Kim Song-cheol entered the gym. In his pocket was the Stamina-boosting Ring he had received from Kim Myung-joo.
Mun Gi-jeong, who happened to be nearby, saw Kim Song-cheol and approached him.
“You’re here?”
It was a very friendly greeting.
Ever since they cleared the F-rank Dungeon, Mun Gi-jeong had been acting much more affectionately.
It was as good as having his life saved. Naturally, his heart leaned toward him.
“Yeah, what did you do in class last time?”
“Nothing much in particular.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Are you feeling alright?”
“I’m fine now. I’m a bit stiff, but I think I’m fit enough to take the class.”
+ Interest
Kim Song-cheol rolled his shoulders a few times. He felt a bit of pain, but it was manageable. At least compared to the pain he had experienced initially.
“Attention.”
A thick voice echoed through the gym. The fitness training Instructor had entered with the assistant instructors.
Was it just his imagination that the black hat looked even more malicious today?
As always, the Instructor stood in front of the platform.
The Trainees quickly gathered and lined up in front of the Instructor. If they got on his bad side, they might have to undergo ‘special lessons.’
And that was no different for Kim Song-cheol.
Kim Song-cheol and Mun Gi-jeong quickly took their places at the back of the formation.
“Today, we will conduct a physical fitness test. The event is a 10km run.”
As soon as the Instructor finished speaking, groans escaped from among the Trainees.
A physical fitness test wasn’t just a simple jog; they had to finish within a time limit. That time limit was so strict that nearly half of the Trainees failed every time.
“For your information, the pace is 4 minutes and 30 seconds per kilometer.”
“Ah…”
A shorter time limit than last time.
With the exception of a few gifted individuals and those who had been training longer than the other Trainees, not many would be able to succeed.
“This is not the time to be sighing. 10km at a pace of 4:30 per kilometer is not a very fast speed; it is merely the recommended fitness level for a Mage. Keep in mind that passing this standard ensures your survival rate reaches its maximum.”
The Trainees’ faces contorted, some bit their nails, and some even clutched their heads.
It was because of the worry over the 10km run and the ‘special training’ that would follow if they failed the standard.
‘Right, now is the time…’
Kim Song-cheol quietly fiddled with the Stamina-boosting Ring in his pocket.
It seemed he had received the ring at just the right timing.
Kim Song-cheol was also ready to do anything as long as he could avoid the ‘special training.’
“Then, we will begin with warm-up exercises.”
The Trainees loosened up their bodies to the Instructor’s count and lined up at the starting line.
Standing at the back, Kim Song-cheol secretly slipped the ring onto his index finger.
The ring fit perfectly, as if it had been custom-made.
The moment the cold sensation of the ring wrapped around his finger, he felt a very subtle change.
It was Mana spreading from the ring, a specific Mana pattern that could not be analyzed with Circle Magic.
Just as Kim Song-cheol was savoring that change.
“Now, start!”
The Instructor’s thunderous voice rang out.
Beeeeeep!
A high-pitched whistle followed, and the Trainees began to run along the gym track.
Kim Song-cheol was the same.
He started at a moderate pace.
The goal was 10km.
He had to run the 200m track 50 times.
The pace was 4:30.
That meant he had to finish 5 laps in under 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
One lap.
Two laps.
Three laps.
As time went on, the groups began to split.
The lead group was full of composure despite the fast speed.
They were people naturally gifted at running despite being Mages.
Next was the middle group.
These were the people barely hanging onto the testing standard.
Then came the lower group.
This was the group that couldn’t even dream of 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
Some Trainees in the lower group ran slowly as if they had given up entirely, while others were drenched in sweat, trying to keep up nonetheless.
The group Kim Song-cheol belonged to was the middle one.
Normally, he would have been struggling between the lower and middle groups.
But now, to be honest, he could even push further ahead.
‘This is crazy… I’m less out of breath…’
Kim Song-cheol was 100 percent satisfied with the item’s effect.
The ring Kim Myung-joo bought him had the effect of particularly increasing cardiorespiratory endurance among physical attributes.
Coldly speaking, it was by no means a powerful item.
Since it was a very low price for an item.
However, the perceived utility was great.
‘I’m 100 percent passing this.’
Until now, running had been nothing but painful for Kim Song-cheol.
It was an act where he endured and endured pain to cross the finish line, but even crossing it brought no sense of accomplishment.
But now, Kim Song-cheol was actually feeling ‘refreshed.’
If this wasn’t Magic, what was?
Kim Song-cheol, who had an unprecedented Mana Affinity and was breaking the Training Academy records one by one, surprisingly felt the greatest joy from the lowest-grade item.
On the other hand.
‘Big Brother…?’
Mun Gi-jeong, who was running while only looking at Kim Song-cheol’s back, tilted his head with a pained expression.
They were partners who always ran together. They panted together, and they suffered together.
But today, Kim Song-cheol was gradually getting further away.
That wasn’t the only shocking thing.
Kim Song-cheol, who had grown distant and disappeared from view, appeared right behind him and overtook Mun Gi-jeong.
It meant a full lap difference had occurred, and it also meant Kim Song-cheol was still in the middle group.
“No way…”
Having lost his running mate, Mun Gi-jeong despaired alone.
Special training was drawing closer to him by the second.
***
The physical stamina issue that had plagued Kim Song-cheol was resolved after meeting the miracle of the lowest-grade item.
Now that nothing was in his way, Kim Song-cheol delved deep into Magic.
Except for the twice-weekly trips into the F-rank Dungeon, most of his time was filled with Magic training.
And so, a month passed.
Today, Kim Song-cheol headed to the Magic class lecture room again.
“Hello!”
“Good morning!”
Min-jeong, Su-ji, and Min-cheol, who were already in the lecture room, greeted him.
Of course, Min-cheol just gave a silent nod instead.
“Oh, hey.”
Kim Song-cheol received the greeting with a smile and plopped down on the floor.
It was now very natural for him to stick his butt to the lecture room floor.
“Did you gather much Mana?”
Min-jeong asked.
“I gathered as much as I could.”
Kim Song-cheol replied with a nod.
He was still a 1st Circle Mastery.
In other words, he hadn’t even become a 2nd Circle beginner yet.
It was slow growth considering he had become a 1st Circle Mastery in just three weeks.
“You must have gathered a ton of Mana though.”
Su-ji tilted her head.
Considering the amount of Mana Kim Song-cheol accumulated through the Mana Breathing Method, it was strange that he hadn’t formed the 2nd Circle yet.
“Want to see?”
Kim Song-cheol straightened his posture and held his back upright. Then he lightly gathered his hands in front of his chest.
The moment Kim Song-cheol pulled his hands apart.
Kiiiing!
Along with a strange high-frequency sound, a Circle expanded greatly from inside Kim Song-cheol’s body and revealed itself.
A single ring rotated around Kim Song-cheol at a high speed.
The ring boasted brilliance, emitting a vivid blue light.
The diameter of that ring was 15 meters.
Its thickness alone was 1 meter.
It was a ring several times larger compared to other Trainees.
“Eh?”
“A 1st Circle can get this big?”
Min-jeong and Su-ji were tongue-tied. Even Min-cheol’s eyes blinked in surprise.
“It’s strange, right?”
Kim Song-cheol spoke lightly as he slowly brought his open hands together in front of his chest.
Following that movement, the Circle gradually became smaller, until finally, it disappeared into Kim Song-cheol’s body.
“This isn’t just great, it’s actually at a weird level…”
“I wonder how big it’ll be when you reach the 5th or 6th Circle?”
Kim Song-cheol shrugged at Su-ji and Min-jeong’s worries.
“Still, I’m going to try gathering a bit more. It’s just a matter of putting in the time anyway.”
In fact, Kim Song-cheol wasn’t very impatient. He already knew from experience that a lot of Mana was needed for Circle creation.
Besides, it was still an incredibly fast speed compared to other Mages.
In terms of duration, the fact that he was already attempting a 2nd Circle expansion was at a level that didn’t make sense.
“You’ll be able to make it soon. Honestly, there’s no way it’ll grow infinitely, right?”
“Right, right. It’ll be any day now.”
Min-jeong and Su-ji offered words of comfort—or something like it.
Min-jeong and Su-ji still hadn’t reached 1st Circle Mastery.
Because of that, Kim Song-cheol could only scratch the back of his head awkwardly.
“I think it’ll be soon too. About three days ago, the speed of Mana accumulation slowed down significantly. It probably means I’m close to the limit.”
Kim Song-cheol intended to try creating the 2nd Circle one more time within a few days.
Since he had failed once a week ago, he wanted to take his time and give it a proper shot.
It was then.
[This is Director Kim Myung-joo.]
Kim Myung-joo’s voice echoed throughout the entire Training Academy.
It was a highly unusual occurrence.
Ever since Kim Song-cheol entered the Training Academy, Kim Myung-joo had never made a general broadcast even once.
[The current time is 09:12. At 09:09, a C-rank Gate occurrence was confirmed near Inje, Gangwon Province.]
A C-rank Gate was mentioned.
As soon as they heard those words, the expressions of the Trainees, including Kim Song-cheol, changed drastically.
In particular, Kim Song-cheol’s face hardened as if he were a different person.
The horrific sights of Ulsan played out in his mind like a panorama.
[As of this hour, all Hunters belonging to the Republic of Korea are mobilized for Point collection according to the emergency mobilization order. I will announce it once more. As of this hour, all Hunters belonging to the Republic of Korea are mobilized for Point collection. Hunters, please assemble at ‘Suho Hall’ immediately.]
In this classroom, Kim Song-cheol was the only one who was both a Trainee and a Hunter.
One must enter and exit a Dungeon at least once to receive the title of Hunter.
The other Trainees were just Trainees, so this did not apply to them.
“I have to go.”
Kim Song-cheol stood up abruptly.
A C-rank Gate.
It was the fourth C-rank Gate generated in the Republic of Korea, and the interval between their creation was gradually becoming shorter.
“Be careful.”
“Seriously.”
“…”
Min-jeong and Su-ji worried for him sincerely, and Min-cheol substituted words with a truthful gaze.
Kim Song-cheol nodded as if telling them not to worry and left the classroom.
He walked with quick steps straight toward Suho Hall.
Hunters who had come out of each building were already running toward Suho Hall.
There were currently 32 Hunter-Trainees in the Training Academy.
All of them were gathering at Suho Hall.
Kim Song-cheol met Oh Song-hui at the entrance of Suho Hall.
“Where are the others?”
Kim Song-cheol asked.
“I don’t know.”
While Oh Song-hui shook her head, Ser Gang-jin made his appearance.
Unlike his usual self, he stood beside Oh Song-hui with a serious expression.
The three members of Team 25A did not enter Suho Hall but looked toward the back.
Before long, Mun Gi-jeong ran up to the front of Suho Hall.
While he caught his breath, Kim Song-cheol nodded and spoke.
“Everyone’s here. Let’s go in.”
Team 25A entered Suho Hall.
***
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