“He… mastered the First Circle?”

Kim Myeongju’s voice trembled. Even though she had clearly heard it, she couldn’t help but ask again. It was just too hard to believe.

Mastering the First Circle after three weeks of entering magic.

What’s important here isn’t just that he can perform all First Circle magic.

It means he truly mastered it.

It meant he could perfectly manifest First Circle magic.

This was an unprecedented speed.

While Kim Myeongju was lost in thought, Instructor Ji Yun-oh subtly approached Seo Yi-tae.

Ji Yun-oh was a Third Circle Mage and a battle instructor, and he was about to teach Kim Songcheol.

“How long ago did he join?”

Ji Yun-oh whispered.

“Three weeks.”

“Three weeks? So the total period from mana perception, to circle activation, to magic training, is all three weeks…?”

“Yes.”

Seo Yi-tae answered with a clear voice. There was no reason to hesitate. He was stating facts.

“…That’s insane.”

Ji Yun-oh clicked his tongue in amazement.

Normally, it takes at least three months at the fastest, and one to two years at the slowest.

The fact that Cha Sehyeon, the best mage in the Republic of Korea, mastered the First Circle in three months made the surprise even greater.

“Alright.”

Kim Myeongju, who had been deep in thought, focused his attention.

Ji Yun-oh immediately straightened his posture, ready to listen to the Education Director’s words.

“The F-rank Dungeon teams, there are three teams, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Which team do you think would be best?”

“Well…”

Ji Yun-oh couldn’t answer readily. It was a sight that didn’t suit his agile, soldier-like appearance.

“…I’ll be honest with you.”

Ji Yun-oh finally seemed to make up his mind and began.

“The three teams currently formed have been working together for at least three months. They already have multiple F-rank Dungeon clear experiences, and their teamwork is good. In this situation, if we remove one person and put in Trainee Kim Songcheol, I expect there will be a lot of resentment.”

“Then are you saying it’s better to form a team with the second-string trainees?”

“That is my judgment. While reaching First Circle Master in a short period is a fact, the mages currently forming teams are also First Circle Masters.”

“He should have been deployed before he mastered First Circle Magic. It’s normal for someone to be deployed when they can use all First Circle magic without difficulty. But we waited until he mastered it. Although I didn’t expect him to reach master so quickly…”

Ji Yun-oh quietly waited for the next words.

“It was for Trainee Kim Songcheol’s safety.”

“…”

“But to team him with second-string trainees? Trainees with no dungeon experience whatsoever? That’s not what I want.”

“I understand. However, the experience of other trainees is important, not just Trainee Kim Songcheol’s. If a team member is replaced when they are just starting to build teamwork, other trainees will suffer…”

“No. Trainee Kim Songcheol is important.”

Kim Myeongju said with a strong voice. Ji Yun-oh flinched at the tone. It was the first time he had seen him put so much force into his voice and glare like that.

“What I expect from Trainee Kim Songcheol is experience with uncooperative hunters. You understand what I mean… right?”

About 30 people currently graduate from the Training Institute and work as proper hunters.

Among them, there were cases of people who were not ‘of proper character.’

However, since hunters were so scarce, it was impossible to be selective about teammates. Kim Songcheol also needed to be prepared for that.

“I understand that part, but… do we really have to go this far?”

Ji Yun-oh was half-forcing the issue.

He acknowledged Kim Songcheol’s ability. But for now, his own students were more important.

So he spoke up.

“Cha Sehyeon… could collapse at any time. I hope that answers your question.”

But at Kim Myeongju’s subsequent words, Ji Yun-oh could no longer say a single word.

Because the dissatisfaction of a mere trainee could not be more important than the fate of the Republic of Korea.

“Put him in the strongest team.”

Kim Myeongju’s order was given.

—

In the large training area, three trainees were present.

There were two male staff members and one female staff member.

Their expressions were far from good. One of their teammates had been excluded by the instructor’s directive.

“To suddenly get a new teammate, does that even make sense?”

“Tell me about it. We’ve cleared the dungeon so many times as a team of four…”

The excluded teammate was a female staff member mage. She was the one with less power among the two mages.

However, a lack of power was not enough to justify her exclusion.

She could certainly do her part, and considering the time she had spent learning magic, her growth was quite fast.

“Has this ever happened before?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you heard anything? About the new teammate coming.”

“Isn’t it someone placed by some agency? There are people like that sometimes, right? People who don’t even have mana affinity but are forced to learn magic. Like the military or the National Intelligence Service.”

“No.”

Moon Gijeong, who had been silently listening to the conversation, shook his head. He had a sturdy physique for a mage. He was the leader of this trainee team.

“Haven’t you heard the rumor?”

At Moon Gijeong’s words, Oh Songhui and Seo Gangjin both turned to him simultaneously.

“What rumor?”

“What rumor?”

The two said the same thing as if on cue.

“About ‘Uncle.’ You really haven’t heard?”

“Uncle?”

Oh Songhui frowned as if to say, what are you talking about?

Oh Songhui and Seo Gangjin were swordsmen.

Normal swordsmen and mages had little interaction. It wasn’t that they disliked each other, but since they had separate classes, they never had a chance to become close.

“The mages are in an uproar… he mastered the First Circle in three weeks since joining the Training Institute.”

“Three weeks? Isn’t that a baseless rumor? He must have learned it somewhere else. If he’s an ‘Uncle,’ he seems to be a bit older too.”

“Cha Sehyeon wasn’t even that fast.”

The swordsmen couldn’t accept the rumor at all.

Since they refused so adamantly, Moon Gijeong felt wronged.

“It’s true though…”

“Three weeks or ‘Uncle,’ I can’t accept it. Let’s kick him out.”

Seo Gangjin said. His expression was already filled with determination.

“Kick him out? Then Ji-yoon can come back?”

Oh Songhui also nodded.

“Exactly. Ji-yoon can only come back if we kick him out.”

Oh Songhui and Seo Gangjin were only thinking about getting their excluded teammate back.

“What do you think? You’re the leader, aren’t you?”

Oh Songhui asked Moon Gijeong.

Moon Gijeong looked back and forth between the two swordsmen for a moment, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“…Can we?”

“What?”

“Can we kick him out?”

Moon Gijeong was already overwhelmed by the rumor that he had reached First Circle Master in just three weeks.

Although Moon Gijeong was the leader, he himself had only just begun training in Second Circle magic.

If I had to put a number on it, he was a Second Circle Beginner.

If Kim Songcheol reached First Circle Master in three weeks, it wouldn’t take him long to surpass a Second Circle Beginner.

The premise that a weak Mage would drive out a strong Mage was not well established.

“What are you talking about? Ji-yoon was excluded without a good reason. Anyway, that old man has plenty of other teams besides us, doesn’t he?”

“Think about Ji-yoon. How much training have we done together, and how many Dungeons have we cleared?”

But with his teammates’ persuasion, Moon Gijeong mustered his courage. He was the team’s leader. He had the will to make clear judgments and lead his teammates.

“Alright. Let’s do it. There’s nothing to lose.”

The leader made a decision.

It was the moment Team 25A solidified their bond.

***

Kim Songcheol entered the training ground with Combat Instructor Ji Yun-oh.

In the training ground, which was about the size of an average gymnasium, three trainees were already present.

This was Team 25A, who would now be working with Kim Songcheol.

‘Oh dear.’

Kim Songcheol checked the faces of the three trainees and scratched his cheek.

Because he could feel their hostility at a glance.

‘The kids have a lot of intensity in their eyes.’

Ji Yun-oh had roughly explained the situation to him. That a teammate they had been working with was excluded, and he was taking their place.

He said there might be some backlash, and it was exactly as he expected.

“Alright, from today, this is Trainee Kim Songcheol, who will be joining us.”

Ji Yun-oh’s brief introduction.

Kim Songcheol greeted them with a nod.

“As you heard, I’m Kim Songcheol. Nice to meet you.”

“Moon Gijeong.”

“Oh Songhui.”

“Seo Gangjin.”

The trainees each introduced themselves.

‘At least they’re greeting me.’

Kim Songcheol found some comfort in that.

Because what he had imagined was a much more intense backlash.

“Then I will briefly explain today’s training.”

As Ji Yun-oh raised his hand, a magic circle formed in the air.

The magic circle shone brightly and dispersed, and at the same time, a translucent forest formed around them.

It was Third Circle Illusion magic.

Since it was originally a Third Circle spell and the range was set wide, the resolution wasn’t high. It was also translucent, so you could see through it clearly.

But it seemed there would be no problem for the training.

“Dungeon classification number F324. Mariam terrain. As you know, Goblins appear here, and the training content is to deal with sudden Goblin attacks. We will begin the training with a perimeter formation. I will give you 10 minutes for discussion to ensure smooth training progress.”

Ji Yun-oh gave quite strict training instructions.

This was Kim Songcheol’s very first training. Nevertheless, he was given only 10 minutes of preparation time with his unfriendly teammates.

‘He wants to train me hard? Not bad.’

Kim Songcheol could vaguely read the intention of Education Director Kim Myeongju in his attitude.

“Mr. Kim Songcheol, over here.”

Moon Gijeong called Kim Songcheol. The honorific ‘Mr. Kim Songcheol’ bothered him a little, but he approached anyway.

“The perimeter formation is a single file. The very front and very back are Swordsmen. The two in the middle are Mages, and I’ll be at the back, and Mr. Kim Songcheol will be at the front.”

“Oh, really?”

“Mr. Kim Songcheol’s main duty is frontal support, and he also needs to cover the flanks. And…”

“We’re short on time, shouldn’t you stop explaining?”

As Moon Gijeong’s explanation dragged on, Seo Gangjin interjected.

“Ah.”

Moon Gijeong’s flustered expression.

Kim Songcheol naturally witnessed it.

It was clear that he had unintentionally been kind.

“You roughly understood, right?”

Moon Gijeong hurriedly finished the explanation.

“Well… it’s training. Let’s just try it.”

Kim Songcheol gave a warm smile. Moon Gijeong, perhaps feeling a pang of conscience, turned his head away.

Ten minutes passed quickly.

Kim Songcheol stood in formation as he was told.

In front of him was Oh Songhui, behind him was Moon Gijeong, and at the very back was Seo Gangjin.

The forest path created by the illusion was not very wide. The forest was also dense, making it difficult to secure a clear view.

If Goblins were to pop out in such a place, the speed of response would be important.

While Kim Songcheol was making his calculations.

“The training will now begin.”

With Ji Yun-oh’s announcement, Team 25A began to advance along the long forest path.

How many steps had they taken?

The sound of leaves rustling was heard from the bushes ahead. It was a sound created by Ji Yun-oh’s magic.

As soon as Oh Songhui heard the sound and stopped, a Goblin burst out from the bushes.

Oh Songhui swiftly closed the distance and swung her sword.

As her sword cut through the Goblin illusion, the illusion vanished with a soft rustle.

The Goblin raid did not end there.

The sounds of footsteps and rustling bushes echoed more and more, heightening the Hunters’ tension.

Kim Songcheol heard the sound of a sword being swung from behind.

He imagined a Goblin appearing and Seo Gangjin swinging his sword.

Starting with that, Goblins began to pour out from both sides.

Oh Songhui cut down two Goblins in one strike, but in the meantime, other Goblins closed in.

A Swordsman’s duties are twofold.

Targeting and protecting the Mage.

However, due to the narrow forest path, the Goblins approached too quickly.

It was a situation where they could not physically protect Kim Songcheol, the closest Mage.

In such a case, the Mage behind Kim Songcheol should provide covering fire.

But Moon Gijeong did not move.

If it were a real battle, he would have helped without question, but this was training.

As if to atone for his past mistake of being unintentionally kind, he ignored his comrade’s danger.

Four Goblins ran towards Kim Songcheol.

Whoosh!

Kim Songcheol cast a Magic Missile spell, stopping one of them.

Three remained.

They were too close, so it would be lucky to even deal with one more.

The sight of the Goblin illusions overwhelming Kim Songcheol was clearly etched in Moon Gijeong’s mind.

However.

Crackling!

Three magic circles sporadically appeared around Kim Songcheol. One Goblin crashed into a suddenly erected magic shield and fell backward, another was torn apart by a Wind Cutter, and a third collapsed after being hit by another Magic Missile.

‘Wh-what? What’s his casting speed like that…?’

Moon Gijeong’s eyes widened at the performance, which far exceeded his imagination.

At the same time, he had no choice but to admit it.

Kim Songcheol was ‘the real deal.’