What caught Unwan's attention were the things inside the "Survival in the Night Curse Realm" faculty room. There were items there that could never be found in ordinary classrooms: strange tools, unfamiliar equipment. But what stood out the most was the number of students.
Aside from Genius Nort, there was no one else in the room.
'Is survival really not that important? Or do people trust their own knowledge that much?'
Genius invited Unwan to take a seat. After Unwan settled down, he asked:
— So, tell me. What do you think is the most important thing for survival?
Unwan pondered the question. Two answers came to mind. One was deep, but slow and heavy. The other was simple, yet not fully developed. Sometimes, a question isn't just about what is asked, but who asks it, because that determines how deep the answer should be.
He chose one and replied:
— Endurance.
Genius Nort rejected it immediately.
— Wrong.
Unwan thought again. If one option was wrong, surely the other must be right.
— Strength.
— Wrong.
— Safety.
— Wrong.
— Luck…
— Completely wrong.
Unwan grew irritated.
— Then what is it?
Genius answered calmly.
— Adaptability. Do you really think humanity reached this level only because of endurance, strength, safety, or luck? Only those who adapt survive. The rest, whether they conquer the world or are the strongest, if they cannot adapt, they are destined not to last long.
He let out a quiet sigh and continued.
— Starting today, for one month, we won't be learning how to survive. We'll learn how to adapt. If your goal is survival, you might manage. But if your goal is adaptability, then not only will you survive countless disasters, you'll do so without losing yourself.
As Unwan slowly processed these words, a sense of unease crept in. Nort was speaking too naturally, too sincerely. It felt… impossible. Unwan's [Unliked] curse should have had a negative effect.
At some point, I was going to ask this anyway. Better now than later.
While Nort was searching for something, Unwan quietly stepped closer and spoke.
— Genius Nort, I'm sorry for asking something strange, but… when you meet me or talk to me, do you feel anything unpleasant or uncomfortable? Please, be honest.
Without stopping his work, Genius replied.
— No. Why does that matter?
Unwan couldn't tell anyone about his curse. But perhaps he could explain it to Nort, indirectly. At the very least, Nort was the only person he felt he could trust right now.
— The thing is, my curse causes people around me to feel negative emotions. That's why I was curious why it doesn't seem to affect you.
— Ah, that. It's nothing. I'm immune to such things.
'What? How?'
As if reading his thoughts, Genius explained.
— Your curse exists, and I have a blessing. It allows me to easily get along with people and leave a positive impression. Sometimes, a person's blessing can overpower another's curse. But mine isn't something I can control. I don't choose who is good or bad for me.
Unwan's expression remained calm, but inside him, surprise and clarity bloomed.
'Ah… so that's where the answer was hiding. I wonder if there are others with such a blessing.'
'There are, but very few. And the chance of you meeting them is even smaller.'
At last, Nort found what he was looking for. He placed a large chart, or perhaps an information board onto the wide, empty wall at the center of the room.
— First, let me explain what the Night Curse is. Simply put, it is the shadow of our world. Or perhaps another world entirely, possibly even larger than ours. There is no sun there. That's why, Night creatures do not die naturally. However, it has two phases: day and night. Light exists there, illuminating the land, but it does not kill the creatures. And as you probably know, there are Altars and Caleostras.
Hearing this, Unwan suddenly recalled something he had once heard in the grimoire library.
— Yes, I understand that. But then what is the Caleostra in the grimoire library?
— It's a trial. Caleostra is essentially a seed of Night creatures. It usually appears in the Night Curse Realm or drops from certain Night creatures. If it grows, a Caleostra Disaster occurs, allowing Night creatures to invade our world. However, before it fully opens, Owners use it as a trial to ascend to a higher rank. Don't tell me you didn't know that.
Unwan remembered learning these things back in the orphanage, during the time he spent in his so-called 'laboratory'.
Genius Nort continued.
— As I said, the Night Curse is like the shadow of our world, or perhaps the other way around. Either way, it contains countless regions: deserts and jungles, frozen glaciers and terrifying mountains. My job and duty is to ensure you come back alive from such places. I will help you survive merciless taiga forests, blood-boiling deserts, cold so severe it makes you wish for death, and mountains thought to be unconquerable. But don't mistake this for ease. This won't be easy, it will be the hardest thing you've ever done. As they say, the harder the training, the easier reality becomes.
***
Unwan was drenched in sweat, his body feeling as if every last drop of moisture had been drained from it. His lungs burned from the lack of oxygen, and his muscles throbbed with unbearable heat and pain. And yet, it hadn't even been three hours since the training began.
Genius Nort relentlessly pushed Unwan's adaptability to its limits. During short breaks, he gave instructions, shared insights, and fed him new knowledge.
Eventually, half the day had passed. Genius Nort informed Unwan that he could leave and pointed out where the Faculty of "Martial Arts" was located. It was almost on the opposite end of the academy from the "Survival in the Night Curse Realm" faculty.
Which meant Unwan had no chance to rest. He even had to cancel his lunch.
At last, Unwan found the "martial arts" room, more precisely, the training hall, and stepped inside.