Episode 205
Episode 205
-■■■■■...!
The Winter Wraith writhed in agony as flames formed from mana engulfed it.
Even though it was a vulnerable attribute, the Winter Wraith, having absorbed so much mana and grown stronger, wasn't significantly affected by 1st Circle Magic.
Yet, the reason it twisted its entire body in torment was...
'What kind of spell count is this?'
"Burn, burn, burn, burn!"
Lee Han relentlessly chanted the incantation, summoning flames over and over.
The intense cold that had spread through the surroundings ironically aided in controlling the fire.
Summoning flames.
Manipulating those flames.
Repeating this process.
It was extremely simple, but by repeating it rapidly and endlessly, it created overwhelming firepower on its own.
Diret, who was supposed to be protecting the underclassmen from monsters, forgot his duty and stared in fascination.
'This is...'
Normally, senior students at Einrogard rarely marveled at low-Circle magic.
And not just them—any competent mage would feel the same.
It wasn't that low-Circle magic had no potential for growth.
By refining and refining, one could shorten casting time, increase destructive power, and improve control...
But strictly speaking, that wasn't the orthodox path.
That was a technique honed by Combat Mages who specialized in magical warfare—not what a traditional mage was meant to focus on.
Mages researched higher-Circle magic to explore the truths of the world and step into the unknown realms that the study of magic had yet to uncover.
Compared to that purpose, refining low-Circle magic to such an extent was almost deviant.
But...
Not just Diret, but the other fourth-year students had no choice but to admit it.
Even low-Circle magic could overwhelm other mages—depending on how it was used!
"What are you all doing?!"
Diret snapped out of his daze and urged his friends. They quickly nodded.
"R-right."
The fourth-years raised their staffs.
The orthodox method of dealing with a Winter Wraith was to raise the surrounding temperature to suppress its movements before attacking.
Provoking it recklessly without restraining its movements could complicate the situation.
Winter Wraiths had the ability to disorient a mage's senses in various ways, from mist to sleet, and for inexperienced first-year students, such tricks could be deadly.
...But now, they were seeing another method.
Attack the Winter Wraith—then keep attacking relentlessly without giving it a chance to react!
"...Are we just getting in the way? Looks like he's got it handled."
"But just leaving him alone feels a bit... Shouldn't we do something?"
"Should we at least set up a barrier?"
Kumandas raised his staff, intending to encase the Winter Wraith in a heat barrier to suppress its movements.
Thwack!
At that moment, an ice pellet struck the back of his hand.
Kumandas clutched his stinging hand and looked at Professor Voladi in confusion.
"D-did I make a mistake?"
"Interference."
"Eh?"
Kumandas couldn't understand why he had been hit.
Surely, it wasn't because he tried to help a first-year...
"Deploying a wide-area spell like a heat barrier in this heavily chilled environment could provoke and attract other monsters, right?"
"O-oh, right."
Taking his friend's words as an explanation, Kumandas immediately accepted it.
Indeed, clumsy area-of-effect spells could be dangerous in a distorted dimension like this.
They could provoke hidden monsters and draw them out.
"My apologies, Professor. My lack of combat experience..."
Professor Voladi didn't respond. Kumandas awkwardly lowered his head.
"Is he angry because of my mistake?"
"It's fine. You can make up for it later. Show us what you've got."
But Kumandas didn't get the chance to redeem himself as he'd hoped.
Frost Corpse Worms.
Burn, burn, burn, burn!
"H-hey, junior. You're amazing."
"Thank you."
"Then, this time, I'll try a projectile-type spell... Maybe a flame arrow..."
"Hey. He already took care of everything."
Strigoi.
Burn, burn, burn, burn!
"Junior... Aren't you running low on mana?"
"I'm fine, but..."
"Should I step in then?"
Thud!
"?!"
"Don't shamelessly steal a first-year junior's prey. You should've hunted from the start."
"I-Indeed... But isn't that junior too fast?"
"Then use faster magic."
"......"
Kumandas hesitated while glancing at Lee Han's reaction.
Truthfully, unless one specialized in magical combat, casting speed wasn't critically important.
What real need was there for quick casting in research or experiments?
Naturally, Kumandas had never paid much attention to casting speed either.
At least, not until being utterly outclassed by a first-year junior today.
'...I should practice when I get back...'
'Is he okay?'
With the fourth-years watching him so carefully, there was no way Lee Han wouldn't notice.
Lee Han was sensing the peculiar atmosphere.
'Could it be...'
Do they want to hunt these monsters themselves?
Though doubtful, Lee Han couldn't think of any other reason.
Why would they want to hunt them anyway?
In Lee Han's case, Professor Voladi was holding a sword—no, a staff—to his back, so he had no choice but...
'Well, I should yield for now.'
"Professor."
"I know."
"Pardon?"
"You're dissatisfied because the monsters' levels are lower than expected."
"......"
Lee Han was momentarily speechless.
While other students were marveling, thinking 'That Wardanaz bastard burns monsters to death without changing his expression—he must be an archmage,' Lee Han was giving his all in every fight.
The monsters had strategies and unique abilities too.
If inexperienced Lee Han fell for their tactics, he could suffer serious consequences.
Ultimately, there was only one safe approach Lee Han could take:
Preemptive strikes.
Overwhelming first attacks that left no room for counterattacks!
Attacking fiercely with the mindset that even a moment's delay meant death, only to hear...
'Stay calm.'
Lee Han regained his composure.
"Actually, it seems others want to hunt too."
Not just the fourth-years, but even the White Tiger Tower students were watching eagerly.
True to their knightly family backgrounds, seeing Lee Han hunt made them want to join.
Professor Voladi kindly offered a solution.
"Tell the riffraff to scram."
"...Wouldn't it be better to give them a chance?"
Not wanting to be the first-year who tells fourth-years to 'scram,' Lee Han spoke as politely as possible.
Professor Voladi sighed regretfully.
"The Headmaster was right."
"Pardon?"
"He said your meekness is your weakness."
"...I-I see."
Lee Han swore that if he ever got the chance to punch either the Skeleton Principal or Professor Voladi later, he'd overcome that meekness without fail.
Still, Professor Voladi didn't refuse Lee Han's request.
As Lee Han stepped back, the fourth-years and White Tiger Tower students began hunting.
"Everyone, don't overexert yourselves!"
"Don't move until I've cast my spell. Don't provoke them recklessly!"
The mages' hunting without Lee Han was a flawless, textbook example of perfection.
The fourth-years stepped forward first, using powerful magic to drastically weaken the monsters' abilities.
Then the White Tiger Tower students, their physical capabilities greatly enhanced by Professor Voladi's Enhancement Magic, charged in.
Their wooden swords weren't ordinary—they were enchanted with Kumandas's magic.
This spell made heat surge with each strike, dealing additional damage to the monsters.
Watching them move in perfect, interlocking harmony like gears, Lee Han couldn't help but marvel.
Experienced seniors leading from the front, passionate juniors pushing from behind—this kind of hunt...
'...Suddenly feeling sad.'
Lee Han tried not to dwell on it.
Seeing this picture-perfect teamwork made him seriously question what his solo hunts had even been!
"Professor. I'd like to learn how to fight in a group too."
"Good idea."
Professor Voladi praised him with an expressionless face.
"Then..."
"Once you become proficient at fighting alone, you'll naturally become proficient at fighting in a group."
"...Ah. Understood."
"Those who know how to fight in groups may not know how to fight alone, but those who know how to fight alone can learn to fight in groups."
"Yes..."
Lee Han had never particularly envied the students of White Tiger Tower before, but seeing them hunt so harmoniously today made him feel envious for the first time.
What was that about...
"!"
Lee Han's expression suddenly changed. Professor Voladi noticed it at the same time and nodded.
The fourth-years were the next to realize.
A powerful distortion of mana could be felt from deep within the corridor.
A monster far stronger than any they had faced so far!
"Professor."
Diret and the fourth-years called out to Professor Voladi with grave expressions.
A monster like that could be dangerous not just for first-years but even for them, the fourth-years.
The professor needed to step in personally.
Professor Voladi nodded as if understanding what they meant.
"Understood."
"Thank you."
Professor Voladi gripped his staff and swung it.
Whoooosh!
With a tremendous surge of power, the fourth-years and the White Tiger Tower students were pushed back.
Diret could feel it—
Multiple spells overlapping in an instant, forming a massive barrier that cut through the space ahead.
No ordinary monster would be able to breach this magical barrier and reach the students.
'As expected of the professor.'
Diret couldn't help but be impressed.
By the time students reached their fourth year, their pride as Magic School students naturally swelled, and their shoulders carried an air of confidence.
Even first-years were treated as proper mages outside the school, and by fourth year, it was hard not to think, "Aren't I one of the Empire's core magical talents by now?"
But whenever they witnessed the true skill of the Magic School's professors, that arrogance vanished instantly.
These were the mages capable of leading Einrogard, an institution that gathered only the Empire's most exceptional geniuses.
They were the faculty...
"...Huh? Huh?? Professor?? Professor?!"
Diret panicked and raised his voice.
The Black Magic junior had been left outside the barrier.
"What's wrong?"
"That... that junior didn't make it inside!"
"I know."
"...Huh? No—"
For a moment, Diret nearly blurted out, "If you knew, why didn't you bring him in, you crazy bastard—" before catching himself.
This was a professor he was talking to.
Deciding to reason with the seemingly insane professor later, Diret called out to Lee Han instead.
"Junior! Run back here!"
"Huh? Why?"
"...Because it's dangerous?"
"Thank you. I'll be careful."
"No, it's not about being careful—!"
Diret wondered if he was the crazy one and glanced at his friends.
Of course, the other fourth-years were equally horrified.
What the hell was going on??
"Eyes, pierce through the darkness."
Lee Han reapplied his Enhancement Magic and waited for the monster to arrive.
Since this one was stronger than any he'd faced before, he had to give it his all.
'Strike first.'
The moment the charging monster revealed itself from the far end of the corridor, he would unleash every spell he had!
"......"
Lee Han's face stiffened in that instant.
The opponent's mana, which had been radiating from the other side, suddenly began amplifying—dozens of times over.
For some reason, it was clear the enemy had been suppressing their mana until now.
This changed everything.
'Should I break the barrier and retreat? Can I even break it? How sturdy did Professor Voladi make it?'
"Who dares seek an audience with the King of Frost Giants?"
A booming, majestic voice.
Even the first-years behind the barrier could feel the oppressive weight of that overwhelming mana.
But even more intimidating was the figure's presence.
A head bowed low, as if to avoid scraping the high corridor ceiling. A massive greatsword gripped in one hand.
'Is this actually better?'
Lee Han thought to himself.
A moderately strong opponent would have been more dangerous.
If this had been a savage, mindless monster, Lee Han would've been beaten to a pulp for misjudging its mana—no way to escape.
At least he wouldn't die with Professor Voladi here...
...Probably...
But enemies this strong were usually capable of conversation.
Intelligent and curious, they tended to ask questions.
Like this.
"You..."
"O King of Frost Giants, a talented challenger stands before you. He seeks to test his strength against yours."
"......"
Lee Han turned his head to stare at Professor Voladi. The fourth-years also turned their heads to stare at Professor Voladi.