Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: December as Winter Approaches
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December, as winter drew near and the cold grew sharper by the day, the students of the Korean Wizard Academy began bundling up in thicker clothes.
Right now, beside me was Yun Hayoung, wrapped head to toe in a black puffer jacket that made her look like a kimbap roll, sniffling away.
“Ugh, it’s cold. Aren’t you cold, Seonwoo?”
Yun Hayoung looked up at me with eyes full of wonder. My outfit was just a fleece over my academy uniform.
It was closer to fall attire than winter gear.
“You know I don’t feel the cold or heat much.”
“I know, but it’s still amazing every time. You’ve got hot packs taped all over under there or something, right?”
Yun Hayoung eyed me suspiciously.
The image of me plastering hot packs inside my clothes was so ridiculous that I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
“Hot packs? What?”
Yun Hayoung and I crossed the academy grounds, heading toward the Manifestation Magic training grounds.
We passed a few students along the way, each one shooting me looks filled with envy.
At first, it felt nice, but lately, it was starting to feel burdensome.
As we kept walking, I spotted a familiar face in the distance. Choi Seoyun, sitting on a bench with a sullen expression.
“…What’s her deal now?”
I muttered quietly, and Yun Hayoung replied.
“She’s moping because she didn’t get first place on the finals.”
“Ah…”
Yeah, if it’s your first time losing the top spot, that makes sense.
Lee Seojun had been the same after the midterms last time.
I had no idea what it felt like to climb from the bottom, though.
“Tsk.”
I didn’t feel like offering comfort, so I decided to just leave her be.
Time passed, and we arrived at the Manifestation training grounds.
The Manifestation instructor, Lee Heeyoung, spotted me and approached with a bright smile, like she’d been waiting.
“Seonwoo!”
“Hello.”
I bowed politely, and as always, she looked at me with curious eyes.
“I watched the commander match. I never imagined you’d pull off such an advanced wide-area spell. Thanks to you, I won the bet… Oh.”
Lee Heeyoung trailed off mid-sentence.
“A bet?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Hehe.”
She seemed suspicious, but it didn’t concern me much, so I let it slide.
“Alright, let’s head in and do some independent training.”
I nodded and stepped inside the training grounds.
Once in, I saw a long, straight space laid out like a shooting range.
Students were practicing their spells at their respective spots.
After finals, until break started, classes were replaced with independent training.
With little time left, it was most efficient to refine what they’d learned over the semester rather than learn something new.
I parted ways with Yun Hayoung and headed to my spot.
Next to me, Yoo Ara was focusing on her training as usual, unleashing fierce fire orbs.
Guess it’s time for me to get started too.
Before beginning, I checked my trait, courtesy of the system.
[Mana Control Technique (A)] [Training Progress: 0.1%]
It had reached the A-rank I wanted, but I hadn’t used much magic since, so I couldn’t feel the difference yet.
Still early in A-rank, but the upgrade must have brought noticeable changes.
I planned to use this independent training to really feel them out.
First up: the initial stage of Manifestation Magic, ‘Manifestation.’
Whumm.
A point of white light gathered above my hand, slowly forming into a sphere.
No big difference from before yet.
Next, ‘Compressed Manifestation.’
I kept the sphere’s shape while increasing the mana packed inside.
Whummm…!
The sphere trembled faintly, its blue glow gradually shifting to silver.
The compression speed was definitely faster than before.
Normally, maintaining stability during compression took serious focus and time, but now it was nearly twice as quick.
A-rank really boosted my magic control.
A satisfied smile crept onto my face.
‘Maybe I can push it even further?’
Feeling the growth sparked some greed in me.
The maximum magic I could compress. My new limit.
How far could I go?
[Activating effect: ‘Heart of Great Nature.’]
Thump!
With the Heart of Great Nature, my depleted mana started recovering rapidly.
I focused on manifesting, replenishing the mana shortfall and piling it into the sphere over and over.
Whummmm…!
The silver sphere hovering above my hand trembled slowly.
Mana efficiency for compression had surged.
Instinct told me I could manifest even higher-grade magic now.
Whummmm…!
“Hup!”
After about three minutes, a subtle change occurred in the sphere.
The silver light emanating from it began to carry a faint golden hue.
Silver mana symbolized A-rank wizards. And S-rank? That was ‘gold.’
It took a long three minutes of forcing it, but I’d successfully manifested golden magic.
A thrill of accomplishment made my chest pound.
It was such a faint gold that calling it that felt embarrassing, but seeing the dream gold manifest in my hand was overwhelming.
I extended my hand toward the target.
Took a deep breath.
And released the spell straight at it.
Baaang—!
The faint golden mana sphere shot from my hand, sweeping up the surrounding air as it flew forward.
The recoil shoved my body back hard.
Pushing a spell beyond my current level took its toll—my right arm throbbed and shook after release.
Just firing it strained my body. I could feel its destructive power indirectly.
I watched the spell streak ahead. The faint golden afterimage looked beautiful.
KABOOOM!
It slammed into the target with a massive roar.
A message popped up before my eyes.
[Successfully manifested faint golden mana for the first time, though imperfectly!]
[Mana Control Technique (A) training progress +3%.]
[Mana +1.]
[Acquired 3,000 points.]
“…Oh.”
Points earned.
The 3% training was a bonus.
The reward was a bit stingy since it was barely golden, but growth was what mattered.
Smiling in satisfaction, I felt a gaze and turned.
Yoo Ara was staring at me with wide eyes.
Having finished all my school commitments, I was lying on the dorm sofa, browsing the news.
[Next year’s participant list confirmed for the Seongmu Tournament, dubbed the festival of magic prodigies.]
The anchor delivered the Seongmu news calmly.
Soon, photos of participants from each school scrolled across the screen.
I quickly spotted the Korean Wizard Academy students’ photos in the prominent center spot.
As I watched, my smart student notepad chimed.
[Special elective activity this Thursday.]
[Please select your preferred activity.]
Special elective activity. Even with break around the corner after exams, they were doing it again.
If my memory served, this one was more like a ‘trip’ than education or training.
A graduation trip for third-years, and a final end-of-year memory trip for first- and second-years.
1. Seoul Magic Stadium
2. Korean Magic Folk Village
3. Seoul Mystery Museum
“Hmm.”
In the original story, nothing major happened that day.
It was just a brief setup for future plot threads.
Still, to be safe, tagging along with Lee Seojun was the smart move.
I tapped the message right away.
[Special Activity OC]
Sent a message to Lee Seojun.
It might seem curt and insincere, but guy to guy, it was fine.
Ten seconds later, a reply.
[Seoul Magic Stadium. You?]
“As expected.”
Seoul Magic Stadium.
Same as the original.
Magic sports were hugely popular entertainment for the masses, so much so that some students dreamed of becoming pro magic athletes.
[Going there too]
[Hehe okay. Same group again?]
[-1]
I replied, logged into the school info system, and selected ‘Seoul Magic Stadium.’
[Selection complete.]
Finished, I got up. Heading to the fridge for water, my smartphone buzzed.
[Jinwoo, what’re you up to?]
Han Seyeon.
She usually messaged around this time, so no surprise.
[Just resting. You?]
[I’m on a quick break after working till now]
“Hmm.”
What to reply? Another message came.
[Any calls from Dad?]
Han Daehyun? Nothing yet.
He’d said he’d reach out after that dinner. Busy, I guess, even if he’s sick.
Or maybe he forgot about me.
[No, not yet.]
[I see? Just checking. He seemed interested in you.]
Interested in me, huh.
Looks like Han Daehyun hadn’t forgotten.
Then, something I wanted to ask Han Seyeon popped into mind.
[By the way, can you make a potion about 10 times stronger than the mana elixir you gave me last time?]
I needed mana to use Causality Authority.
But right now, with insufficient mana, I couldn’t. I needed a way to supply it.
Maybe Han Seyeon could help?
[10 times…? Why 10?]
[I’ll be using a lot of mana.]
[10 times is tough. I could maybe make one 5 times stronger by upping the concentration, but the side effects would be way worse. Could even cause permanent damage.]
“…Hmm. No dice, huh?”
I’d expected as much, but hearing it still stung.
Even if possible, the side effects ruled it out.
[Got it. Oh well.]
“…Guess I need a magic tool after all?”
From memory, there were items that supplied mana.
Like Jaun’s holy relics: ‘Mana Core’ and ‘Poseidon,’ made for mana supply.
But they were Jaun’s.
Beyond my current power to obtain.
“Ugh, whatever.”
A solution would come eventually.
Thursday at 10 a.m., the day of the academy’s special elective activity.
Nearly 400 students gathered excitedly at the front gate.
Close to 450 total enrollment, but about 50 third-years with confirmed graduation skipped it.
Kim Changhyun was among them.
“Ah, today’s match is gonna be hype. It’s the champion bout we’re watching. You watch matches too?”
Waiting for the rest of our group, Lee Seojun asked me.
Magic matches.
Wizard-on-wizard combat, like pro fighting.
Unlike the underground arena Han Seyeon and I saw last semester—which could be deadly—
Magic matches followed strict, safe rules, making them legal viewing for all ages.
“…I catch them sometimes. If I flip channels and they’re on.”
“Hmm. Yeah, most people do. I watch occasionally, and they’re super cool.”
“They are.”
I nodded.
Then, a guy and girl approached us from afar.
Famous figures everyone at the academy knew: Choi Seoyun and Jeon Minki.
“Sunbae!”
Choi Seoyun approached me with a bright smile and bowed her head.
After losing the finals, she’d seemed down for a bit, but now she was back to her usual cheery self.
“Alright, everyone’s here. Time to head out.”
Following the instructor’s lead, we stepped through the portal gate.
My vision flashed, and a massive circular stadium appeared before us.
“Whoa.”
Students gawked up at its enormous size.
It evoked a colosseum, but redesigned in a sleek, modern—no, futuristic—style.
“Hey, hey! There’s Champion Won Hyukjin’s poster!”
Someone pointed to a huge poster on the outer wall.
Champion Won Hyukjin.
An S-rank caliber wizard with an unblemished record, unathletic-looking for a sports pro.
“Who’s next to the poster? A rookie?”
“Yeah, first match today, I heard.”
I followed the students’ gazes to the poster.
A familiar face.
One I hadn’t seen in nearly ten months.
Unlike her scrawny past self, she’d put on some healthy weight.
Ryangryang.
The underground arena’s champion, and the villain who’d later join Jaun’s crew.