Chapter 63
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Pattern on Her Ankle
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Hena Del Kior.
She was the sole princess of the Del Kior Duchy, a girl whose blazing red hair left a striking impression, like flames themselves.
She came across as prickly and authoritative, but surprisingly, she had a straightforward, hot-blooded personality. She was naive about the ways of the world and full of compassion.
“Why?”
Hena looked up at Abel with eyes that gleamed red, just like her hair.
She followed his gaze downward, then flashed an awkward smile.
“Ah, this?”
She pointed to the pattern on her own ankle and continued.
“It’s been there since I was little. Ugly, huh?”
“Huh? No. Not at all.”
Abel snapped back to his senses and answered in a hurry.
“I’d love to get rid of it, but nothing works. Lately, it even seems darker.”
Abel parted his lips slightly, then closed them.
He wanted to ask exactly when this “lately” had started, but he couldn’t.
He didn’t even need to recall his game knowledge.
Just looking at Hena’s face made it clear she didn’t want to go into details about the pattern.
Hena soon pulled her pant leg back down and stood.
“Anyway, that was scary as hell. How’d you kick my shin like that, no mercy?”
“Mercy? I saw your left hand moving.”
Naturally, Abel hadn’t kicked her out of nowhere.
He’d reacted on instinct when he spotted her aiming a strike at his side with her left hand.
“Nope? I didn’t do anything like that.”
Hena denied it flat-out, though.
“Yeah, sure. Anyway, wanna go again?”
“Hell no. Thanks to you, my shin’s throbbing.”
“Fine, fine. Heading straight to the dorm?”
“Gonna wash up first.”
“Then let’s meet after.”
A question mark popped up on Hena’s face at Abel’s words.
With an expression like *what’s gotten into him?*, Abel added casually,
“You asked me to help with studying last time, right? I’ll be busier soon, so let’s knock it out quick.”
Hena brightened.
“You’re always ‘no time,’ what’s up with you?”
“Keep picking at me, and I’m out.”
“Hey, I’m thrilled. I’ll wash up and head to the first floor.”
“Sounds good. I gotta wash too.”
Wrapping up the talk, Abel parted ways with Hena and went to clean up.
He’d originally planned to train later into the night, but he had no choice but to adjust.
He’d confirmed the pattern etched on Hena’s ankle.
*Way darker than I expected.*
Even as he washed and changed, Abel kept mulling over her pattern.
In the game, she’d lost control right before the exam.
But the exam was still weeks away. At this rate, things were moving way too fast.
*Did something set it off?*
Abel racked his brain over the past few weeks, but nothing stood out.
*Guess I’ll have to fish for info while helping her study.*
Settling on that, he changed and headed to the first floor.
About ten minutes later, Hena showed up, her hair still damp.
“Wait long?”
“Nah, just got here. You bring your study stuff?”
“Obviously!”
She answered while flashing the books in her hands.
Mostly strategy texts—her weakest subjects.
“Good. Let’s go.”
Abel led her to the library and claimed a quiet corner spot.
“What’s tripping you up?”
“A ton doesn’t make sense, but grand strategy’s the worst? Especially this section.”
Hena opened her book and started firing questions.
Other motives aside, on the surface, this was study help—so Abel answered diligently.
Nearly two hours later.
“Ugh, my head’s gonna explode.”
“Hmm. Two hours already. Short break?”
“Yeah!”
Hena nodded eagerly. Abel closed his book and slid in casually,
“You heading home after exams?”
“Home? Hmm... Vacation, maybe, but this break’s just a week. Kinda iffy.”
The academy’s schedule split the year into two semesters with two exams each, like anywhere else.
But there was one big difference...
*Pass or fail based on exam scores, even mid-semester.*
That’s why they got a week off after midterms.
Dropouts packed up and left; passers recharged, then dove back in.
The post-midterm stretch was much shorter too.
Finals were straight-up practicals, close to real fieldwork.
Unlike midterms—which averaged theory and prior practicals—finals split students into teams sent to remote areas for set missions.
Complete the mission: pass.
Fail: you’re out.
“Abel?”
“Oh, sorry. Zoned out. What’d you say?”
“Asked what you’re doing.”
“Not heading home. But I’ll probably head out. Got some business.”
“Hmm, if I’m bored, maybe tag along with you. Bring Daniel and May too.”
“How’d it turn into that?”
Hena just grinned at Abel’s question.
He shook his head and pivoted.
“Anyway. You felt anything weird lately?”
“Weird feeling?”
“Yeah.”
Seeing her puzzled look, Abel elaborated.
“Ever since practicals, my body’s felt heavy for no reason.”
“Isn’t that the injury? You were laid up for days.”
“Kinda. But then the nightmares started out of nowhere.”
“Nightmares?”
“Yeah. Instructor said it might be aftereffects from real combat, but it still bugs me.”
Hena’s expression shifted oddly.
Abel caught it and pressed.
“Nothing like that for you?”
“Me? Well...”
Hena started to reply, then clamped her mouth shut. Only after a long pause did she speak carefully.
“Nightmares... yeah, recently.”
“What were they like?”
“Well... um.”
Abel tamped down the urge to push and waited.
Thankfully, she spoke up soon after.
“Some snake-thing crawling up my ankle. That Gigadeus we saw was kinda snakelike, right? Figured it was that.”
“A snake. Was it... black, by chance?”
“What?”
Hena jumped in shock at his question.
“H-how’d you know?”
“Same dream here. Black snake slithering up my body.”
“Really?”
Her eyes shook hard.
Abel pressed before she could recover.
“Snake starts at ankle, climbs higher each day. Lately, it’s nearly at my chest... even muttering stuff.”
“And?”
“Couldn’t make out the words. Felt too distant.”
He continued in a heavy tone.
“But I’m thinking... maybe when it climbs higher, I’ll understand them.”
“Me too, same. Yesterday’s dream, snake right up to my chest.”
Hena’s face was ashen as she spoke to Abel.
She’d hidden it well, but those recent nightmares were clearly weighing on her hard.
Of course, Abel had never had such dreams.
He’d just recited the game’s events verbatim.
Hena, oblivious, bought it completely.
Her face showed clear empathy—and fear.
*Definitely way progressed.*
The chest detail was a crucial hint.
Abel pondered, face stiff.
*Phenomenal mana aptitude and sensitivity. That special power in her bloodline.*
Plus whatever she’d touched months back.
That was fueling her symptoms now.
At this point, wiping them out entirely was impossible.
He’d have needed to block that contact from the start—beyond his reach.
*The key’s weakening the rampage as much as possible. And controlling the timing.*
Best case: it blows over as a minor hiccup.
Worst: expulsion. Or death.
Abel was gunning for the best.
But it hinged on certain steps.
Figuring out her symptom progress was good—but the real work came next.
*Gotta time the rampage close to the original scenario.*
Abel sorted his thoughts and spoke.
“Instructor mentioned one more thing about the nightmares.”
“What?”
“Exactly this...”
He leaned in.
“Train till you’re dead on your feet, every day.”
“Huh?”
“So, how about you train with me daily? No skips.”
“Uh?”
“If you hate it, no biggie.”
At her blank stare, Abel leaned back.
“Was gonna share some nightmare meds I scored lately. But if you’re out, whatever.”
“No! I didn’t say I hate it!”
Hena waved her hands frantically, hesitated, then asked,
“Train till I’m wiped every day?”
“Yeah. He said exhaustion kills the dreams.”
Hena looked like she’d been sentenced to death.
She wasn’t lazy—quite diligent, actually.
Just not big on physical conditioning.
Her main weapon was a mana gun, so she poured time into mana practice.
“...Fine.”
The nightmares must’ve rattled her; she caved.
Abel smiled warmly.
“Then let’s do 9 to 12 every day from now on.”
“Y-yeah. Then today, early night...”
“What’re you on about? Finish studying first.”
He shut her down firm and flipped open the book.
Gloom settled on Hena’s face.
Abel showed no mercy.
*Sticking close daily’ll make tracking progress easy.*
For her sake too, he had to stay glued.
He finally cut her loose after drilling two thick books cover to cover.
The next day.
“Abel.”
An unexpected guest sought him out.
“How’d the practical go?”
It was Scarlett Klein.