Episode 360
Episode 360
"Actually, Professor, isn't it that you want to join the Black Magic gathering?"
Not all professors in the world were like Professor Voladi.
Surprisingly, many professors actually wanted to (tactlessly) mingle with their students.
This was especially true for unpopular fields like Black Magic.
Since it would be difficult to get along well with other professors at Einrogard, the loneliness must be even more profound.
"What?"
However, Diret was startled by Lee Han's words.
"That can't be. That doesn't sound like him."
"Is that so?"
"I've invited him a few times before, but he always refused, saying he was fine."
"Hmm."
Lee Han let out a thoughtful hum and sank into contemplation.
Diret was an outstanding Black Mage and a great senior, but he wasn't as cunning as Lee Han when it came to students.
Especially with professors, it wasn't uncommon for them to say one thing with their mouths while their entire demeanor screamed another.
Understanding this language of professors was essential to becoming a cunning student.
"How exactly did he refuse?"
"Huh? He said, 'What would I do there? It's a gathering for students—I'd just be in the way.'"
"Ah, of course."
Lee Han nodded as if he understood.
A classic fake refusal.
"By any chance, did he add something like, 'But if you ever need help with your magic research, feel free to call me'?"
"...!"
Diret's eyes widened.
"Divination Magic?!"
"It's not Divination Magic—just prediction. Senior, if you don't mind, I'd like to visit Professor Mortum's workshop right now and invite him."
"I don't mind, but... are you sure? The professor might get angry if you keep bringing up something he already refused."
"Don't worry."
"Want me to come with you?"
"No need."
Lee Han stopped Diret.
If someone like Diret, who had worked under Professor Mortum for a long time, was present, the professor might feel too embarrassed to stubbornly refuse.
"I can handle this alone. I'll be back soon."
"O-okay. Be careful. ...Wait a second! Hey! Junior! What was that about professors fighting in the streets earlier?!"
Diret shouted belatedly, but Lee Han had already disappeared down the street.
Professors at Einrogard were mages who had reached such heights that they each owned mansions or workshops in Granden City.
And Professor Mortum's workshop was located in the central noble district.
...Right next to the cemetery in the district.
'Is this really okay?'
Of course, it was far more dignified than the nameless public graveyards on the outskirts of the city.
Being a noble family's cemetery, it was adorned with finely carved marble tombstones and beautifully arranged fresh flowers scattered elegantly around.
...Yet, despite all that, the Gravedigger's Tower, which served as his workshop, still gave off an eerie vibe.
At this point, it wasn't the cemetery that was the problem—it was probably the Black Magic.
"Professor Mortum, are you here?"
Cough. "I'm sure I told you. It'll be done by next week. If you pester me one more time, I'll scramble your organs into— Oh. Wardanaz? You?"
Professor Mortum, who had opened the door with a murderous tone, looked surprised upon seeing his unexpected student.
"Surprising!"
"Do you have another appointment?"
Cough. "That's not why I'm surprised... With so many professors out to catch you, I thought you'd be in pieces by now."
"......"
For a moment, Lee Han nearly cast a Curse at the professor.
If you knew, you should've stopped them!
'Stay calm. Professor Mortum is still one of the better ones.'
From Lee Han's perspective, a professor who minded their own business and occasionally invited him over—like Mortum—was far preferable to those who came to drag him away.
Both were childish in their own ways, but the latter was at least slightly more...
"Who were you talking to just now?"
"Ah. Cough. I took on a commission, but the client keeps pestering me about it."
Apparently, a noble from some family had died, and they wanted Professor Mortum to help locate the hidden inheritance the noble had left behind.
Several divination mages had taken the case, but they failed due to insufficient clues.
They had no choice but to try salvaging fragments of the deceased's memories through black magic.
"Such requests are possible too!"
Lee Han was reminded once again of how vast a mage's job opportunities truly were.
Perhaps in the future, it wouldn't be a bad idea to command skeletons to sweep up all the jobs at a transport guild or even attempt street performances.
"It's not a good request. Cough. But a black mage should still take on jobs like these."
"Is it to maintain connections with noble families?"
"No. Cough. Expensive requests like these don't come often."
"......"
"So... what brings you here? If you want me to stop the other professors from chasing you, that's impossible. I can't hold them all back."
'I know that.'
"Of course not! And having the professors come looking for me is nothing but an honor. I should be begging for their attention, yet here they are, gracing this unworthy disciple with their presence."
"Cough. You're quite good-natured for a black mage. If it were me, I'd have poisoned them all by now. Interrupting a student's vacation..."
Lee Han nearly nodded in agreement but clenched his teeth and held back.
"The reason I came today is to invite you to a gathering, Professor."
"...What gathering?"
Professor Mortum answered a beat too late. That alone was enough. Lee Han was certain the professor knew exactly what he was referring to—today was the day of the Black Magic Society's student gathering.
"The gathering where senior black magic students pass down knowledge to their juniors."
"Ah. Ah...! Cough. That one, you mean?"
"Yes."
"I'll pass."
Professor Mortum waved his hand dismissively.
"Cough. If you have questions about magic research, you can always come ask me... Though... you rarely do."
A flicker of disappointment flashed briefly in Professor Mortum's eyes before vanishing.
Lee Han spoke firmly.
"Professor!"
"...Why, why are you suddenly shouting?"
"The seniors have always wanted to ask you questions. But knowing how overworked and exhausted you always are, they couldn't help but hesitate."
"...!"
"No matter how much you say it's fine, if you don't attend the gathering in person, the seniors won't dare to ask."
"What kind of cowards—"
"I apologize. But please understand."
Though his tone was gruff, Professor Mortum's expression softened slightly.
"Not just me, but Gainen and Raphael—we've all been curious about the golden wisdom you've accumulated as a black mage. During the semester, we were too busy with lectures to hear it, but we hoped to learn during the vacation gathering. Yet when you weren't there, everyone was disappointed."
"Th-that's true?"
"Yes. When we expressed our disappointment, the seniors asked why. When we told them honestly, they said, 'We wanted to invite him too, but we were too afraid to impose.'"
"Such...!"
Professor Mortum let out a sigh.
He knew his students were timid, but he hadn't realized they were this timid.
There was no need for them to be so afraid.
"That's why I mustered the courage to come. As a first-year, I hoped you might be a little more lenient with me."
"Cough. Of course. What kind of mage would get angry at a first-year's mistakes?"
Lee Han immediately thought of the Skeleton Principal but stayed silent.
"...Fine. Cough. If you're going to say all that, I suppose I have no choice. We can't let the few new students we have slip away."
"Exactly. If you attend the gathering, Professor, why would any new students leave for other schools?"
Professor Mortum picked up his staff and stood.
Then he patted Lee Han on the back and began walking.
"Cough. Wardanaz. I really have a good disciple."
"Not at all, Professor. I'm just embarrassed."
Lee Han swallowed the triumphant smile of a successful hunter.
'If only the other professors were this easy.'
If they all brightened up like Professor Mortum, how much simpler things would be.
"Why is it that whenever professors are in a good mood, they always say, 'Since I'm feeling generous, I'll teach you more magic'...?"
"G-good heavens. I've never seen Professor Mortum in such high spirits before."
"Did someone poison him?"
"No, no. It's a curse. A laughter curse mixed with an intoxication curse—what else would make him that happy?"
Several seniors were astonished to see Professor Mortum, who usually scowled, coughed, and grumbled incessantly, looking utterly satisfied.
Diletto was no exception.
"W-what in the world...?"
"Senior. The professor simply wanted to join the gathering."
"...!"
Diletto stared at Lee Han with a shuddering gaze.
This first-year junior, who hadn't even been here long, suddenly felt like a reliable comrade.
To the point where he thought, 'If this junior were here, I could trust him to watch my back when dealing with that mad professor.'
'Am I insane? Trusting a first-year...?'
Cough. "The bandits were putting up a stubborn resistance inside the fortress. So I turned the captured bandits into undead and sent them charging in. Then I turned the next batch of captured bandits into undead and sent them charging too. And then... Eventually, they surrendered."
"What an instructive tale!"
"I'd love to try that myself!"
Even without Lee Han needing to steer the conversation, the Black Magic students showed deep interest in Professor Mortum's lengthy speech.
Thanks to that, the professor concluded his words in great satisfaction and took a break.
"So... you're His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, the seniors' attention turned to the other juniors—excluding Lee Han.
"Won't you get criticized if a royal shows interest in Black Magic?"
"Huh? Really?"
"......"
Lee Han subtly intervened.
"Tell them about how you used Black Magic in front of the nobles when the basilisk appeared."
"But that was when you stopped midw—"
Lee Han pinched the back of Gainando's hand. Gainando immediately understood.
"When the basilisk appeared, we used Black Magic to protect the nobles!"
"!"
"Oh..."
The seniors were surprised by Gainando's words.
To think they'd openly use Black Magic in front of nobles without hesitation.
"'Magic knows no nobility or commonness. If you stand firm, why care about the world's gaze?' That's the mindset, right?"
"Nobility or commonness? The world's gaze?"
Lee Han pinched Gainando again. Gainando understood once more.
"Yeah!"
"These first-years are truly impressive."
The seniors murmured in amazement.
But their gazes had grown noticeably warmer.
Only someone genuinely devoted to Black Magic could act like that.
"So... White Tiger Tower junior. Why are you here? White Tiger Tower students are pretty rare in Black Magic."
"You're not here to learn how to counter Black Magic, are you?"
"......"
Raphael felt cold sweat trickling down his back.
"W-well, you see..."
"Raphael might be from a knightly family, but don't let that fool you. No one is as serious about Black Magic as he is."
"Really?"
"Yes. Every time we explore the Undead Realm, he's always the first to charge ahead."
"Isn't that just... being a pervert?"
The seniors stared at Raphael in a different kind of surprise.
What's so great about the Undead Realm?
"He just really likes undead, so he takes the lead."
'That's literally the definition of a pervert.'
Raphael stood frozen, his face burning red, unable to move or speak.
Perhaps interpreting it differently, the seniors didn't press further.
"W-well. You're all eccentric, but your dedication to Black Magic is genuine."
"We're glad to have juniors like you. ...Though one of you has questionable tastes, we'll respect it."
"Aren't you going to ask Imirg?"
"He's from the Black Turtle Tower."
"Right."
"......"
Gainando gaped in disbelief.
What kind of petty seniors were these...?
Once the barrage of questions ended, Lee Han lightly patted Raphael's shoulder.
Raphael glared at him briefly before speaking.
"...I'll say thanks, I guess."
Like it or not, Wardanaz had shielded him. Without that, he wouldn't have escaped that situation unscathed.
"Good. Save the thanks and pay me in silver instead."
"...You insane bastard, I swear—!"