Episode 141
Episode 141
Even though a stranger had appeared, Lee Han reacted immediately, bowing with perfect poise.
The fact that he had been informed in advance about external guests visiting the school this week played a big role.
'This must be a mage from outside.'
"Greetings."
"Do you know who I am?"
The elderly mage looked puzzled.
Despite the fame of the name "Yumidihus," few actually knew the old mage's face.
Outwardly, she looked like a kind grandmother—hardly the type to warrant such deep respect.
"I don't. But since you are a guest from outside, isn't it proper to show courtesy?"
"...For a talented mage, you're far too polite!"
Yumidihus was surprised.
Generally, a mage's character tended to be inversely proportional to their talent.
It was an unfortunate reality—the more gifted they were, the more arrogant and prideful they became.
With a boy like the one before her, she wouldn't have been shocked if he had spat to the side upon meeting her and asked, "Who the hell are you?"
Moreover, he was from the Wardanaz family and was being taught by Voladi Bagrak.
Naturally, she had expected him to be haughty and eccentric...
But Lee Han's unexpectedly polite demeanor left Yumidihus intrigued.
'How does a student like that end up under Voladi Bagrak?'
"You defeated a Rakshasa Hungry Ghost. Weren't you surprised?"
"I was, but I judged that if I applied the magic I've learned so far properly, I could handle it."
Lee Han gave a textbook answer.
Since he didn't know the other's identity, he had to be as cautious as possible.
Of course, she was an external guest, but he had no way of knowing what kind of relationship she had with the Skeleton Principal or Professor Voladi.
No amount of caution was enough.
"And you're not angry at Voladi Bagrak for preparing such an ordeal?"
What intrigued Yumidihus the most was how calmly and composed Lee Han remained.
The Rakshasa Hungry Ghost had been an unforeseen situation—even Voladi Bagrak hadn't anticipated it.
The creature, which was supposed to stay in the lower levels of the dungeon, had somehow climbed up.
For a young mage, getting angry would have been the normal reaction.
And if he were an arrogant mage with that level of talent, even more so.
Yet Lee Han didn't act rashly.
'They must be personally acquainted with Professor Voladi!'
The fact that she didn't call him "Professor" made it clear they had a personal relationship. Lee Han exercised patience once again.
"Not at all. Professor Voladi prepared this solely to impart a lesson to me. Why would I have any reason to be angry?"
"Well, I never!"
The old mage let out an exclamation.
'How did Voladi Bagrak end up with such an undeservingly good student?'
Usually, mages either had talent but no character or character but no talent—yet the boy before her astonishingly possessed both.
On top of that, his patience was strong enough to endure even Voladi Bagrak's temperament without complaint.
"Truly remarkable."
'I made it through safely.'
Seeing that the other party seemed satisfied, Lee Han gave a small nod.
Belatedly, Professor Voladi and Professor Garcia appeared from below. Professor Garcia called out with a worried expression.
"Are you alright, Lee Han? Of all things, you had to run into a Rakshasa Hungry Ghost..."
Had there been no one else around, Lee Han would have joined Professor Garcia in cursing Professor Voladi. But too many eyes were watching.
Lee Han responded with practiced diplomacy once more.
"I'm fine, Professor. Professor Voladi must have calculated and prepared everything in advance."
"The Rakshasa Hungry Ghost wasn't prepared—it climbed up from below. Lee Han."
"...Ah."
Only then did Lee Han realize.
No wonder his spells hadn't been working!
A curse rose to his throat, but he kept his facial muscles steady as he replied.
"It's alright, Professor. If anything, it turned out to be an even better opportunity."
"Lee Han..."
Unaware of his true feelings, Professor Garcia pitied him.
At times like these, it was okay to get angry—but he was so good-natured that it was almost heartbreaking.
"Ah, right. This is Lady Yumidihus. You must have heard of her name?"
"!"
Lee Han had indeed heard of Yumidihus. Wasn't she the famous water elemental mage of the Empire?
Lee Han bowed once again.
"It's an honor to meet you, Lady Yumidihus."
"To show such respect for a name that's not all that remarkable is rather embarrassing."
"Not at all, Lady Yumidihus."
"I heard you rotated the Water Orb. Correct?"
Lee Han nodded in response to the nomage's question.
"It wasn't perfect."
"If you'd fully mastered the rotation, the other mages here would've snapped their wands in shame. Even that much is truly impressive."
Yumidihus fell into thought, pondering for a moment before speaking.
"I'll be staying for a few more days. Would you be interested in receiving some simple instruction?"
"!"
While Professors Voladi and Yumidihus showed no particular change in expression, Professor Garcia was the only one visibly startled.
For Yumidihus to offer instruction was absolutely no trivial matter.
She was the type who wouldn't grant teachings even if ordinary mages knelt and begged for days on end.
Only mages with gem-like talent could catch Yumidihus's eye and receive even simple instruction. Professor Voladi had been one such case.
But even then, it was always after the student first requested it.
Yet here was this nomage, offering to teach a freshman who hadn't achieved anything yet—without even being asked!
Professor Garcia couldn't believe it. The fact that Professor Voladi remained expressionless and silent only made it more frustrating.
'Accept it, Lee Han! This is a golden opportunity!'
"Thank you, but..."
"?!"
As Lee Han hesitated, Professor Garcia nearly died from frustration.
"Do you have some reason for refusing?"
Yumidihus asked, sounding genuinely puzzled. No matter how she thought about it, there was no reason to decline.
"I'm currently learning under Professor Voladi. It wouldn't be proper to accept instruction from someone else without permission."
Lee Han was cautious.
Professors, as it turned out, were pettier than one might expect. If he carelessly said "Yes, I'll learn," he could face retaliation in his grades later.
Of course, Professor Voladi didn't seem like that kind of person, but who could predict how things would go?
Better to be careful.
"Hah!"
Yumidihus let out another sigh—this one longer than before.
"Such things are to be expected, but the world truly is unfair..."
There was a saying that good deeds brought good fortune, but that was a lie.
Otherwise, how could a student with such upright character end up under someone like Voladi Bagrak?
Yumidihus genuinely believed this.
"Huh?"
"Never mind. You're a truly well-mannered child."
Yumidihus turned her head to look at Voladi Bagrak.
"You taught him well."
"Yes."
"But it's really not your doing."
"??"
Professor Voladi reacted as if he couldn't comprehend the nomage's words.
Why?
Yumidihus had no intention of explaining herself to Voladi Bagrak. She cut straight to the point.
"You don't mind if I give him some instruction, do you?"
"No."
"So it's settled. Then I'll leave him in your care for the next few days."
The nomage patted Lee Han on the shoulder before turning to leave.
Sensing something odd in their exchange, Lee Han asked Professor Garcia:
"What is Lady Yumidihus's relationship with Professor Bagrak?"
"Professor Bagrak once studied under Lady Yumidihus."
"......"
Upon hearing this, Lee Han's face turned paler than the darkness of the dungeon.
Professor Voladi slowly spoke to Lee Han, who was inwardly cursing his own choices.
"You did well."
"...Thank you."
Lee Han barely held back the "you bastard" that threatened to follow his words.
To think he hadn't noticed the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost emerging—how could he call that teaching...
"Ah, Professor. Earlier, there was an obstacle interfering with lightning magic."
"I placed it there."
"...I see."
To set up an obstacle blocking lightning magic just to force focus on water magic...
Lee Han trembled with emotion at the professor's meticulous consideration.
"The multiple attributes are nearly perfect. A few more battles and you'll get used to them."
"Yes... I understand."
By now, Lee Han was fine with regular Hungry Ghosts. He felt confident he could prepare and fight them somehow.
"Next time a Rakshasa Hungry Ghost appears, we'll need to properly manage it so other monsters can't enter."
"Thank y— Wait a moment. Professor."
"?"
"'Next time a Rakshasa Hungry Ghost appears'... You mean it's not a regular Hungry Ghost?"
"Regular Hungry Ghosts pose no threat to you."
Professor Voladi looked at Lee Han as if questioning what he was saying.
For magic skills to improve rapidly, one needed to feel threatened—and ordinary Hungry Ghosts were no longer a threat to Lee Han.
They would have to descend to where the Rakshasa Hungry Ghosts appeared.
"...Next time, I'll fight without using magic."
Feeling threatened, Lee Han attempted to resist, but Professor Voladi shook his head.
"Even if you remove other Enhancement Magic, it won't make a difference. Regular Hungry Ghosts won't help you."
"...I see."
Professor Voladi hesitated before speaking again.
"I misjudged you."
"Excuse me?"
"Try challenging the Rotation Attribute."
Professor Voladi had initially thought Lee Han was too impatient and had intended to make him familiarize himself with other attributes first.
But after watching him fight today, his opinion had changed.
A truly talented mage wouldn't stop diving into unknown territories just because they were discouraged.
Seeing Lee Han attempt rotation while simultaneously handling multiple attributes only reinforced that belief.
A teacher should never recklessly block their student's path forward.
Once again, Professor Voladi had gained new insight into teaching.
As the professor nodded encouragingly, his pale face silently staring at him, Lee Han thought:
'Should I just punch him once and head straight to the Punishment Room?'
Whose fault was it that he was now attempting the Rotation Attribute anyway...?
"Professor."
"What is it?"
After class ended, Lee Han, who had been about to bid Professor Voladi farewell, found himself unable to do so.
Instead, he ended up accompanying the professor back from the underground and participating in a festival booth set up in front of the main building.
Standing together in the modest space seemingly assigned to the professor, Lee Han already wanted to return to the dorm.
He'd had enough during class—did he really have to spend his break time like this too?
"Other students... Hmm. Never mind."
Lee Han had been about to ask, 'Can't you assign someone else?' but quickly realized.
Come to think of it, he was the only one attending Professor Voladi's lectures.
"Professor, are you hosting an event too?"
"Yes."
"Do you enjoy festivals?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Gonadaltes."
"Ah."
With that curt answer, Lee Han quickly grasped the situation.
Of course—Professor Voladi wasn't even a priest, so there was no way he'd willingly run a festival booth just for the students' enjoyment.
'What a wicked headmaster. He's definitely doing this to torment us.'
In truth, it was the Emperor's order, but Lee Han didn't know that yet.
"So... what are we supposed to do?"
Lee Han glanced to the left.
Priests wearing gloves were baking sweet treats for the freshmen.
Lee Han glanced to the right.
Priests dressed in colorful costumes were performing a play.
'This is ridiculously unfair.'
No matter how he looked at it, anyone sane would've gone left or right—no one would visit Professor Voladi's booth.
But they couldn't just stand there doing nothing. They had to at least pretend.
'At least it's not related to grades.'
Professor Voladi pulled a ticket from his pocket. Lee Han's eyes widened.
To his shock, it was an Outing Pass!
"We'll give this to the winner."
"Pro... Professor."
"What is it?"
"Can I get that too?"
"There's only one."
"What if no one comes and it's left unused...?"
"Do you need it?"
Professor Voladi looked at Lee Han with an expression that seemed to ask, 'Why would you even want to go outside?'
Lee Han nodded seriously.
"Yes."
"Fine. I'll give it to you."
"......"
Lee Han's eyes burned with determination.
No matter what, he couldn't let a guest walk away with that.
'I'll defend it with my life.'
"Professor. What's the event?"
Professor Voladi pointed upward with his finger. Lee Han raised his head.
Words had already appeared on the tent above.
-<Dodging Water Orbs>.