Hana Rin's Surprise Offer
For the first time, the status window displayed a "View More" option that caught Do-hyun completely off guard. How many skills could there possibly be to trigger such a window? He opened it with curiosity, and a flood of magic spells appeared on the screen.
Even with an S-grade trait, the sheer number was staggering. He stared in astonishment at the longer list of skills than Hwang Ha-na's, thinking to himself.
EM__What kind of magic is there this many?
The D-rank intermediate magic series, the E-rank lower magic series, and even the F-rank basic magic series—all of it. But what truly stood out, beyond the sheer quantity, was something else.
EM__Moreover, the stats are lower than expected, yet one skill is already S-grade?
Compared to Hwang Ha-na, it was pitifully low stats, yet one skill was already S-grade. And not a physical skill like hers, but a trait skill called "Ether Heart" that was S-grade. Seeing that, Do-hyun knew for certain that Hana-rin was no ordinary person.
He had thought an S-grade mage would never appear, but here she was in person. Even her age looked young, yet she had already become a guest instructor as a mage. That meant one of two things. Or she was a hunter growing at a breakneck pace like Hwang Ha-na... or not.
EM__Everyone must see her as a genius and invited her to teach the class.
Do-hyun had no doubt it was the latter. If she had been like Hwang Ha-na, he wouldn't have been able to open his status window so quickly.
As he speculated, other text floated in front of him.
[Analysis successful.]
[Target's level is still too weak.]
[Obtain AP lower than the original level.]
[1000 AP obtained.]
Twice as much AP as he had gotten from Ji Yu-chan. But it didn't end there.
[Analyzed skill 「Intermediate Common Magic [D]」 from 「Hana-rin.」]
[Analyzed 「Mana Barrier [D]」 of 「Intermediate Common Magic [D].」]
[Analyzed 「Teleportation Barrier [D]」 of 「Intermediate Common Magic [D].」]
[Total 300 AP obtained.]
EM__No way, this is a windfall out of nowhere.
He never expected such luck. It was enough to be grateful just for Hana-rin being sent here.
Do-hyun smiled brightly and folded the analysis window away. Then he greeted her with a polite bow as instructed.
However...
LT__strong>"Lee Do-hyun. Nice to meet you."
LT__strong>"...I am Hana-rin."
Hana-rin, who hadn't let her guard down even slightly, glared at him with sharp eyes and said he should stay away. Do-hyun had no intention of getting closer, so he simply stood there quietly.
Just as Do-hyun thought that, Hana-rin was having a similar thought.
It was the first time she had ever felt this way about someone. Normally, when someone feels like the center of the world, it is directed at themselves, isn't it?
Especially for Hana-rin, who was revered as a genius, it would have been the most familiar feeling in the world.
But Hana-rin clearly felt it. For a moment, the entire world revolved around Lee Do-hyun. She was certain of that. Yet when she looked back now, the feeling had vanished as if it had been an illusion.
EM__What... what's going on?
From what she could see, Do-hyun looked like a hunter whose body had been specialized for combat. Normal people wouldn't feel mana, but Hana-rin, who was extremely sensitive to mana and had unparalleled control, could sense it.
His body wasn't even newly awakened. Moreover...
EM__He seems to have already mastered martial arts...
Because she could feel mana in his flesh, she could guess he could use martial arts too. Hana-rin trusted her own senses and knew he had already learned them. She had only been awakened for two days, yet he had already mastered them. It was unbelievable, but she believed in her own perception.
This man had already mastered martial arts. Even she had learned them in just two days of training. And Hwang Ha-na had the same experience. It was impossible to believe, yet something even more bizarre was sensed.
The trace of mana felt near Do-hyun's heart, just like the martial arts he had mastered.
EM__...He has mastered magic too?
At this point, her trust in her own senses was starting to waver. She shook her head at the ridiculous thought.
EM__There's no way that could be true.
She thought her senses had been slightly disturbed by the strange phenomenon. She turned her body away, convinced she had made a mistake. If she stayed here any longer, a headache might come on. She used teleportation magic toward the carrier she had dropped, and the impact caused it to open slightly. Something fell out from the gap.
Did she turn her body? Or was she too distracted by the confusion to notice? Either way, Hana-rin didn't feel anything falling.
As she walked toward the instructor building, Choi Pil, who was also heading there, chuckled to himself. He had missed seeing the scene because he couldn't turn around in time.
LT__strong>"Haha..."
A single drop hit the ground. Do-hyun hesitated for a moment, then picked up the carrier that had fallen from Hana-rin and called out to her.
LT__strong>"Hana-rin instructor? This fell, but... you dropped it?"
LT__strong>"......Eh?"
Hana-rin turned around in confusion and looked at Do-hyun. At that exact moment, her pajamas, which she had been wearing, were clutched in his hand.
Hana-rin's usually cold expression with sharp eyes cracked instantly.
LT__strong>"!!!"
LT__strong>UWADAADA!
Hana-rin rushed over in a panic faster than ever before and snatched the pajamas from Do-hyun's hand.
It was embarrassing, but since he had helped, she returned to her usual cold expression and sharp glare.
LT__strong>"Thank you."
Her voice sounded overly formal, yet it lacked the usual ease and gentleness. Her ears, flushed against her pale skin, made Do-hyun turn his head away and pretend not to notice.
LT__strong>"You're welcome. Enjoy your meal."
After saying that, Do-hyun left the spot. Hana-rin quickly folded the pajamas and hugged them to her chest.
Unlike Do-hyun, Choi Pil, who had stayed behind, chuckled.
LT__strong>"You came just in time. I was wondering."
LT__strong>"......Shut up."
Grumbling with a tinge of irritation, Hana-rin floated her carrier and hurried toward the instructor dormitory building.
Since she had been assigned here from the beginning, she could find it without Choi Pil's help. Watching her leave, Choi Pil laughed heartily and muttered.
LT__strong>"The great Hana-rin is finally flustered by someone."
From now on, the training center life would be more interesting, he thought.
* * *
Do-hyun never imagined anything would happen before arriving at the cafeteria. After all the twists and turns, he finally made it.
The hunter trainee cafeteria. As he arrived late, the members of the first table looked at him curiously and asked.
LT__strong>"Why are you so late?"
LT__strong>"Ah, something came up."
LT__strong>"Aha."
Everyone shrugged it off as they ate. Do-hyun, eating his meal, casually opened the analysis window he had postponed.
The text that appeared was...
[Analyzed 「Ether Heart [S]」 and 「Queen's Dignity [A]」 from 「Hana-rin.」]
[Skill level exceeds standard.]
[Can acquire the skill by consuming AP.]
[Target's level is too weak.]
[Can acquire the skill with half AP by meeting the conditions.]
[2000 AP]
▶ Acquire 「Ether Heart [S]」 with 1000 AP?
[1000 AP]
▶ Acquire 「Queen's Dignity [A]」 with 500 AP?
EM__Ugh, this is like having no main course at all.
Just looking at it made his stomach full. Hana-rin was still too weak, so the price was halved. And it was an S-grade skill and an A-grade skill at the same time.
He had just analyzed her status and magic, gaining 1300 AP. That was more than enough value.
But...
EM__What if I acquire Queen's Dignity?
Just as Do-hyun's curiosity peaked, the kind Analysis kindly explained.
[When acquiring 「Queen's Dignity [A]」, the skill changes to fit the user.]
EM__Oh, it even changes to A-grade. I can't stand it.
Do-hyun chose Ether Heart first.
[Acquired 「Ether Heart [S]」.]
[Skill level exceeds standard.]
[Stats slightly increase beyond original level.]
[Mana permanently increases by +10 due to the acquired skill.]
[Cannot use the acquired skill at its original power.]
For a moment, Do-hyun felt like everything in the world was being sucked into him. It was as if the source of the universe was flowing into his body. He couldn't tell if it was because mana had increased or if there was another reason. But he could increase mana by 10 in an instant.
It didn't stop at simply increasing mana. Do-hyun felt a new kind of vision or sensation, something he couldn't sense before. When he breathed, there was no foreign feeling, but more than usual entered through his breaths. He stared intently and couldn't help but let out a spontaneous exclamation.
EM__Wow...
The sight of mana flowing wildly was like watching a galaxy flow into his body through his breaths. Moreover, mana felt much clearer than before, and it seemed to respond even better to his will. Amidst his admiration for the mystery of the universe, he suddenly realized there was still one more skill left. He regained his senses.
And when he paid AP for the other skill, Queen's Dignity, it changed.
[Acquired 「Queen's Dignity [A]」.]
[The skill changes to fit the user.]
[「Queen's Dignity [A]」 becomes 「Sovereign's Dignity [A].」]
[Skill level exceeds standard.]
[Stats slightly increase beyond original level.]
[Strength, agility, and vitality permanently increase by +2 each due to the acquired skill.]
[Cannot use the acquired skill at its original power.]
EM__Insane...
How could it increase so much at once? By now it was scary. It wasn't that he was actually scared, just that he felt it. Anyway, Do-hyun looked at his changed stats.
EM__Wow...
Now Do-hyun had a "View More" option too. But even now, what would happen to the "View More" when magic and martial arts class started? As he thought that while eating, the other table members approached him.
LT__strong>"Eat and start magic class right away!"
LT__strong>"I heard they do a magic aptitude test first."
LT__strong>"I wish I had talent for magic too."
LT__strong>"I'm good at it right now."
Listening to their chatter, Do-hyun grinned. He thought it was a good opportunity to immediately confirm the effect of Ether Heart.