Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Snow Family (3)
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A week had already passed since my surprise date with Seol Yu-bin.
In the meantime, training continued without a single day off, and today, as usual, I was slowly taking deep breaths on the floor of the mana training room, inhaling the cold air emanating from the eternal frost crystal.
“Huuu… haaa…”
I stretched my spine lightly, rotated my shoulder joints, released all the subtle tension in my body with deep breaths, and then slowly opened my mana circuits.
And right away, I felt it.
“...It really has changed.”
When Seol Yu-bin first mentioned it, I had my doubts.
I thought things like environmental optimization and frost resonance were far removed from me—
But after more than two weeks of repeated training in this place filled with icy energy, something really had changed.
My total mana had increased bit by bit, the mana flowing through my circuits was much more flexible and uninterrupted than before.
Above all, the mana flowing through my body felt fine and solid, like finely compacted ice crystals rather than liquid.
“...Is this what they call attribute adaptation?”
I could feel a slightly chilling icy energy circulating with my mana inside my body.
The cold, clear air of the training room from dawn brushed my cheeks, and the residual light of the frost crystal sparkled before my eyes.
I was trying to close my eyes and feel the mana flow more deeply.
Then—
Poke!
Someone pinched both my cheeks at the same time.
“Ack!?”
I snapped my eyes open, and there was Seol Yu-bin, kneeling right in front of me, grinning mischievously.
Her expression... had none of the cool, sharp aura unique to an ice mage,
just a vibrant face full of morning sunlight energy.
“Looking good. Your condition seems perfect.”
“S-Sis? When did you get here? More than that, stop scaring me like this...”
“You need to be startled to snap out of it faster.”
She made some random excuse and pinched my cheeks once more.
But— my gaze naturally shifted from Seol Yu-bin's playful face to her hands.
In her hands... potion bottles with a exquisite mix of pure white light and sky blue.
Not one, not two or three— four of them.
“Huh? Sis. Don't tell me these are... those potions? Skill potions...?”
When I asked cautiously, Seol Yu-bin gave the most playful and pretty smile in the world.
“Yeah. That's right.”
She shook the potions lightly as she spoke.
“I made them for you!”
“What!? Y-You... you're giving them all to me? All of them?”
“Yep~”
The four potion bottles were neatly placed in front of me.
Particles of light slowly swirling inside the bottles moved like living ice crystals.
I was so shocked that I just gaped, staring blankly at the potions for a moment.
“......”
My mind went blank for a second.
‘Wait, really? Not just one or two... all four to me?’
My heart burned hot while anticipation surged wildly... a complex mix of emotions flooded in.
But first— checking the info came before anything.
With trembling hands, I picked up the first potion and slowly opened the system window.
[Frost Wheel Slash]
Rank: A+
Compresses mana at the tip of the foot or finger into a 'thin ice wheel' form and fires it as a slashing ice spell.
An ice blade forms in an instant as it cuts through the air, and the spinning ice wheel slices past the target.
Effect: Attack range up to 15m
Additional damage to shields, non-metal structures, and frozen enemies along the path
High-efficiency spell with power exceeding mana cost.
Restrictions: Rapid drop in limb temperature with continuous use
Focus consumption intensifies when maintaining 2+ shots at once
‘Insane, A+ rank?’
Not only was I getting a free A+ rank skill, but reading its description, it felt strikingly similar to Gale Blade, which screamed overpowered at first glance.
Just swapping wind for ice?
‘Perfect timing. I thought Gale Blade was too hard to use in real combat despite its power.’
Frost Wheel Slash thankfully seemed usable with hand blades too, unlike Gale Blade.
I'd have to test its performance properly later.
After reading the full description of the first skill potion, I immediately checked the second skill.
[Frost Domain]
Rank: A
Deploys a thin frost layer on the designated ground, forming a localized chill zone for a short time as an AoE support spell.
Effect: Reduces enemy movement and reaction speed within 6m radius
Slightly boosts caster's ice attribute spell power inside the zone
Applies additional slow to already frozen or slowed enemies
Restrictions: Efficiency increases in indoor/narrow terrain, decreases in open spaces. Prolonged maintenance gradually lowers caster's body temperature and stamina
‘A-rank... too sweet.’
I'd been thinking I needed an AoE skill anyway... talk about good luck.
Smiling in satisfaction, I picked up the next potion bottle.
[Frost Shackle Shot]
Rank: B
Fires a small frozen orb to instantly bind an enemy's ankle or arm with ice chains for restraint as a single-target control spell.
Effect: Immobilizes single target's lower body or arm for 1-2 seconds
Slightly extends restraint time when combo'd with Frost Wheel Slash or Frost Domain
Excellent for interrupting enemy movement or casting motions
Restrictions: Strong enemies can break chains with raw strength
Only applies minor slow to enemies with high freeze resistance
‘This B-rank has near A-grade performance. I love it.’
Now for the last one...
It looked a bit different from the other potion bottles.
Carefully picking up the one indicating an extracted trait rather than a skill, I checked its info.
[Cold Core Circulation]
Rank: A
Forms a 'small ice core' at the center of bodily mana, automatically stabilizing mana circulation to the most optimal ice attribute state during combat as a trait.
No major difference normally, but in prolonged fights, mana flow becomes increasingly steady and consistent, greatly reducing failure rates and backlash risks for ice spells.
“...Wow.”
After confirming the info on the last potion, I froze solid.
‘Ice blades from the toes... this could combo insanely well with Gale Blade if used right.’
Mana blades, toes, rotation, slashes.
Dozens of applications already flashed in my mind.
Frost zones, ice chains to halt enemy movement.
Both were support skills optimized for physical/magic combos with Frost Wheel Slash.
And the fourth— trait potion.
[Cold Core Circulation].
“...Even a trait.”
I stared at the window speechlessly for a bit, then slowly lifted my head to look at Seol Yu-bin.
“Sis... can I really take all of this?”
Really, truly,
I needed confirmation it wasn't a joke.
Seol Yu-bin nodded vigorously without a hint of hesitation.
“Of course.”
“Isn't this... too expensive? This is basically—”
“Hyun-sol, what have you been doing here all vacation?”
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Coming every dawn to scrape mana circuits, fighting 3-circles, coming back the next day even after collapsing, training as I told you, real-combat imagery training...”
“That was... because I needed to...”
“Right. You did it because you needed to.”
Seol Yu-bin picked up one of the potions from her hand and held it out to me.
“So this is just giving what's right to the one who needs it.
Not so much a reward... more like an investment?”
“...Investment?”
“Yeah. I'm always so anxious, you know? About you charging in without a care if you get hurt or... worse. So this is my investment. Hoping you don't get hurt or die.”
She said something shocking so calmly, but her eyes had a playful glint.
I let out a very long sigh.
“If you're investing this much, I absolutely can't get hurt or die... More than that, you really won't regret it?”
“If I would regret it, I wouldn't have made them. So—”
She took my hand and placed the four potions one by one into it.
“Drink them without worry and focus on making these skills and trait yours, got it?”
“...Yes.”
No point asking more; it'd just get sincere answers, so I unscrewed the cap on the first potion without further ado.
Pop.
A puff of pure white mist rose, carrying a faint chill mixed with the sweet scent of medicinal herbs.
“Can't guarantee the taste.”
“...Yeah, none of the potions I've drunk so far were tasty anyway.”
I muttered softly and poured the first potion into my mouth without hesitation.
Cold.
The moment it touched my tongue, the tip went numb, and as it went down my throat, my entire esophagus felt washed with ice water.
Then the second, third.
Each potion spread through my body in different concentrations and ways.
The final fourth— trait potion.
“This one... feels definitely different.”
Even from my fingertips holding the bottle, mana was already subtly reacting.
I took a breath and drank the last potion as well.
The chill like swallowing ice shards thudded down to my solar plexus—
Somewhere inside, precisely near my heart, a small core-like thing clicked into place.
“......Haaa.”
I slowly closed and opened my eyes, then opened the system window again.
“First... the trait.”
Checking if it registered properly came first.
A new trait entry floated up.
[Cold Core Circulation]
Rank: A
Forms a small 'cold core' at the center of bodily mana, automatically stabilizing mana circulation to the most optimal ice attribute state during combat as a trait.
Mana flow becomes increasingly steady and consistent over time, boosting success rates and efficiency of ice skills and spells.
“...It really registered.”
I stared at the system window for a long time, then turned to Seol Yu-bin, who was staring at me intently from the side.
She smiled with her eyes and said,
“Congrats, Hyun-sol. So, shall we learn how to control these skills from your big sis today?”
“...Sounds good.”
I'd thought learning ice magic from her and growing my circles was already an overgenerous reward.
It seemed heaven was determined to let me see this world's end in this life.
While Seol Yu-bin and Kang Hyun-sol grew closer day by day,
In the Litwell family mansion in London, at the dinner table.
Silver candlelight flickered softly, and the aroma of warm steak wafted over the antique marble table.
“So, that means... our daughter had quite an eventful semester in Korea?”
Edmund Litwell— patriarch of the Litwell family, leader of one of the world's top houses.
He set down his knife and spoke quietly.
“Yes. Korea turned out way more interesting than I thought.”
Sophia nodded while twirling her fork.
“Their gate research system is unique, mana usage completely different from Britain's.
The academy system is intriguing too...”
“Above all, it's the first time our daughter has come back with such a bright face.”
Mrs. Litwell smiled softly, overlapping her hands.
“Korea suits you well.”
Sophia shyly brushed her turquoise hair to one side.
“...Well, it wasn't bad.”
Edmund took a sip of wine and smoothly changed the subject.
“By the way.”
“Yes?”
“I've heard most of what happened in Korea...”
His gaze dropped just a fraction.
Like a question pondered long and hard.
“But not a word about any guy.”
“...Pfft!”
Sophia nearly spat out her water.
“D-Dad! What kind of sudden—”
“Sudden? How old are you? And it's the first time you've said you enjoyed yourself so much.
Every call, you kept mentioning that Kang Hyun... sol? guy.”
“That's true.”
The wife chimed in with a gentle smile.
“Your voice was always brighter after going to Korea. It's good for our daughter to like someone.”
“...Ugh.”
Sophia poked at a potato with her fork for no reason.
“Uh, well... um...”
Her expression seemed slightly conflicted.
Obvious from her breathing what she was thinking.
Then— she nodded slowly, very quietly.
“...Yeah.”
The table atmosphere shifted in an instant.
Edmund's eyebrow twitched at the affirmative, and the wife sparkled with eyes like she'd been waiting forever.
“Really that guy...?”
“...Yes.”
Sophia let her gaze drop to the table.
“But... the competition is too tough... I've been worried lately.”
“Competition.”
Edmund stroked his chin with a hum.
“Not mana research rivalry, I hope—”
“Boy rivalry.”
Sophia muttered softly, cheeks flushing.
“...”
The reaction was dramatic.
Edmund dropped his fork, and the wife covered her lips to hold back laughter between joy and mischief.
“No... daughter.”
All patriarchal dignity was gone.
Just a regular flustered dad.
“The one you like— he's that... impressive?”
Sophia didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she spoke quietly but with conviction.
“...The best person I've met so far.”
The wife's eyes widened.
“That much?”
“Yes, but... there are too many good people around him. They all flock to him, so... honestly, it's daunting.”
“Hmm.”
Edmund muttered, stroking his chin.
“Not just some popular guy then. Likely someone our family would covet.”
“...”
Sophia pondered for a second— then quietly added,
“Well, yeah, I think so too. Leaving everything else, his talent as a mage is pretty outstanding.”
“Talented, popular too...”
Smiling at his daughter's words, he tapped his plate and said,
“Then hold on tight, Sophia. You're a Litwell daughter. If you set your mind to it, nothing's impossible.”
“Exactly.”
The wife continued with a warm smile.
“And Sophia, as your mom sees it—”
She set down her glass and spoke softly.
“Your expression already has the answer.”
“...Mom.”
Sophia smiled faintly.
“Don't worry. A woman's intuition is sharper than you think.”
The wife straightened her sleeve as she said,
“You'll win. Definitely.”
Sophia bit her lip briefly— then nodded slowly.
“...I hope so.”
The conversation continued for a while, and the table felt much warmer than at the start.
As dinner was wrapping up,
“Oh, right.”
Sophia spoke as if she'd prepared in advance.
“I'm heading back to Korea next week or so.”
“......What?”
Her father immediately set down his fork.
“Daughter, you come home after four months, and now leave after two weeks?”
“Two weeks is plenty. And there's a great opportunity as a mage. I got an official invite from the Snow Family.”
“Snow Family...”
Edmund nodded, slightly impressed.
“For a great house like that to invite you... you've really grown.”
“You always get like this.”
The wife laughed, patting his shoulder.
“You freak out if your daughter is away even a little.”
“I didn't say anything?”
Edmund said, sounding aggrieved.
The wife shot back immediately.
“Your face just now said enough.”
Sophia burst into a chuckle.
“You two... don't worry. I'll finish up at the Snow Family and come right back.”
“Remember that promise.”
Her father nodded reluctantly.
After dinner, the three walked to the door together.
The wife adjusted Sophia's scarf and whispered,
“...And Sophia.”
“Yes?”
“...As your mom sees it.”
She stroked her hair gently with a smile.
“You're a winner, in love and rivalry. Never hesitate.”
Sophia widened her eyes at the words— then bit her lip lightly and nodded.
“...Yeah.”
Soft yet firm voice.
“Yeah. I will.”
As the door opened and the cold British air entered the mansion, Sophia gave her final goodbye to her parents.
“I'll be back.”
Edmund and his wife said in unison,
“Take care.”
“You must win! Go Sophia!”
With everyone's farewells, Sophia left the mansion and began preparations to return to Korea.