Episode 201
Episode 201
"This is a misunderstanding."
I'm pretty sure I'm being threatened right now.
The demon proved why it was a demon. With demonic shrewdness, it quickly grasped the situation.
Ancient mages trained their apprentices in far harsher ways than they did now.
For a demon that had lived since ancient times, this situation wasn't particularly hard to understand.
Of course, that didn't mean Professor Voladi seemed normal by any stretch.
Even in ancient times, masters who forced their apprentices to fight demons were rare.
Even so, forcing an apprentice to fight a demon like this... You insane mage. Keep this up, and your apprentice might stab you in the back while you sleep.
Lee Han found himself rooting for the nameless demon.
Keep talking!
"Fight."
Professor Voladi ignored the demon's words entirely and urged it on.
The demon ignored him right back.
No. I refuse to associate with lunatics. Don't drag me into your mages' mad training methods.
"If you don't fight, I'll attack."
Do you think I'll yield to pain?
"Name your terms."
Professor Voladi immediately changed his approach to persuade the demon.
Of course, it didn't work on a demon that had been forcibly summoned, beaten up, and then told, You should at least put up a bit more of a fight.
Even if you offered me half the world, I'd never make a contract with a madman like you.
Having said its piece, the demon turned to look at Lee Han. The extra time had allowed it to recall beings from its memories who resembled him.
You bear the blood of the Wardanaz family. I'll remember you with sympathy, young mage. If you ever need to make a contract with me, I'll show you mercy.
Lee Han wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad about this.
Being pitied by an ancient demon he was meeting for the first time in his life...
Professor Voladi whispered beside him.
"Make the contract now. Then tell it to fight."
I'd never agree to such a contract, you lunatic.
The demon cursed at Professor Voladi, opened a portal, and returned to where it had come from.
Professor Voladi wore a slightly gloomy expression—an extremely rare sight.
"It's fine, Professor. I learned a lot."
"It was too short. A shame."
"No, this was enough."
Though Lee Han tried to console him, Professor Voladi wasn't listening.
"I'll have to find another one."
"......"
The vampire professor sent a chill down Lee Han's spine.
Wait. Don't tell me...
Lee Han recalled how, when they had left the forest, Professor Voladi had been taking an oddly timed nighttime stroll.
Surely not...
...He wasn't actually scouting for opponents I could fight, was he?
A cold shiver ran down his back—one that no magical chill could ever match.
Thud!
Professor Voladi untied the ropes binding Professor Verdus.
The freed beaver beastkin professor asked,
"Why did you tie me up!?"
"To keep you from getting hurt."
"Ah. I see."
Professor Verdus nodded in immediate understanding and didn't even get angry.
I need to separate these two quickly.
Honestly, keeping them together would be interesting to watch, but there was a high chance it wouldn't end well for Lee Han.
He tried to intervene, but before he could—
"But why?"
"For the apprentice's training."
"Why you?"
"I'm the master."
"Why the master?"
"It's the master's duty."
The two professors rapidly exchanged words in a conversation only they could follow.
Professor Verdus couldn't comprehend it.
If the master had to spoon-feed the apprentice every little thing, then being a master was just too exhausting and difficult.
No mage would willingly take on such a role.
To Professor Verdus's argument, Professor Voladi firmly replied,
"I'm better."
"Is that so?"
Lee Han was dumbfounded by the faint pride in Professor Voladi's voice.
Sure, in some ways, Professor Voladi might have been a slightly better master than Professor Verdus...
But that was nothing to boast about.
It was like bragging about being better at studying than a goblin!
"You should take more interest in this."
"No. My time is more important."
"Do as you please. I'll go find another opponent."
Lee Han was shocked by Professor Voladi's words.
His earlier suspicion had been correct.
'He was really going around looking for someone?'
"An opponent?"
"The reason I mentioned earlier."
"Ah. Training. Uh... There's a dimensional overlap in the upper floors of the main building. That might work. How about it?"
"Thank you."
"......"
Lee Han cursed himself for failing to separate the two quickly.
Splash!
Lee Han was gathered with the Blue Dragon Tower students by the stream, cleaning fish.
They had gathered some food supplies, but no one knew how long this cold spell would last.
They needed to stock up on as much edible food as possible.
"...Lee Han. Are you worried about something?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, you've sighed dozens of times since earlier."
"Ah. Was I? I'll try to be more mindful."
"That's not what I meant..."
Lee Han slit the belly of the caught fish, removed the head, and washed it in the flowing water. Then he salted it and hung it to dry beside him.
Though his worries were many, his hands moved without hesitation—so skillfully that his watching friends were impressed.
"Wardanaz. What's wrong? Did Maykin bully you?"
When Ashan asked, Gailand was startled.
"Maykin bullied Lee Han?! Hey everyone! Maykin—"
Yoner threw the salt he was holding onto Gailand's face.
"Lee Han. We're friends. If you're troubled, you can tell us, right?"
"I might have to go to the twisted dimensional corridor to solve this cold problem."
"......"
"......"
"...Why would that be your job?"
"I get it. Wardanaz is feeling responsible right n—"
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Maykin! What do you know?!"
Cut off mid-sentence, Ashan grumbled at Yoner.
Meanwhile, students from the Black Turtle Tower appeared on the opposite side, carrying fishing rods.
"Right. The Black Turtle Tower guys built an oven with bricks."
The resourceful Black Turtle Tower students had built an oven in the open space near the black market.
It was to endure the cold weather.
"An oven?"
"Yeah. They've been roasting all sorts of things."
"If you want, we can make one for you."
Salko, who had approached, spoke up. The Blue Dragon Tower students brightened.
"Really?!"
"Not for you guys. I was talking to Wardanaz."
Salko growled, making the Blue Dragon Tower students back off.
Lee Han nodded in understanding.
"Do you want to trade for fish? Or meat? Sorry, but sugar, tea leaves, and coffee powder are non-negotiable."
"...I'm not here to trade. It's repayment for what you did before, Wardanaz."
Salko looked at Lee Han as if he found him ridiculous.
It was repayment for Lee Han helping with cold resistance spells while moving between towers.
"Huh? You're really just doing this for free?"
"Yes."
Hearing that, Gailand muttered beside him.
"That's suspicious."
"Shut up."
"But—"
Gailand was indignant.
Lee Han had been suspicious too!
"Then I'll gratefully accept."
"You look troubled. Is something bothering you?"
Ashan answered Salko's question instead.
"Wardanaz is planning to strike at the source of this cold problem."
"......"
Salko, who had been growling moments ago, looked at Lee Han in surprise.
"...I respect you, Wardanaz. Never thought I'd say this, but you're a true noble."
"Just build the oven and go."
Lee Han replied in a slightly weary voice.
He couldn't be bothered to explain anymore.
<Basic Imperial Language and Logic>.
For young mages who would frequently encounter all sorts of surreal beings, this was an essential lecture.
Spirits, demons, angels—these beings weren't always hostile, but sometimes their lack of hostility made them even more dangerous.
A single clumsy contract could completely derail a mage's life.
That's why magic school mages were rigorously trained in these aspects from a young age.
<Basic Imperial Language and Logic> was precisely the lecture that helped with this.
"Today, we'll be reading the contract between the mage Folkvalas and the demon from Imperial Year 117..."
"Wait, do demon contracts normally make listeners fall asleep?"
"Maybe... I'm not sure."
"Truly demonic. Demon, I concede. I surrender... snore."
And of course, it was unbearably dull.
While foundational courses tend to be boring, <Basic Imperial Language and Logic> was exceptionally tedious.
They had to scrutinize every single character in various case studies to identify ambiguities or potential misunderstandings, accurately translate regional Imperial dialects when they appeared, and decipher archaic or classical language whenever it came up...
Even someone like Lee Han had to grit his teeth to endure it.
"Huh?"
"Why isn't the professor here?"
As the professor failed to appear, faint hope began to bloom on the students' faces.
Could it be... the professor isn't coming today?
Could it be... the professor won't come next week either?
Let me save you the suspense. Professor Walter Xavier suffered a mental collapse during contract negotiations and has been taken to the temple.
"......"
The hopeful expressions on the students' faces instantly twisted into horror and guilt.
They had hoped for something, but not this.
Let this serve as a lesson to be extra cautious when making contracts in the future. Professor Fluewerk, enter.
"Thank you."
'Former bureaucrat?'
Lee Han watched curiously as the fox beastkin professor with chestnut hair entered.
After encountering several former Imperial bureaucrats, he had learned to distinguish them from mage-born professors.
Bureaucrat-born individuals seemed relatively...
...less insane compared to mage-born ones.
And Professor Fluewerk, while it's true Professor Walter Xavier suffered a mental collapse and was taken to the temple, I must emphasize to His Imperial Majesty that this is not due to the Magic School being dangerous but rather an unavoidable accident inherent to the study of magic...
"Yes, yes. No need to worry. Now, let's begin the lecture. I am Professor Logine Fluewerk. Pleased to meet you all."
Professor Logine briskly ushered the Skeleton Principal out and greeted the class with refreshing energy.
The students welcomed her attitude but couldn't help casting slightly wary glances—they had been hurt too many times by professors already.
But Professor Logine paid no mind.
"Where did Professor Walter Xavier leave off?"
"He covered up to the unfortunate mage Gurgu, who made a faulty contract with a three-headed giant."
"Excellent! Would a student like to read and point out the mistakes?"
"......"
The student who had foolishly answered earlier now wore a pitiful expression.
Given the difficulty level of <Basic Imperial Language and Logic>, there was no chance of receiving praise.
The other students mercilessly averted their eyes.
'Hang in there.'
'Don't look at me. I don't want to present.'
Ten minutes later.
"Absolutely splendid!"
"Gasp. Really?"
"Of course, you made about 41 mistakes, but for a first-year, that's impressive. Come on, everyone, give a round of applause!"
"???"
The students clapped in bewilderment.
But Professor Logine's lecture had only just begun.
One hour later.
By the end of the lecture, every student had become a devoted follower of Professor Logine.
"Professor! Let me try reading!"
"Professor! I'll do it!"
'Why is someone like her at the Magic School?'
Lee Han was stunned.
He had assumed decent people got chased out at the gates...
"Professor, where did you work before coming here?"
"I served as the Imperial Dispatch Administrator."
A position responsible for assigning mages and other Imperial talents to suitable posts—a job impossible without extensive connections and diplomatic skills.
Her positive personality suddenly made sense.
'Wait. Does that mean she can recommend people for official positions?'
A long-buried dream began to sparkle again.
Lee Han realized that all his hard work in <Basic Imperial Language and Logic> had been leading to this very moment.
"I'll read next!"
"Whoa... Wardanaz? Why so sudden—"
"Hey, put your hand down. Wardanaz wants to read. You wanna get compared to him?"
Grumbling, the other students lowered their hands.
Did this guy, already praised in other classes, have to steal the spotlight here too?
'Ah, so he's that Wardanaz.'
Professor Logine recognized Lee Han from the rumors she'd heard before arriving.
'They said he's the core talent who'll lead the Magic School in the future.'