Magic Academy classes ended at 12:00, But I didn't go straight home, but instead went to the Mana check station.
After getting permission from the guard, I entered a room dominated by white, featuring only a crystal in the center and a scanning computer on the side.
"Fuhh..." I raised my hand to the scanner, and after about ten seconds, the device displayed the results in order.
---
Mana Level: 11
Category: E-
Attributes: Fire and Wind
Unique Attributes: Not detected
---
'Ah, seriously, have I really regressed?!' I was only joking before, but it turned out to be true.
'Eum, I don't think so... I just used magic that drained a lot of my mana. So maybe, this tool only checks my current mana, not when I'm in prime condition.' I sighed.
To be honest, the scanning device here is different from the one in the main story of my novel, so I am also just learning.
After finishing my mana check, I went to the Academy library to buy a basic-level magic book to study later when I got home.
Once I found a suitable book, I hurried to the cashier, which was tended by a woman who looked to be in her twenties.
"Ma'am, I'll take this." I took out five Crowns to buy the basic book, then hurried off to go home.
By the way, the Crown is the currency of this Safe Zone.
It sounds old-fashioned, but the Crown holds deep meaning. Back when humanity built walls spanning several countries, conflicts broke out between those nations—one of which was a currency dispute. In that position, the powerful nations would have won, but that was clearly unfair.
Ultimately, humanity at that time took a middle ground by abolishing the old nations and forming a single entity called the Safe Zone, adopting the Crown as a symbol of unity and the regression of the era.
After finishing looking at my banknote with a proud yet wry smile, I put it back in my wallet. 'Again and again, this currency is completely different from the main storyline. In fact, it has a much better history here.'
On the way, I accidentally bumped into my party member, Emilyan, who was heading the same way.
She has long, bluish-black hair that flows over her blue cloak. Her face, as in Adrian's memories, always looks grumpy, but she is actually a caring person.
When I first arrived in this world, she was the one who made me realize this wasn't a dream with her slap. Yes, a slap—I'm not lying. The reason she slapped me was that I shouted at them, thinking they were joking; Emily was afraid that monsters would come because of my voice.
Uh, I can still feel the pain.
We walked side by side, then she said without looking my way, "You're feeling better?"
"Certainly. I can use my magic again now," I replied, then looked around. Usually, Emily is always with Azrael, our party captain.
"Where is Azrael?"
"I don't know. Probably already went home," she answered shortly.
Silence.
Walking together in silence made me uncomfortable, so I finally said, "Oh, about that day... I want to apologize to you."
Emily sighed. "Forget it. What matters most is that we are all safe. I also want to apologize because it seems I slapped you too hard."
'Of course you should apologize to me!' I muttered in my heart with a smile, then said with forced awkwardness, "N-no, no, you don't need to apologize because I was the one in the wrong back then."
She didn't answer me. She only nodded.
Then we parted ways at the gate of the Magic Academy, exchanging the words "See you later."
…
Half an hour later, I arrived in front of my house located in the Olstree District Elite Housing Complex.
I pushed the door and entered. Inside, I smelled the delicious aroma of cooking.
"I'm home," I said, putting my bag on the sofa. Debby approached me, and I petted him.
Then I stood up and walked to the dining room. On the table, plenty of food was already served, ranging from meat to vegetables.
"How is it?" A woman's voice came from the kitchen.
"Hmm, the smell is decent, but what about the taste?" I answered without looking because I already knew it was the voice of my sister, Alicia, who was learning how to cook.
Since we are orphans, we have to be able to cook for ourselves. Usually, it was Adrian or Aunt Maya who cooked. However, after Adrian entered University and the Magic Academy simultaneously, he became very busy—as did Aunt Maya, who recently started working at the Biogenic Corporation.
"It will be delicious, try it. Aunt Maya taught me." Alicia, who has jet-black hair and blue eyes like mine, began setting down a pot of soup as her final dish.
I sat down after she did, then acted like a chef about to taste a contestant's dish. I scooped some soup, sipped it, and ate the chicken she made.
To be honest, I don't really understand what makes food "delicious." For someone who once lived through difficult economic times like me, my standards are very simple: meat is good, vegetables are okay for filling the stomach, and the most important thing of all is that it's "edible."
"Well, well." I nodded repeatedly.
Alicia just smiled and ate her food.
"It's rare for you to be home early, what's up?" I started the small talk.
"Didn't I tell you that I have an exam on Monday?" She answered without looking up.
Oops, I forgot.
"Oh yeah." Alicia suddenly got a little excited, then became shy. "After the exam, there will be a party at my school as a farewell event... and they say I have to bring someone... but I... don't have that, you know? Can you come?"
'Does she mean she doesn't have a boyfriend and that's why she wants to invite me?' I thought for a moment before answering.
"When? The date, month, year?" I finally said casually. I couldn't immediately say "I can" because I have a lot I want to do right now.
She chuckled. "You can be funny too, apparently. My goodness, of course this year! June 12th, Year 2226. You can come, right?" she asked with hopeful eyes.
"What's the date today?"
"May 21st." She smiled broadly as she said it, though I wasn't sure what she meant by it.
"Alright." I nodded in agreement because it seemed to be an empty day on my schedule.
Then I realized:
"Alice... isn't that three weeks away?" If it's three weeks away, why is she telling me now?
"Hehe, I intentionally told you now so you could put that day into your busy schedule. You've already agreed, you can't refuse, okay?"
'Oh, I see.' I smiled while shaking my head, not expecting her to be so manipulative. But I understand why she is like this; Adrian used to be so busy that he often broke his promises to his sister.
I sighed dramatically. "Fine, I'll put it in my schedule."
Even though I've only been with her for a week, I feel so close to her as if she were my own biological sister. Well, I've already started considering her as such...
After five minutes passed, our food was finally finished. I helped her clear the plates and we washed them together.
Once finished, I went up the stairs to my room and turned to my sister, who was lounging on the sofa. "I'm going to my room."
Alicia gave a smile and nodded.
Alright. I will spend my time studying basic-level magic in my room while meditating so that my mana stabilizes and increases.
Besides that, I also want to plan my move for tomorrow to go to the Black Market.
…
– Alicia Hale's POV –
– Click
Adrian's bedroom door closed after he went inside.
Meanwhile, I was still sitting on the sofa, wondering what else to do now that everything was finished.
Debby approached me and rubbed his body against mine. Seeing Debby reminded me of my eldest brother, Erickson, because he is Erickson's dog.
'Hmm, what is he doing right now?'
It has been almost two years since Erickson last came home, ever since he became an S-Rank Hunter and joined a guild in the city center.
Sigh…
And Adrian... he always makes me worry! I mean, why was he so foolish as to enter the Magic Academy? Does he want to become a Hunter like Erickson?
We already live well thanks to Erickson, who sends money every month. Shouldn't that be enough? Why enter the Magic Academy and become a Hunter who is always in danger...
I have lost both my parents, and then Erickson left; I don't want him to leave too...
I hugged my knees and buried my face in them, wanting to scream but unable to.
'I don't want to be left behind again...'
…
– Adrian Hale's POV –
On Tuesday morning, I was walking to my University.
By the way, besides being a Magic Academy student, Adrian is also a University student.
The reason he took a double education is that his University only operates for three days, so he has three other empty days.
To fill that void, I... I mean, Adrian, registered himself at the Magic Academy to train in magic usage so he could protect himself.
Actually, Erickson, Adrian's brother, forbade him from entering the Magic Academy because it meant entering the world of Hunters. But Adrian was very stubborn; he registered secretly without Erickson's knowledge. He was brave because Erickson hadn't been home for nearly two years. Also, Alicia and Adrian once had a fight because of this.
Fuhh... If Erickson returns one day, he will surely be very angry if he finds out.
Damn, I'll definitely be the one to take the brunt of it...
Okay, forget that. Now, onto my progress last night.
Last night, I practiced basic-level magic according to my Rank and then meditated to absorb Atmospheric Mana so that my mana reserves would increase. However, I realized that the Atmospheric Mana inside these walls is too weak to absorb, so even if I meditated dozens of times, my mana would be very difficult to increase.
Therefore... I might try going outside the Safe Zone walls to meditate.
'The Mana outside the walls should be very pure and could increase my Mana much faster than in here. I'll plan it once I'm done with the black market.' In my current position, I shouldn't have just one or two plans; they must be layered so I can minimize wasted time.
Besides, I haven't found a single potential threat that will be the mastermind behind the destruction of this Safe Zone because, so far, things are very calm.
Even though I already have two candidates, villains from my novel who pose a global threat, I still can't attribute this to them. Because those two villains only started their threat long after the Safe Zone was destroyed.
Finally, I arrived at Havient University, which also has a very large courtyard, no less impressive than the Magic Academy.
Then I saw a large crowd of students in the Hall. Out of curiosity, I approached to see.
It turned out that they were crowding around because there was an Exhibition of Freshman Projects taking place on the Hall stage.
I stopped there for a moment to watch and to clear my mind.
One by one, the freshmen began to show off their project results: robots, paintings, and science experiments.
This Safe Zone is truly different from where my protagonists are. This Safe Zone has more advanced technology due to abundant resources and a very vast territory.
"Hua..."
Getting bored, I was about to walk away. However, my steps were immediately halted when I saw a man go up on stage carrying a strange device that caught my attention.
The man bowed. "Allow me to introduce myself first. My name is Rival Ostern."