Mana Sparks and Gunfire Terror
Hunter Museum school trip, day two. Our class headed to the Hunter Museum on Jeju Island. The other classes went somewhere else, apparently. According to the schedule, ours was first up. Normally, everyone would stick with their friends in situations like this.
But not me.
"Sihoo. Come here."
She beckoned me over like she was calling a dog, hand dangling low. Sera dragged me right to her side without a care for who was watching. I pressed a hand to my forehead and let out a quiet grumble.
"Sera. Come on, isn't this a bit much in front of everyone?"
"Hmph. What's that? We agreed to stick together the whole trip, remember? Can't have you going back on your word."
"That's not it—it's just, the fallout scares me a little."
"It's fine, it's fine. If anyone says anything to you, I'll give 'em a good scolding."
……Knowing Sera, that wasn't a joke. It terrified me.
Anyway, I ended up glued to her side, waiting quietly. Soon enough, a neatly dressed woman approached our class.
"Hello~. Welcome to the Hunter Museum, everyone. I'm your guide!"
Her voice rang out clear and bright. She instantly captured the students' attention and beckoned us along.
"Alright, follow me~. Let's dive into hunter history!"
I trailed behind her at a leisurely pace. Truth be told, the Hunter Museum didn't have much in the way of actual artifacts. Hunter history itself was still pretty short.
"As you all know, the true origin of hunters dates back to the year 2000. Anyone want to tell me why? Hands up!"
"Me!"
"Yes~? What is it?"
"The answer is the New Era!"
"Correct! Applause~."
Clap clap clap—some half-hearted clapping followed, and then the guide launched into an explanation of the New Era—common knowledge in this world.
"In the year 2000 AD, a new energy suddenly blanketed the entire Earth. An energy unlike any force we'd observed before! Scholars named it mana."
"Yes—."
"We still don't know exactly why mana density spiked across the globe. But what happened was irreversible. Humanity entered a new era powered by this energy, and those who could wield mana to perform extraordinary feats became known as hunters."
"Yes—."
"Further investigations revealed something else. This world had always harbored people who wielded unscientific powers, hidden from view. Exorcists, for example—beings we thought were fictional."
The other students listened with sparkling eyes, clearly fascinated. But to me, it all felt a bit predictable.
'I've seen this plenty in my past life.'
Hunter webnovels all followed the same formula. Which got me wondering.
'If this world is a webnovel, this must be the basic setup, right?'
Then what role was I? Protagonist? Supporting character? Or some nameless extra? I mulled it over, but it was pointless musing. Novel world or not, this wasn't my world anyway.
"Anyway! Sadly, not everyone can wield mana. Sensitivity varies from person to person, so not everyone can become a hunter."
The whole class nodded. Our school was a regular high school. We were all ordinary kids who dreamed of being hunters but couldn't.
It was only natural to relate to the guide's words. But then she flashed a knowing smile, like she'd anticipated our reaction.
"That's why you all are in for a real treat at the Jeju Hunter Museum. We have an experience activity that helps you sense mana!"
"Whoa!"
The students gasped in delight at the unexpected gift, buzzing with excitement as they looked around.
"Where is it?"
"How does it work?"
"I wanna try it now—"
The guide calmly led us onward amid the chatter.
"Follow me. ……There it is!"
She pointed to something like a desk. A flat circular platform with a round switch in the center. It looked just like those buttons in demos where "pressing this affects someone on the other side of the world."
"Place your hand on that switch, and you'll see the mana flowing out of your body. Want to give it a try?"
"Me first! I'll go!"
An excited guy rushed forward, slapped his hand on the switch, and stared at himself with wide-eyed anticipation.
And then.
"Whoa……!"
Blue specks of light floated up from his shoulder, drifting lazily into the air. One, two, five, ten. Soon they were rising from all over his body. Each one glittered like a tiny blue crystal, captivating everyone.
"See? That's the mana naturally leaking from your body all the time. You might not sense it, but seeing it like this is pretty cool, right?"
"Yes!"
What followed was pure competition. Everyone lined up to be next. As we watched, the guide added a curious remark with a sly smile.
"Oh, and if there are any couples here, I highly recommend doing it together!"
'What?'
My gaze instinctively flicked to Lee Sera. I didn't think of us as a couple. But something told me she'd insist on trying it.
And sure enough.
Sera looked up at me with a cat-like grin.
"Know what happens if couples overlap hands on the switch? You see the mana flowing into your partner's body! Super romantic, right?"
'Ah.'
And it hit me.
'This is what you were after, Lee Sera.'
—Heh. You'll regret saying that. You said you didn't mind, right? With your own mouth?
Sera's words from yesterday. I'd worried what scheme she was cooking up…… and this was it.
"Heh—heh. What, getting cold feet now?"
She poked my side with her elbow.
"If you don't want to, just say so. I don't mind at all."
"……For real?"
"Of course. Though I'd be heartbroken that my precious childhood friend lied to me and cry my eyes out. But Sihoo wouldn't do that, right?"
"……."
It was a terrifying statement that sealed off any escape.
'Sigh.'
I sighed inwardly. Honestly, it was awkward. Everyone else was doing it solo—if Sera and I paired up, it'd stand out. We'd look like a couple for sure.
But.
—So, yeah. ……Wanna go to the Academy with me?
Remembering Sera's heartfelt confession from yesterday.
'Guess I can't dodge this one.'
No choice but to go along with her. Plus, I was curious. Seeing mana up close would be a first for me too.
After waiting for the others.
"Next up! You two are the last—then we'll move on~."
We stepped forward together at the guide's cue. Gasps rippled around us.
"Ooh—"
"Are they really dating?"
"Dunno? Sihoo always denies it."
"But Sera's the one who's obviously serious."
I tuned them out, entering a state of zen. It meant nothing. I wouldn't get the wrong idea. I had zero intention of becoming the delinquent girl's boyfriend……
And there was the switch.
"Heh—heh—"
Sera stood across from it, flashing a mischievous smile.
A brief silence.
Slowly, Sera and I both reached out at the same time.
Bang!
A harsh noise shattered the quiet, stabbing my ears.
"Wh-what?!"
"What's going on?!"
The class erupted in shock. The guide was no exception.
"G-gunfire……?! No way, terrorism—"
But no one could say more.
Bang! Bang bang!
Crash!
Successive shots. Something shattering. A threat that froze everyone in place.
Then, masked thugs emerged from the distance.
"Nobody move. Kneel on the floor."
Click.
The metallic click echoed ominously. An assault rifle trained on us—someone gulped. The other three thugs drew pistols from their coats.
I sized up the situation right then.
'Terrorists.'
Come to think of it, there were reports of Dark Hunters infiltrating Jeju Island.
'But why Dark Hunters targeting the museum? And our class of all things?'
I couldn't figure it out.
'And they don't even seem like hunters.'
Hunters rarely used guns. They lived off mana—no need to rely on firearms. Sure, some made guns their main weapon, but these guys didn't fit.
'Anyway, better do as they say.'
No reason to resist here. My Ether might solve things, but I wasn't keen on testing it with my life on the line.
'And I can't guarantee the other kids' safety.'
So, play it safe for now. Watch and wait.
I knelt slowly. The others were already down.
Except.
"……."
One person.
Our class's sole Gift holder.
Lee Sera alone stayed standing, glaring at the thugs.
"What're you doing? Kneel, now!"
Click!
The gun barked again in threat. Only then did Sera sink down slowly.
But her face stayed tense, ready to lunge at the first opening.
She watched the situation in silence.