Chapter 25
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Lucia is Smiling (8)
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Do you know what a lucid dream is?
A lucid dream is one where, while dreaming, you become aware that you're dreaming.
...And I'm explaining this out of nowhere because I'm having a lucid dream right now.
In the dream, I'm floating alone in a vast, empty white space.
There was truly nothing there.
It was the kind of place that would normally give me chills, but instinctively, it felt safe—peaceful, even.
I drifted around like that for a good while, exploring every which way, but no matter how far I went, I couldn't find an end to it.
It wasn't just the space that was empty—my body was gone too.
Like some kind of soul state, I suppose. Looking down, there was nothing to see.
'...This is boring.'
If I had a body, I could at least pinch my cheek, but as a soul, I couldn't even do that.
All I could do was float around in this empty void.
'...!'
Right around the time I was thinking it'd be nice to have something to read to pass the time, it hit me—I had something after all.
'Status window.'
Class: Unique Ability User
Title: One Possessing the Qualities of a Hero (NEW)
Skills:
- Telekinesis (Rank E ▶ D)
- Tamer (Rank EX)
- World Tree's Blessing (Rank C)
...I called it on a whim, and it shows up even in a dream. Impressive tech on the status window's part.
As I looked at the new title, it felt a bit self-praising to say it, but this time, it was pretty damn good, even by my standards.
'...Not just good—hell, it was badass, even if I do say so myself.'
Not self-flattery—the status window acknowledged it with a title and all.
We cleared the first chapter boss without anyone but me getting hurt or killed.
Sure, Lucia helped, but wasn't that all because of my commands?
Just like a soldier's merits become the commander's, Lucia's feats are mine as her master.
'And Telekinesis leveled up too.'
D-rank unique ability? In magic terms, that's mid-tier spell level.
Now I could proudly call myself a first-year at Carnea Academy.
As I grinned at the status window, something caught my eye far off in the distance—a 'dark light.'
Dark light? Total contradiction, but that's the only way to describe it.
It felt strangely familiar, and as I started drifting toward it, I felt my body being pulled downward—the sensation of waking from the dream.
I was curious about that dark light, but by then, I wanted out of the dream more, so I didn't resist.
'Gonna get some praise when I wake up.'
Maybe even a commendation from Professor Loreos. With that thought, I let the flow carry me.
"Groooan..."
What a strong, refreshing morning.
Instead of the familiar dorm ceiling, an unfamiliar one greeted me, so Professor Loreos must've moved me to the academy's infirmary.
My arm, bitten by the wolf, showed no scar—perfectly healed.
The World Tree's Blessing was worth the effort, no doubt.
'Feels great.'
Sunlight warmed the window outside, and my body felt perfect.
"Groooan..."
If not for the constant groaning from somewhere since I woke up, it'd be flawless.
'Time to check out, then.'
I stretched lightly, pulled back the curtain, got out of bed, and headed for the door.
...I should've kept walking straight to the door.
I shouldn't have peeked through the gap in the slightly open curtain next to me.
"Groooan..."
The student making all that noise was missing his left arm.
'...Huh?'
The bandages wrapped around the stump were soaked in blood, no trace of white left.
"...What... is this?"
My voice cracked.
I couldn't comprehend it.
Didn't we nail it?
A perfect plan—no injuries, no deaths—executed flawlessly.
I even put my life on the line in a one-on-one with the wolf for that.
'...So why?'
Dizziness hit me hard.
I barely caught myself on the bed's edge as the door opened and people rushed in.
"Teacher! The student's waking up!"
"Give him more painkillers and sedatives! Support from the Parthenon hasn't arrived yet! We can't let him wake up!"
"The sedatives are already at max dosage!"
"We can't just let him wake! Dose him more, quick!"
I saw them changing bandages, forcing pills into his mouth.
Yellow fat, white bone, red muscle.
I felt like vomiting.
"Ah, Eugene—you're awake. Professor Loreos told me about you. Great job. Your injuries weren't light either, but your recovery..."
"..."
Someone who'd followed me in spoke up.
I couldn't hear it.
I just wanted out of there, fast.
"H-Hey, Eugene! You can't leave yet. We need to check your—"
I shook off the hand grabbing me and bolted.
'Why?'
Why did it end like this?
Wasn't it the perfect wrap-up, with no one hurt?
...I don't know.
I don't know at all.
For now, I just wanted to get back to the dorm and rest without thinking.
'Just... rest a bit, then think.'
After some rest, my head would clear. It had to.
As I cut across the training field toward the dorms, something wrapped in white cloth passed by.
Don't look.
I warned myself.
Once I saw it, there'd be no going back.
...But I had to.
I couldn't bear not to.
"W-Wait... just a sec."
As I approached 'it,' the staff controlling the area blocked me.
"Step back. It's not good for students to see this."
"...Just... just a moment. Please."
"No, I said! You can't!"
While the staff held me back, 'it' was carried away on others' hands, getting farther.
"Student, head back to your dorm."
...Should I use Telekinesis to shake them off?
I seriously considered it and was about to when—
"Enough."
Professor Loreos's voice rang out.
"Professor..."
A voice so cracked, I couldn't believe it was mine escaped my lips.
He looked me over briefly, let out a short sigh, then fixed me with a sharp glare I'd never seen before.
"...Eugene, you don't need to see this. Do you still insist?"
His mana-laced words made my skin prickle.
But I couldn't back down.
"...I have to see."
At least I had to.
"Haa... Fine. Follow me."
"...Professor, we can't show this to a student."
"He's my disciple. I'll take full responsibility. You can go."
"...Yes, sir."
Leaving the bowing staff behind, I followed Professor Loreos.
A warehouse off to the side of Carnea's auditorium.
Thud—
The air in the chilly warehouse held three 'somethings' draped in white sheets, including the newest arrival.
"...Four critically injured, three dead, one missing. That's the disaster from this exam."
Somethings...
Cowardly way to put it.
They were corpses.
As I stared blankly at the white sheets over the bodies, Loreos bowed toward me.
"I'm sorry."
"..."
"Something that shouldn't have happened did. As a representative of the faculty, I apologize."
Why was he apologizing?
This was all...
"..."
With trembling hands, I pulled back the sheet on the nearest one.
【Class 4 Emery Sylvester】
A name I'd never seen before.
An extra I wouldn't even remember in the game.
...But these weren't data—they were people living in this world.
Emery's body was missing everything below the waist.
"...I'll say it upfront: none of this is your fault."
—It was mine. I could have stopped it.
"An unforeseen tragedy no one could predict."
—I knew. It was a scheduled event only I foresaw.
I covered Emery's body again and lifted the second sheet.
"Because of you, we saved countless other students unharmed."
—Because I said nothing, they died.
【Class 4 Winfred】
Winfred's face was twisted in agony.
His gut was ripped open, entrails devoured.
"I'll say it again: it's not your fault."
—Nothing was free of my sin.
As I reached for the last sheet, Loreos grabbed my shoulder.
"...Isn't this enough? Do you really need to see more?"
"...I... have to see."
Truth be told, I didn't want to.
But it happened because of me.
I couldn't look away—not me.
Swish—
I lifted the final sheet.
...There was no person underneath.
Just shattered mannequin-like remnants of arms and legs.
Unrecognizable carnage.
I looked at the name tag there.
【Class 5 Eloise】
'Studying? Don't lie. You study so hard—how are you ranked 144th?'
'Tired? Want a massage? I learned a bit from our maid at home.'
Eloise...
The name of the girl who'd laughed with me.