NoveLight ™
Atra knew the importance of cleanliness from her time on the battlefield.
Of course, for transcendents, the likelihood of getting sick from poor hygiene was low. However, morale could plummet, and physical performance could still degrade in unsanitary conditions. Not to mention, if a monster with a unique ability involving disease or poison emerged in such environments, defeat could come before the battle even started.
There were indeed cases of this happening.
One such instance was the Twin-Headed Venomous Dragon, a Rank 3 Alpha monster that appeared in ancient China. While it was a powerful creature, the real reason it decimated the region was due to the nature of its poison and the unsanitary environment that aided its spread.
In any case, Atra had become particularly strict about cleanliness.
That day had further reinforced her habits.
The immense psychological shock she had suffered had hit her hard, and since then, she hadn’t touched a cigarette.
Before bringing Lee Hayul to her residence, she had ventilated the place multiple times, casting purification magic to ensure no odors lingered.
And for herself... especially the area on her chest where Hayul often buried his face, she made sure to clean meticulously.
The hologram on the ceiling shut off, and the shower’s water flow ceased.
After drying herself with a towel, Atra donned the indoor clothes she had prepared and stepped out of the bathroom.
The warm, steamy air from the shower mixed with the cool air from outside, brushing against her skin.
Tapping her hair dry with the towel, Atra headed towards her room.
“Hm?”
She stopped halfway.
There was a rhythmic tapping sound, a sizzling noise, and the unmistakable scent of food in the air.
Atra blinked in confusion before changing direction, her hair still damp, and headed towards the kitchen.
What greeted her was a unique sight.
Hayul was standing at the counter, one hand holding a knife as he finely chopped ingredients on a cutting board.
Behind him...
The artifact known as Cheonui, which typically floated around him like a cloak, had split into multiple tendrils, some adjusting the frying pan, others holding spatulas and tongs, expertly preparing food.
Fire spirits hovered near the pan, seemingly adjusting the heat as well.
“......”
It was a peculiar sight. It reminded Atra of those performance-based restaurants where superhuman chefs would put on similar displays.
Hayul, sensing her presence, turned his head. He wore a simple white apron, and upon seeing Atra, he smiled apologetically, bowing his head slightly.
[Did you finish your shower?]
[Sorry.]
[Just a little longer.]
[It’s almost ready.]
“Y-yeah.”
Atra, at a loss for words, mumbled a reply.
A short while later, just as Hayul had said, the food was finished, and the plates were set on the table.
[I made something simple.]
Hayul explained as he hovered near her, watching for her reaction.
Atra looked at the table.
White plates, with steam rising from freshly prepared food.
Perfectly grilled bacon and sausages, golden scrambled eggs and small fried eggs, crispy hash browns.
On another plate, there was a neatly arranged salad with dressing and some bread, perhaps intended for sandwiches.
“......”
It really was simple. The kind of breakfast one might have in the morning.
Atra, being from the British region, had grown up eating meals like this.
Grown up.
Before she attended the academy... she had eaten breakfasts like this with her family.
Staring blankly at the food, Atra slowly turned her gaze towards Hayul.
He wasn’t sitting across from her. Instead, he was standing nearby, glancing at her with a mix of hope and worry.
Realizing what he was waiting for, Atra picked up her fork and took a bite of the sausage.
She chewed for a moment, the flavors filling her mouth. The sausage was perfectly cooked, neither too greasy nor overcooked. It was just right—tailored to her tastes.
“It’s good...”
“......!”
Those two simple words—"It’s good"—were enough to send a wave of relief and happiness across Hayul’s face. His smile bloomed like a sunflower basking in the sun, pure and joyful.
Atra could clearly see that smile.
The innocent expression of a child who was genuinely delighted just from hearing a few kind words.
‘...Oh dear.’
She almost let out a sigh but swallowed it back, remembering the events of the previous day.
Still, she couldn’t stop the inner sigh from welling up inside.
‘How am I supposed to teach him...?’
Teaching someone how to fight was easy.
Atra was reminded of this once again...
The meeting point with Baek Ahrin was at the central fountain in the commercial district.
The commercial district, true to its name, was lined with restaurants, entertainment venues, and large shopping centers, much like any bustling city.
The meeting time was noon.
I arrived at 11:30, thirty minutes early.
After looking around for a bit, I sat on a bench near the fountain, using my Observation ability to scan the area.
‘...Quite a few people here.’
As I often felt at Shioram, despite the large and impressive facilities, there were relatively few people.
But that made sense. Shioram wasn’t densely populated to begin with.
There were staff, faculty, and students, as well as the people who ran the shops in the commercial district. That was about it.
But today, there were more people than usual.
It wasn’t like a bustling city where people were packed tightly together, but there were enough to make the area feel lively.
It was the first weekend after the midterm exams, so many students had poured into the commercial district to relieve their academic stress.
Most weren’t wearing their uniforms but casual clothes, though many of them were familiar faces—classmates or upperclassmen I’d seen before.
It wasn’t just students who had come out.
Staff, who had been burdened with planning and running the midterms, had also flooded out to enjoy the break.
With everyone gathering, the place felt noticeably more populated.
‘Hmm...’
There were indeed many people around.
Naturally, there were many glances and whispers directed my way, but I had grown accustomed to the attention by now. It didn’t bother me anymore.
If this were before, I might have run home in embarrassment, but now I felt a sense of growth.
I sat on the bench, swinging my legs as I waited for Baek Ahrin to arrive.
‘Sigh...’
Thinking about Baek Ahrin, I couldn’t help but recall the advice I had received from Hong Yeonhwa and my master about this meeting.
There had been a flood of missed calls and messages from Hong Yeonhwa.
Panicked, I had hurriedly sent her a message to let her know I was okay.
She replied almost instantly, asking if something had happened, worried because I hadn’t answered.
That led to a brief conversation.
I explained that I had fallen asleep, and that my device had been on silent mode, which is why I hadn’t noticed the calls. I apologized.
She responded that she had been worried, but was relieved to hear that everything was fine. Then she asked if I had fallen asleep in the dormitory.
I told her I had fallen asleep at my master’s place.
...Her response was a bit more inquisitive, asking why I had been there and if something had happened, but the conversation soon turned to my upcoming meeting with Baek Ahrin.
It was a welcome topic, as I had my own questions about it.
▶Hong Yeonhwa: If she tries anything weird, just punch her.
▶Hong Yeonhwa: You don’t need to hesitate, don’t hold back.
▶Hong Yeonhwa: Got it?
In the end, I didn’t learn much. It was mostly just advice to reject anything strange, which was, of course, common sense.
Even Hong Yeonhwa didn’t seem to know why Baek Ahrin had made this strange bet with me.
Before I left my master’s place, I received similar advice... or education.
I found it strange. Why keep emphasizing things like that? Did they think I didn’t know how to protect myself?
But since both Hong Yeonhwa and my master had made these points out of concern, I nodded along.
I was still sitting on the bench, swinging my legs and scrolling through magic books on my hologram when I sensed something at the edge of my Observation field.
Baek Ahrin had arrived.
Her footsteps echoed clearly amid the other sounds around the fountain as she approached.
After glancing around briefly, her gaze met mine, and she smiled brightly before walking towards me.
“I thought I’d be early by arriving 20 minutes ahead, but it seems I’m late.”
[It’s okay.]
[I just got here myself.]
I waved off her apology, shaking my head as I took in her appearance.
Her long, neatly tied blue hair, as always.
A plain white t-shirt with no adornments.
A denim jacket over her shoulders and jeans that accentuated her long legs.
There was nothing particularly flashy about her outfit, but her tall, graceful frame made her look stunning regardless.
“Have you had lunch yet?”
[Hm?]
[Didn’t you say we’d be eating together?]
“Oh, you remembered. Good.”
Baek Ahrin grinned as she said this and, without warning, held out her hand.
“?”
I tilted my head in confusion before realizing what she wanted and feeling a bit odd about it.
A pristine white hand.
A hand that could summon hundreds of ice spikes if she wanted to.
Of course, I didn’t think she would do that here.
It was Shioram, after all. I had no reason to be particularly wary.
Cautiously, I extended my hand, and Baek Ahrin clasped it.
My hand, covered by a black sleeve, met her pale, bare hand.
It wasn’t warm—it was cool.
As I processed the sensation, a timer appeared on Baek Ahrin’s smartwatch.
A holographic display popped up with a countdown timer.
[23:59:57]
“Alright, the 24-hour timer starts now.”
[Huh?]
I looked at her in confusion, wondering what she meant, and Baek Ahrin casually explained.
“I told you, didn’t I? I’m claiming a full day of your time.”
“???”
Realization dawned on me.
A full day.
24 hours.
I stood there, mouth agape.
‘No way.’
As if to confirm my thoughts, Baek Ahrin simply smiled and swung our joined hands gently.