Chapter 2: Stepping Out (2)
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a familiar-looking room. I was lying on a comfortable mattress, surrounded by half-opened long, white curtains.
Hold on...
I pulled myself up.
Isn’t this the Academy’s infirmary? So I have already arrived...
As if it detected my awakening, the migraine came back for round two. The pain was unbearable. I felt something strange on my forehead—it was like my forehead was being pressed against tape.
Oh, wait.
I instinctively grabbed the small hand-mirror on the desk near me and looked at myself. There was a large bandage wrapped around my forehead. Was this from the fall?
My short pondering was interrupted by a loud voice for the third time.
“Min-Jun!!! Ahahaha, my boy!!!” His voice reverberated throughout the building.
Why do these old men want to crush my eardrums so badly?
The man poked his head in through the curtains.
This guy... I remember him. He’s the Head Nurse in this academy. What’s his name again?—Oswaldo Garcia? I still can’t get used to his weird broccoli hair and feminine outfit.
Hey, stop staring at me. You’re creeping me out.
“Ahem.” The guy seemed to notice how freaky he was acting. “Sorry, boy..." he took a moment to glance at my body.
Chills ran down my spine.
"Hoho~ you grew taller.”
Being too lazy to utter a word, I nodded and grinned in reply. It feels weird to be back here. I stopped attending this academy at age fifteen when my family's debt worsened tenfold. I was terribly bullied here, so...
Anyway, this guy is pretty fond of me. I did visit this place a lot back then.
“Your wits and magic rank retake is starting in one minute, Min-Jun-boy.”
What the hell... Why didn’t they wake me up sooner?
I immediately got up from the mattress and hoped the migraine would calm down this time. Hurriedly, I fixed my hair and removed the badly placed bandages. I littered the bandages on the ground. I am a very good person.
One minute left. They wouldn’t let me retake it if I were late to the test. Wait!—I wouldn’t have to take it if I were late.
So, instead of rushing to the test, I chose a more leisurely path. Opting to rest on a wooden bench in the academy's sprawling garden after slipping away from the Nurses' Building. Hahaha.
“Genius me.”
Sneaking out was quite a challenge. The Head Nurse had enhanced his senses for that very problem. I had to spy on him from the infirmary’s window to make sure he’s actually gone. I told him I'd do it when I felt better, but that was a lie for him to not be suspicious of me.
This wooden bench actually felt comfortable and nostalgic.
Snore.
…
I see a rainbow unicorn..
Woah~
Its horn is holding a large bag of coins. Why are the coins wriggling around in the bag?
The unicorn revealed a sinister smile.
Tschutututut!
Oh shit, the coins are exploding.
*
The sound of high heels tapping on the ground woke me from my nap. I had a good dream, too, though it spanned for about 3.14 seconds.
As I reclined on the bench, contemplating my escape from the academy, a female archmage instructor specializing in magic entered the vast garden. She busied herself preparing the booth where the other instructors evaluated elemental magic.
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Wait. She’s prepping? Prepping here?
She approached me, surprisingly. Then, I was told something I would never want to hear right now.
“Ohoho. You’re early? You're the second person I know that is eager for this evaluation.” She smiled exactly like the unicorn in my dreams.
My hopes of avoiding the test shattered like glass. Who would want to be early here, anyway?
“How… how early am I?” I was hoping she’d say something like “thirty minutes early” so I could have enough time to leave this place forever.
“Mm. About one hour early.”
Yess!!
The instructor grabbed her large bag to retrieve a weighty stack of papers—the Wits and Knowledge test.
With a nonchalant gesture, she suggested I take the test then and there, reasoning that I'd be waiting regardless and could save myself the trouble of traversing to the next building for the Knowledge Test retake afterward.
Sigh.
I dragged my legs to where she’s at and borrowed a pen from her.
Caught in a maelstrom of resignation and misery, I begrudgingly accepted my fate.
"Urgh.." I snatched the papers from her outstretched hand.
[You are experiencing “Super Strong Migraine”!]
The migraine, ever a faithful companion...returned with a vengeance, adding to my growing distress. As I grumpily began the test, I couldn't help but lament my misfortune and the cruel twist of fate that led me to this moment.
I’ll get back at you, Head Nurse.
I filled out the section where it asked about the Nation of Vervillia’s geography..
… About Vervillia’s political situation.
… About the logic of elements in magic.
… About the man largest in debt..
“About the man largest in” what...? Huh??
「
1. A) Cordelia Park
2. B) Jame Jameston
3. C) Cordelia Park
4. D) Cordelia Park
」
What the hell.. My father’s name was on that thing three times.
Father. Our family name had already reverberated throughout the academy… Thank you, father, for improving my beautiful, enjoyable academy experience.
It was like they wanted to taunt me. I circled Jame Jameston anyway and turned in the paper. I took about thirty minutes to finish that test.. An average shut-in would have taken an entire year.
“Uh, mm.. Good job on your test?..” the instructor complimented me awkwardly.
I know, I’m a genius. Why did she say that in a question tone, though?
…
“Hey.”
Ah, I think I heard something behind me.
“The hell?...”
Suddenly, my left shoulder got pushed back, which turned me around. The figure of a delinquent, muscular man scared me. His combed-back crimson hair was reminiscent of my old bully from two or three years ago. The nostalgia hit hard. What was he carrying behind him, anyway?
“The fuck? Why are you back at this school, twerp? Didn’t we bully you enough?”
Damn.. he was the bully after all. I was hoping he was just a look-alike. This guy is pissed off all the time. Talk about a short temper.
“Sorry, who were you talking to?”
Ignorance is the key to life.
He clicked his tongue. I think I said the wrong words.
“You impudent piece of…”
[Xavier Vervillia is activating “Gravity of Obedience Lv.2”!]
This [Authority] skill is given to anyone of pure Vervillian Royalty... it forces anyone of lower "level average" face flat on the ground.
I dropped immediately. The pressure exceeds what my body could uphold; my organs feel like they're going to gush out. I think I might die from this. The two years of avoiding all social and natural interaction was starting to feel wistful.. if only I trained during those years. Blood started to stream out from my eye, then slowly, my nose.
Fuck. It's only a level two skill and yet it impacts me this much. Instinctively, I used my hand to cover my mouth for the upcoming cough.
"Ackk!" Blood splattered all over my hand.
I tried to rise up, but my weak muscles and bones, plus his authority as another factor, forced me back down violently.
“Kukuku…” I forced an ominous laugh and tried my hardest to bluff. I fought with every cell in my body to keep my eyes open. “Muahahahat! You...”
The intense feeling of cringe for myself made me cough up more blood. My vision started to become shaky and blurry.
[You have lost a lot of blood!]
Already?
Xavier thought I had become an insane lunatic or something.. he winced in disgust. His nose wrinkled further as the feeling of abhorrence filled his entire being. He released his skill and walked backwards.
With pure astonishment for how much of a freak I could be, he taunted, “Grosssss, man!!”
Relieved, I hesitantly picked myself up and patted the dirt off my pants. My dying, dark, red blood cells painted a visible stain on the white shirt beneath my black coat. I couldn't fully stand up, so I knelt on one knee and tried my hardest to look like I had some secret trick. Augh... every inch of my body hurts like hell.
I feel tired..
[You have “Anemia”!]
[You are losing consciousness!]
Not again..
Hesitantly, I formed a weird-looking hand sign inspired by my favorite ninja book series, Haruto.
"Hey! What the hell are you kids doing?!!"
Nice timing, teacher.
I felt my consciousness steadily slip away. I tried to grasp onto it, but I collapsed nevertheless.
“Oi, oi..”
Maybe I should've tried to befriend my old bully from the beginning.
[You have fainted!]
[You must recover your health ASAP!]
[...]