Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: 14. Terror
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“And the rest of them were all caught too. To make sure they wouldn’t remember us and try to kidnap us later, we sealed them away and erased all memories of Daeyeon with magic manipulation. We crushed the ringleaders over and over again.”
Minhee said that with a bright smile. It felt somehow terrifying. But I just nodded.
“I-I see.”
I looked flustered but convinced. Those three were mages with more than enough skill for that. Black Jaguar, but weren’t they kind of stupid? No matter what, how did they plan to take on a school full of kids from A-rank mages and above?
‘Ha. Well, at least it’s a relief.’
I let out a sigh of relief. Now they wouldn’t come after us again. The thought made me feel profoundly reassured. Especially that guy with the smart glasses and his words...
‘Don’t worry. I’ll definitely take you.’
It still gave me chills. What kind of guts did I have back then? Even now, I couldn’t believe I’d escaped from there.
With relief washing over me, I lifted my head. Then I pointed at the mountain of gifts piled up around my bed.
“So what about this mountain of慰問品?”
Minhee smiled again and said,
“Oh, that? Well, the kids...”
Yoo Eunha was moved straight home right after that. She couldn’t open her eyes for a while. It was due to mana depletion.
Mana depletion could keep someone unconscious for a few days, which wasn’t unusual. But even after school reopened five days later, Yoo Eunha still hadn’t woken. Mana depletion was especially taxing on a child, so following the advice of Kang Inha’s father, the healing mage Kang Jeongmin, she was transferred to a reliable hospital and admitted.
The school, fully restored to its former state just days later, meant Kang Inha had to go alone for the first time. The moment she arrived, she ran into Yoon Siha.
“......”
The two stood in awkward silence. To be precise, Kang Inha didn’t care at all, so the awkwardness was all on Yoon Siha. Yoon Siha had a somewhat timid personality, not as much as Yoo Eunha, but still. And Kang Inha wasn’t the type you could easily talk to.
But this time, Yoon Siha didn’t avoid Kang Inha. After fidgeting in front of her and mustering her courage, she asked,
“Um, that... Yoo Eunha... isn’t... coming... with you?”
Kang Inha didn’t pay much mind to the mumbled words she’d missed and answered.
“She’s hospitalized.”
“What?!”
“Mana depletion. She’s in a coma-like sleep.”
“Oh no...”
Yoon Siha’s eyes trembled. Kang Inha just watched, accepting it. Sure, the ending had been bitter, but they—and he—had been friends. It would be weirder if she wasn’t worried at all. Even if that relationship had ended half a year ago.
Kang Inha walked past Yoon Siha without a word and sat at her desk. Yoon Siha, standing there uneasily, soon returned to her own seat. Kang Inha let her gaze settle quietly on the empty seat beside her.
But then something strange happened. Park Hansu, who usually came early, along with Joo Minhee and Kim Hyunho showing up earlier than usual because they were worried about Yoo Eunha— that made sense. Even Han Yujeong and Cheong Inho rushing over after hearing the news was understandable. But it didn’t stop there. Soon the entire class, kids from the next class, upperclassmen seniors, and even lowerclassmen juniors crowded around Kang Inha to ask about Yoo Eunha. They kept swarming, bombarding her with questions about her condition.
“Hey! Eunha didn’t come to school?!”
“I want to say thank you...”
“Me too! Is she sick or something?”
“Um, I heard a senior named Yoo Eunha saved us...”
“What’s Yoo Eunha like? I heard she saved us...”
“You guys were hiding your magic skills?!”
“You were so cool last time!”
“Park Hansu, is your mom really Lee Yuyeong?”
“Kang Inha’s mom is Kim Seona?! For real?”
“Hey, where’s Eunha?!”
Of course, there was unrelated chatter too. But that wasn’t the end. Lee Eunhee, Joo Je-hyeon, and Yu Cheonho—the trio known as the Guard Trio, who’d recently gained fame in the school—came to Yoo Eunha’s classroom. The kids screamed and parted like the sea. It was like a petite miracle of Moses. The three walked through the parted crowd toward Kang Inha.
“Huh? Where’s Eunha?”
“We came because we have something to tell Eunha...”
“Minhee, didn’t you tell your brother anything?”
“My brother hasn’t been able to leave the school these past few days.”
Minhee shrugged at Hyunho’s words. Kang Inha cut through the commotion with a cold reply.
“Eunha’s hospitalized.”
That single sentence plunged the surroundings into silence.
Lee Eunhee swallowed hard. Yu Cheonho looked shocked, and Joo Je-hyeon’s cold eyes filled with worry.
“Why?! Is she hurt?”
“No. She just... overused her mana... and can’t open her eyes. Still...”
Ah... The three instantly understood but fell silent. After all, Yoo Eunha reaching mana depletion was largely due to their orders.
“Maybe... we burdened Eunha with too much...”
Kang Inha looked at the three and slowly shook her head.
“Eunha doesn’t do things she hates. So it’ll be fine.”
A few years ago, she couldn’t have said that. But Kang Inha still cherished Yoo Eunha the most, though now she could see those around her too. She’d grown a little. Lee Eunhee gave a wry smile at Kang Inha’s words.
Then, the boldest girl among those crowding the classroom spoke up. That was... Kang Yesul.
“Hey, so Eunha’s really hospitalized... is that true?”
This time, Kang Inha’s eyes turned cold. Kang Yesul was someone Kang Inha didn’t like. She clearly remembered how, just a few years ago, Kang Yesul had badmouthed Yoo Eunha everywhere.
“So?”
“Um... then...”
But today’s Kang Yesul had a different vibe. With a shy expression and her face flushed red, she said to Kang Inha,
“Then... could you tell me which hospital? I want to visit her...”
“Ah, me too!”
“Us too...!”
“No.”
Joo Minhee cut in coldly on Kang Inha’s behalf, who was frowning. Unlike her usual innocent expression, Joo Minhee eyed the kids with annoyance.
“Eunha hates it when tons of people visit.”
Kang Inha added,
“And right now, visits are prohibited. The doctor won’t let anyone in. Thanks to that, I can only see Eunha once a day for a short time.”
The kids’ voices gradually quieted. But Kang Yesul didn’t give up and shouted,
“Th-then! At least can you pass on gifts we prepared for a visit? Even if not now, when she’s better... I’m grateful... at least let me write a letter... please?”
Park Hansu looked at Kang Yesul with a strange expression. When was that incident? Two years ago? No, that wasn’t the only issue. Why was this usually confident, bold girl suddenly acting like this? Trembling with shyness, anxious expression, bowing her head. After a moment’s thought, Kang Inha said,
“Fine. Bring慰問品 by tomorrow. I’ll collect them and pass them on later.”
“Yeah!”
Kang Yesul’s face lit up. She turned to the other girls, shyly chatting with them. The kids chattered excitedly before rushing out. From what Kang Inha overheard, something like, ‘Let’s tell the other kids too.’
However, only Cheong Inho, Han Yujeong, and the Guard Trio were granted the right to visit Yoo Eunha’s room directly—after learning its location, of course, and only after visiting hours lifted. The Guard Trio apologized repeatedly, asked after her, then returned to their places.
Well, school had reopened, but classes couldn’t resume right away. While the kids did self-study for a while, during the second period, the entire elementary division was called to the auditorium. The one who gathered all the elementary students was the chairman.
He gave a brief formal speech, expressed worry and encouragement for the children’s well-being, explained the school’s current status, and then...
[“By now, you all know who saved you during the evacuation on the day of the terror attack a few days ago. And from what I’ve heard... that girl hid her skills thoroughly until then.”]
The kids buzzed, then fell silent.
[“Please remember the school rules. You know who she is, but don’t deliberately tell outsiders. If your parents ask, just say you don’t know who evacuated you. Of course, the restrictions are still bound to your bodies... And most importantly, don’t spread it outside the school. This terror attack should have engraved the importance of information and talent into you firsthand. The ‘secrecy rule’ is to prevent that, so please keep quiet. Spreading it could put the girl who saved you in danger. Outside our elementary division, very few in the middle or high school divisions, and among the teachers, know that an elementary student evacuated you.”]
Finally, the chairman said,
[“If she dislikes her skills being known, please keep silent about it until the end. At least until she becomes an adult.”]
Hearing all that, I opened my eyes wide. My gaping mouth wouldn’t close. I never imagined the chairman would say something like that...
And it was exactly what I’d hoped for. Meaning, as long as I didn’t say anything, the kids wouldn’t bring it up either. Sure, I couldn’t completely stop the stares from the other kids...
Anyway, just looking at these gifts showed everyone’s gratitude toward me.
“The chairman’s the best! So cool~.”
Maybe he and I get along. I like the school, and I like what he said. As I flushed with joy and wriggled happily, Inha and Hansu both looked displeased but nodded.
“It worked out well for you, Eunha.”
“So once some time passes, everyone will forget about the incident and what I did?”
I was a bit hopeful, but the kids shook their heads firmly.
“Huh? Probably not.”
Hyunho shook his head first. Yeah, figured. Minhee nodded in agreement with Hyunho. Then Inha and Hansu nodded too.
“Well, yeah, your skills are already out there. Wish for the stars.”
“......Too late. Already.”
“Ugh......”
Right. This school was ultimately ranked by skill. I looked troubled. Ah, I don’t want to go to school. I sighed deeply. Ha...... After that big sigh, I just stopped thinking.
Escaping reality, I gazed out the window. The sky was incredibly clear and blue. It was stuffy; I wanted to go out for some air. ...Ah, right. I’d originally pressed the nurse call to get this IV out. Why’d I forget?
“Uncle. Uncle Jeongmin. Can’t you take this IV out now? I want to go outside for some air...”
“Hm? Oh. Wait a sec. Gotta check with the doctor first.”
Pushing the surrounding commotion to the back of my mind, I closed my eyes beside the mountain of gifts. A floral scent brushed my nose. I let out a small sigh and murmured,
“What did I even do......”
“What did I even do......”
Kang Inha watched Yoo Eunha murmur that with distant eyes. Did this girl even know what she’d accomplished?
It was a moment of despair. That warmth of the hand that had grabbed theirs in that situation... Those eyes that stared straight at the enemy despite trembling... That back that stood firm protecting them—how much hope had that given the children? Did she really know?
In books, there are descriptions of dazzling backs. This was the first time the kids truly felt it.
Even struggling pathetically, Yoo Eunha hadn’t given up and protected them—all of them.
It wasn’t just thinking of an escape route. She actually made them escape, then saved all the kids who couldn’t. That wasn’t something a child’s mana could do. Normally. It required overwhelming magical talent.
‘I never imagined the gap would be this big.’
Kang Inha thought that and clenched her fist. Was she the only one who felt it? They’d frozen as kids, unable to do anything. But Yoo Eunha had frozen in fear too. The difference wasn’t just that.
They’d used magic too. But their spells shattered instantly before the enemy, while Yoo Eunha’s barrier shook bit by bit but held until the end against the foe.
Talent—clearly, Yoo Eunha had overwhelming talent from the start. But that wasn’t all.
‘I knew she worked hard usually, but...’
If Yoo Eunha had achieved it purely with talent, they wouldn’t have thought her dazzling at that moment. But no. Innate talent, and effort surpassing it. What Yoo Eunha had above all to wield her talent was... ‘enjoying the effort.’
‘For that instant, you felt so far away.’
They knew well how much effort Yoo Eunha put into magic, how much she loved it.
And she’d blocked it. A mere child had grown enough with that talent and effort to block an adult’s magic.
Only Yoo Eunha herself didn’t know how amazing that was.
I was hospitalized due to mana depletion. After waking and precise checks confirmed my mana fully recovered, I could be discharged. The problem was the mountain of慰問品 around me, but my barrier + student ID subspace handled it somehow.
In the short time before I got up to leave, my teacher, Teacher Min, and Teacher Junhwi visited after hearing I’d woken. Teacher Min even teared up seeing me, so I smiled helplessly.
When the doctor judged my body fine and said I could discharge immediately, everyone worried but congratulated me. Yeah, good thing.
I woke past 3 p.m., so by the time I got home, it was evening. I refused Inha’s offer to sleep together, saying I wanted to rest fully today.
Back home, I first ate the porridge Mom made. Apparently, after two weeks on IV nutrition, I couldn’t eat rice right away. I was starving, so even porridge was welcome. Plus, I liked it anyway.
It felt like the first true peace in ages. After eating, I went to my room saying I’d rest. The unlit room was very dark, but I could make out shapes, so I didn’t turn on the light.
I closed the door and flopped onto the bed.
‘Ah, tired.’
Technically two weeks asleep, but tired was tired. Even so, my eyes drooped again. Sitting on the floor in a daze for a bit, I suddenly remembered and pulled a慰問品 snack from my student ID subspace. Maybe it was my imagination, but my room felt narrower today.
‘Oh, right.’
I suddenly recalled. Right before falling asleep last time, I’d thought of something. An experiment...? More like curiosity.
Back then, after finishing everything and collapsing. My senses felt sharpened. And I could see all the paths of the magic Hansu’s mom used. I’d wondered: if I followed that mana flow exactly, could I use that magic...?
Silly thought. But I wanted to try.
“Hm...... So, like this...... was it?”
I vividly recalled the mana paths swirling around her body then. I moved my mana as she had and manifested the spell. While doing so, I naturally thought it wouldn’t work.
But that instant, as I lifted my head, I froze.
Then, the door opened.
Click.
“Eunha. You asleep already? Oh......”
Mom looked around the room, eyes widening in surprise. Then she asked me.
“Is this... space expansion magic? That’s pretty advanced. Where’d you learn it?”
“......”
“Eunha...?”
I looked at my hands. A moment later, the only words I could barely utter were...
“No way......”
One by one, but at speeds unbelievable to others, I was growing.
〈Side effect〉
Pitch-black darkness. Eyes closed, the man whispered.
‘Computer circuits are like the brain. Even if you erase memories, they’re always stored somewhere.’
Soon, the man opened his eyes. His irises glowed crimson.
Staring into the black void, the man murmured.
“So, now it’s just how to get out of here......”
The man grinned in the darkness. A confident smile.
“Well...... gotta grab some spoils, right?”
The man’s voice echoed deep and profound.