The Urgent Need for Mental Cultivation

I felt the urgent need for mental cultivation. Piiiing— My ears rang from the massive roar accompanying the explosion. A sandstorm so fierce from the magic's aftermath that it was hard to even open my eyes swept over everyone, but I stubbornly kept my eyes wide open to admire the spell's form. Flames spreading out with the intensity to erase everything around them. More precisely, it was a sweeping wave of immense thermal energy. The blaze that engulfed the entire area gradually rose into the sky, sparkling as if its work was done.

"Beautiful."

The word slipped out unconsciously. I think it's the cleanest way to describe my magic. In this plaza darkened like dawn by the swirling sand, that noble flash illuminating everything around—it was a sight worthy of my spell's name, Dawn of Ashes.

I checked the messages floating in the corner of my vision from the Status Window and looked around. The sand from the explosion had settled, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and my view was gradually clearing. Surveying the plaza's state, I muttered to myself in anxiety.

"What do I do? Even gentle Yisul unnie is definitely gonna scold me for this."

The podium and fences people had worked hard to build this morning were all collapsed. Looking at the others, everyone had sand stuck in their hair and clothes from the storm.

"Today's magic lecture has unfortunately ended early, through no fault of our own."

Jeonghyeon Yeo, standing beside me, had come to his senses and approached with a mix of surprise and regret on his face. All I could say was "sorry." I didn't have the courage to meet anyone's eyes.

"Seha! Are you okay? Hurt anywhere?"

Yisul came rushing over from afar, breathlessly asking after me. I looked up happily, but contrary to my feelings, tears started welling up.

"Huh?"

Was it because I'd stared unblinking at the magic through the gritty sand? No matter how hard I tried to hold them back, the tears kept flowing.

"Seha!"

"Miss Seha, are you alright?"

"No, I'm totally fine. Look."

I dusted off my hands, wiped my tears, and said stoutly to the two worried about me.

"Phew."

I even hopped in place and spun around to show them, and only then did they seem relieved, sighing in relief.

"Good thing we don't need to drag her to the hospital."

"Yeah. Besides, the 'hospital' here is just a few beds like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in a school nurse's office."

'Hearing them, I kinda regret not faking being sick.'

Regardless of my body's state, I desperately wanted to leave this place. Casting magic drained my mental energy so much that the biggest reason was just wanting to wash up and crash in bed. If I had to pick another...

"Um, is this okay?"

"Miss Seha, what's the problem?"

"I feel like I bothered everyone. Shouldn't I at least apologize?"

When I asked Jeonghyeon Yeo, he smiled wordlessly and reached to pat my head.

'Not even Yisul unnie's gotten to do that yet—I can't give my first head-pat to some random guy!'

I shook my head side to side like dodging a punch in boxing, lightly evading his hand. He awkwardly retracted it and soothed me, signaling it was fine.

"No need to worry too much. If it's still bothering you, I'll gather everyone—want to apologize?"

The gazes I felt around weren't exactly reassuring enough for that. The magic lecture folks would forgive it as the TA demo going a bit overboard, but the swordsmanship group was another story. Imagine leisurely practicing swordplay when suddenly an explosion hits and training's canceled—what would that feel like? Especially since swordsmanship drew all buff dudes, it was extra intimidating.

As I dithered indecisively, I heard footsteps and turned to see an uncle approaching.

'I think I've seen that guy before, but who is he?'

I nudged Yisul's arm for help, and she stepped forward astutely.

"Hello, you're Mr. Hwanseok Jo, right? Your kendo demo in the plaza yesterday was impressive. What's this about?"

Ah! That was the uncle who'd shown kendo yesterday. He'd humbly said he knew a bit in the plaza, but I'd heard he was actually a kendo dojo master. Just rumors Yisul had passed on, though.

From their talk, he'd come with a proposal.

'No way he's here to demand something from me?'

I figured the guy who'd just been teaching swordsmanship would hold me accountable for ruining the class. But what came out of his mouth was a bit unexpected.

"They say in the tower, you can infuse mana into swordsmanship too. I came to exchange thoughts on mana usage."

"Mana? What specifically?"

"Mind if I draw my sword to explain?"

Gauging our reactions briefly, Hwanseok Jo drew his blade and raised it toward the empty air.

"If this basic stance is a normal sword..."

As he finished, I felt mana resonating around the sword.

"You can infuse energy like this. Our sword group calls it auror."

A blue glow coated the plain iron sword, rippling softly.

'So it's not like telekinesis or something—he's actually using mana.'

Hwanseok Jo cautiously swung the auror-infused sword at a wood block. Even pressing lightly without much force, it split cleanly in two. The cut was pristine, like an electric saw.

"Whoa."

Everyone except me gasped in admiration. Yisul especially watched the auror intently with sparkling eyes—guess she's into swords now too.

"Anyway, some of my pupils haven't awakened their auror yet, and it's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠worrying. Miss Jeong Seha, any thoughts seeing it?"

"Hmm... Mind if I hold the sword?"

"Of course. Swing it as much as you like."

"As much as I like" stung my pride a bit. Not like "you're a kid, you can't handle it anyway," right? Checking his face just in case, he was utterly focused on the sword, ignoring me completely—like someone truly devoted.

'Guess I was overthinking because I still romanticize swords.'

Feeling silly for playing my own drum, I quickly grabbed the sword. Sword in left hand, staff in right—anyone seeing me would think, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠what kind of freak hybrid is that? A sword without auror was just ordinary. Not like gripping a staff boosts mana.

Should I try infusing mana? Focusing my mana manipulation on the sword did nothing. Yeah, no sudden insights on swords for me.

"No clue. But could you show the auror once more?"

He took the sword back, concentrated briefly, and coated it again. This time, approach theoretically. My magic style didn't translate to swords, so maybe Jeonghyeon Yeo's way? Turn mana into the sword's property—that's auror, right?

Jeonghyeon Yeo answered instead.

"They say 'turn mana into the sword's property' doesn't click for most. Too abstract?"

True. Most magic students struggled with "mana properties" too. Shouldn't have started with his method. He and Hwanseok Jo were acquaintances before yesterday's speech—they'd probably already discussed it.

'I could just say I don't know, but I want to help the sword group too.'

Then Yisul spoke to me.

"Seha, don't overthink—just toss out any light idea."

"Lightly speaking, what could it be..."

When handling mana, I infused intent. Not just "explode big" like mine, but sword-specific intent—how?

"Are most without auror total beginners?"

"Yeah. Gamers who've swung virtual swords get it quick, but total newbies to even basics struggle."

"I'd clarify the purpose of wielding the sword. Why pick it up? Why climb the tower?"

He pondered my answer and praised it as a good hypothesis.

"With little time till 2F, we focused on practical tech over mental cultivation—maybe that's the mistake."

Hwanseok Jo explained kendo's true purpose is mental cultivation. Dojos stress mutual respect, and beginners learn it's not about duels first.

'He took my offhand comment so seriously—kinda burdensome.'

Suddenly resolute, Hwanseok Jo spoke.

"Let's gather everyone."

"Pardon?"

"Need to explain kendo's purpose. It's not just learning the sword—it's honing yourself through it."

Before I could stop him, he rounded up the sword trainees. All buff men, unlike the magic crowd. They gathered puzzled at one spot in the plaza.

"Swordsmanship lecture's over, but now I'll explain kendo. It'll boost your auror understanding—listen closely."

Mid-sentence, he pointed at me.

"Miss Jeong Seha, if it's not rude, could you come up?"

He said since we'd gathered them, apologize for the daytime incident too. I'd wrecked their class with my magic mishap.

'Then bow apology-style and bolt.'

But speaking before the crowd wasn't easy. Magic time was fine—more women, skinny guys. These sweat-drenched sword-grip dudes were intimidating. Still, seize the chance and do my best.

"Hello. I'm Jeong Seha."

My grand opener fell flat; I couldn't follow up. As I opened my mouth, cheers deafened me.

'Wait, weren't they mad I ruined sword class?'

Inn explosion, plaza explosion—arsonist nickname wouldn't be weird. Yet they welcomed me warmly.

'This cheering could pass for a military fan service show.'

As cheers died, I spoke again. Bowed sorry—got encouragement.

"Don't sweat it!"

"That magic was refreshing!"

"I liked it!"

Weird comments mixed in, but they didn't mind my screw-up. They fawned so much I got embarrassed. Especially the uncle yelling "cute" nonstop—felt like an idol. Their gushing made me blush, which made them gush more in a vicious cycle.

Finally, Hwanseok Jo intervened.

"Seeing you all, I've felt the urgent need for mental cultivation."

Their faces hardened instantly, contrasting the teasing. He'd probably been strict in sword class.

'Pay for teasing me with Hwanseok's mental training!'

Satisfied, I hurried off. And so, the next day arrived—the day we finally entered 2F.