"Today will be normal classes as I mentioned yesterday."
The next morning, Yu Jeong-hak, who came as Ha Ye-jin's substitute, conducted the morning assembly.
Yesterday there were shortened classes due to faculty being urgently summoned, but today the situation had improved so normal classes were scheduled. There would be a joint practical with the Patience class in the morning. They were recruiting additional dormitory applicants, and so on.
Yu Jeong-hak delivered all the announcements and left the classroom without any lingering attachment.
"I'm already missing Teacher Ye-jin at this level."
Gu Jun-hyeok evaluated Yu Jeong-hak that way. Jeong In-ah also nodded as if agreeing.
Compared to Ha Ye-jin, Yu Jeong-hak was too cold and unfriendly. He seemed to have a personality that basically didn't like students very much.
"But didn't he say there's a practical in the morning? Shouldn't we go out?"
While having various conversations, Jeong In-ah looked around and said.
Other students were already heading to the practical location. We were the only ones remaining in the classroom leisurely chatting.
Gu Jun-hyeok looked at his watch and opened his mouth.
"There's still quite a bit of time left. I think we could go later?"
"Let's just go now. It's better to go early."
I told Gu Jun-hyeok, who was making nonchalant sounds and acting leisurely. Rather than being late due to dawdling, it was better to go about 10 minutes early.
When I got up from my seat and left the classroom, Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok followed behind me like puppies.
"But what kind of practical are we going to? No, why is this school so unfriendly all the time?"
Gu Jun-hyeok grumbled.
"Since they told us to come to the livestock barn, it must be healing practice."
Jeong In-ah said as if it was obvious. I just listened without answering.
Naturally, it became a situation where Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok were exchanging dialogue.
"Ah, I'm screwed. I'm really bad at healing."
"Really? It's okay. I'm good at it."
"What am I supposed to do with that? I said I'm bad at it."
Gu Jun-hyeok glared at Jeong In-ah as if it was absurd. Jeong In-ah shrugged her shoulders and subtly scratched at Gu Jun-hyeok's nerves.
Listening to their conversation, laughter naturally leaked out of me.
[Wait. Stop by the restroom before going.]
Then, Legba spoke to me in a low, cold tone. It seemed he had something to talk about.
"You guys go ahead. I need to use the restroom."
"Do you go to the restroom every time before practicals? Do you get nervous so your stomach suddenly hurts?"
"Ignore him and go. We'll be waiting there."
Gu Jun-hyeok gave me a subtle scolding, and Jeong In-ah scolded Gu Jun-hyeok in return.
I said I'd be back soon and headed to the restroom. There was no one in the restroom. I fiddled with my hair in front of the sink mirror and opened my mouth.
"So what's the matter?"
[That guy says he has something to tell you.]
"What? That person?"
I asked back with feigned surprise. It was obvious who Legba meant by "that guy."
That person is a free spirit who is never bound. Even I, the leader, cannot bind that person.
Sometimes annoying, and sometimes frivolous due to his personality that likes jokes and pranks, but his power and authority are as mighty as Legba's.
[Yeah, I came because I have something to say! But you don't seem very welcoming. Am I mistaken?]
[Your frivolous personality is lowering the dignity of the Loa. It's natural not to welcome you.]
[I'm not frivolous, you're just too serious, Legba.]
The two who could be called the strongest among the Loa had a conversation.
Legba shut his mouth as if tired of that person's playful personality.
[Hmm, Legba seems sulky. I'll give him some candy later.]
With that person's humorous voice, an image of him flashed through my mind like a fantasy.
A tuxedo, silk hat, and cigar.
Ash-colored and purple mist flowed gracefully from the cigar. Red light flowed from his eyes, piercing through the mist.
A Loa who governs life and death, mighty enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Legba.
It was 'Baron Samedi.'
[As Legba said, I have something I want to tell you.]
As I've said repeatedly, Baron Samedi is a Loa with a free spirit that cannot be bound.
Unlike other Loa, he doesn't settle in my body but manifests and wanders the mortal world. He wanders the mortal world like that and occasionally informs me of information he gathers.
[You're on your way to a practical right now.]
"Yes."
[A very big incident will happen during this practical. It's better to face it rather than avoid it. There will be damage, but it might actually be good for you.]
"...Yes."
I nodded reluctantly at Baron Samedi's advice.
The information Baron Samedi gives me isn't very useful. Baron Samedi's information is always vague and roundabout.
It feels like today's horoscope.
The difference is that Baron Samedi's information always comes true without fail.
[Well then, I'll be going. Good luck.]
"No, wait a moment."
I stopped Baron Samedi who was about to leave.
He stays within me only very briefly. Therefore, opportunities to ask him questions are rare. I thought it would be better to ask all my curious questions while I had the chance.
"Who is the Satan worshipper who infiltrated Florence, and where is the altar? Just tell me these and then go."
Baron Samedi sometimes wanders the mortal world in human form, sometimes in animal form, sometimes in the form of mist, gathering information.
Therefore, the amount of information he possesses is incomparably vast compared to humans. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say there's nothing he doesn't know.
Baron Samedi would know who the Satan worshipper hiding in Florence is, and even where the lost altar is.
Upon hearing my question, Baron Samedi didn't answer but just giggled.
[You don't need to know now. I'll tell you when the time comes later!]
"If you're going to tell me later, you might as well tell me now."
[No, you absolutely must know later.]
"Why?"
[Because that's more fun. Haha.]
Baron Samedi laughed as if teasing me and left my body. Purple mist flowed over the restroom window into the sky.
Baron Samedi had taken the form of mist and left me.
[That, that annoying guy. At least he could have told us the altar's location!]
Legba spoke ill of the departed Baron Samedi. It was gossip that Baron Samedi couldn't hear anyway.
He knows everything in the world, but he doesn't tell me about it. Unless I'm in an inescapable predicament or facing death... Still, he readily provides necessary information at crucial moments, so I can't completely dislike him, but as Legba said, he is annoying.
"Ah."
Then something suddenly occurred to me and I turned on my phone.
There were three missed calls. Two from Jeong In-ah, one from Gu Jun-hyeok.
There were also text messages. The content was asking where on earth I was and what I was doing since I still hadn't come.
I checked the time. The practical started at 8:30. It was now 8:34.
[It's okay to be a little late. This is all part of the experience.]
"How is it okay!"
Leaving behind Legba who spoke indifferently, I ran out of the restroom and sprinted to the practical location.
* * *
Florence had many unique facilities befitting its large campus. Livestock barn, gym, sacred training ground. There was even farmland.
By the way, this practical's location was the livestock barn.
The problem was that the livestock barn was very far from the main building. The distance from the livestock barn to the main building was roughly 500m.
It's not exact. It might even be farther.
"Huff, huff, ugh, ha."
And I had run that distance. I was out of breath up to my chin, and bile rose to my throat. My legs were trembling, and my calf muscles were twitching with cramps.
It was fortunate that I usually exercised, otherwise I might have collapsed from exhaustion while running.
"Student, your name?"
Upon arrival, the practical teacher approached me with an attendance book. I barely caught my breath and looked up.
"Do, huff. Do Seon-woo."
"Yes. That's 1 penalty point for being late."
The teacher tried to give me a penalty point without a moment's hesitation.
According to Florence's school rules, accumulating 10 penalty points results in expulsion. Even 1 point was significant enough not to ignore.
"Ah, wait a moment."
"Yes~"
"Couldn't you let it slide just once?"
"Yes~ Of course not!"
The teacher answered. Her cheerful tone made it even more absurd. But being late was entirely my fault, so I had nothing to say.
Since there was nothing to excuse or make excuses about, I eventually resigned myself to accepting the penalty point.
"Teacher?"
Then, a clear and calm voice called the teacher.
The teacher, who had been scribbling on the attendance book trying to give me a penalty point, stopped her hand upon hearing that voice.
"Student Kim Jin-seo? What's the matter?"
"I believe that student was coming from a consultation with the chairman. Regarding scholarships."
"Oh my, really? So you're a scholarship student?"
At Kim Jin-seo's words, the teacher put away her pen. Soon the teacher patted my shoulder and opened her mouth.
"If you have circumstances, you should say so. I'm not a rigid person who gives penalty points without considering the situation. Anyway, I understand the circumstances, so go in now. You worked hard running here."
"What?"
I'm not a scholarship student, nor was I late because of consulting with the chairman. I've never even greeted the chairman, let alone had a consultation.
I was simply late because I was talking with Loa in the restroom. There was no valid reason, it was just being late.
I stared at Kim Jin-seo in bewilderment.
She raised her index finger to her lips. It meant to quietly let the situation pass as it was.
I didn't know why she helped me, but I was grateful for not receiving a penalty point and joined the formation.
When I entered the Charity class formation, Jeong In-ah was looking at me with an anxious face, biting her nails.
"Hey! Why were you so late?"
"I got lost on the way."
"You should make a more believable excuse for me to believe it. ...Don't tell me it's true?"
"Half of it is true."
"Half? Then what's the other half?"
Jeong In-ah frowned as if she didn't understand what I said. Gu Jun-hyeok smiled and sneakily approached me.
"This is why you can't help being famous. You're truly spectacular every single day. It's an enviable talent."
Gu Jun-hyeok said playfully and laughed. I wanted to give him an answer, but the situation wasn't favorable.
The teacher had started explaining the practical.
"Now that everyone's here, let's start the practical. As you all know, this practical is a joint practical between the Patience and Charity classes. Then please look this way, everyone."
The teacher raised her hand and pointed to the right side of the livestock barn.
There were numerous dogs there. All of them were making whimpering sounds. Looking closely, they were injured dogs with dislocated shoulders or limping legs.
"These are military dogs that were operated by the Holy Knight Order right in front. They're all children who were injured during operations."
Upon hearing the explanation, some of the children looked at the injured dogs with pitying eyes.
"Each of you will be given one injured dog. Then you should treat the injured dogs using healing circles and blessing circles. Naturally, the faster the treatment, the higher the score."
The teacher had the livestock barn staff move the injured dogs. The staff carried the injured dogs and moved them in front of the students.
Thus, one injured dog was assigned per person. In front of me was placed a dog that was limping and whimpering.
"Then, start now. If the injured dog's condition is too poor, report to me immediately. If you don't report and the injured dog dies, you'll be immediately disqualified. It won't happen, but if you fail to successfully treat within 15 minutes, that's also disqualification."
Thus the practical began. The teacher recited simple precautions and started the stopwatch. Students began busily drawing healing circles and blessing circles.
In the midst of that, I felt utter despair.
I don't know how to handle healing circles, and among blessing circles, I don't know how to handle anything related to recovery at all.
In other words, I had no way to treat the injured dog.
While other children were already treating injured dogs with healing circles, I was just twiddling my thumbs.
[Use restoration sorcery.]
To me, who was struggling without being able to do this or that, Legba quietly suggested a solution.