Proofreader: Future Me

The advent of Gáe Bulg still struck a sense of fear in me. My legs remained shaky even after having Runalia support me. Especially after I saw a glimpse of his stats, the monstrosity of his power further etched itself into my mind.

[Abel Cresent]

[Age: 329 ] [Race: Human (?)]

[Attributes]

Vitality: Tier 9 (Not even Gáe Bulg would kill him.)

Strength: Tier 9 (He punched a hole in the moon…)

Mana: Tier 10 (Immeasurable)

[Skills]

Time’s Toll (Z)

* Death approaches.

The Hero Who Triumphed Destiny (???)

* He who has risen above the forces of the world.

[Over 1000 skills are available for view.]

His stats were measured with words rather than numbers. I could see how he left behind humanity a while ago. Despite all of that his existence would be erased no matter what, due to the correction of fate’s balance adjusting, or so the developers stated. The community had felt that it was close to bullshit, but they were adamant in their decision.

While daydreaming, I was currently searching for Serina who would’ve been not too far behind.

“Runalia, over there!” I pointed over to the corpse-like visage in the distance.

“Ah!” She weirdly shifted herself. “Don’t worry about me, just go on ahead.”

“Uh… alright.”

Sprawled across the ground was Serina, with a strange bottle in her hand. Her eyes were open, but there was no sign of movement. Of course, that spell would render her useless. There was no precedent of a child being able to access such power after all.

I beckoned the Dragon, “Runalia? Can you give me some help?”

There was no reply even after turning around. I guess she disappeared to recuperate.

Not knowing how to proceed, I kind of just… stared.

“…”The silence seemed to frustrate Serina as she looked over to the bottle and myself over and over.

I sighed as I finally got the memo, “Yes, I got it.”

By design it was definitely an elixir of a unique kind, I could only guess where she found it from. Cautiously, I cradled her hand and picked up the bottle ensuring there is no damage to her currently dying body.

“Now,” I smiled devilishly, “Open wide! Here comes the aeroplane!”

Her eyes contained a look of shock.

That’s right, just like Erin, I’ll admit it. I’m petty too.

“Oh here it comes!” I placed the bottle of divine juices onto her lips.

It was a complicated stare that she held. She was definitely more than just irritated.

Maybe I should just leave her here for my own safety.

Before I turned my back, she whispered in a frail voice, “H-hey…”

“Y- Yeah?” I was scared for a moment.

“C-carry…” Just one word.

Hopefully, I wasn’t too weak to the point I couldn’t carry a girl.

“If you’re too heavy, it’s not my fault,” I begrudgingly accepted her request.

Since she couldn’t move at all it was better to pick her up in the safest way possible. One arm behind her back, and the other behind her knees.

“W-w-what is this?!” She let out an uncharacteristic yelp.

“I’m carrying you?” I was unpleasantly puzzled.

She asked to be carried, so I don’t see the issue here. I could drop her right now if I wanted.

“Just… take me to the nurse,” She mumbled before passing out.

I didn’t respond. More appropriately, I couldn’t. My body is indeed too weak for this even with the enhancement buff active.

Stumbling through the academy grounds, we found ourselves in a bit of a bind.

Not because I couldn’t remember where to go, but because there was a crowd in front of us. And at the forefront of it all, was my all so favourite winged reptile.

The one who ditched us earlier. Furthermore, the crowd was silent, likely due to the imposing stature of this supposed mighty dragon.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Student Luke, let us take Serina Rosemary to the nursery. Your role is over,” Runalia ordered without delay. “Return to class.”

To top this situation off, she without fail, returns to her professor mode in front of others. Ditching your deeply troubled students, and then the condescendence too. It was all too surreal dealing with her two-faced behaviour.

“I’ll be on my way, ma’am,” I made sure to vent out some frustration.

“…”

A clear irk was made visible on her face, which was enough to me of my complaints. As per the insults from the Spirit Queen, she had some disdain toward being recognised as old.

Runalia lifted her finger, wrapping her mana around Serina causing her to levitate.

She faced the crowd and demanded, “Clear the way.”

It was as if an ocean had been split in two. There had to roughly have been at least fifty students here.

“Who are you?” A voice asked. “Is this related to the Demon Uprising group?”

“Why was the vice headmaster involved?” Another question.

Immediately after Runalia’s absence, it was as if I was ensnared within a load of piranhas out for blood. Somehow even that annoying group of terrorists were being related to me in their heads.

Collectively, this current student body has focused on me.

The atmosphere was tense. A bit too tense for my liking. The questions wouldn’t stop and I was almost caught.

To begin with, I still wasn’t even sure why they were all here. Had they simply followed the vice headmaster to see the commotion, or was it because they felt the disturbance of two monsters battling it out?

“Ex- excuse me!”

A voice squeaked from the frantic crowd.

“Passing through!”

A face popped out of the wall of human flesh, I hadn’t expected to see her yet.

“I-I, I… umm…” She stuttered realising the fuss she made, “Er- erin told me you weren’t around… so I went looking!”

Her embarrassment was hilarious I’ll say that. But I’ve got class, and an apology to make, so there was no time for stalling.

“Uwah!” Uriel shrieked as I picked her up and lobbed her over my shoulder.

“Sorry guys! Hit me up if you wanna hear the details later!” I rushed past the thinning crowd with Uriel in tow.

Activating enhancement on Stamina, I ran past the other mediocre buildings and straight into the den of child prodigies.

“Phew,” I rubbed the sweat clouding my vision.

“Ne- ver- do- that- again-“ Uriel had been spinning in circles since I placed her back down. “I- I can’t see straight.”

“I can’t promise that, but I’ll warn you next time,” I alluded to a possible future for a tease.

Unexpectedly, a vein seemed to snap on her forehead. She stomped up to me, unlike both her saintly and nervous traits.

“Next time!?” She snapped, “Are you insane!?”

“Yes…?”

I was left speechless. It was true that making a nice person mad can be scary as fuck.

“How can you pick up the saint candidate like that!?” Fumes were pumping out of her ears as she yelled at me from below my shoulder. “You need to learn when to not cross the line!”

“…”

The smile from yesterday and this snap made me wonder if she had a split identity disorder. Never had I expected to see the future saint become this mad.

“Answer me, Luke!”

“…”

Seeing my ongoing silence, she continued. “This is unacceptable behaviour, you are a student of the Platinum generation!”

I’ll be honest here. It was kind of cute, like a squirrel or cat lashing out, you can’t help but adore it and feel somewhat guilty.

“I- I- I am…” She gasped for air.

Finally it looked as if she ran out of steam.

“You okay?” I asked as if nothing had happened.

Uriel paused as she looked between herself and I.

She blinked once, then twice.

With a blush she hastily dusted herself, preparing to leave.

“I- I’m sorry for what I said!” She apologised and ran upstairs into the home room.

This had a different impact from learning that there were five protagonists, Runalia’s true self, and Serina’s change. I was just left standing here, not knowing what to think.

-x-

Night Before the Spirit Queen’s Temporary Death

“Daughter, I’ve caught word that you have made friends,” Through a magic ring, a voice rang, “Is that true?”

“Father, it’d be more accurate to call them acquaintances. I have only known of him for three days,” A noble response came from the girl sitting beside her bed.

“Him? I asked about friends- don’t tell me…” His voice paused, “You’re in a relationship already?”

“What!? Of co- course not!” She stammered in her denial, “I am a noble! How am I to wed a commoner?”

“Wed?”

“No- no! I meant-“

“Julia.”

The call of her father worsened her nerves, “Ye-yes father?”

“Return at once.”

“I… it’s only been a few days, so-“

“This is simply unacceptable.”

“But!”

“You may be our baby daughter, but…” His voice trailed off.

She gulped in the dark dorm room, trembling in anticipation for the next words.

“HOW COULD WE LET SUCH A PLEASANT OCCASION GO UNNOTICED!” Julia’s father exclaimed across the communication ring, “Honey! You must hear this! Our daughter has found herself a fiancé!”

“Enough! We’re not in such a scandalous relationship!”

“It is a male friend, no?”

“He is…?” Julia felt sceptical of her father's wording.

“Then it must be, you two are dating!”

“Argh!” She grasped her head in frustration.

The Gracia family, under fire from many political and feudal pressures, had finally experienced joy. Their one and only daughter found a man who would accept her despite their reputation. However, Julia found herself stuck, unsure if a relationship was even desirable as a first.

Indeed, she has only known him for a few days.

‘He’s been hanging out with two other girls as well… I believe they were Uriel and Erin. Well, I was the first so…’

‘First? Why would I… there’s no possible future in which I- I…’

Another voice erupted from the ring, “Sweetie, I just heard! Congratulations, we’ve been worried for so long!”

“Mother! Don’t make this any worse!” Julia’s thoughts had led her down a dangerous path and such comments would worsen it.

“Hmmm~ We know you’re embarrassed, it’s fine!” She exclaimed, “Enjoy your youth!”

“We can’t wait to meet him,” Her father commented. “But for now, see you soon.”

Bzzt-

And the communication line was cut before Julia could say another word.

-x-

In front of her was a crowd, with the focus being Luke, holding the child of her arch enemies.

‘Why?’

A gnawing feeling gripped Julia’s heart.

‘Why is he helping a Rosemary? They were the ones who….’

The sight of Luke and Serina drenched her mind in a flurry of storms.