Certified by a Unicorn... (2)
Certified by a Unicorn... (2)
I managed to get out of bed, though a little later than planned.
Setting the alarm with plenty of leeway meant there was no problem. I had left that margin precisely for these minor contingencies.
That wasn't what shocked me.
'I've been... overtaken...'
The data I was observing was too accurate to ignore... yet I'd stubbornly tried to dismiss it.
But when Seo-yul physically weighed me down, it became impossible to ignore.
I never imagined Seo-yul would end up bigger than me.
It echoed in my head like a blow from a blunt weapon. It was a reality too difficult to accept.
Even with the excuse that my own body is in a strange state... the shock wouldn't subside.
And I never thought I'd have my hair grabbed and be dragged around and tossed aside by a child who calls me her parent.
I really never thought I'd suffer at the hands of my so-called parents, and then face something similar from my own child...
Of course, Seo-yul's case was entirely different.
It was unconscious behavior while half-asleep, so I wasn't hurt or offended.
[Seo-yul]
[You shouldn't pull other people's hair without permission]
Instead, I gently reminded her not to do it again.
I didn't scold her harshly.
Worried she might be frightened by the incident and let that fear dig deep into her memories, I stayed beside her, murmuring softly... coaxing her in a gentle atmosphere.
I did have one worry: that by being too soft on her, she might just gloss over it...
Seo-yul is a truly good child, but there's always that 'what if.'
My worries proved completely unfounded.
Realizing her mistake, Seo-yul became crestfallen and begged for forgiveness.
She was so dejected that even her wings drooped limply.
The sight of Seo-yul apologizing with tears welling in her eyes made my heart tighten with emotion.
'Seo-yul is so kind...'
I had faith in her, but a part of me worried about what to do if she threw a tantrum.
I consistently read parenting books, but disciplining a young child still filled me with zero confidence.
Was it even right to educate a fairy child by human standards?
But as if to swallow up my concern, here she was, immediately admitting her fault and apologizing, so upright!
Her clear and articulate words were surprising enough, but to see her realize her mistake and apologize right away...!
Overcome with a surge of emotion, I trembled.
[It's okay, Seo-yul didn't do it on purpose]
[What matters is not repeating the mistake]
[And you apologized right away. You are very kind]
Unable to hold back my feelings, I pulled Seo-yul into a tight hug.
After a sharp lesson, it's only right to follow up with some comfort.
I'm not sure it was all that sharp, but since Seo-yul recognized her mistake and apologized, I gave her a reward.
With that thought, I moved to hold her—
—Squeeze...
The distinct, warm heat of a baby's body came through vividly.
As if her earlier dejection was a lie, Seo-yul smiled like a sunflower and pressed her body tightly against mine.
...So, I was holding her, holding her...
"Mmm... thank you. I like you, Papa..."
Her arms wrapped around my back, and Seo-yul's soft, warm cheek rubbed against mine.
The motion was from top to bottom.
'......'
...I was the one being held...
It was a truly miserable feeling. My body went limp. Oblivious to my state of mind, Seo-yul simply grinned brightly and kept rubbing her cheek against mine.
Seo-yul's wings, which had been drooping, now shone brightly and fluttered, tangling with the Sky Wing Feather hovering behind me.
The Sky Wing Feather drooped limply...
After a rushed breakfast, I left the dormitory.
"I shall devote myself to her care, so please go with peace of mind."
As I laced my shoes at the front door, Eriel came out to see me off.
Dressed in an apron dress modified for modern convenience, Eriel maintained her usual expressionless face and thumped her chest affirmatively.
Eriel Tridan.
She was Hong Yeon-hwa's guard and attendant, but under Hong Yeon-hwa's orders, she now looked after Lee Seo-yul whenever my studies took me away.
[I apologize for the trouble]
[I leave her in your care]
"Yes, just leave her to me, young master."
Though she appeared to be a figure full of unique qualities, she was once a highly celebrated top-tier hunter, so there was nothing to worry about in terms of safety.
Not that it mattered; the moment I sensed any trouble with Seo-yul, I'd be there instantly using Spatial Leap.
[Seo-yul]
"Yesh..."
Beside Eriel, Seo-yul stood tall on her own two legs.
Now fluent in speech and capable of running around, Seo-yul answered, her lips poked out in a pout.
Even at a glance, it was clear she was sulking.
"I'm lonely... Please come back quickly."
'Kh-hk...'
The words that slipped from those pouting lips dealt a devastating blow to my guilt. I felt my body might crumble...
.
.
.
Most regular lectures took place in the heart of Siyoram, but this one was set on the outskirts.
The outskirts of Siyoram mainly contained empty spaces, dungeons, and monster breeding grounds.
Since the 'Monster Taming and Response' course required those, we headed to the outskirts.
Though it was an outer district far from the center, the bus lines extended all the way here.
Thanks to that, I'd arrived comfortably via autonomous bus.
The bus stopped, and passengers swarmed out. I joined the crowd and disembarked.
'There are a lot of cadets from other classes too.'
A quick scan of the gazes clinging to me from all sides confirmed a good mix from various classes.
I nodded, taking in the unfamiliar faces from classes other than my own, the Ipchun Class.
While the cadets of my class had probably become somewhat used to me, to the others, this must be a strikingly novel sight.
So I understood those curious stares.
Starting from the second semester, these cross-class interactions would increase.
That wasn't the only unusual thing.
'There are different grades mixing, too.'
The ornamentation on the freshman cadet uniforms is generally green. The necktie is the prime example.
But I also spotted red neckties here and there—those were the second-years, corresponding to the summer division.
I rarely ran into second-years compared to first-years.
While many had glimpsed me while wandering the grounds, there were also plenty seeing me for the first time.
Monster Taming and Response was a subject open to all grades.
Some subjects were grade-restricted, but others were not.
'If I'm lucky, I might even run into Senior Lee Ji-yeon.'
Of course, it would take luck. It's easier to just assume I won't run into her.
- Is that the Special Admission Cadet...?
- He looks completely different from what I imagined. Just an absolute baby...
- Did he come for Monster Taming?
- Might be here to learn the response part.
- He really does go around with his eyes closed... he senses all this through detection?
The murmuring was vividly clear. My ears tickled.
Just as I raised my hand to scratch my ear, a pure white hand tapped it.
"Such a celebrity. Look at everyone whispering around you."
It was Baek A-rin, who had joined us midway and arrived with us.
Baek A-rin giggled and gently scratched my ear.
[Don't tease meeeee...]
It was exactly the spot I'd been about to rub. I don't know how she knew, but her cool fingers scratching precisely the itchy spot made me shiver.
"What are you doing? Don't do weird things to Ha-yul!"
"It's not weird, I was just scratching an itch..."
"Move! I'll do it!"
"Ugh, that pointless jealousy is seriously... Ack! No violence!"
.
.
.
We entered the building and found the designated lecture hall.
It was on the fifth floor. The layout wasn't much different from the lecture halls we usually went to.
Several cadets had already arrived. We scanned the room and took empty seats where our whole group could sit together.
...Since the height wasn't right, I laid my Sky Wing Feather down like a cushion and sat on it.
It was soft and fluffy, perfect for sitting on.
Once I was settled, Hong Yeon-hwa swiftly claimed the seat to my left, and Ellia took the right.
Baek A-rin blinked dazedly. After rolling her eyes briefly, she poked Hong Yeon-hwa's shoulder.
"...Yeon-hwa, I want to sit next to Ha-yul this time."
"Stop talking nonsense. Don't get any ideas, and just sit next to me."
"Are you really discriminating like this? Ellia... can't you switch seats with me?"
"Ahaha. No."
"So firm... Miss Hong, this'll come back as bad karma. Remember that."
"Screw karma. I'll just burn it all away~"
Hong Yeon-hwa snorted. Having already passed the Trial of Calamity Flame, she shrugged confidently.
Baek A-rin grumbled and sat down.
After chatting idly for a moment, the lecture hall door opened and the professor walked in.
"Ah, sorry I'm late. I'm Professor Alida Bali, in charge of Monster Taming and Response."
She was a woman with a short bob and round glasses.
I didn't detect much of a fighting aura. Her internal mana reserves weren't vast either, and her body wasn't particularly developed. She seemed to be what you'd call a research-oriented professor.
The woman in the white coat—Professor Alida—bowed her head as soon as she reached the podium.
"I'm sorry for the hassle, but could everyone please follow me outside? I'll deliver the course overview outdoors."
- Clatter
The cadets, a bit puzzled, rose from their seats.
Watching the cadets file out in an orderly fashion under the professor's guidance, Baek A-rin turned to Hong Yeon-hwa.
Her lips twitched as she asked.
"...Well, that's karma. Wanna try burning it?"
"Sh... Shut up. Nothing's changed, you know?"
Our group got up as well.
Unfazed, I lifted myself into the air with the wind.
I'd already taken this subject in the original story. Even if things diverged, I'd already perceived through my detection that they were bustling around preparing something outside.
'Are they showing off a special entity?'
This session was merely a general overview, not the actual course content.
Since students who lost interest here might drop out in droves, they'd show something special and exciting.
In the original, the monster they showed changed each time...
I discreetly heightened my Qi Sense and analyzed the mana being transmitted from afar.
It would be easily distinguishable with Observation, but that kind of unique mana was noticeable even from a distance.
'I hope they show a unicorn.'
That pure, white, clear energy was palpable even from far away.
I could sense the unicorn's mana, conspicuously distinct.
I inwardly hoped the professor would present the unicorn.
After wasting that bicorn's horn last time, I'd been speculating that since their mana properties were somewhat similar, their compatibility with mine might be good...
I'd already collected plenty of data through Observation, but maybe something would feel different if I faced it up close.
Of course, actual contact would probably be impossible. That monster absolutely loathes being touched by any outside entity.
If I tried to touch it recklessly... I might just end up skewered to death by its horn, which is practically a spear.
Still, just being able to perceive it right in front of me would be enough.
Hovering in the air, I followed the professor's guidance and went outside.
- Wooooong...!
'?'
Just then.
The aura of the pure white unicorn, far off in the distance, trembled as if struck by an earthquake.
The reverberation was as if it had been startled and reared back in shock, making me flinch.
'Why is it acting like that? I didn't even do anything.'
I tilted my head at the sudden anomaly.