Chapter 123: Episode 123: The Angel Who Trains (1)

Episode 123: The Angel Who Trains (1)

There is no such thing as a life where one can live without losing anything.

Even if you don’t get everything you want, if you don’t lose what you don’t want to lose, then that person is the happiest person in the world.

But we all know that such a life doesn’t exist.

Leffrey, listening to the sound of falling rain, was lost in thought.

‘Hongwol…’

A beast folk girl with pink hair.

She was so tall and her flowing curves that come with it might make it strange to call her a girl, but when people see Hongwol’s smile, still retaining its youthfulness, they’d understand.

That she was still a child.

‘The next chieftain of the Mooncat Tribe, a genius swordswoman who could wield two magic swords at once.’

She was one of the monsters who rampaged during the War of Annihilation. Skilled enough to laugh off the pathetic insults from those who couldn’t wield dual swords, those who called her a “dual sword freak”.

But Hongwol wasn’t just that.

‘That’s not what’s important. To me, Wol is…’

Leffrey, lying on the cold stone floor, listened to the endless sound of rain.

‘Wol is my precious friend.’’

And at that moment, Leffrey stifled a groan that was about to escape.

“Wol…”

He couldn’t get up. He felt as if something incredibly heavy was pressing down on his stomach. No, wait.

Something *was* pressing down on him.

“…Just when did you get on top of me?”

Hongwol was sound asleep on top of Leffrey. The girl was on his stomach, in the position commonly known as the ‘loaf’ position.

Her arms folded under her head like a pillow, her back arched upwards and her legs folded beneath her, a position that maximized warmth.

He had no idea how she had ended up sleeping on his stomach in such an uncomfortable position, but Leffrey couldn’t bring himself to push her away.

Even though Hongwol’s body was healed by Leffrey’s Angelic Ability, the trauma of those wounds didn’t easily disappear.

Leffrey, silently, patted the area between Hongwol’s waist and hips, just above her pink tail.

‘I saw on the internet that cats love it when you pet them here…’

And Hongwol did seem to like it. Even though she was asleep, she was smiling and as if she felt good, she even let out a “Meowww~” sound.

And so, Leffrey, the Butler Angel, was activated.

Although other butlers struggled because of cats occupying just their legs… Leffrey’s entire body was being pressed down.

But Leffrey endured.

He was truly a commendable butler.

[Comforting the heart of a young hero is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

By diligently being a butler, he could even gain a small amount of Angelic Power.

Leffrey, hiding his guilty conscience,

closed his eyes again, listening to the rain.

* * *

‘I’m too weak.’

Leffrey had this thought every time he had a break. He would feel this way after being accepted to the Central Superhuman Academy, where only the best were allowed, and even being one of the top students, yet he thinks this?

Other superhumans would have accused him of being a fraud. But Leffrey thought differently.

‘Wol being hurt like that is because I’m too weak. If I had just reacted a little faster… or had a skill to counter those professor-level powerhouses…’

Leffrey would eventually have to face the demon king. And protect his friends in the process.

The demon king and his subordinates? They were strong, needless to say. And the villains who would threaten his friends, Soya, Hongwol, and Yumari? They were also incredibly powerful beings.

Leffrey needed to be strong to face those enemies.

‘…Ahem, and besides, if I become strong, I’ll be one step closer to becoming Leffrey, the Rich Angel’

Of course, he couldn’t forget about his materialistic desires. In this world where superhumans existed, strength was equivalent to money. If you were strong, making money was easy.

Leffrey, after much deliberation, finally came to a conclusion.

‘The time has come. It’s time for me to pursue one of the reasons why I entered the Central Academy.’

And Leffrey muttered,

“I have no choice but to take that class…”

“Leffrey, what are you worried about?”

Soya asked. Leffrey nodded slightly and replied,

“I think I’ll have to stay outside the cathedral for a while.”

Soya, shocked at those words,

Grabbed Leffrey’s sleeve and asked,

“Why? Why?”

“I have some things to do at the professors’ building. And it doesn’t seem like it’ll be over quickly…”

“I’m going too!”

Soya’s sharp tone caught Leffrey off guard. A little flustered by Soya’s reaction, he asked her again,

“Soya, don’t worry. I’ll make you plenty of side dishes before I leave.”

“It’s not about that! Idiot!”

Soya suddenly grabbed Leffrey and shook him.

“The way those female professors have been looking at you is not normal! Especially Professor Hexi and Professor Merrill! And you’re saying you’re going to the professors’ building where they live?!”

“Professor Hexi sometimes sleeps over at our cathedral.”

Using the title of “dorm supervisor”.

Soya shook her head.

“I hate that too, but at least I’m here in this cathedral with you.”

“But…”

“But what?! Did you see how Professor Merrill’s eyes sparkled when she saw you?! She even bit her lip! She’s like some kind of pervert. Well, no, she *is* a pervert. I just know it.”

Soya had a knack for these things.

Leffrey sighed and said again,

“It’s important.”

“No. No way. I won’t let you go.”

Soya’s tone was firm. Knowing that Soya could hold a grudge for a long time, Leffrey felt that he needed to get her permission, no matter what.

Then there’s only one way.

To fluster Soya.

Leffrey went for a straight ball,

“Soya, do you like me that much?”

“Wh-What?! What?! What?!”

Soya waved her hands with a ‘Papapat-’ sound, then quickly covered her face with the brim of her witch’s hat.

“What are you talking about? I-I’m just platonically worried about you, as a friend. Wh-why, why, why would you even think that?”

“Aww, but I like Soya.”

“Aaaaaaaaahh!”

Soya lowered the brim of her hat even more. The brim was pulled down so low that her face, and even her neck, were completely covered.

“Don’t worry too much. Nothing will happen.”

Leffrey said in a comforting tone.

Soya, her face still hidden, whispered in a slightly teary voice,

“R-Really? Nothing’s going to happen?”

“Of course!”

“…I’m just a little worried, as a platonic friend. So, come back quickly.”

Leffrey said with a smile,

“I’ll be back soon.”

Soya nodded a little.

The nod was slow and hesitant, as if filled with reluctance.

As she heard Leffrey packing his things to leave, Soya’s small hand reached out towards Leffrey but stopped. As if she didn’t want him to leave.

And when Leffrey was completely gone…

“Tantalus.”

Soya, with a cold expression she would never show Leffrey, whispered to her shadow.

“You called, my queen.”

“Did you fully digest that Heavenly King from before?”

“I can’t say ‘fully digested’… but I’ve made most of its power mine.”

The massive black dog grinned, its hundreds of teeth, gleaming in the light, were incredibly menacing.

“…Go and secretly watch over Leffrey.”

Soya’s eyes sparkled.

“And report everything that happens to me.”

* * *

At the top floor of the Swordsmanship Department, in the Vice Principal’s office that others were too scared to approach… a boy was boldly knocking on the door.

The owner of the office instantly recognized the one who was knocking, even though the door was still closed.

“Leffrey? Come in.”

“Hello…”

Park Jin-ho smiled brightly, as if he had really wanted to see Leffrey, who cautiously entered his office.

“What brings you here?”

Park Jin-ho then pulled out a chair for guests with excitement. Leffrey bowed his head and sat down.

“Professor, I want to become stronger.”

“Yes, every human wants to be stronger. In this professor’s judgment, if you continue to train like this, you’ll be able to become one of the strongest in the world by the time you graduate.”

Leffrey shook his head, hearing those words.

“There’s no time. You know that too, Professor.”

“…But if you’re hasty, you’ll only ruin the dish. Only the skills you’ve built up honestly, step by step, will never betray you.”

“But…”

He was right. But Leffrey didn’t have much time left, and there were too many opponents that couldn’t be defeated by mere hard work and effort.

“Professor, I want to take the supplementary class for top students.”

“Oh?”

“You said I would have a chance, didn’t you?”

“Yes. This professor did say that.”

The supplementary class for top students.

One of the secrets of the Central Superhuman Academy, shrouded in rumor.

It was known to be the most difficult and dangerous class among the already insane classes of the Central Academy.

“Leffrey, you’ve heard the rumors about the supplementary class for top students, right?”

“Yes. They say that even the student council president barely passed after being half-dead. I don’t know the details of the class, though.”

Park Jin-ho nodded.

“Because it’s a secret. Just like how the East Coast Academy has their secret technique, Past Life Awakening, the supplementary class for top students is our secret.”

“And I heard that the student council president acquired her Ultimate Skill through that supplementary class.”

“That is also true. This professor guarantees it.”

Of course, Leffrey already knew about the supplementary class for top students. And he had been preparing for it ever since he entered the academy.

Park Jin-ho looked at Leffrey once more.

“Leffrey, are you confident?”

Park Jin-ho asked seriously.

Leffrey answered with a determined voice,

“Even if I’m not confident, I’ll be brave.”

He had to be brave.

‘The supplementary class for top students, I know it’s a really dangerous class.’

Leffrey swallowed hard. Even though he had been preparing for this class for a long time, the odds of success weren’t high.

‘But I have to become stronger. To protect.’

He had to be brave, to protect.

Even if you couldn’t obtain everything you wanted, if you didn’t lose what you didn’t want to lose, then that person is the happiest person in the world.

He had to become stronger to protect,

And he had to be brave, even in the face of danger.

He couldn’t give up until the end..

After staring at Leffrey for a long time, Park Jin-ho patted the boy’s shoulder and said.

“I heard that you were the one who stopped Merrill’s deep hatred. To think that you accomplished something even this professor couldn’t. It’s nothing short of a miracle.”

His voice was filled with pride and worry. His judgment as a professor that the class must be conducted to help the boy grow, and the worry about what to do if the boy gets hurt.

Park Jin-ho said to Leffrey, with sincerity,

“This professor always believes in you.”

And Park Jin-ho declared,

“We will begin the supplementary class for top students.”