Early Graduation (3)
After dinner, Lee Do-hyeon arrived at the magic training center, drawing the stares of the other trainees, where he spotted Han-a Rin casting magic.
The swirling dust in the air gathered into a concentrated blast, forming what looked like an energy cannon. Anyone watching would have assumed it was wind-attribute magic, but Do-hyeon saw it perfectly clearly.
System notification appeared.
【『Hana Rin』's skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been analyzed.
【The 「Force Projection[F]」 of skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been successfully analyzed.
【10 AP has been acquired.
【This is a skill below the standard.
【Skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been acquired without consuming AP.
【The 「Force Projection[F]」 of skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been acquired.
【Possesses ability values above the standard.
【Ability values will not increase.
‘Whoa.’
A lesson the moment I arrive?
I could learn one magic right away.
Grateful, Do-hyeon studied the basic general magic through analysis.
Basic elemental magic would have been obvious from the name, but general magic felt ambiguous, so he needed to check.
Analysis revealed it quite kindly.
『Basic General Magic[F]』
▶ Refers to the foundations of non-elemental magic without attributes, unlike elemental magic.
▶ Force projection, which exerts physical power, falls into this category.
‘Just as I expected.’
From someone who had played games, the explanation was surprisingly intuitive. Of course, it was analysis.
While Do-hyeon was inwardly admiring this, Han-a Rin had already noticed his arrival and glared at him with quite sharp eyes.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Yes.”
In his mind he wanted to say ‘you said to come, didn’t you?’ but since she was an instructor, he spoke with proper etiquette. Han-a Rin nodded at him.
And to confirm.
“The magic I just cast……”
“This one?”
Before Han-a Rin could finish, Do-hyeon summoned a force projection on his palm. The sharp eyes softened slightly, then sharpened again.
Han-a Rin said nothing more.
‘He really is a monster.’
Struggling to understand his inexplicable talent, Han-a Rin shook her head. This wasn’t going to be a normal lesson.
She had no intention of explaining like the other magic trainees. After all, Do-hyeon was a monster who could learn just by watching, so there was no need to be kind. She told him.
“I’ll just show you without explanation. You’ll be able to learn it yourself, right?”
It was a bit provocative, but Han-a Rin said it purely without malice.
And Do-hyeon was the same.
“Oh! Of course!”
Instead he smiled brightly as if he was glad, with zero malice, and Han-a Rin pouted slightly and showed the magic with a look that said, ‘Fine, learn it on your own!’
It was unclear whether this was magic education or a magic demonstration.
But Do-hyeon smiled happily, and the result was:
【The 「Gravity Weakening[F]」 of skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been acquired.
【The 「Force Projection[F]」 of skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been acquired.
【The 「Gravity【G】」 of skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been acquired.
【The 「Echo[F]」 of skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been acquired.
……(omitted)
【All magic in skill 「Basic General Magic[F]」 has been acquired.
【Possesses ability values above the standard.
【Ability values will not increase.
On a single day he had unleashed the feat of mastering basic general magic.
“Hmph!”
Han-a Rin forgot to say anything else, absorbed in concentration, and let out a small frustration. But Do-hyeon pretended not to notice.
Meanwhile, Do-hyeon took separate magic lessons, and time flew by like a bullet. Today marked the one-week mark since he had entered the training center, and everyone was staring at the schedule with puzzled looks unlike usual.
Normally it would be sparring time, but after the instructors led them to the outdoor training field where the gong bell was, everyone gathered. The instructors also gathered on the gong bell itself.
Trainees had always gathered together, but this was the first time instructors had gathered in front of them, so the confusion lasted only a moment before the trainees stared at the banners written on the gong bell with trembling eyes and murmured.
“Early graduation ceremony?”
“It’s Do-hyeon oppa and Yuchan oppa.”
“Ah, they’re graduating.”
“……No wonder.”
Everyone looked disappointed yet nodded, saying they could understand if it was the two of them.
It was only natural. Through the instructors, the trainees had already sensed that Do-hyeon and Ji Yu-chan were exceptional beings far beyond ordinary trainees.
Even Ji Yu-chan, let alone Do-hyeon, who overwhelmingly surpassed him.
If Do-hyeon had made the greatest growth in a week, then Ji Yu-chan had followed right behind.
Do-hyeon had no choice but to recognize Ji Yu-chan.
‘That really is talent.’
He had worked hard too, but analysis had been the main factor in getting stronger. Ji Yu-chan had achieved results through pure talent and effort. Instead, Do-hyeon had felt a sort of respect blooming from looking at him.
And the result was this.
Skills:
▶ Sword Analysis [A]
▶ Sword King’s Intuition [A]
▶ Mana Manipulation [E]
▶ Rapid Assault [F]
▶ Intimidation [F]
‘Hmm.’
Having thought Ji Yu-chan was that great, seeing a status window even more amazing left him with nothing to say. After all, how did he increase his ability values just by looking? Still, he had to admit Ji Yu-chan’s talent.
Do-hyeon thought that if he had received S-rank traits like Ji Yu-chan, he wouldn’t have been able to train him this much.
To the other trainees, Do-hyeon seemed to be working just as hard as Ji Yu-chan, but it was all thanks to analysis.
If you do it, you grow. Just by analyzing others, you grow. Showing the fun of growth and motivation intuitively, he couldn’t help but do it. Analysis was that broken.
‘I was just lucky.’
While Do-hyeon reflected on the week, on the stage of the gong bell Hwang Ha-na looked at Do-hyeon and Ji Yu-chan among the trainees and said.
“Lee Do-hyeon, Ji Yu-chan. Step forward to the gong bell.”
When the two climbed onto the gong bell, Hwang Ha-na shouted to the other trainees.
“From now on, we begin the early graduation ceremony for the two of them.”
The trainees, hearing Hwang Ha-na’s polite speech for the first time at the training center, had no time to be surprised as the ceremony began. It wasn’t grand or particularly special in order, but everyone watching the backs of Do-hyeon and Ji Yu-chan climbing the gong bell felt emotions swelling up.
It was only a week, but having lived more densely than when they were in society, they must have felt something. The fact that they had shown results in that week and been recognized brought a surge of emotion.
Because of the influence of the two, the trainees who had worked hard and sweated alongside them felt even more so.
Looking at the leaders of each group, the trainees were heavyhearted. Hwang Ha-na quietly opened her mouth, scanning the trainees, Ji Yu-chan, and Do-hyeon.
“The training center is a place where many people realize their potential and grow, but sometimes even here people who can no longer be taught appear.”
The trainees and instructors alike stared at the two.
Do-hyeon and Ji Yu-chan stood reverently, and Hwang Ha-na continued speaking.
“Lee Do-hyeon and Ji Yu-chan have grown faster than anyone else and proven themselves more intensely than anyone. The two who worked so hard became role models for the other trainees and caused further growth, while leading the members as reliable leaders.”
Everyone had no choice but to agree. Even though the time was short, they had known well that the two were truly worthy people. And at the thought that they would no longer see them, some trainees wiped away tears.
Some felt regret, some acknowledged, and some looked at the two with eyes of respect, but unfortunately the graduation continued.
“Although the time was short, their footprints will remain in the history of this training center. Using what you have learned here as a stepping stone, I hope you will continue to break your own limits in the Black Gates as well. It is now time for you to leave here and walk your own paths. The training center looks forward to your next growth. On behalf of the chief instructors, Chief Instructor Hwang Ha-na sends her regards.”
With those words, Hwang Ha-na handed the trainees completion certificates and graduation letters like diplomas to the two. Both received the certificates and letters from Hwang Ha-na and shook hands.
Now it was really graduation. Do-hyeon’s expression smiled with a touch of excitement.
Entering the Black Gates for real.
Standing with anticipation for the new world inside the real Black Gates, Ji Yu-chan beside him looked at him and said.
“Thank you.”
“Huh?”
Do-hyeon’s puzzled expression as he didn’t know what to thank for. Ji Yu-chan smiled slightly, knowing why, and said.
“It seems I was able to grow thanks to you.”
“Ah, I was stimulated thanks to you too.”
Both sincerely acknowledged each other, and Ji Yu-chan continued looking at Do-hyeon with satisfaction.
“Even though I lost this time, I’ll work harder and show you much greater growth when we meet next.”
It was a bit discouraging, but since it was a graduation, it was understandable, so Do-hyeon nodded as if he was glad.
Then he took Ji Yu-chan’s hand and shook it.
“Yeah, I’ll be looking forward to it.”
No one knew when, but with Ji Yu-chan, it was possible.
After the small farewell, the instructors and trainees gathered together, and the early graduation ceremony for Do-hyeon and Ji Yu-chan ended as they returned to society.
And the next day.
“One of Lee Do-hyeon Hunter-nim’s party members.”
“……”
“Ahem, shall we take a look at that growth?”
Sadly, the next day the two met again.
Ji Yu-chan’s face flushed red with embarrassment, turning his head, but the departure was smooth regardless.
‘Is that right?’