Chapter 9

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 9

Chapter Title: Week-Long Trance and Red-Haired Provocation

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Guys, this is f*cking urgent! The hottest redhead in the city just came up and talked to me—what the hell do I say?!

"H-haa... g-gonna... go..."

I shuddered violently, striking a pose straight out of something Orgasm from the gallery would pull.

This didn't mean I'd actually felt a real orgasm.

It was the sensation of natural mana flooding my entire body, then whooshing out.

My muscles stretched and contracted repeatedly, bringing a pleasure like stretching after a long sleep.

The more I repeated the expansion, the more natural mana I could pack into my body.

And the fuller my body got with natural mana, the greater the pleasure.

I couldn't stop cultivating amid the ever-growing bliss with every inhale and exhale.

Just like gallery users chasing bigger and bigger dopamine hits. I kept expanding and contracting, over and over.

"Hoo... haa...! That was good..."

When I figured I'd done enough, I finally stopped cultivating.

I wanted to keep going, but it looked like morning had arrived.

As expected, the bright sun was shining outside.

"Whoa, I'm seriously starving."

Having cultivated all night, my stomach was rumbling at legendary levels.

I'd been worried since the gallery archmages said I couldn't do it, but I'd pulled off an all-nighter cultivation session without issue.

Fatigue was fully recovered.

But my stomach was insanely hungry. This level of hunger was new to me.

No, I was so hungry I felt dizzy.

"Cultivation consumes a ton of energy, huh."

For now, I scarfed down the snacks Hisenna had bought me the day before.

This was pure bliss.

The sugar rush nearly made me pass out.

Then I glanced in the mirror.

"M-maggotyaaaah!"

The reflection wasn't the me from yesterday.

A scruffy beard had grown in, and my face was gaunt as hell.

What the...? Why did I lose so much weight? Was this an effect of cultivation too?

I hurriedly opened the gallery to ask.

But the gallery was in a weird state.

"What the hell? Kidnapped? A week?"

What insane clickbait was spreading overnight?

I was wondering what it was when I noticed the date was off.

"A week passed?"

I thought it'd been one night, but a whole week had gone by.

I'd cultivated that long? Even if I was immersed...?

"H-hoeeek?!"

On top of that, my mana capacity had jumped units in an instant.

What? Was I always this high? But is this normal?

For a split second, I thought maybe I was a genius, but then fear washed over me as backlash.

It's human nature to feel terror when witnessing something too miraculous.

"Still, this is sweet as hell."

But I quickly shook it off.

Stomach's a bit hungry, but I'm not dying. Got a diet bonus too.

Plus, with 1960 mana, I could fire off Five Rays of Brilliant Flash nineteen times.

Academies get invaded by outside forces like it's routine.

So no more passing out after one spell in resistance fights.

"Heh heh heh. Mana cultivation genius enters the gallery."

That's right. Time for gallery antics.

I planned my legendary comeback while munching snacks.

As expected, explosive reactions.

Unexpectedly pulled off resurrection aggro twice.

Rehashes are a no-go, but couldn't resist this one.

Couldn't pour oil on these blazing clickbaits.

Kukuku, this is fun. Mana cultivation pleasure was great, but this dopamine's irresistible.

But isn't natural mana just floating around like air?

The gallery archmages seem to sense it that way.

Is it hard for mugs to sense?

Endless hooks piling up. Why are these guys like this?

I devoured the backlog from my absence while eating snacks.

Then a sudden thought hit me.

"Wait. If a week's passed..."

I rushed to the calendar.

How many days till semester start after entrance exam pass?

"F*ck. Classes start tomorrow."

My bad premonition was spot on.

Having cultivated non-stop for a week, my precious break vanished.

Well, for me it was more waiting time than break.

Anyway, classes suck.

"I planned to cultivate one day then practice 1st circle spells."

This is bad. Can't be a laughingstock if I can't even use 1st circle.

Oh, and first day after opening ceremony is class placement exam.

Scholarships depend on assigned class level.

Need to score well on placement for that.

Cultivation and natural mana didn't matter now.

I frantically posted on the gallery and bolted to the training room.

***

"1st circle magic isn't hard at all. Too many to memorize in one day, but casting's no issue."

I checked the gallery post and tried out 1st circle spells right away in the training room.

1st circle is single-construct spells. Just draw one, easy peasy.

Mages say 1st circle is baby steps.

You can use them once you sense mana in your body.

More than expected, and even similar ones had subtle effect differences.

Since 1st circle forms the base for higher circles, better learn them properly.

Can't memorize all now. Gallery's mine only, so cheat if needed.

Upvoted and saved CantDoThisEither's post.

"Now drop some 2nd circle, urgent."

A week ago, I'd have time to leisurely master, but not now.

Need at least 2nd circle proficiency.

Placement exam tomorrow for scholarships via class assignment.

And CantDoThisEither said they'd compile 2nd circle.

Grateful, but issue: no explanations.

Names listed, but cryptic ones meant testing every 1st circle myself.

Tch. Can't be helped.

Archmages see low circles as basics, no need to explain.

Just trial and error.

Waiting for CantDoThisEither's 2nd circle while recovering mana,

someone opened the training room door.

"Hm?"

I was sprawled out starfish-style doing breathing exercises.

Super embarrassing pose, but they ignored it.

They probably knew ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it's good for breathing.

Wanted to practice alone, bummer.

Oh right, classes tomorrow, so cadets back in academy now.

After the girl entered, more followed.

All loosening up before semester.

But that first girl who opened the door—the redhead I vaguely remembered.

Definitely standing right behind me in entrance exam line at possession moment.

Her stunning red hair and looks stuck with me.

"Ahem, ahem."

But no way I'd say, "Hey, aren't we acquainted?"

Residual shut-in nerd instincts.

I cleared my throat and slinked to the corner.

Crowded now, awkward.

Scout quieter training rooms next time.

Thinking that, about to open gallery,

'W-wait. Why's she coming this way?'

The redhead strode right at me.

Thought it coincidence, but only me here.

And she was smiling, smirking straight at me.

"Hi?"

Ugh! She actually talked to me. Why? Why me?

Hisenna was pretty, but context different.

Stunner approaching out of nowhere.

Shut-in me could only sputter.

F*ck yeah. But we're both cadets, no need to freak?

In this case...

Post to gallery first, obviously.

But even more bewildering situation hit immediately.

"We've met before, right? You looked like total fail at passing, how'd a loser like you make it in?"

The redhead was picking a fight. Dismissing me like "how'd a total muggle pass?"

What? Did I do something?

Brainless aggression like this since middle school, disorienting.

"......"

"......"

"......"

Nearby cadets gawked, speechless.

Training room fell silent.

Hm. First things first,

Post to gallery first.