Episode 421
Episode 421
Furniture from the classroom appeared out of nowhere and came flying at him.
Kind Professor Voladi attacked Lee Han while also explaining why he had to get hit.
Divination magic had the image of being the most mysterious and difficult to learn among all magics, but in truth, even non-mages could perform divination.
Just as one could predict rain when the sky was cloudy or foresee the world's end if the Skeleton Principal turned benevolent, divination was originally the ability to observe the past and present to predict the future.
Divination magic was the academic pursuit of developing this ability to its extreme limits.
One of the methods for this development was accumulating extensive experience and knowledge in the field one wished to predict.
Want to foresee the location of teleportation magic in advance?
The more one got hit by teleportation magic, the more accurate their divination magic became.
"That's how it works."
"That's how it—ugh!"
Lee Han took a chair that materialized from the floor straight to the chin. His vision swam and his balance faltered from the impact.
"...Professor. Can't we just practice divination magic directly?"
Lee Han, who had been sprawled on the floor before getting up, asked seriously.
Professor Kraer had warned that recklessly attempting divination magic could come with unknown consequences, but right now, Lee Han already felt like he was paying a hefty price.
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's dangerous."
"......"
Lee Han surveyed the wrecked classroom.
About 30% of the shattered furniture had been broken by colliding directly with his body...
'If I die from getting beaten up by furniture, the Skeleton Principal would be absolutely delighted.'
Lee Han clenched his teeth and stood up.
Somehow, rather than improving his predictions, he was just getting better at taking hits.
When furniture swung at him, concentrating mana into his body at the last moment to block reduced the impact somewhat.
Unbeknownst to him, this was a trick veteran mercenaries often used in chaotic battlefields.
"Hold on."
"?"
Professor Voladi gestured for Lee Han to pause, then pulled a potion from his pocket and drank it.
A surge of intense mana rippled through the air.
"Is that a mana recovery potion?"
"Yes."
Normally, Professor Voladi could spend the entire lecture pounding Lee Han without breaking a sweat, but teleportation magic was an exception.
Due to the spell's difficulty, the mana consumption was far more extreme.
Even though most of the spells Professor Voladi used were combat-modified—quick to cast and mana-efficient—it still took a toll.
"Ah, Professor. Maybe you should take a short break..."
"No. Don't worry about it."
"But drinking too many mana recovery potions is bad for your health."
"This much is fine."
"......"
Lee Han glanced sidelong at the box of mana recovery potions.
'If I get close and smash that...'
"Shall we resume?"
Instead of answering, Lee Han immediately leaped aside. He had realized it was Professor Voladi's trap.
Sure enough, an attack came flying. It was a vicious strike meant to catch him off guard the moment he answered.
'If I just destroy that box...!'
Lee Han dodged about half the attacks and tanked the rest with his body, inching closer.
Then he tumbled right over the mana recovery potion box.
CRASH!
"Oh no! Professor, I'm so sorry!"
"Don't worry about it."
"But without the potions, today's lecture—"
SLAM—
The classroom door burst open, and Professor Thunderstep appeared carrying a large crate.
"Brought more mana recovery potions. Should I put them here?"
"Thank you."
"Did a dragon show up or something? Why do you need so many—"
Only then did Professor Thunderstep notice the completely demolished classroom and Lee Han sprawled on top of the shattered potion box.
'Hmm. Better not get involved.'
"I'll leave them here. Wardanaz, hang in there!"
Before Lee Han could say anything, Professor Thunderstep swiftly closed the door behind him.
Lee Han glared at the door with eyes full of hatred.
It wasn't until the lecture was nearly over that Professor Voladi finally brought up the magic.
"I am not an expert in divination magic."
"...?"
Lee Han thought this was nonsense, but Professor Voladi was dead serious.
By conventional standards, someone like Professor Voladi wouldn't be considered an expert in that school of magic.
Since he only learned the school's magic just enough to modify it for combat use, one could say his approach was closer to that of an apostle.
The true experts of a school were those who delved deep into their field, explored new mysteries, published a few relevant papers each year in the Imperial School of Magic's academic conferences, and never forgot to pay their membership dues on time.
"Don't ever show the magic I'm about to teach you in front of divination mages."
"??"
Lee Han was shocked, wondering if Professor Voladi was about to teach him some forbidden, evil magic.
'Should I report this to the Skeleton Principal? Would Professor Voladi retaliate against me?'
Contrary to such worries, however, the magic Professor Voladi revealed turned out to be perfectly legitimate.
<Bagrak's Instant Foresight>.
A hybrid of divination and enchantment magic, this spell granted the caster a brief glimpse—about one second ahead—into combat-related futures when cast upon a mage.
Naturally, given the nature of divination magic, the spell's efficiency improved with the target's combat experience.
If you wanted to see spatial teleportation magic first, you'd have to endure getting hit that much...
'I understand it logically, but emotionally, it's hard to accept.'
Lee Han grumbled internally before suddenly growing curious and asking,
"But why is this a spell we shouldn't reveal in front of divination mages?"
He wondered if Professor Voladi had stolen it from some famous divination mage.
Given how well he thrived even without imperial laws, that wouldn't be too surprising.
"Because it's not a spell they'd appreciate."
Divination mages despised those who treated divination magic solely as a means to wealth.
Such individuals ruined imperial economies and drove citizens to ruin just to satisfy their greed.
While the spell Professor Voladi taught wasn't evil to that extent, it remained true that it had been stripped down solely for combat use—hardly something divination mages would approve of.
"Can't we use it a little for combat too? Isn't that too harsh?"
Lee Han, feeling oddly defensive, flared up.
After all, he'd once considered using divination magic for minor financial gains himself.
Compared to that, using it for combat seemed like a perfectly harmless, practical application.
"Don't bother worrying about divination mages picking fights. Those who use this spell will recognize its value."
Professor Voladi stared intently at Lee Han. The sudden silence made Lee Han uneasy.
'Is he attacking again?'
Lee Han debated whether to throw whatever was at hand—even an ink bottle—to disrupt the professor's spellcasting.
But Professor Voladi didn't attack.
"Thank you. I'll make sure you can use this spell before the semester ends."
"Wait—"
Lee Han shuddered in frustration at Professor Voladi's murderous promise after he'd just defended him.
'I should never take his side again!'
Lee Han trudged up from the underground, suffering from severe nausea.
True to its name as divination magic, <Bagrak's Instant Foresight> violently shook and drained Lee Han's mana with every failed attempt.
If not for his abundant mana reserves, he might have coughed up blood from exhaustion.
'Ugh... this nausea...'
According to Professor Voladi, ending up just nauseated was incredibly lucky.
Just as a spring is mercilessly shaken by a storm while the ocean remains unperturbed, Lee Han's massive mana pool meant he only suffered minimal turbulence despite the violent shaking.
Of course, this explanation meant nothing to Lee Han, who was currently battling nausea. Cursing Professor Voladi under his breath, he staggered his way upward.
"Wardanaz!"
Angrago spotted Lee Han and came running over. Lee Han glared at him with eyes twice as murderous as usual.
"I was looking for you... Wh-why are you glaring? What did I do?"
"I'm nauseous... Whatever. What do you want?"
"The professor's looking for you! He said to bring you as fast as possible... We need to hurry!"
"I see."
Lee Han nodded.
As Angrago turned to guide the way, relieved, Lee Han suddenly slapped his own cheek hard. The pain brought him back to his senses.
Seizing the momentary clarity, Lee Han ambushed Angrago from behind.
Crash!
After tackling Angrago to the ground, Lee Han swiftly pinned his arms. Angrago screamed in shock.
"Wh-what the hell?! What are you doing?! Don't tell me it's because of the increased school patrols... I didn't report you! I swear I didn't, Wardanaz!"
"You didn't report me, huh? When security's already multiplied several times. You'd get caught alone, why drag others down... Wait. That's not the issue right now. Angrago. Were you planning to deceive me to the end?"
"????"
Angrago couldn't comprehend why this madman was acting like this.
What the hell?
"Are you... are you doing this because of that time you said following right after the Skeleton Principal to bully students would be perfect? That was just a joke..."
"...You said that too?"
Lee Han tightened his grip on Angrago's arm.
He could let other things slide, but suggesting he'd follow the Skeleton Principal was unforgivable.
These damn bastards!
"Agh! Agh! Then what is it?!"
"Hah. Angrago. If the professor wanted to summon me, he'd have sent a Paper Bird. Why would he send you? Your intentions are obvious. You thought you could ambush me to loot my supplies, didn't you?"
"Because Professor Ingoldel sent me...! Professor Ingoldel isn't a mage, you crazy bastard!"
Angrago screamed desperately, his arm in pain.
The idea of looting supplies had never even crossed his mind—what kind of creative nonsense was this?
"I see."
Lee Han nodded and released his grip.
"You're right. My apologies for the misunderstanding."
"......"
Angrago was too stunned to speak. Seizing the moment, Lee Han swiftly changed the subject.
"Hurry up and lead the way. The professor's waiting, isn't he?"
"You shameless..."
"Quickly! Should I go somewhere else instead?"
"......"
Professor Ingoldel was far from sociable. Given that he was someone who had spent his life swinging swords on battlefields, this was only natural.
In that regard, Einrogard's atmosphere suited him perfectly.
A free environment where professors focused solely on their own work.
So free that some professors even ignored summons from the Headmaster.
"Back when I crossed blades with Sir Bikelintz, I thought to myself—ah, perhaps I've met the strongest knight I'll ever encounter. Maybe even the strongest knight I'll meet in the future. I wonder if Sir Bikelintz felt the same, judging by the respectful look he gave me. Speaking of looks, I've noticed that when knights exchange glances, there's a unique characteristic to each order's style. When knights from our order exchange looks, they..."
Professor Ingoldel set down his trembling teacup.
Jean-Cliff of the Jean-Clin family, deputy commander of the Beech Knights, chattered away relentlessly as if determined to destroy Ingoldel's eardrums.
"Sir Jean-Cliff... I'm concerned I might be taking too much of your time with this visit..."
"Not at all. Opportunities to meet a swordsman like you are rare."
"Perhaps a sparring match instead?"
"Are you offering after we finish our conversation?"
"No, right now..."
"How delightful. Now, let's return to our earlier discussion..."
Professor Ingoldel squeezed his eyes shut.
At this point, all he could do was pray his most sociable student would arrive soon.