NOVEL WEB Chapter 187
<187 - Revenge>
Isabel sat against the bedpost, staring blankly out the window.
Flutter flutter. A butterfly flitting lazily.
Woof woof woof! A fire hound barking busily.
Oh dear, oh dear. The third years pitifully chasing after something.
Despite her hectic days filled with assignments and exam preparations, she never missed a meal from Oknodie, making sure to eat at least once a day.
Just recently, she even took the time to pack a snack box for them.
‘Did I overdo it?’
During a duel, her consciousness flickered out, and when she woke up, she was crawling on the ground.
Had it been an injury outside the academy, she might have lost an arm permanently.
Thanks to the top-notch medical facilities, the severed arm was miraculously reattached.
‘Doesn’t really feel real though.’
Even if she wriggled, the hand inside the cast felt only cramped.
Is this really back on?
Will it just drop off when the cast is removed?
Is the nerve connection truly intact?
Her heart raced involuntarily.
‘It’s about time to rest a little.’
There had been days like this before.
Back in the Esornia Expedition Team days, after finishing an adventure, she would collapse, utterly exhausted.
The smell of soup tickling her nose.
The warm sunshine’s caress.
Sparrows resting on the window ledge and cats on the wall, the drunken fools on the street barking away made for a background symphony as she rested.
“Isabel. How’s it going? Is adventurer life treating you well?”
A rugged man with a bushy beard.
A person with a nasty habit of poking skin with a prickly beard.
The touch of that scratchy beard, the feeling of his huge, rough palms, and the deep, reassuring tone that tickled her eardrums—they were all gone now.
It was just like before, restful and free, but now there was no one to take care of her.
“Hey. How’s your body doing?”
‘No humans here.’
Beastfolk aren’t included in the count.
“Visiting hours? This is quite a surprise for you.”
“Did I seem unreasonably stingy for not visiting even when we always went out together?”
“What happened to the one who was with you?”
“They say that Bikini Armor has surprisingly great defense. You avoided the fatal spot, and you got hurt way worse than they did, so don’t worry.”
“I feel bad, though. Oknodie seems so busy, and I caused concern because of me.”
“Not worried about me?”
“Should I be?”
“Ugh. This academy has such strong women that I can’t catch a break. I can’t stretch at all.”
While Su Ohchun grumbled, a nurse shooed him away for being too loud, citing patient stability as the reason.
The infirmary fell silent.
The silence that used to bring joy in her childhood reminded her of that rugged man now wasn’t so welcome anymore.
Maybe that’s why she got so engrossed in cooking.
Bubble bubble.
Clank clank clank.
The sounds from cooking helped distance her from unwanted memories.
Rustle.
Swipe, swipe.
When a cautious presence was felt.
Hearing that sound brought a quiet smile, perhaps for the same reason.
“Come in, Oknodie. Don’t dangle dangerously on the windowsill.”
“How did you know?”
“We’re this close to each other.”
With that smug remark, she felt slightly better.
Oknodie was one who had a tendency to leap straight through windows rather than doors.
Climbing up, they smelled of sunshine, different from the cozy blanket they settled down on, perhaps from the sun-heated bricks they had touched.
“Isabel. How did you get hurt?”
“They said I fainted due to exhaustion during a duel. I haven’t been sleeping well lately. I think the cold got to me, too.”
Oknodie’s face flushed with guilt.
“Is it because of me?”
“Why would you think that?”
“It’s because you worked so hard packing my lunch that you didn’t get enough sleep. You don’t have to make me food anymore, just don’t get sick.”
Suddenly, a memory of a friend of Oknodie’s from Hestia’s story popped in her head.
Someone who had lost their body and was stuck as a plant, and Oknodie had gone to pull them out.
– A child who went through a lot of heartache. You’ve been doing well without saying, but take care to not let them get hurt during academy life.
I’m sorry, Hestia.
I wanted to protect too, but it seems like I’ve already hurt them.
“It’s not your fault, Oknodie. It’s all because I was greedy.”
“…Alright then. Just do nothing and rest well.”
Oknodie’s back as they turned felt somehow frightening, or maybe it was just her imagination.
“Oknodie?”
“Yes, Isabel.”
“I hope you stay a good child.”
“Of course! I’m a good child!”
“…Right. Take care of yourself.”
You little liar.
Watching Oknodie leave the infirmary, she thought.
Something is bound to blow up.
‘What are they trying to vent their anger on?’
It should be her negligence in caring for herself.
Could they be thinking of taking a swing at the opposing team from the duel?
“There isn’t any more space in the infirmary.”
“Set up a makeshift tent, then!”
“We’re short on blood. Even casting body acceleration techniques won’t produce as much blood as we’re losing!”
Exactly 16 hours after Oknodie left.
Her ominous premonition came to pass.
The medical building where Isabel was admitted overflowed with new patients, so many that people were even lining up outside, an overwhelming number of injured persons had emerged.
‘What on earth did you do, Oknodie?’
Isabel felt fear.
Being unable to stop Oknodie from walking down the wrong path.
*
Just seeing Isabel’s condition gave it away.
This wasn’t a random mistake due to exhaustion.
‘There’s a residue of mana left.’
Every mana carries its unique properties.
The magic of a mage from the Sun-Ripened Village smells of the sea, while that of a wandering mage stuck in a filthy back alley emits a foul stench.
The scent imbued in the soul, the scenery held in the heart unconsciously mixes into the magic.
[You’ve detected Professor Raeb’s mana resonance from the remnants of mana left in Isabel’s body.]
[Magic Studies Experience Points +30]
[Tracking Experience Points +10]
[Insight Experience Points +10]
Every professor of the Empire follows the rule to have at least one unreasonable pattern with students.
They all remember their mana scent.
How and when they go off the rails to become unreasonable is unknown to her.
She doesn’t want to know.
There’s no need to.
You just pay back what you receive.
Sticking to her own principles.
Raeb’s lecture, [Basics and Understanding of Imperial Magic Studies].
Imperial Magic Studies is distinguished by having a unique feature compared to the rough mana studies of the Border Regions.
Enhancing power through the ‘specialization’ of mana properties.
For instance, in the case of water creation magic.
By increasing cohesion to create a globular shape to wrap around someone’s face, it becomes the magic of [Suffocating Water Sphere].
By creating water inside the lungs by penetrating bio-mana, it becomes magic of [Pulmonary Edema Induction].
Magic that can save someone dying of thirst could also become magic that results in someone’s death.
“Ppyoi collapsed alongside Isabel, right?”
“Wow. You came to visit? You’re such a kind child!”
“…Not really. Today, I’m trying to be a naughty child.”
A fellow injured Ppyoi, who came to confirm.
“Did Ppyoi feel cold before collapsing?”
“Isn’t that normal? You feel cold right before death, and it usually makes you shiver.”
Hearing from Ppyoi about the moments leading up to collapse gave her certainty.
[Identified the magic used by Professor Raeb.]
[Magic Studies Experience Points +30]
[Tracking Experience Points +10]
[Insight Experience Points +10]
The magic he used was [Temperature Conversion].
The specialization was [Rapid].
Additional techniques were [Target Designation] and [Volatile].
The resulting executed magic was 4th Circle [Designated Rapid Chill].
It was clear that he had expertly cast a spell to rapidly freeze a specific place, person, and substance directly onto Isabel and Ppyoi alone.
By inducing an intense cold in an instant, it could cause the body to freeze, and if extreme, the activation of the sympathetic nervous system could raise blood pressure and render them unconscious.
Having triggered a magic that would naturally disappear over time, it would be impossible for the investigator to track down Professor Raeb after the fact.
Even if caught, the magic used would only be that simple temperature conversion spell.
If he denies it, there’s no way to prove guilt.
A truly sly assassination attempt!
‘Professor Raeb… you’ve crossed the line.’
The method was clever.
It wasn’t a killing magic but still a threat to life.
It was subtle enough to make traces hard to find.
Even if discovered, he could excuse it by saying it was just a simple temperature conversion magic.
Yet he touched a target that should not be touched.
‘I’ll pay you back. I’ll make your precious students taste the torment!’
*
The healing magician in the infirmary was struggling with the stubborn students from the Empire.
“Ugh. You stubborn kids. If you don’t tell me how you got hurt, it’ll be a hassle for you!”
The infirmary wasn’t a back alley where they treat injuries without asking where they came from or who the client was just because you throw money at them.
They had to keep detailed records about the student’s identity, the cause of the injury, healing techniques used, and the treatment process.
– Who do you dare to touch my child!
– Because of you, my kid had unnecessary regeneration magic, which shortened their lifespan. You’ll taste the bitterness of the Imperial Supreme Court!
While this was also intended to prepare for any side effects of the treatment…
The main purpose was to defend themselves against lawsuits from the parents of the students!
“Leave the rest to me.”
“Professor Raeb. Is it true you know something? These kids—all of them are students in your class according to the database…”
“Enough. I came to ascertain the situation, so while I investigate, go have a meal or something.”
Raeb sent out the healer, handing over the points nonchalantly. After the healer left, he turned his gaze to the students, and his eyes sharpened.
“Now, tell me what happened. Every little detail.”
The tightly sealed mouths of the students from the Empire finally opened.