Episode 404
Episode 404
Though he clearly looked angry, Professor Lightning Step was different from Professor Thunder Step.
The experience of an adventurer who'd traveled from one end of the empire to the other, weathering all kinds of storms, was simply on another level.
Asking an angry person "You're not really angry, are you?" was bound to reignite simmering tempers.
Professor Lightning Step skillfully diverted the topic.
"They'll probably come."
"The summoning mages?"
"Wait a moment..."
Professor Lightning Step counted on his fingers as he calculated.
Lee Han was horrified at the sight.
The mere fact he was counting meant at least two teams would be visiting!
'Those trash bastards!'
Unlike the priests who visited to perform good deeds, the mages' visits had far more impure intentions.
They were undoubtedly coming to evaluate the students' skills and polish their own magic through the process.
Not even the demons of hell could be this heartless.
"Are they visiting to observe the students' magic?"
"That'd be right."
"How can people be like that?"
"...Huh?"
Professor Lightning Step was slightly taken aback by Lee Han's fury.
Why was he getting angry about this?
"Anyway, next week will be the summoning mages. And don't worry too much. They're not crazy—no, I mean, exceptionally skilled like the Paragranum Guild. There'll be quite a few mages weaker than you all."
The summoning mages' festival next week, Boltzmann's Call, was both a celebration honoring the ancient great summoner Boltzmann and a social gathering.
A festival exclusively for mages differed slightly from the empire's typical celebrations.
It was a place where mages, who rarely had opportunities to meet otherwise, could showcase their magic, receive evaluations, and refine their skills.
While some took it seriously enough to stake their pride, others treated it lightly as a casual event.
Because of this, many mages of lesser skill participated as well.
Though Einrogard's first-years were treated as iron-headed fools within the school, they were still gathered from the empire's finest talents—those inheriting the most prestigious magical legacies.
Outside, there were plenty of mages who either self-studied or suffered under eccentric masters—many of whom were weaker than the first-year students.
Since such mages would also attend the festival, a situation like the Paragranum Guild wouldn't arise...
"They won't bring anything when they come in, will they? The priests always brought food..."
"...Just finish your work."
"Yes, sir."
Lee Han controlled the golem while speeding up his work.
Though he grumbled, his growing proficiency in manipulation even impressed Professor Lightning Step.
'But what is he muttering about?'
As Lee Han murmured atop the golem, the professor grew curious.
Had he gained some insight from the professors' earlier advice and was now reciting additional spells?
"Those summoning mages... I won't let them off if they come."
"......"
Despite being fully occupied with controlling the golem, Lee Han still managed to mutter threats with practiced ease—a sight that left Professor Lightning Step stunned.
After finishing their grueling labor and returning to the tower, the lounge was filled with a peculiar silence.
It wasn't a tense silence. Rather, it carried an air of reflection.
Puzzled, Lee Han asked Priestess Dijiling:
"Did something happen?"
"Everyone is reflecting."
"!"
The priests, who had rarely ever raised their voices, had ended up arguing fiercely.
But true to their nature, the priests were different from the other tower students.
After a heated discussion, they had come to understand, consider, and respect each other's positions.
Hearing this explanation, Lee Han was moved.
'Even the Skeleton Principal's poison doesn't work on priests!'
In truth, this argument among the priests had nothing to do with the Skeleton Principal, but Lee Han thought otherwise.
"Does that mean I can comfortably ask about the church from now on?"
"Huh?"
Priestess Dijiling stared blankly at Lee Han as if to ask what he was talking about.
"...No? So... since you've reflected, does that mean faith is now a personal choice...?"
"No. We all agreed that the dissatisfaction arose from leaving the order to chance. So we changed the method."
"...To what?"
"The winner now has the right to recommend their faith to you, Lord Wardanaz."
"......"
Lee Han turned his head to look at the priests.
Upon closer inspection, the priests he'd thought were simply silent were actually gathered in small groups strategizing.
-Who would have thought <Geometry and Arithmetic> would become the deciding subject?
-Don't worry. We have a priest from the Sisenja Order with us.
-I'd never paid attention to other orders before, but I'm impressed by the Sisenja Order's capabilities.
-Haha, I'm just embarrassed...
"???"
-Even if there's a Sisenja Order member over there, it doesn't matter.
-Exactly! Let's share information and discuss how to defeat them.
-Our order...
"......"
In large-scale competitions, winning through individual strength alone was unlikely.
The clever ones would naturally gather and cooperate, even if it meant slightly reduced rewards.
The priests were actively forming strategies in groups with aligned intentions or compatible order orientations.
It was exactly the kind of scene the Skeleton Principal would love to see.
"...What have I done?"
"Hmm?"
At Lee Han's words, Priestess Dijiling tilted her head in confusion.
Dijiling didn't think the current situation was bad at all.
Priests who usually focused only on their own duties were now engaging in discussions about faith with other priests.
They themselves were happily getting to know each other through topics they normally wouldn't discuss.
"I think I'll go rest now... Thank you, Priestess Dijiling. See you tomorrow."
As Lee Han trudged upstairs with a sullen expression, other priests stopped their conversations to ask:
"Did Lord Wardanaz look upset, or was it just my imagination?"
"I heard from the Blue Dragon Tower members that the White Tiger Tower members kept bothering them while they were working..."
"What an unfortunate situation. I'll visit the White Tiger Tower members later to make a request."
"I should go too. But who told you this?"
"Lord Gainando mentioned it."
"I'll make sure to remember that."
The next day, furious White Tiger Tower students immediately began throwing crumpled paper balls at Gainando the moment they spotted him.
"While this applies to all magic, precision holds special virtue in summoning magic. Outstanding summoners must maintain control in any situation. The great summoner Boltzmann once said: 'The easiest summoning spell executed through calculation is more valuable than the most complex one achieved by chance.' Therefore..."
Professor Milei, who was explaining how to advance the <Paper Bird> summoning spell covered in the first semester, raised an eyebrow at the distracted atmosphere.
"Does anyone have something to say? Lafadell student. Speak up."
Lafadell, the Black Magic major who hated Black Magic, panicked when called upon as the representative.
When Lee Han made eye contact with Lafadell, he quietly advised:
-Just be honest.
Given Professor Milei's personality, if you admitted your mistake, she wouldn't torment you like the Skeleton Principal but would let it go cleanly.
"W-we were talking about whether the summoners would really come."
"......"
Lee Han let out a deep sigh. Seeing this, Lafadell flusteredly asked:
"W-wasn't this what you told me to do?"
"I told you to honestly apologize, you idiot..."
"You may sit, Lafadell student. Everyone seems distracted because of the <Boltzmann's Call> festival. It's only natural to be excited about summoners visiting our school."
'Excited?'
Lee Han found this puzzling.
At least Lee Han and his friends were reacting with 'Oh no, what kind of crazy people are coming to torment us this time?'...
One of the students from the Black Turtle Tower bravely raised his hand and asked,
"Are they bringing any food?"
"No. That's not the kind of festival this is."
The firm response caused a stir in the atmosphere.
Murmurs like, 'Then why are they coming?' 'Is the school joking with us?' 'Isn't it rude to visit the great Einrogard without any manners?' could be heard from all around.
Professor Millay lightly gestured to silence the students' murmurs and continued,
"I'm sorry to disappoint everyone's expectations, but the <Boltzmann's Call> festival isn't about eating, drinking, and having fun. It's a festival where summoners observe each other's magic and honor Boltzmann. Naturally, I don't expect much from the students."
"That's a relief."
"Right?"
"......"
Lee Han sighed inwardly as he watched his friends still displaying their naive reactions.
When the professor said, 'I don't expect much,' there was no way she truly meant it.
No matter how kind Professor Garcia might be, she couldn't help but feel disappointed if her students failed to perform.
That was an unavoidable burden for any professor.
"However, embarrassing yourselves in front of visiting mages will only hurt your own pride."
"That's true!"
"I'm glad you understand. Let's focus on summoning magic. At first glance, <Summon Paper Bird> may seem simple, so many summoners tend to neglect it after learning it once. But the Empire's finest summoners never underestimate the potential hidden within this spell."
Professor Millay summoned a paper bird in midair.
The paper bird circled the lecture hall once. Then, the professor turned to the White Tiger Tower students and said,
"Let's discuss Golem repairs after class."
"...!"
The White Tiger Tower students blushed and closed their books.
They had been caught brainstorming ways to make their golems look cooler.
'Far-sight Magic.'
Lee Han realized that Professor Millay had been observing the classroom through the paper bird's vision.
Though outwardly plain, connecting a summon's vision to one's own and conducting surveillance like that was an advanced technique.
Summoning, vision linking, controlling the summon's flight, all while maintaining focus on one's own consciousness.
"You don't necessarily have to go this far—"
-Consider the golem's center of gravity!
The paper bird opened its beak and chirped, startling the students.
Though less difficult than clairvoyance magic, recording and transmitting voice through a paper bird like that was still an incredibly useful spell.
'I want to learn that.'
Lee Han definitely saw the need for it.
He needed a way to communicate with students from other towers—whether to check the current prices with the Black Turtle Tower's black market managers or to confirm how many meals his friends from the Blue Dragon Tower had skipped...
"...There's also this method."
As the professor finished speaking, the paper bird charged toward the classroom wall and collided with it.
In a flash of light, the paper bird vanished, leaving behind a magical inscription on the wall.
She had used the paper bird as a medium to engrave magic onto the wall.
"Great mages don't obsess over flashy, high-difficulty spells. Even simple magic can produce vastly different effects depending on how you use it. Keep that in mind. Now then... Let's each try modifying the paper bird. I'll see how you all improve it over this semester."
The simpler the magic, the more a mage's individuality shines through when modifying it.
Professor Millay hoped the students would gain many insights by experimenting with the paper bird this semester.
'To carry voice...'
Lee Han began flipping through his book, first trying to figure out how to embed sound.
Professor Millay adjusted her monocle and asked him,
"What are you planning to do, Lee Han?"
"I'm trying to embed voice, but..."
"Hmm..."
"?"
When the professor stared at him with a stern expression, Lee Han grew puzzled.
Had he made a mistake?
"You should raise the difficulty."
"...Professor, I haven't even tried this yet—"