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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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The next day.
“······With this, we’ll conclude the 6th period, ‘Basic Theory of Stats and Physical Operation.’ The content from today’s class will be included in next month’s quiz, so please review thoroughly.”
The 6th period ended with the theory class professor’s businesslike tone.
Amid the commotion over the sudden “quiz” announcement.
I quickly stood up from my seat.
Lim Kangcheol followed behind me.
“Ilhan, are you going to the stat training room?”
“Yeah, I want to get there early.”
“Then let’s go together!”
I nodded lightly and moved along with him.
Walking side by side next to me, Lim Kangcheol suddenly spoke to me.
“Oh, your steps look light. Did something good happen?”
Light steps, it certainly wasn’t wrong.
“I had some small worries, but I resolved them.”
After yesterday’s class ended.
It was because I had spent the entire evening organizing my thoughts and was able to subdue most of my confusion.
Of course, the conclusion I reached wasn’t much different from before.
‘Role distribution, daily recording, and an open mindset, I guess.’
Distributing roles with my other self as I had been doing.
Recording every day to keep track of my other self’s activities.
Lastly, keeping my mind open to accept whatever happens.
‘Anyway, the new function of this phenomenon is helping me.’
Especially my other self’s magical power training that I newly discovered.
I fully realized how much it helped me through yesterday’s magical power class.
‘The real magical power class, it seems the mana breathing method requires sharp senses.’
I was too overwhelmed at the time, but looking back, I realized.
That the magical power class, the introduction to the mana breathing method, was by no means easy.
This was evident just by looking at the entrance exam’s top student, Yoon Seolha.
‘It seems she couldn’t pass despite clinging to stage 1 throughout yesterday’s class.’
The magical power class that was difficult even for her, the top student.
I had passed it in just one day.
All the way to stage 2, ‘Mana Breathing.’
Since the phenomenon made this possible, it was much more rational for me to adapt to it.
‘Anyway, I can do the rest of the stats while I’m awake.’
As I organized my thoughts with a smile, Lim Kangcheol put his arm around my shoulder.
“That’s good to hear! By the way, Ilhan, have you thought about the 9th period today?”
“9th period? Ah.”
The first ‘team project’ and the last course of the stat circuit training.
The 9th period was a class for this.
This was also the second worry I had been struggling with last night along with the phenomenon.
Regarding this.
‘Ah, I don’t know.’
In reality, I had no plan.
Team formation required 4 people.
But the only classmate I knew was Lim Kangcheol.
‘Even if I team up with Lim Kangcheol, we still need two more people. No, before that, can I really team up with this guy······?’
While I was harboring fundamental doubts.
“Ilhan, I’m counting on you!”
“For what?”
“What else, the performance assessment!”
Lim Kangcheol spoke as if it were obvious.
Moreover, his eyes contained the look of ‘We’re a team, obviously, right?’
‘······Let’s think about it when the time comes.’
I chose to avoid it.
There was no answer right now, and we had already arrived at the stat training room.
Entering the magical power training room, classmates from the same class caught my eye.
‘Yoon Seolha, Cha Eunwol, and the rest must be those who didn’t pass stage 1.’
Following them, I also found an appropriate place.
I planned to review stage 2 of the mana breathing method until class started.
‘Well, the mana will scatter anyway.’
According to the instructor, without stage 3, ‘Mana Circulation,’ mana only scatters.
But that was fine.
‘I don’t have anything particular to do, and more importantly, it’s fun.’
Since achievement came so quickly, motivation was flowing.
Doing well makes you want to do more. It’s a natural principle.
‘I wonder what we’ll learn today.’
With excitement, I closed my eyes tightly.
I regulated my breathing, making it deep and calm.
Soon, I was quickly immersed in the refreshing sensation unique to mana.
In the midst of complete immersion.
Ssueu-
The mana within my body slowly began to start up.
*
Shortly after.
5 minutes before the 7th period began, Jin Taejin entered the magical power training room silently.
Some students recognized him and reacted, but.
“Continue with what you were doing.”
Jin Taejin lightly waved his hand.
He was being considerate of the students who were engrossed in the mana breathing method.
While most students had not passed stage 1.
A few caught his eye.
‘······Hooh.’
Yoon Seolha, who had just passed stage 1, was trembling slightly.
Cha Eunwol, who was gazing at him with bright eyes.
Lastly, An Ilhan, who was so immersed in ‘Mana Breathing’ that he hadn’t even noticed his presence.
Jin Taejin even smiled faintly, especially upon seeing An Ilhan.
‘Even though stage 2 scatters mana and could easily be taken lightly.’
Stage 2 of the mana breathing method introduction.
With ‘Mana Breathing’ alone, one cannot hold onto the mana in the body.
No matter what, it just scatters.
Because of this, one might view stage 2 as simply a tedious process, but the reality was different.
The reason was simple.
‘To enter stage 3, learning part of the mana breathing method is important, but sensation is just as essential.’
The refreshing sensation that occurs during the mana breathing process.
That induces the act of ‘observing inside the body’ necessary for stage 3, mana circulation.
Only when the sensation of observing inside the body is added to part of the mana breathing method does one reach stage 3.
That’s when one becomes able to circulate mana.
‘Whether it’s coincidence or if he knows what he’s doing.’
He couldn’t tell that far, but the sight of An Ilhan, completely immersed, felt quite admirable.
At the same time, he was looking forward to it.
‘I wonder how quickly he’ll master stage 3.’
After watching him for a moment, Jin Taejin suddenly checked the time.
It was almost time to start the class.
“Everyone, pay attention. Today, we’ll start with a lecture on the theory of stage 3, ‘Mana Circulation’······.”
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An hour later.
“······This concludes the 7th period class. The 8th period class will be held here for 30 minutes, and the remaining time in the gymnasium on the first basement floor of the main auditorium. That is all.”
The instructor who finished the class immediately left the magical power training room.
I also reflected on the recent class as I was leaving the magical power training room.
The first thing that came to mind was the content learned during class.
It was about the mana breathing method’s stage 3, ‘Mana Circulation.’
‘The method of circulating mana, and the effects that occur when it’s circulated?’
As announced yesterday, the instructor conducted a lecture on the introduction to stage 3.
From the part of the mana breathing method required for ‘Mana Circulation.’
To the sensation of circulating mana, and finally, the effects of mana circulation.
It was extremely interesting and surprising.
Especially since, unlike stages 1 and 2, the effects from stage 3 onwards were tangible, which made it even more so.
‘Physical enhancement. That is, being able to properly utilize the magical power stat.’
As one continues stage 3, mana circulation, ‘mana paths’ begin to form within the body.
That is stage 4, ‘Mana Road Formation.’
In that process, one can enhance physical abilities through mana, which leads to the growth of the magical power stat.
‘I understood this much perfectly.’
There was just one part I still didn’t understand.
That was my achievement.
‘······Why am I able to do stage 3 right away?’
Why stage 3 was immediately possible, that was the question.
I tried it without much thought while listening to the lecture, and it worked.
It was as if my body remembered, with mana racing through my body.
That was exactly why I had just left the training room.
‘······If this is real, then the magical power stat would be measurable.’
Excluding the exception of ‘innate talent,’ the biggest difference between stages 2 and 3 is evident in the magical power stat.
That’s because as mana properly circulates within the body, the magical power stat begins to grow for the first time.
That’s why I faced the ‘magical power measuring device’ again after a few days.
Gulp-
While swallowing dry saliva, the result of the measurement.
Ding!
-Magical Power Stat 2
My magical power had really increased.
Of course, it was only 1 stat.
However, for me, who had no talent for magical power, the meaning was special.
This meant that stage 3, ‘Mana Circulation,’ was possible.
“······This is crazy.”
That was my only impression; I wasn’t as confused as yesterday.
That’s because I already knew from the recorded video that my other self had gone to the magical power training room last night.
‘As for how I knew, well, there’s no way to find out.’
For that reason, I was satisfied with just confirming that ‘I had entered stage 3’ and moved on.
Checking the time gradually, there were still about 5 minutes left until class started.
‘Let me continue with stage 3.’
Unlike stages 1 and 2, the effects of stage 3 are immediately apparent.
Because of this, I was even more motivated than before.
Willingly sitting cross-legged, I once again fell into a state of selflessness.
Perhaps that’s why I didn’t realize.
Shwaaaa-!
The highest-grade mana permeating my breath was racing through every part of my body like a large wave.
Also, the circulating mana was being inscribed as a small point below my navel, which would one day become the center.
*
About 30 minutes after the 8th period began.
“Everyone move to the main auditorium.”
As announced, the instructor moved the class location to the first basement floor of the main auditorium.
Perhaps because it was still class time, he immediately began the lecture upon arrival.
“First, I’ll start explaining the last course of the stat circuit training.”
The instructor went straight to the main point.
As his fingertip pointed to the last course, the students’ gazes followed.
There, a set that seemed to combine the latter 3 courses was located.
“The last course proceeds with a total of 4 tracks, including the latter 3 courses and the final ‘All Stats Course.’ With 4 people in 1 team, each student will be in charge of one track.”
The method was similar to a relay if one had to compare.
4 people each take charge of one track and proceed in order.
The event ends when the fourth runner completes the last track, the ‘All Stats Course.’
The instructor added a few more explanations.
“The performance assessment will proceed with F-level difficulty. The grading criteria are ‘team performance’ and ‘individual performance.’ These two. The average of these two scores becomes the individual’s performance assessment grade.”
As soon as the instructor’s explanation ended, faint sighs flowed from various places.
The reason was undoubtedly because of the grading criteria.
‘It’s a typical group assignment method that forces teamwork.’
Moreover, since the performance assessment accounted for 20% of the total grade that determined ‘forced transfer,’ it was even more chaotic.
On the other hand, I thought calmly.
‘First, the difficulty is level F, and the grading criteria are the average of team performance and individual performance.’
A manageable difficulty, grading criteria that emphasized teamwork while maintaining appropriate flexibility.
It didn’t seem completely unfair.
After organizing my thoughts to that extent, I turned my head.
In the direction of my gaze, the tracks of the last course were spread out.
‘3 composite stat tracks and 1 all stat track.’
From the looks of it, not only team composition but also how to distribute the tracks seemed important.
‘Then the remaining issue is how to form the team.’
While I was contemplating.
“That’s it for class. From now until the end of the 9th period, I’ll give you time to form teams. Given that the performance assessment and midterm exams are at stake, be sure to form teams that get along well.”
Just then, the 8th period ended.
The ‘team formation’ time had arrived, with the grades for the performance assessment and midterm exams at stake.
As I was about to look around immediately.
“······Ugh.”
I clutched my stomach due to a sudden stomachache.
‘Did I eat too much spaghetti for lunch······?’
The timing was bad.
As I frowned, Lim Kangcheol, who was beside me, spoke.
“Ilhan, are you sick?”
“My stomach a bit. I’ll go to the bathroom and come back.”
“Alright, leave the team formation to me!”
“······?”
My head naturally turned at the unusual sound, but.
“······Ugh!”
Due to the severe stomachache, I had no choice but to rush to the bathroom.
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10 minutes later.
The moment I returned to my seat.
“Ilhan! I’ve found one team member!”
Lim Kangcheol greeted me with someone I never expected.
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