Awakening
I let out a long sigh as I removed my mask in the middle of a dense forest. At the same time, my silver hair darkened back to black, and my brilliant golden eyes shifted to their usual color, sparkling once more.
I fiddled with the mask in my hands.
“It was expensive, but it’s definitely worth the price.”
After dealing with several incidents, I’d realized I’d need to hide my identity more often, so I’d splurged on this transformation magic tool. It seemed like a good decision. Not only the others, but even Alissa and Pernia had shown no signs of suspicion whatsoever.
Suddenly, the look in her eyes right before I jumped off the cliff flashed through my mind. Those eyes that sparkled like rubies. Filled with a mix of worry and gratitude, they looked completely different from her usual expression. They were beautiful. Warm.
What would happen if she ever learned the truth?
I didn’t really want to imagine it. Nothing positive came to mind.
It had turned into deception, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch her throw her life away so easily. I wasn’t trying to justify it. I knew full well that what I’d just done was the worst kind of deception and hypocrisy. And yet, I’d gone through with it anyway.
“Haa…”
I sighed again, then reminded myself this wasn’t the time. I tucked the mask into my subspace pouch. If anyone saw it, I’d be in serious trouble.
I started walking slowly toward the mountain peak where Deborah was supposed to bring the professors.
“By the way, who the hell orchestrated this?”
Since they’d used demonic energy, it was obvious the culprit belonged to the Dark Cult. The current Abel was nothing more than a promising talent. There was no need to mobilize demonic energy just to kill him. The fact that they’d gone to such extremes meant there had to be a reason. And I could guess what it was.
“There’s a transmigrator in the Dark Cult.”
And not just any one—a crazy bastard who didn’t even want to return to Earth, but actually wished for the world’s destruction.
Just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine. I had no idea how to deal with someone like that.
After feeling momentarily overwhelmed, I decided to analyze the situation more calmly.
“First, Ethan Gloucester is definitely involved.”
This place was a training ground where the academy put effort into ecosystem creation and control. To pull something off while bypassing such tight security, you’d either need to be overwhelmingly powerful or have help from inside. The former didn’t make sense—if they were that strong, they could’ve just killed Abel without using a Chimaera Sabre Tiger. So it had to be the latter. And the most likely collaborator was Ethan Gloucester. As a fellow first-year student, he could reach this place without raising any suspicion.
At the very least, his involvement was certain.
“My head hurts.”
Originally, the Dark Cult wouldn’t start reaching into the academy until the second semester. Even then, they’d only operate in the shadows, revealing themselves properly after the second year. Getting involved this early was way off from the game’s progression. It was far too harsh a trial for Abel, who hadn’t even grown properly yet.
In the end, I’d have to keep track of Abel’s every move and intervene at dangerous moments going forward.
This just got a lot more annoying.
As I reviewed the episodes with various assumptions, I shook my head roughly.
“I’ll think about it later. I’m dying here.”
From encountering the Sabre Tiger to fighting desperately against the werewolves, I’d pushed my body too hard. I didn’t feel like doing anything anymore.
I forced myself to think positive thoughts as I slowly climbed the mountain.
A short while later, I reached the summit.
The situation at the training grounds has been contained. Casualties have been minimized thanks to your intervention.
“Move the injured over here!”
“Priest! We need healing over here!”
The professors and priests Deborah had brought were already busy treating the wounded. Combat-capable instructors like Sara and Caelin were nowhere to be seen—probably out searching in case of further trouble.
So the situation’s wrapped up like this for now?
The appearance of the Sabre Tiger, the emergence of demonic energy, and cleanup for the few victims—there was still a lot to handle, but none of it concerned a mere student like me.
I approached Deborah, who was standing a little ways from the main scene.
“Deborah.”
“Ah! Luan! You’re safe! Thank goodness!”
“Of course I am. You got here faster than I expected, too.”
“Yes! The professors had already noticed something was wrong and were on their way! I met them near the entrance and brought them here.”
“Good job. What did they say about why they didn’t come sooner?”
“They said the surveillance magic had stopped working. So they thought nothing was happening. When things felt too off, they checked and realized the same footage was just looping. Anyway, where were you? I thought you’d be here with us.”
Deborah, who didn’t know about the transmigrator, seemed confused why I’d left after saving them only to come back. I gave a vague excuse.
“There were circumstances. Actually, that’s why I have a favor to ask. Can you do it for me?”
“A favor? What is it?”
“Keep it a secret that I was the one who killed the Sabre Tiger. Same with what happened in the dungeon. Is that okay?”
“Hmm… Alright. But in return, you have to grant me one request later.”
“Deal. Promise.”
We hooked our pinkies together and shook them.
The day after the training exercise ended, the academy gave the students a break to recover from the unexpected incident and to sort things out.
And right now, Alissa was in the training room from early morning for the first time in a long while, swinging her sword like a woman possessed.
Clang!
Her rapier shot forward in a straight line, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. She shook her head.
“Not like this. It needs to be sharper. Faster.”
After being raped by me, she had lost half her will to live and hadn’t put much effort into her sword training. She’d believed that no matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t change her predetermined future.
But that belief had shattered yesterday.
Just like the masked man had said, she needed to stop looking back and look forward instead. Rather than living crushed by the past, she should stand tall, rise again, and devote herself to her goals.
At first she’d felt some resentment, but now she felt nothing but infinite gratitude toward him.
“I have to get stronger. Strong enough to break free from my family.”
Alissa didn’t realize it, but her goal was similar to Scadia’s. To reach a supreme level where the shackles of nobility could no longer bind her. That was the only way to obtain the freedom she so desperately wanted.
She didn’t need much. Just three stages. If she could surpass that, even the Bretes Count family wouldn’t be able to treat her carelessly.
Alissa swung her sword with more passion than ever before. She didn’t doubt for a second that the sweat dripping from her body and the fruits of her effort would lead her to freedom.
Because there’s someone who believes in me.
She owed him her life. To repay that trust, she vowed to give it her all until the very end. This was the only way she could answer him.
As Alissa trained diligently, she looked forward to the day they would meet again.
When that time comes, I’ll be the one to save you.
At the same time, Scadia was enjoying tea time on an elegant balcony.
She took a sip of black tea, then set the cup down with a quiet sigh.
“One strike.”
Her eyes were fixed on the academy grounds spreading out below the balcony, but her mind was replaying the past. The moment the silver-haired, golden-eyed masked man had crushed the Sabre Tiger with a single blow.
She couldn’t be sure of his identity, but one lingering possibility kept bothering her.
“Could he really be a first-year student?”
If that man truly was in the same year as her, it would mean she had only been a frog in a well. Just thinking about it made irritation bubble up inside her. Anger and self-loathing toward her own arrogance gnawed at her mind.
After continuing her pointless speculation, Scadia calmed herself, opened her palm, and activated the new spell she had learned.
Shaaaa…
As she focused her mana, cold energy rapidly gathered in her hand, forming a transparent ice crystal. It still lacked detail, but the power condensed within it was immense and pure. If she raised its proficiency and developed it further, she would probably be able to pioneer even higher realms.
Even so, Scadia wasn’t satisfied.
“It’s still not enough. I need to become stronger.”
To gain freedom. To carve out her own destiny. And to defeat that man.
“I will definitely win one day.”
In this very moment, one man had been engraved into the hearts of countless women.
Two weeks before finals, I arrived at school one morning and immediately heard the buzzing chatter around me.
“Who could it be? Probably a student, right?”
“I think so. If it was a professor, there’d be no reason to hide.”
“Kyaaah! Oh my god! Alissa is so lucky! From what I heard, he must be incredibly handsome. But there aren’t any silver-haired, golden-eyed students, are there? Maybe he was disguised?”
Rumors about me had already spread like wildfire. The girls were excitedly debating the identity of the silver-haired, golden-eyed masked man while squealing with envy over Alissa, who had been saved by him. The other students were also noisily discussing the topic, though with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Originally, the big news should have been Scadia reaching the 5th circle, but all the attention had shifted to me instead.
I was curious what their reactions would be if they found out the masked man was actually me. Would they keep their distance, calling me a scumbag? Or would they swarm me with endless questions without hesitation? Neither option sounded appealing.
I ignored it as best I could and crossed the campus into the classroom.
“They say the masked man killed the Sabre Tiger in one strike. Just how strong is he?”
“Who knows. Wasn’t Scadia there too? If he struggled even with her help, doesn’t that mean the masked man is actually the strongest among the first-years?”
“Why was he hiding his power? I’m dying to know!”
As expected, even the kids in Class 3 were all talking about the masked man. While I was picking at my ear on the way to my seat, the back of my head suddenly itched. I turned around to see Deborah glancing at me. When our eyes met, she flinched, then flashed a bright smile.
She seemed delighted that she alone knew the identity of the masked man everyone was so curious about.
I actually found Deborah more surprising.
That’s unexpected.
Honestly, when I raped her, I’d expected our relationship to sour so badly that I even considered threatening her to prevent retaliation. But she hadn’t shown me any hatred or resentment at all. If anything, it felt like the vague fear she’d once held toward me had faded.
I couldn’t understand her way of thinking, but it wasn’t a bad thing.
A little later, Sara entered the classroom. She began the morning roll call from the lectern. After checking everyone’s attendance, she explained the unfortunate events that had occurred during the training and offered an apology. The Class 3 students put on a touching display of comforting her, saying it wasn’t her fault.
After the roll call ended, the next event was my twice-weekly sparring session with Alissa.
Bam bam bam bam!
Fists flew at me from every direction. I held my defensive stance firm and blocked them all at the perfect moments.
I can actually keep up with this now?
Maybe it was because I’d grown from my desperate fight against the werewolves during the training, but Alissa’s movements were starting to become visible. Assuming she didn’t use her energy strikes, I could probably fight her on even terms. But doing that would draw too much attention, so I chose to quietly take the hits instead.
Apparently that didn’t sit well with her.
“Counterattack! Counterattack, I said! Stop looking back and look forward! You’re getting hit because you start by thinking about getting hit first!”
She was using the exact words I’d said to her. I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
“Pfft!”
Whoops. I quickly fixed my expression, but Alissa had already seen it. Thinking I was laughing at her advice, she exploded with anger.
“You’re laughing? You dare laugh at me? Then try blocking this!”
Alissa’s fist slammed into my forearm. It hurt, but that was all. I could endure that much easily. But that wasn’t the end.
Her fist struck the exact same spot again. Dozens of blows landed on the same area in a short time, and the damage began to accumulate. Finally, my defense broke.
Wham!
“Ugh!”
A fist slipped through the gap and struck my solar plexus. My breath caught in my throat and strength left my legs. But it was only the beginning.
Alissa showed no mercy. Just like when she broke through my guard, she drove her fist into the exact same opening, hammering my solar plexus over and over. In the end, I took five consecutive hits to the same spot and lost consciousness.