Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Start of the Reversal
I couldn't help but stare in shock at the computer screen in my room.
⚙ CHANNEL STATUS ⚙Subscribers: 351,000
It had been less than 24 hours since I uploaded my first video, yet the subscriber count was skyrocketing. The comments were flooding in too—tons of them calling it a revolution in magic mechanisms.
'Looks like no one's figured out it's me.'
I scrolled through thousands of comments, but not a single one recognized me.
Of course not. I was wearing a mask enchanted with perception-lowering magic, and the lecture content was completely different from what Helmont Academy taught. Even if someone saw me face-to-face, they'd be hard-pressed to guess.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡[S] Magic Shape Transformation
Alters the appearance of magic and body shape as viewed through the mask.
Using my [S] Magic Shape Transformation skill, I'd changed the visual of my magic and made the mask alter my overall body silhouette.
I scrolled through the comments again, reading them slowly.
💬 COMMENTS— ANONHUNTER42Wait, pulling mana from outside boosts destructive power instead of weakening it? Tried it and it actually works.
— MANAFLOWPRO↳ REPLYYour body's mana is limited, but pulling from the air gives infinite power.
— RealTalkMageLOL fr
— CRITTHINKER88Reply guys are idiots? Who doesn't know that? The question is why efficiency stays the same when pulling external mana.
Most of the positive reactions were amazed by the 'Mana Utilization Method' I'd uploaded.
Local mages here traditionally drew mana from inside their own bodies to cast spells. But in my video, I taught them how to pull mana from the outside and use it.
Normally, external mana is less efficient than internal mana because it's not assimilated to your body yet. Obvious stuff.
I overcame that with 'circulation'.
Force external mana into your body.
Spin the drawn mana rapidly inside you.
Once it's circulated 5+ times in your body, release it to cast the spell.
'Even if they know the method, without the spin technique and exact count, it's useless.'
No one knew how to spin external mana in the body or how many rotations for max assimilation. It was my exclusive knowledge. I'd revealed it in the first video—Helmont Academy never covered it, obviously.
'Plenty of negative reactions too, as expected.'
— SAFETYFIRSTMAGEForcing external mana to spin and assimilate overloads your mana core massively. You might cast spells stronger than your mana reserves temporarily, but no one knows the side effects of spamming it.
— DUNGEONRUNNERXUsing external mana requires spinning it—a fatal flaw in practice. Do enemies wait while you're prepping in a gate dungeon or magic duel? Reality ain't a comic. They won't give you time.↳ REPLYLOL attacking during transformation is cheating anyway ㅋㅋ↳ REPLYTakes a bit longer? Who cares, the power boost is addictive af ㅋㅋ
'Sigh, what a bunch of morons.'
This method was a true gem known only to Helmont's veteran vets. Newbies need seconds of spinning mana even if they know it, but masters can do 5+ rotations in under a second—letting you spam external mana spells mid-battle.
'No wonder I can spam S-rank skills like nothing.'
Just then, my phone started vibrating beside me.
-Bzzzzt-Bzzzzt
For days, an unknown number had been calling nonstop. I'd ignored it at first, thinking it was one of my discarded students. But even after I texted who is this, the calls kept coming.
Finally, I picked up.
"Who is this? Why do you keep calling?"
"Oh? Instructor Choi Juwon? Wait, you're not an instructor anymore... Juwon it is, then?"
"Ah..."
I recognized the voice instantly. Magic Tower Lord Shin Yura—the one who'd been hounding me to join her tower forever.
"I told you, no Magic Tower. Why do you keep changing numbers to contact me? I'm blocking this one too."
Shin Yura spoke in a rush.
"W-wait a sec. This isn't about that this time."
"What is it? Get to the point."
"Do you know why you got framed?"
"Framed? How do you know about that?"
She chuckled.
"Alma called Helmont Academy President Baek Juseok."
She proceeded to spill everything that happened between her and Baek Juseok.
"Get the picture? He thought I didn't know you, so I played along. Acted like I was on his side... but I'm on yours. If you join the Magic Tower, that is."
"Fuck... everything you said true? Baek Hyunseo messed with the Master Key, and the president covered it up by pinning it on me?"
'These fuckers are even crazier than I thought.'
I'd suspected Baek Hyunseo tampered with the Master Key, but I didn't know the president knew and framed me on purpose.
"Yep. And get this—he even tried bribing me. So, what'll it be? Join us, and I'll help you report it to the Magic Investigation Agency."
"Why are you so obsessed with me? Am I worth that much?"
"Dunno about others, but I've watched how you operated as a hunter. Always thought you'd be a great ally. Don't ask for details—trade secret."
'Slippery snake.'
Shin Yura had clawed her way to Magic Tower Lord young, thanks to her smarts, cunning, and networking. If she was willing to risk this much for me, she had ulterior motives.
I questioned her.
"If I join the Magic Tower, what exactly do you plan to make me do? Even burning bridges with the president?"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡[S] Discernment
Detects truth or lies in opponent's words.
"Just some simple magic research. You have innately massive mana reserves, right? Thought it'd be great for testing common spells."
⚙ DISCERNMENT ⚙Lie detected.
'As expected. Bullshit.'
From her words and tone, I probed further.
"Talking about my mana reserves... you're not planning to use me as a guinea pig for high-level black magic, are you? That'd fit why you're after someone with big mana."
"Oh, how could you say something so harsh? Of course not."
⚙ DISCERNMENT ⚙Lie detected.
'Fucking bitch.'
I pressed her.
"I know black magic eats life force. If you planned to use me like a black magic machine, you'd just take the results regardless of my life draining away. Treating me like a lab rat?"
"No, really. Calm down, Juwon. It's not like that."
⚙ DISCERNMENT ⚙Lie detected.
'Fuck. So that's it.'
I don't just excel at external mana; I have massive innate reserves too. Mana quantity doesn't guarantee spell power, but every skill has a minimum mana threshold to activate.
Black magic's threshold is especially high. Shin Yura knew roughly how much I had and planned to use me as her black magic engine—my life be damned.
I replied irritably.
"You fucking bitch. Cut the crap and fuck off. I don't need your 'help'."
She tsked.
"Tch... you're too sharp. Almost had you."
"A guy's wrongly framed, treated like shit by people he trusted—gotta screw him over too? You got no emotions?"
"What can I say? Weak get crushed—that's normal. Blame yourself for wasting that mana on being a shitty instructor."
"Bitch. You think you'll get away with this?"
"Come try. Our tower mages will smash you. One-on-one might be risky, but you're nothing against the whole tower. Ex-instructor loser with no students—wanna mouth off?"
"Or you recording this? Waste of time. Magic's already scrambling the signal—no recording. Don't count on magic investigators either. They won't help."
"Recording? Investigation? Fuck that. I'm coming for you, bitch. Kill me if you can."
"Kyahaha. Funny. Come alone? We look like chumps?"
"Wait. I'm on my way."
"Sigh. No connections left, all talk..."
-Click
'I was gonna settle for mild revenge on these idiots, but no. Time to burn it all down from the roots.'
That evening, a new video went up on the Masked Instructor NA TUBE channel.
📺 NEW VIDEO UPLOADED 📺[Recruiting Unaffiliated Disciples Who Want to Learn Practical Magic]