Chapter 25
Soon after, Teacher Cha Nari entered the classroom with a bright, cheerful greeting to the students. After the perfunctory morning assembly ended, class began ten minutes later. This session was on "Mana and Magi." As the name implied, it covered topics related to mana and magi.
Whether it was Class A or Class S, they were all academy students, so the supervising students had to attend lessons just the same. As soon as class started, Epelsar slammed her head onto her desk and fell asleep, while Iren whispered to the spirits hovering over her hand, just like on the first day. Kania seemed to be at least trying to pay attention... though honestly, she just looked spaced out.
On the other hand, Dina stared straight ahead with intense focus.
I remember her not being all that interested in studying in the novel.
She'd always barely scraped by without failing. As I stared at her face, our eyes met, and Dina tilted her head as if to ask what was up. I shook my head to say nothing was wrong and turned my gaze forward.
For my part, I planned to listen diligently. The novel explained most of the important stuff, but the more you knew, the better off you were.
Up front stood Cha Nari, teaching with enthusiasm despite having only two attentive students. She was so passionate she'd even prepared handouts.
"Everything in the world contains mana. Trees, rocks, even the air you breathe in and out!"
Mana was the power that made up the world. Nothing could exist without it—unless it defied the laws of this world, anyway.
That said, the name sometimes changed depending on context.
"Mana influenced by beings who can wield it is called magical power. Humans and elves are prime examples."
Whether external mana or mana within the body, once influenced, it fell under the category of "magical power." And that split into two branches.
The power shaped into forms, imbued with properties, and released as spells was simply called magical power.
"The magical power used by knights to enhance their bodies or weapons is called auras!"
What Scarlett and I used was aura, while Dina's was magical power. They were both ultimately mana and magical power, differentiated only by usage and nomenclature.
Incidentally, ability users' abilities barely drew on magical power. Physical stamina mattered more than the amount of mana.
"Next up, let's talk about magi!"
Cha Nari chattered on excitedly. As a first-year teacher, she clearly had some romantic ideal about teaching.
"Everyone knows how rifts suddenly started appearing in the world one day, right?"
Rifts by name, but they were basically the gates common in webnovels—just called rifts because they looked like cracks in the air. The main difference? Every rift connected to a single other world.
"Magi always leaks out from rifts. Only mana can block magi's corrosion."
Those who couldn't handle mana gradually eroded upon exposure to magi. Magical beasts were created when beasts from our world mutated after chance encounters with magi. Magical creatures, meanwhile, were beasts native to the worlds beyond the rifts.
"Sometimes demons or dark ones emerge from beyond the rifts, so always stay vigilant!"
Like the Demon King, demons and dark ones were humans from beyond the rifts. Most humans crossing over got corrupted by magi into magical creatures, but the especially strong ones resisted mental erosion. They couldn't block it entirely, ending up mostly feral while retaining fragments of their original personalities.
Not all turned savage, though. A few demons sided with our world. The difference between demons and dark ones was simply power level—strong ones were demons, weak ones dark ones. Crossing while preserving one's mind guaranteed baseline strength, but dark ones suffered more personality degradation. That's why you could occasionally find sane demons, but never sane dark ones.
"If you're exposed to magi with your mana depleted, you could turn into a dark one!"
Cha Nari spread her arms dramatically to scare the students listening raptly, letting out a spooky "Waaah!" I figured it wouldn't faze them much, but then Dina yelped "Eek!" and shrank back beside me, leaving me speechless.
Those who came through were originally ordinary humans, warped only by magi. Which meant people from this world could turn into dark ones too if severely exposed.
Incidentally, the Demon King retained nearly his full personality despite massive magi exposure. No idea why he still led the charge to wreck the world, though...
She went on explaining various details about mana and magi, but nothing crucial. The rest of the classes were standard subjects. Makes sense—even as Awakeners, they needed basic knowledge.
I hadn't studied much before possession, but since I'd covered this stuff sporadically, it wasn't tough. The day flew by in a flash.
The academy wasn't nonstop training. It felt like regular school with a few odd subjects mixed in.
History class was a bit tricky, though. The world being different meant massive divergences from my original one. In a world with magic, similarities would be weirder. The neighboring country alone was a massive empire, and the history was a jumbled mess.
Tricky.
Other subjects I could pass easily, but history might confuse me—risky, since three fails meant expulsion.
No way it'd come to expulsion.
Impossible. And I'd survived brutal Korean education. This was just novel-world lore. Memorize it all, done.
Lost in thought, I barely noticed Dina, ready to head back to the dorms, speaking up.
"...Not going?"
"Huh?"
What'd she say while I zoned out?
"Are you... not going back together?"
"Oh."
Dina had been waiting, assuming we'd go together. I jumped up, grabbed my stuff.
"Let's go."
I strode ahead, sensing Dina scurrying after me.
The guy inside her is a bit off-putting...
But my goal was building rapport with Dina to boost survival odds. No reason to refuse walking together.
We trudged along awkwardly, just like yesterday.
"......"
...Why bother walking together with nothing to say? I wanted to break the ice, but she intimidated me, and as an ex-loner, I had no clue what to say. So we walked in silence.
Until rustling came from the bushes beside us.
I'd already sensed something there via Sixth Sense.
"Hic!"
Oblivious Dina made a weird noise and scooted closer to me.
After more rustling, out popped a pitch-black cat.
"...A cat?"
Dina murmured weakly. Meow~ It mewed cutely at her.
Even cats know beauty when they see it.
Makes sense—she was captivating regardless of race. Glowing even with that black mask.
The cat mewing at Dina was adorable and didn't flee as I approached. Tame from human contact?
It didn't fear people much. I scratched its ear, and it closed its eyes blissfully.
After nonstop chaos since possession, this cute creature melted my tension. I forgot Dina right behind me, petting away.
Until she stepped right up beside me with a tap.
Startled, I glanced over to see Dina with slightly pouty eyes.
What's her deal?
Her fingertips twitched faintly too.
Does she want to pet it but too shy?
If so... I gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand toward the cat.
She yelped "Hii?!" in surprise, but I ignored it.
Heh heh heh. Once she touched it, the softness would erase any hesitation.
Her fingertips thok landed on the cat's head. Tense at first, she mustered courage and scratched its chin.
Good reaction from the cat? She soon zoned out, petting mindlessly. Watching her reminded me of my old dog back home.
Wonder if my pup's doing okay?
Now I missed it. Our dog had pure white fur like Dina's hair, petite build too.
Stroking the cat, I watched Dina's bobbing head sway... just like my dog. Without thinking, I reached up and stroked her hair once.
Both our bodies stiffened instantly.
Crap! There's a total stranger dude inside, and I just petted her?!
I smoothly withdrew my hand like brushing off dust.
"Ahem, you had some lint in your hair..."
"Ah, y-yeah..."
Dina's ears flushed pink as she touched where my hand had been, petting the cat with her other—regretfully, it seemed.
Seeing that made my chest tickle oddly, so I quickened my pace.
"If you're not coming, I'm going ahead!"
"W-Wait, coming too!"
She petted my head earlier anyway. Yeah, we're even.
I rationalized to myself and hurried on.