Have I ever been this obsessed with something in my life?
For three days straight, I neither slept properly nor ate, devoting myself entirely to magic circle training.
I lost track of whether it was day or night.
When I got sleepy, I dozed off at my desk. When I got hungry, I drank the potion Eia handed me. I wasn’t sure if it was due to the potion’s effects, but it helped me forget my hunger for a while.
The most emphasized point in The Fundamentals of Magic was a solid foundation.
So rather than trying to learn a wide variety of magic circles, I focused on mastering the basics.
On my first day at the mage tower, laying down a base on the desk and drawing magic circles with the mana squeezed from my fingertips was a beginner-level task.
Next, I trained in laying a base on my palm and drawing magic circles there.
Once I got used to that, I moved on to drawing magic circles purely with mana, without using my hands.
The speed of execution was everything when it came to magic circles.
To that end, The Fundamentals of Magic recommended a method called the “Stamping Technique.”
It involved thoroughly memorizing the diagrams and formulas of magic circles, then manipulating one’s internal mana to instantly imprint the magic circle onto one’s palm. Skilled practitioners could stamp out magic circles in rapid succession, just like stamping a seal.
It was similar to how professional musicians memorized sheet music and performed from memory on stage, but magic circles were even easier.
By repeating a single spell hundreds or even thousands of times, the mana itself would eventually memorize the process and flow.
Once the fundamental structure was formed by recalling the magic circle’s formula, the mana would instinctively move on its own to complete the circle, as if it understood the mage’s intent.
This was an entirely different level of stability compared to musicians relying on memory and muscle memory alone.
At this point, drawing magic circles with mana felt even easier than using my fingers.
After four days of relentless training, I had gained considerable speed and significantly reduced my mistakes.
After hundreds of repetitions, I reached the point where I could summon magic circles almost unconsciously.
On the morning of my fourth day at the mage tower—
I had fully mastered three basic magic circles.
All that remained was practical application.
“…Huaaaahm.”
Of course, I was exhausted.
But fatigue wasn’t a reason to stop practicing magic. Right now, magic was like a drug to me.
The more I learned, the more I unconsciously craved greater power and knowledge. This obsession synergized perfectly with my natural tendency for over-immersion.
Eia, who had been watching from the side, spoke with a concerned expression.
“Recommendation: Considering the Tower Master’s health, I advise stopping the lesson and taking a break—”
“…Just one more page, then I’ll sleep.”
I replied as I moved on to the next magic circle.
Thud!
Something hit my foot. When I looked down under the desk, my smartphone had fallen to the floor.
…Reality suddenly came rushing back.
Snapping out of my trance, I turned on my phone and saw several unread messages and missed calls from a friend.
—Hey, are you not coming to school today?
—What’s going on? Pick up your phone!
—You never skip class. You do realize that three consecutive unexcused absences will get you expelled, right? Are you seriously giving up like this?
—It’s not my place to interfere with your decisions, but if you give up this way, you’ll regret it later. Can’t you reconsider just once?
The last message was especially serious.
After all this concern, I couldn’t just say I had completely forgotten about school.
‘Hmm, what should I do?’
Korea Hunter Academy (KHA).
The most prestigious hunter training institution in South Korea, with the current Hunter Association President as its headmaster.
It was a controversial place, but for me, graduating from there was the fastest path to becoming a professional hunter.
As long as I graduated, I could secure a guild position or even become a government hunter through the Association’s connections. That was why I had been holding on with everything I had.
Of course, surviving at an academy with a graduation rate below 50% was no easy feat, especially with my non-combat-related abilities.
Back then, my entire focus was on enduring life at the academy, and I had tried everything to stay afloat.
But now—
Did I really need the academy anymore?
I had become the master of a mage tower. I had more freedom than ever before. My top priority was no longer surviving at the academy but delving into the study of magic.
Still, dropping out without closure left a bitter taste.
I didn’t like the idea of slinking away, giving those who looked down on me a reason to sneer and say, I knew it would happen.
More importantly, I needed a hunter license to access dungeons freely.
“Eia.”
“Yes, Tower Master?”
“Should I go back to the academy or not?”
I asked abruptly, without context.
She answered instantly.
“If it is an outing, I strongly recommend it. The Tower Master needs fresh air.”
…So she just wanted to kick me out, huh?
After considering everything, I reached my conclusion.
I decided to continue attending the academy for now.
But I had no intention of staying until the official graduation.
I would apply for early graduation in two weeks, obtain my diploma and license, and be done with it.
Now that I had the mage tower and magic, there was nothing to fear.
Just two more weeks.
After four days, I finally threw on my coat and got ready to leave.
* * *
The fresh air outside felt amazing.
Stepping out of the mage tower, I saw countless otherworldly plants that didn’t belong to Earth.
The deeper an area was within an Otherworld’s influence, the more it turned into a jungle of alien plants, and the more frequently monsters appeared.
There was a reason the area around the mage tower was designated a restricted zone.
I opened my phone’s map app.
‘The station’s a bit far. Should I take the bus and transfer?’
As I calculated the optimal route, I heard rustling behind me.
I stopped walking and turned around.
—Grrrrr!
A shaggy, battered monster emerged from the bushes.
Interesting.
“Did you seriously wait here all this time for revenge?”
Maybe it understood my mocking tone, because it let out a fierce roar and charged.
I extended my arm forward.
First, I solidified my mana using the Rune of Fortification to create a shield.
〈Shield〉
Clang!
A magic circle unfolded in front of my palm. The monster’s claws bounced off, unable to pierce through.
It hesitated in surprise. Meanwhile, I had already prepared my next spell.
Next was the Rune of Projection, forming a magic circle to fire an offensive burst of mana.
〈Mana Arrow〉
Woong, woong.
Arrows of pure mana shot out from my hands and struck the monster’s chest. Blood spattered as it thrashed in pain.
Good. I could handle this.
—Kyaaaaaah!
The monster lunged persistently, but I calmly deployed my shield to block every attack while precisely targeting its wounds with mana arrows.
With each arrow that embedded into its body, its movements slowed.
Thunk!
I finally landed a shot in one of its eyes.
The monster writhed in agony, pulling the arrow out and lifting its head—
—Not there. Look up.
〈Gauntlet〉
As the monster froze in confusion, I activated a magic circle above its head.
Then, descending from above, I threw my fist toward the circle.
Srrrng!
The moment my fist passed through the glowing sigil—
Boom!
Like hammering a nail, my mana-coated punch slammed the monster’s skull into the ground.
Brilliant blue sparks crackled around the impact site, a sight I was never tired of.
The monster collapsed, unmoving.
“Ugh, that stung.”
I landed and shook out my tingling arm.
My first victory as a mage.
Just days ago, this monster had been a deadly threat. Now, I had taken it down with my bare hands.
But rather than celebrating, my mind raced with thoughts about magic.
The relationship between magic circle mastery and accuracy.
The duration of Shield.
Gauntlet’s immense power but limited range—
I pondered these things as I exited the restricted zone.
* * *
Hunter Academy.
Fourth-floor mana chamber lecture hall.
“As you all know, modern hunters primarily rely on their unique abilities and ‘special scientific equipment’ made from monster by-products in combat.”
Professor Oh Yeon-hee, an instructor in mana manipulation, continued her lecture.
“Because of this, some people consider mana manipulation a secondary skill, but that’s a mistaken view. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that mana manipulation is the foundation of utilizing one’s unique abilities.”
She pressed a button on the smart pen in her hand, switching to the next slide on the presentation screen.
“Let’s take a look at the screen. If you attach a coloured lens to a flashlight, the light changes color. If you use a convex or concave lens, the light converges or spreads out depending on distance. The same principle applies to a player’s power. Here, think of the lens as your ‘unique ability’ and the flashlight as ‘mana.’ Depending on one’s unique ability, mana can create fire, reinforce the body, restrain enemies, or even crush them.”
The students nodded with serious expressions.
“Once a player’s ‘lens’ is set, it can’t be changed. However, improving the flashlight’s performance or replacing it with a better one is always possible. That’s why mana manipulation is directly tied to growth. Let me emphasize this once again.”
Oh Yeon-hee activated the devices set up on stage. The lighting equipment, reminiscent of a photography studio, concentrated light onto a single point.
All of these were expensive mana amplification devices. She approached them and released her mana.
“You’re all second-years, so you should be able to produce at least a ‘mana thread,’ right?”
A thin blue thread flowed from her index finger.
“Mana is fundamentally gaseous, but players can condense and focus it to form solid threads. These mana threads have countless applications in real combat, making them an essential skill for aspiring pro hunters.”
The mana thread extending from her fingertip coiled and moved, eventually forming the shape of a small flower.
Gasps of admiration arose from the students.
“The most crucial aspects of mana threads are delicate control and concentration. If you lose even a bit of focus, the flower will disappear before it fully blooms.”
As she spoke, the flower she had created dissolved into the air.
“Alright, now it’s your turn. Come up one by one and try it.”
One by one, students stood in front of the mana projectors and attempted to create mana flowers.
Since they didn’t have to worry about mana consumption, they could focus entirely on control.
However, it wasn’t as easy as it seemed. Most students failed.
They could generate mana threads, but either applied too much force and lost the shape or lost concentration midway, causing the threads to scatter into the air.
Despite the failures, Oh Yeon-hee smiled encouragingly.
“Making mistakes at first isn’t embarrassing. But remember, in two weeks, your progress will be graded in a practical assessment, so practice diligently. Next!”
At the mention of an assessment, the students’ expressions stiffened.
Realizing the importance of practice, they began earnestly attempting to form mana flowers even from their seats.
Clunk.
The classroom door opened.
A scrawny-looking Yushin walked in.
“…….”
A cold silence filled the room.
“Sorry for being late.”
He bowed slightly and tried to head to his seat.
“Kim Yushin. I heard you’ve been absent for three days in a row. What happened?”
Oh Yeon-hee stopped him.
“I had some personal matters to take care of.”
His flat, emotionless response made her expression harden.
At Hunter Academy, Kim Yushin was quite infamous.
Despite having a non-combat-oriented ability, he did whatever it took to survive. His efforts went beyond mere hard work—they bordered on madness, leaving those around him in disbelief.
As someone who taught mana manipulation, Oh Yeon-hee appreciated his diligence. She had taken a liking to him, especially since he excelled in her classes.
But something about him today was different.
The passionate, driven Kim Yushin was gone
He wasn’t openly displaying it, but his expression was one of complete detachment.
His attitude toward the lesson lacked any seriousness.
Looks like I’ll have to wake him up a bit.
Oh Yeon-hee spoke up.
“Kim Yushin, put your bag down and come up here immediately.”
“Yes.”
He did as instructed and stood before her.
“Today’s lesson is simple.”
She demonstrated by placing her fingers into the projector’s light and forming a flower with mana threads.
“It’s about shaping forms with mana threads.”
While she explained, the seated students exchanged quiet smirks.
“He’s doomed. The professor is going to tear him apart.”
“She’s strict about class participation. He should’ve known better.”
“If that loser can’t even do this, there’s no hope for him.”
“Even the stubbornness he had is gone now. Say goodbye.”
Yushin’s extreme dedication had always made him stand out, but it hadn’t earned him many friends.
After listening to her explanation, Yushin asked,
“Does it have to be a flower?”
“Anything is fine.”
Nodding, Yushin closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Hooooo…
Slowly exhaling, he opened his eyes.
His expression was ice-cold, his pupils unfocused. That eerie intensity he occasionally displayed had returned.
…That unsettling focus of his is still there.
Oh Yeon-hee shuddered involuntarily as she watched from up close.
Srrrk.
Mana threads began flowing from Yushin’s fingertips.
Not one, but five threads intertwined, extending upward.
Oh Yeon-hee couldn’t believe her eyes.
Simultaneous mana thread control?!
The sturdy threads formed a trunk, then branched out in multiple directions.
From these branches, smaller threads emerged, shaping leaves and blooming flowers.
Oh Yeon-hee’s jaw dropped.
No, this isn’t just simultaneous control…!
Yushin wasn’t merely manipulating multiple threads at once—he was completely dominating his mana, shaping it into threads as he pleased.
“……Huh?”
“What the hell…?”
The students, who had been struggling to form small petals, gaped in disbelief.
While they had only managed to create tiny flowers, Yushin had formed a massive tree in full bloom.
And he didn’t stop there.
The tree continued to grow.
It had long since exceeded the projector’s range, but Yushin no longer needed the machine’s assistance.
The mana-thread tree expanded until it covered the entire ceiling of the classroom, its blossoms shimmering like a breathtaking masterpiece.
Finally satisfied, Yushin turned his head.
Oh Yeon-hee, her face frozen in shock, clung to the podium for support.
“Can I go back to my seat now?”
Her mind had gone completely blank.
As a professor, she was supposed to evaluate students’ work, but this was beyond her comprehension.
This wasn’t just a matter of talent—it shattered every existing convention.
All she could do was nod.
Yushin closed his eyes and took another deep breath.
As he exhaled, the magnificent tree dissipated into the air.
“…….”
“…….”
A heavy silence filled the room.
“T-That’s all for today’s lesson.”
Completely dazed, Oh Yeon-hee ended the class.
