I focused my mind and began channeling my mana.
The mana surged outward, spilling forth as if it had been waiting for release. The energy expelled from my core zipped through my circuits at lightning speed.
My body shimmered with the flow of mana.
The intensity was sharper and stronger than ever before.
The effects of bathing in the Lake of Mana were nothing short of exquisite.
While my trip to China had been disastrous in many respects, the rewards—especially the Proof of Protection—made it worthwhile.
As I manipulated my mana with a curious expression, I noticed something peculiar.
‘The color changed.’
Previously, my mana had been closer to a light blue, but now it was different.
White.
It had turned pure white, matching the color of my hair.
The change gave me a strange feeling, but there was nothing negative about it.
The color shift was merely a side effect.
The real significance lay in the purity of the mana.
Since my first immersion in the Lake of Mana and again when my body regressed after being struck by the Two-Headed Venom Dragon, my mana had undergone two significant transformations.
It wasn’t exactly an "evolution" but rather a noticeable refinement of its purity.
And that refinement was substantial.
Even though my mana was previously pristine and clear, in comparison to now, it might as well have been muddy water.
Thinking back, when I first bathed in the Lake of Mana, I had noticed something strange about my energy. That must have been the precursor to this color change.
‘...Everything’s turning white. Am I going gray early?’
Regardless, the change was a positive one.
My mana's purity had improved tremendously.
Out of curiosity, I decided to cast a spell.
A fireball formed at the tip of my finger.
‘Oh... what is this?’
My jaw almost dropped in amazement.
Normally, a fireball would only be the size of a fist. This one, however, was as big as my entire body. I compressed it down to a fist-sized sphere by exerting extra pressure.
As its size shrank, its density increased, and its intensity skyrocketed.
I snapped my fingers. The fireball shot forward, trailing a red streak, and landed a short distance away.
‘Wow...’
A whirlwind erupted.
Before it could hit me, the Sky Wings unfurled, shielding me from the blast.
Shreds of grass were sent flying into the air.
When the winds finally settled and the Sky Wings returned to their resting position, I observed the impact zone.
It was a mess.
A crater big enough to bury dozens of me had formed, with flames flickering at its edges.
The grass surrounding the impact site had been completely uprooted, exposing the bare, brown earth beneath.
‘Oh... oh...’
The destructive power was immense.
Even though a fireball is classified as a low-level spell, its power here rivaled that of a mid-tier spell.
‘If I tweak the spell formulas and enhance it further with spatial authority...?’
It could become even more impressive. A rosy vision of the future flashed through my mind.
I could easily launch dozens of fireballs per second. On top of that, I could mix them with other elemental projectiles or mana bullets.
There was no need to worry about running out of mana, either. With my high mana affinity, I could absorb mana from my surroundings with ease.
If I could further refine my magic skills, the possibilities would be endless.
‘This semester, I should definitely focus on magic.’
The potential for magic shone brightly. To be honest, I had previously been too focused on physical abilities and combat techniques.
For the sake of balance, investing in magic was the right call.
Besides, in the second semester, I also plan to try crafting new equipment... and maybe even experiment with necromancy using Taesan.
I had gathered so much information about necromancy during my time in China. As unpleasant as the source of that knowledge was, it was important to process and use it carefully.
If I become proficient in necromancy, there’s even a specific corpse I’d like to reanimate.
It’s something I had been unsure about using until now, but at this point, I might as well test it myself.
If my skills turn out insufficient to raise it as a minion... well, I can always use it as crafting material.
‘...There’s so much to do.’
I’ll try to keep things quiet this semester.
To be honest, I acted too recklessly in the first semester, given how weak I was.
Of course, I’ll still intervene if incidents arise that require immediate attention...
Letting out a deep sigh, I extended my unique ability.
The unique ability of Taesan.
It was the exclusive power of one of the three great families, the Taesan Clan.
Until now, I had only observed Taesan’s abilities without manifesting them myself, but during my time in China, I had managed to gather significant information on Lee Jiyeon’s use of Taesan.
‘Assimilation, Taesan.’
I applied the observed data to myself through mimicry.
With the help of my mana affinity, I gradually replaced the components of my mana manipulation, piece by piece, like swapping out parts of a machine.
The process was much smoother than before. Ever since visiting the Lake of Mana, manipulating mana had become significantly easier.
My senses expanded.
It felt as if I had become one with the earth beneath me, as though the ground itself had merged with my being.
The sensation was almost alien, like holding the ground in the palm of my hand.
‘...Huff...’
As the turbulence in my mana settled, I took a moment to adjust to the new feeling and examined my physical state.
No abnormalities. There were no signs of my internal organs being crushed into pulp or my circuits overloading and going haywire.
I had been worried that forcibly drawing on multiple abilities might cause complications, but thankfully, there were none.
The only changes were the altered properties of my mana... and a strange sense of calmness.
It wasn’t the fiery, overwhelming sensation of Guhwa.
Nor was it the icy, emotion-numbing effect of Changae.
It was somewhere in between.
To put it nicely, it felt balanced. To put it bluntly, it felt indifferent, as if nothing truly mattered.
‘Is emotional neutrality a side effect of Taesan...? I’m not sure yet.’
Taesan’s side effects were hard to define.
Given that moderation was its defining feature, it didn’t go to extremes like Guhwa or Changae.
In fact, it even provided a functional benefit by helping maintain composure during battle situations.
That said, if one were to recklessly abuse Taesan without regard for its drawbacks, their body could harden like stone and return to dust—a terrifying prospect.
The unique abilities of the three great families required meticulous management of their side effects, given their immense power.
Exhaling another deep sigh, I manipulated the earth.
The ground before me surged upward.
In an instant, a massive mound of earth, more than ten times my size, shot skyward. The mound even included a few embedded rocks.
‘...Like this?’
I manipulated it again.
The earthen mound wriggled before taking on a round shape. Five protrusions jutted out from it.
It had turned into an enormous hand made of dirt.
‘Rock, paper, scissors.’
The fingers folded one by one, leaving some extended. The hand waved side to side, as if greeting me.
‘It works perfectly.’
There was no hesitation in its movement.
This was the basic ability of Taesan: dominance over the earth.
By investing more mana, I could manipulate a wider range, generate rocks and soil, and create more elaborate constructs.
‘It also enhances physical abilities.’
Reaching into the ground, I extracted a rock and clenched it in my fist.
When I applied pressure, the rock crumbled as easily as tofu.
Activating Taesan significantly amplified my basic physical abilities.
This strength enhancement overlapped with Guhwa, though there were differences.
Guhwa’s strength amplification was explosive but temporary, while Taesan’s boost in durability and stamina made it more suited for prolonged use.
In long-term battles, Taesan had the advantage.
Comparing it to Changae, while Changae could quickly regenerate and redistribute energy outward, Taesan required mastery to redirect its power externally.
However, the soil and rock manipulated by Taesan were tougher than the ice of Changae, giving it a defensive edge.
‘Hmm...’
I confirmed the earth's dominion and the physical enhancement. One more task remained.
In fact, this was the main objective.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on a new sensation.
‘......’
Through my connection with the earth, I felt as though my limbs were extensions of the ground itself. Within that unity, I could perceive the abundant vitality around me.
Countless mounds of dirt, insects burrowed deep within, sand, rocks, grass and their roots, even the sparse plants growing in the distance.
Big or small, all of them emanated vitality, proof of life.
This recognition and manipulation of vitality formed the basis for self-recovery and the use of necromancy.
Of course, the amount of vitality varied.
For instance, a withering leaf far off in the distance barely held any life. Its vitality was like a drying spring, running out as it neared death.
‘Damn it...’
The same could be said for me.
For a moment, my heart sank. The warmth in my body plummeted, replaced by a chilling sensation as the wind pierced my skin like icy needles.
I sat on the ground, rich with vitality, yet I myself lacked that very life force.
The contrast was stark and terrifying.
In terms of ratio, my vitality was almost on par with that dying leaf. I was one step away from hitting rock bottom.
What happens when it hits zero?
When the ground is fully exposed and vitality is completely drained, what would become of me?
‘Death.’
The answer was obvious. Just as the leaf would reach its end, so too would my life.
The curse of a shortened lifespan.
Fear gripped me. Most of that fear stemmed from the unknown—the uncertainty of when I might collapse and die.
But now, the shadows of that uncertainty lifted, and I could see it clearly.
Death had taken shape before my eyes.
‘I won’t die.’
I clenched my teeth.
I focused on the sensation and lightly tapped into the vitality of the earth.
It was an alien feeling.
Like a new organ had sprouted within my body, unfamiliar and awkward.
‘It’s similar to mana. I can manipulate it.’
It wasn’t impossible.
It reminded me of when I first learned to wield mana. I extended my dominion and grasped at the earth’s vitality.
It wasn’t easy to handle. The sheer volume was overwhelming. I tore off a small fragment to work with.
The burden lessened. I dragged that piece of vitality out as if pulling something by the hair.
I guided it into my body.
The empty vessel slowly began to fill with vitality.
When I fired off Three Blades at the Two-Headed Venom Dragon, I had briefly realized the lack of vitality within me.
Shortly afterward, I suffered severe damage and lost consciousness. By the time I woke up, my body had already regressed.
I suspected that the reason for my regression was the lack of vitality.
A body should be brimming with vitality, but mine wasn’t. My physical form had shrunk to match the scarcity of vitality within me.
Though it might be a mere assumption, I judged the likelihood to be high.
That’s why I planned to recharge my vitality using Taesan.
‘Tch...’
It wasn’t going smoothly.
Like trying to insert incompatible code, the vitality resisted and was forcefully repelled.
The stubborn rejection made it clear this wouldn’t be an easy task.
Letting out a deep sigh, I tried to move the vitality again.
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‘I won’t die.’
I stirred up my defiance, crushing the feelings of defeat.
‘I won’t die.’
Even back in the days when I had nothing, locked away in my room without a single connection to the world, I didn’t give in easily.
And now, with people who care about me, there’s no way I’ll let this happen.
I want to live with them.
I refuse to die like this. I want to live a long, happy life.
With that determination, I pushed aside my fear and strengthened my resolve.
Pouring all my focus into manipulating the vitality, I pressed forward.
Atra left the central administrative office with a complicated expression and made her way to the training grounds.
The training grounds were old-fashioned, lacking any advanced equipment.
This was the place where she regularly conducted private training sessions with Lee Hayul. Over time, it had become a space she was attached to.
But today, someone else was already there waiting.
It was Riana, who had just finished homeroom for the Ipchun class and handled some other responsibilities before arriving.
“An empty shell... That doesn’t sound like a simple metaphor. What could it mean?”
Riana, having heard about the conversation with the vice president, frowned as she crossed her arms beneath her chest.
Her troubled expression made it clear she was deep in thought.
In doing so, her already ample chest was emphasized even more.
“......”
Atra, who had just shared the details of the conversation, clammed up and stared at that prominent feature.
It wasn’t an unusual action. Even Atra occasionally did such things unconsciously—it was a common enough behavior.
But for some reason, this time, it bothered her.
A few days ago, when people had gathered in Lee Hayul’s dormitory, Atra had seen him suddenly throw himself into Riana’s embrace. Since then, that cow-like figure had been getting on her nerves.
Thinking back, she’d felt a strange discomfort ever since then. Seeing a group of brightly dressed women gathered in her student’s home hadn’t been a pleasant sight.
Still, to nitpick over something like that now, especially with the current circumstances, seemed trivial.
Atra finally continued speaking.
“...The vice president didn’t know the full details either. While we can’t be sure of the truth, he’s not someone who would lie about such things.”
“Hmm... If even the vice president doesn’t know, who could possibly have the answers? The president? The heads of the associations? No one’s seen them in decades... Are they even alive?”
“The president must be alive since the blessings are still maintained, and the association heads are probably alive too. But even if they are, tracking them down would be difficult. And if they’re dead, well, we can’t exactly ask them, can we?”
“And asking Cadet Lee Hayul directly? He might have another outburst like last time.”
The two fell silent.
It was a tangled, messy problem.
“Raising a child is no easy task...”
At Riana’s lament, Atra found herself nodding before she realized it.
As lovable as that child was, he was also quite the troublemaker, constantly giving her heart no time to rest.
“...!”
Atra’s head snapped around, and Riana, who received a belated report from her spirit, also turned her gaze.
Someone was approaching from a distance.
It was a familiar presence—Lee Hayul.
“Hmm...?”
But something was different.
Lee Hayul had always had a faint presence.
That tendency had only grown over time, to the point where in his regressed state, even Atra and Riana struggled to detect him.
It was like a candle flickering in the wind, barely noticeable and almost unsettling in its fragility.
But now, that faint presence had changed.
If one had to describe it, the change was positive. The once weak presence had grown noticeably stronger.
Both Atra and Riana felt something strange. How to put it...
It was like a child who had been skin and bones suddenly eating their fill and becoming plump and healthy.
In any case, it wasn’t a bad feeling.
Soon, Lee Hayul came into view.
“...!?”
He looked visibly sullen, his downcast expression obvious even from a distance.
For some reason, he was floating through the air, wrapped in a gust of wind, and moving at a fairly quick pace.
As he drew closer, his unhappy face became all the more clear.
Their hearts sank.
What had happened to their precious troublemaker this time?
Startled, both Atra and Riana instinctively extended their arms and stepped forward.
They moved to embrace and comfort him.
“Huh?”
“Uh?”
They collided. Something blocked their way, forcing them both to step back.
Atra turned her head and blinked her green eyes at Riana.
Riana turned her head and blinked her golden eyes at Atra.
They both looked equally bewildered.
Their postures were nearly identical—arms outstretched, stepping forward as if to cradle something, yet now stepping back after bumping into something invisible.
“......”
“......”
A strange atmosphere settled between them.