Episode 407
Episode 407
"Then let's try handling... mercury."
Professor Lezhi said this while suppressing his reluctance.
"Wow... thank you."
His student, Lee Han, also responded while suppressing his reluctance.
Inside the cabin where no one was happy, only Professor Voladi looked satisfied.
Professor Voladi wasn't normally a talkative person.
But standards are relative.
Stuck in a remote cabin with Lee Han, Professor Lezhi, and a petrified basilisk, Voladi had become the most talkative one among them.
"Transformation Magic is crucial for combat mages."
"Yes."
"As I mentioned before..."
Professor Voladi went on to explain just how useful Transformation Magic could be in battle.
Fast casting and low mana consumption.
Rather than tediously reinforcing defenses or enhancing attacks with Enchantment Magic, it was far simpler to transform roadside bushes into blades of steel to impale your opponent. The essence of magical combat lay in efficiency.
And that wasn't all.
Some high-level Transformation Mages could turn surrounding objects into living creatures—or even transform themselves into monsters—without relying on Summoning Magic.
Professor Voladi rambled on, urging them to imagine reaching such heights.
Of course, he spoke calmly, but to Lee Han's sullen ears, it sounded anything but.
'If I learn to transform into a basilisk, would it count as extenuating circumstances if I accidentally swallow the professor?'
"But Professor, isn't mercury toxic?"
"Indeed."
Being a Transformation Mage didn't mean recklessly creating every substance in the world.
In fact, the more skilled a Transformation Mage was, the more cautious they had to be—knowing exactly which materials could be poisonous.
If they carelessly transformed the wrong substance without realizing and ended up poisoning themselves...
"We do need to learn how to handle it... but we should definitely master poison resistance first."
As Lee Han spoke, Professor Lezhi suddenly had a good idea.
Learning to handle mercury was one thing, but mastering poison resistance beforehand would be much safer.
And what was the best way to learn poison resistance?
"Poison resistance falls more under Black Magic than Transformation—"
"We already studied poison resistance in the first semester, Professor. The Wardanaz family also takes Black Magic courses."
"......"
"......"
At Professor Voladi's response, both Lezhi and Lee Han grew sullen again.
The atmosphere in the cabin turned awkward. Even the basilisk egg seemed uncomfortable.
"Then... let's just start with... how to handle mercury."
Professor Lezhi suppressed a sigh as he spoke.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"?"
When Professor Voladi stood up and said those words, Lee Han turned his head in surprise.
Huh?
"You're leaving?"
"Yes. I have things to do."
"Oh..."
Lee Han feigned exaggerated disappointment. Professor Voladi nodded as if he understood.
"Don't be impatient."
"Haha. Understood."
Lee Han even saw Professor Voladi off as he stepped out of the cabin. Only then did he feel slightly relieved.
'Wait. Professor Voladi doesn't actually have that much to do, does he?'
Come to think of it, shouldn't Voladi's only student right now be Lee Han?
As ominous possibilities surfaced, Lee Han firmly pushed them away. Maybe it was because he'd been learning Divination Magic, but unsettling visions of the future kept needling his mind.
"Phew."
When Lee Han let out a bitter sigh of relief, Professor Lezhi looked at him curiously.
He couldn't understand why Lee Han would sigh in relief like that.
Wasn't this the same ambitious Wardanaz who had been eyeing the headmaster's position—or higher—since his first year?
Why was he sighing in relief?
'Did I misread him?'
As Lezhi pondered this, he pulled a reagent from his pocket.
Iron pyrite was easier to obtain and handle than mercury, but it had good compatibility with mercury, making it easy to transform.
For novice Transformation Mages, it was quite convenient to work with.
"Oh no. I left the iron pyrite behind."
Lee Han's face brightened.
"I'll synthesize it for you now..."
Lee Han's face darkened.
After seeing the same pattern repeat twice, Professor Lezhi couldn't help but wonder.
...Could it be?
"You... don't really want to learn mercury transformation, do you?"
"What do you mean, Professor? I absolutely want to learn. Could it be that you're not in the mood to teach today? If that's the case, I'm perfectly willing to wait."
A model answer sprang forth as if he'd been waiting for it.
But Professor Luji wasn't fooled. That response was identical to the one he himself would give whenever the Skeleton Principal issued one of his bothersome orders.
-Professor Luji. I've heard reports of suspicious transformation mages appearing in several northern noble territories. Could you perhaps make a brief trip there during the break? Hmm. That expression... You don't seem too keen on going, do you?
-What do you mean, Headmaster? I'd be happy to go. Unless... perhaps you don't actually wish to send me? If that's the case, I completely understand.
-Good. Then go and return safely.
-......
After all, birds of a feather flock together.
Professor Luji felt an inexplicable, intense intuition about his student.
...Could it be?
"Lee Han. Answer me honestly... No, never mind. It wouldn't matter anyway. Then let's just move on. I was thinking we might skip mercury conversion for today."
Lee Han didn't protest with something like, 'How could you say such a thing when I can barely keep up with my magical studies as it is?'
Instead, he stayed silent.
Professor Luji, now certain, was genuinely astonished.
To think his student shared the same temperament as him!
In that case...
The culprit could only be the Headmaster.
'Good heavens. He's gone too far this time.'
He'd always known the man pushed his students harshly, but forcing them to study every school of magic?
It was clear that Wardanaz, regardless of his own will, was enduring this brutal regimen solely because he'd been born with talent.
It was both astonishing and deeply pitiable.
"I must have misunderstood. I thought you, Lee Han, aspired to succeed the Headmaster and become the lord of Einrogard."
"...Excuse me???"
Lee Han, who had resolved not to respond unless absolutely necessary, couldn't stop the words from slipping out.
What in the world?
"You don't want to, but the other professors pressured you into it. How agonizing that must have been."
"I'm not sure what you're talking about. But I appreciate your concern, Professor."
The two exchanged a meaningful conversation. As Lee Han brightened, even the basilisk egg wriggled excitedly.
When word spread that this year's Boltzmann's Call festival would be held at Einrogard, oblivious mages rejoiced.
After all, wasn't Einrogard the true lineage of imperial magic?
For most, it was a place they might never set foot in their entire lives.
But those well-connected or experienced in the magical world were horrified.
-Why, of all places, Einrogard?
-I won't even be able to breathe properly there.
Unless one was an innocent commoner who knew nothing, the master of Einrogard was hardly kind to other mages.
Just think of a mage's workshop, and it became clear.
A mage's workshop was akin to their territory, requiring numerous precautions when visiting.
Given that it was filled with all manner of secrets and mysteries the mage had researched, one had to avoid any behavior that might arouse suspicion.
And the more temperamental the workshop's owner, the stricter the rules became.
And the master of Einrogard was an infuriatingly temperamental archmage.
-Do not visit any area without permission. Even if an item appears ownerless, under no circumstances...
"I get it. I get it. I get it."
The black mage Kutang, having heard the Death Knight's warnings to the point of nausea, shuddered as he stepped forward.
'Did I come too early?'
Nearby mages interested in summoning magic were making their way to Einrogard for the festival, but among them, Kutang had arrived a step ahead.
Likely because he was a black mage himself.
Moving with other mages risked idle chatter on the road, which would only be a nuisance for everyone.
-I am Tadingo, a mage researching summoning magic. I've studied for about seven years under a master from the Untara Guild.
-Pleased to meet you! I'm also Tadingo, researching summoning magic! I happened upon a magic tome and have been self-studying for five years. Might I ask your name, honored mage?
"...I'm Kutang, studying Black Magic."
"...Uh. Hmm. Oh."
"B-Black Magic! I've always been really interested in Black Magic too. I mean... it's such an incredible branch of magic, isn't it?"
Trying to make awkward small talk with mages who had no real interest in Black Magic was nothing but torture.
It wasn't for nothing that Black Mages avoided mingling with other mages.
'I should avoid any contact until the festival starts.'
Thinking that, Kutang glanced around, searching for a secluded spot.
The school was so vast that he could probably wait in a quiet forest or mountainside until the event began without any trouble.
Thud—
"!"
Kutang flinched in surprise.
Surprisingly, a group of young-looking students were already controlling a golem in a small clearing at the edge of the forest.
'Truly, this is Einrogard! They don't even look half my age, and they're already handling golems...!'
His astonishment only grew when he saw them using the massive golem for menial tasks.
Most mages wouldn't even think of using a golem for chores. Why bother with a summon that was so difficult to create and control just for trivial work?
There was only one possible explanation.
'They're training.'
Not only had they made a golem, but they were even practicing its movement.
"Amazing!"
"O-Outsider!!"
One of the White Tiger Tower students, startled by the voice behind him, shrieked in alarm.
Kutang was even more startled by the reaction.
"P-Please, calm down! I have permission to be here! Here's the permit granted by Lord Gonadaltes..."
As the White Tiger Tower students swarmed around him in a circle, Kutang felt an overwhelming pressure.
'Why? Do they not trust me? Did they figure out I'm a Black Mage?'
Tense at the thought of being attacked by Einrogard students, Kutang braced himself.
"Um..."
"???"
"Do you... have any food?"
"......"
Kutang and the White Tiger Tower students quickly warmed up to each other. He was slightly moved by their consideration—they hadn't forgotten their sense of humor even while trying to ease an outsider's tension.
"You can take your time eating. I understand your sincerity."
The White Tiger Tower students devoured the sweet treats ravenously, barely registering whatever Kutang was saying. They even wrestled over the cream smeared on a friend's finger.
'...Are they being starved at school?'
Unaware that he had struck upon the truth, Kutang asked a question.
"You were controlling that golem earlier..."
Cough!
Hack! Cough-cough!
The White Tiger Tower students suddenly broke into frantic coughing fits.
"D-Did you get this food because you handled the golem well?"
"Huh? No."
"Phew..."
"That's a relief."
"??"
As the students wiped their brows in relief, Kutang grew even more confused.
What was going on?
"I wanted to ask a few things about the control method... if that's alright?"
"Well, uh..."
"We did eat your food, so we should answer, but..."
The White Tiger Tower students hesitated.
Surely they wouldn't ask him to spit it back out, right?
"The one who controlled it was another friend."
"...Huh? You mean they controlled it without being here?"
"Yeah, so... they left behind instructions..."
The students did their best to explain.
Normally, controlling a golem required a mage to be physically present, directing it step by step. But once Wardanaz got the hang of it, he started leaving simple commands like "Do this much" before leaving to attend to other matters.
Hearing this, Kutang was genuinely stunned.
'Not only did they make a golem, but they even made it follow delayed commands??'
Kutang was far from sociable by nature, but there was one exception—when he encountered something magically fascinating.
"Thank you. That was really interesting."
"We really enjoyed the food too!"
Now that he had even heard Lee Han's name, Kutang decided he had to share this intriguing story with his fellow Black Mages. With that thought, he walked away.
And not long after, Lee Han returned.
"Nothing unusual happened, right?"
"Just a mage visiting for the festival stopped by to watch for a bit."
"Nothing else?"
"Nothing."
For a moment, Lee Han felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding creeping up on him.
'What's this?'
There was nothing strange about the situation at all.
'...Is the Headmaster plotting something weird again?'