Stimulated by something, my consciousness floated back up.
The pace wasn’t hurried.
It didn’t seem to be an emergency recall from one of my divided consciousnesses.
The magic tome continued to update as I studied, and the automated crisis observation system was functioning perfectly, just in case of an emergency.
"It’s still rough and clumsy now, but I’ll get used to it."
The division of consciousness. Using the knowledge from the original work, I had tried it recently, and it worked better than I expected.
Although there were still plenty of rough edges, I wanted to focus on the fact that it succeeded at all.
Originally, I had planned to mimic the unique ability Divided Consciousness through assimilation, but I couldn’t find anyone with that ability.
There were many other unique abilities I wanted to track down as well.
But so far, I hadn’t found many.
After all, I’d only scouted a few areas—some parts of Scotland, parts of China, and a brief stop in Seoul to use the gate.
"Unique ability users are rare. That’s just a given..."
A tiny fraction of the population awakens as superhumans, and of those, only a small percentage manifest unique abilities.
The majority of those unique abilities are straightforward physical types.
Basic skill types like swordsmanship or spear techniques.
Then there are elemental types—fire, water, wind, earth, electricity, and so on.
While it’s possible to evolve those abilities into something more advanced, it’s exceptionally difficult.
As a result, rare and peculiar unique abilities are even harder to find.
"Most of the unique abilities I’ve assimilated so far have come from Siyoram."
There were so many unique ability users at Siyoram that it was almost overwhelming.
If I extended my observation field, nearly all the cadets had a unique ability. A few even manifested two abilities.
But outside the academy, it was a different story.
Even while searching through parts of China, most people I encountered were ordinary civilians who hadn’t awakened. The few superhumans and necromancers I crossed paths with rarely had unique abilities.
As my consciousness gradually surfaced, my senses reconnected.
My cheek felt soft and warm.
I extended my observation.
Elia came into view.
She was sitting on a sofa, and I was lying down with my head resting on her lap.
A yellow blanket was pulled up to my chin as I slept comfortably.
"Sweetie? The others are arriving soon. Time to wake up~"
Her gentle voice whispered in my ear. Slim fingers gently pinched my cheek. It seemed she’d been trying to wake me for a while.
"Haha, that tickles, Hayul."
I rubbed my cheek against her fingers, prompting a soft giggle. A warm palm then smoothed over my cheek.
I yawned as I slowly stretched, shaking off the lingering drowsiness as I sat up.
Laughter floated down from above.
"Hayul, you look like a caterpillar."
[Hmph.]
[I’m not a bug!]
"That’s not what I meant. I meant you’re cute!"
[I don’t like bugs...]
"Oh? Hayul doesn’t like bugs?"
Elia moved me to sit beside her on the sofa. As she playfully pinched my cheek again, her green eyes widened in surprise.
"But you didn’t seem bothered during the last dungeon raid?"
The last dungeon raid?
Ah... that must’ve been earlier in the semester. It was a forest terrain, so there had been plenty of bugs, unavoidable as they were.
[I couldn’t run away even if I wanted to...]
[I still don’t like bugs...]
[They taste bad...]
[Especially cockroaches...]
"Ah... er, sorry for bringing it up."
[It’s okay...]
Time passed as I leaned back against the sofa.
By the time my drowsiness had completely faded and I felt fully awake, the sound of the door’s announcement echoed.
[Cadet Baek Arin: Authentication complete.]
[Cadet Hong Yeonhwa: Authentication complete.]
As the sliding door melted smoothly into the wall, familiar scents wafted in.
The Sky Wings on my back fluttered softly.
Moments later, Hong Yeonhwa and Baek Arin entered.
I opened my eyes slightly and was greeted by the sight of Hong Yeonhwa furrowing her brows as if something displeased her.
Our eyes met.
I focused and moved my lips.
"Yeonhwa."
I didn’t stutter.
Hong Yeonhwa’s eyes lit up, and she rushed over to embrace me.
"Hayul! You’re okay, right? Did you manage to finish what you needed to do this morning?"
"Yes. Don’t worry about it."
My face buried itself into her warm chest, which smelled sweet and comforting. With a happy sigh, I nuzzled against her.
[Fragrance.]
[Happiness.]
[Sweetness.]
"Ahem... Well, as long as you’re okay."
"And what about me? I’m just invisible, huh?"
Baek Arin, who had been standing behind her, muttered in mock irritation before stepping forward.
Her blue eyes stared directly into mine. When I turned to meet her gaze, all I could see was a dense gray mist.
"You really can’t see me, huh? Can’t even talk to me? What kind of phenomenon is this?"
She tilted her head, trying to make sense of my unfocused gaze.
[......]
‘......’
It’s a curse... was the thought that crossed my mind.
But if I dared say that aloud, I might have to endure another of Baek Arin’s fits, which could very well lead to a near-death experience.
So I tightened my grip on the Confession Necklace to keep it from blurting out anything reckless.
"Well, I suppose everyone’s entitled to one or two secrets they can’t share, right?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Baek Arin asked for my agreement while glancing at me nestled in Hong Yeonhwa’s arms.
[Yes...]
I nodded hesitantly, unsure of what else to do.
We gathered around the round table in the center of the room.
I had no choice in seating arrangements and ended up beside Hong Yeonhwa.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёwebnovel.com.
Elia sat next to me, while Baek Arin took the seat across from us.
"Am I some sort of outcast? I’m reporting this to Siyoram. Just so you know."
"Stop saying nonsense..."
[Why were Hong Yeonhwa and Baek Arin late?]
Although I’d already guessed using my observation ability, I hadn’t precisely checked.
Hong Yeonhwa responded first.
"I just finished Comprehensive Combat Logic and Advanced Practical Swordsmanship. It was just the introductory session, but it seems like there’s a lot to learn."
Comprehensive Combat Logic and Advanced Practical Swordsmanship...
Both are courses suitable for a combat major like Hong Yeonhwa.
In particular, Comprehensive Combat Logic was a frequently utilized course in the original work.
While courses like Swordsmanship and Spear Techniques are essential for mastering specific weapon skills, Comprehensive Combat Logic was the most efficient way to improve overall combat proficiency.
The professor in charge was remembered in the original work as a noteworthy figure who once made a name for themselves on the frontlines of the Demonic Region. They had received top-level honors but retired due to injuries.
Their achievements were enough to grant them the title of an honorary top-tier hero.
In the second timeline, I had taken Comprehensive Combat Logic extensively because of my unique ability, Combat Aptitude.
As the name implies, it granted universal combat buffs, making the course highly effective for me.
"I attended Advanced Magical Mechanics," Baek Arin added with a sigh, shaking her head as though the memory gave her a headache.
Like Hong Yeonhwa, Baek Arin is also a combat major, but her versatility means she takes a variety of courses.
Advanced Magical Mechanics is a challenging course.
It involves analyzing, deconstructing, and reconstructing magical formulas from top to bottom.
It’s so difficult that if you enter unprepared, you’ll waste time with minimal progress.
[Elia, did you just attend an overview class too?]
"Yes, I went to Advanced Healing Techniques (II)."
Elia, a cadet with a support major specializing in healing abilities, had attended a course focused on her field.
"Hmm..."
It seemed like everyone had already planned their schedules.
Of course, the available courses are published ahead of time, so it’s possible to prepare during the first semester or even over the break.
I’d intended to finalize mine during the break while spending time with Seo Yul, but things didn’t go as planned.
Who would’ve guessed the Two-Headed Venom Dragon would resurrect, leading to me getting beaten into this sorry state?
"Hayul, you need to finalize your schedule by this week. Have you thought about what you want to take?"
"Right. As a special admission student, you have access to a wide range of courses. You can make changes later, but it’s best to choose carefully at the start."
[Yes.]
[I already have a few courses in mind.]
At my response, all eyes turned to me.
"What are they? Have you already decided?"
Hong Yeonhwa asked with sparkling eyes.
[Yes.]
[I plan to focus on magic courses.]
If I enter the Tower of Knowledge, I’ll likely learn a lot about magic.
However, I still need foundational knowledge to study effectively. Before that, I plan to raise my magic proficiency as much as possible.
"M-Magic...?"
Hong Yeonhwa’s eager expression faltered.
"Magic is great."
In contrast, Baek Arin clapped her hands, her face lighting up.
"Have you thought about specific courses?"
[I’m planning to follow Professor Riana’s advice.]
*[I’m considering Circuit Construction (II) and Deployment & Reverse Deployment (II).]
"You should definitely take Circuit Construction. It’s useful for all types of magic. The same goes for Deployment & Reverse Deployment. Other courses I’d recommend are..."
[Thank you for the recommendations.]
[I’ll take them after completing the basics.]
For now, I plan to focus primarily on magic courses.
I also plan to learn crafting as a supplementary subject...
"Monster Taming & Handling? Are you taking that too, Hayul?"
Elia tilted her head as she looked over my list.
[Yes.]
[I’m curious about it, so I’m trying one class.]
Monster Taming isn’t a time-intensive course. It’s more like an elective, requiring only an hour or two per week.
The course provides hands-on experience with various monsters, teaching taming techniques.
It’s not a particularly popular course, but it’s useful for necromancy and might come in handy later.
There aren’t any major assignments, so it won’t be a burden.
"Don’t they show unicorns in that class?"
Unicorns.
They’re high-tier monsters, ranked around the 4th hierarchy. Even Siyoram only has a few, making them rare specimens.
Ever since I destroyed a Bicorn’s horn, I’ve been curious about unicorns.
Would unicorns dislike me too? Honestly, I wasn’t confident they’d like me...
"Then I’ll take it too."
"Me too~"
[Huh?]
[Is that okay?]
Elia and Baek Arin adjusted their schedules in real-time. Startled, I asked again.
[Won’t that mess up your schedules?]
"It’s fine. We’ve got plenty of free time."
"I-I’ll join too."
Hong Yeonhwa hurriedly updated her schedule as well.
"You? Monster taming? Don’t you usually just annihilate... Ow!"
"Quiet."
We spent some time organizing the courses we’d take.
Since I’d already received advice from Professor Riana, and we shared opinions with one another, the process went smoothly.
In particular, many of Baek Arin’s recommendations aligned with the courses I had in mind.
She also gave insights I hadn’t considered, allowing me to refine my plans in real-time.
"Phew... We’re finally done."
Elia stretched her shoulders as she spoke from her seat beside me.
As she said, we had finished finalizing the schedule. There was still a bit of final review left, but that wouldn’t take long.
"Shall we grab some snacks? There’s a lot over there."
"I checked earlier. There are plenty of cookies and a variety of drinks in the fridge."
"What should I get for you, Hayul?"
[Oh, I’ll just have a drink, please.]
"Got it~"
Hong Yeonhwa and Elia headed toward the snacks.
"Oh, right, Hayul. Want to try this?"
[What is it?]
It was then that Baek Arin, who had been sitting quietly, clapped her hands as if she’d just remembered something.
She rummaged through a spatial pouch attached to her waist.
Eventually, she pulled out a black plastic bag.
It was a decent size.
And the sight felt oddly familiar.
Confirming my suspicions, Baek Arin pulled something out of the large bag and placed it on the table.
What appeared was long, white, and glossy...
"What’s that? Rice cakes?"
It was indeed garaetteok—Korean rice cakes. Thanks to the spatial pouch, they hadn’t hardened and were still soft and chewy.
Hong Yeonhwa, who had returned with an armful of snacks, tilted her head in curiosity. Baek Arin responded by wagging her finger in mock disapproval.
"There's more than just that. Take a good look," Baek Arin said with a mischievous grin.
Just as she mentioned, the table wasn't just filled with garaetteok—it was adorned with a wide assortment of various rice cakes.
"Oh! I've tried this before. Isn't this songpyeon?"
Elia, who had returned with drinks, pointed to the colorful half-moon-shaped rice cakes in shades of white, pink, and yellow.
"Yes, that's right. But when did you ever get to try songpyeon? It's not exactly common in the UK."
Baek Arin tilted her head in curiosity.
While cultural exchanges had become more common after the Great Cataclysm, regional traditions and foods still largely remained distinct.
Elia’s hometown was in the UK—Scotland, to be precise—so it was odd to imagine her having tried a traditional Korean rice cake like songpyeon.
"I had it once before enrolling at Siyoram," Elia explained calmly.
"There was a mix-up with the gate, and I ended up in Seoul. I had some time to kill before the next gate opened, so I wandered around and tried songpyeon at a street market."
[Seoul? Before enrolling?]
[Was that when we met?]
"Yes, exactly. That’s when I first tried it. There were so many street food stalls around."
"Ah, I see..."
I nodded as her explanation clicked.
Come to think of it, Elia’s hometown was in the UK, but we first met in Seoul.
It would have been more logical for her to go directly from the UK’s gate terminal to Siyoram, rather than passing through Seoul.
Baek Arin’s brow furrowed with confusion.
"A mistake? How does someone accidentally end up on the wrong gate?"
"Apparently, there was an error at the gate management office. You know how there were a lot of gate transfer issues back in March?"
"Oh, right. That was chaos. For years, there hadn’t been a single incident, and then suddenly, problems were popping up everywhere. People wouldn’t stop complaining."
"I didn’t mind too much. I had plenty of time and got compensated generously. Besides..."
Elia reached out and gently smoothed my hair with her long, pale fingers.
"If it weren’t for that mistake, I wouldn’t have met Hayul. To anyone else, it might have been an inconvenience, but to me, it was a stroke of luck."
Elia smiled warmly, her sincerity shining through. Seeing her genuine expression made me smile as well.
[Meeting Elia was a stroke of luck for me too.]
I meant it.
Meeting Elia that day was truly a blessing.
Looking back, it felt almost like destiny.
At the time, I was so withdrawn that I avoided all outside help, recoiling in fear.
But it was precisely during that difficult period that I met Elia, whose innate bond with spirits allowed her to reach out to me.
Her unfamiliar yet sincere kindness became a turning point, helping me come out of my shell, even if just a little.
"Ahem... But why did you bring so much rice cake all of a sudden?" Hong Yeonhwa asked, breaking the moment.
"Huh? Hayul loves rice cakes."
"What?"
Hong Yeonhwa blinked in surprise.
"You didn’t know?" Baek Arin smirked, picking up a piece of garaetteok.
"Here, have one."
She offered the rice cake to me, and I opened my mouth, taking a bite from the end. The chewy texture filled my mouth as I slowly savored it.
"......"
"......?"
Noticing the sudden silence beside me, I turned to see Hong Yeonhwa’s face frozen in shock, her expression almost betrayed.
[By the way, Yeonhwa and Baek Arin, are you sure this schedule works for you?]
"Huh? Why wouldn’t it?"
"I don’t see a problem."
[Hmm...]
Their confused reactions left me feeling puzzled.
[Aren’t you worried about coordinating with your other friends?]
"Our friends? Oh, right..."
Hong Yeonhwa let out a knowing sigh.
Her group of childhood friends, including people like Shin Seoyul (who used to mix up my name with Seo Yul’s), were all prominent figures from notable families and factions.
In the original story—and even earlier in the semester—Hong Yeonhwa often spent time with those friends.
But lately, that didn’t seem to be the case.
When I asked, Yeonhwa and Baek Arin exchanged glances before simultaneously shrugging.
"...Not really."
"It’s fine."
[I see...]
Though it left me scratching my head, I accepted their answers and continued reviewing our chosen courses.
[Group Chat: Hong-Baek Team (6)]
▶ Shin Seoyul: Hey.
▶ Shin Seoyul: Where’s Hong?
▶ Shin Seoyul: I just saw her in the front row.
▶ Yang Yunha: Probably ran off to see Lee Hayul.
▶ Shin Seoyul: No way.
▶ Shin Seoyul: She didn’t even share her course list with us.
▶ Yang Yunha: It’s not the first time we’ve been ditched this year.
▶ Shin Seoyul: Wow, genius observation.
▶ Shin Seoyul: But where’s Baek? She didn’t share her list either.
▶ Lee Sieun: Saw her.
▶ Shin Seoyul: Where?
▶ Lee Sieun: Flying off with Hong.
▶ Shin Seoyul: Did Baek ditch us too?
▶ Yang Yunha: We’re literally the Hong-Baek team without Hong or Baek.
[Group Chat: Room Without Hong or Baek (4)]
▶ Shin Seoyul: Baek is insane.
▶ Shin Seoyul: Remember that tournament?
▶ Shin Seoyul: Is she seriously messing with Hong’s choice now?
▶ Lee Sieun: War incoming?
▶ Yang Yunha: Over one guy? Get real, Seoyul.
▶ Shin Seoyul: You don’t know.
▶ Shin Seoyul: Ever heard of a face so beautiful it could cause war?
▶ Shin Seoyul: If they see Hayul’s new look, they might fight over him for real.
▶ Lee Sieun: War aside...
▶ Lee Sieun: If someone leaks this chat, you’ll be the first to go down.
▶ Shin Seoyul: If I go down, I’m taking you with me.
...