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“By the way, are you feeling okay now?”
After the Pink Bear, looking dejected, went to attend the inquiry meeting, Professor Gran called back the other teachers and turned to ask Professor Plon.
“The injuries caused by the Holy Sword shouldn’t heal that easily, right?”
“There’s still about a third of the Holy Light remaining in my body, and it hasn’t dispersed yet. My chest still aches.”
Professor Plon lowered his head, gently stroking his right chest.
“However, a full recovery is just a matter of time. Although I’m older now, I’m not yet at the point where I’d collapse from such an injury.”
“Huh, you’re in better shape than I expected.”
Professor Gran raised an eyebrow.
“After all, it’s one of the five Holy Swords of the Church of Life. I thought you’d be bedridden for ten days or half a month. I didn’t expect you to be up and about in just a few days.”
“It’s not that my body is tougher than expected; it’s that the Holy Sword is weaker than imagined.”
Professor Plon spoke softly. “That sword has always been in a sealed state.”
“What?” Professor Gran frowned slightly.
“Belena sealed the Holy Sword before she was fully controlled by the Love God.”
On Professor Plon’s aged face, a complex expression appeared.
“It’s a triggered magical seal, and if anyone forcibly breaks it, the Holy Sword will be destroyed from within.
So even the Love God has no choice but to use that sword with its power largely sealed.”
“Taking advantage of the Love God’s lack of magical knowledge, huh?”
Professor Gran sighed. “You have a remarkable student, Plon.”
“Who wouldn’t agree?”
Professor Plon turned his head as if he could see her again—the girl who smiled and disappeared after a brief greeting.
“She has always been a student I’m proud of.”
…
“Speaking of which, Mentor Meladomir seems to have gone missing since then.”
Professor Gran set the tea he brewed himself in front of Professor Plon.
“It’s a rare opportunity; I still wanted to ask her some questions about ancient magic potions.”
“Don’t disturb Mentor Meladomir; she’s very busy right now.”
Professor Plon sighed.
“After dealing with the Evil God, she immediately asked me for the detailed information on all current students.”
“Student information? Are you saying…”
“Probably.”
Professor Plon took a sip of his tea.
“That’s her lifelong pursuit; she can’t possibly give it up. It’s just… the fact that she’s in such a hurry makes me a little uneasy.”
“Did we awaken her too soon? Has it really affected her?”
“Stop with the pessimistic talk; even Mentor Meladomir would be unhappy to hear it.”
Professor Gran rolled his eyes and then excitedly said:
“What I’m more curious about is who will be the lucky one chosen by the mentor?”
“The lucky one? Not necessarily.”
Professor Plon gazed at the floating tea leaves in his cup, smiling bitterly.
“That’s an incredibly dangerous path. An ordinary person stepping onto it would likely meet a miserable end.”
…
“I feel like everything has suddenly calmed down.”
In the quiet hospital room, Mu’en turned his head and looked out the window through the light-colored curtains.
The sun was shining brightly.
Now and then, the sounds of youthful laughter drifted from nearby.
The entire academy seemed to have recovered from the previous turmoil and regained its vitality.
“Has it really been so many days without me noticing?”
After that incident concluded, Mu’en was sent to this hospital room for treatment due to his injuries and the close encounter with the monster contaminated by the Love God, along with a “quarantine.”
At that time, Professor Gran’s treatment was only a rough magical healing, as it was conducted personally by a Crowned One, so the academy performed a series of physical exams to avoid any sequelae.
Mu’en was relieved to find that, besides that white-haired loli, no one seemed able to detect the “blessing” from the King of Withering within him.
Thinking about it, compared to the direct and simple power granted by the gods, the Divine Chosen, being a partial incarnation of a god’s authority, is naturally harder to detect. Otherwise, An, as this Divine Chosen, wouldn’t have stayed in the Duke’s Mansion for ten years without her adoptive father ever noticing.
The fact that the white-haired loli could see through him at a glance was abnormal and should only be considered an exception.
Otherwise, instead of facing a mature beauty with a slim waist and ample breasts, Mu’en would be dealing with an organization specialized in handling Evil God events in the empire, the “Silent Ones.”
Those dark figures hiding in black robes wouldn’t care about his identity as the Duke’s son. If he fell into their hands, he definitely wouldn’t have a good ending.
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not unfold.
During this time, aside from doctors and professors from the academy inquiring about some matters, no outsiders were allowed to contact Mu’en.
In this almost complete solitude, he began to organize his thoughts in the quiet environment.
The exchange with the black book felt as if it had just happened.
“So, in the end, is it still because I’m too weak?”
Having learned new martial techniques and defeated the top students like Ryan in the second year, Mu’en had thought everything was heading in a positive direction. He believed he could slightly escape his tragic fate as the pathetic foil of the yellow-haired villain.
But now it seemed he was thinking too much.
Had it not been for the black book manipulating the Evil God, forcibly diverting the fate of this world away from the original plot, what he’d be facing would have been a guaranteed death.
“To avoid a guaranteed death option, the fate of the entire world has to be thrown into chaos. Just how much hostility does this world hold toward me?”
Mu’en stared at his hands, murmuring softly.
“And in the end, is the solution to the problem still so brutally simple?”
Not strong enough.
That was the crux of why he could only let fate toy with him.
If only he could be stronger, as powerful as the protagonist Ariel, or even stronger.
Then in the original fate, he could have survived even when facing the Holy Maiden controlled by the Love God.
But that’s just a fantasy.
Mu’en knew that for him now, it was impossible to gain such great power in just a year.
Ariel had already left him far behind, and she had the protagonist’s halo, plus external benefits. Even the ring contained a mysterious big sister who understood ancient magic, making her a genuine “second-generation rich” on the road to becoming stronger. Why would he, a “poor loser” with nothing, be able to catch up to her while enduring beatings in the black book every night?
The black book also knew this was impossible, so it chose to directly interfere with fate itself.
However, Mu’en was very clear that a level of interference like this could not happen a second time.
When the next wave of malicious intent from fate appeared, he would have to rely entirely on himself.
And that time shouldn’t be too far off.
The second premonitory dream had already given the answer, hadn’t it? One day in the future, he would die with his heart removed.
So…
“Is there any way for me to become stronger quickly?” Mu’en couldn’t help but let out a dying fish’s wail.
“Oh, you want power, do you, boy?”
A cold voice sounded, and on the chair beside Mu’en, which Heatherwei had just used, a small girl with white hair and red eyes appeared. Mu’en didn’t notice when she had arrived.
“Eh?”
Mu’en was startled, but when he realized who it was, he froze for a moment and immediately revealed a somewhat flattering smile.
“Big shot? What brings you here?”
“I came to see you; is that a problem?”
The girl twirled her pure white hair with her fingers, looking somewhat languid, as if she had just woken up from a nap.
“Of course, it’s fine, but…”
Mu’en scratched his head, choosing his words carefully: “I don’t think I have the qualifications for someone like you to visit personally.”
Mu’en certainly didn’t think that simply waking her up and squeezing her face would suddenly make this loli-sized big shot very close to him.
This wasn’t some harem light novel where all female characters were readily available.
So her arrival must have some purpose.
“Smarter than I thought.”
The girl’s amber-like, clear eyes briefly glanced at Mu’en, then she smiled and asked:
“So, as I said before, do you want power, boy?”
“Eh?”
“Recently, I just happen to need a closed-door disciple. I will give that chosen one strength and knowledge, selflessly. How about it? Are you interested, boy?”
“Closed-door… disciple.”
Mu’en was momentarily stunned, chewing on the true meaning of the girl’s words.
This loli-sized girl wasn’t just any ordinary girl. She was a top-tier big shot who had been sleeping in a special space of the academy for an unknown duration, capable of repelling even Evil Gods.
In the original plot, she was supposed to appear much later, but due to the black book disrupting the fate of this world, she was forced to intervene earlier.
If he could hold onto the thighs of such a big shot, it would be a perfect opportunity with no downsides. Perhaps he could escape his fated tragic end.
But…
How could Mu’en Campbell easily obtain such a gift from fate?
“So… why?”
Mu’en regained his senses and stared tightly at the white-haired girl, his blue eyes like lakes.
“Why choose me? Is it because of the power of the King of Withering within me?”
“The King of Withering? Well… that’s part of the reason.”
“Part? Then what’s the other part…”
“Hehe…”
The girl suddenly smiled widely.
But that smile sent a shudder through Mu’en.
She suddenly raised her hand, extending a finger toward Mu’en.
In an instant, dread washed over him.
A strong sense of crisis accompanied by nauseating death warnings constantly attacked Mu’en’s consciousness.
Unbeknownst to him, the world turned blood red.
In Mu’en’s eyes, there was only the suddenly ferocious girl with a devilish expression and her incredibly real killing intent.
“What’s happening? Does she really want to kill me?”
That thought flickered through his mind for a brief moment before he could focus on anything else.
Because that slender finger had already reached him.
It felt like a mountain was pressing down on him, and Mu’en felt an overwhelming sense of oppression that seemed ready to crush him.
“Cough cough…”
His body instantly endured severe injuries as Mu’en coughed up blood and pieces of his internal organs.
Death was approaching.
It was at that moment he felt the cold sensation in his palm.
Like a knife.
Then, without any hesitation, Mu’en grasped the familiar short knife tightly and slashed at the ferocious white-haired girl before him.
“Overestimating yourself.”
The girl chuckled disdainfully.
“You think you have any chance of survival?”
Before the blade even approached, Mu’en felt his arm go limp.
Dazed, he looked down and saw that everything from his elbow down had inexplicably vanished.
But this time, it wasn’t like being disassembled like a toy.
It exploded.
That’s right, it exploded; Mu’en’s arm, palm, and fingers erupted into a cloud of blood mist in an instant.
Excruciating pain surged through him.
Mu’en’s expression suddenly contorted.
He ignored the agonizing pain that could cause an ordinary person to faint instantly. After all, having experienced countless times of torment in the black book, he had already grown accustomed to this kind of suffering.
He quickly extended his other hand, grasping the falling short knife.
Then, with another slash!
Bang!
Without any surprise, everything below his elbow erupted into blood mist again.
“Why resist?”
The girl looked at him with pity.
“Clearly, if you just gave up resisting, you could die without any pain, you know.”
Why resist?
Why not just go to my death?
Looking at the girl’s pitying expression, an eruption of volcanic rage welled up in Mu’en’s chest.
He had struggled for so long.
He had experienced so many deaths in the black book.
He had grown accustomed to death, accustomed to pain, always thinking about becoming stronger.
Was it not for the purpose of—avoiding that true road to death?
So, you want me to give up resisting?
You want me to just die?
I—can—go—fuck—your—mom—then!
Even if you’re a big shot, even if you’re strong, you don’t have the qualifications!
Mu’en’s body suddenly lunged forward like a wild beast, biting down on the handle of the short knife.
His eyes turned crimson as a low growl came from his throat. Without any hesitation, he charged toward this enemy he couldn’t possibly defeat.
Even if he had to die, he would…
In that instant.
The world became clear.
The world and the girl’s demonic face suddenly vanished, like a short nightmare.
Bright sunlight poured through the gaps in the curtains, and the light spots illuminated Mu’en’s still contorted expression, making him momentarily unable to open his eyes.
“What is this…”
The short knife in his mouth had disappeared, and both of his hands were still intact.
It seemed as if all the terrifying scenes had never occurred.
Mu’en remained in that forward lunging position, but his movements had stopped, making him appear less like a predator and more like…
A copper-refining sage about to commit an atrocity against a minor girl.
“Exactly like that.”
The girl, however, did not mind Mu’en’s invasive posture. Instead, she cupped his face, observing his still fierce expression with gratification, as if she were appreciating a work of art.
“This appearance, like a sheep, yet revealing ferocity and savagery from the bones; this precious life that clearly cherishes its existence yet seems accustomed to death’s indifference and insanity—is exactly what I desire. Only then will I be able to achieve that.”
“Eh?”
Mu’en remained somewhat confused.
But he seemed to realize that the girl’s murderous intent toward him was merely a deliberately created illusion; she was just trying to test something.
But even if you’re a big shot, you shouldn’t toy with me like this!
Mu’en was furious: “What do you really want to do?”
“Hehe, are you angry? That’s quite normal.”
The girl smiled as she spoke.
“But since you asked, I’m not one for beating around the bush. I’ll tell you directly.
—I want to make use of you, Mu’en Campbell.”
“What?”
Mu’en was taken aback again.
Because the girl’s straightforwardness… was too straightforward.
“So you want me to be your disciple because…”
Mu’en’s lip twitched.
“Exactly. If you become my disciple, I will fulfill all the responsibilities of a teacher. But at the same time, you will become a material for my experiments, thoroughly utilized to achieve a certain long-held wish of mine.”
A fervor appeared in the girl’s eyes, starkly contrasting with her appearance.
“A certain… wish I’ve pursued my whole life.”
“It feels like…”
Looking at the girl who seemed to have transformed, Mu’en narrowed his eyes and asked:
“You mean to use me as a little guinea pig?”
“Mm, a guinea pig? That’s quite an apt metaphor.
However, unlike a mere guinea pig, although the process may be a bit dangerous, if it’s successful—”
The girl smiled lightly: “Mu’en Campbell, you will obtain the power you’ve always dreamed of!”
“The power I’ve always dreamed of…”
Mu’en swallowed hard.
Those words indeed held great allure for him.
Moreover, Mu’en believed that with the stature of the big shot before him, she surely wouldn’t deceive him.
But…
“If I may ask boldly, what’s the success rate of your lifelong pursuit…?”
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t know?”
“Because what I aim to accomplish is unprecedented, with no prior experiences to refer to. Therefore, the success rate could be a hundred percent or zero percent.”
The girl looked at Mu’en seriously:
“Until everything is completed, even I do not know whether this path is feasible.”
“So you’re saying…” Mu’en was in a daze.
“Exactly. This is a high-stakes gamble. For me, I’m betting on the path I’ve always pursued itself, and on whether you have the ability to bear it.
For you, you’re betting on whether I’m reliable and whether the results will be good or bad.
So—”
The girl extended her hand toward Mu’en. In her clear red eyes burned with flames not belonging to ancient people, filled with youthful passion. “Do you want to join this high-stakes gamble, boy?”
“…”
Faced with the girl’s invitation, Mu’en fell into contemplation.
He didn’t think this big shot was purely trying to harm him because if she had bad intentions toward him, she could have just crushed him with a single finger when she arrived.
So.
As she said, this is a gamble whose road even she cannot fully grasp. She values him simply because he fits.
Should he agree?
Should he agree to a gamble that is unclear, leading to an unknown fate?
Mu’en pondered for a moment and then arrived at an answer.
Because the black book had long ago told him what to do.
He was an existence that did not belong to the conventional fate, so to break free from the shackles of that conventional fate, he would have to walk an unconventional path.
Moreover, just as the girl said, he truly very, very much wanted—power.
The brief illusion from earlier made him even more certain of his own helplessness.
So there was no reason to hesitate.
It’s a choice, but once the white-haired girl appeared and presented those temptations one by one, Mu’en no longer had the option to refuse.
It’s like a moth lost in the darkness, seeing the flames. Knowing it may not mean salvation, it still would rush forward without hesitation.
“I am willing to join… huh?”
Mu’en extended his hand but grabbed only air.
Because the girl had already pulled back her palm, then revealed a meaningful smile.
“I’m glad you have that thought, but sorry, boy, I don’t teach fools.”
“Huh?”
Mu’en was stunned by the girl’s sudden sharpness, feeling like he was teasing a cute cat at home when it suddenly punched him with an uppercut.
His mind was left in a daze.
“Fool… fool? What do you mean?”
“Before coming, I checked your grades, and you scored only three points on your last magic fundamentals examination.”
The girl’s gaze turned icy, as if looking at trash.
“That’s quite the score, even considering the footprint left on the exam paper, it’s still more than your score.”
“That… that was just because I was a bit playful last semester.”
Mu’en awkwardly shifted his gaze. “All I need to do is work hard; I can catch up gradually.”
“I believe you can do it, but I can’t wait for you to catch up slowly. My time is not as plentiful as you think, or I wouldn’t be so impatient to come find you.”
The girl glanced at her delicate hands, sighed, and said:
“So, I can only give you one month.
In the next month’s monthly exam, your score in the magic fundamentals exam must pass; that’s the foundation for everything.”
“One month?”
Mu’en’s expression froze: “The first-year monthly exam?”
“The second-year monthly exam.” The girl’s face was expressionless.
“But that’s impossible!”
Mu’en’s eyes widened: “Learning a year’s worth, no, I should say a year and a month’s worth of content in just one month? That seems extremely difficult.”
“That’s your problem. I can only say… good luck, boy.”
The girl got up and turned to look aside.
Through the layers of walls, she could see another girl—who days ago had been a bundled mess but was now lively and playful in a nearby setting.
To her eyes, that girl also exuded an extremely unusual aura.
“You are very special, but you aren’t the only special one. I can’t just place my lifelong pursuit on you alone, so to me, you are merely one of my options.”
The girl turned her head back, her gaze returning to its previous coldness.
“One month from now, use your actual results to give me an answer, Mu’en Campbell.
That will also be my test for you.”
The girl turned, seemingly preparing to leave.
“Wait.”
At that moment, however, Mu’en called out to her:
“What’s your name? You can’t expect me to keep calling you big shot forever.”
“My name?”
The white-haired girl showed a hint of melancholy, sighing:
“That kind of thing was long ago tossed into the river of time.
As for how to address me—
Meladomir.
That’s my surname, and you can call me Meila… Teacher, yes, Teacher Meila.
I’m tired of being called Mentor.”
