Episode 304
Episode 304
If one could imitate sword techniques just by watching them, then all the swordsmanship guilds and instructors in the empire would have to lay down their blades.
Of course, truly exceptional swordsmen could grasp the essence of a technique to some extent just by crossing blades.
But that was only to "some extent"—they couldn't fully decipher complex and profound sword techniques.
Take, for example, the Enge Family's Absorbing Sword technique.
A swordsmanship that pulled the opponent off-balance the moment blades clashed wasn't something that could be mastered just by altering the properties of mana.
From the transformation of mana to the precise timing of when to execute the technique within the sequence of sword forms—everything had to be meticulously calculated to achieve the optimal effect.
Yet, he had managed to grasp it through sheer experience and even refined it enough to use against Alarong during their spar.
'Is this how magical talent manifests in other fields too?'
Alarong was bewildered.
He had heard from the family head that Lee Han was exceptionally gifted in magic.
Given that he was a genius, perhaps he had managed to replicate the technique just by observing the mana transformation.
But to refine it enough to use in actual combat...
Alarong wondered if they should have sent the young master to the knight order instead of Einrogard.
"For someone who trained alone, you did remarkably well. With more polish, you'll only get better."
"Really? That's encouraging."
Lee Han pushed himself up, using his sword for support.
After all the hard work he had put in throughout the semester, it was only natural to feel pleased by Alarong's acknowledgment.
'Seems like it was worth it.'
"Lord Wardanaz, you have a visitor."
"Who is it?"
A servant approached, calling for Lee Han. He assumed it was either one of his friends or someone from the group that still owed him money.
"It's a priest. They said there's an upcoming event at the temple and thought you might be interested, so they came to invite you..."
"!"
Lee Han's face lit up.
Priestess Dijiling of the Prisinga Order had mentioned it before.
There was an event during the break.
Though it was called an "event," it was more like a secondhand market where cursed artifacts were gathered to be destroyed or processed.
Since the semester began, Lee Han had been determined to participate and make a profit from it.
'Priestess Dijiling. Thank you.'
"I'll change and head out right away. Tell them I'll attend the event and to wait for me in the reception room. Oh, and could you prepare some snacks I can take to the temple?"
"Of course."
"......"
Lee Han walked with a sullen expression.
Beside him wasn't Priestess Dijiling—it was Priest Nigisor.
With flames crackling and flickering at his side, Priest Nigisor spoke.
"As expected of Lord Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. I knew you'd be interested."
"Right... I do like the Afha Order..."
Objectively speaking, the Afha Order was a good organization.
Especially for someone like Lee Han, who had a weakness when dealing with fire elements—they had helped him a lot.
Maintaining a good relationship with such an order was undoubtedly beneficial, but...
'I thought it was the Prisinga Order.'
Human nature was such that misplaced expectations only led to greater disappointment.
Lee Han, who had been counting on making a profit from cursed artifacts, couldn't help but feel let down.
"So, what does the Afha Order's event involve?"
"First, there's the straw doll burning ceremony. We burn straw dolls imbued with the misfortunes and bad luck of the past year to summon good fortune."
"I see."
Lee Han nodded, relieved that the event sounded more normal than he had expected.
"Next, we invite priests and fire mages from the city to give a lecture on imperial safety regulations."
"...Huh?"
Lee Han was taken aback.
That was a thing?
"That's part of it too?"
"Fire mages, who primarily handle flame elements, can cause significant damage even with minor accidents. Unlike priests, who are trained from a young age, self-taught mages often end up causing dangerous mishaps."
The Afha Order was a religious sect that worshipped fire, not one that encouraged arson. If they had, they would have already had bounties placed on them by the empire.
In fact, the Afha Order was extremely meticulous about fire safety.
This was precisely why any village of moderate size would try to establish an Afha Order temple within their settlement.
'...Wait a minute. Didn't Priest Nigisor want to burn the world down?'
Lee Han shot a dubious glance at the priest walking beside him.
The Afha Order might have to keep an eye on the city's fire mages, but they probably needed to monitor Priest Nigisor even more...
"But do the mages actually listen? I doubt they'd come easily."
Priest Nigisor shook his head.
"After attending the Imperial Safety Regulations lecture, we issue a certificate in the name of the Order. It's quite useful when casting fire magic within the city, so a fair number of mages do attend."
"!"
Unlike other types of magic, fire magic wasn't something just anyone could hire a mage for.
A single miscast could easily reduce the surroundings to ashes.
"In that case, I should definitely get one too."
"...???"
Priest Nigisor gave Lee Han a strange look as he burned with enthusiasm.
What exactly was he planning to use it for?
Inside the Afha Order's temple, the heat was palpable. Without realizing it, Lee Han tugged at his collar and fanned himself.
Flames rose from the stone statues placed throughout the temple, and the fire mages who had gathered there exhaled their own flames...
As Priest Nigisor had said, there were far more mages than expected. It seemed most of the city's fire mages had come.
"Have you been to that new wand shop that opened recently? They use camellia wood as material. Not sure if it'd suit fire magic, though."
"I still think applewood wands are better. What if you switch and lose control? That'd be a disaster."
The crowd ranged from people who looked like they'd never been in a fight to adventurer-types clad in metal armor with multiple daggers hanging from their belts.
"That's a nasty burn. Did your magic backfire?"
"Yeah. You should be careful indoors too."
"......"
There were even unsettling conversations like that. Lee Han instinctively froze.
'...I really need to be careful with fire magic.'
"Hey."
"?"
Lee Han turned his head.
Of course, in a place this crowded, it wouldn't be strange for someone to pick a fight—but this was a temple.
'What's this? Someone who enjoys a trip to the city jail?'
"You're a first-year, right? Keep your head down and follow me."
Surprisingly, the one who had spoken was another Einrogard student.
The way he subtly flashed the Einrogard emblem before adjusting his coat collar made Lee Han tilt his head in confusion.
"You're... an Einrogard student, right?"
"Yeah. Second-year. Lower your voice and come with me."
The mysterious second-year senior dragged Lee Han to a secluded corner of the temple. After glancing around, he spoke.
"There's no benefit in flaunting your 'I'm an Einrogard-trained mage' attitude here. In this city, anyone who's learned a bit of magic either envies or tries to exploit Einrogard graduates. It's just unnecessary trouble."
The senior spat on the ground and rubbed it away with his boot.
"I'm giving you this advice because we're both from White Tiger Tower. Got it?"
"...How did you know I'm from White Tiger Tower?"
Lee Han asked, genuinely curious. The senior scoffed.
"Anyone with eyes can see you scream 'I've held a sword before.' Only an idiot wouldn't notice. Nice to meet you. I'm Balgaro of the Alpha Family."
A first-year White Tiger Tower student—a knight from the same family as Angrago.
Lee Han's mind raced.
If he made up a nonexistent family, it'd raise suspicion. But if he named a real one and this guy actually knew them...
"...I'm Gainen from the Moradi family."
"Moradi family? You don't look like a Moradi."
"I'm from a branch family."
"Huh. Must've had it rough being an unalike branch member. Those Moradi bastards can be vicious."
"No, it's fine."
Rather than giving a lengthy explanation, Lee Han wore a lonely smile at the corner of his mouth. Sometimes staying silent was easier than making excuses.
Balgaro immediately let his imagination run wild.
A branch family member who already faced subtle discrimination, and didn't even resemble the main family...
"Alright. You can speak comfortably around me."
"Thank you, senior. But what are you doing here?"
"Getting a permit from the Afha Order. What else? I mainly use Fire Magic. Without a permit, not just clients but even other adventurers get uncomfortable."
"Adventuring? Are you working as an adventurer?"
"Of course. What? You must've heard from others. Why don't you know?"
"Because I'm from a branch family..."
Lee Han again wore that lonely smile. Balgaro immediately felt terrible.
"Don't mind it. The ones who excluded you are trash. Cowardly bastards. No matter what, that's just wrong."
"I'm fine."
"Well I'm not. To think the juniors I was looking forward to..."
Balgaro was furious that after finally becoming a second-year and meeting juniors, those very juniors were pulling such cowardly stunts.
"White Tiger Tower students often work as adventurers during breaks. It's good for living expenses and keeps our knightly senses sharp."
"I see. As adventurers, you can choose which requests to take."
In a way, it was the perfect job for White Tiger Tower students.
As mages, they commanded high pay, and coming from knightly families meant they had far more solid combat skills than average adventurers or mercenaries...
If they only took short-term requests, it could be even more financially advantageous.
'So that's the advantage. Those despicable White Tiger Tower bastards. Trying to keep all the benefits to themselves.'
Though the White Tiger Tower students hadn't exactly hidden this, Lee Han felt indignant.
"Exactly. And above all, we're knights. We can't do trivial jobs like those Turtle Tower bastards. No matter how much silver they offer."
'Do knights undergo some intelligence-lowering training?'
"Very true, senior."
As Lee Han humored Balgaro, priests from the Afha Order appeared dragging a massive straw effigy.
"First, we thank the Flame Messengers gathered here today. This straw effigy..."
Balgaro yawned and pulled out his wand.
"Get ready. We're all casting Fire Magic together."
"!"
The straw effigy wasn't meant to be burned alone.
All the gathered mages and priests would combine their power to burn it together.
"Don't underestimate that effigy. It's annoyingly fireproof. Last year some idiot tried solo and got humiliated... What are you doing?"
Click, click, click—
Lee Han layered multiple Rings of Flame Absorption, bracelets, and necklaces.
"I equipped artifacts."
"Hey. No matter how fireproof it is, you don't need to go that hard. If it won't burn, the priests will step in."
Whoosh!
As the priest finished speaking, the mages in the temple began waving their wands.
"O flame..."
"Rise and consume!"
"Flame, take spherical form..."
Balgaro also prepared his magic.
"Flame, imbue."
Normally an enchantment for swords, he cast it on a wooden pole before stabbing the effigy, making flames surge up—only to immediately die down against the effigy's powerful mana resistance.
"See? This thing really won't bu—"
Whoooosh!
Lee Han summoned flames and blasted them directly at the effigy. The fire engulfed it, burning violently.
'...Just how effective are those artifacts?'