Chapter 138 : Chapter 138
Chapter 138: Rome Academy (10)
"This place is heaven!"
"I love it!!!"
"Senoritaaaa!!!"
Jo Seong-hyeon shouted with his arms wide open.
Beside him, the twins were already waving toward the female students of Rome Academy, pouring out strange Italian.
"Pizza! Pasta! Margherita!"
"Vongole! Ravioli!"
"Hey, those are food items. Not greetings."
Ye-na let out a sigh and shook her head.
Regardless, Seong-hyeon and the twins continued to read the Italian menu aloud toward the female students of the Magic Department.
Ye-na, shaking her head with a look of resignation, moved her gaze toward the Magic tower.
"Still…… it’s really pretty."
The beams of light flowing down the Magic tower shattered in the air.
De Marco, who was watching the children, smiled softly.
"We will now begin the tour of the Magic Department. Today, we will guide you through a program focused on theory, practice, and simple hands-on experiences."
Holy King Karina stepped forward. Instead of her Holy robe, she was wearing a light academy uniform today.
"Whoa…… I found her. My Senorita."
"The uniform looks like an angel's clothes……."
"Let's change our uniforms too!"
The eyes of Seong-hyeon and the twins were completely captivated by the Holy King.
"Seriously, knock it off, you idiots."
Amidst Kang Tae-wook's irritation and the children's grumbling, the tour of the Magic Department began.
***
The mouths of the Class A children hung open as they entered the central hall on the second floor of the Magic tower.
"Is this CG……?"
"It feels like being inside a game……."
"Rome Academy isn't the world's number one for nothing……."
A long corridor stretched out from the central hall.
Through that corridor, numerous classrooms were visible.
Spaces unfolded that were believable even if one claimed they were part of a virtual reality game.
It was a mistake to think of them as just classrooms lined up along a hallway.
A sight that forced such sounds from the children's mouths unfolded before them.
Lecture halls floating near the ceiling, dozens of magic circles swimming between them, and books turning their own pages in mid-air.
"Those books…… are they real grimoires?"
At Ye-na’s voice, De Marco, who was in charge of the guide, spoke up.
"Yes. They are original ancient grimoires that can only be seen at Rome Academy."
The Holy King added.
"Furthermore, a light autonomous defense magic is cast on each grimoire. If you touch them without permission…… things might get a bit uncomfortable."
The twins simultaneously hid their hands behind their backs.
"Then it’s fine as long as we don't touch them, right?"
"Jong-sin, Jong-il, weren't you just holding your phones to take a photo?"
"Caught……."
"Please save us……."
As De Marco smiled brightly, the backs of the children's necks turned cold.
It wasn't because of De Marco's smile.
It was simply because an immense bloodlust was felt from behind.
"I told you to knock it off."
There stood Kang Tae-wook with eyes like a goblin.
"Haha…… Class President, I mean, Tae-wook……."
"Between friends, hahaha…… please let us off just once……."
Being so flustered, the twins accidentally called him "Class President," a title they usually never used.
"This is the last time."
"Yes, sir."
Unlike the twins, who thought it was just the same warning as yesterday and that his mood was simply bad today, Yoo jin's expression was sunken as he watched Tae-wook.
He was likely on edge because of what happened yesterday.
Knowing this, Yoo Jin just watched.
Anyway, the reason for him being on edge was somewhat understandable.
Fortunately, he didn't say much to the twins either.
Behind Yoo jin's sunken expression, the children moved to the next location.
The first stop of the tour was a practical class for the advanced level.
Magic windows made of glass, grimoires floating between them, and even Mana Sentinels patrolling the perimeter to prepare for any eventualities.
It was a strange place—too large to be called a classroom, and a bit too noisy to be called a library.
There, the advanced class of the Magic Department was in session.
"The books in this lecture hall all have mana imprints. Each has a different attribute and a different structure."
Following De Marco’s explanation.
"Whoa……."
"A book just flew over like it’s alive."
"Did the students do that?"
"The teacher probably did it…… maybe?"
"But what kind of monster is the person who manages all of this……."
The children's mouths wouldn't close. Seeing the children, De Marco smiled.
"This is the world's number one academy, after all. The quality of the faculty must be exceptional as well."
As soon as De Marco finished speaking, Lee Si-wang spoke up.
"Wait, isn't that person Kuzel?"
"Kuzel? Who’s that?"
At Yoo jin's question, Lee Si-wang slightly raised his sunglasses and made eye contact with Yoo jin, wearing an 'How could you not know that?' expression.
"It’s Kuzel Ryan, Britain's Archmage. A genius S-Rank who handles all elemental magic. My god…… I thought I saw an article saying he left his guild a few years ago, but he was here…… wow……."
Reacting as if he were seeing a celebrity, Lee Si-wang wore an expression of disbelief even though he was seeing it with his own eyes.
"Is he that famous?"
"I said he's an S-Rank……?"
"So what if he's an S-Rank."
"……."
Lee Si-wang, who was about to argue back, chewed on the face captured in his vision and shut his mouth.
S-Rank.
Transcendent beings of which there are only about ten in the entire world.
Truly existences of a different caliber.
A lottery that could completely change one's life just by having the rank confirmed…….
Well…….
In the human category, that is.
On the other hand, who was the person in front of him? One of only four Returnees in the world. And among them,
The monster who settled the Supreme King—a killing machine—with a finger flick.
The Demon King who made the Holy King of Rome—called a Saint—unable to breathe just with his aura.
"……."
Therefore, he couldn't utter a word.
S-Rank. A genius Archmage who can use all attributes…….
So what.
To this man, he would just be another Awakened No. 1.
Lee Si-wang, unable to find a retort, pressed his lips together.
"Still… well, it’s a bit to my liking that such an impressive fellow is acting as a teacher. It’s interesting, too."
A small smile spread across Yoo jin’s lips.
'If you think that way…… then you are…… even more…….'
There were many things he wanted to say, but Lee Si-wang could not let them out of his mouth.
As Lee Si-wang's explanation was added, the eyes of the Class A students touring the advanced class became even brighter.
Silence fell along with immense concentration.
The children's gazes were focused on one spot.
The teacher standing in the center of the hemispherical practice room.
Kuzel’s voice echoed.
"Today, we will practice the 'Precision' of mana manipulation."
As Kuzel's voice faded, the hands of the advanced class students rose in unison.
Swish—
In front of the students' eyes, the books in the air turned their pages automatically.
And from their fingertips, small magic circles bloomed in succession.
Flame, Wind, Water, Earth.
The four attributes rotated simultaneously, crossing each other's orbits.
"Whoa……."
"Can those guys use all four attributes too?"
The Holy King continued the explanation.
"Multiple manipulation of general attributes. Being able to do at least this much is the basic requirement to enter the advanced class."
"……."
"……."
Of course, it was the advanced class.
They expected there would be children who were the top of the school.
But the level was quite higher than the children had thought.
***
Leaving behind the basic four-attribute magic class of the advanced level.
The children moved to the next classroom building.
A space where small trees were growing.
This place felt more like a laboratory than a classroom.
"Then, this tour is……."
'Attribute Affinity Test'
Centered around a tree growing in the middle, the students of Rome Academy were standing in a circle.
And mana reaction measuring devices were lined up along the walls.
"Here, you can easily check each person's mana tendency."
According to De Marco’s explanation, the tree in the center played the role of a 'Simple Attribute Diagnostic Device.'
He said the mana reaction measuring devices filling the walls were supplementary.
"That's amazing. The mana reaction measuring device is supplementary?"
"What on earth is that tree?"
In the Great Awakening era, for a mana reaction measuring device—a collection of mana stones and modern science—to be supplementary.
The children couldn't help but be surprised.
The voice of Holy King Karina followed to solve the children's curiosity.
"That is a root fragment of the World Tree."
"The World Tree?"
"A root fragment? But it's a tree?"
The explanation continued, but as it was something they were hearing for the first time, the children's expressions didn't clear up.
Rather, they just became more curious.
However, a surprised expression appeared from an unexpected place.
"A World Tree root fragment? Don't tell me you……."
The owner of the surprised voice was Yoo jin.
"Why, what is that, Teacher?"
Starting with Lee Si-wang, the children, one and all, asked Yoo jin about the identity of that tree.
But Yoo jin was only looking at Karina and did not give any answer.
Karina's face turned red at the sight of Yoo jin staring straight at her. Quickly avoiding his eyes and turning her gaze to the air, Karina continued.
"I… I… ye, yes. I brought it."
"……."
Yoo Jin's expression sank.
Yoo jin only looked at Karina with unwavering eyes.
Karina, who was avoiding his gaze, seemed to understand Yoo jin's feelings to some extent, as she erased her flustered expression and took on a calm look.
"……."
"……."
Thus, a silence arose between the two Returnees.
The students and Lee Si-wang just scratched their heads at the strange atmosphere blooming between the two.
They couldn't ask.
It felt like a heavy story was hidden there.
And the expressions of the two Returnees were blocking all questions.
After the story that only the two of them knew, the class began.
***
After the tour ended, a brief break.
The children came out of the Magic tower cafeteria with simple snacks and leaned against the corridor railing.
"The bread here is delicious, too."
"It's not Espresso, it's called Mana-presso. My mind feels sharp after drinking it."
"Eat in moderation, or you won't be able to sleep later."
While the twins and Seong-hyeon were intoxicated by the bread and Mana-presso.
Kang Tae-wook's expression, standing right next to them, was sunken coldly as he looked somewhere.
At that moment.
Tap.
Jin-ho approached, hitting Tae-wook on the shoulder.
"Why are you in such a low mood?"
"When was I?"
"Hmm…… continuously?"
As Jin-ho tilted his head, Kang Tae-wook's cold expression softened slightly.
A voice flowed through a small smile.
"Is it because of what happened yesterday?"
At Jin-ho's voice that hit the mark, Tae-wook could no longer hide it and poured out his heart.
"It's not an easy thing to accept."
"Actually, so do I."
Suddenly. 'Actually, you aren't number one.
This guy is number one. Give back the title of strongest.'
"It feels somewhat embarrassing and makes me angry. And it makes me even angrier that the subject isn't you."
"Huh? Me……?"
Jin-ho's eyes grew twice as large.
Tae-wook looked at Jin-ho and let out a hollow laugh.
"You really are consistent, too. Even though you’ve become so strong."
"I have?"
"You're teasing me, aren't you."
"Caught? I did it to try and cheer you up."
Smiles spread across the faces of Jin-ho and Tae-wook.
They had changed a lot.
Both Jin-ho and Tae-wook.
Being able to play such jokes slyly.
And honestly saying to an existence they once ignored for being weak that they had become strong, and that they might even be overtaken.
Jin-ho and Tae-wook, who now wore slightly softer expressions.
Their expressions sank in an instant.
The same direction.
The same position.
Because of a single scene caught at the end of their gaze.
The relief from finally baring their hearts was short-lived.
"What is that, why are those two together…."
"……."
In the vision of Jin-ho and Tae-wook.
The Model student facing Leo was seen.