But I'm Perfectly Fine

After filling in the basic info on the form just right, the first thing they had me do was a mana measurement. My heart was pounding for some reason.

'A situation straight out of a novel is happening to me too.'

"Alright, let me help you with the basic measurement first."

The receptionist stood up from her desk and turned toward the hallway beside us. Suhyun turned to me with the gentlest voice.

"Lea, no need to be scared. Just think of the mana measurement like a regular health checkup."

"Nah, I'm not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scared."

I muttered softly in protest, and Suhyun's face went blank for a second, like she'd lost her words. What? Did I say something wrong?

Anyway, I followed Suhyun and the university president down the hallway. The walls were stark white and glossy, and the floor was so clean that my footsteps echoed with every step. It felt like a hospital mixed with a lab— that creepy kind of sterile cleanliness.

'...I wanna go home.'

Just walking through a place like this made me feel tired.

"Right here."

We arrived at a small exam room with glass walls that let us see everything inside. There was a single chair, and in front of it, a round pedestal-like machine. The center had a concave spot perfect for placing your palm, and above it floated a translucent screen.

"..."

The moment I saw that machine, my instincts screamed.

'This thing's definitely dangerous.'

I couldn't explain why, but it just looked risky. You know those scenes in comics or manga? Where someone touches a power-measuring device, and it explodes, or the crystal shatters, or a storm erupts around it? Yeah, it gave off exactly that vibe.

"Lea, please have a seat here."

The woman in the white coat smiled softly and pointed to the chair.

"...Just put my hand on it?"

"Yes. Just relax. We're only reading your natural mana circulation."

'...Natural circulation?'

The second I heard that term, a cold sweat ran down my spine.

'If I measure it like this, something bad's gonna happen for sure!'

No matter how I thought about it, yeah. God said I have his power and I'm stronger than any awakener on Earth. If I just slap my hand down without thinking and the machine screams and explodes? Not only would Suhyun freak out, but the president too. And before that, I'd be the one in deep trouble. Major hassle.

"What's wrong?"

Suhyun asked cautiously as I glared at the machine, frozen in place.

"Uh, nothing. Just..."

"Scared?"

"...A little."

A little? Try a lot. Suhyun patted my shoulder with a pitying look.

"It's okay. It doesn't hurt."

No, that's not the issue! Of course it won't hurt. That's not what I'm scared of!!!

"Lea?"

The coated staff called again, and I finally sat down with a resigned expression.

'...Fine. Then I'll just fake it.'

If I couldn't skip the measurement, I'd make the results look weird enough.

'As long as it doesn't come out insanely strong, right?'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

With that in mind, right before placing my hand, I looked inside myself. It wasn't super clear, but faintly visible: a familiar, massive flow of light. The enormous mana coursing through my body like a river.

'With this much mana, what number would it show?'

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I'd skimmed an S-rank benchmark before out of boredom—over 15,000 mana. As the world's strongest per God's word...

'Around 100,000 maybe?'

Yeah, letting this waterfall of mana flow free would be disastrous.

'Gotta twist it a bit...'

'Make it come out around 30,000. Just right.'

Hiding it completely below S-rank wouldn't make sense. I'm the world's strongest!! So 30,000 is perfect. With that thought, I carefully started twisting the mana inside me. I tangled the smooth, massive river of light on purpose—knotting it, twisting it, letting it clump up.

Twirl. Twirl twirl.

Like forcing a ball of yarn into knots. It might've felt gross normally, but surprisingly, my body handled it fine. Just a slight tickle inside.

"...Putting my hand on now."

The staff nodded, and I slowly placed my palm on the concave pedestal.

Beep—

The machine chimed clearly, and a warm sensation tingled from the translucent bowl. It tickled my palm, making me want to pull away, but I held firm. I was mid-twist on my mana—if I yanked my hand off now, the machine would probably blow. And that'd be a huge pain.

With those silly thoughts, I opened my eyes—and saw numbers popping up on the translucent screen.

Beep—

"Hm."

The staff glanced at her tablet and nodded lightly. Decent level?

Beep—

"Huh?"

A small sound leaked from the staff this time. I pretended not to hear. Still fine. It could fluctuate. High, but not insane.

But then.

"...Hold on."

The staff's face visibly stiffened. The president behind her crossed his arms and glared over. Suhyun had stepped closer to my side.

'Huh?'

Something was off.

'Why's it coming out so high?'

Panicking, I twisted my internal mana harder. No letting it pool, no normal flow. The numbers stalled for a sec, then shot up even steeper.

Screeeeech—!!

A shrill alarm filled the room. The screen flashed blood red. I flinched.

"Wha—what?"

My mumble drew all three staff's gazes at once.

"..."

"..."

Silence. Suffocating silence. Cold sweat dripped down my back. Couldn't tone it down enough? Or is 66,000+ already insane here? Right as I thought they'd yell "Impossible!"...

Ding—

After the alarm, a new window popped up.

"...Precise analysis?"

The coated staff muttered blankly. The machine ignored her and spat out results.

"Wha?"

This time, a dumb sound came from me. Listen to that voice—it's cracking.

The staff's face went pale as she alternated between the screen and me.

"Impossible..."

The president's arms uncrossed. Suhyun crouched right beside me.

"Lea."

"...Yeah?"

"Does anything hurt right now?"

"...Nope?"

My casual reply made Suhyun's face harden more.

"Breathing? Hard to breathe, chest tight?"

"Nah."

"Headache?"

"None."

"Dizzy?"

"No."

"Nauseous, stomach twisting?"

"Not at all..."

The room's mood grew heavier with each answer. Why? Why the serious faces? I'm totally fine!

The coated staff whipped out another tablet and called somewhere frantically.

"Medical office? No, not that—connect to the medical wing. Right now."

"...Huh???"

I half-stood on instinct, but Suhyun grabbed my shoulder.

"Stay put."

"...Why?"

"Might not be safe to move."

What the—why again? Suhyun peered into my face with a low, trembling voice.

"Lea. According to the machine, you sitting here fine is the abnormal part."

"But I am fine."

"That's the problem."

"...Huh?"

What? The president muttered at the screen.

"This level of circulation distortion... normal people couldn't even stay conscious."

Suhyun held my hand lightly and continued.

"Have you ever felt constantly heavy, or tired for no reason, and just shrugged it off?"

She asked in such a grave tone that I actually thought about it.

"Um..."

Not really? Sure, I always wanna flop into bed, but that's just my lazy personality, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right?

"Nope."

"..."

"Oh, but after ramen, I get sleepy sometimes..."

"That's not the point right now!!"

Suhyun rarely raised her voice, then clamped her mouth shut.

"...Sorry."

I was the startled one. Whoa. She can snap too.

The staff, still clutching her tablet, said with trembling lips.

"Professor. This could really be dangerous. Circulation this tangled, and she's living normally? That's the abnormal part."

"I know."

"No, knowing isn't enough..."

The staff looked at me, nearly in tears.

"Student. You're really not struggling?"

"...Yeah."

"Not even a little?"

"Nope."

"...Not lying?"

"Why would I lie about this?"

She shut up. Fair point.

Suhyun bowed her head briefly, then carefully lifted my hand off the machine.

"Registration can wait. Treatment first."

"Huh???"

My eyes went wide, but she was firm.

"No. Can't ignore this."

"But I'm really okay?"

"You're not."

"No, I am totally fine."

"The machine says you're not!"

"Then maybe the machine's busted???"

The staff whipped around to the machine. I'm fine as hell, so obviously machine error. Right?

...It should be...

"...No. Calibrated three hours ago. Equipment issue unlikely."

Damn. Shouldn't have opened my mouth.

Suhyun looked resolved.

"Lea. Medical wing first."

Medical wing... hospital?

"I hate hospitals."

I said it pretty firmly too. They'd do scans and tests, and I couldn't go home. Why bother?

"Not a hospital. Just checks..."

"That's a hospital."

"Management Bureau medical wing."

"Even worse?"

The president sighed shortly behind us.

"Professor Kim."

"Yes."

"Delay registration. Medical exam first."

"That's the plan."

Watching them converse so naturally, I felt truly wronged. Why doesn't anyone believe me? I'm seriously fine. For real.