Mana-Infused Changes and the Goblin Plains

Two weeks after being bound to that ledger, astonishing changes began to manifest in my body.

First off, my skin had cleared up completely. Every blemish and dark circle vanished, leaving behind skin that practically glowed with a healthy sheen.

"Whoa... I can lift this?"

It wasn't just superficial. My strength had surged dramatically too—I could now effortlessly hoist dumbbells that had been impossible before.

"Mana has seeped into your muscle fibers. That's why."

Putting her explanation into terms from my old world: even if a woman outweighs a man by about 20kg, she'd still lose in a fight. It's because of fundamental differences in muscle structure—and what I was experiencing was exactly that. Mana remodels the muscles, turning even a woman's body as powerfully dense as a man's.

"Whoaaa! So does that mean I can get all ripped and bulky too?"

"No way. That'd ruin the flavor."

"Huh?"

"Ah, slip of the tongue. Chimps have smaller muscles than athletes, right? But they're still stronger. Same principle."

That was a bit disappointing. Being born into this tiny body had always meant dealing with all sorts of inconveniences.

"And anyway! Raw power isn't everything. You know I'm not just some pretty face of a player, right?"

Ryu Ga-eul was undoubtedly among the top five in Korea—no, the entire world. Getting techniques handed down from someone like her wasn't something that came easy.

"First, we need to figure out your aptitude."

"My aptitude?"

"You really know nothing, huh? Have you even cracked open a player handbook or something?"

Players were born with an innate aptitude—think of it like a game class. Ryu Ga-eul had been blessed with sword mastery, fitting her title of Sword Saint. Maybe I'd inherited the same, since I'd received her power.

"Grab the sword. That'll tell us a bit about your aptitude."

I did as instructed and picked up the sword. Without even thinking about it, something began to flow from my fingertips.

This was mana. Just like breathing without conscious effort, it poured naturally from my hands.

"Outputting mana on purpose is tough at first, but..."

"I did it!"

"Hm?"

"Look at this!"

I proudly lifted the sword, and Master Ryu gawked at me in disbelief, eyes wide.

"Huh? Why's it working...?"

"I just grabbed it and it happened."

"This is like a newborn baby wielding chopsticks."

It must be harder than it seemed. But I'd nailed it anyway.

"At this rate, you could jump straight into combat."

"Combat!?"

"Yeah, Babel starting tomorrow."

This felt way too sudden. I didn't even know how to swing a sword properly.

"At your level, you won't get hurt no matter what up to the 10th floor."

"You call this a level?"

Babel Tower had 100 floors, each progressively deadlier. The 10th was the infamous hurdle where about one in ten players died—a wall that made most quit.

"I guarantee it."

"Still, don't I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠need some techniques or something?"

"Techniques? Just swing the damn sword around. As long as you don't run into the Sword Ghost, you'll breeze through unscathed."

Sword Ghost? What the hell was that?

"Every now and then, some sword-crazed bastard pops up around the 10th floor. Newbie shredder. Spot him, you run—don't fight."

"How strong is the guy...?"

"About my level? I'd win, but it'd be a scrap."

If even Ryu Ga-eul said that, the dude must be a monster. Definitely running on sight.

"Now scram. I've got stuff to do."

"Got it."

Master was tapping away furiously on her laptop like she was grinding some game. What the hell was she playing to make that intense face?

Wait, not a game.

Peeking over, she was writing something—a novel as a hobby? Looking closer...

⋯Huh?

"What're you doing lurking? Get lost already!"

"Y-Yes, ma'am!"

I'd been about to peek more when Master suddenly scowled and snapped at me.

I must've misread it. No way Master was writing something that pervy. Sexual harassment? Molestation...? Nah, couldn't be those words I knew.

Has to be something else.

No way she'd do that to me. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Regrettably, in this world, tall, rugged guys were the prize. Shorties like me didn't get picked by the opposite sex. That incident last time must've left me with some dirty thoughts. Time to head home, watch some porn, and clear my head.

Lesbian stuff, of course.

The next day, Park Hyunwoo stepped into the Babel Tower entrance, tense as hell.

The black spire stretching into the cosmos dwarfed his small frame, making him shrink back.

"Hey, got all your gear?"

"Of course!"

Ryu Ga-eul, who'd escorted him to the entrance, smirked at her disciple clad in heavy armor.

"That's expensive stuff? Sword included, over ten million won. Lose it, and you'll pay up."

"Won't happen!"

"Yeah, yeah. Wish I could tag ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠along, but the level gap means no EXP for you if it's just 10 levels..."

Without the level penalty, she'd have dragged Hyunwoo inside for some private "training." Sneaking touches while he slept, or making him jerk off under the pretense of built-up tension...

The fun's in peeling away layers slowly.

She could overpower him now and sate her lust, but where's the thrill? Toy with him more, build to the peak, then devour. What face would he make? Cry? Rage? Or love it? Either way, she'd camcorder it.

First, make him a debtor.

That's why she'd set up these traps.

"That potion's pricey too. My favorite—only drink if you're in real danger."

Brewed from Babel-exclusive plants, it outclassed any market drug. And yeah, expensive: ten million a pop.

"Whoaaa... Thank you!"

"Lucky you got me as a master. Who else would hook you up like this? Right?"

No starter pack could top this luxury. Hyunwoo beamed, bowing deeply.

"Then I'll head in!"

What solid backing! He marched inside like a triumphant general.

His vision rippled, then a vacuum sucked him in like a shop vac.

When the world reformed, Hyunwoo realized he'd entered a specific space.

"Ah!"

It was a plain. Vast grasslands, cool breezes from somewhere, majestic hills dotted with unknown grazing beasts.

Sure enough, scouting around revealed a few goblins. The green midgets, smaller than kids, were herding three-eyed goats like nomads fitting their tribal name.

They look so peaceful... Kinda feel bad messing with 'em.

Hell, there were even babies. No desire for pointless slaughter...

"Keh! Keeek!"

That's when it happened. A goblin feeding grass to a goat spotted Hyunwoo.

Intruder? He watched the scene unfold.

"Tender meatbag!"

With that cry, the whole tribe—about 20—charged en masse. A baby tripped in the rush; they trampled it mercilessly without a glance.

"Yeah, figures..."

Expecting mercy from monsters was stupid.

Hyunwoo sighed, drew his sword. Vrrr—! Mana etched along the blade, forming tiny, chainsaw-like barbs that spun at high speed. A sword like that swung like a club...

"Keeek!"

Would wreck shit.

He cleaved five in an instant, marveling inwardly.

Damn, this rocks...!

From now on, he'd follow Master's orders to the letter.