Episode 455
Episode 455
There are fools who think everything can be solved just by memorizing spells well. I won't name names, but here's a hint—it's one of the imperial fourth-years.
"Just say it's Gainando, will you?"
What's more important than spells is knowledge. Just imagine a tower built by a mage who thinks stacking rocks alone makes a building. Sure, it might hold its shape briefly thanks to mana, but how long do you think that mana will last?
"Hmm."
Lee Han recalled all the magic he'd used so far.
Unlike other mages, he often relied on his overwhelming mana reserves to significantly extend spell durations.
'How far could I push it?'
...It was a rhetorical question. Not an invitation to calculate, you ridiculous brat.
The Skeleton Principal stared at his student with utter disbelief.
That question was meant to convey, "Magic is an act of defying the world's order with willpower, so don't grow arrogant—strive to understand and follow the natural order as much as possible," not "How long can you brute-force things by ignoring the order and relying on mana alone?"
"Ah. I see."
Sand, stone, wood... The elements you're handling now are basic. As you advance further, even when using earth, distinctions emerge—gravel versus sand versus clay, granite versus limestone versus basalt...
The earth elemental magic and sand-to-stone transformations Lee Han was practicing were foundational in Magic Architecture. Delving deeper required understanding material properties, load-bearing capacities, and stress distribution.
How to assess interior spaces, position beams, distribute roof weight...
Nodding along, Lee Han suddenly grew curious and asked:
"But will we actually apply what you just explained today?"
It seemed too specialized for casual instruction.
Surely not today, right?
"?"
But you'll learn all this by second year anyway. Courses like <Basic Magic Architecture> or <Basic Magical Materials>...
"No."
Lee Han stopped making trees bloom and turned serious.
Repairing cracked sections of stone houses, replacing broken dock supports with freshly grown wood, diligently fixing other damages...
For large-scale repairs, the Skeleton Principal stepped in; for smaller ones, Lee Han handled them.
All done.
"......"
Lee Han wore an extremely conflicted expression.
By now, he was starting to realize.
'Damn it. He actually brought me out here for repair work.'
There was no sinister plot, suspicious test, or hidden treasure vault.
Noticing Lee Han's expression, the Skeleton Principal chuckled.
Such an arrogant brat. No need to make that face just because a few spells failed.
Mastering today's earth elemental and transformation spells alone was achievement enough.
The Headmaster knew exactly how hard the other professors were pushing Lee Han.
Even without his pressure, they'd torment him plenty.
'I should note this in the staff room.'
"Um... Thank you..."
You worked hard—take some food.
With a glance, the Headmaster summoned provisions from thin air.
Wooden barrels packed with ale and mead, plus a freshly prepared, steaming banquet straight from the kitchens.
Lee Han smiled and nodded.
"Thank you."
'I absolutely shouldn't eat this now.'
One of Einrogard's unwritten rules was never to consume the Headmaster's food during exam periods.
The fact that this lavish feast was still piping hot seemed highly suspicious.
Clearly designed to tempt starving students into eating despite knowing better.
Seeing Lee Han hesitate, the Skeleton Principal clicked his tongue.
What, planning to hoard it all instead of sharing with your peers?
"Any student who feels wronged may settle it through a duel."
......
The Headmaster cursed at Lee Han.
"Just because you're good at magic doesn't mean you should oppress your fellow students."
'What a wicked bastard!'
Meanwhile, a Death Knight came running from afar.
-Master.
Right. Since the work is done, I'll head back now. Are the professors preparing well?
-Yes.
During exam periods, it wasn't just the students who suffered.
The professors also had unexpected hardships while preparing for the exams.
The Skeleton Principal had summoned certain professors with disciplinary records... no, certain professors to the lounge and ordered them to have their materials inspected by him first.
Nothing out of the ordinary, I hope?
-Professor Ingoldel seems deeply disheartened. Perhaps if you rewarded him with gold coins to console him...?
Who would've thought you'd spout such old-fashioned nonsense, like some knight from the olden days. Modern mages don't rejoice over gold coins.
'...?'
Lee Han had no idea what nonsense this was, but the Skeleton Principal remained unfazed.
So why is he disheartened? Tell him not to worry too much—the flood will end eventually. It's not like students will die just from getting a little water on their hands.
"......"
Lee Han had to suppress the urge to attack the back of the Skeleton Principal's skull.
-That's not it...
The Death Knight glanced at Lee Han, then pointed at him as if things had worked out perfectly, and explained what had happened.
When he described how Ingoldel had fallen into a state of ecstatic oblivion and later climbed a ship to recreate that state, the Skeleton Principal burst into laughter.
Bwahahahahahahaha!
-......
"......"
The Death Knight and Lee Han stared blankly at the Skeleton Principal, but he paid them no mind and just kept laughing.
He laughed and laughed and laughed some more.
And then, as if he would laugh until the end of the world...
Ah. My apologies. It was just too funny. No wonder you looked so exhausted—you went and did something like that. Professor Ingoldel really is a sincere man. Had I been there, I would've helped.
"How truly unfortunate."
Be careful on your way back. If you ever want to try again, just say the word.
'He's the Headmaster. He's the Headmaster.'
Lee Han endured, cursing Moradi and the Skeleton Principal under his breath.
He absolutely could not rise to that provocation.
'Is it because I lack strength? Is it because I'm not strong enough?'
"......"
Fliiiip!
The faint sound of pages turning. An unfamiliar landscape unfolding before his eyes.
The black book given by the Skeleton Principal floated in the air, its pages open.
"No..."
Lee Han felt a slight throbbing in his head.
Even though he had thought "I lack strength" before falling asleep, he hadn't expected this to happen.
"Sorry, but I really need to rest today."
It wasn't an excuse—he genuinely needed the rest.
Hadn't he spent the entire day swimming in the sea, following the Skeleton Principal around, and doing repair work for Einrogard?
With exams waiting tomorrow, rest was essential.
Flip!
But no matter what Lee Han said, the black book paid him no heed.
A 3rd-Circle spell, Gonadaltes' Boiling Power.
An Enchantment Magic spell, specifically of the Enhancement Magic variety.
Since it was a spell cast on living beings rather than inanimate objects, it was even more difficult, and above all...
'From what I know, focused-type spells have severe failure risks and side effects.'
Enhancement Magic required even more caution than Enchantment Magic.
If Enchantment Magic failed, the worst that happened was the artifact or materials breaking—but if Enhancement Magic failed, limbs could shatter.
And among those, focused Enhancement Magic was even more dangerous.
Rather than raising overall physical functions, it concentrated on boosting specific ones.
Naturally, the performance was far more potent—but so were the risks.
The backlash from failure was just as severe as the focused effect it aimed to achieve.
And even if it succeeded, there could still be side effects...
"Still, since it's a spell created by the Headmaster, maybe it's different?"
...?
"......"
The book had no mouth, but Lee Han could sense its pages fluttering as if to say, What kind of nonsense is that?
"...I should practice. There might come a time when I need to throw a punch at the headmaster."
Morning.
Lee Han rose from his sleeping bag. The library ceiling gradually brightened, and he noticed light pushing back the darkness beyond the barricade.
His limbs still throbbed with phantom pains from how mercilessly the black book had tormented him.
<Gonadaltes' Boiling Power> had delivered scorching pain upon failure, just as expected.
'I really shouldn't mess with proper enhancement magic.'
Lee Han now understood why enhancement mages commanded such high silver fees.
And also why they occasionally got grabbed by the collar.
No matter how desperate mercenaries or adventurers were for magic, side effects like these would drive anyone mad.
People simply weren't the same when desperate versus when they weren't.
"Gainando. Wake up. Time for breakfast."
Lee Han nudged the rolling Gainando with his foot.
Normally, Gainando would spring up at the mere mention of morning, but today he remained deeply asleep, not even pretending to hear.
'What's this?'
Lee Han frowned, sensing something amiss.
Thud-
When he flipped Gainando over with his staff, he spotted chocolate around his mouth.
Among last night's feast from the headmaster...
'There was chocolate cake.'
Lee Han called his friends.
Then he ordered all those who couldn't wake up now to be hung upside down.
"Should we write 'I stole and ate forbidden food at night' below them?"
"Sure. Even if they wake up, don't let them down right away. Leave them hanging a bit longer."
"Don't worry, Wardanaz. I'm quite skilled at this sort of discipline."
Salko winked as if to say 'leave it to me.'
In guilds with strict rules, thieves were never forgiven.
"An example must be made. Don't feel bad, Wardanaz."
"It's not that I feel ba—"
-Those with morning exams, come out quick! Tanjuer's waiting!
Their friends' shouts carried from the pier outside the library.
Nodding, Lee Han finished preparing to leave.
"Ready? Let's head out slowly."
"Wait. Wardanaz isn't here."
"Don't you have no exams this morning?"
"No way. Wardanaz is always busy. His schedule's packed solid."
"......"
Hearing the conversation at the pier suddenly left Lee Han bitter.
Seeing his friends stop talking when they noticed him only deepened the feeling.
"Let's go."
"Y-yeah. Wardanaz."
"You worked hard yesterday—are you okay? Moradi was worried about you."
Lee Han nodded, then pushed the White Tiger Tower student who'd spoken off Tanjuer's back.
Splash!
"Gah! Wh-what was that for?!"
"My apologies. Lack of sleep made my foot slip."
As Lee Han wondered if anyone at Einrogard could be more bitter than himself, he pushed open the classroom door with his staff.
Surprisingly, someone even more bitter-looking awaited him.
Professor Voladi.
'What?'
Lee Han was stunned.
That lunatic professor who'd kill people without batting an eye was making such a bitter expression.
"Professor?"
Lee Han called out from the raft. Professor Voladi, standing on the water, looked at him and spoke.
"This midterm exam..."
"......"
Even Einrogard's top student, who'd overcome countless dangers and trials, couldn't help but tense up now.
What in the world?
"...is canceled."
"!!!!!!!!!!!"
Lee Han was flabbergasted.
Even hearing that Einrogard might close its doors wouldn't have shocked him this much.
"Is that true!?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"The floods."
Professor Voladi explained slowly, clearly in great distress.
There had been an underground dungeon prepared specifically for the midterm exams.
Given Lee Han took multiple schools' courses, it was a wonderfully fun and educational comprehensive underground dungeon combining all their magics.
'Spirit of Water, I thank you.'
Lee Han vowed to express his gratitude should he ever meet the water spirit.