The day I finished dungeon practice and caused trouble for Professor Atra and Professor Liana.
Honestly, I couldn’t face those two. Especially Professor Atra.
I mean, I came to greet them, and instead, I just vomited and gagged.
To swat away a helping hand like that? What a way to ruin a first impression.
Even thinking about it now makes me feel pale and ashamed as a human.
Because of that incident, I was terrified of meeting Professor Atra the next day.
Maybe she’d brush it off because I looked unwell, or maybe her feelings for me just soured.
“Are you feeling alright?”
The next day, when I met Professor Atra, her awkward vibe had vanished. Instead of scolding me, she was worried about my health.
I really must have misjudged her.
Feeling touched by Professor Atra expressing concern for someone like me, who caused so much trouble, was quite bizarre.
– Thunk!
Old Training Ground.
I pushed against the ground with my legs. Leaning forward, I stretched out my hands. A blue aura followed behind me.
As I extended myself, another hand intertwined with mine. I shook off a hand trying to grab my wrist and swung my legs.
– Wham!
A loud sound echoed as dust kicked up around us.
The blue aura that wrapped around my legs clashed against the pale golden aura encircling Professor Atra’s arms.
From that day onward… Starting Wednesday, the sparring format changed a bit.
After dungeon practice, my spatial awareness sharpened, allowing me to better perceive Professor Atra’s movements.
This was due to my increased growth rate. I could actively feel my skills improving.
Since my level was satisfactory, Professor Atra began teaching me how to manipulate intense energy and physical strength.
Creating intense energy was simple in theory.
Just concentrate a lot of mana into a solid, strong form. In short, a lot of mana jammed together creates intense energy.
While the explanation might sound easy, it actually requires a certain level of mana manipulation.
Thanks to my affinity for mana, I could unleash it all at once. What others found challenging felt relatively easy for me.
Thanks to that, I was swiftly mastering physical reinforcement through mana, the implementation of weapons and armor, and even spells.
My hands intertwined with another’s. The intense energies on top gnawed at each other.
After a brief exchange, we parted at a distance, and Professor Atra pulled one arm back. The golden energy coiled around her fist. I added my own intense energy to my fist as well.
The gap between our fists narrowed. Then came the collision.
– Bam!
A jolt of pain surged through my right arm. Dust dispersed in all directions. My legs couldn’t withstand the impact, sliding and leaving marks on the ground.
Right after the collision, my intense energy flickered and dissipated in the air. It was shaken by the impact, but I also didn’t have enough mana to maintain it.
“Enough.”
Seeing the dissipating energy, Professor Atra spoke. The energy around her arm also scattered.
“Your speed and intensity with energy are excellent, but you lack the mana to maintain it.”
A lack of mana capacity. This is a common issue for those who have just entered the superhuman state.
I was steadily increasing my mana capacity. Whenever I had time, I practiced meditating and managing my core. I was seeing results.
Although my capacity was still less than what I had against Aiden, it had increased several times. Even when I hadn’t focused on my mana because of other responsibilities, I still made progress.
However, I still didn’t have enough capacity to continuously use physical reinforcement and intense energy.
Even now, just a few minutes of sparring was draining my mana completely.
As I caught my breath, Professor Atra glanced at the time and said.
“That’s it for today.”
[Good job]
Well, it seems I reached a certain level since the number of hits I took was reducing. Even if I got bruised, I’d recover quickly, thanks to my training.
Stretching out my tingling hands, Professor Atra stepped forward and handed me a water bottle.
“Here.”
[Thank you]
After holographically responding, I accepted the water bottle and felt the chill radiating off its surface before gulping it down.
The icy cold water rushing down my throat felt so refreshing. I may dislike cold, but I love feeling refreshed. That thought hasn’t changed.
While I was gulping down the water, Professor Atra reached out toward my opposite hand.
I grabbed her arm and lifted it to eye level.
‘What?’
Professor Atra, examining my arm closely, spoke.
“…It’s not damaged, but your body has accumulated enough fatigue. Please refrain from physical training over the weekend. Any more will disrupt your schedule.”
It was a simple piece of advice. I nodded after finishing the water.
Professor Atra stared at my face for a moment before turning away.
Just before she left, her lips quivered as if wanting to say something, but it seemed unimportant, so she sealed it back.
Feeling Professor Atra leaving my spatial awareness, I decided to move as well.
Now that my major lecture had wrapped up, it was time to meet Hong Yeon-hwa.
.
.
.
The meeting spot that Hong Yeon-hwa texted me was a café in the Commercial District, the same brand where we met during the last dungeon practice.
I remembered this brand as the most well-known café in the world right now.
I couldn’t come right away after the major lecture.
I was drenched in sweat from sparring and covered in dust; I couldn’t possibly meet her in that state.
“Hayul, over here!”
On the second floor of the café. It was a private room where I didn’t have to worry about outside eyes. There was a window, but the outside couldn’t see in.
Opening the door to the room I received in the text, I found Hong Yeon-hwa sitting casually, waving.
[Sorry for being late]
“What do you mean late? I just got here, too. I already placed the order.”
As I sat across from Hong Yeon-hwa, she pushed a glass towards me. It was iced tea with ice floating in it.
I touched the rim of the glass with my finger, feeling the cold. Since the ice hadn’t melted, her claim of just arriving could indeed be true.
But the ice wasn’t proof enough.
Thanks to my mana affinity, I could feel the magical pattern etched into the glass.
Back when I had no knowledge of magic, I would have just thought, “The mana is structured in a specific way.”
Now, I could analyze and comprehend the spell formula. This was a temperature-control spell etched into the glass.
Meaning, the ice wouldn’t melt regardless of how long it waited here due to the magic.
‘Magic.’
In this modern fantasy world, electricity isn’t heavily used in most industries.
Mana takes on that role, and much of the function of machines is replaced by magic.
The number of spells entering my spatial perception at this moment easily surpassed thousands.
“I heard you haven’t slept well these last few days. Are you alright?”
[I’m fine. Starting today, I plan to take a good rest.]
“…Haven’t you said the same since Tuesday, yet you’ve been in this state until now?”
[This time I mean it!]
Hong Yeon-hwa regarded me with doubt. After claiming similar things all week and pulling all-nighters, I couldn’t argue back. But I meant it this time.
If I didn’t actually rest this time, I would have issues entering the Tower of Growth. Whether I wanted to or not, I was in a position where I had to take a break.
“…Since you have your entrance exam next week, let’s finish up quickly, then head in and rest.”
Our chit-chat didn’t last long.
It was light conversation about typical things. What we ate yesterday, how I felt yesterday, and so on…
Hong Yeon-hwa looked at the time and my face, then, with an expression of regret, fished out a small square box from her pocket.
It was clearly elegant in design. With a deep dark wood finish and a smooth surface, the engraved patterns on it hinted at just how delicate the crafting was as I sensed with my spatial perception.
Even more, immense mana emanated from within the box. I could also sense a spell preventing the mana from leaking out.
“Remember the reward I mentioned last time? While I was pondering, something solid popped into mind.”
Looking a bit embarrassed, Hong Yeon-hwa placed the box on the table. She then slid it toward me and opened the lid.
Simultaneously, my spatial perception glimmered. A whirlpool of vast mana swirled around the room.
I gaped, my mouth hanging open.
Laying on the plush cushion inside the box was a resplendent blue elixir.
“This is a potion made by combining the roots of the Fairy Tree and various herbs.”
The Fairy Tree. An extremely rare tree where fairies have dwelled for long periods, mutated through time. Finding such a tree in a dense mana-rich forest is akin to picking stars from the sky.
The mentioned reward, the open box, and the eager gaze directed at me…
All pointed to one glaring fact. My eyes couldn’t help but widen.
I raised my trembling hand and pushed the box away.
“Huh?”
Hong Yeon-hwa let out a confused sound, apparently not expecting my reaction, her eyes wide as saucers.
“Hayul?”
Her gaze was directly on me. The look screamed ‘Why aren’t you accepting it?’
I mingled my boiling insides with a sip of iced tea and cautiously shook my head.
[I can’t accept this]
“Uh… Why…?”
[How could I possibly take this?]
When people think of taking potions in this world, most imagine artificial ones.
These are crafted by artificially increasing the potency of various ingredients that grew with mana to a potion-level quality.
Although they weren’t naturally of potion-grade, they were artificially boosted through ingredient synergy and alchemist skill.
Naturally, it also requires immense money, time, and effort.
Typical artificial potions can easily run into tens of millions of won each.
But natural potions reaching potion-grade right from birth are on an entirely different level.
Natural potions birthed from bountiful nature are drastically superior to those created by human hands.
That’s a natural potion. Unlike artificial ones, it’s one that cannot be purchased with money.
At this point, it requires something beyond money.
In other words, it’s an object I can hardly repay.
I can manage candies. Defeating a few monsters allows me to earn that money relatively easily.
But this? No way. I can’t even think about how I could repay that.
I desperately shook my head. I shouldn’t accept this. How could I take something like this without repaying her?
Hong Yeon-hwa extended it as if it were a reward.
Reward? For what?
For pushing me and knocking me over during the freshman welcome event? For saying, “Are you blind?” during my stumbles? For accidentally knocking me out during sparring?
For those? No way! The exchange value just doesn’t add up. There’s a huge discrepancy in worth.
After listening to my thoughts, Hong Yeon-hwa fell silent for a moment before gently trying to persuade me.
“This is not only a compensation but also a form of investment.”
Hong Yeon-hwa is a successor of the Gop-hwa Clan.
The Gop-hwa Clan. A powerful faction that stabilizes power alongside the Changhae and Taesan clans, located in the southwestern part of Korea where the clan’s progenitor was born.
It’s certain that even in global standards, the Gop-hwa Clan is an incredibly powerful force. Everyone knows the Gop-hwa Clan’s reputation, even three-year-olds.
“Although this potion is a quantity I have the authority to provide, the clan’s overseer… My mother wouldn’t hand over a potion unless there was a reason.”
The overseer… A position representing the clan’s business, assigned to capable and trusted individuals usually from the immediate family of the current head… as I heard during the raid on the Changhae Clan in the original story.
At this point, the overseer of the Gop-hwa Clan is Hong Yeon-hwa’s mother.
‘Invest…’
If it’s linked to investing, that makes sense.
Despite being a special admit into the Tower of Growth, I seem a bit problematic on the surface.
Therefore, my perception of it seems like a strange lottery that might pay off but also holds some doubt. Though, that thought has somewhat eased since my last match.
In any case, a clan like the Gop-hwa Clan could easily hand over a natural potion for investment purposes to a specially admitted student.
‘Hmm…’
The notion of investment lessens my resistance. If it’s an investment, it’s not simply out of goodwill from the Gop-hwa Clan.
But that doesn’t mean my pressure entirely disappears. This investment would inevitably feel similar to a debt. At least, I perceived it that way.
“I really wish you would accept it.”
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had intensely focused on me as I pondered, suddenly extended her arms and took my hand.
“This is partly an apology for my numerous wrongs, and it’s also a value the clan invests. Plus…”
Our hands held tightly, trembling lightly. After a moment of chewing her lips, Hong Yeon-hwa continued speaking.
“I… still haven’t fully discovered it, but there’s something more I feel really sorry for you about. Something that’s really difficult to talk about.”
Something more to feel sorry for me about? I didn’t quite understand what she meant.
Hong Yeon-hwa looked at me with a yearning expression, filled with an inexplicable sincerity.
“That’s why I hope you’ll accept it. Of course, I promise there’ll be no expectations from this. I swear it on my name.”
If I didn’t feel tempted after such a proclamation, that would be a lie.
One part of my mind questioned if I could just accept it.
‘……’
After a moment of contemplation, I nodded. Hong Yeon-hwa’s expression brightened instantly. It was as if I were the one receiving a gift, not her.
.
.
.
After escorting Hong Yeon-hwa to the dormitory, I rushed into my room, my heart racing in anticipation.
– Thud.
The door closed with a satisfying click. The curtains were drawn as usual. I briefly scanned my surroundings with spatial perception, then settled down in the center of the room.
Taking a moment for deep breaths, I calmed my excited mind and fumbled in my pocket for the box.
It was a small box with an elegant exterior. As I opened it with trembling hands, refreshing mana slowly wafted out.
‘Wow…’
An involuntary gasp escaped as the mana danced around me in a beautiful display. It felt powerful enough that even without mana affinity, I could sense its strength.
With careful hands, I lifted the potion. My fingertips tingled from the mana passing through them.
The issue of mana capacity… If nothing else, this elixir alone would mostly resolve that.
While I didn’t expect to unleash hundreds of spells with perfect mana right away, I instinctively felt that this potion would lay a solid foundation for basic mana management sufficient for proper combat.
As of now, it was Friday evening.
I needed to prepare for Monday morning’s entrance into the Tower of Growth.
By taking this potion now, along with allowing my body to recover until then, I’d hit the perfect timing to manage the mana gained from it.
I swallowed hard, feeling immense gratitude towards Hong Yeon-hwa as I placed the potion in my mouth.
Resting on my tongue, the elixir melted slowly, as if recognizing its master before sliding down my throat.
A while later…
“Ugh…?”
Something felt like it was rising in my throat, and black blood dribbled at the corners of my mouth.
Oh crap.
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