Episode 454
Episode 454
'He's definitely preparing some wicked test.'
Lee Han didn't trust the Skeleton Principal one bit.
He'd sooner believe that Gyeinan had studied diligently for a whole week than believe the Skeleton Principal was genuinely concerned about the students' suffering while surveying the flooded landscape of Einrogard.
Just what kind of test was he preparing?
Crackle-crackle-crackle...
...What the hell?
The Skeleton Principal stared in disbelief at the student who had broken through several layers of his magical barriers.
It was absurd enough that Lee Han had swum back right after saying goodbye, but...
'What an uncouth brat.'
It was even more ridiculous that he'd brute-forced his way through the meticulously crafted magical barriers by recklessly expending his mana.
With that much mana at his disposal, even such a crude method became effective.
There was no way the Einrogard professors would teach such a barbaric approach (if anyone had taught him this, they should be thrown into the Punishment Room), so he must have figured it out himself. What an utterly absurd fellow.
Are you really from the Wardanaz family?
"The night air was nice, so I went for a swim."
While destroying my magic?
"There was something obstructing me, so I applied a bit of force. I had no idea it was the Headmaster's magic."
Lee Han poked his head above the water's surface and answered shamelessly.
Unfortunately, the Skeleton Principal was far more thorough than expected.
He had erected multiple layers of magical barriers across a wide area around himself to prevent intrusions.
It showed how meticulously he intended to block even distant observers.
'Is it too early to attack me yet? Well, for someone like you, it might be time to start trying.'
"What nonsense are you spouting? I've never once considered attacking the Headmaster! What kind of disciple would even think of assaulting their teacher? That would make me no better than a beast!"
Your second greatest virtue is precisely that loyalty and reverence for your teacher. Then again, if you were planning an ambush, you wouldn't have been this sloppy.
The Skeleton Principal nodded as if understanding.
'Did you come chasing after me because you covet the treasures hidden in my vault? Students these days are all little thieves. The moment I turn my back, they're itching to loot my storeroom!'
'Then maybe you should guarantee us meals, bedding, and research materials...'
Lee Han cursed inwardly.
After practically provoking this himself!
Unfortunately, today wasn't about managing the vault.
"Then why have you come?"
Didn't I say? I'm concerned about the students suffering from Einrogard's flooding. I came to help them.
"......"
Lee Han had to grit his teeth to suppress the scornful laugh threatening to burst out.
'What a blatantly insincere lie.'
"Then I'll assist you as well."
Oh?
The Skeleton Principal turned his gaze to Lee Han as if surprised by the unexpected offer.
Lee Han probed further:
"Does my presence make you uncomfortable?"
Not uncomfortable, though there are moments I'd like to punch you.
"......"
Just kidding.
It didn't sound like a joke, but Lee Han nodded anyway.
With any other student, I'd tell them to stop wasting time and go study—but for you... Fine. Very well. Assist me then.
The Skeleton Principal readily agreed.
Upon reflection, Lee Han didn't need separate exam preparation, so letting him observe what was about to happen wouldn't be a bad idea.
Lee Han was slightly taken aback by the acceptance.
'What's this? He's not refusing?'
He had expected the Skeleton Principal to grumble about being disturbed, even if he didn't outright refuse.
But to agree this easily...
'Is there another trap? Something I wouldn't recognize even if I witnessed it? Or perhaps even if I did figure it out, it wouldn't matter...'
As Lee Han became deeply engrossed in thought, the Skeleton Principal spoke up beside him with an exasperated tone:
Weren't you going to help? What are you doing?
The Skeleton Principal used telekinetic hooks to attach Lee Han's boat to his own, making it follow swiftly behind.
The ferry that would normally have moved by rowing now raced swiftly after the Skeleton Principal.
The people of the Empire believe this territory is protected by a great magical barrier.
"Is that not the case?"
It wasn't entirely wrong.
Einrogard itself was a massive manifestation of magic.
An ancient magical origin and legitimate lineage that had existed longer than the Empire's history, located in one of the most mana-rich areas in the entire Empire.
Given that it had never once fallen during its long history, it was only natural for the Empire's people to harbor such illusions.
But if magic were that easy and convenient, mages wouldn't have to devote their entire lives to it.
The spells layered upon Einrogard were so numerous, complex, and powerful that even the Skeleton Principal couldn't grasp them all.
These spells occasionally clashed, creating unexpected phenomena, and even more rarely, formed gaps.
Nothing runs smoothly if left unattended. Everything requires maintenance. A sword rusts if not polished, clothes wear out if not cared for. The same went for Einrogard.
Thus, one of the Skeleton Principal's duties was to patrol and inspect every corner of vast Einrogard, fixing potential issues before they arose.
Occasionally, he'd also catch runaway students...
Moreover, after massive phenomena like the current flood of spirits, Einrogard's magical order inevitably became even more chaotic and erratic.
These patrols and repairs were especially essential.
If you see any damaged or cracked buildings, or anything unusual, speak up.
"......"
Lee Han stared at the Skeleton Principal with deep suspicion.
The explanation was so plausible that it only made him more doubtful.
'Logically, it makes sense. But it's suspicious.'
Could it really be mere coincidence that during midterm exams, he'd been floating around with that sinister gleam in his eyes?
Lee Han didn't think so.
Why was that?
"Seeing the Headmaster devote himself like this, I can't help but feel sorrow for the ignorant outsiders who mock such dedication."
Your words are most correct. Foolish brats who don't even know what's important.
The Skeleton Principal's eyes flashed in agreement.
Then, bricks in the water began attaching themselves until a tower was completed in an instant.
These idiotic third-years. If you summon beings from the Dark Element dimension, you should keep them properly contained. Now they've escaped.
"......"
Lee Han doubted his ears.
An unavoidable incident. Though it's a shame about the newly built tower... The next year's students will make good use of it. Hmm. If you ever need to contain a summon, remember this containment tower.
The Skeleton Principal kindly advised Lee Han, since he was helping out.
Though the content wasn't particularly kind.
But don't go imprisoning overly weak creatures here. Four wings, six legs, weight equivalent to eight foundation stones of the city wall? Only imprison those stronger than this.
"Ah. Understood."
That one over there, you can try fixing it. Go ahead.
"?"
Lee Han blinked at the empty space the Skeleton Principal pointed to.
There was nothing there.
"Was there originally something here?"
Ah. My apologies. You wouldn't be able to see it.
The Skeleton Principal spun three times in midair before shouting, "All students are iron-headed fools!"
Then, from the completely empty space, an antiquated, flat stone house materialized.
You see that crack? Try repairing it.
"What kind of building is this?"
Lee Han maneuvered the ferry closer to the stone house as he asked.
The common structures seen around the school were usually towers (favored by professors) or huts (favored by students).
Such low-height, resource-intensive architecture wasn't particularly popular in Einrogard.
Though antiquely beautiful, practicality mattered more.
A hastily built hut of wood and leather posed little issue for mages who knew how to wield magic.
"It was a building built by a clever student long ago who wanted to raise monsters..."
"Uh, it doesn't look very suitable for monsters to live in."
Though it was a pretty building, what mattered for monsters was having a spacious area where they could run around.
Right. So in the end, after building it, they hardly used it.
'Not so clever after all, was he?'
After that, junior students kept repurposing it for different uses over the generations. It must have changed hands several times. Ten years ago, the Polo Club used it as their clubhouse, and five years ago, the Wizard Card Club held tournaments there... Or was it? Did a duel break out before the tournament and set it on fire? Doesn't really matter. Now it's used as lodging for properly 'invited' guests from outside.
The Skeleton Principal emphasized the word 'invited.'
He seemed to really dislike outside guests.
Anyway, since it's being used as lodging, the repairs should be done properly. You've mastered earth, wood, and rock in Elemental Magic, right?
"No?"
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
How could he say that while knowing full well that Lee Han was suffering from advanced elements like lightning, darkness, flame, and frost?
Tsk. Should tell Bagrak about this.
"......"
Don't glare like that—it was a joke. You probably didn't specialize in wood or rock. No need for them in your first year. What about earth?
"I only know the basics."
Shape transformation, maintenance... Can you do decomposition too? That's important.
"Yes."
Thankfully, Lee Han had once learned the <Tutanta Family's Rock Decomposition> from Salko.
He hadn't mastered it perfectly, but thanks to his mana, he could still use it.
Then that's not just the basics, you iron-headed fool.
The Skeleton Principal scolded Lee Han.
Humility wasn't a good habit for a mage.
Right now, you're busy eating, sleeping, and playing like a beast, but once you're a second-year, you'll have plenty of construction work to do. No harm in learning now. Though this does require some knowledge of Transformation Magic... Ah. Never mind, pointless worry.
The Skeleton Principal recalled the schools Lee Han had been listening to and retracted his earlier statement.
"Uh, I'm not confident in Transformation Magic yet—"
Just shut up and listen.
The Skeleton Principal decided that 95% of what Lee Han said from now on was just whining.
Earth Elemental Magic was relatively easy in terms of difficulty.
Since every mage lived with their feet planted on the earth, it was impossible not to be familiar with it.
Moreover, unlike fire or water, earth was the easiest to summon from up close.
Summoning earth, shaping it, and hardening it—these were spells even other students could manage.
But now, to repair a building made of composite materials, he needed to control not just earth but various other elements as well.
The Skeleton Principal pushed Lee Han to convert rock into sand and sand back into rock.
Though Lee Han had somehow managed to learn converting cloth into steel, turning solid rock into sand was still far from easy.
To help his struggling student, the Skeleton Principal threw pebbles and scattered sand.
Feel it! Feel it! That last conversion was too slow. Your focus was slipping! Pour more mana into it! This spell can afford to be a little wasteful anyway!
Desperate to escape the pebbles and sand hitting his face, Lee Han frantically practiced the spell.
And he actually succeeded.
"...!"
After quickly transforming the damaged part of the stone house to make the cracks disappear, Lee Han suddenly felt doubtful of himself.
Why do I only succeed after getting hit?
'Is this really the right way to keep succeeding? It's effective, but...'
Well done. Those spells will come in handy. Rock is quite a bother to manipulate as it is...
'Definitely could earn some pocket money at any Stonemason Guild.'
The two mages had very different thoughts.
"Where next?"
Hmm. There was a dock by the lakeside—probably some damage there too. Let's head that way.
"Yes. ...?"
Nodding and about to move, Lee Han suddenly sensed something off.
Huh?
'Are we really just doing repairs?'
No evil schemes or test preparations at all?