Episode 492
Episode 492
"I see."
Professor Voladi paid little attention to Lee Han's excuse and instead pulled out a glass bottle filled with a red potion from his robe, taking a sip.
At first, Lee Han thought it was a mana recovery potion, but...
'That's blood, isn't it?'
He realized that Professor Voladi was using Blood Magic to amplify his mana.
Well, considering the sheer power of the Blood Sword he had just demonstrated, even for someone like Professor Voladi, casting it so swiftly without any cost would have been impossible.
"Is your mana alright?"
Lee Han asked out of concern for his professor.
It was easy to forget sometimes, seeing the transcendent prowess the professors of Einrogard displayed, but they were still flesh-and-blood humans at the end of the day.
...Well, there were exceptions like Liches, but...
Magic was not a convenient discipline where one could reap rewards without paying a price. Naturally, after such an intense battle, even a mage would bear some strain.
"I'm fine. That's not something you need to worry about."
It made sense for a master to worry about their disciple, but a disciple worrying about their master was unnecessary.
Professor Voladi gave Lee Han a once-over.
Despite the fierce battle, there didn't seem to be any irregularities in his mana.
It was a reminder—truly, his mana capacity was overwhelming.
"Do you remember the spell you just used?"
"Huh? You mean <Pengerin's Frost Element Doppelganger>?"
Professor Voladi shook his head slowly.
Of course, successfully casting <Pengerin's Frost Element Doppelganger> was impressive, but that wasn't what he was referring to.
"The spell you used after that."
"Ah, the one where I applied the Rotation Attribute to the Water Orb..."
"Yes. I think it deserves a name."
"...!"
Lee Han was stunned.
Naming a spell was never a trivial matter.
It was only possible when the spell had distinct value that set it apart from others.
If someone like Gainando had looked at the Magic Missile spell written in a book, cast it, and then declared, 'Since my spell is way slower and weaker than the one in the book, I'll name this <Gainando's Magic Missile>! It's the kind of spell anyone can use easily!'—who would take that seriously?
Since naming a spell wasn't something that could be forced by a single mage's whim, Professor Voladi's words were quite surprising.
"You want me to name it? I don't think it's at that level yet."
Not that he wasn't proud.
The joy of successfully casting a spell in one go—after previously struggling through fragmented attempts—was a sense of accomplishment only a mage could understand.
It felt like perfectly fitting together a complex puzzle scattered across dozens of pieces.
But just because he'd succeeded in casting a difficult spell didn't mean it automatically deserved a name...
"You don't have to create something from nothing to name it. Improvements can also earn a name."
"That may be, but..."
As Lee Han hesitated, Professor Voladi elaborated further.
"The spell you just used resembles Archmage Yumidihus's <Water Prison Bomb>, but it's distinctly different."
Water-element spells were often criticized for lacking destructive power, but Yumidihus had overturned that perception.
A mage who combined various advanced attributes with water to maximize its destructive potential!
Among his creations, <Yumidihus' Water Prison Bomb> was a spell that fused the Rotation Attribute to its extreme with water.
Its concentrated piercing and destructive power were legendary—famously used by Yumidihus himself to instantly slay a Demon Duke.
As someone who had studied under Yumidihus, it was only natural for Professor Voladi to teach this spell to a brilliant disciple eager to delve deeper into the intricacies of elemental magic.
And this disciple, greedy as he was, had eventually reinterpreted and refined the Water Prison Bomb in his own way.
He cut out unnecessary steps from the original spell and intuitively compensated for the missing parts using his mana.
Though weaker than when Yumidihus himself cast it, this version was more than sufficient. If it could deal damage and restrain a Sea Serpent, then its power was already commendable.
Above all, the drastically reduced casting time was impressive.
What magic combat required wasn't a show of brute strength, but the minimal precise force needed to fell an enemy.
"This would be far more suitable for one-on-one combat."
"Isn't the mana wastage a bit severe?"
Though pleased by the unexpectedly high praise, Lee Han approached it realistically.
In hastily omitting unnecessary processes, the cut portions had required mana expenditure bordering on wastefulness.
"Every magic has its strengths and weaknesses."
"...Thank you. I'll consider it an honor."
Lee Han honestly expressed his gratitude and decided to simply enjoy the moment.
'Not bad at all.'
Of course, he didn't imagine this <Wardanaz's Water Prison Bomb> would become a spell widely used across the Empire.
It would be nice if a single spell could let him lounge around for life, but Lee Han wasn't one to harbor such vain hopes.
'Objectively speaking, the flaws are somewhat significant...'
For starters, water-element combat magic itself was rather niche, and adding the rotation attribute made it even more so. Toss in the drawback of excessive mana consumption...
Frankly, the number of mages who'd use this would be extremely limited.
Yet even considering that, having a spell named after him was undeniably thrilling.
When submitting proposals or seeking investments later, adding one line—"I've completed the 4th-Circle spell <Wardanaz's Water Prison Bomb>"—would make him appear far more credible.
Professor Voladi nodded in satisfaction as his student rejoiced.
Then he spoke again.
"Once we return to Einrogard, compile your insights on water elemental magic into a book."
"...Pardon?"
Lee Han, who'd been delighted, froze.
'Did I hear that right?'
It wasn't uncommon for mages to publish books compiling their magical insights, like <On Basic Lightning Elemental Magic and Its Applications> or <On Basic Blood Magic and Its Applications>.
Einrogard students often wrote such books as part of their training and learning.
...Usually the upperclassmen!
As Lee Han gaped, thinking, 'Is this person insane?', the professor continued.
"Ah. Wait. My mistake."
"I knew you'd say that."
Lee Han inwardly hoped Professor Voladi would tell him to try again around fourth year.
'Or not? Given his lack of conscience, he might assign it in third year. In that case, I'll avoid taking his class then...'
"Write two volumes. One on your magical insights, the other on potential improvements."
If the first compiled the magic, the second would explore how to develop it further.
To satisfy his student's boundless intellectual curiosity—much like his mana—Professor Voladi added another volume.
Otherwise, who knew what madness Lee Han might attempt next, like charging at the Sea Serpent today.
"......"
As Lee Han stood speechless in utter disbelief, Professor Thunderstep came running over.
His face was etched with exhaustion after placating the furious Maykin Family members and townsfolk who'd nearly had heart attacks seeing a student rush into battle.
"You lunatic! What possessed you to charge at a Sea Serpent?!"
Panting with rage, Professor Thunderstep flinched upon seeing Lee Han's granite expression, simmering with fury.
"...W-was I too harsh?"
Having finished preparations to demonstrate his magic to Einrogard's students, Ianov headed to the harbor with the mercenaries.
They cautiously asked,
"Magus, shouldn't we hurry?"
"Sea Serpent hunts don't conclude that quickly."
Battles against large monsters with tenacious vitality were typically endurance contests.
They'd have ample time even if they arrived later.
'Once I show them this magic...'
What Ianov had prepared was a devastatingly beautiful weakening spell.
Though easily mistaken for black magic, it was nothing of the sort—an enchantment that, once cast, embedded itself in the target's body to reverse their regenerative abilities.
"Against a Sea Serpent, it would be even more effective."
"M-Mage, sir. The harbor is on fire—"
"?"
"The harbor is lit up!"
"!"
Ianov was startled by the dazzling sight of the harbor.
As if it were broad daylight, spheres of light were densely embedded, driving away the darkness.
'Even if they're mages from Einrogard, this level of wastefulness is absurd! It makes no sense!'
Ianov wondered if Einrogard had developed a new spell.
No matter how scarce light was, there was no need to waste mana summoning spheres of light one by one right before a Sea Serpent hunt.
"Wow. Impressive."
"As expected of mages..."
The mercenaries spoke flatteringly, but Ianov was too preoccupied to even hear them.
No matter how much he looked, he couldn't even begin to guess the structure of that magic.
Ianov felt a deep sense of humiliation, just as he had long ago.
To not even be able to decipher the structure of such a simple spell...
'It's impossible...! How could they cast so many at once—'
"...Mage, sir. Mage, sir!"
While Ianov was lost in thought, the mercenaries urgently called out to him.
"What is it?"
"The hunt..."
"It's about to start?"
"They say it's already over."
"...What?"
Ianov tore his gaze from the spheres of light and turned his head.
Amazingly, down at the harbor dock, the corpse of the Sea Serpent lay sprawled.
At a glance, it was clear that intense magic had been exchanged.
The remnants of ice and the uniquely severed body of the Sea Serpent.
What kind of magic could have—
"It's over!?"
"Y-yes..."
Frightened by the mage's unusual expression, the mercenaries quickly brought over a nearby sailor.
"You saw it clearly, right?"
"How many times do I have to say it? I saw it from the lowest dock!"
"Alright, alright. Speak carefully. This is a very important person."
"Who... a mage from Einrogard?"
The sailor, summoned by the mercenaries, looked at Ianov inside the carriage and asked suspiciously.
In this city right now, the only great person dressed like that would be a mage from Einrogard.
"His identity isn't for you to question. Do you want to hand back the silver coin?"
The mercenary spoke irritably, but the sailor, who had weathered the rough seas, wasn't one to back down easily. He snapped back instead.
"Damn it... You call me here in a hurry, and now—"
Instead of answering, Ianov flicked another silver coin.
Instantly, the sailor's irritable attitude softened.
"What would you like to know?"
"Who cast that light magic? Do you remember which professor it was? Did they use any special reagents or scrolls when casting?"
"It was a student who cast it. And, uh... reagents or scrolls? If you mean those rolled-up things, no, they didn't use any."
"...!!!!!"
Ianov was so shocked he let out an involuntary groan.
There was only one student it could be.
"Was it the student from the Wardanaz family?"
"Uh, yes! That was the name."
"Don't lie to me!"
"I'm not lying! Ask anyone else, and they'll tell you the same."
The sailor's attitude was so confident that Ianov instinctively knew there wasn't a shred of falsehood in his words.
'All at once? How could they cast them all at once?'
In truth, they hadn't been cast all at once, but Ianov couldn't help but think so.
"How was it caught? How did they catch it?"
As Ianov reeled from the shock, the mercenaries, curious, asked.
"One was caught with enchanted arrows."
"Did the Einrogard mages enchant those?"
"No. That was also done by the student mage from the Wardanaz family."
"......"
Even the mercenaries, ignorant of magic, began to grow astonished, their voices lowering.
They were starting to understand why Ianov was so shocked.
"What about the other one?"
"The Einrogard mages caught that one themselves."
"So the student you mentioned wasn't involved this time?"
"No. They fought together."
"......"
"...Are they twins?"
"Quintuplets, maybe..."
The mercenaries' hushed whispers quietly spread through the midnight harbor streets.