Prologue Story

I halted, just as I was about to cover my eyes.

The flow of magic wasn’t ordinary.

Smoke and explosions whirled within the barrier, gradually dying down.

“Wow, that startled me.”

“Things like that are pretty standard. It’s an A-rank barrier, so there’s no need to worry.”

Suddenly, something that Ji-hyun oppa had said in the past popped into my mind.

It had been during a friendly match in elementary school.

‘For reference, we don’t do this in middle and high school because things get too intense. And even if they do it, it won’t be in this form.’

Only now did I feel like I understood what those words meant.

For someone as sensitive to magic as I was, even sensing the magic of D-rank was overwhelming, so I usually just scratched the surface.

While tracking or observing the flow of magic was one thing, attempting to sense it deeply and delve in further… was just too much.

To me, it felt impossibly powerful.

The matches continued without pause.

Though they narrowed down the number of participants in each bout, it still took a surprising amount of time, as many people of similar skills clashed simultaneously.

Thankfully, there was a time limit.

As the event neared its end, more people gathered.

The longer the matches dragged on, the more my friends grew bored, but other spectators raised their voices.

It was the difference between those who could see and those who couldn’t.

Ji-hyun oppa’s match was the very last one.

At around 4:30, more than two hours after the public matches had started, the final bout began at last.

His opponent was Chunho oppa.

“Yoo Chunho!”

“Kyaa! Ji-hyun!”

“Senior Ji-hyun!”

As soon as the two of them appeared, screams verging on shrieks filled the air.

Whoa! I was startled.

I looked around, startled by the commotion.

My friends all looked equally shocked, their eyes as wide as rabbits’.

“Both Ji-hyun hyung and Chunho hyung must be super popular…”

“Really.”

When we all agreed with Shia’s observation, the teachers gave us a look that seemed to say, “Obviously.”

“Of course, in this school, magical skill is everything. Plus, that brat Joo Ji-hyun is quite handsome, so it’s only natural he’s incredibly popular.”

“Yoo Chunho too. He’s well-liked by everyone, regardless of gender, because of his good personality.”

“But Ji-hyun is still the most popular, by far. People say he’s cool, sexy, strong… Both guys and girls admire him, but his female fans are especially intense.”

“Sir, how can you say that out loud? Ah, that’s so cringey.”

“You punk.”

Teacher Joon-hwi knocked Han-soo on the head for his cheeky remark.

For the record, Han-soo had learned the word ‘cringe’ from me.

Watching them, I snickered before turning my gaze back to Ji-hyun oppa down below.

As I watched Ji-hyun oppa absorb the girls’ shrill cheers, I felt a strange sense of novelty.

I’d already sort of expected it.

I’d figured Ji-hyun oppa would be popular with girls; he was definitely the type.

With his cool looks, unwavering strength—how could one not fall for him?

Still, expecting something and seeing it with your own eyes felt completely different.

To us, Ji-hyun oppa was… someone with a slightly goofy side, whose expression would soften around young kids and their big-sister-complex.

And since I knew about Ji-hyun oppa’s unrequited love, I often felt bad for him.

‘Well, yeah. Cool, strong, and handsome—of course he’s popular.’

And with people close to him, he even joked around.

Whenever that happened, his stoic expression would vanish, and he’d break into a bright smile that was just too much my type.

Honestly, even my heart would flutter sometimes, so that says it all.

Oh, but that’s not to say I had a crush on Ji-hyun oppa.

I only had feelings for one person.

The match signal sounded, and the two of them stood still, doing nothing.

The crowd murmured as they watched.

“…?”

“Why are they just standing there…?”

“They’re not doing anything?”

I felt the same way for a while.

But then, for some reason, a chill crept down my back.

It was an ominous feeling, like the calm before a storm.

I took a step back, my hands gripping the railing.

I didn’t know why, but I hesitated before leaning forward again.

What I felt at that moment was a vast, overpowering ‘fear.’

An unbelievable, immense pressure crushed my entire body.

For a second, I thought my body had been torn apart.

Cold sweat poured down my body, and I got goosebumps.

I even forgot how to breathe.

All of it happened in an instant.

The pressure that had gripped me vanished in a flash.

I finally took a breath again, exhaling softly as I looked ahead.

I realized, with a sinking feeling, that the same sense of pressure I’d felt was spreading not just towards me, but across the entire gymnasium.

At that moment, something came into view.

What I saw was formless magic covering the inside of the barrier, sinking into and consuming the other’s magic.

Silver and black magic intertwined, digging into one another.

Yeah… it was almost like a ‘territory struggle’.

I blinked slowly. My legs felt weak, as if I would collapse.

“Eun-ha, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

In-ha was the first to notice my state.

No, I wasn’t hurt. I shook my head.

“…It’s the pressure. I felt it.”

“The pressure?”

I gave a pale smile.

To be honest, I felt utterly terrified.

It wasn’t as intense now, but for a moment, I had truly thought I was going to die.

A wind, attempting to consume all others as it closed in, a darkness swallowing even that wind.

──The winner was the darkness.

The darkness spread within the barrier, firmly enveloping its surroundings.

Before it could fully engulf the space, Chunho oppa moved urgently.

But it was too late.

I slowly blinked, murmuring under my breath.

At that moment, Teacher Joon-hwi placed his hand on my head and whispered.

“That’s enough for you to watch. It’s still a bit too much for you to endure. But sensing all that, you’re impressive.”

Embarrassed, I smiled shyly and quietly closed my sight.

Even with my eyes shut, the sensation of the pressure and its energy crackled through my senses.

Then, I saw darkness rise within the gymnasium, swiftly swallowing Chunho oppa and his winds.

It was quiet and instantaneous—Ji-hyun oppa’s victory.

I blinked as I looked at the vast darkness.

That was the power of a B-rank magician who hadn’t even gone all out.

I couldn’t even properly sense the magic; halfway through, my magical perception had been paralyzed.

There was that much of a difference between me and a B-rank magician.

I looked with trembling eyes at the sight of Ji-hyun oppa turning away with Chunho oppa.

Slowly, I clenched my sweaty hand tightly.

“The last match ended in such an anticlimactic way.”

Hearing that voice beside me, I finally came to my senses.

When I looked back, I saw Hyun-ho, hands laced behind his head, making a bored expression.

Min-hee and Han-soo also nodded in agreement to his words.

“Yeah, my brother must be really strong. It was over in one shot.”

“Yeah.”

Listening to their words, I calmed my gaze and slowly shook off the chills that had crept all over me.

‘So that’s it. They didn’t feel it.’

Well, at first, I hadn’t felt anything either.

I felt a bit complicated hearing my friends’ words but also relieved.

If they had sensed that magic, they would have felt the same pressure and fear I did.

It was honestly fortunate. It was better for them to face it later, after becoming stronger.

I looked quietly at my chattering friends and let out a sigh of relief.

As I felt the sensation of someone patting my head, I lifted my gaze and saw Teacher Min smiling gently.

Teacher Min whispered softly into my ear.

“It’s okay. Don’t get too tense.”

I smiled and slowly nodded.

In the meantime, my friends were rummaging through their bags, complaining about the snacks being all gone.

Trash kept dropping to the floor.

“Oh, it’s already all gone.”

“Min~hee~.”

I pinched Min-hee’s cheek as she kicked the trash on the floor with her foot.

Then I pinched Hyun-ho’s cheek, who was also rummaging through his bag.

“Guys… what do you think you’re doing, littering on the floor! Don’t you know basic manners? Basic manners!”

“Wahh, sowwy!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll pick it up, I’ll pick it up.”

Meanwhile, Han-soo sighed and picked up the trash, putting it back into Min-hee’s bag.

Even though he seems that way, Han-soo has never once littered on the ground.

He always says it’s bad for the plants. He’s a sweet kid despite his blunt words.

Teacher Min chuckled as he watched us.

Teacher Joon-hwi also laughed and said,

“But you guys, the only one who actually paid attention to the duel was Eun-ha.”

“But it was boring! We thought it would be flashy and exciting, but it was hard to even see properly… it just felt like watching fireworks the whole time. I got tired of it.”

“That’s why I said it would be difficult, didn’t I?”

They would have seen more if they had tried to keep watching.

Well, they’re still at an age where it’s hard to sit still and concentrate for long.

Teacher Joon-hwi must have known that well.

Finally, Teacher Joon-hwi poked Min-hee’s forehead with his finger, wearing an expression that seemed to say he couldn’t help it.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if you tried as hard as your talent?”

“I am trying!”

Min-hee pouted her lips in a sulky expression.

Well, I wonder if that’s true. She seems to play every day to me.

“Anyway, it’s almost five o’clock now, so hurry home.”

“Yes!”

Nodding her head, Min-hee looked at us and said,

“Then let’s go meet my brother!”

“I told them to head straight home nicely…”

Teacher Joon-hwi muttered ominously and promptly gave a chop to Min-hee’s head from behind.

Han-soo and Hyun-ho burst out laughing at the sight.

“Hahaha!”

“Min-hee, you fool!”

“Ahh, Teacher Joon-hwi!”

“Go straight home with your brother. Don’t go outside the school at this hour.”

“Ugh. I got it.”

“You all, too. Get home before the sun sets.”

““Yes!””

After giving his teacher-like advice, Teacher Joon-hwi walked away with Teacher Min. We headed straight down from the spectator seats.

“Where do you think oppa might be?”

“I don’t know.”

But with so many people around, it wasn’t easy to find where Senior Ji-hyun was. Hmm, or maybe…

“Should I try calling him…?”

Min-hee hesitated as she looked at her phone. Glancing around, I somehow had a sense of where Ji-hyun oppa might be. I saw female seniors squealing and blushing as they slipped out the back door.

“I think I know where Ji-hyun oppa is.”

“Huh? How?”

“Though, I don’t really want to go….”

After seriously debating it, I eventually told my friends the spot where Ji-hyun oppa was likely to be. And, just as I expected, in the place where the female seniors had rushed to, in the middle of a huge crowd of students, was Ji-hyun oppa.

“What is this? Why are there so many people?”

“I knew he was popular, but….”

“This is really….”

I nodded in strong agreement with Han-soo and In-ha’s words, showing an exasperated expression. This was a sea of people. I definitely didn’t want to go near. If I were just one of the crowd, that would be fine, but we actually had to talk to Ji-hyun oppa. Without a doubt, everyone’s attention would turn to us. I genuinely hated that.

“Oh, there he is. Oppa!”

But Min-hee didn’t care and called out to Ji-hyun oppa. As he turned to look our way, the eyes of the entire crowd also shifted in our direction. I truly wanted to back away and almost did.

“Min-hee.”

The expressionless look on Ji-hyun oppa’s face softened the moment he saw Min-hee. And at that same moment, so did the gazes of the surrounding girls. Watching some of them blush or collapse to the ground, I realized once again the extent of Ji-hyun oppa’s influence.

Min-hee immediately ran over to Ji-hyun oppa. Chunho oppa, who was beside him, also welcomed Min-hee warmly. The oppa who playfully patted Min-hee’s head soon turned his gaze toward us. The moment their eyes met, Han-soo’s expression stiffened. Han-soo couldn’t escape from Ji-hyun oppa’s patting attack. As he tried to dodge, he ended up getting patted even rougher. Shia was already used to it, and Hyun-ho had also come to accept it by now, but Han-soo still couldn’t stand it.

Ji-hyun oppa then patted mine and In-ha’s heads gently. Well, I was still a little unaccustomed to it. But come to think of it, Ji-hyun oppa, like Seonghu oppa, just seemed to enjoy patting people’s heads.

“I told Min-hee, but I didn’t know you’d all come.”

“Since our class ended early, and we didn’t have anything else we needed to do, we came to watch.”

Han-soo replied in a cheeky tone. Chunho oppa saw Han-soo’s mischievous expression and laughed as if he couldn’t help it.

“Ugh, now I feel a bit embarrassed. I got taken down in one shot.”

“Hey, it couldn’t be helped if the opponent was my brother.”

I almost said “You were amazing” to Chunho oppa in disagreement. A clash between domains of wind and darkness—regardless of how frightening it was, it was beyond what someone my age could recognize. I simply smiled as I watched the two of them.

Will we be D-rank magicians by the time we’re high schoolers? I heard that’s typical at this school, so maybe we can get there as long as we keep working hard… No, if we want to reach D-rank before we turn 18, it’ll probably take quite a lot of effort. It seemed like we would have to work very, very hard.