Damn System

Esdeath's vision blurred, her legs trembling as she fought to stay conscious. Shadows crept at the edges of her sight, closing in as her body strained against her injuries. Desperate, she thought of her system and tapped into her SP points, hoping to gain a powerful healing skill.

"A high recovery skill!" she commanded.

But then, a notification chimed in her mind.

Esdeath felt a wave of frustration but couldn't argue with it. Healing skills, after all, were rare and came at a high price. In this world, resources like essence stones and magic formulas used for healing were incredibly valuable. Healers were among the wealthiest and most sought-after people, paid handsomely for their abilities.

the types of elemental affinities capable of healing—Nature, Light, and Dark. Each offered healing, but with unique methods and limitations.

Nature, for instance, was a defensive-type element, providing limited but steady regeneration. It couldn't instantly heal or cure wounds but offered resilience. Those with Nature affinity gained resistance to poisons, enhanced stamina, and gradual recovery. During battle, it kept the body going, slowly mending internal injuries, keeping vital organs functional even in dire situations. It couldn't heal fatal wounds instantly, but as long as the heart or brain remained intact, it could prolong life by repairing damage over time.

the Dwarf Kingdom, known for its skilled healers and surgical practices. Instead of using instant healing magic, they performed "operations" similar to Earth, transplanting organs to save lives. Nature-based magic was essential here, keeping patients stable during procedures and ensuring that even critical injuries could be managed. This healing method was slow, but it made medical care accessible even for commoners, bridging the gap between magic and practical medicine.

Next was the light element. Those who have this affinity often go on to become skilled healers, as light magic excels at quickly healing others rather than the user. A master of light magic, especially one with enough healing stones, can repair internal organs or even regenerate limbs in an instant. This power allows them to heal multiple people at once, making them incredibly valuable on the battlefield or in areas struck by disaster.

Light magic also provides additional benefits, like granting protective boosts or temporary barriers, making it as much about support as it is about healing. Because of these unique abilities, light magic is often practiced in the Kingdom of the Church, a place known for its saints and priests, where healers are trained as masters of this sacred art.

Finally, there was the dark element, which was entirely different. Unlike the supportive nature of light, dark magic is primarily offensive. However, it still offers the user some self-healing abilities. Those who master the dark path can heal their own wounds rapidly in the heat of battle. But dark magic has a big limitation: it can't be used to heal others. So while a dark-element user can fight fiercely and recover quickly, they must face their battles alone, unable to lend their abilities to others.

Esdeath groaned, her frustration mounting. "Fine! Just give me a basic, slow recovery skill!" She thought back to Ethan's righteous skill, which provided gradual healing, thinking how that would be more than enough to keep her steady. But as soon as she made her request, another notification from the system appeared.

Esdeath's mind went blank with irritation. She was already on the edge of passing out, and now, the system was playing games with her. The mention of "Time Path" healing sparked all sorts of questions, but her body was too exhausted to even think. With one last burst of frustration, she muttered in her mind, "Fuck you, system!" before her body gave in, collapsing to the ground as she slipped into unconsciousness.

---

At Awakened Academy, in the nurse's room, Ethan's eyes fluttered open. Dazed but alert, he quickly sat up on the soft bed, glancing around the unfamiliar room. To his surprise, three girls sat by his side, their faces etched with worry.

"Ethan, thank goodness you're awake!" Sylvania exclaimed, relief flooding her eyes as she reached over and took one of his hands.

Emma, clearly just as concerned, quickly grabbed his other hand. "We were so worried about you."

Violet couldn't hold back either; her face softened with relief as she pulled him into a quick hug. "I was scared," she said quietly, "Your injuries looked so bad, but I'm glad you' recovered so quickly."

Ethan managed a weak smile, though his mind was still clouded with memories of what happened. He touched his forehead, recalling his fight with Lortell, the blow that had knocked him out in one strike. "No… I was careless," he admitted, frustration and regret in his voice. "I forgot just how powerful she is."

Violet pulled back, looking at him with worried eyes. "But… why did you go against someone like Lortell? She's not the kind of person you can just pick a fight with."

The memory of Bella flashed before him, the way she had been bullied while no one did anything. "I couldn't just stand by," he said, anger simmering beneath the surface. "She was clearly bullying Bella, and no one tried to stop her."

Both Sylvania and Violet stared at him in shock. "Lady Mariette? A bully?" they echoed in disbelief.

Sylvania shook her head. "Isn't she known for being kind-hearted and respected throughout the kingdom? She leads the Third Division Squad, the heroes who saves countless people every year…"

"Yeah! She's more than just my role model—she's every girl's inspiration!" Violet added, her voice full of admiration. "Everyone wants to be like her!"

Ethan's expression turned bitter. "An idol, huh? That's all just a flat lie. She's not what you think—she's an evil person, and her so-called squad is nothing more than a group of criminals who've killed thousands." His fists clenched tightly as he spoke, anger simmering in his eyes.

Violet gasped, shaking her head in disbelief. "N-no… you have to be joking, right? There's no way she could be like that!"

From behind them, Emma chimed in, her voice hesitant but firm. "Ethan's right! Corin told me about this more than once, but I never wanted to believe it. Now that Ethan's saying the same thing, maybe… maybe it's true." Her words hung heavily in the air.

Sylvania's eyes widened in shock, as if her world had just shattered. "Corin said that? And he's the duke's son… if anyone knows the truth, it's him. I can't believe she's this kind of person!" Her voice wavered, filled with horror.

Ethan took a deep breath, steadying himself as he pushed himself up from the bed. Violet reached out, almost stopping him, but seeing he was steady, she hesitated and let him go.

"Don't worry," Ethan said firmly, looking at them with determination. "No matter how powerful she is, she can't fight the whole world alone. Now that we know the truth, let's work together. How about we form a team and expose her for what she truly is?" His words sparked a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

Sylvania and Violet exchanged glances, determination settling on their faces as they nodded in agreement.

-------------

At vanara tribe, Esdeath was laying on the floor unconscious but finally her body moved and slowly she regained her consciousness, She's been unconscious for more than half hour.

She touched her forhead in dizziness and slowly sat up, Her body felt heavy and filled like it was at it's limit of mana storage capacity.

Esdeath recalled her last memories an had a long breath, "Phew... I actually survived, But I can't take the risk of raising my mana even once", She thought as she looked around her, The floor was filled with her blood.

She quickly sat up and wiped the blood out of her mouth and also started finding an clothe to remove blood from floor.

She was lucky and actually there were many clothes placed in room that can be used for cleaning.

She took one an started cleaning, As she was cleaning se couldn't help but think of something, "My ESR talent is only 55%, That means,even if I have large mana, I can only draw out only 55% at once, For example, If I'm at a situation where I'm going to use all mana as I can took from my body to use, Then despite my best effort I can only draw out 55% , Around 38-40 mana only, And recovery will also be at 55%, Means after drawing out around 40 mp, I can recovery only 20-22 in a whole day, This thing is clearly giving me a broad disadvantage! ", she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

After a few minutes, Esdeath finished scrubbing the floor, making sure every last trace of blood was gone. She gathered the cloths, tossed them into the fire, and watched as the flames consumed the evidence, leaving nothing behind. A deep sigh escaped her as she finally felt a wave of relief. She sank onto her bed, letting her body relax for the first time.

But the calm didn't last long. Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang. Maruti stood there, her face serious and her eyes wide with urgency.

"We've got a big problem!" Maruti exclaimed, her voice tense.