Chapter – 12
Ethan and Mikhail. The two stood facing each other without showing any particular reaction.
Then suddenly Ethan’s gaze dropped downward. It settled on the ability reassessment application Mikhail held.
“!”
Ethan’s eyebrows rose slightly. He seemed quite surprised.
“…”
Mikhail looked at Ethan and tilted his head slightly.
The current encounter was unexpected, but it wasn’t a bad thing.
He’d been feeling the need to reestablish his relationship with Ethan, whatever point of contact he used as a starting point.
‘I should soften the bad blood we’ve had.’
The first encounter at the lakeside.
It was true that his insides had twisted at the blatant disregard, but even so, he couldn’t hold a grudge forever.
‘There’s nothing good about being on edge all the time.’
The premise for his gameplay knowledge to be valid.
That was the fact that Ethan’s, this world’s protagonist’s, actions had to continue exactly as in the original.
It was right to blur the current hostility a bit. That way would be better for focusing solely on the main storyline’s progression.
So gradually, it would be better to create a turning point in their relationship.
Mikhail gripped the application in his hand tightly.
Crinkle.
At the sound breaking the silence, Ethan lifted his head. Mikhail smiled leisurely and opened his mouth.
“This might be disappointing for you.”
“…What?”
“Because my expulsion won’t happen.”
Ethan didn’t respond particularly.
He just furrowed his brows, clearly showing his displeasure.
“…”
Under the sharp atmosphere, after a silence like an intermission flowed.
Mikhail smiled while shoving his hand in his pocket. He took a step toward Ethan and said.
“Still, don’t think too badly of it.”
Mikhail tilted his head and looked at Ethan.
The words he’d just delivered were in a deliberately friendly tone, but Ethan maintained only a cold expression throughout.
To the point where the saying about not spitting on a smiling face was meaningless. Mikhail clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Well, as expected.’
He knew well enough that Ethan’s hostility toward him at this point was quite deep.
Also the fact that it was at a level where resolving the suspicion with a few words was impossible.
So if there was an orthodox solution to the problem…
‘Nothing beats the straightforward approach.’
The saying that one action resonates more deeply than a hundred words.
That was a principle that applied to Ethan as well.
Therefore, after revealing his intention to no longer be hostile, maintaining consistent behavior each time they met would be the best solution.
‘Ethan obviously won’t believe it. For a while, he’ll suspect me and try to verify it, but…’
Nevertheless, he’d eventually diminish his hostility little by little.
As the person who’d woven the protagonist, he could be certain that Ethan was someone who believed in human change.
‘Just improving that much is enough. I don’t intend to get more deeply involved anyway.’
In the atmosphere where only the two people’s gazes met.
Mikhail looked directly at Ethan and said.
“There’s no need to be so on guard.”
Ethan’s bandaged hand flinched slightly.
Mikhail continued in a flat voice.
“I won’t get under your skin anymore. I won’t try to expose your weaknesses either.”
“…What are you even saying right now.”
“I’m serious. Though it’ll be hard to believe right now.”
Mikhail raised his gaze that had been on the floor again. Ethan was staring blankly at him.
Wariness and suspicion spread over his tightly closed lips.
The expected reaction. Mikhail looked at Ethan with a deliberately awkward smile.
“Anyway, thanks for helping me last time. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been sick in bed another day or so.”
“…”
“I’m going now.”
They say when something’s too absurd, words won’t even come out.
Ethan froze like a statue. While frozen, his gray eyes trembled finely as if proving his confused insides.
That was his last appearance as he passed by.
Step, step.
About five minutes had passed since then. Before he knew it, only Mikhail remained in the quiet corridor.
Mikhail slowed his steps and looked out the window. Mountain birds were flying into the particularly clear sky.
‘Looks like I’ve fastened the first button properly.’
Leaving the peaceful scenery behind, Mikhail moved again with a small smile.
His destination this time was Haeohreum Forest.
It was time to collect the reward from the sky fox quest that had reached its final stage.
Meanwhile, at the same time.
“Huu.”
Ethan, who’d been moving along the corridor, let out an irritated breath.
The moment the attitude of the person he’d just faced came to mind, his face naturally scrunched up.
Mikhail Senit.
The terrible bad blood and notorious troublemaker had left like a whirlwind, leaving only confusion behind.
With a face that didn’t consider his reaction or feelings in the slightest.
Honestly, he was always an unlucky bastard. It was quite a spectacle.
‘He won’t get under my skin anymore?’
Why suddenly? What’s his scheme?
Ethan clicked his tongue roughly. What vaguely came to mind were fragments of the past.
Memories of moments he didn’t even want to think about, when Mikhail had sneered at him while he’d been caught in foolish expectations.
[…What, this ability. You really are a monster bastard, aren’t you?]
[Why, are you angry even though I just stated a fact? …Quite a sight. The way you glare really suits your true nature.]
[Don’t touch me. It’s disgusting.]
“This shit…”
He felt his blood boiling again. Ethan barely swallowed the harsh words that were about to burst out.
‘Is this the first or second time he’s pulled tricks?’
Ethan shook his head irritably.
Mikhail’s declaration that he wouldn’t get under his skin anymore and wouldn’t expose his secrets.
Those words were highly likely, very highly likely to be lies. As if he’d believe the sun rises in the west.
‘So, what’s he trying to do this time?’
Ethan narrowed his eyes and gauged the other’s intentions.
He tried to gauge places where he could find news related to Mikhail’s movements… but somehow there weren’t any suitable options.
There wasn’t a single classmate close to Mikhail, and not even any seniors, juniors, or professors who were outwardly friendly.
The personal records left during academic life were also blank.
After receiving the magic incompetence verdict, even the hangers-on who’d been following him around had fallen away.
‘It’s all useless information.’
Ethan suddenly stopped walking and furrowed his brow.
“…”
Mikhail Senit. Despite being noisily called a troublemaker, there was nothing behind his poor reputation.
A sensation like looking at vague empty space.
Ethan was momentarily caught in a subtle feeling, but soon shook his head to dispel the distracting thoughts.
‘Let me change my thinking. If there’s no place to ask, I just need to find out myself.’
There was a principle he’d come to believe since going through numerous people from childhood.
That a perfect poker face doesn’t exist.
Whether in a casually delivered word or in the corners of lips exchanging greetings. True feelings always seeped into actions.
‘So, deducing Mikhail’s true feelings is also…’
Something worth investigating based on clues he’d obtain later.
Catching unusual movements was a field Ethan himself was quite confident in.
‘Then for now, it’d be best to observe from as close as possible. As inconspicuously as possible.’
The Mikhail Ethan had seen so far was generally impulsive.
Meaning he wasn’t skilled at hiding his emotions.
So clues to gauge Mikhail’s true feelings would likely be found easily.
‘Good. Let’s do it.’
Ethan, having made up his mind, moved his stopped steps.
It was the path leading outside where sunlight poured down.
Meanwhile, at the same time, at the edge of Haeohreum Forest.
Mikhail was heading toward the lamp tree inside the lakeside area.
The scenery was the usual quiet green forest.
However, as he got closer to the lamp tree, scenes different from before gradually revealed themselves.
Crow feathers were caught here and there on tree branches, and marks like a whip had swept across remained on tree trunks.
‘Looks like they kept their promise properly.’
Mikhail smiled slightly. From the looks of it, the sky fox siblings had stood up well to the crows this time.
In other words, the quest had concluded smoothly.
Before long, Mikhail reached the lamp tree where the sky fox siblings had stayed.
Inside the empty nest lay a clearly glowing orb.
Clack.
The moment Mikhail took out the orb.
A golden system message appeared before his eyes.
ćItem Acquiredć
[Item: Sky World’s Orb]
[A water-colored orb reminiscent of the sky. Divine beasts blessed by sky and wind are occasionally born with it in their mouths. Possesses the power to offset threats against its owner.]
Mikhail cupped the orb emanating a clear energy with both hands.
Flash!
The orb transformed into pale blue light fragments and flowed into his body along his touching palms.
ćNotice: Item collection effect applied.ć
ćNotice: Impact reduction stat increased by one grade.ć
ćCharacter Stat Change Notificationć
- Impact reduction: F ā E (Grade increase)
ćQuest: [Divine Beasts] Conclusion Completeć
- Completion Reward: Shop Currency +2
“Ha…”
Mikhail breathed out in relief and leaned against the tree.
With this, both mana capacity and impact reduction stats had entered the qualification range.
The expulsion from the original story wouldn’t happen.
…For a first achievement, it wasn’t bad progress.
‘Should I rest a bit before heading back?’
It was around when the breeze brushing by felt somewhat cold.
Mikhail straightened his leaning body and took two or three steps forward.
Then suddenly, he stopped walking and looked back.
Where his gaze reached was the empty nest inside the lamp tree.
The dry leaves left alone endlessly stirred the air as if searching for their disappeared friends.
Rustle, rustle.
It was under the peaceful atmosphere of rustling leaves.
The last description of the sky fox quest crossed Mikhail’s mind.
The sky foxes went deeper into the forest to find their original nest, and afterward, they weren’t seen by anyone.
After growing a bit more, they headed south riding the wind.
The Kalos Mountains, called a treasure trove of divine beasts and a place where one couldn’t even set foot at the entrance without cultivating considerable power.
The content was that they could never meet again.
“…”
Rustle.
Mikhail soon withdrew his gaze from the lamp tree and moved along the path leading outside the forest.
Rustle, rustle.
…Rustle.
“…”
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
…Rustle, rustle.
Someone’s footsteps continued in offbeat rhythm.
Trying to pretend not to notice indefinitely felt like his head was throbbing. Mikhail stopped abruptly and turned around.
“Come out already.”
“…”
“I know you’ve been following me.”
