Episode 216
by CristaeEpisode 216
“I told you it was beef. Beef! Professor Garcia!”
“…Did your personality really change?”
Before Professor Garcia’s gaze could turn to contempt, Professor Parcelet hurriedly and urgently explained what had just happened.
Then, Professor Garcia’s expression also changed.
“Really? That’s amazing!”
“Why are you reacting like that?”
Professor Parcelet was slightly taken aback. The other’s reaction was too mild.
“Ah… Sorry.”
Professor Garcia looked embarrassed.
Having seen several times how other professors were surprised when they gave lectures first, Professor Garcia wasn’t as surprised as Professor Parcelet expected.
Even if Professor Parcelet was amazed, thinking, ‘What is this? A genius?!’ Professor Garcia could only react with, ‘Oh, it happened again, I guess.’
“I’ve heard a few times from other lectures that it was amazing.”
“I’m telling you, this is different!”
Professor Parcelet spoke in a voice full of grievance. The resentment was so strong that another personality almost popped out unintentionally.
“It’s different from just being good at lighting fires or casting curses…”
“The other lectures weren’t even that much… So, is there a problem?”
At Professor Garcia’s words, Professor Parcelet paused.
Apart from feeling wronged, there was a problem.
“There is.”
“What kind?”
“…I don’t know how to deal with it.”
“Ah.”
Professor Garcia immediately understood what the other meant.
Professor Parcelet was known among professors for a rather laissez-faire teaching style.
Even the students who learned divination magic so far were not so much directly raised by Professor Parcelet, but rather chose to refine themselves under Professor Parcelet after realizing things on their own.
“Ah. True. Divination magic especially makes it hard to judge talent… Then how about paying a little more attention?”
“How?”
“Teach stronger and more difficult divination magic…”
“No. It’s dangerous.”
Professor Parcelet answered irritably.
There’s a saying that a talented wizard is more dangerous.
That saying applied especially strongly to divination magic.
No matter how strong one’s intuition and inspiration, and even if they paid the price with mana, the danger never completely disappeared.
Even if just one out of a thousand attempts required a different price, it could be fatal to a wizard.
Even experienced and skilled wizards made mistakes, let alone young ones.
“Well, that makes sense. Then how about just treating them like you do other students?”
“What if they lose interest in divination magic and stop caring?”
“Uh…”
Professor Garcia was at a loss for words.
It wasn’t that the question was hard to answer, but that they were surprised Professor Parcelet would say something like that.
Normally, Professor Parcelet would have answered coldly, ‘If they lose interest or stop caring, that’s the end of the connection.’
“Then wouldn’t that be the end?”
“How could you say that, Professor Garcia? Even if they stop learning divination magic, how could you?”
“…S-sorry.”
Professor Garcia apologized for now. Of course, inside, they felt wronged.
‘You always say that yourself…’
“Even if I seem indifferent, I don’t completely neglect raising my students.”
“I know.”
Professor Garcia knew that even if Professor Parcelet was indifferent to taking or seeking new students, they took good care of the ones they had.
The usual indifferent attitude might have been because of the nature of divination magic.
“I do make a fuss every time my personality changes, though.”
“Ah. That’s definitely a bit…”
“……”
At Professor Garcia’s careless reply, Professor Parcelet pouted.
“With that much talent in divination magic, I can’t just leave it unrefined.”
“Right…”
“Why?”
“It’s nothing.”
In Professor Garcia’s mind, a fleeting thought arose: ‘Didn’t I hear something similar from other professors?’ and then disappeared.
“How about you teach so that Student Lee Han doesn’t lose interest?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Professor Garcia was stern.
No matter how much they owed Professor Parcelet, that wasn’t it.
“But…”
“You don’t need to worry.”
As the conversation seemed to take a strange turn, Professor Garcia answered firmly.
“Student Lee Han is a rare and diligent student. Even if he just keeps learning simple magic repeatedly, he won’t lose interest or stop caring.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really. If Student Lee Han ever loses interest in divination magic or stops caring, I’ll discuss it with you then. Okay?”
When Professor Garcia said this, Professor Parcelet looked relieved.
After seeing off the happily departing professor, Professor Garcia stopped for a moment.
‘Oops.’
It hit them belatedly.
‘The lectures Student Lee Han is taking now…’
That Lee Han was already taking plenty of magic classes.
‘…I’m sorry, Student Lee Han!’
They should have stopped it…!
- * *
“Professor! Look! The cabbage is alive!!!”
“Y-yeah.”
Professor Thunderstep was overwhelmed by Lee Han’s enthusiasm.
Even a student who walked out with a calm face after getting a perfect score on a test was now this happy because a cabbage in the garden survived…
“Cabbage that’s been frosted tastes good. Good for you.”
“I thought it was dead, buried in snow for almost a week.”
“…!”
Professor Thunderstep, who had been listening, was startled.
Caught up in Lee Han’s joy, he’d missed it, but now that he thought about it, it made no sense that vegetables buried in snow for a week were still alive.
Even with the power of the staff given by the tree spirit…
‘Did this guy’s mana amplify the staff’s life force?’
“Your mana amplified the staff’s life force.”
“I see.”
Lee Han replied offhandedly, brushed the snow off the vegetables, and put them in a basket.
“…That’s not something to answer so casually!”
“Oh. Is that so?”
Lee Han looked puzzled as he held a potato.
Wasn’t it just that his compatibility with the tree spirit’s staff was good, so his mana amplified the life force?
“Well, yes, but…”
Professor Thunderstep felt frustrated that the student before him was only a first-year.
If it were another wizard, they’d react, ‘You amplified the power of a staff given by a spirit? No matter how much mana you have, how?’
He had unconsciously amplified the power of an artifact given by another being, not one he made himself!
“…Forget it. Just know that it’s impressive. Anyway, with how much you care for it, Professor Willow will be pleased.”
“You mean Professor Willow?”
At the name of Professor Willow, who taught botany, Lee Han turned his head.
Professor Thunderstep tilted his head at the reaction.
“Have you met? Professor Willow doesn’t teach first-years, does he?”
‘Oops.’
“I’ve run into him by chance.”
“Yeah. Professor Willow is a great person.”
As expected of an alchemy professor, Professor Thunderstep praised Professor Willow.
An alchemist in need of ingredients had no choice but to be weak to a gardener.
“It’s not just because you’ve met Professor Willow, but he really is a great person. From his character, there’s nothing to criticize…”
“I understand, Professor. I’ll be sure to pass that on.”
At his quick-witted student, Professor Thunderstep rubbed under his nose with an embarrassed expression.
Even if the student was too outstanding, it could make the teacher feel awkward.
While Lee Han cleared the snow from the garden, chopped up the harvested vegetables, stir-fried them in oil, and poured in broth to boil, Professor Thunderstep sat at the table in front of the cabin, scribbling with a quill.
When Lee Han brought out a vegetable soup, simmered with cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, and seasoned with salt and pepper, he looked curiously at Professor Thunderstep.
“What are you doing?”
“All done? Let’s see… Hey. You could be a chef someday.”
“That’s too much praise.”
“No, I mean it.”
“Being a chef isn’t that easy.”
“I really mean it…”
Professor Thunderstep was truly sincere.
This student’s cooking skills improved every time he saw him.
“So what were you doing?”
“Ah. This letter? You’ll find out soon.”
Professor Thunderstep waved his staff. Then, the finished letters transformed and began flying off to each tower.
“You may have heard, but Professor Garcia gathered people to catch the monster summoned in the deep part of the library.”
“…Right?”
Lee Han paused as he took a spoonful of soup.
He suddenly felt uneasy.
“Now that they can bring out the books they need, I sent a message telling the students to bring them out.”
“……”
- * *
At the same time.
The students inside the towers were looking at the note on the wall with bewildered expressions.
The list of books to bring from the library.
-Introduction to Basic Ore Studies
-Edible Plants of the Empire’s Central Region
-Wizards Who Survived Poison
-Great Alchemy Secrets Born from Failure
…
Sincerely, Thunderstep Goldar
Swish!
Surprisingly, this note was only the beginning.
Notes sent by other professors also started flying in through the windows.
“Let’s… let’s just close the windows!”
The students were so flustered that Gainando’s suggestion sounded tempting.
- * *
“Still, each person doesn’t have to bring out a book. One per tower should be enough.”
When Professor Thunderstep said this with a generous expression, Lee Han regretted not poisoning the soup while cooking earlier.
“…But the books aren’t that deep inside, are they?”
“Who knows? They’re usually near the entrance, but the Einrogard Library changes every time you go… If you’re unlucky, you might have to go pretty deep.”
“…But it’s not that dangerous, right?”
“It’s dangerous. It’s better to go together.”
“…The soup seems cold. I’ll go reheat it.”
“Wait. You’re not thinking of poisoning it, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“You sit down. I’ll cook this time.”
Professor Thunderstep stood up to stop his student.
Really, this student couldn’t be left unwatched.
- * *
Congratulations.
“???”
The monster in the library was caught, wasn’t it?
“Ah…”
The students were choked up at the skull principal’s congratulations.
That’s what you call encouragement…
By now, you must be racking your brains to get the books. Let me help you.
“Huh? Are you going to lend us the books…?”
A silence spell was cast on the mouth of the student who said nonsense. The skull principal spoke sharply.
If you’re a wizard, you shouldn’t just give a fish, but teach how to catch it. Don’t ever say such nonsense again.
‘Feels more like tying a stone to our ankles and shoving us into the water.’
“So how will you help us?”
Good question. There will be no Basic Magic Character Education lecture today. Instead, everyone go back to your towers and get ready.
“Ready for what?”
To enter the library. For most of you, it’ll be your first dungeon.
“But that’s not true? I went with Lee Han last time.”
A silence spell was cast on Gainando’s mouth. The skull principal glared at Lee Han.
‘It’s not my fault.’
Lee Han felt wronged.
It was Professor Thunderstep’s idea!
Once everyone is ready, you can enter the library. You have to go before it gets too dark, so hurry.
One student, confused, raised their hand and asked.
“Are you going in with us?”
Are you a student or am I? Why would I?
“…?”
“Then how are you helping us? Ah, are you giving us equipment or rations…”
I’ll postpone all lectures scheduled until tomorrow evening. So everyone can focus on the library.
“……”
The students were so moved by the principal’s grace that they were all left speechless.