SRS 67

“…So that’s why.”

Yohan lowered his gaze.

When he first performed a descent here, it had been perfect, not the unstable one he’d expected. He’d wondered how that was even possible when this wasn’t his own world. Only now did he understand.

It was because Mikael, who had received divine punishment and carried that power within his soul, was here in the Nameless Realm.

As long as Mikael was present, the god of Yohan’s world had a reason to intervene in this one. That meant his divine power and his descents could function without restriction.

In short, Mikael’s very existence served as the medium connecting Yohan’s dimension with the Nameless Realm.

No wonder Yohan had felt so relaxed by his side. That strange familiarity, that calm he always felt near him, all made sense now.

“……”

Yohan looked at the student with a new awe, then laughed softly, it almost sounded bitter. How had he not realized this sooner? The divine power he’d once worshipped had been right next to him all along, and he hadn’t noticed. It was shameful for a priest.

Yet even now, even after learning the truth, he couldn’t feel any trace of divinity from Mikael.

Was it because Mikael had sealed his abilities?

“There’s no need to feel disappointed,” Mikael said softly, having watched Yohan’s frown deepen in thought. “The divine power within me is insignificant. It only shows when my wings appear.”

He neither denied nor admitted being from the same dimension. That alone told Yohan he’d been right.

But knowing the truth didn’t make it any easier. He sat there, a hollow feeling spreading through his chest, until Mikael stood up from his seat.

Despite having just said something that could’ve shaken anyone, the man’s face was calm. He gently held Yohan’s hand and checked the time.

“Break’s almost over. I’ll see you in general class.”

He spoke so casually, as if nothing had happened. Yohan stared after him, stunned, and only when Mikael’s figure disappeared from sight did he sigh and rub his face.

It was like waking from a dream, realization dawned on him, along with an uncomfortable flood of self-reproach.

…Mikael was an angel from his own dimension.

“…How am I supposed to look at him now?”

It was one thing to learn a friend was an angel. Fantasiademia was full of strange things; Yohan had learned to stop questioning them.

But an angel from his own world was different. If he were just a human, maybe it wouldn’t matter. But he was a priest.

How was he supposed to treat a sacred being from his own realm?

“…Should I offer a prayer or something?”

He couldn’t disrespect a divine being from his world.

Yohan sat on the bench, contemplating with a serious face. The kind of thoughts that would’ve made Mikael smack his forehead were floating in his mind.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

“…What’s with you two? You’ve been acting weird since general education class. Did you fight again?”

Back at the dorm, Suhyeok crossed his arms and leaned on the door, eyeing his two roommates suspiciously. Yohan shook his head.

“No. We didn’t fight.”

“Then what’s going on?”

“……”

Good question.

Frustrated, Yohan looked at Mikael. He’d been distracted since the first period break, still unable to decide how to act around him.

Because of that hesitation, he’d started avoiding Mikael, speaking less, and growing awkward. Mikael, noticing that, had stopped talking to him altogether. From the outside, it looked exactly like they’d fought.

While Yohan scratched his cheek in embarrassment, Suhyeok insisted for answers. That’s when Mikael suddenly stood.

“Yohan. Can we talk for a bit?”

Mikael seemed to has been waiting for this moment. He motioned toward the door. Suhyeok quickly stepped aside.

“Go on.”

“……”

Yohan gave his ‘helpful’ roommate a weary look before sighing.

He couldn’t avoid it anymore.

“…Alright.”

He followed Mikael out of the room.

“You’ll be back before curfew, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Have fun.”

Suhyeok waved lazily, seemingly done interfering, and the two left the dorm. Mikael led the way to the Rose Garden.

Snap.

Deep inside the garden, Mikael snapped his fingers. A shimmer surrounded them both.

A soundproof spell?

Yohan wondered but didn’t get the chance to ask.

“What’s wrong with you?”

This was because Mikael’s questioning immediately followed.

Yohan averted his gaze from the student’s, who was staring at him, and let out a groan. Mikael, observing his hesitation, narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t tell me you’re distancing yourself because I’m from the same dimension as you?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what is it? You didn’t act like this when you found out what I was.”

“…Back then, I didn’t know we were from the same world.”

“So you are acting like this because of that.”

He laughed humorlessly. His expression seemed to ask, “If this is how it’s going to be, why did you deny it?” Yohan opened his mouth and closed his eyes. Mikael’s gaze was burdensome, making it difficult to talk while looking him in the eye.

“…I just don’t know how to treat you anymore.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“……”

Yohan hesitated. He wanted to explain in a way that wouldn’t offend him, but he couldn’t find the right words. Mikael, unable to bear his hesitation, frowned and broke the silence.

“What? Do you suddenly feel like you need to worship me?”

The tone of the question was somewhat nervous.

Is the person in front of him really Mikael?

Yohan looked at the man, who was rarely emotional, and hid his clenched fist behind his thigh. Seeing his anxious face, it occurred to him that perhaps he had made a mistake.

A heavy sigh, as if mixed with various emotions, flowed from Mikael’s mouth.

“…You really are…so polite.”

Yohan laughed awkwardly at the words, which seemed to express shock in many ways. Mikael, as if he didn’t even like that, squinted his eyes and scolded his friend, who was smiling innocently.

“Why are you smiling? That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I know.”

“……”

Even after that honest answer, Mikael still didn’t look satisfied. Yohan wondered what he had done wrong again and quietly apologized.

“…I am sorry.”

Mikael laughed dryly. He leaned against a tree with his arms crossed for a moment, tapping his forearm before clicking his tongue.

“…I understand what you’re thinking. You’ve lived as a priest, and you’ve always been devout. I can see why you’d feel a distance between us. But I’m just… Mikael, Yohan.”

“……”

“As you said, we’re friends. That wouldn’t change even if I am an fallen angel from your dimension. At least, that’s what I think.”

And I thought you saw it that way too.

He omitted those words. Mikael, uncrossing his arms, gazed calmly at Yohan. Seeing his eyes, their once-chaotic emotions now in order, Yohan unconsciously moved his lips. He felt a desire to respond to his gaze.

“…Yes. Me too.”

So he blurted out his true feelings, which he didn’t even know he had.

Only after saying those words did he realize why his mind had been in turmoil. He wanted to treat Mikael as a friend, not as a servant of God. Yet, as a priest, he felt a sense of duty to pay him due respect, and his mind was torn, confused.

Yohan, who had just come to his senses, looked dumbfounded for a moment, then smiled weakly.

“…I was worrying about something stupid. You’re still you, and I’m still me. …I’ll just treat you like before. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

As he bowed his head and promised to behave as before, Mikael’s slightly stiff expression gradually relaxed.

“You overthink everything, Yohan.”

In the now relaxed atmosphere, the student retorted. It was so accurate that Yohan nodded without denying it. Mikael stared at Yohan for a moment, then released his spell and headed for the dormitory.

“But that doesn’t mean I dislike you for who you are. You’re still you, so there’s no need to change that.”

“Hmm.”

“Let’s go back.”

His soft tone made his steps lighter. Unlike when he came, he returned to the dormitory with a relaxed and peaceful mind. Suhyeok carefully checked the expressions on his two friends’ faces and smiled.

“Good. You both pass. You two take more work than anyone else. Come on in.”

It seemed like they weren’t going to let them in if they failed. Yohan chuckled at the absurdity of the attitude, then sighed as he watched Suhyeok and Kylus begin to argue at Kylus’s question of what qualifications he had to discuss passing.

Those two bicker all the time, but they always quickly solve it among themselves.

It would be a miracle if these two didn’t fight even for a single day, but at least they never made things awkward. In that sense, Mikael and him were the difficult ones. Yohan admitted, somehow feeling less offended, and chuckled softly.

He never imagined that he would make friends like this, but since entering Fantasiademia, he’s been having many new and interesting experiences.

After successfully restoring his relationship with Mikael, diligently keeping up with his classes, and finished his teaching assistant duties, another short weekend had passed and that day finally arrived.

“Everyone! As promised, today we’ll learn how to fight with griffins! Are you ready?”

It was the day of Professor Ariel’s “Combat with Griffins” class, a special lesson he had prepared entirely on his own.

Yohan looked up at the half-dragon professor riding a massive griffin high in the air and swallowed his saliva.

His heart pounded, not from excitement, but from dread.

And as expected, Ariel didn’t disappoint.

“When you live alongside griffins, sometimes you’ll have to subdue one that’s lost control! So today, we’ll practice dealing with a berserk griffin! Which means, of course, we first need one that’s lost control…”

He trailed off, and then, without hesitation, cast a spell on the griffin he was riding and jumped off its back.

“Alright, let’s begin the lesson! Now…ah! Aahh!”

“……”

The professor crashed headfirst into the ground and went silent. The students were too stunned to speak, but the quiet didn’t last.

–Grrrr!

“A-ah, someone help!”

The berserk griffin turned on the students, and thus began the long-awaited “Combat with Griffins” class.