Masked Man (3)

After returning from the bathroom, Hwangdo's attire seemed somehow a layer lighter.

"Ahem. So, about teleportation?"

Clearing her throat, Hwangdo flicked her finger, and soon, a can of soda appeared out of thin air.

"The theory of teleportation is simple. Just like this – whoosh, whoop – ta-da! You just need to roughly understand this feeling. It's hard at first, but you'll get the hang of it once you do it."

Teleportation was a type of spatial magic.

However, it was said that studying spatial magic itself was nearly impossible unless you were an extraordinary genius.

"And when you master that feeling to the extreme…"

As Hwangdo continued her explanation, she flicked her finger again. Her voice seemed to get sucked into a black hole and then suddenly reappeared from behind me, accompanied by a faint breeze.

"You can do things like this."

Blink.

"Compression, transition, fairness… For now, Little Brother, you can only use poorly made, ready-made magic formulas. Right?"

"Yes."

"You're not an intuitive learner, so you might have to learn like me. Is it okay if it takes some time?"

Since spatial magic was something you couldn't learn just anywhere, I nodded continuously.

Hwangdo, smiling slightly, sat on the bed and gestured for me to come closer.

Just in case, I pulled Shiba close and sat next to her. From Hwangdo's hand, a file appeared.

"Space."

It was something that spread far and wide, up and down, in all directions.

"It's the field where matter exists, and various phenomena occur, independent of everything. But that also makes it impenetrable."

Although I knew this from before, should I say she was serious about magic? Unlike her usual playful demeanor, she was knowledgeable and cool on this subject.

"Because it's unknowable, intuition is important. Using the artifacts of the past, we've barely created magic that can approximate coordinates… but its practicality is almost negligible."

My magic currently utilized the experiences absorbed from numerous academy students.

Occasionally, during training and during instructors' magic demonstrations.

My magic until now had been about glimpsing those magics and then conceptualizing and manifesting them myself.

The high-level magic used in the dungeon also couldn't be said to have shown complete destructive power.

It was more due to the acorns' merit than my own activation. Of course, even that wouldn't have been possible without talent.

"Little Brother, you're about to receive teachings that no one else in this world can hear. Remember what I said last time? Who am I?"

Hwangdo raised her shoulders proudly, stretching her lips wide.

Archmage Hwangdo. A master of spatial magic.

"This is something only my master and I know. Ah, this is a secret, okay? I'll be in big trouble if I get caught."

Pouring various documents from under her palm, Hwangdo grinned mischievously.

"How about that? Impressive, right?"

Her pride was as high as Mount Everest. But given her achievements, I couldn't say much. Besides, she was too cute to bother. I picked one of the papers and read through it.

"Wow."

"See? I told you. Impressive, right?"

An exclamation of admiration spontaneously escaped me.

…I could see why Hwangdo was considered a genius, a master of spatial magic, and why even Cheondo had to give her respect.

"I don't understand any of this."

"…Eh."

It seemed like it would take a while to learn.

-First, read! Memorize! Oh boy! Do it like this here! Got it?

-Little Brother! You don't do the formula like that!

The next day, after dropping Shiba at daycare and coming to the academy, my eyes felt blurry, and my ears buzzed as if inflamed.

I never thought I'd feel like interpreting a thesis overnight again. Whether in another world or here, a student's life was no different.

All I learned was a few formulaic expressions and magic theories.

It was a challenging area to comprehend, even using the advanced knowledge taught at the academy.

It wasn't uninteresting, but starting from scratch with nothing to go on, there was a lot to memorize, and it was quite a headache.

'But still… thanks to that, I'm solving problems well.'

Finishing up some overdue assignments that morning, I yawned.

I solved the problems smoothly, perhaps due to my diligent studying.

If I memorized moderately, I might even aim for a high rank, right?

I summoned my status window after a long time to check my assignments.

▶The number of tasks assigned to you is [2].

-Enter the top 20 ranks in Korea.

-Achieve first place in the written exam.

The reward was top-grade potions. They were almost equivalent to extra lives.

Since they were given by the World Tree, I wonder if they didn't contain a man's vigor or a woman's essence.

'Then it's almost mandatory.'

If they were top-grade potions, they must be scarce in the market; selling them could bring in a good sum of money.

The value of money in a capitalist world was significant. Even if I didn't do business, I needed to expand into business areas. Besides, I could also make equipment.

Lost in these happy thoughts, someone suddenly tapped on my shoulder.

Turning my head, I saw a wide-open palm thrust in front of my nose.

"Yo! I heard you're quite the topic?"

Guseul sat down, smiling cheekily.

"Were you wearing a mask under another mask?"

The words she spat out while putting her bag on the desk carried many meanings.

'Should I just straight up ask her, "What are you exactly?"'

…No. Would she even tell the truth?

If that were the case, she wouldn't have always pretended to be a friend.

"Aren't you being too direct?"

Guseul showed a sly smile in response to my casual answer.

It was fascinating.

The smile spreading across her beautiful face made one's heart melt unnecessarily.

But that's exactly why I could precisely label her.

"Pffft."

An unknowable woman.

…Well, that aside, I somewhat expected the rumors from last time to spread.

I could tell from the several students currently peering at me.

The attention was burdensome, but it was set to increase in the future.

And I needed an event to serve as a stepping stone for that.

'Sansuyu, Lim Jonghyun, Jung Siwoo, Jin Dallae.'

I was well aware of the rumors about these four.

Even if I couldn't win against them, I could still garner some attention.

So, the tournament in the midterm exam a week later was my decisive battle.

A place where I could take care of my ranking and gain a reason to participate in the Forest Keeper selection.

To get the highest rank possible, I naturally had to face the top student, Jung Siwoo.

'Can I win?'

I leaned back in my chair, lost in thought.

Jung Siwoo. It didn't seem likely to win against him, even if I shook off the status window…

-Really?

Just then, a voice came from a group of students.

-Siwoo got hospitalized, you know?

…Why was he suddenly hospitalized?

"Is he getting discharged soon?"

"Yeah."

"That's good to hear. Hehe. Then, I'll be off. Get some rest~!"

Waving a few times at the departing Yeosaengdo, Siwoo rubbed his wrist with a bittersweet expression.

Long, vein-like blue scars spread unpleasantly across one arm. Scars from a long-term magic outburst.

It was a common ailment for hunters, so he could be discharged in three days, but a three-day absence was too critical for him.

'Did I overdo it? I should lower the intensity of the training.'

Normally, he wouldn't have exercised so frantically. However, the stakes of this midterm were too valuable and precious for him. He had no choice but to be serious just this once.

The only hint for his sister's whereabouts.

That was why he trained to his limits.

-Grin.

'Of course, releasing so much magic in an instant would strain my body.'

Could he beat Lim Jonghyun, that fiery man? He was probably still grinding his teeth.

Common as it may be, the condition wasn't without aftereffects. The likelihood of recurrence was high, requiring long-term care.

-Knock, knock, knock.

Precisely three knocks.

"Come in."

A large metal door opened, and a man entered.

A man wearing a mask, carrying a box of vitamin drinks.

Surprised by the unexpected visitor, Siwoo's eyes widened.

"Shiheon?"

"Came to visit."

Accepting the offered vitamin drink, Siwoo asked Shiheon with a slightly surprised look.

"I really didn't expect you to come. It's good to see you… Ah, sit here."

"Just came by, nothing more. Can you properly take the exam?"

"Sit down."

Shiheon's question was blunt, but to Siwoo, who didn't know his situation, it just sounded like concern.

"There shouldn't be a problem. I'll be discharged in three days, and after calming down…"

"Guess you overdid it."

Shiheon glanced sideways at Siwoo's discolored arm, immediately gauging his condition.

'Why is he pushing himself so hard? Has he also been coerced by risking his life?'

If the World Tree was causing this, then his efforts made sense.

Thinking this, Shiheon felt a sense of camaraderie.

'He must have also gone through a lot.'

"…You really have it tough."

"Uh, yeah."

Shiheon genuinely sympathized, having an affinity for him beyond the World Tree.

"Then, I guess you need to produce results in this exam?"

"Yeah… absolutely."

"Because of the World Tree?"

His direct speech style didn't change, but Siwoo still nodded with a smile.

"Yeah. You know it well."

"Being called a potential husband by the World Tree and then being put through such trouble, right?"

"…But I consider it a growth opportunity."

A conversation that was only possible as candidates for the World Tree's husband. Siwoo didn't know, but Shiheon was well aware.

"Growth my foot."

Shiheon knew too well how dark the World Tree's intentions were.

However, he didn't fully realize that the treatment of husband candidates varied, and Jung Siwoo was especially favored when it came to penalties.

Shiheon spoke with a mix of admiration.

"Still, it's impressive. It must be hard."

Hearing that, Siwoo paused for a moment. He opened his mouth as if thinking, then eventually smiled lightly.

Being a husband candidate for the World Tree was tough. It was the first time he heard such words.

Even with different treatments, Siwoo's past efforts hadn't diminished.

-He's all bluff.

-I wish I got chosen to become strong, damn it.

He recalled the comments he had heard from all around and seen on community sites. Only Shiheon knew it was a kind of empathy, but it certainly offered some comfort.

"I should go now."

"Yeah, thanks. Oh, Shiheon. But even if I fail, it's just training… so it's okay."

Siwoo tried to smile brightly, scratching the back of his head.

"Huh, training?"

"Yeah, but really, thanks. I'll treat you to a meal later. Go ahead."

"…"

Shiheon stared at him blankly for a moment, then awkwardly smiled and left the room.

'Training? I thought it wasn't life-threatening, but just training?'

He had expected some difference, but not to this extent.

Leaving the hospital room, Shiheon's face was somewhat shocked.