"Before we dive into the lessons, let's start with introductions. My name is Killian."
"Kim Jong-min."
With the brief introductions out of the way, the mage who had introduced himself as Killian spoke calmly.
"First off, let me make one thing clear. While I said I'd teach you magic, that doesn't mean I'll be sharing the true theories of magic."
"I know. You mean you'll teach me skills, right?"
"Exactly."
Killian smiled and waved his hand through the air.
A skill window filled with all sorts of spells materialized in the empty space.
From high-tier attack spells to buffs, heals, and various curses.
It was a dazzling array compared to my own skill window, which only had Magic Missile.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Dazzling skill window display]
"What I'll teach you isn't complicated theory. It's just the effective ways to use magic as skills. Things like usage limits, recharge methods, and practical examples."
"So, does that mean there's separate, complex magic theory beyond that?"
"There is. But it doesn't matter. You already have the system letting you cast magic simply. Why bother learning theory?"
Killian shook his head, calling it a pointless waste of time.
"For example, to learn to use Magic Missile without being a genius, it'd take at least a year. Still want to study magic theory?"
"...Better to pass."
"Wise choice. To put it bluntly, what's the point of a fish learning how to swim like a cat? Just use the gills and fins you've got."
"I get what you mean."
So, learning magic theory is like strength training, while acquiring magic skills is like boosting your strength stat.
If you have the system, of course you'd pick the latter.
Why grind workouts to death when you could hunt monsters and level up to get stronger faster?
"So, how much do you know about your skills and stats?"
"Pure theory? Perfect. It's just practical use and application I'm lacking."
"Specifically?"
"I know you need meditation to recharge spell uses, but I don't know how to meditate."
I'm not the rank 1 by snatching it away.
If it's part of the game system, I've mastered even the minutiae.
Hell, I might know World Rebuild better than the devs themselves.
Killian nodded in satisfaction at my words.
"That's a relief."
"Pardon?"
"My main job is to fill in those gaps in practice and application."
He'd teach theory if asked, but learning what you could pick up outside here would be a waste of time.
Only knowledge unique to this place—that's truly using time wisely.
Killian smiled faintly as he said this.
"Let's start with how to meditate."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
It had been a day and a half since I started learning skill applications from Killian.
I sat straight, closed my eyes.
Not doing anything in particular—just holding the posture.
After a few seconds, a system message rang in my ears.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Meditation begins. Recharging expended magic uses. Opening your eyes or breaking posture will force meditation to end.
I'd learned from Killian that meditation itself was ridiculously simple.
Just sit properly, close your eyes, and wait a bit.
When I first heard it, I was so baffled I blurted out a question.
"Just sit, close your eyes, wait a few seconds, and done?"
"That's right. That's all it takes."
"But it's called meditation? Don't you need special thoughts or breathing?"
"Breathing? Nah. Truth is, you're not recovering yourself—it's the system checking your posture and recharging you. So just hold the pose."
It's called meditation, but really just a doorbell to the system saying 'recharge me'.
Still absurd thinking about it, but damn convenient for me.
Hold a pose once, and it recharges without extra effort.
'Problem is, if I'm ambushed, resisting's tough.'
Meditation basics: sit and eyes closed.
You can stop anytime, but a stealthy sneak attack from behind? No defense.
Plus, recharging one Magic Missile takes about a minute.
Empty all? Full recharge means ten straight minutes meditating.
If there are more Park Geon-woongs out there on doomsday, that's ten minutes exposed.
'But I've got countermeasures ready.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Magic Missile uses fully recharged.
At the recharge complete message, I stood up.
Then headed straight to the passage on the opposite side.
Killian watched quietly—he'd seen this routine a million times by now.
"Kerruk!"
"Kiruk!"
Three goblins beyond the passage.
Ones I'd cleared for the quest, but they respawn after a set time.
I pointed at each goblin's head in turn and muttered.
"Magic Missile. Magic Missile. Magic Missile."
Bam-bam-boom.
"Kieek...!"
Quick chant spam dropped them without a death cry.
With boosted Magic Power, it packed crossbow-level punch.
Even a chest hit wouldn't let them survive like before.
I approached the goblin corpses to check the wounds.
'Pointed too sloppily? Accuracy's off a bit.'
Fine up close, but from range, it'd miss.
Better dial back fire rate for precision.
'By now, level up should've hit.'
Hunting goblins isn't just for spell practice and combat drills.
Killian said tutorial dungeons let you hit level 3.
Level 3: escape basic class, unlock proper standard job.
Even with tutorial EXP penalty, no reason to skip safe grinding.
Safe leveling plus training? Perfect.
As I finished checking and turned to wait for respawn...
✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Lv. 2 → Lv. 3
+ Stat Points +1
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Reached Lv. 3. Meet your job instructor to advance to an advanced class.
Finally!
Thrilled by the messages, I bolted to Killian and shouted.
"Hit level 3! Job change me!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'Huh, what a guy.'
Killian marveled at Jong-min over and over.
Among countless beta testers, he stood out brilliantly.
Not just his self-proclaimed theory mastery.
Lightning adaptation and proactive drive.
In those, Jong-min was peerless—unique.
'Even now, plenty of beta testers are still clueless.'
Killian existed simultaneously in countless spaces.
To guide beta testers choosing the mage path.
Multiple bodies, but all Killians shared memories in real-time.
He'd met many, but most wasted time pointlessly.
'At least the goblin-frightened runners are better. They're frittering away this chance on trivial crap.'
Sneering at NPCs, demanding user respect.
Twenty questions to extract info.
Spell-drunk, blasting everywhere.
Most made Killian sigh.
This minute, this second—a golden opportunity. Wasted blindly.
Did they not know what doomsday held three days hence?
How could they act so carelessly?
'Compared to them, this guy's zero waste.'
Day one lost to real life, but day two on? Perfect efficiency.
No question or action wasted.
"What's the general range of spells?"
"Varies by spell type and Magic Power. Hard to pin down."
"Does power drop with distance?"
"For projectile spells, mostly. Buffs and curses are exceptions."
"For buffs and curses, usable at range?"
"Depends on low or high tier. Low ones usually need contact."
Killian only shared essentials beyond must-knows.
Simple reason.
That knowledge wouldn't apply till long after surviving doomsday.
Better teach immediately useful stuff.
'But that doesn't mean future knowledge is useless.'
If you survive to the end, it'd help big time.
Jong-min absorbed must-knows first, then probed for potential future gems.
Prepping for now and maybe-later.
If an ignoramus did it, it'd be overkill. But to Killian, it was foresight.
'Above all, he grasps this dungeon's true value.'
Endless goblin respawns for combat training, skill honing, leveling.
More than Killian's advice—that's the dungeon's real utility.
Jong-min milked it to the max.
Each cast analyzed: max speed, range, power, accuracy. Varied tests.
Expert on Magic Missile now, for sure.
'And grinding what others quit ages ago to hit level 3.'
The one rebuilding the world post-doomsday? Probably this guy.
Killian hid the thought, smiling.
"You've done well so far. What job will you choose?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Killian waved a hand, summoning a translucent window.
This one: job change list for basic Magic Apprentice.
"You have three options right now."
One: basic, standard Magician.
Another: Elemental Sorcerer, element-focused mage.
Last: Black Mage, most shunned in-game.
"Magician needs no explanation. Barely different from now—just broader spells."
Evolution of pure Magic Apprentice.
No standout pros or cons. Safe, basic pick.
Low risk, orthodox play—most players chose it.
"Elemental Sorcerer specializes in combat magic. Massive element spell power boost, but no summons or heals."
Trades Magician versatility for elemental firepower.
Even early Fireball wrecks in their hands.
Mid-game lightning? Untouchable.
But non-combat weakness.
"And Black Mage... I don't recommend it."
Killian grimaced mid-explanation.
I understood why.
Most discarded mage job.
Magician versatility plus Elemental Sorcerer firepower.
But crippling penalties nullified it all.
"Meditation recharge impossible. Must absorb life force or negative emotions."
Two ways for Black Mages to recover spent magic in-game.
Suck HP from someone, or dump in chaotic spots.
Latter: lawless cities, warzones.
Leave? No recharge sans sacrifice.
But recharge speed crushed all other mages.
In battle, faster than you could spend.
"In combat, no real penalty. Basically no meditation needed."
"Sure, if you're always fighting for your life. Post-battle? Black Mage becomes dead weight."
Killian snorted at my retort.
No rest or meditation for recharge.
Battle: gorge on life and negativity.
After? Who to drain?
"Answer's simple: allies or weaklings. Do that, rep tanks."
World Rebuild: rebuild civilization core.
Thrive on negativity from chaos?
Great early chaos, but order shrinks your spot.
Worse: everyone learns Black Mage flaws eventually.
Could get branded pariah, rejected everywhere.
"Worst case, they kill you pre-crime. Who'd pick that abuse?"
"Someone would."
"Yeah, some psycho... What'd you say?"
"Someone would pick it."
I shrugged at Killian.
"Because I'm choosing Black Mage."
"...."
Killian stared at my bold declaration, aghast.