159. The Mirror of Essence: Black Scale
Black Scale. Jet-black scales. A skill typically usable only by monsters with scales, like lizardmen at best. Naturally, no human could wield it. But this snake of mine has continental-class serpent potential, so there’s no skill I can’t use. I can even fly—though I can’t control the direction.
Was it my traits influencing this? The skills shared via Crown of Connection included ones humans couldn’t normally handle. In other words, Lania Grayrim—without a single scale on her—could now use Black Scale.
Mana consumption seemed doubled, but Lania had scarfed down plenty of elixirs, so her reserves were ample. I was just curious how Black Scale would manifest on her. It turned her skin pitch-black. Not like a full racial transformation—just like she’d dipped in tar and come out gleaming slick and shiny. In short, she looked ridiculous.
“What the heck is this?!”
Lania sounded mortified.
Don’t be embarrassed—it looks super cool.
It’s not cool at all!
Heh heh, no, it’s soo cool.
I’d meant to encourage her sincerely, but apparently I hadn’t mastered Obern-level acting yet. Still, my snickering worked wonders. Black Scale wasn’t a skill you activated at will. It was a special one that triggered on rage. I’d wondered if she could pull it off, but Lania must’ve been pissed enough.
Why was she pissed? She was fast. Not hornet-fast, but honeybee-quick at least. Even with venom ineffective, hornets clung to her face and body, harassing her relentlessly. Her whip-like punches burst them—pop!—but apparently, their acidic innards still stung her hardened skin.
“Block her—block the Martine girl!”
That shout came from none other than the Second Prince. Compared to Lania sprinting freely, ignoring the pests, their rigid formation was glacially slow. What could they even do?
“Bind her feet!”
Mages were among them. Lania’s sprinting feet sank into the earth, mud surging up to her shins and trapping her.
“Argh!”
She yanked free with raw strength alone. But there was more than one mage—an ice spear hurtled toward her.
These bastards needed to chill.
Ray lv4
I fired a Ray point-blank. To them, it’d look like Lania’s wrist just flashed. Ting! The ice spear’s path warped and ricocheted away. Still, its momentum was fierce—it thunked! into a tree.
Lania whipped around, glaring at the mage.
“That little shit……”
Watch the language, Lania. But yeah, he was a real piece of work. Without Black Scale, that spell could’ve been lethal.
“Keep harassing her—push forward!”
The Second Prince ignored it, rallying his lackeys instead. Sure, Lania’s physical prowess was elite, but they had numbers and mages. What could she do from a distance? She wasn’t some ape hurling rocks.
Aha!
Suddenly, I felt like Zhuge Liang at Red Cliff, fire attack in mind—everything clicked.
Lania, I’ve got a way to crush them.
Huh?
Grab one of those and chuck it at them!
“Those” wouldn’t compute, but she glanced at her wrist, then where my head pointed. She grinned ear-to-ear.
“You’re all screwed!”
She scampered up a tree like a mountain monkey and snatched her prize: a hornet’s nest. With zero mercy, she demolished it and hurled it at the Second Prince’s group. A perfect gift for the ice-spear jerks.
“Gaaah!”
The nest crashed into their formation’s heart, hornets swarming out in chaos. Students flailed to swat or flee, lines collapsing.
“Calm down! They’re not that dangerous! Just don’t get stung too much! Hold formation!”
Leon barked bravely, but it was futile. Maintaining ranks was a soldier’s virtue. Emerald School students outclassed regular troops in combat, but expecting military discipline from them was a stretch. Plus, Lania lobbed another nest—right at Second Prince Leon’s head.
“Gah!”
Formation shattered; they were a mob now. Lania seized the gap, dashing to the central ancient tree. Monkey-climbing again, she snatched the red pouch of gold coins. I heard the jingle from her wrist.
She bolted toward Philly and Amaen’s side. Students gnashed teeth, but none braved the hornet-infested flower field. We laughed triumphantly.
“Wahahaha!”
“Sassassassat~”
Soon, we regrouped with Philly and Amaen. Finally time to peek inside the pouch.
“Let’s check it out quick.”
It was heavy. The kids opened it eagerly. Blinding golden shine. They were speechless. And I? I could only curse the headmaster.
Not a school principal—you should’ve been a training camp instructor.
Inside: 100 three-point gold coins. 300 points total.
—Now, the results of the preliminary “treasure hunt”!
Treasure hunt evokes a picnic. Probably the same here. Recall the students’ faces when they first heard “treasure hunt” after all that tension—they must’ve lit up. And honestly, yeah. If it’d been “deathmatch” or “hell wheel of doom,” they’d have paled.
But now, post-event, the gathered students were a mess. Over 40 dropouts. One comatose (not dead). Over 40 injured—20 from hornet stings.
—24th place, Bell Apoti, 10 points! 23rd is……
The headmaster announced qualifiers personally, low to high. Then, key names dropped.
—4th place, Leon Adenes Solion. 101 points—wow! From 72, he scraped to 101. Probably squeezed his lackeys dry. Still, only 4th. The golden prince’s face turned ashen.
—Next, tied for 2nd: Philly Aden Solion, Amaen Riddle—105 points! Such good friends, haha!
Amaen offered a hand; Philly blushed but high-fived. Heartwarming.
And finally.
—In 1st place, Lania Martaine! A crushing 167 points.
My original plan: funnel Philly and Amaen’s points to Lania for 1st. But the headmaster’s 300-point pouch made it unnecessary. My three disciples claimed grand prize and excellence awards proudly. No extra rewards beyond 1st, but hey—bragging rights.
—Great job, everyone! The 24 who passed, rest up for the main round. …And 1st place, Lania, come this way.
Swift as expected. Chance to visit the palace and Mirror Room: next day.
Oh, so this is the palace.
First impression of Solion Kingdom’s royal palace: blindingly white. Maybe special bricks mimicking marble, sparkling under the sun.
“Lania, first time at the palace?”
“Yes, first time.”
The short headmaster beamed proudly at her prim response.
“Know what? Professors bet on the winner.”
“Really?”
Were they?
“Who was the favorite?”
“Hm, Second Prince, maybe?”
“Correct. Guess who I picked?”
“No idea……”
“Philly. Felt like him.”
Idiot. Lania took 1st.
“But Obern picking you? Didn’t see that coming.”
Obern indeed—saw right through me.
“You really won. Did Obern help secretly? Magic or otherwise?”
Straight jab.
“……No.”
“Haha, relax. Second Prince got blatant aid.”
Say that around the kids? Headmaster escorted her inside personally.
“Congrats again. Hope you see something good in the Mirror Room. This is as far as I go—Lily Palace is off-limits.”
Guidance ended at a secluded annex. Lania bowed to leave but paused.
“……Have you seen the mirror, Headmaster?”
He chuckled. What’s funny? Not amusing.
“No need. I know my essence.”
Cocky gnome. Lania’s curiosity lingered unsatisfied.
“Does it really show your true essence? Some say it shows the future.”
“Who knows. It shows different things for different people. But ‘future mirror’? That’s from someone clueless about its function.”
“Then what?”
“Hmm, simply for you: highlights of probable worldlines.”
Gibberish, and he wasn’t elaborating. Waved casually and vanished. Lania entered Lily Palace.
“No loud noises in Lily Palace. No running.”
A maid whispered rules.
“In halls, bow head, eyes down. If you meet white-shoed lady, don’t look up abruptly. No startling reactions.”
What, Naples ghost story here? Overkill, but maid so polite—Lania nodded, complied. She kept head down; I peeked from sleeve. Nothing special: plush carpets, luxurious vibe. Maid led to end-of-hall room.
“Mirror Room. When hourglass runs out, knock—then exit.”
“Thanks.”
“May you see beauty.”
Palace, maids—mystical air. Lania hesitated, then entered. Creeeak.
Room immaculate. Maids don’t enter—who cleans? Spotless.
“Ah.”
Lania’s gaze locked instantly. Massive mirror. High ceilings meant vast wall—entirely filled by one mirror.
What is it? Lemme see!
Lania stood entranced. I saw what she saw.
Whoa, badass.
That’s…… me?
Without explanation, might not seem a mirror. Moving picture, like TV. Battlefield backdrop. Knights in armor strewn everywhere. Distant soldiers clashed. Gloomy sky rained arrows; siege engines lobbed flaming boulders. Roars and steel clashes echoed faintly.
Center: a female knight. Plate mail everywhere but right arm—blackened like Black Scale localized there.
“That’s…… pinnacle of Martine Pitch Throw Law……”
Someday, Lania’d inherit the dead Tiger Marquis’s arts fully. Her right arm gripped a huge war banner—size needing three-four soldiers to raise. Adult Lania held the tattered, scorched flag. Not kingdom’s, not empire’s—unfamiliar design.
“……I become a hero, huh.”
She startled at her own words. Yeah. The border girl dreaming of heroism was destined for it. Tears welled suddenly.
“Why am I crying?!”
Not sad, she insisted. Definitely not, yet tears flowed.
“So cool. Really.”
She admired quietly. I thought privately:
Wanna see mine soon……
Mirror showed no me. Lania’d need to step aside.
Move quick.
Even to a moved kid……
Thankfully, she remembered me.
Oh, Teacher Snake—your turn.
Th-thanks.
But I had a request.
Close eyes over there. Don’t peek.
Got it.
Read fairy tales? Curiosity kills here.
Pinkie swear.
She crouched in corner, hands over eyes. What if past life showed? Confirmed her angle blocked mirror, I approached. Deep breath. Head up from floor.
Gasp!
Whaaaat?!
I saw something utterly unexpected.