Episode 109
Episode 109
Lee Han was bewildered.
This was a reaction he'd never seen from any of the professors he knew.
'Did I do something wrong?'
But no matter how much he thought about it, Lee Han couldn't recall any misstep.
'Is it because I have too much mana?'
Lee Han cautiously asked,
"Is it difficult to learn Illusion Magic because I have too much mana?"
"No?"
"Then is it because I lack control?"
"No. You're more than sufficient in that regard. It's... Ah. Well. I suppose I should tell you."
After some hesitation, Professor Kirmin decided to come clean.
"Wardanaz. Right now, you have..."
Lee Han tensed up.
Whenever a professor spoke that seriously, it usually meant there was a grave issue.
Just like when Professor Garcia had diagnosed him with the incurable Mana Overload Syndrome upon his enrollment...
"Too many professors have their eyes on you."
"......"
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
Mana Overload Syndrome was one thing, but Professor Overload Syndrome too?
'The latter seems far more life-threatening.'
While the former was manageable, the latter seemed downright dangerous to his survival.
"Why is that..."
"Think about it carefully. Wouldn't it be too exhausting to learn Illusion Magic on top of everything those professors are teaching you?"
'Aha.'
Lee Han understood Professor Kirmin's implication.
And he was genuinely moved.
With that single statement, Professor Kirmin had secured a spot in the top 1% of professors at this academy in terms of character.
He might as well deserve a seat right next to Professor Garcia.
"That won't be a problem."
Lee Han declared firmly.
While he might skip other magic courses, there was no way he'd pass up a class taught by such a professor.
He needed to get close now!
Who knows what might happen later—if he avoided it now because it seemed difficult, he'd surely regret it.
No matter how kind the professor was, a professor was still a professor.
If he came begging later with, "Professor, I want to take your class now," the response might well be, "Sorry, but there are no seats left."
"I can handle it, Professor. I'm fully prepared."
Lee Han's eyes burned with passion. His resolute expression took Professor Kirmin by surprise.
He hadn't expected such fervor.
As his sculpted face shone with determination, his presence grew even more striking.
"It's going to be really tough."
"I'll manage."
"Alright then. Starting from the next session, you can join us."
Professor Kirmin gave Lee Han an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
An enthusiastic student always brought joy to a teacher.
And when that student was as talented as Wardanaz, it was simply perfect.
"Be careful—it won't be easy."
"Yes. And please don't worry too much. It's not like I'll be adding any more lectures to my schedule, right?"
"......"
Professor Kirmin gave Lee Han a peculiar look.
It was the gaze of a mage foreseeing an unfortunate fate, but Lee Han, unfortunately, failed to notice.
As Professor Kirmin finished his lecture and left, the students prepared to get up from their seats.
Among all the weekly lectures, the only one who didn't torment students with assignments was the angel-blooded—no, the troll-blooded—Professor Garcia.
But with an apologetic expression, Professor Garcia spoke up.
"Everyone, hold on a moment. There's a quiz this week."
"......"
"......"
The students stared at Professor Garcia as if deeply wounded and betrayed. Yet, while he looked sorry, he didn't back down.
"So it'd be best if you all prepared."
"What will be on the test?"
At a student's question, Professor Garcia nodded and replied.
"We've spent a month learning the fundamentals of magic and exploring various magical disciplines. I intend to assess how well you've grasped them."
"B-but Professor! I don't know much about Black Magic..."
"Will Summoning Magic be included too?"
The students buzzed with murmurs.
Most students here had clear preferences.
Those who were drawn to specific branches of magic typically showed little interest in other fields.
Professor Garcia calmed the students with a reassuring tone.
"Everyone, relax. The questions will be tailored to each student's aptitude. I won't ask about fields that don't match your interests or that you're unfamiliar with."
Sighs of relief could be heard throughout the room.
Lee Han, who had been sighing in relief along with his friends, suddenly froze.
'Wait a minute.'
Come to think of it, Lee Han had participated in every single magic field covered in Professor Garcia's lectures.
...Huh?
Does that mean...
'Do I have to prepare for everything?!'
For the first time since entering the academy, Lee Han tasted genuine fear.
Tuesday.
The <Basic Mount Training> class was being held in a field slightly farther away than usual.
Professor Lightning Step was waiting for the students while lighting his pipe.
"L-look at that!"
"So cute!"
Exclamations burst from among the students.
Behind Professor Lightning Step were bear cubs.
The round, adorable-looking cubs were so cute that one could forget what they'd look like fully grown.
Even the students who had been thoroughly worn down by academy life showed age-appropriate expressions upon seeing the cubs.
"The professor actually cares about us after all."
"Right. We deserve to relax like this."
After weeks of grueling assignments and lectures—and now even pop quizzes—they surely wouldn't be punished for spending one class rolling around in a field.
Moreover, unlike the previous Burning Puppies, these cubs looked completely harmless. A proper break was guaranteed.
"Here already?"
"Yes!"
The students answered in unison, their voices twice as bright and cheerful as usual.
"Good. Since you're here, let's take the pop quiz. Everyone, bring out your mounts."
"?"
"????"
The students were baffled by Professor Lightning Step's words.
"What about the bear cubs?"
"Bear cubs?"
Professor Lightning Step removed his pipe from his mouth and turned his head to look behind him. Then, as if realizing something, he said:
"Ah. Those cubs aren't for today's class. A colleague asked me to look after them temporarily."
"......"
The students were even more disappointed than when they'd met the Skeleton Principal. Professor Lightning Step chuckled heartily.
"If you want to play with bear cubs, wait a few more decades until you retire. Now, bring out your mounts! Let's see how well you've bonded with them!"
"But we're not ready yet—can we do it next time—"
"Wild beasts don't wait for you to prepare. When a starving beast charges at you, will you ask it to wait until you're ready? Move!"
The students shuffled forward with anxious and restless expressions.
Of course, those who rarely visited the stables were nervous—but even the frequent visitors were just as uneasy.
-Will this be okay?
-Last time, my mount tried to run away when I let it loose...
The stable horses were violent and ill-tempered.
Even students who thought they'd bonded with their mounts weren't sure how the horses would react when fully unleashed.
And Lee Han was no exception.
'Hmm.'
Maybe it was just his imagination, but Lee Han felt that the white horse assigned to him was the most ill-tempered in the entire stable.
Perhaps because it was the largest and most robust, its temperament was incomparable to the others.
Sometimes, he even doubted whether it was really a horse.
'Did Professor Thunder Step feed it his potions or something?'
But if the white horse had wild instincts, Lee Han had cunning. He had devised his own method of handling it.
"Here."
Lee Han immediately equipped the white horse with a Mana-Absorbing Iron Bracelet and a belt. The horse snorted in displeasure, but Lee Han was unyielding.
The moment he let his guard down, there was no telling how the white horse would betray him.
-Pfft. Pfft.
The white horse was sly and clever.
Realizing brute force wouldn't work against this insane freshman, it gave Lee Han a pitiful look with sorrowful eyes.
But Lee Han was even more ruthless than the horse.
"Sorry. No threats or pleas will change my mind."
-Pffhht!
The white horse glared at Lee Han. But the artifacts already fastened to its body were steadily draining its mana.
As its energy waned, the white horse obediently followed when Lee Han tugged the reins.
Just you wait!
"Incredible...!"
"That wild horse!"
Students from the White Tiger Tower murmured as they saw Lee Han leading the white horse out.
When he'd first been assigned the most unruly horse in the stables, everyone had mocked him, certain a Wardanaz couldn't tame it.
Yet now, the white horse followed Lee Han with unbelievable docility.
The noble white horse's demeanor matched perfectly with the Wardanaz boy, as if they'd been companions for years.
Angrago blurted out without thinking:
"The Wardanaz really is impressive."
"...Angrago, have you lost it?? Why suddenly?"
"Did some island magic get to you?"
"No, no! I'm not saying the Wardanaz isn't terrible—just acknowledging his skill!"
As his friends gasped, Angrago hastily backtracked.
"Angrago. You're acting weird. Not even insulting Wardanaz."
"Maybe the Wardanaz really did something to you..."
"I said no! I hate Wardanaz! I hate Wardanaz, okay!"
Meanwhile, not just Lee Han but other students began carefully leading their horses outside.
Unsurprisingly, the most diligent were mostly Black Turtle Tower students.
There were quite a few from Phoenix Tower and White Tiger Tower too...
And the fewest were from the Blue Dragon Tower.
Lee Han felt secondhand shame for his peers.
'These lazy bastards.'
No wonder Salko of the Tutanta family despised nobles.
They deserved every bit of scorn for their laziness.
Professor Lightning Step placed an hourglass on a rock and announced:
"Now that you've brought your horses out, follow the path. You'll reach a river—let them drink there and return to pass."
Gainando, covered in mud, whispered:
"Couldn't we just use well water and come back?"
"Indeed. If anyone lies about taking their horse to the river, I'll drown them in it."
"......"
Gainando quietly shook the mud from his hair.
"Begin!"
Professor Lightning Step rapped his pipe and shouted.
Students scattered across the field began leading their horses down the path in small groups.
Noble students like the Princess gracefully mounted their horses and rode slowly with their entourage.
Others who'd bonded with their horses also rode, drawing envious looks from peers.
Yoner could have ridden too. But instead of mounting, he glanced at Lee Han.
Lee Han was preparing to walk, leading his horse by the reins.
"Not riding?"
"Might tire him out."
-Pffht!
The white horse whinnied in protest, demanding the bracelets and belt be removed rather than appreciating Lee Han's consideration.
Lee Han ignored it.
'Walking's safer.'
While draining its mana kept it docile, it also weakened the horse's stamina.
If it collapsed mid-ride, that'd be trouble. Lee Han planned to walk alongside it.
Yoner shrugged and grabbed his own horse's reins.
"Yoner, you could ride."
"Worried mine might tire too."
Yoner's chestnut horse whinnied gratefully, nuzzling his cheek.
Yoner laughed at the ticklish sensation. Lee Han suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
'Why do even spirits and horses...'
"Besides, we're friends."
"Thanks."
Lee Han meant it sincerely.
BAM!
Behind them, Gainando went flying out of the stables, tumbling across the ground—punishment for forcing out an unfamiliar horse.
Mud-covered Gainando yelled:
"Guys! Wait! We're friends, right? Walk together!"
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah."
Lee Han and Yoner heartlessly set off.
After all, true friends were those who suffered together doing stable chores at dawn.