Goddesses of Aseong University (2)
A mysterious green energy rose from Da-on's palm, gently enveloping my wounds. Was this what mana felt like? The gashes closed up rapidly, and the bruised skin returned to normal. It was literal magic.
Treatment took about a minute, which meant staying pressed against Da-on that whole time. My heart was going to give out...
"All done..."
Da-on looked a bit drained once the healing finished. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and as she tried to step back, her legs buckled.
"Whoa, Da-on—!"
I quickly wrapped my arm around her waist to catch her before she fell.
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah... Just a quick dizzy spell. ...Oppa, how long are you gonna hold me?"
"Uh, uh... Sorry?!"
"Let go already!"
"O-okay..."
I fumbled in panic at her words, but Seo-rin swiftly pulled Da-on away. Heart, calm the hell down! I barely settled my pounding chest and asked them,
"You two awakened to a class too, right?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm a Healer."
As expected... After hearing Da-on's answer, I glanced at Seo-rin, who stood there grumpily. She immediately averted her eyes and snapped,
"Why should I tell you my personal info?"
"Unnie, I already told him."
"Th-that's..."
It was definitely important personal info. Still, we'd be sticking together for a while, so sharing abilities seemed crucial. Better for me to go first.
"Fine, I'll show mine first!"
"What...?"
I could share my Status Window with others if I wanted. Da-on gawked at it.
"Whoa, this... Oppa, what did you do all by yourself?! You're like from another world..."
"......"
"Still not gonna tell me yours?"
"......Fine, I'll show you!"
Seo-rin revealed her Status Window too, and then Da-on shared hers.
Seo-rin had awakened to a Unique class like me. Meeting another Unique this soon... it probably wasn't common, right? Her stats weren't quite at my level, but they were high, and she was adapting to this changed world just as well as I was.
And real magic...!
I checked Da-on's too.
Da-on was a Rare class awakener, and arguably had the most vital skill for survival. If she hadn't healed my wounds just now, who knows what could've happened later. Especially since those filthy goblin nails could've led to infection if not treated properly.
"You both have amazing abilities!"
"Oppa looks way more impressive! How many monsters did you take down all alone? Right, unnie?"
"Well..."
"Haha... Maybe around thirty?"
"Thirty?! Good thing we came to you, oppa!"
"Aw, shucks..."
The praise left me scratching my head awkwardly. But one thing popped into my mind, and I stared intently at Seo-rin before steeling myself.
"Wh-what're you staring at?"
"I, uh, have a favor to ask!"
"A favor... what is it...?"
Her cheeks flushed for some reason, but I pleaded sincerely.
"Show me your magic—just once!"
Seo-rin blanked out at the unexpected, ridiculous request. Do-hyun's expression was dead serious.
What was I imagining...!
"C'mon, just once?"
A twinge of disappointment hit her—she'd hoped for something else—but she hid it behind a tsundere huff, extending her hand and uttering a single character.
"水"
⟨ Language Magic ⟩
A baseball-sized blob of water formed above Seo-rin's hand. Her Language Magic manifested the meaning of spoken words into reality. At low level, it was limited to single characters.
Water appearing from nothing made Do-hyun's eyes go wide with delight.
"Yes! This is 'magic'!"
Da-on's healing was amazing too, but this matched Do-hyun's classic fantasies of magic.
"So cool!"
"Oppa, mine's magic too—did you hate it?"
"N-no! Yours was plenty amazing!"
Do-hyun hurriedly backpedaled as Da-on pouted. Annoyed, Seo-rin hurled the water blob at his face.
"There, happy now?!"
Splash—!
"Ack—?!"
Unlike the reaction she'd hoped for, Do-hyun wiped the water from his face, tasted it, and grinned.
"Doesn't vanish when thrown... Could drink this when thirsty!"
"Like hell I'd let you! Ugh..."
She'd meant to make him mad, but his nonchalance drew a helpless chuckle. Do-hyun shook off the water and clutched his growling stomach. Safety and company made hunger hit hard. Nothing since lunch.
"You guys hungry?"
"A little."
"Not at all!"
Seo-rin declared it, but her stomach betrayed her with a loud gurgle. Do-hyun squinted, and her face turned beet red. She snapped to cover it.
"What?!"
"A language mage lying? Really?"
"Wanna die?!"
"Unnie, oppa—don't fight! I'm starving too all of a sudden. Oh, and the Coin Shop sells food, right...?"
Da-on wedged between us before things escalated.
"Right, it does. Wonder what they've got."
Do-hyun checked properly at her prompt.
"Lots of stuff... but pricey."
"Yeah... With our coins, we can barely sample anything..."
They only have 100 each... Even pooling mine, it's tight.
Filling up safely was fine, but how to fight hungry? Even studying needed fuel! Pooling everything could work, but saving for emergencies was wiser. After agonizing, he shared his idea.
"Better save coins... The three of us can make it to the canteen, right?"
Their abilities balanced perfectly by chance: Do-hyun tanking upfront, Seo-rin supporting from behind, Da-on healing any injuries.
"I guess..."
"You came from outside—know what monsters are around?"
Da-on answered Do-hyun faithfully. Goblins were most common. He wasn't cocky; he could handle ten solo.
Silent Seo-rin chimed in.
"Hate to agree with him, but yeah."
"Hate...?"
"Unnie?"
Rare harmony between Do-hyun and Seo-rin. With two for, Da-on relented.
"Fine. But!"
She clung to Do-hyun.
"You have to protect me so I don't get hurt!"
"O-of course! I'll do my best for both of you!"
"Oppa, so cool!"
"Hehe."
"Hmph!"
It was dark, but streetlights lit the way easily to the canteen. Do-hyun, Seo-rin, and Da-on stuck close, scanning everywhere.
Midway there, no incidents.
Do they sleep? Natural for creatures. Tension eased; Do-hyun asked curiously,
"No time to check my phone—seen any news on this mess?"
"Left it to do what?"
"Told you, no time..."
"Unnie, it happens. Oppa, I didn't see much, but here's what I got!"
"Thanks!"
Da-on recapped everything. The shocker for Do-hyun: national emergency and martial law declared.
Martial law, but no soldiers?... Proof the state couldn't cope. This was war-level—or worse.
He'd expected it, but hearing confirmed the reality.
"Not just us—other countries too. Some say a few have already collapsed."
"Collapsed?"
"Not confirmed..."
"Nah, totally plausible."
Do-hyun mulled privately. This is bad...
That first message nagged: world ending, but not by goblins or orcs. Bigger monsters surely lurked!
Military wiped out maybe? No jets or choppers sighted.
Self-reliance it is! No waiting for help...
He kept it to himself. If they stuck around later, then he'd share. No need to crush hopes now.
Chatting led them to the canteen—brightly lit. But people blocked the front.
"Hold up!"
"...?"
Probably fellow students: two guys barring entry, more inside. Quite a few. Bad vibes, but they stopped.
"Uh... could you share some food?"
"We claimed this place."
"Want food? Pay the price!"
"What bullshit!"
"H-hold on..."
Do-hyun stopped Seo-rin's outburst, preferring talk.
"Money's fine, right?"
"Money? Know coins? Pay in those—special first-timer discount!"
They'd come to save coins, not spend them here. Thieves—ain't even theirs! Do-hyun bit his tongue; he might do the same.
Then the guys eyed the girls behind him.
"Yo, those girls... Han Seo-rin and Jeong Da-on?"
"Totally... No wonder they're gorgeous!"
Their eyes changed. Only the girls mattered now. Do-hyun's narrowed.