Episode 122
Episode 122
'No. You can't judge someone based on something like this.'
Having a slightly twisted sense of humor was merely a trivial flaw in this magic school.
Lee Han decided to focus on the professor's positive qualities instead.
"That was really enjoyable. Like a refreshing breeze to my school-weary soul..."
Ashan Dalkard, the second to finish solving everything, stood up and approached, only to pause upon hearing Lee Han's words.
'What part of that was enjoyable?'
No matter how he thought about it, there hadn't been a single enjoyable element in that exam.
"Good day, Professor. I'm Ashan of the Dalkard Family."
Professor Alpen, noticing Ashan, took out his pocket watch to check the time before speaking.
"Hmm. I actually had something to discuss with the top-performing students... Come with me."
Ashan made a conflicted face.
After finally finishing the exam and gaining some free time, he wasn't keen on wasting it talking with the professor again.
"I'll do as you say."
Of course, Lee Han had no such reservations. He answered before Ashan could even make an excuse.
Ashan clicked his tongue in disappointment as he followed along.
"By the way, Ashan. How did you solve the last problem?"
"I couldn't figure out the answer at all, so I started inputting numbers from 0 and got lucky... What about you, Wardanaz?"
Ashan looked at Lee Han with an expression that said 'Surely Wardanaz solved it the same way I did, right?'
Lee Han nodded.
"Of course I solved it that way too."
Lee Han resolved to give that answer if other friends asked.
He didn't want to appear as if he understood the Skeleton Principal too well.
Professor Alpen's office was quite antiquated.
The books were dust-free and perfectly aligned, with every object in the room precisely in its place.
"Sit."
As the two students sat, Professor Alpen waved his wand to fill their teacups.
"You two ranked first and second in this exam - truly outstanding students."
"Thank you."
"Actually, one of my old friends is visiting the school next week. Someone I befriended during my time as an Imperial Administrator..."
Lee Han's eyes widened sharply as he listened quietly.
If this was a friend from his time as an Imperial Administrator, they were likely also a former high-ranking Imperial official.
"...This friend expressed interest in seeing the skills of students I'm currently teaching. So I'd like to entrust you both with creating a simple magic circle. As I've mentioned in lectures before, it shouldn't be too difficult."
Lee Han beamed while Ashan looked horrified.
What possible reason could justify additional assignments?
Their grades weren't even lacking!
'This is something I can handle.'
Seeing Ashan's displeased reaction, Lee Han nodded to himself.
Not only did Lee Han have better grades, but more importantly, Ashan clearly didn't want to do it.
It was the perfect opportunity.
"I think it would be best if young Dalkard took charge of this."
"...?!"
Lee Han was shocked.
Why?!
"M-me? Wouldn't Wardanaz be better suited?"
Ashan's voice trailed off uncertainly.
Both in terms of skill and simply not wanting this extra assignment.
Lee Han cheered for Ashan internally.
'Hang in there, Ashan!'
"Well, young Wardanaz already has too much on his plate."
"......"
"......"
Both Lee Han and Ashan were at a loss for words.
Well, that was true!
"I've heard he's so passionately devoted to his studies that he's making time for private lessons with other professors. We can't possibly disrupt such dedication."
"...Understood. I'll do it..."
Ashan replied in a dejected voice.
Even Ashan had a conscience.
As a student of the Blue Dragon Tower, he couldn't possibly say to the overworked Lee Han, 'You should still take this on!'
"That won't be necessary, Professor. I'll assist Ashan too."
"Is that acceptable?"
"Yes."
"Wardanaz...!"
Ashan was so moved that tears nearly formed in his eyes.
"To think you'd help me with such a boring, tedious, and tiresome task just out of friendship..."
Sniffle—
Ashan wiped his tears with his sleeve. He felt like he'd been crying much more often since entering this school.
"Thank you, Wardanaz."
"It's nothing, Ashan."
Lee Han patted Ashan's shoulder while thinking to himself:
'I must make a good impression.'
No matter who Professor Alpen's friend was, he would absolutely make a good impression!
After receiving brief instructions, the two students bowed and left the room.
Left alone in the room, Professor Alpen muttered regretfully:
"What a shame. Originally, I wanted to recommend Wardanaz..."
In terms of talent and ability alone, the boy from the Wardanaz family was someone he'd want to recommend to the Empire's administrators in the future.
A brilliant mind and a strong passion for academics.
He would undoubtedly become an excellent imperial official.
However...
'Such an outstanding talent should be left to focus on academics rather than bureaucracy.'
Professor Alpen knew this well.
A moderately brilliant mind was suited for imperial office, but a truly exceptional one should dedicate itself to academia for the Empire's future.
The very reason Professor Alpen, who had worked in the bureaucracy for so long, had come to this school was to nurture even a few pillars for the Empire's future.
As a former official, it was regrettable, but as an educator, it was a joyous thing.
'I'll do my best to help him. So he can devote himself to academia, Wardanaz.'
Thursday.
As Lee Han walked to his Alchemy class, he noticed the students' faces were drained with exhaustion.
"What time did everyone leave the lecture hall yesterday?"
"Past midnight... The magic just wouldn't dissolve."
"......"
"What on earth was the answer to the last question?"
Yoner still wore a baffled expression.
No matter how much he thought about it, there couldn't have been any answer other than 720 nyang.
"...0 nyang."
"Huh?"
"0 nyang."
"Why?"
"Well... you see..."
Despite not being the one who set the question, Lee Han cautiously explained while gauging Yoner's reaction.
A flame, the kind used for smelting metal, flickered in Yoner's pupils.
"Damn...! ...Right. That was it. Right."
Yoner barely managed to calm himself.
Getting angry over every little thing like this would make survival in this school impossible.
Rip—rip—
"?"
Lee Han turned his head.
The Princess, walking past, was expressionlessly tearing apart a sheet of paper covered in formulas and numbers.
It seemed she had been solving it until today because she couldn't finish yesterday.
"...I feel oddly guilty now."
"Why? It's not your fault. Don't be like that."
Yoner comforted Lee Han. The girl from the Maykin family changed the subject.
"So you're making a magic circle with Dalkard?"
"Yeah."
"...Wouldn't it be better to just let Dalkard do it alone?"
"Hey... Maykin..."
Ashan, who was passing by, gave Yoner a hurt look.
Of course, Yoner wasn't wrong.
In fact, even students from other towers chimed in agreement.
"Wouldn't it be better alone?"
"Dalkard, you should consider Wardanaz."
"......"
Ashan looked at Lee Han pleadingly. Lee Han nodded and replied:
"I decided to help because I wanted to, so don't worry about it."
"Well, if you say so..."
"Can't you ask that prince for help? He seems to have plenty of free time."
Boom—boom—boom—
The Thunderstep Professor entered the classroom, making sounds like beating a cauldron.
"Good to see you all. I don't need to explain what we're doing today, do I?"
The students' faces twisted in displeasure.
Even for the same pop quiz, Professor Thunderstep had a knack for making things more irritating.
Sensing the students' glares, the professor chuckled heartily.
"Alright. Line up and come in one by one."
"?"
The students buzzed with confusion at the unexpected test format.
They had assumed it would be the usual exam—brewing potions together in the classroom using cauldrons...
"What's the matter? I said line up and come in."
"......"
The students eyed Professor Thunderstep suspiciously as they formed a line.
They couldn't even begin to guess what might be waiting beyond the inner classroom door.
"What the hell is in there?"
"Are there monsters?"
"This is Alchemy class, though?"
"Then what kind of class was it when that insane monster attacked us on the first day?"
"...That was also Alchemy class. Damn it. There might actually be monsters."
The students quickly steeled themselves and gripped their wands.
Given the circumstances, the possibility of monsters emerging felt disturbingly high.
'There's no way monsters will actually come out... right?'
Lee Han clung to a sliver of hope as he handed out snacks to his friends.
"What's this?"
"Beer Candy. Eat it if you run low on mana."
His friends nodded solemnly and pocketed the Beer Candy.
Against monsters, you never knew how much mana you'd need—it was an essential item.
"Wardanaz. Come in."
Lee Han opened the door and stepped inside.
Fortunately, no monsters lunged at him, but he remained on guard.
"...You can take your hand off your waist."
Thunderstep stared at Lee Han as if he'd lost his mind.
While skepticism was a good habit, what was the meaning of that stance—ready to draw a sword at any moment during an Alchemy exam?
Was this a swordsmanship test?
"Professor. I trust you."
"I think I mentioned this before, but people who truly trust don't say things like that. Now. Look at the cauldron and the ingredients beside it."
Lee Han examined the cauldron.
Then he checked the ingredients laid out beside it—all unfamiliar.
"I've seen them."
"Then, using only the ingredients in this room, brew this potion."
"?"
Lee Han froze as he saw the shimmering potion sloshing inside the glass vial Thunderstep shook.
It was a potion he'd never seen before.
"Was this potion taught during lectures?"
"No."
"Can you tell me what kind of potion it is?"
"No."
"......"
Thunderstep let out a deep smile, clearly enjoying the situation.
A skilled alchemist excelled at improvisation.
Even with entirely unfamiliar ingredients, they could brew something resembling an unknown potion.
It was possible because they could swiftly grasp the properties of materials and fully internalize the effects those properties produced.
Of course, Thunderstep didn't expect the freshmen to brew a perfect potion.
How many of the potion's traits could they discern and approximate?
That was the core of this exam.
"Come on, you'd better hurry. Time isn't infinite, you know."
"Ugh."
Lee Han appeared deep in thought.
As one of the top students in Alchemy, his prolonged hesitation puzzled Thunderstep.
'What's he agonizing over?'
With so little time to analyze the ingredients and the potion's properties, why was he just standing there?
It made no sense.
"Professor."
"What is it?"
"Can I use any ingredient in the room?"
"Planning to use something you brought?"
Thunderstep snorted.
He had no idea what ingredient Lee Han might have, but chances were it wouldn't help much.
Still, if by some miracle it was useful, Thunderstep was willing to acknowledge it.
With that kind of luck, anything was possible!
"Go ahead and try."
"Understood."
Like lightning, Lee Han lunged forward and snatched the potion from Thunderstep's hand.
Stunned by the sudden ambush, Thunderstep stood frozen before belatedly regaining his senses.
"...HEY!!!"