First Day Shadows and Classroom Clash
In the heart of Seoul stood the entrance to Seongun Academy—a towering 90-story building encased entirely in special mana-blocking glass. Even in broad daylight, the top-floor penthouse was shrouded by blackout curtains, steeped in an eerie silence. The room's sole light source was the bluish glow emanating from a hologram monitor.
"Only the... upper body was recovered?"
A man buried in the shadows murmured lowly. Before him loomed a massive culture tank, inside which floated a man who'd lost his lower half to Jae-hyun's Space Compression, sustained by an oxygen mask. On the hologram, a masked subordinate bowed his head, continuing his report to the enigmatic figure.
The man's eyes trembled faintly at his subordinate's report. He gripped the fountain pen in his hand and snapped it with force.
"Seongun Academy's director Ko Chang-beom personally intervened, didn't he?"
The man sank deeper into his chair, lost in thought.
[Successor]
He hadn't anticipated the power recorded in the Ancient Tome manifesting so quickly. Forcing an assault on the academy now would ignite all-out war with the International Hunter Federation and the academy itself.
"...Pull back for now. Watch from afar until the kid gets complacent in his own power, or until the academy's walls feel too confining and he steps out on his own. But don't slack on surveillance. That Ancient Tomemust end up in our hands."
With the response, the hologram flickered out. The room fell back into silence, broken only by an unsettling mechanical hum.
The morning after the suspicious figures appeared, I told Seol-ha about Iris and said we'd start training to get stronger. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, she swiftly prepared my academy enrollment paperwork over the next few days. Meanwhile, I used Space Detection to scan for suspicious people around us, day by day.
"Huff... huff...! Iris! Let's take a break!"
I caught my breath in a clearing on the back mountain. My whole body felt like it was pierced by thousands of needles, drenched in sweat. Above my head floated Iris, translucent as she emerged from the Ancient Tome, relentlessly pumping purple mana into me without a care for my pain.
"Hey now, oppa! Aren't you being a bit dramatic? You said you wanted to get stronger! Endure this much at least."
"Ha... I was prepared for it, but... not this much pain..."
"It's because your mana circuits are so rusty, oppa. Space magic isn't like regular magic, remember? It's not about forcing it out—feel it like delicately 'folding' the paper of the world. Now, try again! Compress just that rock over there!"
Panting heavily, I glared at the rock ahead. A week of hellish special training. Iris expanded my mana circuits with mana nonstop—even while I ate or tried to sleep. She'd act like a playful little sister, but turned into a merciless demon during magic lessons. Thanks to her, nosebleeds had been a constant under my nose all week.
"...Fold it. Twist, condense."
"Space Compression"
Space Compression
I focused my mind. Purple mana flowed from my heart through my veins to my fingertips, rippling the air around the rock.
Crunch—
In an instant, the rock shrank, leaving a single small pebble tumbling to the ground. A perfect compression, targeting only the rock and cramming it into a tiny space.
"Ooh~! Nice one, oppa! Now you finally smell like a successor. Worth all that suffering these past few days! Before heading to the academy, let's expand your 'Space Perception' range. So you can sense how many stray cats are outside even with your eyes closed!"
Iris playfully ruffled my hair. Intangible, yet her mana brought a soft sensation wherever it touched.
From non-awakener to space mage. In just a week, I'd undergone changes beyond human limits.
After catching my breath, I summoned the system window to organize the skills I'd acquired.
It had been a while since I'd checked the status window, and it was astonishing. Unlike the empty slate before, I'd now acquired multiple skills with Iris's help. Most shocking was the hidden class—one of the rarest in the world. Classes here ranged from normal, rare, unique, to hidden, making this a stroke of immense luck. Hidden classes could only be held by one person worldwide until death, setting my heart racing. From training with Iris, I'd learned skill ranks could rise through repetition and understanding. Though progress was modest so far, I vowed to max them all to A-rank as I prepared to head home. On the way down the mountain, I pondered the future—but one thing was certain. I'd never live groveling again.
Finally, academy enrollment day. The gates of Seongun Academy teemed with crowds. Reporters and guild reps from around the world shoved cameras forward. Word of the measuring device incident had spread far.
"Look! It's Do Jae-hyun!"
"He really smashed the measurer? Dude's got some vibe..."
"Do Jae-hyun-ssi, KBD News! A word on the device destruction?"
"Do Jae-hyun-ssi! From Sunhwa Guild. Talk before entering?"
Endless camera flashes prompted academy staff to control the crowd. Even those indifferent to me before now turned their attention. Feeling the stares, I lifted my head and walked steadily. Seol-ha stood beside me, smiling.
"Wow, Jae-hyun's a total celeb now? Jealous~."
"You're way too hyped. Quiet down, idiot."
"Don't worry! I told the chairman, and he was thrilled—already handled everything inside."
"Thanks. You're the only one. I'll repay this someday."
Seol-ha blushed faintly, smiling softly as she followed close. Inside the academy, grand stone buildings exuded majesty. The mana density was leagues beyond any high school.
Per academy decision, I was assigned to the beginner class. Despite irregularity rumors, my official rank remained bottom-tier—Director Ko Chang-beom's ploy to shield me from outside eyes.
Beginner classroom: Ether Hall 101. Parting from Seol-ha at the door, I pushed open the heavy entrance. Dozens of seated students turned to stare—curiosity, jealousy, contempt swirling in their gazes. I casually headed to the back row.
But there sat a familiar silhouette: a girl with shoulder-length bob, sharp feline yet alluring eyes, toned figure—the successor of Seongjin Group and Lee Jin-woo's sister, Lee Jin-ah.
"...You're Do Jae-hyun?"
Jin-ah propped her chin, scanning me. Faint blue mana rippled around her—density befitting a 'genius'.
"We've never met, so why the casual talk? Thought you were younger..."
"Ha... This is the academy. Age, gender—doesn't matter. Everyone's equal, so casual's fine."
"Oppa, what's with this kid? Younger but those eyes are fierce! Her mana density's pretty good, though."
I swallowed a wry smile and set my bag on the seat beside Jin-ah.
"Fine. Casual it is. Nice to meet you, Lee Jin-ah. Heard you're a genius."
"Hmph. My bro hyped you up so much I had to see what monster you'd be... but you're plainer than expected. Kinda weak-looking?"
Jin-ah spoke dismissively, but her eyes sharply tracked my every move.
"Plain's best, right?"
A displeased chuckle came from the front. "Hey, fraud. Move it? 0.1% parachute doesn't know his place sitting by Jin-ah? Isn't your spot by the trash can?"
A male student in a fancy uniform embroidered with gold—Park Tae-jun, Hanul Guild affiliate and beginner class boss—approached with three lackeys. He kicked my desk roughly.
"Didn't hear? Move. This ain't for trash like you. Device smash was rigged, right? How much did you slip the director?"
The room chilled instantly. Students watched eagerly. The academy's powerful Anti-Mana Field suppressed unauthorized mana use. Park Tae-jun, confident in that, picked a fight—betting on his money and bulk since I couldn't use mana.
But he didn't know.
"Who’s this stinky pig uncle? Oppa, want me to handle him?"
Stay put, Iris. I'll handle this myself.
I slowly looked up at Park Tae-jun. "You think the Anti-Mana Field makes you safe?"
"What? This punk's lost his—Gah!"
Before he finished, I flicked my finger under the desk.
—!
The space beneath his feet folded down 10cm in an instant. Thinking he stood firm, he stepped into air, lost balance, and crashed awkwardly.
Thud!
Park Tae-jun stared blankly at the restored floor, face flushing crimson as he pointed and bellowed. "You all saw that punk use magic, right? Psycho casting in an Anti-Mana Field?!"
I shook my head innocently. "Like you said, I'm a fraud—how could I use magic? Don't accuse people on a whim."
"You little—"
A chill mana brushed my space. "Enough."
Park Tae-jun froze mid-rant. "P-Park Tae-jun. Told you I'd let it slide once. Take your goons and scram."
"Uh... no, Jin-ah, that's not—"
"Scram!"
Park Tae-jun, who'd postured to impress Jin-ah, tucked tail and fled with his crew. Arms crossed, she eyed me incredulously.
"Ha... Monster confirmed? Thought you'd chicken out."
"No idea what you mean..."
"Think I'm blind? Saw the space under his feet vanish in a blink."
Jin-ah inwardly marveled, recalling the seamless, silent precision—more impressive than mere field defiance.
"Tell me what spell later, and I'll hook you up. Look forward to it."
"We'll see."
The room went deathly quiet, like ice water poured over it. The professor entered for class, and onlookers scrambled to sit properly.
Academy life might be fun after all...
I focused on the lesson, ignoring the prickling stare beside me.