Episode 1001
Episode 1001
While the senior was still fuming over the unfairness, Lee Han continued moving without pause.
In truth, Yukveltire's anger had long since faded from Lee Han's mind.
Several mages of Einrogard had made it onto Lee Han's mental list of <People Who Can Be Ignored Even If They Grumble or Complain>, and this senior with imperial bloodlines had proudly secured her spot on that list.
"Huh!? You can move already?!"
Diret, who was performing embalming procedures in the second-floor mortuary of Black Rock Hall (while Lafadell was on the verge of tears), looked startled at the junior who had entered the workshop.
Given what had happened, it wouldn't have been strange if he'd taken several more days to rest...
"I'm fine now. I came to take the final exam first."
"Really? Then we'll need to ask Professor Mortum for the rest."
After sealing the last lung specimen in the jar with magic, Diret continued.
For the past few days, Professor Mortum had been helping the Skeleton Principal readjust the magic around Einrogard's territory and purify the flow of malevolently corrupted mana.
It had been grueling labor, which was why Professor Mortum was currently bedridden in pain.
But Einrogard mages had a principle - even if they were in pain, they still had to do what needed to be done.
If even a disciple of their school had come out without resting, then the professor should rightfully come out and work too. Diret was strict about such matters.
"Call Professor Mortum."
"U-um, Senior... The professor is... didn't he collapse earlier...?"
"Yeah. But he'll be fine if we give him a potion. Take that potion up there and pour it into his mouth."
"...Yes!"
Lafadell nodded with a face even more terrified than before.
It was hard to tell whether he was afraid of the mortuary or the senior standing before him.
"Are you really okay?"
Diret asked as he descended the stairs with his junior to administer the final exam.
Though he hadn't witnessed it directly, various rumors and testimonies had given Diret a rough idea of what happened.
When the headmaster, feeling threatened by a doppelganger more popular than himself, finally moved to eliminate it, the junior—outraged by this absurd act of violence—had joined the opposing side...
There was no way he could be unharmed after facing the Skeleton Principal. Even if he looked fine now, the mana flow inside him must still be severely twisted... 'Huh. He's completely fine.' Diret was taken aback after checking the junior's mana flow with a triangular bone talisman.
Against expectations, he really was perfectly fine.
"Alright then, cast <Crow's Evil Eye>, summon a Skeleton Golem, and for the rest... you just need to brew the poisons and potions listed here. Can you do it?"
"!"
"Lee Han was startled."
Not because the exam was difficult—but because it was too easy. This was practically just a review of everything they'd learned this semester.
"Senior. There's no need to do this."
"Huh? Do what?"
"You deliberately made it easier because I collapsed, didn't you?"
Lee Han stated firmly.
Of course, there was nothing wrong with an easier exam, but he didn't want to trouble a senior he respected just because of his own greed.
Especially since the one in front of him wasn't Yukveltire—it was Diret.
"Actually, Senior, I don't plan to obsess over exams like this anymore..."
"No."
"Huh?"
"That's not it."
Diret stared at his junior as if baffled, completely unable to understand what he was talking about.
"The reason I made the exam like this is because you already covered all the material for this semester on your own. There's nothing left to teach, so this is just a review."
"...Ah. I see."
An awkward silence fell between them.
Noticing his junior's embarrassment, Diret spoke kindly.
"Shall we begin the exam then?"
"Yes!"
* * *
The exam took less than ten minutes. As Diret recorded the perfect score, he thought to himself, 'Didn't he say he wouldn't obsess over exams anymore?'"
"Junior. What are you planning to do during the upcoming break?"
"..."
"I think I'll probably be traveling all over the Empire with the Headmaster to request extensions on debt repayments."
"..."
"Uh, um..."
Diret was completely speechless at this answer that defied all expectations and surpassed imagination.
'Wait a minute. Come to think of it, didn't he promise to help Yukveltire with her research during the break?'
Upon reflection, Lee Han had clearly promised to assist Yukveltire with her artificial dimension research during the vacation.
Yukveltire had drilled it into his head so thoroughly that he remembered it vividly.
-This bipyramid section still isn't complete. Should I help?
-No need. The Wardanaz family junior promised to participate during the break, so I'll leave it to him then.
-...
No matter how much mana he has, isn't it a bit much to exploit a junior like that... What about these overlapping magic circles here?
- Ah. I'll leave those for the Wardanaz family junior too when he comes. I left them blank because they consume too much mana.
- Hope his schedule doesn't change and he doesn't show up... Fine. Got it.
- What did you say?
- Nothing. Never mind.
But Diret said nothing.
How could he hold back his junior, who was working hard for Einrogard, for such personal reasons?
This was something Yukveltire, as his senior, should graciously yield.
Flap flap!
When a paper bird flew in through the window, Diret annoyedly burned it with black flames. Lee Han looked puzzled.
'Do they have annoying advertisement paper birds in Einrogard too?'
"Who sent that?"
"Yukveltire. I burned it because it's obviously something trivial. If it were truly urgent, she'd come herself."
"Indeed. I thought so too."
Lee Han had already pushed aside their earlier conversation about small worlds from his mind.
After finishing the exam and stepping out of Black Rock Hall, Lee Han suddenly became lost in thought.
'Still, it feels like he went too easy on me. Senior Diret wouldn't lie about this, would he?'
Worried that Diret might face repercussions later because of him, Lee Han felt uneasy even as he walked.
When Lee Han arrived at his destination and opened the door to the <Understanding of Extremely Difficult and Obscure Arcane Magic> classroom, Professor Garcia urgently shouted:
"Lee Han, you're here for the exam, right? Just write your name on that blank paper and you can leave!"
"......"
Lee Han was shocked at this innovative exam format where even Gainando could score full marks.
"A-are you sure this is acceptable?"
"What do you mean?"
Professor Garcia looked too busy to even lift her head.
Even while talking to Lee Han, her eyes and hands remained fixed on the magic array on her desk.
"The Headmaster might get angry."
Just seeing how Professor Verdus occasionally disappeared into the Punishment Room was evidence enough.
While Einrogard professors enjoyed near-limitless freedom, abusing that freedom in teaching or exams would incur the Skeleton Principal's wrath.
"The Headmaster told us to do it this way, Lee Han! He said if we've taught everything we needed to during the semester, we shouldn't waste time pointlessly!"
"...!"
These were words that would have moved Professor Verdus to tears.
Though of course, even if the Skeleton Principal were desperate, Professor Verdus would never have dared say such things.
Currently, Professor Garcia was handling part of the aftermath from the battle where two archmages had even mobilized their Unique Worlds.
When worlds created from a mage's psyche invade the existing world, it would be stranger if there were no aftereffects.
She was identifying abnormal phenomena and dimensional rifts appearing throughout Einrogard territory, preparing countermeasures before things got serious.
And solving all this as cheaply as possible!
Only those capable of achieving these seemingly impossible feats year after year could be called Einrogard professors.
"Lee Han, you've performed excellently this semester. That's why we can let you pass like this!"
"Thank you, Professor."
"Have a healthy vacation, Lee Han. Don't overexert yourself!"
Professor Garcia was still bowing her head over her desk as she bid him farewell. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked,
"Oh, right. Lee Han, do you have any plans for the break?"
"I think I'll be running around trying to persuade the Headmaster and some creditors."
"I see. Take care of yourself... Wait, what did you just say?!"
Professor Garcia belatedly raised her head, her eyes wide with shock.
But the student had already finished his farewell and stepped out of the classroom.
Though she wanted to chase after him, the pile of magic-related work in front of her forced Professor Garcia to swallow her tears and give up.
'Wait. Does that mean Professor Bagrak is busy too?'
Come to think of it, if even Professor Garcia was that busy, it wouldn't be strange for Professor Voladi—who had directly participated in subduing the Crazy Doppelganger—to be even more swamped.
Right now, Einrogard seemed to be in such dire need of hands that the Skeleton Principal would deploy anyone he could trust.
"...!"
But surprisingly, when Lee Han opened the door to the underground classroom, he was met with Professor Voladi's usual indifferent expression.
Lee Han was startled at first, but then he realized—'Ah, that makes sense.'
After all, every mage had their own specialized field.
Professor Mortum specialized in Black Magic, Professor Garcia in Spacetime Magic, Professor Verdus in the Punishment Room...
And Professor Voladi was an expert in Magic Combat.
It made sense that he wouldn't be called for cleanup operations unless it was an actual combat situation.
"Professor, it's fine. You already did the work of several people during the battle."
"?"
Professor Voladi tilted his head slightly, puzzled by his student's strange remark.
He had been worried about whether Lee Han was suffering any aftereffects from using and being caught up in high-level magic, but now the student was saying odd things out of nowhere.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern. And... also for helping me last time."
Professor Voladi nodded as if it were nothing.
Lee Han couldn't help but ask, just in case,
"After that, the Headmaster didn't impose any penalties, send you to the Punishment Room, or cut your additional funding, did he?"
If that were the case, the loaded petition might be fired again.
"There was no funding to begin with."
"......"
"But since the number of students in the department has increased, there might be some starting next year."
"...I'll do my best to secure it for you!"
Lee Han felt his eyes sting slightly as he spoke. Though he was skeptical about whether they could get funding just because the number of students had increased from one to two, he was determined to secure it somehow—even if it meant threatening the Skeleton Principal.
If he didn't, he'd feel too sorry for Professor Voladi.
Other professors, even Professor Mortum of the Black Magic department, received funding... Sniff.
"?"
Professor Voladi tilted his head in confusion at the sight of his student covering his face in sorrow.
"Are you really alright?"
"Huh? Yes, I'm really fine. I've even taken all my other exams. Please don't feel too disheartened, Professor. Even if the funding is uncertain, isn't it better for you not to participate in the cleanup? It'd just be a loss for you."
Though he felt a little guilty toward Professor Garcia, Lee Han said this to comfort Professor Voladi.
But the professor surprised him with his response.
"I plan to join the cleanup after the exams are over."
"?!"
Lee Han was even more shocked by this unexpected answer.
"Did the Headmaster call you?!"
"Yes."
"But why...?"
"I refused to participate until the exams were over."
Lee Han could almost hear the Skeleton Principal's curses ringing in his ears like auditory hallucinations.
Unlike Professor Ber Mo's shameless excuses, the Headmaster probably found it hard to get angry at someone stubbornly insisting on focusing on their lectures...
Though the fact that it was a lecture with only two students might have been a bit absurd... 'No. It's not about the number of students—it's about the sincerity. The professor is sincere.'
"Professor, how about having Eandurde take her exam on the last day?"
"He said to finish it as soon as possible..."
"What does that matter? It's more important to give Eandurde as much time as possible to prepare properly."
"Indeed. That makes sense."
Impressed by his student's reliable consideration for his junior, Professor Voladi was immediately convinced.