Chapter 149

Before I knew it, the sky visible outside the window had turned yellow. Evening already. Victoria asked me if I wanted to have dinner together, but since there’s a place I gotta go first, I shook my head. Her dorm serves dinner, so at least she won’t starve. With that reassurance, I bid her farewell for tomorrow and slipped out of the student dormitory.

Exiting the main gate, the big building right to the left—that’s where I live. As soon as I entered, someone came to greet me. Not some janitor but an actual butler. Considering this is a place the King of Haipion lent me, it’d be weirder if there *wasn’t* someone like him around.

Once inside, things are simple: take a bath, change clothes, eat dinner, then chill. If there’s one issue with not revealing too much, it’s that I don’t have a single coin to my name. Nobody’s explained why they put me in the Royal Academy, so I’m stuck guessing, which gets kinda frustrating. My brain isn’t exactly top-tier, and while interpreting past events might be doable, predicting unseen futures or people’s thoughts? Way too hard.

Still, it’s not like I can just blurt out questions without restraint. Someday, old age will catch up to Haipion, and when it does, his body will wear down and get sick. That’s when he’ll likely use the Harvesting System—a one-time healing opportunity. Though I don’t know when exactly he’ll use it, it’s inevitable. Isn’t the Harvesting System supposed to be amazing?

At that point, instead of relying on pre-organized memories, it’d be better to aim for then. Once it happens, it’s no longer about reading memories—it’s about me witnessing them firsthand. Subtle difference, but important: memories reflect their owner’s perspective, whereas mine would include *my* subjective input.

Of course, this isn’t all bad. While I can’t directly control the body, I still feel everything—maybe even more intensely. Every movement, from the surface of the skin to the inner organs… I sense it all.

And that’s how I spent my day.

***

The next morning, though my physical body was asleep, I didn’t need rest, so I woke up just in time for dawn. A maid walked in and froze, startled to see me already awake. Is something wrong with me? Maybe it’s because my appearance combines elements of Soo-oh before she grew tall with traces of Choseol mixed in. Or maybe it’s just how unnaturally pale my skin looks.

As soon as I got out of bed, the maid approached. She guided me through washing up and helped me dress accordingly. Afterward, during breakfast, the unnamed butler offered to prepare a carriage, but I declined—I figured I needed the exercise.

So after exchanging pleasantries with the butler waiting by the entrance, I headed straight to the Royal Academy. From the main gate to the central school building stretches a grand road where carriages pass. Alongside it, students file in from their dorms—some living off-campus like me, others staying on-site.

The architecture here is super classical. At the entrance, there’s a staircase leading upward flanked by massive pillars resembling a temple. Inside, there’s a vast open space. On either side of this area, spiral staircases ascend in opposite directions.

For now, though, I won’t need to climb those until next year—they’re tied to grade levels. Since I’m in first year, I made my way to a classroom on the first floor.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t cramped like faded memories of classrooms packed with desks and chairs. Instead, it was spacious, fan-shaped, with a podium at the tip designed for performances—or lectures—and tiered tables and chairs surrounding it. Compared to typical classrooms, it felt oddly open, almost too airy.

Several students were already present, both male and female. Scanning the room revealed four major groups—or five, technically, counting the “no group” group, where Victoria and I belong. Victoria hasn’t arrived yet; she tends to oversleep. Hopefully, she’ll make it on time today.

Thinking about her, I moved toward the seat I occupied yesterday. But as I climbed the steps, someone was already sitting there.

“Eeek!”

The girl jumped up upon seeing me, apologized profusely, and fled. Weird. Yesterday she was part of this class, so running away wouldn’t help… why run at all? Before I could ask, she disappeared. Reluctantly, I returned to the same spot. Glancing around, the seat seemed clean. No signs of tampering—if anything happened, it must’ve been accidental panic.

Maybe I should’ve just picked another empty seat. Yesterday’s choice was vacant, so I figured sticking to it might work. Unless… do seats rotate daily?

Not long after, Victoria arrived, barely avoiding being late. She sat beside me again, her body radiating heat from rushing over. “You really should wake up earlier.”

Thankfully—or maybe it’s a waste of psychic ability—all the sweat evaporates instantly, keeping her clothes dry. Initially, I thought her breathing was heavy, but it turns out the sweat vanished immediately. That’s how I realized she used her powers.

Despite minor hiccups, the first class ended, and lunchtime rolled around.

“Tired, Bell…”

As everyone else stood up to leave, Victoria whispered to me. Physically tired? Nah, more like mentally drained. There are many familiar faces missing, making her uncomfortable. Honestly, Victoria isn’t very social—she takes after her dad, fiddling with clockwork machines instead of mingling. Sticking her in a relationship-heavy environment was bound to wear her out.

“Food will help.”

“I’m not *that* simple…”

But a smile tugged at her lips anyway. She remembered how delicious yesterday’s meal was—it wasn’t just tasty; it doubled as stress relief.

While we waited due to the implicit rule that higher-ranking individuals leave first, a random girl approached me.

“You’re Bell, right? Follow me.”

She didn’t bother introducing herself, exuding arrogance. Still, I nodded. Without answering, I followed, prompting her to glare but ultimately stay silent. Clearly, someone else ordered her to fetch me. Bringing me here seems to be her limit, judging by her restrained frustration.

“Bell, you don’t have to go…”

“Eat first.”

Victoria worried for me, but honestly, who’s comforting whom here? I trailed after the girl anyway.

Instead of heading to the cafeteria, she led me somewhere distant from our classroom. Deeper into the building—even turning sharply at a 90-degree angle. The scent changed once inside. Where the outer halls smelled like a regular school, this section carried a strong herbal aroma.

“This is Lady Shiodore. I’ve brought her.”

“Good job. You may leave.”

Inside, a sharp-looking girl sat, wearing an unusually long dress despite summer heat. Unlike others in class dressed casually, she adhered to tradition, suggesting either outdated fashion or deliberate formality.

“The stranger has no clear identity.”

“That’s fine. Should I order you otherwise?”

The escort bowed deeply, passing me while whispering, “Be respectful to Lady Shiodore.” Then she exited. Truly devoted—not flattery, but genuine respect.

Lady Shiodore must command respect.

“Sit here.”

The person—first name or last?—gestured toward an empty chair before a table set with tea. I obeyed.

“You seem quieter than expected for someone so highly regarded by the royal family. On TV, you appeared sharper.”

She stared at me, her gaze intense enough to seem accusatory yet devoid of emotion, purely curious.

“My name is Kanna Temrane Shiodore. And you’re Bell?”

“Yes. I currently go by Bell.”

I told the truth.

“What a strange way to speak. Do you have another original name?”

Her expression brimmed with confusion, her tone softening slightly. Apparently, her earlier stiffness was fake. Does she lack intelligence? Perhaps not—this feels more like mental exertion.

“My original body lacked a name. It was artificially created.”

The girl across from me processed my words for what felt like forever.

“Oh. So the mind and body belong to different owners?”

No recollection of this detail ever being broadcast or printed. Yet she deduced it from my statement. How?

“You’re correct. How did you know?”

Upon hearing this, she recoiled, clearly shocked. Fear, hatred, curiosity—all emotions swirling in her face.

“I just… thought it might be possible. Your words matched something I imagined.”

Huh? What exactly did she mean?

It sounded like she’d pondered the concept of separate minds and bodies before, and my phrasing aligned with her hypothetical scenario.

“Incredible.”

My comment earned a blinking response.

“Aren’t you going to attack me?”

“Why would I?”

“If the body belongs to someone else… oh. Right. This body was originally empty. Since it lacks a name, it wasn’t stolen, hence your confidence?”

Mid-sentence realization led to her direct question.

Smart. Very smart. Earlier doubts about her intellect were mistaken.

“Yes.”

Sharp mind indeed. Like Daegon or the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, possessing knowledge doesn’t automatically grant me their abilities.

“Your speech is concise. Are you uncomfortable?”

“No. I’m simply not talkative.”

Too much talking increases chances of mistakes. Plus, ever since faded times, I’ve never been chatty.

Over a lifetime, I said everything worth saying—pleading endlessly.

Anyway…

“What do you want from me?”

There must be a reason you summoned me. Meeting her steady gaze, I inquired bluntly. After deliberation, she responded.

“This time, it’s merely an introduction. In the future, if anything arises, mention that Princess Shiodore sent for you and come see me.”

As if foretelling future events, she concluded cryptically.

I sipped the drink before me—it tasted bland, almost watery. Not my cup of tea.

She chuckled wryly.

“Careless of you. What if it had been poison?”

Less teasing, more caution. Likely testing me by poking around.

If that’s the case, let’s give her something to chew on.

“Monsters are hard to kill.”

Standing, I bowed politely and exited the room.

Outside, I strolled away, leaving behind lingering thoughts.

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