Chapter 46: Mystery (3)

There was a slight commotion in the Star Class. The reason? Saki Ryozo’s class reassignment.

Being the most prestigious class, it wasn’t uncommon for some students, unable to adapt, to voluntarily request transfers to the Dragon Class. These cases usually fell into two categories: those whose social standing didn’t align and those whose skills didn’t meet the required level.

But this time, the person in question was none other than the student with the highest average scores in the academy’s written exams.

Although she had a reputation for constantly sleeping, she always managed perfect scores on the weekly tests, and her combat prowess was outstanding.

To top it off, her lineage couldn’t be more distinguished—she was the daughter of Saki Kojima, the Prime Minister of Japan and its de facto emperor.

Even if one were to argue that Saki didn’t quite fit in with the Star Class, the problem lay in the class she chose to transfer to.

“Miss Abel, have you heard? Saki transferred to the Wolf Class. Can you believe it? That girl who was always asleep on the archery range—what kind of madness is this?”

“…Yes, I see.”

While stretching her stiff body, Rachel commented to Abel, her words punctuated by the cracking of her joints.

But Abel, expressionless, merely rested her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the board.

Rachel, undeterred by the lack of response, shrugged and glanced at Abel’s profile.

Though her vacant gaze might have made her seem absentminded, Abel’s golden irises gleamed brightly, complementing her flawless face. Amused, Rachel’s lips curled into a mischievous smile at the sight of Abel’s seemingly starstruck expression.

“Are you disappointed?”

“Huh? About what?”

“Come on, class changes don’t usually go unnoticed. This year, there just so happened to be an opening in the Wolf Class, right? Looks like Saki found out first and snagged it. Who would’ve thought? That girl who’s always asleep on the range…”

Listening silently, Abel tilted her head, puzzled.

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“Well, according to Speedweapon, last week Saki and Kang Geom-Ma teamed up and cleared the Buffalo Dungeon together.”

“⎯⎯!”

Rachel cast a quick glance at Abel as she spoke. Subtle as it was, the surprise on Abel’s face was unmistakable.

Noticing her reaction, Rachel’s mischievous smile widened.

Feigning disappointment, she shook her head and spoke in a mock-concerned tone.

“Saki, honestly. No matter how interested she is, she should’ve waited her turn. Right? Geom-Ma’s already reserved for you, Miss Abel!”

“Rachel! What are you talking about?! When did you start spouting such nonsense?!”

Abel slammed her palms on the desk and stood up. Rachel, chuckling softly, twirled a strand of hair around her finger, clearly entertained. Abel pouted in irritation.

“I’ve always thought this, but don’t you think you overreact every time Geom-Ma’s name comes up? Could it be that there’s something going on?”

Abel sighed deeply and shook her head.

“Let me make this clear. Kang Geom-Ma and I have barely spoken a few times, and there’s absolutely nothing between us. So please, don’t start spreading ridiculous rumors.”

“Hehe⎯”

Rachel stared at Abel for a moment. Then, letting out a soft laugh, she spoke in a casual tone.

“Fine, there’s nothing now, but that doesn’t mean something couldn’t happen later.”

Her words, accompanied by a slightly cooler tone and a probing gaze, seemed aimed at uncovering Abel’s true feelings.

“Abel, you might fool others, but lying to yourself isn’t a good idea.”

“…”

Caught between surprise and embarrassment, Abel felt a pang in her chest at Rachel’s words.

Though Rachel often joked and teased, this time her words cut deeply.

Abel had always carried herself with a mature and composed demeanor. More than that, she felt compelled to maintain such behavior.

She avoided displaying unnecessary emotions and worked tirelessly to remain stoic.

All of this had a singular purpose—to earn her grandfather Siegfried’s approval.

While he showered her with love as a grandfather, he never granted her recognition in the art of the sword.

Siegfried, hailed as humanity’s strongest and the next “Sword Saint,” naturally held impossibly high standards.

Knowing this, Abel devoted all her efforts to perfecting herself, striving to earn his acknowledgment.

She poured herself into training, shunning emotional distractions. She endured the pain of calloused hands and torn muscles, convinced it was a fair price to pay to become a swordswoman worthy of his recognition.

And yet, thoughts of Geom-Ma had begun to creep into her mind.

When her grandfather chose to serve as a temporary instructor for the Wolf Class instead of the Star Class, where she was, Abel couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. It was clear Siegfried’s interest was focused on Geom-Ma.

‘Geom-Ma.’

Thanks to Siegfried’s rigorous teaching, Abel had been educated without the ideology of noble blood superiority, allowing her to think freely, unbound by her lineage.

Even so, conflicting thoughts swirled in her mind. The justification for nobles inheriting their power lay in their strength—in other words, the Blessing.

To fortify that strength, nobles judged one another, formed alliances with suitable partners, and passed down their lineage through generations.

Thus, the descendants of nobles grew stronger, while the gap between them and commoners widened.

However, Kang Geom-Ma was different.

Completely disregarding his lack of noble lineage, he overcame every obstacle solely through talent and effort. He seemed to push himself relentlessly, and his body had improved markedly as a result.

When she first saw him, he was frail and awkward, someone who barely stood out.

But over time, that boy had become a striking man, his physique chiseled with masculinity and his features refined.

Moreover, he walked the path of a hero with greater determination than Leon van Reinhardt, who was hailed as a hero candidate. And yet, Kang Geom-Ma never flaunted it.

Without boasting of his achievements to anyone, he continued down a thorny, solitary road.

He likely did so to protect those close to him.

If the rumor that Kang Geom-Ma had defeated a demon spread, demons would relentlessly hunt him and those around him.

Had he shown even a hint of arrogance, Abel might have found an excuse to look down on him, but he left no room for such judgment.

Even ignoring cadets who criticized him, he didn’t bother to respond. That attitude, however, sometimes irritated Abel.

And yet, she felt she might die of embarrassment for being so envious of Kang Geom-Ma.

The more she thought about him, the more his image consumed her mind.

‘…’

Lost in these thoughts, Abel felt her cheeks flush red.

Rachel, watching her closely, couldn’t suppress a sly smile. Noticing Rachel’s gaze, Abel shook her head and cleared her throat.

“Whatever you’re thinking, I have no interest in Geom-Ma. I don’t even have time for something like that.”

“Oh, sure, sure. If you say so, Miss Abel.”

Rachel replied with a smile, though her sarcastic tone made it clear she didn’t believe a word. Abel, unable to decipher Rachel’s true intent, felt uneasy. Rachel winked playfully.

“At least I won’t have to compete with you for Geom-Ma. What a relief. I’ve already got my hands full with that red-haired girl and Saki; I couldn’t handle you too, hahaha!”

“…”

Abel froze.

***

“…So, this section will be on next week’s written exam, so remember it. A student’s duty is, by nature, to dedicate themselves to studying. While the academy’s focus leans more toward practical tests, a student with an empty mind can hardly become a hero respected by society…”

The professor continued his lecture on the importance of learning. His sparse, gray-streaked hair shone under the light.

It was a class on a somewhat dry subject, Basic Blessing Analysis, but the professor had an engaging way of speaking that made him popular among the students.

Even for someone like me, still not entirely accustomed to the smell of ink and books, this class was quite enjoyable. Moreover, the detailed explanation of concepts that were merely glossed over in the game was invaluable. I kept my pencil moving, diligently taking notes.

“Alright, blessings are classified according to the entity that bestows them. If granted by a guardian spirit, it’s called a guardian-level blessing; if from an elemental, then an elemental-level blessing, and so on.”

“Professor, then if it’s given by an ancestor, would it be an ancestor-level blessing? Because lately, my late grandfather’s been appearing in my dreams.”

“Your grandfather might help you lift an iron bar, but he won’t be granting you a blessing, Joto Mate, student.”

At the jokester student’s comment, the professor responded calmly.

Some students who enjoyed “dad humor” chuckled softly. However, the professor quickly restored order and resumed his lesson.

In the relaxed atmosphere of the class, one student seemed completely detached from the noise.

Saki Ryozo, peacefully asleep beside me.

The professor, used to this, glanced her way but didn’t bother reprimanding her. He could have pointed out her lack of respect, but he didn’t.

Perhaps it was her status as the daughter of Japan’s Prime Minister, Saki Kojima, that influenced this leniency, but the real reason lay elsewhere.

Though Saki slept during classes, she always managed perfect scores on surprise exams. For a teacher, a student like her must have been, at the very least, perplexing.

I turned my head to look at Saki’s sleeping face. Her delicate features, the graceful line of her neck and shoulders, and her pale face framed by her sky-blue hair falling like a cascade made for a serene image.

“You sleep so well.”

It had been two days since Saki had been transferred to the Wolf Class.

I wanted to figure out the reason for her class change, but I hadn’t had the chance to ask.

Why? Because she spent the entire day asleep, making conversation impossible.

Even if I shook her awake, she’d just blink a few times before falling right back into a deep sleep.

Other students who had tried to befriend her sighed in resignation when they saw her sleeping through every class.

So far, she could pass as a “sleepy beauty.” But what truly puzzled me was something else.

Why did she always choose the seat next to mine?

She might look lazy, like a sloth, but she made sure to claim the seat beside me every single time.

Fortunately, Chloe was still hospitalized and couldn’t see this. If she did, another violent incident would surely erupt.

‘…Though thanks to her, many things were resolved quickly.’

When the head of the checkpoint employee was cut off, Saki didn’t lecture or criticize me.

Instead, she efficiently handled the aftermath.

Even after witnessing the decapitation, her demeanor hadn’t changed in the slightest. Unlike Speedweapon, who quickly analyzed situations with his sharp mind, Saki focused on identifying key points without getting bogged down in unnecessary words.

She truly was a heroine who prevented “narrative bottlenecks.”

Scratching my chin, I shifted my gaze from Saki back to the professor, who was still lecturing.

“Blessings are classified into Hero, Elemental, Guardian Spirit, and Personal levels. Most of you probably possess personal-level blessings, correct?”

The atmosphere in the room grew a little tense at the professor’s question.

Noticing the students’ expressions, the professor encouraged them with a smile as he continued:

“Don’t be discouraged. Even a personal-level blessing can outperform a guardian spirit-level one if used properly. Besides, elemental-level blessings are extremely rare. Isn’t that so?”

Among those rare blessings was one I had acquired just a few days ago.

A student raised her hand to ask a question.

“Professor, what about hero-level blessings?”

“Hero-level blessings, also known as legendary blessings… Well, as a professor of blessings, I feel a little embarrassed to admit this, but those blessings are practically considered myths. Since humanity first began manifesting blessings, only one person has ever had one—Balor Joaquin, the founding hero.”

The professor paused, seemingly about to mention something else—probably the second person in history approaching that level, Leon. But he shook his head.

It made sense. Leon had yet to fully awaken his Divine Blessing, so it would be premature to talk about him as a hero with a legendary-level blessing.

“Well, that’s all for today.”

The professor closed the textbook and lightly tapped the desk, signaling the end of the class. The students rose in unison and hurriedly began leaving to make the most of their lunch break.

Just as I was about to stand, a question popped into my mind.

“Professor, I have a question.”

My voice made the professor, who was organizing his notes, raise his eyebrows in surprise.

As I’d always been a quiet student, he seemed puzzled that I’d spoken. But soon, he gave me a warm smile.

“Of course, Kang Geom-Ma, go ahead.”

“What do you know about the phrase, ‘May the blessing of the gods be with you’?”

Even Saki, who had been deeply asleep, lazily opened her eyes upon hearing me speak.

The professor stroked his beard, his expression faintly puzzled, before answering.

“That’s an interesting question, but there’s a error in your premise.”

“What error?”

The professor blinked a few times before responding calmly.

“Because there are no gods left in this world. Well, I’m impressed by your passion for learning as a student. If you have more questions, feel free to visit my laboratory anytime.”

With that response, he gave me one last smile, praising my curiosity, and invited me to visit his office if I had further questions. Then, he left the classroom.

I watched his back as he walked away, lost in thought.

Saki, who had been observing me, let out a quiet laugh. I slowly turned my head to look at her.

“You’re awake now?”

“Hmm, doesn’t seem like it.”

With those words, she buried her head in her arms and fell back asleep.

“Impressive.”

I murmured, letting myself be swept away by the absurdity of it all.