Chapter 21: First Week Weekend (1)
I climbed the wall and crossed the window frame.
My familiar room came into view.
As I entered and closed the window, the tension melted away, and a deep sense of calm enveloped my entire body.
“Hua.”
I took off my mask and let out the breath I’d been holding.
Brown hair cascaded messily in front of my eyes.
Sweat dripped down.
A salty taste lingered in my mouth, and the senses I’d forgotten during my immersion in the job came rushing back like a tidal wave.
I succeeded in the job.
“No, wait.”
Not just succeeded—I hit the jackpot.
At the same time, a shiver ran through me, and an uncontrollable thrill surged through my body.
Proof that my experience points had gone up.
And the degree of it was even greater than when I completed the cult’s request, so I had to savor the rich afterglow for quite a while.
Name: Gerard
Age: 30
Occupation: Thief / Frey Academy 888th Class Cadet
Level: 33
Strength: 37
Agility: 54
Stamina: 34
Mental Strength: 38
Traits ─ Versatile / Instinct / Endurance / Memory and Understanding / Coolheadedness / Sharp Perception / Gaius’s Insight
As expected, my level had gone up by 2.
Mental Strength was at 38.
I didn’t quite hit my goal of 40, but it didn’t really matter.
“Because I have this.”
I opened my subspace and thrust my hand inside.
As I pictured a certain object, a cool, smooth texture brushed against my fingertips.
When I pulled it out, a jade-green glow, catching the moonlight, shimmered before my eyes.
“……!”
I barely suppressed the cheer that threatened to burst out, using every ounce of my endurance.
If I made a sound at this hour, I didn’t even want to think about the consequences.
Hold it in.
After all I went through to get this.
No way I’d mess it up now.
Elixir, [Fierce Conviction]
Among known elixirs, it’s the lowest grade, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a precious treasure in its own right.
It’s priceless, and for those who wield mana, even tasting it once is a lifelong dream.
In particular, it strengthens the mana circuit and increases mana capacity upon consumption, making it an elixir that would drive any mage wild.
“Thinking about it, it really was a close call.”
Even now, recalling the moment made my heart pound.
The moment I opened the box and the moment Narsi unlocked the door with the key happened almost simultaneously.
Just before the door opened.
Having sent Sylph outside the building, I gripped the elixir and immediately activated [Phase Shift].
Then, I reverse-summoned right away.
When I came to, I was sprinting toward the Academy like a madman.
“How did I even think to use Phase Shift in that situation? Huh? Am I actually insane?”
Sometimes, I surprise myself.
This kind of quick thinking and instinct just pops up out of nowhere.
All I can say is, “My instincts are insane!”
“…….”
Anyway.
As I stared blankly at my status window, my gaze landed on one spot.
[Gaius’s Insight]
A unique trait exclusive to the thief Gerard, something even a veteran like me had never seen before.
I didn’t know how or in what way it worked, but I figured I’d naturally understand it over time, so I hadn’t thought too deeply about it.
…But now, I think I get it.
Recalling how it revealed Yuria’s potential and the existence of the elixir hidden in a secret space, [Gaius’s Insight] seemed to highlight values I didn’t know or overlooked with a golden aura.
In other words, it was like a lighthouse illuminating the path ahead with light.
“That’s freaking awesome?”
I had no growth traits.
The only decent ones were [Versatile] and [Instinct], so I’d been a bit dissatisfied.
But this insane unique trait wiped away all my complaints in one go.
It’s just insane.
Of course, I don’t fully understand the mechanism behind when the aura appears, but just having it already feels reassuring. It’s like holding the answer key.
Alright, let’s keep this satisfaction going.
After calming my mind and body and tidying up my surroundings, I sat in the middle of the room, preparing to embrace the elixir’s effects.
Looking at the elixir in my hand, I swallowed hard.
There shouldn’t be any issues, but with so many good things happening lately, I suddenly felt an ominous twinge—yeah, right.
I popped the cap and poured it all into my mouth.
Gulp! Gulp!
“Ugh! Mmm.”
Here’s my overall taste review:
It didn’t feel like drinking liquid so much as swallowing slippery slime.
Of course, I’ve never actually eaten slime, but I imagine it’d feel like this.
In short, it tasted absolutely awful.
The slime slid down my throat, settled in my stomach, and then vanished as if absorbed into my body.
The moment I felt it, I closed my eyes and entered meditation.
A world within, shrouded in total darkness.
The steady rhythm of my heartbeat, the subtle twitching of organs, and the rushing sound of blood flow played a quiet symphony in the silence.
And then, that symphony abruptly stopped.
Thud! Boom! Thud! Boom!
A discordant cacophony began.
My heartbeat grew louder.
And closer.
It was so close, it felt like someone had ripped my heart out and held it to my ear.
My chest felt insanely hot.
Whoosh.
A searing heat filled my heart, my mana core.
The heat swirled wildly within, overflowing and spreading in all directions.
Through my arms and legs, to the tips of my nails.
With a relentless drive to leave no corner untouched, the heat surged through every part of my body.
And that process came with excruciating pain.
“……!”
My mouth gaped open.
The effect of my [Endurance] trait was meaningless.
The agony of my skin melting from the inside left me momentarily unable to think.
Questions tinged with anxiety sprouted like weeds in my mind.
What’s happening?
In the game, the effect kicked in instantly upon consumption.
Is this how it works in reality?
Or, damn it, was this not an elixir?
Poison?
…Or, could it have gone bad?
Was there an expiration date I missed?
No, it’s not like this is milk or something.
My head felt like it was splitting, making rational thought impossible.
I hurriedly clamped my mouth shut.
If I let out a scream, it’d be over.
I jumped up, stuffed a rolled-up blanket into my mouth, and, for good measure, pressed both hands over my lips, burying my face in the blanket.
I poured all my focus into controlling the heat, but I soon realized it was futile.
Whoosh!
My consciousness faded.
The heat burned through the thread of awareness I was desperately clinging to, consuming it in flames.
And with that, I lost consciousness.
* * *
I woke to an inexplicable sense of suffocation.
The first thing I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.
It was a dull brown, like wood, and the surroundings were dim.
What’s this?
Oh.
It’s the underside of my bed frame.
How did I end up under here? I crawled out on my back, inching along.
But something was dragging behind me.
Looking closer, I realized my mouth was full of fabric scraps, soaked with saliva.
So that’s what was causing the suffocation.
“Ptoo!”
I spat them all out and looked ahead.
My vision was blurry.
Ugh. My head felt like it was splitting.
The events of the early morning felt like a dream.
Right. Early morning.
I’d taken the elixir and passed out.
To check my condition, I lightly circulated my mana, but suddenly, the world turned upside down.
Thud!
“Ow, damn…”
I collapsed to the floor.
My mind was foggy, and the back of my head throbbed like it was about to crack.
It felt like high-proof alcohol was sloshing around in my skull.
What’s wrong with me?
A side effect of the elixir?
Struggling, I used the bed to pull myself up, but my vision wavered like rippling water.
I staggered, losing my balance.
But with sheer willpower, I stood in front of the mirror.
Side effect or not, I had to check.
And then,
─Mental Strength: 44
“Oh.”
As if the headache had never existed, I couldn’t contain my joy and started throwing wild punches into the air.
I wanted to shout, so I flung the window wide open.
Hell yeah! I did it!
Of course, the cheer stayed locked in my throat, swallowed back down. But that was enough.
Sunlight poured in like a blessing.
The dazzling light hit my retinas, momentarily blinding me.
I shaded my eyes with my hand and blinked a few times, and my wavering vision finally started to stabilize.
It was morning.
Clatter──
The sunlight hit the dormitory buildings, scattering like shards of glass across the street.
Under a clear sky, the cadets walking the paths had smiles blooming on their faces.
That vibrant energy rode the breeze, spreading across the entire Academy.
The morning of the second weekend since the semester began.
As I basked in the warmth of the sunlight streaming into my room and the joy of my success, I noticed something.
“Huh?”
A familiar silhouette stood in front of the male dormitory’s main entrance.
Why’s she there?
Am I seeing things because of the side effects?
Just to be sure, I stepped out in my pajamas.
It was definitely Yuria.
“What are you doing here?”
Yuria looked at me and answered in her usual calm tone.
“I was waiting for you, Senior.”
“What? Just like that? How’d you know when I’d come out? You could’ve left a message with the dorm supervisor.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t wait long.”
“No, but.”
It’s inconvenient for me.
Feeling oddly guilty, I thought about what to say and blurted out,
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Then let’s go eat.”
“?”
“Wait here. I’ll change into something proper and come out.”
And so, I took Yuria to a cafeteria on campus.
As I chewed on some toast, I felt her staring at me.
“You woke up unusually late today.”
“Oh. Overslept.”
“So even you oversleep, Senior.”
“I’m human too. Sometimes I like being lazy.”
“Please swallow your food before speaking.”
Gulp.
“I’m human. I like being lazy.”
“I see,” she said, poking at her salad with a fork.
I watched her quietly, then stuffed the rest of my toast into my mouth.
At that moment, the events of that day inevitably came to mind.
Her wide, dark eyes staring at me, the slight tremble at the corners, her shoulders, and the tightly clenched fists under her arms.
It was the friction we had before tracking the swamp orcs.
My stern expression was probably a first for her, but her reaction and expression were a first for me too.
It must’ve been a shock for her.
But since that day, we hadn’t mentioned it at all, acting as if nothing had happened.
The only thing that changed was her attitude toward training.
She was always dedicated, but over the past two days, she’d been swinging her sword and running like someone possessed, as if her life depended on it.
She must’ve realized something from my words that day.
Honestly, while I spoke firmly, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little worried.
She’s a girl, after all.
She acts tough, but deep down, she’s fragile.
But maybe I was worrying for nothing.
Yuria had become even more passionate.
I found her attitude pretty admirable.
Yeah, that’s Yuria.
That’s my disciple, the kind of person who could become my comrade.
Man, my eye for people is just unreal.
“Actually, I was a little upset.”
“Cough! W-What did you say?”
Choking on my food, I looked at her.
Suddenly, I noticed a crumb stuck to her cheek.
She obviously didn’t put it there herself—it must’ve come from my mouth.
“Gah! S-Sorry!”
I quickly plucked it off and popped it back into my mouth.
“Why would you eat that!”
“W-Well, it came from my mouth, didn’t it?”
“…….”
Yuria slightly furrowed her brow.
She hurriedly wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.
“…My face is probably dirty from sweating this morning. You shouldn’t have eaten it.”
“Huh? N-No way! Not at all! It wasn’t dirty. It was just right. Tasted good, even.”
The moment I said it, I knew I’d messed up.
What the hell am I even saying?
Was it panic?
Or an aftereffect of the elixir?
Whatever it was, I clearly wasn’t in my right mind.
Of course, Yuria wasn’t the type to let such a blunder slide.
Her expression grew colder as she looked at me.
“…….”
But then, a moment later.
“Pfft!”
She let out a short burst of laughter.
What?
Why’s she laughing all of a sudden?
I had no idea why, but in times like this, laughing along was the best move.
Laugh along, even if you don’t get it. A pro tip for social situations.
“Hahaha!”
For the record, I’m a gaming hermit who’s never had a social life.
Just saying.
Then, her laughter cut off abruptly.
Feeling awkward, I scratched the back of my head.
“Ahem. Anyway. Sorry about the food crumb. So, what were you upset about?”
“It’s gone now.”
“…Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? It’s gone?”
“Exactly what I said. I was upset before, but not anymore.”
“Oh.”
So what does that mean?
But good vibes are good vibes, and I wasn’t clueless enough to ruin the softened mood by pressing further.
“So, there’s no bad blood between us now?”
“Yes.”
“Great.”
I said it, but I left the cafeteria still feeling a bit uneasy, unable to fully shake the lingering doubt.
After breakfast, we headed to the training hall.
Weekends, even with nice weather, didn’t hold any special meaning for cadets.
It was the same as weekdays.
A march toward the future.
The only difference was that personal training time replaced class time.
So, the training hall was already bustling with cadets.
Many were freshmen, most being guided by their mentors—my classmates.
We found a spot as secluded as possible.
“How’s your shoulder? It flared up again recently. Has it healed?”
“Thanks to you, it’s completely fine now.”
“Good to hear.”
Nodding, I realized something odd about her response and asked,
“But what do you mean, thanks to me?”
“The medicine you sent through Professor Ilai.”
“Medicine?”
“Yes. The ointment. It helped a lot. It was great.”
After the meeting, I had asked Professor Ilai to check on Yuria’s injury.
But medicine? This was news to me.
It seemed Professor Ilai had gone the extra mile for Yuria.
Makes sense—she was right there when I scolded Yuria, so maybe she took it into consideration and did something thoughtful.
If that’s the case, I’m pretty touched. What a class act.
“Oh, wait a sec.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve got something for you.”
I uncapped my canteen and handed it to Yuria.
She took it, looking at me with questioning eyes.
“Drink it. It’s better than that medicine.”
I watched her with anticipation as she brought the canteen to her lips without hesitation.
The water in that canteen was none other than a tea brewed from the roots of Lumigan Grass.
With Yuria’s keen physical senses and mana affinity, she’d likely feel its true value the moment she drank it.
Half of me was curious about her reaction, and half of me just wanted to show off a little.
Then, Yuria’s eyes widened.
“……!”
Exactly the reaction I was waiting for.
“How is it? Feel something?”
“Yes.”
“What’s it like? What do you feel?”
My eager question hung in the air as Yuria, smacking her lips, looked up at me.
“It’s bitter.”
“…….”
“Like, really bitter.”
Oh.
What was I even expecting?
Today’s just been one confusing day.