"...What do you think? Should we entrust the remaining attributes to this creator?"
Reluctant reactions.
Among them, the team's sole mage, Shin Ye-ji, openly scowled.
"You're joking, right? You want to leave this critical issue to a piece of paper scrap?"
Even Kim Ji-seok, who had presented the scroll, harbored doubts. Were the numbers written on it really legitimate?
Baseline Destructive Power: 0.66
Seventy percent of a 5-circle spell. Theoretically, that meant it surpassed Shin Ye-ji's magic bullet.
"...Of course, we'd need to verify it."
Kim Ji-seok looked at Shin Ye-ji.
"Want to deploy a Barrier?"
Understanding his intent, Shin Ye-ji recoiled in horror, her eyes like she'd spotted a cockroach.
"Team Leader! I'm utterly humiliated right now. How could you even suggest that?"
A magical knockoff. No, even calling it a knockoff felt insulting. To pit it against her directly!
Kim Ji-seok sighed in response.
"It's better than handing the gate to another team. This subjugation will heavily impact our team's evaluation."
"We still have plenty of time! I'll somehow boost the remaining two attributes..."
In truth, the simplest solution was hiring mages of other attributes.
But mages with high pride wouldn't budge for just any offer.
So the next best option was Shin Ye-ji raising the other attributes to an acceptable level herself.
However.
"That wouldn't be good for you either. It'd hinder your main attribute growth."
"But... it's a scroll... a magical imitation..."
Shin Ye-ji had recently reached 3-circle.
Her pride in magic was at its peak. Kim Ji-seok understood that.
"...If this were the end of it, I wouldn't even suggest relying on a mere scroll."
Shin Ye-ji gave him a puzzled look. The other team members felt the same. What was he getting at?
Then Kim Ji-seok dropped an unexpected bombshell.
"Everyone, mind opening the Auction House?"
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah. Search for the seller 'asd123'."
What was his angle?
They knew asd123 was the creator, but what was there to see?
Not thrilled, but curiosity won out.
As they one by one opened the Auction House and searched for asd123, a single magic scroll appeared.
[Auction Listing: Magic Scroll ─ Neutral Magic Bullet | Baseline Destructive Power: 0.8 | Mana Consumption: 25 | Attribute: Neutral | Creator: asd123 | 800,000G]
Astounded team members.
Kim Ji-seok scanned their faces before speaking.
"Can you still call it just a scrap of paper?"
The team exchanged glances.
Lee Hyun-ho, unable to contain his curiosity, asked Kim Ji-seok.
"From what I know, the 'baseline' for scrolls is set against 5-circle... 0.8 is way stronger than Ye-ji's magic bullet, isn't it?"
Lee Hyun-ho was the tank.
...Dull and oblivious.
The others glared at him, but he just looked aggrieved, like he'd done nothing wrong.
Shin Ye-ji, head bowed, muttered grudgingly.
"...S-Still, it's just 0-circle. 800,000 gold for a mere 0-circle? I don't charge that much per magic bullet."
"To be precise, you can't charge that. Ye-ji, you're not even at 80% of 5-circle... Urk."
It was Lee Hyun-ho again. Kim Ji-seok urgently elbowed his solar plexus.
Too late. Shin Ye-ji deflated.
"..."
Before the 0.8 (4-circle equivalent), even Shin Ye-ji couldn't dismiss it as a magical imitation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Department office.
A third-year student had come by.
A regretful, bitter remark escaped the student's lips.
"...I'm dropping out."
"Yeah. I need to figure out how to make a living soon. I failed to awaken again this time."
The great awakener era. Mainstream departments were naturally awakener-related.
Many students entered university just to transfer into awakener departments, which only accept awakers.
The math department had 21 first-years but only 3 third-years for that reason. Dropouts or post-awakening transfers were rampant.
And among awakener departments, magic was the top.
"You entered math aiming for a magic department transfer too, huh."
"...Yes. If I awaken as a mage, it's still helpful."
Park Ha-jun couldn't find words. He couldn't blame the student's folly, nor beg them to graduate.
He just swallowed his bitterness and wished them well.
"Alright, you worked hard. Got any plans?"
"Thinking of prepping for an association office job."
"..."
After sending off the student, Park Ha-jun returned to his lab.
Even though he'd wrapped up the topology OT decently, it probably meant little to the students.
...Am I too lost in my own world?
Tough times. Park Ha-jun raked his hair back, then opened the [Auction House] for a break.
[800,000G]
The magic bullet he'd listed yesterday hadn't sold. Honestly, it was overpriced.
Inspired by 4-circle mages charging hundreds of millions per cast, he'd overreached.
...Yeah, who'd burn 8 million won on 0-circle magic.
The limit of 0-circle. Niche uses—overkill specs. Supply without demand.
Unlocking 1-circle is even more crucial now.
From 1-circle, uses diversify.
Attributes assignable, special scrolls like [Purification] possible.
Consumer base expands accordingly.
I'll encounter more new circuits too.
Park Ha-jun smirked, checking his gold.
[To activate 1-circle magic, pay 3,000,000G. Current Gold: 1,611,000G]
About 1.4 million more gold needed.
Selling two more 800k bullets would do it—if they sold.
Lower the price?
No, it'd only been half a day. Keep it till evening. Not that urgent.
Park Ha-jun closed the Auction House and stretched.
The shock of only two third-years left in math lingered, but the refresh cleared his mind.
"Hm."
He checked the research materials on his desk.
Knot theory and attribute magic stability.
A topic to revive geometry, tied to awakers.
Magic was arcane, but for survival, he'd tackle anything.
Park Ha-jun reviewed geometric errors in the materials, flipped through magic formula papers, and examined links to magic.
Without even a bathroom break until sunset.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
That evening, association comprehensive training room.
Shin Ye-ji, tense, deployed her Barrier.
"...Using it."
Kim Ji-seok unfurled the scroll and channeled mana. Blue light traced the circuit, then the magic bullet fired.
Kwang!
The obvious result. Assuming the scroll's specs were true.
Unable to accept it until moments ago, Shin Ye-ji bit her lip.
The team stayed silent, not reacting to the astonishing outcome. Kim Ji-seok said nothing extra.
Finally sensing the mood, Shin Ye-ji forced a smile.
"...Not bad for a scroll! My condition was off today, so the Barrier was weak, but I admit it. This scroll is usable."
The team gave awkward laughs.
"Haha... You do look tired."
"Magic's heavily condition-dependent. If Ye-ji were at full strength, no way a mere scroll breaks your Barrier."
...
But the consolation only made Shin Ye-ji feel worse.
"...Fine. For this raid, we'll use scrolls from this creator. But I'm too tired for team training today. Sorry."
Shin Ye-ji left, head hung low.
Watching her go, Kim Ji-seok tapped his forehead.
"Ji-hoon, go console her?"
"Yes..."
Mages had sky-high pride. Excessively so. Especially Shin Ye-ji, freshly 3-circle.
Amid team adoration and expectations, crumbling to a scroll she'd scorned—it hit hard.
The team understood.
Truth be told, for a mage, Shin Ye-ji was adorably mild.
...Never whined to teammates, always pulled her weight.
Yet Kim Ji-seok felt sorry but didn't regret suggesting scrolls.
Testing it confirms. This is the best solution for the subjugation.
Just infuse mana—easy to use. Unlike his combat-inept brother, Kim Ji-seok felt no discomfort.
Like gaining a new skill. Could mix into attacks.
Portable too, and most importantly...
Items lack emotions— that's the appeal.
...Not sniping Shin Ye-ji.
But hiring an unknown mage for this gate? Teamwork would suffer.
Might raise subjugation difficulty.
Teamwork management—a leader's duty.
"...Sorry to Ye-ji, but we'll need scrolls for this. I'll contact the creator, so focus on personal training today."
After assigning schedules, Kim Ji-seok headed to the awakener management team for asd123's info.
Need intel before contacting asd123.
To gauge personality and skill for fair deals.
But.
"No info on this person. Not even registered as an awakener?"
"What?"
Absurd. Kim Ji-seok peered at the monitor himself. Indeed, nothing.
"What the..."
Not entirely unusual. Such people existed.
But he'd pegged asd123 as overwhelmingly skilled—hard to accept.
Even S-rank would need years honing for those results.
At least three years grinding the scene?
Interactions with other creators essential, unless Einstein-level genius.
...Zero activity? Doesn't add up.
The staffer, briefed vaguely, asked cautiously.
"Not a Corrupted Awakener... right?"
Corrupted Awakeners. Mana-addicted awakers.
Retain pre-addiction memories but act inhuman.
Reject humanity, embrace bizarre faiths. Odd beings.
Crucially, abilities amplify.
"Not impossible, but..."
Didn't feel right. Too many inconsistencies for a Corrupted.
More like...
...An eccentric.
From the lazy 'asd123' nick to the antics. Maybe a quirky merchant.
Corrupted or eccentric—doesn't matter. I need high-performance attribute scrolls.
Just curious on asd123's attribute scroll level and best purchase approach.
Assume eccentric—most likely.
Buy the listed scroll first—establish contact.
Overpriced for 0-circle, but necessary to impress.
...8 million won's a worthy investment.
Thus, Kim Ji-seok bought the 800,000G scroll.
And sent asd123 a [Mail].
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Finishing his day and heading home, Park Ha-jun got a system alert.
[Mail: 1 | Subject: The magic scroll—Magic Bullet listed on the Auction House has sold.]
"...Oh?"
It sold? Heart racing, he claimed the gold.
[Status: Current Gold: 2,411,000G]
Satisfied, another alert popped.
[New mail arrived.]
"?"
Mail suddenly? The farmer from yesterday?
Unable to hide his curiosity, Park Ha-jun opened it.
[Sender: Ji-seok] [Greetings, esteemed Creator. This humble hunter purchased and tested today's Auction House scroll, and was deeply impressed...]
Formal pleasantries.
Park Ha-jun felt nothing.
As a professor, such mails were routine. He skimmed dryly for the point.
Our team is tackling a gate with elemental golems. Earth and fire attributes lack output... If you could provide high-output scrolls for those...
A commission request.
The situation was novel, but Park Ha-jun first sorted the details.
High-output attribute magic?
He pondered.
Unlock 1-circle to make attribute scrolls, but...
Can I draw circuits at this quality level?
Resolve to perfect 1-circle circuits burned strong.
But for subjugation use—couldn't promise lightly.
...Still, too good an opportunity to pass.
High-end scrolls.
Without this buyer's 800k magic bullet purchase, sales would've dragged—or failed.
Commission and instant high-price sales—huge merit.
After agonizing, Park Ha-jun hit [Reply]. Composed carefully.
As safe as possible...
He wrote the reply.
Send 800,000G deposit and detailed specs via support message. Return if conditions don't suit.
First unlock 1-circle, test feasibility, then decide...
Park Ha-jun pulled a classic tit-for-tat.
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