Chapter 46: Preparations for Flight
Chapter 46: Preparations for Flight
“Yoojung-ah.”
“Yeah.”
“In the future, if a situation like… well, an unavoidable situation like the one we just had comes up, what will you do?”
“…I don't know.”
Lee Yoojung answered, her face scrunched in frustration. She must have been feeling incredibly helpless. Even if a similar situation arose, she knew nothing and could do nothing. If she had to give an answer, the only option would be to simply let it happen. I was about to offer them words that would be like a welcome rain in a drought.
“You all know about Mana Release to some extent, right?”
I had pushed them hard, so now was the time to soothe them a little. The kids must have sensed the change in my tone, as I could see them cautiously lift their heads to glance at me. They looked like children who’d been scolded by their mother, dejected one moment and then peeking up again. The sight almost made me laugh, but I held it in.
“The ability that woman used at the table was part of Mana Release. It wasn’t the manifestation of a Special or Latent Ability. It was a Control Ability that anyone could use by controlling their own mana.”
Strictly speaking, Sword Aura and Sword Energy were also Control Abilities. That was why Lee Yoojung’s expression changed the moment she heard the term.
“Control Ability…? Oppa. Does that mean we can use it too?”
“Yes. With practice, you can. Furthermore, you can resist and defend yourself in situations like the one before. Depending on how you respond, you can even counterattack.”
“Teach me.”
A faint smile touched my lips as I watched life return to their faces. I might have been genuinely disappointed if they had remained dispirited. But as soon as a path forward opened up, Lee Yoojung's eyes began to burn with a fiery determination, as if her earlier despair had never existed.
First, I would teach them the theory thoroughly, then demonstrate it, and finally begin the training. At Lee Yoojung’s request, I nodded and started explaining.
“Does anyone know what stages Mana Release can be divided into?”
“It can be divided into Sensing, Occupy, and Coercion.”
“Oh… Correct.”
Surprisingly, Ahn Sol answered at once. She stared at me with such intense yearning that it was almost burdensome. I hesitantly nodded, and her face brightened. For a moment I wondered whether she had looked strange earlier because I had patted only Ahn Hyun’s head and not hers.
No, that couldn’t be it. In any case, Ahn Sol’s answer was almost correct. There were higher stages above Coercion—Disruption and Destruction—but compared with the first stage, Sensing, they were far too advanced for the kids to learn yet. I therefore left them out.
“From now on, I'm going to teach you all a very powerful technique.”
The introduction was over. It was time to get to the main point.
There's a saying, "Seeing something once is better than hearing about it a hundred times." It means you can only truly understand something by experiencing it yourself. I slowly stirred my magic power and turned halfway around, my back to the kids.
I carefully controlled my mana, spreading it across the entire floor of the room. With my body as the center, I drew a single, round circle on the floor with my magic. I had done this thousands, tens of thousands of times, so it was beyond familiar; it was like a part of my own body. As I stood still, I could feel the kids staring at me blankly. I closed my eyes and slowly spoke.
“Hyun, Sol, Yoojung-ah. Don’t say a word. Move anywhere you like within the room without making a sound.”
Hearing my words, the kids hesitated for a moment before I felt them begin to move quietly, one by one. Even though they tried their best to tiptoe, with my Sensing active, they were in the palm of my hand. Soon, I heard a faint creak and confirmed that they had all stopped moving. Without turning around, I spoke.
“Ahn Hyun. 38 degrees southeast from my left foot. In front of the wardrobe. Ahn Sol. 26 degrees southwest from my right foot. Behind the central table. Lee Yoojung. 90 degrees from my body. On the bed.”
The moment I finished, I heard the kids gasp sharply. It would be a problem if they were this surprised already. I smiled faintly and continued.
“This is Sensing, the first stage of Mana Release. People call it an invisible eye, but in practice it links the visible surroundings to your Mana Circuit. In other words, you use mana to expand the radius of thought you can perceive. You were all startled when that woman appeared without warning, weren’t you?”
“Come to think of it…”
“Y-yes. I see. Then, Hyung… does that mean if we learn Sensing, we’ll be able to tell when that woman appears?”
Hearing the understanding in Ahn Hyun's voice, I nodded without turning around.
“Generally, yes. But Sensing isn't foolproof. There are ways to get past it.”
“In that case…”
This time, I stirred my magic power much more strongly, enough for them to feel it clearly. I sent the formless energy surging with fierce momentum, this time spreading it into the air. Like a shimmering heat haze, my mana instantly occupied the entire room. Watching the kids look around in wonder, I gave them a different command.
“This time, everyone, show me a number with your fingers.”
After giving them enough time to see, feel, and follow my request, I spoke calmly.
“Ahn Hyun. Two fingers. The index and middle fingers are extended. Ahn Sol, one finger. The index finger. Lee Yoojung. Four fingers. Index, middle, ring, and pinky… Two, four, one, five, four, five. This kid.”
Lee Yoojung rapidly changed the number of fingers midway through, apparently unable to believe it, but I answered every time. Her arm dropped limply in disbelief.
“Huh…?”
“Wha…?!”
“Th-That's amazing…!”
After hearing their awestruck voices, I finally turned back to face them. They were all gaping at me as if they had seen a ghost. I kept my mana occupying the room and continued speaking.
“There are several ways to bypass Sensing. You can use speed that the opponent can't react to even if they detect you, or you can approach from the air. There's also a method of stealthily mixing your own mana with the opponent's. That's why the stage developed to counter this more effectively is called Occupy.”
“Oppa. Then was the ability that woman used earlier Occupy?”
I shook my head. Occupy was the second stage; what the woman had used was the third, Coercion.
“No. The ability she used was Coercion. It's the third stage of Mana Release. It's a technique that can be considered quite advanced, as it goes one step beyond simply expanding your perception and imbues your mana with your own will. Of course, its power varies depending on the user… but once you learn Occupy, it becomes possible to completely defend against such Coercion, or at least partially resist it.”
“Th-Then I want to learn Coercion. I want to learn it.”
I smiled faintly at Lee Yoojung’s impatient demand and walked over. Then I flicked her lightly on the forehead. As she pouted and rubbed the spot, I spoke in a placating tone.
“You're trying to fly before you can even walk, let alone run? Unless you're a genius, Coercion isn't something you can learn overnight. At the very least, it requires three months of consistent training. Focus on mastering Sensing first, then think about taking the next step. Don't be so impatient.”
“Hyung.”
Just then, Ahn Hyun, who had been staring at my face, called out to me. I turned to him with a questioning look, and he immediately spoke.
“I also want to learn Coercion…”
“You kids, really. I told you it's too early.”
Ahn Hyun shook his head and continued.
“No, that's not it. I just want to know more about Coercion in detail.”
“Oppa, me too. I panicked earlier because it was my first time experiencing it and my mind went blank… but I want to see what Coercion really feels like. Please?”
When Lee Yoojung supported Ahn Hyun’s request, I fell silent. The foundation of Mana Release was the precision and efficiency with which one controlled mana. They seemed not to understand how difficult it was to spread mana outside the body and imbue it with one’s will, even if they learned Sensing quickly.
Yet I saw a passion in Ahn Hyun’s and Lee Yoojung’s eyes that I had never seen before. For a moment I remembered my own early days in the Hall Plain—the days when I struggled to learn anything I could, gritting my teeth and climbing alone without proper guidance.
The memory of those sorrowful times made me slowly open my mouth, as if possessed.
“The third stage of Mana Release is on a different level from the first two. It requires not only efficient mana management and precision but also flawless deployment based on your circuits. But what's most important, and most difficult, is that Coercion is about imbuing your mana with your own will.”
“Will, you mean…”
“The key is how effectively you convey your emotions. You don’t even need to speak. Mana imbued with your will says everything for you. Think back to earlier. Yoojung, what did you feel then?”
Lee Yoojung frowned, thought for a moment, and answered.
“My body felt heavy… and I felt like I was in danger. Like I might even die…”
“The technical term is Killing Intent. That woman wanted to kill you, Yoojung. Without speaking, she conveyed that intention through the emotion in her mana.”
“…….”
Lee Yoojung did not answer. Her face went pale at once, and goosebumps seemed to rise all over her. Ahn Hyun still tilted his head, apparently not fully understanding. I sighed quietly. Since I was still maintaining Occupy, I decided that a small demonstration would satisfy their curiosity better.
I steeled myself and called out to Ahn Hyun.
“Hyun-ah.”
“Yes.”
“From now on, I'm going to want to kill you.”
“What? What do you mean…”
Ahn Hyun, who had been questioning my sudden words, quickly shut his mouth. He seemed to realize I was about to give another demonstration, just like with Sensing and Occupy. He clamped his mouth shut and his face hardened, as if preparing himself. Of course, from my perspective, it was a completely useless gesture.
I closed my eyes and began a mind training exercise. I set Ahn Hyun as my mortal enemy, someone I would fight to the death. After composing myself, I opened my eyes and explosively released my magic power in an instant. And…
“Huuak! Uwaaaaah!”
The reaction was immediate.
My aura, which had been as placid as a floating cloud, instantly transformed into one thick with viscous killing intent. A suffocating bloodlust, as if to tear any living being to shreds, filled the room. The murderous impulse surged from the depths of my being. And I poured all of those emotions onto a single target: Ahn Hyun.
It lasted only five seconds. If I maintained it any longer, I felt that even I might be stained by my old bloodlust, so I forced it down at the right moment. As soon as I withdrew and contained the energy, Ahn Hyun collapsed to the floor, trembling because his legs had given out. Lee Yoojung and Ahn Sol also stared at me with chattering lips, apparently affected indirectly by the Killing Intent.
I approached Ahn Hyun slowly. He flinched and instinctively tried to retreat as I drew near. Then, as though realizing something, he stared at me blankly. I held out a hand to help him up.
“No matter how much you brace yourself, it's useless against Coercion that uses magic power. It's because it shows a person's raw, instinctual emotions without any filter. Anyway, you did well.”
Ahn Hyun shook his head hard, as if his mind was in a daze. Then, seemingly coming to his senses, he hesitantly took my hand. He struggled to get up, a sign that the shock hadn't completely worn off.
When he was fully upright and our eyes met, I noticed something interesting. For only an instant, a flicker of competitiveness seemed to pass through Ahn Hyun’s eyes. Perhaps because he was male, he possessed a particular belligerence different from Lee Yoojung or Ahn Sol.
After helping Ahn Hyun up, I looked at the three Users who still couldn’t take their eyes off me and continued.
“Anyway, Coercion is still a long way off for you all, so just be aware of what it is for now. The priority right now is Sensing. If you can't even do this much, going outside will be a complete waste. So don't even dream of leaving this room unless you can maintain Sensing for at least an hour.”
At the demand that they maintain Sensing for more than an hour, Lee Yoojung looked at me and asked urgently.
“But Oppa, when on earth did you learn all these techniques? We all took pretty much the same classes, didn't we?”
Lee Yoojung’s question made me flinch inwardly, but I kept my expression calm. I could hardly tell them I had learned these techniques before regressing, so I needed a suitable excuse. I raised my hand and showed them my index finger.
“I made use of my personal time outside of training. I also received a lot of help from the instructors. For reference, it took me one day to learn Sensing. Occupy took about two weeks. I was only able to learn Coercion near the very end.”
“Ah. So all that time you were sitting in that weird posture before bed, Hyung, that was all Sensing training?”
Ahn Hyun chimed in at just the right moment, adding credibility to my words. When I just smiled, he tilted his head and said, “I just thought you were meditating.” I ignored their reactions and continued.
“Anyway, that's how long it took me. Let's see if you can beat it. I'm a little curious to see who learns it first.”
My words carried a slight provocation, but the effect was clear. I meant it as a challenge to surpass me, and the moment I finished, Ahn Hyun, Ahn Sol, and Lee Yoojung exchanged looks and flared with competitive spirit.
“Well, I think I'll be the first to succeed. Just you watch, Hyung.”
“Hohoho. I hear you saying your Magic Power stat is higher than mine?”
“N-No… guys…”
Watching them glare at each other, I broke into a cold sweat. It felt as if I were watching siblings compete before their mother over who had the better grades. More and more, I felt like I was becoming their mom.
The theory was done. The demonstration was done. All that was left was to begin the training in earnest.
Whatever their inner thoughts, there was no denying the change in their attitude. As soon as they made up their minds, they began training right then and there. A little time passed, and as I watched them sitting motionless with their eyes closed, quietly regulating their mana, I added a detailed explanation.
“The basic operation of mana begins with an image. The fundamental principle of Sensing stems from ripples and waves. Imagine it. A calm sea, and a single drop of water falling onto its surface. And the circular ripples that form. Or you can think of a single drop of water falling onto a dry piece of paper. Create an image that you find comfortable and familiar, and move your mana along your circuits with that exact feeling.”
To be honest, Sensing itself was simple to operate. Unlike the advanced applications required for Coercion, Disruption, and Destruction, it was a Control Ability governed by a comparatively straightforward principle.
The important thing with Sensing was how cleanly and for how long one could sustain it. You had to efficiently distribute your magic power and always maintain a constant flow.
Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoojung were slowly beginning to struggle with Sensing. They had initially drawn out their mana and formed circles beneath their feet, but their faces made it clear that maintaining the technique for the required hour would be difficult. As time passed, the circles distorted and grew uneven, and the flow of their mana became irregular.
At first, they had worn confident, smug smiles, but now, beads of sweat were forming on their faces. Watching them slowly bite their lips, I smiled faintly.
There was a good reason I taught them Sensing first. It wasn't for nothing that people said you could measure a User's capabilities with Sensing alone. And it was also because it was an ability they would use time and time again in the future.
The advantages of Sensing were endless. From a training perspective, it had the benefit of being something you could practice anytime, anywhere. Not only did it increase one's magic power, but it also had the effect of pushing one's body to its internal limits, so an increase in other stats could also be expected.
Furthermore—and this was only my theory—I believed that my Latent Ability, Mind’s Eye (Stillness), had been strongly influenced by Sensing. I always observed myself and my surroundings and entered battle with a calm mind. I tried to predict my opponent’s attack routes and build the optimal battle plan. In other words, Sensing might help awaken a Latent Ability suited to the individual.
It also helped develop the habit of maintaining a constant flow of mana, which prevented needless waste when using other Control Abilities. That was why Sensing training could accomplish three goals at once.
Before I knew it, more than ten minutes had passed. Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoojung were a complete mess. Their early confidence was gone; both were drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, and looked ready to collapse.
As I watched them intently, I briefly activated my Third Eye. I wanted to check their stat growth so far.
『 Player Status 』
Name: Ahn Hyun
『Abilities』
[Strength 59] [Durability 57] [Agility 74] [Stamina 61] [Magic Power 49] [Luck 61]
*
『 Player Status 』
Name: Ahn Sol
『Abilities』
[Strength 16] [Durability 21] [Agility 24] [Stamina 29] [Magic Power 84] [Luck 100]
*
『 Player Status 』
Name: Lee Yoojung
『Abilities』
[Strength 48] [Durability 52] [Agility 64] [Stamina 50] [Magic Power 68] [Luck 56]
*
Ahn Hyun’s strengths were his balanced physical stats and high Agility. Every stat except Magic Power and Luck was rising evenly. High Agility was especially advantageous for spear users, so continued growth could make him quite powerful.
Of course, his Magic Power was a bit of a concern, but he still had points left to allocate, and it could be supplemented depending on his future training.
Lee Yoojung’s physical stats were generally average or above average. Her Strength, Durability, and Stamina were somewhat disappointing, but she had talent in Agility and Magic Power to compensate. Above all, Magic Power of 68 was already a tremendous advantage and blessing for a close-combat class.
If I compared Ahn Hyun and Lee Yoojung, I would have to give Ahn Hyun the edge for now. However, she had chosen Mercenary, a class with a broad range of applications, so I looked forward to seeing what potential she would show. I was a little disappointed that she had not chosen Assassin, but Mercenary was not a bad choice.
Ahn Sol showed the lowest stat growth of the three. However, I set her other stats aside and focused entirely on Magic Power. Since she had chosen Priestess—a support-focused class rather than Monk—she had no need to obsess over Strength, Durability, Stamina, or Agility. Her high Magic Power and maximized Luck were a perfect match for a Priestess.
Seeing her Magic Power reach 84—nine points above its initial 75—gave me a sense of satisfaction. Her growth rate was nowhere near Kim Hanbyul’s, but stat growth slowed significantly in the mid-eighties. Reaching 84 so soon after entering the Hall Plain made me wonder how high her limits might be.