Episode 181
Episode 181
'It can't be.'
As he walked out, Lee Han couldn't help but think, 'Surely not.'
There could be several reasons for someone to give him a thumbs-up.
The most likely one was that they were praising him for doing well on the exam—a commendable junior.
Lee Han assumed this was probably the case.
Another possibility was gratitude for defeating the professor, but surely his senior wasn't that kind of person...
Right?
"Are you alright, Professor?"
Once all the juniors had left, Diret cautiously asked. Professor Mortum coughed violently before nodding.
Cough. "I let my guard down... He made the poison better than I expected."
"You were far too careless, sir."
For ordinary people, a slight dispersal of mana wouldn't be much of an issue, but for mages, it was a different story.
If mana deficiency symptoms struck while casting a spell, it could, in the worst case, even endanger one's life.
No matter how resistant Professor Mortum was to poison, by principle, he should have dispelled all the active spells on himself before drinking it.
'It feels really weird to be discussing principles over a poison made by a first-year, though...'
Cough. "You're right. Over-reliance on magic is never a good thing."
Professor Mortum honestly reflected on his mistake.
The higher a mage's mastery of magic, the more they tended to depend on it.
Even Professor Mortum himself had over a dozen spells actively cast on his person.
<Negative Energy Detection>, <Automatic Undead Summoning Upon Impact>, <Floating Shadow Shield>—maintaining spells like these meant his mana was constantly draining, even when idle.
And in that state, suffering from mana deficiency symptoms had led to such humiliation...
"I'll be more careful when testing the other first-years."
"Yes. That would be wise."
Cough. "Could you check on the other students outside?"
At Professor Mortum's request, Diret opened the classroom door and stepped out.
It was about time for the next group of students to enter...
"?"
Diret sensed something odd.
That remarkably impressive junior was now heading toward the Summoning Magic exam classroom.
'Where is he going?'
"Raphael."
"Wardanaz."
Since there were relatively few freshmen learning Black Magic, they recognized each other immediately.
Of course, that didn't mean they were close.
Raphael Gral—learning Black Magic to take down the White Tiger Tower + Black Mages.
Imirg—terrified of Lee Han due to the Black Turtle Tower + absurd rumors.
'Rumors are ruining the Magic School.'
Gainando, having already taken his exam, smirked arrogantly.
"Heh. Good luck."
"...What's coming up?"
Even if he was from a proud knightly family, a student was still a student.
Entering next for the exam, it was impossible not to feel nervous.
Gainando's lips curled upward as if they might tear.
"What? What did you just say?!"
"Nothing! Shut up!"
"Say it again! Politely!"
"I said shut up!"
"Enough, Gainando. You're both students learning Black Magic together—what good would fighting do? Since you've already taken the exam, you could at least offer some simple advice."
"Lee Han...!"
Gainando wanted to say, 'Why for this bastard?' but Lee Han stopped him with a raised hand.
Raphael stared at Lee Han in surprise.
"The exam topic is curses. You don't need to worry about Undead Summoning."
"...Thanks, Wardanaz."
"It's nothing."
Raphael nodded briefly before briskly walking away.
Gainando looked at Lee Han with admiration.
"Imirg, the exam topic is poison."
"...?!"
The half-giant student looked utterly confused.
"B-but you just said it was curses?"
"That was a lie."
Lee Han declared shamelessly before turning away.
"Let's go, Gainando. We have to take the Summoning Magic exam."
As Lee Han turned and walked away, Imirg stared at his retreating back with eyes full of fearful respect.
He didn't know much about the Wardanaz family, but...
One thing was certain—they were absolutely terrifying!
"Everyone, as mentioned last time, today's exam topic is <Summon Paper Bird>."
When Professor Milley, the elderly instructor with round spectacles, announced this, Lee Han felt tears welling up in his eyes for a moment.
The professor had actually given them the exam topic in advance.
'I shouldn't be getting emotional over something like this, seriously.'
Lee Han shook his head calmly to compose himself.
Students who had arrived before him rose from their seats.
Most wore dark or distressed expressions—the kind commonly seen in examination halls.
"...?"
Lee Han felt something was off.
Why did everyone look so utterly disheveled?
"Please take your seats."
As they sat down, magic circle scrolls inscribed with strange geometric patterns appeared before them.
Just like before, these were auxiliary magic circles to assist with summoning magic.
For first-year students, successfully casting summoning magic on their own was too demanding, making these supporting circles essential.
"Now then... you may begin."
Professor Milley flipped the hourglass.
The message was clear: summon a paper bird within the time limit.
One student muttered under their breath,
"Can't we just fold one and throw it?"
Lee Han noticed others nodding in agreement.
<Summon Paper Bird>.
To call it a "bird" was almost embarrassing—it was more accurately described as a "controllable paper airplane."
A spell used by mages to send brief messages to nearby recipients.
'This shouldn't be too difficult.'
Lee Han studied the magic circle, running simulations in his mind repeatedly.
He had painstakingly recreated far more complex magic circles before—simply following this one should be easy.
All he needed was to be careful not to overflow with mana. Even a minor mistake could destroy the fragile magic circle scroll.
Compared to other professors, this exam seemed remarkably lenient...
Fwip-fwip-fwip-CRASH!
"......"
But Lee Han belatedly realized this exam had an unexpected trap.
Namely, his fellow students.
From all directions, bizarre paper-shaped summons began bursting forth, wreaking havoc.
"What the hell are you doing, you idiot?! You made my spell fail too!"
"It was gonna fail anyway—why blame me?!"
"Damn White Tiger Tower brat!"
"Bring it on!"
'Summoning Magic really is something else.'
Unlike other spells that usually fizzle out quietly when they fail, summoning magic was different.
A botched summon meant a misfit creature (with zero control proportional to the failure) running amok.
Lee Han shot down a flying paper book with a Water Orb. Whatever happened, the magic circle scroll couldn't be damaged.
"Fire away!"
"Burn up!"
Not just Lee Han—other students began casting spells too.
Staying still wasn't an option when paper projectiles were slapping cheeks left and right.
Professor Milley observed the chaos with stern eyes.
This, too, was part of what it meant to be a mage.
The previous batch of examinees had faced the same bedlam.
'Maintaining composure is key.'
Any rational person could see it.
A paper cut to the cheek wasn't lethal.
So the top priority was ignoring the surrounding mayhem and focusing on the task at hand.
"EVERYONE, STOP!"
"!"
When the Wardanaz scion from the Blue Dragon Tower shouted, Professor Milley glanced over with mild surprise.
Truthfully, the professor had been observing Lee Han with slight sternness.
While acknowledging his exceptional talent, arrogance in summoning magic could spell disaster.
She couldn't fathom why such a student would suddenly raise his voice like this.
"Did he really think the students would stop this chaos just because he shouted?"
"I told you all to stop!"
"...?"
Even after shouting again, nothing changed.
Professor Millet adjusted his monocle slightly. Honestly, he was curious about what this student was trying to do.
What exactly did he plan to accomplish if they kept ignoring him?
"I gave you a clear warning. Rise up!"
Lee Han began rapidly duplicating Water Orbs.
Professor Millet was startled by the level of Elemental Magic control—far beyond what one would expect from a first-year.
But that surprise was only the beginning.
Whoosh!
The paper summons flying around began getting swiftly shot down.
Though the first-years were casting various spells left and right, hitting the paper summons chaotically darting across the vast lecture hall was no easy feat.
In fact, the spells kept colliding and clashing, only worsening the pandemonium.
But Lee Han was different.
Every time he cast, he took down one without fail.
"I told you to stop."
"Shut up, Wardanaz! Who do you think you—"
An agitated White Tiger Tower student pointed accusingly.
In that instant, a Water Orb struck the student squarely in the solar plexus.
"Ghk—"
Lee Han began mercilessly attacking any student who refused to stop casting.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack-thwack-thwack!
Students struck by the orbs dropped their wands and fell to their knees.
Like ripples spreading from Lee Han, the students quickly regained their senses.
"I... I stopped."
"Me too."
"Drop your wands! Anyone who raises theirs better be ready."
As the frightened students lowered their wands, Lee Han calmly followed the Magic Circle and cast his spell.
Tarak!
A Paper Bird bloomed into existence and began leisurely circling the lecture hall.
But Professor Millet wasn't surprised by this.
Though Lee Han had passed the midterm exam in one attempt, what he had just witnessed was far more astonishing.
To single-handedly suppress and control such a chaotic group of students...
'...I really don't want to say this, but... he certainly has the right to be arrogant.'
Professor Millet believed it was his duty to sternly warn any arrogant or conceited students to prevent them from getting hurt in Summoning Magic.
But the boy before him had displayed talent so overwhelming that it made him momentarily forget even that role.
With talent like that, as a mage, one couldn't help but acknowledge it.
"Excellent."
Professor Millet gave a nod.
A flawless performance with nothing to criticize.
"Thank you, Professor."
"?"
Professor Millet found it odd when Lee Han didn't leave the lecture hall.
Why wasn't he leaving?
Instead, Lee Han stepped in front of his classmates and spoke.
"Pick up your wands again. And those of you who didn't stop when I told you to—be prepared."
"......"
"......"
The students nervously raised their wands again.
Once more, poorly made summons burst out sporadically, but...
Lee Han suppressed them immediately.
"Again."
"Wait—!"
"Again."
"Don't stop. Keep going."
"Hold on—!"
"......"
Watching Lee Han take charge of the lecture hall's chaos for his classmates, Professor Millet felt his earlier judgment waver.
...Hadn't this student been arrogant?
"You've had a long day, Professor."
Diret stretched and stepped out of the lecture hall.
The expressions of the freshmen coming and going were already half-dead.
At the sight, Diret smiled warmly.
It was the kind of smile any upperclassman at the Magic School couldn't help but wear.
Tap—
"?"
Diret blinked in surprise when he saw that remarkably impressive junior step out of the lecture hall.
It was fine for students to leave after finishing their exam.
But...?
'That's the Illusion Magic lecture hall...?'
Diret mentally reviewed what he had seen today.
So, that junior had attended Black Magic, Summoning Magic, and Illusion Magic today...
...???
Diret had a terrible suspicion. Surely that junior wasn't...
'No! You're being tricked by the professors! You'll die like this!'