Ever since that day, my life had changed completely—180 degrees.
High risk, high return.
The return I gained by wagering my entire existence as the risk…
was nothing short of divine sweetness itself.
[Mana possesses will.]
[When mana seeps into the brain, the will of mana clashes with that of the human. Unable to process the conflict, the brain overloads and ruptures.]
[This is why mana acts as a toxin to the brain.]
Ray Bell Bytener.
The great hero who had transcended time to become my teacher—
his book was a tomb of vast, slumbering knowledge.
[However, your brain and mine possess a trait that completely blocks mana's will from the source. Thanks to that, we can use the brain—this delicate organ—directly as a medium for magic.]
I read and reread every line, engraving each one into my mind.
The indulgence of savoring forbidden, unknown knowledge all to myself…
and the overwhelming sense of accomplishment that came with it—
it was intoxicating.
I begrudged every hour spent sleeping.
[Conventional magic consists of eight stages: "Gathering – Heating – Transmutation – Condensation – Transmission – Expansion – Amplification – Manifestation."]
[But as the name suggests, this is merely "universal" magic—
a lower magic system I devised for vassals unable to transmit mana into their brains.]
[It has nothing to do with us. Forget all of it.]
[I will now teach you the new mana circulation route suited for us.]
Every day was a joy.
I couldn't even remember the last time I'd felt this alive.
Learning this new system of magic was difficult—
but it was worth every second.
[Before moving to the next stage, you must master the ability to circulate mana through your entire body as naturally as breathing.]
[Never forget—impatience is poison to the pursuit of magic.]
In modern magology, circulating mana through the brain was considered the ultimate taboo.
But to make this "taboo" as natural as breathing,
I practiced all day, every day.
Except for the four hours I allowed myself to sleep,
every moment was devoted to mastering the new circulation route.
"Modern magology emphasizes six key principles. Shin Ha-yul, do you know what they are?"
"…"
"Shin Ha-yul?"
"...Yes, sir?"
"You must have quite an easy life—to have time to daydream in my class."
"I'm sorry. I'll focus."
I occasionally got scolded like this in class,
but I never regretted it.
It was all knowledge I already knew—
and besides, it no longer applied to me.
[It won't be easy. Changing the method of mana circulation is like changing the way you breathe.]
[It's as if you told a human who breathes through their mouth to start using gills instead.]
[Take about a month to let your body adjust naturally.]
That routine continued for over ten days.
Today marked the eleventh evening.
'I think I'm finally getting the hang of it.'
I couldn't even tell whether the food was going into my mouth or my nose anymore.
My entire attention was consumed by mana circulation.
"What's got you so deep in thought?"
Soonchan sat down next to me.
His tray was empty—he must've finished eating, spotted me, and walked over.
"Just… reflecting on a theory I found in a newly acquired old tome."
"So it's not going well? You've been spacing out a lot lately."
His face practically said, 'I'm worried about you.'
"It's a fascinating theory. I just have a lot to think about. It's not that it's not working."
"Yeah? That's good… but you haven't shown up in the training hall for ten days. You sure nothing's wrong?"
"I told you, I'm fine."
I couldn't really blame him for worrying.
At this academy, I was known as both an incompatible mage and an extreme training addict.
I hadn't skipped the training hall a single day—not even weekends.
So me disappearing for ten straight days naturally raised concern.
"Look at my face. Do I look like something's wrong?"
How could there be? These days, every moment was pure bliss.
"Well… you do look healthier than usual."
"Right?"
I laughed heartily and shoveled the rest of the food into my mouth as fast as I could.
I just wanted to finish quickly and get back to my room—to my training.
In an instant, my tray was empty.
"I'll go ahead! See you tomorrow!"
"Huh? Oh—yeah. See you tomorrow."
Leaving Soonchan waving absently behind me,
I darted straight to the dorms like an arrow.
Ah. If only a day had forty-eight hours.
The smile on my face wouldn't fade.
The next day.
The first class was "Theory and Application of Magic."
It was one of the most anticipated courses,
and among the five core subjects with the highest weight on exams.
Personally, I hated it.
More precisely, I hated the instructor.
"For modern mages, about 99% of their success depends on their birth."
Reng Smith.
A 43-year-old mage from France,
the second son of a highly distinguished noble family.
"When two mana-bearing individuals marry, there's a 99% chance their child will be born with mana.
This alone proves the importance of bloodline."
He was infamous across the academy.
An elitist through and through,
known for evaluating students solely based on their lineage.
"In modern magology, where AI mediates the middle stages of magic, innate talent is ultimately what matters most."
They say a man's face reveals his character.
That weasel-like face, those sly whiskers—he was exactly as he looked.
"Even among those born with mana, the unlucky ones can never surpass the wall of six circles.
Statistically proven fact."
The weasel fixed his eyes on Soonchan sitting behind me.
A deliberate, malicious stare.
Snickers broke out among a few students.
"Heh. What kind of merchant thinks he can be a mage?"
"My thoughts exactly."
Laughter from a few dim-witted sycophants who shared the instructor's elitism.
What a bunch of bastards.
"Of course, birth isn't everything. There are no absolutes in this world.
There's always that one percent of error.
That's why I said 99%, not 100%."
Oh, here it comes.
This time, his gaze locked onto me.
"After all, even among those from the most prestigious families,
some turn out to be completely useless failures."
There it was.
I was wondering why he hadn't taken a jab at me yet today.
"Ah, Shin Ha-yul, don't misunderstand.
I wasn't referring to you specifically."
"...Yes, sir."
And that's why I could never like this class.
"See? Instructor Reng Smith really knows what he's talking about."
"He's the model of a true mage."
"Ugh. That damn weasel. So annoying."
"I want to rip off those smug whiskers."
Even among students, opinions about him were polarizing—
the noble-born adored him, the common-born despised him.
"Hm. I hope I didn't offend you, Shin Ha-yul. I'd feel terrible if I did."
Feigning innocence after deliberately provoking me—
disgusting.
"Well then, as an apology, let me give you some advice."
He smirked—a sharp, malicious curl of his lips.
I could already tell it wouldn't be anything good.
"You're aware of the verification exam coming up in fifteen days, on April 30th, for second-years?"
"Yes."
A midterm comprehensive evaluation for all second-year students—
its purpose: to assess one's growth over the past year.
An important test… but why bring it up now?
"There's a new rule added to that exam."
"A new rule, sir?"
Something felt off.
"Indeed."
The weasel-faced instructor's expression twisted into something even uglier.
My unease deepened.
"Starting this year, any student who fails to meet the standard will have their qualification revoked—immediate expulsion."
"Expulsion?"
"What—seriously?"
Murmurs rippled through the classroom.
"It's a new rule proposed by Lord Shin Inhyuk, head of the Magus Clan. He said there's no need to keep students who lack the talent to become proper mages."
The room fell into silence.
"…Wow. That's insane."
"Isn't that basically aimed straight at Shin Ha-yul?"
"So Shin Ha-yul's own father just disowned him?"
I'd wondered why Father had been so quiet lately.
Turns out, he'd been planning this.
I could see his firm resolve—to expel me no matter what it took.
Bitter.
"But don't worry too much. It's not easy to score below standard. Unless there's something seriously wrong with your body, you'll all pass easily."
The weasel's eyes slithered toward me like a snake's.
His expression said everything: 'Except you.'
"Ah, right. My advice, Shin Ha-yul—try to at least improve your casting speed before the evaluation. That's all."
"..."
Some "advice."
I hope you choke on your own words and die.
I smiled outwardly while cursing inwardly.
"Yes. Thank you for the advice."
"Hmm?"
He frowned slightly, surprised.
My reaction was far too calm for his liking.
He'd expected to break my spirit with those words.
Maybe that would've worked on me two weeks ago.
But not now.
'Fifteen days will be enough.'
Feeling mana circulate from my brain to my heart, then down to my hands and feet,
I felt my determination ignite.
Even in this miserable situation, the mana within me flowed along its proper path.
Mastery was close.
'I'm looking forward to it.'
I couldn't wait to see Instructor Reng Smith's smug face twist in shock.
'And…'
My father's look of panic, too.
"...It's done."
Night of the 14th day.
At last, I had achieved my goal.
The new mana circulation method—passing through the brain—was now fully ingrained in my body.
I could even maintain it while asleep.
Truth be told, I'd completed it on the 12th day,
but decided to give it two more days—just in case.
As my teacher had written, impatience was a deadly poison in magology.
Anyway, now it was time to move on to the next stage.
[Once you can circulate mana naturally, as effortlessly as breathing,
the next step is to create your Mana Circle.]
The first true step in modern magology—
the mark of a mage's initiation.
The creation of a mana circle.
Of course, I wouldn't be creating an ordinary one.
[A warning in advance: erase from your mind everything you know about conventional mana circle creation.]
[What you are about to forge is not the "heart-circulation" circle I created for my vassals—
but a "whole-body circulation" mana circle.]
My master's circle was entirely different from the modern version etched upon the heart.
[Think of your body as a single loop, and use your entire form to draw the circle.]
[If you've truly mastered the free flow of mana as naturally as breathing,
the ring will weave itself together naturally.]
After that, the page was blank.
Completely empty.
I suspected new lines would appear as my mastery deepened—
just like last time, when new text had formed after I destroyed my circle and circulated mana through my brain.
So there was no need to worry.
With that thought, I sat down.
Not cross-legged.
Modern magology recommended the lotus posture to help focus on the heart—
but I wasn't forming a circle in my heart.
There was no need to obstruct leg circulation.
"Hoo…"
I sat in whatever position felt most comfortable to me.
Then, I focused on the mana flowing naturally throughout my entire body.
It was refreshing—like floating quietly in the middle of a forest.
A strange sensation, as if my body no longer felt like my own.
Perhaps because my awareness had slipped free from the shell called "the body,"
I could feel the mana more vividly than ever.
Heehee.
It's fun.
It hurts.
It's joyful.
The mana's voices—each distinct, whispering emotions—proved that mana truly possessed will.
My consciousness sank deeper, like descending into still water.
I forgot to breathe.
I forgot to think.
I even forgot that I was concentrating.
A state of complete absorption.
All my nerves focused solely on the motion of mana.
From my right leg, to my left arm, through my head,
down my left leg, and across my right arm—
then back again.
The mana revolved endlessly.
Forming the shape of infinity—a Möbius strip (∞).
On and on.
Constant.
Unbroken.
Like infinity itself, it continued to flow.
The foundation of Bytener-style magic—
the infinite Möbius ring.
The Infinity Circle began to engrave itself upon my body.