TRPM 336

chapter 336

At the same time the Grand Sorcerer entered the detention center, I handed over the smartphone—which was practically a list of awakened supremacists—through Sophia to the police chief.

The police would investigate everyone listed.

“Of course, it will only be a minimal investigation.”

I didn’t know exactly what criteria determined who was affected by the Grand Sorcerer’s spell. Someone might have been caught simply because they disliked an arrogant awakened person and sent a message.

Unless someone advocated for changing the society itself, which is centered around awakened people, those at a more superficial level would likely be released after a brief investigation.

“Of course, that brief investigation would use almost every tool available—from lie detectors to any means that could assist interrogation.”

In other words, sloppy lies wouldn’t work. Before a full investigation even started, the police chief would directly handle internal awakened supremacists, leaving no room for corruption.

“Even if some awakened supremacists remained, no one would be bold enough to commit wrongdoing under an investigation directly led by the police chief.”

So, my part in this matter was finished.

And…

“Geon-woo! Let’s go to the valley!”

It was time to return to the life of a high school student.

When I heard Lee Ha-eun suggest going to the valley, I couldn’t believe my ears. She seemed to want to go play in the water…

“Wait, you want to go to a valley instead of the Cheolhyeol Guild’s swimming pool?”

Why would we go to a valley instead of the underground pool of the Cheolhyeol Guild? Even the guild’s underground pool felt like it existed in Yeon Mirae’s subspace, so it wasn’t restrictive. And the Cheolhyeol Guild’s pool was practically a water park, with plenty of things to enjoy. A valley…

“There isn’t much to enjoy there.”

It could be dangerous if you slipped.

…Well, same for the pool? Anyway.

“Is there really a reason to go to a valley?”

The important point was that there was no real reason to go there.

“Huh? We’re not going to swim.”

“Oh? Really?”

“Geon-woo, you can’t swim in a valley. They often have signs forbidding it… for the sake of preserving the natural scenery or something like that.”

Ah, right.

Since the Black Mist appeared, monsters had been destroying natural landmarks. Many places had restricted access to preserve what remained. Not all valleys, but many.

“…Before I went back in time, humanity was practically on the brink of extinction, so I had no reason to care about nature preservation. I just went into the water…”

Of course, that wasn’t the case now. Why enter a valley when there’s even cleaner water elsewhere?

“Then why go to the valley? Just to look at the water?”

“No, we’re going to investigate the water.”

Water?

“There’s a saying that using clean valley water makes potions more effective, so I plan to bring valley water from across the country to Eun-yeon.”

Lee Ha-eun said this while showing me bottles for collecting water from her bag.

“……”

I’d heard that using valley water improves potion effects. The water absorbs abundant natural mana, which supposedly amplifies the potion’s effect.

“…But that’s just a superstition.”

In reality, the claim that valley water improves potion effects was nonsense. Even a small study of alchemy would show that the ideal water for alchemy is pure water—distilled water.

While water doesn’t become completely pure after a single distillation, the purer it is, the more effective potions become. Impure water, like valley water, isn’t ideal.

“Also, even if valley water looks clean, it can contain parasites and bacteria.”

Parasites can live in clean water. No matter how clear, it isn’t safe to drink.

“Lastly, the claim that mana-rich valley water improves potion effects sounds plausible at first…”

It’s true that mana-infused water can improve potion effects. But there are types of mana. Mana refined for alchemy differs greatly from naturally occurring mana. Even if, theoretically, a lucky instance of mana could amplify effects, in practice it often interferes and reduces potion efficiency.

“…It’s not surprising Ha-eun doesn’t know this, since she hasn’t studied alchemy.”

I intended to tell her the truth, but she spoke first.

“Oh, by the way, Amin, A-Young, and Teacher Son Ji-hye will also come.”

“…Amin and A-Young I understand, but Teacher Son Ji-hye? You mean our homeroom teacher?”

“Yes.”

Of course, unlike ordinary high schools, an awakened-specialized high school doesn’t hold classes over vacations. The faculty—all awakened—wouldn’t be working when student attendance is low, so even Teacher Son Ji-hye had plenty of free time during the break.

“Still, calling a teacher to come along… Ha-eun is bold.”

Of course, this was possible because Teacher Son Ji-hye was new and wanted to get close to students.

“…Alright, let’s go.”

I had nothing pressing to do. Normally, I might meditate in my room or on a mountain clearing, but a refreshing view of a valley wouldn’t be bad. I knew collecting the valley water would be mostly pointless, but so what?

“Even pointless trips can be fun.”

…Saying that makes me sound like I have a weird hobby.

“…Why do you hesitate when I suggest something, but agree instantly because Teacher Son Ji-hye is coming?”

“Hm?”

“Geon-woo, you don’t show it, but… do you have a crush on Teacher Son Ji-hye, like Amin or Dumin?”

“……”

I realized she might misunderstand, so I decided to share a secret known only to me from our class.

“Teacher Son Ji-hye is actually a cross-dresser.”

“…Hm?”

“I mean, our homeroom teacher is male.”

“…Uhh?”

Ha-eun was confused.

The next day.

“Amin and A-Young, are you both here? Everyone arrived on time?”

“Hello, Teacher!”

“Ah… hello.”

At the meeting spot—our school’s front gate—we all gathered. I and Ha-eun arrived first, then Teacher Son Ji-hye with her car, and finally Amin and A-Young.

“Ah, Geon-woo and Ha-eun! Hi!”

“Uh, hi.”

“……”

A-Young greeted me and Ha-eun, who were already in the teacher’s car, but Ha-eun didn’t respond. Or rather, couldn’t.

“Huh? Ha-eun?”

“……”

Only Teacher Son Ji-hye and I knew why Ha-eun acted like that.

“…This morning, Ha-eun asked the teacher if what I said was true… about the teacher’s real gender.”

And the teacher answered honestly: he was male. Ever since, Ha-eun’s mind seemed half-dazed. The revelation had been that shocking.

“It’s hot, right? Get in the car. The AC’s on.”

“Yes.”

Amin and A-Young got in the back seat. The driver’s seat was of course the teacher’s, and I took the front passenger seat. Amin, who liked the teacher, gritted his teeth at me—he probably wanted the front seat.

“Teacher Son Ji-hye placed me here on purpose.”

Seeing Amin grind his teeth amused her; she seemed to enjoy teasing him.

“Hmm… it’s full. Maybe it’s a good thing the others couldn’t come?”

A-Young murmured from the middle of the back seat.

“What? You invited others too?”

“Yes. But Garam and Cheon-ha couldn’t come because of heir education, Eun-yeon was busy with potion research, and Dumin was training.”

Eun-yeon and Dumin I understood… but Garam and Cheon-ha, heir education?

“Well, Garam and Cheon-ha are wealthy, so heir training makes sense.”

They might have to inherit their parents’ roles. Dumin’s heir training was surprising, though. The guy obsessed with Taoism getting such training? Or maybe, because of his obsession, he valued filial piety.

“…Who knows.”

While I pondered, the teacher adjusted the GPS and asked,

“Any valley is fine?”

“Probably.”

Ha-eun might have planned the specific valley, but her mind wasn’t clear right now.

“We’re not visiting just one valley, so let’s start with the nearest one and go step by step.”

The teacher nodded and set the nearest valley as our first destination.

“But Geon-woo.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you ready for camping?”

“Yes, I am.”

…Ha-eun hadn’t said it outright, but she seemed intent on visiting valleys across the country. That wouldn’t be a one- or two-day task. Naturally, we’d need to sleep in the car, stay locally, or camp.

“My subspace already has all camping tools, including a magically enhanced tent.”

I hadn’t prepared for Ha-eun; I just kept useful items in my subspace, including camping gear.

“What about you two?”

Ha-eun had brought a sizable bag, likely with containers for valley water and camping supplies. The teacher also had camping gear in the car, so her things were stored in my subspace. Amin and A-Young had no gear.

“Hehe…”

A-Young laughed.

“We didn’t prepare because you and the teacher have it covered, right?”

“……”

Not wrong, but a bit bold, don’t you think? In other words, they hadn’t prepared at all.