Chapter 284: The Path as a Mage
Thinking about it, it had been ages since I'd last gone to the training grounds. Back when I was grinding away at academy life, I'd hit them up all the time.
"Those days were intense, every single one."
It hadn't been that long, but everything around me had changed so fast that those times already felt like distant memories.
Hold up.
I stopped mid-stride on my way to the training grounds. Did I really need to go there? There was a place with way better facilities.
A great idea hit me, so I pulled out my smartwatch and fired off a message.
"She's so cool like that."
My destination was Professor Im Sol's lab. She'd rented out the entire second floor, complete with a private training ground that was top-notch. I could see her face and get some combat magic lessons from a genius mage like my Professor Im Sol. Being around a pretty girl always made studying easier anyway. All upsides.
"Or... not?"
On second thought, wasn't I supposed to spend this time on self-improvement instead of hanging out with the girls? Was heading to see Professor Im Sol really the right move?
"I can just talk magic and not goof off."
The debate didn't last long. Things with Professor Im Sol weren't physical anyway, so even if we got sidetracked, it wouldn't waste much time. Worst case, I'd get a little teased. Big deal. Her magic lessons were priceless—no way I'd pass that up for some teasing.
I quickened my pace toward the Magic Tower where her lab was.
During that last terror attack, holding out against Shin Dong-min in the Mana Blocking Barrier, I'd realized something. I was surprisingly decent in close-quarters combat. Thanks to my perk, [Combat Sense].
「Combat Sense」
Grants corrections to all actions deemed 'combat.'
The higher the risk level of 'combat,' the greater the effect.
The moment 'combat' kicks in, every action gets a boost—mana, offense, defense, reaction speed, even luck. Plus, it enhances vision with [Clairvoyance], maximizing perception of mana-infused beings and forms. Honestly, I had more than enough to qualify as a swordsman.
I started as a mage to fight safely, but real life showed that swordsman or mage, it was all dangerous as hell. Might as well stack up ways to protect myself.
Maybe learn some swordsmanship from Da-eun.
She was right there—a great teacher nearby. No downside to trying.
Lost in random thoughts, I soon spotted the Magic Tower ahead. I'd shelve the close-combat ideas for now. First things first: master what I was already doing.
Come to think of it, Professor doesn't know I can use all attributes.
One goal was learning combat magic, but I hadn't revealed my attributes. She still thought I was dual-attribute. I'd hidden it hardcore, so no surprise.
Should I tell her?
No worries about her spilling secrets. From what I'd seen, Im Sol wasn't the type. But I'd kept putting it off for a big moment, and now that trust was built, it felt awkward to blurt out.
Couldn't just go, "Hey, I can use all-attribute magic! Pretty cool, right?!"
Same reason I hadn't told the other heroines. No natural opening.
Ding—
The elevator hit the second floor. I'd figure it out once I saw her.
Navigating the familiar layout to the inner lab, there she was: Professor Im Sol in her usual comfy research gear, tinkering with beakers and reagents.
"Hey, Professor."
"Yeah, what's up? Coming straight from discharge."
Im Sol greeted me without looking up from her beaker. Classic focus mode.
"Do I need a reason to visit?"
"Nah, but you only come when there's something. Not today?"
"...I do have some worries."
Her intuition was scary sharp. I started chatting with the professor, who looked like she'd seen it coming.
Recent events, my takeaways, magic progress, thoughts on mage combat. No set topic—just whatever came to mind. She listened intently, no signs of boredom.
When I finished, she nodded.
"So, basically, you wanna get stronger?"
"Yeah, exactly. I want to get stronger, Master!"
There were other issues, sure... but strength solved them all.
Im Sol nailed the core, mage-style.
"You're already plenty strong for your age."
"Kinda like, 'I'm still hungry.' With all these terror attacks lately, it's stressing me out... especially stuff like the Mana Blocking Barrier. Makes me uneasy."
"Mana Blocking Barrier... yeah, that'd hit you hard."
Just thinking about that barrier pissed me off. Where the hell did that bullshit setting even come from? If it was in the original game, it'd have been flamed to oblivion.
Im Sol gestured understanding, crossed her arms, and set down her tools.
"Got something good. Was gonna force it on you if you got cocky... but since you asked, follow me."
She headed out, and I trailed her. Soon, we reached the magic training ground—her private one. Fitting for a star professor: huge for solo use.
"Seeing is believing, huh? Gonna show me mage combat?"
I'd glimpsed it once before, but hands-on teaching was worlds apart. Learning her style would be...
"Nah, sparring."
Kuung—
The ground around the arena rumbled. Mana leaking from her warped the air.
I blinked at the sudden surge. "...Out of nowhere?"
"Yeah. Mage combat styles don't share easy. Especially for geniuses like us—better to forge your own than copy. I wasted time unlearning bad habits."
"Appreciate the wisdom... but didn't you say you'd spar to knock the cockiness out of me?"
Her words flowed smooth, but this wasn't just wanting to beat me up, right? That was the plan if I got arrogant.
"Not going all out, so relax and do your thing."
She tapped the air, setting parameters. A thin mana film coated me—probably life-safety.
"...'
And just like that, sparring. Great experience, but... time to spill.
I couldn't beat her at full power anyway. Felt like I couldn't even touch her waist yet. But to get real advice, I'd need to go all out—which meant revealing my secret first.
The moment I decided, her voice cut in.
"So, you gonna keep holding back?"
"Huh?"
"You've been mulling since you got here. Time to spill."
"...Your intuition's insane."
She grinned, eyes gleaming, like she'd read my mind.
"Obviously. I've eaten plenty of intuition rice."
Tsk. No more debating. Perfect setup—might as well tell her. I trusted Professor Im Sol.
"Don't freak out?"
"Magic-related?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm... figured out some insane formula?"
"...Not quite. I've been lying to you this whole time..."
Guilt hit. We'd been professor-student a while; confessing now felt off.
"About the dual attributes?"
"Huh?"
I couldn't hide my twitching eyes. How'd she know?
Im Sol met my shocked gaze with a soft smile.
"Finally confessing, huh? I knew."
"Wha..."
This was genius mage Im Sol. Knew my attributes without a word...
I bumped her already top-tier eval up another notch.
She locked eyes with my stunned face, hand on my shoulder, whispering:
"Hoyeon... you're triple-attribute, right?"
"......Huh?"
What the—?
"Saw it during the festival terror, when you wrecked the Honor Hall. Only me and Ye-ji saw. Iron Blood Guild's Min Ye-ji, you know her?"
??? I stared blankly. She beamed benevolently, like 'Thanks for finally telling me, disciple. Must've been a big decision...'
Totally off-base.
I downgraded her a step.
Festival?
Oh yeah—the artifact terror at the academy's Honor Hall. I'd infused wind into a spiral to smash them all. Thought no one saw... busted.
"Uh, Professor. That's not it."
I took her hand off my shoulder—still looking at me like a cute student. But her keeping my secret deepened my trust.
"Huh?"
I didn't answer, just channeled mana into both hands. Showing was better.
Pzzt—
Lightning arced along my left fingers; a mini waterspout swirled in my right palm.
".........Hic."
Im Sol's smile vanished with a gasp. Her face shifted to wide-eyed shock—unprecedented.
"...You okay?"
No reply. She just stared, eyes darting. Triple was huge; all attributes? Mind blown.
I kept going, empathetic. "I lied 'cause too much attention scares me. But you're the first I told, so forgive me?"
Still silent. Properly stunned.
I shook off the spells. She finally met my eyes.
"Professor. Snap out of it."
"Uh, y-yeah... sorry. ...When did you start using all attributes?"
Her cheeks flushed—not embarrassment, excitement.
"From the start. Since I could use magic."
The world's only all-attribute mage, Im Sol, could from the beginning too. Fitting answer.
"Ha, haa..."
Her hands trembled as she gripped my arms tight.
"Knew I wasn't wrong."
"Professor?"
"Remember our first meeting? I clung hard."
"Yeah, you did."
It was odd now that I thought about it. Didn't match her usual pride in being ahead in magic.
"That's when. I was drawn to you!"
"To me...?"
Her eyes turned scary. Other heroines got obsessive with that look...
Current Status: My fate was decided from the start.
...?
I squinted at the affection jumping to the 90s. Why?
Wung—wung—wung—
A massive pressure hit from ahead. Looking up, space warped around Im Sol. Insane mana output dominating the area.
Her lips curved up. My lie? Forgotten.
"Take it back. No mercy—go all out."
"Huh?"
"Until you beat me... got it?"
"How am I supposed to beat you?!"
"Keep going till you do."
Why the sudden shift? That thrilled over another all-attribute mage? But what did that have to do with sparring?
...Whatever, won't die.
The safety film held strong. Danger would auto-stop it. She wanted this—disciple's gotta oblige.
I channeled mana, smiling at the grinning Professor Im Sol.