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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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It was Wednesday, 9th period, when I got the first hint of a solution.
It was during a class on ‘The Effects of Mana’.
“First, let’s cover the basic functions of mana.”
The instructor proceeded to list the basic functions of mana.
‘Removal of impurities from the body and enhancement of physical foundation.’
‘Physical strengthening by circulating mana throughout the body.’
‘Emission of mana, which becomes possible when the [Skill] mana breathing technique is acquired.’
Among these, what caught my attention was none other than the second one.
‘Wait, you can strengthen your body with mana?’
It was ‘Physical Strengthening’ through mana manipulation.
“Once you formally reach the third stage of the mana breathing technique and mana begins to circulate within your body, you’ll be able to perform ‘Physical Strengthening,’ which can be considered the basic manipulation of mana.”
Concentrating mana on specific parts of the body by circulating it.
Using this to enhance physical activities.
This essentially meant…
“In other words, you can temporarily strengthen your body with mana, allowing you to demonstrate physical abilities beyond your current stats.”
It meant that magical power could not only cover for stats but even exceed them, enabling a higher level of physical activity.
This was the key point.
‘So you’re saying that by utilizing magical power, performance beyond one’s stats becomes possible?’
Coincidentally, this was connected to Cha Eun-wol’s problem of having insufficient stats.
The reason her problem was difficult to solve was simple.
Stats couldn’t be raised immediately and required a significant time investment.
But what if magical power could enhance physical abilities beyond stats?
‘Not only could she benefit, but my score would improve as well.’
This thought was reinforced by the instructor’s continuing lecture.
“The effect of physical strengthening varies according to mana quantity, that is, the value of the magical power stat.”
An effect governed by the magical power stat.
In other words, it was perfectly suited for Cha Eun-wol, who had exceptional talent in magical power.
But there were issues as well.
“Of course, manipulating mana at the level of physical strengthening is never easy. Those who have experienced it know that even the third stage, circulating mana, requires considerable concentration and sensitivity.”
The difficulty level itself.
That was the problem.
“‘Physical Strengthening’ takes this a step further. You must achieve mana circulation in a ‘dynamic state’ for it to be successful.”
This meant you had to perform mana circulation, which was difficult even with full concentration, while moving.
Therefore, the instructor added that at the third stage, cases where physical strengthening could be smoothly utilized were extremely rare.
It was only from the fourth stage, ‘Mana Road Formation,’ that utilization became somewhat possible.
Afterward, the instructor continued.
“Next, let’s move on to the theory of mana breathing techniques and magical power…”
Mana’s central point, core, and so on.
The instructor continued the lecture on mana theory and the course curriculum.
But I couldn’t concentrate at all.
The reason was simple.
‘…It works right away?’
Mana manipulation called ‘Physical Strengthening,’ which was supposedly more difficult than the third stage of the mana breathing technique, mana circulation.
I had unknowingly accomplished it in one go.
I was dumbfounded that I had done it myself, but I could be certain of my success.
‘I can distinctly feel the power in the parts of my body where mana flows.’
From the refreshing feeling unique to mana circulation to the vivid vitality felt from the body parts where mana was concentrated.
I could physically sense it, so there was no way to deny it.
‘This must be another one of my other self’s works…’
By this point, I naturally understood that it was the doing of my other self.
Moreover, the fact that I had seen in the recorded videos that I had been consistently visiting the magic training room for the past few days also played a part.
‘I’m genuinely curious about my identity now.’
But I stopped dwelling on the question.
Instead, I clenched my fist.
‘In any case, with physical strengthening…’
Cha Eun-wol’s stats, which I had deemed impossible to resolve due to the absolute time constraint.
I could now solve that fundamental problem.
There was only one thing left to worry about.
‘I wonder if I can teach this to Cha Eun-wol.’
It was about how to teach her and whether she could learn it.
‘While I learned through my other self, she’ll have to learn solely through my explanation.’
I could do it naturally because my body remembered it.
I hadn’t directly acquired the sense for it.
Because of this, I doubted whether I could explain it verbally.
After pondering for a moment.
‘Well, Cha Eun-wol is practically a genius when it comes to magical power. She’ll probably figure it out somehow.’
I decided to trust in her genius.
Just as I was reaching a somewhat haphazard conclusion.
“That concludes today’s class. You are all dismissed.”
The day’s final class had just ended.
As the cadets were leaving the magic training room one by one.
I immediately approached Cha Eun-wol.
“Cha Eun-wol.”
“…Huh?”
She flinched slightly, as if she hadn’t expected my approach.
I disregarded this and got straight to the point.
“Can you spare me a moment?”
“…!”
Cha Eun-wol startled.
She then quietly nodded.
*
“Can you spare me a moment?”
When she first heard Ahn Il-han’s words.
Cha Eun-wol couldn’t help but flinch.
She couldn’t guess why he was calling her aside.
‘…Is it because I’m a burden to the team as a teammate?’
Only negative thoughts came to mind.
And for good reason—the reason for the team’s poor performance despite their good dynamics.
She was aware that she was the cause.
‘What on earth does he want to say…?’
Cha Eun-wol glanced at Ahn Il-han, who was standing silently.
No matter how she looked at him, she couldn’t read his expression.
As her anxiety intensified.
“Cha Eun-wol.”
It was only when they were finally alone in the training room that Ahn Il-han spoke.
Then, something completely unexpected came from him.
“By the way, which stage of the mana breathing technique have you mastered?”
None other than her achievement in the mana breathing technique.
The question was so unexpected.
“…Huh?”
Cha Eun-wol unconsciously responded with a vacant tone.
She then shook her head a couple of times to clear her mind.
“The mana breathing technique? I think I just began the third stage today.”
“Then are you able to manipulate mana yet?”
“Mana manipulation?”
“Physical strengthening.”
“Ah…”
At his question, Cha Eun-wol recalled today’s lesson.
She also remembered that she had seemed close to getting it, but ultimately failed.
With renewed regret, she slightly shook her head.
Then once again, something unexpected came from Ahn Il-han.
“I’ll teach you. How to strengthen your body by manipulating mana.”
“…!”
Cha Eun-wol was so genuinely surprised that her eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
‘He’ll teach me? Does that mean he mastered mana manipulation in one go…?’
Saying he would teach her essentially meant that he already knew how to manipulate mana and strengthen his body.
In other words, he had mastered today’s lesson in an instant.
The moment she realized this.
“…Amazing.”
She unconsciously muttered.
Then, realizing what she had said, she blushed.
At the same time, she belatedly realized one more thing.
‘He’s going to share such precious know-how? With me?’
It must have been difficult to acquire.
She knew this because she had tried herself and failed.
Yet he was casually offering to teach her.
While still in shock, she found herself asking why.
“…Why?”
Why would he go so far for her?
She didn’t continue, but the person in front of her seemed to understand well enough and slowly opened his mouth.
“Because we’re a team.”
A brief answer. But it was sufficient.
Cha Eun-wol’s shoulders trembled slightly.
‘I’m already grateful for being brought into such a good team…’
And now he was even willing to pass on his valuable know-how.
Just because, as he said, they were a team.
Cha Eun-wol took a deep breath and composed herself.
‘I’m definitely going to learn this.’
As he said, they were a team. So they needed to do well together.
Cha Eun-wol made a firm resolution and respectfully bowed her head in gratitude.
“Please, teach me…!”
Her eyes sparkled with intense determination.
*
30 minutes later.
“…Um, am I doing this right?”
At Cha Eun-wol’s question, I was momentarily speechless.
The reason was none other than…
‘…She’s a real monster too.’
It was her learning ability.
Her speed in mastering mana manipulation far exceeded my expectations.
‘Is this what it means to be a genius?’
Clearly, the method I taught was extremely crude.
Starting with the explanation of the sensation during mana manipulation.
I tried my best to explain it well, but what came out of my mouth was extremely vague.
The explanation of which body parts to channel mana through was the same.
Since I couldn’t touch her directly, I just roughly pointed in the air.
Nevertheless, she followed along.
“…I can really feel the strength in the places where mana passes through!”
Whether moving her limbs freely or taking a step.
She was manipulating mana in a dynamic state.
Her achievement didn’t end there.
Not only did she perfectly understand my explanations.
Furthermore.
“If I spread mana to my heels or the tips of my toes, I think I could momentarily increase my speed?”
“When running, if I channel mana in sync with my footsteps, wouldn’t that conserve energy?”
“I think reaction speed could be improved by thinly and evenly spreading mana throughout the body, right?”
She was developing at a frightening pace, refining sensations on her own or discovering new applications.
It was truly an astonishing rate of growth.
She even went as far as asking me questions.
“When I move vigorously, the mana circulation gets slightly disrupted. What should I do?”
Each time, I had to struggle to put into words the sensation my body remembered.
Nevertheless, what ultimately came out was incredibly vague, making me feel guilty.
“…You really are amazing. Il-han, you’re a genius.”
Yet she repeatedly expressed her admiration with a dreamy expression.
Listening to her, I was inwardly flabbergasted.
‘Now I’m even being called a genius.’
It was particularly embarrassing to hear such words with a real genius right in front of me.
Moreover, the person before me seemed so different that I wondered if she was really Cha Eun-wol.
‘Was she always this proactive?’
That thought naturally occurred as her attitude toward learning was so passionate.
While tilting my head, I also felt relieved.
‘Anyway, thanks to Cha Eun-wol, I also learned in more detail.’
With this, we could raise her score and, by extension, improve our performance evaluation results.
Now there was only one thing left.
“Cha Eun-wol.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s go test it out.”
Trying it out for real.
‘Whether magical power can truly compensate for insufficient stats.’
I intended to confirm it with my own eyes.
…
…
…
A moment later.
“Hey, this level is…!”
Cha Eun-wol, gasping for breath with an excited look.
Despite being somewhat tired, her expression was blooming like never before.
I quietly nodded to her.
“Yeah. I think it will definitely work.”
I was certain.
With this, it would be possible.
To be first place, to surpass those insignificant fellows.
“Then let’s go to the team members right away…”
“Let’s have dinner first.”
“Okay!”
I headed straight to the cafeteria with her.
*
That night.
After finishing dinner with Cha Eun-wol.
Using the messaging function on our smart watches, I called our team members, Yoon Seol-ha and Lim Kang-chul, to the gymnasium on the first basement floor of the main auditorium.
It was to show them the solution I had found.
“What do you mean you found a way?”
Yoon Seol-ha questioned me as soon as she entered the gymnasium.
Instead of answering verbally, I turned my head.
“Just watch for now. Cha Eun-wol.”
“Okay, I’ll do it right away…!”
While Yoon Seol-ha and Lim Kang-chul tilted their heads in confusion as they looked at us.
Without saying anything, Cha Eun-wol started running the second track that was assigned to her.
When the results came out a moment later.
“…Cha Eun-wol scored 75 points, breaking 70? How is that possible?!”
Lim Kang-chul’s jaw dropped, and Yoon Seol-ha’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
In response to their reactions, Cha Eun-wol simply turned her head slightly.
Yoon Seol-ha confirmed where her gaze had landed.
“…Ahn Il-han?”
She muttered my name in disbelief.
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Aye I was right it is mana reinforcement