Episode 196
Episode 196
But it was already too late for regrets.
Professor Voladi's magic lecture continued without pause.
"I heard from Professor Verdus. You've decided to major in Enchantment Magic as well."
"...It's more of a lighthearted side study at this sta..."
"An excellent choice."
Due to its vast versatility, Enchantment Magic paired exceptionally well with other magical disciplines.
Particularly with Frost Element Magic.
Those unfamiliar often held several misconceptions about Frost Element Magic.
The intense imagery of blade-like cold, the notorious difficulty in mastering and wielding it.
-Perhaps ice is the most destructive and combat-oriented of all elements?
But no.
In terms of instantaneous destructive power, the Fire Element was far superior. Once ignited, flames would independently consume their surroundings in roaring infernos.
In contrast, Frost Element Magic didn't instantly freeze targets upon conjuration.
The mage had to continuously channel mana to maintain the freezing effect until the target fully solidified.
A remarkably inefficient process.
'Hmm. I should avoid brute-force freezing from now on.'
Lee Han reflected on how he'd recklessly poured mana to freeze the lake in haste.
It was fortunate only his friends had witnessed it - had other professors seen, they might've called him "that uncultured brute."
Moreover, Frost Element Magic lacked distinctive advantages in other areas.
Shape manipulation and persistence?
Water Element was superior.
Pure penetrative force?
Earth Element.
Speed?
Lightning Element...
Strip away its freezing properties, and ice became surprisingly mediocre and finicky to wield.
Yet it wasn't without merit. Mastery revealed unique strengths no other element could replicate.
One such application was through Enchantment Magic.
Tap-
Professor Voladi drew his rapier. The poised stance instantly revealed his swordsmanship training.
'Of course. Someone who stakes their life on magical combat wouldn't neglect close-quarters fighting.'
Swoosh!
Lee Han sensed frigid mana coiling along the rapier's blade.
"Come at me."
"...!"
Managing his expression to conceal excessive eagerness, Lee Han rose.
As he assumed stance with wooden sword, the professor initiated first strike - a gliding lunge that closed distance seamlessly.
Though swift and razor-sharp, Lee Han's swordsmanship training allowed him to cleanly parry this straightforward attack.
Clink!
Instantly, portions of the wooden sword froze solid.
Forcing mana through, Lee Han shattered the ice. This couldn't be the end.
'Professor Voladi likely doesn't know my swordsmanship style. If I can just land one hit...'
"Understood?"
"Pardon?"
Caught in his thoughts, Lee Han froze.
"Regarding Enchantment Magic."
"Ah... Yes. The synergy with Frost Element Magic is remarkable."
No need for mages to concentrate mana scattering frost or firing ice crystals.
Enchanting objects with cold allowed continuous damage application.
While a grazing strike wouldn't fell foes outright, it sufficed.
Lee Han's proper swordsmanship training let him appreciate just how effective this frost enchantment could be.
'When swordsmen duel with constant blade clashes, five or six exchanges would render opponents combat-ineffective.'
Seeing comprehension dawn, Professor Voladi sheathed his rapier with a nod. Lee Han privately lamented the lost opportunity.
"Now throw."
"Yes."
The professor jerked his chin toward iron spheres. Maintaining composure, Lee Han selected one.
'Stay composed.'
Without alerting his opponent, maintaining utmost calm...
Lee Han channeled mana throughout his body, funneling it into the sphere.
Since Professor Ingoldel had scolded him with 'It's dangerous to channel mana into a sword like that,' Lee Han was being as careful as possible.
But sometimes, there were unavoidable moments.
And this was one of them.
Whoosh!
With a sound that tore through the air, the iron orb flew toward him with deadly intent.
At that moment, the dagger at Professor Voladi's waist moved as if it had a life of its own.
With a sharp clang, the dagger pierced the orb with perfect precision. The orb, which had been flying at terrifying speed, instantly slowed and froze solid.
It was an unnatural stasis—not the cold of nature, but the kind only a mage's summoned frost could create.
While Lee Han was still marveling at this, Professor Voladi focused on another detail.
The vampire professor asked with evident interest,
"Did you circulate the mana, or did you release it all at once when throwing it?"
"...The latter."
"It'll strain the equipment, but since throwing weapons are expendable, it's fine. Good method."
Lee Han inwardly let out a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, the murderous intent he'd been harboring hadn't been detected.
"So you've been practicing this in swordsmanship class."
"Huh?"
Lee Han froze.
He sensed the conversation was about to take an odd turn.
Professor Voladi's words sounded almost like, 'So you're taking swordsmanship to incorporate this into magical combat.'
For Lee Han, who was only taking the class for grade management, this was an unfairly damning accusation.
"I didn't do it on purpose—"
"Well done. Now summon an Frost Shield."
Professor Voladi changed the subject as if the matter was already settled.
Lee Han felt uneasy but had no chance to clear his name.
'...It'll be fine. Probably.'
The 2nd-circle spell <Frost Shield> was far more difficult than <Water Shield>, despite being in the same circle.
Elemental complexity, mana consumption, mana sustainment—everything about it was harder.
It was almost unfair to call them the same circle.
But <Frost Shield> had the right to be this challenging.
'It freezes anything it touches!'
Not only did it freeze attacks, but it also drastically reduced their force—truly an outstanding magical shield.
"Now, command this shield to protect you on its own."
"Yes... Wait, what?"
Lee Han nodded before jolting in surprise.
After struggling all lecture to grasp the transformation principles of the ice element and barely managing to create <Frost Shield>, now he was being told to grant it autonomy?!
Perhaps sensing Lee Han's confusion, Professor Voladi clarified,
"I'm not telling you to do it now."
"Ah. The final goal..."
"By next class."
"......"
Lee Han regretted not channeling a bit more mana into that iron orb earlier.
If he had, maybe he wouldn't have had to defend against it.
"To command the shield to protect me autonomously... wouldn't that require 4th-circle magic?"
Lee Han quickly estimated.
To create an Frost Shield that floats midair, spins around, and blocks attacks aimed at its caster?
...That would be at least 4th-circle.
"Correct."
"Professor. I'm a first-year."
"?"
Professor Voladi stared at him with puzzled eyes, as if wondering why he'd suddenly brought that up.
"...Isn't the difficulty a bit...?"
"You combined the rotation and launch attributes in a Water Orb and even granted it an Azirmo summon. All of those are 4th-circle spells, aren't they?"
"......"
Lee Han was truly at a loss for words.
Who would've thought he'd be out-logicked by Professor Voladi of all people?
You've already succeeded in 4th-circle magic → Therefore, you can succeed in another 4th-circle spell!
It was flawless, irrefutable logic.
Still seeming unconvinced, Professor Voladi added,
"Was that a joke?"
"...Yes... Well..."
"You're not good at jokes. That's fine. Magical combat doesn't require humor."
With that—even offering consolation—Professor Voladi left the classroom first.
After the lecture ended, Lee Han, left alone, clutched his head in regret.
'...It wasn't that I succeeded with the cold element in one go.'
No matter how much he thought about it, the starting point of this entire butterfly effect was precisely that.
Who knew a single mistake would come back to bite him like this...
Though the school was still cold, Lee Han seemed to have adapted after a couple of days.
'Guess it's time to start clearing the spire path.'
Of course, some students like Gainando might have said:
-"Do we really have to go in this weather!? Let's go later!"
But Lee Han knew better.
If you made excuses about the cold, the heat, pop quizzes, or needing to play card games, you'd never get anything done.
"I get it, so stop nagging...!"
Gainando, who had merely voiced his concern once and received endless scolding in return, wore an expression full of indignation.
'Is "Do we really have to go in this weather!? Let's go later!" really such a terrible thing to say that it deserves all this abuse!?'
Clink clink—
Evening.
The students of the Blue Dragon Tower gathered in the lounge, scraping the last bits of food from their bowls with spoons.
Having finished his meal first, Lee Han took out the potions he'd received as gifts from Priest Siana.
Given this weather—and the fact that he'd be heading out at night—he needed to prepare as much as possible.
Gulp—
After downing all the potions worth drinking, Lee Han rose from his seat.
"See you later, then."
"Take care."
"Thanks for your concern."
"......"
Gainando shot a deeply dissatisfied look at this heartwarming exchange.
"How is what I said any different?"
"Were you being sincere?"
"Huh? He's out!"
"Seriously?"
Coholti, a fourth-year student, and his friends were startled.
They hadn't actually expected him to leave the tower in this weather.
"Is he really a freshman?"
"Definitely not an ordinary one."
At Coholti's words, his friends nodded.
The image of him recklessly firing off spells like a madman in the Twisted Dimensional Corridor was still vivid in their minds.
Ordinary freshmen didn't do that.
-"Told you. The Wardanaz family head made a pact with an archdemon..."
-"No way the Wardanaz family would be crazy enough to do that!"
-"Then how about my more moderate hypothesis—that the Wardanaz family head made a deal with a dragon..."
-"Guys. I'm all for debate, but maybe tone down the theories that could get us assassinated by the Wardanaz family when we're outside."
Diret hurled insults like 'You trashy brats, figure it out yourselves,' but Coholti and his friends took a pragmatic approach.
To fix the Twisted Dimensional Corridor right now, they needed a substantial amount of mana—>There was almost no way to transport that much mana to the corridor without significant loss—>In this situation, shouldn't they at least try to get the freshman's help?
Of course, Diret and other upperclassmen would criticize them, saying, 'Those brats are embarrassing the entire fourth year,' but Coholti and his friends felt not an ounce of shame.
-"Then why don't you go get scolded by the professors while handling the Twisted Dimensional Corridor!?"
So Coholti and his friends had been secretly waiting near the Blue Dragon Tower, just in case.
They hadn't really expected him to come out, but if luck was on their side, they planned to make contact.
And yet, here he was.
"Send the message! The message!"
"Hold on. I'm going now!"
The fourth-years suppressed their excitement and cast a spell.
Due to the Skeleton Principal's strict surveillance, contacting freshmen was a life-risking endeavor, but it wasn't impossible.
These fourth-years had survived all kinds of trials at this school.
Flap—
A paper bird fluttered through the air before landing at Lee Han's feet.
"?"
Puzzled, Lee Han picked up the paper.
"Brave and wise freshman. Come to the Twisted Dimensional Corridor, as guided by Professor Mortum. Should you do so, mages of good faith shall reward your devotion!"
"......"
Lee Han was speechless.
'Do magic schools have scam letters too?'
Rip rip rip!
Without a second thought, Lee Han tore the letter to shreds and tossed it away. The last thing he needed was to get caught in some weird magic by holding onto it.