The App's Hidden Network
At the very moment the long-rumored Mana Up app finally appeared in reality, it had already spread far beyond anyone's control. The culprit, convinced no one could catch them, had carried out their crime with bold audacity. Naturally, the professors who had been tracking them were bound to discover the trail, and Professor Magnus was no exception.
"……."
Early morning. Professor Magnus stared at the Mana Up app that Togun and Hemming had brought him, his expression hardening. Beside him, Professor Karlsen examined the app with curious eyes and spoke up.
"So this is the rumored Mana Up app?"
He snatched the smartphone from Professor Magnus's hand and began turning it over, studying it from every angle.
"Fascinating. An app that can actually increase mana."
Its effects had already been proven. The spread was accelerating at a terrifying pace. It was now difficult to find any second-year or higher student who hadn't installed the Mana Up app, and even among first-years, it was becoming common. All of this had happened in a single night.
"They've stopped trying to hide it entirely."
Did that mean the academy was no longer needed? It was clear they planned to pull off one final, massive scheme and then disappear. To the culprit, the academy had likely been nothing more than a testing ground—to see how well their Mana Up app would perform.
How little they must think of us.
Such actions were only possible with a deep-seated contempt for the professors. They were confident they could escape even after causing this much chaos. Their behavior was a direct provocation aimed at the faculty.
"What do you think, Professor Karlsen? Have you discovered anything……."
Professor Magnus turned toward Professor Karlsen, leaving the restless Hemming and Togun seated behind him. But the words died in his throat. Professor Karlsen had casually tapped the suspicious app without hesitation.
"I'll find out starting now."
Since ancient times, the best way to understand a curse or poison was to experience it firsthand. After activating the app, Professor Karlsen examined the changes in his body.
"Nothing much has changed."
He had heard that students experienced dramatic, visible transformations. Did the effects vary depending on one's level? While that was part of it, Professor Karlsen saw another reason.
"It's useless for dark mages."
Dark mages, like other ability users, stored mana in their stars. However, the way they manifested their magic was different—they didn't use mana directly, but rather the wasted mana filtered through their stars like a sieve.
"It's synchronization. Just as the internet connects different websites into one network, this app uses itself as a filter to link the students' mana into a single network."
Now he understood why it felt like their mana had increased. It was shared mana. They could now use not only their own mana but also portions of others'. This was different from mana transfusion, which transformed one's own mana to match another's attributes. Instead, it converted the other person's mana into one's own attribute. This defied the common sense of this world and was likely one of the Divine Rules within the culprit's Inner World.
"Now I understand why Togun wasn't chosen. In this system, a Mana Rejecter would be completely useless. We were mistaken in our thinking."
Mana Rejecters were constitutionally unable to accept mana. In this sharing system, they would act as a kind of virus. With the culprit's skill, it would have been entirely possible to obtain the students' data through the network. It was no surprise they had rejected Togun.
"Is that really possible? Honestly, I'm having trouble understanding it."
"It's probably possible. Dark mages have such distinct and unique characteristics that even I don't know the exact principles."
From what he could guess, the culprit had likely added their own Inner World to the digital network, creating a single warehouse. A warehouse that collected the wasted mana from the shared network between students, taking it as a kind of commission. In other words, beneath their own mind, they had strung together the students' minds and were siphoning their mana.
"Of course, this isn't possible without restrictions. There must be conditions—such as requiring the other party's consent."
"So tapping the app is treated as consent."
"As expected of Professor Magnus. I hadn't even finished explaining, and you've already jumped ahead. Now I understand why students complain so much about your classes."
"Enough nonsense."
Professor Magnus cut off Professor Karlsen's idle chatter and fell into thought. Forced sharing of mana. On the surface, it seemed like an incredibly efficient method. But one had to remember that mages had never adopted such seemingly efficient methods for good reason. Managing a network required a single central entity—an administrator, like the central magic tower that connected the kingdom's computational and communication networks. In other words, creating this shared mana network required a central mind, which brought enormous risks and side effects. For example, if something happened to the magic tower, the entire kingdom's network would be paralyzed. The central figure could control everyone connected to them at will.
That boy is quite the problem too.
Togun Masao hadn't been chosen because he was a Mana Rejecter. But why hadn't there been any contact from Jeon Raydel? In a situation like this, he should have discovered the Mana Up app long ago. The reason was all too clear. Professor Karlsen wasn't even surprised—he had already sensed this ominous possibility.
Well, it can't be helped.
No matter how problematic a student might be, a teacher's role and responsibility was to save them first.
It seems like things are about to start moving.
The culprit was acting with near-terrorist levels of aggression. Given their radical pace, the timing of their next move couldn't be far off. After mentally counting roughly fifteen seconds, Professor Karlsen smiled with his characteristic gloomy expression, as if he had just eaten cold shaved ice and felt a sharp headache.
"I'll be back shortly."
If he wanted to resist, he could have. But Professor Karlsen chose not to, instead entering the culprit's domain according to their intentions. His consciousness cut off, pulled by an irresistible mental force. If Professor Magnus hadn't reflexively caught him as he collapsed, he would have smashed his head against the corner of the table—a near disaster.
"……."
Professor Magnus frowned as he stared at Professor Karlsen, who had collapsed without warning. His consciousness was completely gone, as if his soul had left his body. Laying him on the sofa, Professor Magnus quickly pulled out his smartphone and dialed a number.
"Headmaster."
-Yes, Professor Magnus. What is it?
Calling the recipient's name the moment they answered, Professor Magnus got straight to the point.
"The culprit behind Mana Up has begun their operation."
He quickly explained the principles of the Mana Up app that Professor Karlsen had deciphered.
"Professor Karlsen has entered the enemy's Inner World."
-If he's gone in, the culprit will be caught soon enough. His personality is strange, but his abilities are genuine. If they weren't, he wouldn't have overcome the prejudice against dark mages to become a professor at Benedict Academy.
"But that's not the problem."
Professor Magnus didn't disagree with the headmaster on that point. However, there was another issue.
"Students who used the Mana Up app will start collapsing."
No one in the academy would quietly lie down on the floor before losing consciousness. Most would collapse on the spot, just like Professor Karlsen had moments ago. It would be fortunate if they were sitting in a chair and simply slumped over their desk. They might fall while walking down a hallway, hit their head against a wall, tumble down stairs, or be crushed under heavy objects they were carrying. There was a real possibility of students getting seriously injured.
-Understood. I'll inform the other professors. Professor Magnus, please check on the students' safety immediately. We can't have even one student missing or unaccounted for.
"Yes, understood."
-I'll request help from the students through the student council as well. We need every hand we can get right now.
Those who relied on Mana Up to increase their mana were generally mid-to-lower-ranked students who needed every advantage to achieve higher grades. Top-ranked students had little interest in such things to begin with. If they stepped forward, it would make tracking the students' whereabouts much easier for the professors. It went against Professor Magnus's values, but given the situation, there was no choice.
The moment the headmaster finished speaking, Professor Magnus ended the call and turned to Togun and Hemming, who were still reeling from the sudden turn of events.
"I'm sorry the situation has come to this. The student council will likely contact all students soon. They'll be requesting a headcount of students who haven't collapsed yet and asking for cooperation."
He hoped they would help. Seeing the look in Professor Magnus's eyes, Togun stood up without the slightest hesitation.
"I'll help!"
"Thank you."
He felt guilty. He would have to repay this favor properly.
I'll teach him my knowledge with extra care.
It was the only thing he could offer in return. Togun Masao showed strong enthusiasm, completely unaware of the barrage of questions that would come his way during every one of Professor Magnus's future lectures.
"Ah, of course I'll help too……."
Though his reaction was slightly slower than Togun's passionate response, Hemming also rose from his seat without hesitation. Children around his own son's age were collapsing. Along with his anger toward the culprit who had committed such an act, the desire to protect the children was only natural for an adult.
Ring ring ring.
But the phone's ringtone cut through Hemming's words. The default smartphone sound—which he had left as is because he didn't know how to change it—came from the device Hemming had been holding when Professor Karlsen collapsed. The caller was his wife, Anna.
What could it be? Anna wouldn't call at this hour.
-Honey!
The moment he answered, Anna's voice exploded through the speaker, loud enough to fill the entire professor's office.
-Andy collapsed!
"What?"
His eyes widened in shock. At the same time, Togun's eyes also flew open as he realized something. Now that he thought about it, who had told him about the app's existence? It was Andy. The boy had excitedly explained the app's wonders and even demonstrated pressing it right in front of Togun.
Damn it!
He should have noticed immediately. The moment Professor Karlsen collapsed, he should have realized it. If everyone who activated the app was collapsing, then Andy was in danger too.
-The kindergarten called! He suddenly lost consciousness and they're taking him to the hospital!
"Calm down. Which hospital? I'll head there right away!"
Hemming grabbed the doorknob with trembling eyes, moving in a panic. Then, with an apologetic expression, he looked back and answered.
"I'm sorry."
For parents, nothing was more important than their child. Even knowing that going there wouldn't help, a parent's duty was to stay by their child's side. Understanding that feeling completely, Professor Magnus nodded.
"It's fine. Go quickly."
"Yes."
"Don't worry. We'll resolve this as fast as possible. Your son will be fine."
"Thank you!"
Hemming rushed out of the faculty office in a frenzy. Togun stared blankly at his urgent retreating figure, then clenched his fists tightly.
Andy.
The boy's face came to mind—the child who always waved at him whenever he visited the restaurant. For a moment, Togun's eyes darkened.