“Whew, that was tough.”

Kim Songcheol returned to his dormitory after attending all his classes.

He was quite tired, having used his body not only in physical training but also in the survival curriculum.

It might have been acceptable to rest on the first day, but Kim Songcheol didn’t just flop down.

First, 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 his preliminary study up to Circle creation with the materials he had received in advance, and from now on, it was about actual magic.

These were the fresh materials he had received after finishing class with Seo Yi-tae today.

‘Anyway, once I create a circle, I’ll practice right away, so I should learn about it in advance.’

Kim Songcheol was currently quite interested in magic.

He had always thought that being a hunter was something only a select few could do.

The occasional appearances of hunters in the media were perfect for inspiring admiration in ordinary people.

Because the country marketed them that way from the beginning.

Heroes of the Nation!

Magic and swordsmanship that only the chosen ones can use!

The immense benefits hunters receive!

Public opinion had been manipulated to make everyone want to be a hunter.

And Kim Songcheol was not much different.

Rather than wanting to be a hunter, Kim Songcheol had a lot of interest in mysterious magic and swordsmanship.

Until now, it had been a pie in the sky, only making his mouth water, but now there was no need for that.

Kim Songcheol opened his pad and opened the magic theory file.

‘Hmm.’

The magic system currently used in Korea was developed from a civilization called Arcadia.

It was a very standard magic system, used in most advanced countries.

There were a few even higher-level magic systems, but those were not affordable.

Because they were too expensive.

‘Still, this is pretty good.’

Looking solely at the magic system, the Republic of Korea is quite decent.

Many countries use cheap magic systems, unstable dark magic, or don’t even train mages at all.

As expected, the most important thing was points.

Disappearing gates and acquiring necessary items all required points.

“There’s nothing too difficult. Is it because it’s still basic?”

Kim Songcheol slowly nodded as he read through the theory. It was easier than he expected.

‘Magic… missile…’

The most basic of basics, Magic Missile.

Magic that compresses mana, imbues it with physical force, and then shoots it at high speed to inflict damage.

Adding a Magic Formula here creates a guiding function.

‘If I only had a Circle, I think I could use it now.’

Kim Songcheol clicked his tongue, as if still regretful.

***

A week has passed since Kim Songcheol entered the Training Institute.

Human adaptability is amazing, and he has already grown accustomed to life at the Training Institute.

While he was still far from keeping up with the vigorous Trainees in physical training, he had grown used to the personal training with the Instructor. Of course, just because he was used to it didn’t mean it had gotten easier.

“Hello.”

“Oh, good morning.”

As Kim Songcheol entered the lecture room, the Trainees who were taking Magic class with him naturally greeted him.

Kim Songcheol, accustomed to it, returned the greeting and sat down. Having taken classes together for a week, the four of them had grown quite close.

“Are you confident today?”

Kim Songcheol leaned his back against the wall and asked. His back was stiff, probably because he had slept poorly last night.

“I have to work hard since I’m late…”

She made a tearful face. The other two who had started at the same time were already creating Circles and practicing 1st Circle Magic, and she felt like she was falling behind.

“What do you mean, late? Look at me. Before 30, everything is early.”

“That’s that, and this is this. Besides, uncle, your progress is fast.”

“It’s complete deception. Uncle, you’re going to make a Circle today too.”

Suji, who was sitting next to him, also chimed in.

Kim Songcheol was going to create a Circle with Minjeong today.

Considering when Minjeong and Kim Songcheol had entered, it was an incredibly fast pace, so it was understandable that they felt deceived.

“I have experience. I didn’t get this old for nothing.”

Kim Songcheol replied casually and laughed. It felt like he was seeing his younger cousin, so jokes came out naturally.

“Hello. Good morning.”

Seo Yi-tae entered the lecture room right on time. Today, too, she was wearing a dress. Her closet might be full of dresses.

“Then, you two, practice the first Magic Formula for Magic Missile… Minjeong Trainee, shall we try activating your Circle first?”

Seo Yi-tae planned to activate the Circle and then proceed with the rest of the class.

Suji and Mincheol moved a distance away and began practicing Magic, while Kim Songcheol and Minjeong sat and waited for Seo Yi-tae.

Seo Yi-tae first approached Minjeong and placed her fingertips on her chest.

“If you move Mana as you’ve learned, activation won’t be difficult.”

“I can do it, right?”

Minjeong looked at Seo Yi-tae with slightly anxious eyes. It seemed she was nervous about actually doing it.

“Of course.”

As Seo Yi-tae encouraged her, Minjeong closed her eyes, as if determined.

“First, breathe.”

Seo Yi-tae’s pleasant voice spread softly.

Kim Songcheol watched Minjeong intently. It was Kim Songcheol’s turn after Minjeong. He had to observe carefully.

“Move the accumulated Mana out of the heart.”

Kim Songcheol’s concentration gradually increased, and his senses became sharper.

Then, at some point, he could feel what was happening inside Minjeong. The movement of Mana was so clear it seemed visible.

“Rotate it around the heart. Don’t make the diameter too large. It should feel like it’s clinging to the heart.”

Mana began to rotate around her heart. A fingernail-sized Mana swirled like a whirlpool. The spherical mass of Mana stretched like a wire as it rotated, forming a long band.

“Rotate. Rotate. Faster. More, more…”

Seo Yi-tae said firmly. Beads of sweat formed on Minjeong’s forehead. Rotating Mana that quickly required considerable concentration.

“More, more…!”

The beginning and end of the stretching Mana met, finally forming a ring.

The ring rotated at an incredible speed, making a humming sound.

Whoosh!

At some point, the ring greatly expanded, becoming large enough to extend outside Minjeong’s body.

The bright orange ring glowed visibly.

It was a sight of brilliant beauty.

“I’ll concentrate.”

If the ring has appeared outside, it’s the final stage.

But one must not be careless. The ring is not yet stable.

“Now, contract. Feel like you’re pushing it in uniformly from all directions.”

Following Seo Yi-tae’s guidance, Minjeong exerted control. The ring gradually shrank and then, at some point, entered her body.

“A little more. Closer to the heart. It needs to settle in the stabilization zone. Just a little more. Just a little more.”

Seo Yi-tae, who had been concentrating with a furrowed brow, suddenly relaxed her expression.

That’s when Minjeong opened her eyes.

“It’s done! It’s done, right?”

“Yes, congratulations. Minjeong Trainee is now a 1st Circle Mage.”

“Finally…!”

Minjeong clenched her fist as if moved. Not only Suji, but even Mincheol, who was usually quiet, offered his congratulations, speaking up for the first time in a while.

Now that Minjeong had created a Circle, Kim Songcheol was the only one in this lecture room without a Circle.

“Now it’s Kim Songcheol Trainee’s turn.”

Seo Yi-tae swallowed hard and approached. Was it just his imagination, or did she seem more nervous than Kim Songcheol?

“I’m ready.”

As the oldest Trainee, Kim Songcheol composed himself and took his stance.

He sat down and lightly placed both hands on his knees.

Seo Yi-tae’s fingertips touched Kim Songcheol’s chest, and Kim Songcheol took a deep breath before slowly closing his eyes.

“Let’s begin the Circle activation. First, slowly breathe…”

Kim Songcheol prepared to activate the Circle according to Seo Yi-tae’s words.

“Let’s slowly move the Mana mass out of the heart.”

The Mana mass sleeping inside Kim Songcheol’s heart began to move. It moved surprisingly smoothly and came out of his heart.

The size of the Mana mass was similar to Minjeong’s. It was large enough to create a Circle, and it was a considerable amount for such a short period.

“Rotate it around the heart. Since your control is strong, be careful not to do it too quickly.”

Kim Songcheol rotated the Mana mass as slowly as possible.

He already had experience piercing the ceiling with a staff and creating a Mana vortex.

Through that experience, he learned to reduce force and perform delicate manipulations.

Thanks to this, the Mana mass began to revolve around his heart, neither too slow nor too fast.

“Speed up a little more. A little more. A little more.”

Seo Yi-tae instructed carefully, like someone driving an 8-ton truck with broken brakes.

But what she feared did not happen.

Kim Songcheol was doing well with Mana control.

Kim Songcheol’s Mana mass gradually began to stretch. Its tail lengthened, and at some point, it met its head, completing the ring.

“I’ll increase the speed. Concentrate.”

Hummm…!

The sound of the Circle spinning grew louder. Kim Songcheol heard the sound even more intensely, as it was coming from inside his body.

“…I’ll increase it just a little more.”

Seo Yi-tae furrowed her brow.

It was strange.

At this speed, the Circle should be expanding.

Just like when Minjeong’s Circle came out of her body.

But Kim Songcheol’s Circle showed no signs of expanding.

The Rotation Speed was already much faster than Minjeong’s.

‘What? Why isn’t it working?’

Kim Songcheol also felt something was wrong. He knew theoretically that the Circle expansion timing had passed.

Kim Songcheol consciously increased the Rotation Speed further. He still had plenty of power to rotate it. Since he still had power, he wondered if he had lacked strength.

Eeeeeng!

A sound like a high-speed motor rotating came from Kim Songcheol’s body. The low hum grew progressively higher.

Despite this, there was still no news of the Circle’s expansion.

‘Wasn’t it a Rotation Speed problem…?’

Seo Yi-tae was just as confused. She had also secretly thought that increasing the Rotation Speed would solve the problem.

However, even after increasing the speed to the point where there was a loud roar, no expansion occurred.

‘Then what is it…?’

Seo Yi-tae hid her confusion and spoke.

“I’ll slow down. Gradually, until it stops.”

Kim Songcheol listened to Seo Yi-tae for now. He slowly reduced the speed, turned the ring back into a mass, and then put it into his heart.

They had returned to the beginning.

Kim Songcheol opened his eyes and asked.

“Why… didn’t it work?”

Seo Yi-tae couldn’t answer readily. Although she was sitting there as an official instructor, she couldn’t understand the situation either.

“Well… this is the first time I’ve experienced something like this… Could I look into it and tell you next time?”

“Ah, yes. Well, it can’t be helped.”

Kim Songcheol hid his disappointment and nodded.

He had naturally assumed he could create a Circle.

It felt like having a Christmas present he had waited a year for snatched away.

‘Was my talent not that great?’

Kim Songcheol even doubted himself out of disappointment.

Even after thinking about it, it didn’t seem like a talent issue, though.

“Ah, time’s already… We’ll stop here for today’s class.”

All the time had passed while trying to create the Circle. Seo Yi-tae bowed silently to the Trainees as usual and then left the lecture hall.

Seo Yi-tae, who had maintained a smile, immediately looked distraught as she stepped into the corridor. With trembling hands, she quickly took out her mobile phone and called Kim Myeongju.

[Hello? Instructor Seo Yi-tae?]

As soon as Kim Myeongju’s voice came through, Seo Yi-tae began to pour out her words.

“The Circle was supposed to be created for Trainee Kim Songcheol today, but it’s not being created. I don’t know what’s going on. I wasn’t even supposed to be in charge of this…! I have to find a solution. What should I do?”

Seo Yi-tae cried out in a whisper into the phone.