The First Training

Cleaning up after meals was one thing, but there were hundreds of dishes left to wash. The problem was that there wasn't a single student who had been admitted for free like me; everyone else had paid their way. I was looking at a future where I’d be scrubbing hundreds of plates by myself every single day.

“What are you doing?”

Lumi was clumsily scrubbing a plate with her small hands.

“Hahaha... I just thought it might be helpful if I helped out...”

“I’m grateful, honestly.”

Regardless, having an extra pair of hands was never a bad thing. We had thirty minutes. To make it to the academy’s next scheduled event, I had to finish all the cleaning within thirty minutes. Even with Lumi here, judging by her movements, I couldn't expect much. In the end, it meant I’d have to shoulder the burden of all this work myself.

Ten thousand points. I judged it to be worth the cost.

I felt an unknown power surging through my knuckles. I pressed into a grease-caked plate with just the right amount of pressure and pushed. *Squeak.* In an instant, it looked brand new. The dishes began to shine just from the touch of my hands. It was less of a talent and more like magic.

“You’re really good at this.” Lumi’s eyes sparkled.

“I’ve done my fair share of dishwashing.” It wasn’t a lie. When I worked at a BBQ restaurant, I spent most of my time stuck in the kitchen. I was too slow to last long before getting fired, though.

“That’s amazing. I’m not good at anything, so I get scolded all the time...”

If I had to define Lumi in one word: she was the embodiment of Choi Suhyun from the real world. A prime example of someone who puts in the effort but lacks the talent. I understood her hardships better than anyone, because I had been in the exact same position before joining this game.

“You’ll discover your own talent, I’m sure of it.” I couldn't bring myself to lie and say she was doing well, especially after seeing the state of our room. “For starters, do something about that hair.”

Whether she didn't dry it properly or just didn't care for it, her hairstyle was as wild as a mane. Since she was an elf by blood, she would look perfectly fine with the others if she just put in a little effort.

“Ah, I’ve been on my own for so long that I stopped paying attention, ahaha...”

“Just fixing your hair would make a huge difference.”

“D-do you really think so?”

“Even if you’re a half-breed, you’re still half-elf.”

With that, Lumi closed her mouth. Instead, perhaps feeling a bit better, she started humming a tune.

After finishing the dishes, I wandered around the academy following Lumi. They said we could choose our classes freely, but after finishing the dishes, I had no options left. I had no choice but to find a class that would take us in.

“Ugh, blegh!”

The training currently underway was a sight to behold. Some were running around with boulders tied to their waists, while others were sprinting toward the mountain behind the academy in full plate armor.

“You there! Hurry up and join the training!”

Before long, Lumi and I were mixed in with them, undergoing the training.

“Urgh!”

Considering we were in the lowest class, I was wearing sandbags instead of a boulder, but I started running out of breath before even a minute had passed.

“...”

Lumi had already collapsed on the ground, not moving an inch.

“Faster! You’re slow!” the instructor barked. If I pushed any harder, I felt like I was going to vomit up everything I’d ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eaten for lunch.

A holographic window blocked my vision. The content was unbelievable. I felt like I was going to die just running for one or two minutes, and now they wanted thirty? And at a full sprint?

“Haa, huff.”

There was no option to refuse. If I stopped, I would automatically fail. *Run like your life depends on it.* I moved my body with that single thought in mind.

“Urgh!”

Sweat poured down like rain, and my lungs felt like they were about to burst. But what could I do? This was why I came to the academy.

“Good, keep that form!”

I was desperate to lie down on the ground, but every time I felt that way, I thought of the pathetic Choi Suhyun in the real world. The version of me who stayed locked in his room because he lacked talent. Hadn't I sworn my whole life that if I were given just one chance, I would work like a dog? I couldn't give up. I’d rather die than quit.

“Fu-fucking hell!”

Perhaps the instructor liked the look of someone who looked like they were about to die; he started running alongside me, acting as a pacemaker. 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes. The sensation in my body had vanished long ago, and I was moving forward purely on momentum.

— Time remaining: 30 seconds.

The longest 30 seconds of my life. Half by my own will, half by force, I relied on the instructor’s hand pushing my back to keep running. And finally.

My stagnant stats had changed. I lay on the floor, catching my breath, and checked my status window.

Strength and agility had increased by 5 each; everything else was the same. Still, even with Ariel’s help, my mana was zero.

“Human, not bad for a beginner!” The instructor who had tormented me throughout the training lifted me up. He had orange hair and a beard. He was a dwarf.

“I thought I was going to die.”

“Hurry up and move on to the next training.”

“Let me catch my breath for a moment...”

“There’s no time!” The dwarf instructor’s hand slammed into my back. *Smack.* Because I was drenched in sweat, it felt like a whip. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a human I actually liked!”

It seemed I’d gotten off on the wrong foot from the very first day.

Hellish physical training. The dwarf instructor’s one-on-one marking left my mind spinning. Perhaps it was because of the unique training method, but a challenge occurred during every single session. Thanks to that, my strength and agility had each risen to 15.

Stats affected physical changes. Simply ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠put, as agility increased, my body felt lighter, and as strength increased, muscle mass grew. I could physically feel the fat melting away and muscles popping out.

“I have to do this until I graduate...”

I could see why Ariel recommended this academy. If they worked you this hard, anyone would grow. Well, except for one person.

“Are you okay?”

Lumi, who had been lying down throughout the afternoon training, looked like she was doing fine. It seemed the instructor had already given up on her, as he didn't nag her anymore.

“It’s a miracle I’m still alive.”

I lay on my bed with a dazed expression. Even the time to lie down was tight. Dinner was coming up soon. Dishwashing, and then the laundry for the other students. There was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a mountain of work to do. Had I ever lived this intensely before? It was an experience that made me look back on my entire life.

“You shouldn't fall asleep. It’s dinner time...”

Lumi leaned her face in, invading my field of vision. Because she’d just showered, her fluffy hair was even more puffed up. Her long hair, hanging down, swayed left and right, tickling my nose.

“How old are you?”

“Me? I’m 103 this year!”

You couldn't gauge an elf’s age. She looked like she’d just reached adulthood, yet she was 103. Suddenly, I wondered about the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠age of Ariel, who looked much more mature than Lumi.

“In, in human years, about 20...?”

Perhaps embarrassed by her own age, she converted it to human years. Being a half-breed, I understood.

“They called you a mongrel earlier. I guess half-breeds aren't treated very well.”

“They don't recognize you if you aren't pure-blooded.”

Well, even among humans, people avoid those of mixed race, so why would other races be any different?

“I heard elves can see the future. How about you?”

“That’s a special ability given only to the chosen ones among elves! I was born with very little mana...”

Little mana? Was it the influence of the human blood mixed in? It had to be better than me, who couldn't handle mana at all. Thinking I’d found a use for Lumi, I sat up.

“Eek!”

When I suddenly leaned in, Lumi fell backward.

“Teach me some magic.”

“M-magic?”

I had to utilize every spare moment. I needed to absorb as much knowledge as possible while I was at the academy. I had to learn, no matter what. Especially magic.

Just like I’d learned from Ariel, I pulled Lumi up and placed her palm against my chest.

“First, let’s start by reading your mana.”

I closed my eyes and waited for Lumi’s mana to flow in. 30 seconds, 1 minute.

“...”

Even as time passed, I felt no stimulation. When I opened my eyes in confusion to check on Lumi:

“What are you doing?”

Lumi’s face was red enough to burst, and she was covering her mouth with one hand.

“T-this, what is...”

Her stuttering was worse than before. “No, this, I mean...”

Lumi’s reaction was strange. I was just as flustered. Was this a method only Ariel could use?

*Thud.*

Lumi collapsed. She fainted before she could even explain. She was truly a bizarre elf.

After finishing dinner and the dishes, I returned to the dormitory to find Lumi had regained consciousness and was sitting on the edge of her bed.

“You’re awake?”

“P-please give me another chance!”

Her eyes were filled with resolve, as if she’d made up her mind. It was the first time she looked so motivated.

“I’ll do better this time!”

The passion shining in her bright eyes made it hard to refuse.

“Alright, let me know when you’re ready.”

I sat next to Lumi and closed my eyes. I focused on the source of the mana that would soon flow in—her heartbeat.

*Swish.*

Soon, Lumi’s palm covered my chest. I felt the warmth from her small hand. And little by little, I began to feel Lumi’s mana.

*Rustle.*

Lumi’s mana flowed in naturally, stirring through my entire body.

“Huh?”

Instead of feeling pain, a warm energy traveled through my whole body, wrapping around me. Lumi’s mana spread out slowly, as if being careful with me. I didn't even need to read the flow of mana to feel where it was heading.

“It’s soft.”

If Ariel’s mana was a rough wave, Lumi’s mana was like a small droplet falling into a calm lake.

I opened my eyes at the familiar notification sound to see a holographic window greeting me. *Control the mana.* It felt like the highest difficulty challenge. Even though it was mana Lumi had sent over, once it entered my body, I had control over it. From the heart to the abdomen. From the abdomen to the legs. Finally, circulating it back up to the head. Thanks to Lumi’s soft mana, it wasn't a difficult task. However.

“Hup!”

The moment Lumi pulled her hand away, all sensation vanished.

The first failure I’d ever tasted. But more than that, Lumi’s shocked expression caught my eye.

“Y-you took my mana.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I don't know. I felt like my mana was disappearing...”

Did that mean Lumi’s mana remained in my body? “I don't feel anything.”

To an elf, mana was their lifeline. To an elf who lived purely by magic, taking their mana might be a more dangerous act than I’d thought.

“Sorry. Let’s stop here.”

It seemed there was a limit to circulating mana with someone else’s help. In the end, I had no choice but to master the languages of each race and purchase the talent myself.