I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy

TL/Editor: looloo

Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun

Illustrations: Here

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"Body Against Heaven" defies all logic.

It nullifies any force activated by mana, magic, or swordsmanship, and any defensive techniques - everything that abides by the principles of mana.

The powers and laws in this world can't stand against Body Against Heaven.

However, Body Against Heaven isn't all-powerful.

Once someone reaches the state known as 'Ascendancy', they can't solve everything with Body Against Heaven's energy.

Individuals at the Ascendancy stage color the world with laws created from their own imagination.

Black Abyss is a force that pulls them towards death. It's created by focusing the energy of Body Against Heaven at one point, and then stirring it from within.

A dark, negative energy assembled in my hand, and the snake started to squirm. Ersil's mana circuit began to disconnect suddenly.

Kim Ara couldn't move for a bit. This was partly because she had just awakened her power and found the source difficult to control.

But that didn't matter.

Because it was all over.

I created a determination within me and then directed Body Against Heaven's energy into my legs.

With all my strength, I jumped.

The Shadow Serpent twisted its body, but my body had already made contact with the snake. My hand reached the snake.

A light sound echoed, but the power behind it was not light.

The Black Abyss, fortified with Body Against Heaven, tore through the Shadow Serpent and invaded its inside.

Body Against Heaven, once it starts to run rampant from within, overturns everything. As if it alone is the absolute truth, it doesn't allow any other mana.

That's why it's named Body Against Heaven.

The Shadow Serpent screamed. Both Kim Ara and Ersil assumed a battle stance.

But I just stood there. Because I knew this was the snake's final phase.

I was aware that the Shadow Serpent's reaction was a reflex that occurred just before it ran out of energy.

'How absurd.'

I stared at the snake.

It was a single blow.

Even though I had anticipated it, seeing it in action was a different feeling entirely.

-Kieeeek! Kieeek!

The Shadow Serpent writhed and let out a piercing shriek, vomiting black blood as it started to collapse.

It was an extraordinary move.

Thump!

The Shadow Serpent fell, causing dust to spread in every direction.

I looked at the serpent with an appreciative gaze.

Earlier, when I assessed its scales, the rating was D-.

Considering that, if I use the serpent's skin to craft armor, I should be able to reach a C grade.

Furthermore, the Shadow Serpent possesses a gallbladder.

I can't use that, but I can trade it for something more beneficial.

Above all, the main reward is separate.

[Main Quest Chapter. 1.5: Shadow Serpent Subjugation Completed!]

[You will be awarded 5,000P as a reward.]

[You've slain the Shadow Serpent with a single blow! An unbelievable achievement! Your reward is significantly increased!]

[An additional 2,000P will be awarded!]

[A 5,000P Special Writing Permit will be awarded!]

I gazed at the reward window with satisfied eyes. I'm quite pleased with the points. Recently, the amount of points I've been receiving has significantly decreased.

[15,500P]

‘……?’

I paused while checking the points. The amount of points I had received was much more than I expected. Where did all these come from?

I'll have to investigate this later.

I glanced at the Special Writing Permit. I'm also satisfied with this reward.

‘The spell was challenging to learn, but with this, I can sort it out for now.’

Status window.

▼

[Name: Lee Seoha]

Strength: 3, Agility: 5, Stamina: 6, Spirit: 5, Talent: 5, Conceptual Stat (Spirit Against Heaven): 2

◈Talents

-「Reading(-)」「Unfathomable Talent(A-)」「Nimble Hands(B+)」

◈Skills

-「Black Divine Martial Art(?)」「Icarus's Advanced Spirit Control(C)」「Black Flash Swordsmanship(D)」

◈Physique

-「Body Against Heaven(S-)」

The status window had various additions compared to the last time.

I looked at the "Black Divine Martial Arts(?)" under the skill section. There was a question mark in the grade entry.

'This is...'

Such a rank existed in《Epic World》. It is the essence of the Thousand-Year Martial Art, which Kim Seohyun is mastering.

And it belongs to a character who is equivalent to a 'mid-boss'.

I watched it for a moment before looking away.

I felt someone's eyes on me.

"What was that power you just used?"

Ersil's eyes were odd. Her pupils were shaking, but the emotion they conveyed was unique.

To wipe out that snake in one blow… as expected from the top student. I didn't anticipate this reaction.

It was almost a look of awe.

She probably had some understanding of my power.

'Maybe Melanie told her.'

There could be some sort of network or community among the transcenders. I know the dimension where Melanie resides is separate from Cheonma.

"It's my power. But Ersil, could you help me move this?"

"Uh, it's a bit dirty..."

If Ersil doesn't help, either I or Kim Ara would have to carry it. I looked at the Shadow Serpent.

Surely. The Shadow Serpent, bleeding black blood, wasn't visually appealing.

"Well, there's nothing we can do."

I crushed the gem given to me by the instructor.

"Huh? Are you summoning the instructors?"

"Yes. Since the Shadow Serpent can provide a range of materials, it's better to share some and get some assistance."

Hearing my words, Ersil looked somewhat apologetic.

"Then I'll give up some of my share. After all, I didn't do much."

"Me too..."

Ersil and Kim Ara said.

I shook my head. This needed to be clarified.

"It will be deducted from my share. I was the one who called."

"Re, Really?"

The corner of Ersil's mouth turned up slightly.

It's true. The creature bearing the shadow attribute is a crucial ingredient in magic potions. It's a rare and hard-to-obtain material.

Looking at Ersil and Kim Ara, I smiled.

'I haven't even begun to exploit them yet.'

With this, I've balanced my mental ledger.

Ersil and Kim Ara are well-intentioned characters. If I settle this now, it could be beneficial in the future.

The current price of the snake's corpse may be substantial, but when compared to its future value, it's like exchanging a fingernail for a bone. When the time comes, regret will be useless.

As I thought to this point, the noise above grew louder. It seemed the instructor had finally arrived.

I sighed internally.

I summoned my will and materialized the Black Heavenly Demon Sword. It appeared in my hand at my behest.

Using my will, I began to dissect the snake's corpse. It had been a while since my mana had been depleted from a single usage of Black Spirit.

'The core seems to be quite deep.'

I went to where the core was and pierced the snake's skin with the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.

Each time I cut into the snake's corpse, black blood gushed out.

"Ugh."

Seeing the blood, Ersil made a disgusted noise. I recall she had an aversion to such things. I endured the stench of blood and extracted the core with my will.

'Phew.'

[This power was not meant to be used in this way.]

I dismissed the Heavenly Demon's comment. It's right to use it efficiently, depending on the wielder.

I wiped the blood off the core and placed it into a wooden box I had brought earlier.

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Raei Translations

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"This is unbelievable...."

Seo Woojoo stared at the Shadow Serpent's corpse in silence.

The snake, spewing black blood and laying lifeless, was a gruesome sight.

"How did you manage to kill it?"

"Kim Ara drew its attention from the front, Ersil restrained its movements, and I delivered the killing blow."

Seo Woojoo looked at Kim Ara and Ersil. They both nodded, the atmosphere devoid of tension.

'Hmm.'

Seo Woojoo eyed the Shadow Serpent. Its massive body and the chilling aura radiating from its lifeless blood.

Each aspect was exceptional.

If he had faced this beast himself, even in top form, he would have lost in half the battles.

'And they managed to kill such a beast.'

Even for him, or rather, even for a team of students who had brought fame to the Korea Hero Academy since its founding, this feat would have been almost impossible.

"So, how many points do you think we can earn?"

"It's obvious. You would get a perfect score."

The assistant teacher responded to Ersil's question.

"More importantly, this Shadow Serpent. It could soon be converted into a weapon. If you report this to the principal, you might receive a valuable reward."

"Is that true?"

"Yes."

If the assistant teacher, an expert in monster ecology, says so, it must be credible. But first, it would be best to hand the carcass over to the professor for a detailed examination.

Instructor Seo Woojoo conveyed this to the group led by Lee Seoha.

"Understood. By the way, are there any assistant teachers who need these scales?"

"Are you planning to sell them?"

"Yes, we do plan to sell them, but we are a bit tired. We wanted to ask if you could help us move them."

"...I see. I'll discuss it with the professor of monster ecology. There's a brilliant graduate student there who will ensure the corpse is preserved intact."

"Ah, in that case, we can give some scales to that person."

"...It wouldn't hurt to give some to the professor as well."

"..."

Lee Seoha gave Instructor Seo Woojoo a baffled look before responding.

"So, how many points will we receive for this exam?"

"The monster test is evaluated comprehensively."

Seo Woojoo stated after a moment of thought. What they had demonstrated was far beyond his initial expectations.

"Out of a perfect score of 10, you receive 30."

Seo Woojoo said, chuckling softly.

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