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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: bchen3
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The next day.
“Nnnghhh, Ilhan……”
“Let’s go to school.”
“Okaaay……”
The day began with the morning routine that had now become completely familiar.
He went to school on time and operated his smart watch during the morning classes.
He was checking the results of his other self’s training from last night.
-Strength stat 9
-Agility stat 8
-Stamina stat 9
-Mana stat 1
‘Today it’s the same?’
There was no change in the stats.
He was slightly puzzled, but let it go.
‘Even yesterday, stamina only increased after doing stat circuit training.’
He thought it would be the same this time and moved on.
In any case, what kind of training had been done…
“Puhwahahak-!”
He could figure it out through Im Gangcheol, who was making loud noises in the seat next to him.
‘He’s really consistent.’
He smirked as he watched Im Gangcheol snoring loudly.
Until then, he thought the day would be no different from yesterday.
…
…
…
He began to feel something was strange at lunchtime.
It started when Im Gangcheol suddenly asked him a question.
“By the way, Ilhan…… munch munch.”
“Swallow first, then talk.”
“Gulp, ahem! Ilhan, why didn’t you tell me?!”
“Tell you what?”
“About the mana breathing technique! When did you learn it?!”
“……What?”
The mana breathing technique out of nowhere.
With this unexpected question, his original query about last night’s training completely slipped his mind.
“What are you talking about?”
“You went to the mana training room yesterday!”
“……What? Why would I go there?”
“I don’t know, you’re asking me?!”
Im Gangcheol tilted his head in disbelief.
Only after seeing his sarcastic reaction did Ilhan come to his senses.
‘Me, to the mana training room? Why……?’
Along with the question, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
That was because the current situation felt exactly like when he first encountered the phenomenon.
‘Let’s stay calm first.’
Thanks to that, he didn’t panic like before.
While mentally telling himself to remain calm, he began to consider the questions.
‘If my other self went to the mana training room, why did he go? Mana training should be impossible at this point.’
There were differences, big and small, in the abilities and special characteristics involved with each stat.
Among them, mana was especially different from the other stats.
‘From the prerequisites for training to the training methods, it’s completely different.’
Moreover, unlike other stats that could be trained simply by using equipment or facilities, mana had what was called an introductory stage.
That’s why he hadn’t even thought about it at all.
‘How on earth did I train mana……?’
No, before that, it was questionable whether he had really trained the mana stat.
Just as he was pondering this thought.
“Oh, lunch time is over. Ilhan, let’s go!”
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
Following Im Gangcheol, he hastily left the cafeteria while thinking.
‘I guess I can’t solve all the questions this time either. I can’t catch my other self and ask, but still.’
That didn’t mean there was nothing he could do.
Just then, an appropriate verification method came to mind.
‘Let’s try it before the afternoon practical class starts.’
With that resolved in his mind, he moved toward the classroom.
*
Three hours later.
“Huh? Ilhan, where are you going?”
“To the stat training room.”
“But it’s still break time?”
“I’ll go ahead.”
As soon as the 6th period, Superhuman Theory class, ended, he rushed out of the classroom.
There were 10 minutes left until the practical class, or mana class, began.
This was because he had something to check within that time.
“Huff, huff, whew!”
After quickly catching his breath, he stepped into the stat training room.
The moment he entered.
“……!”
A heterogeneous sensation seeped throughout his entire body.
He involuntarily shuddered at the unfamiliar feeling.
‘What is this? Is the air conditioning turned up high?’
Unconsciously, he looked around.
Then, after checking the clock, he came to his senses.
“There’s no time for this right now.”
He crossed straight through the now-familiar interior of the training room.
The place he arrived at with quick steps was none other than the ‘mana meter’ section.
This was the only verification method available to him.
‘There’s no way training could be possible, but still……’
With a skeptical heart, he examined the mana meter.
It appeared to have the same appearance and usage method as the device that measured mana during the entrance exam.
Thanks to that, he could quickly attempt the measurement.
Gulp-
Swallowing dry saliva, he placed his right hand on the orb.
A moment later, he let out a deep sigh at the measurement result shown on the gauge.
Ding!
-Mana stat 1
Mana 1 stat, there was no change.
It was an expected result, if anything.
Which made it all the more incomprehensible.
‘What on earth did my other self do in the mana training room?’
Before that, why did he go to the mana training room in the first place?
‘No, in the first place, how does my other self’s behavior work……?’
While tilting his head in suspicion.
“Is everyone gathered?”
A familiar voice was heard from the entrance of the training room.
It was the homeroom instructor, Jin Taejin, who had entered.
‘Time has already passed like this.’
He decided to put his questions aside for now.
This was because a very important class was about to begin.
“Today, as previously announced, we will conduct a class on the basic theory and practice of mana.”
None other than the basics and practice of mana.
Coincidentally, it overlapped with the questions he currently had.
So for now, he decided to focus on the class.
Just then, the class began.
“First, the definition of mana power. Mana power refers to ‘the power of mana’. It’s a stat that governs the amount of mana supplied to the body, all power exerted based on the mana in the body, and so on.”
Starting with the definition of mana power.
“There are two conditions for the growth of the mana stat. One is innate talent, and the other is the ‘mana breathing technique’.”
To the two conditions for mana growth.
After briefly explaining the overview, the instructor immediately went into the main lecture.
“First, talent. In the case of innate talent, the initial stat is high, mana is supplied automatically, and the mana stat grows on its own. However.”
The instructor continued his explanation.
“With talent alone, the mana stat only grows. Utilizing mana and mana power is impossible. It’s a separate issue. Therefore, the ‘mana breathing technique’ is ultimately essential for training and utilizing the mana stat.”
Regardless of talent, the mana breathing technique must be learned.
Only after emphasizing that did the instructor move on to the lecture about the ‘mana breathing technique’.
“‘Mana breathing technique’ means, as the name suggests, a method of supplying mana through breathing. It originally derived from [Skill], and therefore its final form also becomes a [Skill].”
From the origin of the mana breathing technique.
“There are a total of 5 stages in the introduction to the mana breathing technique. Only when you have gone through all the stages and finally acquired skills such as [Mana Mind Law] or [Mana Training Method] does the learning end.”
To the 5 stages of introduction to the mana breathing technique.
In addition, he briefly added explanations for each stage.
Stage 1, Mana Recognition.
Stage 2, Mana Breathing.
Stage 3, Mana Circulation.
Stage 4, Mana Road Formation.
And the final Stage 5 was [Skill] acquisition.
The instructor then explained the outline of future mana classes.
“The curriculum for mana class until the midterm exam in the first semester is simple. After the theory classes for stages 1, 2, and 3 of the mana breathing technique introduction, practical training will be conducted. Today’s class covers Stage 1, ‘Mana Recognition’, and up to Stage 2, ‘Mana Breathing’.”
After that, the instructor urged with a powerful tone.
“Only after going through stages 1 and 2 is ‘training the mana stat’ possible, so students should focus entirely on the class.”
He unconsciously nodded at the last words.
This was precisely the reason why mana training was impossible for him at this point.
Naturally, he had never encountered stages 1 and 2 that the instructor mentioned.
As the questions deepened, the explanation continued.
“By the way, there is no performance assessment for the mana class, and the range for the practical exam in the first semester midterm is only up to Stage 3, ‘Mana Circulation’. The reason is due to the time it takes to reach stage 3.”
The instructor added that it takes ‘an average of 2 months, or 1 month if fast’ to reach stage 3.
The difficulty of the class was immediately felt with his words.
In addition, the explanation that had been amplifying the questions also came to an end at the right timing.
“That’s enough for the preliminary explanation. From now on, we will enter the basic practice of mana power, Stage 1. Students, follow me.”
Just as he was about to move with a sigh, Im Gangcheol spoke to him.
“Ilhan, are you sick? You don’t look well.”
Unexpectedly, he seemed concerned about his condition.
He shook his head slightly and answered.
“No, I just have some things to think about.”
“Hmm, I guess you felt it too.”
A suddenly serious tone.
As he tilted his head in confusion, Im Gangcheol continued.
“I don’t understand the explanation well either!”
“……What?”
“So don’t worry too much! It will work out somehow!”
“……”
He felt deflated at the sight of him pounding his chest.
At the same time, surprisingly, his mind felt much clearer.
‘Yeah, it will work out somehow.’
Perhaps because he had already thought he understood the core of the phenomenon.
He had overreacted.
Of course, he had his own excuses.
‘If my other self can learn mana as well, it would be really amazing.’
According to the instructor’s explanation, the mana stat requires introduction before training.
There’s no performance assessment, and the content of the first semester midterm practical exam is only up to Stage 3.
The fact that it was just ‘Mana Circulation’ proved that point.
‘If the phenomenon can handle such a difficult task for me……’
It would be strange not to be tempted.
But he deliberately shook his head.
‘No, the increase in the other three stats is already enough.’
Excessive greed tends to bring trouble.
Moreover, if he relied too much on the phenomenon, he might become negligent.
With that self-encouragement, he decided to focus on the current situation.
‘The mana breathing technique class doesn’t seem easy either.’
Just as he was composing himself, the instructor suddenly stopped at the entrance to the mana-exclusive training room.
“Before we go in, I’ll give you one tip.”
He continued as he entered the training room.
“Try to open your five senses as wide as possible.”
Open the five senses.
Most tilted their heads at the ambiguous instruction.
Soon, they started entering the mana training room one by one.
Among them, one or two suddenly shivered throughout their bodies.
‘That reaction is……’
Strangely familiar, he thought as he took a step, and at that moment.
Swaaash-!
A heterogeneous sensation assaulted his entire body.
“……!”
Only then did he realize.
It was the exact same sensation he had felt when entering the training room before class started.
The sensation was much clearer and more intense than before.
But an even more shocking sound came to his ears.
“As expected, some already recognize it. This alien sensation you’re feeling now, its identity is ‘mana’.”
His mouth fell open at the instructor’s explanation.
‘This is mana……? Wait, that means.’
Before he could even continue his thought, he suddenly noticed.
Whether by coincidence or not, the instructor’s gaze had stopped near him.
He slowly opened his mouth.
“Especially to the students who felt the sensation for the first time, I have something to say.”
Perhaps because of his gaze.
“Congratulations. Students, you have just passed the first stage of the mana breathing technique.”
The unexpected words of congratulation.
It felt like they were directed specifically at him.
At the same time, he suddenly realized.
‘Was that why he went to the mana training room?’
It was truly something he hadn’t expected.
But this was just the beginning.
…
…
…
A moment later.
‘……Wait, this works too?’
Beyond the unexpected.
Something unimaginable had happened.
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