Chapter 35
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Dragon's Shadow (4)
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I handed a water bottle to Hae-sol from beside him.
"Drink."
"Thanks."
He took a small sip of water, caught his breath, and glanced at me for a moment.
"Do I... look weird?"
"You look a bit tired."
"Yeah."
Hae-sol nodded as if it were only natural.
Yoo Han-seong watched us for a moment before speaking.
"Now I'll check your mana circulation."
"Place your hands on top of the potion bottle, one at a time."
I pulled a small empty vial from my bag.
It was originally material for basic affinity training, but today we were using it as a makeshift measurement tool.
The inside of the vial was thinly coated with a liquid that reacted to mana.
Placing a hand on it would produce only a faint glow in response.
Hae-sol went first, placing his hand on top.
A very pale blue light rose from inside the vial.
The light flickered slightly midway, then continued.
I observed quietly.
"There's a break in it."
I said honestly.
"It looks like part of your mana circuits took a hit."
Hae-sol lifted his hand.
"Is it bad?"
"No."
I shook my head.
"It's not completely severed. The connecting line just feels a bit jagged."
"It should smooth out with time."
Yoo Han-seong asked,
"Not dangerous, right?"
"Yeah."
I answered firmly.
"We're not heading into a dungeon right now anyway."
"Keep up light training like today, and it'll gradually return to normal."
Hae-sol's shoulders dropped just a fraction.
Relief was visible in his expression.
Next, Yoo Han-seong placed his hand on the vial.
A deep, shadow-like light slowly spread inside.
It was less like light and more like overlapping layers of darkness.
I did my best to keep my face expressionless as I watched.
This concentration was already beyond human standards.
Still, it didn't feel suffocating.
There was a heavy sense of stability to it.
"How is it?"
Yoo Han-seong asked.
"Back to normal."
I said calmly.
"Doesn't look off."
Yoo Han-seong's lips twitched up slightly before he smoothed his expression.
"Good."
Finally, I placed my hand on the vial.
My mana was the same as always: a light white.
It hovered between pale green and gold.
Nothing special about the flow.
But there had been one change lately.
The light rose a bit faster than before.
Probably from all the potion-making making it more natural.
Yoo Han-seong peered into the vial and said,
"Your reaction's quicker than before too."
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
He added seriously,
"At this level, you're pretty stable even among F-ranks."
I made a face like it was no big deal.
"Guess I've just gotten used to it from making potions."
"That's what skill is."
Yoo Han-seong cut in.
"Most people don't even get that far."
The words felt a little unfamiliar, but not bad.
No one had ever evaluated my abilities like this before.
Most judged by rank first.
Once they saw F, nothing else mattered.
"Training's done for today."
Yoo Han-seong shook out his wrists.
"Rest your heads more than your bodies today."
Hae-sol asked quietly,
"Tomorrow too?"
"Of course."
Yoo Han-seong said firmly.
"You, me, and Jin Hari. Working on the other three."
Hae-sol's gaze turned to me.
I gave a small smile.
"I'll be there on time."
As we left the track and headed back to the hallway, two teachers stood in the distance, holding papers and talking seriously.
"Saying it was just luck feels... iffy, doesn't it?"
"No other explanation fits."
I overheard but passed by without a thought.
It registered in my ears, but my mind only held onto "They think it was luck."
That was enough.
Today's over.
Moon Haze is done, and there's still time before the next dungeon.
My tasks in between stay the same.
Make potions, practice, share them bit by bit with those who need them.
Move within what I can do before the cataclysm comes.
'And soon... time to heal too.'
The walk back to the dorm was quiet.
Hae-sol slowed at the end of the hall when he spotted friends from another class.
They hesitated, wondering if they should speak to him.
In the end, they exchanged simple greetings and passed.
I felt a bit relieved watching.
Word of what happened to Hae-sol in Moon Haze had spread, but it hadn't turned malicious.
If anything, curiosity leaned toward "How'd he survive?" and "What kind of support was there?"
That wasn't bad.
Curiosity fades naturally with time.
Non-aggressive attention doesn't last.
Much more comfortable that way.
The three of us descended the central stairs to the first-floor hall.
A notice board inside had updates following the Moon Haze announcement: minor schedule changes.
[Supplemental Physical Evaluation Schedule Change]
[Dungeon Access Restrictions Adjusted]
[Moon Haze Participants: Counseling Signup]
Hae-sol paused to read them.
Yoo Han-seong murmured from beside him,
"No need to do it."
"Counseling?"
"Yeah."
"If I need it, I will."
Hae-sol replied shortly.
His tone felt more resolute than before.
He's holding up plenty well.
As we passed the hall and stepped outside, cool air brushed our faces.
Yoo Han-seong said lightly,
"Tomorrow, four PM."
"Not the track—north training grounds."
"Why?"
I asked.
"Grounds need refurbishing."
He continued casually,
"Fewer people than the track, less noise. Hae-sol still gets tired in loud places for long."
Hae-sol dipped his head slightly.
"Thanks."
I looked at them both and smiled faintly.
They'd grown more natural since Moon Haze.
Not talking more, but caring differently.
This must be the start of them forming a team.
I said quietly,
"Just show up tomorrow?"
Yoo Han-seong turned to me.
"You coming?"
"Yeah. On time."
His lips curved the tiniest bit.
Barely noticeable, but definitely pleased.
"See you."
He left those words and headed the opposite way toward the dorms.
Hae-sol soon followed with a greeting.
"Hari, thanks... for today."
"No big deal."
I smiled.
Hae-sol's shoulders relaxed softly, his expression easing further.
He entered the dorm.
I could see his steady steps until the door closed.
Alone now, I took a light breath.
Then brushed my ear.
[You talked a lot today.]
Erich's voice was as usual.
"That's normal."
[Doubt it.]
"Why."
[You mostly say stray words. Not many even then. Surprising, really.]
"Hmm..."
His observation piqued my interest a bit, but I shrugged it off and answered.
"...Depends on who I'm with."
Erich fell silent for a moment.
Then murmured low,
[Strange.]
"What?"
[You. Your face around those two. Unusually relaxed. Old friends?]
I didn't answer right away.
Denying might not fool him. So I just waved lightly and said,
"Erich."
[Speak.]
"I'm F-rank, useless, replaceable any time."
[And?]
"First to die in a dungeon."
[......]
"So that's my prep for if it happens."
He knows all I can do is make potions like this and hand them over when needed.
Erich's voice lowered a touch.
[Vague answer. Hmph. Doesn't matter. Sounds right enough.]
I gazed up the stairs and smiled quietly.
[Just ask me, and it'd all be solved!]
"Misunderstanding. I like things as they are."
[Stand by while ignored despite big contributions?]
"World's not that easy. Sometimes better to hide good deeds. Especially without power to protect yourself."