Bad Blood with Jinhojang

Jinhojang. A subordinate of Kim Hyeongjin, who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would later rise to become a key figure in the Ignis Faction. In the past, Kim Hyeongjin had relentlessly tormented Kim Jehyun, simply because he couldn't stand the protagonist's handsome face.

Jinhojang, as his closest lackey, had always been at the forefront of bullying Jehyun.

―Who is this ugly bastard strutting over here?

Alkasha asked as Jinhojang approached with his swagger.

'One of the kids who used to bully me in the past.'

―Hah, you even got bullied? How pathetic.

'Yeah. Being weak was a sin, apparently.'

Alkasha clicked its tongue while looking at Jehyun. It made sense now why he was so obsessed with strength.

"Hey, long time no see. You've gotten a glow-up or something?"

By then, Jinhojang had shoved his way right up to Jehyun's face. Sly, elongated eyes. A hooked nose that curled upward. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠His skin was far from clean, even by the kindest standards.

"What do you want?"

Jehyun fixed him with a cold stare. There was no way this face could ever bring him joy.

"What... look at this punk?"

Jinhojang faltered under Jehyun's sharp demeanor. Normally, Jehyun would shrink at the sight of him. But today was different—completely different.

'Did this asshole eat something bad?'

Jinhojang was inwardly flustered by Jehyun's attitude. He'd thought he'd completely crushed his spirit, but here he was, staring straight back without a hint of intimidation.

"You... training mana here? A guy who hasn't even hit 1st Circle yet? What a waste of mana."

Jinhojang stabbed at Jehyun's sorest spot.

Jehyun was now 17. By that age, most reached at least 2nd Circle on average.

Entry into magic around 7-10 years old. Average 3-5 years to sense mana and form the first circle, hitting 1st Circle in the early teens. Then another 4-6 years to 2nd Circle.

So at Jehyun's age, late 1st Circle at minimum—or at least 2nd Circle—was normal.

'In the past, I'd sink into self-loathing every time I heard that.'

Jinhojang was vicious, gnawing at Jehyun's weakness. At first, Jehyun fell for the provocations, lunging at him every time—only to get thoroughly beaten. Then he'd wallow in despair, cowering whenever he saw Jinhojang.

'Beating a 2nd Circle guy as a half-baked nobody without even 1st Circle? Impossible, even if the heavens split.'

It was obvious. Even if Jinhojang were only 1st Circle, it'd be a pipe dream. But he had decent talent—entered the Magic Tower later than Jehyun but hit 2nd Circle at the same age.

Jehyun had no choice but to get one-sidedly crushed.

―To think you got beaten by trash like that. What a lamentable life you've lived.

Jehyun couldn't argue with Alkasha.

'But not anymore.'

Now he had Alkasha, the unprecedented grimoire. Endless growth via the Growth System. Future knowledge from regression. Sixteen years back, so he knew everything for the next sixteen.

'Including major opportunities that turned average mages into high-rankers and birthed star superhumans.'

Those pivotal events lingered in his mind. Now, they could be his.

His growth potential was unprecedented, beyond anyone's judgment.

So Jehyun faced Jinhojang's taunt without flinching, responding cynically.

"This is the Mana Training Room—for training mana. Can't even figure that out? Oh, right, you wouldn't have time. Too busy licking Kim Hyeongjin's soles."

"What? You fucking—"

Jehyun hit back twice as hard with words. Jinhojang's ugly face flushed beet red, looking like rotten squid.

"Hey, Jehyun-ah. Did you eat something funny and go nuts? You wanna get wrecked that bad?"

"If you can, go ahead and try."

Jinhojang hesitated at Jehyun's brazen confidence, but rage overtook reason. Too many eyes for violence here, but his flipped switch ignored that. Plus, blind faith in Kim Hyeongjin's backing.

"Come here. You're done."

As Jinhojang closed in, his hands moved busily—forming seals for spellcasting.

'Crazy bastard.'

Jehyun cursed inwardly. He hadn't expected magic here. Even 1st Circle spells were deadly to near-civilians like him.

Mages at 1st Circle could hunt low-grade monsters. At 2nd Circle, they could kill normals in one shot.

That's why the Tower Master strictly warned trainees against using magic.

No matter Kim Hyeongjin's pull, using it here would spell disaster.

Jehyun tsked at Jinhojang's lack of judgment. But he stayed calm amid the crisis.

'I can feel the mana flow.'

Skin Breathing success? He sensed the mana gathering in Jinhojang's hands through his skin. A novel sensation.

A bit clearer, and he could pierce the mana array too.

In other words, eventually spotting spells before they cast—an absurd feat.

"Die. Fire Spe—"

As fire essence coated the mana in his hands—

'Now.'

Jehyun crouched slightly, ready to charge. Instinct screamed prime opportunity.

No magic, but boosted physicals outpaced Jinhojang. System-enhanced body surpassed normals—maybe low-rank melee awakeners.

Jinhojang's idiotic lapse: closing distance on a cornered foe.

The worst mistake for a mage.

Tension peaked.

Then—

Shaaaa—

A chilling mana wave sliced between them. Goosebumps exploded across Jehyun's skin.

"Ugh."

He recoiled in shock. Jinhojang just blinked, confused.

"Everyone, stop right there. No fighting here. Take it to the sparring room if you wanna brawl."

A low, gravelly voice from the side. Kim Haksoo, the Mana Training Room manager, stood there.

"Ah, we're not fighting! No way I'd fight a kid who hasn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even hit 1st Circle, right?"

Jinhojang flashed a fake smile.

―Look at this sly fox. What a cunning bastard.

Alkasha tsked at Jinhojang, who slyly demeaned Jehyun even now.

'That's just how he is.'

Jehyun wasn't surprised. Compared to past cruelties, this was cute.

"I saw you forming seals for magic. Not fighting?"

Kim Haksoo scowled at Jinhojang's excuse.

"Ah, that was just to scare him. No way I'd cast here."

―Hah. Lying without a drop of spit.

Jinhojang's spell was nearly complete. Alkasha was stunned by the shameless denial.

"......"

Kim Haksoo saw through it instantly, staring silently. His gaze carried heavy weight.

"Uh, um. Anyway, sorry for the disturbance."

Jinhojang bowed eventually. Teen pride made it hard, but he couldn't withstand the pressure.

'Damn it. Fuck.'

He ground his teeth inwardly. Bowing because of Jehyun bruised his ego. Face flushed again with boiling rage.

"Sorry for the noise too. I'll be careful."

Jehyun apologized politely to Kim Haksoo. Unlike Jinhojang, owning his mistake sparked faint approval in the manager's eyes.

"Fine, just watch it next time. But things looked heated. Something between you two?"

Jinhojang snapped alert at the question. Sweat beaded. If his bullying got out—

'If professors hear...'

High ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mages taught by circle. Classes optional, but essential for skill and faction entry.

If the manager spilled, no good eyes on him. His thug antics wouldn't fly.

Disaster if it reached professors.

'If that worm screws my future...'

He glared at Jehyun, blaming him—eyes warning silence.

'Unbelievable.'

Jehyun chuckled at the malice. Past him would've cowered. Not now.

"Nothing major, but... he started it. Said a no-1st Circle wastes mana training here."

"Wh-what? Fuck, when did I— Uh, the curse was a slip..."

Jinhojang panicked, cursing then fumbling before Kim Haksoo.

"......"

Kim Haksoo frowned at Jehyun's words and Jinhojang's reaction. Picking fights over training access? Jinhojang looked low-rent, but this low?

And attempting magic here too.

'Thug.'

He judged. The manager seat looked minor but needed connections. Jinhojang was now on thin ice.

'This kid's calm even now.'

Interest shifted to Jehyun—composed from start.

Composure was a mage's core virtue.

'Promising stock.'

Such traits often led to high realms.

'Plus...'

He remembered Jehyun's face—diligent trainer for a month.

Perseverance. Unshakable calm. Even sensed his mana leak earlier.

Contrast to the thug who couldn't.

'Vessel for high-rank mage.'

Slightly odd no 1st Circle yet, but reasons exist—like the Tower Master himself.

Kim Haksoo's gaze softened on Jehyun.

"Anyone training here can use it. Not yours to dictate. Challenging my authority?"

"N-no, that's not—"

"Whatever. Your name?"

"Ah, seriously, that punk's lying. When did I ever— Ugh."

Jinhojang paled, backing away as Kim Haksoo unleashed palpable mana pressure. Furious at the endless lies.

"Damn it. Fuck! Jinhojang. Happy? Shit, this place sucks. Won't come back."

Ego shattered showing ugly side before Jehyun. Cursing wildly, he fled like a whipped dog.

'Hot-tempered as ever.'

Jehyun shook his head. Reckless spell attempt, cursing at authority—same old. Excitement dulled judgment, leading to mage failure and abandonment later.

'How'd a guy like that become a mage?'

Jehyun tsked, then thanked Kim Haksoo for the backup. Jinhojang was surely blacklisted now.

The minor disturbance ended.

―In the end, the weak get trampled. You had no power, so even scum like that bullied you.

On the way back to dorms, Alkasha spoke.

"Yeah."

Jehyun agreed deeply.

―From that punk's personality, he'll probably pull some shit soon.

"High chance."

Jinhojang would stew and retaliate. Obvious.

'Gotta hit 1st Circle fast.'

Ambush was one thing; direct clash favored Jinhojang. Needed at least 1st Circle to counter.

Then—

"Dragon Mana Road?"