The Cradle: Mage Gallery
Upon awakening as a genius newbie hunter in the Mage Gallery, you gain access to the system. So I knew there was a community just for hunters inside it.
But Cradle: Mage Gallery?
What the hell is this place?
No matter how much time passed, I showed no reaction, and the post regeneration gradually normalized.
Of course, I had no intention of stepping up.
Newbies should shut up and observe wherever they go.
Until today, I hadn't even known mages really existed.
Who knows what would happen if I swallowed all this pouring attention?
First, let's check the posts with the highest views.
I told you all to be satisfied with 7th tier and not aim higher, right?
Thought you power-tripping incumbents were full of shit lol so I just contracted with the grimoire.
Whoa, can you feel my spell tier actually changing?
But the city walls are melting like slime lmao rofl
Seeing the universe from my room lololol
And over there, something keeps staring at me from the space tear.
Like a million eyes or something, fucking huge lololololol
Keeps whispering in my ear and I understand it even without translation magic.
Smell of burning mana, no, is my brain burning?
No, it's not burning, it's expanding into the universe.
Knowledgecominginknowledgecominginknowledgecominginknowledgecomingin
IseeIseeIseeIseeIsee I understand everything. You're all bugs.
Ah. Made eye contact
"Urk."
After reading the whole post, a sudden retch rose from my stomach. It wasn't as bad as when I first saw the grimoire, so I held it down.
Did a lunatic write this? The internet had these heavy-concept trolls sometimes.
...But it feels too real.
Fuck the grimoire anyway? Contract went fine, no need to get anxious. I ran my hand through my hair and scanned the site more.
The boards were well categorized: free, questions, trades, tips and guides...
Full of unfamiliar terms and unknown stuff, but every post had one thing in common.
They were all familiar with magic.
Everyone called themselves mages, not hunters.
"Huh?"
And among them, a particularly bizarre post caught my eye.
Need it for 6th-tier mind control magic but searching the board only shows asks, no successful trades.
I really need this bad.
I'll do anything, so if you know, leave a comment.
"What the hell are these guys doing?"
They were spouting such nonsense, a urge to butt in rose unbidden. Thinking the content, a comment drafted naturally.
But right before confirming, a warning popped up.
The current nickname '■■ ▌ ▍■■'s Proxy' contains prohibited words.
Set a new one.
Without a second's hesitation, I entered 'Baek Seo', dropping the last character from my name.
A reply came instantly.
"Why the sudden cursing...?"
What did I do wrong?
Memories of malicious complainers at the district office made my hands shake.
Fine, let's see how far this goes. I sighed and wrote a reply.
What...?
I was about to scoff when chills ran down my spine. Looking up, a purple pupil had appeared on the studio ceiling.
Blink—.
It blinked slowly, met my eyes, then vanished.
"..."
I rubbed my forehead and quickly summarized.
"Alright, let's accept it."
Easier once acknowledged. This unknown grimoire made me a mage and led me to their community.
Everything on this board is real.
Some mage who aimed too high, devoured by a great being.
Begging for chicken blood to save their family. All real.
So how to use it.
If they're real mages with power to interfere in other dimensions.
They could help me.
Short deliberation over, I started a new post.
[Detailed account of today's events, grimoire details, contract process.]
Share 'chicken' info if you help.
Seemed all users lived in other dimensions from me.
If I'm the first Earthling, use every advantage.
Reaction hotter than expected.
Not just replies, posts about me started appearing.
Grimoire awakening is the riskiest method, and you picked an outer god one? That beggar contract style? 3-min stir-fried salt? You messing with me?
Unless mega talented, brain would've been eaten by bugs. Or count numbers. Can't count past 2 now?
How'd he know?
But something was still there… watching.
Could I trust them? But situation forced it.
No choice but to trust.
This guy calls a B-rank disaster a deer? Hills?
Fuck, Tower 30F boss. Needs 3 A-ranks minimum.
Thanks for info, hit like—new reply popped.
"Alright, let's do it."
Brain-eating bug scares lingered, but contract succeeded.
I opened the grimoire without hesitation.
Complete blank.
Too hard.
Arakhan weak to fire. Fire, fireball, lighter, gas stove, candle...
Gathered all fire images, opened again—text appeared.
1st-Tier Fire Attribute Magic
Acquisition Condition: Fire Comprehension (30%)
Current Comprehension: 13%
What went wrong?
Too concise.
Asked board verbatim—explosive reaction.
"..."
Tough.
Me using magic. Even now, hard to believe.
Study physics textbook on heat? Raise comprehension? Strike flint for fire, shoot from palm?
Watch fire docu. Movies, draw pictures, listen music...
Chasing thoughts led nowhere.
No way normal methods work for magic. World would overflow with mages.
Something more abnormal.
Unprecedented madness.
"Damn it." Recalled interview with fire hunter in news.
[Q. What does it feel like using your ability?]
The hunter replied: Fire is part of my body now. I just release it as naturally as pissing.
Mages and hunters similar in miracles. Part of body—feel it directly.
Stood before gas stove. Rolled up shirt.
Pathetic idea from ignorant brain.
Click. Medium flame first.
Whoosh—flame roared, thrust bare forearm in without hesitation.
"Argh...!"
Towel in mouth prevented noise complaints.
Trembling eyes opened to grimoire.
Comprehension up?
Current Comprehension: 13 → 15%
It rose!
Text erased, rewritten in real-time.
Body learning fastest. Go, 30%.
Maxed valve to high flame.
"Aaaargh!!!"
Almost bit tongue screaming. Fucking hot!!
Skin visibly reddening.
20%.
Numbers climbing.
Switch arms? No, don't mess up.
Endure a bit more.
27%.
Fuck...
No strength to scream. Saliva soaked towel, blisters on arm oozed pus, burned again.
Finally 30%.
Acquired—acrid gray smoke from mouth. Flames swept guts to esophagus.
Brain burning. Phantom char smell at nose.
No way.
With odd certainty, raised collapsed body, went to balcony. No pain felt.
Finger to black night sky.
"Burn."
Incantation out.
Small fireball shot skyward. Weak, but success.
Satisfied, left short post.
Just 10 minutes after advice.
My casual thanks flipped the board.
Just result of burning arm on gas flame, but their shock hit hard.