“Phew, that was intense.”
Kim Song-cheol returned to the dormitory after finishing all his lectures.
He was quite exhausted, having exerted himself not only in physical conditioning but also in the survival curriculum.
While it might have been fine to rest on his first day, Kim Song-cheol didn’t just sprawl out.
He washed up, ate the dinner he had ordered, and then sat down at his desk.
It was time to study magic theory.
He had already finished previewing the materials he received regarding Circle creation; from here on, the content was about actual Magic.
These were fresh materials he had obtained after today’s class with Seo I-tae.
‘Since I’ll be practicing as soon as I create my Circle anyway, I should learn this in advance.’
In truth, Kim Song-cheol was feeling a significant amount of interest in Magic.
He had always thought being a Hunter was something only a chosen few could do.
The images of Hunters occasionally shown in the media were perfect for making ordinary people harbor feelings of envy.
This was because the government marketed them that way from the start.
National heroes!
Magic and Swordsmanship that only the chosen can use!
The incredible benefits Hunters receive!
Public opinion had been shaped to make everyone want to become a Hunter.
Kim Song-cheol was not much different.
Rather than simply wanting to be a Hunter, he had a lot of interest in the mysterious Magic and Swordsmanship.
Until now, they had been like a pie in the sky he could only crave, but that was no longer necessary.
Kim Song-cheol opened his tablet and accessed the magic theory file.
‘Hmm.’
The Magic system currently used in the Republic of Korea was one developed from a civilization called Arcadia.
It was a very standard Magic system, used by most advanced nations in terms of Points.
There were several other, much higher-level Magic systems, but those weren’t things one could just buy.
They were simply too expensive.
‘Still, this much is decent enough.’
Looking at the Magic system alone, the Republic of Korea was actually in a good position.
There were many cases where countries used cheap Magic systems, unstable Black Magic, or didn’t raise Mages at all.
As expected, the most important thing was Points.
Whether it was destroying a Gate or purchasing necessities, everything required Points.
“Nothing too difficult. Is it because it’s still the basics?”
Kim Song-cheol nodded slowly as he read through the theory. It was easier than he had expected.
‘Magic… Missile…’
The absolute basic of basics, Magic Missile.
A Magic that compresses Mana to grant it physical force, then fires it at high speeds to strike a target.
Adding a formula to this provides a homing function.
‘I feel like I could use it right now if I just had a Circle.’
Kim Song-cheol smacked his lips, feeling a lingering sense of regret.
***
A week had passed since Kim Song-cheol entered the Training Academy.
Human adaptability is truly remarkable, and he had already grown accustomed to life at the academy.
In terms of physical conditioning, he was still far from catching up to the younger, more energetic Trainees, but he had grown used to the individual training sessions with the Instructor.
Of course, being used to it didn’t mean it had become easy.
“Hello.”
“Yeah, good morning.”
As Kim Song-cheol entered the classroom, the Trainees who took Magic class with him greeted him naturally.
Kim Song-cheol accepted the greetings and sat down as if it were routine.
Having taken classes together as a group of four for a week, they had grown quite close.
“Feeling confident today?”
Kim Song-cheol asked, leaning his back against the wall.
His back felt stiff, perhaps because he had slept poorly the night before.
“I have to try my best since I’m late…”
Min-jeong made a worried face.
The other two who had started with her were already practicing 1st Circle Magic after creating their Circles, so she felt like she was the only one falling behind.
“What do you mean ‘late’? Look at me. Anything before the age of thirty is early.”
“That’s one thing, but this is another. And you’re progressing fast, Uncle.”
“It’s totally deceptive. You’re even going to create your Circle today, Uncle.”
Su-ji, who was sitting next to him, chipped in.
Kim Song-cheol was set to create his Circle today along with Min-jeong.
Considering the timing of when Min-jeong and Kim Song-cheol entered the academy, his speed was incredibly fast, enough for them to feel it was ‘deceptive.’
“I have the benefit of experience. I didn’t just age for nothing.”
Kim Song-cheol replied casually with a laugh.
Since they felt like his younger cousins, jokes came out naturally.
“Hello. Good morning.”
Right on time, Seo I-tae entered the classroom.
Today, she was once again dressed in a one-piece.
If he opened her closet, it might be filled with nothing but one-pieces.
“Then, you two practice the first formula for Magic Missile… and shall we start with Trainee Min-jeong for the Circle Activation?”
Seo I-tae intended to set up the Circle Activation and then proceed with the rest of the lesson.
Su-ji and Min-cheol moved far away to start their Magic practice, while Kim Song-cheol and Min-jeong sat down and waited for Seo I-tae.
Seo I-tae first approached Min-jeong and placed her fingertips on her chest.
“If you move your Mana as you’ve learned, the activation won’t be difficult.”
“I can do it, right?”
Min-jeong looked at Seo I-tae with slightly anxious eyes.
She seemed nervous now that it was time to actually do it.
“Of course.”
At Seo I-tae’s encouragement, Min-jeong closed her eyes with determination.
“First, breathe.”
Seo I-tae’s pleasant voice spread softly.
Kim Song-cheol watched Min-jeong closely.
It would be his turn after her, so he needed to observe well.
“Move the Mana you’ve gathered out of your heart.”
Kim Song-cheol’s concentration grew deeper, and his senses became even more acute.
Then, at some point, he could feel what was happening inside Min-jeong.
The sight of Mana moving was as clear as if he were seeing it.
“Rotate it around the heart. Don’t make the diameter too large; feel like it’s sticking right to the heart.”
The Mana began to rotate around her heart.
A lump of Mana the size of a fingernail whirled like a satellite.
As the spherical mass of Mana rotated, it stretched out like a wire, creating a long band.
“Rotate. Rotate. Faster. More, more…”
Seo I-tae said firmly.
Beads of sweat formed on Min-jeong’s forehead.
Rotating Mana that quickly required a significant amount of concentration.
“More, more…”
The beginning and end of the elongated Mana met, finally becoming a ring.
The ring rotated at an incredible speed, making a humming sound.
*Peeng!* At a certain moment, the ring expanded greatly, growing large enough to emerge outside Min-jeong’s body.
The orange ring could be seen clearly, glowing brightly. It was a radiantly beautiful sight.
“Stay focused.”
If the ring had appeared outside, it was the final stage.
However, one could not be complacent.
The ring was not yet stabilized.
“Now, contract. Feel like you’re pushing it in uniformly from all sides.”
Min-jeong exercised her control according to Seo I-tae’s guidance.
The ring gradually grew smaller and, at one point, entered her body.
“A bit closer to the heart. It needs to settle into the stabilization zone. Just a little more. Just a little more.”
The expression of Seo I-tae, who had been concentrating alongside her with a furrowed brow, relaxed at some point.
That was also when Min-jeong opened her eyes.
“I did it! I did it, right?”
“Yes, congratulations. Trainee Min-jeong, you are now a 1st Circle Mage.”
“Finally…!”
Min-jeong clenched her fists as if moved.
Su-ji, as well as the usually quiet Min-cheol, spoke up for once, saying, “Congratulations.”
Now that Min-jeong had created her Circle, the only person in this classroom without one was Kim Song-cheol.
“Then, next is Trainee Kim Song-cheol’s turn.”
Seo I-tae swallowed hard as she approached.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but she seemed more nervous than Kim Song-cheol.
“I’m ready.”
Like the oldest Trainee, Kim Song-cheol took his position with a dignified appearance.
He sat down and lightly placed both hands on his knees.
Seo I-tae’s fingertips touched Kim Song-cheol’s chest, and after taking a deep breath, Kim Song-cheol slowly closed his eyes.
“Let’s begin the Circle Activation. First, breathe slowly…”
Kim Song-cheol prepared for the Circle Activation according to Seo I-tae’s words.
“We’ll slowly move the Mana mass out of your heart.”
The mass of Mana that had been dormant inside Kim Song-cheol’s heart began to move.
it moved very smoothly and came out of the heart.
The size of the Mana mass was similar to Min-jeong’s.
It was a size sufficient to create a Circle and a considerable amount compared to the short period he had been training.
“We’ll rotate it around the heart. Since your control is strong, please be careful not to make it go too fast.”
Kim Song-cheol rotated the Mana mass as slowly as possible.
He already had the experience of piercing the ceiling with a stick and creating a Mana vortex.
Through that experience, he had learned to reduce his power and perform delicate manipulations.
Thanks to that, the Mana mass began to circle the heart at a pace that was neither too slow nor too fast.
“Increase the speed a little more. A little more. A little more.”
Seo I-tae gave instructions cautiously, like someone driving an 8-ton truck with broken steering.
However, the thing she feared did not happen. Kim Song-cheol was handling the Mana control well.
Kim Song-cheol’s Mana mass began to stretch out gradually.
The tail lengthened and, at some point, met the head to complete the ring.
“Increasing speed. Focus.”
*Vrrrrm!*
The sound of the Circle spinning grew louder.
To Kim Song-cheol, the sound was even louder because it was coming from inside his body.
“…I’ll increase it a bit more.”
Seo I-tae furrowed her brow.
It was strange.
At this speed, the expansion of the Circle should have occurred.
Just like the Circle had emerged outside Min-jeong’s body.
However, Kim Song-cheol’s Circle showed no sign of expansion.
The rotation speed was already much faster than it had been during Min-jeong’s turn.
‘What’s going on? Why isn’t it working?’
Kim Song-cheol also felt the strangeness.
He knew theoretically that the timing for the Circle expansion had passed.
Kim Song-cheol consciously increased the rotation speed even more.
He still had plenty of strength left to spin it.
Since he had power left, he wondered if perhaps he had lacked sufficient force.
*Eeeeeing!*
The sound of a high-speed motor rotating came from Kim Song-cheol’s body.
The low humming sound grew higher and higher.
Even so, there was no sign of the Circle expanding.
‘Was rotation speed not the problem…?’
Seo I-tae opened her mouth while hiding her confused heart.
“Reducing speed. Gradually slow down until you stop.”
Kim Song-cheol followed Seo I-tae’s words for now.
He slowly slowed the speed, turned the ring back into a mass, and then put it back into his heart.
He had returned to the starting point.
Kim Song-cheol opened his eyes and asked.
“Why… did it not work?”
Seo I-tae could not answer readily.
Even though she was sitting there as an Instructor, she couldn’t understand this situation either.
“That… since it’s a phenomenon I’m experiencing for the first time as well… could I look into it separately and tell you next class?”
“Ah, yes. Well, I suppose that can’t be helped.”
Kim Song-cheol nodded, hiding his disappointment.
He had taken it for granted that he would be able to create a Circle.
He felt like a Christmas present he had waited a year for had been snatched away.
‘Was my talent not that great after all?’
In his disappointment, Kim Song-cheol even doubted himself.
Though, no matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t seem like a problem with talent.
“Ah, time is already… Let’s end today’s class here.”
The time had all slipped away while they were trying to create the Circle.
Seo I-tae gave the Trainees a nod as usual and then stepped out of the classroom.
The smile Seo I-tae had maintained vanished as soon as she reached the hallway, replaced by a look of distress.
With trembling hands, she hurriedly took out her phone and called Kim Myung-joo.
[Hello? Instructor Seo I-tae?]
As soon as Kim Myung-joo’s voice came through, Seo I-tae began to pour out her words.
“I was supposed to create Trainee Kim Song-cheol’s Circle today, but it won’t form. I don’t know what the reason is. I shouldn’t have been the one in charge of this in the first place…! We have to find a way. What do I do?”
Seo I-tae wailed into the phone in a whisper.