Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: 18. Hard Worker
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I received a book on sealing magic from Master. I also got one on purification magic.
I tilted my head at the sudden gift of two books.
“This is?”
“‘Skill book’.”
Ho—that is, Master—had made them himself. That didn’t mean I could just learn them like in a game, though. There would probably be level restrictions, in game terms.
“I’ve written down the purification and sealing magic I know in there. Learn them if you need to. By the way, I can’t use them myself, so you’ll have to figure it out on your own.”
“Uh…… This is going to be really tough.”
“Probably.”
It was better than nothing, but spells and incantations relied entirely on feel for success. Sealing and purification magic were rare and obscure to begin with. The fact that he’d compiled them into skill books like this was amazing, and I was deeply grateful. I hugged the two books tightly to my chest and bowed deeply to Master.
“Thank you…!!”
“Sure.”
Master watched me blushing with joy, a pleased smile on his face. Then he asked,
“So, did you end up training attribute magic there after all?”
“Yes. I didn’t have a ton of time, but I squeezed in about three hours here and there?”
“Three hours…?”
Master’s expression hardened slightly at my words. Wondering if I’d done something wrong, I looked up at him cautiously.
‘Uh, oh? Is three hours too little compared to usual……?’
I mustered my courage and stretched it a bit.
“F-four hours……?”
Thwack!
Master’s fist met my forehead. I rubbed it and looked up at him.
“You fool. The training camp schedule is packed until 5 or 6 p.m., right? Dinner would be around 7. And you call three or four hours training? That’s pathetic. Do you like training that much?”
“Yes! A ton!”
“…….”
“……A lot…….”
I answered energetically, then quieted down at Master’s reaction. I glanced at him nervously. Master sighed.
“Pushing yourself isn’t always good.”
“W-well, my stamina’s improved a lot lately. I could handle it…….”
“Even a kid who loves training this much has it rough…….”
Master patted my head. Thinking his anger had subsided, I grinned up at him. Master looked at me and sighed again.
“Anyway, how’s the water-lightning fusion going?”
“I found the optimal point. Now I’m trying wind-lightning. Once that’s done, I plan to figure out ways to use each fusion differently…… Then incorporate unique magic…….”
“No need to rush. Take it slow, nice and easy.”
I beamed at that. It wasn’t rushing—it was just pure fun. The thrill of accomplishing something was endlessly enjoyable.
“By the way, how was the training camp?”
“Hmm, the training wasn’t too bad…… It was manageable. Martial arts are still tough for me, though.”
“You only sparred with Minhee, right?”
“Uh, how did you know?”
“You’re not great at martial arts, but you’re still above average. You work hard, so it’d be weird if you couldn’t even beat her. That said, Minhee has exceptional talent in martial arts. It’s not that you’re bad—just don’t overthink it.”
“Yes! I’ll keep at it. Martial arts is tough, but…….”
“……You can stop trying so hard.”
Then I paused, remembering something. It was the face of the girl I’d made cry. She was one of the few foreign transfers in our grade. I knew she was strong from the start, but her magic was beyond imagination. Fire wasn’t a great matchup for me since it melted my barriers, so in the heat of the moment, my survival instincts kicked in and I unleashed my strongest offensive spell.
“What is it? Something happen?”
“Well, actually…….”
I cautiously told Master about what happened with Ardell at the training camp. After hearing me out, Master’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You froze Ardell’s magic?”
“Uh, Master, you know her?”
“Of course. She’s a special type. Her magic is special too. But……freezing it isn’t easy…… Freezing flames as they burned. Whose magic was that?”
“Uh……Auntie Seona’s. It’s the strongest ice magic I know…… I just did it on reflex?”
Master sighed at that.
“No wonder…… Oh, by the way, I can’t tell you about her special circumstances. School rules on confidentiality.”
I just nodded. She seemed normal, but she had special circumstances…… Well, that made sense. That magic I froze—it gave off an ominous vibe, like I absolutely shouldn’t touch it. Good thing I froze it without contact. That’s what I thought instinctively.
“But neutralizing a spell that had already broken free, in an instant…… Even if it was your own magic…… Could this be…….”
“……? What?”
“No, nothing.”
Master pondered for a moment, then shook his head at me. Hmm? I looked puzzled, but figured he’d tell me if it was important, so I turned back to the sealing and purification books.
After returning from camp, my days went on as usual. Training after training after training. I focused on attribute magic for a while, but since it’d be a long haul, I soon balanced it with unique magic training.
Checkmarks (task completed) piled up next to the attribute magic list in my attribute notebook. Water+wind, water+lightning, wind+lightning, wind+fire…… Those were easy. But earth, with its poor compatibility, got tricky. Fire+earth and wind+earth were hard to visualize.
‘Come to think of it, when did lightning join in? I’ve outgrown the four basics.’
Earth was the toughest. How to do earth+lightning? Completely transforming attributes seemed harder, so I tried just blending the mana: earth+fire mana, earth+wind, earth+water. Earth+water made nearby plants grow wildly. Earth+fire amped destruction since they’re similar. Earth+wind was destructive but needed control.
The weirdest was earth+water. So fascinating I tried adding plant attributes, but Auntie Seona stopped me. She asked how I’d handle mixing three poor-match attributes. Fair point.
I thought attribute magic meant fully transforming into that attribute, but no. Master heard and said to practice fully transforming them.
Why? It’s harder to control pure attributes. Once I master blending fully transformed ones, then I’ll train blending just the attribute-tinged mana.
I got it after trying a few spells. For well-blending pairs like water+lightning, full transform mixed easier. Pure attributes are hard to image, so fingertip feel and senses only.
……I liked attribute-tinged mana more—it was fun and novel—but I’d follow procedure.
That girl, Adelman, avoided me after that day.
Even in the dorm, she wouldn’t look at me, then moped around without talking to anyone. I fidgeted anxiously but couldn’t help. I even mustered uncharacteristic courage to apologize directly, but she fled before I could.
Back at school, same thing. She’d dodge if our eyes met. I decided to leave her alone for a bit, apologize once she seemed better.
Was that okay? Apologies are best quick…… I did apologize then, but she was sobbing hysterically, not in her right mind. So yeah, needed another.
“Ah, I should’ve been more careful. Why’d it turn out like that…….”
Minhee grinned at me mumbling with my head down.
“But you went all out against her, right? You hold back on others, worried about hurting them. Why full power on Ardell?”
“Well…….”
I recalled first seeing her. Transfers had strong mana for their age, but hers was exceptional. Refined, too.
“She’s strong.”
The kids looked surprised at my blunt answer.
“Our levels are about the same? Her mana felt honed by massive effort. Hesitating to go all out against a peer is rude…… Even for me……?”
I trailed off ambiguously. Truth is, I don’t use attack magic on others not because of skill—it’s my timidity and hating to see hurt. Friends are tough enough now, so I go harder. Same for Yujeong Sister or Inho Brother. I figured she was similar in mana……
“Yeah, watching you spar, she seemed strong. And multiple magics? How many?”
“Yeah……I saw…….”
I remembered our brief clash. Copied all but one. Flame-like but off—probably main. Lightning, aggressive. Third: powder magic…… Support type? Spreads like mist, dust explosion on flames, blinds by cloaking, melts my barrier like poison.
Copied those three. Names would boost power, but too soon?
Last: eerie dark-red over the flames. Didn’t copy.
‘……I saw it. Grasped its nature instinctively—too dangerous.’
Could use if I wanted. But risky, so sealed in memory. Not in copied list notebook.
“Four. Four spells.”
“Wow. More than Eunha.”
Minhee gushed honestly. Inha tilted her head.
“But that many—hard to link or chain, right?”
“No. Simpler than mine, optimized for linking and amplifying. Super offensive. Cool.”
“That good?”
“Yeah. Linking alone? Way better than you, Inha.”
Seemed designed to counter others efficiently. That powder/mist melted my barrier—perfect for dismantling spells.
“Hmm…….”
Inha’s eyes gleamed coldly. Annoyed, but competitive spark.
I smiled—good thing. Rivals speed growth. Me? I ignore rivals, focus on my pace. Exception.
One day.
“……?”
After class, unluckily on cleaning duty (rare), sweeping classroom and hall with magic. Heard footsteps, looked up—blonde Adelman stood there. Her eyes widened too, flustered.
But no avoiding, so opportunity. Broom in hand, I met her gaze. Awkward, but no looking away, I spoke.
For a while, Ardell had been avoiding Yoo Eunha. Partly shame or guilt from inwardly cursing her, but more—seeing Eunha stirred complex feelings.
At first, emotions raged, confusing her. Soon, Ardell acknowledged Eunha’s skill and effort. And her own misconception. Eunha was naive and innocent, but not some unearned heiress.
……And not just that.
Ardell realized she’d grown fond of Eunha.
That complicated things more. Weirdly, seeing Eunha fluttered her heart. Eye contact embarrassed her to look away; her back dazzled. Ardell knew this feeling instantly—kids gossiped the word endlessly.
Knowing it was admiration confused her more. She’d resisted admitting it. But it lingered.
Ardell accepted Eunha, but some friends still grumbled. Two transfers acknowledged her skill, but clung to grudge remnants. Minor, swept by others’ admiration. No open cursing after.
But Ardell learned a few others envied Eunha too. It irked her hearing them badmouth. She was strong; they weak. Hating their arrogance cutting down superiors…… No, because it was Eunha.
Ardell admitted she saw Eunha special. Naive, ignorant of world’s darkness—thus admirable.
Confused, she avoided her. But same class—bound to meet.
And so. After school, library detour, heading home late—faced Eunha directly.
Ardell startled seeing her close. Wanted to flee. But couldn’t move. Sunlight through window lit Eunha’s hair dazzlingly, chest surging.
Eunha, staring, said,
“Sorry.”
Ardell startled again. Did I hear right?
“Huh…?”
Eunha continued cautiously at her query.
“No, uh, last time……at camp……when I used that spell. I panicked, used a dangerous untrained one.”
Ardell’s mood sank hearing it. Apologizing for that? So naive…… Yet……
“So……sorry.”
“Whatever.”
Ardell cut her off, looking away.
“It was a match. Fair fight. You attacked, I attacked. You were stronger. Don’t get why you’re sorry. It’s normal.”
Ardell stifled a scoff at Eunha’s surprise. Blamed her tastes. Eunha was her least favorite type. But once smitten, irrelevant—like unrelated examples, yet convinced. Tastes don’t rule attraction.
Then recalled the match.
Not the intense water storm—but before, Eunha’s cold gaze settling.
Ardell asked impulsively,
“But you fought me seriously last time, right?”
“…Huh?”
To puzzled Eunha:
“With kids, you don’t go all out. Like you fear fighting.”
Yes, always. So strong yet didn’t dominate. Why Ardell misjudged weak. But exceptions: cold eyes, ‘strong’ aura. That day, to her too.
Curious why. Answer widened her eyes.
“But you’re strong. So…….”
……Ardell clapped hand over mouth.
Chest swelled. Acknowledgment from admired one—pure joy. From self-recognized strong? More.
Ardell burst laughing. Complexity vanished, crystal clear. Why wander?
Eunha stared puzzled.
“Um, Ardell…?”
Ardell stopped laughing, frowned at call. Something stuck in chest. Sulky, down. Hid it, asked,
“By the way, why call me Adelman? Others say Ardell.”
Only Eunha said ‘Adelman’. Used to it, felt casual—but now distant.
“Uh…foreigner. Foreigners, uh, by country, but often by family name?”
Ardell blinked. True. Why she preferred ‘Adelman’.
But grinned,
“Nope. Our country—omitting name is rude.”
“Huh? Really?”
Lie. But Eunha bought it. Timidly:
“Sorry, didn’t know. Ardell…? This okay?”
Weird. Ardell thought, hand on chest.
Strong acknowledgment thrilled. Family name deflated; given name swelled joy.
Can’t help it. Never imagined admiring someone.
“Yeah. Call me that!”
Ardell beamed shyly at Eunha.