Episode 22

Basic Mana Manipulation.

It starts with delicately enhancing the control over mana.

Therefore, it’s a must-learn for magicians, and even martial artists should learn it.

‘For a simple reason.’

The power of magic changes depending on whether you can use this or not.

You can strengthen magic by dominating the mana around.

If your opponent casts magic without having mastered Basic Mana Manipulation, you can easily overpower them.

If you’re a martial arts practitioner, you can improve your control over sword qi and effortlessly slice through the opponent’s magic.

Can it be established in this world?

It feels something like this.

Then, how should I control this mana?

‘I need to feel the mana deeply.’

One must control mana as if it’s their own body.

For a warrior, it’s like becoming one with the sword.

A mage must also become one with mana.

So, I had already ordered what I needed from Abel in advance, and he was able to easily obtain them.

‘Honestly, I didn’t expect him to get them so quickly.’

Because what I asked for was very rare, I thought it would take some time.

But Abel surprisingly managed to get them right away, so we could proceed with the lesson immediately.

“Hmm, is it a swimming pool?”

“Yes.”

The training location I chose was indeed a swimming pool. Everyone was already changed in advance. Most were already in swimsuits.

“Ha, haha…”

Abel was smiling awkwardly.

“What’s the matter, Abel. Are you already scared?”

“…. Problem Child, Yoo Eunchae. You can speak so confidently because you don’t know what this is.”

Then, Abel looked at me with nervous eyes, as if asking if I was really going to do it.

I nodded with a smile.

I really have to do it, considering how much it all costs.

“Where is this?”

“It’s a swimming pool. It’s also a place to learn Basic Mana Manipulation.”

“Here?”

“Here.”

“Hmm. You didn’t just want to see me in my swimsuit, did you? If you tell me quietly when we’re alone…Ah!”

Snap!

I flicked Yoo Eunchae’s forehead for talking nonsense.

“What you’ll be doing from now on is simple. I’ll push you in, and you’ll have to get out of the water on your own. Ah, of course, you can’t use mana.”

“Isn’t that too easy?”

“Right? You think it’s too easy too?”

At Yoo Eunchae’s words, I laughed.

Did she realize something was off?

Yoo Eunchae quickly covered her mouth.

Abel glared at Yoo Eunchae as if he wanted to kill her.

“But wouldn’t this be dangerous?”

“Then the classroom will be empty, that’s what.”

“…Whatever it becomes, I don’t care.”

A woman spoke haughtily.

Silver hair, red eyes—What was her name? I think it was Shin Yura.

“I’ve been chosen by magic, so…”

“Right, it doesn’t matter, does it?” Abel sighed quietly.

“Then, let’s start the class. Everyone, wear these before the class.”

“…Iron rings?”

“They weigh about 30kg each. Wear them on each arm and leg, and it’s like drowning with 120kg attached, simple.”

“…Are you not going to tell us about the other functions?”

“It’s more fun that way.”

“…You really are a devil.”

Abel looked at me with weary eyes.

“And this is also the fastest way to become stronger.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Abel nodded at my words.

“The problem would be that you could die during this training.”

I said it in a very low voice.

‘You won’t die.’

There might be some who submerge.

But no one will die.

It’s not exactly a consolation but,

’At most they might go to the brink of death, ’

I smiled.

“Master, your smile really is sinister.”

“Anyway, has everyone put it on?”

“This is quite heavy, isn’t it?”

“It seems everyone has put it on.”

Ignoring Yoo Eunchae’s grumbling.

I used telekinesis.

“Uh, uhuh?”

“Ca, can we really survive this?!”

“Then, let’s all meet alive!”

As the students were dropped, the swimming pool churned.

‘How many will succeed…’

I don’t expect them to succeed at once.

Because I was the only one who could succeed in one breath.

‘I hope they pass quickly, though.’

Because there were a few who seemed worth rolling.

‘This is unbelievable…!’

Basic Mana Manipulation.

When that was demonstrated, new possibilities unfolded before her eyes.

It’s not that she hadn’t thought about controlling mana.

Of course, she tried to increase her mana control.

But since he said he knew a way to increase it in a short period, she had certain expectations,

So when he introduced the training grounds she was disappointeed.

‘It’s nothing special.’

It just looked like a swimming pool from the outside.

Though it felt saturated with mana, Shin Yura didn’t quite understand what was so special about it.

She wore the iron ring given to her, while oblivious of its origins, but she was confident that she could easily pass such a low level of training.

And when he used telekinesis to bind all the students, though surprised, she was still confident.

Splash, Splash, Splash!

And then she realized she had misunderstood.

‘What…!’

The water was heavy. It was pressing down on her whole body.

She could have escaped if it was just the water, but

‘The iron ring…!’

The iron ring she put on just before entering the water was the problem.

Slowly, the light above scattered because of the iron ring.

And the water is imbued with her mana.

The pressure is only getting worse.

Suddenly, Abel’s pale face came to mind.

It was curious to see that man, who always smiled, making such a face.

But Shin Yura didn’t take him seriously then, but now she understood his reaction.

Then, a thought she had never considered enters her mind.

The faint thought that perhaps her end might come from drowning in a swimming pool passed by.

Condensed Spirit Water.

It’s a type of water that has a very unique property, literally, heavy water.

Water that becomes heavy as if spirits are playing tricks.

And this place is a whole of Condensed Spirit Water.

‘Condensed Spirit Water is hard to come by’

But once they drop down, ordinary people can only drown in this bizarre water.

Due to its high mana purity, magicians sometimes use it for research material.

I only made it for training purposes with one specific reason in mind.

‘Because Condensed Spirit Water is very good for deeply feeling mana.’

The heaviness becomes heavier the more mana one possesses.

But since these kids are quite skilled, I added one more thing—the iron rings I distributed to them.

I specially designed them to absorb the properties of the Condensed Spirit Water.

‘It’s going to be quite tricky.’

Ordinary people wouldn’t reach very far.

But if those who have talent and were chosen can’t even do this, then that’s disappointing in its own right.

‘More than anything, it’s also fun.’

I smiled and looked at Yoo Eunchae trying to surface from the water.

“So, how’s the training?”

“Puh-puh-puh-puh!?”

“Really? You love it to death?”

“Puh-puh-puh-puh!!!”

Yoo Eunchae’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Yet, seeing her struggle, it seems she still has the will to live.

‘She’s more talented than I thought.’

Is it because her eyes are exceptional?

Her ability to sense mana is outstanding.

And there were a few things I showed them.

Seeing them trying to apply it made me feel proud for no reason.

‘Do I really have the talent of a true professor?’

Magic, and martial arts, it wouldn’t be an understatement to say I’ve mastered them.

But to have the talent for teaching as well.

I was almost scared of my own talents.

I looked at them with a pleased expression.

There were already those trying to adapt to this environment.

The most noticeable was Abel.

He was already turning the mana around him ‘red’.

‘Really a special Blood Realm.’

The blood flowing in his body was already ‘controlling’ the heavy water.

The method to escape from a pool made of heavy water.

It’s simple.

‘Just reduce the weight.’

Maximize the mana manipulation technique you have, and dominate the heavy water.

Then you can escape on your own.

Really simple, but…

Fools who couldn’t do that were aplenty in this world.

Even in the second life.

And in the third life as well.

And then, I looked at another guy with keen interest.

‘And here, the strangest one.’

There was one even stranger than those two.

The one with a blank expression, floating in the water.

‘He did it.’

Already successful, he was bobbing on the water.

“It’s easier than I thought.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, maybe it’s because I can’t handle mana well.”

Was it Wi Gunak?

Mysterious, true to his name.

‘An incomprehensible power.’

There’s a literal meaning to it.

It’s something that cannot be defined by anything.

I’ve heard of such powers occasionally through oral tradition.

But it’s my first time seeing it for real.

“Huff, huff. I, I’m in first place, right?”

“No, you’re fourth.”

“Fourth?!”

Before I knew it, Yoo Eunchae was looking at me with round eyes.

I pointed at the two.

The first was Wi Gunak.

The second was Abel.

And the third was.

“Huuk, huk, huuk.”

Seon Woohyeon.

It was that man.

“To become my disciple, and rank fourth.”

How pathetic, Yoo Eunchae.

But what can you do?

‘It was also disadvantageous for Yoo Eunchae.’

Those three had too much of an advantageous start.

Abel overcame too easily with the power of his blood.

And Wi Gunak used a power superior to mana.

‘And that guy Seon Woohyeon.’

Is it his Unique Trait?

When he was in the swimming pool, his temperament changed.

As if he had completely changed into another person in an instant.

Such uniqueness is probably.

‘A Unique Trait, perhaps.’

I had that intuition.

And its danger level would be greater than expected.

Step by step.

A boy with a hero’s sash approached me.

“How was it?”

“It was impressive.”

“It was impressive?”

His way of speaking was unique.

And I felt a faint sense of anticipation.

‘I think I roughly understand.’

This guy’s ability is very unique.

If not for me, the possibility is low.

This guy would never be able to awaken his ability in his lifetime.

‘In that sense, this guy is incredibly lucky.’

If it weren’t for me, no one would know how to awaken him.

“Do you want to have a special class later?”

“…Special class, you say?”

“It seems you need to be taught a bit differently from the other kids.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

And the intensity will be tremendous.

Not just this much.

Because you have to be pushed to the brink of death to awaken your talents.

“I understand.”

Wi Gunak turned away and headed elsewhere after those words.

Before I knew it, Yoo Eunchae, who had recovered, came up to me with a chuckle.

“How does it look?”

“There’s potential.”

“Right, right? Even the master thinks it’s amazing, right? Wouldn’t they be incredible if they learned magic?”

“What nonsense.”

“Eh?”

“They’re meant for martial arts.”

However, I understand why Yoo Eunchae said magic.

If one only has a vague understanding of their own abilities, they might make such a choice.

But I thought differently.

‘That guy is meant for martial arts.’

That characteristic suits martial arts the best.

Magic could also reach a high level, but.

If they go with magic, the limit would be clear.

“So, what do you think?”

“It’s not bad.”

“…This level is considered not bad?”

“Yes.”

I used telekinesis to lift four people who were sinking to the ground, trying to die.

“Not bad for the first lesson.”

Four people passed.

But the remaining six also showed potential.

‘One of them is a professor, though.’

At first, I didn’t know why he came to learn.

If you’re a professor, you naturally tend to be stubborn.

Moreover, he’s struggling to teach in a world where magic has fallen behind like this.

‘He was also the most silent.’

Did Abel notice while preparing for the lesson?

When the professors entered, he naturally noticed.

Yet, he silently followed my instructions.

With this much determination, he’s not bad.

This is how the first lesson ended.