Episode 139
Episode 139
Unaware of Lee Han's inner thoughts, Professor Voladi spoke.
"Hungry Ghost. A lower-tier one."
At the end of the underground dungeon corridor illuminated by faint magical light, a revenant emerged as if climbing up while wrapped in a viscous, mucous-like darkness.
It was a monster called a Hungry Ghost.
Undead monsters not under a mage's control radiated raw malice so palpable you could feel it on your skin.
-■■■!
At that moment, the magical light summoned by Professor Voladi extinguished.
An ordinary student might have panicked, but Lee Han didn't falter in the slightest and immediately recited an incantation.
"Light, come forth."
He had already steeled himself to respond no matter what Professor Voladi might do.
As Lee Han instantly summoned light, Professor Voladi nodded in approval.
It was as if he was acknowledging good judgment.
'Are there no Professor Ghosts?'
Hungry Ghosts were undead monsters transformed from the sins and evil deeds accumulated during a person's lifetime.
In that case, it wouldn't be strange if Professor Ghosts existed.
Though admittedly, if Professor Ghosts existed, that would be terrifying in its own way...
"Spring forth."
Lee Han recited the incantation in a whisper, one level quieter than his previous light-summoning spell.
He'd quickly grasped that raising one's voice in a dungeon brought no advantage.
Professor Voladi gave him high marks internally.
Swift reaction speed and innate wariness.
These were qualities a combat mage should possess.
The water orbs split into multiple droplets, one of which shot lethally toward the Hungry Ghost.
With a dull thud, the Hungry Ghost's jaw shattered. The creature that had been striding forward unsteadily staggered.
'I should immobilize it.'
Close combat was something mages were better off avoiding. Lee Han aimed the water orbs at the Hungry Ghost's knees.
Another mage might have struggled with such precise targeting.
But Lee Han had already been thoroughly drilled in elemental magic control through training with Professor Voladi.
One more shot.
The water orb struck the moving Hungry Ghost's knee with perfect accuracy, toppling it.
This time, Professor Voladi didn't even nod. It was simply too obvious to acknowledge.
Lee Han hadn't expected praise either, so he wasn't disappointed.
Yet it was truly regrettable.
If even one outsider guest had been present, this would have made for far more thrilling entertainment than any clumsy festival event!
Lee Han had dispatched a lower-tier Hungry Ghost before it could even approach.
Then he checked the fallen creature. Sadly, the Hungry Ghost carried little of value. Not even the common magic stones.
Misinterpreting Lee Han's actions, Professor Voladi spoke up.
"Thoroughly confirming the kill is good practice. However, approaching monsters unnecessarily is unwise. Learn to verify with magic instead."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Keep moving forward."
Professor Voladi spoke from slightly behind Lee Han.
Lee Han was about to walk without thinking when he suddenly paused.
'Wait.'
Upon reflection, blindly following Professor Voladi's orders might be dangerous.
What could possibly be the professor's reason for bringing him to this dungeon in the first place?
Wasn't it precisely because of Lee Han's ability to multi-cast water elemental magic?
Therefore, there was a high probability the dungeon contained traps forcing multi-casting.
"Space, be perceived. Feet, wrinkle the earth."
There was a saying about testing even stone bridges before crossing.
But for mages, that wasn't necessary.
You could test the stone bridge, then simply fly across.
Seeing Lee Han preemptively cast various enhancement spells, Professor Voladi smiled ever so faintly.
If a good student was one who learned quickly from experience, Lee Han was learning before even gaining the experience.
Perhaps this was what made teaching truly rewarding.
'Professor Voladi just standing there quietly is making me even more uneasy.'
Lee Han pulled a bone fragment from his pocket and threw it forward.
"Appear, Bone Hand!"
The summoned Bone Hand flew ahead.
In that instant, a Hungry Ghost suddenly leaped out from what he'd thought was just a wall. Lee Han's eyes widened in shock.
'Stealth?!'
The Bone Hand swam through the air, attempting to strangle the Hungry Ghost's neck, but the ghost's strength was superior. In an instant, the Bone Hand was pushed back.
Thud!
The Bone Hand was more of a supplementary magic than an offensive one in itself.
All it needed to do was buy time.
Having confirmed the Hungry Ghost's appearance, Lee Han launched a Water Orb to take down the enemy.
"...It can use stealth too?"
"Hungry Ghosts have diverse characteristics."
"......"
Lee Han concluded that this approach wouldn't work.
Clink, clink—
As Lee Han began equipping various accessories, Professor Voladi faintly raised an eyebrow.
"Fire Magic."
"Yes."
"Good thinking. A proper mage never rests content."
Mages who grew comfortable with water elements and kept using only water magic found it difficult to progress.
A true mage had to continuously seek new challenges.
'It's not like you're giving me any room to rest even if I wanted to.'
Lee Han focused on fire while thinking to himself.
Unlike the now-familiar water element, fire required far more concentration.
Especially since losing focus even slightly could burn the surroundings—making it all the more crucial.
Lee Han's reason for choosing fire was simple.
'Let's just shoot at every possible hiding spot.'
For someone like Lee Han, who didn't know much about Hungry Ghosts, there weren't many options.
And the method he chose was sheer volume.
He would shoot at every possible place a monster could hide while moving forward!
For that, fire was more advantageous than water.
Whoosh!
Small flames rose around Lee Han. Though much smaller than Water Orbs, considering fire's properties, this was enough.
"You seem to have adapted."
"I've only just started."
"Pass through the dungeon and come down. I'll be waiting."
With those words, Professor Voladi vanished.
"......"
Left alone, Lee Han barely held back from cursing at the professor.
His voice might still be audible, after all.
Thud!
Cursing the vanished Professor Voladi wouldn't change reality.
Lee Han shut his mouth and dealt with the Hungry Ghosts.
'I think I get the general pattern now.'
The Hungry Ghosts in Professor Voladi's dungeon loved using stealth.
Once he got used to them, those clinging tightly to the dungeon's dark walls were easy to spot.
But the ones hiding motionless on the ceiling or crouching in stagnant puddles could still startle even Lee Han...
Yet even this fear faded with time.
Flames shot in all directions. Though each was only about two fingers wide—not particularly destructive—their effect was undeniable.
Like fireworks scattering everywhere, the moment the flames made contact, the Hungry Ghosts couldn't endure and leaped out.
-■■■■!
Once they appeared, a Water Orb was immediately launched to take them down.
Most Hungry Ghosts could be lured out with flames first, and any that still evaded capture could be detected with spatial awareness when they got close.
There were times when he was unlucky enough to get ambushed, but in those cases...
Whack!
Lee Han swung his staff, smashing a Hungry Ghost lurking in an alley.
For some reason—maybe just his mood—it felt more destructive than a Water Orb.
"...!"
As Lee Han walked through the narrow cave passage, a cool breeze from far ahead made him pause.
At the end of the passage was a fairly spacious area. Though too dark to see clearly, it gave the impression of a plaza.
Normally, this would be a situation worth celebrating after walking down such a narrow path for so long, but...
'It can't possibly be this ominous.'
Lee Han could feel every instinct in his body screaming warnings.
The moment he stepped past the passageway into the plaza, the Hungry Ghosts might just throw him a lively welcoming party!
But turning back wasn't an option. Lee Han began preparing additional spells.
Professor Garcia was cheerfully guiding a visiting non-mage around the school.
During the festival period, they had a welcome guest.
Yumidihus.
A renowned master of water Elemental Magic even within the empire, some of the spells she developed were widely used by imperial mages.
Since Professor Garcia had studied Yumidihus's magic during her own school days, she couldn't help but be delighted by the elderly mage's visit.
"It's truly an honor to meet you."
"No need to hold this old mage in such high regard..."
No one would ever guess that Yumidihus, who looked like a kindly grandmother, had once been a battle mage who achieved all sorts of dazzling feats in her youth.
Professor Garcia gazed at Yumidihus once more with eyes full of respect.
"The Magic School is always such a beautiful place."
"It does have lovely scenery."
"And wonderful students."
"I think so too."
"As for the professors..."
"They're all outstanding individuals."
"Now that's not true."
Yumidihus shook her head. Professor Garcia coughed awkwardly with an embarrassed expression.
"R-really? Everyone works so hard though..."
"It's not a matter of ability but character... Though I suppose with Gonadaltes around, what can you do? Gonadaltes might just be the root of all problems."
"......"
Professor Garcia felt torn between agreeing with the great mage's words and her duty as a professor not to badmouth the headmaster.
Must... resist!
"Any interesting students around?"
"Yes."
"Nothing brings more joy than nurturing good students. I managed to do well in other things, but I never quite succeeded in raising outstanding disciples."
At Yumidihus's humble words, Professor Garcia shook her head as if to say, What are you talking about?
"Your disciples are all remarkable..."
"They all fall short. Speaking of which, is Voladi Bagrak here?"
"Yes."
"I should meet him before I leave. Would you guide me?"
"Of course."
As she led Yumidihus, Professor Garcia suddenly remembered something.
Wait—wasn't this the time for <Basic Magical Studies>, no, <Repetitive Training in Basic Magic Combat>?
'It'd be great if Lady Yumidihus got angry after seeing the lecture.'
Professor Garcia descended to the underground and opened the classroom door.
But no one was there.
"???"
"They must be holding class elsewhere."
Yumidihus tapped the floor with her staff. Immediately, the lingering footprints on the ground glowed a vivid green, revealing their traces.
"Aha. Since the weather's nice, perhaps the courtyard—"
"?"
Yumidihus looked at Professor Garcia as if to say, What nonsense are you spouting?
Voladi wasn't the type to hold class in the courtyard just because the weather was pleasant.
"...No?"
"They must have gone to the Dungeon."
"Excuse me?"
"The Dungeon. The Dungeon. Once students reach a certain level of achievement, honing their skills in real combat speeds up progress. Is he teaching third-years?"
"......"
"I said, is he teaching third-years? Or fourth-years?"
Still reeling from the shocking statement, Professor Garcia shook her head at Yumidihus's question.
"Huh? Well... Professor Bagrak isn't teaching third or fourth-years right now."
"Fifth-years? If it's fifth-years, they'd be better off outside the school."
"......"
Professor Garcia didn't answer.
Instead, she quickened her steps, consumed by unease and impatience.
"Let's go!"
"What's the rush?"
"I think Professor Bagrak took the freshmen to the Dungeon!"
"Freshmen?"
"Yes!"
"Must be quite talented then..."
"Talented or not, that's not the point!"
Professor Garcia snapped angrily at the mage she so revered.