Rank 0 of the Awakener Special School - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Awakener Special School, Ranking 0
Chapter 14
“Carry me.”
Ji-woo turned his back to Risa and crouched down.
“…Huh?”
“Hold tight around my neck. I’ll carry you up and see if we can make it.”
“Make it up…… You mean this Cliff?”
“There’s no other way, is there.”
With that, Ji-woo glanced back over his shoulder as if to urge her on.
Risa’s dark eyes darted back and forth, but she made no move to climb onto his back.
And with good reason—Ji-woo was injured.
No matter that he carried a Regeneration Core, his wounds were far graver than her own twisted ankle—not even comparable.
“What are you doing. Hurry up.”
……
Risa held her silence, unmoved by his impatience.
There were no Infected Beings around them now.
If she made up her mind, she could unfurl her Core freely now.
But if Risa used her Core, the insects would swarm back in again.
How disgusting.
The faces of friends who had drifted away from her came to mind.
Ji-hyo might be the same. He’d probably frown in disgust when he saw the insects swarming toward her.
He might never speak to her again after this.
‘But… Ji-hyo saved me.’
She had not done the same.
When she saw Ji-hyo being bullied, she had panicked and fled, terrified that the fallout might touch her.
She had looked away.
And yet, Ji-hyo had saved her.
So then……
This time, I have to.
“Risa?”
Ji-woo watched with startled eyes as Risa approached the Cliff.
The moment her hand reached lightly toward the rock face—
Saaaaa—
Wind stirred around them.
Not the fierce gale from when the Infected Beings had gathered before.
This was gentler—like a whisper carrying someone’s will.
And woven through that tender wind, points of light gathered one by one.
Ji-woo’s eyes widened.
‘…Fireflies?’
Light blooming through the forest’s darkness, one after another.
As the dim stars fluttered and converged, gossamer trails scattered through the air.
Risa moved her hand gently as if conducting them, and the fireflies responded with dense wingbeats.
Ji-woo watched the sight as if his soul had left his body.
The fireflies, flowing like a river against the black darkness, soon formed the shape of stairs.
That landscape of densely overlapping points of light was like a bridge carved by gathering stars from the Milky Way itself.
The staircase of fireflies, beginning at Risa’s feet, stretched beyond the Cliff.
Risa turned to face Ji-woo, the dim stairs behind her.
Her face was flustered.
The moment he saw that expression, Risa’s heart began to pound again.
Risa? That’s the girl who talks to insects.
You saw her during PE? Putting a pill bug on her palm and laughing. I thought she was possessed.
Risa’s head bowed of its own accord.
‘It’s okay.’
Yes. It’s okay.
It’s Ji-hyo. He helped me.
No matter what reaction this boy shows after throwing himself forward to save me, if I can help my friends escape this place with the ability I have……
“If you could do this, why didn’t you climb the Cliff earlier?”
Ji-woo asked suddenly.
“Ah, because of the Infected Beings back then……”
Risa instinctively averted her gaze.
Her chin felt heavy as lead, and her head drooped of its own weight.
He must think it’s strange, mustn’t he?
Though she’d steeled herself, she didn’t want to hear what Ji-hyo would say next.
Whatever it was, his words would surely reek of disgust and contempt.
“That’s amazing.”
“…Huh?”
Her bowed head was drawn up as if by a thread.
The black darkness covering everything around them.
From within it, he spoke.
“It’s so beautiful.”
Risa blinked slowly.
What in the world—
Did he just say beautiful?
Even after seeing her gesture the insects together and display them before his eyes……
“I’ve never seen anything this beautiful in my whole life.”
A smile bloomed across Ji-hyo’s pale face, softly lit by the fireflies.
‘……Oh.’
Her shoulders trembled like a brief spasm.
It was strange.
So very strange.
The black pigment that had been tangled, knotted, and hardened tight in her chest seemed to dissolve all at once—a sensation of melting through and through.
Tears that she thought had long since stopped began to flow again down her cheek.
“Hey, why are you crying?”
A flustered voice reached her.
Risa hurried to wipe her tears.
“…It’s my first time too.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve never experienced anything like this before either.”
“Really?”
“……Yeah.”
Of course, calling forth fireflies wasn’t new, but she saw no need to say that aloud.
Ji-woo’s face, turned back toward her with disbelief, shone brightly beneath the warm light of the fireflies.
“It really is.”
Truly dazzling.
* * *
Meanwhile, after parting with Ji-woo, Yu-jin returned to the Rendezvous Point alone.
“Oh, Yu-jin. I thought you weren’t coming.”
The Core Applications teacher brightened the moment he saw Yu-jin.
All the other students had already submitted their Magic Stones and returned to the Dormitory.
Everyone except for Yu-jin’s team, which was expected to arrive first.
…But why was Moon Yu-jin here alone? The teacher’s eyes swept the surroundings as the realization belatedly dawned.
“Where are your teammates? Why are you by yourself? Now, let’s see… Your teammates were Seol Ji-hyo and Im Risa, weren’t they?”
“Yes. We split up for individual work, but an issue came up, so I came first.”
Yu-jin answered plainly, holding out Magic Stones.
“Here are the Magic Stones.”
“Ah, yes.”
Nine in total.
Including the Magic Stones Ji-woo had tossed to him just before he went to look for Risa.
“Hmm? That’s about the same as the others? I figured your team would have more.”
That was……
Because it was the share for two people, not three. Risa’s contribution wasn’t included.
“In any case, the Magic Stones are accounted for. The bus already left, so let’s take my car. The others will be here soon, won’t they?”
……
The original Yu-jin would have brushed past this without thought, answering something like ‘Yes’ or ‘Probably.’
But……
Did you manage first place that way?
Seol Ji-hyo’s eyes, looking at him then, suddenly surfaced in his mind.
It was unmistakably contempt.
Was there any reason for Seol Ji-hyo to look at him with such eyes?
They’d never had a real conversation during the elementary division, and during middle school they hadn’t even crossed paths due to his time abroad.
So why……
Why did Seol Ji-hyo look at him with eyes filled with such disdain?
Yu-jin had never once in his life received such a look from anyone.
Yu-jin, that’s amazing!
Could you come to tomorrow’s game? If you came, the coach said we’d be able to win……
With a face like that and a family like that, and even being born smart—what must that feel like?
Admiration and longing. Anticipation and wonder.
Or interest and affection.
The eyes that followed him always carried such positive emotions.
You know she’s being bullied too, don’t you. Right?
Seol Ji-hyo had asked him that.
For the first time, he thought seriously about it. Had Risa been bullied?
While Seol Ji-hyo was his partner, Risa had no real connection to him.
To be frank, she was a complete stranger he’d never paid attention to.
She had the impression of being quiet and preferring solitude… but that was all. He’d never witnessed anyone subjecting her to cruel pranks.
‘But he was angry.’
Seol Ji-hyo had gotten angry with him, his face stern. He still wasn’t entirely sure what had made him so displeased, even looking back now……
Why don’t you just go ahead and win first place on your own all the time.
From the sight of Seol Ji-hyo turning sharply on his heel and walking away, Yu-jin couldn’t tear his eyes for a long time.
“…Teacher.”
Yu-jin lifted his head, roused from his reverie.
“Call the rescue team.”
His lips moved for reasons even he couldn’t understand.
“Right now.”
“Huh? A rescue team? What do you—”
Before the teacher could even finish, Yu-jin turned and began sprinting in some direction.
“Yu, Yu-jin? Where are you going! The car is that way!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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