Episode 169
Episode 169
With a darkened expression, Salko slowly opened his mouth.
"The magic I was going to teach you is <Tutanta Family's Rock Decomposition>."
"No way. If you knew such a spell, you should've mentioned it earlier."
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
For a moment, Lee Han thought he heard the sound of teeth grinding.
In any case, <Tutanta Family's Rock Decomposition> was renowned among decomposition-type spells for its efficiency and outstanding effectiveness.
Even among spells that produce identical results, they inevitably differ vastly in structure, process, incantations, and more.
Therefore, choosing which spell to learn among those producing similar results was an extremely important matter.
One had to consider factors like how well it suited their aptitude and in what situations they'd primarily use it before making a decision.
Such concerns weren't necessary for relatively simple lower-circle spells, but became essential as one progressed to higher circles.
-In this situation, you must use <Wardanaz Family Water Hydra Summon>!
-You fool! Your magical incompetence brings me to tears! There's no need for such an expensive spell! A simple <Giant Water Serpent Summon> would suffice!
-With a spell of that level, we absolutely cannot resolve this burning lava avalanche!
"I see. I've heard of the Tutanta family's reputation too. To think you'd teach me their family magic. Is that really alright?"
"......Yes."
Salko answered after an unusually long silence. Lee Han wondered if his hesitation stemmed from teaching a family spell.
'Well, teaching family magic probably isn't something one does willingly.'
Even after deciding to teach it, the reluctance was understandable.
Lee Han nodded sympathetically. Of course, this sentiment wasn't conveyed to Salko at all.
"Here. The incantation is as follows."
Salko explained the incantation, gestures, required materials (a handful of the rock to be decomposed), and detailed process of <Tutanta Family's Rock Decomposition>.
The elf from the Tutanta family had memorized it in far greater detail than most magic tomes. Thanks to this, Lee Han could easily understand what kind of spell it was.
...Of course, that didn't mean learning the spell itself would be easy.
'What's this?'
Lee Han felt a throbbing pain in his head.
Separate from mana consumption, it resembled the headache that comes from mental exhaustion after repeatedly casting complex spells.
This <Tutanta Family's Rock Decomposition> was that difficult.
After several more attempts, the headache became unbearable. Lee Han paused momentarily.
"Tutanta. How long did it take you to learn this spell?"
"I haven't mastered this spell yet."
"...?"
Lee Han was momentarily puzzled.
This guy?
'No. Surely not.'
"I see. Still, this spell isn't that difficult, right? About what circle is it?"
Lee Han estimated it might be 2nd-circle, or at most 3rd-circle if being generous.
"......"
But when faced with Lee Han's question, Salko suddenly hesitated.
Then he answered.
"It's... technically 4th-circle."
"......"
Lee Han's expression turned serious as he stared at Salko.
Could this bastard be trying to assassinate me indirectly since he can't win head-on?
Salko truly hadn't intended to assassinate Lee Han.
After leading the Black Turtle Tower students through the labyrinth, doing such a thing would make him less than human.
It's just that...
'Why did I do that?'
...he simply hadn't considered that teaching a 4th-circle spell to a Wardanaz might be dangerous.
Even Salko himself didn't understand.
Why exactly?
Normally, one should first debate whether it's appropriate to teach such advanced magic to a first-year before even considering whether sharing family magic is permissible...
"Alright. Salko."
As the atmosphere grew awkward, Lee Han spoke up to smooth things over.
"Perhaps this <Tutanta Family's Rock Decomposition> is among the easier 4th-circle spells? That's why you taught it to me."
Not all spells of the same Circle had the same difficulty level.
If this spell was considered one of the easier ones among 4th Circle Magic, then it made sense why he'd tried to teach it.
"No. Wardanaz. <Tutanta Family's Rock Decomposition> is notoriously difficult even among 4th Circle Magic. I've even heard some say it's harder than 5th Circle Magic..."
"Um, Tutanta. I don't think saying that right now is a good idea."
Nilia cautiously advised. Tutanta also belatedly realized and shut his mouth.
Of course, the atmosphere had already grown even more awkward.
"......"
"......"
As Lee Han and Tutanta fell into a heavy silence, Nilia stuck between them was utterly miserable.
"...The stairs to the 4th floor! Look over there!"
"Ah, the 4th-floor stairs."
"Right, the 4th-floor stairs."
"Mentioning the 4th floor makes me think of 4th Circle Magic... Oops. Never mind."
"...I'm sorry, Wardanaz."
Salko apologized.
He'd never imagined there'd come a day when he'd have to apologize for teaching someone the Tutanta family's magic.
"No, Tutanta. These things happen."
'Did they just put some distance between them?'
Nilia noticed that Lee Han and Tutanta had subtly moved farther apart.
Swoosh!
"!"
The moment they reached the 4th-floor corridor, a shrieking ghost monster came charging down the hallway.
The students all flinched and tried to retreat down the stairs.
"Get back—"
Wham!
But there was no need.
A blazing white streak of light flashed through the air, piercing the ghost monster and making it vanish in an instant.
From afar, Lee Han could hear faint voices.
-Hurry, get out of the way! They're first-years!
-This bastard escaped...! Why did they come all the way to the 4th floor?!
-It's midterm exam period!
'Shouldn't they be hiding better?'
The upperclassmen had come to the 4th floor to recapture the escaped ghost monster.
It all happened so fast that the other students didn't seem to notice.
"I-It's gone?"
"Everything's fine now, right?"
The 4th-floor corridor, now ghost-free, was quiet and peaceful.
This was, in fact, what a normal school hallway should look like.
'The Beetle Classroom, was it?'
Lee Han walked slowly, checking the classrooms lining the hallway.
Griffin Classroom, Maykin Family Classroom (it was obvious they'd generously sponsored its construction that year), Beer Candy Classroom, Burning Red Flag Polo Team Classroom...
And finally, the Beetle Classroom.
"!!!"
The students' eyes widened.
Though they'd struggled to reach the 4th floor, none of them had actually expected to find the classroom so easily.
"Th-This easily?"
"Honestly... it wasn't that easy."
Wary, the students opened the classroom door.
Inside, an undead summon was waiting to greet them.
-Welcome, everyone! Please take your seats.
"...Who are you?"
-I am a summon serving the Headmaster. Please take your seats.
Lee Han and his friends hesitated before scattering to their seats. Sheets of paper and quills appeared before them.
-Now, solve the problems. You may leave once you've finished.
'Surprisingly normal, which is startling in itself.'
After encountering nothing but abnormalities, a perfectly ordinary exam was somehow shocking.
Lee Han picked up the exam paper.
Though he'd been preoccupied with reaching the 4th floor, what truly mattered in an exam wasn't the ability to find the venue—it was the ability to solve the problems.
First question: Write the Headmaster's full name accurately.
Second question: In what year did the Headmaster develop the spell <Glory of the Dead Sun>?
Third question: In what year did the Headmaster expand the Magic School's Black Rock Hall...
"......"
Nilia grimaced and chewed on her quill in frustration.
'Do I really have to memorize everything the Headmaster has done? What does that have to do with character education?'
Though such complaints erupted inwardly, what could he do? As a student, he had to solve it.
"Can't we just research this and come back?"
-If you visit again, the questions will be different.
"......"
The Black Turtle Tower students closed their mouths and stared back at their exam papers.
Nilia instinctively turned her gaze toward Lee Han. She was curious how the Wardanaz was handling this.
Scritch-scritch-scritch-scritch!
"...?!"
Nilia was astonished.
Lee Han was moving his quill without pause.
'Did he get a different exam?!'
But that couldn't be the case.
Astonishingly, the Wardanaz was steadily writing down answers without faltering at such an exam.
The sight of him moving his quill without stopping even once was almost awe-inspiring.
'Wardanaz... Am I the only one who didn't study?'
Suddenly feeling a sense of crisis, Nilia glanced around.
The other Black Turtle Tower students were also staring at the Wardanaz with expressions similar to hers.
'How on earth?!'
'Did he actually study this too? It's not like he has time to spare...'
'Just how much did he study?'
As all the other students stopped moving and stared at Lee Han, the Undead Summon spoke.
-Students. Cheating is...
"N-no, we're not!"
"It's a misunderstanding."
The students hastily averted their eyes.
Nilia glared back at her exam paper. The questions were just as daunting as before, but her mind felt slightly at ease.
'At least I'm not the only one who doesn't know!'
Lee Han finished his answers and stood up.
About half of the students who had come with him had already disappeared.
'I'm later than I thought. Well, the questions were easy, after all.'
Of course, the students who left earlier had given up on solving the problems and decided to go back to study.
No one had left after finishing the exam like Lee Han.
But Lee Han couldn't possibly know that.
Descending from the 4th floor to the 3rd, then to the 2nd, he opened the main building's door on the 1st floor and stepped outside, where darkness had already swallowed the surroundings.
A sinister bell toll echoed from afar.
He had heard the bell announcing the time regularly, but today's bell sounded somewhat...?
Students! Welcome to exam week! May it be a torturous week for all! And those drunkards better wake up soon!
"......"
At the sound of the Skeleton Principal's voice reverberating throughout the school, Lee Han sighed.
Though he had finished one exam, it still felt like hellish week awaited.
"Perfect score."
"......"
Lee Han was startled to find himself feeling glad to see Professor Voladi's face.
Had Stockholm Syndrome really kicked in?
'Damn. The other professors keep doing insane things, making Professor Voladi seem better in comparison.'
As expected, Professor Voladi didn't assign any complicated exams or assignments.
He simply had Lee Han cast a few water elemental spells and then gave him a perfect score without fuss.
...Objectively speaking, it was because Lee Han had worked himself to the bone to master those spells before midterms...
Unfortunately, Lee Han wasn't thinking objectively.
"Yumidihus spoke highly of you."
"Yes. I'm undeserving, but it seems he views me favorably."
Lee Han wasn't surprised.
Given Yumidihus and Professor Voladi's relationship, it would've been strange if they hadn't exchanged information.
"He said you defeated Ogonin."
"...Did he mention that too?"
Yumidihus definitely wasn't present for that.
"Professor Kirmin Ku told me."
"Ah."
Lee Han cursed Professor Kirmin inwardly.
After going out of his way to help a friend, this was how his kindness was repaid.
He had thought highly of Professor Kirmin for maintaining a good relationship with Professor Voladi, but this was disappointing.
"Illusion magic is a troublesome opponent in magical combat. It's good you didn't waste time learning to counter it."
"Thank... you?"
Professor Voladi's words were ambiguous—whether praise or an insult to illusion magic.
"Let's go."
"Huh? Where to?"
At Lee Han's question, Professor Voladi looked at him as if he had asked the dumbest question in the world.
"The dungeon."
"......"