Ch.345340 – Allergy

*Ding dong deng dong-*

“Ugh…”

“Haaa…”

As the bell rang, heavy sighs could be heard from all around the classroom.

“3rd grade Class A, everyone put your hands above your heads.”

When the young male teacher gave instructions, the students obediently followed.

Teacher Shim Hyo-chan, who was the homeroom teacher for 2nd grade Class B last year, became our homeroom teacher this year.

For reference, Jacqueline Carroll was assigned as the homeroom teacher for 6th grade Class A.

“NoName, wasn’t this midterm exam super difficult…?”

Ji-hye, sitting diagonally in front of me, turned her head and pouted.

Then Yu-na, sitting far away, responded indifferently.

“It’s all easy for NoName anyway, so there’s no point in asking her.”

I could only offer a smile in response.

Meanwhile, Teacher Shim Hyo-chan collected the “Magic Activation” test papers one by one from the back.

From the 3rd stage of the 5 stages of magic, it begins to seriously deal with circuit formulas.

This is also the point where the number of students giving up on learning magic increases exponentially.

For this midterm exam, students needed to perfectly understand proportional formulas and calculate the length and area of various plane figures, and sometimes even the volume of three-dimensional objects.

[Name: No Na-me / Last edited: 38 minutes ago]

“Won’t you skip grades like Si-hoo, NoName?” Teacher Shim asked while checking my test paper.

I quietly nodded.

“Anyway, it’s strange.”

Si-hoo skipped to 4th grade, and he’s probably preparing for his next subject test right now.

Since 4th graders have one more subject, he’ll be going home later than us.

“Everyone, good job on the exam. Have a great weekend!”

“Yaaay, it’s over! Goodbye, teacher!”

The boys who had been fidgeting impatiently rushed out of the classroom like lightning.

“Yu-na, are you going to wait a bit and go with Si-hoo?”

“I… I should at least wait for him.”

“Only a girlfriend would look after her boyfriend like that. Hehe.”

“We’re not dating!”

“Then we’ll be going. Yu-na, have a good time.”

“Hey, Han Seo-ri! You’re dead if I catch you!”

Seo-ri would tease her, and Yu-na would roll her eyes and charge at her.

These pure kids never seemed to tire of this pattern that had been repeating for a year.

“Yu-na, don’t come home too late. I’m rooting for you.”

“Not you too, NoName…”

Except for Yu-na who had a date planned, the four of us—Seo-ri, Ji-hye, Ha-ru, and I—headed to downtown Gangnam.

“What about lunch?”

“We decided on Ashley’s, remember?”

“Ah, right.”

When you’re around young kids, you really notice how much they love buffet restaurants.

Maybe because they’re at an age when they’re growing taller, they all had good appetites.

“NoName, try this too, just once.”

“I’m full.”

“Already? You’ve only had two plates?”

I couldn’t use Corrosion of Appetite just to burn calories forcibly.

I politely declined the requests of the kids pointing forks at me and quickly finished my lunch.

Since it’s tiring to walk around on a full stomach, we went to the movie theater to watch an animation, then to a karaoke room to burn off the energy that had somehow recharged, and then stopped by Kyobo Bookstore to shop for stationery.

‘Is this really a place that sells books?’

Half of this large bookstore was filled with stationery items.

Cute keyrings, character pencil cases, hundreds of types of stickers, plastic cases, letter papers, and so on.

“This would look good on NoName!”

Ha-ru snuck up behind me and put something on my head.

It was a bunny ear hat.

“Where did you find that?”

“Over there!”

Following where she pointed, I saw all kinds of knick-knacks displayed—pillows, character dolls, blankets, and more.

Across from that, there was even a section selling electronic devices and capsule customization accessories.

Is this the bookstore’s desperate attempt to survive in cold capitalism?

It felt like looking at a cyborg that had replaced all its parts with machinery except for the heart.

“Girls, I’m a bit tired so I’ll rest over there. Come find me when you’re done shopping.”

Escaping from the kids with their border collie-level energy, I bought a paper book from the warm heart of the bookstore.

[Dark Shops Street – Patrick Modiano]

[I am nothing.]

‘Why does he say he’s nothing?’

The moment I read the first sentence, I was drawn into the abyss and found a comfortable spot to quickly read through the book.

Meanwhile, I didn’t even notice people whispering about me nearby.

“Excuse me.”

“…”

“Excuse me?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry to bother you, but could I get your autograph?”

When I came to my senses, I realized that dozens of people had surrounded me.

‘Ah… I should have stayed with the kids even if I was a bit tired.’

I separated from them because it was hard to walk around, but now I was given an even bigger quest.

“I need to leave soon, so I’ll do as many as I can.”

[Cast: Coordinate Synchronization]

‘Lee Ha-ru, Ma Ji-hye, Han Seo-ri, come quickly and save me.’

I drew magic circles diligently, hoping my companions would rescue me soon.

* * *

When I arrived home, it was already 8 PM.

“Adella, I’m home.”

“You look like you don’t have much energy today?”

“Yeah. I’m tired, so I’ll skip exercise today.”

“What? Really? This is unexpected! Let’s hurry and play games, heehee!”

Playing with the kids must have been more physically demanding than I thought.

I collapsed on Adella’s bed without even changing my clothes.

Regardless, Adella took out a Nintendo from under the bed and busily moved her fingers.

“Did you get your GED results?”

“Of course I passed. It was basically just a personality test.”

“That’s good. You should be able to enroll by May at the latest. Enjoy this moment while you can.”

“Sis, if you have time later, watch me handle my aura. I’ll show you something awesome today.”

Adella was able to figure out how to use aura in less than a day.

Considering the cases of Corrosions in my previous life, it wasn’t that surprising, but I had predicted it would take longer since this world has sparse mana.

[Sis, I think I’ve decided on a name to use from now on. It’s Cheon Saet-byeol. How is it? Pretty? Cute? Lovely? A name worth investing your entire fortune in?]

[It’s tacky.]

[Sis, you’re so mean!]

I didn’t bother asking how she learned to handle aura.

During the process of enlightenment, the Aura Heart can become disturbed the moment one becomes conscious of others’ gazes.

Actually, it’s quite obvious—gaining enlightenment through stars is one of the most common methods.

The important thing when handling aura is permanence.

The more permanent the substance or concept used as a medium, the more strongly the aura responds to will.

Venus, the third brightest object in the sky, is a pretty decent choice.

“Hey, no matter what, using aura just to play games is too much.”

“It’s my choice! What’s the point of having something good if you don’t use it?”

Adella’s eyes were glowing orange.

After teaching her how to control her body, I also gave her a lecture on increasing eye response speed, which Adella grasped immediately.

It’s probably because the experience from virtual reality was still fresh in her mind, making it less resistant.

Or she might simply be talented.

“I caught a big one! It’s a sturgeon!”

And she’s using that talent for fishing. What’s ridiculous is that it’s not even real fishing.

I held back the urge to nag and watched Adella’s happy dance.

I asked Adella as she wiggled her hips from side to side.

“What about your broadcast?”

“I already finished all my homework while you were out. What do you take me for?”

“Then show me. Let me see.”

“My aura? Watch carefully with both eyes open. The great achievement of Adella!”

Adella sat cross-legged.

She took a deep breath and closed her mouth tightly, and her previously calm Aura Heart began to stir.

I cast a simplified version of the Devil’s Horn to observe in detail how she handled her aura.

‘Her aura is already developing order?’

A crimson energy spreads in a spiral pattern from her Aura Heart.

The fact that there’s a consistent pattern means it’s that much easier to control.

Impressed by her achievement, the corners of my mouth curled up.

‘I thought she was just a cat freeloading on food, but she’s been training hard behind my back.’

I was curious about what Adella would do with her aura now.

She could make her fists harder, or perhaps increase muscle elasticity.

At an even higher level, she might regulate hormones in her body, but I wondered how she would do it…

“Ughk!”

Adella let out a short groan and frowned intensely.

With the sound of grinding molars, her aura split in two as if drawn by magnets.

One part swirled toward Adella’s head, while the other gathered like a whirlwind toward her backside.

I couldn’t even guess what she was trying to do now.

Seeing how she was concentrating her aura, it wasn’t physical enhancement or hormone stimulation.

Suddenly, Adella’s eyes flashed open.

Orange glowing irises, vertically elongated pupils.

Pupils?

“Ah… ah…”

Adella flared her nostrils and covered her mouth with both hands neatly folded.

“Achoo! Achoo! Haaachoo!”

*Poof!*

“Sniff.”

After three consecutive sneezes, Adella sniffled as if she had rhinitis.

“Adella, you…”

Adella’s aura wasn’t simply ordered.

It formed a shape, became three-dimensional, and finally proved its existence.

I rubbed my eyes repeatedly and deactivated the Devil’s Horn.

I could still “see” Adella’s aura.

“I finally got my body back.”

Two cat ears twitched on top of her head, and a red tail revealed itself behind her back.

I jumped up and tried to touch her ears.

She wasn’t using a toy to trick me.

It was truly manifested through her aura, passing right through my hand.

Instead, where it brushed my palm, it resonated with my aura, giving a warm sensation.

“How did you…?”

To my question, Adella gave a sly smile and said:

“I just did it and it worked?”

External manifestation of aura.

The ultimate technique that only a select few chosen by heaven can display.

Adella had skipped all the preceding stages and passed through the final gate.

* * *

“These ears don’t let me hear different frequencies of sound or anything like that. Same with the tail. In short, they’re just decorative.”

“Even if they’re decorative, the very attempt to externalize your aura is amazing, Adella.”

“This is the first time you’ve praised me so much, sis! I guess it must be really difficult? I’m starting to feel really good, hehe.”

“But why did you sneeze?”

Adella blew her nose with a tissue and shrugged.

“I’m not sure? Maybe I have a cat allergy?”

“Are you making a joke?”