Joining a Guild

I decided which guild to join.

And where could that be?

Drumroll, please…

It’s…

Elemental!

The Expeditionary Force? As if. If you’re an Elemental Mage, you go to Elemental. It’s a no-brainer.

*

The lobby of the Elemental guild’s main building.

People in robes walked about.

“Yes, how can I help you?”

“Ah, I’m here to inquire about joining the guild.”

“Joining the guild, I see. Please give me your Awakener Registration Card and wait a moment. Ah, you haven’t been an Awakener for long. Thank you for choosing our guild. You won’t regret it.”

“Please fill out the relevant sections on this form. When you’re done, hand it to us, and an employee will call your name, so please have a seat.”

-Government-Certified Class and Rank: Magic-type, C-rank

-Contribution Grade (Numeric): Grade 9

-Trait: Elemental Mage

-(If Trait is Elemental Mage) Controllable Element: Flame

After a short wait in the lobby, my name was called, and I followed an employee upstairs.

“This is the same test you took when you first registered as an Awakener. We’re measuring your magic sensitivity again, but it will take a bit longer this time.”

“Your trait is Elemental Mage, and your controllable element is Flame, correct? In that case… here, please place your hand on this crystal orb and wait a moment.”

“Yes, that’s done. You can remove your hand. Next… place your hand on this crystal orb.”

“Yes, that’s done. Next is this orb.”

“Yes, that’s done. Next is this one here.”

“Yes, that’s done. Next is—”

*

Ugh, why were there so many tests?

I discreetly asked, and it turned out each crystal orb measured my sensitivity to a different element.

The first one was probably Flame. As for the others, based on how they felt when I touched them—what were they again? There were so many I can’t even remember. I guess there are all sorts of elements out there.

After I went back down to the lobby, an employee called my name again.

I followed them into a consultation room.

There, the employee handed me a sheet of paper.

“First… these are your test results. Your Awakener Registration Card lists you as a C-rank Magic-type, but according to our guild’s equipment, you also show a slight aptitude for the Enhancement and Transformation classes.”

“It’s quite common for people to acquire an Enhancement-type trait later on, but Transformation-type traits are hard to come by. With a reading like this, you’ll probably be able to gain a Transformation trait in the future.”

“Oh… is that… so?”

My heart skipped a beat. It can detect that? Damn, that’s sharp. Is the Enhancement aptitude because of the ‘Optimal Physique’ sub-trait of ‘Succubus’?

“Ah, yes. If your transformation synergizes well with your element, it can be incredibly powerful. But even if it doesn’t, a Transformation trait is great to have, so congratulations. I’m envious.”

“Haha… Thank you.”

…I wonder if it’s really something to be envious of.

“Also, according to the results, your magic sensitivity is almost at B-rank. So we’ve given you a C++ for now. Ah, C+ means you’re above average for a C-rank, and C++ means you’re just shy of B-rank.”

“You can probably go back to the Awakener Center to get your rank updated once you hit B-rank. The difference between letter grades in the official government system is significant, so if you do rank up, we’ll let you know right away.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“And this part is your elemental sensitivity. For Flame, which you can currently use, you’re testing at about a B-rank level. As for the other elements—you don’t seem to have a particularly bad affinity for any of them—and the most likely element to awaken next is… Lightning.”

Oh, Lightning. I can’t say no to that. But from what I know about the Lightning element—

“Your first and second elements are both highly offensive, and they’re both mana-guzzlers. This will probably be taken into consideration for party composition and mana potion support during gate expeditions.”

Right. They’re both strong, but they consume a lot of mana and are difficult to control.

Shit, I can’t even use mana potions…

“How does the mana potion support work?”

“Our mana potion support is one of our guild’s points of pride. They’re made using magic stones from monsters that use the corresponding element, so they have the effect of restoring mana and increasing elemental sensitivity.”

Ah, I was just going to sell them since they don’t work on me. But this means I have to drink them, doesn’t it?

“In your case, Lee Han-gyeol, since you use Flame and Lightning, you’ll be supplied with mana potions that focus on mana recovery rather than elemental sensitivity. After all, it’s better for both sensitivity and proficiency to use your skills directly rather than just drinking potions.”

“Oh? In that case, is it possible to reduce the mana recovery and increase the elemental sensitivity instead? My mana recovery from potions is a bit low, and instead, um, er… I have a… separate skill that restores my mana.”

“Oh, really? For Awakeners who have elements with low mana costs or have mana recovery skills, we provide potions that focus on elemental sensitivity rather than mana recovery. Shall I arrange that for you?”

“Yes, please.”

Oh? So this was an option?

“As for your contribution grade, you just Awakened yesterday, so there’s nothing special to note. Now, I’ll go over the contract details.”

“Okay.”

“First, for new Awakeners, the first week is a training period…”

*

I decided to start tomorrow.

‘The first week is training, the second is a probationary period, and from the third week on, I’ll be assigned to an expedition team.’

「Guild Member ID (Temporary)
Lee Han-gyeol
Element: Flame」

It still didn’t feel real.

Just three days ago, I was watching Awakeners in the media with envy. And now I was one of them. That heart-pounding life was finally—

Diri-ring—

A ringtone pulled me from my reverie.

Choi Shin-woo.

This punk again.

“What.”

—I told you I’d wash your blanket for you today. I’m dropping that off, and I have something else to give you.

“Don’t try any funny business.”

—Ah, not today, for real. I’m just going to give it to you. I have to enter a gate later anyway.

“Really? You’re going in late.”

—Yeah. It’s a place that’s easier to tackle in the evening. When are you free?

“I’m free now. Oh, and I got into Elemental.”

—Oh, congrats. I’m on my way then.

“Alright. See you in front of my building.”

—Huh? No. I’ll come up. It’s no big deal.

“I’m a guy right now and have no intention of transforming, so don’t get your hopes up.”

—Oh, well then…

“Hey.”

—Just kidding, obviously. It was a joke, a joke. Just messing with you. Don’t be like that. I’ll just come up.

“Fine.”

*

“Here’s the blanket, and this.”

Choi Shin-woo pulled out a dark purple pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt that looked like something a child would wear.

“What’s this?”

“I told you before. A combat suit with good elasticity. It’s less of a combat suit and more like… underwear? I mean, you could wear just this, I guess.”

“When…? Ah, that time.”

—Ah, the reason you get naked to transform is because your clothes get in the way, right? There’s this form-fitting combat suit that’s incredibly stretchy. I’ll get you one.

“Yeah. This is, what was it called, anyway, it’s made from a monster byproduct and it’s super stretchy, so it’s really comfortable. It’s also tough, and a thin film of mana flows over it, so it doesn’t tear easily. It protects you from minor scratches and stuff. And it’s breathable and wicks sweat well. Dries in a flash, too.”

“Oh, thanks. You don’t use one?”

“I have something better.”

Choi Shin-woo lifted his shirt slightly, revealing a tight-fitting fabric of an even darker purple.

“Ta-da. This one is the same size as that.”

Amazing. It really stretches a lot.

“Thanks a lot. I’ll put it to good use.”

“If you’re thankful, you know what to do, right?”

“What, you bastard?”

“Nothing. I’m leaving.”

“See you.”

After seeing Choi Shin-woo off, I went back into my apartment and immediately took out the combat suit.

It’s really small.

I tried on the top first. It really did stretch smoothly. Whoa, this is cool.

It clung to me thinly, like a second skin. It wasn’t constricting at all. Is this the technology of the Gate era?

But… it revealed every line of my body. No wonder people only wear it as underwear.

Should I try on the bottoms too? Uh, do I wear this without underwear?

Me: Hey, do I wear this without underwear?

Choi Shin-woo: Yeah, obviously. You think you wear underwear under it?

Me: f u

Choi Shin-woo: And it’s pretty revealing, so put some pants on over it.

Hmm… It really is revealing. But it’s comfortable. Like a second skin, like I’d painted my naked body dark purple.

…Well, I can just wear pants over it.

Me: How do I wash this?

Choi Shin-woo: Just rinse it in water and let it dry. The mana keeps it from getting dirty anyway.

Me: OK, thanks. I’ll use it well.

Choi Shin-woo: Yup.

Well, there’s nothing to do. I should just go to bed early, wake up early, and head over there a bit sooner.

My first solitary night since my Awakening.

It felt so good.

*

“Hello.”

“It’s your first day, right? Welcome. Please follow me this way.”

Finally, my life as an Awakener was beginning!

First, I redid the basic training I’d done at the Awakener Center, only this time it was more demanding.

I trained by setting myself on fire (after making the flames large) and then extinguishing it, launching flames in a desired direction (at a fast-moving object, which required changing direction mid-flight…!), and controlling the path of a fire (in a strong wind).

It was tough, but I managed somehow. I was even praised for being a quick learner. So far, so good.

It was fine even when it was just me and some screeching, monkey-like monsters left in the training room.

I was a bit startled that the four-legged monkeys (Thief Monkeys, named so because they steal magic stones) were half as tall as my thigh, but it was fine.

I’d ignite my hand, swing the flames to set them on fire, and then shoot fire at the monkeys as they scattered in every direction…

The screeching was annoying, but I felt like a real Awakener, so I was in high spirits.

Any qualms about taking a life?

Maybe I would have felt something if they hadn’t bared their teeth and charged at me, screaming like mad.

My proficiency increased, and ‘Elemental Generation,’ ‘Elemental Control,’ and ‘Flame Immunity’ all leveled up by 1, reaching level 3.

Ting!

[Skill ‘Essense Conversion’ has leveled up: Lv.2 > Lv.3]

‘Essense Conversion’ also reached level 3.

It leveled up after I converted about 200 Essense into mana, and the efficiency increased from a 1:10 ratio to 1:15.

It didn’t go up to 1:20. Damn, so close.

How much Essense do I need to convert for the next level? 300? 400?

Of course, the fact that I’d used enough Essense to level up meant—

[Mana: 232/1250]
[Essense: 100/1250]

—I was running low on Essense. No.

I originally had about 600 Mana and 400 Essense.

I converted 200 Essense into 2000 Mana.
Then, after leveling up, I converted 100 Essense into 1500 Mana.
Adding the 3500 Mana to my original 600…
Meant that out of about 4100 Mana, I only had around 200 left.

I was using about 3900 to 4000 a day.
I did drink the mana potions, but the amount was small, and I’d be drinking them tomorrow too, so if I treated that as a constant and removed it from my calculations…
I was short over 2000 Mana.

I didn’t realize I’d be using this much in a single day.

Transforming and reverting costs 100 Mana and 100 Essense, so in reality, it costs 100 Mana plus the 1500 Mana from conversion, for a total of 1600 Mana.

I racked my brain and did the math over and over, but the fact remained unchanged… I needed to receive Essense one more time.

No, was it twice? It might be a close call, but I might need to do it twice.

The problem was,

Choi Shin-woo wasn’t answering his phone.