“You want me to teach you magic?”

“Yes.”

Park Hyun-a’s brows furrowed.

“Why magic all of a sudden?”

“After seeing you fight, older sister, it seems magic is stronger than fighting techniques…”

“This isn’t about magic being strong, it’s about ME being strong, you fool. Do you think you’ll become like this just by learning magic now?”

“Well, that’s not what I meant…”

“Forget it, just stick to fighting techniques. It suits you better.”

Park Hyun-a said coldly.

Choi Hyun-seok didn’t give up and tried to appeal further.

“I may look like a physical fighter, but believe it or not, I’m confident in my magic control. It might take time, but if I learn, surely…”

Park Hyun-a cut off Choi Hyun-seok’s words.

“Enough, enough. I know you’re talented.”

“…”

“Fine. You could probably learn it. With a little effort, you could use intermediate hero magic. No, like you said, you’re naturally gifted. You might even be able to use advanced hero magic quickly.”

“Then why are you saying I can’t?”

“Because the efficiency isn’t there, the efficiency.”

“Efficiency?”

When Choi Hyun-seok showed a confused expression, Park Hyun-a irritably scratched her head.

“Ah, explaining all this would take too long…”

Park Hyun-a looked up at the sky.

The sun was already setting.

“I’m tired today, so let’s rest. I’ll explain properly tomorrow.”

“Yes… I understand.”

Choi Hyun-seok had no choice but to let Park Hyun-a go, despite his disappointment.

***

The next day.

As promised, Park Hyun-a began the magic education.

The students were Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson.

They both sat on the ground, looking at Park Hyun-a with eager eyes.

“Do you know the difference between fighting techniques and magic?”

Choi Hyun-seok raised his hand enthusiastically.

“Isn’t it ranged versus close combat?”

“If everything ranged is magic, then what about fighting techniques that shoot magic? Are those all magic?”

“Hmm…”

Choi Hyun-seok closed his mouth.

Come to think of it, even Reidrun-style Fighting Techniques allowed for ranged attacks.

“Abelson. Do you know?”

“It’s the difference in where the magic is processed.”

“Correct.”

Park Hyun-a smiled with satisfaction.

“Whether it’s fighting techniques or magic, the fundamentals are the same. Both use magic, demonic energy, holy power, and the like. So where does the difference come from? It’s in where the magic is processed.”

Park Hyun-a released magic and let it float in the air.

Water, flame, light, darkness.

The magic changed constantly.

Not only did its form change, but its size grow larger and smaller.

“As you can see, magic processes magic power outside the body. You release your magic and then process it externally to give it form.”

Park Hyun-a sent the magic flying away.

Then she raised her fist.

“Then how about fighting techniques?”

As she thrust her fist, powerful magic shot out.

Kuwung!

The magic that flew out broke a nearby tree before dissipating.

“Fighting techniques process and complete the transformation inside the body before releasing it. From the outside it might look like just magic, but it’s been transformed to produce stronger power.”

Choi Hyun-seok knew about this part.

He had learned it through experience while using numerous fighting techniques.

“In terms of versatility, magic is much better. Long-range sniping, area attacks, elemental attacks – depending on how you use it, the possibilities are endless.”

“Then isn’t magic just better than fighting techniques?”

“No.”

Park Hyun-a shook her head firmly.

“When it comes to pure magic utilization, fighting techniques are overwhelmingly superior.”

“Utilization?”

“Processing magic outside the body can never be as efficient as processing it inside the body.”

Seeing that Choi Hyun-seok still looked confused, Park Hyun-a continued with additional explanation.

“Simply put, even though magic might look flashier on the outside, when it comes to actual effectiveness, fighting techniques win by a landslide. Well, that’s what I’m saying.”

“Ah… I understand.”

Choi Hyun-seok nodded with a disappointed face.

“You look like you can’t accept it, so I’ll show you with your own eyes.”

Park Hyun-a released magic again.

The magic floating in the air condensed and took the form of a small sphere.

“This is a magic bullet made with exactly 1,000 marang.”

“What’s marang?”

“Just think of it as a unit for measuring magic.”

“Yes.”

“If I shoot this magic bullet with 1,000 marang…”

The sphere flew quickly and hit a nearby rock.

Bang!

The area where the magic bullet hit was dented, and cracks spread across the entire rock.

“Now, this is fighting techniques using the same 1,000 marang.”

Park Hyun-a approached the rock and struck it.

Kwang-!

The rock exploded and shattered into pieces.

“See the difference?”

“Uh… Isn’t that just because you’re strong, older sister?”

He wondered if this was a wrong example.

This seemed less about magic difference and more about physical ability.

After all, Park Hyun-a could probably produce similar power even without fighting techniques.

“That’s right. It’s because I’m strong.”

Surprisingly, Park Hyun-a agreed readily.

“The 1,000 marang combined with my strength, agility, and stamina stats create synergy to produce much stronger power. Isn’t the answer already obvious?”

“When you put it that way, it makes sense, but…”

“And from the start, fighting techniques’ efficiency is higher, so it’s bound to be more powerful. Even if we tested this with a five-year-old child instead of me, the result would still be ‘fighting techniques wins.'”

At this point, Choi Hyun-seok had to accept it.

“So in terms of pure power, fighting techniques are absolutely overwhelming. Is that it?”

“That’s right.”

Park Hyun-a nodded.

“The conclusion is that someone talented in close combat doesn’t need to waste magic learning magical power. Later on, learning support magic like flying is enough.”

“Hmm… Wouldn’t it still be good to learn magic for ranged and area attacks?”

“That’s all possible with fighting techniques too.”

“Sure, it’s possible with fighting techniques, but compared to magic…”

“Ah! Enough talk, just watch.”

Thinking it would be better to demonstrate than explain, Park Hyun-a took her stance.

“Hup!”

With a short shout, she executed a roundhouse kick.

Ekut Fighting Technique

Form 6 – Wind Blade

Sharp magic shot toward the front.

“…”

And nothing happened.

‘What did she do?’

Just as Choi Hyun-seok showed a puzzled expression.

Kugugugu-!

With a thunderous sound, trees started falling.

All the trees up to about a hundred meters in front of Park Hyun-a fell, cut in half.

“Even when using fighting techniques with the same amount of magic, the versatility can vary greatly depending on whether you’re hitting a narrow area or a wide area.”

Park Hyun-a turned around while gathering her magic.

“It’s just that this is difficult. When done properly, it’s stronger and more efficient than magic.”

“Ah… I understand.”

“If you understand, go level up, kid. A weak punk who hasn’t even mastered the basics keeps trying to take shortcuts.”

“Haha… Older sister, may I ask just one last thing?”

“What is it?”

Choi Hyun-seok asked with an awkward smile.

“If fighting techniques are that good, why do you mainly use magic?”

“That’s…”

Park Hyun-a suddenly sighed.

“While a hero’s growth has no limits, there are limits to the power that each individual can accept and use.”

“What?”

“Just remember it like that.”

Though he didn’t quite understand what she meant, her expression was so dark that Choi Hyun-seok could only nod.

“Anyway, stop wasting time and focus on leveling up properly. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“Remember. The basics are important in everything.”

“…”

“Keep looking for shortcuts, and you might end up on the path to hell.”

Park Hyun-a said with a grim expression, making it unclear whether it was a threat or advice.

“Miss Park Hyun-a.”

At that moment, a group of people emerged from the forest.

Park Hyun-a nodded in acknowledgment.

“Hey, looks like you’re done.”

“Yes. The spatial transfer gate installation is complete.”

“Good work. How’s the gate’s stability?”

“99%.”

“As expected of professionals.”

Park Hyun-a smiled with satisfaction.

Choi Hyun-seok, who was watching from the side, asked.

“Did you install a spatial transfer gate?”

“Yeah. You’ll be moving soon too, so keep that in mind.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll know everything when the time comes.”

Park Hyun-a waved as she left with the people.

“Now go train hard. I have something to check on.”

“Yes, take care…”

“Hahah! Take care!”

As if appearing from hiding, Rachel shouted energetically while jumping up.

Choi Hyun-seok frowned as he looked at Rachel.

“What were you doing only coming out now?”

“Ahem! I was hiding and listening to the lecture!”

“Why were you listening while hiding?”

“Because I was scared!”

Rachel said, puffing out her chest.

“Don’t act unnecessarily proud!”

“Ack! Why are you hitting me!?”

Rachel rubbed her forehead and glared.

“By the way, that Park Hyun-a person. She’s really something.”

“Right? She seems casual about it but that power…”

“Not that.”

“Huh?”

When Choi Hyun-seok looked confused, Rachel wagged her index finger.

“Tut tut tut! What’s amazing about her isn’t just the power of her magic.”

“Then what is it?”

“Magic control!”

Rachel released magic into the air.

“I’m pretty skilled at magic myself, but it’s impossible to extract exactly 1,000 marang and induce various changes with it. Or rather, it would be strange if it were possible. Unless you’re a machine, there’s bound to be errors, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Of course! That’s impossible no matter how high your magic stats are. It’s just that her personal control skills are exceptional. In other words, her fundamentals are really solid?”

“Oho…”

At Rachel’s words, he remembered what Park Hyun-a had said before leaving.

“Remember. The basics are important in everything.”

“Keep looking for shortcuts, and you might end up on the path to hell.”

He thought she was just saying it, but it seems it was advice born from experience.

“Well, fundamentals are important in everything.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Choi Hyun-seok stretched.

“Phew! Now that the boring lesson is over, shall we go warm up?”

After hearing Park Hyun-a’s words, it felt like a stifling fog had lifted.

Where he should head.

Whether the path he was walking was the right one.

The many anxieties he had been carrying, knowingly or unknowingly, were cleanly swept away.

That alone made it a worthwhile lesson.

“Alright. Level 1,000. Let’s try to reach it!”

All that’s left is raising the most basic level.

***

A few days later.

Park Hyun-a, who hadn’t shown herself since the magic lesson, suddenly appeared.

Choi Hyun-seok, who had been resting on a rock, jumped up.

“Hey, have you leveled up a lot?”

“Yes!”

“What level are you?”

At Park Hyun-a’s question, Choi Hyun-seok opened his status window.

▫Name: Choi Hyun-seok

▫Title: Regular Hero

▫Level: 852

·Strength: 267

·Agility: 268

·Stamina: 273

·Magic: 310

·Demonic Energy: 307

·Charisma: 102

·Fighting Spirit: 76

“I’m level 852 now.”

“Oh, much faster than expected. You might really hit level 1,000 within half a year?”

“These days my growth rate isn’t very satisfying, so I’m not sure.”

“Then you need to work even harder, kid.”

“Yes…”

Choi Hyun-seok’s lips protrude in a pout.

‘How much harder can I work!’

Choi Hyun-seok has been continuing battles without proper sleep.

Thanks to pushing himself to the limit every day, even his Fighting Spirit stat was rising steadily.

“Well, seeing that your combat power is almost 150,000, you’ve improved a lot. At this level, you could handle most heroes.”

“Oh, really?”

Choi Hyun-seok brightened at the mention of being able to defeat heroes.

“Usually, heroes have combat power around 150,000. Sometimes there are ones over 200,000, but that’s rare.”

“Aha.”

“You’re stronger than others with similar combat power, so you probably won’t lose to heroes in one-on-one fights.”

Heroes.

They seemed like distant, unreachable strong ones.

It didn’t feel real that he could now face them head-on and win.

“Stop making that stupid expression. Follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

“Fighting only monsters here every day will mess up your senses. You need proper real combat experience sometimes.”

Park Hyun-a said with a grin.

“So where…”

“Follow me and you’ll find out. Kid.”

At their destination was a spatial transfer gate.

“Hey, mutt.”

When Park Hyun-a called, Bobo wagged his tail vigorously.

“You can get smaller, right? Reduce your size a bit.”

“Kwang!”

Bobo started shrinking.

Park Hyun-a picked up Bobo, who had become small enough to hold.

‘He’s so docile…’

It was strange seeing Bobo being as gentle as a countryside dog.

“I’ll go in first with him, follow right after.”

“Yes.”

Park Hyun-a entered the gate first.

Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson followed.

‘Oh… This is really smooth?’

Usually, gate travel makes you queasy, but this barely had that feeling.

Choi Hyun-seok looked around after coming out.

“This is…”

On the surface, it looks like a quiet village.

However, there was one crucial difference from normal villages.

‘What is this, a monster gathering?’

Everyone walking around the streets was a high-level strong one.

Even the elders taking walks on the street had magic comparable to decent heroes.

“Older sister, what kind of place is this…?”

At Choi Hyun-seok’s question, Park Hyun-a grinned.

“A kind of humanity protection force? Something like that.”

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