When Iris directly infused mana into my body, vitality surged through me.
I felt like I could easily run 100 meters in under 9 seconds.
That alone was incredibly surprising, but my shock didn't end there.
"This is…"
I felt a faint sense of omnipotence as the vitality coursed through my body even more intensely.
Simply clenching my fist showed a grip strength that was incomparably stronger than usual. My senses, including sight and hearing, were also noticeably enhanced, lending credence to a sudden hypothesis.
With a hopeful heart, I closed my eyes and observed my body once more.
Then, near my heart, I felt something that wasn't there before. I instinctively knew what its shape was.
"A mana circle…?"
"Congratulations, Hyunwoo."
Iris wore an expression that was half joyful, half astonished.
At this point, it was easy to deduce the reason for the sudden congratulation.
"I… created a mana circle?"
This wasn't just dumbfounding.
A war orphan college student becoming a mage in less than a day? It was a title that would be riddled with negative comments for ignoring all sense of believability, even in a novel.
I pinched and slapped my cheek.
It hurt, but the pain quickly subsided.
This wasn't because it was a dream. It was thanks to the magic emanating from my heart.
"Honestly… I can't believe it, even though I'm seeing it with my own eyes."
Iris's surprised expression was cute.
I wouldn't mind pinching her cheeks.
"I was praised by my master for creating a mana circle quickly, but it still took me about two months. It was only possible because I hardly slept and tried to communicate with mana. Hyunwoo, how…?"
I'm amazed too.
I still can't believe it.
Am I a prodigy who created a mana circle faster than Iris?
Instead of joy, a sense of unease grew.
In elementary school, during a mana test conducted by the government, I was judged to have no talent.
Thanks to that, I couldn't go to the Magic Tower or become a mage. But now? My talent is insane?
It's not unheard of for talent to blossom as you get older, but this was beyond the pale.
Even Iris, a great mage who achieved the 8th Circle, took two months to accomplish what I did in 5 minutes?
I know my place.
I'm definitely not that kind of genius.
That means there was third-party intervention.
'It's not Iris.'
If a mage could be artificially created, the elders wouldn't have followed Resillia's betrayal.
By the process of elimination, only one thing remained.
I moved to pick up the phone that was acting as indirect lighting. As expected, the screen that appeared on my phone matched my expectations 100%.
[Thank you for participating in the Dating Consulting Curriculum]
[Congratulations on achieving the initial goal of the Become an Attractive Member of the Opposite Sex! project]
[☆Achieved 1st Circle Mage☆]
[Check your mailbox for rewards prepared as part of the Romance Incentive]
'So it was you?'
The Dating Consulting Curriculum was the one who made Iris subconsciously reveal her heavy and dark past, which could be called a trauma, to me without hesitation.
I knew that this otherworld dating app was extraordinary from the moment it teleported me to another dimension.
However, I never imagined that it would have the ability to manipulate others and directly help build a mana circle.
'What the hell is this thing?'
This is just my vague speculation, but there is someone behind this app.
I don't know what they want from me by giving me this app, but there's nothing I can do right now.
'…Am I a mage now?'
To be honest, I'm still dazed.
Becoming a mage was my lifelong dream.
Of course, I would have been happy to do anything if it meant making a lot of money, but the longing for becoming a mage remained in a corner of my heart.
Pros and cons – my head spun quickly as I considered the series of events that had occurred to me, and I came to a conclusion.
This was an unmissable opportunity.
It's true that there was something unsettling about it, but if I used the app's abilities well, my end point wouldn't be just a 1st Circle mage.
Not even the 5th Circle, the limit of ordinary mages, also known as magic masters.
Perhaps even Iris's equivalent 8th Circle seemed possible.
'Who cares if the app's an evil spirit or a monster?'
It seemed much better to make a deal with the devil than to pray to a god who would never answer, no matter how hard I tried.
In the first place, this is a world where ordinary people suddenly awaken their abilities and become Hunters or Heroes.
There was a good chance that this app was an ability that I had awakened.
'Okay, decision made.'
It's just tiring for me to keep holding on to something I can't figure out even if I worry about it.
My only goal now is to become a high-ranking mage and free Iris from this place.
"Let's continue the lesson!"
"Yes!"
The combination of a student who awakened an overwhelming talent and a teacher full of enthusiasm quickly advanced the lesson.
Basic Mysticism, Forelia's Alchemy, Theory of Elemental Synthesis, etc.
That day, I spent most of my time learning the basic knowledge of magic.
Of course, the lesson was difficult. The magic lesson, filled with technical terms I had never heard before, seemed to overload my brain.
But the otherworld dating app blew away my worries.
[We have confirmed the study for achieving the mid-term goal of the Become an Attractive Member of the Opposite Sex! project]
[Acquisition correction rate of all knowledge related to Basic Magic +1000%]
[Mana sensitivity increase +1000%]
[Mana magnetization speed increase +10000%]
I wondered if the numbers were wrong, but the effect was definitely more than enough.
I acquired knowledge as if it were being imprinted on my brain as I listened.
+1000% is an understatement, it felt like more than that.
To give an over-the-top example, it was like an adult who graduated from elementary school could get a perfect score on the college entrance exam just by taking classes for a week.
That's how absurd the ability was.
Not only that, but because my mana sensitivity had increased, the mana floating in the air seemed to be clamoring to enter my body throughout the lesson.
Iris-sensei looked at me with eyes full of surprise and emotion, but I just felt burdened.
More because of the mana than Iris's gaze.
The feeling of increased mana sensitivity was like the mana was trying to court me.
It was hard to say that I particularly liked the feeling of being loved by an incorporeal energy that had no substance.
There's a reason why they say too much is as bad as too little.
Just like there's an appropriate amount when getting an IV drip, if I accept too much mana than I can handle, I'll be screwed.
Fortunately, when I sincerely refused, the mana quietly backed away as if it had a will of its own.
Even though I wondered if this was possible, I had teleported to another world and touched the breasts of an amazing elven woman in less than a day, and I had also become a mage, which I had always dreamed of.
It was enough experience to realize that anything can happen in life.
Focusing again, the lesson continued.
"Hyunwoo, do you know that mages are also divided according to their research specializations?"
"This is the first time I've heard of it."
"Depending on their specialization, such as elements, concepts, alchemy, spirits, or summons, mages are called different things. Elements are called elementalists, concepts are called conceptualists, and alchemy is called alchemists. Of course, it doesn't really matter if you just call them mages?"
Of course, it was the first time Kang Hyunwoo had heard of this.
Even on Earth, I had seen media talk about alchemists and summoners, but at the time, I thought they were just cool nicknames.
"Then what does Iris-ssi belong to?"
"I'm a spiritist. Since spirits can't approach the World Tree, I can't show you right now, but I'm contracted with quite a few spirits."
As expected, elves are all about spirits. At this point, it was safe to say that the fantasy settings on Earth were 100% reliable information.
However, one question arose here.
'There are beastmen, dragonkin, dwarves, and halflings on Earth, so why aren't there any elves?'
According to what I learned in history class, races other than humans and magical beasts are not native to Earth.
They began to appear in the literature of each country at some point… But why aren't there any elves?
Something was wrong.
"…Hyunwoo?"
"Ah, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something else…"
"Hehe, no. It's already been six hours since the lesson started. You've been taking lessons without a break, so you must be tired. Let's call it a day."
I was telling her that I was okay, but considering Iris's kind personality, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was being considerate of me.
I still can't believe it, but I'm being taught by a great mage who is one of only three in the world.
Should I apologize politely now?
My head became complicated with worries I had never had before, but I decided to move on, vowing not to do that again in the future, as it seemed disrespectful to the consideration I had received.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Hyunwoo, you worked hard too. I wish I had half as much fun teaching as my master."
"Master?"
"Yes, he is the former king of Peledia and also my master who taught me magic."
Perhaps because she was reminded of old memories, Iris's gaze was directed towards the dark ceiling, as if she was reminiscing about something.
I couldn't empathize with her about her master, the former king, so I just kept quiet.
At that time, I was hiding and secretly looking at my phone screen like a coward.
Ding- a familiar notification sound and a new screen appeared on my phone.
[Thank you for using our app]
[Congratulations on your first match and we have provided additional gifts to your mailbox, so please check them later]
[We would like to inform you that the match will end shortly]
[Time remaining 14:59]
"This… was there a time limit?"
It's been quite a while since I came here, more than half a day.
I hoped that the remaining time would be 15 hours instead of 15 minutes, but no such luck. The timer that immediately dropped to 14:40 was all I could see.
'No mercy.'
No kindness either.
A 21-year-old virgin is enjoying a cozy date with a super-beautiful elf, and you're ruining it like this.
'I want to give it a 1-star rating.'
Still, there was hope in that such time limits could be resolved with money in normal dating apps.
It's difficult right now, but wouldn't there be a way to solve it when I go back to Earth?
Besides, I already have two stacks of rewards in the mailbox, so it was necessary to learn more about the app at this point.
'I'm also curious about the outside situation.'
Besides, I've created a mana circle even though I'm only in the 1st Circle, so I'm qualified to enter the Magic Tower.
I'm 21 years old, so it's not that late.
'If I register as a mage, the country will give me a subsidy.'
With that alone, I wouldn't have to worry about living expenses.
Many other things came to mind, so it was time to go back to Earth, but when I thought about Iris, I wanted to stay here a little longer.
So, finding a way to get back as soon as possible was my top priority.
"Iris-ssi?"
"…"
Seeing her back with no answer, it seemed like she was still lost in memories.
I felt bad for interrupting, but I had no choice because the time limit was urging me.
This time, I shook her shoulder lightly and called her.
"Iris-ssi?"
"Yes?"
Iris turned around with a slightly surprised expression.
"I'm sorry."
"Ah… no, it's just that I was reminded of some old memories… Is there anything wrong?"
Her eyes were slightly red, which made my heart ache… But I couldn't just leave without saying anything.
"That's… I think I have to go back now."
There was a time limit on the app. I was going to say that I would come back as soon as possible and that she didn't have to worry too much, but I was puzzled because I didn't hear any answer.
"Are you going to leave me alone?"
"…Yes?"
Kwoong- the whole area seemed to tremble. Was it an earthquake?
I was looking around when I felt a soft touch on my wrist.
I turned my head and saw her green eyes, which were shining much brighter than before, looking at me.
"Don't go."
Iris wasn't smiling.