Terraforming

In Brack's mind, Park Chanyoung was truly an extraordinary man. Not just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠because of his handsome face. He was strong, wise, and always putting in the effort.

'Above all, his judgment is incredibly quick and precise…'

Brack couldn't help but feel it bone-deep during team training. The vast gap between himself and Park Chanyoung.

"Lately, it doesn't even feel like we're up against Instructor Gerard… It's more like Chanyoung's using us as chess pieces to outmaneuver the instructor…"

"…Brack, don't sweat it too much? If we just follow his lead, we'll snag that number one spot. Sure, it's only first out of four teams, but still."

"But it's an overwhelming first place. Our training level is more than double the second place. We should learn what we can."

What terrified Brack most was that Park Chanyoung kept growing stronger. Back when team training ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first started, he hadn't shown this level of leadership yet. At least, that's what Brack thought.

'At the beginning of team training. We all made mistakes, including him. But…'

Park Chanyoung had started figuring out how to handle his teammates better and better.

No one on the team had grumbled when Park Chanyoung first took command. After all, this trainee had won over most people with his skill and solid character. Plus, few wanted the hassle of barking orders while pulling their weight in combat—excluding those with egos bigger than their talent.

Brack was no different. Even with his disciplined body, keeping up with training was tough enough; he had no appetite for more.

Deep down, Brack had welcomed Park Chanyoung taking charge. It guaranteed him a bit more rest.

And now, Brack was berating himself for ever thinking that.

'Pathetic… So pathetic… I can't even look up… Chanyoung's already got overwhelming stamina, and he's pushing even harder… While a guy like me settles for third place…'

Brack turned his head, scanning the barracks.

Park Chanyoung and Chris Bennett were absent. Which left just the other two.

They were chattering away, oblivious to Brack's gaze.

"Hey. Chanyoung and Chris Bennett—they're totally doing it, right?"

"Everyone knows. They've probably already done everything there is to do."

"Kuh… Guess good-looking guys get girls no matter Earth or here. Sigh… Why not me…"

"Chanyoung's got more going for him than just looks."

"Yeah. Honestly, when someone's that good, you don't even feel jealous…"

These two were obvious low-rank trainees. Instead of agonizing over their own growth like Brack was, they obsessed over someone else's love life.

Brack pitied them on one hand, but he knew he wasn't much better.

These thoughts kept swirling in his head: What's the difference between them and me?

Lately, Brack had been gripped by anxiety. Especially as Park Chanyoung, whom he'd thought was on a similar level, surged ahead step by step.

He already knew how to use others to check opponents.

He already knew how to force openings in the strong through coordinated attacks.

He already knew how to direct battles down to each teammate's precise positioning.

He already… felt impossibly distant.

'…No choice but to work harder.'

Brack steeled himself. He'd do what he could.

Screeech…

The barracks door swung open then, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a man and woman strolled in. Needless to say, Park Chanyoung and Chris Bennett.

They entered casually, sitting on their respective beds. But Brack, with his mana-awakened enhanced dynamic vision, caught it clearly.

They'd been holding hands right up until entering the room, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠releasing naturally as the door shut.

'What a picture-perfect couple.'

Still, a twinge of stomach acid was unavoidable.

*

Most trainees had now completed mana awakening. In the early stages, the changes were subtle, leaving them doubtful. But I could tell from the system window—where the [Mana] stat clearly appeared.

And among all the trainees, Chris had awakened fastest. Enough time had passed now that she could even activate skills.

"Here. Try putting this pebble into your subspace."

"L-like this? Oh! It worked!"

At first glance, this skill didn't seem impressive. But… I knew its true value.

What happened when it reached Lv 3.

"This'll be your biggest weapon. Practice whenever you have time."

"Y-you think? I can't really see how to use it yet…"

Chris repeatedly stored and retrieved the pebble, trusting my words without pushback.

Her simple obedience warmed me.

"It might evolve with use?? Like in hero movies, where powers level up."

"Pfft… Reality's not like movies!"

"Maybe. But our situation feels more like a movie than reality, don't you think?"

"…Yeah, you're right."

Chris nodded blankly in agreement. Familiarity was scary—she no longer batted an eye at her body shifting dimensions or gaining magic-like powers.

I glanced away from her focused practice, surveying the surroundings.

'Let's see… One? Wait, two. Everyone but those two has awakened.'

Dozens of status windows flickered by. I checked each awakened trainee for skills.

The odds of unique abilities were low. With 20 trainees and Chris already manifesting one, another was statistically unlikely…

But you never know.

'Nope… As expected. In seven years, none of the 50 trainees manifested anyway.'

But my prediction was off.

One more had manifested a skill.

Brainwash? Sounds cheat-like at first.

But reading the details, it fell short.

Crucially, no level. It wouldn't grow, no matter the years. A massive penalty.

'Even Kaya's Fireball and Chris's Subspace had levels.'

And it seemed useless in combat. A "very very light" suggestion would shatter amid intense movement.

Still, better than nothing.

I checked the owner.

And…

"…Why him of all people."

"Huh? Who? Wang Ja-gun? What'd he do to Chanyoung?"

"Nothing."

The skill belonged to Wang Ja-gun. Seeing that ugly mug made me want to punch him again.

*

I'd finally carved out relaxed time with Anzelli. I'd been spending most days in the Terraforming world, missing her.

"But Chanyoung, your face changed suddenly—didn't your school friends say anything? I figured you'd ease into it over time."

"You're my only connection on Earth. People stare, but they don't seem to know who I am."

"Aha…"

"Oh, right—did the refund come through?"

"Ah! Yeah! I confirmed the deposit when you went to school before. I… totally forgot…"

"Me too. Until just now."

I'd kept the cleaning service until Anzelli moved in. It was cheap enough, and I had zero motivation to scrub this huge place myself.

But living with Anzelli meant canceling— she's invisible to others, but not her belongings. No need for suspicious outsiders.

I'd asked her to handle cancellation while I was at school. Forgot until today. Minor penalty fee, no big deal.

"Leave cleaning to me from now on! …Though I've been bored silly, cleaning nonstop anyway… I'll do it whether you like it or not."

"Why not surf the web like Baby Angel? Want a laptop?"

"N-no thanks! Unlike my junior glued to screens, I'm not into the internet."

"…Really?"

"Yeah… Watching her at it all day kinda turns me off…"

Baby Angel was obsessed with web surfing and PC games, just mooching food. I gave her noogies every time, annoyed. She'd glare innocently but knew she was a parasite, so no real complaints.

Anzelli handled cleaning, laundry, dishes, even massages for her landlord-me… While the senior slaved, the junior played? Unacceptable.

"That lazy bum."

"Hahaha…"

"Gonna give her a real scolding someday."

"W-well, while we were chilling here, she was up nights handling the handover."

"Isn't what you're doing now work too? Protecting me."

"…Then my junior's working too?"

"Maybe?"

Anzelli's desperate defense of her junior was adorable. I'd let it slide—this time.

But when Anzelli wasn't looking, Baby Angel was getting it.

"Um… Chanyoung?"

"Yeah?"

"That…"

Poke poke… Anzelli prodded my hand with her slender fingertip. Her face already expectant.

…Truth be told, Baby Angel's busyness wasn't bad for me. More secret skinship with Anzelli.

She seemed to crave it too. Never said outright, but she'd nudge for kisses at the right moments.

—Mmchup…

Anzelli's tongue tasted tart and fragrant, like cloudberry tea.