Episode 450
Episode 450
Regardless, Lee Han sent a look of respect toward An Pagong.
"The most important thing is always the fundamentals, isn't it?"
"This doesn't seem related to fundamentals at all..."
While An Pagong muttered to himself, Lee Han corrected the magic circle again.
After restoring the inefficient parts he had removed earlier and completing the pattern, it roughly became an artifact that was prone to breaking.
"How is it?"
"Excellent. You may continue."
The two students resumed their work.
Seeing Lee Han's speed, An Pagong revised his estimated completion time.
'We might finish before nightfall.'
If they didn't have to pull an all-nighter, they could resume work on the Magic Amplification Waterwheel Artifact at dawn. An Pagong's face brightened.
Tap tap tap tap tap-
"Aren't you taking a break?"
"Huh? Ah. I still have mana left, so I'm fine."
"I see."
An Pagong was about to tell his junior to rest, but not wanting to interfere unnecessarily, he stopped only himself.
Yet he couldn't help feeling concerned.
'Excessive mana consumption can be dangerous though.'
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap!
"...?"
But his junior kept producing artifacts with tireless stamina.
An Pagong was astonished. And once again, he revised the estimated completion time.
'...Might we finish by evening?'
If they finished by evening, they might even have time to stop by the Black Turtle Tower student cafeteria for a quick meal before resuming work on the Magic Amplification Waterwheel Artifact.
"Senior."
"Are you taking a break now?"
"No. I've used up all the materials here—where are the new crates stored?"
"......"
Due to Einrogard's tumultuous environment, An Pagong's rusted heart began beating slightly faster.
Could it be...
Could we really finish before evening?
They truly finished before evening.
An Pagong's expression showed not just joy but disbelief at this reality.
"I think we're done. Senior. I'll take my leave now."
"Y-yes, go ahead."
"But Senior."
Having finished earlier than expected and feeling slightly at ease, Lee Han posed a question.
"Aren't there others learning Enchantment Magic? Why are you the only one here?"
"I'm the most sociable among us."
"......"
For a moment, Lee Han hesitated, wondering if his senior was joking and whether he should laugh.
"...I... see."
"You can laugh. It's true our school is the least sociable in Einrogard."
"Who needs socializing? What matters to mages is magic."
"Isn't what matters to mages the ability to secure funding?"
"What fool would say such a thing?"
"The Headmaster?"
"I had a feeling. Let's not dwell on it."
Without missing a beat, Lee Han fired back without hesitation.
An Pagong couldn't help but admire the wisdom of this first-year who had already seen through the Skeleton Principal's nature.
Anyone watching would think he was at least a fourth-year.
"True, ignoring him is best..."
"Yes. Well then, I'll be going."
After bidding farewell, Lee Han hoisted two crates from the attic and left. They contained unused reagents An Pagong had stored away.
It was a rare sight to see a first-year junior efficiently carrying off two crates, but An Pagong was too shocked by today's events to even notice that detail.
"...Was I dreaming...?"
As An Pagong murmured to himself, the attic door opened again.
Other students majoring in Enchantment Magic had been waiting downstairs.
"All done?"
"Yeah. Finished early."
The students came up to the attic.
There were second-years, third-years, and fourth-years, but the one thing they all had in common was how little they cared about each other.
Had this Spirit Flood not occurred, they wouldn't have even borrowed another student's workshop like this.
"As for why we finished early..."
"I'm not curious."
"Excuse me, Senior Anpagon. May we begin the work right away?"
"......"
Anpagon started to speak but stopped.
He didn't usually enjoy small talk, but being cut off like this made an unfamiliar emotion briefly surge in his chest.
It was anger.
"...Fine."
Instead of speaking, Anpagon decided he'd keep this knowledge to himself.
The thought that he alone knew this astonishing fact that the other students were unaware of gave him an odd sense of satisfaction.
"...Wait!! The light!!!"
As Anpagon was about to sit down, he screamed upon seeing the still-floating sphere of light that hadn't dissipated yet.
The other students stared blankly at Anpagon.
"Senior Anpagon. Sorry, but..."
"Let's just be quiet."
"...Fine."
Anpagon vowed never to tell these idiots anything.
"Headmaster. Where did Professor Verdus go?"
I said he's locked up.
The Skeleton Principal replied to Gainando with an annoyed expression.
Gainando nodded in understanding, then turned back and asked the Skeleton Principal again.
"Headmaster. Where did Professor Verdus go?"
I said he's locked up, you iron-headed fool! Why do you keep asking the same question? Are you provoking me?
"Ah, no. It's just that hearing the professor is locked up keeps making me happy."
......
The Skeleton Principal hung Gainando upside down and left in a huff.
Lee Han, who had just returned from finishing his work, looked at the dangling Gainando and asked,
"But you're not even taking Enchantment Magic, are you?"
"I just like hearing that the professor is locked up..."
"R-right."
Lee Han shook Gainando loose. Gainando let out a pained groan as he splashed into the water below.
"And Professor Verdus keeps bothering people during vacations, you know."
Lee Han found himself agreeing with Gainando's grumbling for the first time in a while.
'For once, he's making sense.'
Considering how the professor had shown up during vacation, it seemed like he could stand to stay locked up a little longer.
"Where'd you go? Wait. I think I know."
"Oh..."
Lee Han felt a flicker of hope as Gainando showed rare perceptiveness.
Admittedly, Lee Han's current appearance offered plenty of clues.
Stained gloves from various reagents, metal shards clinging to his cloak—anyone could tell he'd been working on an artifact.
"You went to rescue Professor Verdus, didn't you?! Hey, don't! What's the point of saving him?!"
"...I didn't. I was just preparing for the Enchantment Magic midterm exam instead. The professor isn't here, after all."
"Ah. Really?"
Gainando simply accepted it.
If it were any other friend, they'd have said, "Hey, you idiot, don't just let it slide! Ask more!" But Gainando just moved on.
"Don't rescue Professor Verdus. There's nothing good about saving him, I'm telling you."
"You're acting like this just because he visited the mansion once during vacation, right?"
"Yeah."
Gainando nodded shamelessly, without a hint of embarrassment. Lee Han was mildly impressed.
"Fine. I have no plans to rescue him, so don't worry."
"Even if Professor Verdus offers you piles of gold, don't go."
"...Hmm."
"Lee Han...!"
Gainando lamented his friend's willingness to forgive the professor—who had ruined their vacation—for mere gold.
Wasn't pride more important than gold?!
Squeak—
Returning to the library, the two split up to focus on their own tasks.
Gainando slipped into a seat among his friends.
Though it looked like a study group with thick magic tomes spread out, it was actually a cheerful gathering where they were secretly playing card games under the table.
"Where'd you go?"
"Went fishing and got hung up by the Headmaster."
"Oof."
The students from other towers didn't particularly care whether Gainando had been hung up or not.
One of them asked curiously:
"How'd you get free?"
"Lee Han passed by and freed me."
"Don't you know how to do anything yourself?"
"Hey. Isn't it more impressive to have someone who can do things for you right beside you?"
"......"
"......"
The Blue Dragon Tower students sitting nearby threw their cards at Gainando's face. Gainando shrieked.
"It is impressive! It's totally impress—"
"Stop before you get hit again."
"Why was Wardanaz passing by?"
"He was preparing for the Enchantment Magic exam."
Gainando answered distractedly while glaring holes into his deck.
He needed to finish his deck quickly if he wanted to get as many rounds in as possible before dinner was served.
Since his friends would refuse to play if he brought out his Curse deck outright, he planned to hide it beneath a normal-looking deck to trick them...
"What? He was preparing for the Enchantment Magic exam?"
"Why outside? He could've studied indoors."
When the students tilted their heads in confusion, Gainando answered irritably.
"Idiots. He wasn't studying—he was making the exam itself. Now shut up, I need to slot in these Wizard Cards."
"......"
"......"
As the students fell silent, Gainando smirked and nodded.
It seemed these guys had finally learned to respect royalty.
BAM!
"What kind of nonsense is that?!"
One of the students shot to his feet. The table shook violently from the impact, scattering the deck Gainando had painstakingly organized.
Ignoring the prince's shrieks, the students began arguing.
"Does that even make sense? Ah, no—Wardanaz is insane, sure, but he's the same year as us?"
"Didn't I tell you? Wardanaz mastered his family's secret arts even before enrollment—"
"My cards are all over the floor, you bastards!"
"Is that really important right now?!"
"We'll clean it up later, just tell us about the Enchantment Magic exam! You said we have to take an Enchantment Magic exam!"
Of course, they weren't actually capable of holding a proper conversation with Gainando. Amid the noisy chatter, Lee Han arrived nearby.
"What's everyone doing?"
"Wardanaz! Is it true you wrote the Enchantment Magic exam?!"
The students stared at Lee Han with eyes trembling from shock.
"What kind of nonsense... The seniors wrote it. I just helped with odd jobs."
"...Ah!"
Finally understanding, the students sighed in relief.
Thankfully, common sense hadn't collapsed.
"See, it was just the prince exaggerating again."
"Told you so. What did I say?"
It seemed like things were ending amicably—but unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
Lee Han noticed the scattered Wizard Cards on the floor and asked:
"What's this?"
"......"
"...Uh... That's..."
"Pick up the book."
Though Lee Han's voice was calm, it carried a bone-chilling warning.
The White Tiger Tower student froze like a bird stared down by a snake.
"Wh-why?"
"Pick. It. Up. Before you get hit."
When the book was opened, the hollowed-out interior revealed hidden Wizard Cards. Lee Han smacked the student's head with his staff.
"Ow!"
"Next. You..."
The next target hastily opened his book. There was nothing inside.
"You—take off your coat and open the inner pocket."
"......"
After shutting down the illegal Wizard Cards gathering, Lee Han shared exam details with the Enchantment Magic students.
When they heard the test would involve repairing broken Artifacts, the students buzzed with chatter.
"Which part is broken, Wardanaz?"
"Not sure."
"How long is the Artifact?"
"Not sure."
"Hey, stop bothering Wardanaz! He obviously can't tell you that!"
Nilia shouted as if issuing a warning.
Lee Han was slightly touched by his friend's support.
Truly, in times like these, only friends could be relied on.
Swish—
As the students backed off in repentance, Nilia quickly slipped a chocolate bar into Lee Han's hand.
Then she whispered:
"Which Artifact gives the best advantage?"
"...Nilia..."
"I-it was just a joke."