Shadow Author

Chapter 39 19. Trick

?As Miss Smith was staring daggers at me I rushed to think of any possible excuse but nothing came to mind.

There was no way I'd be able to play it off. After all, I went from barely being able to stand to being full of energy.

At first, I only used it because if I didn't I would lose precious time. But now that I'm thinking back on it, doing so was a major blunder.

This was a huge shortcoming that happened because, for a split second, I was too tired and weak. Mentally abusing myself I made a note to be more careful when performing actions I should be capable of.

While still awaiting an answer I gave up hope and explained some of the power behind Mana Breath.

"It's a skill of mine."

"That's impossible! For someone of your age and experience, you'd have had to have been training every day since the moment of your birth, and even then it's still unbelievable."

I just gave her a simple smile because for once I had no way of explaining myself.

"Well, then you can say you just witnessed the impossible."

Miss Smith continued to stare at me dumbfounded. It probably didn't help that I wasn't giving much of a reaction and downplaying the significance of such a thing.

However I didn't have a choice, there was no backpedaling, and I was already caught.

"I refuse to believe such a thing! For years since I was a toddler I've been training to develop a skill so there's no way you completed one before me!"

'Ah, I see now, it's jealousy.'

Seeing Miss Smith's childish reaction a new thought popped into my mind.

Basing her personality on what I've seen and witnessed so far in addition to what I wrote about her a whole new path opened.

'What if I don't hide anything?'

An ordinarily horrible idea began to sprout in my head but this wasn't an ordinary circumstance.

'Of course, I need to have some reassurances set in place but for now, the information I have on her sister should serve as enough for the time being.'

My thoughts were buzzing as multiple scenarios and resolutions played out.

In the end no matter how much I thought about it and analyzed the possible outcomes I was left with two basic choices.

'Tell her or don't.'

One would forever change my life either for the good or worse while the other would leave me where I am.

It was a gamble.

But I liked my odds.

And most of all, it would be fun.

Having come to a solution I started laying everything out — of course except how I got my powers.

Acting as if I dropped a façade I dropped my head and shook it as if I was disappointed with something.

"I can't believe it took you this long to figure it out, and even now I have to explain myself, really you've disappointed me."

Hearing my out-of-character tone Miss Smith's thoughts changed from those of disbelief to annoyance.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Think! After everything I've shown you, do I have to spell it out?"

"Listen here, kid-"

"Enough of this it's obvious you're not going to get it."

"If you don't-"

"Firstly this is the second time I've used the skill around you. I attempted to get your focus when I used it in class but you didn't seem to take note of it. I even went out of my way to make it so that it was only you, Charlotte, and I in the room but that also failed. Therefore I had to resort to desperate measures and use it right now!"

Without leaving any time for her to retort I continued:

"Secondly there's no way you actually believe in your heart of hearts that Willow's aura attack failed! Your sensitivity to mana is much higher than mine so it should have come as a shock to you that a perfectly functional attack failed at the last second before hitting its target."

Putting the nail in the coffin I finished out my monologue with:

"Thirdly I come to you with information that no one else knows about. Then mention a secret technique of mine and you still don't connect the dots together?!"

I sighed.

"I thought you were better than this but it seems I thought wrong."

Having finished with all that I needed to say I turned and slowly started walking away towards the door to leave.

'Please work.'

I kept walking.

'Please, please, work.'

I was getting super close to the door.

'Come on, work, work, work!'

I was now touching the door.

'Shit, shit, shit!'

Slowly I was putting my weight on the steel door to open it while going at a snail's pace.

'Damn it, fucking shit, stupid ass gamble I'm never-'

"Wait!"

Hearing those oh-so-sweet words come from behind me I dropped my hand lightning-quick and paused. However, I made sure not to turn around so that way I wouldn't reveal my expression.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to realize who you are, please forgive me!"

Those honey-covered golden words felt like a melody to my ears.

'I did it! I really did it! At this rate, I should unlock an S-rank misinterpretation skill!'

Knowing that I had succeeded I calmed my raging heart and dropped my smile to return to my indifferent alias. As soon as I was sure Miss Smith wouldn't pick up on anything I turned back around to face her.

However, completely unexpectedly she was down on one knee bowing.

'Oh fuck.'

"My lord, please forgive this incompetent servant."

'What did I just get myself sucked into?'