Chapter 15: I'll Tell You What Magic Is

"Would you like to attend a class?"

"Class?"

I found myself momentarily lost in thought.

Anyway, I am someone who doesn't need anyone to teach me anything.

Magic and martial arts.

I have mastered both to an unparalleled level.

That's me.

I primarily use my fists and feet but am also skilled with swords, spears, whips, blades, and daggers.

I favor fists and feet because they are the strongest in close combat, and magic can solve everything else.

'If something is lacking.'

Distinctive and Unique Traits that exist only in this world,

And my Unique Trait is quite peculiar.

"Do you know much about Unique Traits?"

"I know everything there is to know in this world!"

Yoo Eunchae answered confidently.

"Do you know anything about the Unique Trait, Eternity?"

"Eternity?"

Yoo Eunchae tilted her head.

"I'm not sure about that trait."

"Is that so."

I looked at Yoo Eunchae with disdain.

"No, it's inevitable that I can't memorize Unique Traits since they vary from person to person!"

"I see."

My disdain for her grew even more.

As a pro gamer, not knowing your opponent's attack and being caught off guard is synonymous.

'Looking at it this way, she really is a poor student.'

"Originally, Unique Traits aren't determined by the world. It's about what the owner of the Unique Trait decides: what's most suitable for them usually."

"…"

I pondered the Unique Trait: Eternity.

[Eternity]

Magic is imbued with the attribute of eternity.

A simple thought.

It is very simple.

I am…

"What are you thinking about so deeply?"

"…I was thinking about how poor you are."

"No, where can you find a disciple as capable and cute as me!"

What nonsense.

"Still, because I've researched Unique Traits a lot, I know how to enhance them."

"Enhance?"

"Yes, Unique Traits change depending on the user's capacity."

Yoo Eunchae spread her hands.

"My Unique Trait is weak at first, but it becomes incredibly strong if I level it all the way."

"Really?"

"Yes, kids like Seon Woohyeon were initially crazy and remained so in the latter half."

Yoo Eunchae stopped talking there.

"And you really have to hide your Unique Trait."

"Really?"

"Yes, because a Unique Trait defines everything about its user."

Yoo Eunchae continued her explanation.

"Anyway, if I have to look into Eternity, I must know a lot."

"What do you need to know?"

"About the first ability that was unlocked."

"That attribute was added to the magical power."

"What what what!?"

Yoo Eunchae was startled.

"Magical power attribute was unlocked from the beginning?"

"Is there a problem?"

"It's not so much a problem, but usually, that would be a 0-tier Unique Trait."

Yoo Eunchae started to murmur.

"Unique Traits mostly start by giving initial stats. And based on the increase, they are divided from 5-tier to 1-tier."

"Then the best would be 1-tier."

"Yes, the Sword Monster that Nam Hyerin has belongs to that category. The Sword Monster increases agility by a whopping 15."

"Then what about magical power?"

"The awakening of magical power's attribute is 0-tier… that is, only the protagonist-like figure in this world, Seon Woohyun, me, and one other person who hasn't appeared yet have it."

"Originally, it should have been possessed by two people, but has the number of irregulars increased by two?"

I looked at Yoo Eunchae.

"The simplest way to enhance a Unique Trait is to raise the ability score above a certain level."

Yoo Eunchae continued.

"Some require special conditions to be unlocked, but initially, opening the ability is just a matter of raising the ability score without any problem."

[Your magic power has increased by 1.]

[A new trait has been added to your Unique Trait, Eternity!]

"Oh, it went up."

"…What did?"

"Magic power."

"What do you mean, magic power suddenly increases?"

Ignoring the bewildered Yoo Eunchae, I opened the status window.

My current ability scores are as follows.

Name: Han Seojin.

Strength: 15

Agility: 15

Stamina: 15

Magic Power: 15

Spirit: 13

Skill: 12

Unique Trait: Eternity

Trait: x

'Did a new ability get unlocked at 15?'

The moment I was about to press down, a scream came from beside me.

"Wait, don't tell me you've just gained a new ability?"

"Yes."

"How can you cheat life like this!"

Yoo Eunchae was angry.

"Let me cheat life too!"

Is that why she's angry?

Looking incredulously, she flinched.

"You're learning magic."

"Is that so?"

"This is martial arts, so you can't learn it."

"But, Master, you're learning it."

"I am because I can."

"…"

Yoo Eunchae seemed at a loss for words.

Well, it can't be helped.

Great Sky Dancing Divine Mantra.

Only I can truly master it.

'No one can copy it.'

Then, the body Yoo Eunchae has would disappear.

She wouldn't want that either.

After calming Yoo Eunchae down, I pressed Eternity to check my new ability.

[Eternity]

Magic is imbued with the attribute of eternity.The user becomes eternal.

"…"

Well, what am I supposed to do with that?

"What on earth happened for you to make such a disgusted face?"

"I've become eternal."

"What?"

"The user becomes eternal."

"…"

Yoo Eunchae was at a loss for words.

As if there was something to think about.

'Is it a good ability?'

She pondered deeply.

What does it mean to be eternal?

It means a state continues endlessly.

'Moonlight.'

I activated the trait.

Zzing─.

The energy of the moonlight rippled in my hand.

Some magic power leaked out.

Though it remained fully in my grasp.

I quietly closed my eyes and began to contemplate.

'This.'

To become eternal.

I thought it would affect the magic or traits I created once.

'I don't know.'

It's not even that.

I deactivated the moonlight with a hollow laugh.

"Was there any reaction?"

"No, I think this needs some research."

"I've been thinking about it…"

"You've been thinking?"

"It seems like the master is taking life too easy."

What is she saying?

"It must be a very good trait, becoming eternal."

"…Is that so?"

"Yes."

Yoo Eunchae said with a tone of certainty.

Then it must be so.

'I can't know right now anyway.'

I decided to take it easy.

"Then, would you like to observe a class on the way?"

"Observe a class?"

It doesn't seem very interesting.

But it wouldn't look good to do nothing and refuse my disciple's suggestion.

"Just listen once, why not."

"It'll be fine. It's the professor's class who discovered the trait evolution theory that I mentioned before."

"Is that so?"

Now that you mention it, I'm not very excited.

But there's one more problem than that.

"Have we been in the same class?"

"We. Were. In. The. Same. Class!"

So that's why it was like that at our first meeting.

I went in to attend the class.

Creak.

As the door opened, I felt the focused gazes.

The students' gazes were a mix of 'there you are' and curiosity because of Yoo Eunchae being with me.

Zzzt.

And even the professor's gaze, faintly filled with murderous intent.

"Student Yoo Eunchae, and Student Han Seojin. Do you know what time it is now?"

"It's 2 PM!"

"Then, you must also know how many classes you've missed today."

"We missed 2 and a half classes, hehe."

Yoo Eunchae cheerfully laughed and led me to sit in two empty seats.

Yet, there was still one more empty seat left.

Is there another person like me who doesn't care about attending classes?

When we entered, the professor, who had frowned, was already lecturing about magic.

'Hmm.'

I observed, chin propped on one arm.

"Magic is a collection of shapes made from lines drawn with magical power."

The professor with all-white hair began the lecture in front.

"Now, look here. 9 spells ignite a flame."

'What's this.'

I was taken aback.

Regardless, the professor opened one hand.

Then, the flickering flame.

"Usually, a fireball, which is considered a basic magic of the 2nd circle, starts with an igniting 1st circle magic, combustion. If you increase the size of the igniting flame and add the properties of compression and explosion to it."

Whoosh.

The professor created a fireball with a smug expression.

"Like this, the blazing fireball is made."

'What's this?'

I was horrified at the sight.

'How.'

How can they make such a smug face while looking so pathetic?

I looked around.

The students nodded with a 'Is this really it?' expression.

'Looking at the magic formula, it seems to be the most primitive circle magic.'

My second life.

My circle continued to evolve.

Adding attribute power by engraving circuits inside the circle, or methods of applying them, etc.

No matter how much I scrutinized the magic formula, I couldn't find any trace.

Moreover, the examples of magic formulas presented were of the poorest quality.

A boring discipline that only focuses on how to weave circles to increase the level.

'To think they teach this as magic.'

I wasted my time.

"How is it?"

"More than I thought."

"More?"

"The level is falling."

Is this place what they call humanity's last bastion? Is humanity calling such inferior things a bastion…

It inevitably makes one lament.

"Student Han Seojin? Seeing you distracted, it seems you are confident in your magic."

The professor pointed me out specifically.

A face that clearly wanted to give a jab.

Then, the classroom lit up with giggles.

Of course, I'm not the kind of talent that gets intimidated by such things.

I answered with a bright smile.

"Yes, I am confident no matter how I think about it. I'm confident that I can do much better than you, sir."

I deliberately used formal language.

This kind of person reacts well when you sarcastically use formal language on them.

Crack.

Was my answer too audacious? The people around me looked at me with surprised eyes.

The professor couldn't maintain his composure at my words.

He regarded me with eyes that seemed to burn with anger.

"I've heard the story."

"What story might that be?"

"It's about how you recently clashed with Han Cheoljin and emerged victorious. You must have awakened your status window and grown stronger."

The professor looked at me, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.

"It's exceedingly rare to awaken later if you miss the initial period. It's an occurrence that happens to one in a million worldwide. Yet, you disregard my advice, trusting in that slim chance? Fascinating."

A cold sneer formed on his lips.

"I heard that student Han Cheoljin was immobilized. It could be related to the ice trait, or perhaps you've acquired someone else's knowledge."

The professor's gaze turned even colder.

"Come here, Han Seojin. I'll have to show you where you truly stand."

The professor sketched a magic circle on the blackboard.

"Let's see if you can decipher this magic formula with your newfound knowledge."

Professor Alves has been in a foul mood lately.

He was supposed to have a connection within the Iron-Blood Sword Clan, but it was compromised.

Han Cheoljin.

He was meant to use that boy to forge a stronger bond with the Clan.

That was precisely why he had come to this school.

'With the Iron-Blood Sword Clan, it's a lucrative deal.'

Globally, there are many families more prominent than it.

But within Korea, the Iron-Blood Sword Clan can wield omnipotent power.

There's almost nothing they can't achieve in Korea.

That's why I aimed to rise through Han Cheoljin.

But today, that connection vanished.

Han Seojin and Han Cheoljin fought, and Han Seojin won.

It hadn't been long since the incident occurred, but it was such a shocking event that even Alves had heard about it.

The Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

That merciless sword family is not one to show kindness to the defeated.

If the family head learns about today's event, the likelihood of Han Cheoljin becoming estranged from the probable successor to the family head will significantly increase.

'Awakening.'

Those who awaken their mana and grasp the system each possess what is known as their own Unique Trait.

Perhaps.

The new ability Han Seojin acquired was likely related to that.

'Cold affinity. Or perhaps spirits, related to ice or magicians.'

That was his initial thought.

However, after a conversation with Han Cheoljin, Alves realized it was magic.

'Ancient magic.'

It was likely a remnant from the past when even the circle system wasn't properly mastered.

That's why it was displeasing.

Just relying on such a level of magic and ignoring his class?

He was angry.

And he wanted to make that level known.

You are an ancient magician who cannot surpass the modern magic, the circle system, achieved in the present.

In ancient times, that might have been enough.

But the limit of what can be learned with it is merely 5 circles.

So, Alves told him to solve the magic formula written on the blackboard.

'It will be impossible.'

With Seojin's limited knowledge, that is.

Whether he sensed Alves's thoughts or not, Han Seojin approached the blackboard with a confident step.

He picked up the chalk.

Han Seojin wrote down the magic formula without hesitation.

Swoosh.

The characters were as neat as if written by a master calligrapher.

Alves liked it, just a little.

'Ha, is he trying to at least write it down roughly.'

Alves looked at the magic formula.

…What is this?

Magic is a complex subject.

Even before the emergence of the magical world, mastering just the 1st circle required the full curriculum of a college student.

That's why magic is complex.

However, what Han Seojin was writing was too easy to understand, yet at the same time, it was incomprehensible.

Two contradictions dominated Alves's brain.

The former was about how his magic formula was too easily laid out.

The magic formula that Han Seojin is writing down far exceeds his understanding.

That's why he concluded.

If he were to decipher this magic formula, his own realm could ascend further.

"What."

But he couldn't understand.

Modern magic is the culmination of knowledge built up by thousands, tens of thousands of magicians.

That's why any magician is supposed to learn the circle formula.

But what Han Seojin is writing down now?

'Is it a formula that's one step ahead, no, several steps ahead?'

Han Seojin wielded the chalk without hesitation. Maybe he had written about half of the formula.

Han Seojin put down the chalk.

And looked at Professor Alves.

With a sly smile.

He had seen that smile somewhere.

It was the smile of Yoo Eunchae, known as the troublemaker of the class when she had caused a big problem and was about to flee.

But could it be an illusion that Alves could see Yoonchae's figure?

"The rest is due to a lack of space."

Han Seojin smiles faintly.

A strong sense of incongruity hit Alves.

It can't be.

Throughout his teaching career, he instinctively sensed that this moment was one of the rare opportunities.

His age?

That doesn't matter. In this field of study, a single genius can change everything.

He realized that the knowledge he possessed was incomparable to anything else.

"We'll stop here. So, everyone, good work. Bye-bye~."

Han Seojin waves his hand with a smile.

"Ah, noooooo!"

Alves screamed in despair and ordered his assistant, a graduate student, to take notes before chasing after Han Seojin.