Fist Mages Are the New Trend
A few days earlier.
“Huff! Hack! Haah! Instructor, aren't we space mages? Hack... Hack... So why the hell are we doing log-punching drills like some lumberjack?!”
Dragged into the mountains under the guise of mentoring by Ji Suhyun, Kim Sea-a was sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.
“Instead of wasting time wondering, why not punch the log a few more times?”
“Ughhh... If I knew the reason, I could try harder...”
At her whining, Ji Suhyun finally sighed and pocketed her phone.
“I'll say this once, so listen up. Kim Sea-a, what do you think is a mage's weakness?”
“Huh? A mage's... weakness?”
Her body ached and her mind was frayed, but this was teaching from Ji Suhyun herself. Sea-a pushed herself up and pondered before slowly replying.
“A frail body? That's why mages who overcome it are called war mages, right?”
“War mage, huh... That's not what I expect from you, but anyway, you know that, and you're still whining about how hard this is?”
“B-but if you achieve enough magical prowess to cover for a frail body, isn't that fine? Most magic schools emphasize that too.”
Either physical or magical training took time—it was all the same.
But Ji Suhyun just shook her head pityingly at Sea-a.
“I'll show you just once. Watch closely.”
“Huh? What...”
“The physical training you hate so much. Watch what a strong-bodied mage can do.”
With that, she began loosening up. Each twist of her torso or crack of her neck echoed with crunch-crunch sounds.
At the same time, violet mana rippled around her.
────!!
────!!
────!!
Flashes erupted in succession, unveiling an unbelievable sight before Sea-a's eyes.
Continuous teleports that begged the question: How do you even calculate that fast? In their wake, punches and kicks shattered trees, pulverized trunks, and reduced everything around to rubble.
“...Whoa.”
It was hard to believe this devastation happened in a single instant. The lush forest had transformed into a warzone in the blink of an eye.
“See that? A strong-bodied mage.”
Ji Suhyun wiped sweat from her face with a towel that appeared from nowhere, grinning contentedly.
Sea-a, still dazed, finally spoke.
“What was that just now? How do I put it... It's on a whole different level from a war mage!”
“Told you. I don't want a war mage from you. I want this.”
Sea-a's expression grew even more blank.
“...Huh?”
“CTC. A martial art most special forces space mages master. All this training you're doing? It's to build the body for that.”
“W-wait! So you mean until my body’s ready, I have to keep doing just physical training? For real?!”
Perhaps glimpsing her grim future, Sea-a recoiled in shock.
Ji Suhyun snorted in disbelief.
“You think? Of course I'll teach you other stuff too. I was gonna let you off after a thousand log punches today, but you haven't hit seven hundred yet?”
“N-no, that's...”
“Three hundred left? Finish those, and I'll teach you something really fun... Look forward to it.”
* * *
“Orbit Control!”
Sea-a thrust her hand forward. Magical formulas and trajectories flying toward her lit up in her vision, ripe for interference.
She grabbed the air like twisting an object, wrenching her hand. A pigeon spell collided with a fireball, erupting in a massive blast.
Aaah! Kim Sea-a's space magic activates here! Disrupting spell trajectories is a space mage's specialty! Projectile magic is basically sealed now!
“Peace Maker!”
The announcers went wild, but Sea-a's opponent let out a desperate scream. Unfazed, she channeled mana into her gloves.
Just trajectory tweaks were a trick she could do pre-mentoring. But from here on, it was the real fruits of her training.
“Technique Control.”
She seized the mana she'd infiltrated during orbit control, ripping away complete dominance. For the finishing touch, she fused the two spells anew.
“Should I call this Fire Peace Maker?”
-Gurururururu!
A massive bird engulfed in flames veered toward her opponents.
This was the new magic Ji Suhyun had taught her: Technique Controller.
Insane! She hijacked their spell formula and remodeled it into a new one! That beautiful magic isn't "theft"—it's usurpation!
The hyped announcer's voice boomed across the arena. Sea-a felt her lips curl into a grin.
Has this many people ever cheered for my matches before?
Sea-a knew better than anyone she was a prodigy. Blessed with rare spatial magic talent, she'd cruised through middle school and the academy on full scholarships.
But that was it. She was just a prodigy—not a star.
Look at this now, though.
The phoenix rises like a rebirth, diving at "Magic Kid Magic"! A true Firebird! Firebird! Kim Sea-a! Is she a goddess?!
“Eek! Block it! We have to block it!”
“Hurry, give me some mana!!”
People freaking out over her magic? It felt so good.
“Magical Cylinder!”
The Magic Kid Magic club pooled their power for a massive spell: two enormous hat-like domes evoking a magician's top hat. The firebird dove into the left one, emerging from the right—its path redirected.
“Ha! We’ve got aces up our sleeves too!”
“Take your own medicine—your spell, right back at ya!”
The spell looped back at her, but Sea-a just chuckled. Back then, she'd panic or forfeit. Now? No big deal.
I get why Eugene was so sure I'd win.
Her trajectory had changed. From "talented spatial mage" to Familia's spatial mage.
──Clap!
She clapped her palms together. Violet mana rippled around her.
She accelerated her inner circles further, maxing out her mana.
Vrrr───!
Mana spun wildly inside her, mana flowing out thickening the air.
And finally.
“Die!”
As the enemy spell reached her, Sea-a vanished.
“Huh? Where did she──.”
Bam──!!
One cloaked Magic Kid Magic member exploded backward.
“Huh?”
The magic hat scanned around, puzzled by its vanished ally—then spotted the KO'd teammate embedded in the distant wall.
“W-what the hell?”
“──A mage's battle.”
A chilling voice from behind. It spun, trying to cast—but too late.
“Our instructor said this: Throwing a punch is faster than channeling mana.”
Crunch──!
The magic hat crumpled from a face punch.
I-insane!! I never dreamed I'd see this today! CTC! The technique only a handful of space mages can pull off—unfolding right before our eyes! Now, how will "Magic Kid Magic" counter CTC?! Don't break! A unbreakable spirit is key! But everyone else was already down.
Only one left, clutching a tiny wand.
“W-what is this? You're a mage too! T-this isn't a mage battle!”
Terror twisted his face; Sea-a's lips curved slyly.
“They say it's the trend now. Fist mages, or something.”
“What nonsense──.”
I get how Eugene feels fighting. Is he always this thrilled?
Relishing her terrified senior's fear, Sea-a vanished in another flash.
“Where! Where are you!”
He whipped his wand around wildly—but.
“Peekaboo.”
“─Ah.”
Her voice from above froze him.
Thud!
Match over!! This club battle's victor is none other than the Tarot Club's rep and champion: first-year Kim Sea-a!!
* * *
As Sea-a emerged, cheers erupted for her name.
“Kim Sea-a! Kim Sea-a!”
“Damn! I believed!!”
“Reverse bet hit!!”
“Straight betters, reality check?”
Amid the frenzy, Sea-a scratched her head sheepishly, approaching us.
“All done. Like you said, Eugene, it was easier than I thought.”
She smiled, but sweat streaming down her face and slightly ragged breath showed she'd pushed hard.
“Good work. Rest up today.”
“Hehe. Can I? I kinda overdid it to look cool.”
Even short-range teleports drained massive mana and stamina. Three in a row? She was plenty impressive.
“Youngje, that's it for today?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Three matches tomorrow back-to-back, one the day after.”
Three tomorrow alone. Normally, the rule of one club battle per day would've forced us to forfeit some...
Luckily, the kids got way stronger. That's why we can pull this off. We got caught in the student council's scheme—they should've had us sweating. But now? Feels like they're the ones panicking.
“Hm?”
A message from Yulli. I'd wondered why she hadn't mentioned this whole thing—perfect timing.
“Alright, everyone, good work today. Rest well and see you tomorrow.”
Ah.
“And Sea-a.”
“Y-yes?”
“Today... you were awesome.”
“...Yes!”
Leaving her beaming smile and the others behind, I headed straight to the cafe: Cielo Notturno.
The VIP room there was like Familia's club office—utterly secure from eavesdropping.
I sat first, sipping coffee. Soon, Yulli entered, looking anxious and worn.
“Ah, senior.”
“...Junior-nim.”
Her face screamed exhaustion. She trudged to the seat opposite and flopped down.
“Rough times, huh.”
“Tons of crap going on. First, the important stuff.”
“...Important stuff?”
She dove right in—must be urgent.
“The chairman's plotting something shady.”
“Pardon?”
“──Tomorrow. Your club kids are in danger.”
The academy chairman had more prep than we'd thought.