SRS 134

He withdrew the punishment with his divinity? Is such a thing even possible?

It’s impossible with the same level of divinity since he intervened in a punishment another god laid. This meant the headmaster’s divinity was at least stronger than the god who punished Mikael. In other words, the headmaster’s rank is higher than the god’s in Yohan’s world.

Just what….

Yohan’s whole body began to tremble. Even though he’d seen the headmaster many times, fear and awe weighed him down now. It felt like the first time he saw the headmaster. No, it was even worse.

Yohan couldn’t tell the headmaster’s exact rank. He hadn’t perceived it clearly. He only guessed, yet the difference from when he was ignorant made him turn pale. The headmaster chuckled at Yohan, placed a tray of medicines on the table, and whispered.

“I heard a saying among mortals that ignorance is bliss.”

“…….”

“I admired those words. That’s right. Sometimes ignorance is the best medicine. Don’t you agree, Yohan?”

The words were kind but scary. Yohan clenched his fists and stood up. He knelt on the floor, and though the headmaster waved him off, Yohan stubbornly bowed his head to the ground. It was the same posture one used when worshiping a god.

“…Who exactly are you?”

The obvious question escaped his trembling lips. He thought the headmaster was just a loafer, but he’s a being beyond imagination. This school would vanish in an instant with a single flick of the headmaster’s fingers.

Unfathomable power that Yohan hadn’t felt before swriled around the headmaster, and it made it hard to breathe. He finally understood why the professors followed the headmaster’s words even though their individual strengths were like disasters.

The headmaster sighed as he watched the pitifully Yohan tremble. He laughed and handed a water cup to his student.

“I’m just a nameless person. It’s quite strange. I’ve never revealed my rank or flaunted it, but you saw me just by perceiving it. Right?”

“…….”

Yohan didn’t answer. He just pressed his head against the back of his hand. The headmaster flicked his fingers to force Yohan’s upper body upright and offered the water cup again.

“Just act like usual, Yohan. I like that better. Now, shall we talk about the school again? Mikael is resting in my office for a bit. He overdid it in his messy state, so his condition isn’t normal. However, I withdrew his punishment, and he gained achievements by helping repair the rift. He won’t be in as much pain once he wakes up.”

Yohan had no choice but to take the cup. The headmaster acted like he wouldn’t lift his power until Yohan took it, so Yohan had to comply.

He drank a sip of lukewarm water and felt his internal injuries heal completely. It wasn’t ordinary water.

What was this liquid? Was it some very holy water?

Yohan looked at his face reflected in the clear water and then looked up.

“…You didn’t just choose Mikael and me. You specifically took us there. What’s the reason? You said achievements erase sins. Is that why? Why are you helping us?”

He had so many questions. Usually, the headmaster’s answers are vague and useless, but today it felt like he’d give a straight answer. Yohan requested an answer seriously, and the headmaster cleared his throat.

“Hmm… The rift is temporarily repaired, so will it stabilize after we deal with the remnants for about three months?”

“…Yes?”

“Then let’s talk in three months. Until then, the monthly evaluations will continue to grade your response to dimensional beast attacks, so work hard.”

“……?”

“Since you drank the divine beast’s tears, your body’s fully recovered, right? I’ll send you back to the dorm now. Mikael will be with you when you return, so don’t worry. Then….”

Snap.

The headmaster snapped his fingers.

“Wait, just a moment…!”

Yohan reached out urgently to ask for more time, but the headmaster didn’t grant the request. White light filled his vision, and when his consciousness returned, he was in a familiar room.

Room 304.

Yohan realized where he was just from a glance. He looked around blankly. It was still bright and sunny outside. Suhyeok and Kylus weren’t there because it was class time. Only Mikael lay soundly on his bed just as the headmaster promised.

Coo, coo.

Yohan took back the word ‘only’ Mikael. A divine beast in the form of a white pigeon hovered around the sleeping Mikael’s head, looking for a place to rest.

Yohan stared at the scene. A white-haired young man slept in the sunlight streaming through the open curtains, and the white pigeon suited him perfectly.

A holy scent permeated the air, and the effect of the divine beast’s tears remained in his body.

The unrealistic sensation made Yohan feel like it was all a dream. He checked the calendar on the wall.

Three months….

The headmaster said they’d talk again in three months. If interpreted another way, it meant Yohan wouldn’t see him for the next three months. Yohan clutched his forehead with a confused expression and flopped onto the bed.

He had many things to ask Mikael, but he didn’t look like he’d wake up soon. He had much to ask the divine beast too, but the pigeon could understand him without being able to speak back.

Yohan thought everything was a mystery and buried his face in the blanket.

“…For now, school life comes first.”

If he focused on school like the headmaster said, the time to talk would come again. Yohan’s brain was at full capacity, so he decided to think simply. He suddenly felt something in his chest and searched his uniform.

“Hmm…?”

He pulled out an envelope. He opened it and found a certificate in scribbled handwriting.

[Student Yohan Herse and student Mikael are absent from other classes today due to a special lecture.

 Nameless One -]

The insincere letter made Yohan chuckle and close his eyes. Since the headmaster bothered to give him a letter, he felt he could rest today without worrying about grades. Yohan fell into a deep sleep.

***

“Yohan, Yohan! Are you okay? What on earth happened? What’s this special lecture?”

Suhyeok was the one who woke Yohan. He returned at a perfect time and woke Yohan just before he hit four hours of sleep. Suhyeok waved the headmaster’s letter as he questioned his dazed friend.

Yohan rubbed his eyes, regained his senses, and looked at Mikael’s bed as Suhyeok asked what happened after third period.

Mikael hadn’t woken yet, so Yohan had to deal with Suhyeok and Kylus alone. Yohan sighed and explained what happened. Suhyeok was shocked, and Kylus continued honing his sword.

“He sent you and Mikael there even though you’re first-years? Is he insane?”

“I agree.”

“Why does he only do that to you and Mikael? Are you really on the headmaster’s bad side?”

“Hmm… I don’t think so. He even left a letter like this.”

“Then are you really the headmaster’s top disciple or something?”

“Don’t say such a horrible thing…!”

Yohan was shocked by Suhyeok’s logic. Kylus scolded Suhyeok, saying he was wrong this time. Yohan was getting drained between his two friends.

“Ugh….”

Mikael tossed and turned. Suhyeok made a fuss as Mikael showed signs of waking. The divine beast sleeping next to Mikael couldn’t stand the noise and kicked Suhyeok’s forehead with its thin legs.

“Ack.”

Suhyeok was shocked after being hit by a bird. Yohan pulled the divine beast into his arms as Suhyeok looked ready to fight it.

“Don’t be like that. I think you were a bit loud.”

“Yohan. Are you taking its side too?”

“I’m not taking sides; I’m helping the weak.”

“Hey. How’s it weak? Can’t you see its footprints on my forehead?”

Whenever Suhyeok got excited, the area around him became chaotic. Kylus restrained the frustrated Suhyeok, and Yohan comforted the divine beast. Mikael tossed and turned once more.

A moment later, his closed eyelids slowly rose.

“Oh, he’s awake.”

Suhyeok went quiet as soon as he noticed Mikael waking. Peace returned to room 304 in an instant. Yohan watched Mikael slowly focus his eyes and sat on the chair next to the bed.

“…Hi, Mikael. Did you sleep well?”

He had many questions, but he couldn’t ask them in front of the others. He also just wanted to say hello. Maybe he wanted confirmation that Mikael was okay because his expression at the barrier rift looked so pained.

Mikael looked around when he heard the gentle greeting, and when he found Yohan, his eyes crinkled into a smile.

“Hi, Yohan. Good….”

He tried to say “Good morning” out of habit but sighed after he glanced out the window. The sky was so dark he couldn’t call it morning even as a lie. Yohan chuckled and finished the greeting for him.

“Good night.”

Mikael flinched but soon nodded. They exchanged glances in the silence. Yohan blinked and signaled that they should talk privately. Mikael responded by slowly blinking three times, and then Suhyeok sat on the bed.

“Anyway, I’m glad you both woke up safely. I thought we wouldn’t be able to move together. You haven’t forgotten what tomorrow is, right?”

“…Tomorrow?”