Barn slid the heavy wooden bolt into place, the dull thud echoing through the modest dwelling as the girl silently surveyed her surroundings.
This was the genuine residence of the original Barn.
Despite his ill-gotten gains, the fraudster had lived frugally; the bulk of his coin remained buried in secure, hidden caches, with only a fraction reserved for daily sustenance.
The room was sparse to the point of austerity: a simple wooden bed, a solitary table paired with a plain chair, and a modest bookshelf lined with worn volumes.
Two potted plants sat near the dusty window sill, offering the only trace of decoration.
The young noblewoman observed the humble interior with a keen, analytical gaze before turning her eyes toward Barn, silently awaiting her next instruction.
”Go.
Sit on the floor and assume a meditative posture,” Barn commanded flatly.
She complied without hesitation.
Reaching up, she unclasped the drab cloak that concealed her identity, letting it slip to the dirt floor.
Beneath it, the lavish splendor of her highborn attire stood out in stark contrast to the dilapidated room—richly embroidered fabrics interwoven with thread of pure gold and delicate enchantments.
Barn let out a cold, sharp laugh.
“Foolish.
You do not even attempt to conceal what you truly are.”
The girl bristled, her head snapping up.
“What did you say?”
”I said you are a fool,” Barn replied, his voice laced with unyielding gravity.
“You stride through the slums without hiding your noble blood, completely oblivious.
The very guardians trailing in your shadow nearly ended my life.
My predecessor’s body was battered, his breath stolen away—all because of your carelessness.”
Silence fell over the room, heavy and suffocating.
The girl stared at him, the defiance in her eyes wavering.
”I…
I knew nothing of this,” she whispered softly.
”Your ignorance is a weapon,” Barn countered, stepping closer.
His eyes narrowed as he focused his senses upon her frame.
“It inflicts suffering upon the innocent, and many have died in the wake of your blind privilege.
Even now, I can feel the thick, suffocating weave of cursed energy clinging to you—the raw, festering hatred of souls whose lives were cut short because of your existence.”
”Ha!
Do you truly expect me to believe such absurdities?” she scoffed, though her voice lacked conviction.
A sudden surge of deep-seated fury—a mixture of the original Barn’s residual grudge and his own unyielding pride—flared within his chest.
Intoning a silent incantation, Barn invoked [Dark Resonance: Spiritual Memories], an esoteric art designed to harmonize with and touch the realm of spirits, specifically tailored toward malignant entities and lingering curses.
The moment the dark magic made contact with her soul, the girl froze instantly like a marble statue.
The color drained from her cheeks, and the light vanished from her eyes, leaving her staring blankly into the void.
Barn watched her still form, uncertain of the full depth of the spiritual realm she was currently experiencing, but acutely aware of the dark forces at play.
’Now, to fulfill my part of this exchange,’ Barn thought, shifting his focus entirely to the hidden currents of power within her.
Extending his perception, he mapped the intricate pathways of her inner composition, sensing the latent Mana and Aura swirling aimlessly beneath her skin.
With meticulous precision, he began to guide her internal energy, forcibly carving a structured path through her channels while speaking in a rhythmic, authoritative chant:
”Mana is the absolute source of Life,
It flows like endless water.
The body is but a vessel,
The veins, the sacred paths.
Gather the mana deep within your frame,
Absorb it as naturally as the air you breathe.
Let the source flow through every pathway,
Let it coalesce, strengthen, and elevate your being.”
Under his expert direction, her body began to draw in the ambient ambient energy of the realm.
The Mana surged through her newly opened pathways, fortifying her muscles, bones, and spirit.
Within less than five minutes, the process reached its crescendo.
Ting.
A soft, resonant chime echoed directly within Barn’s mind.
Before his vision, a strange yet vaguely familiar interface materialized—a translucent gray screen emblazoned with striking red lettering.
’Why gray and red?’ he noted curiously, his analytical mind registering the aesthetic before reading the prompt.
[NOTICE]
You have guided an individual onto the Path of Magic, imparting the precise flow and control of Mana.
Class Unlocked: [Master of Magic – Lv.
1]
A sudden, overwhelming surge of arcane knowledge flooded his consciousness.
A profound, ethereal connection snapped into place between his mind and the ambient Mana of the world.
He felt the sheer volume of his internal energy swell nearly tenfold, while the unseen restrictions governing his magic shattered like thin glass.
He intuitively understood that he was now capable of wielding Fourth Rank magic effortlessly.
Class Overview: Master of Magic (Lv.
1)
Universal Magic Wielder: Allows the user to cast any rank of magic comprehended, instantly elevating all castable spells by +1 Rank (up to Rank 6).
Magic Affinity: Reduces all incoming magical damage by 20% and decreases spell resource cost by 10%.
Mana Regeneration: Continuously restores spent energy, increasing base Mana regeneration speed by 20%.
Mana Affinity: Beloved by the natural elements; enables direct manipulation of atmospheric Mana to cast spells or manifest ambient phenomena.
Attribute power scales proportionally within high-density Mana zones.
Magic Genius: Instinctively grants complete comprehension of any magic, spellcraft, or esoteric doctrine read or experienced firsthand.
Absorbing the vast tide of mystical knowledge, Barn felt a thrill of pure satisfaction.
However, as his eyes drifted back to the young woman, he noticed the dark, lingering cursed energy wrapping around her newly awakened magical aura.
’I sought retribution for what her presence cost this body,’ Barn reflected, feeling a faint pang of guilt beneath his cold pride.
‘Perhaps this is cruel…
but in a world like this, weakness is the ultimate sin.’
Relying on his newly acquired mastery, Barn reached out toward the hovering malice.
With calculated force, he condensed the scattered cursed energy and pushed it deep into her soul, containing the volatile malice before it could devour her spirit from within.
”[Greater Energy Seal].”
A brilliant array of sealing runes flashed briefly across her chest before vanishing beneath her skin, securely locking the curse within her spiritual core—a seal he quietly resolved to undo under the cover of night.
Stepping forward, Barn placed a firm hand upon her forehead.
He forcibly injected his own refined Mana into her body, driving it through her pressure points, muscles, and skeletal structure until the magical energy began to mutate, converting directly into physical Aura.
Ting.
[NOTICE]
You have forcibly elevated a high-tier Knight onto the dual path of the Magic Knight.
Class Unlocked: [Master Magic Knight]
His physical vessel underwent an instantaneous, drastic transformation.
His muscles expanded and hardened, his bone density multiplied, and a wave of raw physical power surged through his veins.
Class Overview: Master Magic Knight
Perfect Vessel: Enables the user to operate at peak physical performance indefinitely, rendering the body immune to ordinary fatigue and lower-tier toxins, curses, or ailments.
Aura Affinity: Heightens sensory perception and control over Aura by 10%, while increasing base Aura density by 10%.
Aura Transformation: Grants the ability to convert Mana directly into Aura and shape it freely, with destructive output scaling based on density and precision.
Skill Mastery: Enhances learning capability for all physical skills, martial arts, and compatible Aura techniques.
Barn marvelled at his astounding growth; in a span of mere minutes, his overall combat capability had expanded more than twentyfold.
Opposite him, the girl stirred, her eyes fluttering open.
The memories of her spiritual ordeal had been cleanly wiped by the sealing magic, leaving her completely bewildered by the strange, triumphant grin on the man’s face.
”W-What are you doing?!” she shrieked, scrambling backward to her feet.
Before Barn could answer, the front door shattered inward with a deafening crash.
A dozen figures clad in sleek black attire and polished armor flooded the room, their daggers and drawn broadswords leveled directly at him.
Two heavy guards rushed to the noblewoman’s side, shielding her while swiftly assessing her physical state.
Finding no visible wounds, they remained vigilant, their blades pointed firmly at Barn.
Barn merely scoffed.
Releasing his newly amplified power, a terrifying wave of Aura erupted from his frame, crashing over the room like an invisible sledgehammer.
The oppressive pressure—equivalent to a high Fifth Rank or low Sixth Rank powerhouse—forced the intruders to gasp, their footwork faltering in absolute shock.
A warrior of such devastating caliber had no business residing in a slum tenement.
”Is this how nobility shows gratitude?” Barn remarked coldly, his voice echoing with majestic authority.
“I guide you to the path of a Mage and transform you into a Magic Knight, yet you repay my benevolence with drawn steel?”
”Liar!
You did no such—”
The girl cut herself off as her heightened emotions inadvertently triggered her internal energy.
A radiant, dual-colored aura erupted around her body, swirling with dense physical force and vibrant Mana.
She stared down at her hands in utter disbelief.
She could feel the vast ocean of Mana coursing through her veins alongside the firm presence of Aura—the mark of a true Magic Knight, an exceedingly rare martial class possessed by fewer than one in a hundred thousand mages.
”I…
my memories are hazy,” she stammered, her proud posture softening into genuine remorse.
“I am…
deeply sorry.”
”Return to your estate,” Barn stated plainly, suppressing his aura.
He paused, adding with stern gravity, “Be warned: your sudden awakening comes with severe consequences.
The lingering resentment of those who have suffered due to your house’s actions has formed a malignant curse.
It follows you even now.
It will not strike at your flesh, but it will force your soul to endure the agony of those you have ignored.”
The surrounding guards visibly tensed at his words, exchanged uneasy glances, but remained silent—their guarded expressions betraying that they knew far more than they let on.
”I understand…” The girl reached into her cloak, pulling out a heavy leather pouch that clinked with the unmistakable weight of high-denomination coin, placing it upon the wooden table.
“Please, take this.”
Before they could depart, the crowd parted as a tall, elegant woman stepped into the ruined doorway.
She carried an ornate wooden staff, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, her piercing red eyes locking onto Barn.
The subtle, immense pressure emanating from her frame signaled her status as a high-ranking Archmage.
”We are immensely grateful for what you have done for the young lady,” the blonde mage said softly, her tone measured and respectful.
“I shall not pry into your methods.
However, should you desire it, I offer you the position of personal tutor to the young miss—or, if you prefer, direct entry into the Royal Magic Tower.”
It was a prestigious offer that most would kill for, a guaranteed path to wealth and political power.
Yet Barn knew the true cost of such patronages: total subservience.
”I thank you for the generous offer,” Barn replied smoothly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
“However, my journey of learning is far from complete.
I prefer to wander without chains holding me down.”
The Archmage studied his calm expression for a long moment before nodding slowly.
“A pity.
Should you ever reconsider, use this.” She produced a silver-embossed scroll and flicked her wrist, sending it floating gently into Barn’s hand.
With a final bow, the noblewoman and her retinue retreated into the narrow alleyways.
A subtle pulse of light lingered near the entrance as one of the guards briefly cast a repair charm to fix the splintered door before departing.
Left alone in the quiet room, Barn casually tossed the heavy coin pouch onto the table.
His heightened senses picked up the faint, lingering presences of several scouts posted around the perimeter of his house, but he paid them no mind.
Placing a hand over his chest, he closed his eyes, ready to fully inspect his newly acquired classes, systems, and the vast repository of magic now at his command.