Episode 826
Episode 826
"Alright. Let's go."
"Are you really sure about this?"
Lee Han belatedly realized something after asking.
"Ah. You're planning to go attack him, aren't you?"
Come to think of it, that wasn't a bad idea.
Lagesa would get her revenge, while Lee Han and the seniors could enjoy watching Professor Verdus get attacked.
It would be a happy time for everyone. 'Why was I even trying to stop this?' The <Staff Materials and Magic Amplification> lecture was about to become an unusually lively session filled with laughter and applause.
"What nonsense? That's not it."
Contrary to Lee Han's expectations, Lagesa reacted negatively.
"Huh? You're not going to attack him?"
"No matter how much I'd like to tie an anchor to Bible's feet and throw him into the sea, I won't disrupt students' lectures. They must already be miserable enough just being at Einrogard - having their lectures interrupted would be too cruel."
"......"
At the kind-hearted pirate's words, Lee Han thought to himself: 'She's being unnecessarily considerate.' The students would actually welcome having their lecture disrupted.
Especially the Enchantment Magic students, even more so...
"You could attack him if you want? The seniors would love it."
"What absolute nonsense! No matter how much I'd like to beat up Bible, that's going too far!"
Though Lagesa knew Einrogard fairly well, she never could have imagined Professor Verdus pursued such extreme academic freedom.
How could anyone anticipate that the lecture content would be about stealing the professor's research materials?
"I'm serious though... Then why are you going?"
"Kid, is your head only filled with thoughts of attacks? I'm going to observe. To see how Bible teaches. If he teaches well, it might ease my anger somewhat."
Lagesa clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction as she spoke. Even now, just thinking about Professor Verdus made her stomach churn from the gold coins she'd lost, but seeing him teach his students might make her feel slightly better.
At least she could think her gold coins hadn't been completely wasted. 'Hmm. She's definitely going to attack him.' Lee Han was certain.
The moment they arrived at the lecture hall, Lagesa would immediately attack!
"Lady Lagesa. Do you really think Professor Verdus teaches well?"
"Kid, I know exactly what you're thinking. But I'm not expecting Bible to teach like Garcia! That would be an absurd expectation. It's enough if he's improved since last time I saw him teach."
Lagesa's standards became quite lenient when it came to Professor Verdus.
Lee Han guessed the reason was probably that holding him to strict standards would only give her a headache.
"How was he last time you saw him teach?"
"Last time, he didn't want to give his lecture so he sent all his students to other departments."
"......"
Yet surprisingly, Lee Han's prediction missed the mark.
Professor Verdus wasn't in the lecture hall.
"Where's Professor Verdus?"
"They say he's not coming today due to assassination threats? Well, with so many outsiders around, assassins could be anywhere. Senior Yukveltire will be giving the lecture instead."
A nearby senior kindly explained.
Hearing this, Lee Han was slightly impressed. 'No wonder he's managed to stay alive this long!' It partially answered a question he'd long wondered about: 'With so many enemies, how has Professor Verdus survived until now?'
Who would have thought he'd skip class to prepare for Lagesa's attack?
"That damn rodent bastard!"
Of course, to Lagesa this was utterly ridiculous.
She came to see how he teaches, only for him to skip the lecture entirely.
If he had this much creativity, he should use it for his research rather than skipping lectures.
"It's fine, Lady Lagesa. The lecture will proceed well even without the professor."
In fact, it might proceed even better.
"Of course it would run well. Any student here could teach better than Bible!"
"Who is this kind person saying such nice things?"
One of the seniors whispered to Lee Han. At first, they had wondered why a pirate had entered the lecture hall, but the compliment was quite pleasant to hear.
"She is the daughter of Torgerd, Admiral of the Southern Privateer Fleet—Lady Lagesa."
"Huh?! The one who invested in Professor Verdus?!"
"..."
She has so many other honorable titles, why do you only remember that one...
Before the words could even finish, the students in the lecture hall swarmed over in a rush.
"Greetings, Lady Lagesa. I am Varglios of the Elvali family..."
"I have a research topic I've been working on..."
Reading the thick greed in the students' eyes, Lagesa growled fiercely and issued a warning.
"You brats think I'm an easy target just because I invested in Bible? Know this—I'll smash your skulls with iron chains."
"......"
The students all scrambled away in a hurry. Lagesa took a deep drag from her pipe and spat out a curse.
"Damn it, I swear, coming to Einrogard never puts me in a good mood!"
"Then let's begin the lecture."
Yukveltire, who had been checking the time, spoke up. Unlike when Professor Verdus was present, the students in the lecture hall eagerly raised their hands.
"Senior, I have a question. I'm trying to incorporate ruthenium alloy into my staff, but the magic keeps scattering during spellcasting. Why does this happen...?"
"When using metal in a staff, you must fully understand its properties. Metal has poor compatibility with certain magic lineages. If your magic scatters with ruthenium alloy, it must be a wind-element spell. Either impose restrictions on the magic or add another metal to mitigate it."
"Senior, what's wrong with my staff right now? I asked Professor Verdus several times and barely got an answer—he just said it was 'trash.'"
"The design. You're gathering mana at the base but dispersing it at the top. It's counterproductive."
'What?'
Lee Han was startled. He had assumed Yukveltire would teach like Verdus, but the senior turned out to be a far better instructor.
Even when his friends had said, 'Senior Yukveltire is really good at teaching!', he had stubbornly believed there must have been some misunderstanding...
'This is surprising. No, actually, Professor Verdus was just really weird.'
Perhaps because Verdus had been so utterly indifferent, even Yukveltire's straightforward answers felt strangely impressive in comparison.
Objectively speaking, Yukveltire wasn't showering students with warm attention like Professor Garcia, personally caring for each one.
But simply answering juniors' questions like this was already considered remarkable in Einrogard's Enchantment Magic department.
In fact, the other seniors were also bombarding Yukveltire with questions, eager to learn properly for once.
"As expected...! Understood, Senior. I made a temporary prototype—could you evaluate it? How is it?"
"You failed."
"......"
The student's face paled in shock as their masterpiece, crafted with all their might, was dismissed in two words.
Seeing this, Yukveltire's acquaintances nearby whispered.
"Hey, idiot. Only ask necessary questions to that senior. Don't just invite insults."
"What, did you think she was Professor Garcia just because she answers questions well? Think of her as Professor Verdus with upgrades."
'That's a bit too harsh.'
Lee Han thought to himself.
Of course, even he couldn't deny that Yukveltire was essentially a slightly improved Verdus, but calling her 'Professor Verdus with upgrades'...
'...That's going too far.'
'Not entirely wrong, I suppose...'
"Ask your question."
Yukveltire stood before Lee Han and gestured for him to speak.
She was currently following the prepared lecture script. The next junior in line needed to ask their question in order.
"Ah. Yes. Greetings, Senior. I'm currently working on unlocking a high-ranking spirit's seal and preparing a staff that can withstand stronger output. I'm also considering metal materials, but at this stage..."
Lee Han pulled out a sheet of paper with his staff design sketched on it.
Embedded within were the Frost Giant King's blue gemstone, Teleportation Ore, and an Echo Stone, with the Tree Spirit's Authority inscribed throughout.
Authority of Recovery (Mana Recovery)
- What if I embed Black Magnetite to allow for even greater mana consumption?
Authority of Life (Plant Growth)
- Requires rare wood. Should check Professor Verdus's storage.
Authority of Tenacity (Staff Durability)
- Said I'd need to face stronger enemies. Absolute madman.
"......"
"Hey. I told you to ask only necessary questions."
The senior next to him whispered worriedly.
With Yukveltire's temperament, rambling on about 'what research I'm doing' like this would immediately invite insulting remarks.
-I told you to ask a question, not recite your life story.
-Why are you bringing up things no one asked about?
You had to ask only the essential questions—the moment you started unnecessary chatter, the personal insults would begin.
"But I need advice..."
"You'd better ask us instead if you don't want your life negated."
"So?"
"?!"
The students beside Lee Han were startled by Yukveltire's response.
They had expected her to immediately bring up intelligence, but instead, she simply asked, "So?"
"I was hoping for overall advice."
"Using Black Magnetite is an interesting attempt. Normally, embedding mana-absorbing materials into a staff is borderline taboo, but exceptions exist. Did the Frost Giant King give you this gemstone?"
"Yes."
"How did you get it?"
"That's... a very long story."
"...Then tell me later. Who made this Echo Stone?"
"That..."
Contrary to her usual self, Yukveltire listened patiently to her junior's explanations.
Naturally, it was because the topic was far more interesting than usual.
But she herself thought differently. 'Diret. Look at me mentoring a junior like this.' She was being kind to a junior, just as Diret had suggested. From Yukveltire's perspective, this was a massive concession.
If Diret heard about this later, he should be moved to tears.
"Try making a prototype with this combination."
Yukveltire swiftly flicked her quill and proposed a method.
It was a rather unconventional suggestion for a staff—one based on Black Magnetite, a mana-absorbing ore, designed to serve as a vessel capable of containing even a powerful ancient spirit.
The only issue was its enormous mana consumption, but Yukveltire wasn't particularly concerned about that.
The junior would figure it out!
"Thank you, Senior."
"Of course you should thank me."
"......"
As Lee Han made a conflicted expression, Lagesa nodded from behind and stood up.
"Seems I misjudged you. I had my prejudices, thinking you were Bible's disciple. But you're far better than I expected."
"Greetings, Lagesa. I'm simply glad you've realized it now, even if belatedly."
Yukveltire replied calmly.
The other students in the lecture hall were amazed. 'She really isn't your average lunatic.' 'Maybe she just spoke kindly to us.' Clearly, she had no interest in juniors and only engaged with them to this extent.
Seeing her speak like this in front of an external investor was nothing short of impressive.
"...Right. A master's business is their own—it has nothing to do with their disciple!"
"Correct. Then, let me once again explain what I need—"
"Senior, Senior! Let me handle this—just tell me instead!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Lee Han finally stepped in to stop Yukveltire.