By Zephyria 
The small conference room in the library was a space separated by walls, allowing for conversation as long as things didn’t get too rowdy. The tapestries hanging on the walls eagerly absorbed the children’s laughter.
In the laughter-filled gaps, Jenny quickly added a word. The way she stroked the cap of her fountain pen showed that she was trying hard to hold back her laughter.
“Well… of course, Michael also finds us very cute.”
“…”
Of course, he did. Whether it was the Child who were my comrades, or Rubel, wasn’t it a daily occurrence for them to act charming and cute? Every time they said a word or made a gesture, his heart would fill with a tight, warm feeling, like watching a newborn take its first steps.
But that I was doing that… I never dreamed that it was so obvious on my face.
Suddenly, something Uncle had said a while ago came to mind. He had told me to practice hiding my feelings. I had thought of it as just a word of blessing from an elder and easily dismissed it, but now it felt awkward.
“How do I… in what way… do I find people cute?”
“Umm, a little… how should I say it… you smile subtly?”
“Heh…”
“Wow, you really didn’t know? You cherish us so much.”
“Hmm.”
Suddenly, a strange thought struck him, and his heart sank.
“Then, perhaps, do I… act particularly fond of Rubel, that Child? Like, before he acts cute, do I perhaps…”
“Ah, look. You’re treating him like a complete baby again.”
Ah.
Amidst the children’s giggles, I alone could not laugh. It wasn’t that Rubel had first harbored feelings for me and acted cute, leading me to care for him, but that I had cherished and adored Rubel so much first… that he had unknowingly been swept up in it?
What if I had made a fool of myself first, giving the Child unnecessary expectations, and then backed out, causing him to be disappointed and sulky…? Wouldn’t it all be my fault?
No, didn’t that Child do that first? He was the one who chased after me and took care of me first…
No, no. Not again, thinking about that Child in this way… I didn’t want to. Who was I to sit here blaming others? I sighed deeply and swept my hair back.
Seeing my troubled appearance, the other children stopped laughing one by one and patted my shoulder, trying to comfort me.
“But well, Michael is just that kind of person.”
“That’s right, that’s right. That’s why we like Michael. Don’t worry about it.”
“Hmm.”
As long as these Child weren’t feeling bad, that was enough.
Suddenly curious, I stared intently at Shayden. The Child, who had been laughing for a while but hadn’t forgotten to study and was writing something down, looked at me and asked, “Why?”
I carefully examined the way his red bangs were scattered on his white forehead and asked, “Is it very obvious that I’m finding you cute right now?”
“…”
Thump! A loud noise rang out. Shayden had just slammed his forehead on the desk. Startled by the sudden action, I grabbed the Child’s shoulders and straightened him up. Tears were welling up in Shayden’s eyes. Why would he do something so painful? I couldn’t understand.
“Ah, Mica…”
“Why? Why are you doing this?”
“I hope you won’t say things like that in other places…”
“Why?”
This time, no one answered me. Amidst the Child who were rolling around, dying of laughter, I was dumbfounded and shut my mouth tightly. All I could think about was going back and practicing facial expressions while looking at Donggyeong.
❖ ❖ ❖
In the mid-term exam for Understanding Circles, the exam paper and answer sheet were given separately.
The method was to look at the questions and write the appropriate answers on the blank answer sheet. A total of 80 questions had to be written on 5 answer sheets.
“Question 42.
Describe the reason why the Mana concentric circles used in magic are called Circles.
Question 45.
Describe three or more side effects that can occur when Contaminated Mana remains in the body.
Question 71.
Describe the Magic spell corresponding to the following phonetic symbols and its effect.”
…I don’t know this… Was there something like this? But I didn’t want to write down just any answer. It’s not like I’m good at guessing.
After much deliberation, I wrote the following in neat handwriting below the question.
“- I’m sorry. I don’t know.”
…After that, I had to write similar phrases for a few more questions.
Compared to me, who wasn’t used to writing long paragraphs, the other Department of Magic students were writing very diligently. Some Child even asked for an extra answer sheet.
Listening to the sound of pens moving, I rechecked the questions I knew to make sure I hadn’t written anything wrong.
About twenty minutes passed after I had finished writing my answers. Angela Sting, who was gauging the time while watching the students buried in their exam papers, snapped her fingers.
At the same time, all the answer sheets were collected. Some students cried out, but she was merciless.
I looked at Angela Sting’s smiling face. I was very curious to see what rank I would get in this class.
“Everyone, you’ve worked hard studying… Next week, during the first class, I’ll explain the five questions with the highest incorrect answer rate, so be sure to bring your exam papers…”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Yesss…”
Watching the Child stretching here and there, I also relaxed my shoulders. Now that the answers had left my hands, there was no need to hold on any longer.
Marianne, who had jumped up just as Angela Sting was leaving the classroom, grabbed my arm and shook it.
“The exam is over, do you want to go out for lunch?”
“The afternoon class is not an exam subject, so I’ve decided to visit Professor as usual. I don’t think I’ll have much time, so go with the other comrades.”
“You really live diligently, Michael. Aren’t you tired, Michael?”
“Not at all… It’s something I should be grateful for.”
“That’s true, but… Okay, I understand. Then have a good class.”
“Yes.”
It was the third Monday of March. Monday was the day I had a private lesson with Maelo Sanson.
I believed in the saying that a rolling stone gathers no moss. It was okay to play after doing all the work, but I didn’t feel happy if I put off the work I had to do and played, because it made me uncomfortable.
Besides, Maelo Sanson had recently been sparring with me regularly, offering to become a Monster himself. Such a glorious thing was unlikely to happen twice in my life, so I had no choice but to put my heart and soul into every class.
These days, we no longer had classes in the outdoor Martial arts training ground. It was because I had become able to emit Sword energy. We borrowed the Department of Magic’s Lecture Hall 1, which had defensive Magic Formula engraved on it to ensure safety even if I unleashed Sword energy to my heart’s content.
When sparring with Maelo Sanson in this lecture hall, we always started with a distance of 5 chapters (*15m). It was thanks to my increased range. I had finally caught up with my past life’s level. I stood at the distance I was most familiar with and took a breath.
Maelo Sanson’s gaze reached me directly. I knew that no matter where I moved, I would be trapped within his gaze. The calmly settled air smelled of wood and resin. It was the smell from the wooden walls that had been scratched in the repeated Sparring, despite the layers of defensive magic.
Maelo Sanson imitated the form of a different Monster each day. Some days he swung his arms wildly like an Ogre, and other days he came out with a spear like a Lizardman.
Today, he was as imposing as a Troll. He didn’t even hold a weapon, saying he was imitating a Monster. Nevertheless, his aura was so great that he looked large and magnificent, which was amazing.
I held my breath and watched. My gaze quickly scanned him.
Now.
I kicked off the floor and turned to the left.
I flew following the newly acquired swordplay. It was a black lightning bolt falling without a set path. It was a fast sword that mixed with a thunderous roar only after it fell. However,
Clang!
Like receiving a giant bell with my bare body, I was bounced back with a tremendous sound.
How could he have so quickly struck the side of my sword? My body was nimble and light, so I didn’t roll on the floor, but the hand holding the sword was numb from the strong force. I narrowed my brow to avoid missing his movements.
I did not hesitate and charged again.
It was said that you had to cut off a Troll’s neck in one go, but right now I didn’t have the luxury of aiming only for Sansone’s weaknesses.
Again, and again.
Like a predator teaching its young, I pounced on every weakness he deliberately showed.
If he gave me his shoulder, I slashed at his shoulder. If he gave me his chest, I aimed for his chest.
All of it was blocked, but I felt like I could stab a weakness he hadn’t given me someday. I didn’t rest. I couldn’t rest.
I had reached the same level as in my past life, and finally,
Finally, I was able to move my body at the speed I thought.
Waist. A thrilling intuition flashed through my head for a moment. I didn’t hesitate. Even knowing that a cold Murderous Intent was brushing against my neck, I didn’t stop, wanting to touch it just once, just once.
Thwack!
I rolled on the floor with a rough sound. I was dumbfounded. The cheek I had been hit on was numb. I didn’t know how many times I had rolled, but the lecture hall wall was behind me. I raised my head sharply and looked at the one who had struck me.
Maelo Sanson was looking down at me with a very displeased expression, clicking his tongue.
“Professor?”
“Do you know what you did wrong just now?”
“…”
There was a bitter taste of blood in my mouth. It was a sensation I was experiencing for the first time in this life. Maelo Sanson, who sighed deeply at my bewildered and docile appearance, squatted down in front of me. His large hand touched my cheek.
My face flushed with embarrassment.