The Angel Awakens to Reincarnation (1)
Central Superhuman Academy had way more festivals than any other academy. There was the Spirit Blessing Festival after spring break and midterms, the Club Wars Summer Festival, the Fall Sports Festival, and the Winter Gate Festival. Seriously, wasn't this supposed to be a place for studying? Why all these festivals?
...It's all because of those other worlds that got wiped out. This is the only place left to hold their festivals.
In truth, the Spirit Blessing Festival was exactly that—a spirit blessing event. Club Wars was their world's Expo. The Fall Sports Festival was their Olympics. And the grand finale, Winter Gate, was like their Winter Olympics mixed with a snow festival.
With thousands of refugees pouring in from other worlds every single day, these Central Superhuman Academy festivals weren't just celebrations. They symbolized cooperation and coexistence between Earth and the other worlds—a massive beacon of hope for those refugees.
But right now, that grand spectacle was...
The Spirit Blessing got wrecked by student council corruption, and Club Wars fell apart when smaller clubs quit because of the council and big clubs' tyranny...
Both had gone down in flames. Sure, the festivals themselves wrapped up nicely on the surface, but the chaos inside was undeniable.
"Lately, watching the news has been a real treat."
Nom nom—Soya scooped up some sausage-veg stir-fry with her fork, grinning contentedly at the TV.
The screen was running a segment on student council corruption... and now high-ranking officials were demanding a special investigation into the council and their backers.
A special prosecutor for one academy's student council? Is this really the level our country's at?
Refri shook his head.
Protests against the student council popped up daily, all led by otherworld refugees. Korea was already a gate hotspot, with nearly 40% of the population from other worlds...
"Abolish discrimination against otherworlders! Special investigation into Central Academy's student council!"
Refri watched a poor reporter get shoved around by a burly ogress woman... and silently prayed he'd make it home safely.
"Kyahaha, TV's more entertaining than variety shows these days."
Whether Refri cared or not, Soya laughed like the black mage she was.
"Soya, eat with some dignity."
Hexi's voice was ice-cold. She savored her breakfast with such elegance that even lecturing Soya felt justified—like every bite of the angel-made food was precious.
"Ugh. You're no Professor Klein."
Honestly, Soya couldn't stand Professor Hexi. But she had to admit, that graceful demeanor was impeccable. So of course, she tried mimicking it awkwardly.
Etiquette Professor Hexi...!
Refri nodded and spoke up.
"Anyway, this should keep the student council off our backs for a while."
Hexi gave a faint smile at Refri's words.
"Yes, probably until fall..."
Until fall? Even after all this blew up, they'd be back by autumn?
"Just until fall?"
"With the superhuman families' influence, silencing the media and agencies is child's play."
The superhuman families' power was terrifying. Refri felt a fresh wave of fear. They wanted an angel more than anything—if his secret got out...
"Looks like breakfast is done."
But Refri hid his dread, flashing a bright smile as he stood.
Hexi naturally turned to the TV, while Soya bolted to wash up.
In that moment, Refri washed the breakfast dishes, hung Hexi's coat by the entrance, packed Soya's lunch and report into her bag, gathered his own class supplies, and set a rich cup of coffee in front of Hexi.
A peaceful morning.
"Angel, let me help."
As Soya headed off, Hexi stood with an apologetic look.
But Refri told her to sit and handed her the coffee.
"Relax. I want to do it."
"Angel..."
Well, he did want to. More precisely, he wanted the angel power.
So much to do...!
With all this work piling up, why didn't Refri ask Hexi for help?
Hexi's got zero life skills, princess-style. Like that time I asked for a fried egg...
Refri recalled Hexi's fried egg. Its color was some indescribable cosmic hue, and it was even wriggling a bit.
What world's egg was that?
It was a blasphemy against eggs everywhere. Soya had yanked her hat brim down to block her view, curled in the corner muttering, "S-Soya not here."
Hexi had whispered,
"What? A bit of a failure...?"
Refri vowed never to let her cook again.
No, the egg was lucky. She flooded the place just doing laundry, and her coffee...
Hexi's coffee. That liquid. That liquid!
Refri shuddered, unable to even picture it.
Tears... Even if angel power's great, I'm still a student!
Pitiful angel Refri.
Prepping breakfast—for two, so double. Laundry—for two outfits, double. Cathedral cleaning—messes from two, double.
Everything doubled, so his angel power haul doubled too.
And after scrimping and saving like this...
Race: Angel
HP: 300/300 | MP: 200/200
Skills:Cooking Lv.10 (Master), Sewing Lv.3, Cleaning Lv.6, Crafting Lv.1
Fairy Fighting Method Lv.5, True Cheonggu Swordsmanship Lv.5, Klein Magic Lv.5
Great Angel's Dragon-Trampling Martial Arts Lv.7
Life-Respecting Healing Angel's Cure Lv.8
King-Anointing Angel's Blessing Lv.6
Night-Walking Reverse Angel's Steps Lv.5
Refri had grown ridiculously strong. Last time he pulled the holy sword, he was barely Lv.5... Now Lv.15, matching active superhumans' levels.
And an angel's level wasn't comparable to a human's.
A normal superhuman at Lv.15 would have about 100 HP. But as an angel, I've got 300—three times more. Magic's double what others have at this level.
Central Academy students averaged Lv.30, so Refri's HP and MP were right up there with them.
The once-ordinary boy had finally reached the level of the world's top talents.
His STR and AGI were mid-to-upper tier even among those geniuses. Mastering professors' signature arts at Lv.5 each?
If I use them, even the TAs would think I'm a professor's successor...
And his core angelic divine abilities?
Big gains. Especially Life-Respecting Healing Angel's Cure—as long as they don't die, I can save anyone.
All told, Refri was now top-tier among first-years. Excluding those three monsters: Hongwol, Yumari, and Soya.
Still not enough. I need more angel power...!
So the ant-like angel Refri hustled today too, grinding for angel power.
* * *
Central Academy grew hotter by the day. Amid the sweltering heat, students sweated through studies, training, and spars—humanity's futures growing stronger.
"Hmmm."
One man watched them with a dissatisfied frown.
"Central Academy this, Central Academy that... Our students aren't much different."
The man's name: James Tardun, principal of Eastern Superhuman Academy on America's East Coast.
"You think so?"
A man appeared behind James—Central's vice principal, Park Jinho.
"Vice Principal."
"Long time no see, Principal James."
"Same here."
They shook hands amid subtle probing.
"Never thought you'd come as an exchange professor."
"Heh, when Central's Assassination Department prof heads to our academy, it's only right the principal visits personally."
Park Jinho looked uncomfortable, glancing down at James.
"Don't be so snide. We have our reasons."
"I understand. Your principal's such a special species... Can't show her face easily."
"I said no snide remarks."
They headed to the Swordsmanship Department's training hall, chatting on.
"So why's Eastern's principal here in person?"
"The Demon King's main army is heading for the Mariana Rift."
"Reliable intel?"
"Yes. Our profs pulled all-nighters to confirm. Time left for humanity..."
Park Jinho's face darkened. He spoke slowly.
"Not much time. Wait—then you came here because...?"
"Yes. We'd like to share our secret art: Past Life Awakening."
Past Life Awakening—Eastern Academy's secret technique. It awakened a student's past life, granting some abilities from it. An unbelievable ritual.
Their ultimate technique...
James looked deadly serious. Park Jinho softened his grudge a bit, appreciating the gesture.
"Wise choice."
"It is."
James continued.
"As you know, Past Life Awakening is a massive ritual—maybe one or two a year. We must select students who'll truly help humanity. We'll pick from Central... but we want choice rights."
"...Understood."
Park Jinho hid a smile.
"So... you want to scout our students?"
"Exactly."
"...With a professor present, approved."
They arrived at the Swordsmanship training hall.
"Let's start with our department."
James followed Park Jinho's lead, eyeing the training students. Disciplined yet fluid in swordplay. Their skill...
"First-years wielding demon swords? Not even seniors?"
James gaped in disbelief.
"And so proficient. What the—ahem!"
He coughed, correcting himself.
"Slightly... slightly better than our Eastern students."
"I see. Time to train harder."
Park Jinho said the utterly un-ordinary with casual tone.
"...What? Dual-wielding Fire Demon Sword? Vice Principal, who's that student?"
Forgetting decorum, James stared in shock. Dual-wielding Fire Demon Sword was a feat for their own profs.
"Hongwol, next clan head of the Dalgoyang cat clan... first-year runner-up."
"Runner-up? Then... who's top?"
Without hesitation, Park Jinho pointed to a boy.