Episode 2: No Matter How You Look at It, This Is Clearly a Superpower Story
“The 3rd Prince of the Empire is enrolling? Are you serious!?”
Judging by her reaction, it seemed like this was news to her. Abel nodded at his sister’s question and began to share the information he had heard at the royal palace.
“Not just the prince, Noona. You’ve heard of Akin Phoenix, right?”
“He’s considered the best fire-type ability user on the continent.”
“His son is starting as a freshman with me.”
“Oh my.”
“And that’s not all. Jacob Sparrow’s son is coming too.”
As she listened to her younger brother, Lumie, the eldest daughter of House Rotensilt, suddenly let out a gasp.
“Wait, Bel. That means… the sons of the top fire and water-type users are both entering our Continental Academy at the same time?”
“That’s right.”
“And like most top fire and water users on the continent, there’s no way those two will get along, right?”
“Probably… not?”
Abel hadn’t thought that far ahead when he was standing before the king—he’d been too nervous. A dull headache began to creep in, and he pressed his hand to his forehead.
It was always the same in superpower stories. Opposing elements never failed to clash—fighting during breaks, fighting while eating, fighting just because they ran into each other.
And on top of that, both had fathers hailed as the best in their respective fields. The pressure of having such a father, combined with the respect demanded of a top-tier legacy, didn’t need to be explained.
If only it ended there, that’d be lucky. The real problem comes next.
People from prestigious backgrounds usually come wrapped in self-confidence. But what if—just what if—one or both of them were also dealing with an inferiority complex?
And then they encounter their elemental opposite—someone who surpasses them in talent and growth?
“This is just the perfect setup for a villain origin story…”
“Huh? What did you just say, Bel?”
“Nothing, sister.”
If only he knew what kind of superpower story this was. Heck, even just knowing who the protagonist was would be helpful.
But Abel knew nothing—only the genre of this world. Remembering that fact again, he felt deeply relieved to have awakened a power of his own.
In this kind of world, a person’s life could be snuffed out in the blink of an eye. Especially for non-ability users, who constantly faced danger.
They could be collateral damage when ability users fought. Or become targets of extremists who claimed non-ability users were obsolete and called for their eradication. Either way, disaster was always around the corner.
That’s why he worked so hard. In this brutal world—this ability-user society where countless lives could be swept away—he needed the strength to at least protect his family.
First, he had succeeded in awakening his ability. Next, he would hone it at the academy and prepare for any unforeseen crisis.
“Hm. I should get going now.”
“You’re leaving already? There’s still a week left before the break ends.”
“I’ve got club activities. You’ll understand once you’re enrolled too—club activities are more useful than you’d think. The friendships you form there often last well beyond graduation.”
Oh? Was this a piece of advice from experience? A golden tip from a senior who enrolled two years earlier. Abel quickly jotted it down in a mental notebook.
Club activities at the Academy are essential. From the way his sister said it, he figured they offered useful insights into combat experience, instincts, and maybe even more.
“My little brother’s got a heavy burden to carry.”
“Sister?”
“A prince of the Empire. The sons of the top elemental masters. And probably other geniuses we haven’t heard about yet.
And the freshman representative of the Ascal Kingdom is you, Bel.”
“The freshman representative? Me? Since when?”
Abel looked visibly shaken. Lumie simply laughed, saying it was obvious—he even had an audience with His Majesty the King. That alone was proof enough.
After Lumie left, saying she’d see him at the Academy, Abel remained sitting blankly in the corner of the training ground.
Freshman representative of the kingdom—what a title. It was just for the freshmen, sure, but still, he was representing an entire nation. That was no small feat.
I was just thinking about making our family proud… This is way more pressure than I expected.
Standing up, Abel drew the sword hanging at his waist.
He could feel the weight of pressure creeping in—something he thought he’d never have to bear. His breathing grew shaky, and the tip of his sword failed to aim properly.
Focus.
He inhaled. Exhaled. One by one, he erased his thoughts until only one path remained—his own.
He let go of the fact that he was now representing a kingdom. Right now, only one thing mattered: what could he achieve with the sword in his hand?
The evaluators had said his ability was swordsmanship and physical enhancement.
But of course, he didn’t reveal everything in front of them. Basic rule of any superpower story: never reveal your trump card.
His blood surged through his veins. Though his body felt hot, the sensation in his sword was the opposite—it grew colder.
Who am I? What do I seek?
What is the best technique I can unleash for that purpose?
Even if you’re a prince of the Empire…
Even if your fathers are the most powerful men on the continent…
Even if you are the protagonists of this world…
The protagonist of this life is me.
This world is where my loved ones live.
That’s why I awakened my power—and I will never stop moving forward.
“…!”
Facing the sky, Abel swung his sword with all his strength, aiming at the moon.
There was nothing flashy about the technique. At this stage, he wasn’t so much a swordsman as a person with a sword and a supernatural ability.
Even so, his will to cut through his path was second to none. This was the path for his life—naturally, he would walk it. And to walk it, he would cut through anything in his way.
Ssshhh—
The wind blew. Embracing the pleasant breeze, he slowly lowered his sword.
Wait for me—Continental Academy. And all you ability users.
I’m coming. To write a new story.
Looking forward to the upcoming entrance ceremony, Abel turned to have his final meal with his family.
The moon, which his sword had just pointed to, continued to shine with a soft glow.
Nothing had changed before or after the slash.
Perhaps, even the moon hadn’t realized—
That the clouds which had gathered around it were now cleanly sliced in two, silently drifting across the night sky.
***
Three days later.
“We’re ready to depart, Young Master Abel.”
“I’ll be in your care.”
At Abel’s polite words, the coachman dispatched from the royal palace bowed deeply and reassured him not to worry.
Going to the Continental Academy wasn’t just a personal journey. It was a matter of national pride—of prestige and power.
That’s why the royal palace provided support to all entrants, regardless of status.
The luxurious and comfortable carriage provided was just one example.
“The other freshmen have already left, haven’t they?”
“Yes, Young Master. You are… oh—actually, not the last, but one of the last.”
“I see. Then let’s go.”
They were currently on their way to pick up one more student—Seria Frisian.
The king had personally requested Abel to accompany her. Not that it was a request in the friendly sense… but a request nonetheless.
“Count Rotensilt must be very pleased. I hear awakening a supernatural ability is extremely rare, and yet two of his three children succeeded.”
“Even today, the day his son is leaving, he’s all smiles—his grin practically reaching his ears. I’ll have to live up to those expectations. For Ascal Kingdom as well.”
“There are even rumors in the palace about how high their hopes are for your family, Young Master.”
As they chatted, the carriage arrived at the meeting spot.
Seria lived in a very remote area, so the kingdom arranged a teleportation spell for her.
But it looked like she hadn’t arrived yet.
‘It’d be nice if we could teleport straight to the Academy too…’
That was, of course, just wishful thinking. The Continental Academy was located within the Empire, so direct transport from the Kingdom wasn’t possible.
On top of that, the entire area was designated a restricted zone—even people from the Empire couldn’t enter freely.
“Young Master Abel, she’s about to arrive.”
Just as the coachman said that, the teleportation circle began to glow.
It might seem like a strange sensation for the traveler, but in reality, teleportation wasn’t that bad. You just stood still and waited to be transported to a preset location.
Thud!
“Kyaa!”
…Except this time, it looked like the girl had never experienced teleportation before.
“Ow ow…”
Like someone who had fallen from the sky, she landed hard on her butt and flailed around awkwardly.
Then, as her eyes met Abel’s slightly pitying gaze, she yelped “Ah!” and jumped up in a hurry.
Of course, in her panic, she tripped again—but let’s just ignore that part.
“W-Who are you?!”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Seria. I’m Abel Rotensilt, and I’ll be accompanying you to the Continental Academy.”
“Rotensilt… Wait—are you from that Rotensilt family?!”
“Most likely, yes.”
“I-It’s an honor to meet you!! I’m Seria Frisian!!”
She had quite the dramatic reaction.
That was Abel’s first impression of Seria.
“Let’s save the rest of the introductions for the trip. The other students have already left.”
“Wait, d-does that mean you’re late because of me?!”
“Not at all. Today was just my scheduled departure.”
“Oh! What a relief!”
Seria even clapped her hands in genuine relief. Then she immediately began chattering away with a bright smile.
There wasn’t anything particularly special about her stories, and yet… there was something about her energy that lifted up the mood. Something hard to explain.
“Honestly, I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I was so nervous—and excited! Actually, this is a secret, but… this is my first time leaving my territory!”
“I see.”
“I always thought I’d never leave. Maybe just travel around the kingdom a bit someday, but… Awakening an ability and then heading to the Academy? It feels just like a fairy tale!”
“A fairy tale, huh.”
“Yes! Like one of those stories where a clueless country girl suddenly gets a chance, travels the continent, and experiences all kinds of things!”
Even after the carriage started moving, Seria never stopped talking.
Normally, when someone talks that much, it gets annoying real quick. But strangely enough, that didn’t happen with her.
‘She must be one of those “cheerful support” types… Not bad.’
The comic relief. The queen of reactions. A must-have supporting character in every supernatural series.
That’s what Abel thought as he nodded along to her endless chatter.
One thing was for sure: the journey to the Academy was not going to be boring.