[11 Months Later]


    The Academy was more energetic and noisy than usual. People engaged emotionally with their friends, chattering, hugging, laughing, and crying. It was the day we, the fifth-years, graduated.


    With my family gone, and my appearance not helping me make any friends, I didn''t have anyone to share these mixed feelings with. No, was there anything to share? I surpassed the graduation level a long time ago, and this was merely the official stage. I didn''t have to depart from any friends, nor did I have any joy to express from overcoming a tough obstacle. For me, today was only about leaving the Academy.


    "With all of the serious talk out of the way, LET''S GET THE PARTY STARTED, EVERYBODY!" The Academy''s headmaster shouted in the mic, causing an echo and a roar from the crowd to tackle the sound barrier of the large hall.


    "Ridiculous," I muttered, looking down at my glass filled with red wine. As I looked at my questionable reflection in the liquid, I slightly swirled the glass to distort it.


    Ever since I became obsessed with revenge, I neglected my appearance. I didn''t bother cutting my hair—well, I didn''t either when my sister was still alive because I was trying to grow it long enough to cover my face.


    After that tragic event, I took antidepressants every day, and I studied and studied and studied without resting. After three months of nonstop hard work, I finally found a cure. Not only that, but I started working out to improve my immune system. Then it didn''t take long before I got rid of my illness and weak immune system.


    Surprisingly, I was more compatible with mana than I thought. After releasing my restraints, I finally attained the additional energy source—mana. Unfortunately, at that time, I was already nearing my graduation, so it was too late to learn any worthy spells. In the end, I just decided to learn two spells: [Recuperation] to replace the antidepressants, recovering me from fatigue and other unwanted hindrances that''d prevent me from studying and working 24/7. As for the other spell-


    "Aren''t you going to join in?" My teacher asked, approaching my lonesome self in a secluded area of the party hall.


    "No. These five years of hard work are only the beginning stage. It''s too soon to celebrate," I answered before taking a sip of my wine.


    "Haha, true, but you''re being too hard on yourself." He widened his eyes, asserting attention on my appearance rather than my words.


    The depth and color of my dark circles were as bad as my atrocious soul. My hair lapped over my face, covering all of its unhygienic features, save for a glimpse of my eerie eyes. Furthermore, my entire appearance was somewhat old. I don''t know the logic behind it, but after spending every hour of the day awake and busy, my body aged quicker. Not to mention, consistently using the skill [Recuperation] drained my mana, and using excess mana consumes your life force. So, over the span of eleven months, my hair and age surpassed its natural growth.


    "Aren''t you going to cut it?" He asked, taking a lock in his hand to examine it.


    "Is it beneficial?"


    He didn''t respond, his smile said enough after reminding himself that I wasn''t one to give up no matter what condition I was in, but that also suggested how stubborn I was.


    "Well," Brushing the sour talk aside, he extended his glass to mine. "Appearance aside, I know you''re going to be the talk of the Medicio Faction, so don''t disappoint me, okay?"


    I responded to his hopes, clinking my glass with his.


    Yeah, but only after I rid this world of those four shit stains.


    "Teacher!" A girl called out to my company, waving at him.


    "I''ll only harness more disgusted gazes if I selfishly have you all to myself." I then tapped his back suggestively. "Go on. Your other students need you."


    I''m beyond saving anyway.


    After finally finding a moment to distance myself from my teacher, I looked around one last time before making my move.


    Now then...


    I placed my glass down on the nearby table and then headed for the exit.


    "Oh, if it isn''t my precious late bloomer of a student," a female teacher dressed in a robe called out to me. "Have you mastered it?" She queried.


    She was the teacher from the Buffer Class who helped me learn the second spell that I needed.


    "Yes. Thanks to your guidance." I bowed and expressed my eternal gratitude. I was proud to call her my teacher—despite asking for help in the middle of my final year, she didn''t hesitate to teach me—however, if she knew what I was going to use that spell for, I doubt she''d be able to be proud of me.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    I don''t care, though. As one who one-sidedly converses with the dead, I''m used to my feelings and motives not being reciprocated and understood.


    "Oh my, really? In that short time? Such a pity that you didn''t unlock your additional energy source sooner. You would''ve definitely been a bright student. Heck, even the top student!"


    She''s exaggerating. There are many more talented people than me.


    Not finding a need to rebuke her kind gesture, I simply nodded to excuse myself before walking out of the building.


    "Whaaat?! So you''re in the same division as us, huh?! Well, aren''t we lucky, boys?!" The broad bully excitedly expressed while wrapping his arm threateningly around his new victim.


    After they killed my sister, I spent most of my days studying like crazy at home, so they rarely saw me at the Academy and assumed I''d sooner or later die. Not to mention, now that we''re graduating, we will leave the Academy Faction and enter our respective assigned roles. As a doctor—the support role—I will enter the Medicio Faction. So, naturally, they had to find someone they could bully at the Assault Faction.


    Due to the size of the Academy, there were several entrances. I took one that led a different route from theirs. It was too early for me to cross their path. I''m still in the preparation phase of my revenge.


    "Oh, look who we have here." The masked man expressed his surprise nonchalantly, leaning against the wall of the exit. He then walked away from the wall to clear the distance between us.


    "What are you doing here? Your boyfriend and his side chicks are heading for a different exit," I responded calmly. Compared to the first time we met, I now had his indifferent demeanor... calm and unfazed.


    "I know. I just came to check up on the thriving worm that I stomped. Still limping on your last leg, I see."


    I closed my eyes, casting his taunt aside before opening them once more.


    "Don''t worry. With this leg that you mercifully spared, I will travel and stand before your grave. But even if I''m a worm, I won''t be the one to burrow inside the mountain of sand preserving your corpse." I raised my hand, causing the sleeve of my shirt to fall to my forearm, partially exposing my slither-like scar. I then stuck my fingers in my hair, momentarily brushing my bangs back to grant him a clear view of my unhinged, crimson gaze and psychotic smile. "Regret and agony will."


    "Gya-!gahahaha! INTERESTING! THAT''S THE SPIRIT! Then, I''ll be looking forward to that day. Until then..." He stood beside me and patted my shoulder before walking away, waving. "Die trying, worm."


    After watching him leave, I went on my way. I then walked for fifteen minutes before stopping in front of my house to catch the beautiful sight of the moon. Unlike the crescent-shaped mask that man wore, the moon was blooming and gorgeous. Soothing, even.


    I will rip that mask off.


    Fueling myself with the necessary rage and resolve, I opened the door and walked inside the dim and quiet house. Like the past eleven months, there was no smell of cooking, and neither was there any anticipation of a nutritious meal.


    Before heading deeper, I stopped at the entrance of the kitchen.


    Well, I already ate at the party anyway. Let''s just finish the preparations.


    Brushing all of the memories aside, I entered my room. I got out of my school wear and tried on the graduation gift that my teacher gave me: a black doctor''s attire. Separate from the gift, I enveloped my hands in black gloves and wore a black mouth mask. I then stepped away to look in the mirror.


    Hm, it''s more problematic than I thought.


    I tried various styles with my hair to get it out of my face as it''d hinder my sight when fighting. Ultimately, I decided to head into my sister''s room.


    "Sorry for the intrusion, Muriel," I called out to her rotten corpse on the bed as I entered without notice.


    I then grabbed a black hair tie from her drawer and tied my hair into a ponytail except for two long stubborn locks that ran loose to jump back into my face from each side. Or maybe I was just bad at tying my hair. Anyway, that''s that. Lastly...


    I walked to the exit, but before opening the door, I took out a scalpel from my pocket. It was finally time to use the second skill I learned.


    "[Sharpen]"


    Imbuing the spell on the scalpel, it rivaled the sharpest blade and was capable of cutting the strongest metal. Naturally, that meant it was perfect for slicing up people.


    Spells aren''t easy to learn. Some people can''t even learn a single spell throughout their five years of learning. It''s all down to hard work and capability. And like a warrior''s ''aura'', a magician''s mana is based on one''s mind. If you have the right mindset, and you are just that desperate to learn a spell, you''ll eventually learn it.


    To the end, my will for revenge never wavered, so I was granted the chance for peace of mind.


    The majority stopped after a month or two of failure and no results, but I didn''t.


    "That should be everything."


    Done with my preparations, I left the house.


    "Farewell, Muriel. I will see you after a year or two." After saying goodbye, I closed the door.


    Honestly, I didn''t plan on preparing or learning any spells but I couldn''t leave the faction until graduation. So, I just decided to use that time to prepare and learn as much as possible. It was the best decision, I must say.


    Well, that aside, I arrived at the nearest wormhole building. After entering, the staff sent a doubtful gaze my way. This was surprising because I had assumed that my physical appearance surpassed my mental age. Maybe it was because I tended to myself a bit before leaving the house.


    "Sorry, but students can''t-"


    "I graduated today," I interrupted the woman. I took out a card I received as proof of my graduation. It included all the necessary information such as my name and graduation class.


    "Ah, the Doctor Class, right? In that case, would you like to go to the Medicio Faction?"


    "No." I bluntly refused.


    "Huh?" Her shock was warranted. "Then...?"


    "I''d like to go to the Technio Faction," I answered, putting my card back in my pocket.


    "Any specific location in the Faction?" Despite her skepticism and curiosity, she remained professional on the matter and simply obliged.


    "Yes... The nearest to the Tower of Ascension."


    I then headed to the teleportation room for the respective Faction and location. Thanks to the competent staff member, it didn''t take long for me to set foot in my destination. Despite it being midnight, the area was still crowded.


    "Greetings. Would you like to attempt the Tower?" The staff member asked with a doubtful expression.


    "That''s right."


    "Then..." He gestured to the entrance. "Right this way. Please be careful. If you ever feel like leaving then look for a safe zone."


    I nodded before approaching the entrance of the Tower.


    After eleven long months...


    I brushed my hand against the door, taking in the thrill and excitement.


    My revenge finally begins!