Training-Addicted Mage In A Progression Fantasy-Chapter 1: Escape

As someone who loves novels, I dare say that the essence of a novel is the protagonist’s progression.

The fun of walking through the process of development step by step.

How enjoyable it is to see the protagonist overcome any difficulty and become stronger in the end.

It could be seen as vicarious satisfaction.

After all, such steady progression is impossible in reality.

The reasons for that are trivial; one’s own mistake, someone else’s mistake, their malice, or the limits of one’s talent.

Too many factors frustrate us in reality, while the protagonist in the novel somehow overcomes them and moves forward.

I loved that anticipation.

In my case, I made the ‘mistake’ of driving while drunk and ended up unable to use my legs for the rest of my life.

That’s why it became a daily routine to read novels on my phone while holed up in my room.

After reading novels for a while, I developed a taste and found favorite authors.

The novel I was following this time was the third work of an author I really liked.

“Kyaa...”

This author writes progression fantasy so well.

I couldn’t help but exclaim at the scene where the final boss is defeated just before the conclusion.

As I savored the satisfaction, I opened the comment section, but contrary to my expectations, long complaints were overwhelmingly recommended and positioned at the top.

“Ah...”

This had been happening for a few days.

A very strong enemy appeared in the final Chapter, and since then, comments criticizing power-creep started to appear one by one.

The characteristic of progression fantasy is that the protagonist must continue to grow, so it cannot prevent the power-creep that floods in the later stages.

I thought it was inevitable, but others didn’t seem to think so.

Feeling that the author might be hurt, I wrote a comment.

[ProgressionLover]I really enjoyed it. You created the protagonist's progression process so well that I was satisfied this time as well. Don't give up! I will definitely follow your next work!I didn’t intend to refute the critical comments in detail.

That would only create more chaos.

Satisfied with this, I was about to turn off the novel app when a comment notification rang.

A reply was posted under my comment.

It was from the author.

[ReturnOfTheIce(Author)]Thank you^^ The protagonist of my next work is you.????

As I was becoming increasingly puzzled.

My vision went dark.

When I opened my eyes, it was a new world.

Wasn’t this only supposed to happen if you cursed the author? But I posted a positive comment though?

******

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw a translucent window floating in the air.

[Progression Assistant]• Information▶ Name: Leon▶ Grade: -▶ Magic Quality: -▶ Attribute Constitution: Single Attribute Body (Earth) • General Quest▶ Please select a reward before receiving the quest.Progression Assistant...?

No, more importantly, did I get transmigrated...?

Leon blinked blankly.

From the moment he opened his eyes to the moment he finished reading the entire translucent window, he didn’t move a muscle.

It was his habit.

Since he couldn’t move his legs, his movements had become very passive.

As he habitually lay down and organized his thoughts, he soon realized a new fact as if someone had hit the back of his head.

Can I move?

Leon immediately put strength into his legs.

“Wow...!”

They moved.

He stood up using both legs.

His legs stood tall on the blanket spread on the floor.

He immediately knelt down again.

“Thank you, author...!”

The fact that he was transmigrated didn’t matter.

The fact that he could walk normally with both legs made him emotional.

After praying and opening his eyes, there was a thick book titled ‘Basic Mana Introduction Book’ and another book titled ‘Basic Earth Attribute Magic Book’. And a black orb was placed next to them.

Leon swallowed all the questions that arose from the sudden new environment.

I can figure it out slowly.

From the moment his legs moved, Leon’s mind became clear.

He approached the books and the orb.

The thick book had the title ‘Mana Introduction Book’ written on it, so he could guess what it was, but he was more curious about the black orb.

On its pitch-black surface, the number ‘0’ was written in white.

What is this...?

Leon put down the orb after examining it.

He couldn’t figure it out just by looking at it.

He picked up the book.

First, the Basic Mana Introduction Book.

Is it a world where magic is commonly used?

Leon looked around.

Wooden floor and an old blanket spread on it.

There was simple furniture placed in one corner of the wall.

A ceiling without a light.

Is it a medieval world?

Since the author said in the comment that Leon would be the protagonist of the next novel, it meant that it was a novel world, even if it wasn’t a novel he knew.

A medieval world with magic.

It could only be fantasy.

He called out the Progression Assistant again and only checked the quest window.

[Progression Assistant]• General Quest▶ Please select a reward before receiving the quest.When he clicked on the part that said to select a reward, a new window appeared.

[Progression Assistant]• Please select a reward.▶ Attribute Constitution▶ Artifact▶ Elixir▶ Magic BookSeeing the reward list, he was convinced.

It was a fantasy world where magic was used.

Leon didn’t hastily choose a reward and closed the assistant window.

Considering that they gave him the Basic Mana Introduction Book and Basic Earth Magic Book at the start, it seemed like they wanted him to learn magic, so it wasn’t too late to choose a reward after thoroughly reading the books and figuring out what would be most helpful for learning magic.

****

A week passed.

While skimming through the Basic Mana Introduction Book, Leon focused on understanding the situation.

The place where Leon woke up was an orphanage.

The kind-looking headmaster ran a small orphanage with six children, including Leon.

Leon’s age was younger than he thought.

He realized he was 12 years old when a 12-year-old child at the orphanage considered him a friend.

“...?”

A girl with a puzzled expression on her face as Leon stared at her.

She was Leon’s friend.

He couldn’t believe it every time he saw her.

His original age was twenty-six.

But he had to adapt to this too...

“Sigh...”“...?”

The girl sitting next to Leon became even more puzzled.

As her head tilted, her gray bobbed hair swayed.

“Ria.”“Yes?”“Shall we go in?”“...Yes.”

Seeing her nod, Leon turned his body.

He felt a moment of doubt, but Ria was the most comfortable for him.

The other kids were too noisy and their high spirits were hard to adapt to.

Just a few words of conversation made him feel drained.

On the other hand, Ria was quiet and had a static personality, making her easier to deal with.

It was also convenient to ask her various questions without her noticing.

Ria didn’t push Leon away, perhaps because he was her only friend.

So lately, they would take a short walk like this just before falling asleep.

Back in the room, Leon waited until the other kids sharing the room fell asleep, then called out the assistant.

[Progression Assistant]• Please select a reward.▶ Attribute Constitution▶ Artifact▶ Elixir▶ Magic BookOver the past week, Leon had made up his mind.

While thoroughly reading the Basic Mana Introduction Book, he gathered general information about magic in this world.

The most important thing in learning magic was, in one word, ‘talent’.

Magic Quality and Attribute Constitution.

These two things were the most important for becoming a mage, and among them, Attribute Constitution was the most important.

Attribute Constitution was a crucial talent for awakening mana and quickly advancing realms.

The Single Attribute Body Leon currently had was the talent of an ordinary person.

Everyone is said to have an affinity for one attribute.

Leon had the talent of that ‘everyone’.

The Introductory Book repeatedly emphasized that it was almost impossible to awaken mana through self-study with ordinary talent.

After much thought, he decided to receive the Attribute Constitution as the first reward.He didn’t know what the quest would be.

Leon clicked on Attribute Constitution.

Then the quest window changed.

[Progression Assistant]• General Quest▶ Study Basic Mana Introduction Book (0/10)• Reward▶ Attribute Constitution (Change)Study the Basic Mana Introduction Book?

Can the reward be changed at any time?

Various questions arose.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

The number next to study also bothered him.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Leon secretly lit a candle and read the Basic Mana Introduction Book.

Honestly, he had skimmed through it once, but the content wasn’t fully ingrained in his mind.It was too vast.

Difficult and vast.

But it was also fascinating.

Leon never thought he would have a serious opportunity to learn such magic.

Even though he had already seen the content once, he didn’t lose focus and read the book for an hour.

When the candle was about to burn out, Leon put down the book and opened the quest window.

[Progression Assistant]• General Quest▶ Study Basic Mana Introduction Book (1/10)It was indeed time.

“Um... Leon, what are you doing?”

A boy who had been sleeping earlier rubbed his eyes and asked Leon.

Leon was startled and extinguished the light.

“Nothing.”

Leon hid the book under his pillow and closed his eyes.

His heart was pounding with anticipation.

***

Leon recalled his life as Park Hyunsoo, a twenty-six-year-old before transmigration.

Back then, he was a glutton for progression fantasy, but there was one stumbling block.

He frowned inwardly when the protagonist of a progression fantasy didn’t focus on progression and did unnecessary things.

‘Isn’t this the time to focus on getting stronger? You are in a period where you can become stronger just by breathing, and you’re wasting time? You should be holed up in a room, focusing solely on progression, even if it means eating nothing but wall-breaking pills!’

He didn’t post such comments, but he felt dissatisfied inwardly.

What this means is that Leon couldn’t have pure study time in the current situation.

It was too difficult to have pure study time while hiding the fact that he was learning magic in an orphanage, where group activities took up most of the day.

In two days, he had only managed to study for 5 hours.

He could only study for two hours a day.

Moreover, just opening the book and reading the text for the sake of filling time didn’t count towards the quest time.

Let’s escape.

That was the conclusion Leon reached.

It wasn’t that he was being treated unfairly, and it was a sufficiently good orphanage that provided food on time, even if it wasn’t abundant.

But it didn’t align with his goal.

Let’s hide away in a secluded place and live a reclusive life.

To be honest, Leon’s eyes turned when he saw the quest window.

His mind was filled with thoughts of completing the quest time.

He executed his plan that night.

Leon waited until all the kids fell asleep and packed a few clothes.

He walked very carefully, making sure not to wake the light sleepers, and quietly left the room.

Relying on the moonlight coming through the window, he walked down the hallway and finally took a deep breath when he stepped outside.

“Everyone, take care. Thank you.”

After saying his farewell alone, Leon turned around.

“Where are you going?”“Gasp.”

Leon was startled by the voice coming from the side.

When he hurriedly turned his head, he saw Ria.

Her yellow eyes were quietly shining under the moonlight.