Rest
Rest
Of my unique abilities, Spatial Perception is the one that can more or less be classified as active.
All-Rounder hasn't yet formed an expansion ability in the Technique category, and Mana Affinity simply gives me affinity with mana.
The other two are simply always-on passive unique abilities.
Spatial Perception is passive by nature too, but at least I can control it—that much makes it similar to an active.
On the first day, I couldn't control it, and it nearly killed me.
My brain couldn't handle the flood of information pouring in through an unchecked Spatial Perception; my head nearly burst open.
I didn't know how to sort and bring in information, and I didn't know how to appropriately filter what I took in.
On top of that, my Spatial Perception back then was suspiciously high-performance, so the incoming information was grotesquely abundant.
Even now, recalling that day makes me break out in a cold sweat. If I'd failed to rein it in, I would have died right then and there.
- ......
My thoughts slowed. There was too much information to process. Truly everything imaginable was crammed into my mind.
Processing slowed, so my thinking slowed. As if the world itself was slowing down along with me.
It was dangerous. In that instant, I instinctively controlled my Spatial Perception.
'Contract.'
I seized the Spatial Perception that was expanding on its own and pulled it in. I narrowed the range that had broken past kilometers.
'Sort.'
I set criteria for the information I observed. I blocked out useless data. Space, bodies, mana, magic formulas, the insides of organs and facilities... I blocked out the deep data I didn't need for the moment.
I harmonized the space I was observing.
I folded space and filtered the information entering it.
It was difficult to control. The thing that had been suppressed all this time was rampaging as if in an outbreak. That made the adjustment a struggle.
But I gradually got it under control. I'm not the me from the first day.
I'd handled Spatial Perception so many times since then; my level of proficiency was nothing like before.
I halted the expansion and also segregated the information intake.
My head spun. Information poured in even during the control process—useless information, in excessive amounts.
Then a sharp pop sounded from inside my body.
Suddenly my nose stung. Breathing felt bothersome. When I touched my nose with my hand, vivid red blood came off on my fingers.
'My nose is bleeding.'
On the first day... I don't think I bled, or... did I?
I went blank for a moment. I groped at the memories of that day. The first day, the moment Spatial Perception unfolded...
...How did it go again? My memory of back then was hazy. It was strange, like it was fogged over.
"Finally done... Aaaagh! Ha-yul?!"
I was managing Spatial Perception in a daze when a shriek burst out nearby.
Wondering what it was, I pulled the information from that direction, and there was Hong Yeon-hwa, her face drained of color. Her charming red hair swayed.
It was the first face I'd properly observed in five days. Even though it had only been five days, it felt like ages.
"Why! Why?! What happened!"
Hong Yeon-hwa came rushing over in a panic and examined me. With that dramatic reaction, everyone's eyes converged on us.
I heard murmuring. Mostly perplexed reactions along the lines of, what's wrong with her? I quickly wiped my nose.
All this over a little nosebleed.
Feeling a little put off but also something indescribable, I shook my head as if to say it was nothing.
Right then, an itch rose in one of my eyes. Even though they were closed, I felt it. From inside, I felt something sloshing.
And trickle.
Blood came out of my eye. A streak traced down my cheek.
'Ah?'
"Ah."
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had fetched a tissue from somewhere to wipe my nose, froze mid-motion.
It didn't end there. The other eye started itching too, then blood flowed. Two red lines were drawn.
Hong Yeon-hwa's mouth fell open.
The expression on her face, as if the world had crumbled, was striking.
.
.
.
It was just a brief commotion: the cadets with healing abilities nearby—Ellia, Baek A-rin, and the like—heard the uproar and hurried over, and Hong Yeon-hwa's composure shattered into pieces.
Before long, the first-year professors also came to check on me.
Professor Teonil Arban, the homeroom professor of the Chunbun Class known as a master of composite magic, inspected my face from various angles and gave his diagnosis.
"The cause appears to be excessive use of your ability. You seemed to have an abnormality with your ability during the Trial—is this related?"
- Nod
"Due to a sudden change in your ability, then... I find it curious that the Tower of Growth failed to detect this. Either way, please get some rest. If possible, refrain from using your ability for a while as well."
I nodded along with Professor Teonil's diagnosis.
The other cadets had long since dispersed.
Even though I'd just come out of the Tower of Growth and my physical fatigue and injuries had vanished, the mental exhaustion remained.
Those who'd been hovering around me, fidgeting, were kindly coaxed away by Professor Liana.
"Well then, I think it'd be best if you just got lots of rest this week. Cadet Lee Ha-yul?"
Professor Liana, who had been listening to the diagnosis beside me, let out a heavy sigh.
I gave a nod to show I was listening. Professor Liana continued with a complicated expression.
"We'll talk about the matters from the Trial later. Rest assured, nothing about it has been disclosed."
Those were the words I'd wanted to hear. Relieved, I bobbed my head up and down.
The 3rd Iteration that used Calamity Flame, Azure Sea, and Taesan.
I'd consumed Calamity Flame first, then operated Taesan.
But during the process, my use of Taesan got found out, and the relationship chart ended up getting completely tangled.
Since it had gone that way in the game too, I was a little afraid about this time, but now that I'd gotten Professor Liana's confirmation, I felt somewhat at ease.
Seeing the change in my expression, Professor Liana giggled to herself and reached a hand out. Her gentle touch brushed my hair.
It was the kind of stroking I'd gotten used to. It felt awkward at first, but by now I barely paid it much mind. Honestly, even when it was awkward, it felt nice, so that was why.
"......"
As I was being petted like that, an odd gaze flew my way.
The owner of the gaze was Professor Atra. She was staring at me with a complicated expression.
Professor Atra isn't in charge of the first-years, but she'd been overseeing the Trial alongside me as my major instructor.
I tilted my head at Professor Atra, wondering what it was, and a thought crossed my mind.
'Ah, feedback?'
It was Professor Atra who'd been directly observing me fight for five straight days. Through her eyes, all sorts of points to critique must have piled up in heaps.
I straightened my posture. It was an expression of intent to listen carefully.
Professor Atra fell silent for a moment at my attitude, then opened her mouth.
"... Well..."
'Well?'
Professor Atra fumbled her words, uncharacteristically, and seemed to hesitate. I felt uneasy at that.
'Was it really that much of a mess?'
Considering how my Spatial Perception had turned useless, I thought I'd fought reasonably well.
It's true that compared to movement backed by Spatial Perception, there were plenty of shortcomings in many ways.
If only my Spatial Perception had been intact, I could have earned at least twice the points I'd gotten.
To Professor Atra, who's seen me use nothing but Spatial Perception, did my movement during the Trial look like a complete disaster?
I was sweating internally as I waited for what she would say next.
"... You did well."
At the unexpected answer, my mouth fell open dumbly.
"The issues with your detection ability will need to be addressed, but immediately formulating countermeasures in that situation and staying active was a good choice."
More praise followed. It didn't go on very long. Perhaps out of consideration for my condition, it was only a few words, that was all.
Even so, it was just as surprising.
Because after the last time I caused trouble and received concern in return, I knew Professor Atra was a good person, but I'd never received this sort of praise from her.
Seeing my expression, Professor Atra awkwardly turned her head and met Professor Liana's oddly meaningful gaze.
Oddly meaningful... No, more like a grinning expression, I suppose.
"... What's with that face?"
"No, nothing?"
After deflecting like that, Professor Liana turned her eyes toward me and held out one hand. On her palm sat my smartwatch.
I brightened and took the smartwatch. For an instant, I felt like I'd regained my half-missing mouth.
"Cadet Lee Ha-yul, you should head back now, too. Rest well over the weekend, and we'll meet next week."
I said goodbye to Professor Liana, who smiled and waved, and to Professor Atra, who gave a light nod, then turned away.
.
.
.
I returned to the dormitory.
'It feels like it's been quite a while.'
As I tossed the casual clothes I'd been wearing into the laundry basket and changed into something fresh, everything felt oddly unfamiliar.
Even though I'd only been away for about five days, I got that sensation.
It felt even more so because I'd often left my dorm empty before.
After my morning general lectures and afternoon lessons with Professor Atra, I'd usually head to the library or a personal training room.
Once I'd changed, I sat on the edge of the bed. The soft sensation gently enveloped my behind. Then a tremendous temptation pounded at my reason.
"Quick, lie down, fall asleep right here..."
'... I shouldn't sleep.'
My physical wounds and fatigue were gone, but a fair amount of mental exhaustion remained.
If that had been all, I wouldn't have minded. It's true I was tired in many ways, but that alone wasn't a reason to waste time.
But after coming out of the Tower, Spatial Perception blindsided me. Out of nowhere it flared up and slammed me with an intense mental attack.
It happened right in front of Hong Yeon-hwa, and every eye was on me, so I pretended to be unaffected, but honestly, it was a little dangerous.
It felt like I could pass out at any moment. Combined with the bed's temptation, I was even more likely to collapse.
It was truly tremendous growth compared to the first day when I'd wandered the brink of death... but the fatigue couldn't be helped.
'... I'll sleep just a little.'
I hesitated briefly, then nodded.
A short nap, then I'll get up... and then I can go over the plans.
With that self-rationalization complete, I put my things in order. The most important item, the Origin Egg—I considered it for a moment before placing it on the bedroom shelf.
I rinsed off lightly, then threw myself onto the bed in comfortable attire. Soft, fluffy sensation pulled my whole body down.
My mind settled. I recalled the sleep method Professor Liana had taught me, and let go of my consciousness.
* * *
Not even a minute after lying down on the bed, Lee Ha-yul fell asleep and began breathing evenly.
He was curled up, covered with a thick blanket so that only part of his face was barely peeking out.
In the quiet silence.
Though there was no interference whatsoever, the Origin Egg wavered.
- Ding
After that, a quiet alarm sounded in the still bedroom.
[The Origin Egg reads the owner's origin]