The next day.
Instead of gathering in the usual classroom, we met in an open space a bit further away from the building for the magic practical class.
To be precise, it's not completely an open space.
It’s a large sandpit surrounded by walls.
The structure is so tangled up that I thought I wouldn’t be able to understand it even if I dug through my memories, but the memories of the Ancient Heavenly Sovereign shine through.
It’s a device that causes the flow of energy to stagnate.
In short, it’s designed for magical energy to gather. I guessed it might be a device to stop attacks from flying too far, but it seems not.
Meanwhile, the teacher came in with a bulky mechanical device and set it up in the center.
I quietly observed as one by one, students were called and asked to use some magic.
“This place is the same as usual,” Victoria muttered. I dug through my memories once again.
At the Clockwork Knight School, magic was used when manipulating machines or adjusting devices for the battery. There doesn’t seem to be any similar equipment here.
Looking for older memories, I recalled a small machine used to make light orbs in front of it for measurements.
Is this the same? I watched, and yes, it was.
Here, too, they created light orbs and placed them on a large machine. Then, from a machine below, something clicked and a punched paper was ejected.
“Wow, they’re still using such outdated methods...” Victoria remarked. Judging by her words, it seems to be very old-fashioned equipment. Considering it’s the Royal Academy, their support should be good. Why aren’t they using better equipment?
After each student used their magic, they moved away and practiced casting various spells.
Most of them didn’t cast powerful magic like massive fireballs or earth-shattering spells. No, they couldn’t use them.
Instead, tiny embers floated, water trickled down in thin streams, or the ground barely lifted.
Of course, some did use magic that could harm people.
There were students who emitted electricity from their hands, created whirlwinds, or formed spears made of fire. The other kids around them looked at them with either admiration or envy.
It was more than expected; it was the look people give to someone who is good at sports.
In the second world, it felt similar to the gaze aimed at someone highly skilled in martial arts.
Victoria also created a light orb for measurement, and then it was my turn.
So, I walked up to the teacher and said,
“I can’t use magical energy.”
Immediately, the surroundings became silent. The teacher looked at me in great surprise. While I can create effects similar to magic, it’s better to say I can’t use magic since using it could risk breaking the world.
“No, but... then, isn’t your healing ability magic?”
By now, everyone knows I can heal others. The side effects too.
I nodded to the teacher’s question.
According to Daegon and the Ancient Heavenly Sovereign, I stand on the opposite extreme of magic. So it’s true—I can’t use magic.
“Contracts are contracts. They’re not magic,” I clarified.
The teacher paused for a moment, then walked toward me.
“I’ll check, just in case. It’s really rare for someone not to be able to use magic.”
Looking around at the students, I realized that saying I have a disability seemed to be the same thing. But I wasn’t bothered, so I offered my arm to the teacher.
The teacher grabbed my arm and stood still.
I really felt nothing. But the teacher suddenly turned pale and pulled away quickly, as if shocked by an electric shock.
Even Cheonma had felt something strange when inserting energy into my body.
At that time, after being created by the Harvesters, I’m not sure if Cheonma felt the exact same coldness I did, but I remember the physiological response being the same for both of us.
The teacher also reacted the same way.
Even though it wasn’t cold weather, capillaries contracted, and hairs stood up. The body trembled, trying to preserve heat.
“I can’t use magic.”
Just like a fish living in the deep sea can’t breathe air, there are things I simply cannot do.
The teacher was drenched in sweat.
It’s early autumn now. But since the teacher thought it was cold, their body tried to preserve heat, which caused them to feel overheated.
“You seem unwell. Wouldn’t it be better to go to a place where you can get treated?”
At my question, the teacher slowly nodded in a daze. But what’s up with the students around us flinching?
Judging by the fear in their eyes, they probably think I did something.
They were startled when the teacher touched me, so they can’t blame me for anything.
The teacher shivered and, saying that the class was over, took the equipment and the punched paper, leaving the practical class area.
“Did you do something?”
Victoria asked, approaching me softly. I immediately noticed others around us eavesdropping.
I shook my head.
“No, I didn’t. Have you ever seen me use anything other than what’s called ‘special abilities’ in this world?”
After thinking for a moment, Victoria raised her hands, one above and one below, then closed the distance between us.
“When you transformed?”
“Oh, right. That happened.”
A strange memory pressed against me.
It was just a few words. Sooosim Gong Choseol.
I checked it when I had time, but it was just text with no unusual power. That was all.
But it was different back then.
I still remember. The text of Sooosim Gong Choseol shone, and after I transformed, Soo’s memory briefly flickered.
I still don’t understand.
“It’s my vessel, so I think it’s different. And it’s impossible to go back to that form.”
“Yeah... It’s better not to return to being a 25-foot mermaid.”
Maybe the memory of that form surfaced, as Victoria crossed her arms and nodded, acknowledging.
“That was originally designed to hold a god. That’s why a monster like me could fit into it.”
Victoria nodded, but her expression showed she wasn’t entirely sure but was nodding anyway. A faint hint of contempt and fear lingered, indicating that the incident had been horrifying.
There’s no need to keep bringing up unpleasant memories.
“Victoria, you’re quite good at recognizing machines, huh?”
I gently shifted the topic to something Victoria knew well.
And that choice was correct.
Victoria’s words poured out like a waterfall.
Since she thought I didn’t know anything, her explanation was long. I understand the knowledge she has, so when I filtered out the unnecessary information, it was basically this:
The best equipment made long ago.
The school where the kids study, as well as places with decent facilities, use similar diagnostic devices, but these are of higher specs. However, the UI and parts are outdated.
Although it’s a bit old, it works well and doesn’t have poor performance, so there’s no need to replace it, she said.
As she explained eagerly, the bad emotions that had been etched on her face earlier faded away.
Hmm.
It’s done.
After Victoria finished her explanation, the students who had been listening to us disappeared.
“If you want to become a Clockwork Knight, Victoria, you’ll have to study hard.”
So, I decided to try an interesting experiment.
At my words, Victoria stopped speaking. She looked at me with a disapproving expression.
This Royal Academy teaches about the Clockwork Knights, but it’s actually about handling the Clockwork Knights. And the one who told me that was none other than Victoria.
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“You know you can’t do that now.”
There was a bit of reproach in her voice, questioning why I would say that.
So, I said this:
“Are you going to give up on your dream? Just because of a few hours a day? Is that really the reason?”
At my words, Victoria closed her mouth and stayed silent, contemplating deeply.
I watched her.
How can I draw out her desire? If there’s something blocking it, I’ll teach her how to break through and move forward.
If there’s power, use it. If there’s a need for brains, use them.
The stronger the belief that cannot be changed, the easier it is for a person to kill another. When doing what’s right, you can continue killing without feeling guilt.
In that sense, murderers who kill one or two people are out. Especially ordinary people who would feel guilt, likely have a small harvest.
Serial killers are fine. They’re like fast food that fills you up quickly in a short time.
Like blood vessels clogging, the purple hair, symbolizing the Harvesters, might turn into a bad image, and it’s problematic if I become someone society wants to distance themselves from.
Following the law and norms, but doing it in their own way—that’s the best.
Hiding behind groups and manipulating the system that runs the group for their own desires.
It’s the ultimate Harvester, capable of gathering warmth for a long time.
I’ll try to make good people like that.
Childhood dreams are the easiest bait.
“Why are you saying that?”
I looked around. There were a few people listening to Victoria and me. But most of them had lost interest.
Just perfect.
“I think people should do what they want.”
Yes. In fact, the words that drive desire are already set. I’ve been doing it for a while, and now I plan to do it more seriously.
In the second world, I didn’t do much.
This time, I’ll be cautious, but I’ll take big steps forward.
“Victoria. It’s the same for you. People should dream. Right?”
With pure malice, I hope that not only the person in front of me but everyone will thoroughly trample others underfoot and climb up according to their desires.
“What? Are you supporting my dream?”
“Yes. That’s right. If you lose your way, you can find it again. You have the power to do so, right?”
You have the special ability to control water. It’s a great power for assassination, as well as killing. Water is far more dangerous than it seems.
Victoria stared at me for a moment, then suddenly hugged me.
“Bell, you’re the best!”
I was lifted by Victoria and had to spin around in the air.
Thanks to that, I could feel the power that shattered the head of a Sahagin firsthand.
After a few spins in the air, Victoria placed me back on the ground, cupping my cheeks in both hands.
“Thank you.”
Then, taking a few steps back, Victoria stretched and smiled with an even brighter expression.
Seeing that made me happy, thinking my words had really sunk in.
I hope she’ll give me a lot of warmth.
Victoria Bet.