Engraving the Magic Circles
Engraving magic circles. Yoon Siwoo understood all too well that it was a task requiring immense concentration, time, and mana. For some time now, he had been tagging along with the construction crews installing magic circles all across the boundary area, and he had watched the mages' faces grow increasingly corpse-like by the day. An ordinary mage could manage one or two a day. Even an experienced veteran topped out at about three. That was the limit of Siwoo's knowledge based on his observations so far. Which was why—
"Are you... sure you're okay? You've already finished today's quota."
"Quota? We've only engraved three circles. If we want to finish this construction as quickly as possible, we need to do at least double that. I still have plenty of mana left, so let's move on to the next spot."
Siwoo couldn't help but be amazed. The blonde boy wizard, who had joined the work detail right after his Academy classes, had breezed through a workload in just a few hours that would take others an entire day to complete—and now he was urging them to keep going.
...His name was Dway Nineheart, from Class 1-B. Siwoo vaguely recalled him as a highly capable mage, having run into him a few times at the Academy and even sparred with him once, but he hadn't realized the boy was this good. Seeing how Dway seemed incomparably more skilled at this particular magic circle than any other mage, Siwoo murmured in genuine admiration.
"You... you're really amazing. Most people look like they're about to collapse after doing that much."
"Well, I am a certified genius. A task of this caliber should be a breeze."
"...Aren't you embarrassed to say things like that about yourself?"
"I am simply highly objective about my own talents. Why should I feel embarrassed for stating facts? Besides, hearing the word 'amazing' from the youngest Hero feels rather strange. People call you a once-in-a-millennium talent. You're the true genius among geniuses."
"Ahaha..."
Siwoo laughed sheepishly at Dway's nonchalant praise. Siwoo knew, of course, that his own talent was far from ordinary. However, he believed his strength was largely due to his incredible mentor, Lucy, and the Holy Swords. Calling himself a genius felt a bit too embarrassing.
As they walked and chatted, they arrived at the next location. Dway began engraving the magic circle and spoke again.
"...In the first place, comparing me to other mages when it comes to drawing these teleportation-disruption circles is absurd. The foundation of this magic circle originated from my family. As an heir to the Nineheart name, falling behind other mages in this specific field of magic would be a disgrace to my lineage."
"Oh? I thought this project was being run by the Dolos family?"
"While Dolos is a historic family that invests heavily in magical research, magic is ultimately the Nineheart specialty. We were consulted on the teleportation-disruption circles needed for this construction. We adapted and modified the magic circles currently used in the Barrier. Since this was rushed, there are many shortcomings. Tsk. If we had more time, I could have designed a circle with fewer side effects."
"...I had no idea. No wonder you seem so familiar with it."
"I've spent my entire life looking at and researching these things since I was a child. It's only natural that my hands move on instinct."
Even so, watching Dway's hands move with absolute precision, engraving the magic circle without a single error while holding a conversation, was nothing short of spectacular.
Siwoo watched him in a daze until Dway finally let out a breath and stopped his hands. Snapping out of his reverie, Siwoo spoke up.
"...Are you finished? Shall we move to the next spot?"
"...No, I think I need to rest for a moment. I need to replenish my mana."
"Ah, then let's sit over there and take a break."
"Let's do that."
Siwoo leaned his back against the wall and sat down to rest, stealing a glance at Dway beside him. Perhaps because he was focusing on recovering his mana, Dway showed no intention of speaking first.
Honestly, there was nothing wrong with just sitting in silence... but since they were technically Academy classmates, Siwoo felt a nagging urge to keep the conversation going.
Yet, the moment he decided to speak, he had no idea what topic to bring up. He had spoken without thinking earlier, but now that he was conscious of it, he felt completely lost on how to start.
Come to think of it, had he ever really talked to boys his own age? Growing up, Siwoo had always been surrounded by girls rather than boys. With almost zero experience talking to other guys, he had no clue what teenage boys were even interested in.
Unable to bear the awkward silence, he pulled out his phone. The moment his eyes fell on the photo set as his wallpaper, the words slipped out of his mouth.
"...Hey, how is Scarlet doing at the Academy?"
"Scarlet? Do you mean Scarlet Evande from Class 1-A?"
"Ah... yeah..."
...Wait, doesn't this sound exactly like someone asking about their crush? Realizing this a second too late, Siwoo fretted that Dway might ask what his relationship with Scarlet was. Fortunately, Dway answered without any suspicion.
"She is doing well. Up until last week, I was worried she was overexerting herself by skipping sleep, but today she looked like she'd gotten plenty of rest over the weekend and recovered her condition. Her expression seemed brighter too. So you don't need to worry."
"Ah, right. I see..."
Her looking better after the weekend meant his actions had helped her, even if only a little. Smiling faintly at the thought, Siwoo suddenly realized Dway's description was strangely detailed. He asked in a probing voice:
"...By the way, that was a pretty detailed explanation. Do you usually watch Scarlet that closely?"
"Closely? I didn't particularly intend to... No, wait. I suppose I do. Yes, perhaps I have been watching her closely. To me, she is a rather special existence."
"...A special... existence?"
Hearing the words "special existence" from Dway, who had tilted his head before nodding as if realizing something, Siwoo's expression instantly froze.
Was it because he was thinking of that "special existence"? Siwoo noticed a subtle shift in Dway's previously indifferent eyes, and a sudden wave of irritation washed over him.
Scarlet was an attractive person. It wouldn't be strange for anyone to find her special at any time. But even so... Siwoo wanted Scarlet to be a special existence only to him.
Recognizing his own feelings, Siwoo let out a silent, self-deprecating chuckle. It was childish, petty jealousy. He knew he was being incredibly immature, but his mood had already soured. He asked Dway bluntly:
"What exactly do you think of Scarlet?"
Dway replied:
"I consider her a rival who pushes me to do better."
"...Huh? A rival?"
"Yes. A rival. Just watching someone who works harder than me is highly motivating. I am trying to emulate her mental fortitude—how she never yielded even after losing an arm and being kidnapped by a Witch."
Seeing Dway nod as he spoke, Siwoo felt his irritation vanish instantly. He nodded back with a bright smile.
This guy gets it. Scarlet's hard work and mental strength were indeed worthy of emulation. Relieved, Siwoo grinned playfully and asked:
"Ahaha, right. A rival. So, you don't... view her as a woman or anything like that, right?"
"As a woman? Let's see..."
Dway answered casually, as if it were of no consequence.
"I suppose I've thought that if I were to take a wife in the future, I'd want someone like her."
"I see. A wife... A wife?!"
The word wife struck Siwoo's mind like a heavy blow, and his face instantly stiffened.
...Wait. Does that mean this guy likes Scarlet too? And not just as a girlfriend, but enough to want to marry her?
It was entirely possible. Scarlet was both a charming person and an attractive woman, so it wasn't out of the realm of possibility. But accepting it was a bit—no, extremely—difficult. Staring at Dway with a stony face, Siwoo demanded:
"What exactly... do you like so much about her?"
"Hmm... If I had to choose, I suppose her personality. Her self-sacrificing nature, her willingness to devote herself to others, aligns perfectly with my ideal of a wife. Besides, I heard she bakes handmade cookies for her classmates. If she's good at cooking too, she's absolutely flawless."
"Ha... haha..."
A hollow laugh escaped Siwoo's lips.
Just as Dway said, Scarlet was self-sacrificing. To the point of prioritizing others' lives over her own. And just as he said, she was an excellent cook. Having eaten her food himself, Siwoo could personally guarantee it. And he knew these things better than anyone else.
Did you see it? Did you see what lengths Scarlet went to just to change the future where I died? Have you tasted it? Have you tasted the warmth in the food she cooks?
So what do you know about Scarlet to go around talking about making her your wife? The one who knows her best, the one who knows the secrets she can't tell anyone else... is me, and no one else.
Those silent screams swirled violently inside Siwoo's chest. And beneath that vortex of anger lay nothing other than sheer anxiety.
Scarlet was living with him in his house. But even though they shared a home, it was a fragile connection—one she could sever and leave behind whenever she wished. Even then, they only spent about one day a week together. Dway, who attended the Academy with her, would spend far more time with her than he ever could.
Which meant that at any moment, Scarlet's heart might sway toward him instead of Siwoo.
In Siwoo's imagination, Scarlet smiled and spoke.
'Siwoo. Just like I promised you, I've found happiness.'
Standing beside the boy in front of him, not Siwoo.
'I think I can be happy if I'm with him.'
And if she said that... could he truly bless her?
Siwoo stared blankly at Dway, who had been standing next to Scarlet in his imagination. Dark circles heavily shadowed the boy's eyes, but otherwise, he possessed an undeniably handsome face. His abilities, while not quite on Siwoo's level, were formidable enough to hold their own anywhere. Furthermore, unlike the orphaned Siwoo, this guy was the scion of a prestigious noble family. Was it truly impossible for Scarlet to choose him over Siwoo?
Watching Dway calmly list Scarlet's virtues, a sudden impulse surged within Siwoo's chest. Ah, I want to run home right now. He wanted to fly back home, hold Scarlet, and tell her that she was his—his and no one else's.
As Siwoo's eyes burned with a fierce, possessive light, Dway's voice drifted into his ears.
"Well, not that I'd ever do something as wasteful as getting married, though."
Having just listened to him passionately extol Scarlet's virtues, Siwoo was completely thrown off by this sudden declaration of celibacy. He blinked, dumbfounded.
"What...?"
"I said I will never do something as wasteful as marriage. Doesn't marriage just steal your time for someone else? I barely have enough time to dedicate to magic as it is; dating a woman is a complete waste of time. Women are a mere luxury on the path of magic."
At this sudden dismissal of Scarlet as a "mere luxury," Siwoo found himself utterly conflicted between feeling insulted on her behalf and feeling immensely relieved.
As Siwoo struggled to process his confusion, Dway spoke again.
"Besides, you're dating her, aren't you? Honestly, I think dating when you should be focusing on self-improvement is a waste of time, but I understand that some people find it motivating. Personally, I think you two make a well-matched couple. Make sure you support her so she doesn't break."
"Huh...? Uh, yeah..."
"I'm rooting for you, so if things go well and you get married, make sure to send me an invitation. I'll make sure to clear my schedule for that day to show my face."
At the word married, Siwoo's face flushed bright red, his mind spinning. The compliment, the encouragement—it was all entirely sincere.
My god, what on earth was I thinking about such a good guy... He could have sworn a halo was shining behind Dway.
Most of the males Siwoo had encountered in his life were too busy being consumed by jealousy whenever an attractive woman was around him. Receiving such pure, unadulterated support was a first for him. Suddenly, Siwoo felt a strong urge to become friends with the boy standing before him. He shyly held out his phone and spoke.
"...Um, let's be friends from now on. Can I have your number?"
And just like that, Yoon Siwoo made his very first male friend.
Watching the scene unfold, Lucy shook her head with a deep, heavy sigh.