Chapter 45
The momentary awkwardness melted away by midday.
It was inevitable. What could they do?
Living together, awkwardness only hurt them.
Professor Spitu’s core studies class moved to a new chapter.
It had been all about Ether training methods day and night.
Sigrin opened the textbook’s new chapter.
-Scrolls and Etheribs
“Now, by now, you’ve all learned something from your town classes!”
Pacing the classroom on his goat legs, he brought four boxes filled with scrolls.
“We’ll now cover ‘Scrolls’ and ‘Etheribs,’ key communication tools for core users’ abilities. Haha, excited for the new chapter?!”
Professor Spitu reached into a box labeled “Brain Core Scrolls.”
“To define scrolls simply, they’re tools letting other core users experience an ability once! I’ll teach you how to use and make them.”
Holding a fireball scroll, he unfurled it.
“We’ll start with usage. Watch closely and memorize the method.”
When he infused Ether into the scroll, it floated around him.
“This floating state is called ‘loaded.’ The scroll’s ready to use.”
Spitu mimed shooting at a wooden dummy across the classroom.
“Bang!”
Boom!
A red orb shot from the scroll, hitting the dummy precisely.
Whoosh!
“Wha?!”
Expecting a small burn, Spitu panicked as the dummy blazed, quickly grabbing a water ball scroll and firing.
Chiii…
“…”
“Stupid Professor.”
“Who’s calling me Stupid Professor? Come out!”
Students giggled in place.
Rubbing his slightly singed beard, Spitu returned and caught his breath.
“That’s roughly how it works. Everyone, come up and take a scroll matching your core.”
Students rushed forward to pick scrolls.
“Core scrolls can only be used by those with the same core. General scrolls are usable by all but aren’t usually effective for attacks.”
Spitu continued explaining while distributing scrolls.
“Etheribs are for learning skills, while scrolls are used in emergencies like raids or dungeons! Scrolls often have flashy abilities, but Etheribs, unless top-tier, are mostly educational, as core users don’t share skills willingly.”
Sigrin and Apple stepped up to grab scrolls.
Feeling Spitu’s subtle gaze, Sigrin took a general scroll.
“Ahem…”
He grunted, displeased.
Apple, behind Sigrin, hesitated before grabbing a dantian core scroll.
“Student Apple, isn’t your core in your heart?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s still latent…”
“Take a heart core scroll. Using it might awaken your latent core!”
“Uh…”
Apple mumbled, then grabbed a generic core scroll instead.
“…Pfft.”
Sigrin stifled a laugh.
That coward’s stubbornness was hilarious.
✦ ✦ ✦
Classes moved outdoors to prevent accidents.
Sigrin chose a “Laughter Scroll.”
A useless scroll that forced laughter.
Sigrin wrapped Chemforce around it to load the ability.
“Hahahahaha!!!!”
“Haha!”
Bilha, picking the same scroll, laughed beside her.
“…Can’t you do that without a scroll?”
“Seriously…”
Apple used her “Moist Eyes” scroll to keep her eyes hydrated.
Luca had a “Light” magic brain core scroll.
Since Luca used a mirror sword, light elements were key.
Flash!
A bright orb formed in Luca’s hand.
Next to the scroll’s light magic, Luca drew a separate light magic array.
Whistling, Luca floated two light magics.
“The scroll’s light magic is still stronger.”
“Is that light magic? Cool.”
“It’s the most basic elemental magic. Don’t you use magic?”
“…Do I?”
As Sigrin played dumb, Luca narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Then, the scroll floating around Luca began flashing.
“…?!”
“Watch out!”
Boom!
Luca ducked, rolling to dodge the exploding scroll.
“Eek, Miss!”
Apple yelped, seeing sparks fly toward Sigrin.
Fortunately, Bilha neutralized them with sand-covered hands before they reached her.
“What’s going on?!”
Hearing the blast, Spitu rushed over.
“Anyone hurt? Show me your faces.”
Luca and Sigrin showed unscathed faces to Spitu.
Aside from Luca’s slightly singed bangs, they were fine.
Luca gave a thumbs-up.
“Haha! All good. Alive is enough!”
Patting Luca’s back, Spitu picked up the fallen scroll.
After examining it, he frowned and tsked.
“Hm, a defective one. Poor inspection. I’ll have a word.”
The mention of a defective scroll jogged Sigrin’s memory.
‘Oh, right. The third floor of the library has a Malfunction Scroll Storage and Malfunction Etherib Storage.’
Busy lately, she’d gotten the key from Assistant Angel but hadn’t checked inside.
“Professor, did the scroll explode due to external or internal factors?”
“…?!”
Spitu looked at Sigrin, shocked. Sigrin, usually half-hearted in class, asking a question? He was thrilled.
“Definitely internal. The scroll’s Ether circuit was tangled.”
“How’d you know it was tangled?”
“Hm… You just know after making lots of scrolls!”
Seeing Sigrin’s enthusiasm wane, he quickly added.
“Haha, was that too vague? I’ll cover scroll-making basics next class, so participate diligently.”
“Oh… Got it.”
“…?!”
Spitu was stunned by Sigrin’s compliant response.
Overjoyed, his expression softened.
“Haha! You’re finally becoming human!”
“…?”
✦ ✦ ✦
After class, Sigrin headed to the third floor of the Lemaos Library.
Three familiar doors greeted her:
Malfunction Scroll Storage
Malfunction Etherib Storage
No Entry
Sigrin opened the Malfunction Scroll Storage and looked inside.
‘It’s practically a bomb vault.’
Recalling Luca’s defective scroll exploding, Sigrin gave a hollow laugh.
Using the Eye of Ether, she examined a scroll. Expecting unique traits in malfunctioning scrolls, she found only ordinary parchment wrapped in Ether.
‘If I could fix them, that’d be great.’
Fixed, these scrolls could be valuable assets, but that seemed tough for now.
While casually browsing, Sigrin burst out laughing.
Dead Follicle Revival! Scroll General scroll usable by all core users.
Creator: Kiriki Dasnelly, Middle School 3rd Year
Reason for Disposal: Didn’t grow head hair; instead, leg hair follicles multiplied and thrived.
She thought only explosive defectives existed, but some general scrolls just produced unintended results.
Sigrin returned the scroll to its place, then picked it up again to check the name.
‘Wait, Kiriki?’
Lemaos had three major factions:
Kelnor Gang, Chichi Gang, and Kiriki Gang.
The Kiriki Gang was a group of students with brain cores.
‘This Kiriki… From such a young age…’
Poor thing. Should I toss them a hair growth tonic later?
Knock, knock, knock.
“Miss… What’re you doing alone? Something fun?”
Sensing someone, Sigrin saw Apple.
Apple cautiously stepped into the scroll storage.