35
From the dark, pre-dawn hours, the Eternity Main Building’s park overflowed with vitality.
Between 5 and 7 AM.
This time frame was the most suitable golden hour to absorb fresh mana.
From students, caretakers, staff, professors, to visitors from outside the campus.
Everyone started their day with the circulation of mana, without a care in the world.
I leisurely walked among them.
However, only a few noticed that I was walking among them.
Even those who caught a glimpse of me only realized my presence in passing, surprised but not directly acknowledging me.
No one paid attention to the passing scenery. In other words, I was merely a passing figure to them.
The effect of ＜Presence Concealment＞ Lv.2, an advantage of being a non-mana user.
“It’s not always a bad thing to have no mana.”
Being mana-less in Eternity, where mana determined one’s presence, naturally meant I had a low profile.
With even that low profile erased by presence concealment, it was easy to mistake me for part of the scenery.
Of course, there were limits even to my presence concealment.
It couldn’t hide intense movements like attacking or running from an opponent.
Although not completely hidden, the fact that my presence leaked to some extent was still useful.
However, to opponents above a certain threshold, even a slight leak of presence could be dangerous, so I had to use it selectively.
That threshold was up to the middle ranks of the third years.
It was information I risked my life to gather by sneaking around the dorms from first years to third years.
Literally risking my life.
I almost had a heart attack when I stumbled upon a sword under my feet while wandering around the third-year dorms at dawn.
Thankfully, I managed to escape because I was on high alert. Otherwise, I would have been caught without a chance to react.
“The second-year dorms were a safe zone.”
Members like Yuscal or Austin, at the top of the second year, did notice me, but that was because they were close to third-year level, so it didn’t matter.
However, it was ambiguous whether the first years caught on or not.
They were like a seesaw in terms of skill among the same first-year students.
For sure, Cheon Woojin was immune to my presence concealment, while Nicolaï or Eungaye barely felt it, teetering on the edge.
Amelia and others in the sorcerer category seemed somewhat vulnerable in this sense.
“Han Seyeon passed.”
She was immune to my presence concealment in a different sense from Cheon Woojin.
Although Han Seyeon herself couldn’t sense it, Mordor did. She was always on guard with defensive spells.
“Still, it’s definitely advantageous.”
The mentioned individuals seemed like monsters, but presence concealment was a gift-like, morale-boosting trait that could be considered a gift. It was an ability that reached up to the lower middle ranks of the third years.
I could achieve this efficiency due to the synergy effect of not having mana. Anyway, it was a satisfactory result.
At least, there was body acceleration. I still had a long way to go to get used to it.
“I’ll need at least another month of practice.”
Adapting to the sensory changes caused by body acceleration was more challenging than I thought.
As my body quickened, should the way I move my body change as well?
After writing, the recoil would cause muscle pain, and feeling like I was fainting was also an issue.
At most, four times. If I go beyond that, I become too tired to move. It’s not a matter of willpower.
It’s the limit of Physical Stat ‘4’.
And to overcome this inevitable part and practice, I had been receiving assistance from Amelia’s recovery magic for a few days.
After finishing the early morning walk, my body naturally headed straight to the snack shop behind the main building.
A trade-off with recovery magic.
Bread was essential.
While at it, I bought something to eat.
To think that bread was used for recovery magic, it was surprisingly cost-effective.
By the way.
“Tomorrow’s the day.”
Monday after school, 5 p.m.
There is a magic stone detection match with Elaine in the forest behind Saengdo-dong scheduled.
The judge is Kim Ju-hyuk. At first, he seemed to be on my side, but then his attitude changed, perhaps feeling the magic stones were too precious.
“Well, it doesn’t matter.”
Options of me losing were never in existence from the start.
＜Low-level Curse Avoidance＞Lv.3.
Although it’s called low-level, at level 3, it blocks most curses.
And considering my trait ＜High-level Levitation Seal＞Lv.2 and Elaine’s potion compatibility?
“Victory is mine.”
From Noble mtl dot com
This match was not about ‘fighting,’ but about ‘finding magic stones.’
As I roughly calculated in my head, my body, heading towards the back of the main building, suddenly stopped.
“Oh, it opens at 9.”
There were still two hours left until the snack shop opened.
***
“Ah.”
Amelia’s face lit up with a smile as she took a big bite of melon bread.
“It’s amazing, why does the bread Hyesol brings taste so good? It’s completely different from the melon bread I buy at the snack shop.”
“Well, maybe it’s because you’re getting it for free?”
“Hmm, could that be it?”
As if. Of course not.
The melon bread I provide contains ‘vitality.’ And vitality is, in other words, liveliness.
Vitality was the source of life inherent in people.
In simple terms, just as fresh ingredients are needed for good taste, when vitality is infused, the flavor of those ingredients comes alive.
I only recently learned about the effects of vitality.
I casually infused vitality into the chicken nuggets that came out for lunch, and the taste was mind-blowing.
I’ve been thinking lately that perhaps I have a knack for cooking rather than fighting.
Moreover, borrowing Amelia’s words, she mentioned that eating melon bread containing vitality made her feel like her magic power was being replenished a bit more.
Since it was related to life force, it seemed to have a positive effect on magic power.
On the other hand, Amelia’s recovery magic helped replenish my energy.
Recovery magic, as the name suggests, was the ability to recharge one’s blood supply. Energy was closely related to vitality, that is, closely linked to blood.
In other words, it was a symbiotic relationship.
Anyway, as they say, when one door closes, another opens. After gulping down a melon bread, Amelia cast a recovery spell on me.
Ahh!
In an instant, my body, which had been feeling sluggish, was suddenly restored as if nothing had ever been wrong.
“Ugh.”
I feel this every time, but this recovery magic, it’s like a soothing massage that heals every nook and cranny of my body.
Even when my body is in good shape, it feels like a massage I want to keep receiving.
“Then, let’s begin.”
As Amelia stood up from her seat, a circle of magic, a barrage of magic missiles, emerged around her.
As I nodded, the magic missiles took aim at me and swiftly flew towards me.
【Body Acceleration】
In a flash, the amount of light entering my retinas decreased, darkening my vision.
─────.
The magic missiles, with their long tails, flew so slowly that it was almost tedious.
It was a moment created by the ‘3x speed’ of my body. In that moment, the only one moving normally was me.
Swiftly dodging five magic missiles targeting various parts of my body, the world seemed to accelerate once more, chillingly.
Whoosh!
The magic missiles that passed me embedded themselves in the park beyond.
Not a single one of them touched me.
“You’re really fast.”
Amelia’s expression was one of admiration.
My movements, accelerated three times with energy, were astonishing even by superhuman standards. Thanks to that, my muscles had stiffened.
As my muscles tightened, a solution naturally came to mind: the black market, where everything in Eternity gathered.
There was nothing that couldn’t be found in the world’s greatest market, where everything in Eternity converged.
What I sought there was not an object, but a person.
“Hanseul, the alchemy pharmaceutical tycoon.”
One of the three superhumans who would divide the pharmaceutical industry of Eternity in the future.
Before that sacred being, who had yet to emerge, could prepare to descend, it was about seizing them.
Through him, creating ‘minor copies’ of the unique medicines found only in the game ＜Eternity Chronicles＞, and improving my body.
That was my purpose.
“I can’t keep making potions using SP forever.”
This just doesn’t add up.
Whoosh!
As I easily dodged the flying magic missiles, I furrowed my brow at the pain in my back.
“My back is really hurting.”
***
Elaine Diaz.
She was born with an innate talent for magic, remarkable affinity, and a sharp mind.
He was a genius who had mastered more than half of the 38 curse techniques possessed by Diaz, even before turning sixteen, hailing from the prestigious magical lineage of Diaz.
With exceptional skills in everything he did, unwavering diligence, and outstanding effort, there was no one who doubted that Elaine Diaz would eventually complete all 38 curse techniques of Diaz.
However, the only thing lacking in such a Diaz was the congenital frail body he was born with.
His weak physique, which left him breathless with even a slight movement, and a small, fragile body were not suitable for the practice-oriented curriculum of Eternity.
He could catch demons, but had no chance to do so. He could display magical powers, but the vast field only highlighted the limits of his physical strength.
As a result, Elaine Diaz received grades of mostly ‘D’ to ‘E’ in all subjects involving practical skills.
Even if he tried to make up for his grades in the magic-focused classes, this year, there were unusually many talents as exceptional as him.
Moreover, among them, Elaine Diaz was assigned to Class 1-1.
There were too many competitors he had to face.
Eternity was an educational institution where evaluations were relative, not absolute.
And so, with his grades ruined, he found himself in the special class on magic detection, which included practical skills.
Elaine Diaz, who had run out of options, managed to secure three magic stones with all his might.
But luck seemed to elude him even here, as he couldn’t score, facing the crisis of failing.
Failing at Eternity meant ‘expulsion.’
Therefore, she had to win the magic stone detection match proposed by Kim Joo-hyuk, or else she would have to leave Eternity.
“I’m fully prepared.”
Trees wriggling restlessly, clusters of grass extending—Darkwood, born under a curse, would obstruct Ihaesol’s path in search of magic stones. Long vines would entwine around his ankles.
Rocks, gravel, wind. Everything in the forest would turn into curses to assail Ihaesol.
Moreover, various curses that caused abnormal conditions were Elaine’s specialty.
As she reassessed her talents that had raised doubts since coming to Eternity, Elaine made up her mind.
Nicola, who had been watching over her, agreed with Elaine’s thoughts.
“Elaine, in the forest, your curse techniques won’t lose in a one-on-one match. Have confidence. This time, it’s not a fight but a magic stone detection game.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
It might have been challenging in a fight, but in ‘magic stone detection,’ Elaine was confident she wouldn’t lose to anyone.
In ‘Advanced Magic Stone Detection,’ the subject discussed whether one could detect magic regardless of the situation, making ‘interference’ possible.
And Elaine, who used curse techniques, was naturally adept at such interference.
“The day is over. Let’s go.”
Elaine nodded at Nicola’s words.
She couldn’t afford to face the outcome of ‘expulsion’ from Eternity.
“…I’ll practice a little more.”
The forest of Darkwood grew darker. The forest rippled with Elaine’s magic.
Until the blackened sky turned blue.
…And the next day, the magic stone detection showdown unfolded.
Skipping lightly over the forest’s obstacles, disregarding curses, Ihaesol’s movements left Elaine astonished.