Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: 07. Fight
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So, the mental world is basically the same as that person's dream world, right? At least my dreams are my mental world. If that's the case, maybe I can enter someone else's dream through my dream world? Like in those comics—dreams are connected, dreams are another world.
I didn't think it was impossible. It might be a gamble whether I could open countless dreams and pick the one I want to go to, but at least coming back to my own world should be simple. After all, it's *my* world.
Mental illusion magic manipulates and ravages someone else's mental world in the first place. So, couldn't I enter someone else's dream the same way? If mental illusion magic means invading and tormenting someone's mental world, then maybe I can visit their dream too.
Looking at a corner of the memo I'd written years ago, I decided to try it today. I wondered how much what I do in the dream world would affect reality in my current state. I chose Inha as the target. I planned to warn her in advance today.
And today, I received my first lesson from Teacher Junhwi on building a mage's body.
"Your basic stamina training should be fine with jogging like that every day. Got the meditation down?"
"Yes. The point is to move it more externally, right? Usually it flows along the internal blood vessels, but this time like it's flowing along the skin."
As I said that, I ran my hand over my arm's skin—but leaving a slight gap, stroking about a centimeter above the surface. Teacher Junhwi nodded at me, but with a strange expression.
"You're still quick on the uptake. Not very kid-like."
Teacher Min said that. He was sitting at the desk next to Teacher Junhwi, listening to our conversation, and gave me an amazed look. I felt a bit embarrassed, but then Teacher Junhwi pointed at the clock.
"Class is about to start. Head to the classroom."
"Yes."
I nodded with a smile. Teacher Min grinned, propping his cheek on his hand as he watched me smile brightly for once.
"By the way, second semester means some practicals mixed in, right? Using magic items or brewing potions?"
"Yes."
"Most of the magic practicals you'll already know, but potions are fun. Lots you probably haven't seen."
True enough, potions required materials, proper tools, and a workspace, so I hadn't practiced them ahead of time.
I nodded, greeted both teachers, and headed to the classroom. First period was potions, perfect. I hummed a tune under my breath, walking with my hands behind my back out of habit. I'd experiment with meditation right after school today. Normal meditation first, then the one for strengthening the body, and jogging tonight. Not how many laps, but aim for continuous minutes. If I tire, walk briskly to adjust pace... I walked with a smile, steps light.
Entering the classroom, my friends clustered together turned to me. Inha asked curiously as I sat with a happy face.
"Where'd you go?"
Seats changed for second semester, but Inha and I were still at the back by the window—next to each other. Farther from the others now. As I sat by the window, friends borrowing nearby seats looked at me puzzled.
"Hm? Oh, talking with Teacher Junhwi."
"About what?"
"You always have so many questions for the teachers."
"Yeah, yeah. Hansu agrees!"
I giggled at Hyunho raising his hand, then answered lightly.
"Just the usual stuff. About training methods... Oh, right. Inha, I have something to tell you—"
"......?"
But as I started to speak, the front door slid open with a rattle, and the teacher entered. Normally we'd pass notes, but no luck. Potions class was one I was hyped for. As friends hurried back and classmates watched, I whispered to Inha.
"I'll tell you later."
"Okay."
First potions class was as exciting as I'd hoped. Tons of precautions, then straight to brewing practice. Apparently we'd learn one potion per class usually. Super interesting.
We learned one that changes petal color with a spritz. Color depends on the potion; works on objects too, so use carefully.
Simple recipe, but making it by hand was meaningful. *Gotta buy a potions book next time.* I thought that the whole time.
I'd been reading item books lately; I smiled through making my desired color. Mine was a deep, beautiful blue. Apparently it can be solidified too.
Second period was PE—dodgeball. Past me, uninterested in exercise (even hating it), would've faked dodging. But now I ran hard enough to catch eyes, enough to get a little winded. Average athleticism, so not great.
Inha, running with me, showed real talent. No breathlessness despite dashing around. No sweat. She'd never trained big either; pure genius.
*Genius means kids like this.* Not for a first-grader, but Inha stood out, reincarnated or not. Good saplings show in the cotyledons; she'll go far.
After PE, before class, we hit the bathroom. I told Inha.
"My dream?"
"Yeah. Don't freak if I show up. Might not work, and dreams—you might not remember."
"Mm. If it's you, Eunha, you'll succeed. Meeting in dreams... sounds amazing...."
"Really? I'm curious about your dream world too."
I made mine, but everyone has one. Could be a dreaming dream or my mental scenery type. Inha's...
I smiled faintly, imagining. Calm and cool by nature, but opposite—lemon-yellow mana, pale gold world.
"If you succeed, show me your dream world."
"Yeah. Promise."
We pinky-swore playfully. Success came days later.
Teacher Junhwi was right. Second semester, serious magic studies. Systematic theory, detailed affinities. Learn properties, know yours. Goal: basic spell in best-matching element (fire/water/earth/wind) by semester end—exam too.
*Exam aced.* We all thought, including Siha. She had talent, already casting one or two compatible spells.
Independently, we practiced level-appropriate magic. Result: I entered Inha's dream on third try.
Her world was beautiful, close to my guess. Unlike her cool vibe, all white, light-filled, lemon-tinted bright haze. Like clouds in a fairy tale—unreal.
Post-decision, nightly neighborhood jogs. Alternated meditations: morning internal mana flow, night skin-surface. Teacher Junhwi said two months faster than expected, he'd teach combat martial arts. I needed it soon.
One month in, I felt effects. Mana handling easier suddenly. Indescribable—feather-light mana sharp at will. Deep focus: pulsing hum clear-scary. Already good control, but huge leap post-training. Mana pool much larger too.
Sensing grew. Mana colors finer. Hazy others' mana clearer. Faint emotions via color shifts—calm vs. shaken.
"Hey, Eunha. Hi? Where's Inha?"
"Ah. Eunhee Sister."
Eunhee was alone for once. Me too, out shopping. Reading a mag walking; she looked puzzled.
"Illustration book? With 3D magic? Why? Oh, wanna travel somewhere?"
Fair question—magazine of world's stunning landscapes. I hesitated.
"Um, just... practice materials."
"Yeah? Lots of magic need seeing/reading objects. I struggled implementing my spirit magic."
I clutched the book tighter, listening.
I'd manifested illusions excellently with vague imagination. Hallucination success low, but done. Teacher Junhwi: your illusions narrow-range. See more, imagine vividly—bigger illusions easy. Felt need for detail.
Vague works fine, gets near-real with familiarity, boosts hallucination odds. But takes time.
Faster: vivid imagination. See/search lots. Reach level quicker. Plan: dreams/reality more; use sim too.
"You?"
"Me? Break, quick outing. Bored—chat?"
"Sure..."
Her tone down oddly. We strolled park silently. I hugged the mag.
Suddenly:
"I really love this school."
Sudden, I blanked. Just listened.
"Think I mentioned before—don't remember how far... Anyway, scouted here like I said."
"...Yes."
Remembered. Nodded slowly.
"That was 'cause I made magic in elementary. Admired novel spirits, made one... Took forever, but at that age. So excited, blabbed everywhere. Parents, friends, class..."
Hard to imagine kid her. She sighed.
"Was tough."
"..."
"Whispers whenever seen, rumors spread—harassed everywhere. To death. Think I told last time. Came here, loved it."
"Yes."
"Specifically, the normalcy."
Eyes wide. She smiled faintly.
"You seemed to know. Wish kid-me was wise...."
Felt awkward, averted gaze.
"Anyway, treated normal—great. Even if high school reveals, normal treatment... Felt protected. And haha, stupid pride then—thought strongest peer. Embarrassing now."
Laughed brightly, swept wind-tossed hair.
"Annoyed by harassment but knew special... Here, first realized similars/stronger exist. Like junior Joo Je-hyeon."
Je-hyeon sunbae topped school, still stronger. Glanced up; nostalgic relieved smile.
"Shock at first. Annoyed at Je-hyeon—younger, stronger? I had talent, but more. Still irks, but okay now."
"..."
"Lots close friends, good juniors, fans not too much. So, love this school."
Smiled faintly listening. Kinda got it. Not her level, but I loved it too.
Friends now. Cute ones matching me. Never expected beyond Inha—surprise.
School fun. Normal-yet-magic life. Learn fave magic, chat friends. Daily joy, for real.
"Eunha, dreams?"
Random. Looked up wide-eyed.
"Ah, young—maybe none yet."
Thought. Past life: novelist, achieved. Shook head slowly. No burning dream now. Writing fun, but magic first. Dream: magic goals.
"Yeah? I do."
"What...?"
"Yeah. Become this school's guard."
Surprising. Looked shocked.
"Love school. Close juniors, cute kids. So guard. Why struggling now."
Serious, poked finger forward, furrowed brow.
"Handover soon, guards need min B-rank. I'm C, but C-to-B gap huge... Strong for age, but not B yet. Training, paperwork—serious."
Yeah, C-up hard. Rank exams level not just power. E: low mages. Not just mana—skill, application, balance, response, spell level, all.
D: average. C: strong, B: upper.
A (specialist)/S (transcendent) wall special. S: godlike beyond compare. Some top A mana > low S, but S transcends 'human'.
Not just size/strength. Sim tests confirm. Simple measure no need complex.
E/D close, C/B heaven-earth. Average vs. strong not same.
*'School guard...'*
Our guards B-rank. Recalled black-suited big sibs, awed.
Jehyeon sunbae, veep faces too. Only student B-ranks.
"Younger already B? Cheat?"
Jehyeon story. Awkward smile. Yeah, first-year high school B—cheat.
She rambled. Seonghu college, wants teach here. Magic/study/theory ace—soon teacher maybe.
Laughed. Known sunbae teacher later... Fun. Amazed face.
"Eunha. Cheer me?"
"...Huh?"
Crunch, leaf. *Autumn already...* Odd mood. October. Half-year here.
"Boost courage. Rank exam two months. Super nervous."
...Yeah. Dream crossroads.
Fail not end, but delays anxiety. Knew feeling. So.
Stared serious her. She grinned playfully. But saw insincere—waterdrop mana shaky unlike usual. Her color.
Stared calmly, noticed.
*'Eunhee's rank?'*
CCC+, post-first-meet.
Then sensing low. Colors way different now.
But remembered then's mana. Sharp sense compares.
Huge growth since.
Not comfort needed. Not from ignorant.
"...Sister's mana. Vs. first see, grown tons."
Said objective seen fact.
"Three... four times...?"
"What...?"
Huge leap. Then's unique jewel-pretty imprinted. Now transparent clear, hard compare.
Drop mana aura different. Spread mana eyes, detailed. My level sees that.
Can't detail stronger, but strong mana color quality differs. Gauges growth.
Sparkly pale-sky orbs/jewels around. Yes, stronger—triple visible. Actually more. Sense from countless colors confirmed.
How much effort in year? Tons.
Effort—love word. Grinned up.
"Huge effort to that strong. So... you'll rank up sure."
Trembling eyes, speechless.
"...~Eunha~!!"
Then hugged tight, over-teary.
Level class, mid-maintain, shared Eunhee dream casually. Minhee nodded.
"Ah, that. Know."
Not surprised. Made sense. Je-hyeon/Eunhee close, Minhee long-known.
"Dream forever. Challenges oppa, Seonghu oppa lots."
"Yeah. Only two high school B-ranks."
"Right right."
Others awed "ooh". Nodded, shifted illusion: flipped illust book, expanded scene transparently room-wide.
Friends maintaining stared.
"What's that?"
"Yesterday's buy?"
Nodded at Hyunho/Inha. Personal, but could've joined. Inha grumbled soft. Long, I said smiling faint.
"So what? Illust book? Why?"
Hansu snatched. Inha glare sharp, ignored. Embarrassed answer.
"Yeah. Teacher Junhwi said practice detailed illusions. So imagine fine via photos."
"Hmm~ got it."
"Yeah."
"...I see."
Inha muttered, snatched from Hansu. Stared down gloomy. Ignored Hansu's annoy—unusual. Puzzled, saw Yujeong sister/Inho bro/others gathered, awkward. All dropped practice.
*'Gonna get scolded...'*
Yep. All hooked on book; I only steady. Till teachers back—friends chewed out.
Inha quietest, worried.
"Inha, okay?"
"...Why?"
"Look down. Something wrong?"
Laughed, shook head.
"Nnnope."
Idiotically relieved, nodded. Unknowing backlash.
Foolishly magic-focused repeated.
Illusions gain power used. Like wind repeated becomes dream. More real, next magic stronger. Beginner me felt full-body. Magic-only time. Main from letters now solid illusions.
Barriers/letters versatile still, but main illusions. Growth confirms.
Most-versatile letters, space-time barrier untouchable yet; practice-must time.
Days colder, skills steady up. Inho's azure dragon tiny lightning; Yujeong arm-sized ice. Hyunho pranked—bound Hansu water solid. Hansu wood-knife instant slice.
Minhee 10 mana orbs attributed freely; Inha light proper shapes.
Yet fastest grower me. Truly reasonless.
Winter came. November, school buzzed. Festival soon. Elementary optional, our grade kids excited planning.
Daehyeon festival hyped. Bigger than sports day, all-school joint. First 'magic world fest'. 3 days—uni-level. Excited.
Two weeks pre-fest: two-month training mark. Level class end, Teacher Junhwi sudden front—our front:
"Next class, Eunha, you'll learn combat martial arts."
"......!"
Sudden, eyes wide. But expected—two months post-physical start.
Hit like punch. Shocked wide, then joy-filled. Finally.
Me yes; friends shocked. Hansu/Inha protested absurd.
"Wait, teach! Why only Eunha? Unfair!"
"Right. Why sudden only her..."
Not just them—all unhappy. Yujeong/Inho too—one year older, why her first? Panicked, Teacher Junhwi troubled.
"Remember her arm injury?"
"...Yes."
Inha especially pouty rare. Explained months-old.
"Why? She output full mana, body couldn't handle. Growth too fast—normal growth body can't take. Needs physical train strong for strong mana."
All wide-eyed. Got meaning.
"What! Strong mana hurts body?"
"Yes. If body can't endure."
Nodded at Minhee mutter. Inha Teacher-to-me trembling.
"...That why?"
Yes. Awkward nod. Inha lips tight.
"Um... we full mana hurt too? We need too?"
Yujeong anxious; shook head.
"Not yet. Problem's Eunha."
"Er... she most mana, but..."
Minhee wide.
"That different? Her only?"
"Yes. Mana alone, five times+ yours."
"......!!"
Whoa. Hyunho/Hansu jaws drop. Hansu sulky mutter.
"Cheat. Real."
Kid mana similar, but yes ~that gap. Burdensome kid body.
Cheat indeed. Thought talent gaps close time; maybe more talented. Really.
Kids awed no argue. "As expected", "cheat"—Hansu snarked.
Inha... silent. Head down lips shut.
About to speak; bell. Pushed out, to classes. Seniors separate chatty; us together. Could teleport cards, didn't.
"You like learning alone? Happy?"
"Psh~ her body's danger! Obvious! Must!"
Hansu snarked sulky way back. Minhee/Hyunho cheery usual. Hansu/Inha off.
Hansu snide usual, but real hurt. Inha... head down silent walk, face hidden. Glanced puzzled. Why. Angry? Never post-friendship.
"But martial arts, book-like, y'know, stamina train! Right, that!"
Worried Inha, turned stunned Minhee.
"Huh?"
"Y'know, strong body not just arts—stamina key... who said, forgot. Anyway no?"
"Right! Books say basics key!"
"Yeah!"
"Yep!"
Perfect-sync Minhee/Hyunho; Hansu sighed.
"What book?"
"Cheonho oppa's wuxia!"
"No wonder..."
Hansu sighed. Minhee puffed fists chest.
"Anyway, sword train: pushups, runs!"
"Right! Exercise together toughens. Eunha tires quick. Useless arts."
Blinked listening, scratched head.
"Doing?"
All turned instant. Inha too.
"What? Pointless shock." Continued.
"Talked arts once. Post-heal, neighborhood jogs stamina. Not great athletic, little gain?"
"...Me. First hear?"
Inha sunk asked. Calm eyes. Tilted head.
"Did?"
"So... two months straight stamina?"
"Yeah. Nights."
"...Now recall evening outs. Why no say?"
Sunk voice choked. Odd feeling. Chest ache. Pre-burst... unknown anxiety. Sense alarmed. Tense continued.
"Er... really no say? Just thought must..."
"..."
"Not need tell you..."
"Stop!!"
Inha yelled sudden. Startled stared.
All startled—even hall kids turned. Inha new face. Tormented, aggrieved, stared.
"You always... I knew nothing! Till saw arm nothing! Why no tell me...?"
Teary, pent-up angry.
"Why, why? Inha? No big, so..."
"No... big...?"
Eyes huge. Teary grimace. Lip bite, yelled.
"I! Like you most! Closest friend!!"
Sudden confession, eyes round. Continued yell.
"But you think me closest?! No tell important stuff!!"
"W-Wait, Inha..."
"Always! No tell! Uniform too! No me... said early, bought together! And...!"
"Inha, wait...!"
"Always wanna with you, you solo wander... train! No proper say, just do!! Hate you with others, nice—friends me!!"
.........What, cute jealousy??
Suppressed laugh. No, wait.
Worsened cute; forgot situation. Mouth-covered silent. Misread? Inha teary distorted eyes.
"...Mean."
Turned, ran. Pitiful twist. Panicked yelled.
"Wait, Inha?!"
But gone down hall.