<144 - Candy Pouch>
“Why isn’t the instructor intervening?!”
“They probably don’t have the confidence to subdue without causing injury.”
Dark Mana is a destructive force. It’s one thing to be strong; it’s another to recklessly push forward and risk Jakku’s self-destruction.
While the instructor hesitated in the face of a student’s life-or-death situation, Oknodie boldly stepped in, attempting the subjugation the instructor was supposed to handle.
“It’s not too late. Let’s get Oknodie out of there.”
“No way! If we step in now, it’ll just spread their focus and make things worse.”
“Sand’s right. That lower class kid has been reacting sensitively to sounds and movements around them since earlier.”
In a state of consciousness loss, they only react unconsciously to external stimuli. If they interfere and cause unpredictable reactions, Oknodie, themselves, and that lower class student all risk becoming endangered.
“Is Oknodie okay? They’re facing such dangerous power head-on.”
“Look at the output.”
Jezel pointed to the Dark Mana swirling around Oknodie’s sword. The moment when it consumed the Dark Mana to draw attention had a far superior output, but since then, it merely cloaked the blade thinly like a coating.
“Our little lady seems to have mastered even the extremely difficult output of Dark Mana. Just by merely reducing that troublesome power to a layer on her sword.”
“Is that good news?”
“Absolutely! It means our little lady is less likely to lose control like a lower class student.”
At a glance, Jakku held the upper hand with the visible strength output, but in reality, it was Oknodie, maintaining a lower output, who looked far more impressive.
‘I’m more worried about the aftermath, though.’
Jezel felt concern. The uproar about Oknodie would be just the final blow to her already tarnished reputation. All because of that student.
Aspiring Knight Student Jakku.
Jezel’s gaze towards him turned colder than a winter’s breeze.
The mob had grown this strong.
It should be something to celebrate, right?
But she couldn’t feel happy about it.
There was no way she could.
Because his success meant he was moving on without her.
She understood this from the start.
What qualities were needed for this test?
The Mana Evaluation Test.
A trial that questioned one’s ability to handle Mana.
– If you can’t handle Mana, your sword will be fed by the blood of humans, not monsters.
– In doing so, you will also become a monster. Merely a monster wearing human skin.
– A mercenary who cannot handle Mana is one of those beings.
The mentor had said.
Don’t become like me.
If that’s the case, then you might as well stake your life.
His life was wrapped in that small vial of medicine.
A paltry amount that wouldn’t even fill a cup of water.
If he drinks it, he’ll die.
Most likely, he’ll die.
Even if he lives, he wouldn’t be able to live his previous life.
It’s incredibly rare not to have side effects.
It relied on a miraculous probability.
Yet, the mentor handed it over.
He told me that taking this medicine was better than not taking it at all.
He warned me that the remaining years of living as a dog for the organization would be that harsh.
He believed it was more merciful to die than to start living a “monster’s life,” which he often spoke of.
And yet, he had made up his mind.
‘If the mob graduates alongside me from the academy, then I can gladly accept my fate.’
He had dreamed of entering the world’s best academy with his friend and turning his life around, only to face failure.
They had both entered and left together.
Those times were good.
He might have lived his life cherishing those memories forever.
But the mob passed.
He had now escaped the failure zone.
If he flunks here, he would be alone.
He would have to live a dark life that no one else could fathom, the hidden side of society.
‘After 10 years of training, I finally stood alongside you. I thought so, even just for a moment. But if you go ahead again from here, if I go back alone…’
How many more years would he need then?
20 years? 30 years?
Perhaps he might spend his whole remaining life without ever catching up to the mob again.
But he didn’t want to drag the mob down with him.
He had many opportunities.
Fooling around during shared meals.
Causing accidents during training.
Tons of dirty methods popped into his head, ways to pull the mob down to his level.
Yet, he did none of that.
‘Mob. We overcame our hellish childhood together. We promised to become knights who save people like us one day.’
How could he betray someone like you?
So he decided.
To betray himself, not the mob.
Gulp.
He emptied the vial and waited in line.
The instructor didn’t stop him, even when looking at him drinking the potion.
It was just considered part of the student’s skill in the academy.
After all, if one couldn’t maintain the same level of doping each time, then one couldn’t overcome the side effects and would eventually be eliminated anyway.
Indeed, that was the case.
It was doubtful whether he could overcome this trial, and even if he did, how many times could he withstand it?
This doping had no meaning.
It was merely a momentary survival.
Yet the reason he didn’t back down.
The reason he stepped forth even while betraying the dream of becoming an honorable knight.
He wanted to show.
That he could stand beside you.
That he was different from 10 years ago.
Those 10 years were not wasted.
‘I will prove it. My 10 years!’
His heart dropped, and his senses warped.
From the tip of the sword, Dark Mana surged.
A jet-black blade flickered like flame and rose violently.
Boom!
It cracked the rocks.
Sending stone fragments flying.
He didn’t even have the time to tremble at the unusual level of destruction.
– Remember, if you have taken the potion, you need to stop releasing energy as soon as you feel your heart tightening in pain.
– Dark Mana is a power that doesn’t tame the user. The moment you lose control and surpass the limit, your safety cannot be guaranteed.
He couldn’t stop.
If he flunks even after taking the potion, he’d eventually collapse due to an outburst caused by Dark Mana.
Whether he could open his eyes again afterward was uncertain.
‘Mentor. I sacrificed any notion of safety the moment I decided to take the potion. All I can do is keep running.’
He needed a greater strength.
To bridge the gap of his lack of talent.
To deceive his efforts’ inadequacies.
His heart tightened, his consciousness faded with every moment.
He had to hold onto it tighter and keep swinging this sword over and over.
Boom!
It shattered.
He succeeded in a test he would have never accomplished.
The gazes of his classmates looking up to him, the cheers of everyone, the sound of the mob being praised felt muffled.
It felt distant somehow, like looking at the world from beneath water, gazing beyond.
‘Is that so?’
He had already surpassed his limits.
For this brief achievement, he had lost everything in his life.
The mentor always regretted not achieving that fleeting success.
What about him?
Was he satisfied with not becoming like the mentor?
Was he regretting letting go of life?
Before Jakku could arrive at a conclusion, his vision closed, and his consciousness evaporated.
Just by looking at the output of Dark Mana and his intact body, it was clear.
Oh, the friend has struggled a lot!
NPCs wielding Dark Mana often carry a deeper, darker sense of revenge than Isabel, who lived as a part of the exploration team.
To reach this level, one must have witnessed the deaths of at least ten thousand or more.
They have a past filled with extraordinary encounters.
With such a substantial backstory, they could hardly remain as mere extras.
If done right, they might even transform from a minor character to a named boss villain.
But alas, having just consumed a potion that rivals the Light Potions, they’re now burdened, destined to burst out of control with abundant Dark Mana.
“Running into me? Guess we’re both lucky!”
Before they meet my character, that is.
In fact, there’s an amusing gimmick with Dark Mana.
The absolute value of the purity and amount of Dark Mana influences the other party’s strong feelings, whether consciously or unconsciously.
Monsters don’t just serve the Demonic Clan for nothing; and Demon Minions don’t just fall for the Demonic Clan so easily.
It’s the same principle with the Demon King commanding the Demonic Clans.
Once the absolute value of Dark Mana becomes overwhelming, those beings of lower status exhibit absolute obedience, overflowing with loyalty, admiration, and love.
How they manifest that depends on how they express their identity and personality.
‘What will I make my identity this round?’
Jakku flinched as he sensed the instinct.
I, as a veteran player, can do whatever I want.
This means I can impersonate whatever unique personality I desire!
Yet, it would be wrong for a muscled giant standing 230cm tall to act cutely like “Uung?” while twisting his body.
The world has a saying: TPO.
T: Time.
P: Place.
O: Occasion.
It means to act according to the time, place, and circumstance.
TPO is important even for concepts.
Standing at 133cm, an 11-Year-Old Girl.
First Year Co-Valedictorian.
The reason I’ve been using the speech and behavior of a cute little girl since I embodied this character is that I’ve followed this TPO.
The Dark Mana character gimmick must not stray from this.
‘Being cute sounds good!’
Suddenly swelling muscles and taking down opponents with incredible strength, or making everyone obey me with immense charisma wouldn’t fit the concept.
So, I intentionally lowered my energy to create a gap for Jakku to strike, instantly correcting my sloppy posture and placing my sword in a defensive position.
“?!”
Realizing he had been fooled by the stronger’s trick, Jakku attempted to withdraw his attack guided by the instinct of Dark Mana.
But I stepped faster than he could retreat.
“Eh!”
Instead of cleaving Jakku with my sword, I swung upward at the sword he was holding, momentarily raising the output of the Dark Mana.
With a clang, his sword soared like a baseball, spinning, and lodged itself far across the exam venue.
“Don’t you dare do bad things! I’m going to teach you a lesson!”
His darkened eyes expressed surprise as he stepped back. I stomped my foot down with my sword, pinning him in place to prevent him from escaping.
A brief rigidity arose from the sharp pain he felt.
I didn’t let that opportunity slip and leaped elegantly onto the hilt of my sword.
Swish.
The hem of my school uniform lifted like a flower, rising to thigh-height before settling back down.
As our eyes met, Jakku trembled in fear, too paralyzed to move.
Scared?
But it’s too late!
I raised one hand above his forehead.
“Like this!”
The powerful flick, enhanced by my Dark Mana, struck him right in the forehead.
Thwack!
With a painful sound, Jakku’s body jerked back violently.
Thud.
He couldn’t rise on Dark Mana anymore due to the intense blow that rattled his brain, and he fainted right there.
“No! If you knock out someone handling Dark Mana, the energy will spiral out of control even more…!”
“Oh, that’s okay.”
I stuffed my finger deeply into Jakku’s mouth as if to help him.
[Method of Mana Flow as per Bloody Maria]
[Inhale - Maria’s Graceful Meal]
Jakku’s Dark Mana started bursting forth in droves, following the stronger presence of Dark Mana.
As the ominous energy coalesced at my fingertips, I suddenly noticed something nearby that caught my eye.
It was the candy pouch strapped to my waist.
‘If I’m eating it anyway, might as well choose the one that looks delicious!’
The Dark Mana spiraled and formed into a black orb.
“See? You can turn it into a snack like this!”
I shoved the Dark Mana orb into the candy pouch and secured it tightly.
The instructor’s eyes widened in shock.
“That pouch is…”
“It’s a candy pouch!”
“Oh, you shouldn’t store Dark Mana carelessly…”
“It’s fine! It’s my candy pouch!”
Rather than expressing gratitude for averting disaster, the instructor only grew more fearful at the sight of the candy pouch.
Watching them gulp could hardly be missed, and I quickly covered it with both hands.
“I’m not eating it!”
“You just gulped while looking at my pouch!”
“I didn’t swallow because I wanted to eat it!”
