Chapter 19

Chapter 018

Knowing is more dangerous than anything in this world.

Just as someone said that a person who has read only one book is the most dangerous and ignorant compared to someone who hasn't read a single book, knowing things superficially can lead to tremendous danger.

This applies to knowledge about abilities and mana.

I know more about mana than anyone else in this world, and I know how to increase mana and strengthen abilities.

Want to increase your mana?

Then make a mythical or legendary being your own.

Want to strengthen your ability?

Then take the methods of using abilities from already created works of fiction.

Just like someone might say that if you want to do beatboxing, you only need to know how to hit drums and boxes, if you want to become a powerful ability user, you only need to know these two things.

But no one knows.

Even now, when the children who first awakened their abilities at the age of one have all grown up to be 25, people still don't know how abilities manifest, how to awaken mana, or how to become stronger.

This is what I've felt over the past half year of living in this world, and it's also the conclusion I've drawn after a week of living on Sejong Island.

'Everyone is so lacking in imagination.'

Today is Sunday.

I took a stroll around the academy with an iced Americano, observing people as I walked around various parts of the academy.

"Fireball!"

"Fire Lance!"

On weekends, people usually gather to play sports at the soccer field or tennis court, but here, it's more common and normal to train abilities rather than exercise.

'Everyone is so dedicated even on weekends.'

Ability users gather with others who have similar abilities and exchange their powers.

"Senior, I've opened a new realm in fire magic!"

"Oh? What is it?"

"Look! Fire Punch! I will become the new hero, Fire Punch!"

"But there are already over ten people registered as heroes with the Fire Punch ability?"

"Then... Magma Punch!"

This place is where seniors and juniors who have gotten to know each other over time exchange knowledge and information about their abilities to lay the foundation for becoming stronger.

And.

'I feel so stifled.'

It's not because of the heat from the flames, but because watching them train their abilities makes me feel so stifled that I could go crazy.

'They're all just wasting their time here.'

In this world, power comes from imagination.

Continuously using power in reality like this will only make you feel your limits and become discouraged.

For example, if someone boasts, 'I can control 100 liters of water!' they might be able to increase it to 1 liter, 2 liters, and so on through training, but a revolutionary development like 'I can control the ocean!' is impossible.

Because they set their own limits.

By creating their own glass ceiling, ability users don't really benefit much from training.

'The protagonist made everyone else look like idiots to elevate himself.'

The protagonist kept saying, 'A healthy body houses a healthy mind' and just kept working out.

Although his body improved, his ability seemed to show no outward progress, so no one paid attention to him. However, he had an imagination far superior to anyone else.

And the secret to unleashing this imagination was undoubtedly cultural content.

So while others were training, he went around watching movies, reading manga, and books, appearing to just play around, but he was becoming stronger faster than anyone else in this world.

To the point of summoning demons from this world and making meteorites fall on Earth to bring about the end of the world.

'He's a dangerous guy.'

So dangerous that he could destroy the world.

So I must find and kill him.

I'll transform into a goblin, kill him right away, and then quietly transform back into my human form in a secluded place, put on my clothes, and rejoin the crowd of citizens without drawing attention.

'I need to get stronger too.'

It's important to think about what to do after killing him, but it's also important to become strong enough to kill him.

'Once I confirm where to hide the bags, I'll go back and increase my mana right away.'

Since I'm here on Sejong Island, I should try to improve my mana...

"Hmm?"

Far away.

Among the ability users training together, a student in a hoodie is sitting alone on a bench.

I can't tell if it's a boy or a girl, but they look very unstable, as if they're about to 'explode' at any moment.

What kind of explosion?

'Middle school syndrome.'

Beyond the turbulent period of adolescence, it's a time when they go berserk with their abilities.

When the development of one's self, 'I'm different from others!' coincides with the awakening of mana, they can become an extremely chaotic villain.

This is true even in the academy, where many ability users gather.

That student is clearly harboring some kind of dissatisfaction.

What it is...

Thump!

The student in the hoodie suddenly stood up.

Then they started stomping off somewhere.

"Hmm."

I finished the rest of my coffee, picked up the empty cup, and followed the student.

I don't want to draw attention, but seeing them suddenly run off like that, something feels off.

This is just my guess, but usually, such people have a high chance of developing into 'demons' that will eventually cover the entire academy—

"Excuse me."

Someone called me from behind.

"Um."

Awkward Korean.

A foreigner.

Blonde hair, blue eyes, and short hair down to her shoulders.

She's a beautiful woman.

"Which way should I go to get to the dormitory?"

"Are you perhaps a new student at the academy?"

"Yes, a new student. I just entered the academy."

The woman pointed to the太极旗 (Taegukgi) on her wrist.

Instead of the太极旗 (Taegukgi), a flag indicating her nationality was flashing on the screen of the太极旗 (Taegukgi).

"Canada?"

"Yes. I'm 'Yumir' from Canada."

Though I thought she came from far away, unfortunately, she's not a character I know from the original story.

Or is she?

Maybe I just forgot an extra character?

'If she's a new student, there's a high chance she'll interact with the protagonist.'

We're in the same grade, and with the inter-class competitions, there's a good chance we'll meet at least once.

'There's no harm in being kind.'

The student in the hoodie who just disappeared somewhere is worrying, but right now, it's more important to answer this new student's question.

"Fortunately, I'm like a faculty member. I'll guide you to the dormitory."

"Like...?"

"Yes. I'm a librarian."

"Librarian...!"

Yumir's eyes lit up.

"Are you the kind of librarian who casts spells from books and fights?!"

"...I'm an ordinary person."

"Oh."

Yumir's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"I'm sorry. I just assumed you were an ability user."

"Assumed?"

"Yes. Since everyone on this academy island is an ability user, I thought you were just hiding your mana skillfully. I'm sorry."

"There's no need to apologize."

I pointed the way for Yumir.

"It's not because you're beautiful or anything."

Ah.

Come to think of it.

'The original protagonist was also a blonde Canadian, I think.'

Or was he?

Never mind.

* * *

"Huff, huff...!"

The girl leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

"Damn, damn...!"

Bang.

She punched the wall with all her might, but unlike others, she couldn't break it; her fist only turned red.

"I want to be like everyone else...!"

The girl clenched her fists.

Like others, she tried to release mana from her body, but the amount was so minimal.

E-class.

Though it's better than F-class, it's the level where, after graduating from the high school division of the academy, the best you can hope for is to become an academy police officer or a regular ability police officer chasing petty criminals in the countryside.

"I want to get stronger...!"

The girl shed tears.

She was already in her second year of high school, but her mana showed no signs of improving. If this continued for two more years, she would graduate as an E-class.

She had the good fortune to awaken as an ability user, but unfortunately, there were too many fortunate people in Korea.

It's like being a celebrity.

Top-tier, S-class celebrities are a tiny minority.

She was no different from one of the many idols who briefly appeared on music shows and then disappeared, or even those who never made it to TV and were disbanded.

"I want to get stronger...!"

"Hey, hey. Why are you crying like that?"

From a distance.

Someone in a mask approached the girl.

The girl jumped back in surprise but then clenched her fists tightly when she saw the masked person.

"Who are you?!"

"Do you know me?"

The masked man turned his head to the side and smiled.

"I'll give you power."

"...What's the condition?"

"Condition? There's no condition. I just want 'chaos.'"

The masked man pointed to his mask.

"Would you like to make a contract with [Dyuseini]?"