Chapter 35: Ranking Up
[Target Jeryon of Argenor has an Energy Pool capable of containing that amount of Energy. Meanwhile, Host currently only possesses an F-Rank Energy Pool. Forcing it to hold Energy exceeding its capacity by more than one rank will cause the Energy Pool to explode.]
The moment she heard the word explode, Shani shivered. "I’d rather only go up one rank than explode."
"But I won’t stay an E-Rank forever... right?" she asked hopefully.
[No, Host. Once the Energy within the Energy Pool exceeds its current capacity, the Energy Pool will gradually restructure itself. The restructuring time varies depending on the Energy Pool’s durability and the amount of excess Energy it contains.]
"Energy Pools have durability too? What else does having high or low durability affect?"
It was the first time Shani had ever heard the term. She was certain it hadn’t been mentioned in any of the academy books she’d read.
[An Energy Pool with high durability keeps the Energy inside it more stable, resulting in greater stability during regulation. Lower durability has the opposite effect.]
"Stable during energy regulation..." The tears that had almost formed disappeared, replaced by a wide smile.
Shani knew her regulation was already extremely stable. Which meant... "I won’t need long before I can rank up again."
Still in high spirits, she cheerfully said, "System, I’d like to buy enough Energy Potions for a total of 100 Energy!"
[Cashback Shop Activated! Purchase successful: 2 Common-Grade Energy Potions for 1,000 Credits. Remaining Cashback Balance: 706,570 Credits.]
Shani smiled wryly. She only needed to spend 1,000 Credits on herself, while she’d spent 75,000 Credits on Jeryon.
"That’s fine. Thanks to that, I ended up rich instead." She chuckled.
Taking the two small vials from her inventory, she was about to open them when she suddenly paused.
"System, will I get a fever like Jeryon after drinking these Energy Potions?"
[No, Host. The effects are different. Target Jeryon of Argenor developed a fever because his consciousness-awakened Energy Pool became emotionally unstable. It may have been caused by extreme happiness or extreme sadness.]
"The effects are different? Then what will happen to me?"
[Host will experience an increased appetite and become hungry more easily.]
Shani nodded in understanding. She already knew that the higher a beastman’s rank, the greater their nutritional requirements.
She didn’t mind. If she got hungry, she could simply buy more food. After all, money was no longer a problem.
Without wasting another second, she drank both vials.
They were completely tasteless, so there wasn’t even a need to rinse her mouth afterward.
She waited for a while. Nothing happened. She couldn’t feel any changes in her body.
"It looks like I won’t know my rank until I have it measured... They test Beast Energy once every month. Fine, I’ll just wait until then."
A broad smile spread across her face.
She couldn’t help imagining that when the next test came, she wouldn’t just become an E-Rank, but perhaps even a D-Rank.
Then, when Jeryon saw the results, she’d finally be able to tell him that his partner wasn’t as hopeless as she looked.
Speaking of Jeryon...
Shani got out of bed, intending to check on him, when her smartwatch chimed with a message.
"Thanks for your care, Shani. I’m feeling much better now. Let’s have dinner together before we continue our resonance tonight."
"Wow... the system’s medicine works incredibly fast," Shani murmured.
After replying to Jeryon, she spent the rest of the time working on the combat theory assignment from that morning.
...
Shani left her room for dinner. At the same time, Kiran stepped out of her room.
She immediately checked on Shani. Seeing that Shani looked perfectly fine, she let out a sigh of relief.
Then she excitedly told Shani how everyone had been avoiding Dave throughout the entire class.
That reminded Shani of Leah Benett. "Is Leah still staying in her room?"
Kiran nodded. "That’s what I’ve heard. Her sister’s been bringing her meals, which is why Lara came to our cafeteria yesterday."
"But after what she did to you, the instructor gave her an ultimatum not to bother you again. If she does, she’ll receive demerits."
Shani opened her smartwatch and sent Damon a message.
After that, neither of them brought up Leah again.
Jeryon was already waiting for the two girls in front of the elevator. His face was still pale, but he no longer looked delirious like he had earlier.
"You still need to take your medicine so your fever doesn’t come back." Shani held up the vial containing the All-Fever Potion.
She didn’t hand it over immediately. She wanted to make sure Jeryon drank it right in front of her.
As the three of them entered the cafeteria, every student who noticed them instinctively fell silent.
Near the food counter stood two familiar figures. Lara and Dave.
The atmosphere instantly turned tense as the two groups locked eyes. Lara dramatically turned her head away. Dave didn’t look at them for long either.
"Do you think Lara was the one who told Dave to do that to you?" Kiran guessed.
"Do what?" Jeryon’s ears perked up. His gaze shifted back and forth between Kiran and Shani.
Kiran immediately covered her mouth before turning toward Shani.
Left with no choice, Shani explained what had happened in the cafeteria yesterday, as well as what Dave had done during combat class earlier.
Jeryon’s hands clenched into fists. "They did that to you? This is my fault! Why is everyone taking it out on you?"
The redness that had finally faded from his face after the fever immediately returned, this time from anger.
Shani quickly told him to calm down. The last thing she wanted was for him to come down with another fever from getting worked up.
Jeryon did his best to suppress his emotions, but inside, his thoughts churned violently.
There was nothing he hated more than seeing someone else suffer because of him. Especially when that person was Shani.
While he silently considered what he should do next, the three of them finished their meal.
...