I’ll Retire After Saving the World

Chapter 38: Shadow and Light (1)

TL: SHW

Element. Or attribute.

In simple terms, it refers to the type of magic that best resonates with one’s mana.

Hunters don’t completely disregard mana attributes, but for them, it’s less crucial compared to mages.

The elements of mages can be subdivided into countless categories. However, broadly speaking, they fall into the four major elements: air, water, fire, and earth. Kim Chae-min, classified under the druid element, is considered to be of the earth attribute.

There are also many elements that do not fall into these categories. Park No-kyung’s light and Park Seo-hyun’s shadow are examples of this.

Even if a mage doesn’t inherit family magic, identifying their own element is crucial. This is because the magic they can and cannot use is distinctly divided based on their element.

It also significantly reduces the time wasted on struggling with magic they cannot use.

“Park Seo-hyun. Do you understand why I’m telling you this?”

Even though magic research isn’t as advanced as it will be in twenty years, the distinction of magic attributes is still reasonably established.

If Park Seo-hyun couldn’t use any of her grandfather’s magic, she must have at least some understanding.

Or she knew and ignored it.

“Do you still want to give up?”

“Give up? What do you mean?”

Choi Jin-woo looked at Park Seo-hyun in surprise.

Park Seo-hyun kept her mouth tightly shut. But unlike before, she didn’t avoid my gaze. Her exposed eyes were looking straight at me.

I like it very much. Especially when I think of the witch no one has ever seen without her hair covering her face.

“Grandfather said….”

Park Seo-hyun slowly opened her mouth while looking directly into my eyes.

“He said I resemble my father.”

Even if she said that, how would I know?

I quietly listened to what Park Seo-hyun had to say.

“I awakened at the same age as my father, and the first magic I used was the same as the first magic my father used.”

It seems Park No-kyung wasn’t the kind of grandfather who was lenient with his granddaughter.

“And my father resembled my grandfather a lot. He awakened at the same age as my grandfather, and the first magic my father tried was the same as the first magic my grandfather learned.”

Did Park No-kyung want to turn his granddaughter into something like his own replica, just like he did with his son?

As he was already dead and someone I had never met, I found it difficult to say more. Even if he had problems in the eyes of others, he could have been a strict but good grandfather to Park Seo-hyun. During times without element testing methods, Park No-kyung might have genuinely taught her with her best interests at heart….

It’s pointless. What good would it do to make excuses for a dead man? It’s as meaningless as badmouthing someone I don’t know. It’s something for Park Seo-hyun to figure out.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Choi Jin-woo quietly observed.

“So… I think I resemble my grandfather too.”

“Even now?”

“…Do you think not?”

“Say it with your own mouth.”

“But… it’s not like I can’t use my grandfather’s magic at all….”

What kind of nonsense is this?

“…You can use it? What do you mean?”

“Yes? The firefly magic I used during the rune test is also light magic…. It’s a magic my grandfather said was good for practicing mana control, so I practiced it often….”

“……”

Come to think of it… that’s true, isn’t it?

No, just because one’s element is different doesn’t mean they can’t use magic of other elements. Just like it’s hard to categorize people’s personalities by type, it’s the same with magic. Sometimes, mixing different elements of magic can enhance its power, so some even practice magic of other elements on purpose.

But that’s only for similar elements. The four major elements have overlapping aspects, but light and shadow are clearly opposites. Their concepts are fundamentally different. Even the future witch Park Seo-hyun firmly stated she could never use light magic…!

“……”

Park Seo-hyun is a genius.

Even with such talent, she spouted nonsense about not being qualified to become a mage.

What a foolish girl.

It’s ridiculous. Did I really understand her, or was I just rambling?

Indeed, talent and mentality are separate realms. There have been many geniuses who collapsed mentally and failed miserably. Not everyone can become a superhuman like Hong Seok-young.

However,

“I’ve never felt so grateful for not being a mage.”

…If I were a mage, I would have kneeled before that shining talent. And I would have given up on magic.

As I am not a mage, I looked at Choi Jin-woo, who is.

He knows almost nothing about magic. Kim Chae-min is filling his empty knowledge, but how much can be achieved in such a short time? Judging by how well he follows basic and common magic, he doesn’t seem entirely without potential, but….

If he fully understands Park Seo-hyun’s talent, can he truly withstand it?

If supporting him to endure it is considered a teacher’s role, I have nothing more to say…. No matter how much I care, if he gives up on his own, there’s nothing I can do. I just hope Choi Jin-woo’s mental strength is close to Hong Seok-young’s.

“If I have a different element from my grandfather, then what have I been doing all this time? Was it a waste of time?”

And she’s still so extreme.

I sighed.

“The formulas you understood will become the foundation of your magic.”

“…….”

“Think positively. You can boast about how much effort you put in to use your grandfather’s magic.”

Park Seo-hyun isn’t the only one tied to a dead person.

I should at least understand this much.

I returned to the main topic.

“So today’s lesson is, ‘Know thyself’.”

“Teacher, everything is fine, but sometimes you skip topics too much. Can’t you explain more? What were you talking about with Seo-hyun?”

“You don’t need to know. Did you say everything about me is fine?”

“…If there’s one thing I don’t like among your many shortcomings.”

“Many shortcomings?”

“It’s your human charm.”

Choi Jin-woo smiled slyly.

“Are you saying you don’t like my human charm?”

“Teacher, I’m ready to listen to whatever you say, but sometimes the uneducated sword-wielders fail to understand your profound intentions.”

“Who dares to badmouth me?”

“No, who would dare do such a thing.”

“Name one, and I’ll let it slide.”

“Seo Han-seong.”

Choi Jin-woo answered quickly.

Seeing that, I understood why the man enjoyed visiting the academy for special lectures. After only dealing with sensitive Hunters who would twitch and stab when poked, it must be fun to see such fresh reactions.

I nodded.

“I’ll tell Seo Han-seong you snitched.”

“Teacher!”

“Now, let’s get back to the lesson.”

“Ah, teacher!!”

Choi Jin-woo, who was whining, straightened up. Park Seo-hyun also lifted her head higher.

“Today, we’ll confirm your elements.”

“Teacher Chae-min said there’s no other way but to feel it oneself.”

That’s because the current method to identify elements is foolishly to realize it physically.

So Kim Chae-min has been giving lectures on basic mana manipulation and basic magic to the kids.

He probably thought it was more practical to teach them that than time-consuming element magic, and that was the level Hong Seok-young wanted from Kim Chae-min as well.

How was the Hunter Academy curriculum? I think they also only memorized mana manipulation, basic magic, and common magic during their first year. element starts from the second year.

Well, most mages know their element before entering the academy.

“And… it’s not that I don’t like you, teacher. But you’re not a mage, right?”

“I’m not.”

“Then… wouldn’t what Teacher Chae-min says be more accurate? Teacher Chae-min is an Archmage….”

“That’s true.”

In a normal situation, it’s an entirely reasonable statement.

“Just because one is an Archmage doesn’t mean they know everything about magic. There’s a way for everything.”

Choi Jin-woo looked at me with skeptical eyes. Park Seo-hyun’s gaze also wavered a bit.

“You guys should broaden your horizons.”

“What?”

“Your perspective is too narrow.”

Maybe it’s because they’re still kids. If I don’t explain everything in detail, they won’t understand.

“Have you ever wondered how I know all those runes?”

“…….”

“Did you just learn because I taught them to you? If you were just ordinary students, it might be fine, but if you’re going to be Hunters, you can’t do that. Fix it.”

“Of course, we’ve thought about it!”

Choi Jin-woo said angrily. Park Seo-hyun also bit her lip and spoke.

“The principal… scouted you, didn’t he? So…”

“Does the principal live your life for you? Are you going to leave all decisions to the principal? Will the principal follow you into the dungeons?”

“…….”

“Question and verify everything. That’s a basic Hunter skill.”

The conversation strayed again. I sighed lightly and redirected the topic.

“The runes I teach you were taught to me by a mage I know.”

“A mage you know?”

“You wouldn’t know them even if I told you.”

“…An Archmage?”

“Yes, an Archmage. Don’t ask beyond that.”

I firmly said that I wasn’t going to divulge more. Choi Jin-woo and Park Seo-hyun glanced at me briefly. I chuckled at their expressions.

They knew each other, just like that guy in France and the witch Park Seo-hyun. It’s not a lie, not a lie.

“The method to identify element is the same.”

“A method to identify element?”

Park Seo-hyun asked, surprised.

“You should just say thank you and accept it.”

To honor our generous Archmage, I added one of her ideologies.

“Instead, save some people later. She was someone who liked saving people.”

I clapped my hands a few times to change the atmosphere.

“Now, let’s stop with the idle talk. I’ll explain how to do it.”

* * *

Dwarf gold dust. One feather of the guardian swan of Urd’s Spring.

Since Mimir’s Spring hasn’t appeared as a dungeon yet, I’ll substitute with clean water.

I got the dwarf gold dust from Hong Seok-young and the guardian swan feather from Kim Chae-min. These items are frequently used, so I asked if they had them, and fortunately, they did. It would have been problematic if they didn’t. It wouldn’t look good if there was a delay in obtaining the items after boasting about it.

First, mix the gold dust with the water. Since it’s not Mimir’s Spring, the accuracy will be slightly lower. There are ways to increase accuracy…. With so many eyes watching, even I hesitate to add blood here.

Instead, I added more gold dust than usual. It looks like half water and half gold dust.

Second, immerse the swan feather in the water. Stir it with the feather, then take it out, and the once pure white feather is now coated with sparkling gold dust.

I soaked two feathers thoroughly in the water. After a moment’s hesitation, I looked at Kim Chae-min and soaked another feather. A model example is always needed.

“Alright. Preparation is complete.”

“…Is this really it?”

“What were you listening to when I explained earlier?”

“No, but it’s too simple.”

“Simplicity is best. If there’s too much show, it’s a sign of lacking skill.”

I handed a feather to Kim Chae-min. She looked at it with a reluctant face.

“Infuse it with mana.”

“…Into this?”

“Yes.”

Kim Chae-min still looked unsure, but she obediently took the feather. As soon as the feather started to flutter lightly.

The feather was instantly covered in blue vines.