The Conjurer of the Academy

Chapter 15

I confirmed the performance of the Sain-gum with my own eyes. Although the consumption of spiritual energy was still high and fine adjustments were difficult, it was a good starting point. However, there was a major issue in maximizing the efficiency of the Sain-gum.

“The more I draw on my spiritual energy, the heavier my body feels.”

Releasing spiritual energy is not a simple repetitive task that becomes more efficient with familiarity.

The amount and intensity of spiritual energy are determined by stats, making it difficult to master through repetition, but there was still room for improvement.

[That’s because you’re excessively frail.]

Yomi’s response was always the same.

Indeed, the fatigue experienced after drawing spiritual energy was independent of my spiritual power stats. If anything, it seemed related to physical strength stats, but those were also lacking.

‘A sound mind in a sound body, huh?’

Therefore, I decided to exercise.

Wearing workout clothes that didn’t suit me, I headed to the training room behind the dormitory.

Thanks to Babel’s impressive infrastructure, the entire three-story building was dedicated to the training rooms. There was no need to search tirelessly for a place to work out.

Given that the only exercise I had done was during my mandatory military service, deciding to work out was praiseworthy in itself. The problem was that I had no one to properly instruct me.

Even if I, who knew nothing about exercise, tried lifting weights, I’d be lucky if I didn’t dislocate my shoulder.

But that’s okay.

I had the best mentor to teach me how to work out.

Creak

As I opened the door to the training room, the hot, humid air trapped inside burst out. Amidst the steamy haze filled with sweat and moisture, I heard continuous cries.

“Please, no more…!”

“I can’t do it anymore!”

“Save me…”

Utterly exhausted girls were sprawled all over the floor.

They were all the female students who had begged Han Yu-seong to teach them how to exercise during the welcome party.

“The escape route is open!”

“Sorry, I have something urgent to do, I’ll be leaving!”

As soon as the entrance opened, the fallen girls made a mad dash for the exit.

Once all the people who had been there fled at once, only the culprit of this scene remained in the training room.

“Hey, where are you all going? We still have three more sets to do!”

Han Yu-seong, sitting on the bench, reached out with a sorrowful look in his eyes.

This obstinate guy seemed genuinely hurt, thinking the girls had come to seriously work out.

‘He’s so ruthless. How did he manage to drive everyone away in just one day?’

As Han Yu-seong sulked, I quietly stepped into the training room.

‘Look at that body, how is that a high schooler’s physique?’

I felt this with Shin Seo-ha as well, but seeing characters described as muscular in a 2D format brought to life in 3D was overwhelmingly impactful.

Normally, his build was somewhat concealed by the school uniform, but now, dressed in athletic wear, he looked just like the bodybuilders seen in some videos.

With a face that had a protagonist’s charm, it was no wonder girls flocked to him. Of course, it was even more astounding that he had managed to chase them all away in just one day despite those attributes.

“Alone again… How lonely!”

Han Yu-seong suddenly started lifting weights in a furious rage. The weight of the dumbbell in his hand was beyond anything I could imagine.

While Han Yu-seong was intensely focused on his workout, I slowly crab-walked over to the bench.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat.

I had to say it. Even if the path ahead led straight to hell, I had to say it!

“Excuse me, I’d like you to teach me how to work out.”

At that moment, Han Yu-seong’s movements froze. With the dumbbell raised, he slowly turned his head towards me like a wooden puppet.

“You. Want. To. Learn. How. To. Work. Out?”

Ugh, his neck is turning at an unnatural angle. Just how badly does he want to teach exercise? I don’t remember such an intense setting when I played through this.

“Uh, yeah. I want to learn. Exercise.”

Should I run away now?

As I subtly turned my head towards the entrance, Han Yu-seong’s face suddenly appeared right in front of me.

“You’ve come to the right place.”

“Oh, sh*t, that scared me.”

Reflexively, I leaned back. However, he mirrored my movement, leaning forward as much as I was leaning back.

“Where do you want to work on? The lower body? Or the upper body? It’s fine to start with individual muscles.”

“Are you really saying that after seeing my body?”

Excluding my spiritual power, my strength stats were far below the average adult’s. Compared to Han Yu-seong, my body looked like a centuries-old mummy.

“Hmm…”

Finally, Han Yu-seong set down the dumbbell and examined my body from various angles. Soon, he clapped his hands together with a bright expression, as if he had figured something out.

“You’re really frail!”

“…I can’t even beat you up.”

“Hmm? What did you just say?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

This is the kind of person Han Yu-seong is.

He’s like a character straight out of a shounen manga, upholding justice with not a speck of dust on his soul.

Yet, despite his broad sense of justice, he has no hesitation in helping others…

‘In the end, he’ll probably die taking on too much by himself.’

The enthusiastic Han Yu-seong before me was still very much alive.

If the original scenario had unfolded, it would’ve been a long time before we met.

‘Yeah, if things had gone according to the original scenario.’

Once I decided to meet Han Yu-seong in the training room today, the course of events shifted once again.

“Nice to meet you, Han Yu-seong.”

“Nice to meet you, too. Uh, by the way, did I mention my name?”

“Well, you’re a famous person.”

I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at Han Yu-seong’s slightly befuddled look.

“I’m Seol Ha-baek.”

When I extended my hand, Han Yu-seong looked at it for a moment before returning a bright smile, showing his teeth.

“Alright, Ha-baek. From now on, we’re running mates!”

Han Yu-seong’s hand covered mine, and our clasped hands shook gently.

And thus began my basic physical training for the mummy’s resurrection with Han Yu-seong.

* * *

“Okay, one! Just one more!”

“Ugh…!”

Damn it, I take back what I said about him being just.

At least during training, Han Yu-seong was more of a villain.

“Ugh…!”

I didn’t know push-ups would be this painful after doing cardio.

To squeeze out the last one, I had to muster not only the strength in my arms but also every ounce of remaining mental fortitude.

“A little more! Don’t give up!”

“Done…!”

Barely finishing the last push-up, my upper body collapsed onto the floor under the pull of gravity.

The gym lights were blinding, and every breath brought the metallic taste of blood to my mouth.

“What are you doing?”

As I gasped for air, Han Yu-seong’s face suddenly appeared in my line of sight. He really had a knack for popping up out of nowhere.

“Why—what—what now?”

“When you fully extend, you need to hold for three seconds. Since you fell immediately, do it again! Add three more!”

“Ugh…!”

Now I understood why the girls fled as if their lives depended on it. This guy didn’t seem to have the word ‘moderation’ in his vocabulary.

There was no point in stalling, as he would just badger me relentlessly. Finishing quickly was better for my mental health. Of course, it took a lot of pain to realize this.

“Grr…!”

“Okay!”

“It’s over!”

Finally, it was over.

My arms and legs were trembling, and lying down flat was all I could manage. As I merged with the floor, an unexpected chill touched my cheek.

With no strength left to scream, I rolled my eyes upward to look.

“You did well, buddy.”

“…Thanks.”

The chill came from the water bottle and towel Han Yu-seong handed me. His bright smile was so dazzling that I couldn’t bear to look directly at it.

“When you’re exhausted, you shouldn’t just collapse. It’s better to keep moving when you feel like you’re going to die. Otherwise, you’ll be completely immobilized.”

“That’s philosophical.”

Holding onto the hand Han Yu-seong extended, I managed to drag my exhausted body onto the bench. My thirst was overwhelming, and I gulped the water from the bottle.

“Phew, that’s refreshing.”

“How does it feel? Tough, but doesn’t it feel good?”

“…I can’t deny that.”

My body felt as heavy as a rock, but my mood wasn’t bad at all. Rather, it was as if the sense of frustration that had been weighing on me since the possession seemed to have lifted somewhat.

It felt like a layer had been peeled off.

No wonder people recommend exercise when you’re feeling down. If I had known it’d be like this, I wouldn’t have spent all my time gaming and would have exercised more.

“Still, that’s impressive. You’re the only one who lasted this long without using mana. You’ve got great perseverance.”

“I didn’t choose not to use it, I can’t use it.”

“Really? That’s even more impressive then.”

Impressive, my foot.

The fact that I can’t handle mana is a secret that will be out soon enough. Despite that, with Han Yu-seong, it didn’t matter what I said, but calling it impressive was an overstatement.

In any case, working out with this guy made me reconsider some things.

I thought the reason heroines flocked to Han Yu-seong was just because he was handsome and had the protagonist’s aura, but that wasn’t entirely true.

As much as I hated to admit it, Han Yu-seong had a magnetic charm. Despite being pushed to my limits, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of fondness towards him.

“So, Ha-baek, why did you decide to start exercising?”

While catching my breath, Han Yu-seong suddenly asked.

“Why? Just to build up some basic stamina.”

“No, not that. I mean the reason you wanted to build up your stamina. The motivation behind it.”

Clarifying his question, Han Yu-seong wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel. He had been doing squats non-stop while I worked out, and that was all the sweat he was shedding.

“People usually have a reason when they make up their mind to do something tough.”

“It’s not that tough.”

“Come on, my training is pretty intense, right? Just look at the girls from earlier. But you didn’t give up and finished it all.”

“So, you do realize it’s intense.”

As I chuckled, Han Yu-seong squeezed his face into my line of sight again. If I hadn’t gotten used to it, I might have screamed.

“Do you have any goals?”

“Goals…”

For all of you to survive.

He wouldn’t understand even if I said it, so it was better to mention a more short-term, practical goal.

“I have a goal I need to achieve.”

“If you’re working out to fight someone, you should stop. Fighting doesn’t solve anything.”

Said the guy who beat someone up right from the entrance ceremony.

“Don’t worry, it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

I wasn’t lying.

I wasn’t building strength just to overpower someone. To overcome the trials ahead, it was necessary to enhance my physical abilities beyond their current state.

They say a sound mind resides in a sound body. Today’s hellish training would be the first step on that long journey.

“Are you planning to work out here every day?”

Consistency is the key to exercise.

Understanding the intent behind the question, Han Yu-seong grinned mischievously.

“No, I plan to do physical training on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and on the other days, I’ll use the special training room. Wanna join me?”

“Only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I can’t use mana, so the special training room would be useless for me.”

“Good thinking!”

“Oof!”

Han Yu-seong suddenly wrapped his arm around my head and laughed loudly.

“I’ll help you build up your basic stamina with all my heart!”

“Argh, let go of me!”

[Serves you right. Now you know how I feel!]

No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t escape due to the difference in strength. And Yomi, you’re getting a hundred head pats later.

“Phew, finally got away. Anyway, looking forward to working with you.”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Where do you think?”

Just as I was about to stand up from the bench, Han Yu-seong pressed down on my shoulder, stopping me. A chilling sensation ran down my spine with a sense of foreboding.

“I’m going back to the dorm to rest.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve rested enough. We need to do another set.”

Damn it.