The Mage Association's Method

Park Yu-hye had been a promising talent since childhood. Born in the early '90s, now around 35 years old. As the only daughter of wealthy parents working at major corporations, she'd had everything she wanted and done everything she pleased. She even had top-tier talent in magic, passing the promotion matches without effort. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Nicknames like "lazy genius" and "ultimate weapon miss" had earned her a cult following.

Of course, had earned her—that meant she didn't anymore.

"Ugh…."

When she rose from bed, a massive pile of trash and uneaten food scraps greeted her. Seeing it, she flopped right back down. The single bed was perfectly sized for her small frame—the only place she could find any peace.

"This month's utilities. Interest, rent…."

All of it was a hassle. If only her parents had lived longer. They could've come clean this mess, signed her up for a gym membership, nagged her to exercise.

"Pay the back rent too…. Mom…."

Park Yu-hye stared blankly at the yellowed ceiling.

"Maybe I should just die."

The thought of buying coal briquettes, taping the doors and windows—it all tangled her brain in knots. It had been so long since she'd managed two steps of reasoning that her head felt like it was being gnawed by rats.

Eat when hungry, do when she felt like it, shit when the urge hit. That had been Park Yu-hye for the last decade.

"Aah, such a pain…."

Truth be told, she'd grown sick of host bars ages ago. Overhearing the hosts gossiping about her had killed that thrill long before. She only went out of habit now, because without it, she'd probably end it all without a second thought.

So, her trips to host bars weren't much different from the neighbor ordering delivery when sad. The difference? Hers cost 3 million won to the neighbor's 30,000.

"Might as well do drugs…."

It'd probably cost less than host bars.

No, if I'm going there, better try body incineration magic first.

The spell that summoned ether by offering one's own limbs as sacrifice. Rumors said it delivered purer pleasure than drugs. Too good, in fact—plenty of seniors had burned their whole bodies away into ether.

"Ah…! I learned that one."

A desperate situation in the Abyss, ether depleted. To protect wounded comrades or hold a vital point, when there was no choice. Her mentor had taught it for exactly those moments.

'It's worse than death, so don't use it unless you have to.'

Thirty minutes staring at the yellowed wallpaper. Park Yu-hye finally sat up.

"Ah."

Today was the losers' bracket prelims.

*

Bang So-yeon was on the verge of madness digging through the records. The three elders had indeed disqualified Yoo Eun-ha without any verification.

Chewing her lip, Bang So-yeon glared at the documents.

"You know what happens if this blows up, right?"

Even as association president, her words fell on deaf ears. To dismiss elder council members required a majority vote from the council itself—her threats meant nothing.

"……."

A throbbing headache hit Bang So-yeon.

"What now?"

One elder cleared his throat at her question. Oh Kyung-cheol, the culprit.

"Eh, just call it a simulation glitch and move on. Why make a mountain out of a molehill?"

No remorse, no manners, not even a hint of concern—Bang So-yeon's temper exploded.

"Then Yoo Eun-ha will blow the sim again next time! You think that'll end well?!"

Oh Kyung-cheol snapped back. "What? Bang So-yeon! Didn't think you had it in you! That's no way to talk to your elders!"

"KML's already seen as a third-rate league! If people find out the ranking prelims run on outdated crap like this, it'll be a total joke! Talk of disbanding the league will start!"

"……."

"You know all that power and profit comes from the league, right?!"

The three elders still played dumb.

"Eh… we'll figure it out…."

"How?! You passed judgment without verification!"

"Tch, just redo the match and ban that spell from Yoo Eun-ha. What, no guts for that? This is why men should run the association."

Bang So-yeon's jaw dropped.

"Ban a spell the mage prepared? Where's that rule? Which article, which clause?"

Oh Kyung-cheol furrowed his brow. "If the association says so, she does it! We did it before, with that Lee Han guy."

Bang So-yeon shrieked. "That was the '90s! Now we have to disclose valid reasons for spell restrictions!"

Park Myeong-jeong patted her shoulder as she fumed. "Sorry. Oh Kyung-cheol's always been that inflexible. You get it, So-yeon? Let this one slide."

"……."

That was the problem—just this once, let it slide. That cowardice and laziness had led here.

As Bang So-yeon glared at Oh Kyung-cheol, Park Myeong-jeong sighed and wrapped up.

"The elder council will issue a statement of regret and prevention measures. You go deliver the spell restriction order."

So-yeon closed her eyes, grinding her teeth. You think that'll fly? With this mess?

She gnashed harder. How the hell did Senior Park Seong-gil handle this crap?

The iron fortress mage Park Seong-gil, blocking attacks without a millimeter's error. He'd somehow kept the elder council tumor in check with that skill.

Senior, save me! I'll go insane!

Tears streamed from Bang So-yeon's eyes. She was feeling bone-deep why he'd earned the title "Iron Fortress Mage."

*

At the losers' bracket prelim venue, eyes were glued—not just focused, but tearing from the strain—after the sudden "simulation error" announcement.

Ha Ji-eun stared at the arena in disbelief.

"Uh, what the hell is this?"

Mage Association President Bang So-yeon was out there, handing Yoo Eun-ha a yellow card.

[Uh, yes, yellow card.]

[Uh, Tae-chan, does this kind of thing happen?]

[I, I don't remember, but…]

[Ah, apparently it happened once long ago. Uh, um. Mage Lee Han got one.]

[Wasn't that over 20 years ago?]

[Caused a huge uproar back then.]

As the casters spoke, Ha Ji-eun gawked in disbelief. Then Yoo Eun-ha looked flustered, saying something.

[What is this…?]

[It's a magic censorship exceeding standards. Yoo Eun-ha mage, the spell that caused the simulation error is now banned.]

Everyone blinked in absurdity.

"Ha! Sim breaks, so don't use the spell?"

Ha Ji-eun's words drew laughter from the crowd.

Yoo Eun-ha glanced between the yellow card and the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠president, then spoke.

[I'll take it, but is this okay? Is this the Mage Association's way?]

The president's face stiffened visibly.

"Ah, even the president looks flustered now?"

On screen, Yoo Eun-ha pointed at the yellow card, as if determined to press the point.

[…So the Mage Association's official stance is: too strong a spell breaks the sim, so don't use it? Why? Prelims said no sim issue.]

Ha Ji-eun's chat exploded.

Surprisingly, Yoo Eun-ha acquiesced with a sigh and entered the simulation.

"Uh… is she okay with this?"

The match restarted amid collective rage.

[All players ready.]

[With everyone's cheers! Losers' bracket survival prelims—begin!!!!]

"Ah! Match starting. Whatever happens, hope she does well… overcomes all the BS…."

As everyone anticipated Yoo Eun-ha's fightback, an unexpected figure appeared first.

[D-die, all of you! I got nothing left to lose!]

Greasy, shiny hair and deep dark circles. Park Yu-hye's magic unfolded in the sim.

"Huh? That mage from before?"

[Diiiieeee!]

But her magic was slightly different from before.