The children dispatched as vanguards from each academy faced each other in the training arena.
“Mana isn’t something you just see or hear. You have to distinguish what already exists and what will come in the future by yourself. Do you understand what I’m saying? Hey, if you don’t know, why are you nodding?”
With a light transmutation circle inscriber strapped to her wrist, Ji-hye slowly closed her eyes, repeating Na-me’s advice.
She infused her aura into the trinket fluttering in the wind.
“Are you ready, participant Ma Ji-hye? If you’re ready, I’ll start the countdown.”
Closing her eyes allowed her to realize just how much humans relied on sight.
The vast and profound flow of nature was something young Ji-hye could only perceive as a gentle breeze.
It was a world that she could barely detect with the help of a wand.
“I wonder what the world looks like through Na-me’s eyes.”
When Ji-hye opened her eyes again, her field of view expanded infinitely.
The training arena, larger than a futsal field, felt as small as a grain of rice.
What she saw was the hidden side of the world.
Things that do not exist yet but can exist in the future.
The light barrier separating the training arena and the audience seats was one, and the life force emanating from the participant on the other side was another.
“I’m ready.”
The aura hearts of children around eight years old began to resonate with the world.
Homo sapiens sapiens, or homo sapiens modificator, the modern humans had become the apex predators dominating the Earth.
Unlike other animals, they measured nature and acted according to laws and principles.
And at that moment, the eyes of a girl who once stood at the pinnacle of her species twinkled.
A ten-second countdown appeared on the display reflecting the faces of the young participants.
“Wooaaahhhh!”
“Go 2nd graders!”
“Lee Ha-ru! Don’t lose!”
A roar erupted like thunder as the children holding wands clashed in the center.
“Come on, kids, let’s do it.”
Thus, the academy competition, fought for honor, began.
*
For internet broadcasters, giving tips to participants was ridiculously easy.
They would advise a contestant to maintain sufficient distance if allowed.
They would say things like time should have been shortened for those who overlooked casting time.
While the commentary primarily discussed the outcomes based on what had previously happened, an invasive species appeared in Twish.
[NoName]
[KBS Seoul Regional Academy Competition – Live Commentary with Father]
[Broadcast Time – 0:48:23]
[Number of Viewers – 41,257]
From a distance, Lee Ha-ru, shooting magic cannons, abandoned his wand and joined Ma Ji-hye.
Na-me jumped up from her seat and shouted with barely contained excitement.
“Lee Ha-ru, cancel the friction coefficient adjustment spell and instantly switch to the adiabatic expansion spell! Reusing the magic circle will be quicker. It’s paying off from daily practice.”
“Really brilliant judgment. Thanks to you, the opponent’s fire mage is being thrown off.”
Professor Cheon chimed in, praising Lee Ha-ru’s response.
– Wait, explain please lol
– ??? What on earth is happening?
– Didn’t the 2nd grader just knock them down with the friction coefficient and blast them with magic cannons?
– Until now, they’ve been eating away at the barrier with minor attacks, why stop now?
Something had yet to happen.
“It seems Altair can’t handle this correctly! Right now, even a direct hit would be a critical strike, so forget guarding and just go for it!”
At that moment Na-me spoke, and Ji-hye and Ha-ru swiftly surrounded the opponent 2-to-1, releasing all their auras to land a single blow.
Bang—!
With a crushing shock from both sides, the boy’s feet left the ground, and his body crashed down to the floor.
“Phew, nice job. You missed a bit, but you did well.”
“Did you teach them that too, Na-me?”
“Oh… no? I think they just picked it up by following me. These kids are really impressive.”
– Double lariat, so sick lol
– Suddenly they’re hitting a group attack here, haha
└ For real, it’s genius how they joined the moment there was space between the two opponents.
– Sephiron is different this year!
– So please provide some commentary, Na-me Wagon!
“Up until now, Ji-hye’s aura strikes have been more effective against that fire mage than Ha-ru’s magic cannon. The opponent, low on their micro-particle defense, was trying to create distance by chasing Ji-hye with a ‘heat transfer – friction ignition’ combination. But Ha-ru, who was observing from behind, boldly responded with ‘adiabatic expansion.’ When the temperature drops, the saturation vapor pressure decreases, increasing relative humidity, which can disrupt ignition magic.”
Na-me cleared her voice and explained to the audience in a calmer tone.
“I should have mentioned earlier, but friction coefficient adjustment and adiabatic expansion are two forms of ‘E’ class magic, so reusing team members can shorten casting time. Directing the expanded adiabatic area to retrieve residual mana and wrapping it around her arm was a clever use of mana. Was that explanation helpful?”
[‘Daehagwonsaengsalryeo’ donated 10,000 won!]
– Standing ovation with tears
[‘Cat Love is the Best’ donated 50,000 won!]
– NoName is a god! NoName is a god! NoName is a god!
– Is this really the same match I’m watching? lol
– I’ve never felt such awe while watching commentary before.
– NoName is the top rapper in the country.
– The level of the academy is insane this year, what is happening?
└ If you take only that scene out, it looks like middle schoolers lol
– Us normal folks can’t even participate.
– No, no, not all academy students are like that. Ha-ru is exceptionally talented, yeah.
└ I heard she’s the vice president’s granddaughter from Samyeon Group.
└ Seriously, can the rich kids just let the other kids play a bit?;;
└ The already established kids are made to study even harder.
– But seriously, what doesn’t NoName know??? At this point, shouldn’t we be suspecting there’s a robot inside?
└ For real lol
– How am I supposed to wait until the afternoon?!
– Why are only the managers donating? I want to donate too! Host, open the donation channel now!
– Isn’t Na-me’s small voice so cute?ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
└ But the quality of the commentary is next level ㄷㄷ
Three seconds into the future, Na-me’s commentary continued from there.
It got to the point where many viewers began to express their confusion about whether the sync was off.
Ultimately, apart from Ji-hye, who expressed her withdrawal due to a persistent nosebleed, there were still plenty of barriers left for the Sephiron Academy students.
The final participant, Seo Yu-na, came to bring closure to this duel.
“Seo Yu-na’s specialty is being able to flexibly apply both magic and aura. Just like now, by using wind magic to trap the enemy’s retreat and charge… If she concentrates her aura on her toes, she can make her stride narrow and quick! If she can just avoid the next attack!”
The punch of a student clad in steel brushed perilously past Yu-na’s face.
With her red hair swirling, she deftly grabbed the boy’s waist and tossed him to the ground.
Their bodies intertwined and rolled several times on the floor.
Grabbing the boy from behind, she choked him while raining punches. In the midst of it all, Yu-na held nothing back.
A fragrant haze of flames faded away, and in the end, Seo Yu-na stood as the victor.
“Our Yu-na never loses on the ground. With long limbs, a height much greater than her peers, and sufficient strength and endurance to back it up.”
The essence of dueling ultimately comes down to one thing.
Quickly nullifying the opponent’s attack while landing precise blows of your own.
Na-me had taught them only two things.
Understanding the meaning of every action, and how to use one’s body efficiently.
“Yu-na has won! Wooaaahh! Our daughter has won!”
“Ahh, Mom, my back hurts! Is Yu-na as strong as you because she takes after you?”
“What’s up with you, Seo Maru? Seo Yu-na is amazing! Our Yu-na is the best!”
“NoName, if you went in as a 2nd grader, it would have been a disaster! It’s already imbalanced, haha!”
Right behind Na-me, Yu-na’s family leaped to their feet, losing all decorum in their cheers.
But it was no surprise that the Sephiron audience was also rising to their feet, applauding in celebration.
“Glad to see you so happy.”
Na-me relaxed and sat comfortably back in her chair.
The chat window flooded with messages congratulating Sephiron Academy’s first set victory like a downpour.
“Good job, Na-me. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you raise your voice that loud.”
Professor Cheon smiled, and Na-me, feeling awkward, wiped her nose.
She wished for the children she taught to genuinely win, and perhaps, feeling pressure in front of Professor Cheon, she had been more enthusiastic in her commentary.
“I feel good to win too. But right now, I’m probably happiest about those kids.”
As soon as the referee’s whistle signaling Sephiron’s victory was heard, students waiting outside the training arena rushed towards the center.
They gathered around a exhausted Yu-na and Si-hoo lying flat on the ground.
Despite the game proceeding without any major tense moments, they embraced each other and wept.
The fervor for victory often stems more from the effort put in than from allegiance or honor.
“Are you going to congratulate her?”
“Yeah. In fact, they’ve been supportive of each other without a single complaint for nearly three and a half months since summer vacation. They must have gone through a lot. Especially Ji-hye worked hard.”
And to commend their efforts and share in the joy of victory, Na-me jumped down from her chair.
But she was soon betrayed by her friends in a way she hadn’t anticipated.
*
“It’s your first time participating in the academy competition. What mindset are you taking into this match, Lee Ha-ru?”
“I absolutely must win this match! I need to get revenge on Na-me, that’s been my thought…”
Lee Ha-ru made a bold statement while glancing sideways at Na-me for hints.
Na-me’s expression shifted to one of unease.
“What do you mean revenge?”
“If we win and Na-me loses, she promised to follow whatever we say in our games! So please, older students from Altair, teach Na-me a lesson! Please!”
The supposedly frightening upperclassmen were not intimidating to Ha-ru, who instead made a ridiculous plea for support from the Altair Academy.
“…”
At that instant, Na-me’s complexion darkened considerably from above.
