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Chapter 12

In [Demon Fantasy], the external image of the Aldeon Academy was like this.

The ‘mysterious academy’ where no one had any idea what they were up to.

In reality, Aldeon was full of enigmatic scholars who were impossible to pin down, and endless rumors—impossible to verify—circulated constantly.

Some claimed that a demon of legion commander rank was sealed in Aldeon’s Magic Tower, while others insisted that the scholars of Aldeon had made contracts with demons...

Most of the rumors were negative and related to ‘demons.’

However, from what I’ve personally investigated:

‘Demon? What a joke.’

The rumors were completely baseless.

"How would those guys, who specialize in light magic, make contracts with demons?"

Aldeon’s magic focuses on the light attribute.

They’re not just far from demons—they’re walking the exact opposite path.

...I can’t understand how those guys came to have this image, but anyway.

The fact that Aldeon was opening up their Magic Tower was incredibly good news for me.

"I can learn light magic."

Light magic had an absolute advantage over demons, who mostly operate in the dark.

It was also the only type of magic that used the Holy Power stat.

For someone like me, who planned to gather as much Holy Power as possible, it was essential.

Well, originally I was planning on learning it about halfway through the build.

"But there’s no harm in learning it early."

Swoosh.

I stood in front of Aldeon’s Magic Tower and pulled a round wooden token from my pocket.

It was an ID token I bought from a broker.

It bore the identity of a commoner named ‘Yuhan’ who had quietly passed away in Sector 6.

I chose it because it was close to my age and had a name similar to mine.

I took the ID token and pressed it against the barrier surrounding Aldeon’s Magic Tower.

As soon as the token touched the barrier, it flashed brightly.

Flash-!

"Got it."

This signaled my intent to enter Aldeon’s Magic Tower.

I’d probably receive an invitation to attend soon.

I turned around immediately.

Since it had been 100 years since the Magic Tower had last opened, many would surely apply.

Aldeon wouldn’t accept all of them as disciples.

Competition would be fierce.

I didn’t have much time.

I had no idea what selection process they would use for disciples, so there was a mountain of things I had to prepare.

***

The next morning.

I headed to the bustling marketplace carrying a bag stuffed with everything I bought yesterday.

I was on my way to address the most urgent problem which was my frail body.

“There’s bound to be a place around here…”

The marketplace in Sector 6 was packed with various shops.

I focused on places labeled as ‘training centers’ and soon I was able to find the one I wanted among the numerous training centers.

I opened the door and went in without hesitation.

Ding-.

"...Who are you?"

The owner inside asked with a suspicious look.

I sized him up first.

He was short and stocky, with a thick reddish-brown beard, eyes of the same color, and a muscular build.

His appearance screamed masculinity and there was no doubt that he belonged to the race I had been searching for.

“I’ve come to the right place. I’m here to train my body.”

"Does that mean... you\'re a customer?"

The owner asked again in disbelief.

Well, I couldn\'t blame him.

How often do customers show up to a place like this, where even flies seem scarce?

Especially a human customer at that.

"Yes, that’s right."

"...Well, this is a surprise. Why would you want to train here? There are plenty of training centers run by humans nearby. Some are even run by barbarians.”

Why did I choose this place?

“That’s obvious.”

I had plenty of reasons.

Cheaper prices compared to other places, the benefit of one-on-one lessons due to the lack of customers, and an intensive training method that focuses on short-term results...

But most importantly:

“No one’s better at physical training than dwarves.”

The pinnacle of training centers isn’t one run by humans or barbarians—it’s one run by dwarves.

Barbarians are born with naturally strong bodies but dwarves perfect their physical forms through training.

In terms of training methods alone, dwarves are far superior to barbarians.

“And I know that better than anyone.”

I still couldn’t forget the thrill of finally perfecting the body of my zombie swordsman character at a dwarf training center and earning the 108th achievement [Perfect Body].

The dwarf owner burst out laughing.

As befitting the simple-minded nature of the race, his doubts had already disappeared.

“You’ve got a good eye! You’re absolutely right! We dwarves are the real experts when it comes to body training! Barbarians are nothing compared to us! Hahaha!”

He was clearly pleased.

After laughing heartily for a while, the owner finally nodded.

“Alright. If you recognize the greatness of dwarves, you’re more than worthy to receive our training! But... there’s a reason this place is so empty.”

The owner’s face suddenly grew serious.

“This will be really tough. You might feel like dying. If your resolve isn’t strong enough, you’ll fall behind. Are you still willing to go through with it?”

His voice was as low and grave as it could be.

He wanted me to carefully consider my decision.

But honestly?

I had been threatened by a silver-haired knight who promised to take my heart.

I was now a wanted criminal in Asteron.

Would someone like me run from a tough path out of fear?

“That’s out of the question.”

In Demon Fantasy, there are no shortcuts.

The easy road only leads to slower growth.

“This is exactly what I was hoping for.”

This arduous path...

It was the one I had been seeking all along.

***

The reason I came to the training center even though I chose to be a mage was simple.

I had confirmed through the game multiple times that the power of magic is affected by a character\'s physical stats.

\'...If my body had been stronger when I fought that red-haired guy, I wouldn’t have needed holy water.\'

I probably could have handled him with just my modified spells.

As such, the stronger the body, the more powerful the magic—even if it\'s the same spell.

That\'s why I needed to train my body.

For stronger and more efficient magic.

However, even though I knew this…

“Gasp…! Gasp…!”

The pain was unbearable.

“Where’s that passionate look you had earlier? Right now, you look no different from a dead fish.”

“...Are you mocking me?”

“I’m saying, put more energy into it.”

The owner who had introduced himself as Barundel chuckled and pressed firmly on my back.

I was currently doing push-ups.

He was only pressing down with two fingers, but even that felt like my arms were about to snap.

Completely unaware of how I felt, Barundel kept talking.

“With strength like this, how do you expect to train? We haven’t even started the real dwarf-style training yet!”

“Huff, huff...!”

I gritted my teeth and tried to push up again under his barrage of nagging, but... maybe sheer willpower wasn’t enough.

Before long, I collapsed onto the floor.

“...Ugh, how many did I do this time?”

“Tsk tsk, five. The number is getting smaller and smaller.”

This felt like some kind of gaslighting.

\'Of course, the number goes down the longer you do it, you crazy dwarf!\'

The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t even have the strength to say them.

And no matter what, it was true that my body was in terrible shape.

\'Only seven push-ups...\'

Even in the real world, where I was far from athletics, I could easily do around 15.

But here, even in my best condition, my limit was seven.

...I guess it makes sense, given that this body had been starved for who knows how long.

Anyway, my strength was far weaker than expected.

Realizing I couldn\'t continue like this, I decided to use my trump card.

“...Could you hand me my bag?”

“Hm? Your bag?”

Barundel waddled over and brought my bag.

Thud!

It hit the ground with a heavy sound.

“This one? It’s heavier than I thought.”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

I slowly opened the bag with trembling hands.

Soon, sparkling things began to appear inside.

“Hm? What are these...?”

“These are the things that’ll help me.”

The bag was packed with glass bottles of various colors.

These were the potions that I had carefully selected and bought at the general store.

To be honest, I’d expected I wouldn’t last long with my weak body.

Pop!

I quickly uncorked a boltte filled with a green liquid and chugged it.

Gulp, gulp.

It was a strange sensation.

I could feel the potion traveling down my throat with remarkable precision.

And before I’d even finished half the bottle, I already started to feel a change.

“...Oh.”

It was as if dark clouds were parting—the mental fog caused by exhaustion was clearing up.

\'The effect is immediate.\'

I wanted to drink more, but I closed the lid for now.

Since the potions were expensive, I needed to ration them carefully.

Pop!

Next, I uncorked a red potion.

It was one that contained vitality, with the ability to heal injuries and restore the body.

I drank about half, and soon felt the liquid seeping into my muscles.

The stabbing pain that felt like it stabbing my whole body with needles vanished completely.

\'Of course, the expensive ones work the best.\'

But that wasn’t the end.

Pop! Pop! Pop...!

One after another, I downed potions.

The [Muscle Growth Accelerator], the [Regeneration Boost Potion], and the [Vitality Potion]… By the time I was stuffed to the point where I felt like my stomach would burst, I finally stood up.

I said with confidence.

"Let’s start again."

“…There are limits to what potions can do. If you keep this up, your body’s bound to suffer."

Barundel warned me.

"But I’ll grow faster in the short term, right? That’s all that matters to me."

Barundel’s worried expression gave way to an incredulous smirk.

"…Are you some kind of madman?"

A madman, huh…

Well, he wasn’t exactly wrong.

I’m someone who would stop at nothing to get stronger—a madman obsessed with growth.

***

Meanwhile, in a meeting room shielded by layers of magical barriers.

Several people with serious faces sat around a stone-made circular table.

“Elder, over three hundred applicants have already expressed their desire to enter the Aldeon Magic Tower.”

“…I see. It seems the impact of announcing the tower’s opening is greater than we anticipated.”

“The reputation of Aldeon is clearly still alive. There are likely many talented individuals among them. Why don’t we take this opportunity to expand the school?”

Dercion, the First Elder of the Aldeon and soon to be the Master of the Tower, sank into deep thought.

\'…Light is not a power that can be granted to just anyone.\'

The brighter the light, the weaker it becomes.

The brighter it is, the weaker it becomes; the darker it is, the stronger it becomes.

Although it was promising that so many sought entry into the tower, not all of them could be given true enlightenment.

More importantly…

“That would go against the will of Aldeon.”

The tower had not been opened to expand the school’s size.

It had been opened, after a hundred years of being sealed.

Solely for the purpose of seeking true ‘light.’

And for that, many people were unnecessary.

Just ten.

And if there were even one truly exceptional person among them, the other nine wouldn’t be needed.

The Seventh Elder who had made the suggestion lowered his head in embarrassment.

“…I got too excited. How could I forget the will of Aldeon over something so trivial? It’s shameful.”

“Don’t blame yourself. I was just as eager as you.”

The one who broke the solemn atmosphere was the Second Elder who was seated across from Dercion.

“So, Dercion, what do you plan to do with all of them?”

“What else? You know as well as I do that there’s only one way. Aldeon needs just ten worthy individuals.”

“…Out of all these applicants, only ten? There will surely be backlash.”

“We’re already in tough situations to support the scholars we have. Shouldn’t we be more careful, especially in a situation like this? I thought you would understand?”

“…I understand.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Dercion looked around at the other elders with a stern face.

“Elders, do not doubt the path we walk. We are moving towards the light.”

“Well said.”

“For the light of Aldeon…”

“For the light of Aldeon.”

“It won’t be long now.”

Dercion said quietly.

If everything went according to plan…

If there was but one individual worthy of receiving the light…

“…The will shall be fulfilled.”

Only then Aldeon would witness the true ‘light.’