Chapter 24
In the afternoon Niche Core Studies class, I received my first assignment.
The topic was “Find out about magic or curses affecting people around you!”
Of course, along with the assignment, I learned a new ability.
It was called “Eye of Search.”
The ability to detect the irregular flow of Ether circulation and identify the magic or incantation it forms.
I wanted to name the technique “I See It!”… but Angel suggested “Eye of Search” for consistency.
Types and Interpretation of Curse Incantation Arrays
Sigrin carefully read through the book Angel gave her.
The problem with this ability was that I had to separately study magic array or incantation array interpretation.
But for now, I only planned to study curse incantation array interpretation, so it wasn’t too overwhelming.
“Alright, starting next Wednesday, you’ll be heading to the hunting grounds! Until then, you’ll have time to independently review what you’ve learned.”
Marcus, the burly Dungeon Studies professor, shouted in a booming voice that matched his size.
“I know exactly where you are in your progress.”
His tone was brimming with confidence.
“You learned basic elemental magic in Sereb, spirit contracts in Cardia, and basic Panoplia weapon techniques in Midriba, right?”
The students gave half-hearted confirmations.
“Show me what you’ve diligently learned, and I’ll go around correcting you!”
Sigrin raised her hand.
“Yes… Student Sigrin, speak.”
“My heart’s racing, and my head hurts. I’m going to the nurse’s office.”
Last time, she looked genuinely unwell when she went to the nurse’s office, but today, she looked perfectly fine yet made the bold request.
But the hand she raised held a nurse’s office pass, so he couldn’t tell her not to go.
And…
Types and Interpretation of Curse Incantation Arrays
The book she was clutching was extremely irritating.
“…You don’t need my guidance, do you?”
“Of course not… I’m just really dizzy…”
Sigrin held her head with the hand holding the nurse’s office pass, staggering sideways like a crab.
“Ridiculous kid… Go, go.”
Professor Marcus waved his hand as if to say, “Get lost.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Since it was part of the assignment and I wanted to be a bit nosy, I decided to help Bilha overcome his curse.
For someone who’s suffered from a curse their whole life, breaking free would change everything. As fellow curse sufferers, I couldn’t just ignore him.
Having skipped class, Sigrin headed to the nurse’s office.
When I opened the door, as expected, the person I was looking for was there.
Despite the heat, he was wearing a mask, sweating coldly.
“Hello, good to see you again.”
“…”
Bilha, buried in his blankets, turned to look at Sigrin. Then he bowed his head in greeting.
“Bilharan, right?”
“Si… Si… Si…”
Bilha frowned, trying to recall Sigrin’s name.
“Si… Si…”
“Yes.”
“Si… Si… Si…”
Bilha ruffled his hair.
“Si… Si… Si… Damn, I don’t know.”
“It’s not ‘damn’! But you were close!”
“White head.”
“You almost got it! My name’s Sigrin. Call me whatever’s comfortable until you get used to it.”
“Okay.”
Unlike last time, Bilha looked Sigrin, who seemed lively, up and down.
She looked incredibly healthy, full of vitality.
“You’re fine.”
“Yeah. I skipped class to see you.”
“Why?”
Bilha tilted his head.
“You only skip morning mandatory classes, so I had no choice. That’s the only time students from all towns gather. Anyway, my faking sick is our little secret.”
“Okay.”
“By the way, if it’s not rude, can I look at your curse incantation array? It’s for a class assignment.”
“…?”
“Of course, it’s not for free. If you let me, I’ll give you a lollipop.”
“Okay.”
Thankfully, he seemed to like sweets.
Sigrin handed Bilha a lollipop and flipped through “Types and Interpretation of Curse Incantation Arrays.”
Quickly scanning the types of incantation arrays, Sigrin activated her Eye Core.
‘Eye of Ether.’
Her vision felt like it was inverting, and things that were previously invisible became visible.
She rolled her eyes to look at Bilha, lying on the next bed.
‘Oh…?’
Faintly, a massive circle was visible around Bilha’s lower abdomen.
It was about the size of Luca’s scattered brain Core and lower abdomen Core combined.
‘No Core, just a latent Core.’
That’s why he was in Professor Spitu’s remedial class.
With a latent Core that size, it’s hard to imagine the power it would have once it forms a real Core.
‘Jealous… I thought decoding my curse would manifest a Core that big.’
Sigrin gave a wry smile and tried her newly learned ability.
‘Eye of Search.’
Irregularly floating Ether became less visible, while consistently moving Ether became clearer.
Since the “Eye of Search” was an extension of the “Eye of Ether” and she’d practiced a lot, it wasn’t hard to use.
‘Found it.’
Incantation arrays were mostly diamond-shaped.
Complex diamond patterns of Ether were forming around Bilha’s lower abdomen.
Sigrin hurriedly pulled out a notebook and pen, sketching the incantation array.
“Staring.”
Bilha, who had been watching Sigrin stare at him suspiciously, said a word while looking back at her.
“Yes, staring is part of the assignment.”
“Drawing?”
Bilha asked, sucking on the lollipop.
“It’s a curse incantation array. You might not know, but the reason you’re in so much pain is because someone cursed you.”
Sigrin pointed at herself with her index finger.
“I’m one of the people who suffered from a curse like you.”
“Curse? Incantation?”
Since he showed interest, I should explain in detail.
He must be thrilled to know the truth about the force eating away at him.
“Yes. A curse is an ability used by someone borrowing the power of an evil god. The dictionary definition is the act of weaving the language of misfortune into someone’s Ether.”
“…”
“Did you know? Only spiritual entities detached from the material world can convert language into a force like Ether. I read in a book that a curse is like knitting. It weaves the thread of someone’s Ether with the thread of misfortune’s language, turned into Ether, to create the garment of a curse. In academic terms, this is called ‘Incantation Fusion.’”
“…”
“That’s why breaking a curse is so difficult. To undo it… Oh?”
Nod… Nod…
As Sigrin’s explanation went beyond three sentences, Bilha’s eyes slowly closed.
Overwhelmed by the sudden flood of information, he switched to power-saving mode.
“Open your ears, Bilha. This is all about you. That’s why a curse gets tangled with the soul, becoming the skin of fate. There’s no concept of ‘breaking’ a curse. Pay attention—it’ll change your life.”
Chatter, chatter.
Sigrin excitedly talked next to Bilha, who was asleep and not listening.
Since curses are such complex and difficult abilities, they’re rare.
Because curses blend misfortune into life subtly, those afflicted often don’t realize they’re cursed.
Even if they do, there’s no antidote like for poison, so they can only fall into despair.
That’s why Sigrin was so excited.
I wanted to tell him there’s a way to escape the bottomless pain of a curse.
“Student, let that boy sleep.”
The nurse’s office teacher, Melimel, said, and Sigrin crouched down, whispering into Bilha’s ear.
I’ll keep whispering hope until he cares.
“Instead, you can ‘overwrite’ it. So how do you overwrite it? Curious, right? It’s…”
Snoooore…
✦ ✦ ✦
I admit it. I got carried away with enthusiasm.
I wanted to help, but since he’s not interested in breaking the curse, there’s no progress.
So I decided to get closer first.
Who wouldn’t feel burdened if a stranger suddenly tried to change their life with such fervor?
…That’s what I thought at first.
“Bilha! I’m throwing the frisbee!”
“…!”
When Sigrin threw the frisbee, Bilha quickly ran and pulled down his mask.
Crunch!
Biting the frisbee, he trotted back to Sigrin.
After afternoon classes, I suggested we hang out.
Not knowing what to do, I suggested playing catch at first.
After playing a couple of times, catch turned into frisbee, and it naturally escalated to this.
I became best friends with Bilha.
“Good job, so smart! Now spit it out.”
“Ptoo.”
“Who’s Bilha’s best friend?”
“Whitey.”
“Exactly! Best friends with White Head. Well done.”
From what Sigrin observed, Bilha…
Didn’t have the brain space to feel burdened!
Sigrin ruffled Bilha’s hair vigorously.
When the pain from the curse came, he recognized “it hurts,” but it didn’t connect to feelings like “it’s unfair.”
Because of that, his thoughts didn’t lead to problem-solving.
Whatever. If I keep feeding him information through rote learning, one day he’ll want to escape the pain.
Even the fact that we’re best friends was taught through rote learning.
“Want a snack? Who wants a snack?”
“Hungry.”
“Who wants a snack, spin around~!”
Bilha spun in place.
“So cute! Here’s your reward: ice cream!”
Chomp, chomp, chomp.
Bilha grabbed Sigrin’s wrist and eagerly ate the ice cream she was holding.
Sigrin smiled at him.
“…”
“…”
Meanwhile, Luca and Apple, nearby, stared in shock at the new friend Sigrin had picked up.