Episode 216
Episode 216
"You said beef. Beef! Professor Garcia!"
"...Did your personality really change just now?"
Before Professor Garcia's gaze could shift to one of contempt, Professor Paselet hastily explained what had just occurred.
At that, Professor Garcia's expression changed as well.
"Oh? That's amazing!"
"Why are you reacting like that?"
Professor Paselet was slightly taken aback. The other's reaction was far too mild.
"Ah... I'm sorry."
Professor Garcia looked awkward.
Having witnessed other professors react with astonishment multiple times after their lectures, she simply couldn't muster the same level of surprise that Professor Paselet had expected.
Even if Professor Paselet was thinking, 'What? Is he a genius?!', Professor Garcia could only manage a reaction along the lines of, 'Oh, he must have done it again...'
"I've heard him being called amazing in other lectures a few times already."
"This is different from those!"
Professor Paselet's voice was thick with indignation. He was so frustrated that another one of his personalities nearly surfaced unintentionally.
"This isn't just about being good at lighting fires or casting curses..."
"The other lectures weren't that impressive either... So, is there a problem?"
At Professor Garcia's words, Professor Paselet hesitated.
Separate from his frustration, there was a problem.
"There is."
"What is it?"
"...I don't know how to handle him."
"Ah."
Professor Garcia immediately understood what he meant.
Professor Paselet was known among the faculty for his extremely laissez-faire teaching style.
Until now, the students who had learned Divination Magic under him had mostly been those who had realized their own potential and chosen to dedicate themselves under his guidance, rather than being directly nurtured by him.
"Ah. Right. Divination Magic is especially hard to gauge talent for... Then, why not pay a little more attention to him?"
"How?"
"Teach him some stronger, more advanced Divination Magic..."
"No. It's dangerous."
Professor Paselet snapped back irritably.
The adage that talented mages face greater danger.
That saying applied especially strongly to Divination Magic.
No matter how strong their intuition and inspiration were, or even if their constitution allowed them to pay the price with mana, the danger never fully disappeared.
Even if only one in a thousand attempts demanded a different price, it could be fatal for the mage.
Even experienced and skilled mages made mistakes—let alone young ones.
"I suppose you're right. Then why not just treat him the same way you do your other students?"
"What if he loses interest in Divination Magic and cuts ties?"
"Uh..."
Professor Garcia was at a loss for words.
Not because the question itself was hard to answer, but because she was surprised that Professor Paselet would even say such a thing.
Normally, he was the type to coldly respond, 'If they lose interest or cut ties, then that's where their fate ends,' wasn't he?
"Then... isn't that just how it is?"
"How can you say that, Professor Garcia? Even if he stops learning Divination Magic, how could you just—?"
"...S-sorry."
Professor Garcia apologized reflexively, though inwardly, she felt wronged.
'You're the one who always says stuff like that...'
"Even if I seem indifferent, I don't completely abandon nurturing my students."
"I know."
Though he might appear disinterested in taking on new students, Professor Garcia knew that once Professor Paselet accepted a disciple, he took care of them quite well.
His usual detached attitude might have been, in a way, due to the unique nature of Divination Magic itself.
"Though I do cause a scene every time my personality shifts."
"Ah. That part is definitely a bit..."
"......"
At Professor Garcia's careless remark, Professor Paselet pouted.
"Someone with that much talent for Divination Magic—you can't just leave it untrained."
"That's... right."
"Why?"
"It's nothing."
For a brief moment, the thought, 'Haven't the other professors said something similar?' flashed through Professor Garcia's mind before vanishing.
"Then how about teaching him in a way that keeps Professor Garcia from losing interest?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Professor Garcia's expression turned stern.
No matter how much he owed Professor Paselet, this was going too far.
"But—"
"Don't worry, it'll be fine."
Seeing the conversation veering in an odd direction, Professor Garcia answered firmly.
"Lee Han is an exceptionally diligent student. Even if he just repeatedly learns simple magic, he won't lose interest or give up."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Later, if Lee Han loses interest in Divination Magic or stops caring, I'll discuss it with you. Alright?"
When Professor Garcia spoke this decisively, Professor Paselet finally looked reassured.
After seeing the professor off as he cheerfully walked away, Professor Garcia suddenly halted his steps.
'Ah, shoot.'
It had only just occurred to him.
'The classes Lee Han is currently taking...'
The fact that Lee Han was already learning more than enough magic.
'...I'm sorry, Lee Han!'
He should have stopped him...!
"Professor! Look! The cabbage is alive!!!"
"Y-yes, indeed."
Professor Thunderstep was overwhelmed by Lee Han's enthusiasm.
This was the same student who walked out of exams with a perfect score and a cold expression—now overjoyed over a single cabbage surviving in the garden...
"Cabbages that endure frost taste better. This is good."
"I thought it would die after being buried in snow for nearly a week."
"...!"
Professor Thunderstep, who had been listening, was startled.
He had been too distracted by Lee Han's excitement to notice, but now that he thought about it, vegetables surviving a week buried in snow made no sense.
Even with the power of the Staff of the Tree Spirit...
'Did this kid's mana amplify the staff's life force?'
"Your mana amplified the staff's life force."
"Naturally."
Lee Han answered casually while shaking snow off the vegetables and placing them in a basket.
"...This isn't something you should dismiss so lightly!"
"Huh? Really?"
Lee Han held a potato and looked puzzled.
Wasn't it just that his mana resonated well with the Staff of the Tree Spirit, amplifying its life force?
"Well, yes, but—"
Professor Thunderstep was frustrated by the fact that the student before him was only a first-year.
Any other mage would have reacted with, 'You amplified the power of a staff given by a spirit, not your own? How is that possible, no matter how much mana you have?'
Unconsciously amplifying the power of an artifact bestowed by another being—not even something the mage themselves had created!
"...Never mind. Just know that it's impressive. Anyway, seeing how fond you are of it, Professor Willow would be delighted."
"Professor Willow, you mean?"
At the mention of the professor who taught Botany, Lee Han turned his head.
Professor Thunderstep tilted his head at his reaction.
"Have you met? Professor Willow doesn't teach first-years, does she?"
'Oh no.'
"I happened to meet her by chance."
"I see. Professor Willow is an outstanding person."
True to his role as an Alchemy professor, Professor Thunderstep praised Professor Willow.
An alchemist in need of materials couldn't help but be weak against a horticulturist.
"It's not just because you've met her—Professor Willow is truly remarkable. From her character to—"
"Understood, Professor. I'll be sure to pass that along."
At his student's immediate understanding, Professor Thunderstep awkwardly rubbed his nose.
Even an outstanding disciple could make a master feel embarrassed.
While Lee Han cleared snow from the garden, harvested vegetables, chopped them, stir-fried them in oil, and simmered them in broth, Professor Thunderstep sat at the table in front of the cabin, idly scribbling with a quill.
When Lee Han brought out a pot of vegetable soup—filled with cabbage, potatoes, onions, and carrots, all boiled tenderly and seasoned with salt and pepper—he looked at Professor Thunderstep in confusion.
"What are you doing?"
"Finished cooking? Let me... Hey. You could become a chef later."
"That's too much praise."
"No. I mean it."
"Being a chef can't possibly be that easy."
"I really do mean it..."
Professor Thunderstep was completely sincere.
Every time he saw this student, his cooking skills had improved.
"So what were you doing just now?"
"Ah. This letter? You'll find out soon enough."
Professor Thunderstep swung his staff. The completed letters transformed and began flying toward each tower.
"You might have heard, but Professor Garcia gathered people to hunt the monster summoned in the library's depths."
"...I did?"
Lee Han, who had just taken a spoonful of soup, paused.
A sudden sense of foreboding washed over him.
"Now that we can retrieve the necessary books, I've sent word for the students to go fetch them."
"......"
At the same time.
Students inside the towers were staring in dismay at the notes pinned to their walls.
The list of books to retrieve from the library:
-Introduction to Elementary Mineralogy
-Edible Plants of the Empire's Central Region
-Mages Who Survived Poison
-Great Alchemy Secrets Born from Failure
...and so on.
—Professor Thunderstep Gundar
Whoosh!
Astonishingly, this was just the beginning.
Notes from other professors began flying in through the windows.
"Let's... let's just close the windows!"
The students were so flustered they were actually tempted by Gainando's suggestion.
"Still, there's no need for each person to bring back one book. One per tower should suffice."
When Professor Thunderstep said this with an air of generosity, Lee Han regretted not poisoning the soup earlier.
"...But the books aren't that deep inside, right?"
"Hard to say? They're usually near the entrance, but Einrogard's library shifts every time you visit... If you're unlucky, you might have to go pretty deep."
"...It's not that dangerous, though, right?"
"It is dangerous. You'd better go in groups."
"...The soup's probably cold. I'll go reheat it."
"Hold on. You're not planning to poison it, are you?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Stay seated. I'll cook this time."
Professor Thunderstep stood up, blocking his student.
This was not a disciple one could let their guard around.
Congratulations.
"???"
The library monster has been slain, has it not?
"Ah..."
The students choked up at the Skeleton Principal's "congratulations."
That's what he calls—
Right about now, you must be racking your brains to retrieve those books. I shall assist you.
"Huh? Wait, are you lending us the—"
A Silence spell sealed the foolish student's mouth. The Skeleton Principal spoke sharply.
A mage should not be given fish—they must learn to catch it themselves. Never spout such nonsense again.
'More like tying rocks to our ankles and throwing us into the water.'
"Then how are you helping us?"
Good question. There will be no Basic Magic Character Education lecture today. Instead, return to your towers and prepare.
"Prepare for what?"
To enter the library. This will be your first dungeon.
"But no? We went in last time with Lee Han."
A Silence spell struck Gainando's mouth. The Skeleton Principal glared at Lee Han once.
'It's not my fault!'
Lee Han felt wronged.
Professor Thunderstep made us go!
Once everyone is ready, enter the library. You must go in before it gets too dark, so hurry.
One student, still confused, raised their hand.
"Are you... coming in with us?"
Are you the student, or am I? Why would I?
"...?"
"Then how are you helping us? Ah, are you supplying equipment or rations—"
I am postponing all lectures until tomorrow evening. So you can focus entirely on the library.
"......"
The students were so moved by the Skeleton Principal's "generosity" that they were left speechless.