SRS 8

Far from being motivated by Professor Ariel’s somewhat amazing gymnastics demonstration, the students lost even more willpower. After suffering for about two hours under the disobedient griffins, they barely managed to leave the Sky Garden at dawn.

Professor Ariel, who was very sad when the students who had tamed Griffin did not exceed 10 in the total until the end of the class, comforted and saw off the students who were leaving with a bright expression, saying they shouldn’t be too impatient because they could come and try to tame them again tomorrow.

“…At least the professor isn’t a bad person. It’s just that this school is weird.”

The students, unable to bear to spit on his smiling face, returned to their dorms, battered and tattered, bitten by Griffin. They carefully coaxed the disobedient griffins back to their room in the Griffin Hall, washed up, and returned. Soon, break time passed, and they had to head to their next class..

The classes for the probationary freshmen consisted of only four: zero period gymnastics with the griffins, first period basic herbology, second period basic swordsmanship, and third period basic supernatural abilities.

They were all required subjects with identical schedules, which made Yohan feel somewhat relieved when he first saw the timetable. After all, it meant his day ended after just four classes.

Even in Fantasiademia, which seemed to treat its students harshly, there was compassion and spring. That was what Yohan thought until herbology class began, he withdrew the gratitude he’d harbored and threw it away.

“Nice to meet you, everyone. My name is Will, and I’ll be teaching you Basic Herbology for the next month. Now, let’s go up the mountain behind us. We’ll learn about herbs while experiencing the life force of the forest where they grow.”

The elf professor, smiling kindly with a gentle face, led the exhausted students, who were still drained from dealing with griffins, up the steep and treacherous back mountain. The class hadn’t even been running for a full minute.

Yohan, who originally lacked stamina, fell behind halfway up the mountain, panting heavily, and was barely able to complete the climb after being carried by Kylus, who clicked his tongue.

“Huh, ha…”

The weaker students were sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily.

Out of the two-hour class, climbing the mountain alone had taken an hour and a half. Someone protested that there was no point in having a herbology class if this kept up every day, but Professor Will’s response was calm.

“It took a little longer today since it’s the first day. But if you train consistently for the next month, you’ll be able to climb this mountain in thirty minutes, just like your seniors.”

“…Wow.”

Suhyeok exclaimed, though his eyes looked exhausted in every way.

The other students didn’t look much different.

No student was angry at Professor Will, who predicted an absurdly shortened class time, questioning how such a reduction was possible. Having assessed the school’s educational methods after just one class, they foresaw a future where the professor in front of them would somehow train them to climb a mountain in 30 minutes, their faces turning as lifeless as withered grass.

“What kind of time did those seniors even go through…?”

The very mention of seniors made them afraid. Hearing the others whisper fearfully, Yohan instinctively turned to look at Mikael.

If the seniors who had endured this and continued were frightening, then Mikael, who had gone through it, failed to advance, and was now repeating his first-year life, was just as terrifying.

“Do you have any questions?”

“……”

At Mikael’s words, Yohan looked up from his lying position. During last night’s conversation, Mikael looked reluctant to add anything extra about his repeated years. Yohan was agonizing whether it was right to bring it up again when Professor Will saved him the trouble.

“Since climbing must’ve worn you out, let’s find a spirit herb that can restore your strength.”

By issuing new instructions, he eliminated the time to even think about it.

Yohan sat up, staring sadly at the professor who was giving him instructions even though he had been lying down for less than three minutes.

“Now, we call this herb a mandrake. It’s a pesky herb that screams until its stamina is depleted immediately after being plucked, reducing its potency. However, if you can block its screaming early on, it can be helpful in restoring stamina. Since mandrakes are common here, if you look hard enough, you might find one. It’s a rare opportunity, so pluck it and try it. It’ll taste delicious, too.”

Professor Will smiled warmly as he explained. The students’s eyes lit up when they heard that they could eat any herbs pulled during class.

“…Is mandrake really good?”

Students from different worlds who didn’t know the herb asked those who seemed familiar with it. Yohan learned its effects from Mikael.

Restoring energy, relieving fatigue, and even awakening the mind…!

After the griffin training and mountain climbing, it was exactly what they needed if they wanted to survive the rest of the day’s classes.

If they could find it, they had to.

Yohan steeled himself and stood up. As everyone showed their enthusiasm, Professor Will smiled happily and searched into his robe. Click. A small clock clicked as he pulled it out.

“Let’s see… 26 minutes and 29 seconds left. By the way, any herbs pulled after class time ends will be confiscated, so you’d better hurry.”

“……”

The students glared at the professor, their eyes cold but respectful, then hurried off to search the mountain.

‎

‎

‎

–Uryaryaryarya!

Moments later, a strange scream echoed through the mountain, a student had apparently found a mandrake. The scream, a bit different from what he’d imagined, was from a man of a certain stoutness. Yohan, who was searching the bushes, stumbled and raised his head.

“…What kind of herb screams like that?”

It sounded like someone was torturing a thug in a back alley.

–Ugagagagagagyak!

“Ugh!”

The student who pulled out the mandrake groaned, covering his ears against its rough, savage, deafening scream. The double chorus of screams that broke out instantly made the others cover their ears and frown.

“Hey, Melek! What are you doing? If you pulled it out, either cover its mouth, or if you can’t, put it back in or give it to someone else! Stop being so noisy!”

The students, their bodies strained by the constant training, were irritable and complaining. Melek, clutching the mandrake, couldn’t move, his face contorted.

“I can’t touch its body! When I try to grab anywhere but the mouth, it bounces me away!”

“What?”

“Huh… The mandrake in my world didn’t act like that.”

“That’s right. The mandrake in Fantasiademia has absorbed the energy of this land, so it’s stronger and more effective. Maybe that’s why its temperament has become fiercer too.”

Professor Will cheerfully explained, pleased that the students had noticed the difference on their own without him saying anything.

Why are you telling us that now?

The students glared at the professor, then turned their eyes to Melek’s mandrake.

–Uryaryaryarya!

As expected, the mandrake that had grown stronger from Fantasiademia’s energy, boasted a maddening vocal power. Its energy was so immense that it seemed it wouldn’t stop screaming even if an hour passed.

“Oh, by the way, mandrake can scream for up to six hours. Keep that in mind.”

Professor Will added.

“Ah, why are you only telling us that now?!”

Eventually, one student couldn’t stand it anymore and lost his temper.

“Melek! Just put it back in the ground!”

“No, let’s help him! If we all grab it together, someone might manage to hold it!”

“Can’t we just cut it with a sword?”

The students, their nerves on edge from the constant screaming, offered various opinions. The conflicting claims created a delicate atmosphere and a war of wits.

Snap.

Mikael silently approached Melek, he snatched the screaming mandrake, then kissed its forehead.

“……”

–……

Both Melek and the mandrake became quiet and looked at Mikael with bewildered eyes.

“Uh… When did you get here?”

Melek, who realized the situation belatedly, asked blankly.

“No, but look, the mandrake stopped screaming.”

“I don’t hear it anymore.”

“What the…?”

The students murmured in confusion. The mandrake, which had been staring at Mikael, suddenly began twisting its roots.

–Eheheh…

It let out a suspicious, unpleasant giggle as its whole body writhed. The students frowned at the sight. Even if it was just a herb, it was still quite an eyesore.

“…Is that thing embarrassed right now?”

One student finally asked the question no one wanted to say aloud. Since no one could answer, everyone just cleared their throats awkwardly and looked strangely at Mikael and the mandrake until Professor Will clapped his hands.

“As expected of Mikael. You broke its vibration barrier and cast an enchantment spell on it.”

The pleased professor explained that students who had learned magic could calm mandrake this way.

Some friends nudged Yohan, Suhyeok, and Kylus with their elbows.

“What’s with that guy?”

After a bit of hesitation, Yohan and his friends explained that Mikael was a repeating student. Mikael didn’t seem to be hiding it, and from how the professors acted, it was obvious the truth would come out soon anyway.

Still, just in case, he should apologize.

When Yohan, feeling a little guilty, spoke about Mikael, the students, who had finally understood the strange sequence of events that had happened around Mikael, were startled

“So you’re saying he’s already been through all this once, and he chose to go through it again for another year?”

“…He’s insane.”

“Someone should suggest a mental health check.”

The students’ gazes at Mikael were a mixture of fear and pity. It was the moment when word spread among the new students that the mysterious young man, Mikael, became known as the crazy repeating student.