Episode 289
Episode 289
Lee Han was so shocked that Professor Ku was taken aback.
For a moment, he even wondered if he'd misheard the score.
"Losing one point is really nothing. Why are you reacting like this?"
"...You're right."
Though he gave an agreeable answer, Lee Han's expression was anything but agreeable.
It was the face of a mage who'd just doomed an empire to ruin through his own mistake.
"Thank you, Professor."
"Wardanaz. Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine."
Wow, he lost one point!
"......"
Lee Han was speechless as he watched the Skeleton Principal floating toward him.
It hadn't even been 30 minutes since the exam...
"It's possible to lose one point."
But was that really the case? If not for that one mistake, he could have gotten perfect scores on all his exams.
The Skeleton Principal was clearly trying to shake Lee Han's resolve and plant seeds of doubt in his mind.
Being more aware of that scheme than anyone, Lee Han remained composed.
Losing one point due to a mistake stung, but it didn't actually change anything significant.
'Don't let it get to me.'
But wasn't that mistake still haunting him?
"Yes. I think there's been a misunderstanding—I never once arrogantly assumed I'd get perfect scores on all my exams."
This wasn't a lie.
Unless he'd gone mad, Lee Han would never set a goal of achieving perfect scores in every single class.
His actual goal was simply to do his best.
The sting of losing one point was just part of his personality...
Was he not seething with rage or despising the professors who dared to test someone like him?
"What kind of insane first-year would even think like that?"
I did.
"......"
Lee Han decided to stop responding and ignore him instead.
The Skeleton Principal, realizing Lee Han wouldn't take the bait, seemed disappointed.
Unnecessarily playing humble, are we...?
"I've never once acted arrogantly, Headmaster."
Few things are as arrogant as attempting to study every single school of magic.
"......"
Lee Han wore the expression of someone who'd just been hit where it hurt. Noticing this, the Skeleton Principal looked pleased.
Had he finally gained some enlightenment?
"No?"
Denying it would only make things harder for himself. Was he preparing well for Professor Verdus's exam?
After taking the Transformation Magic exam and then the Enchantment Magic exam, the grueling first semester would effectively be over.
Since the Transformation Magic exam didn't seem too difficult, Enchantment Magic remained the biggest challenge ahead.
"I'm doing my best."
It must not be going well.
The Skeleton Principal sharply guessed his inner thoughts. Realizing there was no point in denying it, Lee Han countered with a question.
"How did you know?"
Well, isn't Professor Verdus's exam about taking what you've already made and improving it further? Given what you accomplished initially, of course it wouldn't be going well.
The Skeleton Principal answered as if the question were obvious. Lee Han had no choice but to concede.
'Well, he's not wrong.'
Creating a floating steel shield was already impressive, but being asked to upgrade it further in less than a month?
It was only natural he'd struggle.
"Then would you care to explain it for me, Headmaster?"
No? You should blame your past self for doing too well. There's a reason people say you should hide thirty percent of a combat mage's true ability. Consider this a lesson.
"That's advice for actual battles..."
Still, I'll give you one piece of counsel.
As the Skeleton Principal cut in, Lee Han paused and waited.
What kind of advice would the Skeleton Principal offer?
'Probably not very useful.'
You've made a floating steel shield now, correct?
"Yes."
A steel shield that floats around the caster and automatically blocks incoming attacks.
Though it relied on the power of various magic circles, creating it was nothing short of miraculous.
What's your goal?
"I was thinking... of adding reflection."
Naturally. Remove all the other magic circles and focus solely on reflection.
"!"
Lee Han was startled by the Skeleton Principal's words.
So right now...?
"Then wouldn't it just become an ordinary shield that only reflects attacks?"
Correct. And that alone would be sufficient. After all, its performance has improved, hasn't it? Even if other functions have diminished somewhat.
The Skeleton Principal was serious.
No matter how ambitious a student was about mastering all schools of magic, there were always limits.
Sometimes, choices and sacrifices were necessary.
And Professor Verdus was the type to set exams based on his whims anyway—there was no need to take his tests too seriously.
If a student insisted on doing what they wanted, they could just go ahead with it.
Frankly, focusing solely on the reflection attribute would already be cutting it close. Simply completing it would be an achievement worth boasting about—he couldn't deduct points just because some functions were reduced.
Originally, it would have been deemed "impossible," but considering Lee Han's track record, the Skeleton Principal had instead called it "cutting it close."
"But... I think Professor Verdus might be disappointed..."
And what's wrong with disappointing Professor Verdus? Why would that be a mistake?
"!"
Huh?
'Well, he's got a point.'
Lee Han found himself swayed by the Skeleton Principal's logic.
Professor Verdus...
Would it really be so bad if he was a little disappointed?
After all, since he was the one who had set such an unreasonable goal, any disappointment would be his own fault.
"I'm glad you'd rather have me disappoint Professor Verdus than torment me further, Headmaster."
You truly have a natural talent for Illusion Magic.
"That's not true."
Well, minus one point.
"......"
Professor Verdus had set aside his equipment and tools and was waiting for the students.
Anyone who knew the professor would understand just how astonishing this sight was.
Who was Professor Verdus, after all?
Despite being a professor who was supposed to teach, he would toss a few books at the students in the lecture hall, tell them to study on their own, and then immerse himself in crafting artifacts that interested him—a born craftsman.
And yet, here he was, doing nothing but waiting.
The merchants who had been summoned to the academy by Professor Verdus felt uneasy and cautiously asked,
"Are you alright, Magus? You're not working on your usual projects..."
"It's the students' exam time, you see."
"Well... yes, but..."
The merchants cursed him inwardly in their minds.
The man who usually only responded with "Huh" or "Uh-huh" when merchants spoke to him, only deigning to talk when it suited him—seeing him like this only made him all the more infuriating.
Regardless, Professor Verdus hummed a tune as he waited.
It was because of what the Skeleton Principal had told him.
-Well now, this year's first-years are quite something. They've made some fine pieces.
-No way? They must've just made trash.
-...Well, objectively speaking, some might be lacking, but a few works are quite decent.
-That can't be.
-If it weren't for your exam, I'd have thrown them straight into the Punishment Room. What a shame.
-Why?
-Think about it when they end up in the Punishment Room later... And there really are some good ones. Like what the Wardanaz kid made.
-Oh! He finished it?
Professor Verdus beamed.
He had advised adding a reflection attribute to the Floating Steel Shield, and it seemed the Wardanaz boy had succeeded.
-...Didn't you think that was a bit too difficult?
The Skeleton Principal asked, suppressing his exasperation as much as possible.
Of course, Professor Verdus responded boldly, as if the question itself was absurd.
-No? Why?
-My mistake for asking. Anyway, since the reflection attribute is complete, I'll evaluate it objectively.
-Oh! I'm looking forward to it!
Thanks to that, Professor Verdus was in high spirits.
Of course, in Professor Verdus's eyes, Lee Han's Enchantment Magic still had many shortcomings (in Professor Verdus's genius mind, the fact that Lee Han was a first-year didn't even register).
But even if there were dozens of flaws, as long as there was one exceptional strength, that was more than enough to be fascinating.
Lee Han's Enchantment Magic, which used his uniquely vast mana reserves to skip multiple steps in the enchantment process, was endlessly intriguing despite its many imperfections.
Thud—
As the door opened and students began to file in, Professor Verdus greeted them cheerfully.
"Submit your assignments as soon as you arrive!"
"H-Here you go, Professor."
Seeing the unusually good mood of Professor Verdus, the student handing in their assignment couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.
If he's in such a good mood, maybe the assignment...?
"It's still trash. What exactly improved here?"
"...Um, didn't the speed increase a little?"
"Next!"
One by one, the students stepped forward, endured Professor Verdus's scathing remarks, and were promptly dismissed.
Watching this, Lee Han felt oddly at ease.
'Even if I fail, at least I won't be the only one.'
There was a strange comfort in failing together with friends rather than alone.
Grumbling as he sent the students away, Professor Verdus brightened visibly when it was Lee Han's turn.
"You're here? I've been waiting! Show me what you've got!"
Carefully, Lee Han pulled out the steel shield and set it down.
The previous magic circle inscriptions had been completely erased, replaced by a newly engraved reflection attribute.
Clang!
When Lee Han picked up a pebble and threw it, the pebble rebounded with a crisp sound, flying back in the direction it came from.
The elasticity seemed to defy the laws of physics.
"!!"
"It reflects?!"
The students gasped in shock.
They knew the Wardanaz kid was the top of their year and skilled in magic, but to have completed not just a levitation shield last time but now a reflection shield too...
'This...'
'...might actually pass!'
Even the students who had just been berated and dismissed couldn't help but glance at Professor Verdus with hopeful eyes.
No matter how much of a... no, how strict the professor was, even he would have to say "well done" at this point.
Seriously!
"Where's the auto-defense?!" Professor Verdus suddenly exclaimed in shock.
"......"
"......"
The students glared at the professor with looks of utter disdain.
If a first-year managed to complete the reflection attribute in such a short time, shouldn't he be praised? How could he react like this?
'He's not human.'
'Even a mountain monster would be more merciful than him.'
"I removed the auto-defense."
"Why?!"
"To complete the reflection attribute."
"You could've done both!"
"There wasn't enough time."
"Why?!"
Instead of answering, Lee Han simply offered a faint smile. Arguing with a madman wasn't worth it.
"Want me to give you more time?"
"Next week is vacation."
"There's a room in the Sacred Pavilion Hall. Want to stay there and finish it?"
At that, the students couldn't hold back any longer and rose in protest.
"Professor, Wardanaz has plans with us!"
"If you keep this up, we'll really file a complaint to His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Why, why?! What did I do?!"
Lee Han was genuinely moved by his friends' show of solidarity.
All those meals he'd treated them to hadn't been in vain.
With both the Transformation Magic exam (which required turning just one piece of clothing into steel) and the Enchantment Magic exam finally over, Friday night arrived, and the students of the Blue Dragon Tower erupted into wild cheers.
"It's over! It's over! It's over!"
"And the grades too!"
The friends quickly gagged the crown prince, who was about to pour cold water on the celebration.
Boom! Pop-pop-pop-boom! Pop-pop-pop-boom!
Outside the window, the dark night sky was lit up with bursts of beautifully patterned fireworks.
"The seniors must be setting them off!"
"Let's respond!"
The first-years rushed to the windows and began firing off spells haphazardly.
Compared to the seniors' magic, theirs was unimpressive, but the dark sky made their efforts clearly visible.
"The fireworks are moving!"
The fireworks streaking across the night sky twisted and writhed before forming into letters.
With pounding hearts, the first-years turned their gazes upward, eager to see what words of praise their unseen seniors had for them.
☆Too☆Loud☆Shut☆Up☆
☆First-years☆So excited☆Must not have☆Learned much yet☆Wait till☆Second semester☆
"......"
"They're trash..."