Chapter 74: The Angel Learns the Style (5)

Episode 74

Leffrey, catching his breath, looked at the archangel who was smiling.

‘Wow, so he can smile.’

But as if to say Leffrey’s thought was wrong, the archangel’s smile instantly disappeared.

“Your combat skills have improved.”

“O-Of course.”

Lefriel continued to attack methodically.

Flying up straightforwardly and striking down straightforwardly.

Movements without a hint of trickery.

Of course, Leffrey was barely able to block those straightforward attacks, almost collapsing multiple times.

‘If only Leffriel had used a proper attack instead of those obvious ones…’

For example, proper attacks included:

Hiding his ability to fly and then striking at a critical moment, confusing Leffrey by using flashy movements that made his attacks unpredictable, or simply staying high in the air and using ranged attacks.

And so on.

There were countless ways for one to dominate the ground if they ruled the skies.

Especially if those who ruled the skies were angels, Heaven’s messengers.

‘The sky is an angel’s home ground.’

If the archangel truly wanted to win, Leffrey would have already been defeated.

Or rather, become like a ninja whose nine-tailed fox went berserk, a shinigami whose inner hollow took over, or a jujutsu sorcerer who ate too many fingers.

Leffriel, the judge of the world, would have been able to reappear.

‘…I’m an idiot.’

Leffrey reflected on his actions.

No, to be so oblivious to the danger and try to provoke a rampaging entity sealed within him, even though he read so many of those kinds of mangas…

‘B-But, all’s well that ends well.’

Leffrey lowered his head, ashamed of his foolishness.

He looked at the archangel again.

The archangel staring at him emotionlessly. What on earth is he thinking right now?

‘The reason why the archangel attacked me in the air… must have been to teach me how to fly.’

It was a practical lesson.

A lesson that Leffriel engraved into his very bones.

How powerful an attack from above could be. How easy it is to dodge grand magic because of a wider field of vision in the air. How difficult it was to avoid ranged attacks from above.

And the fact that angels become stronger in the air.

Leffrey would never forget it.

Even so, the boy could only say this to Leffriel,

“Are you still going to try to take over my body?”

“…I failed.”

Both of them were clearly pretending.

Leffriel went back to the corner of the white wall, crouched down, and peeked out.

“…You promised to save the World Tree sapling, right?”

Leffriel asked in a monotone.

Leffrey slowly nodded.

“Angels are the messengers of Heaven.”

The archangel pointed outside with his finger.

“Go…”

Leffriel, for the first time, spoke with emotion.

“Go… and fulfill your mission.”

Leffriel closed his eyes.

* * *

A massive space in the basement of the cathedral.

In line with its medieval style, it was a space with cold stone walls, stone floors, and magically burning torches.

The boy who had been meditating in the middle of that space suddenly gasped for breath.

“Huff… huff…”

Leffrey opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the cathedral basement.

He had awakened from his meditation.

“Ugh, my body… My body aches!”

Leffrey, on the verge of tears, rolled on the floor.

This pain…

It felt like the muscle aches that he felt the morning after a swordsmanship class, pain all over his body.

Leffriel’s training was that brutal.

“H-Healing… Why isn’t it working?!”

What was worse was that the pain he had received during meditation was mental pain, something even Healing of the Seraphim couldn’t heal.

“Ugh!”

Leffrey, stumbling, left the basement.

Bubble bubble bubble- Gurgle gurgle gurgle-

Liquids of all colors, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, bubbled and boiled inside beakers, and various glass bottles and tubes were connected in a complex manner, resembling a small roller coaster.

A very complex roller coaster.

And in the center was a little witch, muttering, “So even this substance carbonizes… Hmm, interesting reaction.”

That witch spoke,

“Leffrey?”

“S-Soya.”

“What? Didn’t you say you were going to prepare for the final exam? Why are you already… Wow, you’re sweating so much…”

Leffrey said, trembling,

“Something came up. Don’t worry.”

“Who, who’s worried? I’m just… a bit surprised because of the perfect conditions of the lab.”

Then she quietly approached and touched Leffrey’s forehead.

“Ugh, you don’t have a fever.”

“I’m really fine, so stop worrying and prepare for the exam.”

“I’m not worried!”

She turned away, going “Hmph!” and “Tsk!” A true tsundere.

“I’m not going to have dinner because I’ll be researching all night.”

“Soya! You won’t grow taller if you skip meals. You’re always measuring your height, aren’t you?”

“It’s just a simple data measurement. And I’m always drinking milk. Ah! Ah!”

Soya’s face suddenly flushed red.

“Stop talking nonsense and go to bed! I’m not eating dinner!”

“U-Ugh, S-Soya!”

“Whatever!”

Slam-

Leffrey was banished to his room and collapsed onto his bed.

‘I’m so tired.’

Leffrey could never sleep peacefully.

But he might be able to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep on days where he was so exhausted.

‘I don’t want to sleep.’

Leffrey’s eyes slowly closed.

Darkness enveloped his vision.

Darkness, into the darkness.

Into the darkness, where no one could reach.

Into the darkness, from where no one could save him.

Where lights shimmer…

Where a red river flows…

Towards the cruel world beyond that gap…

Press-

Press- Press- Press-

Leffrey felt a strange sensation on his back.

As if soft hands were gently pressing on his chest.

“Meow.”

Press- Press- Press-

It wasn’t a bad feeling.

It felt somewhat pleasant.

Leffrey stealthily opened his eyes to see who was pressing on his chest.

He could tell just by the silhouette alone.

Elegant curves, eyes that glowed in the darkness, and pointed cat ears.

It was Hongwol.

Press- Press- Press-

Hongwol, as if possessed, sat beside his bed, pressing on Leffrey’s chest with both hands.

‘This feels a bit strange.’

Leffrey, so that Hongwol wouldn’t feel awkward,

“Hmm…”

He moaned and squirmed.

Hongwol immediately withdrew her hand and pretended to be doing something else, even picking up a book and pretending to read.

“Hmm, I slept well.”

Leffrey stretched and awkwardly got up.

Hongwol, acting as if she hadn’t done anything, spoke,

“Boy, are you awake?”

“Yes, Wol. What are you doing here at this hour?”

“Well, It’s nothing special. I stopped by the cathedral, and you were sleeping. I thought we could talk for a bit, so I waited.”

Hongwol smiled.

Leffrey, pretending nothing was wrong, touched his chest and asked,

“That’s strange. I had a dream where someone was pressing on my chest.”

“R-Really? That’s a weird dream. It wasn’t even a cat. What would make a human do something like that?”

Hongwol was clearly acting.

“I never said It was a human.”

Hongwol, hearing Leffrey’s mutter, blushed and lowered her head.

“It must have been a dog dream.” (TL Note: Dog dream in South Korea means a dream that’s chaotic and doesn’t make any sense.)

“I guess so.”

A dog dream?

To be precise, wasn’t it more of a cat dream?

Leffrey, thinking this, looked at Hongwol and smiled.

“How are the final exam preparations going?”

“No, there’s nothing to prepare for this final exam.”

Her pink tail swished in the darkness.

“This final exam is a martial arts test, Lusa’s style. Kukuku, I like that professor so much. All I have to do is crush anyone who stands in my way, and first place is mine! No, wait, there’s something even more important than first place.”

“Something even more important than first place?”

Hongwol revealed a vicious grin.

“I can finally teach that snake a lesson~”

Her eyes were burning with determination, she looked like someone with a grudge against Yumari.

‘Does she hate Mari that much?’

That’s true.

But to be more precise…

Her tongue flicked out, as if she were imagining something distant.

Hongwol was clearly looking forward to fighting Yumari.

‘…Scary.’

Leffrey shook his head.

Future heroes are already fighting among themselves like this.

Leffrey felt a strong sense of responsibility as an angel.

“Wol, did you hear the news?”

“What news?”

“About the final exam top student…”

Leffrey left the bait, saying “final exam top student”.

Hongwol, was instantly hooked.

“Ah, the thing about the prize for the top student? Th-That, what was it again? A World Tree sapling?”

“…That’s right.”

They’ve already announced it.

Now, there was no turning back.

“Ha, to think they worship that thing as a god. The elves are so ridiculous.”

“Wol, that’s a bit harsh.”

“…Boy, was I wrong? Look at the World Tree selling its daughter, its own daughter. How can they call such a being a god?”

Hongwol made a bitter expression.

“The final exam is just an excuse. And that sapling will probably be sent to a large guild or a superhuman family as a bribe. To build a relationship with them. For such a reason…”

Her expression turned cold.

“Well, that’s how mothers are.”

“Wol.”

Leffrey stood up.

And embraced Hongwol.

“Let’s get first place.”

“I told you. This time, the first place is mine.”

“Let’s get first place and…”

Leffrey smiled at Hongwol.

“Let’s save that child from her mother.”

Hongwol, looking surprised, nodded slightly.

“…That doesn’t sound too bad.”

“It doesn’t, right?”

Leffrey hugged Hongwol even tighter.

“As expected, our Wol. You’re so kind!”

“Stop treating me like a child!”

Leffrey thought,

‘When Wol says something good like this, I have to praise her a lot!’

To guide a future hero to the path of good deeds is an angel’s duty.

Leffrey had no intention of neglecting this duty.

[Teaching a future hero the joy of good deeds is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

‘Angelic Power is coming! If I can get Angelic Power by praising her… then more praise it is!’

Leffrey naturally patted Hongwol’s pink hair.

“Our Wol is the best!”

“I said stop!”

She said that, but…

Hongwol was getting closer to the boy.

So close that Leffrey felt a sense of pressure.

[Teaching a future hero the joy of good deeds is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

‘Angelic Pat Pat!’

As the boy’s warm touch continued, Hongwol couldn’t help but make a sound.

“Purr.”

Hongwol, her tail standing straight, flinched and covered her mouth.

‘S-Such an embarrassing sound…’

Hongwol quickly stepped back, then looked at Leffrey and said,

“Anyway, good luck with the final exams. I-I’ll be going now.”

“Wait, Wol.”

Only now could Leffrey say the real reason why he stopped Hongwol.

“Can you spar with me tomorrow?”

“Spar?”

“Yeah, think of it as studying together for the final exam.”

Studying together for the final exam.

What a heartwarming event, something out of a teen drama.

Hongwol, her face blushed, nodded without a word.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, see you tomorrow.”

Hongwol, barely managing to hide her smile, put on a haughty expression and said her goodbyes to Leffrey.

And as soon as she left the cathedral, a bright smile bloomed on her face.

“Meow meow!”

Hongwol, as if she could fly, skipped happily back to her dormitory.

Someone was watching her.

“…?”

A girl, floating in the sky, looked down at the cathedral with her usual expressionless face.

It was Yumari.

“Why are you in a good mood?”

Yumari frowned.

* * *

After Hongwol left, Leffrey organized the current situation in his notebook.

—

Leffrey’s Goal: Save the World Tree Sapling

Soya: She’ll probably release the sapling if I ask her. She’s a good kid.

Hongwol: Persuaded her today. So kind.

Mari: A member of the Seocheon Yu. If Mari becomes the top student, the Seocheon Yu will probably demand her to give them the sapling. A bit scary.

—

“Hmmm…”

Soya, Hongwol, and himself. Their strength was far from being able to get first place on the finals.

So to reach student council president Yu Si-hyun…

“I need Mari.”

Leffrey sighed deeply.