CHAPTER (24): Deviants?

'Oh, really…okay. That'll be nice,' Verlice said, grinning.

A few seconds later, Lera had fetched the information.

<As you must have already known, the previous Verlice was an adventurer and also a citizen of Dreill. And as a citizen of Dreill, he has his registration number. However, you can't use his registration number for some reasons.>

'Huh? Dreill? I don't know any place with that name. And why can't I use his registration number?' Verlice asked, frowning.

<There are many reasons why you can't use his registration number, but I'll give you two of them. These two reasons are the most paramount ones.>

<First, the city in which he's a citizen is a city owned and inhabited mainly by humans. Dreill is basically the capital of humans. I'm pretty sure you don't know these things. But don't worry, once you're done with this registration and settled into the academy, I'll tell you about the seven cities of this world and some of the necessary information you need to know about them. Even some of the things that happened to them in the past.>

<Although Dreill is the capital of humans, that does not mean mages/elves don't live there. Mages can live there, but their citizenship will always remain in their capital city, which is known as Azuche. And the same goes for elves in their capital city, Easves. The cities here are quite complicated and diverse from those in your previous world, just know that.>

'If I understand correctly, you're implying that I can't use Verlice's registration number because it isn't registered in Azuche, right?' Verlice chimed in.

<Looks like you're not completely dopey. Yes, you're right. That's what I'm trying to say. Do you have any other questions?> Lera retorted.

'You said there were two reasons, but you only gave one reason. What is the second one?' Verlice asked, curious.

<That one is not really necessary. The whole point of me telling you the reason was so you'll understand why you can't use Verlice's registration number. Now you already know it, the second reason is… won't add anything,> Lera asserted, keen to circumvent Verlice's question, but the latter isn't giving in.

'I'm just curious. I know it won't do any good, but I still want to know. Besides, you spoke of it first,' Verlice insisted, smirking mischievously.

<All right, I'll tell you. The second reason is that I don't want Verlice's enemies to come looking for you, thinking you're the real Verlice. That guy has a lot of enemies and not even a single friend. I think that contributed to his frustrations. Again, he isn't a Deviant. He only relied on his physical strength and sheer manpower,> Lena finally answered, but what she didn't know was that this was just the beginning.

'I don't understand, what do you mean by "Deviant"? Is that an attribute or something?' Verlice inquired, confused as well as curious.

' 'The word sounded familiar. If only my coming into this world hadn't jumbled my memory, I'd remember many things.' '

As familiar as the word 'Deviant' sounded, he couldn't remember where he heard it or what it actually meant.

<In this world, humans are divided into two categories. One group is the normal humans, just like the people in your previous world. The other group is called Deviants. Deviants are humans who have had an awakening, whereby they have developed various abilities and monstrous powers. Deviants are just as strong as mages. And they use their abilities like mages use their spells. They use these abilities with the help of mana, just like mages. In fact, they are not strikingly different from mages. The only difference between them and mages is that they are not born with these abilities. All humans are normal from birth, but those who are lucky awaken and become Deviants. If a human child does not awaken after seven years, they have a zero chance of becoming a Deviant again.>

Verlice listened to everything Lera said and was amazed at the existence of Deviants, whom he now considered superhumans.

This was something that was impossible in his previous world.

When he learned about the Deviants and how they were just as strong as mages, it somewhat made him happy.

Humans won't be weak and helpless against other races anymore. They'll be able to protect themselves and fight for themselves.

Even though he was no longer human, he still had a deep attachment to humans, for he didn't see himself as anything other than a human.

The fact that he was born a human will never change, even after he became a silver-haired mage.

<Don't rejoice yet because I've bad news too>, Lera spoke, calling him out of his thoughts.

'What kind of bad news?' Verlice asked, frowning.

Lera heaved a sigh and began: <The Deviants' population is small. Only 40% of the annual human births are Deviants, the rest are normal humans. So you see, they're small>

'Oh... Regardless, it's still better than nothing. At least there will be one or two Deviants in every human community to protect weak humans. That's not much bad news,' Verlice casually remarked.

<Ok, enough with the talk about deviants. I'm going to assign you a new registration number now> Lera said, bringing back the main topic.

'Under which city? Verlice asked.

<Azuche, the capital of mages, of course. In what other city do you think mages can get a registration number?>

'I don't know any other city here except for the ones you mentioned earlier.'

Verlice shrugged his shoulders.

<I've already told you that today when you're free, I'll carefully explain everything you need to know about the seven cities, how the government works, and some of the past events I'm sure you'll be interested in.>

'Suit yourself,' Verlice agreed.

<Your registration number is 290103. As for the family you come from, leave that to your new friend. I see he has the potential to help you with that. But even if he doesn't, just tell them you're an orphan,> Lera let out lazily.

'290103, okay. It's not that hard to remember. But wait a minute, why is my registration number my birthday?' Verlice asked as he realized his registration number was the same as his date of birth, but that was the moment the student in front of him stepped aside, leaving him as the next person to be examined.

"The boy with the silver hair, please step forward," Driscoll conveyed coldly.

'What?!'

<What?! Oh no, this is bad.>