Chapter 93
Chapter 93
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: 18. Hard Worker
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It might not be anything new, but this school had transfer students.
Daehyeon School was one of the top prestigious academies, so to get in, you needed guaranteed outstanding magical talent or skill.
The norm was to spot that talent in kindergarteners and admit them to the elementary division, but kindergarten was still too young for talents to fully awaken. A mage's abilities typically blossomed between ages ten and twenty.
That's why, separately from regular admissions to the middle and high school divisions, Daehyeon accepted transfers. Usually, it was to protect young mages discovered in dangerous zones or who had awakened early and become famous through rumors.
Ardell F. Adelman fell into the former category.
Ardell had been raised by a shadowy organization as a combat mage. She had even belonged to their assassination unit. Daehyeon School had undone the brainwashing that had her mind nearly puppet-like and taken her under their protection.
Ardell transferred into the fifth grade of the elementary division. The school she attended for the first time was so peaceful it was almost boring. But for Ardell, ordinary life was entirely new. Her mind was imprinted with violence, restrained by certain seals, yet she was content with this existence.
However, even in this peaceful school, the people of Daehyeon were no pushovers—they were all formidable. Especially the teachers in her grade. Ardell's battlefield-honed senses could terrifyingly accurately distinguish those stronger than her. The chairman who had brought her here was one, and the fifth-grade teachers were all impressive in their own right.
But...
Ardell shot a dissatisfied glance toward a certain girl. There sat a girl receiving affectionate head pats from three handsome teachers whom Ardell deemed no joke and who were also fawned over by the elementary girls. Even her friends around her had striking looks.
"What the hell is her deal?"
Of course, it wasn't like she didn't know. Ardell had transferred in the year after "that incident," but surrounded by such formidable people and admired by the entire fifth grade, how could she not know who that girl was amid all the noisy kids?
Yoo Eunha. Not much was known about her, but she was called the elementary division's benefactor and object of admiration. Kids believed she was the strongest mage among the elementary students. Her popularity pierced the skies within the division—she even had a fan club.
But to Ardell, who had rolled through warzones, it was utter nonsense.
"The strongest in the elementary division? Bullshit. That black-haired girl next to her looks stronger."
Ardell trusted her instincts and judged accordingly. Sure, she knew Yoo Eunha could use magic pretty well. In spars so far, she'd never once let an attack through. But to Ardell, Eunha's strength was just tough defense—nothing more. No ferocity, just eerily ordinary...
Ardell stared quietly at Yoo Eunha. The girl's blackish-brown hair shimmered in the sunlight as she smiled, her face quite pretty. But compared to those around her, she hardly qualified as a beauty.
"Aren't they making too big a fuss?"
Hearing Ardell, a girl beside her muttered. Unlike Ardell, this one had attended Daehyeon since first grade. She glared at Eunha with sharp eyes.
"Sure, I think of Eunha as our benefactor too. But isn't this over the top? It's been a year since that day. And they're still hyping her up like this... Honestly, all she did was help us escape. She didn't even take down any enemies."
Another boy picked up. He was a transfer like Ardell this year.
"Honestly, I don't even know if she's that strong. She always dodges spars, right? And watching her, doesn't it just piss you off? When other kids call her 'Lady Eunha' and use honorifics, you can tell she's lapping it up like she's all that. Yeah, she's got talent, but that's too much. Others call her benefactor and strong, but I've never seen her actually fight. Why do they follow her like that? Are they all fooled?"
Ardell agreed. Having survived the battlefield, she was confident in her own strength. But hyping someone up just for some talent? It grated. Plus, her senses told her this Yoo Eunha was definitely below her level. Decent at magic, but zero aggression. Hah, ridiculous. What was so great about her?
Another girl next to Ardell joined in. She was also a new transfer.
"Right? Swaying around all foxy, charming only the hot guys. Seeing her flaunt her talent is annoying. Bet she'd lose embarrassingly if she faced us."
Actually, aside from the first girl who called it excessive, the three were close. Transfers bonded together. Ardell quietly cooled her gaze.
'The most irritating part is how she gets all that love just relying on talent.'
Flashbacks of her brutal past flickered in Ardell's mind. Before, she'd been forced to become monstrously strong solely because of her talent. Seeing someone with talent get universal adoration without effort boiled her blood. Especially since Ardell had survived a world where talent alone wasn't enough.
Ardell asked,
"By the way, have you guys ever sparred with Eunha?"
"Nope."
"Me neither. That's why it's even more annoying."
Ardell hadn't either. Due to her special circumstances, student spars were mostly banned for her.
"Honestly, she's probably not that strong? What we saw during 'that incident' wasn't much... Can't say details because of the secrecy rule, but it was just barrier magic? She struggled hard just blocking one attack."
Ardell formed a rough image of Yoo Eunha in her head from that. 'A girl who relies on talent, skips effort and real combat, but has decent defense...'
The transfer girl grumbling beside Ardell suddenly grinned as if remembering something.
"Oh yeah, I heard this school's training camp is brutal? It's coming up soon. Can't wait. That girl who struts on talent alone will drop out fast, bet."
"They said lots of optional spars. Should we sign up? Give her a humiliation."
"Sounds good."
Ardell thought it wasn't a bad idea. Above all, she just plain disliked this effortlessly adored Yoo Eunha.
Ardell listened to the three's ongoing chatter.
Among special attribute magics, I'd decided to start with nature-based ones. Thanks to Seonghu Brother's class this year, I'd scoured the internet and library, but it wasn't easy. Special attributes were extremely rare to begin with. Few users meant few spells available—like hidden content in a game.
I planned to practice known ones step by step. But the moment I decided, Auntie Seona said this:
"It's tough, you know? Star or moon magic are attribute fusions... super advanced ones at that. Sealing or purification feel like they transcend attributes entirely, so those might be quicker to learn."
Auntie Seona rerouted my path almost forcibly. Considering my defensive nature, it wasn't bad. But I still wanted nature specials, so I hesitated. She added,
"Nature specials are mostly offensive, which isn't bad since you're light on attacks. You have copied spells, but they're not fully yours, so still lacking. Special offensive attributes are all high-power and hard. If you're set on them, start with fusions."
"Hmm..."
True, I'd paused individual attribute training to focus on combat drills. A few years back, I'd been fired up about fusions as my offense.
Glancing up at Auntie Seona, I thought: A few years ago, she said don't even dream of fusions till elementary graduation. Saying this now—does that mean I'm ready? Curiosity and competitive fire surged. I decided:
Practice fusion magic while testing basics of known specials (skip if no basics). Focus on ones I like.
I jotted in my notebook, having already mentally picked my favorites. Nature specials were mostly powerhouse attacks, but one drew me regardless: 'star magic' and 'cosmic magic.'
Couldn't test affinity yet, but it pulled me. I love stars and space so much. Simple interest, but my instincts are spot-on, so I trusted this. Mu, space, time seemed hard and risky—later. I chuckled at my notes.
"Perfect."
Auntie Seona peeked at my snatched notebook, sighed, and wrote on the next page.
"Here, ordered by difficulty and danger."
I checked:
『Moon < Atmosphere < Sun <<< Star <<<<< Cosmic
Mu <<<<< Space <<< Time
Sealing, Purification—Special Cases』
I tilted my head. Three lines despite space—different categories? Sealing and purification felt more difficult than dangerous, which I got.
"Based on top difficulty per type. You'll end up with what suits you, but no cosmic, space, or time till at least C-rank."
I shut my mouth, wincing. I'd planned stars and cosmic first... And one of my spells is spacetime magic...
"Mu depends on innate attributes, but it's very hard. Two kinds: create 'nothingness' or create 'with nothing.' Latter's sun-level, but..."
"What's the difference?"
"Hard to explain, but latter reverts existing things to nonexistence—instantly erases what's there. Former... creates a 'zone of nothingness'? Realizes void itself?"
I vaguely imaged it. Latter: nullify incoming spells. Former: area wipe, like massive explosion. No, more black hole or gravity orb devouring all traces?
"Former's near dark-light fusion. Cosmic-level hard. Space and time peak at S+; insanely tough. Skip teleports, warps, subs paces for now."
I nodded.
"Fusions: always supervised. Start with four basics: water, fire, wind, earth. Got it?"
Nod.
"At home, max durability in training room."
"Yes."
Nodding repeatedly, I parted with Auntie Seona and internet-searched star/moon etc. Found some, but... insanely hard, beyond me now. Mostly C+ rank, average B. No wonder she warned.
Moon and atmosphere had one D-rank each. I'd try those.
Sigh, disappointing. Wanted stars/cosmic first. Love 'em so much. Instinct said yes, even as main attack. But too hard—postpone.
"How to learn from internet alone? Huh? Magic circle too?"
Muttering,
"Draw circle, cast once, memorize mana pattern?"
My copy ability let this. I character-copied the online circle to paper. Can't cast in room—teleported to Inha's basement.
"Max durability..."
Operated machine per advice, picked backdrop.
"Moon magic—night field with moon?"
Projected moonlit field, entered. Gazed up: full moon.
Deep breaths, focused on paper circle, cast.
Spells via runes, numbers, formulas. Not blinding—soft pillar. I peered inside: mana flow, attributes, all. Grasped, memorized every motion.
"Hmm..."
Not great memory, but shines on interests—still not perfect. Mana flows imprint like engravings: speed, path, pattern, timing—sensorily revived. Talent again.
'...Got it.'
But frowned at hand. That mana... multiple fusions. 'Moon mana'?
Arms crossed, eyed fake moon.
'Special attributes: moon has moon mana, sun sun's, stars star's.'
Never considered moon mana. Mana permeates all: earth, trees, sky, concrete. Unique properties—hence named 'moon,' 'star.' Magic tied to reality.
Pondered, then extended hand.
"Okay... try?"
D-rank, but top-tier. Doable.
Mana cost low; fusion ratios issue. Precise percentages—but I fail math 100%. Instinct over calc. Recreate 'moon mana' feel.
"Shine."
Eyes open, world sharpens. Max sense/control, shifted arm mana to moon-like.
"Fall."
Yes, incantation...
"Moonflash!"
Light streak filled view. Gritted, tuned. No—more... mystical...!
Imagination, sense, talent fill experience gaps. Light jagged unevenly, exploded ahead.
Boom!!
"Urk..."
Stumbled back, startled. Uncontrolled mana pierced body-feel. Examined aftermath carefully. Recalled light: so... incomplete.
"Could've sworn..."
First time copying visually failed perfection. Annoyed, glared at traces. Control off too—pit in floor huge. Good thing virtual.
Frowned, gathered mana in arm—tips to elbow easiest. Altered to moon feel, less fusion...
'Ow!'
Arm stung. Felt off for 'moon.'
"More sensing moon mana issue than control? Hmm, go see real moon..."
Dispelled, flexed fist. 1 PM—no moon.
Groaned, sat. Observe sun mana instead?
Standing, thinking—voice outside training room.
"Eunha? What're you doing?"
Steel door opened; Inha entered, fine ebony hair swaying. I stood.
"Yeah. Practicing special attributes."
"Cool? Going well?"
"Nope, hard. Gotta start fusions."
Fusing alone tough—even similar needs genius sense, talent, control. Most invent new spells instead. But I didn't feel that need; I'd need endless inventions.
"Or... sealing/purification—less risky..."
Not easy though. Researched: mostly hereditary, lineage, imprinted—secret arts. Hence rare known ones are true magic, not spells. Hard solo; few known.
Then insight: specials are still 'attributes.' Like moon combo... learn not via spell, but attribute combo...?
'As attribute itself... usable as magic...?'
Eyes widened. Revelation.
"Yeah? Eunha, lunch time soon..."
"Sorry, Inha!"
Jumped up.
"Got an idea! Back to my room quick!"
"Huh? Eunha, wait..."
"See ya!"
Teleported home. Psychokinesis pulled old notebook. Character magic: 『Special Attribute Magic』 big on cover.
First page: goal. 『Master Self-Attribute Shift!』
Below: 『Use specials not via spell/circle, but pure attribute conversion as attribute magic.』『-Practice fusions first.』
Fist clenched, shivered—ecstasy. First true thrill since learning magic.
Wrote Q&A: Stars/moon/sun visible for sense. Sealing? Tight mana bonds? Or attribute with sealing power.
Lacked method—need books, net. Spells/true—deploy all. Someday... formalize these sparse specials into techniques? Create new spell/true magics.
Hand over mouth, beamed.
"Eunha! Down for lunch! Inha too!"
"Oh, yes!"
Flipped page casually. Black pen: 'Attribute Fusion Magic' topped, sparkly circle, green gradient star.
Next: 1+1 (2-fusion)
Below: Four Nature Attributes
Then... best match... water+wind. Light/dark hardest—skip; picked top affinity.
Below: water+earth... wait.
'Water hardens earth from earth's side? Water side... earth absorbs water...'
Five elements: wood hardens earth, earth absorbs water, etc.
Hesitated, marked hold. Mutual foe water+fire skip; wind+fire, wind+earth, fire+earth, earth+wind. Noted. Advanced changes...
"Quit studying and come out!?"
"Eek!"
Mom dragged me finally. Startled shriek.
Thus, rare daughter yanked from overstudy. Muttered,
...Something's off, right?