Angel Hunt (3)
Mana has attributes. Gamers naturally learn about them over time, but for us Mana Pragmatists, how we utilize that mana matters far more than the attributes themselves. What miracles can we perform with it? Rather than studying mana in the abstract, most people prioritize using it to slay demons or make life more convenient—and that mindset fueled the rise of magitech, propelling human civilization forward.
Thanks to magitech research, we have mana trains zipping around, smartwatches on our wrists, and telephones that—sure, they're a bit bulky—still let us communicate over long distances. The only folks who really care about mana attributes are those whose own mana's "matchup" becomes critical in battle. Like struggling hard against a water-attribute foe when your mana is fire-based. That's about the extent of it.
Angels, however, possess 99% resistance to all seven attributes used by humans on the surface. A technique that deals 100 damage? They reduce it by 99%, down to just 1. First-time players panic when facing angels.
"What the hell? If they resist all seven attributes, how are we supposed to fight?"
Fire-roast them, impale them with ice spears, whip up razor winds, bury them in earth, blast them with light orbs, hurl dark magic spears, or attack with illusions—everything does just 1 damage.
There are three main ways to counter angels, who wield a higher form of mana distinct from surface dwellers.
One: If it only takes 1 damage per hit, just keep pounding until it dies, right? Theoretically possible, and some players did clear them that way. But it's inefficient as hell. No grindfest like this exists—not even in games. In reality, you'd be dancing on death's doorstep every second, chipping away at 1 HP a pop. And if it's got self-regeneration like Angelica? Find another gimmick.
Two: Counter their attribute resistances with mana that doesn't match any of the seven. Sub-varieties abound, but "non-human" powers are prime examples—spirit force, divine beast essence, or stripping attributes entirely. Or balancing them perfectly, like Unia does.
"If they resist attributes, just balance yours so none dominate, right?"
One of Unia's in-game lines. It vaguely echoes some pissed-off teacher's vibe, but it reveals the angel counter gimmick. When manifesting mana, draw evenly from all seven attributes—no shortages, no excesses. Perfect equilibrium unleashes magic. In-game, it's called Non-Attribute Mana, though players dub it "Omni-Attribute" too. It doesn't exploit weaknesses, but it always hits at 100% power.
The last method: A force that erases mana itself. Angels' "holy power" is superior to human mana, but it's still mana at root—so it can't resist something that annihilates mana outright.
That's right. Chang Yeom's power can obliterate holy-power beings like angels. Hence their freakout whenever it surfaces on earth.
So here's a question: Ten years ago in Hapsderk County, during the Ratatosk exorcism, angels appeared because Chang Yeom manifested. So why did the angel possessing Angelica show up now?
The main story answers that.
"Maybe those angels... are why I came to the academy."
Unia's words turn a mere legend into a looming possibility in players' minds—the main story's kickoff.
"Continental Year 1000. Humanity shall perish."
"That's...!"
"A prophecy from the Ash Witch, long ago."
The curtain rises on humanity's doom. That's this game's prologue.
[A short while later, in the Old School Building lounge.]
"...No major issues, right?"
"Plenty of problems, but nothing huge for us, at least."
I'd returned to the Old School Building with Unia—not by choice, but dragged there by the instructors and dumped in the lounge.
"S-Sorry."
"For what?"
"You told me all sorts of things, Phoenix, but I ended up hiding stuff from you."
Unia fidgeted with her fingers, head bowed low.
"Just suppressing that angel was..."
"No big deal?"
"Huh?"
"Unia. Forgot already?"
I pointed to my eyes.
"I told you about it. Isn't that enough?"
Future Sight.
"Oh! Right. Then—"
"Stop there."
Unia perked up, raising her voice, so I leaned forward and pressed my index finger to her lips.
"Ears everywhere. Or rather, eyes on us right now?"
"......."
I nodded subtly toward the lounge ceiling corner. A mana stone fluorescent light—absent when we first arrived—now glimmered faintly with magic.
"Unless it's our private rooms, someone's always watching or listening wherever we go. Short of throwing up a barrier."
"...Kinda bittersweet."
Unia gave a wry smile.
"Think positive. Flip it: The academy's gaze reaches everywhere we go. Means help arrives fast in a pinch."
"What kind of pinch?"
"Forget your wallet? Ask a watcher for a loan and crisis averted?"
"...Feels ridiculously minor, but solid crisis management."
Unia flopped onto the sofa.
"What about Angelica?"
"Beats me."
"Eh, you don't know?"
"Someone covered my eyes, so I couldn't see."
I mimed covering one eye with my hand while winking with the other.
"Oh, that— ...Yeah, got it."
Unia glanced around warily, then reached toward her abdomen, tracing a small circle just below her solar plexus with her finger.
A "got it" gesture. The blind spot of the ceiling mana stone surveillance camera.
"Guess we just wait for the academy's verdict now..."
"No need."
The lounge door opened, and Rydmila entered with Evangeline.
"You two okay?"
"Yes. No injuries here. Evangeline, though..."
"I'll buy a new bear. No one got hurt, so fine."
They both seemed unscathed. On the surface.
"Whew, really."
Evangeline flopped into her single-seater sofa, eyeing Unia.
"...Special admits aren't special for nothing. Turns out she's the Grand Sage's disciple or something?"
"My teacher's my grandma. Not grandpa."
"Or the Ash Witch?"
"...Grandma, I said."
Officially, the Ash Witch is a long-haired beauty with silver-gray locks. She disguises herself as an old lady or changes hair colors entirely, so Unia doesn't realize her mentor is the Ash Witch.
"Even if related, she'd be a distant junior or whatever. A great hero's heir scraping by in the boonies... Ahem."
Unia coughed, cutting herself off.
"Anyway, what's the situation outside?"
"All students sent home. The dean of studies personally got sworn statements from them."
"Sworn statements?"
"Silence on the incident, and Angelica got thoroughly trounced by Old School students as an example for the assault."
Rydmila mimed thrusting a spear into the air.
"Knocked out by gale winds. That's the story for other students—and staff."
"And we're grounded here unless it's dire. Especially you two."
Evangeline pointed at me and Unia in turn.
"Unia especially. By tomorrow, instructors will grill her."
"Why?"
"Obvious: She basically proposed a new mana paradigm."
Some call it an eighth attribute; others, a study of mana's origins.
"Cardisha's already itching to research it. Esta's..."
"On watch and training. I'd like to join."
Rydmila extended one hand forward.
"Balance the seven attributes into one..."
Seven-colored mana slowly seeped from her palm.
Pa-ang!
But green wind soon overwhelmed it.
"Tricky. But if I refine it, I can reach the next realm."
"Same here. ...And if angels really plan world-ending stuff, we have to stop them."
Evangeline showed fierce resolve too.
"That."
Before Unia addressed them, she shot me a look—a signal for backup. Seemed like it might lead to trouble, but—
"There's an easy way to control it."
Unia's reputation for never being a burden sealed my lips.
"Phoenix."
"Yeah?"
"I..."
Unia swallowed hard.
"Wanna show you, but can I sit?"
She glanced at the other two.
"Wha—"
"Looks like it fits."
Rydmila and Evangeline exchanged glances, then turned to me.
"Phoenix's help lets you balance mana?"
"Not guaranteed, but it helps. Can I sit?"
"If you're showing them, sure—"
"Then—"
Unia shot up.
"I'll demonstrate."
Dead serious, she straddled me.
"U-Unia?"
"Watch closely, both of you."
She pressed right against me, chair and all.
"Phoenix? Hold me from behind so I can focus?"
"Of course."
No ulterior motives, no lewd intent.
I wrapped her in a back hug, arms supporting her mana core.
"That—"
"Phoenix."
Before the others could speak, Unia cut in.
"No need to lean back. Like last time."
I skipped the amateur question of what last time.
"Like this?"
"...Yes."
I buried my face beside her head, pressing as close as possible to Unia.
"Both of you, watch carefully. You're next."