Episode 72
Episode 72
"Still, if we're going to be in the same group moving forward, we should probably clear up any misunderstandings."
"No need!"
Durgyu had finally realized it now.
Though Lee Han kept insisting it was a misunderstanding, it clearly wasn't.
Lee Han was someone who'd jump at any opportunity to mess with Giselle if given the chance.
Of course, he'd probably claim it was just self-defense...
"It'll be fine... Probably. I'll mediate between you two... I'd appreciate it if you'd let me handle it."
"Oh. Durgyu. Seems you've taken a liking to playing messenger."
"......"
Durgyu didn't even have the energy to retort.
Several students from the Blue Dragon Tower had gathered in front of the swordsmanship lecture hall, shuffling about awkwardly.
The White Tiger Tower students eyed them with displeasure and spoke up.
"What brings you here?"
"We came to make sure you don't gang up on Wardanaz!"
"...What? That's rich coming from you!"
The White Tiger Tower students felt genuinely wronged.
Sure, they'd thrown the first punch, but if you tallied up the blows exchanged, Wardanaz had overwhelmingly come out on top.
But the Blue Dragon Tower students weren't buying their excuses. They made threatening noises until Lee Han appeared, at which point they hastily grabbed him by both arms and pulled him away.
"Let's go! Who knows what tricks they might pull."
"It's probably fine."
"With the Summons running loose, it's dangerous out here, Wardanaz! We'll protect you!"
Lee Han was dragged off before he could even properly greet Durgyu.
'It really is fine...'
The Blue Dragon Tower students kept throwing wary glances as they spoke.
"You need to be careful, Wardanaz. Those White Tiger Tower guys are like wild beasts."
"Next class is Alchemy, right? Let's head there together."
Yoner watched as Lee Han was hauled along by his friends and tilted her head in confusion.
"Why are you being dragged along with both arms held?"
"Maykin! You can't afford to be so careless about safety! You have to assume the area outside the towers is unconditionally dangerous right now!"
'Lee Han could probably take all of you on at once...'
Yoner, who knew Lee Han's true capabilities, stared at the scene with an expression of bewildered fascination.
"He's right. The current situation is extremely perilous."
"Ah, the once-in-a-generation genius the Flemeng Order boasts of, the grandmaster of Alchemy, Priest Siana. Long time no see."
Lee Han spoke while still being held by both arms by his friends.
'Once-in-a-generation genius?'
'Grandmaster of Alchemy?'
The Blue Dragon Tower students exchanged puzzled looks.
They knew Priest Siana was skilled in Alchemy, but to that extent?
Priest Siana smiled warmly and extended a flask.
"This is a monster-repelling potion I brewed. Lee Han of the Wardanaz family, please take it and try it out. When sprayed, it emits a scent monsters find unpleasant."
"What a magnificent gift. I'm truly touched."
Nilia, who arrived late, whispered in confusion.
"Why does he suddenly start talking so formally in front of Priest Siana?"
"Nilia. If you want to survive in Imperial society, this level of decorum is necessary..."
"??"
Nilia didn't understand. Lee Han didn't expect her to grasp it immediately either.
'Well, I'm grateful regardless.'
Lee Han carefully accepted the monster-repelling potion and stowed it away.
Given that Summons were already roaming the school grounds by the third week of the semester, who knew if they'd start invading the dorms by the fifth week.
By the seventh week, actual demons might show up on campus...
"Everyone, take your seats."
Professor Thunderstep yawned as he opened the door to the Alchemy Hall and entered. The students suppressed their hatred and greeted him.
"Did everyone complete their potions?"
"Yes (Thanks to you, we suffered)."
"Of course (We'll settle this someday)."
Even without mind-reading abilities, Lee Han could practically hear the unspoken thoughts laced within their words.
"What? Everyone finished? Are you sure you checked properly?"
Professor Thunderstep's voice dripped with disappointment. Priest Siana responded curtly.
"It seems there were issues with the method you taught us, Professor. So we put our heads together and figured it out."
"...Why would you do that? You guys don't even get along with each other!"
"......"
"......"
Professor Thunderstep grumbled, making comments that would naturally bring even the top students—who normally didn't get along—together.
"Anyway, you've all worked hard. Since you've managed to complete the <Lesser Spirit Affinity Potion> from start to finish, I'd say you've fully taken your first step as novice alchemists. Of course, the results probably aren't perfect."
Professor Thunderstep grabbed one of the flask bottles submitted by the students from the table and uncorked it.
Then he grabbed a strangely twitching branch and shook it over the flask.
A faint, candle-like flame flickered very slightly on the branch.
"See? The potion's power is weak, isn't it?"
Professor Thunderstep blew out the flame with a whoosh.
Then he uncorked the next flask and shook the branch again. The same faint flame flickered very slightly. The professor extinguished it with a very satisfied expression.
Fwoosh!
"......"
But from the next flask, an intense flame erupted—so strong it nearly burned the entire branch. Professor Thunderstep hastily jerked his beard back to avoid it and glared at Lee Han with resentful eyes.
Lee Han felt deeply wronged.
'Hey, it's your fault for not checking the labels on the bottles...!'
"Of course, some of you did make decent potions, but it's still too early to get arrogant. If you act cocky just because luck was slightly on your side, you'll end up with a serious nosebleed."
Ashan nodded, seemingly quite impressed by the professor's words. Lee Han wanted to warn him not to be fooled, but he didn't get the chance.
"Now. So..."
Professor Thunderstep swung his staff, uncorking all the remaining flasks at once, then checked their flames. Simultaneously, a floating quill beside him swiftly jotted down numbers.
Lee Han could see the number "10"—indicating full marks—written next to his name.
-10. Boring guy.
"......"
Was the professor allowed to do this?
"Today, we'll be doing a practical session on spirits, an essential element in alchemy. A skilled alchemist shouldn't just focus on completing a potion—they should also obsess over ways to enhance its effects. And the easiest method among them is... spirits."
Professor Thunderstep clenched and unclenched his fist. Then, an adorable little rabbit, as if sculpted from a snowball, appeared on his palm.
Every student in the room gasped in amazement.
Lee Han suddenly remembered something and glanced down at his waist. The Bone Summon strapped to his belt rattled as if asking, What's wrong?
'Hmm. There's a reason real Black Magic isn't popular.'
"This is Mr. Rabbit, an Ice Spirit I frequently use. Small and cute, but don't underestimate him. He's a spirit powerful enough to single-handedly wipe the floor with all of you."
Mr. Rabbit nodded with pride. The students looked extremely bewildered.
It really didn't look that way at all...
"I'm not saying you should form contracts with spirits like this right away. That's beyond your current level."
Forming contracts with spirits was similar to taking out a bank loan.
First, you had to befriend lower-level spirits and raise your credit rating in the Spirit World before you could make contracts with more powerful ones.
"Don't even think about trying to form a contract all at once. Focus first on building friendships with spirits. The only way to befriend spirits is through sincerity and devotion. If you approach them with arrogance, they'll sense it immediately."
The students concentrated, taking notes on Professor Thunderstep's words.
Honestly, this was the most exciting lecture they'd heard so far.
Compared to risking death while gathering ingredients in the mountains or precisely timing ingredient additions to avoid exploding cauldrons, "meeting and befriending spirits" sounded thrilling and romantic.
Yes, this was what they wanted!
Professor Thunderstep scattered gems and reagents across the classroom as he drew a Magic Circle.
When mages wanted to connect to the Spirit World, it was best to attempt it in places with good mountains, clean water, and strong spiritual energy.
The current act of scattering gems and reagents while drawing the magic circle was also an attempt to amplify the spiritual energy.
"Drink the potion."
The students drank the potion with eager anticipation. Lee Han drank it as well.
"Now. Go meet the spirits and return."
Thunderstep swung his staff. In that instant, Lee Han's vision darkened.
Lee Han had seen a scene like this before.
It was similar to the vision shown by the black book given by the Skeleton Principal.
The difference was that while the black book had dragged Lee Han's consciousness into a mental landscape to forcibly train him in magic, Thunderstep had sent him to the Spirit World to forcibly meet spirits.
'This is surreal.'
On one side, a blazing volcanic mine. On the other, a snow-capped mountain battered by an ice storm.
It was clear he had landed near the domains of fire spirits and ice spirits in the infinitely vast Spirit World.
Not bad.
Both fire spirits and ice spirits were useful.
Fire spirits would be handy for boiling soup or frying eggs, and ice spirits would help keep chunks of meat fresh—
'Wait, what kind of insane thought is that?'
Lee Han shook his head to regain his senses.
Becoming friendly with spirits had nothing to do with one's bloodline or magical prowess.
It was all about sincerity.
Just as Professor Thunderstep had said, Lee Han didn't even entertain the thought of forming a contract right away.
If he kept trying sincerely, surely a spirit would eventually reach out to him.
"!"
Lee Han blinked. A puppy-shaped spirit made of flames was hopping and skipping across the scorched black ground.
Lee Han cautiously called out to it.
"O Great and Noble Fire Puppy Spirit, might you be my esteemed teacher?"
Lee Han knew well that when unsure of the other party's identity, slapping on a bunch of fancy-sounding titles was the way to go.
The fire puppy spirit turned its head and stared at Lee Han with an expression that screamed, What kind of lunatic is spouting this nonsense?!
YIPE!!!!! YIP-YIP-YIP!!!
"??!"
Then it bolted away at breakneck speed, looking utterly terrified.
"......"
Lee Han was baffled.
What did I even do?!
"Puppy Spirit Teacher! Please come back, Puppy Spirit Teacher!"
No matter how desperately he called, the spirit didn't return. Lee Han wondered if his titles had been too overwhelming.
'Well, since it's a spirit, maybe it prefers something simpler.'
When he spotted a fire pigeon spirit, Lee Han approached it more modestly.
"Mr. Fire Pigeon?"
The fire pigeon spirit shrieked like a madman and fled.
By this point, Lee Han was starting to feel uneasy.
...Huh?
One by one, the students emerged from the Spirit World. Though only a few seconds had passed in reality, they all burst into noisy chatter.
"Did you see it too?! I locked eyes with a carp spirit in the lake! I kept talking to it, and since it didn't run away, I think we kinda connected!"
"If it didn't run when I petted it, that's a good sign, right?"
Professor Thunderstep grimaced and plugged his ears with his fingers at the students' clamor.
"Enough, enough! Save the chatter for your towers. Anyway, you've all now experienced firsthand how difficult it is to meet and befriend spirits in the Spirit World. From now on, even outside lectures, make an effort to reach out to spirits whenever you have time. Their help will be invaluable in alchemy."
"Yes!"
As the students stood up with satisfied expressions and began filing out, Thunderstep called Lee Han aside.
He was curious about the boy's experience in the Spirit World.
'Kid. No matter how talented you are, spirits won't listen to you easily before you befriend them.'
"How was it?"
"It's a disaster."
Professor Thunderstep beamed with satisfaction.
Yes!
This is how a rookie alchemist should be!
"What happened? Did the spirits refuse to listen to you?"
"They just ran away the moment they saw me."
"...?"