004
“Today, since we have a new young lady joining us, we’ll start with a quick review of what an Awakened One is.”
Although I was a little nervous, the class was quite fun.
There wasn’t any time given for introductions, but it seemed like everyone already knew who I was.
‘I need to do well.’
Because I have to be the vice leader.
I tried to sit up straight despite my short stature.
However, it wasn’t easy since the seat wasn’t a hard chair but a soft cushion.
“Can someone explain why Awakened Ones are important?”
The teacher here wore round monocle glasses and had gray hair tied back, draping over one shoulder.
And she looked really tired, with dark circles under her eyes.
‘I wish I could give her some of my special carrot soup.’
It’s really energizing!
While I was thinking about this, a boy raised his hand energetically.
‘A plump potato…’
The boy with potato-colored hair and blue eyes spoke confidently to the teacher.
“Because they are crucial for offense and defense during territory battles. Without Awakened Ones, you can’t protect your territory!”
“That’s correct. To add, quality is more important than quantity. Not long ago, the territories around Velarion of the Eclipse banded together but were completely wiped out. They had seventeen Awakened Ones, but they couldn’t win against Velarion’s Awakened Ones.”
Swish.
A giant map unfolded on the blackboard.
Next to it was a figure shaped like a person, with shining shapes drawn around it.
“Bijou, a sign of being an Awakened One. Everyone here has probably already developed their Bijou or at least has a spot where it’s forming.”
I know what that is. The teacher in the Carrot class was surprised when she saw my left wingbone.
But I’ve never seen it with my own eyes.
“Territory battles can happen at any time, and your duty is to protect Pashayen. There are various ways to protect it. Who can explain?”
Wait, hold on.
So why aren’t they telling us what Bijou is?
Curious, I eagerly raised my hand.
The teacher looked at me with a steady gaze.
“What is your name?”
“Chuu.”
“Ah, Miss Shu, please go ahead.”
Why do they keep calling me Shu when my name is Chuu?
I wasn’t sure, but I wobbled as I stood up from the cushion.
“I have a question.”
“A question?”
“What is Bijou?”
“Pfft.”
As soon as I asked, laughter erupted from behind me.
Then that potato boy laughed the loudest, sneering at me.
“You came here without even knowing that?”
There was a kid like that at the daycare too. I was always the one to talk sense into them.
So I put my hands on my hips and said confidently,
“You should teach me if I don’t know.”
“Oh really? For an orphaned commoner, you sure have a sharp tongue.”
He snickered.
The potato boy, along with a few others, laughed mockingly.
They were all twice my age and much bigger in size.
Although I wasn’t scared, it did make me feel upset.
“As for what Bijou is… find out by the next class.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I’ll have to ask Lina about it.
They didn’t teach us that at the daycare.
“Anyway, the administrative duties of the territory are handled by the head of the family and young head of the family. The military duties are managed by the Admiral. So, what is the role of the Resonator?”
I felt like a bear with honey stuck in its mouth—I didn’t know the answer.
“You don’t know that either? Then, young master Ricardo, why don’t you explain?”
The teacher shifted her gaze to the plump potato boy. I sat down, a bit deflated.
If someone asked how many grams of flour and sugar were needed for ten chocolate chip cookies, I could answer right away!
It felt unfair to be ignored just because I hadn’t learned something. My nose started to tingle.
But I held back my tears once again.
“A Resonator is a religious figure who conveys the words of the Ancestor of Whale. During battle, if a Resonator sings a song of blessing, the Awakened Ones gain greater strength and can even heal their wounds!”
“That’s correct. The person with the highest resonance with the Ancestor of Whale becomes the Resonator. You’re well-informed.”
Ricardo, the potato boy, glanced at me and smirked after receiving the praise.
Seeing his smug expression made me… made me…
Furious.
“I won’t let this slide.”
I muttered quietly, clenching my fists tightly.
It seemed I might need to show them my skill in kneading dough.
***
For the rest of the class, I studied diligently.
I made sure to remember anything I didn’t quite understand.
Although I had never been formally taught to read, I could follow along without much difficulty.
“Phew.”
But sitting for so long was a bit tiring.
I took a big bite of my snack, holding a chocolate chip cookie in both hands.
As I crunched away, a shadow fell over my head.
It was the potato boy and his group.
“Hey, you came with the Admiral earlier, didn’t you?”
Thud.
The boy with the purple sweet potato-colored hair, a friend of the potato boy, shoved my shoulder.
My cookie fell to the floor with a crack, breaking into pieces.
“……….”
Both of us froze at the sudden event.
“My cookie.”
It was mine. I hadn’t even eaten half of it yet.
But I took a deep breath, held it for three seconds, and then calmly placed my hands on my hips.
“Apologize.”
“What?”
“You shouldn’t hit or shove your friends. You need to say, ‘I’m sorry,’ and give them a big hug.”
“What is she saying? Has this commoner lost her mind?”
But the purple sweet potato boy just scoffed at me.
He even tapped my shoulder again, and again!
‘If someone hits you, bite them back.’
The man’s words flashed through my mind.
‘Just this once, I’ll hold back one more time.’
Because my Carrot class teacher had said so.
‘Chuu, when you get angry, you have to hold back three times and count to three. Got it? You promised your teacher you would do that.’
This was the second time. And counting to three.
Now, only one more time remained.
At that moment, the potato boy suddenly snatched the name tag from my chest.
It happened so quickly that I couldn’t do anything.
“Give it back!”
I can’t let this happen.
I really can’t lose that.
‘It’s so precious.’
For the first time, tears welled up in my eyes.
But none of the kids around me helped. They just stood by and watched.
‘It’s break time, so the teacher isn’t here either.’
What do I do?
What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?
Someone, please help me.
“Hey, you’re an Awakened One too, right? You have a Bijou mark, right?”
Even as he taunted me, the mean boy who took my name tag sneered wickedly.
I hopped up and down, trying to get my name tag back, but I was too short to reach.
“Then try to take it back. Do you really think you can become Master Diegon’s child? I won’t accept it. That’s the position I… I wanted to have!”
Poke, poke.
Ricardo, who was poking my chest with his finger, eventually shoved me hard.
As I stumbled backward, I fell right onto my bottom with a thud.
And that’s when it happened.
“Do you really think you’re something? A class leader? You think you’re important? You’re just a commoner. A dirty commoner!”
Rippp-!
A dreadful sound echoed as my name tag was torn in half right in front of my eyes.
Something I had cherished, something so, so precious, my pride…!
‘I can’t take it anymore.’
Snap.
My patience broke.
At that very moment, my vision turned white.
“What’s happening?”
“Water droplets?”
“Wait, this power… Ahhh!”
Tiny droplets of water started bubbling up around my small body.
At first, they were just like soap bubbles, but soon enough, my pink hair began to flutter in the air.
As Ricardo, who had seen my eyes lose their pupils and turn terrifying, backed away, a chillingly powerful force exploded.
“Aaaah!”
“Please, spare me!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Sob, sob!”
What’s happening?
‘I feel like I have no strength left in my body.’
I thought I heard screams in the distance, but I couldn’t be sure.
The last thing I heard was the man’s voice.
“It’s okay. Calm down and get some sleep. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Somehow, it felt so warm… I felt like it would be okay to fall asleep like this.
So, I hugged the man tightly.
“Sniff, sniff… Chuu’s name tag, I’m not the class leader’s anymore. Waaaaah!!”
The flood of emotions burst out.
