If It Hurts, Eat Meat
“Having too much talent is a problem in itself…”
It was a truly infuriating thing to hear, but I had to agree. It wasn’t that I couldn’t learn because I lacked talent. It was that I couldn’t learn because I had far too much of it. Should I be happy about this? I stared down at my two hands with a serious expression.
Thanks to my master’s consideration, I had taken a few hits from lightning clubs imbued with various attributes. As a result, I was able to learn, albeit faintly, the characteristics of each attribute and their combination ratios.
‘Couldn’t it have been just moderate?! Why is everything so ridiculously high?!’
Even trying to contain just one attribute was impossible because the repulsion from the others was too fierce.
—Normally you wouldn’t learn this until much later, but given your current state, this is appropriate.
‘I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s getting resolved, right? I can believe that, right, Master?’
When I looked at Cheonhwa Yuseol with earnest eyes, she gently patted my head as if to say, “Don’t worry.”
—That’s enough for today. Let’s head back.
“Huh? Didn’t you find the solution?”
—I did find it, but it seems like it needs a bit more refinement. I’ll tell you tomorrow, so get some rest for now.
“Then I’ll use simulation mode…”
—No matter how much the Heavenly Demon Divine Art improves your physical condition, your mental state is a different story. Go rest already. You’re not thinking of disobeying your master, are you?
Her sharply honed gaze made me lie back down on the floor just as I was about to get up. Yes. I’ll rest.
“Then I’ll be leaving this place.”
—Good. Hurry back and sleep.
The way to leave the soul’s sanctuary was simple. I just had to strongly will myself to exit. Or I could verbally declare my intention to leave.
“I’m leaving this place.”
The space began to slowly collapse in response to my words. Even as the space crumbled around her, Cheonhwa Yuseol was still pondering how to teach me. I took in that sight before opening my eyes back in my dorm room.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The familiar sound of a clock reached my ears. I quickly checked the time on my watch. It was currently 4 AM. Classes started at 9, so considering time to wake up, wash, prepare, and get to class, I needed to be up by 8:20 at the latest. That meant I had about four hours and twenty minutes left to sleep.
‘That should be plenty.’
No problem at all. With that thought, I closed my eyes again, determined to get proper sleep this time.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
‘…What the?’
I couldn’t fall asleep. Was it because the intense fight had happened too recently? This was a bit troublesome. If too much time passed, it would be better not to sleep at all. Still, I decided to keep my eyes closed a little longer. Maybe something would happen if I stayed still.
Tick. Tick. Ti…
‘……’
…ck. Tick. Tick.
‘…What the hell. Why can’t I sleep?’
No matter how long I lay there, sleep wouldn’t come. In the end, I gave up on trying and sat up.
‘Can’t be helped. Sorry, Master, but I’m giving up on sleep today… Huh?’
What was this? Why was light reflecting off the curtains covering the window? I carefully reached out to pull them aside.
Whoosh.
“What the…?”
Why had it suddenly become morning? Wasn’t it still supposed to be dawn? The situation was so absurd I wondered if I was hallucinating and pinched my cheek. A stinging pain hit me, along with a sudden wave of inexplicable anxiety.
“W-what time is it right now?”
I hurriedly activated the watch on my wrist. The time that appeared before me was…
Current Time: 10:00:23 AM
Class started at 9. I was supposed to wake up at 8:20. And now it was 10.
“Wow. I’m screwed.”
I was properly, completely screwed.
“……”
“……”
“How amusing.”
I flinched. At Garein’s words, my body instinctively shrank. But I wasn’t the only one. The person next to me had also been late, and that person was none other than this world’s protagonist, Mir.
“Late on the first day, and late again the next.”
Flinch.
“Mir.”
“Y-yes!”
“Have you nothing to say for yourself?”
“I’m sorry!!”
Thanks to Mir being late two days in a row, I thought I might be able to slip by unnoticed…
“Zeon, what exactly are you smiling about?”
“I’m sorry!!”
“Both of you, go stand in the back and listen to the lesson. If I see you doing anything else back there or not paying attention…”
Gulp.
Mir and I swallowed at the same time, waiting for Garein’s next words. Then, with his characteristic expression, a low, heavy voice like the grim reaper’s verdict pierced our ears.
“You’d best look forward to it.”
“I’ll focus with everything I’ve got!”
“B-best class ever!”
And so Garein banished us to the back. The other students either laughed at us like it was funny or sent us pitying looks as if we were pathetic.
“Everyone, focus. In today’s lesson we will be…”
—So that Garein fellow is the one teaching the students here.
Cheonhwa Yuseol watched Garein, who was commanding the students’ attention as he conducted the class, and asked the question. If anyone wondered how she could be here when I didn’t have my dedicated weapon, it was because registering a weapon with the watch allowed it to be stored in the subspace imprinted on the device. Most people kept their weapons stored normally and pulled them out from the watch when needed. Though, considering the state of the dedicated weapon I’d obtained, I probably wouldn’t be pulling anything out of my watch anytime soon.
—That Garein brat. He’s been giving off a faint wariness toward you along with his weapon since earlier.
“Huh?”
What did that mean? Not just anyone, but Garein was wary of me? And if it was his dedicated weapon, then maybe… was she talking about the girl floating above him?
“……?”
When I unconsciously responded to Cheonhwa Yuseol’s words, Mir tilted her head beside me. Oops. I had to be careful.
—It must be hard for you to answer, so just listen.
Understanding my situation, Cheonhwa Yuseol simply told me to listen and continued her explanation.
—At first I wasn’t sure, but it’s clear now. That Garein fellow is subtly keeping his guard up and paying attention to you while teaching. He’s even a little worried.
…Why on earth would Garein…
—He doesn’t seem to hold any hostility, but it’s still strange. Why is he so concerned about you? Do you know him from before?
I shook my head.
—Then I’ll just ask him directly.
Cheonhwa Yuseol moved as far away from me as possible and approached Garein.
—Hiiik?!
—Now, answer quickly. Why is this man paying so much attention to my disciple?
Cheonhwa Yuseol grabbed the girl floating above Garein and lifted her up. Her face had turned blue with fear, which somehow stimulated my protective instincts.
—Answer me at once.
—I-I don’t know either! That gorilla watched the entrance ceremony video and suddenly started acting like this!
—You don’t even know a single reason? Useless thing.
“Zeon. Question. What did I say you should do when facing the monster in the photo, the Blue Flame Lion?”
I’d been so focused on the conversation between Cheonhwa Yuseol and the girl that I’d missed a moment of Garein’s lesson. And of course, Garein noticed it like a ghost. Several gazes turned toward me at his question.
‘Hmm……’
First, I should quickly check the photo that had been put up for the lesson. A lion with blue fur wreathed in flames. In the game, it was a monster I used to hunt around level 21.
“The Blue Flame Lion is a monster that manipulates fire, but it also has resistance to water. Therefore, when attacking with magic, you must use attributes other than water or fire. When fighting it with weapons, the flames around its tail cause mild hallucinations, so you must avoid getting too close, aim primarily for the head, and engage it that way.”
“Correct. It seemed like you weren’t paying attention, but I guess that was my mistake.”
His ability to read the room was terrifyingly sharp. After confirming through my answer that I was listening properly, Garein continued with the lesson.
Ding di-ding ding~.
“Mm, that will be all for today’s lesson. Everyone, enjoy your lunch.”
After that, the class ended without any further incidents, and it was time for lunch. For lunch, you could either eat at the cafeteria the academy provided or choose from the various shops nearby.
“Let’s try the cafeteria first.”
The moment I turned to head toward the cafeteria—
“That guy is…”
Far off in the distance, I spotted a familiar figure. That small, frail frame and the hunched-over posture that looked like it was scared of everything. I quickly picked up my pace, overtook him, and blocked his path.
“Hey.”
“Hiiik! Y-you’re…”
The very kind friend who had sat next to me at the entrance ceremony and even lent me his sword. And the suspicious guy whose soul seemed to contain another personality or something. He must have been happy to see me too, because his face turned deathly pale and his whole body began trembling with “joy.”
—No, no matter how you look at it, that’s clearly fear…
“Where were you headed?”
“I-I was going to the cafeteria to eat.”
“Really? Me too! Want to eat together?”
“U-uhhh?!”
That was a yes, right?!
“I’ll treat you! Is there anything you want to eat?”
“N-no. I’m fine with anything… And you really don’t have to buy me…”
“Alright, let’s go!”
“U-ueeeeek!”
The cafeteria was crowded, so you had to get there quickly, order, and secure seats. That’s why I hoisted my friend onto my back like a sack of rice and sprinted toward the cafeteria.
“You there! Don’t run so excessively! Even if you run, make sure you don’t inconvenience other students!”
“Ah, sorry!”
“Uuuuugh…”
I must have sped up too much midway, because a passing professor stopped me, but I managed to slip away quickly. It was probably because it was still early in the semester and everyone was being lenient. After overcoming that crisis and arriving at the cafeteria, we quickly placed our orders.
“I-I don’t think I can eat.”
“Why all of a sudden?!”
“My stomach feels queasy…”
His face looked even worse than before, as if he really was feeling sick. Oh no. Was it because I ran too fast? This was my mistake. I should have been more considerate and run at a pace that accounted for him too.
—My disciple.
At that moment, Cheonhwa Yuseol, who had been quiet until now, spoke to me. Of course, with so many people around, I couldn’t answer out loud.
—Because of your brief action, your friend has ended up like this.
She scolded me for my behavior. Yeah, this was definitely my fault.
—So hurry up and feed him some delicious meat. Seeing how drained he looks, you’ll need to give him at least three portions.
Was that how it worked? I wasn’t entirely sure, but since it was something my master said, I nodded.
—Hah, look at him pecking at his food like that. My disciple, quickly feed that frail child!
Yes, Master!
“J-just kill me.”
—He says it’s so delicious he could die! Feed him more!
As expected… Cheonhwa Yuseol was truly magnificent.