Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: 09. Daily Life and Changes
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Several changes came to me now that I was in second grade. The biggest one, they said, was related to magic.
First off, I could now use teleportation. I had always been able to teleport objects, but now I could move my own body directly with teleportation magic alone—not through a barrier. Ah, but teleporting other people was still beyond me.
And another thing: I could create passages, one of the foundations of my space-time magic. I modeled it after gates, and maybe because of that imagery, the passages I made were circular and a deep black. The basic principle connected one space to another. Simply put, if I created a passage here and another there, I could go through the one here and come out the other. Like opening a door to another world, you know?
However, the passages I had just barely succeeded in making were extremely crude. The area was the size of a pinhole, the connectable distance was barely the length of a finger, and they broke easily. But more than that, the real significance was succeeding with the magic itself. After all, it meant my magic was growing steadily.
But if there's good news, there's bad news too. Not long after I started learning martial arts for magical combat, it was determined that I had almost no talent for martial arts or other physical skills. My aptitude there was barely a bit below average. In other words, I had no talent for combat.
The day I first heard that, I accepted it calmly. I even thought it was natural. Of course it was. It was only natural. After all, I'm just an ordinary person.
But my friends' faces said it was ridiculous at first. They'd only seen me excel at magic, so they assumed I'd be great at everything. But I'm really not that kind of person.
That said, I did have a slight aptitude for "combat." But it was mostly limited to magic. Application skills, flexible thinking, coping ability, reflexes. They said no other kid showed as much budding talent in magical combat alone. On top of that, I'd recently been putting a lot of effort into developing synesthesia, as Teacher Min instructed. It was essential for using illusion abilities across an entire space. I'd just started training with a virtual system.
But that aptitude fell flat on the physical side... not completely terrible, but just average at best. My magic operation was perfect, but my body couldn't keep up. Among my aptitudes, there were some that should work physically. I was decent at applying techniques, and my good eyesight made my perception quick. But my body just wouldn't follow through.
Of course, being young and not having much practice could be factors. But my physical limits showed up faster than my friends'. Kids who started martial arts training months after me were already doing better.
And finally, the psychological evaluation concluded that overall, I wasn't suited for combat. They'd slot me into support or defense roles. That matched what I thought too. Combat just wasn't for me. Everyone else agreed.
Of course, since I'm still young, none of this is set in stone. It's all about aptitudes, and many kids my age haven't even discovered theirs yet. Teachers and I both knew that, so we didn't give up on effort.
Also, moving up to second grade meant naturally parting ways with a few people. Not completely, but Yujeong Sister and Inho Brother, who were in our Class I, no longer joined our level-based classes. And Eunhee Sister, Seonghu Brother, and other third-year seniors graduated from the middle school division. As I'd heard before, Seonghu Brother went to university aiming to become a teacher, and Eunhee Sister became a guard at our school. We saw them all much less now.
Ah, and I'd heard Eunhee Sister and Seonghu Brother started dating. It was a bittersweet but wonderful piece of news.
And finally... the thing that shocked us most was that, upon advancing to second grade, our class got split up unavoidably. And in a weird way: everyone else went to Class 3, but I ended up in Class 2.
Well, I couldn't do anything about the class assignments, so I didn't worry about it. The ones fretting and pacing were the others who'd been split from me.
The day we found out about the split, it was chaos. Minhee was sobbing and hugging me... I mean, it was just a class change. Even months later, she still made wistful faces sometimes.
"I'm off to school!!"
"Have a good day."
And so, we became second graders.
I parted from Inha in front of the classroom door. After shoving the reluctant Inha toward her class next door, I entered and immediately flung open the windows. The breeze blowing in felt great. Sitting at my desk, I closed my eyes and savored it. Being farther from the window now felt regrettable.
Then footsteps echoed in the hall, and the front door slid open with a rattle. I wondered if Inha had come back unable to bear it, but the heel clicks told me otherwise. Looking up, I saw it was our homeroom teacher.
"Oh? Eunha, you're already here?"
Like last year, our homeroom teacher this year was a woman too. I paused pulling a book from my bag and bowed my head politely.
"Good morning, Teacher."
"Good morning. Do you come at this time every day?"
"Yes."
She glanced around the empty classroom.
"Now I see you opened the windows too? Do you air it out every morning?"
"Yes..."
"I see. I knew you were a good girl, but I didn't realize you ventilated every morning."
A flush of embarrassment crept over me, and I kept my head down. Well, yeah, I'm basically a model student by nature. Kids like me, being timid, follow teachers' words and school rules diligently, so we get favored as good students. I was that type in my past life too—diligent and trusted by teachers.
"Then, as a reward for my good Eunha, Teacher has a little gift."
She pulled something from her pocket and handed it to me: candy and chocolate.
"This is just for Eunha, so shh—keep it secret from the others?"
She cooed at me like a little kid. Sure, it was pure child-treating, but praise always feels good. Clutching the chocolate and candy, I bowed.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Study hard with your books too. Reading a lot makes you a fine person when you grow up. I bet you'll be the reading champion this year."
"......"
I squirmed bashfully. The teacher smiled and left. I finally let out a breath.
My mind was fully grown now, but... one-on-one talks with teachers still made me tense. Especially with my timid personality. I glanced toward the hall, then opened my book and started reading.
As time passed, the classroom filled with kids. They chattered noisily with their friends, but hardly anyone came to talk to me. Only if they had business.
That made sense. By now, everyone knew each other's types, who meshed with whom. And I'd always been the lone type, before and now. Timid, painfully quiet around strangers. So aside from last year's classmates, lots of kids were shy around me. Barely anyone talked to me. Fewer still sought me out on purpose.
But honestly, that was really comfortable. Familiar. My friends worried I'd be lonely without them, but no. Sure, not chatting with friends as often was regrettable and lonely maybe. But being alone in this noisy class didn't feel lonely. I'm so awkward with people that no one approaching was actually easier.
Why do so many think being alone always means lonely? They're totally different. I have plenty to do alone, and strangers interrupting sours my mood. With close friends now, their absence doesn't bother me at all.
Well... I know from others' eyes, I'm the annoying type. Always alone, silent, just answering curtly, stoic, eyes sometimes sharp like glaring.
That's why the backbiting happens sometimes... troublesome.
"She's just been reading that book forever. So boring."
"If she's bad at magic, does being good at studying make up for it?"
"Honestly, isn't Eunha kinda creepy?"
"Yeah. Creepy."
Hey, I can hear you all.
Reading my book, I frowned slightly at the stinging in my chest. They didn't know, but whispering like that? Everyone hears it.
'Well, can't be helped. It's my personality.'
Being diligent makes me a model student in teachers' eyes and favored, but the silent, creepy kid gets disliked by peers most times. Lately, the backtalk had gotten louder. Yeah, I knew why.
Some cheer for those worse off, but others look down on the below-average. Kids too. Adults do it slyly later, but kids mock innocently, clueless.
'High schoolers or adults, immature stays immature.'
Honestly, I'm super diligent—teachers like me for it. No dozing in class, especially magic; great notes. Lots of reading. Deserve model student.
Not intentional. Classes are genuinely fun. Especially the new spell magic in second grade. I'd used some spell magic before enrolling, but here they teach not just the magic but incantations and interpretations.
Spell magic is diverse. It manipulates mana via letters/words, so countless languages. Basic 'Light' is '빛' in Korean.
Depending on origin, Latin, English, Chinese characters—varies wildly.
Some mix English, Latin, Hanja. Higher up, interpretations get cryptic; academically tough.
So they teach interpretation: how this word affects mana, how that incantation shapes imagery...
You can chant translations, but original language is stronger, more complete.
Spell magic gets academically harder higher up, but most mages use it commonly. Know mana movement, starters, chants—done. Easiest for kids starting magic. And most numerous spells belong here.
For me, wanting to do tons with magic, super interesting.
So I studied hard even familiar spells. Dense notes in textbook margins, related books too. No other second-grader matched my focus.
Yet some kids mocked me. Simple reason.
"She's really trying hard."
"Yeah, poor thing. Elite who got into this school, but mana control sucks so she can't do magic."
"It's been three months since starting basic spell magic, and she hasn't succeeded once."
Yeah, that. To hide my skill, I faked poor mana operation clumsily.
My mana control sucks? Bull! I'm confident there, top among peers—not adult mages, but standout.
But to hide, no choice. Unavoidable.
Initially, thought fake early semester, then show decent mid-term. But scrapped after seeing a kid brag first success.
Their magic skills were way lower than expected. Around talents, my standards rose too high.
Succeeded, but light weak, mana sloppy, short duration, slow activation. I compared to my last use—mine far superior.
Abandoned pretending clumsy plan.
Even slow success, my superior control would stand out vs. them. Sighed, decided proper only on tests.
By third grade, better kids appear. I'll "awaken late" and catch up. Enough.
But sighs galore.
Timid me, bullied before, immune-ish to whispers. Not unaffected... but glad kids act kid-like.
More mature? They'd spot no enrollment here.
Hmm... hadn't fully quit showing clumsy magic. Lately, intense mana control practice. Raise it sky-high... maybe fake their level? Mockery stung a tad.
But impossible for now. Even slow/sloppily, gap clear. Kids miss, teachers won't. Unavoidable.
So in practice, I broke spells pre-completion. Non-detectors won't see details. Homeroom not detector. Mock only, satisfied.
"Hey, no talking in class?"
"Yes. Sorry."
Kid answered steadily to teacher's scold. I sighed inwardly.
It was fourth period. Post-class, I joined kids rushing for lunch, happy. Lunch exciting, escape burdensome kids for familiar friends joyful. Afternoon bell after.
'I'm problematic, really.'
Thinking alone comfy, yet sigh. Know it's bad. Close friends don't mean exclude others. Be friendly all... know.
But can't control. Awkward company vs. solo? Solo way comfier.
'Friends better at this.'
Seriously, friends more mature despite younger. Minhee, Hyunho quickly befriended via outgoingness. Hansu prickly but plays with boys, gets along. Girls find prickly cool, popular.
Popularity? Inha unbeatable! Coolness, goddess looks—admired by all.
Sihwa worrisome... but heard mingling kid-like. Innocent/shy, pranked often.
Pushing through noisy kids, reached friends' class. Peeking window from hall, tiptoeing: teacher closing materials post-class. Kids greet, swarm out front/back doors.
"Run quick!"
"Lunch super tasty today!"
Waited demurely opposite back door. Soon, friends burst out chattering. Detached from wall, waved at five.
"Eunha!"
Minhee most visible reaction: hopped, landed, hugged tight.
"Wow, wow! Let's eat lunch quick!"
Inha scurried, slyly grabbed sleeve.
"Eunha, missed you."
Hansu gawked genuinely.
"Whoa, for real."
Stuck by me, bickered with Inha: fake, leave. Yeah, half-fake known. Inha prickly only to you known. Watched bickering duo, smiled.
Yep, comfy around them. Total opposite of awkward with others—pure fun.
Chattered happily, ate lunch, spent rest in library's hidden room.
Found accidentally recently. Elementary library corner wall, bottom shelf half-empty books: push sideways, opens. Hidden door.
Kid-sized gap, but we kids, easy.
Secret room comfy/useful for us. Kinda playroom vibe. Kid carpet floor, toybox puzzles/Jenga/cubes. Wall shelf kid magic books galore. Playroom twin. But comfy/useful anyway.
"Hey, know? New at Granche, super tasty! Snowflake parfait... let's go!"
"Eek~ Swimming pool today! New one near school!"
"Can! Cafe then pool! Right? Hyunho?"
"Heard class kids brag kid sword, bought it. Wanna see."
"Wait, Inha! Details!"
Minhee latched on Inha. I chuckled at talk. All after-school plans. Smirked at kids. Yeah, knew why.
Last year daily playmates, but split classes slashed chances. Kids missed it bad.
'Pool... meh. Parfait... tempting, wanna try. Kid dagger... no use, but ornamental... self-defense...'
"Ahhh!!!"
"......?!"
"What!"
Lost in thought, startled. Minhee interrogating Inha suddenly yelled realization. We turned shocked; she looked troubled.
"Right! Cancel all plans today! Must see this!"
"What? What?"
Sihwa confused too, first hear.
"High school division sparring match today!"
Eyes widened unison.
"Sparring match?"
"Yeah. 2 PM, high school gym. Seniors sparring. My bro too, obviously."
Je-hyeon Brother too? Eyes changed instantly.
"For real? Let's go!"
Hyunho first raised hand aye. We glanced, grinned. Hansu smug.
"Je-hyeon bro's magic worth watching, whatever else."
"Wanna see. B-rank skill."
Inha nodded, then me too.
"Yeah. High school seniors' spar? Must-see. After class, beat crowd, go quick."
"Yep."
Chatted, checked time, stood. Exited secret room via wall bottom small door, shelf bottom flap. Minhee, starter, bubbliest.
"Sparring means snacks? What bring?"
"Gym or auditorium? Ah, high school teachers ok to watch?"
"Fine, fine. Middle schoolers, teachers encourage."
"Really? Good... ah, Minhee, snacks no. Not theater, school facility, smell..."
"Waaah! Eunha mom nagging!"
Excited Minhee plugged ears at follow-up. Fingered her forehead flick.
"Then Eunha, see after homeroom."
"I'll quick-buy snacks!"
Minhee dashed. Hyunho followed quick. Sighed helplessly.
Left two to canteen whims, headed class. Split at doors.
"See soon."
"Yep."
"Yeah."
Greeted friends, entered class. Light steps to seat. Felt rising excitement, secret smile.
'But excited anyway. Je-hyeon Brother's spar...'
Homeroom, barely focused teacher. Post, grabbed bag, dashed hall amid exiting kids. Friends out first this time.
"Ta-da! Lotsa snacks!"
"Dude, 20 min to 2. Walk late?"
Checked watch quick on Hansu: yep, 1:40.
"Warp hole?"
"Farther. Run!"
Minhee led. Shortcut forest path back. Full sprint gym. Tempted teleport, suppressed.
Arrived just in time, barely. Heavily panting though.
"Huff... huff......"
Training let me reach. These kids? 15 min sprint, barely winded. How talented?
"Hey! Even training, you're slowest. Good you started first."
"Park Hansu, shut it."
Totally. But agreed while glaring Hansu prickly like Inha. You guys amazing! Not me weak!
Panting, skyward gaze. Hence first magic wanted young: teleport. Past life not athletic. Space-defying? Magical.
Anyway, slipped in gym just in time. Packed: students/teachers from door to seats. Wedged through, suddenly light from us, floated up.
"......Huh?"
Looked around shocked. Floated air, settled top seats. Lucky: many already orbiting gym flying, no notice.
Down, spotted ahead: Junhwi Teacher, Min Teacher. Shocked faces.