Episode 1234
Episode 1234
Asking the question made something come to mind.
Now that I think about it...
'Wasn't that the name the professor mentioned when he said he'd prepared the midterm exams?'
True to Professor Voladi's character of being unexpectedly diligent in trivial matters, even while fleeing, he had meticulously prepared his student's midterm exams.
-I've already prepared them. Sir Garzidahaka has agreed to oversee them in my place.
-...Who the hell is that?!
Just as Professor Kirmin had been flustered, Lee Han too was growing increasingly curious.
Just who was this Sir Garzidahaka?
'Please just don't let him be another crazy person.'
Honestly, even Lee Han thought the possibility of him not being insane seemed slim, but there's always room for hope, right?
Please!
"Sir Garzidahaka is..."
Professor Voladi, who had been about to explain, suddenly stopped. He seemed to be considering something.
"I suppose I can't tell you that."
"...Why not?"
"It's because of the exam."
Professor Voladi kindly explained.
Unfortunately, due to Lee Han fleeing first this time, they hadn't met for this midterm, but there was always the possibility that Sir Garzidahaka might appear in a future exam.
In that case, revealing his identity beforehand could undermine the purpose of the test.
"......"
Instead of being moved by this considerate explanation, Lee Han was horrified.
How can someone say such insane things so calmly?
'What kind of monster is this?'
Even without knowing who it was, the mere fact that it was "an exam question Professor Voladi had been saving up" was enough to set off all his alarm bells.
Lee Han cautiously asked:
"But doesn't Eandurde know his identity?"
"Well..."
Eandurde joined the conversation.
Actually, even though Eandurde had received instruction during Professor Voladi's absence, she didn't really know much about Sir Garzidahaka either.
This was because she'd received the lessons remotely through a dimensional mirror.
"You only heard his voice?!"
"Yes..."
"Hmm. What did the voice sound like? Was it perhaps like a yaksha's?"
The species Lee Han was most wary of was the yaksha.
If Sir Garzidahaka turned out to be a yaksha, there was a high chance he'd be the worst possible opponent.
'Just thinking about it is terrifying.'
"N-no, it didn't sound like a yaksha."
"Then did it sound like a Frost Giant? Or a Fire Giant? If it was just a regular giant, tell me."
Eandurde shook her head.
And she thought to herself:
Why does this senior have so many sworn enemies among different species?
"Hmm. Difficult. Could he be a dimensional entity? The Spirit King? An angel?"
As he spoke, Lee Han kept sneaking glances at Professor Voladi, but the impassive professor remained stone-faced without changing expression.
'Tch. Not working.'
Ultimately giving up on guessing from voice clues, Lee Han asked about the lesson content.
"But you did learn elemental control and manipulation, right?"
Eandurde nodded and lifted her staff, causing earth from the ground to float into the air and form solid stone.
Unlike Lee Han, this junior couldn't handle multiple elements, but she had considerable affinity with earth element.
"Good. What about form transformation?"
"Jowurin's form would be pleasing!"
At Jowurin's words, Eandurde gave a slight glare.
The more detailed and complex an elemental form transformation was, the exponentially more difficult it became.
And a dragon's form was particularly...
Crack-crack!
With short cracking sounds, the stone was carved away until it took shape.
It looked more like a dinosaur than a dragon. Lee Han clapped and cheered:
"Perfect score!"
"No it's not."
When Professor Voladi spoke up from the side, this time it was Lee Han who gave the professor a slight glare.
Even dragons dance for praise - how insensitive!
"Let's just pretend you didn't see that."
Eandurde quickly dispersed it. Jowurin looked shocked.
"That was a statue of Jowurin!"
"Technically it was Eandurde's sculpture. Anyway Eandurde, perfect. You're top of the class."
"...Aren't I the only one in the class?"
"That makes it even better."
Lee Han praised his junior who had taken the top spot in this lesson.
While other students lacked discernment and regarded Professor Voladi's Combat Magic school with unease, it undeniably had its merits.
For instance, securing the top rank in the year was practically guaranteed.
At the senior's praise, Eandurde tilted her head, unsure whether it was a joke or sincere.
...Surely it must be a joke?
"I've heard that the Water Element is considered better."
Eandurde was deeply regretful about practicing these exercises with the Earth Element.
These drills could be considered basic elemental training—practicing the swift and precise activation of low-circle spells necessary for magical combat.
In that regard, training with the Water Element was the most suitable for the purpose.
From maintaining intensity and destructive power to transforming and sustaining forms—wasn't it all highly challenging?
Compared to Wardanaz, who trained with the Water Element, Eandurde felt like she was resorting to shortcuts...
"That's not true?!"
Lee Han shouted in disbelief.
What kind of nonsense was this?
"I practiced with the Water Element because it's less dangerous if I mess up!"
The reason Lee Han had primarily used Water Element spells early on, instead of more destructive elements, was due to his mana.
Especially with elements like Fire—if he lost control of his mana, he could easily set the surroundings ablaze.
But to misunderstand that as some kind of intentional high-difficulty training?
"Who told you that?"
"Sir Garzidahaka...?"
"...Let's drop the 'Sir' from now on."
Lee Han was already starting to develop a grudge against this unknown figure from another dimension.
'What kind of bastard is he, really?'
"Can you help prepare for the final exam?"
"Me? Or...?"
Lee Han was confused—was Professor Voladi asking him to help with his own exam or the junior's?
If it was the former, was he digging his own grave?
Professor Voladi pointed at Eandurde. Lee Han let out a sigh of relief.
'At least he's not that cruel.'
"Of course."
Curious about their conversation, Eandurde cautiously asked,
"What was last year's midterm exam like?"
"Last year's midterm? Uh... It was canceled due to a flood."
"......"
Eandurde's face twisted with shock and bewilderment.
Worried that his junior might think something like, 'These second-years are just lucky slackers who got off easy,' Lee Han hastily explained.
"It wasn't that great! It was incredibly inconvenient. We even had to ride rafts just to get to lectures..."
"I never said it was great..."
Eandurde was baffled.
What kind of lunatic would hear that and think, 'Wow, I'm so jealous their exam got canceled because of a flood!'?
From behind, Gainando suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"What? You're not jealous? I was seriously envious!"
"...Hey. You—go over there."
Lee Han shooed Gainando into the next room. He wondered if he'd made a mistake by bringing his junior here in front of Professor Voladi.
'He's setting a terrible example.'
"Then what about the final exam? What was that like?"
"The final exam? Well... um..."
"???"
"Giants... showed up..."
Lee Han's voice grew uncharacteristically quiet.
It was hard to admit in front of his junior that giants had appeared during the final exam.
As he spoke, Lee Han shot Professor Voladi a resentful glare.
Why on earth would he prepare something like giants for an exam?!
'If Eandurde runs away, I'm blaming the professor in my complaint letter.'
"Giants?!"
Eandurde jumped up so abruptly that her head nearly hit the ceiling.
Afraid his junior might bolt, Lee Han urgently shouted,
"It's not what you're imagining! ...Probably! And we didn't even fight them head-on! We were busy dealing with monsters...!"
'Should I go help?'
Yoner, in the next room, thought to herself upon hearing her friend's desperate cry.
Lee Han seemed to be sinking deeper into trouble.
But surprisingly, Eandurde hadn't jumped up to flee. Instead, her face was filled with excitement and anticipation.
"You can fight giants?!"
"No. You won't be fighting giants."
Professor Voladi answered coldly. At those words, Eandurde's face fell as if cold water had been poured over her.
"I see..."
"Ah, no. Professor. Since Eandurde wants to see them so badly... why can't we do giants?"
"Normally, it's obvious why not."
"Hey. Get going."
Gainando, who'd gotten an earful after making just one remark, grumbled as he picked up his bucket and left again.
It's only natural giants wouldn't be allowed normally!
Professor Voladi answered simply.
"She's still lacking."
It was straightforward but irrefutable logic.
Unlike Lee Han, Eandurde still wasn't skilled enough to face giants.
Hearing this, Lee Han couldn't decide whether to feel happy, angry, or sorry.
'Oops.'
Though Eandurde didn't show it outwardly, her shoulders visibly slumped.
Seeing this, Lee Han and Jowurin hastily stepped forward.
"What if we adjust the difficulty? Like breaking one of the giant's legs!"
"I-I shall assist as well! If Eandurde fights alongside me!"
"It's fine."
Before the professor could respond, Eandurde spoke up bravely.
Though disappointed about not fighting giants, she didn't want to overcome her shortcomings through her senior's or friends' help.
Sniff. "How did our school get such an admirable junior..."
Lee Han looked at Eandurde with overwhelming pride, then nudged Professor Voladi repeatedly.
'Please give her some praise.'
But the professor seemed to have taken it differently.
"Understood. Let's return to discussing exam preparations."
"......"
Professor Voladi's request was simple.
During finals, he would launch a precisely sequenced attack against Eandurde, and Lee Han was to handle one part of it.
The test was surprisingly normal—far more so than expected. Lee Han felt strangely conflicted.
"......"
"Lee Han, isn't the test way tamer than you thought? No matter how you look at it, compared to your time it's much more... Ow! Why'd you hit me!"
Lee Han smacked Gainando's back to shoo him away, then thought:
'If my junior gets an easier test, I should be happy for them. I must never feel jealous.'
Having steadied his emotions, Lee Han managed to plaster a mechanical smile on his face.
Then he told Professor Voladi:
"I'm ready. Just give the word anytime."
The professor nodded and instructed him to go to the opposite cell.
Though this floor of the Punishment Room wasn't extremely spacious, an outstanding combat mage knew how to make the most of what was available.
Using the hallway, cells, bars, and stairways, they could easily create a high-difficulty dungeon.
'When Eandurde appears atop the stairs, I'll activate the magic circle first. If she breaks through and advances, I'll launch the water orbs from this cell along the predetermined trajectory...'
Not only Jowurin but even the baby basilisk, now awake from its nap, began cheering.
"Eandurde can definitely do it!"
-Fighting! Fighting!
While signaling the two to quiet down, Eandurde began her charge.
The activated magic circle attacked from tricky angles, but Eandurde dodged effortlessly with agile movements.
'Reload!'
Lee Han was thrilled to see his junior evade while he chanted spells to load stone projectiles.
It vividly showed how hard she'd practiced magic this past year.
'Oops. My turn.'
The water orbs came flying fiercely. Eandurde grew visibly wary of the attacks launched from inside the cell.
These were clearly a level above the magic circle's earlier assault.
Fast and unpredictable!
Eandurde fired stones to intercept but couldn't stop them all. Several orbs slipped through along rear trajectories.
Bracing for impact, Eandurde gritted her teeth.
Pop!
"??"
The water orbs vanished as if evaporated. Lee Han clapped and cheered.
"Perfect score!"
Instead of agreeing, Professor Voladi gestured for him to come over.
It seemed this student needed a lecture.