Episode 338
Episode 338
Lee Han nearly protested why he was the only one being excluded, but stopped himself.
It was absurd, but if he was being honest, if someone asked whether he actually wanted to attend that gathering, the answer was no.
'I don't want to squeeze in between them.'
Of course, his friends probably wanted to overcome the surprise trial together with Lee Han...
But he really didn't feel like doing that.
"How may I assist you?"
"Oh my."
"?"
When Professor Ku let out an admiring sound, Lee Han was puzzled.
Why was he reacting like that?
"Ah. The Headmaster mentioned that if it was you, a Wardanaz, you'd gladly help out."
"......"
Having his inner thoughts read by the Skeleton Principal left Lee Han with complicated feelings.
"To think you'd have such a diligent student. As I said before, it seems Professor Bagrak is getting more than he deserves."
"Haha. Not at all."
"Voladi probably thinks so too. That really shouldn't be the case."
'That's probably true, and it's terrifying.'
As Lee Han was thinking this to himself, Professor Ku swung his staff.
A massive flame beast then materialized before them.
If an ordinary person were glared at by the burning eyes of this enormous, ferocious beast, they would have screamed—but Lee Han didn't even blink.
"It doesn't seem fitting for a ballroom."
"Indeed. A sharp student like you would notice."
Professor Ku acknowledged his mistake and cheerfully dispelled the illusion.
Lee Han slowly spoke up.
"If you need an illusion that can startle the students, I believe you'd need not just a threatening monster, but a plausible one."
"Plausible?"
"Yes. A monster that wouldn't seem out of place appearing in a ballroom."
"Does such a thing exist?"
Professor Ku was taken aback.
It seemed like any monster appearing in a ballroom would feel unnatural.
"If you attach a reasonable explanation, even a strange monster can seem plausible. For example, if you say the Headmaster released the monster, most students would believe it."
"I see..."
As he listened, Professor Ku suddenly grew doubtful.
In a way, this was about tormenting Lee Han's friends—was it really worth putting in this much effort?
'Truly a disciple of Voladi.'
In Lee Han's resolute refusal to compromise when it came to magic, regardless of his friends' struggles, Professor Ku saw Voladi's influence.
In the end, a disciple couldn't help but resemble their master to some extent.
Unaware of Professor Ku's unsettling thoughts, Lee Han pulled out a list of monsters.
"How about demon-type monsters? They'd be easy to believe if the Headmaster summoned them."
"What about this one?"
A four-winged demon emerged, exhaling breath mixed with flames and sulfur.
"That seems suitable. Its menacing appearance matches well with the Headmaster."
"Indeed. Then let's prepare."
"Yes. ...Wait. What do you mean?"
Lee Han was slightly taken aback when Professor Ku immediately said they should prepare without any explanation.
Prepare what?
"The demon illusion, of course?"
"I haven't learned that yet."
"Ah, it doesn't have to be an illusion that moves on its own and manipulates senses. Just the appearance is enough."
"...That's exactly what I haven't learned yet."
Lee Han was starting to grow wary of how Professor Ku perceived him.
Did he think he was a fourth-year student or something?
"What?!"
Professor Ku was startled.
Then, as if realizing something, he spoke again.
"Ah, right. You're a first-year Wardanaz, so it's not strange you wouldn't know."
Lee Han almost retorted, 'You're only realizing that now?' but held back.
This was a professor he was talking to.
"Yes... No matter how crude, creating an illusion of a monster as complex as a demon isn't something within my current magical capabilities."
"But Professor Verdus mentioned you've mastered the 4th-Circle spell <Azirmo Summoning Enchantment>. That's an illusion magic spell, isn't it? If you can do that, a demon illusion should be manageable..."
"A magic that summons the illusion of a dragon made of light."
Even with the help of a magic circle, it was undoubtedly an impressive feat.
Enough to make attempting the illusion of a demon seem plausible.
Cornered, Lee Han pretended not to hear and changed the subject.
"So what exactly do you need my help with?"
"I was going to assist you if you summoned the demon's illusion... but how about learning it now? I think someone like you, Wardanaz, could manage it."
'Hmm. No wonder he's friends with Professor Voladi.'
The saying "birds of a feather flock together" exists for a reason.
If someone seems too normal to be friends with a madman, you should reconsider.
Because beneath that composed exterior, madness was likely lurking.
But regardless of Lee Han's impolite thoughts, this situation wasn't Professor Ku's fault.
This was entirely due to Professors Verdus and others raising expectations with remarks like, "Wardanaz could handle this much," or "Wardanaz would probably manage even this."
Having heard such things, it was only natural for Professor Ku to suggest learning a spell to summon a demon's illusion.
A proposal born from pure consideration, with not a shred of malice.
Of course, even a rock thrown with pure intentions could still kill someone.
"I already have a lot of spells I'm practicing right now..."
Lee Han was gradually learning the tricks to dealing with Einrogard's professors.
A kind of deflection—blaming Professor B when dealing with Professor A, and Professor C when dealing with Professor B.
If caught, it might become troublesome, but what else could he do?
If he didn't, he'd be dead right now.
"Fair enough."
Professor Ku wasn't surprised at all.
Just from the lectures in the first semester, he could guess that Wardanaz was currently practicing quite a few spells.
"What exactly are you practicing? I'm curious. Any illusion magic among them?"
"As for illusion magic... I am practicing Lady Ogonin's illusion magic."
Lee Han paused mid-sentence.
Professor Ku was listening far too eagerly.
"Lady Ogonin's? Which spell, and how far have you mastered it?"
"It's not that impressive."
"If it's Lady Ogonin's illusion magic, that's a different story. It's a classic, the orthodox tradition. Few attempt it these days due to its difficulty, but hearing that you're practicing it, Wardanaz, makes me happy."
"But really, it's not that—"
No matter how much Lee Han tried to downplay it, Professor Ku wouldn't listen.
He even called over a passing mage.
"Darachi! My student here has been personally taught Lady Ogonin's illusion magic and is practicing it!"
"What? Aren't the students here all first-years?"
"That's right. Impressive, isn't it?"
"That doesn't make sense."
As a mage he'd never seen before approached, Lee Han wanted to smack Professor Ku.
What was so great about learning from Ogonin that he had to drag in a random passerby?
"Professor, why are you calling over—"
"Ah, this is Darachi of the Valor Family. He's a mage who came to help with today's task."
Unlike Professor Voladi, Professor Ku had a wide network. The other mage seemed to be his friend.
'The Valor Family?'
Lee Han was surprised that the family name sounded familiar.
Where had he heard it before?
"Pleasure to meet you. Darachi of the Valor Family."
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family."
"...?"
Darachi paused mid-greeting and stared intently at Lee Han.
"Is something wrong?"
"Ah... I'd heard rumors, but I didn't expect you to be a first-year."
"......"
"Sir Doin owes you a debt."
"!"
Only then did Lee Han remember what the Valor Family was.
Sir Doin, the Baldrogard graduate who had engaged in a light duel with Lee Han at the gathering.
The Valor Family was Sir Doin's family.
'They were from the same family!'
"What happened at the gathering wasn't my victory—Sir Doin made a mistake..."
"No need to be so considerate. Making such a mistake while dueling a first-year student is just foolish."
Lee Han wanted to somehow restore Sir Doin's honor, but it wasn't easy.
"And the fact that Lee Han's mana was so abundant that his opponent made a mistake and fell into a state of exhaustion is also quite an unbelievable story."
While Lee Han was inwardly apologizing to Sir Doin, Professor Ku and Darachi continued their conversation.
"If the rumors are true, then it's not entirely nonsensical that he's learning Lord Ogonin's magic."
"Darachi. It's not because he's my disciple—the Wardanaz don't lie when it comes to magic."
"I'm not saying I don't believe it. It's just that Lord Ogonin's Illusion Magic is notoriously difficult, so even if one tries to learn and master it, it's not easy. One can have the will but still fail to produce results."
"Well, we can judge that based on his achievements. Have you learned any spells?"
"I've mastered <Ogonin's Emotion Perception> and <Ogonin's Rising Anxiety>, and I'm currently practicing <Ogonin's Thin Mist>..."
"Ooh!"
"Impossible!"
The two illusion mages were utterly astonished.
To already be practicing <Ogonin's Thin Mist>...
For any proper imperial illusion mage, <Ogonin's Thin Mist> was a spell they couldn't possibly not know.
A defensive magic that spreads a mist of illusion, making it impossible for external enemies to aim properly.
Of course, there were many illusion spells that produced similar effects. Among them, many were easier to learn than <Ogonin's Thin Mist>.
But the reason <Ogonin's Thin Mist> was highly regarded was its perfection.
Illusion spells that used heat would fail in freezing environments, and those that relied on hallucinogenic clouds would lose most of their effectiveness if the sense of smell was blocked.
However, pure traditional illusion spells like <Ogonin's Thin Mist> had no such weaknesses.
A high-level, flawlessly perfected spell—difficult and inefficient to learn, but once mastered, it had no vulnerabilities.
No wonder Professor Ku and Darachi held it in such high regard.
"To have already mastered <Ogonin's Emotion Perception> and <Ogonin's Rising Anxiety>... That's astonishing."
"I told you, Darachi."
"At this level, he seems more than ready to learn <Ogonin's Thin Mist>."
"Exactly. Wardanaz, you said you're practicing it now? Try it again. We'll observe."
"Wait... Professor... Shouldn't we prepare first?"
"That can wait."
"Professor Ku is right. What's the point of such trivialities? Let's see <Ogonin's Thin Mist>."
"......"
Is this really okay?
"Something's strange."
The Skeleton Principal frowned as he spoke.
Professor Verdus, standing beside him, brightened and asked, "You finally realize it! The futility of this pointless endeavor—"
"That's not what I meant."
"It isn't?"
"Why are the number of illusion mages dwindling?"
The Skeleton Principal hadn't left all the work to Professor Ku alone.
Considering the size of the venue and the number of new students, it was impossible to entrust everything to just one professor. The mana of an Einrogard professor wasn't so cheap.
He had summoned not only Darachi but also several illusion mages from Granden City to stand by...
Yet, the illusion mages in the ballroom were disappearing one by one.
At first, he thought they might have deserted out of reluctance, but this was too strange.
Unless someone was kidnapping them...
"......"
The Skeleton Principal tore his gaze away from Gainando, who was sweeping through the ballroom like a storm, and stepped out into the hallway.
Then, he headed toward where a dense concentration of life energy was gathered.
'No way...'
There was only one possible answer, but the Skeleton Principal refused to believe it.
No matter what, would illusion mages really abandon their posts so irresponsibly and act so recklessly?
"It seems difficult, but..."
"Not at all! Lord Wardanaz, just try a little harder."
"Exactly! <Ogonin's Thin Mist> is too precious a spell to give up on. I once tried to learn it myself but failed. But if it's Lord Wardanaz, you can do it!"
"I agree. I don't wish to overpraise failure, but even reaching this level of completion is remarkable. It'd be a shame to stop now."
"Come on, just one more try!"
"Just one more!"
"......"
Watching the illusion mages surround Lee Han and clap encouragingly, the Skeleton Principal felt a genuine headache coming on.