President’s Office.

Behind a large desk sat the President of the Republic of Korea, Seo Jaegwang, and in front of him, the Minister of Interior and Safety, Choi Jongmun, and the Special Tactical Education Director, Kim Myeongju, stood respectfully.

“It would be best to put an embargo on this for now.”

President Seo Jaegwang said.

It was, of course, an embargo concerning Kim Songcheol.

The Training Institute is not completely isolated from society. All Trainees have smartphones and communicate freely with family and friends.

In that process, information from the Training Institute inevitably leaks out, and rumors about Kim Songcheol were already spreading.

“A 31-year-old Trainee is perfect material for a news article, and if you add that his magical ability is outstanding…”

President Seo Jaegwang massaged his chair armrest as if already tired.

Every country on Earth is desperate for Hunters with magical ability.

The emergence of a hero-like Hunter was something everyone wanted, so once news articles about Kim Songcheol started appearing, the reaction would be intense.

“But Mr. President. We can’t keep it hidden forever, can we?”

Conversely, Choi Jongmun seemed eager to reveal Kim Songcheol.

“We still need to observe. High Mana Affinity doesn’t necessarily mean outstanding magical ability, does it?”

The President expressed his refusal in a calm tone.

“Most of the time, it’s proportional.”

“If we release a news article and then he underperforms, it will be a loss. It’s also bad for public sentiment. For now, do as we discussed.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Choi Jongmun had voiced a differing opinion once, but he backed down the second time.

From the beginning, Choi Jongmun had become the Minister of Interior and Safety with the President’s backing.

Going against his words was impossible.

Choi Jongmun and Kim Myeongju bowed deeply and then left the President’s Office.

“It’s just a matter of time anyway. You’re too cautious.”

Choi Jongmun walked down the corridor for a while before abruptly speaking.

“It’s only been a week since he joined. It’s still a bit early.”

“As they say, you can tell a lot from a little. He’s a friend who graduated from a prestigious university and was an accountant, and his Mana Affinity is so high. What does that mean? Doesn’t it mean he’s a great talent?”

“…I believe he has enough potential.”

“It’s a real shame. Anyway… raise him well. Since it’s come to this, we should raise him to be very great and when we unleash him, he should burst with power at a rupture level.”

Kim Myeongju merely nodded instead of replying.

From what Choi Jongmun was saying, he seemed more concerned with Kim Songcheol’s political usefulness than the Republic of Korea’s safety.

She knew that as a politician, he couldn’t help but consider that.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable.

Ding.

Just then, Kim Myeongju’s mobile phone rang.

When Kim Myeongju glanced at it, Choi Jongmun nodded as if telling her to answer.

Kim Myeongju answered the phone.

“Hello? Instructor Seo Yi-tae?”

[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?]

“First, calm down and tell me. You couldn’t create the Circle?”

[Yes, yes! The Circle was supposed to be created today… The Mana Quantity was sufficient.]

Kim Myeongju had also learned magic. Although she only reached the first Circle due to lack of talent and time, she naturally understood the general mechanism.

“So, Instructor Seo Yi-tae, you’re saying all the conditions were met, but the Circle wasn’t created?”

[Yes, that’s right. What should I do? I never imagined something like this would happen…]

Seo Yi-tae was on the verge of tears. It sounded like she was wiping them away.

“Okay, I understand for now, so calm down and review the theories about the Circle again. I’ll try to do something on my end.”

[Sob… Yes, then I’ll review the theories.]

Kim Myeongju ended the call like that. As she put her mobile phone away, Choi Jongmun immediately took a step closer.

“What’s going on? Can’t create a Circle? Is this about Kim Songcheol?”

“Well… yes, that’s right. The instructor says she doesn’t know why.”

“What? Is it already over?”

“We don’t know yet. The magic theory we have is only a part, and Mr. Kim Songcheol is such a unique case…”

“Damn it, I even reported it to the President… Try to solve it somehow. If necessary, I’ll even provide ‘Points support’.”

“Ah, really?”

“Yes. I’m prepared for that much.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kim Myeongju then parted ways with Choi Jongmun and headed to an officetel in Seoul.

‘He never answers the phone.’

She kept calling, but it just rang until it went to voicemail several times.

It was difficult to even have a phone conversation with the Republic of Korea’s best Mage, Cha Sehyeon.

She had already checked his schedule. Cha Sehyeon was definitely in Korea, not a Dungeon.

Kim Myeongju parked her car in the parking lot and went up to Cha Sehyeon’s officetel.

She rang the doorbell three times, but there was no response.

She knocked hard on the door, but still no response.

“Is he not home?”

She had rushed over, but he might not even be home.

There was even a possibility he was asleep and couldn’t hear.

Ding.

She raised her fist to knock on the door again when her mobile phone rang.

She checked the screen and saw a text message from Cha Sehyeon.

[What do you want?]

Kim Myeongju immediately called. This time, thankfully, Cha Sehyeon answered right away.

[Why do you keep calling?]

Cha Sehyeon’s voice was barely audible. It was almost completely drowned out by the loud music.

‘Where on earth is she?’

11 AM.

Where could she be to hear music this loud?

Kim Myeongju got straight to the point.

“I have something to ask you.”

[What did you say?]

“I have something to ask you!”

[What is it?]

“One of the trainees can’t create a Circle! Her Mana Quantity is sufficient, and her Rotation Speed is also high enough!”

[A Circle?]

“Yes, a Circle!”

[…]

Suddenly, Cha Sehyeon’s voice cut off. Kim Myeongju couldn’t tell what she was doing that made her response so slow. Only the blaring music could be heard.

[Ah, stop… talking… for a bit.]

Cha Sehyeon’s voice faintly drifted through the music.

[She can’t create a Circle?]

Cha Sehyeon returned to the call.

A sound of her exhaling could also be heard.

“Yes, a Circle. You’ve heard a lot communicating with Arcadia, right? Is there any way?”

[Operating a Circle isn’t a big deal anyway. It’s all about Mana Quantity and Rotation Speed.]

“I told you, it doesn’t work even when those are met.”

[There’s no such case.]

“Instead of that, if you could just come and check…”

[Seriously, why are you telling me to come and go? Just answering your call is special treatment.]

“Alright, I apologize for that. Is there anything you can think of?”

[Ugh, seriously, this is bothering me. Is there anything you haven’t told me? There’s no way it just won’t form.]

The music coming from the mobile phone gradually softened. It seemed she was moving to a quieter place.

“Her Mana Affinity is very high, significantly.”

[Ah… then that could be it. You know Belset, right? The Mage from Nordilia.]

The music almost completely faded, and Cha Sehyeon’s voice became clear.

“Oh, that Ninth Circle Mage?”

[Yeah. That Belset had a tough time raising his Circle. I didn’t hear the details, but it seems he was born with a large Mana Pool. So the Mana Quantity needed to raise a Circle is higher for him than for others. It’s the same for operating a Circle.]

“Ah, she needs a lot more Mana Quantity compared to others?”

[In my opinion, that’s the only explanation. If her Mana Affinity is high, her Control should also be decent, right?]

“That’s right.”

Kim Myeongju recalled the stick stuck in the ceiling. Her Control was, in fact, overflowing.

[Aside from Mana Quantity, there’s no reason she shouldn’t be able to create a Circle. But seriously, old man. For you to call me, doesn’t that mean you’re putting a lot of effort into this?]

“Well… I suppose so?”

[Then please, raise them well and release me. I’m going crazy, seriously. I mean, damn it, I’m trying to be considerate of people, but how long do I have to keep collecting Points? Does it only end when I die?]

“I’ll try my best to handle that. Just bear with it a little longer. I’m sorry.”

[I’m not asking for much. Just raise someone to a similar level as me. The thought that a Gate will open if I don’t enter the Dungeon is driving me absolutely insane!]

Cha Sehyeon is responsible for more than half of the Points currently earned by the Republic of Korea.

For several years, Cha Sehyeon had been risking her life and losing comrades while earning Points.

Cha Sehyeon was known almost as a Castle-grade Rupture-bomb, but she never stopped earning Points.

Even after the Ulsan incident, she increased her schedule.

So, even if Cha Sehyeon threw a tantrum, the Republic of Korea had nothing to say.

After doing her best to soothe Cha Sehyeon, Kim Myeongju rubbed her suddenly tired eyes and hung up the phone.

‘I’m sorry. Just wait a little longer.’

Cha Sehyeon was the first trainee Kim Myeongju had nurtured since becoming the Education Director.

She remembered what kind of person she used to be.

Seeing her now, she felt nothing but regret.

Kim Myeongju called Seo Yi-tae again from the officetel door.

It was time to deliver the news.

“I found a way.”

***

“Let’s gather more Mana.”

Seo Yi-tae advised Kim Songcheol.

Calmly and confidently.

His tone inspired trust.

There was no trace of the whining he displayed with Kim Myeongju.

“Ah, is that so?”

Thanks to this, Kim Songcheol easily accepted it. He even thought, ‘As expected, the Instructor is different.’

Kim Songcheol firmly believed Seo Yi-tae’s words and began gathering Mana.

He invested most of his time in gathering Mana, excluding class hours.

His passion surprised even himself.

‘Have I ever worked this hard on something?’

Kim Songcheol had never done anything so persistently.

Most things he did half-heartedly.

Still, the results were good.

Perhaps that’s why he was even more half-hearted.

But this Magic was different. It strongly pulled Kim Songcheol in, as if saying, ‘This was always your path.’

As he invested time, Kim Songcheol’s Mana rapidly increased.

By the time a week passed, his Mana had increased fivefold from the beginning.

This was because he was becoming more accustomed to the Breathing Technique, and his body was adapting further to Mana.

“At this point, you should try again.”

Seo Yi-tae, who had been checking Kim Songcheol’s Mana Quantity daily, said.

It had increased fivefold within a week. That speed was quite astonishing.

He could have gathered more, but he also had to consider the side effects of accumulating more Mana than necessary.

“Alright, let’s begin. Close your eyes.”

Following Seo Yi-tae’s guidance, Kim Songcheol closed his eyes and drew Mana from his heart.

A lump of Mana, heavier than before, emerged smoothly.

Next, rotation.

The lump of Mana revolved around his heart, then stretched out.

The speed gradually increased.

Soon, the head and tail met, forming a circle.

Whoosh!

The sound of rotation resonated powerfully. With more Mana Quantity, the sound was even grander.

“Increase the rotation speed a little more.”

Seo Yi-tae’s instruction.

Kim Songcheol lightly increased the speed. He still had strength left. He could spin it twice as fast.

“Just a little more.”

It was when Kim Songcheol increased the speed just a bit more.

Kiiing!

A high-pitched noise continued for a long time, and the moment it cut off, the Circle greatly expanded and emerged from Kim Songcheol’s body.

Normally, it rotates at an interval of about 50cm around the body. So, it has a diameter of about 1 meter.

But Kim Songcheol’s Circle was different.

It instantly expanded, growing to a diameter of almost 10 meters.

It was large enough to cover half of the lecture hall.

A brilliantly glowing Circle rotated around Kim Songcheol.

The vividness and brightness of the color were incomparable to any other Circle.

‘This is…’

Seo Yi-tae was astonished.

It was the first time he had seen such a large Circle.

At the same time, he understood.

To create such a vast Circle, an equally immense amount of Mana is required.

He could clearly understand why Kim Songcheol had initially failed to create a Circle.

“…I’ll contract it.”

Seo Yi-tae calmly said, hiding his surprise.

Kim Songcheol slowly reduced the size of the Circle.

Five meters, one meter.

The Circle vanished into Kim Songcheol’s body.

But Kim Songcheol could distinctly feel it.

The presence of the Circle rotating around his heart.

The power contained within the Circle.

The stabilized Circle firmly settled around his heart.

Kim Songcheol felt a flawless perfection, as if a puzzle piece had perfectly fit into place.

Now, he no longer needed to intentionally rotate the Circle.

The Circle rotated on its own. It would not stop rotating until Kim Songcheol died.

Circle activation complete.

First Circle Mage Kim Songcheol slowly opened his eyes.