Chapter 7
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Episode 2 - Inverted Heaven [1]
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After the last class, it was time for lunch.
It was noon, and after the weapon selection class, we had two hours of magic and one hour of history.
Finally, it was time to rest, so I headed to the cafeteria in Building B-1.
Naturally, Building B-1 didn't only have classrooms, but also training areas and a cafeteria.
As soon as I entered, I was greeted by a spacious hall filled with tables and seats, with cadets lined up in queues.
While standing in line, I thought about what had happened during the weapon selection class.
'I still can't believe the only Mythical-rank sword chose me as its owner.'
Even I, who possess the Without Emotions Trait, faltered because of the disbelief I experienced at that moment.
'Without Emotions is only at Perfection, not at its maximum level, so if I feel an emotion strong enough, I could still waver.'
Naturally, the sword was handed over to me, since you could take it immediately.
At the same time, dozens of eyes fell on both my sword and me.
It was only natural: a Mythical-rank sword that hadn't had an owner in centuries, and suddenly its wielder was a blind person with the Dark attribute.
'If I remember correctly, the name of this sword is…'
Inverted Heaven.
It was a sword wielded by one of the Five Strongest Swordsmen in the world a thousand years ago.
Back then, the empire was constantly at war against the Abyss race and the Five Abyss Lords.
The owner of Inverted Heaven was a woman named Alice Von Everblack.
'Her sword art was also called Inverted Heaven.'
Back then, when I wrote the story of the Five Swords, I mentioned Alice's strange swordsmanship.
She was known for her unusual use of mana; she manipulated mana in the opposite direction.
'Normally, you would die if the flow of mana reversed itself. However, that character was the only one capable of controlling it backward.'
Anyway, even though I have a Mythical-rank sword, that doesn't mean my power increases.
The items that truly increase power are those that possess mana themselves, not those that are simply infused with mana, like a sword.
Finally, I ordered what I wanted for lunch and searched for an empty seat in a corner.
As I sat down, I still noticed that everyone kept staring at me.
'Well, it's a shock for everyone that the owner of a Mythical weapon has the Dark attribute and is also blind.'
I found it amusing, but that was simply how things were.
While I was eating, at that very moment, a shadow appeared in front of me.
And a rather familiar voice reached my ears.
"Can I sit here?"
The person who spoke was none other than the Saint herself.
I simply nodded without saying a single word.
Seeing her for a moment, I remembered her character design.
White hair and gray eyes; in the game, she is quite kind to everyone.
Since she is a Saint, she was designed to be an adorable and kind character.
However, she was also designed to hate Dark-attribute users.
'Because of her past, she deeply hates Dark-attribute users.'
Of course, not all of them, only those who have killed innocent people.
She has a unique trait called
'She also has the Lie Detection trait and the Heart of Strength of the Holy Angel.'
As I drifted through my thoughts, my senses detected that she kept looking at me constantly.
'Now then, why did she come to me?'
According to the story I wrote for Adel, he still should not have killed innocent people, though he has killed evil people.
Since Rinna's trait, the Saint's trait, could only detect the deaths of innocent people, not evil ones.
"I can tell why you keep looking at me, Saint."
She was surprised for a moment.
"How do you know who I am?"
"I can hear your heartbeat, your breathing, I can sense your emotions, and besides that, from your voice."
She opened her eyes in surprise.
"I see."
I nodded with nothing else to say. Everything I said is true, and although I recognize her mostly by her voice, since I am her creator…
I did not tell a single lie.
"So you really are blind."
"Why would I lie?"
She nodded, as if confirming that I was telling the truth.
'Technically, I'm not completely blind, but if we're talking about the blindness of a normal person who cannot see anything, then yes, I am blind.'
But in Adel's case, it is a somewhat different story. Of course, he is still blind and cannot see anything.
"So, Saint, why did you approach me? I thought you were the same as everyone else."
"Hey, I'm not so cruel that I'd ignore you just because of your Dark attribute. All the Saints of the past were always kind to everyone, you know?"
"I suppose you're right."
I showed her a calm smile. Honestly, the only character who would probably talk to me would be the Saint.
Even though she seemed to ignore me yesterday, she was probably checking whether I was someone who killed innocent people or whether I was evil.
Besides that, she seemed annoyed with the others simply because of the Dark attribute.
'The fact that she ignored me was probably before confirming that I haven't killed any innocents.'
After a few seconds of silence, she asked:
"Can I… ask you a question?"
"Sure, why not?"
She stayed silent for a few seconds and finally said:
"How can you walk so well? No, no… um, how can you fight with a sword and move as if you could see? And besides…"
For the record, her personality is pure curiosity.
Whenever she sees something that catches her interest, she inevitably asks a lot of questions.
"It's nothing extraordinary. I just use my senses: Mana Sense and touch, along with almost perfect body control."
She nodded energetically.
"But there are things you can't do that depend on sight."
I nodded, remembering the problems I had yesterday and today.
"I can't read or know what any text says. Basic things like directions, the time, among others, are impossible for me in daily life."
Her expression changed slightly into one of compassion, and then she said:
"I can help you with those things. It's not a bother, right?"
Shaking my head, I said with a smile:
"Thanks for your help, Santa."
After finishing our meal, Rinna said she would guide me for the rest of the day under the excuse of helping me adapt to places where it would be difficult for me to move around freely.
She probably noticed that I might be completely alone.
Besides that, she mentioned places where cadets are not allowed access.
As we left the cafeteria, she looked at me and said:
"You don't need me to help you…"
"No, I can go on my own. Unless it's stairs or places with complicated terrain, I don't have any problems."
"Oh, right."
By the way, it was easy to find the cafeteria since everyone was heading there.
As Rinna guided me, we soon arrived at a place that appeared to be the library.
Rinna opened the door, and when we entered, she said:
"There are classes that require studying, as well as writing on paper, and there are written exams too. I think you'll need an assistant for that, right?"
I nodded, then said:
"Yes, during yesterday's exam, the professor's assistant read the questions to me and wrote down the answers I dictated."
When I answered her, her expression suddenly changed to one of curiosity.
"By the way, um, Adel, how did you know all the answers, even the Theory one?"
"...."
This time, I couldn't find a way to answer her, since that knowledge comes from the fact that I'm the creator of the story itself.
And naturally, I know the questions from the written exam, since in the game it's a multiple-choice selection, like a quiz.
At her question, I couldn't help but think about something.
'How should I answer? I can't say it's because I'm the creator, right?'
And just then, Rinna's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Ah, no, forget it. I think you had someone helping you study, right?"
"..."
"Yes, my former assistant."
I was referring to my assistant before awakening in this world, so she shouldn't notice that it was a lie.
She soon nodded, and after a while, we left the library.
Rinna guided me through several rooms in Building B-1.
And because there wasn't much time left, we headed back to the classroom.
"I don't have anything to do after classes today. Are you going somewhere, or will you head straight to the dormitories, Adel?"
I thought about it for a moment before answering:
"I guess I'll go shopping."
More specifically, to buy clothes and other necessities; at the inn, I only found two sets of shirts and pants.
Aside from the Holy Academy uniform, I didn't have any other clothes.
"In that case, I can help you."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Just as we entered the classroom, a voice reached my ears from behind.
"Hello, Saintess and… the blind Dark-attribute guy."
"..."
The voice belonged to Clementine.
The Saintess turned toward her and said:
"Miss Clementine, could you be a little kinder to Cadet Adel? That was very rude, especially mentioning his visual disability."
Clementine was surprised to be scolded by the Saintess.
Even though the Saintess is a commoner, her status as the Saintess is high enough to suppress even the five great houses.
'Saintesses hold the same status as the emperor, but since she still isn't an official Saintess, her status is equal to Princess Clana's.'
Clementine opened her mouth and spoke in a low voice:
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Adel."
"..."
Saintess, this isn't necessary.
Clementine looked at me, and her sharp eyes seemed to radiate killing intent.
"... I'm sorry… Cadet Adel."
Then she stepped forward and entered the classroom. She tried to slam her shoulder against mine, but she ended up pushing herself away instead.
'Doesn't she remember yesterday?'
At the same time, she looked at the sword at my waist; her expression changed slightly.
'That was definitely jealousy.'
Then the Saintess said with a smile:
"Let's go in."
"Ah, you first."
The next class would be alchemy, a subject where students work in groups or pairs.
'Somehow, I have to manage.'
A sigh of frustration escaped my mouth.