Chapter 8

"...I don't mind." Though hesitant, Beixing couldn't bring himself to refuse Qi Yue. He hesitantly held out his hand to him.

Even though he didn't understand what Qi Yue meant.

"Beyond imagination, maddening, indescribable... a powerful force that affects all physical and mental mutation..." Qi Yue released Beixing's hand, which was limp as a noodle, and fixed his scarlet eyes on him. "These are all calls from an ancient, supreme deity."

"Beixing, look at me."

Beixing raised his head and met Qi Yue's gaze nervously.

"A god's favor has fallen upon you." Qi Yue emphasized the words.

He hadn't seen any sign of Beixing deliberately using his Esper Ability for evil. Explaining the power known as that of an evil god this way... didn't count as a lie, did it?

Qi Yue stared unblinkingly into Beixing's eyes, waiting for his response.

Whether he was using Beixing or being sincere, he needed to draw on the descriptions of the Ancient Evil God to remain friends with him.

"..."

Beixing silently opened his mouth.

The explanation was hard to understand but exceptionally pleasant to hear, and it greatly comforted him. Looking at Qi Yue, Beixing vaguely felt as though someone had torn an opening in his bleak life.

It was light.

Apart from Teacher Jian, no one had ever... ever said such things to him. Even if it was a lie... how could there be such a delicious lie in the world?

"I'm really sorry. I... am a timid coward. Please forgive what I said just now." He had been afraid that a friendship started by deception would hurt him in the future, and had not dared to get too deeply involved.

But if the other person was Qi Yue... he couldn't refuse.

Who could refuse the light?

Beixing took a deep breath and gathered the courage to fight for the friendship he had nearly lost. "Can we still be friends...?"

As if afraid Qi Yue wouldn't agree, Beixing hurriedly added,

"I absolutely won't, won't bother you when you're playing with the other classmates!" After all, Qi Yue was so popular and drew so much attention among their classmates. He couldn't lose a whole group of friends because of one friend like Beixing.

"Of course." Having heard the answer he wanted, Qi Yue smiled.

By continuing to approach Beixing and getting him to take the first step toward escaping the quagmire of his inferiority complex, he had achieved his goal on both counts. Reason and emotion were not necessarily incompatible.

But...

Beixing really did see his so-called classmates through rose-colored glasses. Was it because he had never gotten close to them that he harbored such pleasant fantasies?

The first event, the 3,000-meter run, was over. Jian Haosen collected all the Wristwatches and sealed them in a box. A whistle sounded, followed by his loud voice: "Gather up!"

Beixing had yet to recover from the delightful surprise that "Qi Yue agreed to stay friends with him!" and "Qi Yue wasn't angry!" when Teacher Jian's voice rang out in the distance.

"They're gathering. Let's go." Qi Yue looked at the members of Class F, searching for a place to stand.

At the sound of Qi Yue's voice, Beixing's cloak bobbed up and down like a chick pecking at grain.

"Okay!"

A few minutes later, all of Class F had gathered again.

Jian Haosen pointed a large hand at several big boxes off to one side and announced the rules. "The second event is sparring. You'll pair up, and each match will last half an hour. There are no restrictions on Esper Abilities. The winning student gets five points toward the end of the month."

The Seventh Hunter Academy held monthly hunter assessments. Points earned in daily training could be exchanged for items needed during the end-of-month hunter combat assessment. They were reset to zero at the end of each month.

A chorus of groans and complaints rose from the training ground.

This happened once every week. Jian Haosen was used to it and wouldn't go easy on them. After all, this was Class F, the lowest-ranked class in both Esper Abilities and physical strength.

During an exam, monsters wouldn't show them mercy just because they groaned and complained.

Come to think of it, if Beixing had exceptional physical strength, his Esper Ability would have made him worthy of Class B. Unfortunately, Beixing had no physical strength to speak of. A mere 3,000 meters was a training task even Old Humans could complete, but Beixing would lose control of his body from exhaustion before he finished running it.

Shaking off his regret over Beixing, Jian Haosen raised his voice. "All right, pair up and clear some space. We start in one minute."

Likewise, Jian Haosen only needed them to complete the "paired sparring" exercise; he wouldn't concern himself with cheating.

Jin Yuxuan's usual partner came eagerly over to him at once, just as he always did. "Young Master Jin, I hope I'll have the chance to fight you again this time."

"Mm," Jin Yuxuan replied, his gaze fixed on the source of contamination beside the transfer student.

He was an eyesore.

"Teacher Jian, it looks like..." Jin Yuxuan looked at Qi Yue and Beixing with a radiant smile. "Our classmate Beixing can have an opponent this time too. I'm so happy for him."

Hadn't the transfer student proudly declared in front of everyone that only Beixing could be his opponent? He would grant them their wish.

With points at stake, he didn't believe friendship could grow in the cracks left by hurting each other.

"..."

Qi Yue looked at Jin Yuxuan, who had made the suggestion.

The prerequisite for copying was personally witnessing the other person's Esper Ability. He grew stronger when faced with someone stronger... but without a fight, how could he "grow stronger when faced with someone stronger"?

In any case, he had to try.

Jin Yuxuan's suggestion was exactly what he wanted.

Qi Yue was thinking, and his face was expressionless as he looked at Jin Yuxuan.

After speaking, Jin Yuxuan saw Qi Yue staring at him expressionlessly. His heart tightened, and he was about to say something when Qi Yue, whose expression had been cold, suddenly smiled at him.

Then Jin Yuxuan heard Qi Yue speak.

"Thank you."

Qi Yue was thanking him for presenting him with a chance to test it without his having to ask. His gratitude to Jin Yuxuan was genuine.

"..."

Goosebumps rose on Jin Yuxuan's skin. That sarcastic tone was downright creepy.

Jin Yuxuan wasn't the only one who thought so. The students of Class F felt the same.

Having Qi Yue as his opponent would be too much of a waste of a training opportunity. Beixing said quietly, "I..."

"Did you forget what I said?" Qi Yue interrupted him. "If you're willing, I can be your opponent."

It wasn't as simple as merely being his "opponent." To test his theory, he had to make Beixing use his Esper Ability.

Hesitation meant defeat. Qi Yue stepped back a few paces and looked at Beixing across from him.

"Beixing, I'm really looking forward to seeing your Esper Ability. Don't tell me..." Qi Yue shrugged regretfully. "You're going to refuse?"

Given what was known about his Schrödinger Ability, he was currently an Old Human in every sense of the word. Beixing's Esper Ability attacks would have no effect on him.

All he had to do was set the conditions of the match to exploit a bug in the Panel and fend off Beixing's physical attacks. After all, the Panel didn't say that, to copy an ability, he had to use an Esper Ability himself while his opponent was using theirs.

"No, that's not it!" How could he bear to refuse Qi Yue? Beixing clenched his hands into fists beneath his cloak and mustered his resolve.

There was no doubt that Qi Yue was strong. The strong Qi Yue would rather waste a chance to fight someone else just to get Beixing moving and participating in the same training as their classmates. He had to become strong too, so he wouldn't let that thoughtfulness go to waste.

"Then there's no problem. Beixing, during this half hour, if you touch any part of my body, including my clothes, my hair, or anything on me, you win. Otherwise, I win." Qi Yue stated the conditions he had set to test the Panel's wording. Beixing's stamina was quite poor, a conclusion he had reached from his observations during the time he had spent at Beixing's side. He had to seize on that and put it to good use.

"Wh... what?" Beixing said awkwardly.

To the powerful Qi Yue, he really was too weak, wasn't he? That was why Qi Yue had to go easy on him.

Beixing wasn't the only one taken aback. The students of Class F were too.

"..."

Much as they hated to admit it, Qi Yue's favoritism toward Beixing was a little too obvious.

In Jian Haosen's eyes, the boys stood facing each other in the middle of the cleared space. The upright, white-haired youth wore a smile as warm as an angel's. He raised a hand and curled four fingers inward, extending a sincere, gentle invitation to Beixing beneath his cloak.

"Come on, Beixing. Attack me."

Chapter 8

"I..." Before launching his attack, Beixing solemnly promised Qi Yue, "I'll give it everything I've got!"

One day, he would catch up to Qi Yue and make sure Qi Yue no longer had to go easy on him as he did today.

"There can only be one winner in a match." Qi Yue goaded Beixing with his words. "I'm looking forward to it."

Beixing clearly had the strongest Esper Ability in Class F and had even saved the students' lives, yet he hadn't received the treatment he deserved. But among those discussions, some students also held a wait-and-see attitude toward him. It was time for Beixing's situation to change completely.

Looking forward to it?

Then... he absolutely couldn't let Qi Yue's expectations go unfulfilled and make him think this was boring. Beixing's gaze grew more determined than ever.

Jian Haosen was grinning from ear to ear. The bond between an elder and a youngster was different from one between peers, after all. There were many things he was powerless to do, but Qi Yue might have a way.

Standing between Qi Yue and Beixing as they faced off, Jian Haosen raised his hand, then slashed it down forcefully. "Half an hour. Start the timer!"

Jian Haosen stepped back, pressed the timer in his hand, and simultaneously blew the whistle hanging on his chest.

The shrill whistle died away, replaced by Beixing's voice.

"Then, here I go." As long as he touched him, he would win!

Beixing leaned forward, his fingers spreading toward Qi Yue from beneath his cloak. He sprang forward at the speed of a projectile, his body transforming into a sleek, streamlined shape behind his outstretched hand. Beixing's body changed shape at will like a Slime. Was this what his body was like when he used his Esper Ability?

Qi Yue: "..."

An attack form he had never imagined had appeared.

Qi Yue immediately leaned back, then straightened the instant Beixing's body passed over him.

Beixing flew over Qi Yue like a bat, missed his grab, and landed with a splat without touching Qi Yue's body.