Chapter 210: Qualification Exam (2)

I had a question.

What could that person possibly have to ask about me?

I could understand the first time—he was probably curious how Yuria started on the path of a Magic Swordsman.

‘But asking three times?’

As Yuria said, it was strange.

I became even more curious and asked,

“What did he ask about me?”

“He mainly asked about the past. Things like how I met you, what kind of person you are, and what we do when we meet. Oh, and he also asked what you were like when we went on off-campus activities, not just inside the Academy.”

“He asks a lot.”

“Right? It seems like he’s interested in you too, senior.”

I let out a small laugh.

“I’m not a fan of attention from men…”

But contrary to my laughing exterior, my mind was quite complicated.

‘Why me?’

It’s possible to be curious.

It is, but doesn’t this feel more like he is ‘interrogating’ me through Yuria?

‘Could it be that he noticed I am the Skull Mask?’

There’s no reason for him to ask so many questions otherwise.

I tried to recall if I had ever accidentally dropped a hint about the Skull Mask without realizing it.

No.

The most recent time I had been suspected was because of that photo, which had been maliciously fabricated, and if anything, my image improved after that incident.

…Hmm.

I don’t know.

It’s possible he’s asking purely because he’s curious about me, and like a thief with a guilty conscience, I might just be being overly sensitive.

Thus, I couldn’t definitively reach a conclusion yet.

However, it seemed necessary to be cautious.

‘Damn it.’

A curse involuntarily lingered in my mouth.

I already had a mountain of things to think about concerning Uriel, and suddenly, my worries had increased.

Honestly. Sigaro Isaac.

It was random and unexpected for a man who usually never left the Royal Palace to suddenly interfere with my life… I felt like things were going to get a little bit—no, a lot—more troublesome.

He was too formidable a person, both in social standing and as an individual, for me to deal with carelessly.

I hoped it was just an unnecessary concern, but if it wasn’t, this was a problem that could jeopardize the guild’s very existence.

If it escalated, it could even turn into an all-out war with the Royal Palace.

Therefore, rather than moving rashly, it seemed better to take more time and act cautiously.

“…Oh, right, senior.”

It was then.

Yuria called me, clapping her hands as if she had suddenly remembered something she had forgotten.

“Yes?”

“What should I do? I had an appointment next week. I completely forgot.”

“Huh? Really? With whom?”

“Karina.”

At the unexpected name, I was utterly baffled.

“…Karina? Did I hear that correctly?”

“Yes.”

“Just the two of you?”

Nod-

It was a strange combination.

I thought they hated each other; did they somehow develop a grudging affection in the meantime?

“What was the appointment about?”

“Well…”

Yuria trailed off for a moment, then glanced around and whispered in a quiet voice.

“We decided to look for Rachel. Together.”

“…Ah.”

“You mostly know what happened, senior. Rachel. She was captured by Shadow in exchange for saving her sister. So—”

I listened quietly to Yuria’s story.

To briefly summarize her account, it was this:

‘Rescue Rachel from Shadow’s clutches.’

It seemed they thought we used Reina as bait and forced Rachel into an unequal slave contract.

The reality was that she wasn’t dragged away; it was Rachel’s voluntary choice.

Besides, she had been a villain from the start.

“So, next week, Karina and I decided to head down to Icata. To find Shadow’s hideout or Rachel.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

I mused, then asked,

“But can the two of you handle that? What about the others? Ivan and Gwyn are there too.”

“Gwyn said he was busy with personal matters. Ivan said he couldn’t take time off because of his personal training.”

“Then isn’t it too dangerous? Why don’t you go to the off-campus activity with me first, and then I can join you and the others for that…”

“Oh. I should do that.”

“…”

“Why? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Well, your speed in changing tactics is just too fast.

Still, since you’re unilaterally postponing an appointment, shouldn’t you at least hesitate for a moment…?

“Ahem. It’s nothing, nothing at all.”

“Then I’ll be going in. I need to tell Karina.”

“Now? Right away?”

“Yes. I think it’s better to tell her quickly.”

With those words, Yuria bowed and entered the female dormitory.

Her footsteps seemed somewhat light.

‘Is going on an off-campus activity that exciting?’

Anyway.

I was relieved that I could take Yuria along as planned.

But two hours later.

I met Yuria again.

…And Karina was with her.

“I’m going too, so that’s fine, right?”

“…”

“Honestly. Am I crazy? Why am I asking this man if it’s fine? If I say I’m going, I’m going.”

“…”

And just like that, for the Rachel sisters’ Qualification Exam, Yuria was joined by the unexpected addition of Karina Zain.

I don’t know. Things will work out somehow.

I decided to give up on trying to predict the future now.

***

“You worked hard. Sleep well!”

“Yes! You too, Dayle!”

“Heh heh. Alright.”

Reina gripped her crutches and went down the stairs.

When she reached about halfway,

“How am I doing? I can go down well now, can’t I?”

She suddenly asked toward the top.

“Quite good, actually.”

As expected, a reply came.

It was Dayle, who had been watching her descend instead of going up to the second floor.

“I think I can finally rest easy.”

“Hehe. I really like this. It fits my body perfectly. Thank you again for making it for me.”

Reina smiled brightly, waving her crutches.

“That’s a relief. Is tomorrow the Qualification Exam?”

“Yes!”

“Do well.”

Reina brought her right hand, the one not holding a crutch, to her brow and saluted.

“Don’t you worry!”

Dayle quirked the corner of his mouth, then turned and went up to the second floor.

That look seemed to mean that he no longer needed to look after her, and Reina felt a slight lump in her throat, but she managed to suppress it and put a smile on her face.

Smiling contentedly, Reina moved her crutches and arrived at the underground wine cellar.

She set the crutches beside her and sat on the cot.

Closing her eyes, she immediately entered meditation.

‘The mana at dawn is truly quiet and calm. It’s definitely different from the midday mana that churns like waves.’

What she had learned so far were a few Thievery skills and Magic.

Although she had learned Magic on Luis’s recommendation, in truth, there was no set path for a thief like “you must learn something.”

Anyone with skill, trust, and patience could become a Shadow.

Despite this, the reason she chose Magic was partly because of her uncomfortable leg, but more so because she wanted to be useful to Shadow.

Realizing that Shadow lacked a thief who focused on Magic, she chose Magic as her specialty without hesitation.

Among those, her favorite Vision was Telekinesis.

The power to control objects from a distance according to her will was a very appealing Vision for her, whose leg was uncomfortable.

She wouldn’t have to move laboriously.

Also, the outcome varied greatly depending on how she utilized it, so she allocated the most training time to Telekinesis throughout the week.

It was the same now.

Feeling the surrounding mana with The Thief’s Breath, she soon drew the mana and stretched her hand forward.

The target where the mana, imbued with the will for Telekinesis, was shot was the crutch she had set beside the cot just moments ago.

However.

The crutch did not budge from its spot, much less be drawn toward her as she wished.

‘As expected, it’s not easy.’

It wasn’t the result she had hoped for, but she didn’t get disappointed and tried again.

She knew it was the expected outcome.

Even though she had talent in mana and had continuously trained Telekinesis, it had only been a week since she first encountered Magic. Furthermore, the potency of Telekinesis was closely linked to mental power, so it was near impossible for Reina, with her insufficient training, to lift a bulky crutch.

“Still, I thought I could move it slightly today, at least. Haa!”

The training continued.

Suddenly, drops of blood fell from Reina’s nose as she spun her Mana Circuit furiously, using other Magic like Ignition and Flame Sphere.

“…Huh?”

A flustered Reina quickly covered her nose.

At that moment, her head spun, and her vision wavered.

Due to the frequent use of Magic, a load had been placed on her Mana Circuit, which she had only recently constructed.

“Hee. I overdid it. Luis told me to be careful.”

It seemed training was over for today.

Reina roughly wiped the flowing blood and flopped down onto the cot.

Looking up at the ceiling, where the lamplight flickered, she muttered blankly.

“…Can I do well? Me.”

To fulfill her sister Rachel’s wish, she had to join Shadow.

She might be able to pass the Qualification Exam since Rachel would be there.

“But I don’t want that either. I want to do it with my own power.”

She couldn’t receive her sister’s help anymore.

That would only make her a burden, wouldn’t it?

“No good. I can’t sleep like this. I’ll practice walking until my Mana Circuit recovers, and then I’ll train in Magic again once it recovers.”

Reina sat up.

What happened next was astonishing.

“Huh?”

Reina, who was about to activate her Mana Circuit just in case, felt a strange energy squirming inside her body.

“W-what is this?”

A sound of confusion involuntarily burst from her mouth.

It was a heterogeneous energy, different from mana.

The exact location was below her belly button. Feeling a heat, she lifted her shirt and saw a red scar, etched like a tattoo, blooming like a flower on her skin at her waist.

It was the Red Mark.

The trace that was the seed of the demon Lilith.

It was strange.

The Red Mark should have disappeared along with Lilith when she was annihilated by Uriel and Gerard just before the flower fully bloomed, leaving only a scar.

Yet, for some reason, it was becoming vivid again.

‘Why is this happening again?’

Just as that question surfaced in her mind.

The hot energy squirming in her belly instantly surged up and began to furiously rush toward a certain place.

That direction was the Mana Circuit located in her head.

A startled Reina felt that something was wrong.

‘I need to calm it down first.’

Reina quickly entered meditation.

But it was too late.

The heat was already wrapping around the Mana Circuit.

A change began immediately after.

“…O-oh?”

Reina wore a dumbfounded expression as she felt her mind gradually clearing.

“Why? Why does this feel good?”

Cautiously, she reactivated her Mana Circuit.

And she quickly sensed the changed reality.

The mana felt more saturated.

That wasn’t all.

When she recited the incantation for Telekinesis internally, the surrounding mana moved in response to her Mana Circuit, and within that motion, there was the mana for Telekinesis, her will, and something else mixed in.

Something maddeningly hot, violent, and also alluring.

“…What in the world is this power?”

In her hand was the crutch, which had been set beside the cot just moments before.

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