Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Start of the Reversal (2)
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The Masked Instructor's first video had been shockingly different from any previous demonstrations of magic usage, so when word got out that he was recruiting disciples, people went wild.
"Holy shit... guys, did you see this? That creator who uploaded the 'External Mana Usage Method' video last time? He's recruiting disciples now."
"Yeah, right. No way."
"For real, asshole. Want the link?"
"We're screwed... it's legit..."
For reference, the video itself was just a man in a mask appearing and speaking briefly.
-"The first video was just a teaser, showing only a tiny fraction of my curriculum. I plan to continue with video content going forward, but for those who want more focused instruction, I'm open to taking on disciples and combining lectures with videos. If you're eager to master even the advanced topics I won't cover in videos, apply to join as a disciple. Application method in the comments..."
Before Choi Juwon uploaded this recruitment video, views on his initial video had already surpassed millions. Those who watched it and tried it out for themselves were full of anticipation.
What incredible things could they learn from someone who shared such a groundbreaking method as 'External Mana Usage' right from the first video, if he taught them directly?
The sheer scale of that curiosity was proven by the flood of reactions.
Just five hours after the video went up, subscribers had jumped by 390,000, and the video had racked up 210,000 comments.
Regardless of age, class, specialty, or anything else, applications poured in like crazy. That was how immensely valuable the information Choi Juwon had shared in his first video truly was.
Not long after uploading the unedited raw footage at his leisure, Seol Euna called in a panic, urgently asking to meet, so he invited her over.
"Haa... What on earth are we supposed to do about this..."
Seol Euna sighed deeply in front of him, her face clouded with worry.
"What's the matter?"
He asked casually, with easy confidence.
"Ugh... it's because of the video you uploaded, Juwon."
"Is there a problem? I'm using a mask with perception-lowering magic anyway, and I can alter the form of my magic, so even if I do offline lectures, no one will recognize me."
"That's not it..."
Seol Euna showed him her phone.
There, countless articles were listed.
"Eh... I expected this level of backlash. This market is full of people desperately guarding their rice bowls."
"Still... I'm worried something might happen to you."
"Thanks for the concern, but I can handle it."
One article in particular stood out.
'What the hell? Baek Juseok already did an interview?'
Clicking the article led to a link. It connected to a channel with 5 million NA TUBE subscribers.
In the video, Baek Juseok was sharply dressed in a suit, speaking impeccably.
"Hello! I'm Jang Hyena, running the Issues & Curiosity channel. First off, thank you so much for joining this interview! Actually seeing the legendary Helmont Academy president in person is such an honor!"
"Haha, thank you for the kind words. The honor is mine."
"Thank you! Shall we dive right in? President Baek Juseok, when people think 'instructor,' Helmont Academy comes to mind first, right? So naturally, you're getting the most mentions in this controversy. What are your thoughts on the Masked Instructor's mana usage method?"
"Hmm... I've gotten a lot of calls about it. From fellow instructors I know and even former disciples from Helmont Academy. People asking if there's really an instructor teaching that kind of magic usage, and whether it's okay to handle mana that way."
"Oh! So you've already formed a solid opinion. Please share your thoughts on those questions."
"Well... first off, don't forget that this instructor is an amateur. Unlike our certified instructors at Helmont Academy, the Masked Instructor is just some individual freelancer. Isn't it problematic to take what such a person says at face value? The fact that someone with unclear credentials and no proper certification is getting this much spotlight... I think it reflects the limitations of viewers consuming unrefined info on platforms like NA TUBE."
"Ah, I see. So you're viewing the Masked Instructor's magic usage negatively?"
"Of course. Pulling in external mana is inefficient in practice. Say you enter a dungeon in a B-rank gate. The monsters there are highly mobile and have their own unique skills. Do you think they'd just stand around waiting while you circulate external mana through your body? Not a chance."
Baek Juseok put on an unnecessarily grave expression as he spoke.
"In fact, trying to use external mana in a crisis will just lead to fatal mistakes where you end up getting hit instead. In conclusion, he feels like a despicable opportunist chasing views and subscribers without considering the side effects his info dump might cause."
"If he were confident, he wouldn't hide behind a mask, right? I think he's concealing his identity because even he knows it's shady. And now he's recruiting disciples? Everyone knows why he'd post such impractical, sensational content. Pure self-interest."
"To sum up, President Baek, the biggest reason you view external mana usage negatively is its lack of practicality?"
"Exactly. Mages have always been shunned in dungeons due to long casting times and low physical stats. Promoting a method that lengthens casting even more while boosting power? It's fool's gold, and I'm worried young folks starting out will fall for it."
"Would you view it positively if it proved usable in real combat?"
"Well... if it worked in combat, it'd be revolutionary. But is that possible? As Helmont Academy president, I've seen countless mages. I can say with certainty: the method this creator shared won't work in real scenarios. I guarantee it."
"Got it! One final word, please!"
"It's heartbreaking how many fall for the wild misinformation online. Helmont Academy has tons of lectures and certified instructors. If you're serious about learning, come to us—we'll do our best to teach you properly. Trust and join Helmont Academy."
"Thank you for the interview!"
This provocative interview was the academy president's ploy to crush the rising star Masked Instructor—trashing the newbie creator while elevating his own organization.
It worked. The Issues & Curiosity channel's comments exploded.
He checked his disciple recruitment video again, and sure enough, malicious comments were piling up there too.
After refreshing obsessively for tens of minutes, staring holes into the screen, Seol Euna looked at him with concern.
"Juwon... is everything okay? The articles are way over the top, aren't they...?"
Seol Euna didn't realize he'd seen Baek Juseok's interview. He showed it to her, and she jumped in shock, yelling.
"What the hell? How is there such a crazy bastard? Even so, for a president to publicly call out someone like a con artist in public?"
"Well, my face is hidden, and I've only got one video, so he's dismissing me. It looks scammy at a glance, so speaking out boldly polishes his public image and solidifies his academy's rep even more."
"Damn, I'm getting pissed off for you. But Juwon, you can use external mana in real combat, right?"
"Of course. I don't have to, but I can use it in combat anytime."
He grinned at Seol Euna.
"Which is why... could you get me an A-rank dungeon entry ticket? I'll pay whatever."
"Huh? Suddenly? Our guild was planning to enter a gate tomorrow... the dungeon's rated A-rank."
"Oh, perfect. Mind if I take that slot?"
"Sure, but... tell me why. It's not what I think, is it?"
He smiled as he explained.
"Time to prove it. That external mana usage works in real combat. Tomorrow, I'll solo-clear an A-rank dungeon using the mana method from my video. With all the attention right now, a flashy show will draw in better disciples. It'll undermine the Helmont president a bit too."
"You're insane...? I know you're skilled, but soloing an A-rank dungeon? If anything goes wrong..."
Looking at her worried face, he reassured her.
"It's fine. Post something on my channel's community tab. 'Fake instructor heads to solo A-rank dungeon using external mana method.'"