The day I finished dungeon practice was also the day I troubled Professors Atra and Liana.

Honestly, I had no face to see either of them—especially Professor Atra.

After all, it’s not every day you see someone come to greet you and end up vomiting in their presence.

Batting away a helping hand with a smack—it was a disgraceful act, and I felt ashamed even thinking about it now.

That’s why I dreaded meeting Professor Atra the following day.

She might have let it slide considering my poor condition that day, or perhaps she just felt indifferent.

– Are you feeling okay?

The unease had dissipated when I met Professor Atra the next day. Rather than scolding me, she showed concern for my well-being.

I must have misjudged people.

A strange sense of gratitude washed over me toward Professor Atra who, despite my causing such a nuisance, still expressed her worry.

– Thud!

The old training ground.

I pushed off the ground with my legs. I propelled my body forward and reached out with my hand, with blue Qi trailing behind.

In the middle of the extension, another hand intertwined. Shaking off the grab at my wrist, I swung my leg.

– Bang!

A rough noise erupted. A cloud of dust arose and then settled around the area.

Blue Qi twined around my leg. Professor Atra’s forearm, which blocked it, was wrapped in a faint golden Qi.

Since that day… the sparring sessions starting Wednesday had changed slightly.

Post-dungeon practice, my spatial perception had become sharper, allowing me to better anticipate Professor Atra’s movements.

This led to an increase in the rate of my growth. I could feel my skills improving noticeably.

Wondering if I had reached a satisfactory level, Professor Atra began teaching me the methods for generating and controlling Qi and Qi reinforcement.

The method for producing Qi is simple in explanation.

Mana must be condensed strongly and solidly. Essentially, you pump in a lot of mana, and when compressed, it becomes Qi.

Simple as the explanation may be, it requires a certain level of mana manipulation ability.

Thanks to my mana affinity, I manifested it instantly. Things difficult for others in terms of mana were relatively easy for me.

Thus, I was smoothly mastering Qi reinforcement which strengthens the body using mana, Qi which creates armor and weapons, and magic which manifests principles through mana.

Hands entwined. The Qi covering them gnawed and tore at each other.

After a momentary stalemate, the distance widened, and Professor Atra pulled one arm back. Golden Qi wrapped around her fist. I enhanced my own fist with Qi.

The distance closed between our fists. Then, the collision.

– Bang!

A sharp pain surged through my right arm, dust scattering in all directions. My legs, unable to withstand the shock, skidded across the ground, leaving a straight trail.

The Qi that had been wobbling precariously post-impact dissipated into the air. The structure had shaken due to the impact, but more so because there wasn’t enough mana to sustain the Qi.

“Stop.”

Observing the dispersing Qi, Professor Atra spoke. The golden Qi around her arm dispersed as well.

“Your speed and strength in manifesting Qi are impressive, but you seem to lack the mana to sustain it.”

A deficiency in mana capacity. A chronic issue for those freshly ascended to superhuman status and new to mana.

My mana capacity had been steadily increasing. Whenever I had time, I practiced meditation and exercised my core. There had been progress.

My capacity had increased several times since the sparring with Aidan, even though I hadn’t been able to focus on mana due to various obligations.

But it wasn’t enough to comfortably use Qi reinforcement and Qi continuously.

Even now, just a few minutes of sparing had nearly depleted my mana.

While I was catching my breath, Professor Atra checked the time and then said,

“That’s enough for today.”

[Thank you for the training.]

At least the training had reached a certain level, as the number of times I was hit had decreased. Even if I got bruises, they healed quickly, likely due to my recovery training.

As I was loosening my stiff hand, Professor Atra approached and extended a water bottle.

“Here.”

[Thank you.]

I replied via hologram and accepted the bottle, feeling its coolness and promptly gulping down the contents.

The cold water pouring down my parched throat brought a refreshing sensation. I’ve always disliked the cold but appreciated the chill: that hasn’t changed.

As I was eagerly drinking, Professor Atra reached out to my other hand, the one not holding the bottle.

She grabbed my arm and lifted it to eye level.

‘?’

Inspecting my arm closely, Professor Atra said,

“…You’re not injured, but there is enough fatigue accumulated in your body. Rest during the weekend. Any more and it will interfere with your schedule.”

Her advice was straightforward. I finished the water and nodded in agreement.

Professor Atra stared at my face for a while, then turned away.

It seemed like she had something to say, her lips twitching just before, but perhaps deciding it was not important, she remained silent.

Feeling Professor Atra leave my spatial perception, I too moved on.

With the major lectures now over, it was time to meet Hong Yeon-hwa.

…

…

The meeting place Hong Yeon-hwa texted me was a cafe in the commercial district, the same brand as the one I had met with my group during the last dungeon practice.

I remembered this brand being the most well-known cafe in this world.

I couldn’t come straight after my major lecture.

Covered in sweat and dust from sparring, it wouldn’t have been presentable to meet in that state.

“Hayul, over here.”

The cafe’s second floor offered private rooms where one needn’t worry about outside gazes. The windows were treated so that the inside couldn’t be seen from the outside.

Entering the room number provided in the text, I found Hong Yeon-hwa already seated, idly passing the time.

[Sorry I’m late.]

“You’re not late; I just got here myself. I’ve already placed our order.”

As I sat down opposite Hong Yeon-hwa, she pushed a glass across the table. It was iced tea, bobbing with ice cubes.

I ran my finger along the rim of the glass, feeling the undeniable cold. The ice hadn’t melted a bit, which could mean her statement about just arriving was true.

However, the ice alone wasn’t conclusive evidence.

Thanks to my mana affinity, I could feel the spell inscribed on the glass.

Before I had knowledge of magic, I’d have simply noticed the ‘mana forming a specific configuration.’

Now, I could analyze the spell formula. It was a glass etched with a temperature-control spell.

Meaning, no matter how long one waited here, the ice wouldn’t melt due to the magic.

‘Magic.’

In this modern fantasy world, electricity was scarcely used in industry.

Mana replaced its role, with magic substituting for many mechanical functions.

Within the range of my active spatial perception, the number of spell formulas that came into view easily exceeded thousands.

“You haven’t slept well these past few days. Are you okay?”

[I’m fine. Besides, I’m planning to rest well starting today.]

“…Haven’t you been saying that since Tuesday and still been up all night?”

[I mean it this time.]

Hong Yeon-hwa looked at me skeptically. It was true I had made similar claims all week, but this time I was serious.

Ultimately, I really needed to rest, or it would hinder my entrance to The Tower of Growth. Regardless of my intentions, I was in a position where I had to take a break.

“…With the tower entry next week, let’s finish quickly and head back so you can rest.”

Small talk was brief.

It was a casual conversation that could typically take place. What we ate yesterday, how I felt then, and so on…

Hong Yeon-hwa checked the time and my face occasionally, and with a reluctant expression fumbled in her pocket, finally producing a small, rectangular box that was smaller than a fist.

The box’s design was obviously luxurious. Made of deep ink-colored wood with a smooth surface, the intricately carved patterns felt as though they required meticulous craftsmanship through my spatial perception.

Beyond the box’s exterior, a formidable mana emanated from within. Even though I could sense a spell on the box preventing mana from leaking out, the level was still significant.

“Remember the reward I mentioned before? As I thought about it, something occurred to me.”

With an awkward scratch of her head, Hong Yeon-hwa placed the box on the table and pushed it towards me, opening the lid.

Simultaneously, my spatial perception flickered. A vast whirlpool of mana enveloped the room’s interior.

I stood agape.

Nestled on the fine cushion within the box was a luminous blue elixir.

“This is an elixir made from the root of the Fairy Tree, combined with various other medicinal herbs.”

Fairy Tree. A tree that had undergone transformations due to long periods of habitation by exceptionally rare fairies. Even in forests thick with dense mana, finding such a tree is as hard as picking stars from the sky.

The reward mentioned before, the openly presented box, that anticipatory gaze looking at me…

They all pointed to one fact. I couldn’t calm the fluttering at the corners of my eyes.

I lifted my trembling hand and pushed the box away.

“Uh?”

Hong Yeon-hwa let out a puzzled sound. My actions, apparently unexpected, even caused her pupils to quake.

“Hayul?”

Her gaze fixated directly on me. A question hung in her eyes: why aren’t you accepting it?

After calming my anxious insides with a sip of iced tea, I carefully shook my head from side to side.

[I can’t accept this.]

“Why…?”

[How can I accept something like this?]

In this world, when people talk about consuming elixirs, the vast majority think of synthetic elixirs.

Various ingredients imbued with mana are grown and then forced together, cranking them up to the level of elixirs.

They aren’t technically elixirs by nature, but through synergy between ingredients and the skill of alchemists, they’re artificially elevated.

Of course, this process consumes an enormous amount of money, time, and care.

That’s the case with typical synthetic elixirs. They easily shatter the bank with costs in the billions.

But natural elixirs, born at the grade of elixirs, are on a different level.

Their quality surpasses the human-made elixirs, born from nature and engorged with the essence of the earth.

This was a natural elixir. Different from synthetic ones, it could not be bought simply with money.

From this point, it’s not money that’s needed but something else.

In other words, it’s something I can’t easily repay.

I could find a way to repay her for candies. Monsters can fetch more money than you’d think.

But not this. This is beyond my capacity to repay.

I shook my head desperately. I couldn’t accept it. How could I take it when I feel so guilty?

Hong Yeon-hwa presented it as compensation.

Compensation? For what.

The day of the freshman welcome when she knocked me over? When she said to watch where I was going? The time she accidentally knocked me out during sparring?

Just for those trivial matters? Unthinkable. It’s an impossible exchange. There’s a value disparity that cannot be reconciled on the same scale.

Hearing my thoughts, Hong Yeon-hwa sighed and then carefully began to persuade me.

“This does hold the meaning of compensation, but it also carries the weight of investment.”

Hong Yeon-hwa is the heiress to the Gop-hwa clan.

Gop-hwa Clan. Along with Changhae and Taesan, they are a major force maintaining balance in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula, where the clan’s founder was born.

What’s certain is that, even by world standards, the Gop-hwa clan is an impossibly grand power. Even three-year-olds know the stature of the Gop-hwa clan.

“Although this elixir falls under the purview of my authority, the fact that the clan’s overall steward—my mother—readily sent this elixir means there’s a reason.”

Overall steward… The position entrusted by the clan head to oversee major and minor clan affairs. Typically, a trustworthy and capable close relative of the current clan head is appointed… or so I heard when I was dealing with the Changhae clan in the original story.

At this point in time, Hong Yeon-hwa’s mother is the steward of the Gop-hwa clan.

‘Investment…’

I understood if it was tied to investment.

A student brought in under special admission by The Tower of Growth’s owner. But, looking at him, he seems flawed.

As such, my usual perception is that of a lottery ticket that seems like a winner but arouses peculiar suspicion. Of course, that viewpoint has somewhat faded after the last sparring session.

Regardless, it’s entirely reasonable for the Gop-hwa clan, with the capability to procure even crafted natural elixirs, to invest in a special admission student by giving them an elixir.

‘Hmm…’

The idea of it being an investment lessened my reluctance. If it’s about investment, it means the Gop-hwa clan has motives beyond mere generosity.

Still, the sense of obligation didn’t completely dissipate. This investment would remain, akin to a debt in my mind. At least, that’s how I received it.

“I really hope you’ll accept it.”

While I pondered, Hong Yeon-hwa suddenly reached out with both arms and grabbed my hands.

“This is both an acknowledgment of my many wrongs and an investment from my clan. And…”

Her hands, tightly clasping mine, trembled slightly. Hong Yeon-hwa caressed my enclosed hand and bit her lip before continuing.

“There’s something else… I haven’t figured it all out yet, but there’s something else I owe you a greater apology for. Really… something difficult to express how sorry I am.”

Something else she owed me an apology for? I couldn’t understand what she meant.

Hong Yeon-hwa looked at me with an earnestness I couldn’t place.

“So, please accept it. Of course, I promise you, under my name, that I’ll never use this as leverage to demand anything from you.”

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t tempted when she put it like that.

Part of me wondered, why couldn’t I just accept it?

‘……’

After a moment of contemplation, I nodded. Hong Yeon-hwa’s face instantly brightened. From her smile, you’d think she was the one receiving the gift, not me.

…

…

After Hong Yeon-hwa escorted me to the dormitory, I hurried into my room. I could hear the pounding of my heart as I rushed inside.

– Thunk

The door closed without a creak, the curtains already drawn. I took a moment to scan the surroundings with spatial perception before sitting down in the center of the room.

Then, after a few deep breaths to calm my excited mind, I fumbled for the box in my pocket.

It was a small, elegant container. Opening it, a refreshing mana gradually ascended.

‘Wow…’

Amazement naturally escaped me at the spectacle of mana. Even someone without mana affinity could simply feel the force of the mana within.

I carefully lifted the elixir with tentative fingers, the contact with my skin almost sending shivers due to the mana.

The issue of mana capacity. Regardless of anything else, this elixir would likely resolve most of that problem.

I didn’t expect my mana to be robust enough to unleash hundreds of spells immediately, but an intuitive certainty told me that it would provide a basic foundation for a proper battle.

It was Friday evening.

Entrance to The Tower of Growth wouldn’t be until Monday morning.

If I took the elixir now and tuned the gained mana while easing my body’s fatigue, the timing would be perfect.

I swallowed hard, filled with profound gratitude to Hong Yeon-hwa, and placed the elixir in my mouth.

The elixir on my tongue melted stickily as if recognizing its master, sliding down my throat.

Moments later.

“Ugh…?”

Something seemed to reflux up my throat, and black blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.

Oh hell…