Episode 151
Episode 151
Professor Garcia, who had been quickly counting numbers in his head, stopped his train of thought.
Because it was meaningless.
No matter how many he counted, the fact remained that his outstanding student was on the verge of being crushed to death by magic right before his eyes.
'Should I stop him...?'
Professor Garcia hesitated mid-sentence.
Did he even have the right to stop Lee Han?
It was true that Lee Han possessed a genius-level talent for Enchantment Magic.
If he were to suppress that talent, it could result in immense losses—for the empire, for the magical community, and for Lee Han himself.
Hadn't Professor Garcia herself attended every possible lecture when he was a student at the Magic School?
Did someone like him really have the right to stop Lee Han?
Professor Troll didn't think so.
'...Alright. Just this much. Let him learn just this much.'
He would genuinely stop him from the next spell onward...
"Good luck, Lee Han."
"Thank you as always, Professor."
Lee Han politely bowed and rose from his seat. Suddenly curious, Professor Garcia asked,
"Are you off to enjoy the festival with your friends now?"
"Yes."
Noticing the treasure chest tucked under Lee Han's arm, Professor Garcia smiled.
It wasn't good for a freshman to be solely obsessed with magic.
Building friendships and memories with friends like that was also important...
"I'll meet with Lord Yumidihus to receive instruction, then visit the priests of the Afha Order for Fire Element Magic training before that."
"......"
Watching Lee Han bow and walk away, Professor Garcia regretted not stopping him after all.
Yumidihus stood waiting, dressed as if he were about to go on a picnic.
The wide-brimmed straw hat to block the sunlight and the sturdy fabric trousers gave off the relaxed air of someone who personally managed a rural farm.
But Lee Han didn't let his guard down.
'That person is Professor Voladi's teacher.'
That fact alone made Yumidihus one of the most dangerous individuals in the Magic School.
"Shall we get going?"
"Are we climbing the mountain?"
"That's right."
Lee Han didn't ask, 'What are you planning to do up there?'
"If we're climbing the mountain, I'll bring some food and drinks."
"Oh dear... Did you not eat lunch? You can eat first if you'd like."
"No, I already had lunch. But if we're climbing, won't you get hungry, Lord Yumidihus?"
"...!"
Yumidihus was stunned.
A student looking out for their teacher?
This was an astonishing sight he'd never witnessed among any of the mages who had come to learn magic from him before.
-Lord Yumidihus. I've come to learn magic. When do we start? Hurry up and begin. I don't have much time, you see.
-Lord Yumidihus. Are you ignoring me right now? To think you'd assume I can't handle this simple magic. How utterly rude!
-Lord Yumidihus. To be perfectly objective, this magic isn't particularly good. It's fine. Everyone makes mistakes. Just teach me a different spell.
Closing his eyes, the words and actions of past visitors flashed through his mind.
To be fair, this was partly Yumidihus's own fault.
Generally, the more talented and skilled a mage was, the more insufferable they became.
Yumidihus had filled the area around his remote tower with all sorts of trials and traps.
The mages capable of breaking through those obstacles and reaching him were, by necessity, arrogant and rude.
'...How did a student like that come from under someone like Voladi Bagrak?'
"Are you alright?"
Seeing Yumidihus standing motionless with his eyes closed, Lee Han asked in concern.
"I'm quite shocked, but I'm fine. Well then, I'll accept your offer once."
"Understood."
Lee Han turned and headed toward the cabin.
-Professor, could you give me some food?
-...Did you just take it without asking!?
-Lord Yumidihus said he wanted to see the mountain range. We can't just go empty-handed, can we?
-...I'm only giving you this because I know you're working hard at the festival. Understand?
"Of course. Thank you, Professor. You're the only one I can rely on."
"Don't say things you don't mean..."
Lee Han returned with a generously filled basket of food and drinks.
There was a large smoked ham and sausages, jars of tangy pickled cucumbers and vegetables, white bread with soft jams and sauces to spread on it. He'd even borrowed the freshly brewed black tea and milk Professor Thunderstep had just prepared for himself.
Yumidihus, who had expected at best some jerky and a leather water flask, was utterly astonished.
"All this?"
"Ah! Is it not enough? I can bring more."
"No, no. This is plenty! More than enough!"
Yumidihus was both flustered and fascinated by the lavish spread.
He knew how the freshmen at this magic school were being tormented by Gonadaltes.
Yet this boy before him had procured food as effortlessly as pulling items from his own pocket.
Truly remarkable resourcefulness.
"Shall we go then, Lord Yumidihus? Let me carry your belongings."
"But I've reinforced them with magic—they're not heavy at all."
"Even so, since you're graciously offering me instruction, it's only right that I carry them."
"...By any chance, do you intend to keep learning from Voladi Bagrak?"
The words slipped out before Yumidihus realized it.
The thought of a scoundrel like Professor Voladi living in luxury with such a devoted student made his blood boil unconsciously.
'Remarkable. Truly remarkable!'
As they walked together, Yumidihus found himself marveling every few minutes.
It wasn't Lee Han's magical abilities or talents that astonished him—those he'd already witnessed sufficiently during the underground dungeon incident.
After all, when a freshman could single-handedly capture a Rakshasa Hungry Ghost, there was no need to question his magical prowess.
What Yumidihus marveled at was Lee Han's upright character.
A radiant integrity never seen among the Empire's most distinguished mages!
One's true nature could never remain hidden indefinitely.
Though hidden motives might be concealed briefly, prolonged interaction inevitably revealed one's inner self.
Yet throughout their conversation, Lee Han displayed not a trace of arrogance or conceit.
Even when Yumidihus spoke simple words, the boy listened with utmost respect and focus.
By this point, Yumidihus found himself genuinely troubled.
Why did the world's principles work this way?
'Why must students like this belong to Gonadaltes or Bagrak?'
Of course, given his age, Yumidihus knew virtuous people didn't always receive their due rewards...
But scoundrels like Gonadaltes and Bagrak certainly didn't deserve such rewards.
This was truly unjust.
'What is that look in his eyes?'
When Yumidihus gazed at Lee Han with complex, unreadable eyes, the boy grew even more tense.
Having heard this was Professor Voladi's teacher, Lee Han was already conducting himself with even more meticulous care than usual to avoid any missteps.
'What is he thinking about?'
Yumidihus simply looked at Lee Han with something like pity.
After clicking his tongue several times, the nomage finally spoke.
"See that river."
Several substantial rivers flowed through the mountain range. Yumidihus pointed his staff toward one.
"You may know this if you've heard rumors of me, but I'm rather skilled with water elements."
Lee Han nodded.
In truth, "rather skilled" was extreme modesty—had it been merely "rather," his fame wouldn't have spread so widely across the Empire.
"Can you guess why I research water elemental magic?"
"Is it related to your natural affinity?"
"That would indeed be one correct answer."
Yumidihus swung his staff.
BOOM!!
With a tremendous roar, the river's water transformed into steam and exploded. A white pillar shot upward, morphing into cumulus clouds that spread across the surroundings.
The birds in the mountains scattered in all directions, startled. Yet Yumidihus didn't even blink as she spoke.
"But the real answer is that water elemental magic is the most suited for combat."
"......"
Her young disciple's expression didn't change at all. His sculpted face remained silently fixed on the river.
Seeing this, Yumidihus nodded in satisfaction.
'How ambitious.'
Those who froze in terror upon witnessing incomprehensible grand magic could never achieve greatness as mages.
A true mage should burn with competitive spirit upon seeing such magic, striving to surpass it.
'As expected of Professor Voladi's teacher, suddenly pulling off something insane like this...'
Lee Han thought to himself.
Just to demonstrate that water magic could be combative, she had to go this far...
Simply evaporating water wouldn't cause an explosion. Only by rapidly evaporating it could the sudden expansion in volume create explosive force.
Yumidihus had utilized this principle to manifest Steam Explosion as magic.
While astonishing and fascinating, was there really any need to explode water without even warning her disciple first...?
'Was that necessary?'
But Lee Han said nothing.
Because Yumidihus was terrifying.
Misinterpreting her disciple's silent demeanor, Yumidihus asked in a slightly pleased voice:
"Can you guess what kind of magic I just demonstrated?"
"Didn't you rapidly evaporate water to create shockwaves?"
"!"
Yumidihus was genuinely surprised.
Beyond simply having abundant mana, precise mana control, or strong command over magic...
'How perceptive!'
A great mage needed the ability to think deeply and broadly.
Magic students often complained:
-Why do we need so many abilities just to study one spell?
But there was no helping it. That was reality.
Deep, expansive thinking was essential for mages who had to manifest their mental images into reality.
And this boy already possessed it.
What took other mages years of traveling the empire to develop—he already had it...
Yumidihus marveled at the boy's talent and felt a renewed urge to murder Voladi Bagrak.
'That good-for-nothing who did nothing...'
"Correct. Quite sharp."
"Thank you."
Lee Han had no inkling of the rapid thoughts unfolding in the archmage's mind.
"Those unfamiliar or unskilled with water magic think it ends at summoning water, coalescing it, or changing its shape. But that's just the beginning. The world of water... is far vaster and deeper."
Yumidihus clenched her fist.
Instantly, the river's water level dropped sharply as the surrounding land began losing vitality.
'Moisture absorption!'
It was truly astonishing.
Given how Professor Voladi had drilled him, Lee Han had only associated water magic with shape transformation and manipulation...
But its applications could expand endlessly into evaporation, absorption, and more.
'I used to think water magic was somewhat lacking for combat. I was wrong.'
"You've already mastered basic shape transformation and manipulation, haven't you?"
"Not to that extent."
Though Lee Han spoke sincerely, Yumidihus dismissed it as modesty.
"That's why you've been practicing the Rotation Attribute, isn't it?"
"No. That was purely accidental."
"While that's a natural progression—a path every mage must walk..."
'Is her hearing going bad?'
Lee Han kept the thought to himself.
If Yumidihus so much as blinked, she might instantly desiccate Lee Han's blood.
"...focusing solely on manipulation can also narrow your perspective. I called you here today to show you other domains of water elemental magic."
Yumidihus spoke like a kindly grandmother. Of course, given her earlier actions, Lee Han wasn't fooled by the atmosphere.
"Now. Let's see you try."
"...Pardon?"
Try what?