Episode 77
Episode 77
In summoning magic, failure meant when the summoned result differed from the target by even 1%.
Yet the magic quill pens now fluttering down from the air matched their targets perfectly.
There were just... too many of them.
Professor Garcia soon understood the implication and nodded.
"I see. So it's not a failure."
Professor Troll let out a small sigh of relief.
While it was a professor's duty to care equally for all students, he couldn't help feeling particularly concerned about that boy from the Wardanaz family.
Born with an overwhelming amount of mana, even basic spells inevitably became more challenging for him.
Fortunately, Lee Han was confronting these difficulties with a bold and steadfast composure unusual for a freshman, but as a professor, Troll still felt guilty.
Wasn't this originally something a master should help resolve?
Professor Garcia, the only one among the magic school's faculty burdened with such guilt, had yet to find a proper solution.
"Lee Han is quite talented, isn't he? Seeing how he succeeded perfectly..."
As the relieved Garcia spoke, Professor Milley nodded.
"He has talent."
"So you think so too?"
Garcia knew well how difficult summoning magic was—and how strict Milley could be.
That made Milley's acknowledgment all the more valuable.
"He has what it takes to learn summoning magic. But... there's one weakness."
"??"
Garcia was slightly taken aback.
"Well, his mana capacity is a bit—no, quite a bit—well, actually, it's enormous, but his control is steadily improving..."
Garcia tried to downplay it but couldn't bring himself to lie outright.
Still, considering Lee Han's mana reserves, his rate of adaptation was astonishingly fast.
"I believe he'll only get better with time..."
"I wasn't referring to his mana capacity, Professor Garcia."
"Then what?"
"The weakness I mentioned is arrogance."
"...?"
Arrogance?
Garcia was momentarily stunned.
Admittedly, at first glance, the Wardanaz boy could come across as arrogant.
His cold, marble-carved features, combined with the imposing aura of high nobility, made ordinary people hesitate to approach him.
But Garcia knew Lee Han wasn't that kind of person.
A student who personally fed and cared for the Blue Dragon Tower's residents couldn't possibly have such an arrogant disposition.
"I think there might be a misunderstanding..."
"Professor Garcia. Look closely."
Milley pointed sternly at the dozens of magic quill pens.
"That student succeeded on his first attempt. Yet he deliberately summoned over a dozen quill pens. What do you think that means?"
Succeeding in summoning magic on the first try indicated both a deep understanding of magic circles and exceptional mana control.
Freshmen who possessed both knowledge and talent were rare. By any objective measure, Lee Han had proven himself worthy of entering the world of summoning magic.
But why would such a student intentionally summon dozens of quill pens?
If he had the skill to succeed in one attempt, summoning just one would have sufficed.
There was only one answer.
To arrogantly flaunt his own abilities.
"No..."
Garcia was baffled by Milley's reasoning.
"Lee Han isn't the type to—"
"Arrogance is a necessary virtue for mages, but at such a young age, it's a dangerous poison. Especially for those born with innate knowledge and talent."
"But that's—"
Milley's eyebrows rose sharply. Garcia flinched.
Not all relationships among professors were equal—especially when one had once been the other's student.
But Professor Garcia still wanted to clear up the misunderstanding somehow.
"I really don't think Lee Han has that kind of personality. It might have been a mistake... I think..."
"A mistake?"
A faint trace of absurdity seeped into Professor Millay's voice. Not a good sign.
"So you're saying, Professor Garcia... that he performed that summoning by accident?"
Professor Garcia's face turned red. Now that it was being pointed out, even he could feel how ridiculous that sounded.
To summon multiple quills with that magic circle, simply pouring several times the mana required for a single quill at once wouldn't have worked.
Since it wasn't a magic circle designed for multiple summons in the first place, arbitrarily increasing the mana input could have destroyed the circle or caused backlash.
A magic circuit that's already had mana channeled through it takes on different properties than before activation.
This meant the calculations had to change moment by moment. To pour additional mana into an already activated circuit, new calculations were required.
In other words...
The only way to summon multiple quills with that magic circle was through meticulous repetition.
Precisely calculating and inputting the exact amount of summonable mana onto the circle.
Then carefully assessing the altered state of the magic circle before precisely calculating and inputting the mana again.
Repeat. And repeat. And repeat.
It was a feat one wouldn't attempt without strong confidence in their own abilities.
A trick that could only be pulled off intentionally!
"Maybe he practiced beforehand to avoid destroying the circle... and forgot there was residual mana in it...?"
"......"
Professor Millay, who had been staring sternly at Professor Garcia, finally relaxed his expression.
His gaze held something like pity for his kind-hearted junior.
"Professor Garcia. A student that skilled wouldn't possibly forget something like that."
'That's true...'
Professor Garcia had nothing to say and closed his mouth.
Frankly, even Professor Garcia felt his excuses were flimsy.
But what was he supposed to do when that explanation genuinely seemed the most plausible?
"Having faith in and affection for your students is admirable, but you mustn't turn a blind eye to their flaws and mistakes, Professor Garcia. Sometimes affection and trust can blind you."
"Yes..."
"Having said that, I'm not denying that student has exceptional talent. I'm merely saying we should caution him before his arrogance hurts himself."
"Understood."
"There's no need to worry so much. If that student ends up learning Summoning Magic, he'll soon have that arrogance beaten out of him."
Summoning Magic had always crushed students who considered themselves the empire's greatest geniuses.
Combined with Professor Millay's strictness, any uncontrollable arrogance would soon be reduced to an appropriate level of self-confidence.
Professor Garcia turned his head.
Lee Han was attempting to scribble "I have no quills" by sending the magically summoned quills flying toward Angolois.
This had sparked a brawl between students from White Tiger Tower and Blue Dragon Tower.
As he went to break it up, Professor Garcia couldn't help thinking this didn't seem like arrogance at all.
'No matter how I look at it, that really doesn't seem to be the case.'
The commotion eventually died down. Students' faces were now splattered with ink stains.
Aftereffects from both imperfectly and perfectly summoned magic quills.
While the summoned quills disappeared over time, the ink they left behind remained.
"I trust you've all gained some understanding today of how difficult Summoning Magic can be. The spell you practiced today was the most basic foundation of Summoning Magic, which you should normally perform without a magic circle."
Professor Millay had terrified the students. Undeterred, he continued with complete seriousness.
"Nevertheless, if you have any interest in Summoning Magic and wish to study it seriously, visit my workshop. You'd all do well to remember this. While people often mistakenly believe talent or intelligence are the main requirements for mastering magic..."
Lee Han felt Professor Millay's gaze momentarily turn toward him.
Was it just his imagination?
'Did I cross a line by making the magic quills harass Angrago?'
"...The most essential qualities are ultimately perseverance and patience. If you continue to dedicate yourselves earnestly without giving up, Summoning Magic will open a path for you."
With those final words, Professor Millay left the lecture hall.
The remaining students huddled together, whispering among themselves.
"Should we visit her workshop?"
"The professor said it herself—if we wait until second year to start, we'll fall behind. To learn Summoning Magic properly, we need to practice from first year."
The students nodded in agreement.
After attempting to summon quills themselves, they finally understood just how difficult Summoning Magic truly was.
To summon an object that moves on its own using a mage's power...
"But can we really afford to learn Summoning Magic separately right now?"
"Why not?"
"Seriously? We already have so many assignments, and written exams are coming up soon—do we really have the time to study Summoning Magic on top of that?"
"......"
Practical concerns began to unsettle the students.
Summoning Magic was appealing, but if it meant even more assignments, few could handle the additional workload.
'That's why I said to take the easy subjects.'
Lee Han caught himself thinking that way—then immediately regretted it.
Come to think of it, wasn't he currently facing mortal peril precisely because he had tried to take the easy way out?
A sudden curiosity struck him.
What elective courses were the other students taking?
"What electives are you guys in?"
"Me? Basic Arts. Everyone's taking it."
"I'm in Basic Dance and Etiquette. It's practically mandatory."
"Understanding Imperial Masterpieces and Classics. I might buy one during break."
"......"
Lee Han was slightly taken aback by his friends' course lists.
...Was he the only one lacking in culture?
"There's no course without assignments."
"Same. But we can't just skip Summoning Magic either."
"Shouldn't the school lend us an Artifact that can turn back time or something?"
"Gainando. That's a fairy tale. Where would you even find something like that?"
"Even if it existed, do you think they'd lend it to students just for taking classes? It'd be used for far more valuable purposes."
Listening to his friends' conversation, Lee Han checked the time and stood up.
"Gainando. Let's go."
"Where to? And why are you taking Gainando?"
"Planning to use him as bait if we run into a Summon?"
"No. We have to meet Professor Mortum."
While everyone else agonized over whether to pursue Summoning Magic, there was one professor left neglected and lonely—
Professor Mortum, who taught Black Magic.
Since Professor Mortum had directly called out Lee Han and Gainando by name, they had no choice but to visit him periodically to learn Black Magic—unlike the other students.
"Do you have to go? Can't you just send Gainando?"
Though the others didn't want Lee Han to leave, Gainando had absolutely no intention of going alone.
"...If I have to go by myself, I'll recommend all of you."
"Gainando! My noble friend! There must be some misunderstanding!"
The others immediately changed their tune.
Yoner asked, as if checking if it was really okay:
"Won't it be a problem if the students trying to learn Summoning Magic visit now?"
"She didn't set a specific time, so we can visit Professor Mortum first, then go see her with Gainando afterward."
Lee Han was interested in Summoning Magic—he just had prior obligations.
It was best not to break promises with professors. Especially if that professor was lonely due to a lack of students seeking them out.
"See you later, then."
"Be careful, Wardanaz."
"Watch out for loose Summons, and don't forget the potion Priestess Siana gave you."
"Be careful around Professor Mortum too."
"And be careful with Gainando."
At Ashan's words, Gainando looked slightly moved.
"Dalkard..."
"If Gainando screws up, you'll be in danger too, so be careful."
"......"
It wasn't a warning for Gainando—it was a warning about Gainando.
Gainando immediately decided to recommend Ashan the moment he met Professor Mortum.