But Why Is That Sage Staring at Me?

But why was that Sage glaring at me?

Does he know about me?

It'd be weirder if he didn't. If you tally up all the rumors—good and bad—flying around Sky Academy right now, I'd probably come out on top for name recognition.

So as a father, as head of his family, he probably knows all about me.

But those eyes... they weren't the eyes you give some rival or nuisance. They were more like... the eyes you turn on your parents' murderer.

...Did he figure out who I really am?

Nah, no way.

Only a tiny handful know my true identity. Professor Nipella would have kept it under wraps as best he could, and if word had gotten out, things wouldn't have stayed this quiet.

And even if he did know I'm a priest of the War God, would he really look at me like that?

Doesn't add up.

"Mm."

"Eugene. What's wrong?"

Ashy, who'd forfeited and was basically being dragged off(?), noticed my reaction and spoke up.

"Gimme a sec. We'll talk later."

"Got it! I'll wash up all pretty like a blushing bride and wait for you!"

"Please don't."

"Aww, c'mon. You worried about what people might say? It's my taste, so it's fine!"

"This is getting too steamy for public viewing. You, come with me."

"Ack! Wait a—"

Ashy got hauled off unceremoniously, and Yahan, who'd watched the whole spectacle, let out a disbelieving snort.

"What the hell are you two doing?"

"Ah, no worries, sir. Just a typical day in the life of a popular guy."

"Go fuck yourself!"

Crackle!

Yahan charged at me, veins bulging on his forehead. I didn't charge back—just pointed at him with one finger.

"Go, Mosikmon!"

"M-Mosikm— What the hell are you doing?!"

Mosik, who'd reflexively lunged in, whipped around at me in utter bewilderment.

"Hey! He's right there!"

"We'll catch up later!"

"Don't get mad, Mosikmon. Win this, and I'll let you land one on me."

"You promised!"

Boom!

Mosik's sword clashed against Yahan's.

I turned back to the stands.

The Sage was gone. I scanned the area just in case, but no sign of him.

Where'd he go?

Something felt off. Real off.

First things first—end this quick. I turned back.

And my eyes went wide at the unbelievable sight.

Thud!

Mosik's massive frame hit the ground. It'd been close, so good luck or whatever—you get the point.

What mattered was where he'd been hit!

"Hah... hah... hah... I... I won."

"You bastard!! How the hell could you?!"

I rushed over and grabbed Mosik. A bit of foam bubbled at the corner of his mouth. Half his eyes rolled back as he mumbled.

"Th-this much... muscles can handle..."

"Shut up! You can't train that!"

If you could train that spot, I'd have done it ages ago!

For now, I poured Divine Power into him in a panic.

Thank god nothing was shattered. But damn, he'd taken a solid hit. At least it'd bruise.

Hold up. Bruises form there too?

Curious, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whatever—skipping that thought.

"Professor!!!"

"Student!! Don't you dare die!!!!"

The medical team and professors came rushing and whisked Mosik away. I glared at Yahan, unable to hide my rage.

"You... you demonic bastard...!"

"Misunderstanding! It was a total accident—"

"Don't bullshit me! How bad did you want to win to throw noble honor out the window and fight dirty like that? Fine! I'll give you a real fight!"

For messing with my Pokémon!

"I said it wasn't—aaargh!"

Smack!

First place was mine, obviously.

"What happened? Why's it so rowdy?"

Adria came over, covered in grime now that her exam was done. I subtly blocked the bystanders' view of her as I answered.

"Mosik took a hit down there and got carted off."

"What?! Is he okay?!"

"Yeah. Gave him emergency treatment. But why are you covered in dirt?"

"Doll battle..."

Doll battle? What the—? Adria rummaged through my pocket wearily, pulled out a pill, and popped it.

"Ahh. Feels alive."

"What's that?"

"Awakening agent. Works great. Downside: you sleep like the dead for days after."

"What does it do?"

"Blasts away fatigue. Boosts mental focus for a bit? Numbs pain too."

Oh.

"Can I have one?"

"This is women-only."

"Why no men's version?"

"It's mainly for girls on that day."

Ah.

I nodded in understanding.

"Guess not then."

"You could, but don't unless it's desperate. Side effects are rough. And the boost isn't huge. If it was, everyone'd be popping 'em."

"Gotcha."

Still pocketed one. You never know when life might throw a curveball.

"Anyway, where's Ashy and Jenella?"

"Dunno. That's why I'm waiting here."

"I'm right here! Went to the bookstore real quick."

Ashy wormed through the crowd. She flashed a bright smile.

"How'd your exam go, Adria?"

"Ugh~ It was brutal!"

Adria naturally hugged Ashy.

Hm, girls do that kind of skinship a lot.

Problem was the stares around us. Plenty of eyes gawking. Some belonged to conspiracy nuts and weirdos.

"Ch-cheating?"

"Say 'cheating' again, and I'll make you a wandering wind today."

"N-no way, the princess and the witch—"

"Keep talking, and I'll turn you into a star in the night sky."

"Harem...!"

"Who just said 'harem'? Step up—I'll fold you like a lawn chair."

My rep's been in the gutter for ages anyway.

Might as well play the delinquent!

Good grades are all that matter, right?

"Hey. Let's bounce. Too many eyes."

"Okay. Oh, Eugene. Come with me a sec. Got something to tell you in private. Adria, head to the dorm first."

"Sure~ I'll be naked and waiting."

"Keep your clothes on."

Do these girls even see me as a guy?

"C'mon, hurry. I know what you're dying to hear."

Ashy led me into an alley.

Once inside, she blocked out all nearby sounds and sights, her smile vanishing.

"The Sage showed up, right?"

"Yeah. He was there."

"Locked eyes with you?"

"Yep. Reaction was weird."

I frowned, recalling the moment.

"Felt like he knew me."

"He does. His greatest 'enemy' is the 'War God.'"

"What?"

"Wasn't planning to tell you yet. Timing's off. But things changed."

Ashy pulled out a book.

An old, tattered tome. Even restoration magic couldn't fix it fully—it'd tear if you flipped wrong.

"What's that?"

"Book on ancient rituals. Found it at the shop where we bought those last ones."

"What is this, some Hogwarts library?"

Ashy ignored me and pulled a sheet from the book.

The paper depicted robed mages surrounding an indecipherable magic circle.

Light danced on Ashy's fingertip.

"Infuse it with mana like this."

I'd never seen that beast before.

But I knew what it was.

Ancient Monster.

So the ancient ritual...

"Forces power from a linked 'Ancient Monster,' strengthens the 'subject' on the circle, then sacrifices them to summon it."

"...Insane."

That shit's real?

If the drawing was accurate, the summoned ancient monster would likely be full-grown.

Not the pup I'd seen—but some unknown horror no one's ever hunted successfully.

"The Sage used this."

"Hold up. So the Sage became the 'sacrifice'? To summon that ancient monster? From what I know, he's been beyond the 'wall' for a while."

"...No idea. I don't know everything. How he even learned to activate the ancient ritual, or craved that power... total mystery."

Ashy sighed deeply. Her shoulders slumped, the usual confidence gone.

"Best ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guess: his power's too immense. Even with shortcuts, he's a legit 8 Circle Mage. Crossing the 'wall' gave him true enlightenment and qualification. But the cost... he's losing reason and intellect bit by bit."

"...Explains the eyes."

Those mad, feral eyes glaring at me.

No way eyes like that belonged to a 'Sage.'

One question nagged. Ashy hadn't mentioned this before.

Why?

She said bookstore trip, but this was to show me with her eyes. She'd known already. So why hold back?

"Why tell me now?"

"...My bad call."

Ashy sighed again.

"Never dreamed he'd push his kid over the 'line' too."

"His kid too?"

"Yeah. Bulria Arishion—he's powered up a stage via the ancient ritual. Profs don't know about it, so they can't question his sudden strength. His family'll stay mum too."

"..."

If an ancient monster appeared at the academy? The island crashes. And everyone inside dies.

All of them.

Me, Ashy, the profs—we might survive. But the other students? My friends?

Dead. All dead.

I have to stop it.

No way I'm losing my first real friends. Protect the hero candidates? Screw that—my friends come first.

"Let's stop it now."

"Not yet."

Ashy grabbed my hand calmly.

"You and I can't take the Sage guarding Bulria yet."

"War God's his enemy, right? I'm perfect matchup."

"Eugene. Matchup doesn't matter if the level gap's overwhelming."

Her eyes sank deep like the ocean.

"Think an 8 Circle Mage's a joke? Even another duke needs 'God's Blessing' for a sure edge. Right now, with the 'Sword Saint' missing and your predecessor gone, he's near the top."

I gritted my teeth. To fight the Sage, to kill Bulria—I had to surpass him.

The Sage would protect Bulria at all costs. He's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already cornered.

Family rep in freefall, nobles biting at his heels. If the ancient ritual truth leaked?

"All we can do is prepare for any 'berserk' outbreak."

"...I'll ask Arcana directly. There has to be another way—"

I whipped around. Something thundered down the alley.

—Master! Master! Hurry, hurry...!

Eodukshini was a mess—no playfulness, no whining. Even the holy water I'd entrusted was gone.

Dread hit hard. I scooped Eodukshini onto my shoulder and bolted.

Shoving through the crowd, I spotted Jenella being rushed to the ER.

"Out of the way! Patient!"

"Move it, all of you!"

"!"

I stared blankly as they wheeled her by. Her body was covered in burns. Skin that'd been flawless hours ago was ruined.

Clothes? Burned to nothing—just a sheet draped over her.

"Holy water, now! Don't stop the healing spells!"

"Teacher! It's not enough! To fix these scars, we'd need cardinal-level..."

"Damn it! Call 'em! Hey! Bring every holy water vial you've got!"

"Why isn't the healing sticking...!"

Doctors piled on with divine spells. But the scars and weird smell lingered.

After minutes of pouring in power, several collapsed.

"Teacher!!"

Jenella's scars wouldn't fade. No way they could babysit one patient all day.

Scars for life, but she'd live.

Shrrk!

A white sheet covered her.

"..."

My hand instinctively reached into my pocket. Found nothing. Dropped it.

Nothing violence hadn't solved till now.

But now? Violence? Against who? The one who scarred her? Then what about those scars?

"No time! We need to call—"

"Damn it. Contact the cardinals! Principal too!"

"Why didn't the safety wards trigger...!"

I pushed past. Flung the sheet aside, approached Jenella.

Her eyes closed, like she was dead.

I spoke to her.

"Jenella."

My chest boiled. Something surged from my gut toward my mouth.

I'd said it a million times: no friends in my past life. A few close ones since reincarnating here.

Seeing one like this—brain numb. Chest burning hot.

"Who did this to you?"