she looked somehow desperate.
At bedtime, Soya boldly offered her hair after washing up. Refri gently dried it without a word.
Hongwol's sneer flashed in his mind. 'Don't care, huh? Then why not dry your hair with magic?'
Probably loneliness. A feeling the boy knew too well.
Refri thought: This much... I can do even without angel power.
"There, done."
He combed her hair carefully.
Though he'd dream of his childhood again tonight... maybe both could sleep peacefully.
Actually, Refri had one more class: Divine Power, mandatory for those with holy powers. Taught by Professor Rebecca.
Rebecca. In another world, she'd be called a saintess for her immense divine power—one of the Central Academy professors, true foes of the Demon King.
She hid her faded blonde hair under a veil, her skin almost unnaturally pale. Always in neat nun's robes, she concealed deep worries behind her smile.
Refri found her uncomfortable. She seemed... like she had middle-school syndrome.
"Isn't it fascinating? Our world or this one, legends of 'Cain' persist."
"...Haha, yeah."
Rebecca didn't teach divine power usage. It harmed the body, so restraint was key... though other superhumans ignored that.
She spoke with deep resentment.
"That makes this truth seem ancient. Older than any religion."
"What truth?"
Her gaze was on Refri, but she stared afar.
"Survival of the fittest... Survival of the fittest."
Rebecca smiled. A saintess smiling while saying that?
'This is a saintess...?'
Refri couldn't laugh.
"Humans bashed their brothers' heads with stones before language existed. That's humanity's origin. In the end, we're all descendants of murderers."
Terrifying words. Why did this saintess hate people so much?
To farm angel power, Refri fabricated a response.
"...We're not descendants of murderers. We're sons of farmers, blacksmiths, family protectors... ordinary folk."
The boy smiled faintly, angelic.
"Like you, Professor."
"...!"
Comforting the heart of a wounded hero is truly an angelic deed!
You have acquired a large amount of Angel Power.
'Yes! Divine Power class is great for this. I can farm angel power from Professor Rebecca.'
'Like you, Professor.'
Heartwarming words. Rare from other divine users. Why did this boy always answer so purely, untainted?
Rebecca wondered. We divine users sacrifice for humanity without reward...
'Come to think of it, he restored the cathedral selflessly...'
She bit her lip. Each answer reminded her of her younger self—pitiful, yet... not unwelcome.
"...Class dismissed for today."
"Yes, ma'am."
Music to his ears. Refri packed quickly.
"At least it ends early."
The best part of Divine Power? Super short classes.
"Nyaah..."
But early endings were misfortune for someone. Like a cat who snuck in, thinking Refri had a long class.
Click—
The door opened. Refri and the pink cat both froze.
"Huh...?"
"M-meow?"
Seizing the moment, Refri scooped up the pink cat.
"W-whoa. Pinky...!"
"Nyaah...!"
"I was worried! You're alive!"
Refri petted her head enthusiastically. Hongwol panicked at the novel sensation but enjoyed it, thinking 'Gotta escape' while melting.
"Oh, right. Lunchtime."
As Refri stopped to head to the kitchen, Pinky blocked him unconsciously, flopping over to show her belly and cutely raising a paw.
"What? Want more pets?"
Pet pet—
Lazy bliss filled Pinky's head. A phrase flickered: 'I'm Hongwol, next head of the Mooncat Clan. You think I'd act cute for a guy? Never.'
She'd mocked Soya with that... but Pinky was just a cat, so it didn't count.
Click—
But Pinky's trial was just beginning. Entered a magic genius who could detect disguises, polymorphs—the girl Soya.
Neither Refri nor Pinky noticed. Refri was busy playing, Pinky busy acting spoiled.
"What...?"
Watching the scene, the girl muttered.
"What the hell is this annoying-colored cat?"