27 Seven Mysteries Part 8

Since Rain only wanted Kazuma to rest, he decided to follow suit and allow himself to recuperate. Given the mana he had expended earlier, it was entirely understandable for Kazuma to be experiencing fatigue. His mana reserves remained low, considering he had only begun his journey a week ago. Nevertheless, Kazuma took pride in what he had accomplished thus far. Despite his inherent weakness, he had successfully defeated two Qlipoth encounters, one of them through cooperative suppression.

However, the majority of his battles had been narrowly won, and any lack of vigilance could have resulted in more than just superficial injuries. It was clear that Kazuma needed to become stronger. If his goal was to earn money, then he would need to do so through legitimate means and by enhancing his capabilities.

He closed his eyes, seeking respite in the embrace of sleep.

"PSST..."

Startled, Kazuma's eyes snapped open, and he rose to his feet, scanning his surroundings. Although uncertain of the origin of the sound, Kazuma was convinced he had heard something. However, he was equally sure that he was alone in the infirmary, with Rain having left to inform the teachers in his classroom about Kazuma being sick.

Intrigued by the mysterious sound, Kazuma decided to investigate, rising from the bed to survey the area and identify the source. To his bewilderment, there was no one in sight. The other beds in the infirmary lay empty, deepening his frown. Kazuma even ventured into the room used by Rena and Raigaki to surreptitiously enter the infirmary, yet found no signs of anyone or anything capable of producing the elusive sound. The silence heightened the sense of mystery that hung in the air.

"Strange, I swear I heard someone seems to be calling me."

Kazuma scratched his head, trying to look around once more, but there was no one else there aside from himself. Perplexed, he returned to the bed, attempting to rest, and getting back on getting some Zs. Not that he had managed to sleep at all.

"F*ck, I can't even sleep."

He stood back up, leaning into the bed. Unable to find any way to drift into slumber, he decided to engage in something more worthwhile. Since Rain hadn't prohibited him from doing anything, and with no one else around, he reached for the item that Catmod had handed to him.

Since it helps him increase his mana tremendously, he decided to use it. After all, he might need the extra mana for later on.

Just like the elemental-enhancing pill, the one he holds serves a similar purpose. Upon swallowing the pill, he initiated a meditative state. The moment the pill entered his mouth, a burst of wild energy radiated through his body.

Without hesitation, he delved into meditation to harness and contain the excess power leaking out. This wasn't his inaugural meditation, so he adeptly managed to recuperate the surplus energy, deftly converting it into mana. While he may not grasp the underlying principles entirely, he now comprehends a significant portion of how it operates and the mechanics involved.

After several more attempts, the escaping energy gradually dissipated, and nearly all, if not all, the energy from the pill had transformed into his mana. He sensed an increase in something, though he couldn't discern the physical manifestation of the change.

The transformation was a welcome one, and he experienced a renewed sense of vitality. Additionally, the mana he had depleted during the battle against the specter had completely regenerated, eliminating the necessity for any further rest. This newfound energy imbued him with a heightened state of alertness and strength.

As he marveled at the results, he heard another "Psst," and this time, it seemed unnervingly close, as if someone were whispering right beside him. Despite scanning his surroundings, he couldn't discern the source of these mysterious noises.

Suddenly, the doors swung open, revealing Rain holding a stack of papers.

"Kazuma? I thought you were resting. Why are you already up?" Rain inquired.

"I replenished my mana through meditation. Since there was no one around, I decided to use the pill that Catmod had given to me earlier. After taking it and meditating, not only did my maximum mana feel like they had significantly increased, but the depleted reserves were also replenished and restored," Kazuma explained.

"I see. I was baffled to see that you already had all your mana restored, even though I left you for only a short time. So, that was the explanation, then. Oh, by the way, I already swung by your classroom and spoke to the teacher and Moonlight, letting them know that you are currently 'sick.' Your current teacher sent these worksheets and mentioned that once you're feeling better, you should work on them and send them to the faculty room."

"I understand. Oh, before I go, can I ask a question?"

"Hmm? Sure, what is it?" Rain looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Is there something else in here that makes a 'psst' sound? I initially thought it was someone else, but no one was around, so I figured it might be something else."

"A 'psst' sound? No, I don't think I hear it, but I believe I know one of the causes. And I think this is something you need to be aware of. I can't confirm if it's one of the Seven Mysteries you're hunting for, but take a moment to listen and discuss this with your squadmates, alright?"

Kazuma was taken aback. A mystery in the infirmary while a magician was in residence?

"You might be wondering why a place like the infirmary, where a magician like me stays throughout the day, would miss a Qlipoth. However, that wasn't the case. I had already detected it, but this thing was capable of eluding my grasp. It chose to possess the anatomical model of the human body and started moving. Perhaps that one is currently nearby and has returned. So, if you see one running around, that might be the culprit. You'll have to defeat it before it attacks or startles anyone. I failed to deal with it when it was still there due to how swiftly it moved from one place to another and when every time I am almost good to finish it for good, someone comes in which makes it really hard for me to deal with. Make sure to trap it before engaging in a fight to ensure it won't survive."

"I will keep an eye on it. Thanks for the information."

"Don't worry about it. Here are the papers. Since you are already excused, just answer the worksheet here in the infirmary and go back to your room once it is time for the next class."

Kazuma nodded. Since he had left his pen and other supplies, Rain lent him some things, and he proceeded to answer the worksheet. After a few minutes, he completed his assignment and left the infirmary. Before heading to the faculty room, he bid farewell to Rain. As he walked through the empty hallway, he noticed someone running. Kazuma frowned, sensing it might be a naked man. However, he couldn't confirm as the figure quickly turned at the intersection, obstructing a clear view.

"Maybe I was just imagining things. There's no way a streaker was actually present here inside the school."

In the faculty room, Kazuma peeked inside. Fortunately, the teacher was already there, organizing his materials after the class. After handing in the completed worksheet and addressing the teacher's concerns, Kazuma hurried back to the classroom.

During his return, he felt an unsettling gaze upon him. When he turned around, he caught a faint glimpse of someone running and disappearing again. A suspicion arose in Kazuma's mind.

"Perhaps it's the anatomical model. It seems to be running wild. Should I chase it down?"