Episode 207
Episode 207
"Excellent."
Despite the damage to his honorable crown, the Frost Giant King's voice was gentle.
It was because he was thoroughly satisfied with the challenger's performance.
He had wondered how the challenger would breach the crown's defense, but to think he would utilize vaporization—an advanced application of the water element.
Vaporization was such a tricky attribute that even mages specializing in water magic often failed to comprehend it.
Even with sufficient understanding, the extreme mana consumption imposed significant limitations on its use.
Mastery and extreme mana consumption—even for an outstanding mage, it was a difficult attribute to wield easily, let alone from a young mage.
"You manipulate the frost element quite skillfully. I believe the judgment to set aside your pride and choose this path has contributed to your growth."
Not just vaporization, but his control over the frost element was also commendable.
Among mages, few bothered to hone their elemental manipulation to such a degree.
Rather than haphazardly flinging irregular ice shards at an opponent, it was more typical for a mage to focus on mastering higher-tier spells.
Moreover, the frost element wasn't as easy to maintain or control as water or earth elements.
Even in an environment saturated with cold, simultaneously controlling dozens of ice shards was entirely a testament to the mage's ability.
'......'
Lee Han decided to simply listen quietly.
It wasn't solely due to pride that he had stuck to fire magic, but he saw no benefit in bringing that up now.
"Here, I leave a token for the honorable challenger."
With the Frost Giant King's declaration, a glowing blue stone embedded itself into the tip of Lee Han's staff—a stone condensed with intense cold.
"Once the snow melts and spring arrives, wielding frost will become difficult. I leave this cold for the mage."
"...Thank you!"
Lee Han beamed with delight.
Of course, the Frost Giant King had no inkling...
That the mage before him intended to use the bestowed frost to practice fire magic!
'Once the cold season ends, fire magic will become challenging again. If I can summon frost, it'll be a huge help.'
Naturally, there would be limitations, but even summoning frost once every few days would be immensely beneficial.
"Frost is the greatest of all elements..."
'Hmm.'
Lee Han hesitated at the Frost Giant King's words.
It struck him anew—whether mages or spirits, they all had a strong tendency to claim their own element was the absolute best.
'That doesn't seem quite right.'
Still, Lee Han kept his mouth shut. Having received a gift, it was only polite to endure such remarks.
"...Once you grasp the method of wielding it, no challenger will rival you. Then, I shall await the day we meet again for another challenge. Honorable challenger."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
True to his title, the Frost Giant King turned away with dignified majesty and departed.
As his figure vanished beyond the dimension, Lee Han gazed after him with respect and gratitude.
'But let's not meet again.'
Grateful as he was, Lee Han had no intention of challenging him again.
His entire body had been screaming in pain just dodging the king's attacks.
"Well done."
"Thank you."
Professor Voladi dispelled the barrier and approached Lee Han.
Watching this, the fourth-year students unconsciously let out sighs of relief.
Until moments ago, he had seemed like a complete madman (truthfully, he still did)...
But seeing him praise a first-year who had struggled so much, it was clear some shred of conscience remained in the professor's heart.
Had he not offered praise, the fourth-years might have been even more furious.
"You would've finished sooner if you hadn't stubbornly stuck to fire magic."
"......"
"......"
The fourth-years were aghast.
They could hardly believe what they were hearing.
What did he just say?
'Isn't that too much, seriously??'
If a first-year succeeded in a challenge against the Frost Giant King, even the Skeleton Principal would've shed tears of praise...
"My mistake."
Yet instead of getting angry, the freshman readily admitted his error.
Watching this, the fourth-year seniors felt their hearts tear with anguish.
'To think I, as a senior, can't do anything for him!'
'What exactly have I been learning at this magic school all this time?'
That a freshman was being tormented like this by that insane professor, and they couldn't do a single thing to help—
Their chests ached with frustration and helplessness.
"I should have approached it with frost, not flame."
"Correct. If you had completed the floating Frost Shield."
Though the fourth-years were glaring at them with murderous intensity, neither the master nor disciple noticed.
They were simply reviewing the recent battle with detached calm.
'I see. So he wanted me to use a floating Frost Shield.'
Lee Han wasn't particularly upset.
Honestly, given Professor Voladi's temperament, this was practically high praise. He had even started with "Well done," after all.
Of course, to anyone else, the professor would seem completely deranged...
'He meant for me to use the floating Frost Shield to block attacks and buy time, then overwhelm the enemy with a barrage of frost shards.'
Now that the fight was over, Professor Voladi's intentions felt clearer.
The professor had his own expectations for how this should have gone.
If Lee Han had used the floating Frost Shield to stall and then launched a relentless assault with the surrounding frost energy, even the crown's defenses would have had limits—success would have been possible.
(...Let's just ignore the part where he expected me to master a fourth-circle spell in a week...)
"The crown's defense had flaws. You could have bombarded it with continuous attacks from all directions or added the Rotation Attribute to attempt penetration."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Lee Han mentally filed it away.
Regardless of his personal feelings, if he wanted to keep surviving, it was best to thoroughly remember Professor Voladi's teachings.
"...Did he just say Rotation—"
"Shouldn't we report this to His Majesty the Emperor?"
The fourth-years grew even more agitated upon hearing the professor demand the addition of Rotation—already an advanced technique—to the already difficult frost element.
"Still, the evaporation was excellent."
"Thank you!"
Professor Voladi gave a silent nod before turning and trudging away.
The biting cold faded as the professor disappeared into the returning darkness of the hallway.
And the moment that sinister monster vanished, the fourth-years rushed to Lee Han.
"...Are you okay?!"
"Are you alright?!"
"Huh? I'm fine."
Lee Han was slightly bewildered.
The fourth-years had suddenly charged at him like they'd eaten something wrong.
"Is this about the Frost Giant King earlier? I got tossed around a bit, but I'm not seriously hurt."
"That's not—well, of course we were worried about that too, but—just now, with the professor! Are you really okay?"
Kumandas was more concerned about Lee Han's mental state than his physical condition.
If Kumandas had been dragged out as a freshman, forced to challenge the Frost Giant King, and then—even after succeeding—been subjected to that kind of feedback, he would have seriously considered dropping out.
They should have been showering him with endless praise, and yet—
"It was praise, though?"
"...That was?"
"Junior... do you even know what praise is...?"
"It was praise. Seems there's been a small misunderstanding."
Lee Han replied flatly, as if this were just a minor mix-up.
At this, the fourth-years felt the most shocked they had all day.
'This... this kid...'
'Just how tough is he...?'
Now they realized—this freshman's true talent wasn't his mana reserves, his spell comprehension, or his mana control.
No, this freshman's real talent was his unshakable mental fortitude.
A rock-solid spirit that wouldn't waver no matter what nonsense the magic school professors threw at him!
"...Junior. I respect you."
"Junior. I respect you."
"Junior... don't collapse."
"????"
Each of the fourth-years patted Lee Han on the shoulder before walking away.
What was that about?
"Lee Han."
"Durgyu."
As Durgyu approached, Lee Han waved him off reassuringly. Just one look at his face made it clear how worried he was.
And behind them stood Giselle.
When Giselle approached with a frown, Lee Han hesitated. He wondered if she was about to pick another fight with him.
"Go back and make sure you're not injured."
But instead of provoking him, Giselle left behind something resembling concern before turning away.
"?????"
Lee Han was stunned.
What in the world was going on?
"Wardanaz... Be careful."
"Wardanaz. That lecture... Never mind. Go back and check if you're hurt."
It wasn't just Giselle. The White Tiger Tower students each left a word of concern for Lee Han before walking away.
Lee Han turned to Durgyu.
"Can you explain what's happening right now?"
"Well... Um..."
Durgyu struggled to find the right words.
Even to the White Tiger Tower students, who were practically enemies with Lee Han, Professor Voladi's lecture had been too brutal.
-Is, is Wardanaz going to die like that?
-Is this even allowed? No matter how tough Wardanaz is...
-Isn't this going too far?
By the middle of the challenge, they had grown so concerned that they were even cheering for Lee Han!
Durgyu couldn't bring himself to say, "You were getting beaten so badly that even they started worrying about you."
That would have wounded Lee Han's pride.
"Maybe... your challenge struck a chord with the White Tiger Tower students, who come from knightly families?"
"Durgyu. What kind of nonsense is that? That's impossible."
"......"
Durgyu pouted.
Congratulations. I was wondering when you'd solve it.
As they emerged from the twisted dimensional corridor, the Skeleton Principal floated in midair to greet them.
The White Tiger Tower students proudly announced:
"Yes, Headmaster. We did it."
Well done.
However, the fourth-year students' faces had turned deathly pale.
The Skeleton Principal's gaze was fixed on them.
Of course you lot failed. Pathetic fools.
"Headmaster! Diret isn't at fault here. It's because of us—"
Kumandas desperately defended them.
Diret was already furious as it was...
Kumandas might get murdered before even making it to the Punishment Room.
What kind of naive, iron-headed nonsense is this? Keeping bad company is a fault in itself.
"......"
Kumandas immediately retracted his earlier thought that "Professor Voladi might be worse than the Skeleton Principal."
The Skeleton Principal was worse.
Now then. Off to the Punishment Room—
"Headmaster!"
What?
Grumbling, the Skeleton Principal turned to Lee Han.
I already had something to say to you. Tell me later.
"That's not it... Didn't we solve this problem?"
Yes. Well done. Happy now?
"No. Usually, there's a reward, isn't there?"
...Don't tell me.
The Skeleton Principal frowned, sensing impending doom.
Don't do it. I hate this.
"About the seniors—"
Stop. I feel sick.
"Please don't send them to the Punishment Room."
"Y-yes, exactly!"
"Please forgive the seniors!"
Lee Han had thought, 'Saving an Outing Pass to create a debt from the seniors is a good deal,' but the simple-minded White Tiger Tower students were immediately swept up in the mood.
Overwhelmed by their fervent support, the Skeleton Principal looked like he was in agony.
Fine, take the Outing Pass. Just take it. I won't set any traps this time.
"Just forgive the seniors—"
The Skeleton Principal let out a deep sigh—one so deep it could have reached the darkest depths of the Magic School.
...Get out of my sight, you gilded brats.
"Th-thank you!"
The fourth-year seniors didn't even have time to properly thank Lee Han.
They shot him a look of deep gratitude before hastily fleeing.
The Skeleton Principal watched their retreating backs with profound regret.
"Thank you, Headmaster."
My pleasure. The weekend is just a few hours away now.
"Is that so?"
You're coming out with me, Wardanaz.
"......"
Lee Han's expression turned colder than the Frost Giant King's crown.
Beside him, Angrago, oblivious to the mood, gasped in admiration.
To go out with the Headmaster on the weekend...
The rumors that Wardanaz was receiving personal magic instruction from the Headmaster were true after all!
"W-wow! With the Headmaster...!"
Lee Han glanced at Angrago indifferently.
Though his gaze wasn't even a glare, Angrago felt his heart freeze over and quickly shut his mouth with a "Hup!"