Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: We Called That Color the Pallor of the Corpse
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I slowly crawled out from under the bed.
Dust clung to my body.
I brushed it off quickly while looking in the mirror.
I cracked the door open slightly.
It was Ja-an.
Not my father.
"What's up...?"
"Oh, I forgot to give you something."
Ja-an pulled a box out from under his cape.
Thud.
The box hit the floor with a loud bang.
'Ah, the relic.'
I'd completely forgotten about it too.
It was definitely a spear.
My strength and stamina were poor, but my agility and luck were at least decent... so it was a fitting choice.
I'd never openly revealed my status to him, so he must have figured it out by observing me.
Ja-an opened the box and lifted out the spear.
This was a crucial moment.
'Checkpoint.'
Checkpoint set.
Ja-an handed the spear to me.
A slight unease crept in.
"...Is this thing heavy by any chance? I couldn't even lift it this morning."
"No, the material is incredibly light. Even a regular person could swing it around."
"Ah, got it. The box was heavy, though."
"Well, it's a box designed to store a relic."
The material is light...?
It must be a relic made from some monster byproduct.
When I actually held the spear, it only had a faint weight to it.
If it felt faintly heavy at my F-rank strength, then for a normal person, it'd be about the weight of stainless steel.
Did he deliberately pick a relic that suited me?
"Thanks."
"You asked for it."
"You're the only one who would take a request for a relic or item this seriously."
"That's what friends are for."
"Even for friends."
Ja-an's expression was complicated, subtle.
He opened his mouth to speak.
"If I ever run into trouble or need something, I'll ask you too. So don't feel too grateful."
"Mm... Got it."
"And if anything tough comes up, tell me right away."
"Huh?"
"No, it's nothing."
He awkwardly brushed it off and avoided my gaze.
Didn't seem like nothing.
I gripped the spear in one hand and admired it, twirling it this way and that.
"It's so light...!"
"Glad you like it."
"What material is this? Any other features?"
"It's made from the bones of a flying monster killed on the front lines. I heard the material is super light..."
Ah, that explains the lightness. Just as I guessed.
More importantly, other features!
That's the key!
"Yeah? And?"
"No other features that I remember? Oh, you can channel mana into it to change the color, I think."
"Ah..."
Ja-an glanced at my expression and spoke.
"Want to test it now?"
"Mm... I don't know how to handle mana yet?"
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah."
"You didn't learn it as a kid?"
I only knew things about the academy.
How would a normal person like me know mana manipulation basics?
"My ability has nothing to do with mana manipulation..."
"Mana isn't just for abilities. It's like the basic energy in our bodies."
"Really?"
"It can strengthen your body or cast spells, but... not for you."
Ah, so it doesn't work for me.
'Yeah, I've never heard of doing anything specific with mana.'
I'd thought mana was like experience points... but apparently not.
It's used to maintain or activate abilities, but that's not described much, and killing monsters builds it up to get stronger, so I assumed it was EXP.
Ja-an began explaining kindly.
"Anyway, there are a lot of relics and items that run on mana, so it's good to learn now."
"Will you teach me?"
"Huh?"
"Asking a teacher would be awkward. Feels embarrassing not knowing basic common sense..."
Ja-an scratched his head and said,
"Sure."
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me. It won't take long."
"Huh? Why?"
"Whether you can do it right after hearing the explanation shows your talent."
So, if I can move mana right after his explanation, I have the aptitude. Otherwise, give up?
Headache.
My status has mana at A-, so I should have talent... but...
'You never know.'
Please let me have talent.
Ja-an opened his mouth.
"Shall we go in?"
"Huh?"
"Lingering in the dorm hallway too long might cause misunderstandings."
"Really?"
"Cadets who don't live in the dorms entering is against the rules to begin with."
Stricter than I thought.
So in routes where he woos other heroines, he breaks rules like it's nothing?
Not your average guy.
"Come in."
"Okay."
Thud.
I closed the front door.
Ja-an naturally took off his shoes and headed to the bed.
Coming near the bed in outdoor clothes? In Korea, that's a crime.
The bed is a sanctuary.
"What?"
"It's more comfortable on the bed."
"Uh...?"
Dozens of question marks popped up in my head.
Feels like this wholesome dating sim is shifting genres...!
Descriptions of mana circulation or operation were extremely rare in the game, so I had no proper knowledge.
I hadn't read the setting docs either, so I was basically clueless.
A bead of sweat trickled down Ja-an's face.
"...It's not like that."
"No, I mean..."
"Really, it's not. The most comfortable position is most effective."
"You want me to lie down...?"
"Yeah."
He hurriedly defended himself.
I awkwardly lay down on the bed.
The ceiling came into view.
Ja-an's face suddenly popped into the corner of my vision.
"I'm going to place my hand near your heart now. Okay?"
"Yeah."
"Starting."
He carefully placed his hand over my chest, right above the center of my ribs.
I could feel his touch through the thin shirt.
It tickled.
Coming to think of it again, Ivy Lane's body was sensitive like a baby's skin.
Like when Han Ye-seo poked my side today—strangely overreactive.
I closed my eyes.
"Uh... so you remember up to this point?"
"What do you mean?"
"You close your eyes to sense the mana."
I see.
I tightly shut my mouth.
A strange sensation spread from my chest throughout my body.
Like a thread-thin snake crawling through my veins.
Similar to an injection, but different in nature and temperature.
'Warm...'
A languid feeling.
If I didn't focus on the sensation, I'd drift off to sleep.
Ja-an said nothing, steadily pushing mana into my body.
No explanation needed. That's the idea.
After a long while, Ja-an spoke.
"You can move now. Open your eyes too."
"...Okay."
I blinked awkwardly several times.
My vision normalized.
I sat up.
Maybe orthostatic hypotension or anemia—dizziness hit, and my sight glitched like mosaic static for a moment.
"You have plenty of mana and talent. Just grab the spear and channel that sensation into it."
"Got it."
I gripped the spear by the bed and poured whatever was coming from my heart into it.
The thread coiled around it.
Bzzz...
The spear shaft began to turn blue.
"What feature is this?"
"Color-changing. That's it."
"...Really?"
"The monster this spear's material came from absorbed ambient mana and changed color based on its properties."
Neat.
"What does the color mean?"
"Mana usually follows the user's emotions."
"Really? What's blue mean?"
Ja-an shut his mouth.
Ivy Lane was looking at me.
The mana's color was blue.
The color of mana reflects its owner's emotions.
I wanted to deny the scene before me, but I couldn't.
I schooled my expression and lied calmly.
"It means a calm state."
"Mm, makes sense? I was lying down until just now."
"Right?"
My conscience stung.
Should I pretend not to know and leave the room now?
Would staying by Ivy's side just for today be the right call?
I felt anxious.
It was a color I'd seen countless times on the front lines.
The final hue shown by those moments from death, those resigned to dying, those who wanted to die.
On the front lines, we called that color the pallor of the corpse.
I forced my mouth open.
"...You okay? Lately."
"Huh? Yeah. Made friends, adjusted fine. Just wish my body's health would catch up."
"Train a bit, and it'll improve fast. Your reaction speed's quick."
"Sparring? You saw that."
"Even accounting for me going easy, few could keep up with my speed."
Ivy frowned.
Did I upset her?
"Must be nice."
"......"
"Wish I could fight too. Like you."
"You might hate fighting, but since you're at the academy, you'll learn eventually?"
"Yeah? Heh..."
She gave a faint smile.
Sunset light streamed through the window.
The spear shaft, which had been blue, for some reason shimmered yellow in the sunset glow.
The meaning was peace, tranquility.
I looked at Ivy and thought.
I don't want anyone else to die.
I want to save everyone I can.
If I return to the front lines someday, if I stand there again as an active hero, I'll kill every monster and end this war.
And in the end... I want to be someone's sunset.
Ja-an thought that without realizing it.