Mana Silencer
◈ Creates a silencer using mana.
◈ Greatly reduces the gunshot sound of Al Capone's Tommy when equipped.
◈ Significantly suppresses mana waves generated on firing.
A silencer, huh. Not a bad reward at all.
The noise reduction was a nice perk, but what really caught my eye was the part about greatly reducing mana waves.
In this world, mana waves were practically essential for tracking. Even the cops carried mana wave detectors as standard gear to maintain public order—that was basic worldbuilding.
But with this silencer as a reward, things changed. It meant I could use weapons without tripping basic detection.
More importantly, gear that suppressed mana waves was extremely rare in this world. The government treated it as a major threat to law enforcement and strictly regulated anything that hid mana waves.
And here I was, getting one right at the start? This would let me fight with mana even while concealing it, and it'd be incredibly useful for handling family business too.
A reward worthy of exceeding the quota. The applications were endless.
I was about to hit the [Claim Reward] button when I noticed a few students glancing my way. I pocketed my smartphone instead.
I could feel Ji Suhyun's icy glare from the front. Was she mad I was checking my phone during class?
Luckily, once I stashed it, her vibe returned to normal.
She's sensitive about stuff like that, huh. Good to know.
"Your first spar ended quicker than expected... but I doubt you got much out of it, so let's move right to the next one. Eyes up, everyone. Any takers for the next round?"
After my match with Jinwoo wrapped up, Ji Suhyun swept her hand over the control panel a few times to reset the arena. She scanned the other students and asked.
A hand shot up from the crowd.
"Hm? You're not just asking a question again, are you, Kim Young-je?"
"No, ma'am. I'd like to go next."
Having watched our duel, Young-je's eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"Alright. Unique armament... that pen again?"
She eyed his unusual weapon with interest.
"Yes."
"Well, you brought it for a reason, so I won't nitpick. Anyone you want to call out? Or anyone itching to face Kim Young-je?"
She glanced over the eleven of us, including me.
Someone right next to Young-je raised their hand.
"Me! I'll do it!"
It was Sea-a, her eyes steely as she held her hand high.
"Sea-a, huh. Good. Both of you, into the field."
The two stepped into the arena at her command.
Recalling the uninhabited island arc, Sea-a was a spatial mage. Facing Young-je, who mainly used elemental magic in the game, this spar would be great practice for her space tricks.
I'd been thinking the family could use a spatial mage. Time to see what she could do.
"You'll feel a slight pressure change when the field activates. It's normal—don't freak out."
Ji Suhyun approached the panel outside the field and flipped the biggest lever down.
Both of them flinched for a second—probably that pressure she mentioned.
"Feel it working?"
They nodded from inside the field.
"Good. Then... go wild, rookies."
They moved almost in sync, raising their unique armaments—a fountain pen and a glove on her right hand—aiming at each other.
Young-je struck first.
"Appassionato."
The Italian word burst from his lips, infused with meaning and mana. His unique magic channeled through his mouth and the pen's tip.
Just like the game description.
As he chanted, the letters he scrawled in the air ignited into flames hurtling toward Sea-a.
The term meant "passionately," and the spell blazed fiercely just as advertised.
Sea-a raised her left arm, flicking her wrist like she was swatting something away. The flames' path warped mid-flight, bending back toward Young-je—their original caster.
Her spatial magic had twisted the trajectory.
"Adagio!"
This one meant "slowly, calmly." White frost bloomed from his pen, clashing with the incoming flames.
Fire and ice collided in a massive steam explosion, blanketing everything in white.
We couldn't see inside from outside anymore.
But soon the monitors switched to thermal imaging, revealing their positions.
"Gah, this steam...!"
Young-je panicked in the sudden fog, but Sea-a specialized in space magic. She crouched, hand to the ground—probably sensing him through her own spell.
I had no idea what her glove armament did, but she was rising now, clearly locked on.
She turned slowly toward him, left hand aimed, and chanted.
"Fireball!"
A basic spell any mage could cast formed above her palm.
She hadn't pinpointed him exactly, but Young-je heard her and bolted right, anticipating the attack.
"Allegretto!"
"A little fast"—a body buff, apparently. He rolled aside at blinding speed, dodging by a hair.
Springing up, he flicked his pen again.
"Tempestoso!"
"Stormy," meaning "fiercely." Gale-force winds whipped up, blowing away the steam.
That made four elements so far: fire, ice, body enhancement, and now wind. No first-year should handle that many.
In the game, first-year Young-je topped out at two. That was from all my playthroughs.
Starting with four? Either he'd hit some insane lucky break, or he'd been hiding his strength until something triggered him—like our duel.
As I pondered, the steam cleared completely.
They spotted each other.
Young-je raised his pen to chant again—
But Sea-a sighed, lowering her arms.
"...I surrender."
She'd seen the four elements and called it quits. Smart—she knew she couldn't win yet.
"...Pity."
Even with four elements, he wasn't invincible. A space counter or close-range push might've given her the edge.
Ji Suhyun wouldn't approve of quitting early, knowing her.
The field door opened. They staggered out, panting.
She smiled at them.
"Good work, both. Feedback time. First, Young-je—that was impressive for your age. Honestly shocked me. Multiple elements that fluidly? Wow."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Develop new applications for those spells, and work on your physique. Multi-element mages with stamina are a nightmare."
She was right. Versatile casters who could tank hits? The worst in the game. Still gave me chills.
"Sea-a, you gave up too soon. Could've struggled more. Kinda disappointing, personally."
"...Sorry."
"But I saw good stuff—pinpointing an invisible foe with space magic, warping spell paths. Most think spatial mages are just scouts."
She grinned and ruffled Sea-a's downcast head.
"Your instructor here loves aggressive space use like that. Hone it, and you'll be a full-fledged battle spatial mage."
"Yes...! Thank you!"
Maybe pride in a fellow spatial user? Her advice carried extra warmth.
Why didn't I remember a talent like her from the game? Island arc, now this—she was standout.
First-year skill like that? She'd be a big-name hero post-grad.
But no "Sea-a" in my playthroughs...
Something happens to her later?
I clapped with the others as they approached, beaming from the satisfied bout. No scratches, thanks to the field.
They fought that hard and walked away fine. So what the hell happened to Jinwoo, still out cold in the nurse's office?
Thinking of him soured my mouth a bit.
Damn...