Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Something Unreachable
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And the sparring lessons continued relentlessly afterward, whenever there was time. We were summoned at all hours, regardless of whether it was after school or on weekends. For something that was just supposed to build the basics, they were awfully dedicated. Well, the seniors were in a pretty busy period right now. They had to prepare for the mage ranking exams soon, and the student council had their own handovers to handle. So they needed to drill the fundamentals of sparring into us before all that really kicked off. It couldn't be helped.
By the way, after that first sparring session, dedicated mentors were assigned to guide us. In my case, terrifyingly enough, it was Je-hyeon oppa.
"You should focus on practicing applied techniques rather than direct attacks for now."
"Applied techniques?"
"For example, like this."
Whoosh. I widened my eyes as Je-hyeon oppa closed in on me in an instant. I was startled by the suddenness, but unlike my racing heart, my eyes keenly observed his mana.
Reflexively, whoosh, I leaped back. I might not know much else, but Teacher had drilled evasion training into me thoroughly, so with my eyes and sensing abilities combined, I could dodge pretty well now. Je-hyeon oppa's kicking strike passed right through where my legs had been moments ago. He looked surprised for a second, then grinned and said,
"Get it?"
"Uh... yeah. Destroying the opponent's balance?"
From a martial arts perspective, I was just a novice with some basics, but I'd picked up simple combat knowledge from comics, fantasy novels, and movies. Je-hyeon oppa nodded.
"Right. That's it. You hit the nail on the head."
I just gave a shy smile at his praise.
"But it takes quite a while for stances and techniques like that to become second nature. I'll show you firsthand how to disrupt an opponent's center of gravity, and you try to dodge it while landing an attack on me. With your 'unique magic.' Got it?"
"Um... just so you know, my unique magic isn't a direct attack spell..."
"Figuring out how to use it that way is part of a mage's skill. It can be used for attacks, right?"
"Well... yes."
I hesitated a bit before nodding. Hallucinations—as attacks? Even direct ones? I'd have to mimic other attribute magics for now. Attribute magic might be more efficient, but I decided to give it a shot.
And so... I rolled. A lot.
Je-hyeon oppa being Spartan wasn't exaggeration or a joke. I lost count of how many times I hit the floor while casting magic and taking techniques head-on. He was so skilled that even when he took my spells, it was just a light impact with no lasting bruises or wounds. Still, it was mentally and physically exhausting.
No matter how diligently I'd trained... it had all been 'practice.' Not clashing bodies, just squeezing out mana to turn thoughts into reality.
Sure, heavy mana use tires the body. But it was nothing compared to actually moving your own body.
The first day, I didn't land a single real hit—just rolled around. I could use defensive magic, but it was only allowed against spells, so timing it was tricky for me.
But thanks to that, I learned one more thing.
'The flow of mana when someone is about to move it versus when they're about to cast a spell... they're different.'
With just my eyes and presence sense, I could feel it now. Crystal clear. From then on, I could deploy defensive magic at the right moments. Je-hyeon oppa whistled when he saw.
Sparring with oppa was tough, but it wasn't every day. The student council was swamped, after all. So what did I do in the meantime? Magic practice, obviously.
Teacher actually called me often for all sorts of reasons beyond sparring. After he found out I'd won a gold for my short story, he even summoned me for non-training stuff (to write scenarios), but setting that aside, I was pretty willing.
The first time I saw Inha and Hansu spar with the seniors, I was pretty shocked. To me, they were like little siblings I needed to protect. Even during our group spar last time, I'd thought, 'Wow, they're amazing. That's real talent.' I felt the same now. Ah, so that's talent...
Inha and Hansu had insane magical senses despite being kids mentally and physically. They're strong, I realized viscerally. It fueled my desire not to fall behind.
If I had talent, I needed to hone it. Why? Because I wanted to stand equal with everyone. The moment I slack, I'd lag. Unequal skill or talent didn't mean unequal hearts. And... I felt competitive.
Did I want to be a combat mage? Not really. But seeing them made me want to get better at magic. As much as I liked it, as much as I hated losing.
So I trained harder. I didn't want to be the one left behind when we looked back someday. Plus, I loved magic! I wanted to keep refining it my way. That's when the thought first hit me.
'What kind of mage do I want to be in the end?'
I knew my limits best. But for the first time, I thought seriously. What kind of mage did I want to become?
There are tons of mage types. Combat mages are the most common worldwide, followed by support mages. Supports have subtypes, but most aid combat mages. Information mages count there too.
Next are artisans. Artisan mages develop magical gear or items, or craft things blending magic.
Mages have all sorts of jobs. Some research magic academically, develop daily spells like spell or true magic. Medical mages are a prime example.
I thought about my magic.
In my past life, I'd decided my dream young: novelist. I honed my modest talent and became one. What about now? I had goals for magic, but no 'career' goal. No aspiration as a 'mage.'
'Inha... combat mage? Hansu could go support. Minhee's shooting magic screams combat. Hyunho?'
Freelancing like Auntie Seona, picking jobs that fit, sounded good. With my hallucinations, text, and barriers, what could I be?
'Defensive mage, maybe national defense? Barrier specialist wouldn't be bad.'
The National Defense Agency protects the country with mages. They shield the nation from magical threats with barriers. Not a bad gig.
'Or join our school's group. Like Eunhee sister.'
A hollow feeling hit me for a moment. In my past life, my dream was clear. It filled my days with purpose. But now... my chest felt empty. Beyond mastering magic goals, I had nothing I wanted to achieve.
'No, that's normal. I'm a kid.'
I'd grown too used to dream-filled days. In my past life, things to do always awaited. I tapped my head lightly.
'Come to think of it, Je-hyeon oppa said he'd become a guard here after graduation...'
Yeah, straight to guard after graduating. With Cheonho oppa. He'd risen to B-rank last year's exam...
After agonizing, I knew I couldn't pick a dream easily. But even without one, I had plenty I wanted to do. Magic had taken over my life.
I'd just keep looking ahead. My gut said refining this magic would lead me to what I wanted someday.
Still... I did ask once.
"So, Teacher, why did you become a teacher?"
It was around when I couldn't take his nagging and started writing that game scenario by force. Geez, trusting a 10-year-old gold winner to write scenarios? Well... it got fun after starting...
Teacher read the opening and marveled, 'I didn't expect it to be this good.' So 'just a bit' turned into a full romance scenario game.
He gave me a puzzled look at my question.
"What do you mean?"
"Just your motivation."
"Hm... I see..."
He paused reading the two chapters I'd just finished, lost in thought.
"Hmm... honestly... it was nothing much. My little brother's friends were huge delinquents... I caught those two and hammered some sense into them, and a sense of duty grew... It felt rewarding, so I kept at it."
Huh? What?
I blinked in confusion. A casual question got a weird answer. Unthought-of. His brother's delinquent friends? Two of them??
'Junhwi Teacher looks like such a model student...'
I hesitated, then ventured,
"Was it... Min Teacher...?"
"It's nothing. Don't mind it."
"..."
I shut my mouth. Got it. One of them was Min Teacher.
Not that shocking, really. That type hides something inside...
Funny when you think about it. How'd those two get close? They're really tight. Not just from starting to teach us together—they're always side by side. Spotting Junhwi Teacher and Min Teacher by chance, they're usually together. Walking, sitting... smiling warmly at each other...
'But one more? Who's that?'
I pondered briefly, then dropped it. Curiosity, but not my business.
So... aside from occasional scenario drags by Teacher, I threw myself into training. I quit fretting over dreams. I was sure magic would lead me somewhere.
But while I felt fulfilled just practicing magic, my friends were still kids. Even adults would tire of forced training. They'd slack, skip—yeah, play hooky. Even I felt like it rolling exhausted with Je-hyeon oppa sometimes. And these kids? Plus, cutting into free time, not class.
About two weeks after starting. On our way back from sparring with high school seniors, Minhee muttered, totally wiped.
"Ah... no time to play lately."
"Definitely... getting kinda tired."
Hansu nodded in agreement. Yeah, maybe I'm the weird one gladly taking all this. But I dive deep into things—past life too. Wrote novels for decades, only slumps bored me. Never tired. Same now. Practicing magic since five, still hooked, begging for more.
Later, exhausted Minhee said seriously,
"...Should we just skip tomorrow for real?"
Hyunho and Inha seemed to mull it, then nodded along.
"...Yeah?"
"Um..."
I looked troubled at them. Even Inha joining in gave me a headache.
I get it, though. Like elementary kids doing full-day cram school after regular classes, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For two weeks. Mentoring ends next month anyway... but I was dying to cram combat basics in that short time, no matter how hard.
But normal kids wouldn't love studying till 6. And training's grueling. I understood. Then Minhee beamed,
"Alright! Tomorrow, we skip bold—"
"Minhee, honestly, that's impossible. Your mentor's your oppa."
"..."
Minhee clammed up. Kids too. Yeah, Je-hyeon oppa. Think he'll miss you? Not scold?
Logically, we're begging seniors. They're swamped; we're elementary kids with time to burn. Knowing their busyness, I didn't want to waste it.
"Hmm, how about asking to skip tomorrow but do the day after? Since it's too consecutive and tiring."
"But... that's no fun! Hooky's thrill is ditching!"
This kid. Where's she get that snappy vocab? ...Me?
"Oppas are busy too. No time to teach us next month. Just till end of this one. Better knock it out quick, right?"
Minhee pouted.
"Eunha, you not tired?!"
"Yeah... but I'm bad at combat, won't be a combat mage anyway, so wanna learn what I can now."
"Tch. Eunha's too uptight! Gotta skip sometimes!"
Yelling that, Minhee pointed at me.
"Anyway, we're skipping! Right? You guys wanna ditch too?"
"Uh..."
Hansu looked half-hearted, Hyunho nodded eagerly. Inha avoided my eyes. I gaped. That bad? That eager to play? Even Inha... unexpected.
"Hmph! Told Yujeong sister and Inho oppa too! Got it? We're not going tomorrow! You'll regret going alone!"
"Hey, wait!"
Totally sulky, Minhee teleported off dragging flustered Hansu, Inha, Hyunho. Damn...
Tomorrow's weekend, yeah. I get wanting a break. But... what now...
I scratched my head, shook it. Wasn't too worried. Unlike fighting Inha in first grade, we'd clashed opinions plenty since. Simple spats like this blow over in a day. Minhee'd probably whine 'Eunha's mean~' at school then chat normal.
Worry was Je-hyeon oppa scolding... eh, whatever. He'll handle it. I nodded.
Next day, kids skipped as said. I regretted only then: 'Shoulda told Je-hyeon oppa...'
Usually all together, but me alone shuffling into training room, he raised a brow. Guessed instantly.
"Hooky, huh."
Eung? Time till appointment, and he states it firm? I looked flustered. Seniors glanced over, continuing.
"Well, about time the kids whined. Impressive no complaints till now."
"Eunha came? Coulda skipped with them."
Feeling eyes on me, I tensed, answering Yuseojun sunbae. Awkwarder than strangers.
"I wanna train hard..."
"Good kid. Not tired?"
"Tired, but wanna learn all I can. I love magic..."
Mid-sentence slip, Yuseojun sunbae looked shocked, Je-hyeon oppa grinned bright. Wow, rare smile from him. Approaching, he ruffled my now-long hair.
"You'll be a big deal no matter what mage you become."
First direct praise from him. Flustered, I soon giggled ehehe. Then, bang—door flew open behind.
Huh? I blinked in surprise at the entrant. Hansu entered stone-faced, scowled seeing me and oppa.
"...What're you doing?"
"No, Hansu, not skipping?"
"Thought it over. Decided to come."
He smirked.
"Had to ditch Inha to do it. Stabbed Minhee to trap Inha, then bolted."
"Oof..."
Inha's probably super sulky now. But glad somehow, I smiled. Hansu's talented and hardworking despite being a kid. Wow, impressive. Me? Not a real kid.
Anyway, thrilled. Beaming, I told him,
"Somehow happy. Let's do our best."
"...Yeah, sure."
Hansu blushed shyly looking at me. Seeing us, Je-hyeon oppa smiled meaningfully, ruffling our heads with both hands.
"Alright, training starts."
Joo Minhee was totally pissed. Fine, diligent Yoo Eunha, but Park Hansu too? Why?
『From: Hansu♧
Thought it over. I'm going.』
Minhee pursed her lips. If Hansu went, lightning-affinity Kang Inha—who likes Eunha most—would follow. Desperate not to lose Inha too, Minhee clung to her arm.
'Damn. Should save him as plant-idiot after all.'
Nickname from last failed attempt.
Meanwhile, Kang Inha fidgeted uneasily. Gnashing teeth inwardly at Hansu.
'Going alone to Eunha...!'
Knew it—should've trained with Eunha. Agreeing it was tiring led here. Inha sighed.
Honestly, Inha thought Eunha unbelievably diligent. She'd seen most, post-training home practice too. Maddeningly so.
Inha knew they were old enough to share everything, so no first-grade rage over solo training. Teachers said:
'Even friends don't show ultimate moves. Aces stay hidden. No one knows a friend's full magic—not even close. Only they do.'
Inha got it now. Eunha didn't know all of Inha's magic. Normal at this age.
Still, Inha depended on Eunha, stuck close—lifelong bestie flaw. Even touch-awkward Eunha hugged Inha daily, so.
"Minhee, why sulky?"
Yoon Siha, sipping juice beside, looked puzzled. Dragged here clueless for 'fun,' sat awkwardly in cafe. Minhee perked at her.
"It's like! Eunha's too diligent! Daily senior spars, must be tiring, but no skipping! Tch, oppa'd let a day slide. But she went alone. Hansu followed."
Inha clenched fist, pouty. Got it... Yoon Siha awkward again. Han Yujeong laughed.
"Yeah. Eunha's diligent. Hardworking."
"Looks super normal, but practicing together? Best at magic... surprises sometimes."
"Totally Eunha. Unexpected like that."
Cheong Inho's words, Kim Hyunho agreed. Inha didn't. To her, Eunha always topped. Yoon Siha asked suddenly,
"Eunha trains that hard?"
Minhee nodded eagerly, pouty.
"Yeah! Insanely! Think she's amazing? Kinda."
"Um... training that tough?"
"Tough! Blast attack magic with unique. Smash rock targets, but 'weak power.' Yeah, bit more boosts it. But controlling mana while taking hits? Easy? My senior's strict. Kim Yura sunbae."
"Ah... next VP?"
"Yeah. Inha? With Cheonho oppa?"
Inha looked up blankly, mid-anger suppress. Her cold glance brushed Yoon Siha, who flinched, fists clenched.
"...Tough. No mercy in training."
"Yeah... Cheonho hyung. Me with him too, joint attacks with Inha? Nothing. Our magics synergize well, they say."
"Yeah."
Kim Hyunho grumbled too. Inha nodded once blankly.
Chats turned to venting training woes. Then praising seniors' magic. Soon bragging seniors' skills to Yoon Siha. Training sucked, but proved seniors amazing.
"Me and Yujeong with Seojun sunbae? His swordplay's insane."
"Right! Saw it—wow! Inho oppa struggling~. Heh, we swap sometimes! I landed one on Seojun sunbae?"
"Shooting magic trait?"
"But oppa always with Eunha? Reason? Needs her mana control—slight mistake, boom. C and B-rank gap huge..."
Minhee's words, all but Yoon Siha nodded hard.
"Eunha's control is nuts!"
"Yeah, amazing!"
"Totally. Faced Kim Yura sunbae—magic, power, all killer? How Eunha blocks, no clue!"
Kids nodded again. Han Yujeong on Hansu next.
"But Hansu-Junseong sunbae duo weird. Counter each other. Don't match, right?"
"But base. Whoosh."
"Yeah, burns. Fwoosh."
"Yeah."
Hansu there would've snapped.
Kids chattered. Magic boasts endless.
"..."
Yoon Siha alone silent. Head down, fists tight on knees.
========== Author's Note ==========
Those who bought the physical book! Shipping started! Got mine today lololololololol
+Fixed typos from Ardentina-nim, Silunes-nim. Thanks!
+++
RuミA-nim, Red Azure Moon-nim, Kakao0-nim, Cyan Dust-nim, Min Taehyun-nim, Kai Enellia-nim, Rimin-nim, SAINT119-nim, Els Kai-nim, Sky Cannon-nim, Tei Chia-nim, why1013-nim, osy0-nim, Naperusha-nim, Bulebird-nim, MaleG-nim, White Moon Black Wolf-nim, plmzaq-nim, Blue Silver-nim, Gonna Grow Up Quick-nim, thanks for comments!!