'The Extra' Presents 'Hope' to the 'Protagonist' (3)
"What... what is all this...?"
Erin couldn't close her mouth as she followed Eunhyeon into the basement of the ordinary house.
No sunlight penetrated the interior, but magical lamps installed on the ceiling illuminated it brightly. Rather than giving off a stuffy, stagnant air, the sealed underground space provided fresher air and a more comfortable atmosphere than outside.
The scale of the space was comparable to Aiter's training grounds. Considering it was maintained so cleanly and impressively for personal use—something hundreds would share publicly—it was impossible to imagine how much money had gone into it.
"This is the training ground where I'll train you from now on."
"Training ground?"
"Yeah. From here on, you'll live in this house, eat three meals a day, and pour all your time into training."
"......"
Erin instinctively began to sense that something was off. She recalled his earlier words about showing her the way.
- It'll be really tough. You'll be hungry, cold, exhausted, and your body might hurt like hell.
In other words, a grueling path of hardship lay ahead. But he was providing food and shelter—why say something like that? Erin couldn't quite grasp it, but her gut told her a 'kill-or-be-killed' level of training awaited.
"For the first day, I'll start with a simple explanation. Sit down."
"Okay."
Erin sat cross-legged across from Eunhyeon as he did, ready to listen.
"What I'll ultimately teach you is swordsmanship and magic."
"Swordsmanship and magic...? Don't people usually teach just one?"
"I was planning to start with just the sword. But I figured you could handle magic decently too."
"But you said I had no talent for magic, oppa."
The civilian genius mage who joined the Magers, Elvin, had naturally recognized his sister Erin's lack of magical talent. It was true, but Elvin had hoped Erin wouldn't pursue sword or magic upon entering Aiter—wanting to spare her the noble world's harshness. Though his superior abilities as a commoner led to his recruitment into the court mage corps Magers, all he received was envy and jealousy. Elvin had worried Erin would face the same if she dove into noble society.
"That was then. Not anymore."
"Hmm...?"
Erin tilted her head at Eunhyeon's vague explanation, but he offered no details.
"You know about the 'digits' concept among mages, right?"
"Digits?"
"They didn't teach you at Aiter?"
"Uh, well... I only got basic liberal arts, etiquette, and simple classes..."
"Oh, right. You were at the bottom of the class."
"It's true! The school really didn't teach that stuff!"
She clutched her chest as if shot by an arrow, her face flushing with embarrassment.
"I know, I know."
Noble children aiming to be mages or knights received pre-enrollment training and entered school at the appropriate age. From the start, there was a massive gap between them and Erin, who had entered with nothing but her body. She likely couldn't keep up with even basic lessons, let alone foundational magic education. Eunhyeon had already checked her report card at school, so he could guess easily.
"That 'I get it' look... you're such a jerk."
"'Digit Magic Ranks' are divided into 10 grades, from one digit to ten digits. This standard is common not just in the Pernias Kingdom but across the entire continent."
"Changing the subject so smoothly!"
Erin pouted, displeased with Eunhyeon's deflection, but he continued with a smile.
"One to four digits are 'general digit mages', five to six digits are 'upper digit mages', and seven to ten digits are 'high-rank digit mages'. The ranges are grouped as 4, 2, 4 because most mages fall into one to four digits. Upper digits only span two because very few advance past four."
"Is the population difference that huge?"
"Upper digit mages make up only about 10% of all mages on the continent. High-rank digit mages? Just 10 in total."
"...So this house belongs to one of the only 10 high-rank mages in the world?"
"Many say advancing from general to upper digits requires 'talent,' while upper to high-rank demands 'enlightenment.'"
"Changing the subject again!"
"In this kingdom of Pernias, there are two high-rank digit mages. One is the owner of this house, and the other is Simon Magius, captain of the Magers where your brother served."
"My oppa was in such an amazing place..."
Erin newly realized just how incredible her brother Elvin was.
"That Simon Magius? If he fought our witch, she'd win hands down."
"I didn't ask! Not curious!"
Erin yelled at Eunhyeon, who was bragging about Iliana like it was nothing. The tale of Simon—even in his seasoned old age of 60, leading all court mages—breaking into a cold sweat against Iliana in a magic duel, yielding first and seeking guidance, was one of the kingdom's famous anecdotes. Eunhyeon beamed endlessly, clearly delighted.
'Of course. I raised her.'
Unable to hide his paternal pride, Eunhyeon chattered on like a mom boasting about her kid. Erin realized midway that the conversation had derailed and wondered if she should keep listening, her face troubled.
"I'm not saying aim for high digits. Just learn practical combat spells. Swordsmanship is main, magic supports. Got it?"
"Yeah."
Erin lacked confidence in how far her talentless self could go with magic, but having decided to trust and follow Eunhyeon, she voiced no complaints or doubts.
"So, swordsmanship next?"
"First, build your body."
"My body?"
As Erin tilted her head, Eunhyeon reached into the air and conjured a sword. Though amazed, she didn't pry into the secret. The guy had too many mysteries already. She was too tired to suspect anymore—just accepting it.
Eunhyeon offered her the hilt of the divinely summoned sword.
"Hold it."
"Okay. Whoa!"
The moment he let go, its heavy weight nearly made her drop it.
"First, build enough strength to swing it, and stamina too, right?"
No way.
"Let's start simple with some exercise."
Erin's ominous feeling deepened at Eunhyeon's bright smile. And so, she stayed at Iliana's house. By evening, through Eunhyeon's mediation, she greeted the homeowner, Iliana.
It was ridiculous—squatting in his lover's house and suddenly bringing home a kid to feed and shelter without asking. But Iliana didn't mind much. Knowing the full story, she eyed Erin with a hum, "Hm." When told she'd train under Eunhyeon starting tomorrow, her eyebrow twitched.
"Oh? Training her, huh... Do your best."
Erin grew more uneasy at Iliana's pitying gaze, unable to understand why.
The next day.
Erin ran laps around the massive underground training ground—120m long, 90m wide.
Eunhyeon's task: Run 1km nonstop, five times, under 8 minutes each. Ten-minute breaks after each, with constant water during rest.
For Erin, far from exercise, even the first lap was hell, but she barely finished and collapsed flat.
"Here, water."
Parched beyond words, she gulped from the bottle Eunhyeon offered, finally exhaling in relief, looking alive again.
"Ten minutes, then lap two."
"......"
Erin had no choice but to obey. If she exceeded 8 minutes, she'd run an extra lap—a vicious penalty. Desperate to avoid more of this hell, she pushed through the remaining four with all she had.
She wanted to snap at him—why just make her run to death while he did nothing? But seeing his calm face, sweatless, following her as she panted like a dog, killed any will to complain.
With the death march ended, her stomach roared loudly.
"Can't... move..."
Melded to the floor, Erin ignored her hunger pangs, unable to rise.
Eunhyeon scooped up her limp form and carried her upstairs. In the kitchen, a savory aroma tickled her nose.
"This is..."
Dazed in his arms, the food scent gradually stirred her appetite.
He set her in a chair, and at the sight of the table's feast, she grabbed a fork eagerly.
"Can I eat?"
Her sparkling eyes and eager face—such a stark change from her near-dead slime state—made Eunhyeon chuckle and nod.
"Yay!"
Thrilled, Erin devoured the meal he'd prepared.
"Eat slowly. You'll get a cramp if you exercise right after."
She froze mid-bite.
"No way... more running?"
"Nah, no running."
"Th-then?"
Finally a break?!
"Something else."
His beaming smile soured her appetite.
"Time for exercise, ma'am."
Erin glared, wrinkling her nose at his weird line.
[My child. She's suffering so much—do you really have to push her this hard? I feel sorry for her just watching...]
'Absolutely not.'
Eunhyeon flatly refused the goddess's plea.
'Don't worry. She won't die.'
[Sigh...]
Verdandi sighed, gazing pityingly at Erin stuffing bread and soup into her mouth with dead eyes.
The first step on the path Eunhyeon had paved was hellish personal training.
After lunch and an hour for digestion, he hoisted the drooping Erin over his shoulder and returned to the basement.
"What's this?"
"Dumbbells."
Erin eyed the odd iron bars weighted at both ends suspiciously.
"One in each hand."
"Ugh..."
Lighter than the sword he'd given first, but still burdensome for her frail, muscle-less frame.
Suddenly grabbing her hands, she flinched in surprise.
"I'll help. Push in the direction I guide, lift slowly."
"Nngh!"
Grinding her teeth, she raised her arms sideways with his aid. Lifting and dropping full force would be easier—holding steady while raising slowly was torture.
"Ten times like this."
"Ten? I can manage that..."
"Three sets total."
"......"
Erin was certain.
"You're a real devil!"
"In this field, that's practically a compliment."
Normally insulting, but seeing her glare and yell with resentment made him chuckle unexpectedly.