It has already been three days since I spent my time in the Behemoth’s lair.
My physical condition has been improving daily, and now I can move on my own.
However, every time I move, my bones creak and my muscles scream in protest.
Just taking a single step would leave me gasping, making the five-day recovery period a harsh reality.
While my exterior may have returned to normal, my nervous system and brain still needed more time to heal.
When I tried to command my hand to reach out, my body would only respond a second later, indicating just how serious my condition was.
“Daniel, what are you doing?”
“Rehabilitation exercises. If I totally don’t move just because it hurts, I’ll face bigger problems later.”
“Rehabilitation exercises? It seems humans have to do all sorts of ridiculous things.”
“You’re the one being extreme and not moving at all. Get off your lazy butt and move, you pig.”
For the past three days, the only thing I could do was talk to the Behemoth.
Since we had been conversing constantly while I was conscious, we became quite close.
With our differing habitats, life experiences, and worlds, we never ran out of topics to discuss.
At first, I worried about whether I could reveal that I was a reincarnator, but surprisingly, the Behemoth was quite composed about it.
It turned out someone similar to me had come from another world long ago, which surprisingly astonished me.
Anyway, once I let everything out, we became the best of friends.
“I am not a pig!”
“Oh? So you know what a pig is?”
“There was a guy in my childhood who teased me by calling me a pig, so I know quite well.”
Thinking of the Behemoth’s childhood makes it hard to fathom it was thousands of years ago.
By the way, someone had once called the Behemoth a pig, just like me.
“I’m still living well. I’m just living in a place higher than the clouds, so you can’t see me.”
“What? You’re still alive?”
“The last time I saw him was 2000 years ago, but he hasn’t died. He has existed since the beginning, just like me.”
“Got it.”
Though not mentioned in the original novel, it wouldn’t be strange for there to be other beings like the Behemoth in this world.
I once read about a similar being living in a volcano on the far eastern continent.
However, since I wouldn’t have the chance to head east while working as an academy professor, I didn’t need to worry about it for now.
If I were to worry about something, it would be about the creature living above the sky that the Behemoth mentioned.
Saying it lived in the clouds, its existence would surely be one that dragons couldn’t match up to.
“There’s no need to worry. It’s a fickle creature, but it basically doesn’t care for those weaker than itself.”
“So if I ever teased you back then, that means I’m at least on the same level as you?”
“Correct. It was quite bothersome.”
“Bothersome…? You mean it’s a girl?”
“It’s a female like me.”
Has my brain really soaked up too much on that subject?
Hearing “female” from the Behemoth sounds strangely sultry.
And yet, I was about to hear something even more shocking.
“What? You were a girl too?”
“Is that so?”
“Whoa! So I was living with a girl for three days and even slept beside her?”
“Are you excited?”
“Not at all. I just said that thoughtlessly.”
“If you want, I can take a step back.”
“Get that big nose away from me!”
With a vulgar snort, the Behemoth thrust its enormous nose at me.
Its nostrils were so large that if I encountered a situation of sexual release, I’d likely be sucked right into its nostrils.
Seeing my horrified reaction, the Behemoth started to laugh, saying it was all just a joke.
It stomped the ground with its front foot as it laughed, making it more frightening than angry.
If I were to accidentally be crushed under one of its massive feet, it would be game over for me.
“I never expected you to make lewd jokes.”
“I still have all the desires that come with being a living being.”
“Is there anyone in this world who can handle your size?”
Even the giants known to exist in the past would seem like small dolls compared to the Behemoth’s size.
Unless there were at least two different sexes of Behemoths, reproduction wouldn’t be possible.
If there were indeed two Behemoths that could reproduce, the human world would have faced doom.
“Impossible.”
“Still, I can’t believe you’d be able to make such a joke.”
“It’s knowledge shared by a mermaid who once wandered into my territory. Just like you, she taught me many things, including aspects about reproduction.”
“I see… That’s fascinating that you can remember all that.”
“I remember everything that’s happened in the past. Even this conversation we’re having now, I will remember forever.”
“R-really?”
Upon hearing that I’d be remembered forever, I unconsciously scratched my cheek.
The thought that someone might remember me even after hundreds of years after I’ve passed on was a bit embarrassing.
On the other hand, I felt a bit happy. It meant the Behemoth would affirm my existence in this world.
“By the way, is there any knowledge that might help me within what you’ve remembered?”
“Knowledge?”
“For instance, magic that once existed but is now lost!”
“Even if you say that, I don’t know what magic has been lost at this point.”
“So you do know about magic?”
“Of course. A brave elf mage once came to try and defeat me in ancient times. I learned various fascinating magics from her after being defeated. I was disheartened by the fact that I couldn’t use magic, though.”
“Is that true?”
There’s ancient elf lore connected to the high elves.
The latent abilities within Nina stem from an ancient elf who lived long ago.
After all, she was a distant descendant of the ancient elves.
Sadly, the ones Nina considers her biological parents are actually her adoptive parents.
She was abandoned at birth and was raised by her adoptive parents in good health.
Even after the story has concluded, Nina’s birth secret hasn’t been exposed.
However, there may be hope that I can uncover it if I try hard enough.
“I have no reason to lie to you.”
“Well then, I hope you tell me every detail of your stories with the elf!”
If I could gain the Behemoth’s power along with the knowledge of the ancient elves, I could become much stronger than I am now.
Although I’ve already become strong enough with Space Magic, I can’t be satisfied.
I wanted to grow strong enough to handle whatever may come my way without any problems.
*
Suddenly, chaos had appeared without a warning, but it now subsided.
The raging Behemoth suddenly vanished, and after days of watching, it remained quiet.
Some scholars theorized that the Behemoth had experienced a nightmare that temporarily awakened it, while others speculated it was merely sleep-talking.
Though there was no way to confirm the truth of their hypotheses, one thing was indisputable: peace had returned to the world.
Though it was something to rejoice over, the hearts of some still remained uneasy.
“Ugh! Why does the Behemoth have to appear during my travels and ruin everything!”
“I wanted to enjoy my youthful days at the sea!”
“I didn’t even get to rest properly and was thrown back into this academic hell!”
“I’m mad, but hey, we’re lucky we survived, right? Let’s think positively.”
“That’s true.”
Students who were forced to return early to Kia del Academy due to the Behemoth incident were spilling their complaints.
The last day of their retreat before heading back was supposed to be spent playing in the sea.
Having barely made it to the sea made it understandable that complaints were bound to arise.
Still, thanks to the Behemoth’s terror, they refrained from loudly vocalizing their discontent.
The fact that they survived made any complaints about the early return seem like they were just being greedy.
Clatter-! Thud-
Meanwhile, only one student felt extremely displeased with the fact that she had survived.
“Lady Agail is still in a foul mood today.”
“Why is she scowling like that? Was returning early that aggravating?”
“Are you blind? Don’t you see? Since that incident, her pet has gone missing, so she’s like that.”
“True, she had been flirting with her pet for a few days prior, huh? No wonder she’s irked with it being gone!”
The Troublemakers from the Special Class started gossip as soon as Rynelle exited the hallway.
They were mean enough to not hesitate in discussing underhanded topics.
Yet as the saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together,” they all seemed to be enjoying themselves, except for one person.
“Ugh… I can’t stand this. It’s truly disappointing that even scoundrels like these are tolerated in our empire.”
“What did you just say?”
“Are you done talking?!”
Princess Yuer sharply pointed out the behavior of the Special Class students with a fierce glare.
The impetuous Troublemakers quickly jumped up, irritated.
Nevertheless, Yuer stood straight and boldly taunted them.
“Did I say something wrong? It’s ridiculous that those who can only murmur disgusting words behind Rynelle’s back are claimed to be the future of the empire.”
“How can a princess speak so freely!? You, who were rejected by the Emperor…”
“Shut up! If you’re going to fight, take it outside! If not, then shut your mouths!”
Just as someone was about to spew more insults at Princess Yuer, Ailey raised her head with irritation.
The genius swordmaster, who even professors couldn’t meddle with, quietly growled, leaving everyone no choice but to keep quiet.
Usually chatty, she had recently been expressing her displeasure quite frequently.
Meanwhile, Rynelle, who had ignored the gossip, stepped out towards a specific destination.
The place her footsteps led her to was none other than the F-class classroom.
She stood before Nina, who wore a sorrowful expression.
“Come with me.”
“I… I have nothing to say.”
“No more excuses, just follow me!”
Rynelle, who had not reacted to the belittling comments, shouted in frustration.
All eyes in F-class shifted towards the two, and amidst the tension, silence fell.
It was a situation where a fight could break out at any moment.
Paul, someone who would have meditated for peace in the classroom, wasn’t attending school.
“Ugh…!”
Though Nina tried to suppress her pain, unable to hide her guilt, tears eventually began to fall.
In a crucial moment, she had awakened in the care of mermaids.
After receiving generous rewards from the Underwater Kingdom and returning to the land, Nina felt no joy at all.
This was because the most important person to her was missing, and she had no way to know if they were alive or dead.
She had been asked to take care of someone by the mermaids, yet another had made the sacrifice.
That guilt weighed heavily on Nina’s heart.
Even so, she had been waiting, holding onto the hope that they might return, but with days passing without news, her guilt only deepened.
Overwhelmed by her growing guilt, tears flowed relentlessly down Nina’s face.
Nina’s tears ignited Rynelle’s anger even further, and in the end, Rynelle forcibly dragged her away.
“Shouldn’t someone stop this?”
“What can we do?”
“I want to help Nina, but there’s nothing we can really do…”
The F-class students whispered among themselves, yet none had the courage to stand up against Rynelle.
The talents destined to illuminate the empire were slowly crumbling.
This entire situation had arisen from one person’s disappearance.
