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It had been a long time since they had been in the same room. Min-Hyuk wanted to feel some familiar warmth from his father, but instead, he felt like a stranger.

Deok-Cheol said, “I heard you won the Magic Academic Competition?”

Min-Hyuk said, “Yes.”

“How is that possible? Min-Hyuk, you are my son. I was there when you were born. For all 17 years of your life, you had no interest in Magic. And now, suddenly, you’ve won a Magic Competition? Forgive me if I am slow to believe this sudden development.”

He made a fair point. It was a sudden change to everything his father knew about him. But to be fair, it was pretty sudden for Min-Hyuk as well.

“I can’t explain it. I just used what I read in my textbook,” Min-Hyuk shrugged.

Deok-Cheol gave Min-Hyuk a strange look.

“It sounds like you think you have a gift. Is this true?”

If Min-Hyuk has grown up anywhere else, maybe his father would have accepted this and been proud. But Min-Hyuk didn’t grow up somewhere else. He grew up here: within the Guardian Gate. And because of this, the world was always watching.

“Look at this,” his father said, offering Min-Hyuk some newspaper clippings.

“Scandal: Son of Guardian Gate wins Magic Contest!”

“The End of the Guardian Gate? Heir chooses Magic over the Sword.”

“Problems inside the Guardian Gate? Why Min-Hyuk Chose Magic.”

They were all rumors! And they were not very nice ones, at that.

His father looked at him and tried to explain.

“Son, you won the Conference. This proves to me that you have Magic talents, and when you left the Guardian Gate, maybe it was not because you were selfish. But just because you left, that doesn’t erase your past. You were born here. You are my son. When the world has their eyes on you, it has its eyes on us as well.”

Min-Hyuk said, “But I stepped down. I will not be your successor.”

His father looked sad.

“That doesn’t matter. Min-Hyuk, I acknowledge that you did something big for the advancement of Magic. But Magic is nothing compared to being a Warrior. So I am asking you—please give it up and return home. We can start over. I will train you as if you never left.”

Min-Hyuk knew he was a popular topic in the papers and news everywhere, and because of this, his family was a topic of interest. But the articles were not kind to his family. The news presented warriors and Wizards as opposites, and for this reason, the articles seemed to declare the success of one meant the other must be failing.

Min-Hyuk had amazed Wizards everywhere with his discoveries, which meant the news about the Guardian Gate must be bad.

Min-Hyuk has suspected his father would be upset. But he had not returned home to give up Magic to appease anyone. Min-Hyuk has returned to inform his father of his decision and to try to explain.

“Father, you don’t understand,” Min-Hyuk began, “I can’t give up Magic now. I feel connected to Magic that I never had in all my year’s training as a Warrior. Father, this is what I am meant to do. I know the news has been unfair to the Guardian Gate all because of me. That’s why I came to tell you I have to disconnect myself from you entirely. That is the only way they will leave you alone. It will be scandalous at first, but once they get bored with the story, we will both be free from ruining the other’s reputation. Father, I came to say goodbye.”

Deok-Cheol’s expression hardened. He was silent.

“I will participate in the ceremony on Mother’s Day. I can’t say that I will do it for you or as your heir, but I have to be there one last time for Mother.”

Min-Hyuk did not give his Father time to respond. This was no longer a conversation, after all. The decision had been made, and Min-Hyuk was simply informing his father in person.

Min-Hyuk had finished what he had to say. He was done. So, he left. It was better this way.

***

The Head of the Department of Magic was in a very good mood.

‘To think the ugly duckling would turn out to be a golden goose!’

He was reflecting Min-Hyuk’s application to the Department of Magic. If he had not explicitly stated he was the successor of Suhomun, he would not have been accepted.

Amin-Hulu Kang’s admission was nearly a scandal! Sure, he was from the Guardian Gate, but did that mean he had earned a spot? No. Of course not. But it was a good thing they had given the boy a chance!

Byeong-Ho was hoping he would luck out by accepting Min-Hyuk, but he never imagined just how lucky he might turn out to be!

It was almost too lucky…

Byeong-Ho was worried that the luck might be over just as it was starting. Everyone wanted a piece of Min-Hyuk. Magic Associations had resources the school couldn’t begin to imagine. And with the $300 million award Min-Hyuk has won…

Why would he stay in school? The Department Head was worried Min-Hyuk would leave the Department of Magic.

Byeong-Ho had been receiving calls from various Magic associations and organizations since the moment the Magic Conference had ended. The offers were incredible. Some of them even offered their resources to the school, hoping to form a relationship that might lead to Min-Hyuk’s agreement to join them.

But Byeong-Ho was not giving up this promising young student so fast! But how to keep him in the school…?

The school could offer him scholarships and professorships, but that didn’t mean much compared to Min-Huuk’s $300 million award.

Byeong-Ho felt torn between two extremes: thrilled to have such a promising young student in his school but dreading the possibility that he might leave at any moment.

The head was not surprised when Min-Hyuk requested a meeting with him. He braced himself for the bad news of his prized student’s departure.

Min-Hyuk entered Byeong-Ho’s office.

“Hello,” he said, “would you like anything to drink?”

Byeong-Ho gestured to a chair in front of his desk.

“I have class soon,” Min-Hyuk replied, still standing.

“What does that matter? I am head of the department, after all. If you miss class, I can give you a pass.”

“I would rather go to class.”

Byeong-Ho was trying to figure out what this meeting was about. Min-Hyuk seemed anxious to get to class, but if this meeting was to tell him that he had accepted an offer to leave the school, then why would attending class matter so much?

“Min-Hyuk, Magic Associations, and organizations around the world are trying to recruit you. I have been getting calls all day, as I am sure you are too. Have you called this meeting to tell me that you have accepted an offer?”

The Department Head braced himself again.

“No,” said Min-Hyuk, simply.

“What?” cried Byeong-Ho, maybe a little too loudly.

“I have called this meeting to let you know that I wish to stay in school.”

“Really?” Byeong-Ho’s face brightened, and it was all he could do to not do a little jig right there in front of Min-Hyuk.

“Really,” said Min-Hyuk calmly. “But I have some conditions.”

***

Min-Hyuk needed Klinssman’s help.

To advance his own world’s knowledge of Magic and defeat the threat the Monsters constantly presented, he needed to learn more about Klinssman’s world and the progress they had made in the 2000 years between now and then.

But Min-Hyuk was only 17. How is a 17-year-old supposed to change the world?

But that was the big picture. And it was huge. He needed to break it down into more manageable steps.

He needed to build a Tower. That was the first step.

‘I need my power. People will follow my lead if I prove I have the knowledge and abilities others don’t. That should be pretty easy with 2000 years of research that nobody else has access to…’

He had already checked off a few other steps he believed would help him achieve his goals. He had recruited Lee Hak-beom and participated in the Magic Conference.

Next was the Tower, but it seemed premature now.

First, he needed to gain some strength. Knowledge of 2000 years of Magic is different than practicing Magic. Although Min-Hyuk could incorporate some of the techniques he read about into his practice, he still didn’t even know the basics. He had a lot to learn.

He remembered the words his father liked to repeat to him.

“Min-Hyuk,” he would begin, “you are my successor. One day, you will be in charge of the Guardian Gate, and you will be tasked with protecting the world. You need to practice. Prove you are worthy of your status as a successor. Recognition without the power to back it up is meaningless. Warriors rule with strength, which means our people do not want a weak leader above them.”

That’s right.

A leader is nothing without strength.

He needed a plan.

He decided he would remain in the Department of Magic for one year. That way, he could devote his time to learning and mastering the basics he had missed before turning 17. He could buy himself time to consider the offers from various Associations and organizations across the world who wanted him on their team.

Min-Hyuk had called this meeting with the Department Head to strike a deal.

“The conditions are simple. I will stay in the Department of Magic for one year. If there are any resources, I need to master Magic while I am here, I ask that you purchase them for the department. I also want the freedom to attend or not attend classes as I see fit. I’m not asking for a good score; just don’t punish me if I miss class. The Department of Magic can use all I accomplish during this time to raise your reputation. I am even willing to make a public statement with the media about my decision to stay in the Department of Magic based on my positive learning experience. Do you agree to these conditions?”

Byeong-Ho grinned.

“Absolutely!” he agreed. “But I have a condition as well.”

Min-Hyuk was listening.

“If there is anything you need or any way you think we can make the Department of Magic better, tell us.”

Min-Hyuk nodded.

“Thank you,” he said.

Byeong-Ho was ecstatic. Min-Hyuk would stay in the department for a year!

Min-Hyuk interrupted Byeong-Ho’s thoughts.

“You are correct about the phone calls. I am currently receiving offers from numerous people every day. By staying in the Department of Magic, not only will I have time to study and to grow, but I will also have time to consider any offers before I make a decision carefully. In the meantime, I have no plans on outright rejection for any offers.”

That meant that even after a year…it was still possible to recruit Min-Hyuk anywhere.

“For now, I would like to start meeting with those organizations and associations who presented me with business cards after the competition.”

He pulled a small card from his pocket.

John Wesley had been one of the first to give him a card.

One of the most attractive offers had been offered up first.

Min-Hyuk looked at the card. Time to make another plan…