ALL NOVEL Chapter 8
Fortunately, there was no one to focus their attention on me as I moved forward. Since they had all heard it themselves, I suppose they thought that no matter how brilliant they were, they wouldn’t be able to bear the sound, or maybe they simply didn’t have the energy to care about others. Either way, it was a relief.
If I had to think about it, it was probably the latter. The ordinary students were merely panting in small groups. They seemed to want to say something to each other, but I couldn’t quite grasp what they wanted to do when they were barely able to catch their breath.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have friends to be mean to; I simply couldn’t understand that scene. Did gathering together really make them feel more comfortable? Why were they so fixated on clustering together?
On the other hand, the users of mana breathing techniques seemed to be in a better state. Unlike the ordinary students who were completely flat on the ground, they were all standing on their own two feet. They still had enough energy left to exchange a few words, though all they discussed was how bizarre the instructor was.
While everyone had their own reasons for not paying attention to me, there was one person who was fixated on me. That would be Golden Sun. I didn’t feel any hostility or animosity, but the pure curiosity in her gaze was quite heavy. I almost thought a gaze filled with malice would be preferable.
Looking back on both my past life and present, I had never experienced such persistence before. It frightened me even more. What could I possibly have that would make her look at me like that? Maybe she was just another typical blonde tanning brat who was overly interested in stereotypes.
I thought I was pretty average. Did it not matter as long as I was a girl?
The fact that a complete playboy who devours every girl was staring at me in such a way sent shivers down my spine. My body might be female, but my mind hadn’t turned into a woman yet, so imagining such a scenario instantly made me feel sick.
Let’s not think about it. There’s no need to overthink it. Instead, I should focus on the cube for now. That might help me forget.
Judging from how smoothly that instructor took the cube out, it was likely not his first attempt. The bandages wrapped around the handle looked grimy, as though stained with the pain and despair of the victims.
It was definitely blood. I could already picture the image of some student scraping their palm while trying to pull it out of sheer determination. The instructor, who didn’t clean that up, might be quite the sadist as well.
As soon as I grabbed it, I could feel the malice of its creator. It was designed in a way that it would slip from my hands if I tried to lift it with both, making it even harder to hold up. They clearly didn’t want me to lift it at all.
I pulled with all my might, but it didn’t budge even a millimeter. Perhaps someone of the protagonist level might have been able to lift it with one hand? Even after changing my stance multiple times, there was no change. The thought that I couldn’t lift it was confirmed with certainty.
“If you think you can’t do it, there’s no need to force it. Byeolbi, if you want to give up, just say so.”
I couldn’t lift it with mere physical strength. It was only natural, as I had no muscles to speak of. They say beastmen are stronger than humans, but that’s because the weak ones are already dead. Even I, not knowing this world well, could deduce that much.
My mother used to say that it was common for one beastman tribe to vanish and reappear every day.
Those who couldn’t be useful as laborers were disposed of, so if my father hadn’t founded the Empire, I might have met the same fate.
Fortunately, since the Empire was established, that didn’t happen, which allowed someone as weak as me to grow up like this and discover my talents.
“I’ll give it a shot.”
A gaze that challenged me to try. Though I said it, I had no confidence it would work. The anxious thought that if I failed, I might get ridiculed flashed through my mind. The instructor obviously didn’t seem to like me, and what if I gave them more reasons to pick at me?
I absolutely had to succeed. Failure was not an option. I steadied my mind and sent a message deep into the leyline.
– The child of Byeolbi asks the ruler of this land, are you present?
There was no answer. Occasionally, mischievous gods would intentionally remain silent, only to show up afterward to scold: “Who uses mana without the land lord’s permission?” I called out again to confirm.
– The child of Byeolbi, Ho-yeon, asks the ruler of this land, are you present?
– …Who awakens me? The faith directed toward me has disappeared, and the leyline has come to a halt. Is this a mockery, summoning me while I wait to perish?
Had I truly been asleep for a long time, it took quite some time before a meaningful response returned. I expected this, but it seemed all the gods of this land were either dead or forgotten.
Indeed, it made sense that they would sacrifice faith and mana to the gods they forcibly created. Now I understood why I felt more uncomfortable every time I passed by the church or heard utterances about the gods.
The merciful and just gods they cried for were nothing but robbers who stole the faith and mana meant for other gods.
…But now was not the time to dwell on that.
– I am Ho-yeon, the child of Byeolbi. I wished to ask if I could use mana. I apologize if I have disturbed your long slumber.
– The child of Byeolbi… I have committed an offense against a distinguished guest.
So they knew my mother. I wanted to ask more, but the instructor was looking at me strangely, so I decided to hasten my pace.
To anyone watching, it would appear that I was merely standing there with my eyes closed while claiming I would lift the cube.
– You might think it rude, but I must ask due to urgency. Is it acceptable to use mana?
– Mana, huh? If my heart were willing, I would shower it upon you, but my dear child, you must have seen what has become of this land. All the ley lines are sealed and tainted. With the handful that remains, the best I can do is part the earth slightly. I apologize.
– No, I am more sorry. You seem to be struggling, and asking for help from someone like you is hardly appropriate. But that level of mana isn’t necessary. I only need it to lift what I’m holding.
– What do you intend to accomplish with such a trivial amount of mana? You cannot upend the earth or create a lake. Are you truly certain that is sufficient?
It felt like a grandfather wanting to give his grandchild money but having no cash on hand to give. Was it a skill, or was it talent? The only thing I had to boast about was being favored by a deity.
Compared to other shaman or priestesses who would break their fingers or offer up living humans to gain attention from the gods, it wasn’t so bad. But soon I realized that thought was misguided.
Having someone watch me 24/7 was not a pleasant experience at all.
Even if the attention was friendly, as an outsider, I would start wilting under merely being looked at. In my childish days, I sometimes blamed my mother for passing on this blood, but eventually, I came to accept it. It was one part of myself that was special compared to others.
– Yes. That will be enough.
– Unlike that one, you speak very sweetly. Is it perhaps because you are mixed with human?
– …Ho-yeon. How long are you going to stay like that?
– I apologize, but I would like to ask this of you.
– Go ahead.
—
Georg’s educational philosophy was steadfast.
There was no distinction of rank in learning. Only those who teach and those who learn exist. That was a belief he would not concede to anyone. Of course, even though he was a pureblood elf, he inherently believed himself superior to the other students. Even when his long-deceased savior and companion would advise him to correct his bad habits, he never listened.
To him, the White Royal Family had been a student he disliked even before they met. The mere fact that a beastman was transferring in was enough to irritate him, and he thought to himself that if she were offended, the continent would once again be engulfed in flames of war.
Even if the Dean of the Academy made a request, he couldn’t easily comprehend.
How could the person who uprooted the discrimination based on status that was rampant in the Academy gather all the staff and press them to give special treatment to a single student?
He had thought of himself as a considerably decent human being.
As he watched Ho-yeon sitting still with her eyes closed in front of the special kettlebell, Georg’s dissatisfaction towards her grew. There was no respect for her superiors or acknowledgment towards her fellow classmates.
Even now, it was clear she had no ability to lift it, yet she continued to argue that she could, staying idle with her eyes shut. What was the difference between that and just standing there doing nothing?
– …Ho-yeon, how long are you going to stay like that?
Just as his patience began to run thin, something unexpected happened. The ominous energy he thought he would never feel again after defeating the Demon King enveloped Ho-yeon.
It was impossible. Unless the goddess had suddenly vanished, that energy shouldn’t have been able to reemerge on Earth. However, regardless of his thoughts, he knew very well what it was.
It was magic.
If neither the Demon King nor the seal had been broken, then where did the magic flow out from? While he was confounded, she slowly began to lift the kettlebell. More precisely, the ground was rising along with the kettlebell.
After lifting it past her knees, to her stomach, and finally up to her chest, she spoke to Georg.
“I’ve lifted it, so I’ll take my leave now.”