Prologue Story

“Just as I mentioned, I’ve come here today because we hope Yoo Eunha, who’s soon to turn eight, will enroll in our school.”

My mother looked at the man with a tense expression.

“Yes, our Eunha…”

“Yes, she’s a remarkably talented child.”

The man smiled briefly and took out something else from his jacket, this time what looked like a paper booklet.

I saw that it was a pamphlet.

However, I could tell it was much more detailed than the usual pamphlet.

It was also thicker than most pamphlets.

The man opened the pamphlet.

On the first page, there was a detailed layout of the school.

“As you may know, Daehyun operates as an escalator school. Our elementary, middle, and high school divisions are all located on the same campus, and students naturally move up to the next division upon passing the graduation exam in their final year. Each school division also has a dormitory system in place.”

I skimmed over the map.

I couldn’t say I was good at reading maps, but I could immediately tell that it was vast and spacious.

The most eye-catching parts were the elementary, middle, and high school buildings, along with the dormitories.

Between them, I could see park-like facilities, practice rooms, large training areas, and gymnasiums.

There were even multiple sports fields.

Honestly, it was almost the size of a small city.

There was even a large shopping area on the campus.

“In the case of the dormitory system, middle school students—who are at the age when studying is crucial—are required to live in the dormitory unless there is a special reason. However, elementary school students are still quite young, so only those with special circumstances or who live very far from school stay in the dormitory. Of course, anyone who wishes to may also apply voluntarily.”

At his words, I frowned slightly.

Daehyun was in Seoul, while our home was in Jinju.

So, if I entered this school, did that mean I would have to live in the dormitory?

But from what he said next, I realized that might not be the case.

“However, since elementary school students are too young for dormitory life, those who live far away usually commute by teleportation, unless they have special circumstances. The school provides teleportation badges to all students.”

Oh, I was impressed by that.

Truly, a magical world, and certainly one of the most prestigious schools in Korea.

With that system, no matter the distance, I could attend school.

He turned the pamphlet’s page.

Following the campus map and dormitory information, the next part described the main training facilities.

“We prioritize the students’ convenience and focus on developing their talents, so although I can’t reveal detailed curriculum information, I can tell you that it’s heavily practice-based. We have ample facilities, such as training rooms and laboratories.”

Then, he moved on to the information about the shopping area.

“Since many students live in the dormitory, we’ve prepared a well-equipped shopping area where they can conveniently buy everyday essentials and supplies for school life. It’s a place to buy items like clothes, shoes, and various magical artifacts. There are also restaurants and many leisure facilities.”

He also pointed out famous restaurants and clothing stores.

I listened with considerable interest.

There was even a pet shop.

Technically, it was a shop for pet supplies rather than live animals.

In other words, you could keep a pet if you wanted.

However, you would need proper approval from the dorm supervisor.

The information on the school’s facilities was roughly that.

After finishing the explanation, he closed the pamphlet and pushed a document envelope in front of us.

He then pulled out a paper that looked like a form and handed it to us.

“This is the enrollment form. It’s written like a contract, so please read it thoroughly later.”

My mother took the papers in her hands.

As I watched her calmly reading the document from the top, I found myself stealing glances at it, eager to read it myself.

But I was suddenly distracted by what he said next, making me momentarily forget about the form.

“In fact, we learned of Miss Yoo Eunha’s skills because of the incident at the Glass Botanical Garden.”

“…!”

My mother looked up in surprise, stopping her reading to glance at them.

What…?

My eyes widened.

“As you may know, it was our Daehyun school that resolved the Glass Botanical Garden incident.”

“Yes… I definitely heard that…”

My mother nodded with a baffled expression.

I, too, had a surprised expression, and tried to suppress my growing anxiety.

Just when I thought we were nearing the end, they suddenly brought up something very important.

Of course, I was curious.

How exactly did they learn of my abilities, and why did they choose to scout me?

I had always thought I kept my abilities hidden quite well, so I was very curious.

But… was it because they had seen me at the Glass Botanical Garden?

And it was Daehyun who resolved it?

“To be precise, it was this young woman beside me who resolved it. She’s been known as a skilled magician since her middle school days, so she and the current high school vice president worked together to resolve it.”

With wide eyes, I looked at the woman who was sitting confidently.

Her long hair reached down to her chest, tied in a single braid.

A blue light surrounded her.

It was an intensely clear color, like seeing drops of water sparkling under sunlight.

It was magic as radiant as a gem.

My mother’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“Oh my, in middle school… and she’s still a student, not yet an adult?”

“Well, she’s a magician. Taking on missions as a middle schooler is a choice.”

Receiving our stares, she gave a refreshing smile and spoke.

“I saw Eunha’s magic when we had just apprehended all the terrorists.”

I listened to her words, dumbfounded.

I never imagined anyone had seen my magic at that time.

But of course.

I remember that moment clearly.

How desperate I felt, and how anxious I was…

“With my magic, I can see distant scenes, so I was observing to check if everyone was safe while dispelling my magic. I’ll admit, metal-element magic isn’t my forte, so I was struggling with it…”

And then I started feeling embarrassed.

So embarrassed that I couldn’t stand it.

“A young child, who probably couldn’t even sense her own mana yet, suddenly started using magic. She wrote something, making it appear, then drew an exit. Though that attempt failed. And then, finally, she manipulated iron to create an exit, escaping on her own before anyone could intervene. You can’t imagine how shocked I was.”

Exactly.

Who would have thought anyone was watching my actions, now being recounted in detail by someone else?

And to make it worse, the person talking was an accomplished adult magician.

It was only natural to feel embarrassed.

It felt like bragging in front of a butterfly, who had already blossomed from its cocoon.

“Usually, at that age, children can only sense their mana, if that. But she was already capable of using magic. Moreover, it seemed to be unique magic, didn’t it? So…”

As she spoke with twinkling eyes, I felt like crawling into a hole.

My mother’s expression became somewhat complicated, and Inha had a sullen look.

At that moment, the man halted the woman’s enthusiasm.

“Hey, let’s keep it reasonable.”

“Ugh… ahem, anyway, that’s not the main point…”

The woman, noticing the slightly awkward atmosphere, stopped her praise and returned to the main topic.

“Seeing her abilities, I was certain, ‘This child needs protection.’ I relayed this to the higher-ups, which is why I’m here now. I can’t tell you how regretful it was that our school didn’t have a kindergarten.”

Protection?

Just as I was relieved to have escaped the embarrassing conversation, I raised my head, puzzled.

The man, as if answering my question, spoke again.

“I believe you may have heard the other name for Daehyun at least once.”

At his words, my mother slowly nodded.

I tilted my head, curious.

I had heard that Daehyun was both a school and an organization.

Though rare, such schools do exist worldwide.

“The Daehyun Magician Protection Association, also known as DH Association—that is our organization’s true name.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of it. They’re known for traveling across regions, protecting young, talented magicians…”

“The school itself is part of that mission. Young magicians with talent are, as you know, easily caught up in various dangerous incidents.

Daehyun’s mission is to protect these young and talented, yet vulnerable, magicians while nurturing their talents.”

At that moment, my mother’s expression changed.

She nodded, fully understanding his words.

“Thus, Daehyun is highly confidential. More precisely, we rigorously protect student privacy. That’s why you might have found it hard to learn much about our school. But all of this is for the protection of young magicians…”

As he spoke, he gave a sudden, gentle smile.

To be honest, I was a bit surprised.

It had been a short meeting, but he didn’t seem like the type to smile easily.

In fact, it was the first smile I’d seen from him.

“Typically, we start by explaining our protective ideals to those who may not understand… But it seems that Miss Eunha’s mother is already aware.”

“Yes. I saw what a friend went through.”

“Many parents, excited by their child’s talent, are thrilled about them attending a good school… But any magician with even a bit of strength knows. Although it’s impressive, it’s hard to say it’s always a good thing.”

“…”

Inha looked curiously at the two people deep in conversation.

I felt like I understood a bit, yet not completely.

To be honest, while I’d heard that talented children were often targeted, it didn’t really hit home.

My reluctance to reveal my skills stemmed more from embarrassment and dislike of drawing attention than fear of danger.

“We need not look far. This young woman beside me, Lee Eunhee, is living proof.”

Saying so, he gestured toward the woman sitting next to him.

Proof?

I looked at her with surprised eyes.

She nodded without any hint of discomfort, smiling.

“Yes, I entered Daehyun in the most typical case. Once word spread about me awakening to magic at a young age, I faced a bit of trouble here and there. After receiving a recommendation, I entered Daehyun for middle school. I like Daehyun because of the ‘Confidentiality Policy.’”

“Confidentiality Policy? What is that?”

“Oh!”

Momentarily flustered, she glanced at the man beside her.

He nodded, and she replied with a smile.

“As I explained, Daehyun’s primary mission is to protect young magicians. One of the core policies to achieve this is self-regulation of personal information—the ‘Confidentiality Policy.’ It’s a bit complex, but in simpler terms, it’s a policy that protects personal secrets.”

“Protecting secrets…?”

“Yes. In other words, students’ abilities are strictly confidential outside the school! Without their consent, students are prohibited from disclosing others’ abilities, even to parents or close friends. We give students the freedom to reveal their own abilities. Those who want to disclose them can, and those who wish to keep them hidden may do so.”

“Does that mean students aren’t obligated to reveal their abilities?”

“Yes. Though things change a bit in middle school, when students can take on tasks outside the school, we maintain that confidentiality policy throughout elementary school. For instance, practical exams are conducted privately. Grades are only shared with the individual, and even rankings are communicated only to the students themselves. If they choose, they don’t even have to reveal their skills to teachers. And if they’re unwilling, they can take exams casually. Of course, maintaining a certain level is necessary.”

The more she spoke, the wider my eyes became.

I could tell my mother was seriously pondering this policy.

It was incredibly… Yes, incredibly tempting.

Especially for someone like me.

I had been intending to hide my abilities anyway, but having official permission to do so was a different matter.

Feeling exhilarated, I clenched my fists tightly.

“But… since Daehyun is, after all, a school for nurturing talented students, certain exceptions arise in cases necessary for education. The biggest exception is level-based classes. Students of similar abilities are grouped together, allowing them to learn at a fitting pace. Even the strongest talents are useless if they aren’t honed.”

“Of course.”

“So, for level-based classes, the student’s abilities are assessed for grouping purposes. However, even these teachers are bound by confidentiality regarding the students’ abilities. The two main principles of Daehyun are protecting young, talented students from external threats and nurturing their talents.”

“Hm…”

“If you do well in the level-based classes, you’ll pass the general skill exams easily. And you aren’t required to disclose all your magical abilities in those classes. But if you intend to pursue a career as a magician, it’s best to reveal your abilities from high school onward. That is, once you become eligible to take the official ranking exams.”

There was no avoiding that.

At that age, one is already an adult in this world, expected to be self-sufficient.

After hearing that much, I glanced at my mother.

She remained deep in thought, not speaking for a while.

“When I saw this child’s magic at the Glass Botanical Garden, I knew she would benefit from this kind of confidentiality policy. That’s why I personally came to scout her.”

With that, the two of them fell silent for a moment.

Looking down at the pamphlet on the table, I too began to ponder.

‘Daehyun. Magician Protection Association. Confidentiality…’

The words they’d spoken kept replaying in my mind.

After a brief silence, the two stood up.

“I believe these are favorable conditions for your child. Please think it over carefully. I’ll leave the enrollment form here. This is my contact information.”

The man handed over his business card as he stood, and the woman followed, smiling as she rose.

“If you have any questions, feel free to call us. We’ll be in the area for a while. Since we’re here, we thought it would be good to meet the parents of the young lady sitting beside you as well. Oh… just thinking about it is making me nervous!”

Placing a hand over her chest, the woman winked at Inha.

It seemed she knew who Inha’s parents were.

“See you next time, then.”

“Eunha, make sure you come to our school! I’ll take good care of you~.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

The two of them left with distinctly different energies.

The man was composed, while the woman was full of enthusiasm.

We watched them leave.

It seemed that the woman, Eunhee, genuinely liked children.

As she walked away, she repeatedly waved and smiled at us with delight.