NOVEL FROG Chapter 50
“…If we apply that proof, even F1 born from P, which has zero particle sensitivity, can bloom as a wizard at any time. Now everyone, please turn to page 412 and check the summary of the Ferman formula at the top. According to this formula, we can see that 55-87% of the total ruby value of the parent entities indicates the upper limit of the maximum particle quantity in the offspring’s body. However, the higher the combined ruby values of P, the more sluggish the enhancements in the offspring appear, often showing negligible growth, and this upper limit is estimated to be around 7000R…”
The afternoon classroom felt lazy. The old professor’s gentle voice transformed into a lullaby that spread everywhere.
Amidst those struggling to suppress their drowsiness and cram knowledge into their heads, one female student stood out, brimming with life and maintaining an upright posture.
Noticing her unusual demeanor, another female student sitting next to her approached with a sycophantic smile.
“Min-ha, did you know your face looks really bright these days? Is there something good going on…?”
“…Huh?”
Startled by the oily voice that interrupted her focus, Yeon Minha frowned and shot a sidelong glance.
It was then she became aware that the corners of her mouth were slightly curling up.
In the blink of an eye, as if to deny it ever happened, she returned to her usual cold, expressionless face.
“Hehe. Oh, it’s nothing at all…”
“Tsk…”
Seeing the flustered expression of the other girl, Yeon Minha lightly clicked her tongue and turned her gaze away.
Yet again, as her lips wanted to rise, she had to put considerable effort into suppressing it.
In truth, the girl’s flattery wasn’t entirely off the mark.
*
On the first day, she thought it was merely a coincidence. Or maybe something intended to pull her into a deeper nightmare, as she tried to calm her heart.
Such absurd things were happening to her.
But it was already the third day.
It had been quite a time since she’d heard the whisper of shadows that kept her from sleeping.
Today too, she had enjoyed a pleasant, comfortable slumber that made waking up seem like a waste. The headaches that had tormented her were nowhere to be found. Her body felt light as a feather, as if she could float up to the sky at any moment.
During the day, shadows and illusions still loomed from a distance. However, they were not encroaching upon her daily life as before. No malicious laughter nor haunting visions plagued her.
Thanks to the mental restoration from her rest, they no longer felt frightening like before. Moreover, their forms and sounds seemed to be fading day by day.
On her way back to the dormitory after finishing her daily errands, Yeon Minha glanced up at the sky.
“Ah…”
What her eyes beheld was only the beautiful scenery of the evening moon and twinkling stars.
A small gasp slipped out naturally.
Now, she couldn’t suppress her rising smile any longer.
With this, she had no choice but to believe it.
She had finally succeeded in overcoming the long-held family’s legacy of mental pollution.
Of course, it was somewhat disappointing that she couldn’t quite understand the reasons behind it.
It was a bit odd that things quieted down at night when her sensitivity peaked, while signs of her mental pollution remained during the day.
But in this situation, it was not particularly important. After all, it could be researched later at her family.
Naturally, Yeon Minha thought of her parents.
When they found out about her achievements, they could hardly help but reflect on her.
-Whirr…
As she clenched and opened her hand, a few sparkling sparks instantly appeared and disappeared.
Her recovered mental state soon linked to an increase in her magical prowess. In fact, she’d also discovered and tamed two additional spirits over the last few days.
Throughout her return to the dormitory, Yeon Minha was soaked in sheer happiness.
The past few days felt like torture, but now looking back, it seemed like merely a final trial toward full recovery.
-Mew…
“…Oh my.”
With a step that felt like floating as she returned to the dormitory entrance, she let out a small gasp at the sight of something fluffy.
The cute and aloof cat had once again taken its place in front of the entrance.
Yet its droopy eyebrows and moist eyes gave it an oddly sad impression.
She had always preferred animals over people. The incomprehensible dark ones were no comparison to the honest and instinctual beasts.
-Mewow…!
Approaching to pet it, she found herself retreating due to the cat’s growl of warning.
Missing the previous opportunity tragically, she wished to stroke its comfortably lying belly, but just when she tried to, that rascal woke up…
“…Ugh.”
Suddenly hit by a chill, Yeon Minha unconsciously wrapped her arms around her shoulders and let out a small moan. The mere thought of it put her into this miserable state.
She lightly evaded the cat and opened the dormitory door.
Inside, there were no signs of life. Today marked the beginning of the first-year external commission week, after all. She had seen it leave with a heavy load this morning.
The thought that she wouldn’t see him for at least the next two or three days made her let out a sigh of relief.
“…”
It had been nearly a week since she had been invaded by that crazy guy.
Truly, it had been a humiliating and shameful time.
She felt like hanging herself. She had shown him all sorts of shame that should never be exposed to an outsider.
Despite her murderous thoughts of tearing him apart, she trembled at the chilling fear of death in her lower abdomen.
Just this morning, for example.
Even when she had mustered the courage to confront him, one small gesture from him had made her head go blank and rendered her powerless.
By the time she regained her senses, he had long since left the dormitory.
What frustrated her was that she still could not guess his intentions.
Rumor had it he was a pervert who loved to train others, so just the thought of him laying a hand on her made her braced to bite her tongue.
Yet, he showed neither interest nor laid a hand at all.
Like a sticky slug, he merely clung quietly to her dormitory.
“…”
She gazed at the spot that had once been her room.
He was a shady fellow. Behind that mask was surely a twisted, ugly face of a pervert.
It made no sense for that type to subject her to such humiliation yet do nothing in return.
What if he was secretly peeping into her bedroom through a hole in the wall…?
“…Eek.”
Just the thought sent shivers of fear coursing through her.
Determined, Yeon Minha placed her trembling hand on the doorknob. To remain calm, she took a deep breath and reassured herself. If not now when he was absent, when else could she check?
Taking a deep breath, she eventually turned the doorknob.
“…Huh?”
It was a moment she had been hell-bent on unveiling all the antics he had done, but a brainless groan slipped from Yeon Minha’s mouth at that instant.
What she faced was nothing but astonishing emptiness.
Still as she had left it, it could hardly be believed to be a human dwelling.
No peeping holes, no suspicious recording devices, nothing at all caught her eyes.
“…”
She tilted her head, pondering whether a ghost had lived here.
-Thud!
“Eek… Hah…”
As she stood there in a daze, a sudden thud from outside the window made her jump and drop to the floor.
Thinking perhaps he had returned, her heart sank, but it was just the sound of a fruit falling triggered by a bird leaving a tree in the garden.
“…Huh.”
Whatever his purpose, she couldn’t go on living like this.
Having barely overcome her mental pollution, this was ridiculous.
Yet, no clever solution came to mind despite her repeated thoughts.
Disregarding his perverted and malicious nature, his abilities were genuine. It was no longer possible to subdue him in direct confrontation.
He even claimed that if things went awry, he would expose all her humiliations to the public.
She couldn’t ask her family for help either. With the aftermath of the Teradite Mine incident still ongoing, she couldn’t afford to bring any additional troubles upon herself. It was painfully humiliating and shameful.
Feeling hopeless in her pitiful situation, Yeon Minha shook her head, trying to shake off her grief.
“Ah, I hope he takes as long as possible…”
She muttered reflexively, wishing for Yoo Jin-hyun’s late return.
Though it was still early evening, Yeon Minha headed out, making her way toward her bedroom.
Already filled with anticipation, she looked forward to yet another night of happy slumber.