Episode 1288
Episode 1288
While Professor Garcia and the senior student showed different reactions beside him, Lee Han was also in a state of extreme concentration.
'I can feel it. I think I understand what Professor Garcia was trying to say!'
The magical experience and senses he had accumulated so far guided Lee Han instinctively, without any conscious calculation.
This was the ecstasy of wisdom that only mages could know.
A water droplet resembling the form of Small World Hidor.
As the powerful concept of Spatial Perception concentrated within that droplet, Lee Han became certain that this was Small World Terminalia.
It did look quite similar to Hidor, but since Professor Garcia was also the Skeleton Principal's disciple, she must have been influenced by it.
Lee Han withdrew his hand from the cauldron and shouted with overflowing confidence.
"Thank you, Professor. I think I understand what kind of magic Small World Terminalia is!"
"You're probably wrong..."
"!?"
Only after hearing Professor Garcia's explanation did Lee Han realize that Small World Terminalia wasn't a magic contained within a water droplet form.
Originally, it was simply a powerful Spatial Perception-type magic that unfolded within a mage's own body.
Flustered, Lee Han asked again.
"But then why did it manifest like this?"
"You must have unconsciously wanted to create your own Small World magic, Lee Han."
"How could you say such a thing?!"
Lee Han was shocked by this absurd accusation, but the professors remained unfazed.
Even Professor Voladi in the next room quietly nodded in agreement.
'I concur with Garcia's opinion.'
"I swear upon my family, the Tower, and the warehouse supplies that I never had even the slightest thought of such a thing, Professor!"
"Lee Han, do you perhaps not know what 'unconscious' means?"
Professor Garcia wasn't swayed by her student's reaction.
She had seen this student behave like this far too many times.
Moreover, a mage's subconscious was inherently difficult for oneself to grasp. In this student's case, it was probably...
'Having been forcibly... no, actually voluntarily. Yes, voluntarily casting numerous difficult Small World magics, he must have felt the need.'
Mages naturally drew blueprints in their unconscious as they learned and practiced magic.
What magic would they learn after mastering this one?
What would come after that, and what ultimate goal would they achieve?
For someone like Lee Han who had encountered many high-level, difficult magics, his aspirations couldn't help but be even higher.
The moment he encountered Small World Terminalia, this student must have unconsciously recalled all the Small World magics he'd seen and adapted it to suit himself.
"I did get a strong impression from seeing the Principal... no, the Young Principal's Hidor."
'He didn't need to add "Young" in front for me to understand...'
"But is there really any reason to modify an already completed Small World magic into another Small World form?"
Lee Han couldn't comprehend it.
No matter what, could his unconscious really be that bizarre?
'Maybe the professors are still angry about the Evil God Subjugation incident and that's why they're saying this.'
"It's for other magics."
Professor Voladi spoke up again from inside. This time, Professor Garcia decided not to interrupt and listened.
"Other magics?"
"Correct."
While Small World Hidor was remarkable for condensing destructive concepts into a single water droplet, Professor Voladi found its form even more ingenious.
If one could condense destructive concepts into a small water droplet, what reason would there be not to contain other concepts?
It was clear the student had made a similar judgment.
Given that he was learning magics from various schools, he must have decided that even if it meant overexerting himself now, mastering other Small World magics in Hidor's form would allow him to apply similar methods in the future.
'How can they spout such nonsense with such seriousness and length?'
Listening to this, Lee Han wondered why he hadn't interrupted them.
Honestly, Professor Garcia should have cut them off. Hadn't she sternly told them to be quiet earlier?
"That makes sense."
"Right?"
"......"
Lee Han glanced around, wondering if there was anyone in this Punishment Room who would take his side.
The only ones present were his Senior trapped in ice and an Oculogard student watching them with keen interest, looking like he was dying of curiosity.
'Divination mages didn't earn fear and hatred in the past for no reason.'
He could understand Paridim's enthusiasm for diligently taking notes, but honestly, it was also a bit irritating.
Did Divination mages simply lack human emotions?
"Lee Han. I understand you want to deny it, but you can't deny the results."
"...I've at least grasped the concept that other Small World magic can be applied in the Hidor form. Whether it's actually possible, though..."
"That's when execution comes in. Well then, shall we practice?"
'Lately, the professor doesn't seem to listen to me as much—must just be my imagination.'
Lee Han thought to himself.
Before, even if he whined, Professor Garcia would listen attentively with all sincerity, but these days, it felt like she was only half-listening.
Just now, she didn't even wait for him to finish speaking before jumping straight into magic practice!
Maybe it was because of the Evil God Subjugation incident.
Taking a deep breath, Lee Han prepared his magic. With his Senior trapped in ice, he needed to practice as quickly as possible.
"O water..."
It was a spell he had cast so many times he couldn't even remember the count.
A 1st Circle basic magic that summoned water in spherical form.
If he had seriously challenged himself, he could have cast it without an incantation—or at least shortened it further—but Lee Han deliberately didn't.
Because he wanted to leave room to amplify the spell's power through Melody Spells and repeated incantations.
Even if it was the same 1st Circle magic as last year, the depth of wisdom behind it was on a completely different level.
Fwoosh!
The water, compressed into a small droplet, began to transform under increasingly dense mana.
For a brief moment, it displayed destructive properties akin to Hidor before reverting back to a water droplet.
At this sight, Professor Garcia gave him a meaningful look—as if saying, "What did I tell you, Lee Han?"
'Ugh. It's just because I'm used to casting it this way.'
He wanted to argue, but he couldn't speak while repeatedly reinforcing the incantation.
Soon, the Small World Terminalia began gathering within the water.
It was an utterly bizarre sensation. Even though the spell wasn't complete yet, Lee Han could perfectly perceive the surrounding space.
It was similar to Spatial Perception magic, but on a far more transcendent level. He could even sense Professor Voladi secretly watching them through a magic mirror in the next room without Professor Garcia noticing.
Then, Professor Voladi suddenly threw a small pebble. Startled, Lee Han instinctively reached out to catch it.
"!"
He caught the pebble, but only belatedly did he realize the strangeness of it.
From his current angle, the pebble shouldn't have been visible—it had been in Professor Voladi's solitary confinement room. Yet Lee Han had casually caught it as if it were right in front of him.
'So that's it! It's not just simple spatial perception!'
If he could only observe without any interference, it would be a half-baked spell.
The true power of Small World Terminalia wasn't just perceiving nearby spaces—it temporarily allowed access to them.
CRACK!
The pebble Lee Han had caught suddenly shattered as it burst out from another direction. The incomplete Small World magic had interfered with space, making it highly unstable.
Which meant he had to hurry even more. Instead of unnecessary tests or confirmations, Lee Han immediately directed the water droplet toward his Senior's frozen statue.
As the water droplet approached, Lee Han could clearly discern what the King of Frost Giants was doing. Even during that brief moment of closing the distance, the sensation of the space stretching and repelling him felt truly bizarre.
'Stay calm. Stay calm and push through.'
Lee Han repeated the incantation even more fervently, reinforcing his magical power.
If the spell's completion was lacking, he would simply pour in more mana and win through sheer force.
The water droplet slowed, slowed further—but it never stopped.
And then, the moment it touched the ice—
Crash!
With a shattering sound, the ice collapsed all at once. Ivanna, who had been trapped until just now, shouted in disbelief.
"You actually freed me! You crazy bastard!"
"Huh?"
"That's a compliment! Thanks!"
"......"
Lee Han gave his senior a dry, unimpressed look.
He had forgiven her for trying to steal his friends' paper bundle, saved her, and this was the thanks he got? Calling him a crazy bastard?
Had she been thinking that while trapped in the ice statue?
But Lee Han didn't get the chance to confront her. The shattered ice fragments began to clump together haphazardly, gradually taking on a familiar form.
The moment Lee Han saw it, he was horrified.
A truly infuriatingly familiar form—the figure of the King of Frost Giants.
I believed in you, challenger. I was certain you would solve the trial properly! Now, once more, in this bitter cold where even space freezes...
Before the King could even finish speaking, Professor Garcia completed her spell.
She had been casting it ever since Lee Han began preparing the Small World.
Vines of space coiled around the King's avatar, instantly freezing his movements.
Wait, don't interru—
Ignoring the King's warning, Professor Voladi suddenly lunged from behind.
A blade, blackened and burning with an unfathomable magic, flashed and pierced the King's torso repeatedly.
You vile saboteur—
"One more, Professor!"
Professor Garcia tightened the spatial bindings around the King and shouted.
And even without her prompting, Professor Voladi was already preparing his next attack.
A gleaming dagger appeared in his free hand, swiftly striking the King's vital points one after another.
Already severely wounded from the piercing strikes, the King's avatar could endure no longer.
Furious, the King roared as if vowing never to forget this interference.
I will never forget those who dared disrupt my game tod—
"You trespassed illegally into someone else's domain and have the audacity to act like this?! Do you think just because it's a challenge, anything goes?!"
Professor Garcia, on the contrary, lost her temper.
Her fiery outburst was so intense that even Lee Han was startled.
He hadn't noticed at all—she had always seemed so composed—but Professor Garcia had been secretly seething, ready to tear the King of Frost Giants apart the moment he appeared.
Hadn't the Evil God incident just happened? And now another malevolent being from another dimension was prowling around the school?!
"I'll report this to the Headmaster and send an expedition force! Stick your neck out and wait for it!"
...Very well. The King of Frost Giants shall withdraw for today.
Perhaps Professor Garcia's threat was more intimidating than expected, as the King chose not to provoke her further and retreated.
Still unsatisfied, she even hurled a rock at his dissipating form.
The rock pierced through the icy figure and embedded itself deep into the Punishment Room wall.
"...Lee Han. Ivanna. Are you both alright?"
Once the situation settled, Professor Garcia turned to the two students.
Ivanna, still dazed, could only nod.
"Y-Yes, Professor."
But the reaction of the junior beside her was different. With an expression of deep gratitude, he shouted:
"Thank you, Professor!"
'Huh? Was this really something to be that moved by? She was impressive, but...'
Ivanna wondered if she had missed something.
She had been facing the opposite direction the whole time...
But her junior's next words completely surpassed her expectations.
"I thought you were going to make us fight the King again!"
"...?!!!"