Episode 411
Episode 411
"Still, wouldn't it be better to have golems do the more labor-intensive tasks?"
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Lee Han smoothly shifted the topic to avoid further awkwardness.
Yet the dark mages, as if to prove their notorious lack of sociability, responded coldly.
"No... Why bother with golems...?"
"Isn't it a waste of mana? Do the mages of Einrogard really use golems for that?"
"Wouldn't it be better to just hire laborers with money?"
'Seriously, these dark mages have zero consideration.'
Lee Han cursed the dark mages inwardly.
Unaware that the student before them was grumbling internally, the dark mages continued their questioning.
"Anyway, we don't use golems for menial tasks, but seeing Einrogard employ them for such work left quite an impression on us."
"Exactly. Who would've thought of using golems for chores? It sounds absurd, but when you think about it, there's no training method more effective than this."
"It's just that we had no other choice..."
Lee Han attempted to explain that golems were the only solution to finishing tasks on time and securing food supplies.
But the dark mages only marveled further.
"So you're saying there was no other way to train with golems?!"
"...No. I meant there was no other way to get chores done and receive food."
The dark mages dismissed Lee Han's clarification as a joke and continued admiring the idea among themselves.
"Ah, pardon us. We were so surprised that we forgot to introduce ourselves... We're dark mages here to participate in the festival. Please don't be alarmed just because we're dark mages. Many of us are quite skilled in summoning magic, you see."
Worried that Lee Han might panic and flee, the dark mages hastily clarified that they weren't suspicious individuals.
But it was pointless. The student before them was, in fact, an exceptional dark mage himself.
"Especially since we specialize in golem research... We'd love to hear how you, as a Wardanaz student, handle golem control. Most rumors about dark mages are malicious falsehoods, so please don't take them too seriously..."
Seeing how they kept insisting, "Dark mages are actually fine," with every sentence made Lee Han feel slightly sorry for them.
'Better wrap this up quickly.'
"You don't have to keep saying that. Lee Han's also learning black magic."
Gainando, who had been listening, suddenly cut in.
He was getting irritated that the dark mages kept dismissing Lee Han.
But the dark mages were stunned.
"You're learning black magic?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"S-So does that mean you're a dark mage?"
"Uh... depends on how you look at it?"
"Wait, that golem—don't tell me it's powered by black magic?!"
"I wouldn't know about that... Lee Han. Lee Han?"
Gainando, who had been calling Lee Han's name, flinched.
Lee Han was staring at him with eyes colder than the eternal ice of the permafrost.
"...D-Did I mess up?"
Lee Han didn't answer.
"...Will skipping dinner make up for it?"
Lee Han didn't answer.
"...Then skipping breakfast too?!"
"Forget it. I'll see you later."
Gainando, who had been trying to negotiate his way out by skipping two meals, made a pitiful face.
'This is all because of those dark mages!'
Why did they have to come to a summoning festival and stir up trouble like this?!
"Non-living summons, this way!"
"Living summons, please come over here!"
"We'll cross-check your submitted documents. Please open your reagent pouch."
The senior students of Professor Millay, Einrogard's summoning magic majors, worked hard to manage the mages attending the <Boltzmann's Call> festival.
Unlike other grand festivals in the Empire, <Boltzmann's Call> was a small gathering exclusive to mages—which, in a way, made it even more dangerous.
Mages were the kind of people who caused trouble even when surrounded by civilians. How much worse would it be without any civilians around?
"H-Here."
"Three vials of Negelleb seeds, one bundle of Hwapyeong tobacco, one pentagonal prism containing a fire spirit, and... a Tentacle of Gulakalman. Wait. The Tentacle of Gulakalman wasn't listed in your documents. What's this?"
"...Please just let this one slide. It's essential for summoning something stronger. If you consider what kind of powerful being the Tentacle of Gulakalman could call forth..."
"Have you lost your mind?? Are you trying to summon some colossal sea monster behind our backs right now??"
"N-no! What kind of nonsense is that? It's completely controllable."
"Put the reagent pouch down and throw your wand to the ground! Know that if you so much as twitch, something's going to break."
"Why... why are you doing this! I thought a mage of Einrogard would at least understand something like this!"
"Can't you just shut up and get on the ground?!"
"Ghk! Why are you blocking my magic...!"
Those who had been trying to deceive Einrogard and other mages to attempt dangerous summonings were caught and dragged away.
The summoning mages who witnessed this shook their heads disapprovingly and remarked:
"People like that show up every year."
"Indeed. While I understand the desire to prove one's magic during the festival, any magic you can't control is just a disaster waiting to happen."
"Ah! Professor Millay. Good day."
The summoning mages all greeted Professor Millay with equal reverence upon his appearance.
Among the gathered summoning mages, there were plenty whose specializations didn't overlap.
Some specialized in sentient weapons among inanimate objects.
Others focused on massive golems among inanimate objects.
Still others specialized in spirit-type creatures among living beings...
Though each had their own distinct field, Professor Millay's skill was so exceptional that he commanded respect from all of them.
The upperclassmen of Einrogard, once again reaffirming their teacher's standing among mages, exchanged satisfied glances.
An outstanding professor, a steady influx of new students each year, a diverse and fascinating curriculum, and a bright future for their school of magic.
The Summoning Magic department was the very model of a flawless, exemplary school within Einrogard.
"The first-years are doing alright, right?"
"I heard they're managing."
"We should root for them. Even if he acts indifferent, the professor would be secretly disappointed otherwise."
During a short break in the proceedings, the upperclassmen whispered among themselves.
Unlike the first-years, these seniors who had studied under Professor Millay for years could somewhat guess their stoic teacher's true feelings.
Though his strict demeanor made it seem like he didn't get overly invested in his students' performance, he was actually quite proud of them deep down.
If the first-years failed to meet expectations in front of visiting mages, how disappointed would Professor Millay be inside?
If only for their teacher's sake, the upperclassmen desperately hoped the first-years would put on an impressive show.
"Paper mouse or paper bird, right?"
"I took a peek—it's paper birds."
"Ah... that's a tough one, isn't it?"
"Should we help them now?"
"Leave it. It'll backfire. If we get caught, it's straight to the punishment room."
One upperclassman tried to pass along arcane notes written on paper, but the others stopped him.
Magic blooms from consistent study and practice, not from simply following someone else's advice.
"But I heard there's a decent first-year? From the Wardanaz family, they said."
"The Wardanaz family! ...Even so, first-years are usually a mess, aren't they? With their stomachs glued to their backs, they wouldn't even have the focus to study magic properly."
The students reminisced about their own first year.
Honestly, back then, they'd spent more time hunting for food than studying.
Memorizing every type of weed and wild grass along the roads, learning the appearances and countermeasures for every monster near the school, desperately mastering spells that helped secure food...
...Wait, when did we even study magic?
"Ah, that first-year from Wardanaz?"
"You know them?"
"...I heard Diret and Coholti talking about them, but something felt off. Coholti's one thing, but Diret isn't the type to spout nonsense. Still..."
"What kind of rumors did you hear? That he's not human but a dragon in disguise?"
"First off, I heard he's attending lectures from multiple schools of magic."
"Damn."
"Why would anyone do such an insane thing?"
"You know there are always those who want to destroy themselves."
The upperclassmen reacted more with pity than surprise.
It wasn't that mages couldn't attend lectures from multiple schools—they chose not to.
Because doing so would kill them!
"So he's still alive now?"
"Rumor has it he aced all the lectures from different schools and is still attending them in his second semester."
"......"
"......"
A silence filled with horror.
"...Is he perhaps related to Professor Garcia?"
"He's a Wardanaz, you idiot. How could he be related to Professor Garcia?"
"That... that makes no sense."
The upperclassmen murmured among themselves.
While Einrogard gathered the most exceptional talents in the empire, even this was too much...
"I'd heard rumors about some monster joining as a first-year, but it turns out he's not just a rumor—he's an actual monster."
"In a way, isn't it a relief? If someone like that is in the first year, the professors won't be disappointed in us."
"True. At least his summoning magic skills are reliable, right?"
The senior student who had heard the story from Diret and Coholti hesitated before speaking up.
"Well, about that..."
"What? There's more?"
"Apparently, during the first semester, when the Frost Giant King was summoned..."
Starting from the Frost Giant King incident to the events during the break—though heavily abridged and summarized—the upperclassmen's expressions twisted.
"...You got tricked by Coholti."
"That guy exaggerates way too much."
"R-really??"
Even the student who relayed the story had been doubtful from the start, so his voice grew weaker.
It did sound too far-fetched...
"Wait. Why are the black mages gathered over there?"
"I'll go check just in case."
"Right. And don't you dare let them summon some weird undead out of stubbornness. Even if they summon something strong, it'll just make more work for... huh??"
"Eh?!"
The summoning magic students stuttered in confusion.
Because standing among the black mages was a first-year student.
...What the hell are you doing there!?
"Wow... this is truly amazing."
"I know, right."
The black mages watched Lee Han manipulate the golem with looks of admiration.
To think such precise control was possible.
"Even if you're expending a lot of mana, you wouldn't just be burning raw mana like that. What method are you using to conserve it?"
"...I'm just using raw mana."
"Looking at it, this golem's core is pretty damaged. How are you making it move like this?"
"...The core is damaged!?"
"......"
The black mages were at a loss—should they be impressed or dumbfounded by this student?
His golem manipulation resembled that of a seasoned black mage, yet his knowledge was like that of a novice who'd only studied for a few years.
"What are you all doing here?"
Amidst the murmuring, mages from another group approached.
The black mages frowned at the sight—they were summoning mages who specialized in golems.
Even within the same school of magic, competition was fierce among those who shared research topics, let alone between different schools.
"Get lost. Stop snooping around other people's golems."
"Pfft. What would I gain from spying on some black magic golem? Pure summoning magic is more than enough."
"More than enough, my foot. Was it 'enough' when the golem you summoned last time had its legs blown off by a single spell?"
"Th-that was just a temporary issue because we reduced the armor for mobility and changed the materials! Unlike your golem that would topple over from a single divine magic spell... huh?? Wh-what is that?!"
The summoning mages were stunned when they saw Lee Han controlling the golem to perform menial tasks.
What the hell have these black mages done?!