"Tower Master, about how many first-generation disciples are you planning to select?" Ea asked.

"Since it's the first time, taking too many would be a burden. I think around five or six would be appropriate."

"Understood."

Ea nodded and began sorting the resumes. The only sound was the soft rustle of paper as everyone worked in silence.

"Yusin! What about this person?" Bora called out.

I took the resume from her.

"Cha Doyeon? Ah, she did well. No issues."

She was the sharp-looking woman in the suit—a model applicant. The quality of her Shield and Mana Arrow was top-tier. A classic honor student.

"She's twenty-seven, a non-combat type, with a provisional license for three years. She was above average in every aspect, but the lack of any distinguishing features bothers me."

"If you're unsure, let's put her on the hold list. What about this person?" Seojin offered.

I picked up the resume he indicated.

"This one is a definite pick."

Seo Shimhee, the only one who had mixed her own formula into the Mana Arrow. Her mentality seemed to be a weakness, but she showed great promise.

"Yusin! She was good too!"

This time, it was Eunsol's recommendation. Kim Sarang. She had demonstrated Gauntlet, Mana Arrow, and Shield, and all three were above average. Her Unique Ability also had the potential to be combined with magic. I placed her resume on top of Shimhee's.

"Yusin! You're definitely picking this guy too, right?"

Taking the resume, I stared at Bora intently.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Hehe! Because he's a fellow 'Over-immersion type' like you!"

"What the heck is an 'Over-immersion type'?"

Na Daeyong. The big, loud man who possessed the same Over-immersion trait as me. He certainly made an impact.

"I think he's fine as well," Seojin said, pushing up his glasses.

"Oh, really? That's surprising. You were tearing him apart during the interview."

"That was to ascertain his true character. It wasn't just showmanship. His loyalty to you, Tower Master, seemed genuine and immense."

"…Not immense, just a bit over the top, don't you think?"

"There's nothing wrong with employing someone who shows absolute devotion. His actions stem from his personality and sincerity, not from some performance or strategy."

"Hmm."

For now, Daeyong was also a strong candidate.

"My head hurts!" Bora whined, rolling around on the floor holding two resumes. "This person is good at magic, but their personality is really weird, and this person has a great personality, but their Mana Arrow… their talent is…"

"Hm? That person made the Mana Arrow well. The Shield was the problem," Seojin corrected.

"No way! The Mana Arrow was the problem! Look here, I even took notes."

Seeing them disagree, I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"It hasn't even been a day. How are you two getting them confused already?"

"I will show you," Ea said. "May I see the resumes for a moment?"

"What are you going to do?"

"I have saved the interview content of all applicants in my memory."

Ea took the resumes and closed her eyes. A screen made of mana unfolded before us, playing a video of the man in question using magic.

"Whoa! That's amazing!" Bora exclaimed.

"Alright. If anyone gets confused, just ask Ea."

"Ea! Do this guy too!" Eunsol requested.

We worked with renewed speed. Three were confirmed. Eleven were on hold.

"We need to select about two more from these eleven," Seojin said, pushing up his glasses.

"Ugh, this is so hard. If it were up to me, I'd just pick them all and make it a team of fourteen," Bora said.

"That would be too much of a burden on the Tower Master. We decided to teach each one with care, and fourteen is too many."

"I know that! I was just saying!"

Ignoring their bickering, I looked at the resumes and spoke.

"Alright, let's summarize our comments on each person and compare their pros and cons."

We approached it carefully, replaying the videos over and over, agonizing over who to pick. By the time the eleven had been narrowed down to five, the debate grew heated.

"Doesn't Ms. Cha's lack of a defining trait make you nervous?" Bora asked.

"I think someone with a record like this is good because their mental state won't easily break. Her own style will naturally emerge as she advances through the Circles," Seojin countered.

"This person's fundamentals are unstable," Seojin argued. "He cast the magic circle faster than anyone, but Ea's video shows his base was shaky. There's a chance he'll continue to neglect the basics."

"Affirmative," Ea added. "A mage with great talent but a weak mentality has clear limits. The entrance exams for the Magic Tower of Erendel always prioritized mental strength."

We made concessions where we could and gradually narrowed down the list. Two were out. Now three remained. Honestly, I wanted to include all three and go with a six-man system. But…

"He's clean," Seojin said, his expression hardening as he reviewed the information on the last applicant. "His past is too clean. There are no records of him for the last seven or eight years. It's as if his history was laundered."

Bora and I looked at each other.

"…Mmm, doesn't that feel a little off? It did during the interview, too," she said.

"But he's the most skilled of the eleven. It's a shame to give up on him."

I fell into thought. In terms of a mage's career, this was the very beginning. Even if his skills were good, should I really bring along someone who gave me a bad feeling? Could I truly open up to this person and teach him with all my heart? The answer became clear.

"I've decided."

It was a gut decision. I placed his resume into the pile with the countless other rejected ones. Then, I carefully gathered the final five resumes and spread them out. Looking at them, a smile naturally formed on my face. They were truly the best of the best.

Na Daeyong 'Overload': Over-immersion, Loyalty, Motivated.

Kim Sarang 'Shape Retention': Possesses a Unique Ability most advantageous for magic use.

Jo Yonghee 'Body Fluid Secretion': Special physical condition, A research subject.

Cha Doyeon 'Mana Link': No distinct style, but flawless, Strong mentality.

Seo Shimhee 'Metamorphosis – Andras': Superior control, Unique Ability uncontrollable.

"With this, the first class of the Circle mages is confirmed."

"It's over!" Bora cheered.

"Good work, everyone," Seojin said.

Everyone cheered and collapsed on the spot.

'I'm looking forward to this.'

Even after confirming the members, I couldn't seem to take my eyes off the resumes. How would I raise these people? What kind of mages would they develop into? A pleasant sense of anticipation filled my mind.

* * *

"You were rejected?" a man asked.

"Yes. I apologize," his subordinate replied.

The man, leaning back in his chair, smiled menacingly.

"I don't know how they filtered me out, but they're pretty good."

"…What will you do now?"

"There's no need to force a move." The man's lips curled into a smirk. "For now, just watch."

* * *

Two days passed after I sent out the acceptance notices. I borrowed a conference room in the building where Alchemia's office was located.

"Yusin! They've all arrived already! Hurry!" Bora urged.

"Let's not rush," I said, looking at my watch. "Those five are going to be spending a lot of time together. It's good for them to have time to introduce themselves and talk."

"Ooh, how considerate! Now that you mention it, that makes sense."

We arrived a little later. Peeking through the conference room window, I could see the new members chatting in a friendly atmosphere. Their faces were bright with the joy of acceptance, and it made me feel good, too.

"He's here!" someone said.

The laughter abruptly stopped. This was suddenly a bit awkward. I cleared my throat and entered the room.

The successful applicants shot up from their seats and stood at attention. Two men, three women. A variety of emotions could be read on their faces: gratitude, joy, admiration, and happiness. I made eye contact with each of them before sitting in the front seat. Bora stood next to me with a beaming smile, her hands clasped together.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable."

"Yes, sir!" they replied in unison.

Everyone quickly sat down, except for one person who remained standing. It was the burly Daeyong.

"Mr. Kim!"

Tears streamed down his face.

"Thank you for choosing meeeee!"

Then he suddenly dropped to the floor with a loud thud.

'This guy is at it again.'

"I was unable to fulfill my ambitions, for I had not found someone to truly serve! But that is different now! I will never forget this kindness, not even in death!"

"…Hahaha. I understand. Please, sit down, Mr. Na."

Daeyong shot up and took his seat. He was very obedient, at least.

"First of all, I sincerely congratulate you on your acceptance." I continued, lacing my fingers together. "You have every right to be proud. To master the First Circle and the three basic spells in just one month puts you in the top two percent of the magic world. And among them, you are the best."

Everyone sat up straighter, their faces flushed with excitement.

"As promised, I plan to personally mentor each of you, one-on-one, to make you more outstanding than any other mage. I've publicly announced that you are my direct disciples, so there are a lot of eyes on us. If you don't grow well, it'll be a problem for me."

Small chuckles rippled through the room.

"You will meet with me at least three times a week for lessons. You must be curious, so shall I tell you what's next? Your next goal is…"

I opened my palm. A magic circle formed, and from within it, a cold frost scattered, revealing a smooth spear made of ice.

"…elemental magic of the 'Second Circle.'"

"Ooooh!" Daeyong shouted first, and the others followed with cheers. Some of the female members were so shocked they froze for a moment before bursting into tears.

"Thank you. Thank you so much," Shimhee repeated, the only words she could manage.

Every single person here was a non-combat type. They must have tried, but the moment a person realizes there's a wall they can never overcome, their spirit is bound to break.

But now, things were different. I showed them a goal they could achieve if they worked hard. Watching them feel moved, cry, and get excited, I felt the guilt in a corner of my heart begin to melt away. My decision to reveal magic to the world had not been wrong.

'But damn… their reaction is so strong, I can't proceed.'

The emotion and tears were spreading quickly. Shimhee had buried her face in her hands, and even the cool-headed Doyeon was continuously wiping at the corners of her eyes.

'Sniffle.'

I glanced to my side and saw that even Bora's eyes had turned red.

"…Why are you crying? You're an elite."

"I don't know!"

This was crazy. Once everyone had calmed down somewhat, I continued my explanation.

"To awaken Second Circle magic, mastering the First Circle and the fundamentals is essential. It won't be easy, but I trust you will follow along well. Ah, and there's a goal you all need to achieve."

"A goal?"

"Yes." I grinned. "To pass the official Rank-5 exam next month."

Everyone's expression froze.

"Looking at your resumes, some of you have already challenged the exam and some haven't, but this time, all five of you must pass. Oh, and this is a basic requirement. For anyone who can't pass the rank-5 exam, I will have to reconsider taking them on as my disciples. Compared to Second Circle magic, this should be easy."

Their expressions hardened as they began to grasp the situation. Just then, another female member, Sarang, cautiously raised her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Kim."

"I'm sorry, but I haven't even met the exam requirement of 200 in all stats yet…"

"Ah, don't worry about that either."

I gestured toward the window. A man in a stylish suit who had been waiting outside came in.

"I am Team Captain Cha Ilwoo from Garam Management."

"…G-Garam!"

At the appearance of someone from a top-tier management company, everyone swallowed hard.

"I have partnered with Garam Management."

Ilwoo and Bora handed out a schedule to everyone. I continued to explain.

"From now on, each of you will be assigned a personal manager and a dedicated driver. You will receive the most expensive growth curriculum Garam has to offer, switching hunting grounds daily to acquire the most experience in the shortest amount of time."

Their eyes looked like they were about to pop out. If you repeatedly hunt the same monsters in the same hunting ground, your experience efficiency eventually drops. So, to eliminate that, they would move to new hunting grounds and dungeons every single day. In crude terms, it was just throwing money at the problem.

"I don't make empty promises," I said, enjoying their dumbfounded expressions. "Now that you're under me, I will make you the best, even if I have to work you to death. You will grow by repeating a cycle of magic training and practical experience in hunting grounds. There's also a program planned where you'll form a party and enter a grade-4 Instance Dungeon. Garam is scheduling that as we speak."

"An I-instance Dungeon…" one of them muttered.

Now they were all too shocked to even speak. Team Captain Ilwoo confirmed some basic information with everyone, then asked about their preferred hunting devices and dungeon types. They all answered, though still dazed. Ilwoo promised that while the custom suits would take time, the hunting devices they ordered would be ready by tomorrow, and then he left.

"Alright, let me say it again. Passing the rank-5 exam is mandatory. And we're pushing for the Second Circle," I continued. Bora served coffee and refreshments for the shocked group. "And to the first person among you to reach the Second Circle, I will give the right to lead this team, along with a gift."

"…A gift?"

"Yes."

In truth, this gift was the real prize, incomparable to everything that came before.

"I will give you a Lv.10 Trait."

Everyone's face was painted with shock.

"…Th-that's impossible," Yonghee stammered. "Traits are achieved through personal growth. 'Sniffle.' They can't be transferred or granted. And a Lv.10 Trait… even for you, Mr. Kim, this is…"

"You'll find out whether it's true or not when the time comes, won't you?" I replied with a smile. "If it's a lie, then you can just think of me as a petty man who spouts obvious falsehoods just to motivate you. That's all I'd be."

They were left speechless.

I said it forcefully on purpose. I believe my intentions were clear.

"Now, are there any questions?"

Just then, someone quietly raised their arm. It was Doyeon. I nodded for her to speak.

"…Why are you doing all this for us?" she asked, her voice trembling.

That was a question I hadn't expected.

"P-please don't think it's strange. It's just… this support is so incredible it feels like a dream… and I don't think we're amazing enough to deserve these kinds of benefits…"

Cha Doyeon. She was twenty-seven years old and lived with her mother and three younger siblings. Her father's whereabouts are unknown. Her mother is being treated for a rare disease. As the eldest daughter, she contributes her entire income she earns as a player to hospital bills and her siblings' living expenses.

'Well, it's not as if they'd understand if I started talking about Yoonjeong or my own guilt.'

I smiled brightly and said, "Isn't it natural for family to help each other out?"

Doyeon finally burst into tears.

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