Episode 504
Episode 504
'Wait a minute.'
Lee Han shuddered at the ominous thought that suddenly struck him.
Could it be?
"Is this perhaps an event for seniors?"
If it's an event for students learning Transformation Magic and none of Lee Han's friends know about it...
...couldn't it be an event exclusively for seniors?
Professor Voladi momentarily wore an expression as if he'd never even considered the question.
"I suppose that might be the case."
"You really should've checked that first... Did Professor Luji readily agree to it?"
The professor gave a small nod.
'He didn't threaten her with a sword, did he?'
Lee Han felt slightly suspicious.
Among the professors, Luji was somewhat on the timid side.
If Professor Voladi had threatened her with a sword, it wouldn't have been strange for her to say, 'I'll participate!' right away.
"Professor. Just a thought—Professor Luji might have readily agreed, but wouldn't the seniors find it unpleasant?"
Einrogard students were subtly exclusive by nature.
Just look at how the White Tiger Tower students had pettily gotten angry when Lee Han had intruded into their dormitory.
Just as students flaunted unnecessary pride based on their respective towers, the same likely applied to academic factions.
And even within those factions...
'If a first-year junior keeps poking their nose in, they'd probably find it annoying.'
There was a reason the saying went that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
Unless it was an unpopular niche faction like Healing Magic or Black Magic, no one would appreciate a junior acting out of turn.
"Were you worried about that? It's fine."
"Ah. Did the seniors say it was fine too?"
"I meant that if any students find it unpleasant, I'll discipline them."
"......"
Lee Han glanced at the sword Professor Voladi was wearing.
'You're not planning to discipline them by stabbing them with that sword, are you?'
"...I'll just work hard to impress the seniors."
Professor Voladi patted Lee Han's shoulder approvingly.
The basilisk let out a displeased sound.
The Ouroboros, a snake biting its own tail, was a beloved symbol in both Alchemy and Transformation Magic.
As a representation of eternal circulation, it was an entity that mages of both factions couldn't help but adore.
Thus, the event for Transformation Mages was aptly named <Day of Ouroboros>.
Schwak!
A whip held by one student transformed into a snake and coiled around another student's wrist.
Despite the snake wrapping around his wrist, the targeted student didn't panic at all. Calmly reciting a spell, the snake's fangs turned into cotton on the spot.
Thud!
The student whose wrist was bound struck the ground with his staff, and suddenly the floor rippled before turning into a swamp.
The student who lost his balance staggered and dropped the snake-whip. He quickly tried to transform the swamp back into solid earth but failed the spell, turning it into honey instead.
"I yield."
"Good match."
The student who had fallen took his friend's hand and stood up, scanning the other Transformation Mages gathered in the hall.
Though <Day of Ouroboros> sounded grand, the rules were actually simple.
It was a day to showcase one's achievements using only Transformation Magic. Such events were common in other factions as well.
Magic duels using only Transformation Magic, presentations on new Transformation Magic research, the unique transformative abilities of rare monsters from the Empire, and so on.
"Alright, enough playing around. Come here—we need to stop the outsiders from causing trouble."
"I don't wanna deal with outsiders... Can't we just send a death knight?"
"No. Tough it out."
The Transformation Magic faction students of Einrogard frowned as they watched the outsiders bustling energetically through the hall.
Inviting external mages to such events was customary, and treating them as guests was likewise expected.
But the students really, really didn't feel like doing it.
Not because the external mages were unpleasant or rude.
Not even because they had mountains of assignments piled up.
Just...
They just really didn't want to.
"How about rock-paper-scissors, and the loser does it?"
"Hello!! Students of Einrogard!!"
"Ugh."
Poof!
An external Transformation Mage approached, demonstrating a racial transformation spell.
It was a common trick often demonstrated by transformation mages—a spell that changed one's own race.
Though the magic itself wasn't particularly special, there was nothing quite like it for breaking the ice in simple greetings or conversations.
The transformation mage, seemingly exhilarated, shifted from an elf to a human, then from a human to a canine beastfolk, and finally from the beastfolk to an orc.
Then he looked at the students with expectant eyes. He had assumed they would respond by showing off something in return.
"......"
"......"
However, the students' reactions were far from what he had anticipated.
They all hesitated awkwardly, avoiding his gaze.
"???"
"......"
"......"
"Um... did I do something wrong?"
"A-ah, no!"
"W-welcome! Nice to meet you!"
"Ah... yeah."
The transformation mage retreated with an awkward expression.
The students exchanged glances, their faces filled with self-reproach.
"You should've answered him...! You were the closest!"
"No, you were the one looking at him! You should've answered!"
There were exceptions, of course, but generally, mages specializing in transformation magic tended to be cheerful and sociable.
Perhaps it had something to do with the nature of transformation magic itself.
But the students majoring in transformation magic at Einrogard were... a bit peculiar.
They were extremely...
Introverted.
"Everyone, stop it. Ugh... I should've studied Black Magic instead..."
"I-I feel a bit nauseous... Can I have just one more potion?"
"No. If you drink too much Confidence Potion, you'll turn into a complete delinquent."
The transformation magic students simply prayed fervently for the event to end quickly and for the outsiders to leave—so they could go back to discussing magic among themselves.
"It's the No-disciple Professor!"
"What? The No-disciple Professor?"
The students turned their heads.
A truly insane professor was entering, leading a first-year student by the hand.
"What on earth is he thinking?"
"I heard he took on a disciple..."
"Isn't he just following the kid around to make sure he doesn't escape?"
"Surely not... Well, actually, maybe."
But that didn't clear up all their doubts.
Why would he bring a first-year student to an event like this?
No matter how they looked at it, it seemed like meaningless torment.
"Why did Professor Lergi allow this?"
"I heard he's exceptionally talented. A friend from the Black Magic department said he's from the Wardanaz family."
"You don't actually believe those rumors about the Wardanaz family, do you? The Wardanaz family is just a regular high noble house. It's not like they teach secret arts to five-year-olds."
"They're not exactly regular..."
While the students whispered in the corner, Lee Han entered alongside Professor Voladi.
The visiting transformation mages were showing off various tricks (one mage had transformed his arm into a swarm of bats, earning applause), Professor Lergi was fielding questions in the center, and the seniors...
'They're not here?'
Lee Han grew puzzled when he didn't see the seniors at all, but soon realized the truth.
"Professor. Uh... shouldn't the Headmaster's restrictions be lifted during events?"
He knew the Skeleton Principal placed perception-blocking curses on the seniors, but didn't he usually lift them when necessary?
And now was definitely a time when it was necessary.
If a first-year student attended an event like this but couldn't even talk to the seniors...
"Why?"
"......"
"Ah. Lee Han."
Professor Lergi spotted Lee Han and beckoned him over. Then, in a low voice, he said:
"I'm sorry. I couldn't refuse the request."
"That's understandable."
Lee Han got it.
Even if Professor Voladi hadn't outright threatened him with a sword, he had definitely intimidated him just by wearing one.
"I'm truly sorry."
"...No, really, it's fine."
Lee Han was actually flustered by how apologetic Professor Lergi was being.
The fault lay with the professor who dragged him here, not the one who allowed it.
"Still, the mages attending this event are all exceptional transformation specialists, so there's much to learn—"
"Let's go."
While the two were talking, Professor Voladi, who had disappeared somewhere, suddenly returned.
"Where are we going?"
"I obtained permission."
Professor Voladi jerked his chin toward the back.
On the makeshift dueling platform, the transformation mages who had been sparring were now whispering among themselves as they looked their way.
-A first-year... student, isn't he?
-Must be seeing things.
-Surely you're not suggesting we duel a first-year student? Isn't that a bit dangerous?
'This is humiliating.'
Lee Han felt ashamed under the gazes of the external mages, their expressions a mix of concern and bewilderment.
Professor Voladi had gone around pestering them—"Please duel my disciple," "Please duel my disciple," "Please duel my disciple"—until he'd wrung out an agreement. But now that they'd consented, it was clear they were flustered upon realizing just how young his opponent was.
A dwarf mage who appeared to be in his forties looked at Lee Han with an awkward expression and asked:
"You're a first-year student, aren't you? Not that I mean to interfere with Einrogard's teachings, but isn't this duel a bit too early for you?"
"It's fine."
Before Lee Han could answer, Professor Voladi replied for him.
As the professor turned and walked toward the spectator seats, the dwarf mage whispered again:
"Are you being coer— No, never mind. Forget I said anything."
Watching the dwarf mage swallow his words, clearly deeming them too impolite, Lee Han's mouth twisted bitterly.
All the transformation mages here were good people.
That only made it worse.
"...The rules are as follows. Let us begin."
'I'm going to lose my mind.'
Facing his opponent, Lee Han's thoughts raced.
He had participated in magical duels before, but today's setting was unusual.
A duel restricted solely to transformation magic.
The problem was that Lee Han's repertoire of transformation magic wasn't particularly extensive.
Steel-based transformations were his forte, along with simple alterations—colors, rock-to-sand, and the like.
Charging at an experienced transformation mage with just that was like wielding a fork against the Skeleton Principal.
No doubt Professor Voladi wanted Lee Han to lose in as many ways as possible.
After all, defeat often taught more than victory.
Lose in every possible way, learn which aspects of transformation magic he needed to master...
Whoosh!
"!"
The dwarf mage suddenly sprouted wings and soared into the air, gliding effortlessly.
Simultaneously, his cloak billowed out like a tent, obscuring Lee Han's vision. He instinctively knew the dwarf was preparing to transform into another creature.
'If I don't act now, it's over!'
Lee Han swung his staff, aiming to deal with the enemy's cloak first.
A chorus of dismay erupted from the surrounding transformation mages.
"Ah!"
"That's not the way!"
"Oh dear...!"
"Goodness, no!"
Since the dwarf mage had already cast transformation magic on his cloak, Lee Han targeting it was a poor choice.
Interfering with an opponent's magic was exponentially harder.
In such a dire situation...
Snap!
"!?"
The cloak transformed into an iron hook and shot toward the dwarf mage.
The dwarf, mid-transformation into a hippogriff, flinched as the hook clamped around his ankle, disrupting his spell. The result was a bizarre hybrid—only his arms and legs had transformed.
"Wow! He actually pulled that off!"
"Amazing! Brilliant!"
'...This is getting annoying.'
Lee Han was starting to find the awestruck murmurs from the spectator seats irritating.
At first, he'd been slightly moved by their concern for him, but their exaggerated reactions to every little spell were wearing on his nerves.
The dwarf mage quickly waved his staff, trying to undo the iron hook.
But, to his shock, the hook wouldn't budge. His magic rebounded as if the mana had congealed into stubborn ore.
Unprepared for such a scenario, the seasoned transformation mage panicked and failed to land properly.
Normally, he could have cast another spell to subdue Lee Han even while bound, but the dwarf mage cleanly conceded.
In a duel, exposing such a glaring opening was as good as defeat.
"I yield, I yield! Impressive! How did you transform it like that? Is it one of Einrogard's secret arts?"
As Lee Han agonized over how to explain without disappointing the dwarf, Professor Voladi—hiding his own dissatisfaction—began accosting the other transformation mages.