LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 21
Chapter 21
I followed Han Si-hyun, my stomach growling in protest. We’d left in such a rush I hadn’t even gotten to eat breakfast.
There was warm milk too… I felt a pang of regret.
“So, the ‘center’… you mean the main building, right?”
The main building was in the very center of the academy’s grounds. Normally, there wasn’t much reason for students to go there—only the principal’s office, vice-principal’s office, and some administrative offices were there. I didn’t remember it being featured much in the original story, either.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Si-hyun confirmed.
“But… the main building is open, isn’t it? Why are we sneaking around?”
“It’ll make sense when we get there.”
We arrived at the main building, an imposing structure towering above us. It was probably the largest facility on campus.
Two security guards stood by the entrance. Great. If we’re supposed to sneak in, we’ve already been caught.
The guards looked at us, checking our faces and ID badges.
“What’s your business here?”
“We’re running an errand,” Si-hyun replied calmly.
“For whom?”
“The student council president.”
“Hm.”
The guard noted something down on his list.
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
Si-hyun’s cool response was impressive. Once inside, I whispered to her, “Wouldn’t we get in trouble if we were caught?”
“Not yet,” she replied casually.
I wasn’t entirely convinced but followed her through the high-ceilinged, marble-lined lobby. It felt more like entering a luxury hotel than a school building.
“So, where exactly are we going?”
“Underground.”
“…Underground?”
“Yes. From here on, we absolutely can’t get caught.”
Gulp.
That didn’t make me any less nervous. What could be down there?
“Let’s go,” Si-hyun said.
“Aren’t we taking the elevator?”
“What if someone else gets in with us? That’d be a problem.”
“Good point.”
Not that the stairs were entirely safe either, but at least they offered an escape route.
We began our descent, cautiously creeping down the stairs.
“…This feels creepy,” I muttered.
“It’s fine. Probably.”
That didn’t sound very reassuring.
The staircase was long. Much longer than a typical flight of stairs. It felt like it went on forever.
“How far are we going?”
“Not sure.”
“…Shouldn’t we just turn back?”
I had a sinking feeling, like we were crossing a bridge we couldn’t return from.
Just as my feeble stamina was about to give out, we reached the bottom, where a heavy, locked door stood before us.
“…”
I tried to push it open but quickly gave up, turning to Si-hyun in frustration.
She calmly took out a student ID—belonging to the student council president, Han Se-hee.
“Is this… really okay?”
We weren’t just crossing a bridge anymore; we were plunging into an abyss.
“Don’t you want to know your ability?”
“Ugh…”
We were too deep to turn back now. Begrudgingly, I gave my silent consent.
Beep.
[Level 2 clearance confirmed.]
“Level 2 clearance…?” I muttered.
“Better not mention anything you see here to anyone.”
It felt like we were in a spy movie now.
The door slid open, and Si-hyun stepped in, looking back at me expectantly.
“…Here goes nothing!”
I squeezed my eyes shut and stepped inside. What did it matter? Next week, none of this would matter anyway.
The basement was dimly lit, with only sparse lights illuminating our way. The air was filled with a faint hum, like the sound of machines running. It felt like being inside a factory.
But aside from the two of us, there was no one here.
“Now, care to explain what’s going on? Why are we here, and what exactly are we doing?”
“Do you know how academy students are selected for admission?”
“…Selected? I mean, they pick awakened students, right?”
But how do they find those students? I drew a blank.
“That ‘Level 2 clearance’ you saw? It applies to this entire underground facility.”
“…What does that mean?”
“This place is a massive database that gathers information from all over the world, not just the academy. There’s an unimaginable amount of data here.”
It was familiar. The original story had hinted that the academy’s information-gathering abilities exceeded even those of some nations.
“And how does that relate to my ability?”
“This data isn’t just collected—it’s processed to manage the entire academy system and even select awakened students from around the world.”
“And the one who makes that selection is an AI called ‘Magi.’”
“Magi? I’ve heard of that.”
Not from the original story—it wasn’t exactly a secret. The academy’s system was managed by an AI named Magi.
“The core of Magi is located here in the basement.”
“…Wait, seriously?”
That was news to me. I hadn’t read about it in the original story.
“If my sister hadn’t told me, I’d never have known either. Follow me.”
As we walked, I glanced around and noticed various computer components filling the walls.
Si-hyun stopped in front of a unique-looking computer.
“So… this is Magi?”
“Magi is an invisible AI. This is just a terminal for interacting with it.”
“Sorry… but I don’t really get it.”
“Just think of this entire basement as Magi.”
That’s a little creepy. Like being in the belly of a giant monster.
Si-hyun swiped the student council president’s card, and the computer powered on.
[Level 2 clearance confirmed.]
“So, Magi knows what my ability is?”
“Yes. Magi admitted you based on the judgment that you had an ability.”
Well, it was wrong. I still didn’t have any abilities.
That’s why you can’t trust machines.
Si-hyun typed quickly on the keyboard, her eyes fixed on the screen as if she was making progress.
“It’s ready.”
[Searching: Han Si-hyun.]
[Searching…]
[Codename: Sword Saint.]
[View details?]
“Whoa….”
“If we select ‘yes,’ we can see all the ability information.”
She clicked ‘yes,’ and a summary of Si-hyun’s abilities appeared on the screen.
[Ability: Can freely create swords. Enhanced swordsmanship proficiency.]
It was a brief description. Despite how simple it sounded, this ability made Han Si-hyun one of the strongest characters in the original story, not just in her class.
“Now, let’s search for you.”
“Alright.”
Nothing would come up anyway. Or maybe it’d label me as talentless.
“Got it.”
[Searching: Yoo Hana.]
[Searching…]
[Codename: מָשִׁיחַ]
[View details?]
“…What is that? Some kind of weird symbol?”
“Maybe the text glitched. Strange….”
Despite her puzzlement, Si-hyun pressed ‘yes.’
[Viewing is not permitted.]
[This is a Level 1 classified document.]
“What? That’s impossible… all student records should only be Level 3.”
“So why am I Level 1?”
If I had no ability, fine. But what could possibly justify classifying Yoo Hana at Level 1?
I mean, the academy showed no special interest in Yoo Hana. Quite the opposite; she was left to fend for herself in obscurity…
Something was off.
Was this some butterfly effect from my possession? Or was there something I wasn’t aware of?
And then—
A cold hand on my shoulder froze me in place, followed by a stern voice.
“This area is not open for students to enter freely.”
Han Si-hyun turned around, her face showing discomfort.
“…”
“Han Si-hyun. And Yoo Hana.”
A piercing gaze that made my body tremble.
A man with an eyepatch over his left eye and a well-kept beard.
There was no mistaking him.
The academy’s second-in-command.
“Vice-principal….”
“Your names are familiar. Weren’t you both involved in a disciplinary issue not long ago?”
His presence was suffocating, like standing before a perfectly honed sword. Just being near him felt like it could cut.
“Why are you two sneaking into a place like this?” he asked.
“Um…”
“You’re not here to cause trouble over that issue, are you?”
“N-no, nothing like that.”
“Hm. Good. It better not be.”
The vice-principal glanced at the computer in front of Si-hyun.
“Do you know what this place is?”
“Yes.”
“As the student council president’s sibling, I suppose you would. Then you must also know the consequences of entering here without permission.”
Gulp.
I tried to stay composed, but my body wouldn’t stop shaking.
His grip on my shoulder tightened slightly. It wasn’t painful, but the pressure was immense, as if I were a fly he could squash with a flick of his wrist.
In the silence, the vice-principal finally spoke.
“A warning.”
“…”
He suddenly laughed, breaking the tension as he patted my shoulder.
“Places like this aren’t meant for just anyone. Not that there’s much you’d get from being here anyway!”
Then, his tone softened as he added, “And, Han Si-hyun, if you wish to use Magi, earn the access yourself. You’re more than capable.”
“…Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“Since I don’t think you’re up to any mischief, I won’t escalate this. Now, both of you, head on back.”
Han Si-hyun nodded, turning to me. “Let’s go, Hana.”
“…
”
“Hana?”
“…Y-yeah. Let’s go.”
Finally regaining my senses, I followed her out, practically fleeing. Glancing back, I met the vice-principal’s gaze one last time.
“Hah… hah….”
“At least it was the vice-principal who caught us. He’s the kindest of the teachers. Why are you so shaken?”
The kindest teacher?
Unbelievable.
He’s a demon—a powerful one. In the original story, he was the main villain of the second arc, the most formidable of all demon lords.
But it’s fine. It’s fine.
As long as he thinks I’m just an ordinary student, everything will be okay.
***
Left alone in the main building’s basement, the eyepatched man lingered for a moment, gazing at the computer screen where the students had just been.
“‘Messiah,’ huh.”
His voice, deep and unsettling, was lost amid the hum of machinery in the vast, dark basement.
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