When I opened the fridge in the morning, it was touching to see that there was something to eat inside.
Perhaps this is how a farmer feels when looking at the full granary before winter, after the busy farming season has ended.
Although the amount was small, I felt reassured seeing the bamboo shoots in the fridge.
I took out a portion of bamboo shoots for breakfast and put them on a plate.
Before eating, I decided to express my gratitude for finding the bamboo shoots.
After composing myself and clasping my hands in prayer,
I picked up a bamboo shoot and put it in my mouth, chewing it.
And I repeated this.
I wanted to perform this act of gratitude with the bamboo shoots ten thousand times a day, but there weren't enough bamboo shoots, so I had to do it in a simplified form.
If I had enough bamboo shoots, I would have surely reached a level where I could eat them faster than sound, but the world has a way of throwing adversity and trials at the talented.
Is even the sky afraid of this Scarlett Evande's talent?
I sighed at the now empty bamboo shoots and finished my breakfast by shoving a piece of macaron into my mouth.
Feeling relaxed after breakfast, I realized it was almost time to go to school, so I left home.
I barely made it to school on time.
If I had been a bit later, I would have been late.
I nodded at the kids greeting me here and there and sat down. The class president, who seemed different from yesterday, approached me.
"Xiaoming, why didn't you come early today?"
"Ah, that's because I ate breakfast a bit slowly..."
"......I see. Breakfast is important."
The class president, with a bowed head, said this in a somber voice.
Was it because I almost arrived late?
Given the class president's strong sense of responsibility, perhaps he felt guilty that a student he had warned not to be late had come late again after a few days.
...Thinking about it, I felt like I had done something really bad.
"I'll come early from tomorrow."
"......Really?"
The class president, slightly bowing his head but looking up at me with his eyes, seemed relieved, and I quickly nodded.
The class president's face brightened instantly, as if he was incredibly happy.
...From tomorrow, I'll have to stop the act of gratitude with the bamboo shoots.
I sighed inwardly, feeling a bit disappointed.
However, Yun Siwoo's gaze, which had been fixed on me, was starting to bother me.
When I glared at him, asking what he was looking at, he finally turned his eyes away.
There was a pretty girl named Silvia smiling at him, so why was he wasting his gaze on me?
He doesn't realize he's losing half his life by doing so.
"Everyone, we'll start with a mock combat training. Form groups of three and find the leader monster in a space created by an illusion. Everyone, form groups with people you get along with!"
When I heard that we should form groups with people we get along with, I turned my head to look at Silvia.
People I get along with! Friend! Silvia!
I tried to catch her eye, but she seemed to be looking at Yun Siwoo and didn't notice me.
Suddenly, the class president was beside me.
Confused, I tilted my head, and the class president spoke cautiously.
"Xiaoming, if you don't have anyone to team up with, do you want to be in the same group?"
An angel?!
It felt like a halo was shining behind the class president.
I nodded, and the class president smiled brightly, nodding back.
Then he suddenly raised his hand and shouted.
"I have confidence in combat! First come, first served, one person!"
Two boys immediately ran forward.
One was holding a spear, and the other had a large shield on his back.
Since I didn't know their names, I'll call them Spearman and Shieldman.
The class president, standing with a tense expression, evaluated the two people standing there and said,
"Hmm, Daniel and Andre? Sorry, Andre. A spear seems more suitable for our group than a shield."
"True, both of us specialize in close combat. It's a shame, but it can't be helped."
Shieldman left with a regretful look, and Spearman stayed, waving to us.
"Please take care of me, ladies. I'll take care of everything so you don't have to exert yourselves."
"Sure, try your best. If you can handle it faster than me, that is."
"Guess I'll have to work hard, huh?"
Spearman laughed, and I, having nothing to say, just bowed my head in greeting.
Before I knew it, our group was complete.
I was amazed by the class president's overwhelming competence.
He seemed to have already memorized everyone's names, which was really impressive.
By the time our turn came, everyone else had also formed their groups, standing in threes.
Shieldman, who had approached us earlier, had successfully joined another group.
It was fortunate that there were no groups with awkward atmospheres.
The next group was Silvia's.
Silvia's stage was a swamp.
As soon as the illusion magic was cast, the group's faces twisted in discomfort as they sank into the sticky swamp.
Silvia used her elemental magic to create glowing platforms under their feet, allowing the group to walk on the swamp.
The reaction from the boys watching the screen was intense.
Although it wasn't visible due to the special material, Silvia's appearance after emerging from the swamp was so alluring that any man would be excited.
The swamp monsters were frog-like creatures.
They mainly attacked by wrapping or striking with their long tongues. While the two boys blocked the tongues, Silvia used spells to eliminate the frogs, a division of labor that proved effective.
The leader monster was a much larger frog.
Everyone watching the screen grimaced at its revolting, black, and shiny appearance.
The girl who was already feeling unwell almost fainted when she saw it.
Fortunately, Yun Siwoo quickly impaled the giant frog with his large sword, and as the frog's movements ceased, the illusion was dispelled.
The girl, who had been struggling with the sight of the bugs, looked like she was about to cry when she heard Eve say, "Jesse, you'll have special training for bugs later!"
The next group was Silvia's.
Silvia's stage was a swamp.
As soon as the illusion magic was cast, the group's faces twisted in discomfort as they sank into the sticky swamp.
Silvia used her elemental magic to create glowing platforms under their feet, allowing the group to walk on the swamp.
The reaction from the boys watching the screen was intense.
Although it wasn't visible due to the special material, Silvia's appearance after emerging from the swamp was so alluring that any man would be excited.
The swamp monsters were frog-like creatures.
They mainly attacked by wrapping or striking with their long tongues. While the two boys blocked the tongues, Silvia used spells to eliminate the frogs, a division of labor that proved effective.
The leader monster was a much larger frog.
One of the boys was almost swallowed after being wrapped by a tongue, but Silvia's spell cut the tongue, allowing them to defeat the monster without harm.
The disappointed sighs of the boys watching the screen reached me.
I understood.
They must have wanted to see Silvia being wrapped by the tongue.
The girls gave the boys a look, and as time passed, it was our group's turn.
I signaled that we were ready, and as Eve snapped her fingers, my vision went dark.
It was complete darkness.
I couldn't see anything.
Suddenly, I remembered what a senior had said while covering my eyes during my time in the military.
-What do you see?
-Nothing!
-That's your remaining military life.
It was a truly terrifying memory...
As PTSD kicked in, I took quick, shallow breaths, and then I felt someone grab my hand.
"Scarlett, are you okay?"
Someone whispered worriedly.
It was the class president's voice.
Spearman, having heard the class president's voice, quietly replied, "I'm here too."
I was wondering what to do in the darkness, but then I realized I could just light a fire.
I surrounded myself with a small flame, which I usually call a "1st stage" flame because I find it annoying to call it an "unlit flame."
As the surroundings brightened, I saw the class president and Spearman drawing their weapons.
It looked like we were in a cave.
There was a large passage in the middle, and tunnels were dug all around.
I could sense something moving beyond those tunnels.
I was about to prepare for battle when the class president grabbed my hand and shook his head.
"Stay back for a moment. Daniel and I will handle it. Is that okay, Daniel?"
"Ah, of course."
The class president and Spearman stood in front of me, quietly building their momentum.
What? Am I supposed to stay back because I'm useless?
They looked so determined that I couldn't say anything, so I decided to be a human firefly.
The next moment, I saw a tunnel that clearly looked like it would lead to the leader.
Feeling the need to do something, I said hastily,
"I'll handle the next one."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded at the class president's question and looked at Spearman, who shrugged as if it didn't matter to him.
The passenger had taken the driver's seat.
From now on, I'll be Schumacher.
When we entered the tunnel, the goblin sitting there was so large that the previous goblins seemed like baby goblins in comparison.
The goblin slowly scanned my body, which was glowing and emitting fire, as I entered.
Then, the goblin's lower body bulged as it exhaled loudly.
A chill ran down my spine.
"......Should I handle it?"
Spearman asked me, seeing the terrifying scene.
I shook my head.
No matter how uncomfortable, I had said I would handle it.
I quietly adjusted the flames to appear only on my arms.
[Roar-!!]
The excited goblin let out a disgusting cry and charged at me.
The sight of it lusting after a girl reminded me of a barbarian man who had been harassing girls at a nearby girls' school while drunk.
There has always been a special remedy for perverts.
Avoiding the goblin's arm as it lunged at me, I dove into its embrace and kicked its bulging area with all my strength.
With a thud, the goblin fell without even screaming.
I kicked its torso to make it fall backward.
I climbed onto the goblin's trembling body.
It was a perfect mounting position.
The goblin, trembling like someone suffering from a hangover, was in front of me.
Just wait a moment, I'll sober you up.
If someone asked, "What is alcohol?" some novel enthusiasts would answer,
"Alcohol is cold fire. Drink it with the moon inside."
If that's the case, then fire must be hot alcohol.
Filled with anger at being the object of lust, I punched the goblin's face, which was open in excitement, with a fist full of hot alcohol.
Indeed, alcohol is the best hangover cure.
After the goblin calmed down, I got up, shaking my fist.
The illusion had already been dispelled.
Eve was holding her stomach, laughing and sniffling.
I could see the terrified faces of the boys.
What happened while I wasn't looking?
Author's Note:
"What is alcohol?"
"Alcohol is cold fire. Drink it with the moon inside."
This is a line from "The Bird That Drinks Tears" by Yeongdo Lee.
It's a scene that stuck in my memory, so I used it here.
Before I knew it, I had surpassed 10 chapters.
All thanks to my readers.
I'm as happy as you all have made me,
and I wish for all of you to have a happy day reading my story.