Magic was systematic and diverse.
It could be divided simply by element, or into various non-elemental branches that fell outside the elemental system.
Summoning Magic was one example.
It was widely known even among the general public because Mages frequently used it for training.
The training itself was conducted in teams of five.
Three Swordsmen and two Mages.
One of the Mages served as support.
That Mage's task was to summon the monsters used for training.
'Just seeing that Summoning Magic is enough to make Swordsmen feel relatively deprived.'
It took four Swordsmen working together to barely defeat an Orc, yet a Mage could summon one with a mere wave of the hand.
With enough Mana, they could even summon several.
That was the difference between Swordsmen and Mages.
Yoon Tae-hyun turned his gaze toward Kim Ji-han.
He wondered what the boy thought of Mages like these.
'......Admiration?'
Ji-han looked impressed.
Was he marveling at the Magic?
Well, it was his first time seeing it. That was understandable.
Yoon Tae-hyun chuckled softly and spoke.
"What do you think?"
"......"
"Mr. Ji-han?"
"Yes?"
"What did you think of the Mages' Magic?"
Ji-han was silent for a moment.
He looked lost in thought.
Then he answered.
"It was fascinating."
"Anything else?"
"Hmm...... Nothing else really came to mind."
"Is that so?"
Yoon Tae-hyun was more than satisfied.
Yes, as long as the sight of a Mage's Magic hadn't overwhelmed or intimidated him, that was enough.
But contrary to Yoon Tae-hyun's assumptions, Kim Ji-han had been looking at something else.
More precisely, it wasn't the Magic that had fascinated him.
"......"
Because in Ji-han's vision, a blue sea filled the entire training ground.
A blue sea—or, more precisely, the Blue Line had spread into a surface that covered the entire training ground.
'......Does that mean I could cut through this entire enormous training ground in a single stroke now?'
The Black Line warned me of threats, while the Blue Line showed me where to cut.
This time, however, there was no particular target.
As though telling me to cut everything, the Blue Line had become a broad surface filling the training ground.
I stared at the sight for a moment, then shook my head and looked away.
That was something I absolutely couldn't allow to happen.
Still, I'd learned one thing.
'I can cut through all of them.'
Even if they were Mages.
"Director."
"Yes?"
"There's something I'd like to ask you."
"Please, go ahead."
I pointed toward a virtual Orc summoned by one of the Mages and spoke.
Director Yoon Tae-hyun understood what I meant. He looked stunned for a moment before asking,
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Yoon Tae-hyun fell into thought.
But he didn't need long to decide.
He nodded and said,
"Let's give it a try. We can ensure your safety, too."
***
"Once you enter the Tower, you can't leave whenever you please. You have to meet certain conditions before you can get out."
"Conditions?"
"Yes. On Floor 11, for example, you must defeat an Orc to obtain a Return Ticket."
And those conditions grew dramatically more difficult as the floors increased.
"The Magic Institute has facilities where you can practice meeting those conditions."
The device was known as the 'Return Simulation Monster Summoning Device.'
Or simply 'MSD' for short.
It was a magical device that summoned the number of monsters required to fulfill the return conditions on each floor of the Tower, from Floor 1 through Floor 20. They weren't real monsters, of course, but virtual monsters summoned through Summoning Magic. Their strength and physical toughness, however, were identical to those of the real creatures.
Just then—
"Will you fucking do your job properly?!"
"What's that supposed to mean all of a sudden?"
As I looked around, a commotion suddenly broke out nearby.
I turned toward the noise.
Senior Sang-hyeok and a Mage trainee were arguing.
The Mage trainee jabbed a finger at Sang-hyeok and shouted,
"I can't cast my Magic unless you protect me properly! How could you let a Goblin get right past you?"
"Haah...... Yes, it was my fault. I'm sorry."
"Then do your job properly, seriously. There are plenty of other things I'd like to criticize, too, but...... Haah. I'll let them go."
After the disturbance died down, I watched Sang-hyeok resume training with a puzzled expression. Considering how he'd acted yesterday, I'd expected him to argue back furiously. It was strange to see him apologize so readily instead.
'Was it really Senior Sang-hyeok's mistake?'
Just as I wondered that, Director Yoon Tae-hyun spoke.
"The Mage was at fault."
"What?"
"The Mage's movements were too erratic, and he kept moving in directions that made it difficult to protect him. That's what happens when a Mage doesn't trust his Swordsmen."
"Do you think Senior Sang-hyeok knew that?"
"Of course he did. He's the most senior trainee at our Swordsmanship Institute, after all."
"Then why didn't he argue?"
"Because connections matter in Mage society, too."
Yoon Tae-hyun continued with a bitter smile.
"Mages can manage without Swordsmen, but Swordsmen absolutely need Mages."
"Ah."
I heard snickering from somewhere nearby.
When I turned, I saw a group of Mage trainees.
They were clearly laughing at Senior Sang-hyeok.
"Hey! You over there! Who said you could laugh during training? Do you think this is a joke?!"
Instructor Han Na-yeon immediately called them out.
The laughing Mage trainees bowed their heads to her and resumed training.
Watching the scene, I casually asked,
"Do you think they arranged that?"
"Perhaps."
"I'm starting to think I don't like Mages."
"You're becoming a proper Swordsman already."
Director Yoon Tae-hyun smiled and continued.
"Just a moment."
With that, he approached Instructor Han Na-yeon.
Apparently, he'd gone to ask permission to use that MSD device or whatever it was called.
"What kind of fucking nonsense is that?"
That was Han Na-yeon's response.
Her expression made it painfully clear just how absurd she found the request.
"You want to let a single trainee use the facility? And not even a Mage—a Swordsman?"
"Yes."
"Be reasonable. The monsters may be virtual, but they have physical bodies. And you want to let a trainee use it, not even an active Hunter, but one lone Swordsman?"
"What's the problem? If it looks dangerous, we can stop the device. Besides, the other trainees won't be using it until the afternoon, so no one should be using it right now, correct?"
"Haah...... Well, that's true."
Han Na-yeon's eyes flicked toward me.
"Don't tell me you mean him?"
"Yes."
"That's strange. He looks awfully young. How old are you, by the way?"
I answered.
"Seventeen."
"Wait, you really are that young?!"
Han Na-yeon was astonished.
Seventeen......
No, could a minor even become a Hunter in the first place?
"He's seventeen, and he's allowed to enroll at a training institute?"
"There's no legal issue."
"N-No, wow...... I don't even know what to say."
"In any case, may we use it?"
"You seriously intend to put him through it?"
"Yes."
At Yoon Tae-hyun's answer, Han Na-yeon looked at Ji-han.
No matter how she looked at him, he seemed like nothing more than a slightly absentminded kid.
'Director Yoon Tae-hyun isn't someone who would make a decision like this without a reason.'
Han Na-yeon stole a glance at Yoon Tae-hyun.
His usual sly, easygoing expression looked suspicious as ever.
That expression was also why he was so difficult to read.
In the end, Han Na-yeon sighed and spoke.
"If there's an accident, I'm not taking responsibility. Go ahead and use it."
"Thank you. Mr. Ji-han, follow me."
I nodded and followed the director.
Instructor Han Na-yeon came with us, apparently curious herself.
We headed to an area with a circle thirty meters in diameter marked on the floor.
Outside the circle stood a control desk fitted with buttons for some unfamiliar machinery.
"One moment."
The director went over to the bench where the Swordsmen were resting and brought something back.
It was a real sword.
He handed it to me and said,
"It's mine. You can borrow it for a while."
I gripped the sword.
I'd never held this sword before, yet the grip felt familiar.
As if I'd swung it thousands, even tens of thousands of times.
Director Yoon Tae-hyun continued.
"Would you step inside the circle?"
I nodded and entered it.
The director began operating the controls on the desk as he spoke.
"If it looks dangerous, I'll stop the device immediately, so please don't worry too much. Now, are you ready?"
"Yes."
"All right. Then let's begin."
FWOOSH—!
At Director Yoon Tae-hyun's words, a magic circle rose from the ground directly ahead of me, where I'd been looking.
Something emerged from the magic circle: a blue Goblin.
A single Goblin that looked almost like a hologram.
"One Goblin from Floor 1 of the Tower. You may begin."
At Director Yoon Tae-hyun's words, I approached the Goblin.
Though it was a virtual monster summoned through Magic, it behaved exactly like a real Goblin.
-GRRRR!
The Goblin twisted its face into a vicious snarl and charged at me.
I swung my sword along the path of the Blue Line.
SLICE—
The Goblin's head fell.
"Oooh......"
Instructor Han Na-yeon, who had been watching, spoke in admiration.
"So he's got some talent, does he? I can see why you wanted to give him a try, Director."
"......"
"What's wrong, Director?"
Yoon Tae-hyun, meanwhile, was watching Ji-han with a serious expression.
As though determined not to miss a single movement.
Puzzled, Han Na-yeon asked,
"What's wrong? Is something going on?"
"I've noticed another unusual aspect of Kim Ji-han."
"An unusual aspect? Is there something special about him?"
"Yes. Ji-han has a talent for cutting anything."
"A talent for cutting anything? What's that supposed to mean?"
"For example......"
Yoon Tae-hyun pointed toward Ji-han as he spoke.
"That sword of mine he's holding doesn't have a sharpened edge."
"It's not sharpened?"
"No. I've never had a reason to use it, so I haven't sharpened the blade."
"Then how did he cut it?"
And he'd severed the Goblin's neck cleanly, at that.
Even if it was a virtual monster, its body had been created to resemble the real thing, so its durability should have been similar, too.
"That's what I'd like your help with, Ms. Na-yeon."
"My help?"
"Yes. Perhaps the eyes of a Fifth-Circle Mage will notice something."
BEEP—
Yoon Tae-hyun pressed a button on the device and called out.
"Floor 2, Mr. Ji-han."
At his words, two Goblins were summoned.
But the result was the same this time, too.
WHOOSH—!
Ji-han swung his sword.
Its path swept through the necks of both Goblins.
The moment their heads fell, Han Na-yeon finally realized that something extraordinary was happening, and her expression turned serious.
"Another clean cut...... And two of them in a single stroke."
"Let's continue."
Next came Floor 3.
Three Goblins were summoned.
And once again, Ji-han swung his sword.
WHOOSH—!
This time as well, he severed all three Goblins' heads in a single swing.
"Next."
Floor 4.
This time, five Goblins were summoned.
The instant they appeared, Ji-han kicked off the ground and charged.
His sword swept through the head of the Goblin at the front. Without stopping, he spun his body and cut through the four Goblins behind it in a single horizontal sweep.
Watching it happen with her own eyes, Han Na-yeon's mouth began to fall open.
"Floor 5 now, Mr. Ji-han."
Floor 5 of the Tower.
Only one monster was summoned on this floor.
It was a Goblin, too, but it looked different from those that had appeared before.
It was as tall as an adult man and had well-developed muscles.
A Hobgoblin.
But the outcome was no different.
SLICE—
If anything, having only one target made it easier to cut.
"What is that kid?"
Han Na-yeon was beginning to stare at him as though he were some kind of monster.
***
Many different kinds of Magic existed in the world.
There was Magic that crushed opponents with gravity, Magic that ruptured their bodies with sound waves, and even Magic that used blood as a medium.
With such a variety of types and branches of Magic, Han Na-yeon couldn't help being suspicious.
"Is that Magic?"
"No. You can tell just by looking, can't you? There wasn't even a magic circle."
"N-No, but if it's not Magic, how can he do that? It makes no sense!"
He had already reached Floor 8.
He was passing the Floor 8 return test all by himself.
No, he'd just passed it.
Time taken: four seconds.
In fact, he probably hadn't taken longer than four seconds on any floor from Floor 1 through Floor 8.
"Who is that?"
"Is he a new Mage?"
"But he's holding a sword."
At some point, the trainees had gathered to watch Ji-han's test as well.
Every one of them wore an expression of admiration or outright shock.
Han Na-yeon was so overwhelmed that it didn't even occur to her to bring the commotion under control.
Then came Floor 9.
SLICE—
"Four seconds......"
Four seconds again.
That was how long it had taken him to defeat five Hobgoblins.
"We're starting Floor 10, Mr. Ji-han. Be careful this time."
Five monsters appeared at Yoon Tae-hyun's words.
Four of them were Hobgoblins, but the fifth was different.
It was shorter than a Hobgoblin, with a hunched back, and it held some kind of staff.
A Goblin that used Magic—a Goblin Shaman.
"The smaller Goblin uses Magic. Be careful."
At Yoon Tae-hyun's warning, Ji-han refrained from moving immediately for the first time and studied the situation.
The four Hobgoblins stood in front, as though protecting the Goblin Shaman.
Their formation was strangely similar to the one I'd seen the Swordsmen and Mage trainees using earlier.
Of course, I had no idea how to break through such a formation.
All I could see was the Blue Line.
This time, too, I swung my sword along its path.
WHOOSH—!
The sword swept through the first Hobgoblin's neck.
Its path continued toward the neck of the second Hobgoblin.
Just as the blade was about to cut through the second one's neck, the Goblin Shaman pointed its staff at me.
It seemed to be preparing a spell.
But the Magic hadn't manifested yet, so I completed the cut through the Hobgoblin's neck.
SLICE—
One second had passed so far.
I'd cut down two of them in one stroke, but the path of my sword didn't stop there.
Its continuing arc was already headed for the third Hobgoblin's neck.
At the same time, the fourth Hobgoblin reacted and lunged at me.
-KYAAAAH!
Its sharp claws slashed toward Ji-han's torso.
There was no way to dodge.
But the Black Line that warned me of threats hadn't appeared.
I guess that means I don't need to dodge.
I continued swinging my sword along the Blue Line.
After cutting through the third Hobgoblin's neck, the Blue Line's path led toward the hand the fourth Hobgoblin was swinging at me.
Does it want me to cut straight through it?
I carried on with the swing.
SLICE—
The fourth Hobgoblin's threatening hand was severed and flew into the air.
Its head rose into the air along with the hand.
I'd followed through with the same swing, cutting off its head after its hand.
FWOOSH—!
Once I'd cut down all the Hobgoblins protecting it, a fireball came flying toward me.
It was Magic cast by the Goblin Shaman.
"!? Watch out!"
Han Na-yeon shouted urgently and thrust out her hand.
Even if the MSD was stopped, Magic that had already manifested wouldn't disappear.
But I didn't panic.
'It's connected.'
I could see the Blue Line again.
Its end was connected to the incoming fireball.
SLICE—
I swung my sword.
From top to bottom.
The blade cut straight through the fireball.
Split in half, the fireball passed by Ji-han on either side.
At the same moment, Ji-han shot forward with explosive speed.
THUD—!
With the sound of his foot striking the ground, Ji-han had already closed the distance and appeared right in front of the Goblin Shaman.
But the Goblin Shaman didn't panic.
As a virtual life-form, it presumably had no emotion resembling panic.
It simply raised its hand and cast another spell.
This time, it was defensive Magic.
A blue barrier formed from its hand.
But there was no need for me to panic, either.
'Cut.'
Because the Blue Line pointed beyond the fireball, all the way to the barrier.
I swung my sword.
SLICE—
The blade split the barrier in two and continued through the neck of the Goblin Shaman beyond it.
The Goblin Shaman's head fell to the floor.
THUMP—
"""......"""
Nobody spoke.
Everyone stared at Ji-han with the eyes of people who had just witnessed something impossible.
Han Na-yeon stared at Ji-han, her eyes trembling, and barely managed to speak.
"H-He cut through Magic......"