Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Sparring and Move-In Day
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—Hmm. Alright, then. See you on move-in day, Friday.
“Yep.”
Wednesday.
With final exams over and the school atmosphere finally free, after-school special class lessons began.
Today's special class was two-person team magic spars.
Just like regular sparring matches, they would duel and then give each other feedback on their shortcomings.
As expected from the special class full of top students, the level of these spars was clearly different from regular year classes.
Especially Lee Seo-jun.
Having lost his partner due to Jang Ye's death, Lee Seo-jun was matched against the special class instructor, Park Jung-wan, and many special class students were peeking through the gaps in the personal training room windows to watch their duel.
“Wow. It's my first time seeing Senior Seo-jun fight seriously. His movements are so fast I can't even track them.”
Choi Seo-yoon muttered in amazement as she watched Lee Seo-jun's spar.
I glanced at them and said to Choi Seo-yoon,
“Ignore them and let's just focus on our spar.”
Real combat spars hold a significant weight in growth.
This is especially true for teens like students who lack real battle experience.
Naturally, in this world, experience and know-how outweigh raw mana class.
No matter how high your mana rank, if you're lacking in experience and technique, it's all for nothing.
Choi Seo-yoon needed to become a strong ally for Lee Seo-jun's survival, so for her growth, I had to give it my all.
“Yep! Should we start right now?”
Choi Seo-yoon turned to me and said.
“Yeah. Let's move spots first.”
To prevent magic from splashing onto others, spars had to be held in personal training rooms.
Choi Seo-yoon and I entered a personal training room.
She did some light stretches and said to me,
“Ugh, I'm looking forward to this. I've always wanted to spar with you, Senior.”
“The number one wants to spar with number sixty?”
At my teasing words, Choi Seo-yoon let out a small laugh.
“Acting weak again. You placed third in the finals this time, Senior. Even with big shots like Lily Rose there.”
“Hmm, the final exam results were pretty good this time.”
First in theory, third in practical.
My best grades yet.
I was already excited to see what overall rank I'd climb to with these results.
Choi Seo-yoon gazed at me steadily and said,
“Senior, it's okay if I go at 100%, right?”
“You think? You trying to kill me?”
Anyone else, maybe, but if someone like Choi Seo-yoon came at me full power, even I would struggle to hold up.
Of course, if I could use mana elixir or Heart of Great Nature, I could handle her full power to some extent, but in my pure state, I didn't have enough mana to match her at full throttle.
“Ah, Senior's acting weak again!”
Choi Seo-yoon squinted and shouted.
“What're you saying? Enough chit-chat, come at me.”
“...Got it. Then I'll go at about 70%. That okay?”
“70's a bit much. Let's do 55.”
At my response, Choi Seo-yoon grinned.
“I'll do 60. Starting now!”
Choi Seo-yoon immediately gathered mana. Cold air in the air froze, manifesting a single ice spear.
The ice spear flew straight at me.
Shooo!
I immediately reinforced my body with mana and dodged the attack.
Even at just 60%, it felt different from sparring with Yoon Ha-young.
Much faster, much sharper.
The moment I dodged, I charged at Choi Seo-yoon. She calmly froze the floor to hinder my movement.
Not a bad instinct.
Mobility would drop on an icy floor like this.
However.
Ice floors don't make it impossible to run.
Mages are basically trained to move effectively even in situations like this.
“Ha!”
I kicked off the floor and leaped. As the distance closed in an instant, she manifested an ice spear and swung it at me.
Whoosh!
I ducked low to evade. Though Choi Seo-yoon specialized in manifestation magic, her physical abilities were impressive too.
After dodging, I gathered mana in both arms and reached out to push her back.
At that moment.
An ice pillar shot up rapidly from the floor right in front of me.
I barely leaned back to avoid it. That was close.
I created distance from her as I retreated.
“...Impressive.”
I couldn't help but admire her. A first-year, but as expected of number one.
She was showing the peak combat potential of an ice attribute mage.
Using terrain alteration and mana solidification for various form changes.
She had the setting of being strong in real combat, but sparring her directly, she was far better than I'd imagined.
Especially that ice pillar attack—it was pro mage level. Any average student would've been hit.
As I quietly admired her magic.
“Wow! That's too much, isn't it? That was my finisher, and you dodged it?”
The short duel, about five minutes, ended. Choi Seo-yoon and I sat side by side, taking a brief rest.
“I'm supposed to give feedback, but you fought so well there's nothing I can point out. But it seemed like you were trying to push with reinforcement magic on purpose, right?”
Choi Seo-yoon, hugging her knees, turned her head to me and said.
“Yeah, exactly. Most manifestation mages lose their cool if you swing reinforcement at them even a little. But you handled it well. Good job.”
She really did handle it well. Unlike Yoo Ah-ra, who crushes with her innate mana class, Choi Seo-yoon's fighting style was stylish and cool.
Being a similar type of manifestation mage to me made me want to praise her even more.
At my praise, Choi Seo-yoon smiled happily.
“Hehe. But Senior, are you really a manifestation mage? How do you fight so well just using reinforcement?”
“Who knows.”
“What's that supposed to mean? I'm still first-year number one, you know.”
Choi Seo-yoon said with a playful laugh.
“Hmm. Vacation's coming up soon, huh. Got any plans for break?”
Vacation started next Wednesday, so exactly one week left.
“Yeah, I have some rough plans.”
“Oh? Going somewhere fun?”
“...Nah, not that leisurely. You?”
At my question, Choi Seo-yoon made a glum face.
“Me... probably special training at the main house. I just want to relax on break.”
“Hmm.”
I nodded. I'd half-expected that.
“...Hang in there.”
“Oh right! Senior, you know about it?”
“About what?”
“Special class lessons continue even during break.”
“Yeah, I know.”
It had caused all sorts of controversy among students.
“If you skip break special class, it hurts your chances for second semester selection. Isn't that too much?”
“That's the rule, nothing we can do. Have to show up for break too. But just once is enough.”
“True. But kids whose main houses are far complain a lot.”
Pitiful, but not my problem to worry about.
Speaking of second semester special class, a few events come to mind.
To get involved in those events, I'd definitely need to attend break special class.
I pictured the second semester events in my head.
Time flew by.
Wednesday, Thursday... and finally Friday, the last day of the week.
Move-in day for the apartment had arrived.
After finishing all classes, I immediately disguised as Kim Jin-woo and headed to central Seoul.
After a 15-minute taxi ride, I arrived at a massive mixed-use residential complex.
It was known for housing many famous mages, with various magic facilities like training grounds inside the building.
“Wow. This is amazing.”
Fancy lights illuminating the night sky.
State-of-the-art magic engineering tech around the building.
It was awe-inspiring.
I walked through the complex.
It felt a bit maze-like at first, but once I got going, it was simpler than expected.
“This must be it.”
I checked the address Han Se-yeon sent and looked up at the huge apartment. The building number matched, so I was in the right place.
I entered the building.
In the corner of the first floor, a woman in sunglasses—Han Se-yeon—was waiting.
“Han Se-yeon.”
“Ah, Kim Jin-woo.”
Han Se-yeon spotted me and smiled happily.
“You're early?”
“No, I just got here too. Come on in. Oh, wait—take this first.”
Han Se-yeon pulled something from her pocket and handed it to me.
A fancy-looking card and a paper with special patterns.
“This is the apartment key, and this is the resident recognition magic enchantment.”
“Oh.”
Resident recognition magic.
I vaguely knew what it was. I'd gotten one in my previous life after buying an apartment.
As the name implied, it was a device that engraved a magic seal on your body to prove residency.
With this, you could enter and exit freely even without the key.
Of course, it vanished automatically when you left the apartment.
I took the apartment key and resident recognition enchantment.
I infused mana into the enchantment, and the pattern floated up before sticking to the back of my hand.
The pattern on the back of my hand vanished immediately.
Proof that the engraving worked.
“Latest magic tech, and you figured it out and used it right away.”
Han Se-yeon said to me in a tone tinged with surprise.
“Magic's nothing. I can tell what it does at a glance.”
“Hmm. Makes sense for you, Jin-woo.”
Han Se-yeon nodded as if convinced.
I chuckled and said,
“Let's head up.”
We took the elevator to the 15th floor.
When I placed my hand on the door of 1502, the vanished seal on the back of my hand glowed, and the door clicked open.
“Oh. Spacious. And clean.”
The interior looked about 30 pyeong. A bit big for me alone, but not bad.
“But it's fully furnished?”
Move-in day one, yet it looked like someone lived here, packed with furniture.
No signs of use on the furniture, though. Some packaging wasn't even fully removed, so all new.
“I filled it with these. It looked so empty. Oh, the furniture's a housewarming gift.”
Filling it with furniture as a housewarming gift?
As expected of Han Se-yeon.
Spending like no one else.
“Thanks. I'm really satisfied.”
At my words, Han Se-yeon smiled brightly and headed to the dining table.
“Then how about a quick info share and celebration party?”
Han Se-yeon pulled wine from a paper bag and grinned.
Time passed, 10 PM. Han Se-yeon went home.
She seemed a bit tipsy earlier, giggling to herself—hope nothing happens.
But I saw her call her assistant to accompany her, so she should be fine.
Oh, and an unexpected gain.
[The character 'Han Se-yeon''s interest in you has increased.]
[Character 'Han Se-yeon''s interest level in you: Lv. 2]
[Reward: Acquired 2,000 points.]
Han Se-yeon's interest rose.
I made some weird joke/double entendre while drinking, and she burst out laughing, boosting it.
No idea if it's my sense of humor or something else.
Anyway, points gained, so good.
I stared blankly at the fancy night view outside the window, then skimmed the documents Han Se-yeon prepared.
Without asking, she'd gathered and organized more info on the criminals I requested last time.
So diligent.
“Hmm.”
The documents had more detailed info on the criminals' movements and paths.
More thorough than I expected—surprising.
Wondering what to do with free time during break, catching these guys to stack karma and points sounds good.
Catching lots of criminals will boost my reputation too, and rep leads to points—killing two birds.
Of course, most important is inserting myself into key episodes with major characters during break, so only use spare time.
I cleared the table and prepared to head out.
Having moved in, time to check the apartment amenities.
Heard there's a mage-only training ground on the second floor—should check that first.
I pulled my hat low and stepped out.
Entered under Kim Jin-woo's name, so still bearded and spectacled.
Pushing the elevator button and waiting, the neighbor's door suddenly burst open.
“Yawn.”
A yawning sound, then a woman walked out.
“Huh?”
The woman looked at me. I looked at her.
Familiar face.
My body froze instantly, and I instinctively pulled my hat lower.
The neighbor was her?
“Oh. New neighbor? Saw moving trucks this morning. So you just moved in.”
“...Yep. Moved in today.”
I replied in a thicker voice than usual. Of course, avoiding eye contact.
“Wow, voice is super gravelly. Heavy smoker, huh? Tsk. If cig smoke leaks into my place, you're dead. For real.”
Her blunt casual tone matched exactly too.
“...Non-smoker, so no worries. And my voice is naturally like this.”
“Hmm. Really? With that bushy beard, you look like a chain smoker.”
“...That's prejudice. What does beard have to do with smoking?”
“Fair point.”
Ding.
Elevator doors opened. The woman and I entered together.
As I went to press the button, she blocked my hand.