episode_0041

The day after dungeon practice, the day I caused trouble for Professors Atra and Liana.

Honestly, I couldn’t face those two. Especially Professor Atra.

I mean, they came to greet me, and I ended up vomiting and retching.

Rejecting a helping hand with a swat.

Looking back now, it was a shameful act, unbecoming of a human.

That’s why I was afraid to meet Professor Atra the next day.

Maybe I could have passed it off that day as not feeling well or that my interest had already waned.

– Are you feeling okay?

The next day, when I met Professor Atra, the awkwardness was gone. Instead of scolding me, she expressed concern for my well-being.

I must have misjudged people until now.

I was strangely moved by Professor Atra’s concern for me, despite the trouble I had caused.

– Snap!

Old-fashioned sparring.

Pushed the ground with my legs. Pushed my body forward and reached out with my hands. Behind me followed a blue aura.

As I reached out, another hand intertwined with mine. I shook off the hand trying to grab my wrist and swung my leg.

– Clang!

A rough sound erupted. A cloud of dust billowed up and settled around us.

The blue aura wrapped around my leg. Around Professor Atra’s forearm that blocked it was a faint golden aura.

Since that day… the sparring style changed slightly starting from Wednesday.

Spatial perception became more precise after dungeon practice. Therefore, I could better anticipate Professor Atra’s movements.

This was due to an increase in growth rate. My skills were improving enough for me to notice.

To see if my level was satisfactory, Professor Atra began teaching me the manipulation of auras and bodies.

Creating an aura is simple.

Just gather magic tightly and strongly. In other words, compressing a large amount of magic creates an aura.

However, beyond this explanation, a certain level of magical manipulation ability is required.

Thanks to my affinity for magic, I manifested it at once. What may be difficult for others in terms of magic manipulation feels relatively easy for me.

As a result, I was mastering both physical enhancement through auras, known as “Aura,” creating armor and weapons through auras, known as “Aura Armor,” and even implementing spells through magic.

Hands intertwined. Auras covering them gnawed and tore at each other.

After a brief confrontation, during which the distance widened, Professor Atra pulled one arm back. The golden aura wrapped around her fist. I also added an aura to my fist.

The distance between the fists narrowed. Collision ensued.

– Clang!

A sharp pain shot through my right arm. Dust scattered in all directions. The leg that couldn’t withstand the impact left a mark on the ground as it slid away.

Immediately after the collision, the wavering aura dispersed into the air. Apart from the structure being shaken by the impact, there was also a lack of magical power to sustain the aura.

“Enough.”

Seeing the dispersing aura, Professor Atra remarked. Her aura wrapped around arm dispersed as well.

“The speed and intensity of your aura manifestation are excellent, but is it a lack of magical power to sustain it?”

A persistent issue for beginners who have just entered the world of magic and lack magical capacity.

I have been steadily increasing my magical capacity. Whenever I had time, I meditated and operated my core. There were results.

My capacity had increased several times compared to when I dueled with Aidan. Despite not focusing properly on magic due to various other tasks, it had still grown to that extent.

However, I still didn’t have enough capacity to use Aura and Aura Armor comfortably.

Even now, my magical power would be depleted in just a few minutes of sparring.

As I caught my breath, Professor Atra checked the time and said,

“Today’s training ends here.”

[Well done]

Nevertheless, the number of hits I receive is decreasing as I reach a certain level. Even if I get bruised, the results of recovery training show quickly, and I’m back in action in no time.

Unfurling his stiff fingers, Professor Atla approached and proffered a water bottle.

“Take it.”

[Thank you.]

After responding with a holographic nod, I accepted the water bottle, feeling the chill emanating from its surface as I gulped it down in one go.

The refreshing sensation of cold water pouring into my parched throat was exhilarating. I disliked cold things but relished the coolness. That sentiment remained unchanged.

Professor Atla, who had been watching me drink with a curious gaze, extended his arm. The destination was the hand not holding the water.

Grabbing his arm firmly, I raised it to eye level.

‘?’

Examining my arm intently, Professor Atla remarked, “…While there’s no physical harm, fatigue has undoubtedly accumulated in your body. Refrain from intense physical training over the weekend. Any more strain will disrupt your schedule.”

It was simple advice. Finishing the water, I nodded in acknowledgment.

After briefly scrutinizing my face, Professor Atla turned away.

He seemed on the verge of saying something as his lips twitched, but perhaps it was an inconsequential matter that he decided to keep to himself.

Sensing Professor Atla leaving my range of spatial perception, I too took my leave.

With the major lecture concluded, it was now time to meet Hong Yeon-hwa.

Hong Yeon-hwa had arranged to meet at a café in the commercial district, the same brand where we had met with our classmates during the last dungeon training session.

I recalled this brand being one of the most well-known cafes in the world.

I couldn’t make it straight after the training session.

I was drenched in sweat due to sparring and had dusted myself off, so meeting her in that state was out of the question.

“Hey, Yul, over here.”

The café’s second floor provided a private space where external gazes were of no concern. There was a window beside us, but it was obscured from the outside view.

Upon opening the door to the designated room as per the message received, Hong Yeon-hwa, already seated and killing time, waved at me.

[Sorry for being late.]

“No worries, I just got here. I’ve already placed our orders.”

Seated across from Hong Yeon-hwa, she pushed a glass of iced tea towards me. Ice cubes floated inside.

I lightly touched the rim of the glass with my finger, feeling the cold chill distinctly. The fact that the ice hadn’t melted at all could mean I had arrived just recently.

However, the ice itself wasn’t definitive proof.

Thanks to my affinity for magic, I could clearly sense the magical formula inscribed on the glass.

In times when I had no knowledge of magic, it merely amounted to ‘magic forming a specific composition.’

Now, I could analyze the magical formula engraved on the glass. It was a temperature-regulating magic formula.

This meant that the ice wouldn’t melt for hours due to the magic cast here.

‘Magic.’

In this world dubbed modern fantasy, electricity wasn’t extensively used in various industries.

Magic fulfilled that role, with a significant portion of machinery being replaced by magic.

The number of magical formulas entering my current range of spatial perception easily exceeded several thousand.

“If you haven’t slept in days and feel exhausted, are you okay?”

[I’m fine. Besides, I plan to rest well starting today.]

“…You’ve been saying that since Tuesday, but you haven’t been in that state until now, have you?”

[This time, it’s for real.]

Hong Yeon-hwa looked at me skeptically. While it was true that I had made similar statements throughout the week and pulled all-nighters, this time, it was genuine.

I had to rest this time; otherwise, it would hinder my progress in entering the Tower of Growth. Regardless of my thoughts, I was in a position where I had to rest forcibly.

“…Since the entrance test is next week, let’s finish up quickly and take a break.”

Our small talk didn’t last long.

It consisted of light topics commonly shared—what we ate yesterday, how we felt yesterday, and so on…

Glancing at the time and my face alternately, Hong Yeon-hwa wore a slightly regretful expression as she rummaged through her pocket and retrieved a small rectangular box.

The design was sophisticated at first glance. The deep ebony wood material with a smooth surface, the intricately carved patterns felt like they required meticulous craftsmanship, vividly perceived through spatial cognition.

Moreover, inside the box, a tremendous amount of magic could be sensed. Even the sealing mechanism to prevent the magic from leaking out was palpable within the box.

“You know about the reward I mentioned last time. I thought about it and something just came to mind.”

Nonchalantly scratching his head, Hong Yeon-hwa placed the box on the table. Pushing it towards me, he then opened the lid.

Simultaneously, spatial perception sparkled. A surge of immense magic enveloped the room.

I stood there dumbfounded, my mouth agape.

Neatly arranged on a cushion inside the box was a brilliant blue elixir.

“It’s an elixir made by blending various herbs with the roots of the Fairy Tree.”

The Fairy Tree. A rare species where fairies reside for extended periods, transforming the tree drastically. A tree so rare that finding it in even the most magically dense forests is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

Before I could take it out, the rambling reward, the box being presented to me, the gaze eagerly fixed on this side…

Everything pointed to one fact. I couldn’t contain the trembling of my eyelids.

Raising my hesitant hand, I pushed the box away.

“Huh?”

Hong Yeon-hwa let out a perplexed sound. This action seemed unexpected, causing even her pupils to dilate in surprise.

“Ha-yul?”

Her gaze squarely met mine. The question of why I wasn’t accepting it was conveyed through her eyes.

I calmed my anxious heart with a sip of iced tea and cautiously shook my head from side to side.

“I can’t accept this kind of thing.”

“Why…?”

“How can I accept this?”

When people talk about consuming elixirs in this world, the vast majority immediately think of artificial elixirs. These are concocted by imbuing magic into ingredients and forcibly elevating them to the level of elixirs.

Typically, artificial elixirs require exorbitant amounts of money, time, and effort. One dose can easily cost tens of millions.

However, natural elixirs, which have reached the level of elixirs since their creation, are different.

Natural elixirs, born from ingesting abundant natural energy, surpass those intentionally crafted by humans in quality.

This is a natural elixir. Unlike artificial elixirs, it is born naturally, unattainable with money.

From this point on, something other than money is needed.

In other words, it’s something I cannot repay.

You can repay candy easily. Just hunt a few monsters and you’ll make money more easily than you think.

But this is different. This is something I cannot confidently repay.

I vehemently shook my head. I shouldn’t accept it. How could I accept it out of guilt?

Hong Yeon-hwa extended it to me as a reward.

A reward? For what?

For knocking me over during the freshman welcome event? For telling me not to walk without looking ahead? For accidentally knocking me out during practice?

For such trivial things? It’s absurd. The establishment of an exchange value is impossible. There is a difference in value that cannot be equated.

Hearing my thoughts, Hong Yeon-hwa sighed and cautiously tried to persuade me.

“This serves as both a reward and an investment.”

Hong Yeon-hwa is the heir of the Geophwa Clan.

The Geophwa Clan. Founded in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula where the progenitor was born, it is a major force maintaining balance alongside Mount Taesan.

One thing is certain, even by global standards, the Geophwa Clan is an extraordinary force. Even a three-year-old child knows the status of the Geophwa Clan.

“Although I have the authority over this elixir, as the head of the clan… our mother sending this elixir has a reason behind it.”

The head of the Gobhwa family… was a position delegated by the family head to oversee the family’s affairs. It was such an important role that usually a capable and trusted individual among the current family head’s relatives would be appointed… as I heard when the original work described the Changhae family.

At this point, the head of the Gobhwa family is Hong Yeonhwa’s mother.

“Investment…”

It makes sense that it’s definitely related to investment.

A special admission brought in under the pretext of being the Tower Master. However, at first glance, he seemed flawed.

Therefore, my common perception is that it feels like winning the lottery but with a lingering doubt. Of course, that skepticism has lessened slightly since the last confrontation.

Anyway, providing a specially admitted student with a natural elixir from a wealthy Gobhwa family for investment seems like a reasonable story.

“Hmm…”

The reluctance towards the word “investment” decreased. If it’s an investment, it means it’s not just out of goodwill from the Gobhwa family.

However, the sense of burden didn’t completely disappear. This investment would linger in a form akin to debt. At least, that’s how I perceived it.

“I really hope you accept.”

As I pondered, Hong Yeonhwa, who had been staring at me in contemplation, suddenly reached out and grabbed my hand.

“This is both a sign of my apology for various wrongdoings and the value invested by the family. And…”

Her tightly held hand trembled slightly. After gently stroking my hand wrapped in a sleeve, Hong Yeonhwa hesitated before speaking.

“I haven’t fully figured it out yet, but there’s something else I’m more sorry about. It’s really… something so difficult to talk about.”

Something she’s more sorry about towards me? I didn’t understand what she meant.

Hong Yeonhwa looked at me with an inexplicable earnestness.

“So please accept. Of course, I will never ask anything of you in return for this. I’ll stake my name on it.”

If she goes as far as saying that, it’s a lie if it doesn’t touch your heart.

In one corner of my mind, I wondered if I shouldn’t just accept it.

“……”

After a moment of contemplation, I nodded. Hong Yeonhwa’s face brightened immediately. Just by looking at her expression, one could think that she was the one receiving a gift, not me.

Accompanied by Hong Yeonhwa to the dormitory entrance, I entered the room at the end of the farewell path. Feeling the pounding of my heart, I hurriedly entered the room.

– Click

The door closed without a creak. The curtain that was already drawn. After briefly surveying the surroundings using spatial awareness, I settled in the center of the room and sat down.

Then, a few moments of deep breaths. Calming my excited mind, I gingerly took out a box from my pocket.

A small box with an elegant exterior. As I opened it with trembling hands, a refreshing magical power slowly emerged.

“Wow…”

An exclamation involuntarily escaped at the display of magical power. This level of magical energy should be easily felt even without being magically attuned.

With a cautious touch, I lifted the elixir. The thrill that ran through my fingertips from the magical energy transmitted was intense.

Regarding the issue of magical energy capacity, while I may not desire an abundance of magical power right now, this elixir alone would likely solve most of that problem.

It’s currently Friday evening.

Entry into the Tower must happen by Monday morning.

Taking the elixir now, relaxing to relieve physical fatigue until then, and adjusting the magical power gained from the elixir would be perfectly timed.

I swallowed my saliva. Feeling deep gratitude towards Hong Yeonhwa, I put the elixir into my mouth.

The elixir on my tongue melted down my throat like it recognized its owner.

A moment later.

“Gulp…?”

As if something were refluxing back up my throat, black blood oozed from the corners of my mouth.

Oh, damn.