Can't Stand It Anymore! What is 'Mana'?
I just couldn't take it anymore! What the hell is "mana" anyway? Back in Nihilum, we defined it as something produced by a spiritual organ called the "Mana Core" located in the heart. Mana is like a second form of energy that comes from living beings. Just as the heart pumps blood through the veins, mana generated by the Mana Core circulates through the body via pathways known as "mana circuits." The Mana Core also determines your mana capacity and regeneration rate. Thankfully, I let out a sigh of relief upon realizing this world had a roughly similar concept in place. The main difference? They judge the performance of one's Mana Core almost purely on innate talent. Sure, there's a congenital element to it, but with consistent, proper training, you can expect growth anywhere from twofold to over tenfold. Limits exist, of course, but magic is something anyone can learn with enough effort.
To give a slightly iffy example, there's Yoon Ra-yoon. In her case, it wasn't intentional, but severe mana deficiency combined with century-old mandrake juice transformed her Mana Core into something close to that of an average Triia mana user. After that, I had her do intense workouts while under a body enhancement spell, and though she doesn't realize it yet, her mana capacity noticeably increased in just two days. And along with that came an increase in something else: her "appetite." The reason for the bigger meals is simple. Even if the Mana Core is a spiritual organ, it doesn't create something from nothing. What it really needs for mana recovery is "stamina." The Mana Core essentially acts like an exchange counter, converting stamina into mana. That's why you can't even move during mana exhaustion—the core forcibly drains your stamina to regenerate mana.
So, how do you recover stamina? Everyone knows this, but if I have to spell it out: rest, and "nutritional intake" proportional to what you've expended. That's also why awakeners eat way more than regular folks.
"Ugh... what am I gonna do with this...?"
In the end, last night for my successful first broadcast, I went ahead and committed the atrocity of downing a pack of dumplings in a pot of ramen after dinner. Mana converts the excess into energy and expels anything beyond that, so no worries about gaining weight, but the bloated feeling from overeating lingered. And on top of that, the surplus mana buildup had my body burning up like crazy—I was going insane. I could fix it in a flash by expending mana, but if I ended up on the news again like last time, it'd be a disaster.
"Urgh...! Just endure today! If I hold out today, I can clear it out in a dungeon starting tomorrow...!"
I clenched my fist tight, barely suppressing the boiling urge.
"...Might as well watch some TV. Times like this, I gotta stay as calm as possible."
With my hypersensitive nerves on edge, I flipped on the TV.
The moment the TV came on, some male hunter spouting nonsense and a hyped-up MC jumped into view. What was this? Some hilarious skit? Training mana through meditation? For five years?
Thwack—
I smacked my forehead without thinking. Slurping soup with chopsticks on air? Why the hell were they doing something so idiotic?
"Hoo... endure, just endure..."
This world still had a low understanding of mana, right? So I had to be understanding. It was like a pure kid believing clouds were made of cotton candy—same context.
Finally fed up, I grabbed the remote to switch channels when—
Ting——
Something snapped in my head. When I came to, I was already on a train to Seoul.
A modest four-story building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. It was the home of Daesung Guild, barely kept afloat through various connections. The guild master, Na Dae-seong, was currently facing the biggest crisis since the guild's founding.
Crash—!!
The flying whiskey glass shattered against the wall of Na Dae-seong's office, losing its original shape entirely. His ragged, furious breathing echoed through the room.
"Those bastards... after all I've done for them... What? Quitting?!"
Messing up his once-neatly groomed hair, Na Dae-seong glared at the stack of "resignation letters" on his desk, his gut boiling over once more. Fifteen this month alone—the number of guild members who'd unilaterally announced their departure and vanished.
Daesung Guild had about a hundred active hunters. Nothing standout, but they had some recognition in the hunter world as a tenacious bunch. That rep, however, came from Na Dae-seong's connections and sly illegal maneuvers.
Now, with zero results to show amid all the anxiety, a violation notice had arrived for breaching the Hunter Act. Charge: dungeon safety violation. To cut operating costs, he'd issued guild members signal devices unfit for the dungeon ranks.
"Ever since that Kwon Seung-cheol backstabbed me, nothing's gone right!!"
The one who'd snitched to the Hunter Management Bureau was Kwon Seung-cheol, who'd been quietly working away. Na Dae-seong had heard rumors of his imminent C-rank promotion and tried to treat him better belatedly, but he'd already bolted—leaving without report, dumping a bomb in his lap. Hell, he'd even lured away Kim So-yeon, one of their few mages, plus two D-rank hunters. If that wasn't Kwon Seung-cheol's fault, whose was it?
Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on Na Dae-seong's office door. Still fuming, he barked in a sharp tone,
"Come in."
As the door opened with his reply, his secretary stepped in—but only to the threshold, delivering her message curtly.
"Guild master, Hunter Park Sun-ho is here to see you."
"Tch, of all times... Fine. Send him in."
Na Dae-seong clicked his tongue, steeling himself for an unwelcome guest.
Three minutes later, the door opened to reveal a man in priestly robes. Despite the outfit, his blond, delinquent-like vibe made him look anything but holy.
"Yo! Na Dae-seong! Long time no see?"
"Park Sun-ho... what brings you here outta nowhere?"
Way too casual for addressing a guild master. They weren't on great terms, but they'd been crossing paths for over a decade. Park Sun-ho sauntered up familiarly, his outfit's trinkets jingling.
"Heh, look at you. Heard you're in a rough spot? I'll fix that if you help me track someone down."
"Kidnapping?"
"If I kidnap 'em too, you'd owe me big. Just tell me where they are."
Harsh talk, but it was their everyday banter. Na Dae-seong's connections were mostly big shots from the underworld. Naturally, he was cut from the same cloth. With the Hunter Management Bureau already onto him, Park Sun-ho's offer seemed too risky. He pondered briefly.
Park Sun-ho, impatient, let out a long sigh and dangled a sweet deal.
"Hey, Dae-seong. How 'bout this? I'll sweet-talk the High Priest into fudging your guild's records—no violations this year."
"What?! You serious?!!"
"Obviously. You know we've got devotees in the Bureau, right? Piece of cake if we want."
"Deal!! Count me in!"
Na Dae-seong shot up from his chair, practically itching to rush to the church and convert on the spot.
"So, who's the target? Who do I need to snatch?"
"Whoa, easy. I'll explain slow. You catch that news about Yoo Ji-na a month back?"
"Yoo Ji-na? Oh, the one about reuniting with her sister after six years?"
"Yep. So, you get the gist?"
Na Dae-seong's excitement at the golden opportunity began to fade, shadows creeping over his face.
"...No way. You want me to kidnap Yoo Ji-na's sister?"
"Bingo! Heh, sharp as ever, Dae-seong~!"
"Fuck, no wonder the reward sounded too good..."
"So, you in or what?"
"Nah, I'm doing it. We're past picky eating at this point. Send me her info right now."
"About that... Yoo Ji-na's sister's details are already classified. Can't get 'em."
Na Dae-seong scowled at Park Sun-ho's brazen declaration.
"What? You messing with me? You expect me to find someone with no name or face?"
"Haha! C'mon, Na Dae-seong. You've got a lead on Yoo Ji-na's sister already. Gonna play dumb to the end?"
"...? What bullshit. How would I know?"
"Sigh... Dae-seong, really? Yoo Ji-na's sister is that recent returnee... Who found the returnee?"
"Quit circling and spit it out. What does her being a returnee have to do with me?"
"Huh? You seriously don't know? Your guild members found a returnee a month ago."
"............What?"
Silence blanketed the office. Park Sun-ho, caught off guard by Na Dae-seong's reaction, panicked a bit. Then, ducking his head as his shoulders shook, he finally burst out laughing.
"Puhahaha!! What? That's it? Sorry, sorry—I figured you knew."
"Who?! Who the hell found them!!"
Wiping tears from laughing too hard, Park Sun-ho replied,
"Whew... haven't cracked up like that in ages. Hang on. Sending you a pic now."
Na Dae-seong froze upon checking it. The names of his already-departed guild members were listed plain as day.
"Anyway, call when you find her. Deadline's early November. Miss it, and no deal on the records."
Leaving the stiffened Na Dae-seong behind, Park Sun-ho headed for the door. He paused midway, something occurring to him.
"Oh! And watch your guild members. How untrustworthy must they be to skip a report like that? Catch ya later!"
Once Park Sun-ho left, silence returned to the office. Na Dae-seong frantically started dialing somewhere.