SRS 27

While the headmaster was rambling nonsense, time went on as usual. Growing anxious, Yohan checked the clock and saw there wasn’t much left before the first period ended. He politely asked the headmaster to open the vault now, even if it was rude to interrupt.

“Oh my, I got carried away talking and forgot the main point.”

The headmaster grinned and snapped his fingers.

The office rumbled, and in the spot where the sofa had been, a massive double door appeared. Yohan briefly exclaimed in awe. It was impressive how such a door could appear in an instant. Unlike the vice headmaster, the headmaster didn’t seem to be using magic…

Was it divine power?

Yohan stood up from his seat, recalling the angel professor’s lecture that said the power of god was omnipotent. The headmaster helped Suhyeok and Seiga to their feet and led them toward the huge door.

“When you open this door and go inside, you’ll find the vault. I hope you’ll form a good connection with whatever item you choose.”

“Can we go in together?”

“Of course. Even if several people enter at once, each of you will arrive in a different place. The vault I created is special. It recognizes each person’s potential and traits and leads you to a place suited to you.”

The headmaster spoke proudly, laughing, and the students only pretended to be impressed. Spending time with him always drained their energy, even when he did nothing. It was exhausting just to be near him.

“Also, since each location has different characteristics, be careful if you encounter a guardian golem inside. It might see you as intruders and attack.”

“What?”

What kind of ridiculous thing was that?

He was calling it a reward, yet he was sending them into danger they never asked for. The students all protested loudly at the headmaster’s unnecessary ‘bonus feature.’ But ignoring their disbelief, he clapped his hands and urged them on.

“Go on inside.”

“……”

To face this kind of threat when he couldn’t even use his divine power properly…

Distressed, Yohan braced himself and clenched his fists, preparing for whatever danger might wait in the vault, then opened the massive door.

Pah!

Bright light poured down on him as he stepped inside. The light gradually faded and his vision cleared. The headmaster was right. Even though they’d entered together, Suhyeok and Seiga were nowhere to be seen.

The place Yohan arrived at was a dark space that made the earlier light seem meaningless. It was pitch-black on all sides, with only a single beam of light gently illuminating a cylindrical table.

That was all.

It was supposed to be a vault, yet there were no treasures or objects anywhere, only one strange item resting on the round table, waiting for him.

“This headmaster…!”

The first thought that came to mind was that he’d been tricked. He couldn’t believe the headmaster would even turn the reward into a prank. Yohan stared at the table, feeling both disappointed and cheated. But if this was all there was, he’d have no choice but to take what was offered.

When he came closer, he saw that the object on the table was a tiny egg, smaller than his fist and so fragile it looked like it would break if handled carelessly.

“…What is this?”

The egg, cradled in the beam of light, shimmered with iridescent colors like an aurora. It was beautiful, but that very beauty made it impossible to tell what kind of egg it was. Suspecting another trick from the headmaster, Yohan hesitated, looking around cautiously.

If he touched the egg and a guardian golem suddenly appeared yelling, ‘How dare you touch the headmaster’s treasure, I’ll teach you some manners!’ then his only choice would be to roll away and run for his life.

Just in case, he rotated his ankles to loosen them, swallowed his saliva, and reached out toward the small egg. The moment his fingertips brushed it, a gentle warmth spread through his hand, as if it held the very heat of the light itself.

“Wow…”

As he ran his palm over the egg’s surface, the warmth grew stronger. It made him sure that some form of life was sleeping inside it. That wonder lasted only a moment before he was struck by uncertainty.

“…What am I supposed to do with this?”

Was he meant to take it and raise it? And could he even carry it out?

If he failed to bring the egg back, he’d go down as the fool who managed the rare feat of entering the vault as a first-year only to return empty-handed. His friends would never let him live it down. Determined not to let that happen, Yohan carefully took off his coat, afraid the egg might be startled, and wrapped it as delicately as if handling shattered glass.

To his relief, the egg was light and fit safely in the folds of his coat.

“…I guess that worked?”

Holding the wrapped egg to his chest, Yohan looked around uncertainly before heading back toward the exit. If someone appeared demanding he hand over the egg, he was ready to ram them headfirst if he had to. Fortunately, no attacker came.

“……”

Before he knew it, he’d reached the exit without a single problem, which almost felt wrong. Just one more step forward, and he’d be out.

It was so quiet it was starting to feel scary.

He couldn’t let go of his nervousness. Looking back and forth between the egg in his arms and the glowing doorway ahead, Yohan hesitated one last time about whether he was really allowed to take it. Then he closed his eyes and stepped forward.

He was already in the Nameless Realm of the dead. What worse fate could there be than what had already happened?

Determined, he stepped ahead, and the same light that had greeted him on the way in shone down again, lifting him out of the vault.

Blink. Blink.

After opening and closing his eyes a few times, Yohan finally recognized his surroundings and turned around. Before he knew it, he was back in the office.

“Oh, you came out quite fast.”

The headmaster was standing before the vault, waiting for the students, since Suhyeok and Seiga hadn’t returned yet.

“Let’s see…”

Showing curiosity about what Yohan had brought out, he walked closer and looked down at the egg resting on Yohan’s coat.

“Hmm?”

The nameless headmaster looked surprised and fell silent for a moment. The reaction felt ominous, and Yohan squinted, trying to read his expression, but the dazzling light radiating from the headmaster made it impossible.

“Um, Headmaster, it’s just that, inside the vault….”

“Ahahaha!”

Before Yohan could ask about the strange things that had happened inside, the headmaster burst out laughing. His loud laughter filled the office, sounding far too cheerful. Yohan stopped speaking and stared at him.

A bad feeling crawled up from his toes.

Did I really brought out something strange?

He was overcome with regret. The headmaster wiped away tears of laughter, then bent closer toward the egg.

“I didn’t expect you to bring this out. It seems Fantasiademia’s divine beast has finally chosen a new master.”

“What?”

What, what divine beast?

Yohan blinked, wondering if he’d heard wrong. The headmaster started humming to himself, then patted Yohan on the shoulder.

“Take good care of it and raise it well. Who knows? That divine beast might grant you great power someday.”

“What kind of power are you talking about?”

“For example, power enough to make the finest talents kneel before you.”

I don’t need that.

Yohan slightly furrowed. The headmaster noticed it and lifted his index finger.

“Or perhaps the authority to discipline professors?”

“Oh…”

Yohan’s eyes brightened for a moment, though suspicion soon replaced it. Why would such power come from this?

What kind of creature could possibly grant authority like that?

“Is there any other kind of power?”

“Wouldn’t it be boring if I told you everything? You’ll have to hatch it and see for yourself.”

The headmaster patted his shoulder again, laughing in that shady way that made Yohan frown. The egg’s once-mystical, aurora-colored shell now looked only strange and alien to him.

“Understood.”

Yohan answered politely only because the headmaster was watching. He had a very different plan.

Once I’m back at the dorm, I’m putting this in the bottom drawer and never looking at it again.

Having bad omens in Fantasiademia was already something the professors handled well enough.

Soon after, Suhyeok and Seiga returned from the vault. Unlike Yohan, both of them had brought back practical items.

Suhyeok had a magic subspace pouch that could hold many objects without adding weight, and Seiga had obtained an artifact brooch that stored water energy and could be used anytime in an emergency. Yohan alone had brought back something alive, useless for now, and potentially explosive once hatched.

“Wow… honestly, there was something else I really wanted, but the moment I reached for it, I got blasted into a wall! I tried five more times out of stubbornness, but it was impossible, so I gave up. Ah, Yohan! What did you get?”

Chatting about their experiences in the vault, Suhyeok spotted Yohan and walked over, his face bright with curiosity. Seiga followed behind. Yohan’s throat tightened, and before he realized it, he hugged the egg close to his chest to hide it and stepped back.

“……?”

Both friends looked confused. Yohan’s ears turned red as he lowered his head and shuffled back. Compared to their useful items, his egg was too embarrassing to show.

“Ahahaha!”

The headmaster laughed again, clutching his stomach. Annoyed beyond manners, Yohan glared at him and silently prayed that the ‘divine beast’ he had brought out would indeed have the power to make the headmaster kneel.