Episode 1144
Episode 1144
"You should be grateful to have such an outstanding disciple! Why are you getting angry?!"
Even the members of the Capital Stonemason Guild were furious.
Though to be precise, they weren't so much genuinely angry as they were simply looking for an excuse to yell at Professor Verdus.
Their anger had been simmering for a while now...
"Even when taught the same way, each disciple achieves different results. To complain like that... tsk tsk."
-Strictly speaking, Professor Verdus didn't actually teach... Well. Never mind.
The Death Knight muttered before cutting himself off.
Still, he couldn't reveal too many of the academy's secrets to outsiders.
The truth was, strictly speaking, Professor Verdus had never actually taught anything - his successor had learned everything on his own, and that was especially...
While the others were chattering away, Lee Han was feeling a rare sense of pride.
'Perhaps this is why people study.'
While understanding the principles of the world and expanding one's capacity was good, seeing the professor stomp his feet looking absolutely furious was also a perfectly valid reason.
If he could keep seeing that expression on Professor Verdus's face, he might even be motivated to attempt 5th Circle magic or Small World techniques...
'No, that's going too far.'
Lee Han quickly came back to his senses.
He must have gotten too excited seeing Professor Verdus lose his temper.
"Grr... Grrr..."
Unlike usual, Professor Verdus refused to give up and kept glaring at the tower, searching for any flaw he could criticize.
Other seniors looked at the professor with pitying expressions.
'He never puts this much effort into his lectures.'
'That guy who never properly examines anything we make...'
Seeing someone who usually gave cursory inspections during lectures now focusing so intently made them want to smack the back of his head.
"Professor. Why don't you criticize it for excessive mana consumption?"
"Are you stupid?! Mana consumption means nothing to Wardanaz!"
Professor Verdus snapped angrily at the whispering student.
Yet the student didn't seem flustered and simply smiled.
"My, my. Then there's nothing to be done."
"......"
Lee Han stared at the senior in disbelief.
What was even more unbelievable was how other seniors were sighing with regret, thinking 'I should've been the one to say that.'
How often did one get a chance to mock Professor Verdus like this?
"This is... well made."
In the end, Professor Verdus gave up and surrendered. His sullen attitude was so unlike his usual cheerful self that it was hard to believe.
At that moment, the seniors rushed forward with a roar loud enough to shake the classroom.
"Wardanaz! Wardanaz!"
"The hero of Einrogard!"
The seniors lifted Lee Han up in celebration, shouting excitedly.
"I always knew you'd defeat Professor Verdus someday, you rascal!"
The knights whispered to the bewildered stonemason guild members:
-They're usually much more well-behaved and diligent students.
"Ah... I see."
As the seniors enthusiastically tossed their junior up and down, Professor Verdus turned his gaze away.
"Let me see the next project."
"...Wait."
The students, caught up in their excitement, snapped back to reality as if cold water had been poured on them.
They quickly put Lee Han down and scrambled back to their seats, desperately trying to fix their projects.
"Ugh..."
"Sniff..."
As the previously chaotic scene transformed as if it had never happened, the knights whispered again to the guild members:
-They're usually much more cheerful and bright students.
"......"
Back on solid ground, Lee Han quickly blocked Professor Verdus's path. It wasn't difficult to intercept someone who walked on all fours.
Glancing back, he could see the seniors still desperately trying to fix their projects.
'I need to buy them time.'
Normally it was the seniors who protected the juniors, but Lee Han wasn't thinking along those lines now.
He had to protect the seniors from the evil Professor Verdus!
"Professor. Please take another look at my work."
"What? Why?"
"Well... because I want to improve further."
Though it was just a casually thrown-out remark, it somehow sounded quite plausible. Lee Han nodded and continued speaking.
"Come on now. Don't just dismiss it as bothersome—please point out areas for improvement."
"I told you it's well made?!"
"That won't do. Surely you can't think of any improvements, Professor?"
It was a sharp provocation, but it didn't work on someone like Professor Verdus, who had unwavering confidence in himself.
Professor Verdus answered firmly.
"I said it's perfect—what improvements could there be?"
"...Is that so? How disappointing. Senior Yukveltire pointed out areas for improvement the moment she saw it."
"?!!"
Professor Verdus was startled.
"?!!!!"
And Yukveltire was even more shocked.
When did I?!
"When did I?!"
"Shh. Keep quiet. We need to control the professor before he goes completely berserk."
Left unchecked, Professor Verdus would bite and tear apart everything in sight, turning the classroom into a living hell.
At the very least, they needed to chain him up.
"Grrr... Grrrrrrr..."
At the mention of Yukveltire finding flaws, Professor Verdus immediately refocused without a shred of doubt.
He was concentrating so intensely that it seemed like he could burn down a tower with sheer mental power alone, without even using magic.
"Professor. If you can't think of any improvements right away, then there's nothing we can do."
"Wait a moment!"
"No. You can figure it out later. For now, shouldn't you proceed with the lecture?"
"I said wait! I can't let this go!"
Professor Verdus thrashed about as he was dragged toward the lectern at the front of the classroom. The knights wrapped thick iron chains around his neck to assist Lee Han.
-Use this.
"Thank you."
For a moment, Lee Han wondered if even Professor Verdus deserved this treatment, but he decided to worry about that later.
"The tower again..."
"Alright, does anyone have questions? The professor is taking questions now!"
Lee Han loudly announced to lighten the mood. The seniors gave him looks that said, 'Junior, would you really want to ask a question in this atmosphere?'
But for Lee Han, he had already crossed the river. Having come this far, there was no turning back.
"Anyone with questions!"
"...Fine. Fine. I'll do it."
Whether out of pity or guilt for their junior, one senior raised their hand.
It was Elde from the Markang Family, another senior Lee Han recognized.
"Professor. Actually, I'm currently designing a wooden tower that can be used in areas where stone isn't viable, and I wanted to ask about the list of compatible woods. My combination is like this, but what combination would you suggest..."
"Did you have trouble with the Rubber Magic? No, that can't be."
"Huh?"
"The Rubber Magic was perfectly cast..."
"...Professor. The junior's tower was already finished earlier."
"Huh? Oh, right."
Professor Verdus seemed to have split personalities. One was still agonizing over the student's tower, while the other was supposed to answer the student's question...
...but instead, he just stared blankly.
"If you're going to make a wooden tower! What combination! Are you going to use?!"
"Oh... Here. This combination."
Professor Verdus quickly scribbled down the names of several spirit trees. Not only Elde but the other seniors were intrigued.
Under normal circumstances, he would have wasted several times the amount of time with useless remarks like 'Figure it out yourself,' 'Think about it a little,' or 'You can't even do that?' Yet here he was, answering immediately?
"Professor! I have a question too!"
"Was the part Yukveltire pointed out about the tower's foundation?"
Unable to let go of his obsession, Professor Verdus sneakily prodded Lee Han for an answer.
Lee Han replied coolly.
"Answer the seniors' questions first, and then I'll answer yours."
"Huh? Who asked what?"
At the junior's gesture, the seniors quickly poured out their questions.
A flood of questions they normally couldn't ask came rushing in, but Professor Verdus answered each one without hesitation.
"Professor. I want to use a spirit's power for control—what level should it be at...?"
"You should at least be at the level where you can claim nobility. Look into the rock spirits. But wait, was there an issue with the Flight Enchantment Magic?"
"Professor. About the backflow you mentioned earlier—what if we install additional magic to disperse the force along the tower's edges?"
"At that point, you might as well split the lightning conduction magic and install it along the edges from the start. Wait, is the issue not the flight enchantment but the lightning magic?"
The seniors were all moved by Professor Verdus's newfound responsiveness.
He was answering questions right away!
Sure, he still tacked on one unnecessary question each time, but this was already leagues better.
After all, the usual Verdus would spout dozens of pointless remarks.
"Hey, send a Paper Bird and tell everyone to quickly relay any questions they couldn't ask before."
"Already did. Heh. Who knew the day would come when Professor Verdus would change like this?"
"...Though, to be fair, this is how professors should act..."
Come to think of it, this was the bare minimum for someone like Professor Garcia.
Feeling grateful just because he answered questions made them oddly resentful.
Still, Professor Verdus diligently wrapped up the lecture for the remaining time. Even the stonemasons from the Capital Stonemason Guild had to admit the Q&A was impressive.
"You've worked hard, Professor Verdus."
"Got any hints? Maybe the issue isn't the magic but the cost?"
"...Anyway, you've worked hard!"
The guild members flinched slightly.
There was something unsettling about Professor Verdus, who kept muttering to himself as if possessed.
The knights watching this began to grow concerned.
'What's he planning?'
Disliking Verdus aside, they still respected his magical prowess.
Could they really suggest improvements he hadn't found?
"You've worked hard, Professor."
"What's the improvement?!"
—Professor Verdus. Have you no pride? Asking a student...
"There isn't one! What is it?!"
The knight who had tried to defend Lee Han was left speechless.
Well, asking someone crawling on all fours if they had any pride was pointless.
"Professor."
"Yes!"
"My apologies. That was a lie."
With those words, Lee Han channeled all his magical energy and bolted.
"...W-Well then, take care!"
The stunned guild members and Yukveltire quickly grasped the situation, hastily bid farewell, and sprinted out.
"......"
Seeing Professor Verdus's dumbfounded face, the knights felt a twinge of guilt.
—We'll treat you to something special today.
Lee Han ran like a madman. He had a feeling he shouldn't go anywhere near Verdus's usual haunts for a while.
'...Come to think of it, I've never seen Professor Verdus angry.'
Unlike other professors, it was hard to imagine Verdus in a rage.
Would he just gnash his teeth?
Whatever the case, getting close wouldn't end well. Lee Han steeled himself once more.
"W-Wardanaz! Wardanaz!"
"!"
He thought he'd put enough distance between them, but hearing his name called from behind made him realize his mistake.
'Still making careless errors like this!'
"J-Just wait a moment! How are you so fast—"
The guild members were on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion. Lee Han had run much faster than expected.
'Hmm. These guys probably aren't bribed by Verdus.'
After entertaining that rather rude thought, Lee Han spoke.
"My apologies. I have a habit of running after lectures."
"......"
It was obvious Verdus was the reason, but the guild members tactfully didn't point it out.
"A fine habit. More importantly, we came with a proposal. Would you consider serving as a consultant for magical construction projects?"
"That sounds difficult."
"We thought you'd be interested... Huh?"
The guild members were baffled.
For mages interested in such work, this was an incredibly tempting offer.
Why refuse?
"If you don't mind, may we ask why? Did Professor Verdus give some absurd order...?"
They immediately suspected Verdus.
Trouble always made the least likable person the first suspect, but even without that, Verdus was suspicious by default.
He was the Enchantment Magic professor, after all.
"Well..."
Lee Han answered with an extremely troubled expression.
"...I'm currently swamped with requests..."
"......"
The guild members' eyes widened at the completely unexpected answer.