Chapter 3. Jeil High School (2)
"I'm Lee Dojin. Nice to meet you all."
His tone brimmed with a refreshing energy. But among the hundred-plus second-year students, the applause didn't erupt with much enthusiasm.
"……Lee Dojin?"
"Oh? Ah!"
Nearly half the class reacted with confusion or sudden recognition at the name. The other half glanced toward the very back corner of the lecture hall—where Lee Sea sat.
"……."
With all eyes suddenly on her, Lee Sea felt like bolting from the room right then and there. Of course, she couldn't, so she just pretended not to notice and kept her gaze fixed on the textbook spread open on her desk.
Yoo Hae-bin, sitting beside her, smirked with thinly veiled amusement.
"You two siblings are both total heartthrobbers, huh."
"……Shut up."
Ironically, the source of her discomfort—Lee Dojin himself—helped ease the awkward tension a bit. Unfazed by the students' subtle reactions, he promptly wrote something on the blackboard.
The email address for National Academy 1 faculty only. And his cell phone number.
"I'll be assisting Professor Seo Sang-wook with the Magical Dynamics course. That's my email and contact info, so if you have questions about the lectures, feel free to reach out."
From her seat at the back, Lee Sea could see nearly a hundred students snapping photos of the board with their phones or jotting it down on paper. It was unheard of for so many to record a TA or research professor's personal details like this—especially when the gender ratio skewed heavily toward women, at least 7:3 by her estimate.
……He's handsome, alright.
Lee Sea revisited the thought she'd had the moment Lee Dojin entered the room. Towering height in the mid-180s. A model-straight build, toned without seeming like he worked out much. She knew that better than anyone, seeing him at home every day. And his features, each expression radiating a different charm…… Honestly, she'd never met anyone as good-looking as her brother in all her life. She couldn't say if others agreed—it was subjective, after all—but at least to her, it was true.
Around then, Yoo Hae-bin, peering at the screen mounted on the front of each desk, let out an admiring whistle.
"Whoa, damn…… Even on screen, your bro's ridiculously hot."
Lee Sea ignored her, lest she give Yoo Hae-bin ammo to tease her for the entire two-hour class—and probably even after. Fortunately, the commotion died down, and Professor Seo Sang-wook began the lecture.
"Uh, last time we got to page 51, right? Attendance number 7, read from the first paragraph on 52 onward. Keep going until I say stop."
March 2nd, a Tuesday, had been the first class, but circumstances had prevented a smooth lecture that day. So today marked effectively the third session. To have covered 50 pages of tiny-print textbook text—practically alien script—in just two classes was exhausting enough, but the content was even worse.
He'd point at random students to read aloud, then read the same passage himself with some added commentary. Hand out thick reference printouts to read, assign incomprehensible practice problems, go over the answers, and finally demonstrate briefly. Repeat for two hours until class ended.
His voice was so monotonously dull it almost seemed laced with some magical sleep spell. Lee Sea let it wash over her, feeling a bit more at ease.
Just keep it like this…….
Then her brother wouldn't have much to do. Some classes relied heavily on TAs or research profs, but Seo Sang-wook wasn't the enthusiastic type. If it stayed at reading, problems, and demos like always, Dojin probably wouldn't need to step in much.
—Or so Lee Sea naively figured. Unfortunately, Professor Seo Sang-wook cared far less about the class than she'd imagined.
She should have noticed when he barreled through over 20 pages straight—unlike the 5-to-10-page chunks with breaks in prior lectures. Without pausing once, he droned on to page 73 with incomprehensible explanations, then flashed a satisfied smile, as if his job was done.
And just like that, he called on Lee Dojin.
"Now, Lee Dojin will summarize the material so far and demonstrate it himself. Pay close attention, everyone."
Lee Sea bit her lip hard without realizing it. Regret, anxiety, tension—maybe all of it. A flood of 'worry' filled her heart in an instant.
Why? Why would he……?
What grudge did he have against her brother to dump this on him? Dojin couldn't possibly handle it. She'd heard he was bottom-tier at Jeil High. His four years at Jeil University were a miracle just for getting the diploma. What could anyone expect from someone like that? His mana reserves were pitifully low, and no one could guarantee he could even perform a proper demo. What if someone asked a question?
That's when Lee Sea felt eyes from the front row—Jin Yu-ri, wearing a meaningful smirk. A face that said she was eager to see just how badly he'd flop.
"……!"
Five years since she'd first met Jin Yu-ri. For the second time—after that incident leaving the funeral home—pure rage welled up from deep inside toward her.
She could brush off personal jabs. Just ignore and move on. But…… when it involved Lee Dojin, it was different. Mocking him to hurt her. Dragging him in to wound her. That, she couldn't tolerate. Yet as he stepped to the podium and spoke clearly, her attention snapped to him.
"Not knowing Magical Dynamics won't hinder your mana use much."
An intriguing opener.
"But understanding its principles lets you wield your power more effectively."
So, you should learn it.
"Mana is a form of physical energy. Early research tried distinguishing it from regular energy, but modern views treat it as an element composing physical laws. From there, systematic formulas and principles emerged. To grasp Magical Dynamics, recognize this first."
His words carried firm conviction.
"Mana isn't some unknowable mystery. You're already using it freely, right? No different from moving your limbs."
With a faint smile to lighten the mood, Lee Dojin swung his right hand.
Whoosh—
Shoooo…….
A perfect orb materialized in the air. A balanced, glowing blue mana construct. Unless Lee Sea was mistaken, it outshone even the sloppy demo from the lazy professor.
"This is the basics. Everything you've learned so far is packed into this little thing."
His explanation was concise—maybe ten minutes. But it distilled the core of today's and prior lessons into simple words and phrases. Each point he raised made the floating construct ripple and shift smoothly.
"No way…… I don't get it. Why'd Sang-wook explain something this easy so terribly?"
Yoo Hae-bin's incredulous mutter barely registered with Lee Sea. She was already hooked, staring as the once-impenetrable material flowed effortlessly from his explanation.
She wasn't alone. The class hung on his every word, comprehension light-years beyond prior sessions.
He snapped his fingers.
Weeng.
A hologram appeared beside the construct, listing formulas. Each with related equations, textbook references, and fill-in blanks.
"Page 27 bottom: When internal mana vents externally, what's the backlash? Don't overthink. That muscle cramp from mana use? Master this, and it'll barely happen."
Lee Dojin infused the construct repeatedly. Each pulse altered its motion and shape differently.
"You can make one yourselves, right? Try on your desks. I'll check one by one and point out improvements."
The room lit up with flashes. Amid the noise and gusts, only Lee Sea sat stunned in shock.
"Whoa…… Just follow what he said, and it's easy? Hey, Lee Sea, you listening? Hey!"
Snapped back by Yoo Hae-bin's nudge, Lee Sea glanced around.
"Good formula use, but tweak mana distribution. Half to the third circuit, more to the fifth and sixth."
Lee Dojin roamed the hall, giving feedback. Barely a few words per student. Yet each revised construct improved visibly.
"Your bro's a total star teacher…… Hey, Lee Sea! Snap out of it—he's coming this way."
"Huh, what?"
Having checked most of the left side, Lee Dojin approached their seats.
"Like this?"
"Perfect. No issues."
Top-of-the-class Yoo Hae-bin passed easily. Finally focusing, Lee Sea channeled her mana—or tried to.
Pop!
A balloon burst. She'd over-infused in panic.
"……."
"Uh, um……."
Lee Dojin stared down at the dazed Lee Sea, equally lost for words, then spoke cautiously.
"Um, Miss Lee Sea…… Mind trying once more?"