Episode 1191
Episode 1191
As the two were talking, another scream echoed through the halls.
"Gyaaah!"
"Shouldn't we go in?"
"Why?"
"Well, if the professor is being attacked... Oops. My apologies."
Sigunting realized he'd said something stupid and deeply regretted it.
If Professor Verdus was being attacked, the proper response would be to leisurely sip tea outside while watching birds fly by, contemplating the nature of magic and the meaning of life—not rushing in headfirst.
As expected of Anpagon, being a year senior, he showed remarkable wisdom.
"This is unbelievable!"
"Doesn't seem like he's being attacked."
"Damn it."
Sigunting felt betrayed.
He'd trusted in his junior's violent tendencies, but it turned out this wasn't an assignment to attack Professor Verdus after all. Somehow, this felt unfair.
"Uuuuugh..."
"That's... the sound someone makes when their magic gets blocked."
'Will I end up like that when I become a fourth-year too?'
Watching Anpagon deduce the professor's state of mind just from the groans made Sigunting suddenly sad.
He really didn't want to end up like that.
"If it's the sound of blocked magic, isn't that strange? Magic doesn't just suddenly get blocked like that."
"True. There's usually some warning signs."
Anpagon nodded in agreement.
While Professor Verdus did occasionally go mad from magic, there were usually precursor symptoms.
He'd typically mutter questions to students like "What do you think of this spell?" or "Why isn't this working?" before losing it.
But this time, there'd been nothing like that?
"Could it be because of the assignment our junior submitted?"
"It shouldn't be easy to drive a professor mad... Even for Wardanaz..."
Anpagon fell into deep thought.
Both the crazy junior and the crazy professor were formidable figures in their own right.
But if he had to choose, Professor Verdus was the crazier one—could a single assignment really reduce him to that state?
"Don't you want to go check?"
"Are you insane? If you want to go in there, call some mercenaries. I'm absolutely not going in."
Anpagon was disappointed by Sigunting's vehement refusal.
A dumber junior might have been tricked into going in...
BANG!
"?!"
At the sudden noise, both turned around in surprise.
Yukveltire, who hadn't been seen in a while, was staring straight at them.
"What's the matter, Senior? Just so you know, I'm busy too."
"Same here. Don't even think about making us do work."
"I have no intention of assigning work to incompetent juniors like you, so spare me the pointless chatter."
At that cold, heartless voice, Sigunting flared up in protest.
"That time I made a mistake was because it wasn't my main specialization—"
"Calm down. I wasn't talking about you. I was pointing out my own past mistakes."
Anpagon tried to stop Sigunting's excuses. Yukveltire kindly explained:
"That was directed at both of you."
"......"
"......"
Every student in the Enchantment Magic department had been semi-forcibly ordered by Yukveltire to undertake high-difficulty tasks at some point.
When you join the department as a lowerclassman, you just instinctively follow when a senior gives an order.
And most students would inevitably make at least one mistake during those tasks.
How could you not make mistakes when suddenly assigned high-difficulty work as a second-year?
The only one who didn't make mistakes in those situations was that madman Wardanaz, the top of his year.
"So what brings you here?"
"Did either of you mess with <Yukveltire's Lance>?"
"......"
"......"
Though shocked, both managed to keep straight faces as they answered.
"No."
"Why would we touch it?"
"Hmm."
Yukveltire fell into thought. Sigunting cautiously asked:
"Did the object... disappear?"
"No."
"Huh? Then..."
"It's tilted about 3 degrees from its original angle. Strange."
"......"
Sigunting nearly screamed.
What kind of insane person remembers the exact placement angle of an artifact?
"Y-you must be mistaken."
"Sorry, but I don't make mistakes, junior. Unlike you confusing acceleration and amplification attributes."
'Damn it.'
Sigunting cursed inwardly.
If Sigunting died in the distant future, Yukveltire would probably attend the funeral and deliver this eulogy:
"—To the junior who confused acceleration and amplification attributes and destroyed one of my artifacts..."
Whoosh!
At that moment, the spatial distortion sealing Professor Verdus's workspace dissipated.
Professor Verdus, with the saddest and most miserable face in the Empire, shuffled out.
"...I really don't want to ask this, but is something wrong?"
"Do any of you know how to cast a spell called <Ahrag's Eye>?"
Professor Verdus abruptly threw out a random question. The students were all baffled.
"I've never even heard the name... Is it black magic? If it's Ahrag..."
"What about <Living Wall>?"
"No idea."
"What do you even know?!"
Professor Verdus stomped his foot in frustration.
Unlike his usual indifferent attitude—dismissing students with remarks like "Of course you wouldn't know" or "Figures it'd be you"—he was acting completely different.
Instead of getting angry, the students exchanged suspicious glances.
Could it be...?
"Professor... do you not know either?"
"......"
Professor Verdus hung his head low.
Truthfully, it wasn't shameful for an Enchantment Magic specialist to not know how to cast an unfamiliar high-level black magic spell.
There was no detailed explanation, just a brief note on the blueprint.
But Professor Verdus, who was only satisfied when he knew everything, was utterly dejected.
How the hell was this spell supposed to be cast?
"Disappointing, Professor. You emphasize magical competence to us, yet you don't know yourself."
"Exactly! Maybe it's time to step down from your position!"
The students knew the truth but didn't care—they seized the chance to berate him.
If not now, when else could they insult Professor Verdus?
Insulting him when possible was the Enchantment Magic faction's way.
"I'm short on time."
"Excuses about time are only made by incompetent mages, or so you said."
"If we just grab a few black magic books from the Library..."
"And relying on spellbooks is for mediocre mages, you also said! Haha!"
"...J-just you wait!"
Utterly defeated by his past self, Professor Verdus retreated back into his workshop.
He was determined to replicate this spell by any means necessary.
Watching his retreating figure, the Enchantment Magic students wore deep smirks—even Yukveltire's lips curled faintly.
"Oh, he left this behind."
Absentmindedly, Sigunting picked up the assignment a junior had dropped.
Well, as a professor, he'd probably memorized it at a glance, so no need to carry it around...
"......"
Sigunting's expression turned deadly serious. Curious, Anpagon peeked over his shoulder.
"Hmm..."
Anpagon's face mirrored the junior's confusion.
Neither had the slightest clue what kind of black magic this was.
Professor Verdus seemed to have grasped the effects, but they couldn't even...
'Was Imperial script always this hard? Is this even written in Imperial script?'
"Senior. Could you read this for us?"
When the two held out the blueprint, Yukveltire took it and silently read through.
The juniors stared at their senior with hopeful eyes. If anyone could explain it properly, it was this unfriendly senior.
"Finished reading. Anyway, if neither of you touched anything, I'll be going now."
"Ah, no..."
As the senior abruptly turned to leave, the two juniors were left flustered.
He's just leaving like that?
'He's truly ruthless. He's not even curious about this?'
'I've always felt this way, but that senior has no human emotions. Sometimes he's even worse than Professor Verdus.'
While the two juniors grumbled, Yukveltire quietly walked away and sent a paper bird to his friend.
The reply came immediately.
How should I know how to cast Ahrag's Eye!? Ask the Descendants of Ahrag!
"......"
A faint trace of disappointment flickered across Yukveltire's expression.
Then another paper bird came flying.
"!"
He hastily caught it and unfolded it to find the following message:
And by the way, I only borrowed Yukveltire's spear temporarily, so stop tormenting the juniors!
"......"
While the Enchantment Magic seniors were reeling from shock, the professors were experiencing a similar upheaval.
Professor Thunderstep apologized with a guilty expression.
"My apologies, Professor Leji. I should have stopped him."
No response came from Professor Yonlamo.
The sight of his student transformed into a dragon was simply too shocking.
Professor Garcia, who had come to see the spectacle after hearing rumors, was also at a loss for words, never having imagined he would actually transform into a dragon.
"No matter how you look at it, to think he really turned into a dragon..."
"But where is Professor Verdus?"
"Who knows?"
"Hmph. At least I don't have to see him gloating—that's a relief."
Professor Thunderstep grumbled.
Had Professor Verdus been present, he would have been insufferable, boasting about how he was right all along.
Thinking about it, his absence was actually a blessing.
"He transformed into a dragon?!"
Word had spread so quickly and mysteriously that more professors began arriving one by one.
Professors Milley and Kirmin were understandable, but even Professor Alkasis from the Healing Magic school—who rarely showed his face—made an appearance, startling everyone.
"Professor! I didn't expect you to come!"
"If he can transform into a dragon, I had to see it for myself."
"......"
......
Both Professor Garcia and Lee Han, now in dragon form, wore awkward expressions.
Just how harshly were they planning to exploit him later that they had to come and confirm it in person?
Still, the atmosphere among the gathered professors was surprisingly pleasant. Even Professor Yonlamo, once he recovered from the shock, looked quite satisfied.
"Transforming into a dragon is no small feat."
"Y-yes, exactly. It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Professor."
Professor Garcia quickly flattered him. While the others didn't go that far, they still held the achievement in high regard.
How could a professor not take credit when their student mastered such an extraordinary spell?
"Now that this is possible, it could have significant implications for Summoning Magic as well. The dragonkin of other dimensions are reclusive, but if they know we can transform..."
"Wouldn't that make negotiations with ordinary spirits even more difficult?"
"Isn't that obvious, Professor Garcia? Why even ask?"
"Hahaha... Never mind."
"Everyone, if Wardanaz—who can transform into a dragon—supports Zorjik, wouldn't His Majesty be more likely to approve him as the next headmaster of Einrogard?"
"......"
"......"
"Y-yes, exactly! We'll support you, Professor Benmalpa!"
"We stand with you too, Professor Benmalpa!"
"Thank you, thank you, everyone!"
As the professors exchanged words, the final one arrived.
It was Professor Bendozol.
"...Waaahhh!"
The moment he saw Lee Han in dragon form, Professor Bendozol burst into loud sobs. The other professors subtly inched away.
Professor Thunderstep muttered, 'Who invited him?' under his breath.
Professor Zorjik, deeply moved, approached the weeping Professor Bendozol.
"I'm touched too, Professor Bendozol. A student's achievement is—"
"Get lost!!"
"!?"