Episode 238
Episode 238
"Honestly, those White Tiger Tower guys really love spreading fake rumors."
"Sorry about that, Lee Han."
"It's fine. It's not your fault, Durgyu."
As Lee Han and Durgyu conversed, the White Tiger Tower students standing nearby gaped in indignation.
No...
No...!
"But we really are making floating shields—"
"It's just not permanent, but we are making simple artifacts—"
"Ugh, stop wasting your breath and go work on your own stuff. Can't you see Moradi glaring at you over there?"
Lee Han scolded his immature friends.
He didn't particularly like Moradi, but fundamentally, he and people like Moradi shared a certain kinship.
The kind of people who inevitably ended up as group leaders during team projects!
If their teammates were as obedient as the Blue Dragon Tower students, the leader's stress would be manageable—but when they were like those White Tiger Tower students, ignoring the assigned designs and spreading baseless rumors instead, the leader had no choice but to clutch the back of their neck in frustration.
"But we are making floating shields..."
"We weren't even expecting it to be permanent in the first place..."
Muttering and grumbling, the White Tiger Tower students shuffled back to their spots.
"Lee Han. But... shouldn't we also extend the duration?"
Durgyu, who had been revising the design, hesitated before asking.
Even if they weren't making a semi-permanent artifact, basic simple artifacts usually included mechanisms or magic circles to extend the spell's duration.
Enchantment magic cast by an individual mage's power had a short duration, and compensating for that required various supplementary methods.
Otherwise, all their hard work would just turn into a useless hunk of junk that wouldn't even last 20 or 30 minutes.
"Yeah. Once we finalize the design, we'll need to prepare for that too. It shouldn't be too difficult. For a light-emitting spell... a mana amplification circle and a mana preservation circle should suffice. The materials we'll need are low-grade magic stones, Light Spirit Ink, Dawn Powder..."
How does he just rattle these off like that?
Durgyu's jaw dropped, just like the White Tiger Tower students earlier.
Lee Han wasn't even trying to make a glowing shield right now.
Yet the answers came out as if he'd memorized them.
"Why are you staring like that?"
"Ah... I'm just surprised how easily you listed them."
"It's just luck that I happened to know those."
It sounded humble, but Lee Han meant it sincerely.
Because those were materials he'd learned while being forced to make magic fireworks last time.
But to Durgyu, who didn't know the context, it just seemed like modesty.
He's truly amazing.
"Lee Han. You'll need these for your floating steel shield too, so I'll make sure to get you plenty of materials."
Durgyu thumped his chest as he spoke.
After receiving so much help, he couldn't just give nothing in return.
"It's fine."
"No, compared to what you've done for me, this is nothing, but—"
"No. The floating steel shield consumes too much mana—what I mentioned earlier won't be enough. We'll need to find another method."
Lee Han frowned as he said this.
Durgyu was slightly taken aback by his expression.
He seems upset—must just be his mood, right?
It was probably the anguish of a genius or something like that.
There was no reason for Lee Han to be in a bad mood, after all.
"But do you have a way to get the materials?"
Lee Han asked, puzzled.
From the way Durgyu was talking, it seemed he'd already gathered quite a few supplies.
Since when did White Tiger Tower students have that kind of resourcefulness?
"It's nothing special. Just wait a moment."
Durgyu stood up, whispered something to the other White Tiger Tower students, then approached Professor Vible Verdus.
"Professor Verdus, we need materials to craft a simple artifact. Could you advise us on where to acquire them?"
"......"
Lee Han was at a loss for words.
"Oh, I see. Asking the professor..."
Come to think of it, that wasn't such an absurd approach after all.
In fact, it was perfectly normal for students to ask professors when they didn't know something.
It was just that Einrogard was abnormal.
'I never even considered asking the professor. Will Professor Verbus actually answer?'
He was genuinely curious.
The Skeleton Principal would never give advice, but with Professor Verbus, it could go either way...
"......"
"Professor?"
"......"
Professor Verbus exceeded Lee Han's expectations.
Completely ignoring the students calling out to him, he was deeply engrossed in the artifact he was crafting, peering at it through a sapphire magnifying glass.
"Professor...?"
"Uh, what do we do?"
"...Light!"
Lee Han immediately swung his staff, conjuring a massive sphere of light.
As the radiant sphere—far brighter than anything the other students could produce—flashed before his eyes, Professor Verbus startled and finally looked up.
"What!? What's going on!?"
"My apologies, Professor. It was an accident."
"Oh? Well, then, nothing to be done."
Every student from the other towers in the classroom stared at Lee Han like he was insane.
No matter how much the professor ignored them, this was downright audacious.
Even Giselle looked at him as if he were a madman.
'Does that bastard have no sense of fear whatsoever?'
Regardless, Professor Verbus tried to lower his head and refocus.
Just then, Durgyu, snapping back to his senses, shouted:
"Professor!"
"What? Why?"
"We need materials to make our Simple Artifacts!"
"Huh? Oh. Right."
Professor Verbus lowered his head again.
"Light!"
"What the—!?"
"My apologies, Professor. It was an accident."
"Oh? Well, then, nothing to be done."
"Professor! Professor! Professor!!!"
Durgyu, desperate not to waste the second opportunity Lee Han had created, shouted with all his might.
Professor Verbus snapped back irritably:
"How rude! Why are you shouting like that?"
"I... I'm sorry..."
The White Tiger Tower students were flabbergasted.
'The Wardanaz kid just exploded a ball of light right in front of you...!?'
'What kind of standard for rudeness is this?!'
"Materials! We need materials!!"
Even the usually mild-mannered Durgyu couldn't help the strain in his voice.
Finally, Professor Verbus processed the question and answered:
"Right. I figured you'd need them, so I prepared some."
"Eh? Seriously?"
Lee Han, who had been trying not to interfere, couldn't help but react.
He couldn't believe it.
Not just telling them where to find the materials—he actually prepared them in advance?
What was this?
Was this secretly Professor Riz in disguise?
"Yep. Really. How do you expect to make artifacts without materials? Didn't you know that?"
"My apologies, Professor."
Lee Han remained completely unfazed by the jab.
Unlike the greenhorns from White Tiger Tower, provocations like this were nothing more than a gentle breeze to him.
"By the way, what are you making?"
"I'm still deciding..."
"Lee Han is planning to make a Floating Steel Shield, Professor."
"Floating Steel Shield? Not bad at all. You've picked something interesting. Very clever."
Coming from Professor Verbus, who rarely showed interest in first-year students, this was high praise indeed.
Durgyu, who had answered on Lee Han's behalf, felt proud as if the compliment were his own. He smiled at his friend.
"...??"
Of course, Lee Han's expression was as twisted as the White Tiger Tower students' had been the night before exams.
'Damn it. I was hoping to use the professor to change the subject...'
"So, Professor, where can we get the materials?"
Lee Han asked, intending not only to secure the necessary materials but also to discreetly pocket a few extras.
"What time is it? They should be arriving soon."
"??"
"Ah. They're here. Let's go outside."
"?????!"
The students who stepped outside Professor Verdus's magic tower were startled to see unfamiliar figures arriving by carriage.
The strangers looked just as awkward as the students. Lee Han immediately understood why.
'If you're inviting outsiders, shouldn't you at least get rid of the Death Knights first?'
The Death Knights were standing uncomfortably close to the carriage, casting intimidating glares.
"Um... Honored mage. Why are these... Death Knights... behaving like this...?"
One of the guests asked while wiping sweat with a handkerchief.
No matter how he thought about it, it made no sense.
Had they done something wrong?
"Huh? Oh. The magic school is currently on high alert due to intruders."
"W-what?! Then why call us during such a period!?!"
"Why not? It's actually safer this way."
-Do not forget that we are watching over you merchants.
"...Never mind. Let's just get this over with quickly."
The strangers who arrived by carriage turned out to be merchants Professor Verdus had summoned from outside.
Most skilled enchanters maintained good relationships with merchants. Even someone like Professor Verdus was no exception.
No matter how terrible their personality might be, how could anyone not love a mage capable of creating artifacts worth the price of an entire city?
"Let me help you."
"Oh, no... That's quite alright."
When Lee Han stepped forward, the merchants flustered.
Even if he was just a student, someone who looked like he came from a high noble family shouldn't be doing menial labor.
"What are you all standing around for? Come help."
"...Huh???"
"Help them."
"Uh... No... Why..."
The White Tiger Tower students stammered as they were dragged over. Lee Han and his friends began unloading the carts.
'Idiots.'
Lee Han was deliberately trying to evoke the merchants' sympathy.
Objectively speaking, Einrogard students looked quite pitiful.
If they could just squeeze out a bit more sympathy, the chances of getting something out of this would increase significantly.
That's why they couldn't afford to stand around rudely. They had to appear as diligent, well-mannered youths.
"That's more like it, Durgyu."
"...Isn't this... begging...?"
"What?! How is this begging?!"
"Uh... Uhh..."
'It totally is begging.'
Giselle, who was helping nearby, thought so but kept it to herself.
Honestly, from a practical standpoint, it'd be great if they could get something out of this.
...Though her pride wouldn't let her suggest it herself!
'What the hell is up with that Wardanaz bastard...'
"By the way, what exactly is all this cargo?"
"Materials the mage requested us to bring."
"Ah."
"Aha!"
The students were moved.
Professor Verdus was still a professor after all.
To think he'd ordered materials from outside for his students.
This easily put him in the top 5% of Einrogard professors.
'Impressive. Is he really not a fake?'
Lee Han thought this as he finished organizing the cargo.
"All done."
"Oh my. Thank you, young mages!"
The merchants repeatedly expressed their gratitude. Even the White Tiger Tower students wiped their noses subtly.
"It was nothing much..."
"As knights, such tasks are hardly difficult."
"Helping good people is also a knight's duty. Well pointed out, you Wardanaz bastard..."
"Now then, honored mage. The payment, please."
The merchants politely extended their hands.
Though they'd scrambled to gather everything due to Professor Verdus's sudden request, they didn't expect extra payment.
After all, he was an important client and an exceptional mage.
They'd be perfectly content just covering costs...
"I don't have any money."
"...Pardon?"
Lee Han could hear the merchants' voices drop a pitch.
"What do you mean? You're... joking, right?"
"Not joking. They'll pay. It's materials for them to use."
"Ah... Aha!"
The merchants sighed in relief.
So that's what he meant!
Well, Einrogard students were wealthy enough to carry two or three pouches of gold coins each.
"Young mages. The payment, please."
"......"
"......"
But the students' faces were turning pale.
The merchants felt a creeping sense of dread.
...Don't tell me?