A Late Learner?
A Late Learner?
The Reverse Side rampage was a catastrophe too great to be called a mere incident.
A Demon Realm nearly formed right next to the European region.
The era of peace the public so fervently celebrated had almost collapsed in an instant.
Even for a disaster of this scale, it took some time for the public to learn of it.
That was because of the Association's massive information control.
They might have permitted reporting on an ordinary incident, but this time the scale was completely different.
The mere trickle of leaked information was enough to trigger deep despair.
It was a matter that could throw those who hadn't forgotten the memories of the Chaos Period into convulsions.
It would be no laughing matter if public panic broke out while the Reverse Side rampage was being successfully held back.
- 'Regarding this matter, we ask for your strict silence until the report...' You know they say talking will get you killed?
- So what? If you don't wanna die, keep your mouth shut. They say if you don't behave, they'll execute you. Better start by shutting those kids up.
The information had already spread among those in the know, but there was no blatant reporting because a request for silence had been issued.
Enforcing silence was simple.
The Association just had to cut the network where information spread and handle it directly.
No faction wanted to antagonize the Association, which might soon see its presidents return.
About two weeks had passed since the Reverse Side began its rampage.
[Quietly Waged War: 'European Russian Region' Disaster Breaks Out]
[Association 'Struggle for World Order and Peace': Support Forces Suppressing Catastrophe and the Reverse Side]
[First Disaster Declaration in 40 Years. 'An Omen of Chaos?']
...
[Real-time Trending Keywords]
[#1ReverseSide]
[#2Catastrophe]
[#3DemonRealm]
[#4EuropeanRussianRegion]
[#5AssociationGeneralMobilizationOrder]
As the information control was lifted, the world was greatly shaken.
The topic of the Reverse Side surfaced in all kinds of conversations, blurring the lines between reality and the virtual space.
In a lodging at the very rear of the defense line, Daera lay sprawled on a bed, idly browsing the internet. 'What a mess,' she thought.
.
.
.
Daera, having miraculously survived, remained on the battlefield.
To be precise, it's more accurate to say she stayed by Atra's side.
'I did return like a miracle, but there's no home to go back to, y'know.'
Daera's family died in an accident when she was young, and her house was swept away in the same accident.
Left alone, Daera was almost sent to an orphanage, but she awakened just in time and entered an academy.
After that, she spent her academy days living in the dormitory.
However, Daera was caught in a dungeon outbreak and went missing.
As time passed, she was declared dead after her disappearance, and Daera's affiliation with the academy was terminated.
She couldn't return to the academy now.
Thus, for Daera, who had no connections whatsoever, Atra's side was the most comfortable place.
She could have followed Lee Ha-yul, but she chose to remain.
That was because Daera's ability proved very useful on a battlefield teeming with monsters.
'If I add some subjugation merits here, I can pocket a nice bit of income, too.'
She had her own calculated thoughts as well.
By contributing to the subjugation efforts, she could earn a reward.
Looking into it, the war situation seemed extremely favorable, and Atra was right beside her to verify her identity.
For Daera, who had just returned from being missing and had nothing to her name, there was no better chance for a fresh start.
'My teacher will help me with all her might...'
But wouldn't it be shameless to just have my hand out all the time? Even if I am her disciple, I should try what I can do on my own.
That was what she thought, but...
Lying flat on the bed and scratching her stomach, Daera suddenly glanced around.
The lodging set up at the very rear of the defense line. This was the facility assigned to Daera.
But it was dazzling. It didn't mean actual gold ornaments were embedded, but it meant the facility was that good.
"Mmm..."
Daera's expression grew complicated. She let out a deep sigh and stared at her own hand.
Crackle! A small spark flew from her hand.
The unique ability she manifested after falling into the Reverse Side.
The name she spontaneously coined for it was 'Heavenly Thunder'.
Just like its intuitive name, it was an attribute-type unique ability that controlled lightning.
The type itself was common.
But there was a huge differentiating factor between ordinary lightning-attribute abilities and Daera's.
'Output.'
Incredible output.
Even monsters far superior in rank died, sizzled by the Heavenly Thunder.
It was the primary reason Daera had survived in the Reverse Side.
'But I didn't know it would be this strong.'
Daera, who had recently seen action on the battlefield, wore a peculiar expression.
She hadn't done much at all.
While defensive installations, Golems, and undead held off the monsters, she would kill them from a distance.
That alone was enough.
Just blasting lightning bolts into the monster horde was enough to perform a major role.
Not only the people on standby around her, but even Daera herself, who was casting the lightning, was left slack-jawed.
'Why is this so strong?'
She knew its output was high, but after cutting loose with it, it was more powerful than she had ever imagined.
Ordinary monsters died the moment they were touched, leaving no trace. Even monsters beyond the ordinary were fatally affected by the Heavenly Thunder.
She hadn't known in the Reverse Side because there was nothing to compare it to.
It was also a fact she hadn't realized because she couldn't accurately measure monster ranks.
'...Then...'
- Ring! Authentication complete.
"Ah."
The front door opened by itself in the distance.
But Daera didn't flinch. She simply lazily wiggled her legs and called out a greeting.
"Welcome back~"
It was because the person who opened the door and entered was Atra.
Although they had been assigned separate lodgings, Atra was staying in the same facility as Daera.
"...Haa..."
However, instead of returning the greeting, Atra unconsciously let out a sigh. She pressed her fingers to her forehead and looked around.
A dazzling room... littered with all sorts of trash.
Empty snack bags, the remnants of lunchboxes, drink bottles...
It had turned into a garbage dump in the short time Atra was away.
"Daera, what on earth is all this..."
"Mmm... I was gonna clean it up a little later."
At Atra's deep sigh, Daera flinched.
She even turned her head away slightly to avoid Atra's gaze as it swept the room.
"...Fine. Finish eating and clean it up quickly."
"Nng..."
Atra nearly let out another sigh but swallowed it down.
It had been like this since the old days. Atra could never easily bring herself to give Daera a harsh scolding.
The situation was also special right now.
Atra glanced over the snack bags scattered on the floor.
There were so many of them. Even accounting for a superhuman's large appetite, it was an excessive amount.
'She said she could only eat things like monsters in there...'
She must have hungered for proper food. Thinking that, Atra simply couldn't bring herself to speak harshly.
"Um... So, is the meeting all finished?"
Daera, gauging the mood with her mouth full of snacks, asked.
Atra stared at Daera with a peculiar expression and nodded.
"Yes, I came straight after it ended."
"Was there any important news?"
"No, it was just that the rampage is starting to show signs of stopping, and the whole meeting was about preparations for the return and recovery once it ends."
"Oh, finally..."
At the mention of returning, Daera's eyes sparkled.
No matter how favorable the war situation was, this was a battlefield where slaughter was taking place. Everyone must have been hoping to go home quickly and rest comfortably.
"Come to think of it, I kind of felt it was ending since high-ranking monsters stopped showing up too."
Just as Daera said, the signs that the rampage was slowly ending were obvious.
The spatial erosion was receding, and the surging monsters had noticeably decreased.
Most of all, the number of high-ranking monsters had dropped sharply.
Atra, who was temporarily assigned to the strike force, had recently run out of things to do, which was why she was just attending meetings and spending time with Daera like this.
"......"
"Nnom nyom nyom..."
Daera, lying prone on the bed, was inhaling snacks without a moment's rest.
Atra, who had been staring down at her, sat on the edge of the bed and reached out a hand to stroke Daera's hair.
Daera's munching mouth halted abruptly.
"...Gulp. Master, your hair-stroking skill has improved a ton."
"Don't be silly."
"Silly, huh. Didn't this all develop from stroking your junior disciples?"
This time, Atra's touch stopped sharply.
"Heh heh, didn't you say you taught your juniors from the basics, Master? How much petting and caring must you have done for it to improve this much? Huh?"
"...Teasing your teacher now."
It was only upon hearing her little snicker that Atra smiled in return and resumed moving her hand.
"Have you thought about what you want to do next?"
"...Not really."
"You haven't?"
Feeling the hand stroking her head, Daera pressed her face firmly into the pillow.
What to do next.
She had thought about it a lot during this time, but nothing appealed to her.
Her options had broadened because her unique ability was better than she thought, which also played a part.
With more options came more thoughts, and accordingly, choosing wasn't easy.
"Then, how about coming to Siyoram?"
"Pardon?"
Thus, Atra's suggestion was unexpected.
As Daera sharply raised her head, Atra calmly continued.
"Considering the time that passed while you were missing, it is a little late, but it's not impossible for you to enroll."
"Huh...? Didn't I miss the regular admission period and age limit?"
"The recommended admission route remains."
"Recommendation? From who... Ah."
Daera's eyes widened. Atra nodded in response.
"I still hold the title of professor, for what it's worth. With my recommendation, you can take the entrance exam, and if that's not enough, I can also ask Liana for a recommendation."
"...Siyoram?"
Daera blinked blankly.
Siyoram.
A place she had taken the exam for before graduating from her secondary academy but failed.
She hadn't had great expectations, so she wasn't too bothered by failing.
Could she enter such a place, now, at this point?
"Of course, a separate screening will be necessary... but if it's you, you'll certainly pass."
Atra, who gently stroked Daera's hair, asked.
"What do you think? Are you interested?"
"Ah, uh... Since my master is a professor there... and it's Siyoram, after all, I'd be happy to if I can..."
"Is that so?"
Nodding, Atra rose from her spot.
Since she had given her agreement, there was no reason to hesitate.
Actually, though she had asked, Atra wanted Daera to enroll in Siyoram.
Leaving the room, Atra immediately contacted the Vice Headmaster.
'If a recommendation is generally impossible, I can always bring up the debt I'm owed from before.'
The chaotic mana wave disturbance made the connection take time, but it eventually got through.
- Daera is already a recommended admission candidate.
"What? What does that mean?"
- I have already heard about this matter from Lee Ha-yul.
There wasn't a chance to use even ordinary authority, let alone call in a debt.
Atra stood there, her mouth agape.
The action of her disciple, who had grasped her master's heart, had been far quicker.