The Academy Life of a Sick Mafia

Chapter 08

‘It’ll be fine, right?’

Earlier, my eyes locked with Luca Drümuel’s, and since then, I felt his gaze often.

Ugh, whatever.

If he hits me, I’ll write a tearful letter to the Family.

‘Why didn’t my compass needle move earlier?’

Professor Spitu said the compass was ether-sensing, so it should move at least a bit for any living person.

I was very much alive. Yet the needle didn’t budge.

‘It wasn’t a device malfunction. I have ether, but it doesn’t flow.’

I needed to dig into this more.

My afternoon was free anyway.

Afternoon classes were mandatory and elective courses in each town, but my elective was off today.

‘I’ll take today to investigate my body.’

✦ ✦ ✦

Panoplia Academy had three libraries.

One per town.

Hearing Sereb’s library was the largest, I came to Sereb.

The mage town, Sereb, was stunning.

Stepping through the teleportation circle, I was greeted by a wide sky with pearlescent auroras.

Purple, pink, blue.

Like rainbows and stars melted into the sky.

‘Smells like wealth.’

I admired the clean streets and beautiful buildings. Even Lemaos, the most run-down student town, was decently clean, but this was pristine.

Walking on the cobblestone path, I saw Sereb Library in the distance.

Like most magic towers, it was built with a spire-like exterior.

I entered the Panoplia-Sereb Library.

The central hall, where Sereb students studied, was visible, surrounded by towering bookshelves.

“My lady, tell the librarian what book you want, and they’ll send you to the right shelf.”

“I see, thank you.”

“Uh, my lady, while you’re reading, can I check out the magic shops? I’m gonna be bored…”

“Go ahead.”

“Gasp! Thanks!”

Apple bounced out excitedly, and I walked to the librarian’s desk at the back of the hall.

A man with snow-white hair and shaggy bangs sat there, holding a thick stack of papers. He wore a black belt with Sereb’s emblem, marking him as a Sereb student.

His bangs hid his eyes again. It looked so frustrating.

“Assistant Angel?”

He looked up. With his eyes barely visible, I couldn’t tell where he was looking.

“What’s a coreless person doing in Sereb Library? We only have brain-core-related books here.”

Creak.

Leaning back in his chair, Angel asked in a mocking tone.

He’d been digging through documents because of this supposed coreless person.

Here to taunt him?

“Am I not allowed in Sereb Library without a core?”

“Not that, but is it wise to drop clues in front of someone determined to find your core?”

“…I thought it was just talk, but you’re really trying to find it. Thank you so much.”

“…”

My genuine smile left him speechless.

Stunned, Angel twirled his pen.

“…Geez. How can I assist you, Sigrin?”

“I’m looking for some books.”

“Alright. What books do you need~?”

I wasn’t sure what clues she’d drop here, but he’d catch them.

“No specific titles, but I’d like books on ‘ether.’ I’d appreciate your help.”

Ether?

Why peer into the abyss? Ether studies were for eccentrics without manifested abilities, questioning their existence.

I’d expected her to look for ability manifestation books, so this was surprising.

“Ether studies? Alright, give me a moment~”

Angel picked up a fountain pen and began drawing a dense magic circle on a rectangular paper.

It took longer than expected.

While waiting, I looked around.

『Types and Enhancement Studies of Variant Cores』

A stack of papers on the desk caught my eye. Covered in notes, it seemed to be his thesis.

“What’s that?”

“My soul.”

“I see.”

During our brief chat, he finished the magic circle. Adding ‘ether’ as the keyword, Angel infused mana into the paper.

The circle, absorbing his mana, glowed dark blue and floated in the air.

“It’s a search paper. It’ll guide you to the book you want among the academy’s registered books. Just follow it. It glows brighter near books with your keyword.”

“Thank you.”

He replied curtly.

“Yeah, it’s my job. But there aren’t many ether-related books here. Sereb Library mostly has mana, circle magic, and alchemy books.”

“I see. Thanks for letting me know.”

“…”

After politely thanking him, I turned and walked deeper into the library.

Angel sipped his cold coffee, watching my back.

✦ ✦ ✦

Luckily, I found one relevant book.

Titled Ether and Cores.

It was so thick I had to hug it to carry it.

The book, rarely opened, released a cloud of dust when I flipped it.

Chapter 8: Variant Cores

Skimming the table of contents, I found an intriguing section.

Reading a page or two closely, several sentences jumped out.

Most cores form in the head, heart, or dantian. However, theoretically, cores can form elsewhere. Due to accidents, chronic illnesses, curses, or other reasons, if the three main cores are blocked, in rare cases, ether begins to gather and process in other parts of the body.

‘Huh?’

Chronic illnesses and curses.

Things that plagued me as a child.

I was in a wheelchair due to a curse that stunted muscle growth and suffered frequent fevers.

Of course, I overcame them with passion and money, so I’m fine now.

Organisms with variant cores have weak bodies because ether doesn’t flow normally. Since ether doesn’t circulate throughout the body, they may be mistaken for etherless.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

‘That’s me. It’s me!’

Variant cores can theoretically form spontaneously in places like the eyes, hands, solar plexus, or shins. The abilities from variant cores vary by location, as do their enhancement methods.

‘So how do you confirm a variant core?’

I read through the entire chapter.

But it was full of proofs for why variant cores must exist.

Variant cores were theoretical, rarely found in beasts or magical creatures, so there was little concrete information.

“…”

Thump, thump, thump.

My heart raced.

I shelved the book and stood up.

✦ ✦ ✦

“Please find books with ‘variant core’ as the keyword.”

“Variant cores?”

Angel, arms crossed, let out a baffled laugh.

“It’s funny that a mafia, who’d never touch a book, keeps trying to dive into the academic abyss.”

“I see. I’d appreciate it if you could prepare a search paper. The library’s closing soon.”

Angel scratched the back of his head, troubled.

“…Well, most ether and variant core books are niche, and related papers are usually held by professors doing private research, so they’re rarely in the library. I’d lend you my papers, but they belong to my advisor.”

After thinking, he tilted his face with a brighter expression.

His smile and eyes were full of curiosity, maybe even excitement.

“Oh! There might be some in Lemaos Library. It’s an integrated library with all kinds of books, mainstream to obscure.”

“Lemaos Library?”

Lemaos Library…

The place Luca occupied.

“If you end up fighting Luca, call me, mafia.”

Whispering in my ear, Angel extended his pinky for a promise. Up close, he smelled strongly of coffee.

“If you win and take the library, I’ll give you something good.”

A bundle of old keys jangled in his hand.