Episode 149
Episode 149
"Ordinary visitors to the Magic School usually enter through the main gate during the day and through the Spire Stables after evening."
"I see..."
Watching Lee Han immediately take notes, the Lightning-Step Professor momentarily wondered if Lee Han was from the Wardanaz family or a thief guild.
"However, there are more ways to enter the Magic School than you'd think. You've been to the underground before, haven't you?"
"Yes. I was lucky."
"If you didn't try again, that was wise. Gonadaltes isn't careless enough to leave a path open for freshmen once it's been breached."
Lee Han nodded.
He had known since enrollment that the Skeleton Principal was insane.
"Anyway... one of those paths is here."
The Lightning-Step Professor pointed to a spot on the massive mountain range behind the school and quickly sketched out a route.
It was a simple and rough map, but clear enough to follow.
-Rockgrass Underground Cave (Beware of the Cave Owner)
"Professors sometimes use this cave to sneak out. The underground part connects to the outside."
"?"
Lee Han was puzzled.
If that were true, wouldn't it mean outsiders could easily enter the school from outside?
'No. The cave owner must be filtering out intruders.'
If any place in the Magic School seemed lax or easy to exploit, it meant there was something—or someone—guarding it.
Let your guard down for a moment, and you're dead!
"Who is the cave owner?"
"That's a secret."
"......"
Lee Han gave the Lightning-Step Professor a sorrowful look.
The carrot-and-stick approach didn't just work on students—it worked on professors too.
His sculpted face paired with that pitiful gaze made him look even more miserable.
Moreover, rumors about Lee Han were already circulating among the professors. That he had caught the Skeleton Principal's favor and was being tormented—no, taught...
"...I'm not trying to torment you. I just can't tell you because of a promise. Any professor who's been granted permission to use the cave would've made the same vow."
Intelligent and powerful monsters or spirits rarely liked revealing their true nature or location.
Hadn't the 'Forgotten Beast Statue' on the third floor, which Salko had guided him to before, been the same?
"If that's the case, then I suppose there's no helping it. Could you at least give me some precautions?"
"Scour the school and gather as many physical defense-related Artifacts as you can carry."
"......"
Lee Han, who had been taking notes, froze.
'Should I just break into the Spire Stables instead?'
"Seeing the Empire's distinguished figures gathered here today, I, as a humble mage, must be even more mindful of my conduct."
Morning.
The Skeleton Principal floated gracefully before the guests visiting the Magic School and greeted them politely.
Applause erupted immediately.
When he wanted something, Gonadaltes could be as cunning as needed.
First-year students from each tower watched with expressions like they were about to vomit.
"Th-That disgusting..."
"Shh. Quiet. Do you want to end up in the Punishment Room?"
A few White Tiger Tower students gritted their teeth.
Some may argue that focusing solely on magic would already leave no time to spare. But Einrogard is not merely a place that teaches the grand discipline of magic—it is an institution that forges both body and mind, molding students into the Empire's future pillars!
'He's really good at squeezing out budgets.'
Lee Han honestly felt a bit impressed by the Skeleton Principal.
An outsider might be fooled into thinking, "They say mages only obsess over their magic and neglect their students, but he's truly different! If I hear any more baseless rumors, I'll personally refute them!"
As such, this Spring Festival will serve as an excellent morale boost for the incoming freshmen.
"But, Headmaster... Why aren't the other grade students...?"
"Now then, I'd like to give the new students here a little gift."
The Skeleton Principal pretended not to hear the guest's remark and ignored it.
Meanwhile, the freshmen grew tense at the mention of a gift, glancing around warily.
"Are undead lying in ambush or something?"
"A surprise undead attack as a gift...?"
But this time, it was genuinely a gift.
He had hidden treasures all over the school, so they should enjoy spring while searching for them.
"...Seriously?"
"No traps at all...?"
"Like that's possible?"
He had also prepared some minor pranks to make the treasure hunt even more enjoyable.
"......"
The freshmen could roughly guess what kind of "minor pranks" those might be without even asking.
Noticing their lukewarm reaction, the Skeleton Principal chuckled benevolently.
Among the treasures were Exit Permits.
"!"
"Exit Permits...?!"
Some students from Baldrogard looked puzzled at the Headmaster's words.
—Do they really need special permits? Why?
"...Should I challenge that bastard to a duel?"
"Hold back. He's a guest."
Whatever the Skeleton Principal's ulterior motives were, the mention of Exit Permits heightened the students' anticipation.
They were already fidgeting, eager to start moving.
"Let's go!"
"Even if it's a trap, we should at least try searching."
"Lee Han. You're coming too, right?"
"Yeah. I—"
Just as Lee Han was about to leave, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
Professor Voladi.
"......"
"Let's go."
"...Yes."
The professors' events weren't just a one-day affair. They continued throughout the entire Spring Festival week.
Meaning Lee Han had to attend Professor Voladi's tent every single day.
For the first time, Lee Han felt resentment toward the Emperor—a man whose face he had never even seen.
'Couldn't he have just exempted the professors...?'
If the professors were busy, who else would handle their duties? Their students, of course.
Perhaps fueled by that sorrow, Lee Han's Water Orbs grew sharper and more precise. Some of his movements were even praised by Professor Voladi.
"Gahk!"
"Y-you don't have to go this far!"
A student from Baldrogard, who had come after hearing rumors, protested upon seeing his friend with a bloody nose.
This angered the White Tiger Tower students who had already been bleeding from their noses earlier.
"You think dodging Water Orbs is some kind of joke?!"
"We're fighting for our lives here! And you outsiders dare—?"
'These brats pick up only the worst habits.'
Lee Han shot the White Tiger Tower idiots a disdainful look.
Bullying someone just because they're from outside?
Of course, Lee Han wasn't exactly in a position to lecture anyone—given that he was the one beating up outsider guests with Water Orbs...
"Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah."
"My apologies. Having heard so much about Baldrogard's prestige, I couldn't help but give it my all. Though I'm sure even that won't be enough."
"?"
Professor Voladi tilted his head slightly at Lee Han's words.
But the Baldrogard students had already softened at his explanation.
"W-well, if that's the case, I guess it can't be helped."
"You're Lee Han of the Wardanaz family? Let's meet up when the third-years gather next time."
"No, wait—"
Before Lee Han could clarify, the Baldrogard students had already left.
'They're first-years, though.'
As the Baldrogard students walked away, a White Tiger Tower student wiped his bloody nose and stepped forward again.
"I challenge you."
"...Why don't you just quit?"
"Hmph. Scared of me?"
At his friend's provocation, the other White Tiger Tower students whispered fearfully.
"Hey. Don't provoke Wardanaz for no reason."
"That bastard can still improve his Water Orbs."
"...Who said I'm scared? Bring it— Gahk!"
Lee Han took advantage of his opponent's carelessness and slammed a Water Orb right into his face.
In magical combat, the first strike was always key.
After spending the entire morning battering people with Water Orbs and grabbing a quick lunch, Lee Han went to meet Professor Vible Verdus.
The beaver beastman professor, chewing on tree bark, offered him some.
"It's alright. I've already eaten."
"Really? Then let's begin."
Perhaps because the Skeleton Principal had driven the point home firmly, Professor Vible made only the most ordinary and simple magical fireworks.
Just applying <Flame Enchantment> or <Light Enchantment> to finish them.
It wasn't an overly difficult spell—after making a few mistakes (though each failure did scorch the surroundings), Lee Han managed to get the hang of it.
However, Professor Vible's expression grew darker, and his muttering increased.
"I don't wanna make these..."
"......"
"I don't wanna make them... It's boring..."
'He's pressuring me in a different way.'
When the professor was silent, that was frightening in its own right, but him talking too much wasn't necessarily a good thing either.
Lee Han focused as hard as he could to escape this situation.
'Every time I fail, the time I have to spend here increases.'
Swinging his wand, reciting incantations, completing the magical fireworks.
In this uncomfortable and awkward atmosphere, Lee Han's concentration was honed to an even sharper edge.
One of Lee Han's strengths was his near-infinite mana capacity.
Drawing upon that vast reserve, he tirelessly produced magical fireworks without pause.
It was a speed that not only freshmen but even seasoned Enchantment mages would struggle to match. Only possible because he had no need for rest whatsoever.
"All done, Professor."
"Boring... Huh? Really?"
Professor Vible, who had been muttering while making fireworks, lifted his head.
"Yes. Everything's finished."
Lee Han answered with a faint smile. Professor Vible blinked and counted the stacked fireworks. Then his face brightened.
"That's really amazing??"
Any other professor would have focused on the fact that a student had made more than the professor himself.
No matter how much the professor grumbled while making them, the mere fact that a freshman, starting at the same time, had produced more was an incredible feat.
But Professor Vible was only thinking about how this tedious task was finally over.
"Great job!"
"Yes, Professor. Then I'll take my leave—"
"Since we have time left, let's try making something else fun!"
"...Uh. I don't have much talent for Enchantment Magic, so I—"
"It's fine. It's fine!"
'What exactly is fine here?'
The spell Professor Vible taught him was <Lesser Flame Resistance>.
This spell, cast over the entirety of a thick robe, was essential for novice mages learning various fire enchantment spells.
Given Lee Han's considerable worries regarding fire magic, he had to admit this spell was quite useful...
But Professor Vible's words unsettled him.
-Once you master this spell, it'll help when practicing other enchantments later.
-Is that so, Professor? But I'm not really suited for Enchantment Magic...
-I know. I know. You think you have no talent. But don't worry too much. Other enchanters don't have talent either, and they still manage.
-......
In truth, the fact that he had started making fireworks alongside the professor and produced more, and that he had somehow succeeded in casting <Lesser Flame Resistance>—a 3rd-circle spell—within the allotted time, was something impossible without talent...
But Professor Vible had a different way of evaluating things.
If you were worse than him, you had no talent. If you were better, you did!
Of course, from Lee Han's perspective, this was troubling.
Even if someone told him he had talent, he'd still agonize over whether he could learn properly—especially when his assigned professor wasn't reliable, just saying things like, "Do it because it's fun! Whether you'll succeed or not doesn't matter!"...
'Even by my own estimation, my learning speed isn't bad. I should probably just ask Professor Garcia once.'
Lee Han resolved to seek out the half-troll professor—the true mentor and trustworthy adult of this magic school.
"Let's just give up on that."
"How can you say that? What if that's an Outing Pass? Do you have any guarantee we'll find another treasure?"
"?"
As Lee Han walked out, he was puzzled to see a group of tower students gathered and arguing up ahead.
What was going on?
"Wardanaz! Help us!"
"Not Wardanaz! That bastard will just take it for himself!"
"Let's just get it out first and think later!"
As the distance closed, Lee Han immediately realized what was happening.
A treasure chest personally crafted by the headmaster lay before them.
...Resting atop a roaring bonfire, flames leaping several meters high.