Challenging the Gate (1)
I just went ahead and broke the digital door lock before collapsing onto the bed.
Even if someone saw, I could just claim the lock had malfunctioned.
If I didn't rest now, things would get difficult later. A true wizard doesn't study by cutting back on sleep or other necessities; they manage their time efficiently.
Rest when it's time to rest, work when it's time to work. That is the rational mindset of a wizard.
I had even latched the safety chain, so there was no chance of the door accidentally opening.
Of course, even if my body is resting, my mind shouldn't be.
Now that I was a wizard, I had to put in even more effort. My life as a non-wizard had just reached its end, but my life as a wizard was only beginning.
Wizards aren't highly treated simply because their class is powerful. They are valued because of their unique utility. Therefore, if I didn't put in the effort, I would end up as nothing more than an insurance policy—someone brought along just in case.
If I wanted to be treated with respect, I had to work hard and grow.
I immediately logged onto the Hunter Gallery to dig up some information. I briefly considered searching NewTube, but figured it would be more of the same. The gallery where actual wizards hung out seemed far more reliable.
When I entered, the main topic of discussion was still me. It seemed the moderators had suppressed the debate over whether it was real or fake, on the grounds that there was no way to verify it anyway.
Nevertheless, the focus of the forum had already shifted toward wizards in general.
Naturally, the discussion had evolved into fundamental questions about the wizard class. There were only eleven wizards in South Korea, and barely three hundred worldwide. It was an incredibly rare class.
Because of this, even the people on this forum didn't know much about them. The class was so fundamentally different from others that it was hard to comprehend.
Still, since this was a forum dedicated to Awakeners, there were plenty of users who possessed relevant knowledge.
Looking at the comments, they had explained it quite well. There was nothing incorrect; the explanation was near perfect.
Why are wizards treated so well? It's because of their unique, irreplaceable nature. Gates keep appearing, and no one knows what threats a newly formed gate might hold.
While the amount of leaking mana can give a rough estimate of the threat level, it is nearly impossible to know what kind of monsters or traps lie inside.
That is when a wizard's versatility shines. Unlike other classes, wizards engage in combat using spells they have learned after awakening.
Furthermore, magic is different from skills. Magic is a "technique" that can be passed down, much like swordsmanship or mana manipulation. Because of this, a wizard can choose which spells to use, and it is theoretically possible to learn every single spell in existence.
Therefore, when conquering an unknown gate, it is highly effective to bring a wizard who has mastered a wide array of spells. Some gimmicks are nearly impossible to clear without a specific counter-skill, but if you have that counter-skill, they become incredibly easy.
Additionally, wizards are naturally easy to grow. As long as they manage to learn spells, they are essentially growing stronger. This is why many guilds try to recruit wizards right after they awaken. A wizard's value is at its lowest immediately after awakening, after all.
Hmm, no matter how much I look, I don't see any hints about actual magic.
As expected, the Hunter Gallery was too far removed from the world of wizards. I had kept an eye out hoping for another miracle like before, but a miracle was just a miracle, it seemed.
I switched tabs and turned my attention to the Wizard Gallery. The posts there were somewhat similar.
People were leaving all kinds of comments. Since it was a small, tight-knit community gallery, everyone seemed to know each other well.
Even in tight-knit forums, they rarely turned away newbies unless a fight broke out. At the very least, no one would complain if I chimed in now.
I posted the comment. Naturally, replies popped up immediately.
An unproven theory. That was understandable. But then why did he post it here, and why on earth was it in the information tab?
Hmm, it seemed his reputation wasn't the greatest. Still, considering the mods didn't delete his posts and people didn't completely ignore him, it was probably just friendly banter. That was how people played around in these small communities.
However, I had no intention of revealing exactly how I awakened. It could have been because of my innate talent, but if even untalented people could awaken this way, it was better to keep it to myself.
Of course, realistically speaking, the probability of it being the former was over ninety percent.
Hmm. I can see why they would do that.
Everyone was doing their best to explain. I had a solid grasp of the situation now.
Currently, all certified wizards in South Korea who became wizards after their Awakener evaluation had their class proven through the test. Naturally, corporations caught wind of this immediately, and it was no easy feat for a single individual to escape the contracts they pushed.
It wasn't even a predatory contract. It was simply a contract designed to tie them to the guild for a long time, which is why it rarely caused a public stir. However, in a highly active job market where switching guilds was common, staying in one place for too long was a massive disadvantage.
Since I was an outlier, it was indeed better to keep it hidden.
While I was searching for more helpful information, WizardCrab left another comment. I had wondered where he went, but it seemed he had immediately compiled magic-related resources the moment he saw me return to the gallery.
Favors must be returned. That was the only way to ensure more people would help me in the future. Whether it was a favor or a grudge, settling it thoroughly was beneficial for my future.
I immediately clicked the NewTube link. The videos explained various spells. I checked to see who had created them, and it turned out to be a channel from Singapore.
Why were they lecturing on magic in English? Who knows. I'm sure they had their reasons.
The magic I need right now is offensive.
What I needed most at this moment was offensive magic. No matter what path I took, I had to pull my own weight, which meant having sufficient firepower. While wizards were sometimes recruited solely for their utility, hiding my class meant that advantage was practically non-existent.
Moreover, wizards were highly regarded not just for their versatility, but because, unlike other supporters, they possessed the combat power to hold their own.
I browsed through the NewTube videos to find a spell with decent offensive power. I couldn't just focus on raw firepower, though.
Since I had to hide the fact that I was a wizard, the spell had to be something I could cast easily on my own, and it needed to be highly discreet.
Soon, I found a suitable spell.
Lightning Bolt.
A simple spell that fired an electric shock. A common technique that could be found anywhere. Other classes could learn it through skill books, and being lightning-attribute, it was highly versatile.
It wouldn't raise any eyebrows no matter who used it. Wizards rarely used it for that exact reason, which made it the perfect spell to conceal my identity.
Ultimately, what matters is that it's magic.
Anyone could use it, but the crucial detail was that a wizard was casting it. It didn't matter if the beginning was humble. Even wizards had once been non-wizards.
I would grow step by step. I would become stronger. Until the day I not only mastered every spell in existence but even created spells that had never existed before.
Draw the circle.
Following the video's instructions, I drew out my mana to form a geometric pattern. The blue-tinted mana responded to my will, tracing arcs in the air.
A bizarre sensation washed over my arm, as if the mana was moving according to my will yet remaining entirely separate from me. It was likely due to the mana leaving my body.
The circle is complete.
Being a basic spell, it wasn't very difficult. It wasn't overly complex either.
But that wasn't all. Simply drawing a magic circle didn't cast the spell. Loading bullets into a magazine and chambering a round didn't fire a gun.
Even with all preparations complete, the gun would only fire when the trigger was pulled. Magic was the same. It was time to pull the trigger.
I closed my eyes and appealed to the world, declaring that the shape of mana I had crafted was now a finished masterpiece.
Lightning Bolt.
Bzzzzzt—
A single bolt of blue lightning shot across my room.
*Crack—*
The blue bolt sliced through the air and struck the wall. With a sharp pop, the lightning dissipated. Looking at the point of impact, I saw a faint, circular scorch mark on the wallpaper.
It was a phenomenon that could never occur under normal circumstances. Though the voltage and current were so low that it couldn't even kill a cat, let alone a monster...
It was a phenomenon that defied natural laws. It was magic.
Flushed with excitement, I drew the same circle once more. Relying on my memory, I traced it as precisely and detailed as possible, channeling my mana to replicate the miracle from moments ago.
*Crack— Zap— Pop—*
I fired into the empty air several times. Because I hadn't infused much mana, the power was even weaker than before, but I was undeniably casting magic.
*Hummmm—*
I repeatedly fired the lightning bolts until the mana in my body was completely depleted. Pausing, I stared at the magic circle. Shapes, characters, and arrangements whose exact functions I did not know.
Seemingly unrelated elements came together to forge a miracle. The distinct, pulsing flows of mana harmonized, sending a gentle thrill deep into my soul.
The very first spell I had learned. The miracle that proved I was no longer a non-wizard, but a true wizard in my own right.
Staring intently at the magic...
It was so... so...
...utterly lovely.
This feels strange.
Watching the mana flow through the magic circle like blood through veins, my body began to grow warm. As I watched those veins converge to complete a beautiful painting, the sensation grew even stranger.
Since I didn't know much about a woman's body, I couldn't say for sure what was happening to me right now.
Yet, I instinctively knew how to resolve this. It was an instinct etched into the genes of a creature that transcended humanity.
But... I used to be a guy. What was I supposed to do?
Let's think like a wizard.
Cast aside all preconceptions. Focus strictly on logic, reason, and rationality...
When you are hungry, it is wiser to consume food and satisfy your hunger rather than endure it. When you are sleep-deprived, it is rational to sleep unless there is urgent work to be done.
If there is a deficiency, and it can be resolved with minimal effort, it is better to satisfy it rather than endure it.
Rather than wasting mental energy on endurance and negatively impacting my performance, it was far wiser to quickly rid myself of this distraction. That was the rational decision.
There is no issue.
Yes. Indeed.
I made up my mind. Even though I knew I was alone, I found myself glancing around the room just to be sure.
Despite confirming that no one was there, I crawled onto the bed and pulled the blanket over my head. It seemed I would need to rest for quite a while.