Chapter 12
Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Master and Disciple (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A photo of me dangling in Seong Hyun-woo's arms, looking twice my size, my feet hanging limply in the air.
Even hearing it was embarrassing enough, but seeing it captured on camera under the gaze of onlookers made my face burn hot.
"What on earth was this photo taken for...?"
The click I'd heard in the lobby earlier must not have been a reporter.
I checked how many people had seen this humiliating sight, and it had over 30,000 views.
This won't do.
I can't let this stand.
I had to take action before anyone else saw it.
In a speed I could hardly believe myself, I left a comment on the post.
The first reply was definitely not Hyun-woo.
Probably just someone mischievously messing around.
I waited another ten minutes or so, but no more replies came.
"Why won't anyone believe me...?"
Why was today full of such frustrations?
I tossed my phone aside like trash and burrowed under the covers, closing my eyes.
Come to think of it, 'little white one' really was referring to me.
The thought of looking so undignified made everything go dark before my eyes.
Shedding a few quiet tears inside, I forced myself to sleep.
"Ar..., I'm really sorry... I was so busy yesterday that I forgot to call..."
"I told you it's fine. Stop clinging to me."
Seo-yoon had come to my room first thing in the morning, apologizing nonstop.
I understood, but a bit of lingering resentment kept me from meeting her eyes.
"Please just look at me while you talk... I'm really sorry..."
Honestly, it wasn't even something worth apologizing over this much.
My head knew that, but my weakening divine protection made my mind resist her apologies.
'I need to show some maturity...'
If I kept acting like this, they'd start treating me like a kid.
I turned my head to face Seo-yoon.
"It's really fine now, so stop. You're making me feel sorry."
No sooner had I finished than Seo-yoon, who had been pouting, broke into a wide smile and hugged me tightly.
"Ar~! Thank you for forgiving me... Did you wait a lot yesterday?"
"Mm. Just a little. Not too much."
Seo-yoon stroked my head while holding me close.
I'd never been petted like this before, so I hadn't realized—it felt surprisingly cozy.
I quietly closed my eyes, savoring the sensation.
"Aah—! You're too cute... I must be crazy. From now on, I just won't work."
"You have to work. Don't make me out to be the bad guy."
"Okay! I'll do whatever you say, Ar."
We'd only known each other a few days, but she looked ready to believe me if I said kimchi stew boosted mana.
After a while, when the position got uncomfortable, Seo-yoon carried me to the sofa and kept petting me while I sat on her lap.
How much time passed like that? A knock thudded at the door. I scanned outside with Detection—like a bear standing there.
Anyone could tell it was Jeong-woo.
My body felt too languid to move, so I drew out mana like thread and turned the doorknob.
"Huh? Oh, it opened. But... what are you two doing?"
"Be quiet. I'm in the middle of healing."
Jeong-woo, who had stepped in right across from the sofa, stared at us in disbelief.
"What brings you here so early in the morning, Jeong-woo...?"
"Jeez. Looks comfy. I practiced that defense technique you taught me all night, but I'm stuck on something. I messaged you, but no reply?"
It wouldn't be right for a master to ignore a disciple's question.
Regretfully, I got up from Seo-yoon's lap and walked toward Jeong-woo.
Glancing back, Seo-yoon was glaring at him with deep resentment.
"Mm. So, what don't you get?"
"I get wrapping mana around the shield to deflect up close. But deflecting ranged attacks from afar is giving me a headache."
Looks like he'd come after groaning through all-night training.
"You have to adjust it yourself. The goal is to disrupt the attacker's stance, so no need to deflect every ranged shot."
"Ah, my head hurts... Guess I just need more practice."
I nodded at Jeong-woo's honest response when suddenly Seo-yoon strode up behind me.
"You learned something from Ar too?"
"What? You too? What'd you learn?"
"The way to fill your stomach without eating. I learned it first."
I'd only taught them basics fitting their levels, but Seo-yoon smugly boasted to Jeong-woo with jealous pride.
"What?? How does that work?"
"You couldn't do it even if I told you, Jeong-woo. Seo-yoon seems skilled at handling mana, so I taught her something suited to that."
Stating the facts plainly, Jeong-woo looked crestfallen.
"I'll teach you step by step, so don't despair."
"Uh... okay..."
"If no one has plans today, let's head to the White Wolf Guild together. There's something I want to teach you all."
Might as well teach them the mana circulation method now that we're gathered.
Hyun-woo doesn't know it either, so it'd be good to teach him too.
They jumped up at my words, hurriedly getting ready to head out.
It was the office scenery I saw without fail every day since returning.
Seong Hyun-woo stood before me in his usual posture, fiddling with documents.
"What brings you here today?"
"Mm. Excuse me for a moment."
I placed my hand on Hyun-woo's lower abdomen and infused mana.
As expected—no mana circle.
"Mm... I have a question. How do Earth's awakened gain mana?"
"Well... Some awaken through a trigger, but mostly it's just luck."
Jeong-woo answered matter-of-factly.
"What about 'skills'?"
"Pure luck. When you awaken, skills you can use naturally pop into your head."
'How peculiar...'
I could understand mana flowing from gates and permeating the world.
Natural mana always flows from abundance to scarcity.
But how did they acquire a specific amount of mana in their bodies?
"Did you gain mana differently, Ar?"
"Hmm... In Elantara, mana was something accumulated postnatally. Never heard of skills."
"You can build up mana afterward?"
Seo-yoon's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes. Whether you can might depend on trying it, given how different the environment is."
"H-how do you do it?"
"First, sit cross-legged on the floor?"
Seo-yoon quickly sat straight-backed on the floor.
"Can you sense the natural mana?"
"Yeah, I can."
"That makes it easier, then. Focus on the mana flow inside your body."
I placed both palms on Seo-yoon's back, infused mana, and made it settle below her navel, rotating it.
"Uh... mm..."
"Maintain this sensation yourself. Normally, you'd draw in natural mana to form it from an empty state, but since you're already full, it'll feel awkward."
Seeing her nod, I removed my hands from her back.
Scanning with my eyes, she was already managing it well after just one demonstration.
"As expected, you're adept at handling mana. Just maintain the circle daily, and your mana capacity will naturally grow."
One down.
Turning, Jeong-woo and Hyun-woo hadn't taken their eyes off us.
"It wasn't kimchi stew...?"
One stared down at me with betrayed eyes.
Next, I successfully established the basics of mana circles in the remaining two.
Hyun-woo grasped it on his own just by watching—no special help needed.
Truly exceptional talent.
Jeong-woo took a bit longer... but he succeeded anyway.
"This feels so weird... If I relax even a little, it feels like it'll vanish."
"Mm. Just focus for a day or two, and it'll maintain naturally after that."
Hyun-woo had his eyes closed, concentrating on the flow inside.
Seo-yoon was managing somehow.
"Why is this so hard for me... Seo-yoon's doing it fine."
"She's always had better mana control than you. But as an awakener, you have more mana, so effort will bridge it."
Encouraging Jeong-woo, whose circle kept scattering, he seemed to reignite his resolve.
A diligent disciple, even if lacking, wasn't disagreeable.
I stepped back, watching the three focus in their own ways with a warm smile.