Consciousness floated up amid the stimuli.
The speed wasn’t very fast.
It didn’t seem to be an emergency call for split consciousness.
I was continuously updating my magic book and studying… Perhaps my fully automated crisis monitoring system was working well in case of emergencies.
‘It’s still immature and dizzying, but… I’ll get used to it eventually.’
Splitting consciousness. I had tried it last time using the knowledge from the original work, and surprisingly, it went well.
There were many immature aspects, but I wanted to focus on the fact that I succeeded despite that.
Originally, I wanted to mimic the unique ability of “split consciousness” through homogenization… Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a person who could manifest it.
There were many unique abilities I wanted to look into as well.
However, the number of abilities I found was quite limited.
After all, I had only casually looked around Scotland and parts of China, and briefly popped into Seoul to use the gate…
‘There are few manifestors of unique abilities. I have to keep that in mind…’
Only a tiny fraction of the total population awakens as superhumans. Among those superhumans, only a select few manifest unique abilities.
The majority of those unique abilities are physical types without any special traits.
Basic skills like swordsmanship and spear techniques.
Elemental types like fire, water, wind, earth, and electricity.
Of course, it’s possible to gradually evolve from there, but it’s incredibly difficult.
Thanks to that, the number of uniquely gifted individuals is inevitably low.
‘Most unique abilities I’m using through homogenization were found at Shio-ram.’
There are so many manifestors of unique abilities in Shio-ram that it’s getting confusing.
If I spread my observations right now, I could say nearly all students possess unique abilities, with even a few having manifested two.
But that’s not the case outside.
Just looking at the people I’ve met while rummaging through China shows that most of them are civilians who haven’t even awakened, and there were few cases of miscellaneous superhumans and necromancers having unique abilities.
Slowly, consciousness surfaced, and soon the senses were connected.
My cheek was soft and warm.
I turned my focus.
I observed Elia’s figure.
Elia was sitting on a sofa, and I was lying with my head resting on her thigh.
She had a yellow blanket pulled up to her chin, sleeping blissfully.
“Hey, sleepyhead? Everyone’s starting to arrive. Time to wake up~”
A gentle voice filled my ears. A delicate fingertip was gently poking my cheek. She must have been waking me like this for a while.
“Haha, that tickles, Ha-yul.”
– Hah…
As I rubbed my cheek, giggles erupted. Then a warm palm started rubbing my cheek.
A yawn escaped my open mouth.
I wriggled and sat up to shake off the drowsiness that had soaked my mind.
I heard laughter from above again.
“Ha-yul, you look like a caterpillar.”
[Hmph]
[I’m not a bug!]
“That’s not what I meant. I meant you’re cute.”
[Bugs are gross…]
“Hmm? Ha-yul doesn’t like bugs?”
Elia, who had been playfully poking my cheek while sitting next to me, widened her eyes in surprise.
“You didn’t seem to mind them during the last dungeon raid?”
The last dungeon raid?
Ah… was that at the beginning of the semester? I suppose it couldn’t be helped since there were many bugs due to the forest terrain back then.
[I couldn’t just run away…]
[Bugs are icky…]
[They don’t taste good…]
[I hate cockroaches…]
“Ah… Ehem. I shouldn’t have brought that up. I’m sorry.”
[It’s okay…]
We sat on the sofa leaning back, and a bit of time went by.
Just as I started shaking off the drowsiness, an announcement came from the door.
[Student Baek Ahrin, authentication completed]
[Student Hong Yeon-hwa, authentication completed]
Familiar fragrances brushed past my nose as the door slid open smoothly.
The feathers of the sky were rustling.
Soon, Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin entered.
As I slightly opened my eyes, I caught sight of Hong Yeon-hwa frowning as if she had something to complain about.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes met mine.
I focused and moved my lips.
“Yeon-hwa.”
I didn’t stutter.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes sparkled as she rushed over and hugged me.
“Ha-yul. You’re okay, right? Did you finish everything you needed to do this morning?”
“Yup. Don’t worry.”
I buried my face in her warm chest, which smelled sweet. I rubbed my face in joy.
[Body scent]
[Happiness]
[Sweetness]
“Uh, uh, it’s a relief if nothing happened.”
“Why am I treated like an invisible person?”
Baek Ahrin, who had been standing behind us, muttered in disbelief as she stepped closer.
Her blue eyes stared straight into mine. I turned my gaze, but only saw dense gray mist.
“I really can’t seem to see you. Can’t you even talk to me? What is going on?”
Realizing the focus of my eyes, Baek Ahrin tilted her head.
[……]
‘……’
It’s a curse… if I say that, I might end up in trouble like last time.
I tightly adjusted my confession necklace to prevent any random outbursts.
“Well, everyone has one or two secrets they can’t share, right?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Baek Ahrin looked at me in Hong Yeon-hwa’s embrace, seeking agreement.
[Yes…]
I nodded reluctantly.
.
.
.
We sat around a round table in the center of the room.
I was seated next to Hong Yeon-hwa.
Elia was next to me, and across from Baek Ahrin.
“Am I being excluded? I’m going to report this to Shio-ram. Just so you know.”
“Stop with the nonsense…”
[What made you and Baek Ahrin late?]
I had a rough idea from my observation, but hadn’t precisely measured it.
Hong Yeon-hwa answered my question first.
“I was attending the ‘Comprehensive Combat Logic’ and ‘Advanced Practical Swordsmanship’ classes. It’s still just the introductory part, but it seems like there’s a lot to learn.”
Comprehensive Combat Logic and Advanced Practical Swordsmanship…
That’s something Hong Yeon-hwa, a combat major, would likely attend.
Particularly, Comprehensive Combat Logic was a well-utilized class in the original work.
To be proficient in weapon mastery, subjects like swordsmanship and spear techniques must be completed, but overall skill in fighting was most efficiently gained through the Comprehensive Combat Logic class.
I remember the head professor was someone who used to be well-known in the magical front lines. Although he received top-level evaluation, he retired due to an injury back then.
He was remembered for being a meritorious figure worthy of honorary top-level hero status.
Especially in the second iteration, I had taken Comprehensive Combat Logic classes extensively.
The unique ability I started with in the second iteration was “Fighting Aptitude.”
As the name suggests, it provided all-around enhancements in the combat department, so I had really made full use of the Comprehensive Combat Logic class.
“I took ‘Advanced Magical Mechanics.’ It was so complicated, my head was spinning,” Baek Ahrin replied, shaking her head in exasperation.
She was also a combat major, but unlike her varied talents, she was taking multiple subjects.
Advanced Magical Mechanics.
This course involved in-depth analysis, interpretation, and reconstruction of established magical formulas from the top to the basement.
It’s an incredibly difficult course that, going in half-heartedly, results in minimal skill gain and wasted time.
[Did Elia only get the overview?]
“Yes, I went to ‘Ability Healing (II)’ alone.”
Elia was a student in the auxiliary major… she had attended a lecture in the healing department.
‘Hmm…’
They must have planned their schedule ahead of time.
After all, subjects to be taken can be known in advance, and they could have easily made plans during the first semester… or even during vacation.
I had intended to plan with Seo-yul during the vacation, but that didn’t go as planned.
Who’d have thought resurrecting the two-headed dragon would lead to this situation?
“Ha-yul, you need to decide within this week too. Do you have something in mind?”
“Right. Since you’re a special admit, you have a lot of subjects you can apply for, right? You can change in the middle, but you should be careful in the beginning.”
[Yes.]
[I have a few things in mind.]
As I answered Elia’s question, suddenly all eyes were on me.
“What is it? Have you decided already?” Hong Yeon-hwa asked, her eyes shining.
[Yes.]
[I’m planning to take mainly magic-focused courses.]
Entering the Tower of Knowledge means I can study magic thoroughly as well.
But first, I need to build a solid foundational knowledge. Until then, I plan on raising my magic level to some extent.
“Magic…?”
Hong Yeon-hwa’s face, filled with anticipation, suddenly turned sour.
“Magic is good.”
On the contrary, Baek Ahrin clapped her hands, her face lighting up.
“Do you have any detailed plans?”
[Yes, I’m going to follow the advice from Professor Riana.]
[I’m also considering Circuit Construction (II) and Expansion/Counter-expansion (II).]
“Circuit Construction is something you should definitely take. It applies to any spell. The same goes for Expansion and Counter-expansion classes. As for other recommended courses…”
[Thanks for the suggestions.]
[But I’ll finish everything from the previous ones first…]
For now, I plan to focus on magic.
I’ll also learn about crafting as an additional subject…
“Will you take ‘Monster Taming and Response,’ Ha-yul?”
As Elia scanned through my course list, she asked curiously.
[Yes.]
[I’m interested, so I’ll just take one as a trial.]
Monster taming.
It’s not a waste of time either. It’s a general study course that only takes one or two class hours a week.
It’s a lecture about seeing various monsters in real life and learning about taming… commonly known as “taming.”
It isn’t a particularly popular course, but it’ll help with necromancy as well… I figured it might come in handy later on, so I was thinking of taking just one.
There shouldn’t be much pressure since there aren’t many assignments.
‘Maybe I’ll see a unicorn here?’
Unicorn.
A high-level monster, standard rank—around rank 4. A rare being that even Shio-ram doesn’t have many of.
Ever since I blew off Bai-kun’s horn, I’ve been constantly thinking about unicorns.
Would the unicorn dislike me as well? Honestly, I wasn’t so sure if it would like me…
“Well, I want to take that too.”
“Me too!”
[Huh?]
[Is that okay?]
Elia and Baek Ahrin edited their schedules in real-time. I was taken aback as I asked again.
[Won’t our schedules get messed up?]
“It’s fine; we’ve got plenty of free time,” Baek Ahrin said.
“I also want to join!”
Hong Yeon-hwa quickly changed her schedule.
“Yeon-hwa, not you! You’re not taming but causing a massacre… Ahh!”
“Be quiet.”
For a while, we organized the courses to apply for.
I had already consulted Professor Riana.
Talking it over with everyone and sorting things out made it quite easy.
Especially Baek Ahrin’s recommendations matched up well with the subjects I had in mind.
There were also suggestions I hadn’t thought about in my plans.
Thanks to that, I was able to revise everything in real time.
[…] Keep that in mind…
– Squeeze…
I felt a sensation on my cheek.
The culprit was Hong Yeon-hwa.
She was pressing down on my cheek with a pouty expression.
“Yeon-hwa?”
Curious, I tilted my head, and with a hesitant look, she whispered.
“…I think I should learn magic too.”
“Do you think you can?”
Baek Ahrin, sitting across from her, tilted her head in inquiry.
“You tore up the introduction in just two hours last time…”
“Waaah! Shut up!”
Hong Yeon-hwa screamed. The loud noise startled me next to her.
“Ah, ah! I’m sorry, Ha-yul…!”
[It’s okay…]
My ears hurt…
.
.
.
“Phew… Well, at least that’s over.”
Elia, sitting next to me, said while rubbing her shoulders.
Just as she said, the timetable drafting was nearly finished. A final review would be needed, but that wouldn’t take long.
“Shall we have a snack? There are plenty over there.”
“Ah, I just checked. There are many snacks, and the fridge has a variety of drinks.”
“What should I get for you, Ha-yul?”
[Oh, I just need…]
[Just a drink is fine.]
“Confirmed~”
Hong Yeon-hwa and Elia headed towards the snacks arranged on the table.
“Oh, right, Ha-yul. Want to try this?”
[Huh?]
At that moment, Baek Ahrin, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly clapped her hands as if recalling something and began rummaging around in the small pocket on her waist.
After a moment, she pulled out a black plastic bag from her white hands.
It was quite a sizable bag.
And it looked strangely familiar.
As if affirming my thoughts, Baek Ahrin pulled out the contents from the sizable plastic bag.
Soon, the table was filled with the contents.
Long, white, shiny surfaces…
“What’s that? Rice cake?”
It was indeed rice cake. It remained soft and chewy, presumably because it was in a pocket dimension.
Hong Yeon-hwa, who was approaching with a handful of snacks, tilted her head and inquired, while Baek Ahrin shook her finger.
“Not just that. Take a good look.”
Just as Baek Ahrin said, the table was covered not only with rice cake but also various types of cakes.
“Oh! I’ve had this before. Is that Songpyeon?”
Elia pointed at a collection of round cakes in various colors like white, pink, and yellow as she approached with her drink.
“Yes, yes, that’s right! But when did you eat that? I doubt it’s well-known in England!”
Baek Ahrin looked puzzled as she asked.
In this turmoil of cultural exchange, it’s common for regional characteristics to remain intact amidst the blending of cultures.
Elia’s hometown was England… or was it Scotland? I wouldn’t picture her munching on Songpyeon there.
“I had it before joining Shio-ram.”
Elia explained calmly.
“I had a misadventure with the gate and ended up in Seoul once. While waiting for the next gate, I wandered around and tried some Songpyeon.”
[Seoul? Joining?]
[When we first met?]
“Yes, yes! That’s when I first tried it. There were so many food alleys around.”
‘Ah…?’
I nodded at Elia’s explanation.
Thinking back, while Elia hailed from England, we first met in Seoul.
Since there’s a gate terminal in England, she could have directly headed to Shio-ram instead of going through Seoul.
Baek Ahrin looked at Elia perplexedly.
“A mistake…? You can unintentionally take a gate?”
“There was a mix-up at the management side. You remember how there were many gate transfer errors back in March?”
“Ah, that time? It was chaos. There had never been such an incident before, but it happened consecutively and created quite a buzz.”
“Well, I had plenty of time and got an ample compensation, so I had no complaints. And…”
Elia reached out to me, delicately smoothing my hair with her slender, white fingers.
“If that incident hadn’t happened, we may never have met, right? For someone else, maybe it wouldn’t matter, but for me, that incident was more of a fortunate event.”
Elia beamed a warm smile. Her expression looked genuinely relieved, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
[I think meeting Elia was fortunate for me too.]
I was being sincere.
I genuinely believe that meeting Elia was a stroke of luck.
When you think about it, isn’t it a fateful encounter? Back then, I was in such a state of being crushed that I would have run away from any external help.
In a time like that, I happened to meet Elia, who possessed a knack for spirit affinity, and received her help.
Her unfamiliar but heartfelt assistance helped my crushed spirit lift slightly.
“Ahem… Why are you suddenly bringing all the rice cakes?”
“Eh? You like rice cakes, don’t you?”
“What?”
Hong Yeon-hwa blinked in surprise.
“You didn’t know that?”
Baek Ahrin picked up a large piece of rice cake with a chuckle.
“Here, try this.”
Baek Ahrin offered me the rice cake.
It was identical to the rice cakes I had tried before.
I opened my mouth wide and took a bite off the end of the rice cake. The chewy texture felt so good.
“……”
“……?”
Suddenly sensing that it was too quiet beside me, I turned my head to find Hong Yeon-hwa looking shocked.
.
.
.
[But are you and Baek Ahrin okay doing this?]
“Hmm? What’s not okay?”
“There’s no problem with that, right?”
[Eh?]
Both of them tilted their heads as if they didn’t understand my question. I felt confused at their puzzled looks.
[That]
[Can’t you not make a schedule with your friends?]
“Friends? Ah…”
Hong Yeon-hwa exclaimed at my reply.
That’s the thing, right? The ones I’d confused with Seo-yul and Shin Seo-yul… a couple of friends.
They were quite influential and prominent individuals; Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin had become friendly with them since they were young, right?
In the original work… No, during the first semester, hadn’t they all walked together?
It seemed like that wasn’t the case recently.
Hong Yeon-hwa and Baek Ahrin stared at each other for a moment.
After a brief pause, they both spoke at the same time.
“…Not really?”
“It’s fine.”
[…] Is that so?
Though my head was tilted in confusion, as long as the parties involved say so, I guess it works…
I accepted their words and continued evaluating the courses I had planned to apply for.
*
[Group Chat Room: Hong Baek Team (6)]
▶Shin Seo-yul: Hey
▶Shin Seo-yul: Where’d the Hong girl go?
▶Shin Seo-yul: I just saw her in front.
▶Yang Yoon-ha: She probably popped out to meet Lee Ha-yul.
▶Shin Seo-yul: Damn
▶Shin Seo-yul: That girl didn’t even share her course list.
▶Yang Yoon-ha: Isn’t it about time she’s been abandoned?
▶Shin Seo-yul: Are you a genius?
…
▶Shin Seo-yul: But where’s Baek?
▶Shin Seo-yul: Doesn’t she also not share her course list?
▶Yi Si-eun: I saw her.
▶Shin Seo-yul: Huh?
▶Yi Si-eun: She was flying with Hong.
▶Shin Seo-yul: We’re getting ditched by both Baek and Hong?
▶Yang Yoon-ha: This is the Hong Baek Team without Hong Baek.
[Group Chat Room: Hong Baek-less Room (4)]
▶Shin Seo-yul: Both of those girls are crazy.
▶Shin Seo-yul: Like during that tournament too.
▶Shin Seo-yul: Is the Hong girl messing with the auction right next to you?
▶Shin Seo-yul: If it goes like this, will a war break out?
▶Yi Si-eun: A war isn’t the problem.
▶Yi Si-eun: How about a power struggle among the three great clans with Taesan involved?
▶Yang Yoon-ha: Do you really think a war would break out over one guy, Seo-yul?
▶Shin Seo-yul: Don’t you know reality’s worse?
▶Shin Seo-yul: Huh? Don’t you know how pretty they are?
▶Shin Seo-yul: Looking at Lee Ha-yul now, I think a war might happen!?
▶Yi Si-eun: I’m not sure about war, but
▶Yi Si-eun: If I expose the message history, you’ll be the first to go down.
▶Shin Seo-yul: If I die, you die too, you little…
…
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