Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Walking Different Paths in the Same Time
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"Ugh... my shoulder keeps aching... Why does the inside feel so hot...?"
Blever kneaded his right shoulder.
The treatment for the dislocated shoulder he'd gotten from Ras was complete, but an inexplicable pain lingered.
It wasn't so bad that he couldn't do anything, more like an annoying irritation that pissed him off.
It felt like a burn from fire—a shallow, searing pain that smoldered inside his shoulder like embers.
Because of it, Blever's performance in the forest today had been slightly worse than usual.
"Blever, is your shoulder still not better? You looked kinda tired today..."
Glen, one of Blever's lackeys, asked cautiously.
He couldn't quite bring himself to say, "Dude, your magic aim was total garbage today..."
"I dunno. It's weird feeling this burning pain... That bastard Ras... What the hell did he do? It wasn't even magic, but..."
Blever trailed off, muttering under his breath.
As someone from the Stifula family, renowned for fire magic, he naturally had high resistance to flames.
Getting smacked and knuckle-rapped with actual fire was just part of his childhood routine.
Even for him, though, this heat felt alien.
It was like getting hit with magma, the legendary substance said to burn flames themselves...
But Blever quickly shook his head.
No way some punk like Ras could wield fire magic with worse aftereffects than his family elders.
It had to be his imagination.
He rationalized it as mental damage from losing to a nobody like Ras messing with his head.
He figured he'd need to visit Professor Rozali soon for another check-up and treatment.
A little pitiful act might even get her to baby him, he thought with a sly grin.
Semele Raupe, Nine Heavens Extinguishing Fire Art, shoddy poison, actually a heavenly elixir, and the dimwitted Irha Livingston.
The incident had spread like wildfire, accelerating uncontrollably.
Staring at this dubious poison—something I had zero desire to actually ingest—stirred complicated feelings.
Ah... What kind of hell did I go through in my past life after eating this to get stronger?
I paused, reminiscing about those days when I'd built my power in my previous life.
All burned to ash...
That final spark that revived my body and soul in utter despair had come from Leon's mockery directed at me.
From that day, I'd imagined my veins and mana circuits filled not with blood and mana, but with roaring flames.
Rage, lethargy, vengeance, desperate resolve—I hurled every scorching emotion into the fire within my heart.
I relentlessly visualized expelling the boiling heat from my body, venting and igniting it outward.
While eating, lying in bed, washing, even wiping after shitting—every damn moment.
At the same time, I kept throwing myself into fights as fragile as a moth to flame.
From back alleys to battlefields, and finally to the Kashimir arena...
The venues changed, but the fighting never stopped.
That was how I kept igniting flames throughout my life.
I firmly believed my cherished imagery would become reality, that ★dreams do come true★.
Burning away my remaining life and self in a desperate bid to survive.
Even with that fanatic obsession, fully manifesting the realm of imagery took years.
Of course, this was an extreme shortcut no one else could attempt.
It wasn't mere fantasy; the endless real agony let me cling so fiercely.
Warped senses, mana that ignited the moment I tried to accumulate it, a body weakening from hyperthermia, and that endless searing pain.
Living 24/7 in that hell allowed me to etch flames into my imagery and grow it.
My body already felt buried in fire—no effort needed.
But after regressing, that hard-earned flame and realm had vanished into thin air... Give it back, my cultivation..!
Is this why they say life is fleeting?
"Hey, Ras, I've got a question."
Suddenly, Irha's voice snapped me out of my reverie.
Looking up, I saw her shaking the bottle of her homemade shoddy (poison) potion.
"Why'd you make me brew this? Is this really my job? Something important? But... this smells so good..! Recovery potion, soda flavor..! Slurp.."
She stopped shaking it, popped the cork, and was about to chug it.
Her eager lip-smack made it clear she'd down it in one go if I didn't stop her.
"Whoa..!! Hey!!! Give me that!! No!!!"
I yelled frantically, snatching the bottle as Irha pouted sadly.
"Ras? Why the sudden anger!! I was just a little bad..!"
Ignoring her, I yanked the potion away. That's poison, you idiot!
But thinking about it, like Irha said, standard recovery potions sucked in efficacy but tasted great.
No major side effects, quenched thirst nicely—some guys even used them as drinks.
Ten years ago, parched on that day, I'd chugged one straight...?
Wait... chugged?
A new plan worth trying flashed in my mind.
'Ras... To be a great warrior, you must use your head well. But yours is so hot-headed, sometimes your brain feels cooked.'
Too many moth-to-flame years? Once I decided, I acted without looking back.
But post-regression, without chronic burning pain, my mind felt cooler now.
I resolved.
Don't gulp it all at once—split it up.
No solid proof for this approach.
Just that I'd changed through regression, so my future life would too—might as well change how I took the poison.
Oh, and... something to tell Irha.
"Irha. One thing: Don't mix potions... especially magical ones like this. Side effects can pop up out of nowhere."
"....!!!!!"
Irha stared at me with wide, shocked eyes.
"So... if I messed up, I almost fed you something worse..?"
I nodded, patted her innocent head, and pocketed the poison.
"Yeah. But it's fine. Learn as you go. Learn, and one day solve the unknowns—that's enough."
Irha blushed faintly and nodded.
Lunch ended like that. Now, just pick the right moment for my poisoning.
Seeing her earnest, airheaded side filled me with baseless confidence that this life would be better.
"This year's freshmen are pretty decent. None on my level, of course. What do you all think?"
"....."
Jet-black curly long hair, ruby-red eyes, flawless pale skin, and towering height.
The arrogant yet captivating woman muttered while eyeing the screens projecting the forest, sitting with haughty poise.
Surveillance magic scattered throughout Maugendorf Forest faithfully relayed the students' struggles.
From those cruising easily, to the middling, to those barely hanging on—all under the professors' scrutiny.
This bold questioner amid the gathered faculty wasn't a professor.
"As I always say... this is the academy. Show professors respect. Even as a princess, that doesn't change."
"Why are you in that professor's seat anyway... Go do your job."
Isera Bernstein responded firmly.
"Ah... right.. Sorry.. No, my apologies, 'Professor.' Even outside, I forgot this is an academy event."
"Well... I'm at that age to scout talent too."
The giggling woman was Skada Izenstein da Sephiros, second princess of the Empire and a second-year Leone student.
Enrolled last year, she tagged along for the exam as student council rep.
To scout talent, help with school duties, check on her damn brother's skills... plenty of reasons.
Many professors pandered to the princess, but ones like Isera spoke freely regardless.
Skada despised flattery and, true to her meritocracy, respected the capable like Isera.
"The freshmen look solid this year. Any standouts in your eyes, Professor? Besides Leon, that moron."
Isera smirked and sat beside her.
"Well... Marisa, as you know. No need to explain. Oh, and I found a shocking talent recently."
"High praise from you? Must be impressive."
Skada licked her lips, eyes gleaming like a pro scout eyeing a prospect.
"Very. Heard of Ras Etgard? In my view, he's better than you. Planning to nurture him... Oh, there he is! My Ras!!"
Better than a genius among geniuses? Skada knew Isera didn't mince words and had a killer eye for talent.
Following Isera's finger to the screen...
"He's... passed out..?"
Right then, Ras wobbled like a sky dancer in the wind and collapsed.
"What the...!"
Isera looked utterly flustered..!!
It's been three days since Ras suddenly collapsed.
In Maugendorf Forest, mid-exam, he left behind cryptic words and actions before keeling over.
So... what happened then was...
......
"Irha. From now on, no matter what I do, don't freak out. Any questions you get? Just say you don't know. Got it?"
Ras, who'd seemed deep in thought earlier, spoke to me obliquely.
He does these random things sometimes.
Earlier, he had me mix Emma's bad potion into recovery potion "conscientiously" out of nowhere...
Today's Ras is a bit off...! Though still handsome and cool as ever.
"Huh? Dunno?? What're you gonna do?"
I blinked in confusion, tone and face matching.
Ugh..! Gotta fix these dumb expressions and speech. Too airheaded...
Ras probably likes sharp, ladylike talk like Rizli's. I should talk smarter..! Not to impress him or anything...
Right! I'm a minion. An excellent one.
"You'll see. Anyway, play dumb. Do this, and Mirha lives. Promise? Minions don't question the boss."
His words were gibberish, but I felt his worry for me regardless.
Ras, what're you so worried about? Why always looking out for me?
"Dunno.. Scary... But okay. Mirha's gotta live. And minions obey the boss."
Anyway, Mirha's life and my role as Ras's minion mattered most.
Tons of questions bubbled up, but I steeled myself.
Once we build more trust and camaraderie, he'll open up more, right?
Hoping that day comes soon, I decided to obey.
"Good girl. So obedient, unlike some people."
Chuckling, Ras pulled out the potion bottle from his pocket and uncorked it.
That’s the one I made earlier... the "bad poison" he mentioned..?
Why pull that out?! You said it's harmful..! My eyes pleaded, but he smirked reassuringly.
"Irha. Once Mirha's better, let's grab food in Hiols. With Professor Rozali too."
As he brought the bottle to his lips, I noticed his hand trembling slightly.
His paling face, quivering lips—I saw his fear.
Gulp—
A quarter of the contents slid down his throat before I could react...
"Ah... ugh... So this is it... Even this much burns the tongue... No.. Gotta take more than this.."
After downing about half, Ras eyed me with bloodshot eyes.
Then he dumped the rest on the ground. As if it had never existed.
Shuddering and staggering, he looked at me with final words.
Like when he coached me against Rizli... But no voice this time. His eyes alone conveyed it all.
'Irha. Don't worry, just wait. I'll wake up fine.... Take care.'
Then Ras collapsed, carted to Leone's infirmary.
Sky-high fever, coma, vomiting blood, cardiac arrests—nonstop for two days.
So dire, Professor Rozali abandoned sleep and food to tend him personally.
Thankfully... this morning, he stabilized.
Fever down, no more arrests or bleeding—face relaxed. Phew, stepped out for air, time to head back...!
Believing our boss would wake today.
Opening the infirmary door...
"Where... am I..."
A familiar voice greeted me.
"No feeling below... What the hell happened.."
Oh no..! Big trouble.
Ras!!! You're okay, right?!