Episode 144
Episode 144
'Not surprising at all.'
Rather than showing surprise, Lee Han spoke calmly.
"I see. So you're planning to shoot fireworks at the students."
Firing fireworks at students—was that even reasonable? -> (X)
Ah, so you're going to shoot fireworks at the students! -> (O)
Having already steeled himself, Lee Han wasn't shaken by something at this level.
'I should warn my friends to avoid any events hosted by the Skeleton Principal.'
No matter how delicious the snacks the Skeleton Principal offered at this festival might be, following him would only result in getting hit by fireworks.
Seeing Lee Han's indifferent reaction, the Skeleton Principal found it rather dull.
The longer one lives, the fewer amusements remain.
For the Skeleton Principal, the only pleasures left were exploring magic, running the school, and tormenting his students—a truly ascetic, monk-like existence of frugality.
But with Lee Han reacting like this, the Skeleton Principal couldn't help feeling somewhat disappointed.
Aren't you being too cold about the idea of shooting fireworks at students?
"No, not at all. You could certainly shoot them if you want..."
......
The Skeleton Principal once again felt that his newly discovered disciple was far from ordinary.
Though he had taught and tormented many students over the years, few were as unique as the one standing before him now.
His words were as gentle as willow branches, yet his core was harder than most nobles could even imagine.
'The more someone like that needs to properly practice magic...'
The Skeleton Principal lamented the state of the Empire's magical education.
What had become of the magic schools these days?
In the past, masters and disciples would sit face-to-face, passing down everything one-on-one...
Hearing all sorts of nonsense from other mages only filled one's head with hot air. It was truly regrettable that they had to take such roundabout paths when shortcuts existed.
Lee Han followed behind the Skeleton Principal.
'Is this another professor's workshop?'
A uniquely designed tower located a short distance from the main building.
Given that professors each had their own workshops, it was easy to guess that this was another professor's tower.
Furnaces, bellows, and various equipment—things one would typically see in a blacksmith's forge—lay scattered before him, leaving Lee Han puzzled.
'There's a place like this in the magic school?'
He had occasionally visited such places while following Sir Alarong.
For knights, their arms were more important than life itself, so befriending skilled blacksmiths was crucial.
Naturally, the forges Sir Alarong visited were among the finest in the Empire, equipped with top-tier facilities...
'This doesn't fall short in comparison.'
It was so professional that it was almost startling.
What do you think?
Noticing Lee Han's surprise, the Skeleton Principal asked subtly.
Some of the facilities in this magic school had been built with budgets he had painstakingly begged from the Emperor.
Of course, he couldn't help but feel attached to them.
"I'm surprised. This place is..."
The Sacred Pavilion Hall. Do you know what it's for?
"A place to craft artifacts, I assume."
Correct. You're quick to catch on.
Creating enchanted items—artifacts—wasn't something just anyone could do.
If not a mage, who else could imbue magic into objects?
Thus, a skilled artifact creator was not only an exceptional mage but also a master blacksmith, an experienced sculptor, and a talented artisan.
"Are you planning to sell artifacts during the festival to make a profit?"
...An interesting idea, but no.
The Skeleton Principal was taken aback by Lee Han's suggestion.
Of course, selling artifacts was one of a mage's primary sources of income.
But among mages who knew how to craft artifacts, few were desperate to sell as many as possible just to make money.
Mages obsessed with wealth, or those who practiced magic solely for profit, rarely reached higher realms.
Selling artifacts was merely a means to fund their research, never the end goal.
'Why not sell them? There seem to be more external visitors than expected.'
'Why is this guy so obsessed with money when he's not even the one running the school...?'
The headmaster and the student both found each other equally strange.
Meanwhile, a professor emerged from inside the tower.
Lee Han was startled when he saw the professor.
'Incredibly... adorable!'
The professor, a beaver beastkin, held a hammer in one hand and a staff in the other.
Even for Lee Han, who had seen quite a few beastkin, the professor was astonishingly cute.
"Why are you here?"
I came because I needed magical fireworks.
"Got it. I'll make them for you. Go."
I brought a student to help.
"I don't need help?"
The beaver professor looked at the Skeleton Principal with a puzzled expression.
In response, the headmaster spoke seriously.
I'm worried about you. You love making things alone without involving students too much. You'll hurt yourself doing that.
"Why should I make students do something this fun? I don't get it."
The beaver professor grumbled, clearly displeased.
But the Skeleton Principal wasn't about to back down.
After all, wasn't the whole point of bringing Lee Han here to have him work on the magical fireworks?
If the headmaster went through the trouble of bringing Lee Han only for the beaver professor to work hard while Lee Han lazed around, it would be truly heartbreaking from the headmaster's perspective.
Ahem! You'll hurt yourself, I tell you! This is an order from your headmaster. Make them together with this student here!
'Relentless, really.'
Lee Han wasn't fooled by the headmaster's seemingly caring words. There was only one reason the Skeleton Principal had suddenly transformed into a kind and gentle mage.
To make Lee Han work no matter what!
From the looks of it, that beaver professor wasn't the type who liked delegating tasks to students.
The headmaster was emphasizing it so much precisely because he feared the professor might not assign anything to Lee Han.
"Fine, fine. We'll do it together, then."
Good! I'll trust you. Now, Wardanaz. Make sure all the designated magical fireworks are ready by the time I return.
"Understood."
After repeating his instructions several times, the Skeleton Principal hummed a tune as he floated away.
For some reason, Lee Han was reminded of a fairy tale he'd read long ago.
One where he had to fill a leaky jar with water while the Skeleton Principal was away...
The only difference was that Lee Han had no helpers this time.
'Guess I'd better get to work.'
Though the professor looked adorable, Lee Han didn't let his guard down.
Just what kind of person was this beaver professor?
"Professor?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"...Professor?"
"Huh? Yeah, yeah. Right. Yeah."
The beaver beastkin professor, Bibledy Verdus, wasn't as intimidating as one might expect.
He wasn't the type to hurl lightning bolts at freshmen or send undead summons to attack them.
Instead, Professor Bibledy had little interest in his students.
To be precise, he had little interest in anything in the world outside of his own magic.
"I heard you teach Enchantment Magic."
At Lee Han's words, Professor Bibledy fumbled with glass and metal for about 30 seconds before belatedly responding.
"Yeah."
Enchantment Magic.
A broad field with high demand even within the Empire.
When cast on people, it became Enhancement Magic; when cast on objects, it created Artifacts.
Lee Han had both fondness and interest in this branch of magic.
'Just as lucrative as Alchemy, academically speaking.'
Though mages who studied Enchantment Magic claimed to have no interest in gold, pursuing only the noble path of scholarship—not that Lee Han cared about that...
Wouldn't learning how to make Artifacts and selling them steadily make for a nice side hustle?
No matter how stable a career as an Imperial Bureaucrat was, the future was unpredictable. Having a steady secondary income stream wouldn't hurt.
'But with the professor like this...'
"Mmm. Wait a sec."
"Yes."
Honestly, it wouldn't have been a bad situation if not for the headmaster.
If the professor had no interest in Lee Han, he could just do his own thing moderately and leave.
But knowing the headmaster's personality, there was no way he wouldn't interrogate Lee Han afterward.
And if Lee Han had done nothing, the headmaster would throw every tantrum imaginable.
About thirty minutes later, Professor Vible finished his work. After dipping the completed metal plate into a large vat of solution and casting a spell, he began walking toward another room.
"Professor!"
"Huh? What? Since when have you been here?"
"I'm Lee Han, here to assist you in making magic fireworks."
"Ah. Right. Sorry. I keep forgetting."
Professor Vible approached Lee Han and asked,
"What year are you?"
"First year."
"......"
The professor froze for a moment before speaking again.
"First year?"
"Yes."
"...Uh... Did Gonadaltes misunderstand something?"
"He didn't misunderstand."
"Really? You must be exceptionally talented then?"
At the professor's words, Lee Han thought to himself,
'It's closer to malice than talent, though...'
"Making magic fireworks itself isn't particularly difficult. The hard part is making them pretty and varied. Especially for a freshman."
Professor Vible rolled a thick sheet of paper into a cylinder. Then he cast a spell, sealing both the top and bottom.
Finally, he attached a string to the bottom of the paper—one that could be pulled.
"There's a spell inside now. When you pull this? It goes 'bang' and explodes."
"...I'm sorry, but could you show me again?"
"Huh? Again?"
Professor Vible looked flustered.
"Sure. Just a moment."
The professor demonstrated the process once more.
Roll the paper, enchant it inside, seal the top and bottom, attach the string.
Done!
"...I'm truly sorry. Could you perhaps go slower this time..."
"Huh? You still need it again?"
"Yes. I apologize. It seems I have no talent for Enchantment Magic."
"No! It's fine. It's fine. Where does it say a mage has to be good at every single type of magic!"
Professor Vible was a kind soul.
Of course, that didn't mean he possessed outstanding abilities as an educator.
If he had been an exceptional teacher, he wouldn't have cast Enchantment Magic wordlessly in front of a freshman and then said something ridiculous like, 'Huh? Still don't get it? Must be talentless!'
Both the teaching master and the learning apprentice were spouting nonsense, but there was no one around to intervene.
Professor Vible picked up his wand again.
"Alright. So here..."
According to Professor Vible's teachings (though in truth, Lee Han had mostly figured it out himself), the foundational magic for magic fireworks consisted of two 2nd-circle spells: <Flame Enchantment> and <Light Enchantment>.
"I see. So it's about enchanting the paper with fire and light."
"Right. But that alone is too plain, so an exceptional mage pursues artistry in this."
Professor Vible, perhaps feeling peckish, pulled out a piece of tree bark and began chewing on it as he explained.
"You know how to manipulate elemental shapes and maintain forms, right?"
"Yes."
It wasn't really a question meant for a freshman, but the professor had already forgotten that Lee Han was one.
Lee Han answered without much thought either.
"The principle is similar. But you have to engrave it into the material, so you need to be more careful..."
In Enchantment Magic, the mage's skill was important, but so was the material being enchanted.
The weaker the durability, the harder it was to withstand the magic and mana.
Fortunately, the paper used for scrolls and fireworks wasn't ordinary—it was made of a material resistant to mana.
Even so...
"Professor. I have a lot of mana—do you think I can do this well?"
"If you can't, what can you do? Just try another type of magic."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Lee Han spoke sincerely.
Though he felt a bit disappointed, he thought it was better than nothing.
If it had been Professor Voladi, he might have said, 'I won't open the forge doors until you get it right'...
Thud!
After several trials and errors, Lee Han's first Light Magic Firework was complete.
Having restrained his mana as much as possible and aiming simply for functionality, it was far from impressive in shape or spectacle.
'As long as it works, that's enough.'
Lee Han didn't ask for much.
He'd be satisfied if it functioned as a magic firework when the string was pulled.
"Shall we test it?"
Professor Vible set down the tree bark and picked up the firework.
Then he pulled the string.
Bang!
A flash of light filled the room.
Professor Vible was startled by the much brighter light output than he had expected.