Fini actually didn’t care about Skye’s identity, but he knew that this was something she couldn’t let go of.
Even if she was perfectly happy living with this family, she still wanted to know why her biological parents had abandoned her in the first place.
“Skye, what would you do if you suddenly developed superpowers one day?”
Fini suddenly asked the question.
In this world, having power was always better than being powerless.
Wasn’t that exactly why he was so desperate to become stronger—to protect himself and his family?
“Huh!? Me!?”
Skye froze for a moment, then hesitantly glanced at Fini and said, “Fini, you know we aren’t related by blood. I was adopted by Mom and Dad…”
Fini was stunned at first, but then he understood.
He couldn’t help giving Skye a speechless look.
If they really were related by blood, then having superpowers would be impossible.
“Don’t overthink it. Just imagine that you have superpowers too. Let’s say… vibration. What would you do?”
“Vibration?”
Skye looked confused, but seeing how seriously Fini was asking, she began thinking carefully.
“I… I’d probably be scared at first. I’d think I was some kind of monster…”
As she spoke, Skye secretly glanced at Fini.
Seeing that his expression hadn’t changed, she continued.
“Then I’d probably get curious. Curious about where the power came from and what I could use it for.”
“But if it’s vibration, its applications seem pretty limited.”
Skye racked her brain for a long time but still couldn’t think of what she could actually do with a vibration-based superpower.
Fini almost laughed.
“Vibration can cause earthquakes. If someone bullies you, you could make the ground shake for miles around them. You could also release vibration waves, like an invisible air cannon. It’d be great for surprise attacks.”
Skye thought Fini was joking.
She gave him an annoyed glare and said nothing.
Seeing this, Fini didn’t elaborate.
Although his strength had increased dramatically because of Haunting by Evil Spirits, he was still far from being capable of taking on S.H.I.E.L.D. by himself.
He would have to become stronger first—strong enough that he wouldn’t have to fear anyone—before he could properly deal with Skye’s situation.
Fini had considered taking Skye with him to learn magic and turning her into a magical girl, but something like that ultimately depended on talent.
Besides, the Ancient One hadn’t agreed to teach him yet, so he didn’t want to make any promises too early.
After chatting with Skye for a while and having lunch, Fini didn’t immediately rush off to look for the New York Sanctum.
Instead, as usual, he headed to the shop.
Yesterday’s robbery didn’t affect today’s business.
But then he remembered that Skye only opened the shop when he was there.
When he wasn’t around, she usually just closed up and played on the computer.
In that case, there was little point in hiring a guard.
After spending the entire afternoon working and accumulating another tiny bit of experience in his previously emptied experience bar, Fini brought his weekend to an end.
The next day, Fini went to school as usual.
High school in the United States wasn’t as academically demanding as it had been in his previous life, but since graduation was approaching, he still wanted to maintain good grades.
However, as soon as he arrived at school, he noticed that several people were secretly looking at him and whispering among themselves.
Listening carefully, he realized they were talking about what had happened with Carson.
“Did you hear? That genius Helseys beat up Carson the day before yesterday.”
“No way! Isn’t Carson on the basketball team?”
“Exactly! Who would’ve thought? Apparently Carson got beaten pretty badly. His face was covered in blood!”
“Why did they fight?”
“I heard it was over a girl. Apparently, that girl looked…”
Fini walked through the school somewhat speechlessly, ignoring the curious gazes around him.
He had already gotten used to that sort of attention when he skipped grades and became the school’s heartthrob, so he didn’t really care.
Besides, according to his plans, he would graduate in at most another month.
He couldn’t be bothered to explain what had happened.
As for college, Fini had originally planned to follow Skye’s example and stop studying after high school.
However, because of the top grades he had achieved while skipping grades, his parents had firmly rejected that idea.
At first, he had been troubled about where to attend college and what to study.
But after what happened with the Ancient One yesterday, he already had an idea.
He would still attend college in New York, but his major would be ancient languages.
It would lay the foundation for learning magic.
He certainly wasn’t naive enough to think that all magical texts would be written in modern languages.
Just as Fini had temporarily settled on his plans for the future, another major figure in the school rumors came looking for him after classes.
“Hey, Helseys!”
As Fini was preparing to leave school, Carson blocked his path with several of his basketball teammates, their expressions clearly hostile.
“What is it?” Fini frowned as he looked at the group surrounding him.
“Are you the one spreading those rumors around school?” Carson glared at Fini, his expression ugly.
Although the injury on his mouth had healed considerably, the scar was still visible.
“Do I look that bored?”
Fini stared expressionlessly at Carson.
With that much free time, he would be better off making more Jinji Fried Chicken Rolls and earning experience.
Seeing that Carson wasn’t saying anything, Fini impatiently asked, “Is there something you want? If not, move.”
“Apologize!”
Fini froze for a moment, looking at him as though he didn’t understand.
“Apologize to me publicly at school, and we’ll consider this matter settled.”
Hearing this, Fini couldn’t help laughing in anger.
What on earth was this guy thinking?
He understood that students cared about their pride, but that wasn’t a reason for Carson to come bully him.
“Go back to sleep. Maybe you’ll get what you want in your dreams.”
With that, Fini stepped around Carson and prepared to leave.
But before he had taken two steps, he suddenly sensed movement behind him.
He immediately dodged to the side.
Turning around, he saw that Carson and his friends had tried to grab him.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Fini’s expression darkened.
He basically never caused trouble at school.
Most of the time, he simply carried the reputation of being a genius.
Although his teachers thought highly of him, he didn’t have many friends.
There were even plenty of students who secretly called him a “bookworm,” but he had never cared.
“Helseys, we don’t want to do this either. Just apologize and that’s all.”
Carson spoke fiercely.
His tall, muscular frame made Fini look rather thin by comparison.
“And what if I refuse?”
Fini replied coldly.
If Carson had honestly come over to apologize for what happened that day and then asked Fini to help explain the situation, Fini might actually have agreed.
Unfortunately, Carson had chosen the one option he absolutely shouldn’t have.
“Then don’t blame me for what happens next!”
Carson and his friends clenched their fists, making their threat clear.
Several students passing by began looking over.
Fini couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words.
He simply threw a punch toward Carson’s face, and blood immediately splattered.
Because of Golden Great Derivation Technique, Fini didn’t particularly like losing his temper or cursing at people.
After all, the words he spoke could potentially become reality.
If an ordinary person angrily cursed, “Watch out, or you’ll get hit by a car,” nothing would probably happen.
But if Fini said the same thing in the heat of the moment, and even imagined it happening just a little, there was a real possibility that the person actually would get hit by a car.
I can continue translating the next chapter in the same faithful, polished style.