I Was Just Trying to Do a Favor (1)
Knowing something is more dangerous than anything else in the world. As someone once said, the person who has read just one book is the most dangerous and ignorant compared to someone who hasn't read any. Knowing something carelessly can lead to tremendous peril. That's true for knowledge of superpowers and mana.
I know more about mana than anyone in this world, and I know exactly how to increase it and strengthen superpowers.
Want to increase your mana? Then make mythical or legendary beings your own.
Want to strengthen your superpower? Pull usage methods from already created works of fiction.
Just like how you only need to know how to beatbox with a drum and cymbal to do it, to become a powerful superpowered individual, you just need to know these two things.
But no one knows that.
Even now, at 25 years old, when the first children who awakened superpowers at age 1 have all grown up, people still know nothing about how superpowers manifest, how mana awakens, or how to get stronger.
That's what I've felt over the past six months living in this world, and it's the conclusion I've reached after spending a week as a librarian on Sejong Island.
'With such a lack of imagination, no wonder.'
Today was Sunday. I took a stroll around the academy with an iced Americano in hand, observing people here and there.
"Fireball!"
"Fire Lance!"
On a normal weekend, you'd expect people to gather at soccer fields or tennis courts for some exercise, but here, superpower training was the norm over sports.
'Even on weekends, everyone's so diligent.'
Just as soccer fans head to soccer fields and tennis lovers to tennis courts, superpowered folks group up with those who have similar abilities to exchange tips and techniques.
"Sunbae! I've pioneered a new realm in flame magic!"
"Oh? What's that?"
"Behold! Fire Punch! I'm going to become the new hero, Fire Punch!"
"There are already over ten registered heroes using Fire Fist, you know?"
"Then... Magma Punch!"
This place was a training ground where familiar sunbaes and hoobaes swapped knowledge and info on superpowers to build their foundations for growth.
And.
'It's so frustrating.'
Not because of the sweltering heat from the flames, but watching them train their superpowers like that made me want to scream.
'Doing it like that in a place like this is just a waste of time.'
In this world, strength came from imagination. Repeatedly using powers in reality only led to hitting personal limits and despair.
For example, someone proud of controlling 100 liters of water might eke out an extra liter or two through training, but a breakthrough like "I can control the ocean!" was impossible. They set their own limits. They built their own glass ceiling, so training wasn't all that great for superpowered people.
'In the original story, they made everyone else look like idiots just to prop up the protagonist.'
The protagonist, preaching that "a healthy body houses a healthy mind," just hammered away at the gym. His body improved, but his superpower seemed stagnant on the surface, so no one paid him much mind. But as the protagonist, he had imagination superior to anyone else's.
And the key to unleashing that imagination? Cultural content, hands down.
While others trained, he watched movies, read comics, and devoured books—what looked like slacking—allowing him to grow faster than anyone in this world.
Even imagining summoning demons from another world to drop meteors on Earth and end civilization, then making it real.
'Dangerous guy.'
So dangerous he could end the world. That's why I had to find him and kill him.
Transform into Dokkaebi, take him out, then slip away from prying eyes, revert in a quiet spot, grab some clothes, and blend back into the crowd like nothing happened.
For that, I was scouting spots to hide my "emergency bags." Stash clothes in less-trafficked areas, release the transformation near a bag, change quickly, and I'd fool everyone perfectly.
'I need to get stronger too.'
Planning after killing him was important, but so was getting strong enough to kill him in the first place.
'Once I confirm bag spots, I'll head back and boost my mana.'
Since I'd come all the way to Sejong Island, it was a prime chance to enhance my mana...
"Hm?"
Off in the distance, amid groups training together, a hooded student sat alone on a bench. Boy or girl, hard to tell, but they looked unstable—like they might "explode" any second.
What kind of explosion? 'Middle school syndrome.'
The turbulent puberty phase, but with superpowers going berserk. When "I'm different from everyone else!" self-actualization synced with mana awakening, it could birth villains who wreaked havoc on the world.
Even in an academy full of superpowered people, it happened. That student clearly harbored some grudge.
What it was...
The hooded student shot up from their seat.
And stormed off somewhere, fuming.
"...Hoo."
I downed the rest of my coffee, pocketed the empty cup, and tailed them.
I didn't want eyes on me, but seeing them bolt like that gave me a bad feeling. My guess? Kids like that often evolved into "devil's kin" that engulfed the whole academy—
"Excuse me."
Someone called from behind.
"Over there."
Awkward Korean. Foreigner.
Blonde hair, blue eyes, shoulder-length bob. A beauty.
"Which way to the dorms?"
"...Are you a new academy student by any chance?"
"Yes. New student. Just arrived at the academy."
She pointed to the Taeguk Watch on her wrist. Instead of the Korean flag, her national flag blinked on the screen.
"Canada?"
"Yes. Yumir from Canada."
Long way to come, but unfortunately, not an original character I recalled. Or maybe a forgotten extra?
'As a new student, high chance of crossing paths with the protagonist.'
Same year, and with inter-class superpower training matches, they'd meet for sure.
'No harm in showing some goodwill.'
The hooded kid vanishing somewhere was worrisome, but answering this new student's question came first.
"Lucky you. I'm kinda like staff. I'll guide you to the dorms."
"Kinda...?"
"Yeah. Librarian."
"Librarian...!"
Yumir's eyes sparkled.
"Like, the combat librarian who blasts magic from books?!"
"...I'm powerless."
"Oh."
Yumir gaped in shock.
"S-sorry. I assumed you were superpowered."
"Assumed?"
"Yeah. Everyone on academy island is superpowered, so I thought you were hiding your mana expertly. Sorry."
"No need to apologize."
I pointed ahead for her.
"This way. I'll get you there quick."
Absolutely not because she was a beauty or anything.
Oh, right.
'The original protagonist was set as a blonde Canadian too, I think.'
Or not. Whatever.
"Hah, hah...!"
The girl braced against the wall, breathing raggedly.
"Damn, damn...!"
Thud.
She punched the wall hard, but unlike others, it didn't crumble—her fist just turned red.
"I want to be like everyone else...!"
She clenched her hand.
Like others expelling mana outward, she did too, but the amount was pitifully tiny.
E-rank. Better than F, but after graduating high school division, she'd end up as academy security or chasing petty criminals in the countryside—best-case scenario.
"I want to get stronger too...!"
Tears streamed down her face. Already a second-year high schooler, her mana showed no signs of growth. Two more years like this, and she'd graduate E-rank.
She'd lucked into awakening as superpowered, but sadly, Korea had too many like her. Like idols. Only a tiny fraction of top S-rank celebs; she was just another fleeting music show girl group member who disbanded without even TV time.
"I want to get stronger...!"
"Oh dear, oh dear. Why the tears?"
From afar, a masked figure approached the girl.
She flinched back but clenched her fists at the sight.
"Who are you...?!"
"You know me, right?"
The masked man tilted his head with a grin.
"I'll give you power."
"...What's the catch?"
"Catch? None. I just want 'chaos.'"
The masked man tapped his mask.
"Wanna make a contract with me, Du Eok Sini?"