Departure from the Academy

Although the schedule was decided immediately without any discussion.

Since I had already been told through the patriarch that I could return right away.

Everything was arranged smoothly.

‘I’ll go inform the principal!’

While Abella left her seat.

“I heard you’re leaving tomorrow.”

I don’t know how she heard it.

But Helena, who somehow found out faster than anyone else, came to see me in person.

“How about a cup of tea?”

She even brought the tea herself, as if expecting I wouldn’t offer any.

“….”

Even though I was maintaining the concept of being a complete jerk.

I couldn’t just push away someone who came this far.

As I turned my body slightly, Helena naturally entered the room.

“Here. It’s tea I often drink.”

Pour—

She even poured it skillfully and handed it to me.

Anyone watching would think she was the owner of this room, not me.

Seeing how natural she was, a strange thought crossed my mind.

‘Has she been here before?’

Other characters were easy to deal with.

But aside from Raon, I had never interacted directly with other main characters, making them difficult to handle.

At best, I had only encountered them through PvP content.

Meaning I had never met them as their true ‘character personalities.’

‘Why doesn’t Helena have some crazy fanatic like that guy….’

That guy who copied Philip’s personality perfectly was insane.

But considering how many people played this game, I thought at least one person would imitate Helena’s personality too.

Maybe I was unlucky, or maybe there really wasn’t anyone—but I had never met one.

Tap.

Helena gently placed the teacup down and spoke.

“So. You’re really leaving tomorrow? Ah, I’m not forcing you. It just seems earlier than expected, so I was curious.”

The way she treated me—not just kindly, but softly—

Made me feel even more uncomfortable.

Why is she acting like this toward me?

‘Did I even do anything?’

I already knew she held goodwill toward me.

But this felt like something beyond that.

“…Yeah.”

When I answered briefly, Helena nodded with a hint of disappointment.

“That’s unfortunate. I wanted to spend more time with a friend.”

Why does she keep emphasizing ‘friend’?

What did I even do to be called that?

‘…Should I ask?’

With that kind of reaction, she’d probably answer.

Still, just in case, I showed some irritation.

“Don’t pry.”

“My apologies.”

“And why exactly am I your friend?”

My voice was sharp.

But.

“…!”

Her smile only deepened.

Enough to send chills down my spine.

“What do you think a friend is?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Good. Then I’ll tell you my definition.”

Helena leaned closer, slightly excited.

“Have we eaten together?”

“…Yes.”

“Do we attend classes together?”

“…Yes.”

“Do we know each other’s names?”

“…Yes.”

“And.”

She took a rough breath.

“Do we know how strong each other is?”

“….”

Knights pursue strength. Some even worship it.

Some pray daily like priests, gripping their swords.

Some believe that every swing of their blade is guided by ‘strength.’

Mages are no different.

Beyond pursuing mana, some even worship mana itself like knights or priests.

‘…Was she always like this?’

The Helena in front of me now was like those who worship strength—or the strong.

I couldn’t tell which.

But it was serious.

‘This is bad.’

People like this don’t usually cause major problems.

But that’s only when you look at the whole ‘forest.’

When you look at an individual ‘tree.’

And from the perspective of someone like me.

They’re extremely dangerous.

“…I know.”

“Good.”

Helena smiled brightly.

“That’s why we’re friends.”

“….”

The Helena I remembered was righteous.

She would cut down criminals without hesitation.

But she wasn’t naive enough to be taken advantage of either.

That’s why she was popular.

But this…

‘Is this some setting I didn’t know?’

If I knew this, I would’ve analyzed her properly.

I avoided analyzing other characters because I thought it’d make me want to play them instead of Raon.

‘…No. It’s fine.’

Once I leave the academy and reduce the risk of mana rampage.

I won’t have to live this cautiously anymore.

Then I can act more freely.

If I just handle the main events myself.

I can avoid most conflicts.

‘Even if her personality gets worse.’

I don’t have the luxury to care about someone I barely know outside the academy.

And even if problems arise.

If I grow according to my strategy guide—or even beyond it.

And reach the level where I can defeat the final boss I couldn’t beat before.

Handling someone like Helena would be nothing.

“…Fine.”

When I nodded, she returned to her calm self as if nothing had happened and lifted her teacup.

Sip—

She emptied it in one go and smiled.

“Well, I can just visit you later. So I won’t be too disappointed.”

‘Don’t come.’

“In the future. When we meet again.”

Helena extended her hand toward me.

“I hope you’ve grown stronger.”

I stared at her hand for a moment.

Should I shake it?

No.

Would Raon do that?

“It’s my business.”

He wouldn’t do something this embarrassing.

“Stay out of it.”

“…I see.”

Even though I refused.

She nodded as if she got the answer she wanted.

“Understood.”

She stood up and slowly walked toward the door.

“You…”

All I could see was her red hair covering her back.

“You’ll become stronger than anyone.”

I instinctively knew she was smiling.

“See you later.”

That was the last time I saw Helena at the academy.

Before dawn even fully broke.

My eyes snapped open.

But strangely, my body wouldn’t move properly.

‘My body won’t move.’

It felt like someone was pressing down on both my arms.

And strange whispers echoed in my ears.

—You’re trash.

—You should die.

—You’re useless.

‘Seriously….’

Even sleep paralysis shouldn’t be this bad.

‘It’s when your mind wakes up but your muscles remain relaxed from sleep, right?’

Then I just need to relax them.

Very slightly.

I controlled the chains.

‘Increase absorption just a little more.’

More precisely.

I switched off the sleep mode and increased the usual mana absorption.

Thump!

My mana surged violently, making my head spin like I was on a rollercoaster.

I tightly shut my eyes, then opened them again.

As the dizziness faded, the paralysis broke.

“Ha… I lived.”

I sat up with difficulty, sighing deeply as I rubbed my stiff body.

My whole body was sticky with sweat.

Why did this happen?

I had a rough idea.

‘Because of Helena yesterday.’

In this world, the scariest opponents for me.

Are Helena and Philip—the only characters I don’t fully understand.

For other characters, I could instantly write strategies and traits.

But for those two.

I knew almost nothing.

What kind of variables they might create.

Whether they might threaten my life… I had no idea.

‘Haa….’

Once I leave the academy, I won’t see them again anyway.

But.

Back when I was obsessed with the game, I never allowed even the smallest variable.

So having this kind of uncertainty itself stressed me out.

‘This personality of mine needs fixing too.’

I smiled bitterly and took off my shirt.

Dragging the chains attached to my ankles, I walked to the bathroom.

As I turned on the water, warm water poured out and soaked my body.

“Haah….”

I closed my eyes, feeling the water falling over my head.

Back then, I never allowed myself this kind of leisure.

I only thought about finding the perfect route to save Raon as quickly as possible.

No one forced me.

No one asked me to.

But I.

Really wanted to save this character, Raon.

“….”

Clink.

The sound of metal echoed below.

Chains bound to my ankles moved with me.

Though I tied them myself.

It looked like a prisoner being restrained from escaping.

I couldn’t remove them.

The moment I did, my body would explode.

‘I understand why you broke.’

Even prisoners aren’t chained like this while bathing.

Not even slaves live like this.

And Raon committed no crime.

Just because he was born with too much mana.

And couldn’t control it.

He lived like a prisoner.

And now I inherited that life.

‘Where did you go?’

If I cure this curse and clear the game.

Will you come back?

Where did Raon’s soul go after I entered?

‘I hope it’s my body.’

It might be a bit dumb.

But I have friends who understand me.

And money I’ve worked hard to earn.

If it’s that body, Raon could live a normal life.

What I feel toward Raon isn’t love or friendship.

It’s pity.

And…

‘The first character I ever chose myself.’

Attachment.

In a life where I had no freedom or choice.

He was the only character I chose.

‘I’ll definitely save you.’

You.

And me.

Only if I live, Raon can live.

“….”

As I stepped out, an artifact by the door activated and dried my soaked body and hair.

Even the chains were neatly dried.

I wrapped them around my arm and changed clothes.

After sitting down heavily on a chair.

Click.

Abella, who had woken up late, yawned widely and then widened her already big eyes upon seeing me.

“Oh! Young master, you’re awake?”

“Yeah.”

“I—I should’ve helped you….”

“No need.”

“I’ll get ready quickly!”

We had one hour before departure.

It wasn’t much time for Abella.

But since she didn’t wear much makeup anyway, she finished quickly.

Hiss—

‘Ah. She uses an artifact.’

She sprayed something on her face, patted it lightly, then habitually checked the mail near the door.

Then she carefully glanced at me and spoke.

“Um… Philip Oscula…”

“Throw it away.”

“Yes, sir….”

Probably a duel request or invitation.

I didn’t care about either.

“Shall we go then?!”

Noticing my irritation, Abella spoke in an overly cheerful tone.

I didn’t respond and started walking first.

“Wait for me~~!”

She hurried behind me, slightly lifting my chains.

When we reached the main gate.

“…You’ve arrived.”

The Wanderer, who had come earlier, bowed his head.

I nodded casually and boarded the carriage first.

Normally it would be rude.

But since I outranked him, he said nothing.

“…Then.”

Sitting in the driver’s seat, the Wanderer spoke.

“We will depart.”

“Yeah.”

I looked out the window.

Finally.

I’m leaving this academy.

“W-wait a moment!”

In the distance, the principal was running toward us.

Unlike before, he looked very rushed.

“Stop—!”

“I have already informed the principal. There is no need to concern yourself.”

The Wanderer said.

I smirked at the principal.

His face twisted in frustration.

Neigh—!

The carriage began moving.

We passed the main gate and the large city surrounding the academy.

“Make way!”

Neigh!

With the Rigbelto family flag raised, we avoided inspections and continued smoothly.

Eventually, as we completely left the academy’s territory.

A system message appeared before me.

[You are the first protagonist to drop out of the academy.]

[First Achievement!]

[Mana Control +0.05]

“!”

Mana control?

‘This can increase?’

I widened my eyes and quickly checked my status window.

[Raon Rigbelto]

Strength: 47 (Partially Sealed)

Agility: 42 (Partially Sealed)

Stamina: 48 (Partially Sealed)

Mana: 115 (-30) (-1) (-0.2) (Unavailable)

Mana Control: 1 (Controllable Range: 0.1~1 — Cannot control during usage or rampage)

Divine Power: 0

[Note: Compared to mana, mana control is extremely low. Mana cannot be controlled.]

※ All stats are heavily restricted by the ‘Mana Absorption Chains.’

※ Mana is being partially absorbed.

※ Rampage in 60% (Affected by surrounding mana.)

“!!”

Mana control is now 1!

That’s the same value as before the patch.

Meaning—even if slightly—I gained stability.

No, more importantly.

‘If control can increase….’

It meant more than just survival.

It meant.

I could completely change Raon Rigbelto’s life.

Into one that shines as brightly as his innate mana.

At that moment.

[Emergency Event Triggered!]

[You are the first to leave the academy. Future events will threaten your life.]

[Survive the impending danger.]

[Reward: ???]

[Failure: Death, or Mana Control -2]