22 – Captured All by Himself – 3

[Gi-jun]

[Title — Conqueror of the Hidden Dungeon (Legendary) and 7 others]

[Light Human (R) Dancer of Light (R) Lv1]

[Strength (R) — 92]

[Dexterity (R) — 97]

[Endurance (R) — 93]

[Light Mana (U) — 11]

[Charm (U) — 74]

[Spiritual Power (U) — 80]

[Gi-jun]

[Title — Conqueror of the Hidden Dungeon (Legendary) and 7 others]

[Light Human (R) Dancer of Light (R) Lv1]

[Strength (R) — 92]

[Dexterity (R) — 97]

[Endurance (R) — 93]

[Light Mana (U) — 11]

[Charm (U) — 74]

[Spiritual Power (U) — 80]

‘It’s really good, wonderful… excluding the class name and race name.’

After growing his racial grade, as Gi-jun was checking his stats and feeling an indescribable emotion, the Demon King’s voice called out to him.

“Hero, I think you’re ready now.”

“Ready for what?”

Ready to fight and defeat the Demon King?

Even as a joke, that was still impossible.

If it had been the Demon King with restricted abilities from the tutorial, he would have been confident even if told to fight a hundred times and win a hundred times, but.

However, the words that came out of the Demon King’s mouth were completely unexpected.

“Ready to learn the Mana Circuit.”

“Mana Circuit… Huh?”

Gi-jun felt his mind grow faint at those words.

Mana Circuit.

Also referred to as a mana circulation method or a mana management method, it was a skill that, in any case, allowed one to gather and move mana quickly and stably.

It was known as an essential skill for magicians, because it was a skill that equally influenced the permanent growth of mana, rapid recovery of mana, reduction of magic casting time, and strengthening of magic power.

For the sake of Ji-hye, who had been a party member in the first round, everyone had tried their best to somehow obtain a good Mana Circuit, but… because it was far too late, she, who was born with outstanding talent, ended up not even being able to display all of her talent.

Frowning as he recalled that, Gi-jun prayed that she had obtained what she wanted in the second round.

Because if she didn’t, it would become very difficult in the main game.

“No, but isn’t that a skill only magicians learn?”

“Who said so?”

“Well, because of the skill’s effects and how it’s used.”

Gi-jun also knew.

Even if he couldn’t handle magic, if a Mana Circuit influenced the permanent growth and recovery of mana, wasn’t it worth keeping an eye on—.

The problem arose from utilizing the skill.

A Mana Circuit was literally a skill that circulated mana in a standardized pattern, but this had the worst compatibility with classes that moved their bodies violently during combat.

Instead, it would interfere with the use of other skills that consumed mana or, in the worst-case scenario, cause a rampage, so a conclusion had long been reached that a Mana Circuit could only be managed decently by magicians who excelled in mana control, or in extremely rare cases, snipers who sniped at enemies without moving.

“So, what was the grade of those kids who reached that conclusion?”

“Common… No, but Senior!”

Although he had nothing to say if she played dirty by bringing up grades!

Just as Gi-jun was racking his brains to argue, the Demon King tapped his shoulder and spoke.

“Our Hero, raise your left hand—.”

“Yes.”

“Try emitting mana—.”

“Yes.”

Perhaps because his Light Mana had risen to Unique grade and he had grown into the Rare-grade race, Light Human, he emitted mana from his fingertips without a moment’s delay.

His mana, which naturally held light, gave off a cozy and warm feeling, as if mixing dazzling gold with pure white clouds.

The Demon King smiled warmly upon feeling it, but then, as if snapping back to reality, forced a sharp expression and spoke.

“What you’re doing right now is managing mana.”

“Huh? No, but this is.”

“Could you do the same in the past?”

Gi-jun shook his head immediately.

Drawing out mana in an instant and emitting it from his fingertips? Even imagining such a thing was something that only happened after the tutorial ended, as he lived with the Demon King and came into contact with Lucy.

To the past him, mana was nothing more and nothing less than a fuel that allowed him to use skills.

“That’s how it is. Earth’s humanity was just too weak physically, and their mana was too garbage, so they simply couldn’t manage mana properly. Once they reach Rare grade, everyone searches for a good Mana Circuit regardless of their class. It’s also one of the biggest causes of conflict in Leta.”

“Thank you for making me realize yet another miserable reality, Senior…”

Gi-jun offered a moment of silence, for what must have been the countless time, toward Earth’s humanity who would be diligently proceeding through the second round tutorial by now.

Hopefully, some incredibly smart person would realize that the Mana Circuit was a skill needed not just for magicians but for all other Heroes as well!

“Do you understand how important a Mana Circuit is now? Anyone who isn’t dragged around by their skills but uses them properly wants a unique Mana Circuit that speeds up their mana circulation, lets them manifest it even a little faster, and further strengthens their mana.”

“So that’s what you meant by me being ready…”

“Huh? No, if you were going to learn a normal warrior-use Mana Circuit, you would have been fine a long time ago.”

A normal one.

For warriors?

“The reason Earth’s Heroes had a misunderstanding about the Mana Circuit is probably because most of the Mana Circuits distributed in the tutorial area were strictly for rear-line magicians. Think about it, it’s only natural that the mana management of a magician and a warrior would be different, right?”

“That’s true. No, but I get that… then what kind of Mana Circuit are you going to teach me? In the first place, how?”

Yes, how.

To Gi-jun, a Mana Circuit was either something granted to a limited number of individuals through spells or magical procedures at facilities installed in highly complex ruins.

Or it was something learned by gaining enlightenment through a book written in extremely difficult magical characters, accepting and mastering the unique mana contained within that book.

Because Mana Circuits themselves were so hard to obtain, his sample size wasn’t large, but in any case, all of them were delivered restrictively through special facilities, magic, or items.

“Ah.”

The moment he lifted his head while thinking such thoughts, Gi-jun faced the smirk on the Demon King’s face and realized everything.

“No, you don’t have to explain.”

“You see, Hero.”

“I said I already understood.”

“It’s because they only placed Mana Circuits in the tutorial that even the garbage Earth’s humanity could accept.”

“Damn it…”

But to think there were that many people who couldn’t even properly understand that.

As Gi-jun stood there discouraged, the Demon King explained fluently.

“Mana Circuits are commonly passed down through the teachings between a master and a disciple. Obtaining enlightenment through thorough guidance and completing the Mana Circuit yourself is the basis.”

“Hmm, then you’re saying you’re going to teach me that kind of Mana Circuit?”

“…”

When Gi-jun hit the nail on the head right away, the Demon King, who was momentarily at a loss for words, stared into empty space to kill time, and soon shrugged her shoulders as if it were no big deal and spoke.

“It’s just that the method is so strict that you can’t even enter the gateway unless your mana is at least Unique, so there just wasn’t anyone to pass it down to. Well, once you cross over to Leta? There are Mana Circuits even greater than mine, you know?”

“Thank you.”

“…Once you learn a Mana Circuit, discarding it and switching to another is harder than dying, so don’t blame me later after learning this.”

He also understood why the Demon King hadn’t taught Gi-jun a suitable Mana Circuit at the beginning.

Since a Mana Circuit was hard to switch, the first Mana Circuit one learned was that important.

If his achievements had been slower than the Demon King’s expectations, and thus, if he had failed to receive the transmission of the Mana Circuit within the tutorial period…

Just thinking about that sent a shiver down his spine.

“It’s a bit odd for me to say this while teaching you mine, but most high-grade Mana Circuits are secrets by their very existence, and their transmission is, of course, carried out in absolute secrecy. So don’t go around blabbering to anyone that you learned this kind of Mana Circuit.”

“Of course, do you think I lack that much tact?”

“Good. Then let’s begin.”

The name of the Mana Circuit was Libertas.

On Earth, it was a Latin word meaning freedom, and at the same time, it was the name of the Goddess of Liberty in Roman mythology.

Gi-jun realized immediately during the process of the transmission why the name of that Mana Circuit was ‘Freedom.’

“Arggghhhhhhh!”

—Contractor, are you okay?!

“I’m fine, I can endure it. I was raised that way.”

“Grrrghhhhh!”

Because it was so painful that he wanted to cast off his agonizing life and gain eternal freedom right this second!

“Mana must be thoroughly free from all constraints. But you will also realize soon. That the movement of mana, which seemed uncontrolled, is actually moving along the path closest to the truth!”

“I think I’ll die before realizing that, ahhhhh!”

—Contractorrrrr!

To be honest, recently, the growth of his Rapid Regeneration, Steelization, and Sleepless and Restless skills had been slowing down even through sparring with the Demon King.

Because he was injured in the same manner every time, the ‘growth’ of skills related to defense or recovery in that area was not occurring.

But what about now?

His body was ruined by a training method that would literally drive one insane—not attacking from the outside, but unleashing the internal mana to make it run wild.

—The level of the Rapid Regeneration (U) skill has become 72.

—You have gained a unique realization regarding steelizing the internal organs of the body. The level of the Steelization (U) skill has become 70.

—Not falling asleep, and not taking a rest. You are proving your perfect spirit through the battle against yourself. The level of the Sleepless and Restless (U) skill has become 74.

—The level of the Rapid Regeneration (U) skill has become 72.

—You have gained a unique realization regarding steelizing the internal organs of the body. The level of the Steelization (U) skill has become 70.

—Not falling asleep, and not taking a rest. You are proving your perfect spirit through the battle against yourself. The level of the Sleepless and Restless (U) skill has become 74.

The levels of his defensive skills, which had been growing at a snail’s pace until now, were rapidly rising once again!

“It’s fine, you’re doing well. Honestly, you’re keeping up way better than I imagined. Was the Light Mana a good match?”

“Which means you weren’t certain… Uggghhh!”

“Who cares, it also trains your skills and stats. Our Hero can do it!”

—You devil!

Listening to Lucy shouting on his behalf, he focused endlessly on the Light Mana that was violently stirring up the inside of his body.

In order to find the path closest to the truth that his own mana was showing him.

* * *

“I’ve found out a shocking fact.”

It had now been seven years since they entered the second round.

Resolving incidents occurring all over the other world and exploring dungeons, and steadily raising their stats in the process, the party members who were approaching the target figures discussed by Ye-min all gathered in one place.

Ji-hye, who had summoned them, exuded a mysterious atmosphere, feeling somewhat different from before—specifically, as if the brilliance in her eyes had deepened, and the party understood all too well what that meant.

“Hye-ji, you’ve grown!”

“Congratulations, Hye.”

“Congratulations, Noona.”

“Ah… thank you everyone. And Min-i, don’t call me Hye-ji.”

Nodding her head, Ji-hye first explained about her growth.

Although her mana was still barely at Rare grade, surprisingly, her Mana Circuit had grown to Legendary grade.

“Wow…”

“To think that was even possible.”

“Hehe.”

While Ye-min and Mok-su clapped and expressed their amazement, only Eun-shin was smiling in relief.

There was another person in the party who possessed a Legendary-grade skill, and that was, of course, Ye-min.

Saying that she couldn’t let anyone other than Gi-jun have the Unique-grade attack skill that Gi-jun had obtained for her during the first round, she had quickly secured it and devoted herself to raising it, eventually growing it to Legendary grade.

Even if they didn’t know for sure, everyone had already anticipated that she had an innate unique skill and that the grade of that skill was high, but on top of that, another Legendary skill had been added.

For Eun-shin, who knew that Ji-hye secretly harbored a sense of rivalry toward Ye-min, he couldn’t help but feel relieved that she had successfully grown her skill.

‘Telling her now would be too obvious, right? Later, I’ll do it later.’

Eun-shin, who had achieved the Legendary-grade upgrade for his Stealth skill slightly before her, had been unable to mention it until now, fearing that Ji-hye would get hurt.

Since she seemed to have overcome many things by now, it would be fine to reveal the truth when the time was right.

“The Mana Circuit, it wasn’t only learned by magicians.”

However, even that thought was cleanly blown away by the bomb Ji-hye threw.

“What?”

“Sigh, another hard-to-handle story is coming out.”

“Noona… in detail, please.”

Ji-hye nodded at the reaction of the members, who all wore blank expressions, and explained to them.

In the process of growing her Mana Circuit to Legendary grade, she had realized that warriors or other classes could also circulate mana in a direction that helped them execute their movements or skills.

Once she realized it, related insights rushed in consecutively, and the proof was that several bosses who freely utilized magic and melee skills—most representatively, the Demon King—also possessed a Mana Circuit.

“Well, since it became Legendary, I’ve become able to analyze others’ mana flow to some extent. I didn’t know back then, but thinking about it now, that’s it. No, you can tell just by looking at the bosses in high-difficulty dungeons who combine magic and melee combat.”

“Ah… which means.”

“Of course, if we’re confident we can defeat the Demon King as we are, we might not even need to learn a Mana Circuit. But I… think it’s better to do so if we can increase the chances of winning even a little.”

Ji-hye finished speaking.

After thinking for a moment, Ye-min eventually nodded and declared.

“Let’s learn the Mana Circuit. Utilizing every method we can obtain from now on…”

“If possible, it would be good to analyze high-ranking boss monsters who have already learned melee-specific Mana Circuits. If everyone leaves it to me… I’ll try to create one.”

“As expected of our party’s brain. You’re reliable.”

“Noona, thank you so much.”

At the words flying from Mok-su and Eun-shin at the same time, Ji-hye’s face turned slightly red.

But at the same time, she also ended up having this thought.

“But if we tell this to others, the subjugation of the Demon King, which was already delayed, will be delayed again.”

“Let’s learn it ourselves first, and once we’re sure, let’s spread the information. Focusing on those who have potential.”

“Right, so that people like Gi-jun Oppa can get access to it.”

Ye-min did not reply.

Knowing that she would have a fit if even a slightly negative word about Gi-jun was spoken, after seven years of being separated from him, Ji-hye also decided not to say anything more.