There’s a Monster Inside Me Chapter 20

There’s a Monster Inside Me

Chapter 20

Today the new students gathered at the outdoor herb garden. They were there to practice what they had learned through texts in the academy.

Princess Eun-deok was excused due to her sensitivity to pollen toxins.

Professor Unbong, a female divine healer, examined the students with a critical eye.

Shortly after, the students received herb names from Professor Unbong’s direct disciples.

“Today’s assignment is to find these herbs outside the herb garden. Since you’ve already learned about them, you should be able to accomplish this without much difficulty.”

Looking at the list of herb names written on the paper, some sighed, while others pulled at their hair.

It was certainly a challenging task to find herbs in the mountains covered with all sorts of vegetation when even their names were still unfamiliar.

Jin-dallae silently stared at the words written on the paper.

Among all the classes at the Thousand-Year School, healing was what she focused on with the most interest.

Her sense of smell, more developed than others, and the knowledge she had gained while roaming the mountains were Jin-dallae’s strengths.

Familiar herbs quickly caught her eye as she moved through the mountains.

Those that preferred shade and those that loved sunlight, those that thrived at the top of the mountain and those that grew better near the bottom. Everything everywhere was familiar to her eyes.

“Hmm…”

Jin-dallae sniffed each leaf she picked and root she dug up.

She had been studying books every day without fail and even drew illustrations following plant encyclopedias.

Without anyone telling her to, she diligently tended the herbs while coming and going from the herb garden.

As a result, everything was familiar to her. Jin-dallae’s basket quickly filled with herbs as she moved through the mountains.

“I’ve found them all.”

“Already?”

Professor Unbong and her disciples wore astonished expressions upon seeing Jin-dallae return so quickly.

After checking the basket, Professor Unbong had to struggle to hide her surprise.

“What’s this?”

“It’s Seokwi (Stone Fern).”

The long lips curved gently.

“Tell me the characteristics of Seokwi as you know them.”

“Seokwi is distinguished by its roots, stem, and leaves, but it neither blooms nor bears fruit.”

“And why is that?”

“Because it reproduces through spores on the back of its leaves.”

“Do you perhaps know its uses?”

“Seokwi has diuretic effects and is effective in treating urinary disorders such as cystitis, urethritis, stone discharge, and hematuria.”

The critical eyes of Professor Unbong noticeably softened.

“Do you know what this is?”

A broad leaf resembling a ladle waved between the professor’s fingers.

“It’s Cheonnamseong (Pinellia).”

“Tell me what you know about Cheonnamseong.”

“Cheonnamseong has a warm nature with a bitter and spicy taste. It’s effective in dispersing phlegm and calming the body, and can also be used to stop convulsions or reduce tumor size. It can also alleviate dizziness or tight chest pain. However, Cheonnamseong has deep toxicity. Therefore, special caution is needed when using it.”

Professor Unbong’s eyes shone brightly as she watched Jin-dallae answer without hesitation.

“And this?”

“This is Yogoecho. When thrown at forest spirits, it can calm their rampaging supernatural power and excitement. It can be described as having a kind of paralyzing and stabilizing effect.”

The answers coming back for each question were satisfactory. Professor Unbong wrote ‘Excellent’ next to Jin-dallae’s name as an evaluation.

Just then, a second student entered the herb garden.

It was Bada Maru.

Bada Maru was also as quick and accurate as Jin-dallae.

Professor Unbong’s gaze softened even more after checking his basket.

“What is this?”

Bada Maru also answered the professor’s questions about the names and uses of herbs without hesitation.

The corners of Professor Unbong’s mouth, known for being strict, lifted slightly.

Her direct disciples’ eyes widened at this unfamiliar gentle smile.

Professor Unbong’s eyes shone with joy as she entered the professors’ room.

Professor Gangchan from the spatial division made small talk upon seeing this unfamiliar expression.

“It seems you’ve had some good news?”

“Yes, somewhat.”

Despite Professor Unbong’s efforts, the corners of her lips curved upward. Her talkative heart eventually made her blurt out her inner thoughts.

“I think I’ll be taking on good disciples from among this year’s new students.”

“What, already?”

Professor Gangchan’s eyes widened.

It had only been a few months since they started academy life.

It was still unknown how many years it would take to get through the intermediate and advanced courses.

Generally, students would only be noticed and accepted as disciples when they reached the advanced course, so Professor Unbong’s words were unprecedented.

“Among the new students, there’s Dol Jin-dallae and Bada Maru… such excellent talents, aren’t they?”

“Oh!”

Professor Gangchan’s eyes bulged at Professor Unbong’s mention.

“I don’t know about Jin-dallae, but that student called Bada Maru… isn’t he the boy student with black eyes who ties his hair up tightly in a single bundle?”

“Yes, that’s right. He’s a child born to become a divine healer in the healing division!”

“Ha, that can’t be!”

The martial arts professor who had been listening to the story so far suddenly stood up.

Unlike ordinary sorcerers, Professor Gudam, skilled in archery and swordsmanship, had muscles bulging all over his body.

He looked more like a natural warrior than a mage.

“The child named Bada Maru is naturally aligned with the martial arts path! Both he and that fellow Bada Gurumi are remarkably skilled! Born with healing abilities? That’s impossible.”

As Professor Gudam spoke firmly in his gruff voice, Professor Unbong stepped back slightly.

“Uh, that can’t be right…”

Professor Gangchan was perplexed.

From his perspective, Bada Maru, whom both Professors Unbong and Gudam mentioned, was a natural spatial manipulation prodigy.

The fundamental skill for creating barriers involves forming and twisting space, and while other students could only create small spaces big enough for a fist, Bada Maru created a house-sized space that could fit more than a dozen people with room to spare.

And that wasn’t all! He was a talent who could even twist space to create impossible dimensions.

Despite having seen countless students over the years, he had never seen nor heard of such outstanding skill.

‘That child is destined to become a barrier master…’

Fearing the atmosphere would become strange if he voiced this thought, he merely muttered it to himself.

“Let’s confirm it then. Let’s check what his actual abilities are.”

“That’s a good idea. Clerk, bring the records of the new students.”

The clerk who had been sitting among the documents promptly stood up and searched through the bookshelves. Then he brought back the entry records taken during the new students’ admission.

It was a record documenting the new students’ basic spiritual powers using the power of the Medicine Buddha Trinity.

Pages flipped rapidly.

Finally, Bada Maru’s record was spread before the professors.

Professors Unbong, Gudam, and Gangchan simultaneously leaned forward to examine the record.

“This can’t be!”

“Ha, what nonsense…?!”

“My goodness, how can this be?!”

Next to Bada Maru’s name, all three professors’ mouths gaped open at the terrible grades marked as ‘low’ or ‘lowest’ in every field.

“Isn’t there some mistake here?”

When all three professors protested simultaneously, the clerk’s face turned pale.

“But professors, as you know, two mages who serve the Medicine Buddha Trinity personally confirmed this. You all know better than anyone that there couldn’t possibly be any mistake.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

The three professors, now pale-faced, silently returned to their respective rooms.

This fellow Bada Maru appeared to have healing abilities by nature, martial arts skills, and innate talent as a barrier master.

He was undoubtedly a rare talent… yet all his ability scores were rated lowest grade!

No matter how much they thought about it, they couldn’t find an answer to what had gone wrong.

***

In Geombau’s dormitory room. His followers had gathered.

After hearing the report, Geombau laughed loudly with mockery.

“Huh! Is this really true?”

“Yes, it is. As you said, senior, I checked the admission records of that Bada Maru fellow, and oh my, don’t even mention it. He was a divine power user with the most pathetic lowest grade!”

Geombau had sent his underling to check the records.

His intention was to confirm the fellow’s skills before dealing with him.

The others gathered there also wore sneers upon hearing this.

“This isn’t even going to be entertaining.”

Geombau had been slightly nervous about how remarkable this person receiving Princess Eun-deok’s attention might be, but now he was completely deflated.

Lowest grade abilities!

It seemed pointless to bully and drive out such a person.

Still, since he had gotten on Geum Tae-min’s nerves, he needed to pay the price.

“Anyone can go. Who wants to?”

A skinny fellow among the group raised his hand. It was Daseulgwi.

He was relatively new under Geombau, essentially the errand boy of this gathering.

Though his experience was limited and his spiritual power unremarkable, he had still passed the elementary course and barely entered the intermediate introductory course.

That should be enough to easily toy with a new student of the lowest grade abilities.

“Good. You go and try.”

Geombau waved his hand dismissively.

He had lost interest the moment he confirmed Bada Maru’s abilities.

“Yes, I won’t disappoint you!”

Daseulgwi was excited at the thought of beating the new student to a pulp to gain Geombau’s trust.

“Beat him until he’s reduced to porridge!”

Daseulgwi, holding a blue envelope, ran down the corridor as if flying.

***

“Here, over here! Hurry, Benefactor Maru and friends!”

On our way back after finishing healing class. Princess Eun-deok was waiting for us at the hexagonal pavilion.

“WHOOOA! This sweet and savory aroma!”

Saliva dripped from Jin-dallae’s mouth.

Golden calendula, pink azaleas, red pinks, and blue bellflowers… various beautiful flowers bloomed brightly on sticky rice cakes.

“KYAAAK! Flower pancakes!”

The moment she saw food, Dol Jin-dallae’s eyes spun wildly, forgetting she was in front of a princess.

“Jin-dallae, Gurumi, Benefactor! Come quickly, hurry! They’re freshly made and still warm!”

The visually impressive flower pancakes were drizzled with sweet syrup, making them taste like honey.

“Benefacy, please eat plenty!”

“Uh, I can eat… MMPH!”
No sooner had I swallowed one than a differently colored flower pancake entered my mouth.

I had no chance to pick up my chopsticks as the princess was graciously feeding me herself.

Unable to just keep receiving, I also offered a flower pancake to Princess Eun-deok.

“KYAA! It’s… it’s delicious!”

Princess Eun-deok didn’t hide her joy. My cheeks turned red at the sight.

“Here, Jin-dallae! You eat too.”

“MMM… you eat lots too, Gurumi.”

Finding the situation amusing, Gurumi and Jin-dallae teased each other by stuffing flower pancakes into each other’s mouths.

You guys really…

“…Do you dislike this, Benefactor?”

Princess Eun-deok’s brows furrowed when she saw my grimacing expression.

Feeling sorry for the girl who worried I might dislike it, I whispered softly.

“No, it’s just… a little embarrassing and also… I feel unworthy.”

“But you don’t hate it?”

“Not exactly, but…”

Did I dislike it? I couldn’t tell myself. This was my first time receiving such attention.

My mind felt numb experiencing someone caring for me openly without a hint of shyness for the first time.

“HEHE, then that’s fine.”

Princess Eun-deok’s smile was radiant.

Her smile was genuine. That’s why, despite finding it troublesome and awkward, I simply couldn’t dislike her.

“Here, here!”

A purple pink flower pancake slipped right into my mouth.

My cheeks burned hot.

Though incredibly embarrassing, the chewy flower pancake was undeniably delicious.

This life is quite sweet indeed.

After finishing the pancakes, we each went our separate ways.

Princess Eun-deok and Jin-dallae said they would embroider handkerchiefs with inspiration from the flower pancakes. Apparently that was Princess Eun-deok’s court etiquette assignment?

Gurumi headed to the outdoor training ground to practice with his spinning blade. I borrowed some books and returned to the dormitory.

Having separated from Princess Eun-deok who had been following me like a duckling, I felt refreshingly unburdened for the first time in a while.

Arriving at my room in a good mood, I spotted something unexpected.

A blue envelope…

The familiar ominous envelope was wedged in my door.

It was the same challenge letter Bada Gurumi had received in my previous life!

“How could this be?!”

A chill ran down my spine and my hair stood on end.

I had been making various excuses to urge Gurumi not to carelessly display his abilities.

I had firmly instructed him to hide his power to move the heavens until his divine power had developed evenly across all categories and fields.

Despite such strict warnings, why had this appeared again!

It felt like my blood was freezing.

Who on earth had recognized Gurumi’s skills and how?

I quickly grabbed the letter and closed the door.

“Huh?”

I was shocked when I turned the envelope over.

“What is this…?”

This couldn’t be…!

The challenge letter wasn’t for Gurumi. The name written on the back was…..

“Bada Maru”!

This life’s challenge letter had come for me instead of Gurumi.

Should I laugh or cry…?

I ended up with mixed feelings about this.