Episode 968
Episode 968
Break Time.
The mages were all busy replenishing their depleted resources.
After drinking a mana potion, Sigunting inspected the bolts for his crossbow, reinforcing them with additional enchantments wherever the magic had weakened.
He carefully sprinkled crimson powder from his reagent pouch into the crossbow's grooves, then applied a specially prepared solution...
'Impressive.'
Lee Han watched with interest from the side, learning as he observed.
Truth be told, in the Enchantment Magic discipline, he had learned more from watching his seniors than from Professor Verdus's direct teachings.
"Senior Sigunting."
"What?"
Though Sigunting usually responded gruffly with a "What is it, junior?" when Yukveltire spoke to him, he at least didn't ignore Lee Han outright.
"I'd like to learn some magic."
Currently, the seniors in the Enchantment Magic discipline each had their own outstanding specialties.
In Sigunting's case, he had demonstrated remarkable prowess with just a single crossbow during the earlier battle inside the southern cave.
At first, Lee Han had thought, 'Did this guy open a general store inside that crossbow?' But the more he watched, the more intrigued he became.
If he could make a weapon like that, he wouldn't have to cast spells one by one to create ranged weapons—he could just pull it out and fire away with ease.
"I see. That makes sense."
The dwarf senior pushed the crossbow aside with an 'I knew it' expression.
Then, he pulled out a rusty, cheap-looking crossbow.
"You want to create a disposable artifact like this crossbow, right?"
"...????"
Lee Han was taken aback when the senior brought up something he hadn't even mentioned.
"A disposable artifact?"
"Isn't that your research topic?"
"...?"
Lee Han grew even more confused.
Research topic?
He had no memory of ever deciding on such a thing, which only deepened his bewilderment.
'Did Professor Verdus secretly assign a research topic under my name and then pocket the funding from the imperial capital??'
Given Verdus's tendencies, it was entirely possible—but Lee Han trusted imperial bureaucrats more than he trusted Professor Verdus.
If Verdus had been involved, they would've double- and triple-checked everything.
"You made one last year too, didn't you?"
Sigunting gave his bewildered junior a strange look as he explained.
Ever since studying under Professor Verdus last year, Lee Han had shown a deep interest in disposable artifacts.
Even when Verdus insisted on using aquamarine or spirit whale leather to craft a leather canteen artifact, Lee Han had stubbornly opted for cheaper materials—deer hide, yak hair thread, and a copper ring—arguing that such expensive resources weren't necessary.
He compensated for the lackluster performance by pouring in an absurd amount of mana.
Sure, the artifact's lifespan would be shorter, but that didn't matter—it was meant to be disposable anyway.
In fact, it was closer to a makeshift artifact, so durability wasn't a concern.
"Personally, I think that's a pretty interesting topic. Good choice. That's actually why I'm even bothering to answer you..."
Sigunting approved of his junior's research focus.
Artifact craftsmen were usually obsessed with permanence and eternity, but sometimes stepping outside that mindset revealed a broader world.
If you designed an artifact for a single use, you could bypass many limitations and achieve overwhelming firepower and output.
It was a bold, ambitious research topic—one that only a noble from a great house could conceive, not some impoverished craftsman.
"......"
Lee Han was more shocked now than when he had single-handedly held off the swarming enemies in the cave.
'I just wanted to make something cheap to sell cheap... What is this...?'
His reason for making the leather canteen artifact had been purely practical—to secure initial funds for outings.
Professor Verdus's advice to use aquamarine or spirit whale leather had been utterly meaningless.
Sure, famous imperial craftsmen could afford such materials thanks to sponsorships, grants, and hefty fees—but Lee Han was still a nobody among mages.
Of course, I had simply chosen the most realistic method available—how could that possibly be a bold and ambitious research topic that only nobles from great families could conceive?
"But how did you know about that? Did Professor Verdus... No. There's no way Professor Verdus would have mentioned such a thing."
"Smart as ever. Of course not. Professor Garcia told me."
'...Wait, did Professor Garcia secretly plant eavesdropping artifacts on students' clothes or something?'
Without realizing it, Lee Han found himself glancing around suspiciously.
"Now, look. To implement my crossbow as a single-use artifact..."
"But Senior, what if my research topic wasn't about single-use artifacts? What then?"
"Huh?"
Sigunting, who had been about to explain, paused mid-sentence and looked up at Lee Han.
Then, his gaze shifted toward Yukveltire.
No words were needed—the message was clear.
If you're not someone interested in my research, I treat even seniors like pebbles on the road!
Not wanting to end up ignored by Sigunting the way Yukveltire was, Lee Han immediately replied.
"Actually, my research topic is single-use artifacts. Please continue your explanation."
"See, I knew you weren't just any ordinary junior. You're extraordinary."
Sigunting proceeded to propose a methodology for implementing his crossbow as a single-use artifact.
The materials prioritized explosive power, firepower, and output (along with instability) over stability, durability, and permanence.
"...Is there any way to make the materials... cheaper?"
"What? Why? If you use cheaper materials than this, it'll just become even more unstable and dangerous."
"...I enjoy that kind of danger. Feeling my magic boil over while controlling that instability and risk—it's thrilling."
"I knew it. You madman!"
Sigunting laughed, looking even more pleased.
It seemed he had judged Lee Han correctly after all.
Following his junior's desires, Sigunting adjusted the magic and spell composition.
He stripped away all the stabilizing elements and modifications meant to assist the mage...
"Phew. If you mess this up, it'll blast the mage's face clean off. Wardanaz, if you ever make and use this, I'd love to hear how it goes."
Sigunting made the request firmly.
Though he lacked both the ability and the family backing to handle such research himself, he was deeply curious about how his junior would develop this topic.
"Yes... Thank you..."
Perhaps it was just his mood, but the junior seemed slightly less energetic than before.
Sigunting assumed it was because of Senior Yukveltire.
Wasting time and sharing potions with Senior Yukveltire for no reason must have drained him...
"By any chance, do you have any last pieces of advice for me?"
"I do."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Don't share potions with Senior Yukveltire. It's a pointless waste."
"...I meant magical advice."
"Advice?"
Anpagon, who had been stacking small towers out of mud on the ground, looked puzzled.
"Yes."
"Don't share food with Senior Yukveltire. It's a pointless waste—"
"I've already heard that one. Magical advice, please."
"Hmm."
The third-year boy from the same tower as Lee Han pondered.
Being the most sociable among the Enchantment Magic students and sharing the same tower, he wanted to help (Yukveltire being the sole exception)...
"But our research topics are too different."
"...What about single-use artifacts?"
"Was there ever any other topic? Impressive. As expected from someone who attends every lecture across disciplines..."
'Wait, do these people not talk to each other at all??'
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
They never discuss important matters, yet somehow, all the useless gossip spreads like wildfire?
"You said your research topic is different from Senior's—ah, are you referring to what you summoned earlier during the fight?"
"Yeah."
Anpagon's specialty was structures.
But unlike Salko, who focused on permanent constructions, Anpagon excelled at summoning and recalling magical structures from other dimensional spaces.
"One of those instances was when I tried to summon a temporary fortress during the earlier battle (though of course, my junior finished everything before I could)."
Given that, he could be of great help to a junior researching disposable artifacts...
"Ah. Never mind. Now that I think about it, there might be a way to simplify these structures further to make them closer to disposable."
"There's no need to make them disposable, though."
Lee Han was more curious about the intact structure summoning magic, but Anpagon stubbornly chose to focus on improvements.
From a junior's perspective, he had no choice but to grumble internally and listen to the lecture.
Instead of drinking a meal-replacement potion, Yukveltire had to eat chocolate cream wafer cookies.
Though she thought it was somewhat inefficient, Yukveltire quietly ate them to replenish her nutrients.
"......"
"Do you have something to say, Senior?"
Lee Han asked curiously when he noticed the senior staring intently at him.
Just in case, he didn't forget to tighten his grip on his staff.
If the senior said something like, "A meal-replacement potion would've been better," he'd have to restrain himself.
"Which family's product is this?"
"Huh?"
"These cookies. Are they a new product from the Maykin Family?"
"I made them myself."
"...!"
Yukveltire was shocked.
That a mage of his caliber would spend his free time mixing butter into flour dough, baking it in an oven...
She couldn't quite imagine what came next, as she had no interest in cooking.
"You wasted your time on that?"
"After that, you usually spread cream or coat them in chocolate. Why? Do you have a problem with that?"
Lee Han's voice was laced with hostility, irritation, threats, and menace.
Yukveltire shook her head and replied.
"I was thinking of purchasing some separately later, as it seems like a reasonable way to consume sugar."
"...Have some more, Senior!"
Lee Han beamed as if his earlier grumbling had been a lie. But Yukveltire answered immediately.
"I'm full."
"...Anyone else interested?"
"I'm fine with potions."
"I don't like snacks."
"......"
Lee Han suddenly missed his friends.
"Os's disciple. It's been a while."
There weren't many people who referred to Lee Han in such a derogatory manner.
A brief dream during a break.
By the time Lee Han snapped out of it, he was already in the Yaksha King's palace.
"......"
Lee Han glared at the Black Book.
Was this bastard now sending people directly to the Yaksha King's palace instead of just another dimension?
The Black Book jumped as if to say it was a misunderstanding.
This time, it wasn't the book's fault.
"Since this world called you, Os's disciple, it seems you must have been accumulating Good Karma."
"...Huh? No, I wasn't."
Lee Han replied as if to say, "What nonsense is this?"
"Right now, some crazy senior found an orichalcum vein, so other seniors are trying to steal it..."
"Outward appearances don't matter, Os's disciple."
"......"
The Yaksha King spoke with an air of profound mystery, but Lee Han, already skeptical, wasn't convinced.
'Is this just some trick to spout nonsense and then gloss it over with fancy words?'
"Because the world does not distinguish the Ten Directions and Three Times. Do not trust your own eyes—trust the world."
"Can I go back now?"
"You'll naturally return when it's time. Hmm. Os's disciple. Your unusually resentful demeanor today must be due to the disrespect shown to your master, no?"
"......"
But there was no helping it—it was necessary to curb Os's madness. Your respectful attitude toward your master is commendable.
Lee Han gritted his teeth.
Denying it was pointless—it was obvious the other would twist his words with intention-distorting magic.
To think such a formidable opponent existed.
"What magic do I need to learn to go back?"
"Revealing your ambition and greed for magic, are you? Os's disciple."
"...Yes. That's me. A madman obsessed with magic."
Lee Han answered half in resignation.
After giving up in front of Sigunting, the rest became easier.