Episode 344
by CristaeEpisode 344
“That’s right!”
“……”
When Rowena answered in his stead, Lee Han looked at her in horror.
But Rowena, not noticing Lee Han’s gaze, continued happily.
“The Wardanaz here studies other magic as well, but still receives the professor’s favor.”
‘Those bastards from the White Tiger Tower really have no sense.’
Lee Han lamented inwardly.
He had no idea whether the other party was Professor Verdus’s enemy or friend, so what was he supposed to do if they suddenly announced he was her disciple?
“I see.”
“Do you know Professor Verdus as well, Sir Puyo?”
“She once tried to cut my body.”
“……”
“……”
The atmosphere grew chilly.
The princess and Lee Han looked at Rowena at the same time.
Their eyes clearly said, ‘What are you going to do about this mood?’
Unlike Lee Han, who could quickly mediate even among demons from hell, Rowena had no such talent.
Rowena, flustered and not knowing what to do, finally blurted out a line.
“Did… did you get cut?”
“…Hey… That’s really too much…”
Even Kultran looked dumbfounded.
Unable to bear it any longer, Lee Han intervened.
“It’s really unbelievable. No matter what, it’s not right to try to cut someone else’s body. I may be learning under the professor, but I’ve always thought that such behavior from her wasn’t right.”
“He’s right. And Wardanaz isn’t getting favoritism because he wants to. What kind of crazy person would want to work under a professor during vacation?”
When Kultran tried to explain, Puyo waved his hand as if it made sense.
“Just because I have a grudge with your teacher doesn’t mean I hold one against her students. And I do understand Professor Verdus. If I were her, I’d probably want to cut, too. The body of a wood spirit half-blood is a rare material.”
Usually, spirit half-bloods appeared when an ancestor had contracted with a spirit.
The power in the bloodline manifested in later generations as half-blood awakening.
Because of this, the bodies of spirit half-bloods were indeed rare materials.
‘Hmm. A crazy person.’
Of course, such an explanation could not persuade the students internally.
The moment Puyo said, ‘If it were me, I’d want to cut as well,’ the students already considered him at least 0.5 times as crazy as Professor Verdus.
‘Are perhaps all Bayu mages insane?’
“I’m more curious about something other than what happened between me and Professor Verdus. You say you’re favored by the professor?”
“That’s a bit exaggerated.”
“Have you met her outside class?”
“Uh… yes.”
“Did you ever work with her in private?”
“Uh… yes.”
“Did she let you work in her workshop?”
“No… that is…”
“Isn’t that just a question you can answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’?”
“…Yes.”
“So you are favored.”
Lee Han felt genuinely wronged but couldn’t find words to refute.
“Professor Verdus doesn’t usually treat her students that way. She must think your talent is amazing.”
“It’s because of my mana.”
Lee Han began to explain.
He had a lot of mana, and so Professor Verdus was after it like a thug…
Hearing this, Puyo nodded in surprise.
“So that’s why!”
“Yes. Professor Verdus—”
“Ah. That’s not what I meant. When you walked in, I felt a fierce intimidation.”
“……”
Lee Han remembered late that Puyo was a spirit half-blood.
He thought it was okay since nothing was said…
“Is that so?”
“It is. But it’s nothing to worry about. I’ve met far more dangerous guests than you.”
“That’s not very comforting.”
Lee Han became bitter.
It was no consolation to hear from someone who looked like a criminal, “It’s fine! You’re better than the empire’s top criminals!”
“But it’s a little odd. No matter how much mana, Professor Verdus isn’t the type to let unskilled disciples work with her.”
“Maybe she just needed that much mana.”
Lee Han muttered cynically, but Puyo, instead of agreeing, seemed curious.
“You said you’re a freshman, right? What circle of imbuing magic have you succeeded in?”
“…4…”
“What? I didn’t hear you properly.”
“4… circle…”
A moment of silence fell.
From Lee Han’s friends to Puyo, everyone stared at Lee Han.
No matter how you thought of it, that was not a level of magic a freshman should have already achieved.
“I see.”
“That’s because…”
“No, that’s enough. I don’t need to know the details.”
Puyo, who wasn’t very interested in the backstory, cut off Lee Han.
Whether Professor Verdus had forced him or Lee Han had been lucky, the point was, he’d succeeded.
That was all that mattered; the circumstances didn’t matter.
“If you’re working with Professor Verdus, you must have crafted some simple artifacts. What have you made?”
Puyo, now genuinely interested, picked up a piece of paper and a quill and asked.
Lee Han answered cautiously.
“I made magic fireworks.”
“Magic fireworks. That’s hard for a freshman.”
“??”
Kultran, who’d been listening, asked curiously.
“Was that part of a class?”
“I was called aside to make them.”
“……”
‘How many times has Wardanaz been called out?’
Surely everyone has the same 24 hours in their day, yet something was strange.
Why did Wardanaz’s day seem many times longer than others?
“Magic fireworks… Was that all?”
“There was the shield, Wardanaz.”
Rowena whispered. Lee Han replied gently.
“Thank you so much.”
“…Did I do something wrong…?”
“Shield? What shield?”
“Um, the one with auto-defense in imbuing…”
“And it reflected, too.”
“Reflected?!”
When Kultran interrupted, Lee Han shut his eyes tight.
‘I think I know why the Blue Dragon Tower and White Tiger Tower always fight.’
“Reflected was something I did separately…”
“Even with reflection properties… Honestly, I’m amazed.”
As Puyo’s quill moved faster, Lee Han grew more anxious.
Usually professors did such things often, but it never meant anything good for Lee Han afterward.
Puyo persisted in asking questions and finally put down the quill, satisfied.
“Indeed. Now I see why Professor Verdus worked with you.”
“She’s never said anything nice to me, though…”
“That’s just Professor Verdus’s nature. You should judge by actions, not words. I’ve heard students of Einrogard are outstanding, but this is truly surprising. Hmm… Would you come this way?”
Puyo pointed to the deeper area of the workshop, which he hadn’t allowed earlier.
Seeing this, Lee Han felt a sense of foreboding.
It felt much like when Professor Verdus called him.
“Sir Puyo, can the princess come along as well?”
“?!”
The princess, who’d thought Lee Han was just going inside the workshop, was flustered.
“Wardanaz!”
“See? Wardanaz really is considerate.”
Rowena and Kultran admired Lee Han’s thoughtfulness.
Allowing a friend to accompany him to visit Puyo’s workshop.
But the princess felt differently.
She had the strong sense that Lee Han only called her so he wouldn’t have to go alone.
“As you wish. I didn’t ask, but I assume you have some skill.”
“He says it’s fine. Let’s go.”
The princess nodded at Lee Han’s words and reflected a little.
Doubting the goodwill of a friend who was being kind just because of a feeling was an arrogant act unworthy of royalty.
“…Thank you for calling me.”
“It’s nothing. But if Sir Puyo puts us to work, let’s split it.”
“…!!”
The princess stared in shock at Lee Han leading the way.
He…?!
- * *
“Try trimming these staves.”
Puyo handed over wood pieces with drawings on sheets of paper.
Lee Han and the princess sat inside the workshop and began working silently.
Lee Han thought the princess was staring holes through him, but he pretended not to notice.
‘Need to avoid her gaze until we leave.’
Originally, when called by a professor, it was best to go with a friend.
You could split the tasks, and above all, in the worst case, you could use your friend as a scapegoat and get away yourself.
Of course, there was the minor issue that your friend might hold a grudge.
“Excellent.”
Puyo was satisfied with the two students’ work.
In Lee Han’s case, not only was there what he’d just heard, but with Professor Verdus’s guarantee, expectations were high, and he did not disappoint.
Compared to mediocre novice enchanters, he was much more impressive.
The same for the princess.
He’d only heard things from her followers and worried if she would manage, but seeing her work showed her inherent magical talent.
Carving a staff couldn’t be done by simply copying a drawing.
One had to read the flow of mana around the staff as one carved and shape it without disrupting that flow.
A mage lacking such intuition couldn’t succeed in this even if told exactly how, making their results even more impressive.
Puyo then gave them a few more assignments, and they performed admirably.
At last, once he was convinced, Puyo spoke.
“Would either of you like to learn enchanting in my workshop for the rest of the break?”
“!”
Puyo’s offer wasn’t just a simple job offer.
Puyo was a renowned artifact master not only in Granden City, but throughout the empire.
Moreover, Puyo was so picky that most mages didn’t even get taken as workshop apprentices.
Receiving an offer to work under him was itself a boost in reputation. All the more so since they were still freshmen.
The princess nodded.
“…I’ll do my best.”
Puyo replied gratefully.
“I can’t say the work is easy, but I’m sure you’ll learn a lot…”
As he spoke, Puyo noticed something odd.
Only the princess had answered.
“Do you have other plans?”
When Lee Han hesitated to answer, not only Puyo but also the princess was dumbfounded.
Inviting her along only to back out himself—what nonsense was this?
Tap tap tap tap tap!
Ignoring the princess poking him from beside, Lee Han cautiously spoke up.
“Uh… I have something I’d like to ask.”
“Speak.”
“Is there pay, too?”
This was an important issue for Lee Han.
He was already being exploited by people like Professor Verdus without even a single gold coin.
No matter how great an enchanter, he didn’t want to increase the number of those exploiting him.
“There is. Was that a joke?”
Puyo tilted his head, not understanding.
He couldn’t believe a student like Lee Han would ask such a question.
“Yes. It was a joke. Sorry. I also wish to work! Please take care of me.”
“And I to you.”
Lee Han shook Puyo’s hand.
As long as there was pay, Puyo’s workshop was a really good job.
Above all, it was a great opportunity to access rare materials freely.
Surely at least a few would be discarded along the way.
‘If I say I want to practice with them, would he really say no?’
Delighted inside, Lee Han suddenly remembered to ask.
“But would Professor Verdus be annoyed if she knew I was working here?”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
With Puyo’s immediate answer, Lee Han was relieved.
Artifact mages surely let such things slide between them.
“Ah. Artifact mages really do respect each other in these matters…”
“The one who gets their student stolen is the idiot, after all.”
“……”