Chapter 101 – Magic 101

It was a natural conclusion.

For Lee, Rachel, and Evandel, marching through various Irish Mythological Dungeons with enemies heavily based in magic and shadows was a complete breeze.

And for Hajin, Yeonha, Suho, and Jonghak, cleaning up a Dungeon, even if overrun by Djinn, was natural, considering the overwhelming firepower they had along with Hajin's new elemental affinities.

As for Nayun, now that she had finished all she could in helping find a solution to save her Oppa, she had returned to Seoul to do some training in her family's training facilities until the semester resumed.

And like that, time passed.

===

Monday, April 21st, 2025. 6 AM. Cube's Portal terminal.

Almost like it was coordinated, Lee, Rachel, and Evandel walked out of a Portal from Brighton at the same time that Hajin and Yeonha walked out of a Portal from Seoul.

Then, barely a few seconds later, Suho, Jonghak, and Nayun walked out of a portal from Seoul as well.

Evandel gasped and waved at everyone. "Hi! Rich Auntie, Uncle Haji, Choco Uncle, Uncle Jonga, Auntie Nayn! Wow! Everyone's here!"

Nayun laughed and quickly walked over, scooping Evandel up in a hug and taking her from Rachel's arms. "How've you been, you little squirt? You been a good girl for your parents?"

"Mmhm! Goodest girl!"

Jonghak looked amused and said, "The world has a sense of humor, huh? Dropping us off all at the same time."

Lee chuckled as he walked over to shake Suho's hand, along with Hajin's. Then he looked at Jonghak and said, "More like we're all too good of students."

Yeonha adjusted her Cube Cadet uniform and said, "Well, the updated rankings should be posted by the dorms at this time. Perhaps we ARE too good of students."

Hajin sighed. "Hopefully not THAT good. I don't know if I could deal with the pressure being in the top ten."

Suho laughed. "You don't have to worry about that, Hajin. You'll be in the top hundred at best."

"What?! Hey!"

Jonghak rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm heading off ahead. You guys take your time." After that, he walked off.

Lee watched him leave and said, "Huh. He's calmer now. Guess dating an older girl really mellowed him out."

Yeonha nodded. "It's to be expected. Senior Youngji is indeed a good match for his personality."

Nayun shifted Evandel in her arms and said, "Still can't believe Jonghak was pining after Senior Youngji this whole time though... Also!" She handed Evandel back to Rachel and then pointed at Suho. "Since when were you going to tell me you were dating Seung-Ah Unni!"

Suho shrugged. "It just happened?"

Hajin stared at Suho and then said, "It was because of the Dracula thing, wasn't it?"

"It was because of the Dracula thing, yeah." Suho chuckled.

Lee nodded in understanding. "The Hero effect isn't to be underestimated. I mean, look what happened to Yeonha."

Yeonha blushed. "It was not because of that! I-I mean, it IS true that Hajin saved me from that despicable senior who had become a Djinn serving under a lust demon, but even so!"

Hajin sighed and said, "Let's walk and talk. At this rate, we'll miss first period."

Lee laughed and said, "True, true. Let's get going then. Also, remember that we can't wear our artifacts to class, guys. Or use personal weapons."

Hajin froze, subtly glancing at the sigil on his arm marking his VERY full [Inventory].

Yeonha fiddled with her wedding band, Homer's Ring, with a frown.

Rachel fiddled with her own pendant, frowning too.

As for Evandel...

She gave a thumbs up and said, "It's okay! I can be treasure keeper!" She stuck her tongue out and focused before holding out a golden box. "See? I keep safe!"

Lee did a double take. "Is that the Millennium Puzzle box- Actually, never mind." He took off his pendant and slipped it inside the treasure box. "You keep everything safe for us, okay, Eva?"

Rachel hesitated, but then she slipped her pendant off as well, putting it in the box. "Keep it safe for Mommy, Eva."

"Kay~!" Evandel looked at Hajin and Yeonha. "Uncle Haji, Rich Auntie? Any treasures?"

Yeonha stared at her wedding band, seriously contemplating it.

Then Hajin's eyes lit up. "Oh! I can just add a sealing property to all our equipment!"

Yeonha stared at Hajin in relief and playfully swatted his shoulder. "Say things like that sooner, Hajin!"

Hajin laughed and held Yeonha's hand, running his fingers over her ring. "There. Unless you focus on unsealing it, it'll just be a normal pretty ring."

Yeonha let out a relieved sigh. "That's good..."

Hajin looked at Lee and Rachel. "Do you want me to fix your things too?"

Lee shook his head and patted Evandel's shoulder. "It's okay. We have our little treasure keeper here to do that."

Evandel nodded. "Mmhm! I'm bestest treasure keeper! Have to practice for Rich Auntie's baby!"

Yeonha blushed. "I-I suppose that's true..." She ran her hand over her belly, smiling.

Rachel adjusted her own Cube uniform and said, "Well then. Shall we get going and find out our rankings?"

At that time, Nayun, who had been quietly scrolling through her phone, looked up and said, "Oh, Lee's rank 2, you're rank 1, Rachel. I'm rank 3, Yeonha's rank 10, Hajin's rank 99, and Suho's rank 4."

Suho blinked. "I'm still in the top 5? Wow. I could have sworn I bombed the written exams."

Lee blinked. "I jumped from 999 to rank 2? That can happen?"

Nayun rolled her eyes and said, "You fought 100 Cadets, scored perfect in written, and beat Suho. The only reason you're not first is because Rachel hasn't done worse at all and maintained her position."

Evandel's eyes sparkled. "Wow! Mommy and Daddy top two!"

Lee laughed. "I guess so, Eva." He idly stretched and said, "Guess that means the rest of the semester's going to be interesting, huh?"

Rachel smiled. "It means that our peers will finally stop questioning if you deserve to stand beside me."

Yeonha hummed and looked at Hajin. "Rank 99... Not bad. Top 50 might be your limit, Hajin, but that would be plenty."

Hajin looked taken aback and said, "Only top 50?"

"Past 50 requires good grades, so-" Yeonha paused. "...Hm. Actually, since you actually do score perfectly on the written portions, maybe you can breach the top ten after all..."

Lee chuckled. "Alright, alright. People are starting to stare now. Let's clear off, get ready, and head to class."

===

Since it was after mid-terms and since the schedules were a bit messed up due to the extended break, classes were a bit behind.

Still, instead of playing catch up, it was decided to just treat the classes like it was supposed to happen in the first place.

And that meant that the classes for the first-year cadets had shifted, adding in new lectures and topics to help supplement the general knowledgebase in preparation for next semester, when magicians would join and cadets would be able to freely choose their class schedule.

But for today, that meant a new class for Lee and his peers.

As for that class...

[Practical Magic and Intermediate Rank Magic Power Control].

===

The Magic Library was a typical amphitheater that you might expect in an average university campus, except more magical.

In other words, a lecture hall with rows of desks and chairs, magical book shelves lining the perimeter of the amphitheater, and floating starry landscapes as well as various magical circles all around.

Lee thought it was definitely overdone and flashy, but a lot of his other peers seemed to enjoy it.

Evandel did too, judging by how wide her blue eyes were in staring at everything.

...Though Lee was slightly worried since it was more of an expression of 'I want this' than 'this is cool...'

To avoid attention, and because Evandel was still accompanying them to class, Lee and Rachel had taken a seat in the far back with Evandel.

Hajin and Yeonha had taken a seat nearby too, mostly to stay out of the way due to their recently changed marital status.

And of course, Nayun was sitting near Evandel as well, clearly missing her adoptive niece/god daughter.

Even so, although they all went out of their way to draw attention...

"Did you see?! Lee's wearing a ring now!"

"Isn't that like a Royal Ring from Britain or something?"

"Forget that, look at how Yoo Yeonha's leaning into Kim Hajin!"

"It's Kim Yeonha, obviously! Look at the wedding band!"

"Oh my god you're right!"

"I WIN ALL THE MONEY!"

...Their peers were clearly enthusiastic about their lives.

Lee chuckled and said, "Some things never change, huh?"

Evandel nodded. "Mommy and Daddy's classmates still super funny!"

Hajin sighed. "Well. Guess we can at least make money off the betting..."

At that time, the door opened and the professor walked in.

A seemingly gentle smile. A magnificent flowing cloak and a relatively handsome face...

The professor nodded at the class and said, "Hello. I am the chief magician from the Seoul Magic Tower, Kim Hyojun. Every Monday, from 3:30 to 6:00, I will be teaching you practical magic and magic power control. But of course, today's class will only be thirty minutes. A brief orientation, if you would."

Lee frowned, instantly feeling something off about the guy.

And that feeling was confirmed when he saw Hajin sit up too.

Everyone else didn't seem to notice though.

'Hm...'

For now, Lee just kept watching and listening.

The professor, Kim Hyojun, did a brief explanation about magic. Mostly the reason why you should learn magic when you aren't a magician...

And then he said something that made things click for Lee.

"...But if you refine your magic power with some calculations..." Kim Hyojun snapped his finger and a pink flame rose up from his magic power. "...It becomes magic."

"Wait, that's it?"

Silence.

Lee blinked and realized that he had spoke out loud.

Hajin facepalmed.

But the professor kept a professional smile on and said, "Is something the matter, Cadet... Lee Shin, was it?"

Lee waved his hand and said, "Not at all. Something just clicked for me."

"Oh?" Kim Hyojun's eyes flitted from Lee to Rachel and to Evandel. "Then do enlighten the class. Clearly, a young man with enough time to philander with beautiful women and take a child to class has excellent insights."

Audible gasps filled the air.

Nayun quickly glanced at Lee. "Lee. Don't-"

Lee stood up. "Why of course, Professor." His eyes were sharp as he looked down at the professor. "I have excellent insights indeed. Like this." He held his hand out and focused.

> Mana Manipulation has activated!

> You have understood a core aspect of magic!

> Mana Manipulation molds mana to your will, but cannot be shaped into magic spells due to your physique!

> However, you can utilize your molded mana to influence ambient mana into the calculations you desire!

> Beginning calculations...

"Mana Seal."

It was an application of [No Second Strike (Rederived)] combined with [Mana Manipulation] as well as just general knowledge on the mathematical calculations that went into magical circles and spell casting.

But instead of creating a magical phenomenon, it was blocking magical phenomenon.

"Wh-What in the world?!" Kim Hyojun's eyes widened in shock as he visibly strained against an invisible pressure.

Lee smiled and scooped up Evandel before nodding to Rachel. "Come on, Wifey. There's nothing to learn here for us."

Rachel sighed, but she stood up. "I suppose I should have expected something like this..." Even so, she couldn't hide the proud look in her eyes... and the cold one she had as she looked at Kim Hyojun.

Evandel waved at Kim Hyojun as they walked out and said, "Bye boring teacher! Try teaching better!"

Rachel gasped. "Eva!"

"What?" Evandel puffed out her cheek. "Am I wrong?"

Rachel tugged Evandel's ear and said, "You! Stop picking up bad habits from your Daddy!"

"Owowow! Mommy, no piiiinch!"

Lee laughed as they walked out together, completely disregarding Kim Hyojun's presence.

The door quietly clicked shut after them.

Kim Hyojun looked utterly furious. Especially since the seal on his mana shattered the moment that the door clicked shut, causing pink flames to roar all around him for a split second before he reined them in. Then he let out a slow exhale and put on a professional smile. "Well. I suppose Rank 1 and Rank 2 are exceptional after all. But as for the rest of us mere mortals... We will begin with a simple Light Sphere..."