I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑

I was briefly lightheaded from the sensation that was stronger than I thought, but I quickly regained my composure and entered meditation.

“Whew.”

Originally, an elixir isn’t something that becomes yours simply by drinking it.

However, I knew all too well how to efficiently receive the energy of an elixir.

「𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭𝙞𝙧𝙨. . . . . . .」

The preparations are all done. The rest depends solely on my mental state and concentration.

「𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮.」

Of course, reality was different from a game, but with the help of the Mental Spellbook trait, I had already deployed all the related spells, so I had to try it somehow.

Maybe a few minutes passed, I could immediately sense the peculiarity of my body.

「𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬.」

However, as I had roughly expected, the fact that a certain amount remained in the body and was being absorbed was hopeful enough.

“. . .Whew.”

Two long hours passed like that.

I originally knew that in severe cases it could take half a day, but in my case, it ended much faster because most of it flowed into the shadow.

“Let’s wash up for now.”

It wasn’t as if waste products were excreted from the body like it was mentioned in martial arts novels, but it was inevitable that I felt a sense of discomfort.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

Thud.

Clack.

“Ugh. Phew.”

After taking the elixir, I actively increased my metabolism by exercising and eating a balanced diet for several days.

「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭𝙞𝙧𝙨.」

Originally, it took time for the elixir to fully permeate the body, and during that time, doing such obvious things could reduce the loss rate.

Therefore, today as well, I was holed up in the training room next to the second-year boys’ dormitory after finishing class, when an unexpected guest came to visit.

“. . .Do you have a moment?”

It was the protagonist of the original story, Yoo Ha-on.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have something to ask you, just a moment.”

I glanced outside and saw that Baek Eun-seo, who was in the same class as Yoo Ha-on and one of the supporting characters in the original story, had also come along. It seemed that even though their genders had changed, their interpersonal relationships hadn’t changed much.

“I’ll be out soon.”

I wiped the sweat off my face with a towel and tidied up.

When I turned my head because I felt that Yoo Ha-on was intently watching me like that, she was startled and averted her gaze, changing the subject.

“W-Well, I’ll go out first.”

I gathered my belongings and went outside to join the two of them.

It was in front of the lakeside where I often met Seo Ji-an at night when there weren’t many people around.

Yoo Ha-on, who had reached the destination, spoke to Baek Eun-seo with an apologetic expression.

“E-Eunseo, can you give us a moment alone?”

“. . .Okay. But shout if anything happens.”

It seemed that she had simply come along, so Baek Eun-seo stepped back easily and warned me.

“Don’t even think about doing anything funny. I’ll be right next door.”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

Baek Eun-seo left, and the only sounds left were the wind and the chirping of insects.

「𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.」

Ring.

【Yoo Ha-on】

▶Level 23

「𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.」

As expected, it’s the growth speed worthy of being called the protagonist.

I waited for Yoo Ha-on to speak, admiring her, but she couldn’t speak easily, as if she was troubled by something.

In the end, I couldn’t help but speak to Yoo Ha-on first.

“So, what’s the matter?”

“. . . . . .It’s about that time.”

At those words, a scene that I had briefly forgotten came to mind. It was when I impulsively grabbed Yoo Ha-on at the entrance ceremony. I had forgotten because I had so much to think about.

“If I offended you, I apologize.”

“No, it’s not that. . . . . . .”

Yoo Ha-on clasped her hands together and finally asked with a determined expression, as if she had made up her mind.

“Do you, by any chance, know me?”

“I do. You’re one of the most promising rookies in the first year.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Yoo Ha-on’s expression was resolute.

Seeing that, I finally realized what she was trying to ask.

「𝙄𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩?」

Perhaps she thought I knew something about her because of the incident on the day of the entrance ceremony. Of course, that wasn’t necessarily wrong.

「𝙊𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙤.」

After all, Yoo Ha-on was the protagonist of exorcism part 1 and a playable character.

However, I was cautious about this part.

Even if I were to tell Yoo Ha-on about her past, it was unknown whether it would have a positive effect, and I couldn’t simply believe that what I knew was the truth, since even her gender had changed.

That’s why I decided to dodge the question.

“If you’re expecting something more than that, I don’t have an answer for you.”

“. . . . . .Is that so.”

Yoo Ha-on looked disappointed. I noticed it out of the corner of my eye and sighed, speaking to her as she hung her head.

“I’m the same as you.”

“. . .What?”