To Dynamic Neo Busan!
Aboard the train, silent for a good while, it was Eunbyeol—not me—who broke the ice first.
"I'm leaving the academy after this tournament."
"Ah, I see. A wise decision, it seems."
"But it feels like I'm running away, and that makes me uneasy."
"'Tis merely the process of finding the path suited to thee. Fine gems are not forged easily."
Eunbyeol closed her eyes wordlessly and leaned back against the seat.
"My parents said they'd find me a good teacher."
"Hm. It seems they've learned something themselves."
"Park Seongwoong, the North Sea Mage, put in a word with my current teacher."
"Hooh…."
Who did that teacher recommend? But this kid's already got my spit on her—my mark.
I was half-listening while sipping my green tea when Eunbyeol hesitated and spoke up.
"Park Seongwoong, the North Sea Mage… he's going to be my next master."
"…Cough?!"
What?! That old man's been eyeing her?!
I stared at her blankly, and Eunbyeol smiled, wiping the corner of my mouth with her sleeve.
"Thank you. It's all thanks to you that the North Sea Mage will be my master."
"Uh…."
Hold on! I was planning to be her master! You're stealing my disciple? The heir to Reverse Flow! The successor to the Eunha Style!
My mouth hung open, and Eunbyeol gazed at me with wonder in her eyes.
"That shocked? I hated you at first for those harsh words. But thinking back, it feels like that's what led to this outcome."
"Ahem. Y-aye, so it seems."
I huffed through my nose when suddenly, my eyes caught a familiar character pinned to Eunbyeol's clothes.
A rounder design, but with sharp, angry features and gray hair that stood out. No doubt about it….
My heart suddenly raced as I reached out.
"This… it's Roland from Spy Friend, isn't it…?"
Eunbyeol nodded eagerly at the patch on my jacket.
"Cool, right? Mom made it for me! To channel Roland's spirit."
"Urghhh… I'm the only one without a mom…."
"Huh?"
"Nay. 'Tis nothing. I'm no child…."
I whipped my head away, and Eunbyeol slipped off her jacket, draping it over me.
It carried a strangely warm scent.
"I'll lend it till we get to Busan. You seem to like Roland too."
I clutched the jacket tight and grinned.
"My thanks, young one."
"…Eunha always talks like a grandma."
"……."
I pouted and burrowed into the jacket.
"Changing my speech isn't easy, you know…."
*
The moment we stepped off in Busan, Monica—who'd been glued to the seat beside Eunbyeol—and I got into it right away.
"I thought I'd die of embarrassment! There was no need to meet so soon!"
"Ow! Brat! You need friends anyway, don't you?!"
"I need no friends! Life is meant to be lived alone!"
"A five-year-old spouting middle-school edgelord crap! 'Lone wolf' this, 'lone wolf' that!"
"Aye! I am the lone wolf! The starving beast!"
I bit Monica's arm, and she flicked my forehead hard.
We tussled for a bit before catching our breath.
"What a punk of a master. All you do is tease!"
"You're one to talk! I should be the pissed one! Selling my lesson plans to outsiders?!"
I froze at Monica's words.
"You taught it like you were hot shit, huh? Mental image conversion process!"
"……."
I whistled awkwardly and turned away.
Monica glared, then continued.
"Sigh. So, brat, how'd it go? You wanted to bring her along."
"Failed, you know. She's going with the North Sea Mage."
"Ah~ Park Seongwoong? He's famous for his delicate magic."
I nodded glumly.
"Couldn't tell her not to go, you know. Even as a judge, you could feel he was a good teacher."
"Can't be helped then. Live and hope for next time."
"We'll meet today or tomorrow anyway."
Monica chuckled and ruffled my hair.
"Alright, brat. Let's grab something hearty before the matches!"
"Sounds good! I crave hotteok!"
Monica and I headed to Jagalchi Market in Neo Busan.
"Neo Busan! My first time, it seems!"
"Yep! Split in two by the Abyss, but still Korea's second city."
"Seed hotteok! Pork soup!"
Monica's eyes sparkled at my words.
"See? All that feeding paid off, brat! Let's sweep up all the tasty stuff!"
We dashed into the market, and heads turned our way.
Most gawked at our ether-decolorized hair in wonder.
"Monica! Here, they're amazed by our hair, you know. Aren't mages common?"
"Nah, only around Gangnam Dungeon. Nationwide, we're rare."
"But there's a Seomyeon Dungeon here too."
Monica smiled awkwardly.
"Seomyeon Dungeon's low activity and small, so just minimal staff."
"I see."
"Only one magic tower here too. Haesin Tower."
I let out a dry laugh.
"God of the sea? Arrogant name."
"Tower names are all like that."
I took the hotteok Monica handed me and squeezed my eyes shut.
Sweet honey mingled with seeds, bursting like fireworks in my mouth.
"Delicious! Hotteok's perfect for winter, you know!"
The vendor stared, flustered.
"Aigoo, little mage kid?"
"Aye! 1-level freelance mage, Yu Eunha!"
As I chatted with the vendor, folks started crowding in.
"Wanna try some dumplings, cutie?"
"Sure!"
"Ice cream too?"
"Love ice cream, you know!"
Surrounded, Monica laughed helplessly.
"Heh, brat, eat too much and you'll puke during the tournament?"
"……."
The crowd took my side.
"Aigoo, lady. The kid wants to eat—why say that?"
"Right. How much can a kid eat?"
Stung by "lady," Monica shut up.
"Lady, you should eat too. These dumplings are divine, you know."
Monica narrowed her eyes.
"…Brat. We'll talk later?"
"Heh heh heh."
The ice cream uncle patted my head after handing it over.
"Aigoo, such a pretty kid. Here for the tournament today?"
"Yep! Dynamic Tournament entrant!"
I puffed my chest, and applause broke out.
"Aigoo, so cute."
"How old?"
I spread my fingers wide.
"Seven! Freelance! Yu Eunha!"
"Aigoo~ So bold~"
"Can she even win?!"
Why question the obvious!
I chomped the ice cream and flashed a grin.
"Hamo!"
"Aigoo, talks so well!"
"What's her level?"
"One!"
"One?! 1-level?"
"Aigoo."
I hesitated briefly, but one uncle burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Yeah! A mage needs that kinda guts!"
"Right!"
"Screw the high-level punks—knock 'em down!"
"Knock 'em down!"
Matching their energy, Monica whispered in my ear.
"You love this stuff, huh?"
"Didn't I say? Attention makes even bears dance, you know."
"…That's praise, not attention."
"Same difference."
Then hot tteokbokki landed in my hand, steaming.
"On the house. Win and come back to the shop, yeah?"
"Of course!"
*
"……."
I clutched my bloated belly and trudged to the stadium entrance.
Just some tteokbokki, hotteok, ice cream, and a few dumplings.
Yet my seven-year-old body was revolting, on the verge of death.
"Nice going. You up for today's matches?"
"…No."
"Jeez…."
Monica pinched her forehead.
"Talks like an old soul, acts like a total baby. Gets hyped on a little praise."
"B-but! It was everyone's kindness—I couldn't refuse… urk…."
"Lord, maybe puke it up before."
I waved her off as she hunted for a bathroom.
"N-no, I'm fine. Ether Shot full power—one shot kill."
"…Weren't you hiding your skills? And the speech."
"S-sorry, you know. Head's spinning… urp."
"Driving me nuts."
Monica scratched her head, grabbed my name tag from registration, and we entered the player area.
Gazes locked on us immediately.
I slumped pale-faced into my seat, and whispers rose.
"Total kid."
"Whoa, a real 7-year-old."
"Face pale from fear."
"Can't even walk straight."
"Jackpot—if I draw her, easy win."
I ignored the pathetic brats and scanned the other players.
Junior league under 13, level 3 division. Or so it should be—but adults were mixed in, plain as day.
"Monica… those uncles don't look under 13, you know. Hairy as hell."
"Amateur general division. Juniors usually lump with amateurs."
"Heh~ Generational mix."
"Nah, it's entry fees and crowd draw."
"…Adult excuses."
The stands were pretty empty too.
"Junior league gets no viewers or broadcast crew. J3? Barely anyone knows it's happening."
"I see."
"If anyone's showing up for juniors, it's 'cause Isara's here."
"Tough for her too, you know."
"Eh, Isara's on another level. Seems to enjoy that stuff."
"I can enjoy it too… urk."
"You absolutely cannot, brat."
I nodded, imagining invincible Isara.
"Gonna smash her soon."
"Sure, brat. But why so unconvincing today?"
I pressed my stuffed gut, breathing heavily.
"No way I'll lose! Smash 'em on sight."
*
Hours later.
Dynamic Tournament J3 division underway.
In the chilly stadium, everyone held their breath watching the third match.
1-level Projection
Double Shot
She failed to dodge one incoming Ether Shot—it slammed into her gut.
"Urk."
T day's food surged up. Swallowing it back down burned my throat like fire.
As I collapsed, throat raw, mocking voices rang out.
"Pfft, what a tournament. You're so boring, the stadium's a library now."
The boy spun ether idly, snickering.
Through the dim scoreboard:
The recent hit had dropped her points to critical.
The match barrier didn't block all impact—pain throbbed, tears welled.
"Not over yet."
She couldn't quit like this. Mom and Dad were watching from the stands.
"Gotta show them."
"Huh?"
"That the money they spent on me wasn't wasted."
"What're you babbling? So weak. Ugh~ let's end this quick~"
She wanted to prove the money, time, care poured into her wasn't for nothing.
As Eunbyeol staggered, the ref approached.
"Forfeit?"
She shook her head sharply, slapping her cheeks loud to focus.
"Hoo…. No! Continue!"
Eunbyeol hadn't jumped in blindly.
Her pitifully weak Ether Shot—she wouldn't bet a tournament on that alone. She wasn't that foolish.
She had a trump card prepared for this.
At minimum, she had to show it.
Eunbyeol closed her eyes, recalling her teacher's special lesson.
Karmic Fire Mage Kang Yejeong's final gift.
Once she could infuse mental images into Ether Shots, the new spell she'd taught.
Eunbyeol clenched her fist, glaring at Dong-seop.
Her teacher's voice echoed clear in her ears.
Eunbyeol, there's one way suited to you.
Very hard and painful.
But if you pull it off, it'll turn the tables.
Teacher said nothing scared her more than effort and time piled up.
Even fragile snowflake images, lowly ether.
Accumulate and stack them.
They become life-threatening terror.
Eunbyeol's new magic, born from revelation, debuted for the first time.
1-level Control
Snow, Accumulate! NIX ACCUMULA - !