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“Let me give you a demonstration. Go outside and watch how I do it.”

“Okay.”

Sang-hoon obeyed Kang Min-hyuk’s command. There was a separate window made of tempered glass, so it was easy to watch from inside. Kang Min-hyuk sat cross-legged in the center of the magic circle and said, “Using the Mana Room is simple. When mana is poured into the magic circle, a reaction is created. Thus, the training begins. It’s important to withstand the pressure and to be aware of how much mana can stably accumulate in the circle. If you adapt successfully to this training, you can make a lot of progress in the future.”

The explanation was brief but thorough.

Kang Min-hyuk immediately pushed mana into the circle, and the twelve stones reacted, increasing the circulation. Kang Min-hyuk experienced a level of pressure that he would not have dared to withstand before his battle with the Werewolf. However, he felt very relaxed. His experience in the Tower took Kang Min-hyuk to another world; he could withstand the fifth level of the mana room for over an hour now.

Time passed quickly. As the mana subsided, Kang Min-hyuk opened his eyes.

“You just have to do what I did. The mana room is a form of training that can quickly make you stronger, but there is a risk of damage to the circle if things go wrong. If you feel confident, though, try it: I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“I’ll do it.”

There was no reason to hesitate. It was a shortcut to greater strength, which was what Sang-hoon earnestly hoped for. Kang Min-hyuk replaced the mana stone that had consumed all of his energy with a new one. He had used twelve mana stones, but Sang-hoon would work on stage one, so he placed down only six.

Then, the training began. Sang-hoon sent mana into the circle, as explained by Kang Min-hyuk, raising its pressure.

“Huh?!”

He took a breath. It was a pressure beyond his imagination. He felt like his whole body was shrinking as though he would choke on the fresh mana, which was sucked into every orifice. It was an unknown world; his head became tight. His glowing, red face seemed as though it was going to spit blood at any moment, but Min-hyuk calmly observed the situation.

If Sang-hoon became overwhelmed, the training would be stopped immediately, and Min-hyuk would rethink their relationship. The ability to withstand the mana room was the minimum requirement for building strength.

Sang-hoon was still a second circle wizard, and his circle was weak, made of reinforced liquid. He didn’t know the Guardian Gate spirit like Kang Min-hyuk. However, he should have been able to withstand at least step one. Considering the mental power required at a higher level, it was only a warm-up.

“Hoowook, hoowook.”

Sang-hoon quickly regained stability.

At first, Min-hyuk thought Sang-hoon was struggling, but he figured out a way to withstand the pressure and proved his worth. His body instantly assimilated the mana. Eager to make the most of a precious opportunity, Jeong Sang-hoon sucked up all the mana around him, like a hungry maw.

When the training was over, Jeong Sang-hoon achieved a significant increase in mana.

“What an effect.”

His heart was overwhelmed. Growth was invisible to the eye, so it wasn’t easy to immediately see the training effects. However, Sang-hoon could feel that it was dramatic. His respect for Kang Min-hyuk heightened.

“Master endured five levels of output with twelve mana stones. If stage 1 is this intense, how strong is the pressure in stage 5? It’s monstrous. Master is only a third circle wizard now because he started later than others. If he started a similar time to me, he might have already reached the level of an archmage.”

His respect for Kang Min-hyuk rose a lot.

As he went outside, Kang Min-hyuk said, “From now on, you can come to my house every day to train in the mana room.”

“But isn’t the price of mana stones too expensive? It looked like a powerful stone.”

It was a reddish mana stone. He had doubts that it was a true red mana stone, but the question of the amount of energy it contained was erased from his mind. What was certain was that it was an advanced mana stone. Since he knew how expensive they were on the market, he apologized.

Kang Min-hyuk said, “Don’t worry about that. I promised to make you strong, and I intend to keep that promise.”

As others flocked to Yoo Jae-myeong, Sang-hoon was learning real skills.

* * *

The school was noisy. The appearance of the sixth circle wizard created quite a fuss. As a result, the students of the Department of Magic were also brightened. During class, a professor from the Department of Magic began excitedly.

“The talent of Archmage Yoo Jae-myeong was unusual even in his school days. We were in class together at one point. A few years ago, I heard rumors that the archmage was wandering worldwide, seeking sixth-circle magic development. Everyone at the department of magic is proud of Yoo Jae-myeong. Thanks to him, wizards all over the world will gain the strength to counter A-class monsters.”

He had never been awfully close to Yoo Jae-myeong, but he talked as if he knew him well. Yoo Jae-myeong was a fundamentally good man. He entered the magic department, created an elite course, and grew into a standard tech-tree with everyone’s recognition. In the process, Yoo Jae-myeong forged a relationship with the upper classes. He didn’t belong anywhere because of wanderlust, but he roamed the world with his business card as emeritus professor in the Department of Magic. That built up his reputation. He took to success naturally. The awareness of him was spreading, and people who knew him were not suspicious and jealous. Instead, they spoke as though they were friends and had shared in his achievement.

The fact that people were receptive to the knowledge shared by Yoo Jae-myeong was something that Min-hyuk couldn’t have accomplished. If he had told the truth, the jealousy of other wizards would have harmed his intentions. For the time being, he had to build his reputation slowly and gather his allies – Lee Hak-beom, Yoo Jae-myeong, and Sang-hoon formed an excellent base for the Matop.

Though Kang Min-hyuk’s roots stemmed from the Guardian Gate, people could never deny his magic capacity. Also, the subjugation of the Guardian Gate was important; many media outlets followed it. Both reinforced warriors and the magic academia paid attention to Suhomun.

Although Kang Min-hyuk was recognized for his academic achievements, the prejudice linked to his lineage remained. He didn’t fit in with wizards because of his background as a warrior, and warriors saw him as the Guardian Gate underdog. When Kang Min-hyuk gained recognition, though, wizards would be appeased by the fact that warriors would finally respect them. First, though, he had to gain their trust. Kang Min-hyuk proceeded with the plan step by step.

A few days later, the call finally came.

[Come to Suhomun by 6:00 PM.]

Kang Min-hyuk finished the class and headed straight to Suhomun.

* * *

Before subjugation, Suhomun discussed the future schedule. The head of the intelligence unit, who was also the father of Ko Young-cheol, spoke of the plan in a low, bass voice.

“The dungeon we’re entering this time is an S-class dungeon located in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, the ‘Dark City.’ All twelve teams that have attempted to attack the dungeon have been eradicated, and the entrance is currently closed. Still, there have been reports that the spontaneous gate phenomenon is increasing recently due to mana flowing from the dungeon. Research tells us monsters like the Undead and Warlock inhabit it…it’s scheduled a week from now. We will select the Guardian Gate’s elite troops and proceed to the subjugation of the Dark City. Broadcasting of the subjugation is overlooked by the broadcasting company K, and the process of subjugation will be disclosed to people in real-time.”

After Kang Min-hyuk’s mother died, Suhomun held a festival in honor of her death every year. It was an annual event that attracted the Guardian Gate’s reputation by coloring the land with the monster-blood and seizing dungeons.

“Did you hear the news? It is said that a wizard named Yoo Jae-myeong from the Department of Magic developed the sixth Circle magic.”

Somebody chimed in, “The sixth circle? So does that mean that magic works on A-class monsters?”

“Yes. It is said that the magic demonstration has already been completed in front of everyone.”

The news had traveled quickly. However, some people weren’t aware of the rumors, and they were surprised.

Jeong Pan-ho said bluntly, “Isn’t that great? Don’t you know? Just because you can deal with Class A monsters doesn’t make you powerful. Numerous dangers lie in this world. Even the dark city is full of A-class monsters. Wizards are only just starting; they’ve got a long way to go to catch up with us. It’s been 2000 years, and they’re still useless, hahaha.”

It was obvious ridicule. From the standpoint of Jeong Pan-ho, who had a powerful, vested interest, wizards’ development was only petty. Some responded in accord with him. Although the development of six-circle magic was a great achievement, it was based on the standards of magic academia. From the standpoint of the reinforced warriors, one good ‘weapon’ was created. The wizard’s value would increase in the future, but no one was worried that the trend would change the current hierarchy. Everybody who engaged in the conversation had a record of slaughtering A-class monsters with their bodies alone. Therefore, the discovery of Circle six held no great significance to them.

Kang Min-hyuk listened to the prejudice the warriors upheld against wizards. The magic academia celebrated with Yoo Jae-myeong every day, but there had been no change in this world. It was an unsettling reality. Six circles simply weren’t enough to change people’s minds. However, if the seventh circle could be attained, perhaps then the magic power would be truly respected.

Kang Deok-cheol’s gaze turned to Kang Min-hyuk. His voice was hard, lacking the warm tones of affection you would associate with a father communicating with his only son. The edges of his words were cold – the chill of them lingered in the air. The room turned quiet, and everybody tuned into Deok-cheol’s conversation.

“Kang Min-hyuk. There is nobody at Suhomun to help you through this subjugation. If you are going to participate as a ‘wizard,’ you have to defend yourself.”

Kang Min-hyuk had broken the heavenly ring when he left Suhomun, and his father, hurt by what he perceived as a rejection, no longer treated him as a citizen of the Guardian Gate. Participation in subjugation was a minimum obligation, though. Besides, it was in honor of Min-hyuk’s mother; nobody could deny him the right to involvement.

“I never expected help. Even if it were offered, I would decline. I’m capable of protecting myself.” “Hmm.”

“Huh.”

An awkward cough and the shifting of feet swept across the room. The atmosphere grew tense, and nobody knew how to react. Fortunately, the meeting didn’t last much longer and was closed with the discussion about final arrangements.

As Kang Min-hyuk was leaving the Guardian Gate, a familiar face appeared at his side.

“If you need help, tell me. No matter what your dad says, I will protect you.”

It was Ha Min-seong – a friend he saw in the ossuary. He was an excellent warrior, and his expression was serious as he looked at Kang Min-hyuk.

Kang Min-hyuk laughed, “Thank you for your words, but it’s okay. I participate in this battle to prove myself, without the help of the Guardian Gate. Just because I’m not the successor doesn’t mean I don’t have strength. Nara wants to prove to the people of Suhomun that we are on the right path. whatever I do, if I receive help from a warrior, the meaning will fade.”

“Oh…”

Ha Min-seong admired Min-hyuk’s response. He had heard it through Go Young-cheol that Kang Min-hyuk was showing great determination and had really evolved. Min-seong found it difficult to believe; he remembered the day Min-hyuk rejected the successor’s role, and he had thought that would be his downfall. He never expected to see his face again. But he looked different. He looked sure of himself and strong.

Kang Min-hyuk was back. Lee Jun-ho, Ha Min-seong, Go Young-cheol, et al. were at the Guardian Gate; they had each sworn allegiance to Kang Min-hyuk, though he lacked mana-talent. Ha Min-seong smiled to see his friend returned to his former glory.

About an hour after he left Suhomun, Kang Min-hyuk received a text message.

[Klinssman…or should I call you Kang Min-hyuk? I was stunned to see your video at the Magic Conference. Klinssman and Min-hyuk are the same?! If you were honest in your offer to hunt with us again, we could really use your skills.]

It was Kim Seong-ho, the party leader from Min-hyuk’s first hunt. He held no special meaning for Kang Min-hyuk, but the timing of his message was good.