Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: First Class (6)
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Having arrived at the Mana Manipulation classroom like that, I took a moment to peer inside.
The classroom was a fairly spacious area with neatly arranged cushions scattered about.
'Guess we sit on those cushions for class.'
Soon, other students began trickling in one by one, so I sat down in a nearby spot.
As more came in, I realized there were far fewer students than expected and turned to Lee Seojun.
"Doesn't the turnout seem kinda low?"
-It's always under twenty. Everyone here got into the Hero Officer Academy, so they all have a decent handle on mana already.
Which meant I was the only one who couldn't even sense mana.
There wasn't much I could do about not sensing mana, so all I could do was pay close attention in class.
-So the kids in this class are either the ones who want to handle mana more freely or those who have issues with it in the first place.
I nodded along as I listened to Lee Seojun.
In simple terms, normal students didn't take this class.
-Also, that girl on the right with the green hair in twin braids—she can't manipulate mana either, so she's here for that.
At the mention of "right," I glanced over and saw a doll-like, pretty girl.
She had long green hair tied into twin braids that hung down to just below her ears.
-She's Joo Ha-yeon, ranked 4th overall.
'4th place?'
Could someone in 4th place really not handle mana?
-Just so you know, Joo Ha-yeon manipulates mana in a unique way. She's here because it's not the usual method.
Right as Lee Seojun finished, the door at the front opened, and someone entered.
"Ah, looks like everyone's already seated."
It was Yu Na-eun, the instructor in charge of Mana Manipulation.
She flashed a bright smile at the seated students.
"As I introduced yesterday, I'm Yu Na-eun, handling your Mana Manipulation class. You all probably know the basics already, but since it's class, we'll start from the beginning and go step by step."
Yu Na-eun said we'd start from scratch and pulled something out from a table in the classroom.
'A crystal orb?'
What Yu Na-eun had taken out was a fist-sized crystal orb.
"This crystal orb is made of a special material, so it reacts sensitively to your mana. That's why we'll be using it for the lesson."
After announcing we'd use the orb for class, Yu Na-eun suddenly looked like she'd forgotten something and spoke up again.
"Oh, by the way—is there any cadet here who still can't sense mana?"
"......"
"......"
In the silence from the other students, I alone raised my hand.
As I lifted my hand, I felt every gaze in the classroom turn to me.
Yu Na-eun glanced at me once, then addressed the students again.
"Anyone else? Just so you know, there's nothing embarrassing about it. What's embarrassing is not raising your hand right now."
Even after her follow-up, no one else raised a hand besides me.
"Looks like just the one, then. Could I get the cadet's name?"
"Lee Seongmin."
"Lee Seongmin? Isn't that the cadet who took 1st in the entrance ceremony spar?"
"Yes."
I confirmed it, and Yu Na-eun showed a hint of surprise.
The other students around me started murmuring in disbelief as well.
"No way... Didn't he already awaken his innate ability?"
"Yeah. Awaken your innate ability but can't sense mana?"
"Not being able to handle it is one thing, but not sensing it at all is weird."
Clap!
At that point, Yu Na-eun clapped her hands to quiet the noisy atmosphere.
"Alright, settle down. Everyone except Lee Seongmin cadet—grab one of these crystal orbs."
At her words, all the other students stood and each took an orb.
"First, let me demonstrate. If you infuse mana into the orb you've got, it'll float up into the air like this."
Sure enough, the orb in Yu Na-eun's hand floated lightly into the air.
The floating orb even moved this way and that at the wave of her hand.
"Then, with precise control over your mana, you can make it move like this. Just a heads-up: the exam for Mana Manipulation will evaluate how well you control the orb, so practice hard."
Hearing it was an orb test, the students began infusing their mana one by one.
Some orbs floated up so wildly they even bumped into the ceiling.
"As I said, precise control is key. Try adjusting your mana output finely before infusing it."
After that advice, Yu Na-eun shifted her gaze from the students and approached me.
"Now then, Lee Seongmin cadet. First, let's check how much mana you have. That okay?"
Mana?
I recalled seeing a Magic Power stat in my Status Window when I'd checked my Absolute Clone proficiency a few times.
It seemed like she wanted to measure that value, and since it was there in my Status Window, I figured I must have some, so I nodded.
"Yes, that's fine."
"I'll grab the tool, then."
Yu Na-eun fetched a tool from a cabinet on one side of the classroom.
"Lee Seongmin cadet, grip this tool firmly."
The tool was a long, transparent glass rod with a handle.
Assuming it measured mana, I casually gripped the handle.
"See how blue energy rises from the bottom of the rod? That's your mana. But..."
Yu Na-eun peered intently at the blue, misty vapor rising in the rod.
"Your mana level is around 20. That's about what you'd expect from someone who just awakened."
As she explained to me, a flicker of doubt appeared in Yu Na-eun's eyes.
She was probably puzzled that someone who'd just awakened—and already unlocked their innate ability—had such low mana.
"They say the world's full of wonders. Anyway, Lee Seongmin cadet, since you need to start with sensing mana, just relax and sit comfortably."
Yu Na-eun sat right beside me, ready to teach from the absolute basics, giving instructions one by one.
'Sensing mana is tougher than I thought.'
I mused on the way back after the Mana Manipulation class ended.
When Yu Na-eun infused mana for me directly, I could feel it clearly, but when I tried it myself, there was nothing.
-It's okay. Practice in the dorms, and you'll sense it in no time.
"How'd it go for you?"
-Me? I kinda started sensing it faintly before class ended.
From Lee Seojun's response, his talent seemed pretty good after all.
At least better than mine—no denying that. I nodded with a bittersweet feeling.
"Guess I'll have to keep practicing in the dorms like you said."
Unfortunately, I had plans with Cheon Seo-yun.
I'd promised to help with her training, so heading straight back to the dorms wasn't an option.
"Any idea what Cheon Seo-yun's planning for dinner?"
-Dinner? One thing comes to mind.
"What?"
-Since we're training together, she'll probably rent a private training room. We can handle dinner there too.
Apparently, the Hero Officer Academy even had private training rooms.
-Oh, just in case—private training rooms are just soundproofed spaces. Nothing else in there.
So, no fancy features like the virtual training rooms.
Beep beep—
"......?"
I checked the alarm from my watch and found a new message.
[Class done? Come to private training room #6.]
-Looks like it's from Cheon Seo-yun.
"Yeah. Guess she went ahead and rented one like you said."
-They're 5 points per hour, so probably 2-3 hours at least.
If Cheon Seo-yun handled breakfast, lunch, and dinner with me today, she'd save 15 points.
Lee Seojun figured that's why she'd splurge them all on the private room.
"But if points are required, doesn't that mean not everyone can train whenever?"
-They'd use the 1st-year communal training room. It's free. Plus, it's crowded and lively if you like that sort of thing.
Anyway, with Lee Seojun's guidance again, I arrived at the private training rooms and saw a hallway lined with heavy steel doors.
"Walls look thick too."
-Designed to withstand most magic attacks. Of course, break one and you're banned for months.
I nodded at the extra info and found room #6 as Cheon Seo-yun mentioned, stepping inside.
'It's open.'
The door was slightly ajar, not fully closed.
I pushed it open and entered to see Cheon Seo-yun standing with her eyes closed, sword in hand, perfectly still.
"You're here?"
She noticed me enter and slowly opened her eyes.
"Yeah. How'd you know about a place like this?"
"An instructor told me."
She must've asked about spots to train alone.
I thought that far and checked that dinner time was still a ways off.
Seeing she'd prepared while waiting for me, I decided to start right away.
"Alright. We can begin training now, right?"
"Just go easier than last time."
"I've got something better than dialing it back."
With that, I picked a decent sword from the rack along one wall and applied Warlord's Weapon to it.
"Here—I'll use just this one sword, so come at me."
"Just one sword?"
"I'll move like I'm doing proper swordsmanship, so don't worry."
Cheon Seo-yun frowned slightly, taking it as me underestimating her.
I caught on and dangled a tempting reward.
"If you win this time, I'll buy you meals whenever you want."
"......You mean that?"
"Only if you win."
At my words, Cheon Seo-yun's eyes sharpened as she reset her stance.
"When do we start?"
"Now."
The word had barely left my mouth when Cheon Seo-yun charged ferociously.