Episode 778
Episode 778
"Summoners must necessarily possess both extensive knowledge of and flexibility regarding multiple dimensions..."
As Professor Milley began her explanation, the pupils of several students trembled. After advancing to the second year and entering the proper domain of Summoning Magic, the difficulty level of each explanation had skyrocketed.
And while Professor Milley wasn't as unfriendly as Professor Verdus, she also wasn't the type to postpone necessary explanations out of consideration for her students.
The result...
'Did someone cast a sleep spell?'
Lee Han looked around in surprise.
In the distance, he could see Lafadell stabbing his own thigh with a quill pen, desperately trying not to doze off.
'Maybe the professor is doing this out of consideration for the students.'
Professor Milley's theory was driving fear away from the students—only to summon drowsiness instead.
Even the students who had been desperate to escape earlier couldn't bring themselves to stand up now, nodding off repeatedly.
"What did I just say, Student Lafadell?"
"Huh? Yes!?"
"Focus! Everyone, don't forget to focus. If you can't concentrate in the classroom, how do you expect to concentrate in another dimension?"
The elderly professor rapped her staff against the desk, scolding the students with a firm attitude.
All accomplished mages eventually developed an interest in other dimensions—the outer realms.
Given that they could access nearly infinite resources beyond those of the current continent, it was only natural.
And summoners were those who specialized in calling upon the power of such dimensions.
Though there were spells like Lee Han's Skeleton Army that summoned personal creations rather than drawing power from other dimensions, even then, one couldn't remain completely indifferent to the handling of other realms.
The problem was that these outer realms weren't such convenient and safe spaces.
With countless worlds appearing unpredictably before mages, summoners had to be prepared for anything.
Especially compared to the well-documented and frequently visited confirmed dimensions, the uncertain dimensions were...
'Who knows what'll come out?'
Could you really save your life just by staying focused in a dimension where you had no idea what might appear?
Rustle
—While Lee Han was pondering this, Professor Milley unfurled a massive map across the blackboard. The map depicted an unnamed dimension.
Red Heat Realm
—Fire and iron detected. ?, ??, ????, ???
Ice Void Realm
—Icebergs and oceans discovered. Scarcity of edible lifeforms. ???, ??
Rainforest Realm
—Giant plants. Abundant food but high monster danger. ???...
The map had many blank spots, but it also contained plenty of information.
Professor Milley looked at the students and said:
"This is the dimension you'll be visiting and investigating this semester."
All the students jolted awake, blinking rapidly. Gainando muttered smugly:
"Lee Han, Lee Han."
"?"
"Salko probably thought he only had to dodge today, but that was a mistake! How foolish!"
Gainando looked as delighted as if the semester had already ended.
Clicking his tongue at his friend's glee over another's misfortune, Lee Han took out the Whispers of Einrogard and left a message for Salko:
—Salko. You'd better come back. It's not just today—we're going in for the entire semester.—
...Y-you're lying.
But Salko returned soon after.
Professor Milley raised an eyebrow slightly but didn't call him out.
Salko wasn't the first student to attempt an escape from the lecture hall, and he certainly wouldn't be the last.
"This dimension is more expansive than you might think, and the nature of each zone varies greatly. Since you won't know where you'll land, students must prepare for every zone before entering."
To the second-years, Professor Milley adjusting her monocle made her look like an executioner.
One of the students asked in a desperate voice,
"Can't we just visit a safe dimension like we did in our first year?"
Professor Milley shook her head sternly.
"Visiting such dimensions yields no gains no matter how many times you go. You only grow stronger by exploring unknown dimensions and completing their maps."
"...The Rainforest Realm would be better, right? Should we pray to be sent there?"
"Are you kidding? A place with abundant food but high monster danger sounds way riskier. I'd rather pray for the Ice Void Realm."
As the students murmured among themselves, Lee Han raised his hand in puzzlement.
"Professor. I have a question."
"Go ahead, Lee Han."
"If we have this much information about the dimensions, wouldn't that mean they aren't completely uncertain dimensions?"
"...Lee Han, are you saying you actually want to visit a completely uncertain dimension?"
Professor Milley asked with faint horror in her voice.
Even his whispering friends turned to stare at Lee Han with shocked expressions.
"W-Wardanaz, why would you say that?"
"Please. We can just get through this lecture normally. What did we do wrong??"
"...I was just asking out of curiosity..."
He'd only asked whether dimensions with this level of prior knowledge could still be called "uncertain" by academic definition—he hadn't expected such reactions.
Lee Han felt slightly wounded and muttered to himself, 'But strictly speaking, they aren't uncertain dimensions.' With this much information secured, they couldn't truly be called uncertain.
"Everyone, prepare your signal magic."
"Gather your cold-resistant gear."
The second-year students huddled together to make plans.
Professor Milley watched their preparations with a stern expression, but inwardly, she felt pleased.
Unlike other grades, these students knew how to work together in such situations.
Beyond magical achievements or talent, this unity might be their greatest strength.
"Hey, give up that blanket!"
"Why should we? Our tower made this!"
"Your tower made what? Who brought the materials, huh? Do you even remember what we had to do to get this leather?!"
"......"
Minor squabbles still broke out, but the students quickly reconciled.
When Lee Han started smacking their backs, the arguing students immediately shut their mouths and began compromising.
"Food check."
"Everyone's got enough, right?"
"!"
Professor Milley was surprised to see the students had far more supplies than expected.
That quantity was impossible for second-years to secure on their own.
'Could it be from that time...?'
At the start of the semester, she had pretended not to notice a few students loitering near the underground storage disguised as workers...
'...'
No. That alone wouldn't explain this much.'
Unless they had dragged a few carts behind them, this amount was inexplicable.
Shrugging lightly, Professor Milley decided not to dwell on it. It was good if the students ate well.
Of course, the Skeleton Principal would grumble, but that couldn't be helped.
"My food bag feels lighter?"
"Stop talking nonsense and move your hand."
"We should've prepared heat-resistant gear."
"That was too much to ask."
They had cold-resistant items from last year's blizzard caused by the Frost Giant, but unfortunately, no heat-resistant ones.
The students tried to compensate by relying on spells they could cast on the spot.
"Those who can cast <Lesser Flame Resistance> or <Lesser Frost Resistance>, gather here."
"Leather, blankets, cloth, or cloaks—anything with a large surface area. Let's enchant as many as we can and take them along."
"Wardanaz's enchantments last the longest, so it'd be best if he did it..."
"Stop being greedy and just accept what you get!"
After thorough preparations to endure whichever zone they landed in, the students finalized their plan.
-First, upon arrival, assess the surroundings to determine which zone they're in.
-Then, we'll complete the map as we go and approach the central zone, heading toward the highest point.
-Along the way, use signal magic or markers to regroup as much as possible.
"Everyone, don't forget—the sooner we regroup, the easier it'll be to complete the map."
"Everyone, it seems you're all ready."
Professor Milley, who had been waiting, gestured.
The students stepped forward with resigned expressions.
The dimensional magic circle set up in the center was emitting even more violent and erratic mana than before.
"Well then... let's begin!"
Following the professor's instruction, the students began to step forward.
Professor Milley watched as the students vanished one by one into other dimensions and nodded.
'At this rate, they might complete it much faster than the other grades.'
Not only were the students skilled, but the way they prepared together gave the professor high expectations.
With that thought, Professor Milley reversed the summoning of the creature they had summoned earlier at the back of the lecture hall.
It was a summon that emitted colorless, odorless smoke, making the students drowsy.
Starting from the second-year lectures, these minor obstacles were placed in classrooms to train the students' concentration.
'Hmm. Considering Lee Han, maybe I should prepare something stronger...'
Gainando, who had landed on an icy surface, was overjoyed when he spotted a student from the Blue Dragon Tower ahead.
"Lee Han!"
"......"
"...Wait, it's Adenart!"
Gainando and Adenart exchanged looks of mutual disdain.
Given the unpredictable nature of dimensional travel, running into another student from the same tower right away was incredibly lucky...
But why did it have to be the two of them?
'Hmph. Still, I should be the one to extend kindness first.'
Gainando grumbled internally before softening his heart.
As the far more superior imperial descendant, shouldn't he act more maturely?
"Let's move together, Adenart."
"...Very well."
"Here, take this."
Gainando pulled out a sandwich, tore it cleanly in half, and offered it. It was a gesture of goodwill for their future cooperation.
The sandwich, packed with ham, cheese, shredded lettuce, egg, and a generous amount of mayonnaise, looked delicious just by sight.
Adenart gave Gainando a surprised glance before accepting it.
"Thank you."
"Of course you should be thankful. Do you know how good this tastes?"
"......"
Adenart briefly considered retracting her thanks but held back, not wanting to stoop to Gainando's level.
"How did you make this?"
"Lee Han gave it to me earlier. Oh, right. You know what?"
"?"
Gainando perked up at the mention of his friend and began chattering excitedly.
"I originally asked him for a snack, but Lee Han said he couldn't give me one separately. So I told him I'd get the fillings myself if he just gave me two slices of bread."
Contrary to what other friends might assume, Lee Han wasn't the type to give Gainando food just because he whined for it.
Unless he accomplished something truly remarkable, no extra rewards were given.
It was only natural strictness for someone managing the food supplies of not just the Blue Dragon Tower but all four towers.
"You asked for just two slices of bread?"
"W-well, I did chores in exchange?!"
Under his half-sister's cold gaze, Gainando found himself making excuses without realizing it.
"It was a fair trade."
"I see."
Adenart almost retorted, 'At Einrogard, doing chores for two plain slices of bread would take half a year of labor,' but held back, fearing her foolish younger brother might throw a tantrum.
"Earlier, before we left, I asked if I could get two slices of bread, and Lee Han gave me this. But when I unwrapped it, this was inside! Get it, Adenart? This is friendship! Secretly slipping extra fillings into an Einrogard sandwich—"
"!"
Adenart, who had been listening quietly, suddenly let out a sharp cry of fury and began hurling attack spells at Gainando.
Gainando screamed in confusion as he fled.
"What?! What did I do?!!"