15 Chapter 15 - Oh Me? I'm Kang Mi Young

"Mi Young!" Jong In shouts from his seat.

The moment Mi Young entered the classroom, she was greeted by Jong In's familiar smile. Everyone went still upon hearing Jong In's jolly voice. It sounded so foreign to them because they never heard the boy talk much, let alone shout with a gleeful tone like that. So when they heard Jong In's voice while he greets the new kid in class, everyone was stupefied.

"Hey, did you cultivate well?" Mi Young asks as she proceeds to sit next to Jong In. She decided to change seats since the only person who talks to her is the boy. "I hope you did considering you're bound to shock everyone today."

This made Jong In laugh so genuinely. Because of this new action, some people inside the class realized that the boy is attractive. He has gentle eyes that form crescent when he laughs. The boy's tan skin makes him look more masculine as well. And if you look closely, you will also notice that the lumpy and weak aura that Jong In seems to carry with him all the time is now gone, replaced with a new kind of confidence and courage.

"Of course I did." Jong In answered after he was done laughing at what Mi young said. "Guess what, I have some surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"You'll see later."

Just as Jong In said those words, their professor appeared from the door. He was carrying a few books and a mana reading crystal ball as well.

Everyone settled on their seats the moment their professor greets them.

"So as I have instructed yesterday, I want to see the progress you all have made for the past two months." Professor Nam starts. He made his way at the center of the classroom and snapped his hands, out of nowhere a table appeared in front of them.

"Woah! I didn't know Professor Nam could use materialization!"

"That just proves how capable he is!"

"I wish I could do materialization as well."

"You'll just materialize girls out of nowhere."

Upon hearing some of their classmates talk, Mi Young turns her head towards Jong In and asked, "What is materialization?"

"It's a rare magic technique that only a few Mages can do." Jong In explains. "Only those who have second cores can use this technique because it does not require regular mana but inner mana instead."

"Inner mana?" Mi Young asks. "The one everyone talks about back in the North? But I thought that was just a myth."

Jong In shakes his head in disagreement. "Because of the climate of our region, people in the North tend to stay in their hometowns and only few have managed to wander outside the region. That is why, most of us are ignorant when it comes to hidden techniques, and we think that some of them are just myths. However, people from the South, East, and the West are already practicing these said techniques. That's how behind people from the North are from everything."

Mi Young nods at what the other said. Upon arriving in the heart of the kingdom where the academy is located, Mi Young saw a lot of things that were not available in the North. She was amazed by most of it actually. Mi Young realized that the books in her father's shelves still lacked information about their world. Thus, she promises herself to visit the school library after class ends and find out more about second cores.

"Are you guys ready?" Professor Nam asks. Some people were nodding their heads, excited to let everyone see their ability while the others exchanged a few smiles, still embarrassed to show their small progress. "Jeon Ho Shi, why don't you try out first? First, show us your current mana powers and then execute the Fire Ball Technique."

The red haired guy Jong In mentioned yesterday instantly stands up from his seat. He bowed at their professor first before exerting his mana into the crystal ball. Seconds later, a white glow can be seen coming out from the crystal and a few numbers begin to show.

597!

Everyone applauded Jeon Ho Shi. He's already at Primary 2 despite being a freshman. After that, he bowed at the class before executing the movements for the Fire Ball Technique.

"Good. Very good." Their professor says as Jeon Ho Shi continues following the movement for the technique. "Now, hit the power reading crystal on the center. Let's see how strong your Fire Ball is."

Following what their teacher said, Ho Shi converted his mana energy to the Pyro element and made it come out from his fist. He then throws a blazing fireball at the power reading ball at the center of the room.

1,582!

"How strong…"

"I can never imagine myself getting hit by that fireball."

"Ho Shi is really formidable."

"That's a Jeon for you."

"Well done!" Professor Nam says as he claps his hands for Ho Shi, the boy smiles gratefully at him before bowing once more and going back to his seat. "With that much power, I'm sure you can cause a first degree burn to anyone you hit. Well done! Now for the next student…"

A few students were called before their professor announced a name that made everyone go still.

"Jeon Shi Yun!"

"I didn't know THE Jeon was here."

"That's why he looks familiar!"

"I've been stuck here in the academy for two years, no wonder I couldn't recognize him anymore."

There were a lot of comments and gossip circulating around the room as Jeon Shi Yun walks towards the front. The boy had an indifferent aura around him which made him look unapproachable. Mi Young sees some of their classmates looking at Shi Yun with awe and admiration. However, when her eyes landed on the other Jeon, all she saw was hatred and envy.

"I wonder if he can surpass Ho Shi though."

"I think he won't be able to surpass him considering Ho Shi was ahead of him for a year."

"But let's not forget that he came from the main family, which means he possessed sturdy and powerful mana."

"I think both of them have the same mana power."

Another round of side comments started coming out from their classmates which made Ho Shi irritated and happy at the same time. He glanced at his cousin once more before he sneered.

"Hit the mana crystal first then hit the power crystal right after. By the way, I'm professor Nam." The professor says as he held out his hand to give Shi Yun a handshake to which the latter completely ignored. The professor looked embarrassed at being snubbed sohe clears his throat and goes back to focusing on the mana crystal instead.

Jeon Shi Yun pushes his mana energy towards the crystal ball. Just like what happened during the entrance exam, the crystal ball emitted a red glow.

1,045!

"They say that the red glow will only appear if you are a true Pyro mage."

"Wow! He's amazing!"

"He has already hit 1,000 mana points!"

"Even Ho Shi couldn't make something happen like that."

The appearance of the red glow just made Jeon Ho Shi more annoyed. His hateful gaze towards Shi Yun intensified as their classmates continued giving praises to the other boy.

The crowd watches as Shi Yun turns towards the power reading crystal. Just like Ho Shi, Shi Yun executed the exact movements for the Fire Ball technique, but his movements were more graceful and precise. A fireball comes out from Shi Yun's hands and it immediately hits the crystal ball.

They waited for a few minutes for the numbers to start appearing.

1,952!

"His power is even greater than Ho Shi!"

"What's more amazing is he only learned that technique yesterday!"

"That was so cool! Did you see his movement? It was so precise and clean."

"He's even more talented than Ho Shi!"

Mi Young watches as Ho Shi's face starts getting redder as each praise comes out from their classmate's mouth. She can see the veins on the red haired boy's forehead that look like they'll pop out any second now with how mad he is.

"You see that? I was the one who taught him that! He wouldn't have done it without me." An arrogant voice says from the crowd of students who have gathered in front. The other people who heard him immediately went to Oh Shi Xun's side to ask him how he had managed to teach the new kid that powerful fireball and he gladly answered their questions with pure lies. To be honest, Jeon Shi Yun is just talented and a quick learner which is why he managed to execute the Fire Ball technique so easily.

A few students were called once more before it was finally time for the weakest kid and the other new kid to show off their progress. The moment both their names were called, everyone instantly let out a few mocking laughs and looks. However, unlike his reaction before he met Mi Young, Jong In walks to the front with confidence.

"Lee Jong In…" Professor Nam let out a sigh before continuing his sentence, "Are you sure you want to try? I can spare you the embarrassment if you like. You can just go back to your seat and repeat this year's level once more."

Hearing what their professor said, all of their classmates started laughing once more, except Jong In, Mi Young and Jeon Shi Yun.

"Don't worry professor, Jong In is much more stronger now." Mi Young says in Jong In's stead. Their professor looked at the other kid as he rolled his eyes at her.

"You again." Professor Nam says. "Fine. If you want to embarrass yourselves then so be it. Hurry up and don't waste my time!"

"Professor Nam is being good to them, why are they still ignoring that offer?"

"If I were them I'd rather back out and remain in my seat."

Then a voice shouts at the back, "Show us what wimps do, Jong In!"

Mi Young recognized the voice and eyes Oh Shi Xun who was looking so proud. Mi Young wanted to smack him in the head several times.

"Ignore them." Mi Young whispers as she gives Jong In a slight push. The latter gave him a grateful and confident smile before he walked towards the mana reading crystal.

Jong In closes his eyes as he concentrates his mana towards his palm. He can feel the familiar warmth every time he touches the crystal ball and he waits for the glow to fade before he pries his hands away from the crystal ball.

538!

"H-How is that possible?"

"Are my eyes deceiving me or is Jong In really full of mana?"

"What the…"

After making everyone shocked with his huge mana leap, Jong In didn't waste any time as he executed the Fire Ball technique in front of the class. His movement was precise and very stable as well. Seconds later, Jong In's hands were blazing with fire and he was shooting fireballs towards the power reading crystal.

To say that everyone was once again in a state of shock is an understatement, even their professor has his mouth hanging open as he watches the numbers in the crystal ball roll out.

1,526!

"H-He's almost head to head with Ho Shi!"

"Is that really Lee Jong In?"

"What happened to him within a day?"

Right after showing his skills, Jong In bows at their still shocked professor before he turns around to face Oh Shi Xun. Jong In gave him a once over before he let out a mocking tone, "Who's the wimp now?"

The face of the previously proud Oh Shi Xun was now replaced with a look of mortification and pure embarrassment. He wants nothing but to hide and let the ground swallow him whole right that instant.

The boy went back to where he was standing next to Mi Young before he pushed her to go in front but not after whispering to her, "It's your turn to shock them now."

Mi Young rolled her eyes at what Jong In said but she soon let out a small chuckle. 'So childish.'

When the professor sees Mi Young standing in front of him, he clears his throat before saying, "I know you are new in class but so is Jeon Shi Yun who displayed a strong progress even if he's also new. So I would like to remind you that I don't want to hear excuses like you don't have much time. A student who wants to learn can make any progress. Progress is still progress even if it's a small one."

Mi Young knew that her teacher meant well and that he was just being reasonable so she nodded her head in determination. She bowed at their professor before answering, "I understand. Thank you, professor."

Seeing the respect the other party was giving him, Professor Nam feels proud and powerful. He nods his head before gesturing to Mi Young to continue.

The blue eyed girl then turns towards the mana reading crystal and exerted some of her mana energy towards the crystal ball. The room turned white as the crystal ball emitted a pure white glowing light. It was so bright that all of the students, even Mi Young, closed their eyes to avoid getting blinded by the light. Seconds later, the mana crystal showed a set of numbers that made all eyes look at Mi Young in pure disbelief.

2,199!

Even Jeon Shi Yun, who saw Mi Young's original mana points, went still. 'How come she was able to lift her mana points by half a thousand in just a day?'

During the entrance exam, Mi Young had 1,599 mana points, it's already strong but seeing the numbers today, Shi Yun thinks she has some secret technique that she's using because who could make her own mana points jump like that?

"Wait!" Professor Nam stops the girl before she can even execute the Fire Ball technique.

"Is there something wrong, professor?"

"Y-You…what is your name?" The professor asks as he looks at the girl with pure shock and amazement mixed together.

"Oh me? I'm Kang Mi Young!"

Everyone went still upon hearing that name, even Jong In who already knew how formidable Mi Young was since yesterday couldn't stop his eyes from bulging out from its sockets. And so without thinking, he asks Mi Young in a shocked voice, "K-Kang Mi Young? The first year who scored perfect in the exam? Y-You're that Kang Mi Young?"