Episode 397
Episode 397
Yet as always, his ominous premonitions proved accurate.
"You're right? How did you know?"
"......"
Lee Han, who had gone to ask Professor Thunderstep just in case, was utterly flabbergasted.
Had it been Professor Voladi, he wouldn't have been so shocked.
After all, there was already a precedent from the first semester.
Even if it had been Professor Ingoldel, he might have understood—but for Professor Thunderstep to pull something like this too!
"Why do we need outsiders to learn Alchemy?"
"Well, the world of Alchemy is vast and boundless... It's not just about the secret techniques recorded at Einrogard. You also need to learn the methods of other alchemists, don't you?"
Professor Thunderstep shot back as if questioning why Lee Han would even ask something so obvious.
Lee Han had no rebuttal to that.
'Well, he's not wrong.'
During the break, while working at the workshop, he'd realized that no matter the field, magic was limitless.
Take Alchemy alone—Workshop A had its own specialized secret techniques and crafting methods, while Guild B had spells only they used.
If they could learn such things, it made sense to invite anyone from outside.
"My apologies, Professor. It's just that certain... malevolent individuals have invited outsiders so often to force us into duels that I must've developed a bias."
Lee Han apologized sincerely.
At that, Professor Thunderstep awkwardly averted his gaze.
"...Professor??"
"Uh... Just to be clear, I didn't invite outsiders because I enjoy tormenting you all like the Headmaster does."
"I said malevolent individuals, not the Headmaster..."
"But, well... technically speaking, it is a duel."
"......"
As Lee Han stared blankly at him, Professor Thunderstep hurriedly continued.
"It's not like I wanted to do this!"
"Sure, sure... The Headmaster says that a lot too..."
"Alchemists are eccentric, you hear?! Did you really think they'd just hand over their secrets for free? No matter how prestigious Einrogard is, that's not how it works!"
To be fair, it wasn't just alchemists—all mages were eccentric in their own ways.
But people always assume the craziest in their own field are the craziest of all.
The alchemists from the Empire that Thunderstep had invited this time weren't the type to be swayed by money, fame, or even the Skeleton Principal's threats.
The only way to extract their secrets was to convince them through sheer skill.
"So it is a duel after all."
"Well, yes, but strictly speaking, it's a bit different from the other professors'—"
"Still sounds like a duel to me."
Professor Thunderstep cursed Lee Han inwardly.
Not long after, Professor Thunderstep announced the truth during Alchemy class.
-"Today, we've invited alchemists from the Empire's Paragranum Guild. This will be an extremely valuable opportunity for all of you."
-"The Paragranum Guild?! The ones who developed the cure for Blue Blood Disease two years ago?!"
-"Exactly right."
-"What an honor!"
-"Right? So give it your all and hit them hard."
-"Huh?"
At first, the students didn't understand.
It wasn't even exam season, yet they had to prove themselves and earn recognition from renowned alchemists of the Empire?
They'd been diligently studying Alchemy since the second semester began—what kind of lightning bolt from the blue was this?!
-"C-Can't we just take an exam instead?"
-"You'll take exams during the midterms. Why so eager now?"
-"If we fail to impress them, will it not affect our grades?"
-"Do you really think that's possible?"
The students who had chosen Alchemy trudged out with gloomy expressions.
Though, to be fair, it wasn't just the Alchemy students who were depressed. Students from other classes were similarly downcast.
With the second semester now over two weeks in, the professors were gradually revealing their true colors and ramping up the difficulty.
Most students refused to believe it, but the truth was—during the first semester, the professors had been kind to the new students out of consideration.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Ah. Priest Nigisor."
Lee Han looked around and waved when he spotted the fire spirit half-blood priest.
"I was going to ask the Blue Dragon Tower friends who are taking alchemy what they plan to do. I stepped out for a quick chat, and they've already disappeared."
"Ah... The Blue Dragon Tower folks left earlier. I overheard them saying that standing around would make them hungry faster, so they were going back to lie down."
"That's a funny joke."
"?"
"...It wasn't a joke? I should head back to the dorm, then."
Lee Han decided he should stop by the Phoenix Tower to grab some snacks before visiting.
And then Priest Nigisor trailed after him like a lost puppy.
"Uh, did you have something to say?"
"Ah. This time, it's my turn to accompany you."
"...Right. Sure."
Lee Han packed his things and headed toward the Blue Dragon Tower with Priest Nigisor in tow.
While walking, the priest begged for help in creating flames intense enough to burn the world, but Lee Han pretended not to hear and ignored him.
Ashan Dalkard lay in the lounge, idly twirling his quill while staring blankly at his friends.
The third weekend of the second semester had arrived before they knew it. Once he finished today's assignment, he planned to treat himself to a slice of bread he'd been saving.
At first, he thought the semester starting without Wardanaz was part of the headmaster's scheme. He assumed the headmaster couldn't stand seeing them comfortable and at ease, so he'd pulled some trick.
But he hadn't realized—when faced with cruel despair, one discovers their true self.
Now, the Blue Dragon Tower was filled with the sharpened intensity of life and a fighting spirit. Ah! The other nobles of the empire would never understand this real life...
In front of him, two students were arguing over a single potato, threatening to kill each other over a chess match, but Ashan pretended not to see.
Maybe this was what real life was like...
"Dalkard. Lee Han is calling for you."
"Why are you telling me this now?!"
Ashan threw the book he was holding onto the floor and scrambled out in a hurry.
Outside, the Blue Dragon Tower students taking alchemy had already gathered.
"Well, at least you all look a little better since you're taking alchemy."
Having talent in alchemy meant knowing which of the surrounding plants were edible.
Even if the Blue Tower students were a bit lacking in survival skills, those taking alchemy were at least slightly better...
Thud!
Before he could finish speaking, one of the students collapsed sideways. Yoner remarked dryly,
"Must be dizzy."
"...Let's all eat something first before we talk."
Lee Han generously spread jam and butter on sliced bread and handed it to his friends.
Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent.
Not because magic had been cast, but because everyone was too focused on eating.
Feeling slightly overwhelmed by the sight, Lee Han asked Yoner,
"Was it... this bad?"
"Everyone was pretty hungry."
Fortunately, Yoner didn't seem too out of sorts, aside from looking tired.
Then again, exhaustion was something every Einrogard student who hadn't given up on studying experienced.
"Even the ones taking alchemy?"
"Uh... well... y'know... actually finding stuff is different."
Yoner tried to avoid criticizing his friends' skills, but Lee Han understood immediately.
"Don't tell me they used to have servants gather ingredients for them back at their mansions?!"
"...cough cough."
"Hack hack."
The surroundings were so quiet that Lee Han's outburst sounded especially loud. The students choked and coughed.
"I-I won't use servants... Wardanaz... Sorry..."
"...No. I'm sorry. Here, drink some milk."
Lee Han poured a glass of milk. When he glanced to the side, the princess was staring at the milk jug with desperate eyes, as if she couldn't even speak.
"......"
Lee Han poured her a glass too. Her face instantly brightened.
"Don't your followers feed you?"
"They're not Gainando. I can't just steal food from my followers."
"Tch... It'd be easier if they were Gainando."
"Right."
At Lee Han and Yoner's whispering, the Princess wanted to respond but couldn't think of anything to say, so she just silently drank her milk.
"Priest Nigisor. May I borrow you for a moment?"
"Of course. Though I'd rather say my prayers first."
"Prayers?"
Lee Han recalled the prayers of the Afha Order.
As a fire-worshipping order, the priest's prayers required fire.
"Actually, I was about to light a fire to prepare for alchemy anyway. This works out well. What do we need to do?"
At Lee Han's words, Priest Nigisor smiled warmly.
As evidenced by his visits to the temple during break to assist with the order's work, this genius from the Blue Dragon Tower was the most compatible person with Afha.
"Just follow the steps as I say them. First, take out the charcoal powder..."
Though a single wizard's staff could light a fire, the order's priests didn't do so.
While the sincerity of preparing manually was part of it, this process also allowed them to adjust the intensity and nature of the flames.
After mixing charcoal powder with several metal powders and piling them on the ground, Priest Nigisor lit the fire.
A flame of an unusual color burst forth. Lee Han marveled and called his friends.
"Don't you think this fire is amazing? The attribute of the mana feels..."
Mid-sentence, Lee Han realized his Blue Dragon Tower friends were all busy eating bread and paying no attention, making him awkward.
"I-I'm watching with interest."
"Yoner..."
Lee Han nearly teared up.
After fully lighting the fire, Priest Nigisor asked,
"Would you like to try offering a prayer?"
"Sure."
Since it didn't seem difficult, Lee Han stepped forward.
As he offered mana and focused, it transformed into divine power and returned.
Normally, he would have asked Priest Nigisor about the Afha Order's divine magic, but this time he didn't.
After several failures, he was certain divine magic wouldn't succeed so quickly.
Yet at that moment, the divine power began moving on its own, beyond Lee Han's control.
In a way, it was like instinct.
Just as his hand would reach for his sword before his mind could process encountering a hostile enemy, the divine power began flowing ahead of Lee Han's will.
'What the...?!'
Before Lee Han's surprise could even settle, the divine power intertwined like warp and weft, altering reality.
Pop!
The flame before Lee Han suddenly turned white and flared violently. Seeing this, Priest Nigisor's eyes widened in joy as he exclaimed,
"I knew it!!! I knew this would happen!"
"Is this... could it be...?"
"Exactly that!! Everyone, are you watching?!"
Priest Nigisor was so excited he trembled, turning his head.
He wanted to share this beautiful miracle with someone.
"...Look! Look at this!!!"
"???"
The bread-eating friends were startled by the priest's sudden shout.
Why was he acting like this?
"At this miracle?!"
"It's... it's fire?"
"White fire, at that!"
"Is it magic?"
"It's not magic...!"
As Priest Nigisor grew frustrated and pounded his chest trying to explain, Lee Han stared blankly at the flame.
Unlike magic, even after manifesting divine magic, he had no idea how he'd done it.
It was like throwing a stone and perfectly landing it within a drawn circle.
A sensory magic impossible to explain precisely, even though he'd done it himself.
'Did the flame's attribute change?'
Lee Han sensed a strange mana pulse from the white flame.
As a flame transformed by divine magic, it was anything but ordinary.
"...Uh. Wait. Priest Nigisor. Does the flame altered by divine magic become easier to control by any chance?"
"I've never heard of such a thing."
"Thanks..."
Lee Han felt bitter.
Honestly, he wanted the power to control flames more than the power to strengthen them.
Strengthening wasn't really that...
"Lee Han. Is it okay to succeed like this?"
When Yoner tilted her head and asked, Lee Han was puzzled.
"Why?"
"I thought you were failing on purpose."
"Can you even fail on purpose? Besides, there's no reason to."
"Well... I thought you might be doing it so the other priests from the Phoenix Tower wouldn't feel left out if only one succeeded."
"Haha. The priests aren't that narrow-minded—"
Lee Han's face stiffened mid-sentence.