The world as we know it is merely a parallel reality to the true world—a realm where technology not only exists, but magic thrives alongside it. Humans are born with the innate ability to wield magic through catalysts, and this power has truly shaped humanity into the apex predator of Earth. Magic isn't just a tool; it's the foundation upon which civilization stands, determining social hierarchy, economic status, and survival itself.
The two major catalysts for wielding magic are the Card and the Circle, each representing vastly different philosophies of power. Card magic allows anyone to use magical abilities without requiring natural talent in mana control or inherent magical affinity. If you manage to awaken a card, you can utilize its abilities as much as your body can withstand, with the only true limitations being the card's own inherent restrictions and your physical endurance.
However, as a Circle mage, one gains access to ancient magical circles—intricate, geometrically perfect formations that are incredibly complex and demand exceptional affinity for mana manipulation. Circle mages aren't bound by predetermined abilities like cardsters, but instead face limitations imposed by their own ego, willpower, and mana capacity. Fortunately, mana capacity can be enhanced through external materials like crystallized mana stones, rare herbs, or enchanted artifacts, making this path theoretically limitless for those with resources.
Circle mages, or simply "Mages" as they're commonly known, are significantly rarer and generally more powerful than cardsters. The fundamental weakness of cardsters lies in their dependence on awakening—some unfortunate souls only manage to awaken a single card throughout their entire lifetime, and sometimes it's pathetically weak. The awakening process itself is unpredictable, influenced by genetics, emotional state, life experiences, and pure chance.
However, certain cards possess the remarkable ability to evolve alongside their user's proficiency and dedication. These special cards are called growth-type cards, and they form an unbreakable bond with their wielder—they cannot be stolen, traded, or transferred under any circumstances. Regular cards, conversely, can be stolen through the use of specialized grimoires or willingly passed down through families, creating entire dynasties built around powerful inherited abilities.
In this unforgiving world, only two things hold true value: raw power and accumulated wealth. Everything else—love, friendship, honor, art—exists as mere secondary considerations, luxuries afforded only to those who have already secured their position in the hierarchy. Power and wealth in this society can come as easily as breathing for the fortunate few, yet prove as elusive as capturing lightning for the masses.
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In a rundown apartment that had seen better decades, a young man with short silver hair and striking green eyes could be seen meticulously brushing his hair while putting on his carefully maintained outfit. The ensemble was simple yet dignified: a crisp white button-down shirt and black trousers that had been ironed with almost obsessive precision. Despite his hurried movements, there was something oddly mature about his demeanor—something that set him apart from typical teenagers.
He was already running late for school, and while one might expect an eighteen-year-old to be rushing to classes as a student, the reality was quite the contrary. He was a teacher at Meridian Academy, one of the most prestigious magical institutions in the country, a fact that never failed to surprise those who learned of it.
His story began in tragedy—orphaned at age thirteen with absolutely nothing to his name except the clothes on his back and a burning hope for a better future. Thirteen is the crucial age when human souls develop enough strength to potentially awaken their first card, and he had prayed desperately for the world to bless him with something powerful enough to change his predetermined fate of poverty and insignificance.
Instead, fate delivered what felt like a cosmic joke: a pathetic F-rank card called "Translate." This seemingly useless ability could only convert any known written language into French, and the cruel irony was that French wasn't even his native language. He had to spend months learning French grammar, vocabulary, and nuances just to begin utilizing his supposedly magical gift.
However, fortune occasionally smiles upon the determined. During one late evening while translating a melancholic Spanish poem for pocket change, his card suddenly erupted in brilliant light, transforming before his eyes into an E-rank card dubbed "Translate Version 2." This evolution allowed him to convert French text back into any language he chose—a modest improvement, but an improvement nonetheless.
His hopes ignited like a wildfire. With dedication and relentless practice, perhaps he could become something significant—maybe an international ambassador, bridging communication gaps between nations. The path seemed clearer now, even if it still centered around French linguistics.
Driven by newfound determination, he pushed his abilities to their absolute limits. The more intensively he used his card, the more it responded to his efforts. Version 3 emerged, granting him the power to translate any known written language into any other written language—a genuinely useful ability that opened doors to freelance translation work.
When his card finally achieved C-rank status, something remarkable happened: he gained the ability to understand spoken languages in real-time, translating auditory input instantly. His envisioned future as a diplomatic translator suddenly seemed not just possible, but inevitable.
The breakthrough to B-rank brought an unexpected surprise—somehow, he had awakened a second card. Initially dismissing it while celebrating his primary card's evolution, he eventually remembered reading about methods to influence card awakening. Desperate research revealed that sleeping upside down while regularly donating food to strangers could potentially awaken healing abilities—one of the most sought-after powers in existence.
Despite his crushing poverty, he committed to this ritual for seven grueling days, surviving on scraps while giving away what little food he could afford. When he finally examined his new card, he unleashed a string of curses that would make sailors blush.
It was an F-rank ability called "Detect"—arguably the most underwhelming power imaginable. It allowed him to perceive everything within a pitiful one-centimeter radius around his body, regardless of size or speed. Its only practical application seemed to be locating mosquitoes during sleep, enabling him to deliver precisely targeted slaps to end their bloodsucking careers.
Yet fate, it seemed, enjoyed its elaborate games. This card, too, proved to be a growth-type. By age sixteen, his translation ability had evolved into "Googol Translate"—an A-rank card enabling him to speak, hear, understand, and translate every known language on Earth fluently and instantly.
His detection card had also grown significantly more useful, though its naming convention remained frustratingly verbose. Now a B-rank ability called "Observing My Surroundings Carefully," it granted him awareness of everything within a two-meter radius in extraordinary detail. Heartbeats, muscle tension, breathing patterns, micro-expressions—nothing could escape his enhanced perception. Additionally, he gained the peculiar ability to perceive fast-moving objects as if they were moving ten percent slower, a discovery made during an unfortunate encounter with school bullies.
The fight had been almost comical—like being attacked by children in slow motion. While he couldn't throw a proper punch to save his life, he could effortlessly dodge every attack, creating an endless stalemate until his opponents exhausted themselves. Of course, this advantage would prove useless against anyone with actual fighting skills or superior cards.
Now, in 2025, both his cards had reached S-rank—the theoretical pinnacle of card evolution in their world. His translation abilities were unmatched globally, and his observational skills rivaled the most sophisticated surveillance systems. Yet despite possessing two S-rank cards, the best position he could secure after graduating high school was a teaching job at Meridian Academy.
As he grabbed his worn leather satchel and headed for the door, he couldn't help but wonder if the world would ever truly recognize the value of what he had to offer, or if he was destined to remain forever underestimated in a society that valued flashy combat abilities over subtle, intellectual powers.