Episode 305

It wasn’t just Valgaro who was mesmerized by the firepower of the flames Lee Han summoned.

Other fire mages were also amazed and whispered among themselves.

“Who is that mage? I’ve never seen his face before.”

“He’s definitely not an ordinary mage!”

Valgaro, embarrassed by their gazes, whispered.

“Hey! I told you there’s nothing good about letting other mages know you’re from Einrogard!”

“Sorry. I failed to control it.”

“Artifacts aren’t all-powerful. Keep that in mind. There’s nothing good about relying on them too much.”

Valgaro spoke with the dependability befitting a second-year senior.

Of course, when Lee Han said he failed to control it, he meant something a bit different.

‘Fire magic is still difficult.’

Because of his innate amount of mana, the flames would scatter everywhere like an explosion if his concentration slipped even a little. As such, Lee Han generally used fire magic by keeping its area as narrow as possible.

While others would make arrows, spears, or shields by enlarging their flames, Lee Han fixed his flames into small forms.

But the power of those flames was by no means weak.

The flames he summoned with overwhelming mana carried destructive power capable of piercing through all but the strongest fire resistance.

In fact, the straw doll, which had withstood other magics well, was burning without resistance.

‘I tried to weaken the firepower, but maybe it’s impossible.’

He tried to adjust the intensity of the flame, but it was far from easy.

Since he had to forcibly reduce the amount of mana used for casting…

Given that others focused on squeezing out their last bit of mana to increase their spell’s power, it was quite the absurd dilemma.

Fwooosh…

As the straw doll started burning, a strange mana ripple spread out.

That ripple gently and warmly embraced those in the temple. It felt like a blessing, with not the slightest hint of malice.

“How is it? Does it feel like bad luck and misfortune are leaving you?”

“It feels that way.”

“You’ll have an odd streak of good luck for a day or two. You burned a lot, so maybe it’ll last even longer for you.”

‘Oh.’

Lee Han perked up at his senior’s words.

If this blessing really had such an effect, it was exactly what Lee Han needed.

‘If that’s true, I should get it before the start of the second semester.’

“Now then, everyone, come this way. We’ll explain the safety regulations.”

The priests of the Order gathered the mages. Lee Han walked over, thinking nothing of it.

But he was mistaken.

“……”

“Regrettably, disqualified.”

“Ugh!”

The mage at the front of the line stomped his foot in frustration.

Because a spark landed near—but not on—the candlestick.

Lee Han, alarmed by this, asked:

“Weren’t we just supposed to listen about the safety regulations?”

“You listen as you do it. Everyone remembers better from experience than from just listening, don’t they?”

‘This is why knights’ families are…’

It turned out getting a permit from the Order was not as easy as expected.

The priests were strictly judging whether the mages could control fire without spreading it in various scenarios.

Seeing this, Lee Han’s face stiffened with tension.

This was precisely his weakest area.

‘If I lose concentration, this temple will be an inferno.’

“Hey. Why do you look like that? It’s not that hard. The only ones nervous are the other mages, not us Einrogard folks.”

Valgaro said incredulously.

The priests didn’t care about the fire magic’s power, speed, or complexity.

They only cared whether you could control your fire magic.

It might be hard for a self-taught mage, but this was a basic skill for anyone trained at Einrogard.

But Lee Han didn’t relax and focused fiercely.

Valgaro thought to himself as he watched:

‘Is he not confident in fire magic?’

Well, among White Tiger Tower students, there were quite a few who didn’t feel confident in magic.

Valgaro decided to encourage his junior.

“Gainando. Don’t worry so much. Magic isn’t everything. You’ll get the hang of it in time. Don’t get anxious even if students from other towers seem better than you. Got it?”

“Uh… thank you?”

• * *

Fortunately, Lee Han succeeded without trouble.

His flames floated accurately in the air, burning the targets precisely.

Valgaro, who passed right before him, applauded his junior.

“Well done! Well done! See, you’re good at this!”

“Thank you.”

Not only Valgaro, but the priests of the Afha Order also approached Lee Han. Speaking to him, they said:

“Ward…”

“Thank you, priests! Your guidance is always so appreciated!”

Lee Han spoke first to prevent the priests from saying anything unnecessary.

“If it weren’t for your help, I wouldn’t have been able to hone my fire magic like this.”

“For you to say that much…”

The priests were deeply moved by Lee Han’s heartfelt gratitude.

“The temple’s doors are open to you at any time. If it’s to learn to control fire, you are always welcome.”

“…Uh…”

Lee Han hesitated.

It wasn’t that he didn’t intend to study during vacation, but he didn’t want to add anything new to his schedule just yet.

“Um…”

“Perhaps Ward…”

“I will definitely visit. Thank you!”

Before the priest could say anything unnecessary, Lee Han firmly cut them off.

He felt uneasy about adding anything to his schedule, but it couldn’t be helped.

Valgaro, watching from the side, eyed Lee Han suspiciously.

“You…”

‘Was I found out?’

Lee Han tensed, wondering if he had been caught not being a White Tiger Tower student.

“You really love studying magic?”

“…Yes!”

“Interesting. But then why is your skill… Ah. No, that’s not important.”

“Since I’m not skilled, I should work even harder.”

Valgaro nodded at his junior’s words.

Such a diligent fellow.

It was a pity his magic skills didn’t measure up…

“Let’s go. I should at least treat you to a meal.”

“Uh… No, it’s fine.”

Though Lee Han liked free things, getting a meal from someone from a lesser family than his own was a matter of conscience.

“No! The other White Tiger Tower guys treat you that way, so as a knight and a senior from White Tiger Tower, I have a responsibility to treat you to a meal.”

“……”

Lee Han considered when to slip away.

Fwoosh—

“?

He looked to the side and saw that the city mages with permits weren’t leaving the temple, but instead gathering together to cast magic.

“Fire, gather in a ring!”

A ring of flame burned in the air. Lee Han instantly understood the principle.

It was almost like they had forced a modification of 1st-circle magic into a ring form. It was crude and unstable, but as long as it achieved the goal, the magic was considered a success.

‘A bit too rough, though.’

“Th… That’s incredible! They succeeded in creating a ring of fire!!!”

“This is unbelievable! This is impossible!”

“Hahahaha! Now, pay up your silver coins, everyone! Didn’t I say I could do it?”

“……”

“……”

Lee Han and Valgaro both stood speechless, staring at the mages.

The mage who won the bet wore the most arrogant expression in the world.

“What did I tell you? I said I could succeed with fourth-circle-level magic!”

“That’s not what you said last time, was it? When did your skills improve so much?”

“Deep contemplation and enlightenment. That’s all there is.”

Lee Han sighed inwardly.

Mages who didn’t train systematically under a teacher had very spotty magical knowledge.

They mistook the 1st-circle fire magic modification in front of them for a 4th-circle spell.

‘Now I get why Einrogard students are so welcomed.’

There already weren’t many mages, and quite a few of them were probably like that.

No wonder people preferred graduates of the Imperial Magic School.

“Senior, are you— Where are you going?”

Lee Han was surprised.

Instead of heading for the temple’s doors, Valgaro was striding straight toward the mages.

“I can’t just let a swindler be.”

“Wait, senior. Didn’t you say it’d be a hassle if people found out you’re from Einrogard?”

He had just said there’s nothing good about others knowing, yet he was running right over himself.

But Valgaro replied seriously.

“But that guy is deceiving the other mages.”

“…You truly embody the spirit of the White Tiger Tower, senior.”

Valgaro grew shy at the junior’s praise.

“R-really? I don’t think it’s quite like that…”

• * *

Mage Otiro was a mage from the Thieves’ Guild.

He had stumbled upon a magical tome about fire and managed to bribe a retired mercenary mage to learn magic—but true mastery didn’t come easily.

So Otiro changed direction.

He’d use the magic he’d learned in a more profitable way!

“Now, it’s not too late for the rest of you. You, too, can reach my level. For a small silver fee, as one fellow mage to another, I can teach you—”

“Cut the crap!”

Valgaro roared as he approached. The gathered mages were startled as a young mage with a fierce expression came their way.

“What did he say?”

“Trying to dazzle others with a mere variant of 1st-circle magic—how can you call yourself a mage?”

‘Not good.’

Lee Han sensed something ominous in the other’s expression.

The one who should have been flustered was keeping a calm face.

He must have something up his sleeve.

“I don’t know what you mean. Are you saying my magic is 1st-circle? Are all the mages here blind, then?”

“Quit your nonsense.”

Valgaro had already figured out what the other was up to.

Without hesitation, he lowered his cloak and revealed his Einrogard insignia.

“I’m a student of Einrogard. As a student of Einrogard, I claim your magic is a fraud!”

“A student of Einrogard?”

Otiro’s eyes trembled with surprise, but they quickly calmed.

“I see. You have the right to say that. But…”

Otiro also lifted his coat.

Then, a familiar insignia appeared.

…It was the insignia of Baldrogard.

‘What the…’

While Lee Han was dumbfounded, Valgaro also looked taken aback.

“I’m a graduate of Baldrogard.”

“Nonsense! That’s fake! Where’d you get that fake?”

“Ha… That’s enough. You’re a student, your eyes are inexperienced, so mistakes happen. I get it. I was once the same.”

The other was certainly a step above Valgaro.

Even if it was a fake badge, no other mages present could recognize it, and above all, Valgaro was outmatched in rhetoric.

‘Should I step in?’

Since they were from the same school, Lee Han wondered if he should help, but Valgaro stepped forward himself.

“Let’s duel, you bastard!”

“……”

“……”

“Draw! If you don’t, I’ll attack first!”

‘Is he really crazy?’

To challenge someone to a duel inside a temple?

Lee Han couldn’t help but be amazed at Valgaro.

Naturally, the priests rushed over.

“You can’t duel here!”

“Fine! Follow me outside!”

“W-what a barbaric…”

“Calm down, everyone. Just compete with magic.”

The mages and priests intervened to stop them. Panting, Valgaro had no choice but to relent.

“Fine. Let’s compete with magic.”

Valgaro showed no sign that he thought he could lose to such a swindler.

But there are no absolutes in this world.

“If it’s a contest… how about a fire manipulation contest?”

A priest spoke up for arbitration.

It was a common game among fire mages, where each mage would summon a flame and try to shoot down the other’s flame.

It was a simple game, but the depth could be considerable. You had to move more quickly and precisely than your opponent’s flame to get behind it.

“……”

Valgaro’s face turned pale. Lee Han found it odd.

“Why, senior? Don’t tell me…”

“…I specialize in imbuement magic.”

“……”

Seeing his frozen senior, Lee Han clicked his tongue sympathetically.

“Then I’ll do it.”

“What?”

Valgaro looked up.

“You?”

“Yes.”

“No. It’s too much for your skills!”

“……”

Lee Han was momentarily bewildered.