Episode 252
Episode 252
"So here's the thing."
Professor Garcia, being an excellent professor, explained the matter succinctly, simply, and precisely—hitting only the key points.
But sometimes, no matter how well you explain, it's hard to convince the other person.
Especially when the content is utterly absurd!
—'He's Lee Han of the Wardanaz family, and as I mentioned earlier, he's taking quite a few classes. But now, he's showing such exceptional talent in every single one that the professors have grown quite fond of him. So, Professor Alkasis, please don't monopolize him too much just because he has talent in Healing Magic—be considerate. There are other professors too, you know.'
"...Stop this nonsense, seriously."
Professor Alkasis let out a weary sigh as he spoke.
"Huh??"
"I said stop. Who put you up to this? The Headmaster?"
Professor Alkasis was convinced that the Skeleton Principal was playing one of his mischievous pranks.
The only person in Einrogard who would dare pull such a prank on Alkasis—the busiest and most exhausted professor—was the Skeleton Principal.
The other professors wouldn't dare, lest they risk actual death.
"No, no, no... This isn't a prank!"
"......"
Professor Alkasis frowned as a headache crept in. Professor Garcia asked with concern,
"Should I cast a pain-relief spell for you?"
"Too many spells won't do any good... So you're saying this isn't a joke?"
"Yes."
Professor Alkasis struggled to process what he had just heard.
A student taking a few extra classes?
It wasn't common, but it happened occasionally.
Hell, even Professor Garcia had once been overly ambitious during his student days and regretted it later.
...Though, admittedly, that student was on a completely different level...
"How many was it again? The classes he's taking?"
"Summoning Magic, Illusion Magic, Enchantment Magic, Divination Magic, Transformation Magic..."
"And wasn't there Black Magic too?"
"Oops. That was supposed to be a secret from Professor Mortum..."
"Do I look like I have enough free time to go around telling people? Anyway, you're saying he's excelling in all those classes?"
'He's the top student, actually...'
Professor Garcia hesitated, stopping himself from mentioning the "top student" part.
It wasn't a lie, but somehow, it felt like it would come off as one.
"Yes..."
"...Does that even make sense??"
"That's what I thought too..."
Professor Garcia also found it strange upon reflection.
When you see things one by one, you don't notice, but when you summarize it for someone else, it sounds a little... no, very bizarre.
"The Wardanaz family, you say...?"
"What does the Wardanaz family have to do with anything? Haven't you met someone from the Wardanaz family before?"
"I have..."
Professor Alkasis's expression darkened.
Memories of being scolded during his student days resurfaced, making him shrink slightly.
'This isn't my fault.'
"Sigh. Fine. Fine. Got it. Yeah, geniuses like that do pop up once in a while."
"Once in a while seems a bit too generous..."
"Shut up."
"Yessir."
"But what do you mean by 'be considerate'?"
Professor Alkasis's brow furrowed slightly further.
Giving special treatment to a single student was absolutely unacceptable to Alkasis's principles. Even if that student were the Emperor's own bloodline, it wouldn't change a thing.
"Ah, well. The other professors also have a lot to teach him, so if you keep him too long or... even take him outside the academy... You know how it is."
While all magic disciplines were demanding, Healing Magic was particularly a time-devouring monster.
From the sheer volume of required knowledge to its vast range of applications.
If he monopolized the student to train him into a usable healer, the other professors would riot.
Not to mention, Healing Magic often required taking students outside the academy for training.
"And you call that an explanation?"
Of course, Professor Alkasis was utterly dumbfounded.
No matter how short-staffed they were, he had no intention of dragging a first-year student along for fieldwork.
This had nothing to do with talent.
Even if one possessed heaven-defying talent, who in their right mind would take a first-year student on life-or-death missions involving human lives?
"Professor Garcia. You know this already, but even what we're doing now..."
Though they were practically forcing students to learn healing magic, Professor Alkasis was well aware.
That no matter how much they pushed, those who had no intention of learning wouldn't learn a thing.
It was only natural.
There were no creatures as stubborn as mages—what were the chances they'd keep studying a branch of magic they had zero interest in?
The only reason they were forcing it was so they could mobilize these half-trained mages as supplementary help during manpower shortages.
A mage who knew no healing magic and one who'd learned even a little were worlds apart.
Of course, no one expected them to perform core roles.
Expecting those forcibly taught to handle critical tasks would be downright unconscionable.
At most, they were only counting on auxiliary support when problems arose...
"I don't expect those reluctantly learning to pull their full weight. If even half the class contributes, that's already a win. But what's this nonsense about detaining students or taking them outside?"
While struggling to address the manpower shortage with minimal training, hearing comments like "Don't treat them like personal apprentices when other professors exist" naturally left Professor Alkasis flabbergasted.
"Right? My apologies. I must've worried over nothing."
Professor Garcia awkwardly apologized.
Her concern stemmed from professors constantly grabbing Lee Han by the arm or leg to drag him off to their magic towers whenever they saw him.
Humans weren't meant to be pulled apart like that.
"The professors keep getting a bit—"
"Understood, no need to worry. And sorry to say, but that Wardanaz boy has little aptitude for healing magic."
"Huh?"
Professor Garcia tilted her head in confusion.
'But he was doing well earlier?'
Professor Alkasis gave her a subtle look.
"He's just going through the motions. His mana isn't depleting."
"...Ah, so that's why..."
Professor Garcia decided to finish explaining the remaining part she'd left out earlier.
"...That's how it is! Not too surprising, right?"
Since the truly shocking part had already been revealed, this much should be fine.
But Professor Alkasis remained silent.
"Professor?"
"......"
"Professor??"
"How much mana does he have exactly?"
"Professor, you said earlier you weren't interested..."
"...Just curious."
Professor Alkasis deflected.
"But this feels unfair. I was too busy to be present during the other professors' discussions."
"Oh, come on, really."
Professor Garcia pushed away mental images of Lee Han's limbs being pulled in different directions as she spoke.
"Besides, Lee Han isn't that exceptionally talented in healing magic."
"...Try this instead."
Professor Alkasis cleared the rope and tossed a bone before Lee Han.
While other students recoiled, Lee Han—already desensitized through black magic training—caught it unfazed.
Crack!
Snapping the bone, Lee Han immediately reassembled it.
The speed was astonishing.
His bone comprehension, innate mana reserves, and precise control—everything.
Though proper assessment required further teaching, that display alone undeniably proved his extraordinary gift for healing magic.
"Lee Han's just skilled because he studied black magic diligently."
Professor Garcia's excuse was laughable.
"Professor Garcia. You know the advantages of high mana capacity."
"That's what Professor Verdus said yesterday, Professor Kraer the day before, and Professor Mortum three days ago..."
"...Anyway, I retract my earlier statement."
"Oh, for heaven's sake!"
"Aside from dissection, it was fun, right?"
"Actually, wasn't dissection kinda fun too?"
"...Uh, yeah. Don't come any closer."
"?!"
When the lecture ended, the students' evaluations were surprisingly decent.
Considering they were forced to attend and that someone got disassembled mid-lecture, it was a remarkably positive outcome.
"Those who wish to learn more about Healing Magic... please come this way..."
Professor Alkasis hastily disappeared into the upper towers as soon as the lecture ended, leaving the senior students under her to call over the first-years.
Even accounting for the many who were forcibly made to attend, there were bound to be quite a few genuinely interested in Healing Magic among them.
Guiding such juniors was the seniors' role.
...Though technically, this should have been the professor's job, but Professor Alkasis was far too busy.
"We're counting on you, seniors!"
"Hey..."
"Y-yes?"
The cheerful greeting left the student flustered by the senior's sullen reaction.
'Did I do something wrong?'
"Lower your voice... My head feels like it's splitting from sleep deprivation..."
"......"
"......"
'At this rate, even the students who wanted to learn Healing Magic will run away.'
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Priestess Dijiling."
"Are you alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"Even if you attend Healing Magic too..."
"Ah."
Lee Han paused briefly.
It wasn't so much the lecture that surprised him as the fact that even the students of the Tower of the Eternally Burning Phoenix knew about it.
"Adding one more thing at this point won't change anything. And if I'm forced to attend anyway, not studying would only put me at a disadvantage."
"I'm genuinely concerned for your health, though..."
The priests of the Tower whispered among themselves as they passed Lee Han.
-Someone should stop him...
-He has noble pride and honor, how could he...
-A human life is precious!
'They should talk quietly if they don't want me to hear. This is unsettling.'
Lee Han felt oddly uneasy.
Listening to the priests seriously discussing his lifespan made him feel anxious when he hadn't been before.
But it wasn't just the Tower priests muttering about Lee Han.
"Isn't that... the one the professor mentioned... right?"
"Yeah... we need to... explain the merits of... Healing Magic... and recruit him..."
The carrot and the stick.
This age-old tactic was also used in magical education.
Forcing students to sit and learn magic was the stick, while explaining its merits was the carrot.
Already struggling with high dropout rates, the senior Healing Magic students were desperate enough to sell their souls to a demon if it meant recruiting more juniors.
And then there was the hurried message Professor Alkasis left before departing:
-Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. Got it? Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. If nurtured well, he has the potential to do the work of ten. Make him take an interest in Healing Magic.
-But Professor... how? The first-years these days are sharp—they've probably already figured it out.
With the professor herself looking like she might collapse from exhaustion, what merits could they possibly highlight?
-It's fine. Everyone prioritizes different values. Judging by his demeanor, comfort and ease aren't his priorities. Seeing how he attends all lectures, he's like Professor Garcia—burning with academic passion. Understand?
-Ah. I think I do.
-Good. Use that to persuade him. I shouldn't even need to say...
-Of course, Professor. We want more juniors even more than you do!
"Interested in... coughwheezecoughing fit... Healing Magic?"
"...Are you alright?"
When the senior, looking like death warmed over, approached him, Lee Han couldn't help but be taken aback.
"A-ah, no. Just... dryness. Just dryness. Anyway! You must be interested in Healing Magic. That's why you're here, right?"
"Uh... I don't know much yet, I'm just curious, really."
Lee Han answered carefully, not wanting to offend.
But the two seniors responded immediately, seemingly unoffended.
"That's what interest is."
"This is amazing. To have this much interest in Healing Magic. I think this is a first."
"Huh?"
Lee Han glanced back at the priests.
...No matter how he looked at it, compared to the priests' enthusiasm, his own interest was like a firefly before the full moon...?