Notes

Transcendence



Chapter 6: "The Class and The Unclassified"
[SEVENTH TO ?? SECTION]


[SEVENTH SECTION]

Outside the classroom, Shiro followed Siri down the hallway.

"What is it, Siri-sensei?" he asked. "Also... sorry for dozing off earlier."

"It's fine. I blame Ely, not you," Siri replied casually.

At that moment, her mind flashed back to the aftermath of Ely's chaotic game of cat and mouse with Shiro.

Earlier—After Ely’s Capture

Following a sharp smack to the head—

"That's rude, Siri-chan!" Ely whined, rubbing the fresh bump with a pout.

"You asked for it, idiot," Siri replied, unbothered.

Ely turned to Shiro, still lying on the ground. "Shiro-chan, too! You shouldn’t have let Siri-chan hit me," she huffed.

"I don't like hitting women... unless necessary," Shiro responded, kneeling beside her.

Then, suddenly—

RUMBLING.

"Mgrruhh!" Shiro groaned, doubling over and clutching his stomach.

"Shiro-chan?!" Ely blinked, surprised.

"...Hungry," he muttered weakly.

"Huh?"

"I'm starving!" Shiro yelped. "This is your fault, Ely-sensei! Take responsibility!"

"Ehh?! What did I do?" she exclaimed.

Siri, watching, quickly understood. "That particular Survival Art of yours," she noted, closing her eyes in thought. "Survival Art: Adaptability - Endothermic," wasn't it?

Shiro nodded.

Siri continued, "It pushes your limits by increasing body temperature, blood circulation, and metabolism—but in exchange, it rapidly depletes your energy reserves. Simply put, it makes you hungrier faster. That’s the tradeoff."

"Y-Yeah, exactly," Shiro admitted, still kneeling.

"Ohh! So that means your appetite is—" Ely started.

"Voracious," Siri finished for her.

"Yeah..." Shiro sighed.

"Amazing, Shiro-chan!" Ely beamed. "Where did you learn Survival Arts? We've never heard of such a discipline before."

"I created them," Shiro stated simply.

Both women stared at him.

"You... created them?" Ely repeated.

Shiro nodded.

"Ohh! I thought that was pre-determined by your Class. Or maybe... the other way around?"

Shiro ignored the question and sighed. "Ely-sensei, how long are you going to stay like that?" he asked, turning his head.



"Ara~! Are you enjoying the view of a vulnerable woman, Shiro-chan~?" Ely teased, her voice soft and playful. "I’m even wearing something lascivious down there. You’re such a naughty little man. Do you want to jump me?"

"Shut up!" he muttered, looking away, his face turning red.



Ely giggled but soon covered her mouth with a yawn. "Mmm... I’m sleepy..."

Shiro's eyes widened. "Ah! I forgot!" He moved closer, taking Ely’s wrist.



"Ara~? You’re making a move on me right here, right now, Shiro-chan~? So bold of you!" she continued teasing, her eyes gleaming mischievously.



"Wha—?! No! I'm treating your wound!" he snapped, flustered.

Taking out a light red potion, he poured half the liquid onto her wrist. As the potion touched her skin—

Sizzle.

"Ugh..." Ely let out a soft moan as the wound began sealing rapidly.

"Drink this," Shiro handed her the rest of the potion.



"Mmm... Can you feed me, Shiro-chan~? I’m too weak to move," she said with a smirk.

"Mmgh!" Flustered, yet irritated, Shiro gently lifted her forward and pressed the potion to her lips.

She drank, and her body glowed faintly.

"What is this?! My body feels lighter, and my strength is coming back!" Ely exclaimed in surprise.

"A Recovery Potion?" Siri asked.

Shiro nodded. "Yes. The blade that cut her was spiked with a Drowser Potion—that’s why she was getting sleepy and losing strength."

"Ohh... I didn’t notice that," Ely admitted. Then, with a smirk, she added, "I wonder how else you plan to use such a potion~?"



"I have no idea what you're implying, Ely-sensei," Shiro muttered, puzzled. "But I’ve never used this before today."

"Where did you even get your hands on something like that?" Ely asked, her playful tone fading slightly. "A potion like this could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Not to mention, you had all those smoke bombs, too!"

"There’s an Alchemy Shop in my homeland. The owner is a close friend of mine—a Mage. I helped her often, and in return, she taught me about alchemy. She knows my preferences and always recommends what I need," Shiro explained.

"I see~," Ely hummed. Then, her playful grin returned. "But I never expected you to get along with women so well, Shiro-chan~!"

"I just act natural!" he retorted. "Besides, aside from the alchemist, my tutor was also a woman—a Mage, too."

"Lily-chan," he added.

Siri suddenly interrupted, "Lily?"

"Yeah. You know her?" Shiro asked.

Siri's eyes narrowed slightly. "A bookworm with long green hair and round glasses?"

"Y-Yeah... that’s her. Wait—you actually know her?"

Before Siri could answer, Ely chimed in, "Shiro-chan, Lily was Siri-chan’s apprentice! And not just that—she was the top student in the Academia!"

"Eh?! Seriously?!" Shiro’s voice rose with surprise.

Siri nodded. "When I last wrote to her, she mentioned mentoring a unique child—born with exceptional traits and natural talent. She never gave a name… but I didn’t expect it to be you."

She then continued, "And let me guess—your alchemist friend is Tia."

Shiro blinked. "Wait… you know Tia too?"

"Yes," Siri confirmed with a slight smirk. "Tia was also my apprentice. She, Lily, and one other reigned as the Academia’s top three Mages."

Shiro felt a strange tension in the air. "Wait… the third one… you don’t mean—"

"Alexi?" Siri finished for him.

Shiro's breath hitched. "You knew her too?"

Siri smiled. "So, it really was you."

"What... do you mean?"

"Six years ago, Alexi told me about a boy who saved her from a bandit ambush. She had been abducted, nearly assaulted… but a six-year-old child fought back. She said he was frighteningly strong, had sharp instincts, and showed no fear—even when facing monsters that killed the bandits."

Siri's gaze locked onto him.

"She clearly remembered his name."

"‘Shiro.’"

"A child with dark gray hair and light blue eyes—who was kind, brave, and selfless."

A pause. Then—

"It looks like you've actually met my three best Mages, Shiro—no."

Siri’s voice sharpened.

"Shiro Miraku."

Shiro froze. His breathing hitched.

‘She knows my family name!’


[End of Seventh Section of Chapter 6: "The Class and The Unclassified"]







[EIGHTH SECTION]

‘How does Siri-sensei know my family name?’ Shiro’s breath quickened as sweat formed on his brow. ‘Tia-chan and Lily-chan know, but Tia-chan didn’t stay in contact, and Lily-chan never said my name. Alexi-neechan only knew my first name, not my family name. Just how?!’

Siri stood in front of him, calm, a slight smile on her face.

Ely, on the other hand...

‘Shiro-chan is a Miraku? One of the descendants who practice Ancient Rituals?’

Thump, thump, thump, thump…

‘His heartbeat… that’s not from his Survival Arts.’

‘It’s from genuine fear.’

"Siri-chan~! You're scaring him," Ely finally spoke, her voice still playful but carrying an unmistakable hint of protectiveness.

"I know," Siri replied, her tone unreadable. "I just figured that out."

Ely turned to Shiro, her gaze softer. "Shiro-chan, are you really a Miraku?"

Shiro lowered his head, unable to find the words. He simply nodded.

"Amazing," Ely murmured, eyes glimmering with intrigue. "But... why are you afraid, Shiro-chan?"

Shiro exhaled sharply before answering, "I thought my family name would attract unwanted attention. Miraku descendants are innately blessed with Ancient Arts—the mother of all Arts. Non-descendant practitioners can still be blessed, but not to the same extent as pure descendants. And because I awakened as G-Rank, it’d cause conflict... just like how I beat Ely-sensei, an S-Ranker, in her own game."

"Ancient Arts…" Siri murmured thoughtfully.

Shiro hesitated before asking, "H-how did you know, Siri-sensei?"

"The Sun and Moon amulets. You're wearing them," Siri gestured toward his chest.

Shiro instinctively placed a hand over them, even though they were hidden beneath his uniform.

"Those aren’t ordinary amulets," Siri continued. "The fact that you're carrying both, instead of just one, means…"

“…You are practicing both Ancient Rituals—an impossible feat even for a pure Miraku descendant."

Shiro stiffened. "Y-you're not a practitioner, are you, Siri-sensei?"

"No. But there are many Miraku descendants across the world, and we know of only one person who mastered both Ancient Rituals. Only a pure Miraku descendant can fully master them, even if it’s just one of the two."

"True! This means that you can use Ancient Arts, Shiro-chan~?" Ely’s voice rose in excitement.

"Yes, but I haven’t mastered them yet. It’s too difficult... but I keep going," Shiro admitted, slowly regaining his composure.

"Being the mother of all Arts, mastering Ancient Arts is the most difficult…" Siri stated.

"...And the most dangerous," Shiro finished, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

Rolling up his sleeve to his elbow, he revealed his forearm. Severe burn marks ran along his skin—dark, uneven, and unmistakably painful.

"...Especially if you lack mastery."

"That's…!" Ely gasped.

"'Refrain Curse'," Siri observed, exhaling softly. "Thankfully, it's not the 'Revolt Curse,' which is the true punishment for abusing the power—especially for evil purposes. The 'Refrain Curse' is a failsafe, preventing further self-harm due to lack of mastery. It also suppresses potential and limits power until one's mastery improves."

"Yes," Shiro nodded in agreement.

"Shiro-chan, why did you go that far?" Ely’s voice was filled with concern. "Those burn marks are serious."

Shiro stared at his scars for a moment before answering.

"That day, I overused it... I had no choice. If I hadn’t, not just me, but everyone there… would have died. No, the entire Northeast District would’ve been annihilated."

"The Northeast District… could that be where the kingdom—?!" Ely's voice wavered.

"The Demon Army Invasion," Siri finished. "It happened last year. You were involved. How did you end up there?"

Shiro exhaled deeply before explaining. "After I survived and escaped the 'depths of hell,' I somehow ended up in the Northeast District. I live in the East District, which was far away. I stayed there for a week, waiting for my mother to find me and take me home. Then… I got caught in the middle of the Demon Army invasion. I had no choice but to fight. The Sun Ritual was my only option to win against the demons, but overusing that power took a severe toll on my body. My mother caught up just in time."

His grip on his forearm tightened. "The pain was unbearable, unimaginable. Not even healing magic or my resiliency could numb or stop it. My mother had to put me into a deep sleep. The kingdom was saved… but I suffered from the ‘Refrain Curse.’"

Ely’s brows furrowed with worry. "That’s cruel, Shiro-chan."

"I see," Siri murmured. ‘So it was Shiro who stopped the invasion. The reports at the time were unbelievable. The Sun Ritual—that’s the power of the Sun Goddess. Nothing can resist it. The same applies to the Moon Ritual from the Moon God. Their powers are absolute and infinite. The branched traditional Arts only exist because Ancient Arts were found too difficult to master.’

"Don't worry, Ely-sensei," Shiro reassured her. "I don’t risk using Ancient Arts. I have to continue my training before I can even think of using them again. Besides, I have my Survival Arts and…"

He hesitated for a second.

"...Another Art that I created."

Siri's eyes sharpened. "Other Art?"

"You created another Art, Shiro-chan~?" Ely repeated, her curiosity peaking.

"Y-yes," Shiro admitted, shifting uncomfortably.

Siri narrowed her eyes slightly. ‘He created two unique Arts? Is that even possible?’

[End of Eighth Section of Chapter 6: "The Class and The Unclassified"]










[NINTH SECTION]

Shiro introduced the second Art he had created to Siri and Ely.

"Beast Arts?" they repeated in unison.

"Yes," Shiro confirmed. "I learned Survival Arts when I was younger. But Beast Arts... I created it when I was trapped in the 'depths of hell.' I was eight years old at that time." His voice lowered. "However, the way I first discovered Beast Arts was..."

He trailed off, unable to find the right words. Ely, watching him closely, could sense it in his eyes.

Words couldn’t express it.

An unimaginable horror.

As Shiro continued his explanation, his mind drifted back to that time—the moment in the 'depths of hell' when he first awakened his Beast Arts.

With nothing to eat and starvation pushing him to the brink, Shiro desperately tore into the raw flesh of a monstrous beast he had slain. It wasn’t the first time—he had been feeding on monster meat to survive since the beginning. His body had deteriorated from the toxic flesh, only to adapt over time.

But this one...

This one was different.

"AAARGH!"

Shiro screamed in agony, clutching his throat as a searing pain tore through him.

Gulp, gulp, gulp...

"Mmmgghruhh..."

He plunged his face into a nearby pond, desperately drinking its healing water. But—

"It’s not going away! The pain just keeps coming back! What’s happening to me?! What was that monster I ate?!"

He drank again, frantically trying to soothe the burning in his body.

"My body... it can’t digest it!"

A sudden jolt of pain sent him staggering forward.

COUGH! GASP!

COUGH! GASP!

COUGH! GASP!

He vomited blood—buckets of it.

"The pond’s healing magic is keeping me alive, but my body keeps deteriorating! It’s not working at all!"

"Something is eating me away from the inside!"

Tears, bloodstained. Eyes, bloodshot. Skin, tearing apart. Body, convulsing violently.

Heartbeat, erratic.

Veins and arteries, pulsing.

Blood, bursting from every part of him.

His voice turned to guttural growls. His screams, into savage roars.

Ferocity overtook him.

Madness persisted.

And yet—

The cycle repeated. Over. And over. And over.

The pain never stopped. He lost track of time. How long had it been? Hours? Days? Weeks?

His endless screams echoed through the darkness, drowning out the horrific sounds of his own body ripping, tearing, regenerating.

His shadow—distorted, twisted—depicted something unrecognizable.

Then... darkness.

He passed out, swallowed by the endless agony.

When he awoke, weak and trembling, he caught his reflection in the pond.

His breath hitched.

"What... have I become?" His voice was barely a whisper. "Have I turned into a monster?"

The memory faded, snapping him back to the present.

"After the 'metamorphosis'... my body became like this," Shiro finished. "From that moment on, I felt like I was no longer human. If not for my 'Survival Art: Adaptability,' I never would have been able to endure my first monster meal—no matter what."

"Shiro-chan..." Ely's voice was soft, filled with unspoken emotions.

'A body that adapted to monster cells…' Siri thought, her eyes narrowing slightly. 'Monster cells altering the human body… That should be impossible. But Shiro's Adaptability pushed him beyond limits no one could even comprehend. It’s not just an ordinary ability… It’s something far greater. Something that can transcend.'

"While Survival Arts are for support, Beast Arts are purely offensive," Shiro continued. "Defense falls somewhere between the two. I was able to survive and escape the 'depths of hell' thanks to these two Arts I created."

"Shiro-chan, what abilities do the Beast Arts have?" Ely asked, her usual curiosity returning.

"Beast Arts allow me to mimic monster traits and abilities," he explained.

Siri and Ely were visibly taken aback, though Siri remained composed.

"In other words, you can acquire a wide range of abilities depending on the monster?" Siri questioned.

"Yes. I’ve already developed common traits, but I don’t want to demonstrate them right now. That’s because—"

RUMBLE...

"Mmghur!" Shiro clutched his stomach. "This... is why," he groaned.

"Beast Arts consume a lot of your energy, don’t they, Shiro-chan?" Ely asked, concern in her tone.

"Y-Yeah. It makes me hungry way too fast. That’s why I don’t use it unless absolutely necessary," he admitted. "But... if my stomach is full, my overall strength and limits increase drastically. On top of that, eating monster meat heals me."

"Amazing!" Ely beamed in fascination. Then, her playful tone returned. "Shiro-chan~! Does that mean you can have cat ears?"

Shiro blinked. "...Huh?"

"Can you show me?" Ely’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

"No, thanks. That’s embarrassing," he muttered.

"Aww... I really wanted to see cat-eared Shiro-chan~! I’ll even make a costume for you! Tee-hee!"

"I’ll pass, Ely-sensei!"

"I’ll treat you to a buffet! You can eat as much as you want~!" she baited.

"Uhhh..." His resistance wavered.

Before he could answer, Siri intervened.

"Let’s go," she said, pinching Ely’s ear and pulling her away from Shiro.

"Ow, ow, owowowow! Siri-chan!" Ely whined in protest.

Ignoring her, Siri turned to Shiro. "Eat and rest. You have class in two hours."

"Got it," he nodded.

"See you later, Shiro-chan~—Ow! Siri-chan~! Be gentle! My ears are delicate!" Ely pouted.

"Then move faster before I actually tear it off," Siri retorted flatly.

"I got it, I got it! You’re too rough, Siri-chan~—Ow!" Ely’s teasing voice faded into the distance.

Shiro exhaled, watching the two disappear.

'They really get along, don’t they?' he thought, still confused by their dynamic.

"Anyway... time to get ready for class and—"

RUMBLE!

"Argh! I get it, okay! I’m gonna eat a lot, dammit!" he grumbled as he made his way toward the dormitory.

[End of Ninth Section of Chapter 6: "The Class and The Unclassified"]









[TENTH SECTION]

Siri’s thoughts drifted back to the present as she walked alongside Shiro, their conversation continuing through the hallways.

"Survival Arts and Beast Arts..." Siri muttered, lost in thought.

"Siri-sensei?" Shiro glanced at her, having caught her words.

"Frankly, I'm curious to learn more about the two Arts you created. If they had been discovered and studied, they could have been added to the list of all known Arts," she remarked.

"I don't think anyone can learn my Arts, especially Beast Arts," Shiro replied.

"I know. The way you first cultivated it makes it impossible for anyone else to replicate. Too dangerous, too fatal... and the drawbacks are inhumane. It looks like only you can use them. Your Adaptability is an innate ability, and you even came up with the name 'Survival Arts' yourself. That alone is impressive. The same goes for your Beast Arts," she said, admiring his ingenuity.

Then, with a small smile, she added, "A Miraku descendant, not only blessed with Ancient Arts but also the creator of two unique Arts... That makes you the most exceptional among your fellow descendants."

She looked at him meaningfully. "Remember, your forefather—" she referred to the Progenitor, "—created the ten traditional Arts for all to learn. In the present, everyone is blessed with those Arts, except for Ancient Arts, which can only be obtained through effort, discipline, and virtue. The pure descendants inherit Ancient Arts as their innate abilities, including you, Shiro."

She continued, "That said, it's not the Modern Gods who bestow Ancient Arts upon people—it's the Ancient Gods. Their blessings are not determined by the Modern Gods or the ranking system they established. Your Survival Arts and Beast Arts don’t stem from those systems. They are based on you, your experiences, and your will."

Shiro’s eyes widened slightly, moved by her words.

"I won’t pressure you, but I want you to be confident in carrying your forefather’s name. It may attract attention—and conflict—because of your rank, but once you've proven yourself, people may reconsider their perspective on you. They might even say, 'You're more than a G-Ranker,' and respect you.

"I do not tolerate prejudice in any form. If you don’t stand your ground, you’ll be the subject of it. Once you gain access to the Quests in the Quest Hub and, eventually, the Adventurers' Guild, you can raise your rank. You don’t need to prove yourself too much, just enough to make them change their minds. I reckon your master told you the same thing... that, and the fact that you are unclassified because your Class is Survivalist."

"You don’t mind if I stand out, Siri-sensei?" Shiro asked.

"No. Just don’t overdo it, and don’t reveal your true powers. The Headmaster is well aware of your existence," she advised.

"The Headmaster knows me?" Shiro’s curiosity sparked.

"Not personally. He wants to meet you, but his schedule is too tight to accommodate you for now. Don’t worry—despite the frightening aura you sensed beyond his door yesterday, he is a kind and understanding man. But that doesn’t mean you should take him lightly. He himself is a force to be reckoned with," she warned.

"I got it," Shiro nodded. Then, after a brief pause, he asked directly, "Sensei, if you don’t mind me asking... how much do you know about me?"

Siri tilted her head slightly. "Not much. But tell me, do you think all races get along?"

"Yes," he replied simply. "Why ask that all of a sudden?"

"There are many races, not just humans. In your homeland, you’ve met High Elves and a demoness. Here, you met William—a Dwarf. But not all races get along. For example, Demons and Celestials are mostly rivals. Demons are open and sociable with other races, while Celestials are militant and often disregard them."

Shiro blinked, absorbing the information as Siri continued.

"The Ashen Party was founded by someone who accepted all races. Humans, Dwarves, Witches, Vampires, Demons, Elves... even a Celestial. That made our Party one of the most unique among all known Parties."

‘Ashen Party... so Siri-sensei was a former member, too!’ Shiro realized. Then, something struck him.

"Wait... only one Celestial?"

"Yes. She was the only one in her race who rebelled against their traditions and followed her own will," Siri explained.

Shiro looked down, thinking. Then...

"Sensei, are you living with free will?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?" she returned.

Shiro hesitated before answering. "I don’t mean to be rude, but..." He paused, then continued, "I've been familiarizing myself with your scent, and I realized... you're not human. You're a Witch."

Siri scoffed, amused. "Your sense of smell is truly remarkable. That means you've met Witches before."

"Yes. Some were friendly... some were hostile," Shiro admitted, his tone lowering.

"In the ‘depths of hell,’ I presume?" she guessed.

"Mm," Shiro nodded, recalling something. "There was one Witch who captured and trapped me in her home. She was all-powerful, terrifying, and unmatched. My only way to escape was to outsmart her and turn her own spells against her. I took a risky gamble, but with enough luck, I escaped... without looking back."

"I see. That explains why you were uneasy around me at first. Because I’m a Witch, you were on high alert, as always," Siri noted, impressed.

"Y-Yeah... but you don’t give off any malicious scent, which means you’re not evil. Also... you’re unpredictable, which is why I stay alert. And I’m afraid," Shiro admitted.

"And yet, you’re still here," Siri observed. "Not many students would approach me like this—except for my three apprentices."

Then, returning to her earlier question, she asked again, "So, Shiro, do you still think all races get along?"

"Yes!" his answer remained firm. "Honestly, I don’t care about traditions or anything that divides races. My homeland accepts all races without prejudice or conflict," he stated.

Siri narrowed her eyes slightly, listening.

"I don’t force anyone to get along if they don’t want to," Shiro continued. "I just don’t want conflict between races. If I can make friends with them, that’d be great... and fun!" he added with enthusiasm and a bright smile.

Her eyes widened slightly, subtly shocked.

‘Those words...’

‘They’re exactly the same as what he said to me!’

[FLASHBACK]
A young Siri, still a student at the Academia, stood with her friends, speaking to a boy her age.

"Is it really okay with you?" young Siri asked. "You're human. I'm a Witch. She's a Celestial!" She gestured toward her Celestial friend.

"And she's an Elf!" She pointed at young Ely, who grinned excitedly.

"Yes!" the boy replied warmly. "What’s wrong with that?"

Siri hesitated. "They don’t like us because we’re different. We’re not human."

The Celestial girl spoke neutrally but coldly. "I despise my own race from the bottom of my heart."

The boy smiled. "I don’t care about that. I just don’t want conflict between races. If I can make friends with them, that’d be great... and fun!"

The three girls were dumbfounded by his words.

Siri’s memory faded back to the present.

"Siri-sensei?" Shiro’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"What’s the matter?" he asked.

"You seemed deep in thought."

"I was," she admitted, but dismissed it as she continued walking.

Shiro followed, sensing something. ‘She smells of reminiscence...’

Meanwhile, Siri kept walking, a faint smile forming.

‘Shiro doesn’t just remind me of that guy... he resembles him.’

‘And just like Shiro... that guy was also Miraku.’

[End of Tenth Section of Chapter 6: "The Class and The Unclassified"]







[ELEVENTH SECTION]

Shiro and Siri continued their conversation as they walked through the hallways...

Meanwhile, in Ely's class...

"OOOHHH!" Her students squealed in unison, their excitement filling the room.

"Shiro-kun did that to you, Ely-sensei?"

"He actually beat you in a cat-and-mouse game?!"

"With smoke bombs and distractions?"

"Speed versus strategy!"

"He even pinned you to the ground?!"

"Like a helpless maiden?!"

"So bold!"

"Yes!" Ely confirmed, clearly enjoying their reactions. She had been sharing what had happened between her and Shiro earlier, but with a rather... embellished twist.

"He did all that. And you know what? After I lost, when I hugged him, his body was firm—he's got abs. I felt them. He wouldn’t let me see them, though. But best of all, he… reacted! He’s truly a man," she teased, pouting slightly.

"A hard body?"

"He has packs?"

"Reacted?!"

"You should’ve taken a look, sensei!"

"Ah, ah! No can do," Ely wagged her finger playfully. "Shiro didn’t want me to see, so it's a no-no. However..."

She leaned in, her mischievous smirk growing.

"You know what else? When I was exhausted and getting sleepy, he grabbed my wrist—firmly. For a second, I thought he wanted to… do something under the sunlight," she paused dramatically, "but turns out, he was just healing me. I got too excited."

The girls’ faces turned crimson as their imaginations ran completely off course. They misinterpreted Ely’s words, conjuring up a scene far removed from reality…

In their minds…

Shiro loomed over Ely, holding her wrists down against the ground. His knees pressed against the floor, trapping her beneath him. Ely, flushed red, bit her lip, her heartbeat pounding as her sweet, breathy voice filled the air.

'It's my first time, Shiro-chan~! Please be gentle with me. Don’t be so rough!'

A bolt of embarrassment struck them all at once. Their faces turned red, hands covering their heated expressions.

And then, Ely continued her chaotic storytelling.

"On top of that," she added, "he lifted me forward and shoved something hard into my mouth."

Silence.

Ely tapped her lips in thought before finishing, "I swallowed every drop, and then my body heated up—I felt completely refreshed!"

Of course, she was referring to the Recovery Potion Shiro had fed her with earlier. But the students? Their minds were already too far gone.

"GYAAAAH!" They shrieked in unison.

"So bold! In broad daylight!"

"Swallowed every drop. Not a single drop left!"

"Ely-sensei is so skilled at this!"

"As expected of Ely-sensei!"

"Teach us how to do it!"

"I want to try that with Shiro-kun!"

"I want to as well!"

"Ara~! You girls are quite bold yourselves~," Ely teased, winking playfully.

Their giddy screams filled the classroom—so loud it could shake the entire building!

Meanwhile, outside the classroom…

Shiro and Siri were passing by when Shiro’s nose twitched.

Sniff, sniff…

"Ely-sensei?" he muttered.

"Yes, her classroom is nearby," Siri confirmed. "I’m impressed with your keen sense of smell."

"Her students are there, too. I can sense all of them—so energetic and wild—but why is it so... quiet?" Shiro questioned.

Siri smirked slightly. "Quiet? Are you sure?"

Shiro furrowed his brows, then focused. "...You're right. It’s the opposite."

He closed his eyes for a second, concentrating. "I can't sense magic the way most people do, but I can smell it. Every spell has a distinct scent, just like emotions. There’s magic covering the classroom… A Sound Barrier?"

Siri nodded, impressed. "Exactly. You’re well-versed in magic spells too, huh?"

Shiro sighed. "Ely-sensei cast a Sound Barrier spell. But why?"

"Her class is very loud when it comes to gossip," Siri explained. "Ely trusts her students not to spread rumors, and they keep their discussions within the classroom. That’s a good thing. But right now…" she smirked, "I have a feeling they’re talking about you."

A shiver ran down Shiro’s spine. "...I can feel that. It’s heavy! Their emotions are all directed at me. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Not only can you smell magic, but emotions too?" Siri raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How exactly does that work?"

"'Survival Art: Empathy,'" Shiro answered. "That ability lets me sense emotions, feelings, intentions, and even malice. All of my senses can detect emotions, but my sense of smell is the most accurate."

Siri tilted her head slightly. "Then… a while ago, when I was recalling the past, you smelled that?"

"Yes," Shiro nodded. "You gave off a scent of reminiscence."

A thoughtful silence followed before he added, "This ability is what broke my emotionless shell when I was three. I became emotionless after my mother passed when I was two. But thanks to this, I found a reason to feel again."

Siri’s expression softened. "Your Survival Arts are limitless… I’m truly impressed." Then, her tone shifted slightly. "And I’m sorry about your mother."

Shiro smiled faintly. "It’s okay, sensei. Aside from my father, I was raised by a friend of my late mother. She’s my mother now."

Siri gave a small nod. "And she does what mothers do," she said gently. "No wonder you’re such an amazing child."

Shiro’s ears turned red. "Uhh... I’m not sure about that word."

"And mischievous," Siri added, smirking slightly.

"Eh?!" Shiro’s eyes widened.

"Your behavior when interacting with Ely—I’ve seen enough to confirm," Siri said smugly. "Not to mention, you were reckless enough to fill the obstacle course with a massive smoke screen."

Shiro crossed his arms with a huff. "D-Don’t lump me with Ely-sensei! She’s diabolical!"

Suddenly—

"Who’s diabolical, Shiro-chan~?"

Ely instantaneously appeared in front of him.

"EEK—!" Shiro yelped.

[End of Eleventh Section of Chapter 6: "The Class and The Unclassified"]

Refinement Notes:
All original details and dialogues were kept intact.
Suggestive parts were refined to keep humor without crossing limits.
Ely’s playful nature remains strong, making her antics both chaotic and entertaining.
Shiro’s empathy ability was highlighted effectively, maintaining emotional depth.
The transition between humor and serious moments was smoothed out.
This refined version keeps the comedic chaos, the misunderstandings, and the emotional depth while ensuring everything remains appropriate and immersive.