Tok-. Tok-. Tok-.Ishtal. Professor Zimmer’s office.Leaning lazily against the chair, Zimmer rested one hand against his cheek and tapped the desk with his fingers.The report had arrived sealed in a black envelope—“Top Secret” clearance.Inside was information about the current investment returns from the Merchant Guild Alliance of the Kingdom of Gilbert.As expected.Zimmer, having lived his entire life walking the path of a warrior, couldn’t fully comprehend the detailed financial terminology, but he could tell that the investment was proceeding smoothly and profit was being generated.Even with his shallow knowledge of economics, Zimmer wasn’t completely ignorant of what was happening in Stella right now.At the very least, he knew that the merchants of the Kingdom were earning their profits through questionable methods.Just from the line, “Withdraw investment and cut ties before the Lombard merchant ship returns,” he could guess as much.But the method didn’t matter. As long as he could grow stronger.Crack-.Zimmer quietly clenched his fist.“The Dragon Heart.”If he could obtain even a fragment of that Dragon Heart with the profits from this investment, he might be able to break through the wall that had blocked his progress all this time.At the very least, he would reach the minimal starting line—the realm of a Master—so he could stand equal to that bastard.'…Because there’s no way I can just let that lunatic be.'Zimmer ran his fingers across the long scar etched across his face and bit his lip.An old wound that still refused to fade.That man, who believed only in his own strength and acted as if no one else existed, had neither the honor of a knight nor the dignity of a warrior.Serving as the king’s dog, taking care of every dirty job imaginable—Zimmer couldn’t stand watching that any longer.Slaughtering innocent villagers under the guise of “orders,” kidnapping beautiful women to offer them up—it had become commonplace.He dressed it up as “eliminating heretics,” but the process was suspicious beyond measure.At least, that’s what Zimmer had discovered from his close proximity to him.“The corrupted royal leadership, and Egil Dmitry—the man cleaning up their filth.”To defeat that man and take the position of Captain of the Royal Guard—and to uncover the truth behind the king’s mind and these insane acts—Zimmer would need a great deal of money.More than he had now.For that goal, flattering Jeremy and crawling beneath his feet was a small price to pay.Even if it meant doing dirty work not so different from what that bastard did… someday, once he climbed high enough, he would set everything right with his own hands.If one day he could help Prince Andrew ascend the throne in Jeremy’s stead, nothing would be more satisfying.The prince possessed the true qualities of a monarch—unlike the depraved current king or the duplicitous Jeremy.“……”Zimmer skimmed the rest of the letter, then tossed it into the trash bin.Whoosh-.The bin’s incinerator flames flared to life, burning the letter to ash.After burning the letter from the merchants, Zimmer pulled out another envelope.Another black letter that had arrived alongside the first—but this one had no listed sender.Only a few words were written on the paper in cursive.[Zimmer Dmitry. I will give you the item you are searching for. If you want it, come to the designated place at the designated time.]“……”Zimmer frowned.A prank letter like this? Not even worth responding to.He was about to toss it into the fire as well when his hand suddenly stopped.He flipped it over.There, a small crimson seal of an open eye was stamped—beneath it, a location and time written in small script.Zimmer ran his fingers across the magical sigil and narrowed his eyes.'…The Underworld. So it’s not just a prank.'Crunch-.Instead of discarding it, Zimmer crumpled the letter tightly and shoved it into his pocket.***After classes.Private research lab adjoining the Student Council President’s office.I wiped the sweat beading on my forehead, finishing one of the day’s tasks—processing a mana orb.“Phew.”A brilliant red orb sat atop the workbench, glowing like a ruby.The flames burning within it flowed calmly like clouds drifting through mountain valleys.I smiled in satisfaction as I looked at the radiant sphere.'It’s been refined enough for absorption.'After steadily pouring mana and care into it, Bell’s Extreme Flame that once burned furiously enough to destroy the orb had now quieted.Now, unless I deliberately infused it with mana, it no longer leaked heat.Its size had also shrunk—from something that once filled my palm to something small enough to swallow whole.About the size of a one-hundred-won coin.A little large to gulp down comfortably, but with water, it should be possible.'…Should I try it?'I swallowed hard as I gazed at the shimmering red orb.It felt like the right time to attempt ingestion.I took out the vial of Frozen-System reagent and a healing potion I’d prepared just in case.The reagent could neutralize any runaway flame from the mana orb, and even if I got injured, the healing potion would handle it—so nothing should go wrong.“Phew.”I exhaled deeply, gathered my focus, and picked up the orb bare-handed.Before, I had to use fire-resistant gloves, but now the orb was refined enough that my bare hand could withstand it.“……”Bringing the orb close to my face, I hesitated for only a moment before firming my resolve.Gulp-.I swallowed the orb along with water in one go.A heavy sensation slid down my throat.The mana orb, pressing tightly against my chest, slowly moved down along with the water and settled in my stomach.Since my stomach was empty, I could feel its shape distinctly inside me.Thankfully, I hadn’t choked to death on it. The real issue began now.“Phew.”Letting out a long breath, I sat cross-legged and tried to focus my mind.That was when it happened.Fwoosh—“!”A prickling heat spread upward from my stomach.It was as if a blazing torch were rampaging inside my body.The Extreme Flame sealed within the mana orb had begun to unleash itself.“Ghhk…!”I doubled over, clutching my abdomen as pain wracked through me.“Haa… haa…”Each breath expelled scorching heat.Every inhalation stabbed my esophagus and seared my mouth dry with burning agony.Even with the pain-sync feature reducing real pain to ten percent, it was this unbearable.Without it, I probably would’ve passed out—or died from shock.'…No wonder this counts as a shortcut.'After all, I’d refined something that should never be consumed and was forcing it down like a cheap elixir—pain was only natural.I glanced at the blue potion in my hand, then shook my head.'Not yet. I can’t drink the Frozen-System reagent yet.'If I drank it now, it would erase not only the pain but also the Extreme Flame’s mana burning through my body—wiping out Bell’s power in the process.If that happened, I’d have to ask her to imbue it again and go through the long refinement process all over.'This much pain is within expectations.'I clenched my fist and endured the agony.Whoooosh—The Extreme Flame’s heat spread through my body like it was consuming me.That heat began to seep into my mana heart—malfunctioning due to [Nine Yin Severed Meridians]—and into the mana circuits blocked by yin energy.“Ugh.”Yang and yin energies began clashing violently inside me.My body swung between burning hot and freezing cold, unable to stabilize.How long did it last?After that long, agonizing struggle—Cough—!I vomited up black blood and collapsed onto the floor.“Huff, huff…”Dark red blood pooled beneath me.At the same time, a system notification # Nоvеlight # appeared before my eyes.Ting-.[You have accepted a new substance into your body.][This is not a normal treatment method. It cannot completely cure Nine Yin Severed Meridians.][Synchronization Rate: 4%][The aura of Extreme Flame neutralizes Nine Yin Severed Meridians.][Total Mana after conversion: 2]Staring at the message, I murmured quietly,“Success… huh.”Gasping heavily, I looked at my blood-soaked hands. The searing and chilling pain that had torn through my body finally subsided.The heavy presence of the mana orb in my stomach had also disappeared.It probably hadn’t been digested—more likely, it had transformed into mana and fused somewhere near my mana hole.Either way, with the system message confirming it, the process could be considered a success.'Can I… use magic now?'The reason I’d endured that nightmare of pain and gone through all this effort.Even though I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed, I had to confirm the result.Wiping the blood from my lips with a handkerchief, I extended my right hand forward.“Phew.”My outstretched hand wavered faintly before my eyes, all five fingers trembling.I grabbed my shaking wrist with the other hand and drew a deep breath.Then, reciting the spell I’d failed to cast before, I released the mana dwelling in my heart.Swoosh—Mana flowed through my internal circuits like waves.Complex calculations, mana control, and magic circle formation—those were things I, a “Player,” didn’t need.Fwoosh—A red shimmer flickered over my extended hand, soon forming the clear shape of a flame.I stared quietly at the blazing fire in my palm.“Fire Bolt.”Flash—A burst of light filled my vision as red fire shot forth like an arrow.Boom-!The explosion’s fragments of flame slammed into the wall, filling the room with a burnt smell and thick mana smoke.Fwoosh—As the ventilation cleared the haze, the astonishing result revealed itself.An entire section of the research lab’s wall had been warped and torn apart.A wall reinforced for mana-related experiments had literally exploded.It was hard to believe this came from the lowest-tier, first-rank spell—Fire Bolt.“……”I stared at the unbelievable sight.No, at the accomplishment I had earned with my own hands—smiling faintly.Loen de Valis, the half-baked magician, had finally taken his first true step as a real mage.For now, all he could do was shoot a handful of flame—but given the potential behind it, it was a magnificent beginning.I clenched my fist and smiled in satisfaction—then gave a wry smile at the wrecked state of the lab.The equipment scattered from mana-orb processing, the half-collapsed outer wall, the blood pooled on the floor—If Ciel were to walk in and see this, it’d be a disaster.“…Better clean up quickly.”Every great achievement is built on such small efforts.Let’s tidy up in good spirits.And then—Bzz—Suddenly, my vision blurred, and my body tilted sideways.'Ah.'Mana exhaustion—this must be it.It’s the phenomenon where your body collapses when your mana reserves hit zero, but why now—Thud—Like a puppet with its strings cut, I fell flat to the floor, trying weakly to reach into my pocket for a Mana Supplement Stone.But the irresistible drain overtook me, and my consciousness faded away.***Knock, knock—“Sir Loen, you have a visitor.”Ciel Yuraphia.She knocked on the door with the visiting guest beside her.“……”But despite the knocking, there was no reply from inside.He must either be absent or too absorbed in his research to hear her.Still, she couldn’t simply turn the guest away. At least she could serve tea while they waited.After deciding that, Ciel turned the doorknob.“I’ll come in.”“U-um, I’m coming in too?”The visitor was Chloe Andina from the Union Newspaper and Broadcasting Club—here to interview Loen.Following behind Ciel, she stepped into the Student Council President’s office.The quiet room was bathed in sunset hues.Through the large window, the Union skyline dimmed beneath the twilight—a picturesque sight.Chloe looked around and whispered softly,“It feels… cozy somehow.”As she glanced around, her gaze landed on a phonograph placed to one side.Even at a glance, its antique design was captivating—something she’d like to own someday once she made enough money.“Please have a seat. I’ll bring you some tea.”Ciel gestured for Chloe to sit, then subtly scanned the office.No other mana signatures besides hers and Chloe’s. Loen didn’t seem to be here.But this uneasy feeling—what was it?Then suddenly, her sharp sense of smell caught something metallic.'Blood… I smell blood.'Bang—!Uncharacteristically frantic, Ciel flung open doors, checking the attached restroom and nap room.No one there.Last, the research lab.Normally she avoided entering it per Loen’s orders, but right now, she had to check.The closer she got, the stronger the scent of blood became.“……”With trembling hands, Ciel knocked on the tightly closed lab door.Knock, knock—“Are you inside?”No response.The door was locked from within.Without hesitation, Ciel gripped the handle and twisted.Crunch—!The steel doorknob bent under her superhuman strength.She ripped the ruined door open and looked inside.“!”And what met her eyes—Blood pooled across the floor, and its owner lay unconscious upon it.“Sir Loen!”

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