An Angel Lives in the Academy
Chapter 43: The Angel Walks Outside (3)

Episode 43

With the help of his martial arts classmates, Leffrey finally obtained irrefutable proof. Now the only thing left to see is Yu Si-hyun offer a humiliating apology to Yumari?

'Unfortunately... that would be difficult.'

But sadly, Leffrey...

Couldn't see Yu Si-hyun apologize.

"Mari, you know this too... it's impossible to get an apology from Yu Si-hyun."

If he presented this evidence and demanded a public apology… she would apologize. Perhaps she would even offer generous compensation.

However, if that happened… there was no telling what Yu Si-hyun would do out of spite. And Yumari would have to bear the consequences.

Leffrey couldn't bear to see that happen.

"I understand. You're saying I should use this evidence... to negotiate my treatment within the family?"

"That's right."

So this was the best option.

Instead of humiliating Yu Si-hyun, he would use this evidence to secure better treatment for Mari within the family. This was why Leffrey caused this commotion.

'No, it was because of Angelic Power.'

Well, let's just go with that.

It was true that he had gained Angelic Power.

Leffrey looked at Yumari and said,

"Mari."

"...Yes."

"You are not a dragon."

Yumari, with her signature pleasant smile, acted as if she were laughing.

"Of course not."

"...No matter what the Seocheon Yu say, you're not a dragon."

"Yes, I know. I'm human."

Yumari in the future, who eventually gave up on the world and escaped to another dimension, and Yumari in the present.

Leffrey wanted to say these words to both girls.

And those words were...

"You're not a dragon."

"..."

The boy's words continued.

Yumari couldn't answer. She just lowered her head and muttered softly, "I understand." That was all she could do.

Overwhelmed by indescribable emotions, Yumari lowered her head even further.

She didn't know what expression to make.

She didn't know how to look at the boy.

"...Then I'll see you tomorrow."

See you tomorrow. See you ‘again’ tomorrow.

"...Yes."

But the girl, hearing those words 'see you tomorrow', could immediately smile and answer. And there was one strange thing.

The girl's smile wasn't an act.

"See you tomorrow."

The girl greeted him with a bright smile.

* * *

As with all schools, the Central Superhuman Academy also had midterm exams.

"I-Is this for real?"

However, there was one difference between this academy and other schools... all the exams were practical exams.

No, to be more precise, it wasn’t a practical exam, but...

'Choose one among dungeon clearing, villain apprehension, raid clearing, or gate closing? They're all real combat missions!'

To casually assign tasks that professional heroes would do as midterm exams for children… Leffrey couldn't help but feel a little dizzy.

'Aren't we students? These tasks… they're all… they're all too dangerous!'

Asking such a question was meaningless. Only those who didn't know the Central Superhuman Academy would ask such a question.

In the end, their answer was simple.

Don't expect common sense at the Central Academy.

And the students, as if such exams were natural, weren't even surprised. Some of the swordsmanship students were even discussing which task they should choose.

"Clearing the Spiderland dungeon seems like a good choice."

"Hey, about ten people go missing there every month."

"Actually, that's a bit concerning."

Leffrey, hearing this, felt relieved, thinking 'As expected, even those guys find it a bit scary.' Then came a disappointing answer that shattered his expectations.

"Actually, ten missing people a month is too easy. You won't get a good grade for clearing a place like that."

'T-Too easy? It's a place where people go missing!'

Leffrey was a little surprised by the student's answer.

"Wh-What about Leviathan's Cave, the place where three professional heroes went missing recently? I think that would be a good choice."

"Hmm, not bad, but..."

Leviathan's Cave, a place where three professional heroes went missing.

To think they had to go to such a scary place, just for an exam?

Leffrey, hearing this, sat down quietly in a corner, organizing his thoughts.

'Ten missing people a month is too easy?'

The boy muttered, "It’s really dangerous outside the blanket," burrowing further into the corner.

In fact, Leffrey was making a huge mistake right now.

What kind of mistake, you ask?

The mistake of thinking that he was weak.

Leffrey had gained a tremendous amount of Angelic Power during the Blessing of the Spirits. And as always, Leffrey invested all that Angelic Power into raising his stats.

As a result...

Leffrey Lv.5

Race: Angel

HP: 120/120 MP: 100/100

Strength: 17

Agility: 15

Magic: 16

Esper Ability: 9

Angelic Power: 72

Cooking Lv.10 (Master), Repair Lv.1, Cleaning Lv.1, Crafting Lv.1, Fairy Martial Arts Lv.3, True Cheongu Swordsmanship Lv.3, Klein-style Magic Lv.3

Martial Arts of the Archangel who Tramples Dragons Lv.4

Healing of the Seraphim that Heals All Creation Lv.4

Blessing of the Power Angel who Graced the King Lv.3

His level increased by 2, and his stats, excluding Esper Ability, had also significantly increased. Especially, his Magic stat had risen so much that he could now somewhat follow Klein's classes even without using his title's ability.

And now, his Strength and Agility were good enough to be ranked among the lower tier of first-year Central Academy students. To be among the lower tier of Central Academy students meant…

...he had enough power to be recognized by other large guilds and families.

Moreover, Leffrey's strength didn't come solely from his stats. The most important skills of each professor, those skills had each leveled up, exceeding the beginner stage and reaching Lv.3, the threshold of adept.

His Angelic Abilities had also become stronger, and now his healing power was comparable to Professor Rebecca's.

With these enhancements, Leffrey was objectively strong. To what extent? He was stronger than the swordsmanship students who were talking earlier. He might even be able to win against a few second-year seniors.

But Leffrey didn't think that way.

He was beaten up every day during sparring with Lusa, cleanly defeated by Yumari, bitten by Hongwol, and he even lost to Soya.

Since he was always fighting against much stronger opponents, he couldn't help but feel weak.

'To think I even lost to Soya...'

Soya, although she often acted clumsy… was a powerful mage who could at least hold her own against Hongwol in close combat.

If she engraved various curses onto her soul and lured her opponents to her territory, perhaps even Yumari...

No, excluding student council president Yu Si-hyun, perhaps even other students could be defeated by the power of Soya the black mage.

Of course, Leffrey, unaware of this, could only sigh and prepare for his midterms. If he received a failing grade on this midterm...

'I'll be expelled... and if I'm expelled, there will be no angel to protect the future heroes...'

Then the world would be destroyed. The fate of this world rested on the shoulders of one boy's grades.

'Hmm, dungeons and raids seem too dangerous... gate closings seem okay because I can at least be assigned as a public support healer, but I don't know when a gate will appear...'

Then the only thing left was villain apprehension.

'Villain apprehension... that's not easy either.'

In reality, 'villains' were just superhuman gangsters or criminals. For example, even Jeokwol could be called a villain.

And these villains rarely acted alone.

They either formed alliances with Awakeners of similar abilities to dominate the underworld, or they used their powers to create followers and…

"Wait."

There was one villain who would be at a complete disadvantage against Leffrey, a villain who used his power to create followers.

'I have a huge advantage in our matchup. Surely, that person is...'

Moreover, he was quite famous. And lastly, although not well known, he was also a follower of the demon king.

That person's name was…

"Prophet Kim Man-soo."

Prophet Kim Man-soo. He was known for stealing a ‘part’ of an angel's corpse, which had been kept as a holy relic by the empire in the other world, after the empire's fall.

Kim Man-soo used that part of the angel to establish a cult called the New Truth Church.

'And that New Truth Church eventually transforms into a cult that worships the demon king, becoming a major nightmare for humanity.'

Leffrey had a duty to stop them.

"Boy, have you decided what you're going to do for your midterm?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind him.

It was Hongwol, the girl with long, flowing pink hair.

"Yeah, I'm going to do villain apprehension."

"...Good!"

Her tail swished, as if she were interested.

Hongwol naturally asked,

"When are we leaving?"

"What?"

"To hunt villains. When are we leaving?"

Leffrey was momentarily flustered. He had no intention of taking the exam with Hongwol. Their levels were too different.

'If we do that, I won't get a good evaluation. It would be like I was carried.'

At that moment,

"Leffrey."

With a height almost as tall as an adult and undeniable beauty.

A girl who somewhat resembled Hongwol…

Yumari greeted them lightly.

"Oh, Mari."

"And Miss Hongwol."

"Ugh, it's the snake girl."

Yumari naturally spoke up,

"Leffrey, are you really going to take the midterm exam with Miss Hongwol?"

"...I'm still thinking about it."

"That's good. Of course, Miss Hongwol isn't bad either."

Yumari naturally grabbed Leffrey's hand and said,

"Like during the Blessing of the Spirits, we could..."

However, Yumari couldn't finish her sentence.

Thwack- Hongwol’s light cat punch made Yumari take a step back.

"Why are you touching what's mine?"

"Hongwol, what are you talking about? Leffrey is mine... no, he isn't anyone's."

Hongwol, baring her sharp teeth in anger, Yumari responding with a cold, expressionless face.

And an oblivious angel caught in between.

'Why are they acting like this?'

At that moment, this stupid angel saw a witch whimpering in the distance. He couldn't tell for sure, but judging from the way she had pulled down her hat, she was probably already teary-eyed.

This young witch, unable to join their fight,

"Black magic hate..."

She could only mutter those words.

Leffrey, seeing that, immediately made up his mind.

"Hongwol and Yumari... listen carefully."

And the boy looked at them and shouted,

"I don't belong to anyone."

With those words, the boy grabbed Soya's hand and walked outside. Soya, her hand grabbed, muttered in a choked voice,

"...I'm glad you're not a complete idiot."

Soya's lips curled up.

But suddenly, she pretended to be sulky, going "Hmph!"

"But it's too late! You should have asked me to be on your team before the midterm exam announcement! I waited so..."

"Huh? You waited?"

"No, I didn't wait at all!"

Even then, Soya continued to complain. Why didn't he discuss it with her during the Blessing of the Spirits? Why did he worry her by going to draw the holy sword?

After pouring out all her complaints, Soya finally muttered,

"W-Well, you were a little bit black magic-friendly today..."

Soya's cheeks were slightly flushed as she said that.