episode_0113

“A month has passed since I fainted?”

Asel asked, swallowing the apple Evelyn had peeled for him. Evelyn nodded with a gloomy expression.

“It’s already May, Asel. It’s slowly becoming early summer now.”

“……I didn’t know I’d been unconscious for that long.”

Asel scratched his cheek and turned his head towards the wide-open window.

Grace and Evelyn had absolutely guarded the window, saying the body scent filling the room would disappear, but with one gesture from Asel, the window burst open without any resistance. Beyond it, the unique scent of trees in early summer heavily drifted in.

The blowing wind had become much warmer than before he regained consciousness. The colorful trees were already dyed the same green, and giant clouds floated leisurely across the sky.

No matter how you looked at it, it was the sight of early summer. Surely, just before he fainted, spring hadn’t completely passed yet. He woke up, and the season had changed.

Asel burst out a sigh and flopped back.

“If it’s May… isn’t it midterm season right now?”

“That’s right. It’s already underway.”

“Given that whole commotion, it seems they didn’t really take a temporary break.”

“Because there were no fatalities. There were many injured, but everyone received good treatment. The academy grounds themselves had hardly any damage, and most people lost consciousness with Zerbill’s appearance anyway, so they don’t remember the proper situation. The distinguished guests who were there are also keeping quiet.”

During Zerbill’s attack, the people fighting the corpses he controlled were all individuals with considerable power. And they knew well how exceptional Zerbill was. They also knew that the lack of damage was akin to a miracle.

That’s why they are just letting it pass. There might be people who can’t, but Asel didn’t need to worry about that far. This was something for the academy side to handle on their own.

The important thing was merely that a second temporary break wasn’t taken.

‘The fact that the first break happened was probably largely due to the three casualties.’

The three people who participated in the group project with Gorsel. They were all brutally murdered and returned to the earth.

At the time, he thought it was a regrettable incident, but now it’s different.

It was clear that Gorsel had directly kidnapped or killed the three people to use them for a ritual. The fact that he pretended to be a kind and pure human while doing such a thing was utterly disgusting.

‘Now that I think about it, I was supposed to meet Gorsel again as a black mage after the spar ended. Things got quite complicated.’

Still, Gorsel could be easily manipulated, so it wasn’t a big problem. Asel thought so and nodded internally.

“Speaking of midterms.”

At that moment, Grace fiddled with Asel’s left hand and replied.

“The written exams are already finished, and the knight faculty’s practical exams are also over. The midterms will be over as soon as the magic faculty’s practical exams are held this week.”

“What did you say?”

Asel abruptly lifted his head and asked with a startled expression.

That the midterms were ending. For Asel, who hadn’t even taken the written exams yet, it was like a bolt from the blue. He had planned to maintain high grades until graduation, but he unexpectedly missed the exam itself.

This was no different from having to give up the top spot. He had diligently attended classes to prepare for the exams and thoroughly prepared for the practicals. It had all gone to waste. It was understandable that his expression turned sour.

Grace looked at Asel’s face like that, as if finding him cute, and opened her mouth.

“Don’t worry. Asel, you were exempted.”

“Exempted?”

“Yeah. It was such a big incident, and you were chosen as the first-place contributor who stopped Zerbill. You’ll probably take the overall top spot for the first year, regardless of the midterms.”

“……That bothers me a bit in its own way. Isn’t it a structure where backlash is inevitable?”

If the first place is already decided regardless of the exam results, who would possibly study hard for the exams? It was obvious everyone would be unable to accept the result and rebel.

But Grace, as if to say ‘don’t worry’, chuckled lightly and poked Asel’s cheek with her finger. Evelyn was watching with cold eyes from the opposite side, but currently, only Asel was visible in Grace’s eyes.

“People who saw the lightning strike down from the sky that day can never refute it.”

“……”

“Because if they unnecessarily get on your bad side, they might end up roasted by electricity.”

“……I don’t really intend to do that.”

“I know. But your master’s reputation is so bad. Naturally, everyone thinks your personality will be similar. There are already rumors that you’re half-crazy about magic.”

“……Hmph.”

“In this field, it’s common for a quiet person to suddenly go crazy as their level increases. So probably nobody will say anything to you.”

Grace said that, and then finally sensed Evelyn’s gaze, which seemed to pierce her through, and broke out in a cold sweat. Asel ignored her and quietly looked up at the ceiling.

‘So I’ll keep the top spot. It’s not bad, but it feels like getting a bow while lying down, so it’s not particularly refreshing.’

Of course, that didn’t mean he intended to refuse the top spot. Declining someone else’s favor out of politeness is absolutely something that cannot happen in the society of mages. Asel, as a mage, had strictly adhered to this rule.

This time was no exception.

“More importantly, Asel. Is your body alright? Any painful spots? Are you hungry or dizzy?”

Evelyn asked Asel, who was silently lost in thought. Asel gave a little smile and nodded.

“I’m fine. It seems the priests’ skills are excellent; there’s no particular uncomfortable spot. I’m a little hungry.”

“Really? Shall I go buy some bread outside?”

“Soft bread, please. We’ve eaten way too much hard and moldy bread.”

At Asel’s playful remark, Evelyn chuckled lightly and motioned towards Grace.

“Lady Grace? Would you perhaps be able to go to the market briefly for us siblings?”

“Soft bread. Understood. Is there anything Lady Evelyn would like to eat?”

Grace immediately got up from her seat without a moment’s hesitation.

The moment Asel was flustered by Grace’s posture, which was severely subservient for a member of a ducal family, Evelyn handed her a gold coin pouch and smiled brightly.

“Something the same as Asel is enough for me.”

“Understood. However, I won’t accept money. I will handle it with the amount I have.”

“Oh my. Would that be alright? Then I’m very sorry, but…”

“It’s alright. The money spent for Lady Evelyn and Asel is not wasted at all. Then I will go and return immediately.”

Grace bowed her head towards Evelyn and left the hospital room with a joyful expression. Asel stared at her retreating back and let out a hollow laugh.

“……Sister, did you perhaps find a weakness of Grace?”

“No? But it seems she wants to make a good impression on me. When I first met her, I was really scared because they said she was a noble, but now, not really?”

“……What on earth happened while I was unconscious?”

Asel let out a deep sigh and placed his hand firmly on Evelyn’s head, who was smiling innocently.

“You don’t usually make her do things like that, right?”

“No! Right now, I just want to be alone with you… To begin with, Lady Grace had classes today, but she skipped them and was here. Originally, I was supposed to have her to myself.”

“What’s this talk of having her to yourself, having her to yourself. I’m not your property, you know.”

“I don’t know!”

Evelyn shouted that and leaped onto Asel’s bed. Then she wriggled and crawled into Asel’s blanket.

The distance became close enough to feel each other’s breath. Evelyn smiled sweetly and hugged Asel tightly. Asel, used to it, supported her head.

“Doesn’t this remind you of the old days?”

“Are you talking about when we slept smelling manure in the stable, or when we lived in the slum sewers?”

“Both. Hah, hearing that, we really lived hard lives.”

Evelyn chuckled and muttered. Asel also wore a smile in return.

“If Master hadn’t been here, we wouldn’t be like this now.”

“That’s right. I probably would have died that day I caught a cold?”

“I wouldn’t have been alright either.”

That day, if Ena hadn’t arrived in time, Asel would have been kidnapped by Zerbill as he was and used as research material. Even if he had luckily escaped, his heart would have collapsed upon seeing Evelyn’s corpse turned to bone.

Thinking about it that way, the very fact that a being named Ena came into his life was a huge stroke of luck.

“……!”

Asel thought so, and then, at a fact that suddenly came to mind, he abruptly sat up and looked down at Evelyn.

“Speaking of Master, it reminded me. Did Master perhaps return to Wihaim recently? Or did any news arrive?”

He had found out from Zerbill that Ena was in the Somigung, but a month had already passed since then.

It wasn’t a long time, but enough time for Ena’s whereabouts to change. So Asel asked Evelyn, who could be called Ena’s closest associate, if there was any recent news related to Ena.

Asel had a month’s gap. It wouldn’t have been strange at all if something had happened to Ena during that time. Asel remembered seeing Ena’s magic disappear in real time. If that meant some mishap had befallen Ena, no one knew how much the situation might have worsened a month later.

Therefore, news was desperate. They say no news is good news, but what Asel wanted was simply information related to Ena. Even if it was bad, he had to find even a small trace of her.

“Hmm… It’s been quite a while since Lady Ena returned to the mansion. It’s been over a few months already. Seeing as Lady Hailey also hasn’t sent any news of her return, it seems she’s still living outside.”

“……”

It ultimately meant it was like no news. Just as Asel’s face was about to crumple.

“But news did arrive.”

“……!”

His eyes opened wide. Asel grabbed Evelyn’s shoulders and asked urgently.

“What news?”

He had been fussing about the academy midterms and such, but anyway, for Asel, the absolute top priority was Ena and Evelyn.

Since something had happened to Ena among them, Asel planned to leave the academy and immediately set out to find Ena.

Though he hadn’t wished for it, he had also achieved a rank increase. He wouldn’t have to worry about not being helpful to her like before.

‘I might be insufficient, but I can’t just stay here either.’

Every second counts. It hadn’t even been a full day since he regained consciousness, but as long as he could move his body, there was no reason to hesitate.

Asel thought that way and watched Evelyn’s lips slowly part.

“She said she’s coming to the academy?”

“What.”

And an unexpected answer returned.

“She kept sending letters to you, so I replied instead that you were unconscious. Then she said she’d come as quickly as possible.”

“……”

“And engagement? She kept asking about something like that. Asel, did you perhaps get engaged to someone?”

Evelyn asked with sharp eyes, but that wasn’t important right now.

“She’s coming to the academy? When is her expected arrival date?”

“She said she’s coming by carriage, so probably today?”

“……She’s coming by carriage? Why isn’t she riding the lightning?”

“I don’t know either. More importantly, what’s this about an engagement?”

“Is it tonight, or during the day?”

“She’ll probably arrive soon? So what’s this about an engagement?”

“She’s coming soon?”

“Hey.”

Asel forcibly pushed back Evelyn’s head as she abruptly sat up.

“Ugh!”

She screamed, but Asel didn’t pay attention and maintained a serious expression.

The news itself that Ena was coming to the academy was good news. At least it meant she was safe. However, from the moment Evelyn informed Ena about Asel’s unconsciousness, it wasn’t such good news for the academy.

The academy didn’t have the capacity to stop her now. It was already struggling with just Zerbill; if Ena was dropped on top of that, the academy would literally be utterly destroyed.

“Academy Destruction Season 2 is a no-go…!”

Asel hurriedly threw off his patient gown and changed into the academy uniform.

Then he immediately moved his steps towards the bridgehead leading into the academy. The nuns he met on the way were startled and told him he needed to rest more, but Asel politely refused their words and left the cathedral.

“Oh, Asel?”

Just then, he ran into Grace, who was coming with a bag of bread. She tilted her head, watching Asel rush out.

“Where are you suddenly going? You still need to rest more.”

“I’ll be back shortly. Thanks for the bread.”

Asel took out a small bread from the bag, immediately put it in his mouth, and lightly stroked Grace’s hair. Then, while Grace was stammering, he immediately leaped into the air.

He activated the levitation spell throughout his body. Flight magic, which has an overwhelmingly high mana consumption compared to other spells. However, for Asel, who had realized his uniqueness and even achieved a rank increase, it wasn’t a big problem. He could stay like this for several more hours before running out of mana.

‘It seems I recovered mana diligently for a month. My mana capacity has more than doubled compared to before.’

Perhaps absorbing the divine power contributed greatly to the overall mana capacity.

In any case, it was a welcome matter. Asel let out a small laugh and ignited electricity between his palms.

Raijin (雷化), which Ena used like breathing. If the basic condition for its use was realizing one’s uniqueness, there was nothing Asel couldn’t do now.

It was a spell he had seen countless times by her side. Recalling it wasn’t difficult.

Crackle.

Asel’s entire body was wrapped in dark blue lightning. Immediately after, an omnipotence as if racing through time enveloped his whole body.

Unlike spells that turn the body into lightning for attack, this was a high-speed magic focused solely on movement. Asel saw the flapping wings of the insects flying in the sky clearly visible, and smirked.

Crrraaaackle!!

He streaked through the sky as he was. Raijin, which can only be used with overwhelming mana capacity and uniqueness. A technique where body parts are usually lost because one cannot fix their own body during the first attempt, Asel perfectly executed it relying solely on his senses.

“I hear thunder somewhere. Is it going to rain?”

“Oh, oh! Look! Lightning is passing by!”

“Uh… Is… that… Asel? It doesn’t look like natural lightning no matter how you look at it?”

“Shouldn’t we call him by an alias now, instead of Asel?”

Voices were heard from below, but Asel’s attention was fixed on the silent carriage that was beginning to enter the bridgehead. He saw the familiar girl with snowy white hair slowly sticking her head out past the carriage window and burst into laughter.

BOOOOM!!

Asel’s body struck down like a lightning bolt right at the entrance leading into the academy. The guard, who was strictly watching the entrance, was startled and turned to look at him.

“W- what is it? Are you an academy student?”

“My name is Asel, a first-year. I have someone to meet.”

“Ah, even so, you must follow procedures. An order was issued to strengthen security due to the recent incident… Wait, Asel?” The guard muttered, eyes wide. “Are you perhaps the Sky-Rending (霹天) yourself?”

“……And who is Sky-Rending?” The moment Asel furrowed his brow and asked back like that.

“Asel.”

From far away, Ena, who had gotten out of the carriage, ran quickly towards Asel. Asel smiled broadly at Ena’s appearance, which was no different from before, and opened his arms.

“Master.”

“My disciple…!”

Ena did not particularly refuse Asel’s offer and embraced him. Yufia, who had gotten out of the carriage late, and the guard stared at the two of them as if dumbfounded, but both Asel and Ena were people who didn’t care even a speck about others’ gazes.

The two hugged for a long time, then slowly distanced themselves and looked at each other’s faces.

“You were unconscious, I heard everything from Evelyn.”

“Um… I was, but I’m perfectly fine now. As you just saw, I can even use Raijin.”

“Did you break through to the 7th rank?” Ena asked, eyes sparkling.

Asel gave a small smile and nodded. “Thanks to you, I broke through.”

“Thanks to me?”

“Yes. You know the mountain Master personally destroyed and left magic behind? I received a lot of help from that magic while fighting Zerbill.”

“Ah… I see. That’s good.” Ena smiled softly and wrapped her arms around Asel’s neck. Asel slightly lowered his upper body to make it comfortable for her.

“……What’s with that expression. Is she a teenage girl?”

“Then there are no painful spots, right? Can I check?” Ena asked, completely ignoring Yufia’s muttering voice from behind. Asel gave a brief bow to Yufia, who seemed to be close to Ena, and then replied.

“You may do so anytime.”

“Alright. Let’s do that in the bedroom tonight.”

“More importantly, Master. While fighting Zerbill, your magic suddenly disappeared. Did something happen to you, Master?” Asel asked with a serious expression.

Although she seemed fine on the surface, there was a high possibility that something was wrong with her rank or mana core. Otherwise, Supreme Magic, which is a symbol of Archmages, wouldn’t have disappeared without the mage’s will.

“……Ah.”

Ena mumbled her lips as if struck by Asel’s words, then buried her face in his chest and replied softly.

“……Asel, I can’t be your Master anymore.”

“……? What does that mean?”

“I’m 4th rank now.”

“……Excuse me?”

The moment Asel’s eyes widened and he asked back.

“I got weaker. I’m sorry.”

Ena replied, hugging Asel’s body tightly.