The antique shop had never been this popular.
Lee Eunwoo noticed it immediately.
Normally, only a few random customers wandered in during the day.
A vase buyer.
A curious kid.
The occasional confused adventurer.
But today…
People were peeking through the door.
Not entering.
Just… peeking.
Eunwoo watched the door open slightly for the fifth time that morning.
A man stuck his head inside.
His eyes quickly searched the room.
Then they landed on the mirror.
On Eunwoo.
The man froze.
"…It's real."
Then he slammed the door shut and ran away.
Eunwoo sighed.
"Why are people acting like I'm a horror movie monster?"
Sir Frogbert remained unhelpful.
Ten minutes later, the door opened again.
This time two teenagers stepped inside.
They looked nervous.
Very nervous.
One of them whispered, "You go first."
The other whispered back, "No you go first!"
Eunwoo groaned.
"Why are they treating me like a boss monster dungeon entrance?"
Finally the braver one stepped forward.
He approached the mirror slowly.
Very slowly.
Eunwoo waited patiently.
The boy stopped a few steps away.
Then—
He bowed.
"Greetings, Reflected One."
Eunwoo internally collapsed.
"NO."
"STOP CALLING ME THAT."
The second boy also bowed quickly.
"We came to pay respect!"
Eunwoo stared blankly.
"…Respect?"
The first boy pulled out a small coin pouch.
He carefully placed three copper coins on the floor in front of the mirror.
Eunwoo froze.
"…Did he just give me money?"
The boy spoke nervously.
"I don't have much…"
"But please accept this offering!"
Eunwoo's brain shut down.
"Offering?!"
The second boy bowed again.
"We heard you judge sword techniques!"
Eunwoo sighed.
"Why does everyone think I'm judging people?"
The boys waited a moment.
Nothing happened.
Because Eunwoo was just… a mirror.
Finally the first boy whispered,
"…Maybe we need to attack it?"
The second boy panicked.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
They both grabbed the coins and ran away.
The door slammed shut again.
Eunwoo stared at the empty shop.
"…This town is insane."
A few minutes later, the shop owner Harun walked out again.
He had a broom this time.
He swept the floor lazily while muttering.
"Kids these days…"
Then he noticed something strange.
Three copper coins.
Lying on the floor.
Right in front of the mirror.
Harun stopped sweeping.
"…Huh?"
He picked up the coins.
Looked at them.
Then looked at the mirror.
"…Did someone drop these?"
Eunwoo mentally shrugged.
"Technically yes."
Harun placed the coins in his pocket.
"Free money is free money."
Then he continued sweeping.
Eunwoo felt strangely robbed.
"Hey those were MY offerings!"
Later that afternoon…
Something unexpected happened.
The door opened again.
But this time the person entering wasn't nervous.
In fact—
He looked confident.
Tall.
Well dressed.
Sharp eyes.
He wore a dark blue robe decorated with silver patterns.
And most importantly—
He carried a staff.
Eunwoo's system activated immediately.
[Target detected.]
Name: Felix Arden
Occupation: Apprentice Mage
Level: 23
Eunwoo almost screamed.
"A MAGE!"
Finally.
FINALLY.
This was exactly what he had been waiting for.
"System analyze everything!"
[Analyzing…]
Detected Skills:
• Fire Bolt
• Mana Control
• Basic Spell Casting
Eunwoo's excitement skyrocketed.
"MAGIC."
"I NEED MAGIC."
Felix walked calmly into the shop.
Unlike the others, he didn't bow.
He didn't look nervous either.
Instead he studied the mirror carefully.
"…So this is the one."
Eunwoo froze.
"Oh no."
Another rumor victim.
Felix stepped closer.
His expression was thoughtful.
"I've heard interesting things about you."
Eunwoo sighed.
"Here we go again."
Felix continued calmly.
"A mirror that reflects sword techniques."
"A mirror that defeats adventurers."
"A mirror that reveals perfection."
He tapped his staff lightly against the floor.
"Honestly…"
Felix smirked slightly.
"I don't believe it."
Eunwoo grinned internally.
"YES."
"Finally someone normal."
Felix raised his staff.
"But testing it sounds fun."
Eunwoo panicked again.
"WAIT WAIT WAIT—"
Felix pointed the staff toward the mirror.
Mana gathered at its tip.
A small flame appeared.
"Let's see what you can do."
The flame suddenly shot forward.
"Fire Bolt."
A blazing projectile flew toward the mirror.
Eunwoo's system activated instantly.
[Skill detected: Fire Bolt.]
[Reflection activated.]
The mirror shimmered.
The fire spell entered the reflection—
Then came back.
Stronger.
Hotter.
Faster.
BOOM.
The reflected fire bolt exploded across the room.
Felix's eyes widened.
He barely managed to dodge.
The spell blasted a hole in the wall behind him.
Smoke filled the shop.
Felix stared at the mirror in shock.
"…What."
Eunwoo was equally shocked.
"…MAGIC WORKS."
The system chimed again.
[Skill acquired: Fire Bolt.]
Eunwoo nearly screamed with happiness.
"YES!"
Felix slowly straightened up.
His heart was racing.
"…It reflected my spell."
He looked at the damaged wall.
Then back at the mirror.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared on his face.
"…Impossible."
Eunwoo watched silently.
Felix approached slowly.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"So the rumors…"
"…were true."
He lowered his staff slightly.
Then, to Eunwoo's horror—
Felix bowed.
"Greetings…"
He hesitated briefly.
Then finished the sentence.
"…Reflected One."
Eunwoo stared blankly.
"I just wanted magic."
"Why do I keep gaining followers?"
The system chimed again.
[New Skill Stored.]
Fire Bolt
Eunwoo smiled mentally.
"Well…"
"At least this cult thing comes with benefits."