Memorize

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"Yun-Jung."

"Yes?"

"If a situation like earlier... hmm, something inevitable like that happens again, what will you do?"

"...I'm not sure." Yun-Jung responded with a troubled expression. She must be feeling pretty frustrated too. If a situation like that were to happen again, she wouldn't know what to do, and there'd be nothing she could do. If she had to give an answer, she might simply have no choice but to let it happen as it did. I intended to offer words of guidance, something they could cling to like rain in a drought.

"Everyone here knows a bit about 'Mana Discharge,' right?"

Having pushed them hard, it was time to ease up a bit. The kids noticed my voice had softened, and I could see them cautiously looking up at me. They looked a lot like kids who, after being scolded by their mother, hesitantly lifted their heads again. It made me want to laugh, but I held it in.

"The ability the woman just used at the table is actually a part of Mana Discharge. It's not a special or latent power; rather, it's a kind of control ability that anyone can use, as long as they can manage their own mana."

Technically, techniques like 'Sword Aura' and 'Sword Energy' also fall under the category of control abilities. I could see Yun-Jung's eyes change as she heard the term 'control ability.'

"Control ability...? Does that mean we can use it too?"

"Yes. With practice, you can learn to use it. In situations like earlier, you could resist, defend, or even counter-attack, depending on how you respond."

"Teach us, oppa."

Seeing a bit of life return to their faces, I offered a gentle smile. If they'd stayed downcast, I might have actually felt disappointed. But now that they had an outlet, Yun-Jung's eyes had started to spark with a quiet but burning intensity.

First, I would thoroughly teach the theory, show them an example, and then begin training. In response to Yun-Jung's request, I nodded with a willing expression and started speaking.

"Does anyone know how we can categorize the stages of Mana Discharge?"

"Sensing, Occupy and Coercion."

"Oh… Correct."

The one who answered immediately was, surprisingly, An Sol. She looked at me with eyes filled with a weighty eagerness. When I gave a slightly hesitant nod in response to her gaze, I saw her face brighten. I wondered if Sol's strange expression earlier was due to a bit of jealousy because I'd patted Hyun's head but hadn't patted hers.

…Surely that couldn't be it. Anyway, Sol's answer was nearly spot-on. There were also higher stages classified above Coercion, like Break Up and Demolition. However, compared to the first stage, Sensing, these were far more advanced techniques, and it was far too early for them to learn such things. So, I deliberately withheld mentioning them.

"From this point on, I'm going to teach you all a truly powerful technique."

The introduction was over; it was time to get to the main lesson.

There's a saying, 'Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.' It means that direct experience is far more effective than hearing something repeatedly. I slowly gathered my mana and turned halfway around to face away from them.

I carefully directed my mana to flow across the entire floor. I drew a circular boundary on the floor, centered around myself, infused with my own mana. Having done this tens of thousands of times, it felt as natural as if it were a part of my body. As I stood there silently, I sensed their curious gazes on me. With my eyes closed, I slowly began to speak.

"Hyun, Sol, Yun-Jung. From this point on, don't say a word. And move to any spot in the room as quietly as you can, making as little noise as possible."

After a moment of hesitation, I sensed each of them begin to move silently. Though they thought they were being discreet, once I had activated my sensing ability, it was like they were all moving in the palm of my hand. Soon enough, I heard a faint creaking sound, signaling that they had all found their new positions. Without turning around, I spoke.

"Hyun, 38 degrees southeast from your left foot. In front of the wardrobe. Sol, 26 degrees southwest from your right foot. Behind the center table. Yun-Jung, 90 degrees to my right. On the bed."

As soon as I finished, I could hear them sharply inhale in surprise. It was going to be tough if they were already this startled. Smiling, I continued.

"This is the first stage of Mana Discharge: Sensing, or detection. People often call it an 'invisible eye,' but really, it's about connecting your own magical circuits to the physical surroundings. In other words, you extend your perception range beyond your body by using your mana. Remember when that woman appeared out of nowhere and surprised you all?"

"Come to think of it…"

"Yes… yes, that's right. So, if we learn this sensing technique, can we know when someone like her is coming?" Hyun's voice hinted at understanding.

Without turning around, I nodded. "Generally, yes. But sensing isn't all-powerful. There are ways for others to bypass it."

"Oh… I see…"

This time, I gathered my mana more intensely so that they could truly feel it. With a surge of energy, I spread my mana through the room, occupying the entire space. It felt like a hot mirage spreading around me as my energy instantly filled the room. Watching the kids look around in awe, I made my next request.

"This time, each of you show me a number with your fingers."

I gave them enough time to both feel the energy in the room and follow my instruction. After a short pause, I began speaking calmly again.

"Hyun. Two fingers up—the index and middle finger. Sol, one finger—the index. Yun-Jung, four fingers—the index, middle, ring, and pinky… two, four, one, five, four, five. You little rascal."

Yun-Jung, likely in disbelief, was quickly changing the number of fingers she held up, but I managed to respond to each change without missing a beat. Finally, she seemed exasperated, her arms dropping limply in resignation.

"Wha...?"

"Huh?!"

"That's… amazing!"

I could hear their gasps of amazement before I turned to face them, finally meeting their wide-eyed, open-mouthed stares. Still maintaining my mana's hold over the room, I continued.

"There are many ways to bypass Sensing. Someone can use speed to be faster than the target's reaction time, approach from above, or even blend their own mana subtly with the target's. That's why we have an advanced technique to enhance Sensing—it's called 'Occupy.'"

"So, is that what the woman used earlier?" Yun-Jung asked.

I shook my head. Occupy was only a second-tier ability, and what the woman had displayed was actually third-tier: 'Coercion'.

"No, what she used was Coercion, a third-tier ability in Mana Discharge. It's a more advanced technique where you infuse your intent into your mana, going beyond simply expanding your perception. The strength varies depending on the player… but once you master Occupy, you can fully defend against, or at least partially resist, such coercion."

"Then I want to learn Coercion too! I want to learn it." Yun-Jung blurted out, a bit too eagerly.

Amused, I stepped closer to her and gently flicked her forehead. She pouted, rubbing the spot I'd flicked, as I spoke in a soft, coaxing voice.

"Not only can you not run yet, you can barely walk, and here you are trying to fly? Unless you're a genius, Coercion isn't something you can learn overnight. Even if you're fast, it takes at least three months of consistent training. Master Sensing first and think about climbing up one step at a time. Don't rush."

"Hyung."

At that moment, Hyun, who had been watching me thoughtfully, called out. I turned toward him, curious, and he spoke.

"I want to know more about Coercion too…"

"You guys… Really, it's too soon."

But Hyun shook his head, adding quickly, "No, that's not it. I just want to understand Coercion better."

"Me too," Yun-Jung chimed in. "I know I was too shocked to think straight earlier, but… at the very least, I'd like to clearly understand what Coercion is."

Seeing Yun-Jung's eager expression supporting Hyun's words, I fell silent for a moment. The essence of Mana Discharge lies in how precisely and effectively you control your mana. They may pick up Sensing quickly, but they didn't yet grasp how challenging it is to extend mana outward and infuse it with intent.

Yet, there was a spark of enthusiasm in their eyes, a fire I hadn't seen before. It reminded me of when I was first navigating the Hall Plain, those days when I was desperate to learn anything, trying to claw my way forward, self-taught and with no real guidance. Recalling those hard, lonely days, I felt something stir in me, and I slowly began to speak.

"The third stage of Mana Discharge is on a whole different level from the first two. It demands flawless control and efficient mana manipulation, with not even a fraction of error allowed in how you expand your circuits. But the most essential—and difficult—part of Coercion is infusing your mana with your will."

"By 'will,' do you mean…?" Yun-Jung trailed off, prompting me.

"The core is about how well you can convey your emotions. In this process, words aren't necessary. The mana itself, filled with your intent, speaks for you. Think back to earlier, Yun-Jung. What did you feel at that moment?"

Yun-Jung scrunched up her face, contemplating my question for a moment before answering.

"My body felt paralyzed... and I thought it was dangerous. I even felt like... I might die."

"There's a term for that—it's called 'killing intent.' That woman was essentially telling you, without words, that she wanted to kill you. She conveyed her intent and emotions directly to you."

Yun-Jung stayed silent, her face suddenly pale, her entire body tense with goosebumps. Hyun, on the other hand, tilted his head, clearly still puzzled by the concept. I sighed softly. Since I still had Occupy active, maybe giving them a taste of this would clear up some of their confusion.

Steeling myself, I called Hyun's name.

"Hyun."

"Yes?"

"From this moment on, I'm going to want to kill you."

"Wait, what…?"

Hyun's face registered surprise, but he quickly closed his mouth, bracing himself. It seemed he assumed I'd just be demonstrating, like I had with Sensing and Occupy. His jaw tightened, and his expression turned resolute, like he was ready to withstand whatever I showed him. But I knew it wouldn't help.

I closed my eyes, focusing deeply on altering my mindset. I needed to imagine Hyun not as a student but as a bitter enemy, a life-or-death rival. Once I had settled into this mental state, I opened my eyes and released an explosive surge of energy, my mana suddenly filled with deadly intent.

Immediately, Hyun's reaction came:

"Argh! Aaah!"

The terror on his face said everything.

At first, my energy was as vague as a drifting cloud, but in an instant, it transformed into a thick, menacing aura. The room filled with a fierce, intense presence, as if it could tear anything to shreds. A murderous intent surged from deep within me, and I directed it all at one person—An Hyun.

It lasted only five seconds. If I had held it any longer, I might have been overwhelmed by that bloodlust myself, so I forcibly suppressed it at the right moment. As I pulled the aura back within, I saw An Hyun sitting on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. Yun-Jung and Sol, too, seemed affected, their lips quivering slightly as they looked at me.

I slowly approached Hyun. As I drew closer, he instinctively flinched, leaning back a little. Then, as if realizing something, he looked up at me with a dazed expression. I extended my hand to help him up.

"No matter how strong your resolve, it's useless against the pressure that comes from mana. It exposes raw, instinctive emotions without any filter. Anyway, good job."

An Hyun, still a bit dazed, shook his head vigorously, and after a moment's hesitation, took my hand. He struggled to his feet, clearly still shaken by the experience.

However, in the brief moment we locked eyes, I noticed something interesting—a flicker of competitiveness in Hyun's gaze. Maybe it was because he was a guy, but unlike Yun-Jung and Sol, he seemed to have a unique fighting spirit.

After helping Hyun up, I addressed the three of them, who were still staring at me.

"Anyway, coercion is still far beyond your reach, so just remember what it feels like. For now, focus on sensing it. If you can't maintain that awareness for at least an hour, you're better off not even thinking about going outside. It would be a waste of time otherwise."

As I mentioned maintaining awareness for an hour, Yun-Jung looked at me and quickly asked, "By the way, oppa, when did you learn all these techniques? We all took the same classes, didn't we?"

Her question made my heart skip a beat, but I kept a calm expression. I couldn't very well tell them I learned this in my past life, so I needed a quick response. Raising my hand, I held up my index finger for them to see.

"I utilized my free time during training. I received a lot of help from the instructors. By the way, it took me a day to master sensing. Occupy took about two weeks, and I was only able to grasp coercion at the very end."

"Oh, so all those times you were sitting in weird positions before bed were actually sensing training?" 

At just the right moment, An Hyun chimed in, adding credibility to my words. As I simply smiled, Hyun tilted his head and said, "I thought you were just meditating." I continued speaking, undeterred by their reactions.

"Anyway, that's how long it took me. If you can surpass that, then go ahead and try. I'm a little curious to see who'll learn first."

Although it was a slightly provoking statement, its effect was clear. I meant to challenge them to surpass me, and as soon as I finished speaking, Hyun, Sol, and Yun-Jung looked at each other's faces and suddenly ignited with enthusiasm.

"Ha! I think I'll be the first to succeed. Just wait and see, hyung."

"Ho ho ho. Are you saying your magical aptitude is higher than mine?"

"Oh, no… guys…"

Seeing the two glaring at each other, I couldn't help but sweat. It felt as if siblings were competing in front of their mom over who had the best grades. For some reason, I felt more and more like their mother.

The theory portion was over. The demonstration was finished. What remained was the real start of their training.

Regardless of the circumstances, I couldn't deny that a change had occurred in their attitudes. As soon as they resolved to train, they immediately got to work. A bit of time passed, and I watched as they quietly adjusted their magical energy with their eyes closed, maintaining a still posture. I provided them with a detailed explanation.

"The basic operation of magical energy begins with imagery. The fundamental principle of sensing is derived from ripples and waves. Picture this: a calm sea, and a single drop of water falling onto its surface. Imagine the circular ripples that form. Alternatively, you can think of dropping a single drop of water onto dry paper. Create an image that is as comfortable and familiar as possible, and let the energy flow along the circuit as you feel it."

To be honest, the ability of sensing can be considered simple in itself. Unlike the advanced application techniques required for coercion, break-up, or demolition, it operates on relatively straightforward principles as a control ability.

The key factor is how cleanly and for how long you can maintain that sense. You must be able to efficiently distribute your magical energy and keep a consistent flow.

An Hyun and Yun-Jung, who were diligently practicing their sensing, were beginning to show signs of struggle. At first, they successfully drew out their magical energy and created a circle beneath their feet. However, my condition of maintaining that for over an hour was evident just by looking at their faces. As time passed, the circle was starting to lose its shape. It became increasingly lumpy, and the flow of magical energy grew irregular.

They began with confident smiles, but beads of sweat were now forming on their faces. Watching their lips gradually tighten, I couldn't help but smile slightly.

There was a reason I chose to teach them sensing first. It's not just an empty saying that you can measure a player's capability through sensing. Moreover, it's a skill they would continue to benefit from in the future.

The advantages of sensing are endless. From a training perspective, you can practice anytime, anywhere. Not only does it enhance magical power, but it also pushes one's body to its limits internally, which can lead to improvements in other attributes as well.

Additionally, while this is merely my speculation, I believe that one of my latent abilities, Mind's Eye, has been significantly influenced by sensing. I always kept a lookout for myself and my surroundings, maintaining a state of calm during battles. This allowed me to anticipate my opponent's attack routes and strive for the optimal combat strategy accordingly. In other words, it could aid in the manifestation of latent abilities suited to oneself.

Moreover, cultivating the habit of maintaining a steady flow of magical energy can help prevent unnecessary waste when using control abilities. Thus, training in magical sensing could achieve threefold benefits.

Before I knew it, over ten minutes had passed since they began their sensing practice. An Hyun and Yun-Jung looked like a sight to behold. Their initial enthusiasm had vanished, and they were now sweating profusely, breathing heavily as if they were on the verge of collapsing.

As I quietly observed them, I activated my third eye for a moment. I wanted to check their progress in terms of ability enhancement.

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< Player Information (Player Status) >

Name: An Hyun (0 years)

Gender: Male (22)

Height · Weight: 178.8 cm · 73.2 kg

Alignment: True · Neutral

[Strength 59] [Resistance 57] [Agility 74] [Vitality 61] [Magic Power 49] [Luck 61]

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< Player Information (Player Status) >

Name: An Sol (0 years experience)

Gender: Female (19)

Height · Weight: 160.1 cm · 45.2 kg

Alignment: Lawful · Good

[Strength 16] [Resistance 21] [Agility 24] [Vitality 29] [Magic Power 84] [Luck 100]

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< Player Information (Player Status) >

Name: Lee Yun Jung (0 Years)

Gender: Female (22)

Height · Weight: 166.3 cm · 51.7 kg

Alignment: Good · Neutral

[Strength 48] [Resistance 52] [Agility 64] [Vitality 50] [Magic Power 68] [Luck 56]

'

An Hyun's strengths lie in his balanced physical stats and high agility. All his ability scores, except for magic and luck, are showing a consistent increase. Particularly, his high agility is highly advantageous for a spear player, and if he continues to show this growth, he has the potential to become quite strong.

While his magic power is somewhat lacking, he still has points remaining, and depending on the training he undergoes, it can be sufficiently compensated.

Lee Yun-Jung's overall physical abilities are either above average or right at average. It would be a lie to say her strength, resistance, and vitality aren't lacking, but she does have a talent for agility and magic power. Most importantly, being a close-range fighter with a magic power of 68 is a significant advantage and a blessing.

If I were to compare An Hyun and Yun-Jung, I would rationally have to favor An Hyun for now. However, since she chose the versatile profession of a mercenary, I'm excited to see what potential she will display in the future. While it's a bit of a regret that she didn't choose to be an assassin, being a mercenary is not a bad choice either.

Compared to the two, An-Sol showed the lowest rate of increase in ability stats. However, I was focusing solely on her magic power, putting other stats aside. Since she's not a healer and has chosen a supportive role as a priestess, there's no need to be overly concerned with strength, resistance, vitality, or agility. Therefore, Sol's high magic power and extraordinary luck score make her attributes perfectly suited for a priestess.

Seeing her initial stat of 75 points rise to 84 points, with an increase of 9 points, brought me satisfaction. Of course, compared to Han-Byeol, the rate of increase is negligible, but it's important to note that once you enter the mid-80s, the rate of increase in stats significantly decreases. Considering that she just emerged from the Hall Plain and already has a score of 84, I can't help but wonder how far her limits could go.

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