Kim Songcheol entered the Gymnasium. In his pocket was the ‘Ring’ he had received from Kim Myeongju.

Moon Gijeong, who was nearby, saw Kim Songcheol and approached him.

“You’re here?”

A very friendly greeting.

Since clearing the F-rank Dungeon, Moon Gijeong had become even more affectionate.

It was as if he had saved his life. Naturally, his heart inclined towards him.

“Oh, what did you do in class last time?”

“There wasn’t anything special.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine now. It’s a bit stiff, but I think I can handle class.”

Kim Songcheol rotated his shoulders a few times. He felt a slight pain, but it was tolerable. Compared to the pain he first experienced, that is.

“Good morning.”

A deep voice echoed through the Gymnasium. The Physical Training Official Position had entered with his assistant Official Positions.

Was it his imagination, or did his black hat look even more venomous today?

The Official Position, as always, went and stood in front of the platform.

The Trainees quickly gathered in front of the Official Position and lined up. They might receive ‘special lessons’ if they fell out of favor.

And that was no different for Kim Songcheol.

Kim Songcheol and Moon Gijeong quickly took their places at the back of the formation.

“Today we will have a physical fitness test. The event is a 10km run.”

No sooner had the Official Position finished speaking than groans erupted among the Trainees.

A physical fitness test wasn’t just a simple run; they had to finish within a time limit.

That time limit was so strict that almost half of the Trainees always failed.

“For reference, that’s a 4 minute 30 second pace per kilometer.”

“Ah…”

The time limit was shorter than last time.

Not many would be able to reach Castle level, except for a few naturally gifted individuals and Trainees who had trained for longer periods than others.

“This is not the time to sigh. 10 kilometers at a pace of 4 minutes and 30 seconds per kilometer is not even a particularly fast speed; it is merely the recommended physical fitness level for a Mage. Remember, meeting this standard maximizes your survival rate.”

The Trainees’ faces contorted, they bit their nails, and some even clutched their heads.

This was due to their worry about the 10-kilometer run and the ‘special training’ that would follow if they failed to meet the standard.

‘Yes, now is the time…’

Kim Songcheol quietly fiddled with the Ring in his pocket.

It seemed he had received the Ring at just the right moment.

Kim Songcheol was also ready to do anything if it meant avoiding ‘special training’.

“Then, let’s begin with warm-up exercises.”

The Trainees warmed up to the Instructor’s command and lined up at the starting line.

Kim Songcheol stood at the back and, without anyone noticing, slipped the Ring onto his index finger.

The Ring fit perfectly, as if custom-made.

The moment the cold sensation of the Ring enveloped his finger, he felt a very subtle change.

Mana emanated from the Ring, a specific Mana pattern that could not be analyzed by Circle Magic.

As Kim Songcheol savored that change,

“Alright, go!”

The Instructor’s booming voice echoed.

Beep-!

A loud whistle followed, and the Trainees began running along the Gymnasium track.

Kim Songcheol did the same.

He started at a moderate pace.

The goal was 10 kilometers.

He had to complete 50 laps of the 200-meter track.

The pace was 4:30.

This meant completing 5 laps in 4 minutes and 30 seconds or less.

One lap.

Two laps.

Three laps.

As time passed, the groups began to separate.

The lead group, full of余裕 despite their fast pace.

They were Mages who were naturally good at running.

Next was the middle group.

These were the people barely meeting the passing standard.

Then came the lower group.

This group couldn’t even dream of a 4:30 pace.

Some Trainees in the lower group ran slowly as if they had given up entirely, while others sweated profusely, trying to keep up.

Kim Songcheol belonged to the middle group.

Normally, he would have struggled between the lower and middle groups.

But now, to be honest, he had the ability to push further ahead.

‘This is insane… I’m less out of breath…’

Kim Songcheol was 100 percent satisfied with the item’s effect.

The Ring Kim Myeongju bought him had the effect of specifically enhancing his cardiorespiratory endurance among other physical abilities.

To be frank, it was by no means a powerful item.

It was very low-priced for an item, after all.

However, its perceived utility was tremendous.

‘This is a 100 percent pass.’

Until now, running had always been nothing but painful for Kim Songcheol.

It was an act of enduring pain, and then enduring more, to cross the finish line, but even crossing the finish line brought little sense of accomplishment.

But now, Kim Songcheol was feeling a sense of ‘refreshment’ for the first time.

If this wasn’t Magic, then what was Magic?

Kim Songcheol, who possessed an unprecedented Mana Affinity and consistently broke Training Institute Records, surprisingly found the greatest joy in a lowest-grade item.

Meanwhile.

‘Brother…?’

Moon Gijeong, who had been running only looking at Kim Songcheol’s back, tilted his head with a pained expression.

They had always run together. They had panted together, and suffered together.

But today, Kim Songcheol was slowly pulling away.

That wasn’t the only shocking thing.

Kim Songcheol, who had gradually moved away and disappeared from sight, suddenly appeared right behind Moon Gijeong and overtook him.

This meant that Kim Songcheol was one lap ahead, and that Kim Songcheol was still in the middle group.

“No way…!”

Moon Gijeong, having lost his running mate, despaired alone.

Special training was approaching him minute by minute.

***

Kim Songcheol’s stamina problem, which had plagued him, was resolved by a miracle in the form of a lowest-grade item.

Now, with nothing holding him back, Kim Songcheol plunged into Magic with full force.

Aside from the time spent entering an F-rank Dungeon twice a week, most of his time was filled with Magic training.

A month passed like that.

Today, too, Kim Songcheol came out to the Magic class lecture hall.

“Hello!”

“Good morning!”

Minjeong, Suji, and Mincheol, who were already in the lecture hall, greeted him.

Of course, Mincheol merely acknowledged him with a silent nod.

“Oh, hi.”

Kim Songcheol smiled and returned the greeting, then plopped down on the floor.

Now, sitting on the lecture hall floor felt perfectly natural.

“Have you gathered some Mana?”

Minjeong asked.

“I tried my best to gather it.”

Kim Songcheol nodded and replied.

He was still a 1st Circle Master.

That meant he hadn’t even become a 2nd Circle Beginner.

It was a slow progression, considering he had become a 1st Circle Master in just three weeks.

“You must have gathered a lot of Mana.”

Suji tilted her head.

Considering the amount of Mana Kim Songcheol accumulated through the Mana Breathing Technique, it was strange that he hadn’t yet formed a 2nd Circle.

“Want to see?”

Kim Songcheol straightened his posture and sat up tall. Then he lightly brought his hands together in front of his chest.

The moment Kim Songcheol separated his hands.

Kiiing!

With a strange high-pitched hum, a Circle greatly expanded within Kim Songcheol’s body and revealed itself outwards.

A single ring rotated rapidly around Kim Songcheol.

The ring emitted a clear blue light, showcasing its brilliance.

The diameter of that ring was 15 meters.

Its thickness alone was 1 meter.

It was several times larger than the rings of other Trainees.

“Huh?”

“A 1st Circle can get this big?”

Minjeong and Suji gasped in amazement. Even Mincheol blinked his eyes in surprise.

“It’s strange, isn’t it?”

Kim Songcheol said lightly, slowly bringing his open hands together in front of his chest.

Following his movement, the Circle gradually shrank, and finally disappeared into Kim Songcheol’s body.

“This is more than just a great tea set, it’s genuinely strange…”

“Are you saying the Circle gets bigger when you reach the 5th or 6th level?”

Kim Songcheol shrugged at Suji and Minjeong’s concerns.

“Still, I’m going to try to accumulate a bit more. It’s just a matter of spending time anyway.”

The Thread Kim Songcheol was not in a hurry. He already knew from experience that a lot of Mana was needed to create a Circle.

Moreover, compared to other Mages, his speed was still incredibly fast.

Considering the time frame, the fact that he was already attempting to expand to a 2nd Circle was absurd.

“I’ll be able to make it soon. Honestly, it can’t just grow infinitely, can it?”

“That’s right, that’s right. It will be soon.”

Minjeong and Suji offered comfort that wasn’t quite comfort.

Minjeong and Suji had not yet reached 1st Circle Master.

Therefore, Kim Songcheol could only scratch the back of his head awkwardly.

“I think it’ll be soon for me too. The rate at which Mana has been accumulating has slowed down a lot since about 3 days ago. That must mean I’m close to the limit.”

Kim Songcheol intended to attempt to create a 2nd Circle once more within a few days.

Since he had failed once a week ago, he wanted to take his time and try properly.

It was then.

[This is Education Director Kim Myeongju.]

Kim Myeongju’s voice echoed throughout the entire Training Institute.

It was quite unusual.

Since Kim Songcheol entered the Training Institute, Kim Myeongju had never made an announcement to everyone.

[Current time 09:12. A C-class Gate Occurrence was confirmed near Inje, Gangwon Province at 09:09.]

A C-class Gate was mentioned.

As soon as they heard that, the expressions of Kim Songcheol and the other Trainees changed dramatically.

Kim Songcheol’s face, in particular, hardened as if he were a different person.

The horrific scene of Ulsan unfolded in his mind like a panorama of rupture.

[As of now, all Hunters belonging to the Republic of Korea will be deployed for Points collection according to the Emergency Mobilization Order. I repeat. As of now, all Hunters belonging to the Republic of Korea will be deployed for Points collection. Hunters, please gather immediately at ‘Guardian Hall’.]

In this current class, Kim Songcheol was the only Trainee and Hunter.

One must enter and exit a Dungeon at least once to be given the title of Hunter.

The other Trainees were just Trainees, so it didn’t apply to them.

“I have to go.”

Kim Songcheol abruptly stood up from his seat.

A C-class Gate.

It was the fourth C-class Gate created in the Republic of Korea, and the interval between their creations was getting shorter and shorter.

“Be careful.”

“Really.”

“…”

Minjeong and Suji worried seriously, and Mincheol expressed his concern with a sincere gaze.

Kim Songcheol nodded as if to say not to worry and left the classroom.

He walked quickly straight towards Guardian Hall.

Hunters who had already emerged from each building were rushing towards Guardian Hall.

There were 32 Hunters and Trainees currently in the Training Institute.

All of them were gathering at Guardian Hall.

Kim Songcheol met Oh Songhui at the entrance of Guardian Hall.

“Where are the others?”

Kim Songcheol asked.

“I don’t know.”

As Oh Songhui shook her head, Seo Gangjin appeared.

He stood beside Oh Songhui with a serious expression, unlike his usual self.

The three members of Team 25A did not enter Guardian Hall but looked behind them.

Soon after, Moon Gijeong ran up to Guardian Hall.

As he caught his breath, Kim Songcheol nodded and spoke.

“Everyone’s here. Let’s go in.”

Team 25A entered Guardian Hall.