Episode 357
Episode 357
"It's done."
"What!?"
Alsicle was startled.
While Yumidihus was talking, Lee Han had already finished organizing everything.
"Already!? All of it!?"
"What exactly did you do?"
Yumidihus gave Alsicle a displeased look.
Leaving such a pile of work—something a first-year student could organize so quickly—just lying around?
"N-No... I was going to organize it too, but... that was... it was just too complicated to sort out—"
"Stop making excuses and come here. Let's prepare together."
Yumidihus and Alsicle sat down and began reviewing the organized materials.
The documents were important, but demonstrating the experiments to the inspector was equally crucial.
They had to select the most promising and viable experiments to show the inspector directly.
"This twenty-third experiment looks decent."
Experiment No. 23.
Why did I even start with Frost Element Magic? Maybe I should've just stuck with Fire Element. To create extreme cold, I cast spells on all nearby heat sources. Don't forget to order three boxes of sardines. Observed phenomenon: Confirmed that falling objects slow down in the vicinity.
'He sure scribbled a lot.'
"If he confirmed that falling objects slow down, that's a significant achievement."
"But that requires Frost Roe Deer Antler."
"...Then what about this forty-fourth experiment? The fact that bricks lose their form and undergo spontaneous shape-shifting seems like a meaningful result."
"But that requires ice-cold acid."
"...Who told you to waste all the materials!?"
Enraged, Yumidihus formed a water club and smacked Alsicle on the back.
Alsicle groaned and tried to explain.
"Who knew the inspector would come... And even if we had them, there's no guarantee those experiments would succeed. They failed more often than not."
"What wonderful timing for such words, right when we need to show results. Truly brilliant."
Yumidihus sighed.
Though he said that, Yumidihus wasn't entirely blameless for Alsicle's predicament.
"If we don't have it, we'll just have to make do. This snow-yellow reagent was added to stabilize the cold by controlling surrounding moisture, right? I'll handle it."
"Th-Thank you."
"And the ten-thousand-year cold snow... That was to amplify the ice element's properties?"
"Yes."
"No choice, then. Wardanaz. Mind lending me some of your mana?"
"???"
"Sure. That's fine."
"?????"
Alsicle was baffled by the exchange between Lee Han and Yumidihus.
Huh?
"Wait, Lord Yumidihus..."
"Be quiet, Alsicle. We don't have time."
"But that's..."
The ten-thousand-year cold snow placed in the magic circle was a powerful reagent that amplified the ice element's power dozens of times over.
Replacing it with mana wasn't impossible, but even a rough estimate made it clear that no first-year student could handle that amount.
'Is he just tormenting him?'
"And the ice-cold acid was used to stabilize the amplified cold... Voladi Bagrak."
"Yes."
When Yumidihus called Voladi Bagrak, Alsicle felt relieved.
Unlike Lee Han, he didn't feel too bad about exploiting that guy.
"I'll control the amplification, so can you stabilize it using Wardanaz's mana?"
Professor Voladi nodded.
Of course, Alsicle's eyes nearly popped out.
"Lord Yumidihus!! This is really not—"
"Quiet. We don't have time."
Too lazy to explain Lee Han's mana capacity, Yumidihus simply gave orders to Professor Voladi.
"My goodness! Now I understand why His Highness the Prince has so many followers!"
"Hehe."
Gainando was having a delightful time with the inspector.
"Lightning spirit cards are overrated. Avoiding battle and whittling down the mage's health? How cowardly!"
"Exactly! I've always thought so too."
The two Wizard Card enthusiasts exchanged warm conversation as they evaluated cards.
"By the way, what deck does Your Highness use?"
"My blac— Agh!?"
Gainando let out a scream.
His friends had stepped on both his feet from either side.
"What's wrong, Your Highness?"
"Gainando mainly uses honorable knight cards."
"Ohh. As expected."
Gainando wanted to shout, 'Why would I do something so boring?' but his feet hurt too much to cry out.
"Inspector, the experiment is ready."
"Ah. The time already...! My apologies. The conversation was so enjoyable..."
"It's quite alright."
"?"
The inspector sensed something odd.
Lee Han had been standing motionless inside the tower without coming out.
'Focus.'
Lee Han shuddered as he felt the massive flow of mana.
The movement of mana currently flowing within this inner laboratory would inspire awe in any mage.
Even Alsicle, who had initially resisted fiercely, was now cooperating with a desperate expression as the magic circle's preparations concluded and the mana began circulating.
"Are you okay? You are okay, right? Really okay? You're not just saying you're okay because you're being threatened, are you? Truly?"
"......"
Lee Han couldn't respond, too focused on concentration.
If anything, Alsicle's chatter was making his mind more agitated.
Professor Voladi, sensing the unstable mana flow around Lee Han, kicked Alsicle's leg. Alsicle shrieked.
"I told you to focus, Alsicle!"
"Y-yes..."
At Yumidihus's shout, Alsicle averted his gaze.
Currently, Yumidihus stood to Lee Han's left, while Voladi Bagrak stood to his right, each absorbing and channeling mana into the magic circle.
When they had proposed replacing the Eternal Snow and ice-cold acid with a first-year student's mana, Yumidihus had wondered if they'd gone mad behind his back—yet surprisingly, the magic circle was functioning properly.
'Is this really okay? Is it actually fine? It seems fine for now. But does this make sense? Will he cough up blood and collapse?'
"Lord Alsicle Pengerin?"
"Ah, ah. Let's begin."
Alsicle, who had been inwardly wrestling with all sorts of worries, waved his staff at the inspector's words.
A neatly organized research log flew toward the inspector, who marveled at it.
"Magnificent! Among mages, those who keep such meticulous records are rare."
"O-of course, it's a matter of responsibility."
Under Yumidihus and Voladi's pointed stares, Alsicle's cheeks reddened.
"The observed phenomena are... Ohh! Impressive. The progress is substantial."
Alsicle didn't mention that these phenomena might only occur once in dozens of attempts.
"At this rate, the investors will surely be satisfied. What phenomena will you demonstrate?"
"I-it would be better to see with your own eyes."
Alsicle avoided giving a concrete answer.
Since they were improvising without the necessary materials, he couldn't predict exactly what phenomenon would occur.
"Understood! Show me."
"O mana, circulate and amplify as ordained. Circulate and amplify. Circulate..."
Alsicle began chanting in a deep, resonant voice.
While combat mages valued quick and concise incantations, most mages didn't particularly care about such things.
For mages, the goal was the perfection of magic, not combat.
No matter how long the incantation, accuracy was what truly mattered.
"O frost, swell. The price shall be the Eternal Snow. The amplification of that power."
'Was there any Eternal Snow?'
The inspector tilted his head in confusion.
Hadn't he missed seeing it in the magic circle?
"O frost, remain. The price shall be—"
KWAZIZIZIZIK!
At the center of the laboratory's magic circle, the dense mana compressed to the point of distorting space itself.
It was reminiscent of how the Skeleton Principal had once scattered mana to pressure incoming students.
But today, the purpose was different.
The mana transformed into frost, rapidly lowering the internal temperature to near absolute zero.
Thud, thud-thud—
"Oooh!"
Inside the magic circle, a sword-shaped icicle had formed.
That icicle was imbued with pure mana that showed absolutely no loss.
The examiner nodded excitedly at the sight of vivid mana flowing along the blade of the icicle.
Even after applying Enchantment Magic, it had accepted the mana perfectly without a single loss.
This was the material every enchantment mage dreamed of.
"So this is what you wanted to show me!"
"This is absolutely ridiculous!!"
"???"
"A-ah, it's nothing."
Alsicle, standing beside the examiner, let out a startled cry before belatedly regaining his composure.
The results were far better than any experiment he'd conducted so far.
'Just how...?'
Sssssss—
"Look there! The snowflakes aren't falling!"
"Are you joking right now?!"
"??!"
"I-I must've fallen ill from studying magic alone for too long."
"Th-that's..."
From the phenomenon of no mana consumption to the phenomenon of time suspension.
Normally, they'd have to pour in reagents just to observe each phenomenon briefly, one at a time.
Yet here, two phenomena were occurring simultaneously—and lasting for several seconds at that.
It was joyous and moving, but at the same time, utterly bewildering.
'How?! How?!?!'
Clapclapclapclapclap—
The examiner applauded. By now, Alsicle was starting to feel fear.
"Don't tell me..."
"Look at the water droplets inside! Their properties are changing!"
"......"
"Alsicle Pengerin, you're a genius of magic! To manifest three phenomena for this long at once!!"
"I... I'm nothing special."
"Even humble!"
"I'm telling you, I'm nothing—"
The examiner, thoroughly excited, recorded the results. Three phenomena simultaneously—and sustained for a full seven seconds.
If investors saw this, they'd be moved to pledge additional funding, thinking, "Truly, geniuses are different." The Frost Element Magic Society would be so impressed they'd arrange study tours, declaring, "A genius has made a breakthrough."
Yet the very genius who had achieved this great feat was lying inside, groaning.
"Are you alright? Did you push yourself too hard for the experiment..."
"It might be an illness of the heart."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. At least you're satisfied, and that's what matters."
"Yes! Today was truly eye-opening. I already knew Alsicle Pengerin was a great mage, but to be this incredible! If anyone asks who the greatest young mage in the empire is, I'll answer without hesitation—Alsicle Pengerin!"
From inside, Alsicle's mournful coughing fits erupted one after another. Yumidihus decided to quickly usher the examiner out for his disciple's sake.
"Right. Thank you. Let's meet again sometime."
"Yes! Farewell!"
Yumidihus and Lee Han approached the penguin beastman mage lying on the floor.
Alsicle turned his body with a despondent expression.
"All this time, something so simple..."
"It wasn't simple, Alsicle. It was only possible today because of all those trials and errors. Think positively. It could've taken much longer."
Despite Yumidihus's comforting words, Alsicle burst into tears.
"Enough! The Ice Element itself must've been dissatisfied with my research. If a Wardanaz had studied it, the truth would've been revealed much sooner."
"The Ice Element isn't even a person—what nonsense is this?"
"As soon as I get up, I'll send letters to all the Ice Elemental Mages... that I've wasted my life, and that my research will be inherited by the Wardanaz."
"...?"
Lee Han, who had been silently listening, froze.
Wait, what?
"What kind of bull—I mean, what absurd words are these, Sir Pengerin?"
Lee Han had stayed quiet, thinking Alsicle would snap out of it on his own, but this was taking a concerning turn.
"My research should be continued by a genius like you..."
"No, Sir Pengerin! That makes no sense at all! The magic circle and preparations were all your doing! At best, we just sprinkled salt on an already finished soup!"
"Is that analogy accurate...?"
"Honestly, who couldn't pour in this much mana? Even magic stones could do it!"
"Impossible."
"Literally impossible."
"......"
Lee Han's frustration swelled as Yumidihus and Voladi debated the magical correctness of his words instead of comforting Alsicle.