Episode 646

Episode 646

While the kind penguin beastman wizard went out to handle a request on someone’s behalf (having chosen an assistant, and Gainando was picked), Lee Han opened an ancient text from the Ga Kingdom era and carefully studied the score.

It definitely became much more interesting once he understood what it was about.

‘Fascinating.’

If one had to express the Empire’s magic in a single word, it was efficiency.

The history of continental magic was longer than that of the Empire, and its types and schools were just as diverse. Even now, the fact that primitive or ancient magics, unknown to the Empire, were still being unearthed proved this.

How could one possibly tie together so many magics, all different by region or even epoch?

Empire wizards tied them together with the measure of efficiency.

Old and inefficient magics were abandoned.

If there were spells that achieved the same result, the faster and simpler spell was kept.

This method could be seen as quite effective.

Wizards from the far west of the Empire, whose customs and histories were completely different from wizards from its far eastern end, could study together without any real issue.

It was inherently dangerous for wizards of different schools to cooperate, as illustrated in old tales like the story of the “Unfortunate Accident of Two Wizards with Different Ways to Create Fire.”

Given that, Lee Han also empathized with this methodology.

However, every theory has its exceptions.

Magics that had been neglected for being old and inefficient occasionally resurfaced and displayed their power.

These were the spells of the wizards from the Ga Kingdom era.

In the current Empire’s terms, they could be called music magic, a kind of magic that tried to control its surroundings in a highly inefficient manner.

By infusing magic into sound and controlling it that way!

There was no means faster than sound to control the surrounding medium, but there was a reason no one did it.

‘Just embedding magic directly into the spell itself is incredibly difficult, and even if you pull it off, it wastes a huge amount of mana.’

No wonder the skeleton principal would rather tell someone to try word magic than attempt something like this.

A wizard’s incantation was originally a form of autosuggestion—embedding magic directly into the incantation was basically a beginner’s step into word magic.

Naturally, this was impossible for anyone without extraordinary willpower and focus.

Even now, Lee Han could only do a few select songs and only in limited ways…

The wizards from the Ga Kingdom era knew this well. Their wisdom in overcoming such limitations amazed Lee Han.

First, there were the magic circles and engravings like those found on tomb walls. These served to increase the density of surrounding magical energy.

‘You need a certain amount of magic power to use music magic.’

Knowing this already, Lee Han wasn’t surprised.

And for him, it wasn’t very important. It was something he could just handle with his own magic power.

‘Next… artifacts?’

Surprisingly, the wizards of the Ga Kingdom era used instruments as if they were artifacts.

They would select a specific piece, then craft an artifact instrument solely for that piece.

This instrument was an artifact enchanted to amplify the melody of that specific piece, resonating with the wizard’s song to complete its lacking power.

He had no idea music magic could be executed this way.

It was an impressive display of dedication.

‘Imagine practicing a single piece on a dedicated instrument for twenty or thirty years. Of course some power that wasn’t in the song would get embedded.’

They’d thrown efficiency out the window, but it was still awe-inspiring.

Furthermore, Lee Han couldn’t think of any other way to properly implement music magic at present.

The seniors currently researching music magic at Einrogard surely couldn’t afford to waste magic or pack it into incantations the way Lee Han could.

‘It’s a good method for me too.’

Lee Han could sing a few songs as music magic, but in truth, he wasn’t sure how he did it.

He couldn’t call that real magic. Real magic demanded understanding of what you were doing.

If he could make up for his shortcomings by borrowing the power of an instrument, it would make it much easier for Lee Han to practice music magic.

And by coincidence, the skeleton principal had given him an instrument…

Jing—

Lee Han took out his violin and began to play, drawing gazes from his friends.

“This song, ‘The Bad Dragon Is Coming’, right?”

“Yeah.”

At Ratford’s question, Yoner nodded and rested his chin in one hand.

His friend’s violin playing was so good that he suddenly wanted to listen for a bit.

It was an old children’s song about a red dragon breaking the fence, a black dragon crushing the house, and a white dragon trampling the ruins and leaving.

…The principal came and broke the fence. The vicious principal! Could there be a worse disaster?

Then the principal’s clone came and smashed the house. The terrible principal!…

When Ratford, Yoner, and Nillia sang it in the Einrogard version, Eandurde tilted his head.

“Aren’t they dragons…?”

“…Yeah, they’re dragons. Dragons, I said.”

“But you said principal…”

“No, they’re dragons!”

Realizing the junior’s presence too late, the seniors hurriedly changed their words.

Meanwhile, Lee Han, having finished warming up, slowly played the score.

‘Based on dark element, spreading magic around, praising and elegizing the king’s sacrifice…’

A slow song played. Lee Han sang along with the lyrics.

“We praise the sacrifice of the king, for as the king sacrifices, all enemies…”

As the song alone kept playing, Yoner stood up and held out a hand to Nillia.

The two danced slowly and gracefully.

Dances in the Empire were not only for joy and celebration, but also sometimes performed during memorial services.

Ratford thought as he applauded.

‘Uh. Is it okay to dance when Gainando’s not here?’

If he knew, he’d probably break out crying…

“Hmm.”

“Ugh! Why’d you stop so suddenly?!”

When Lee Han paused, Nillia nearly lost her balance.

Good thing she’d toughened up in the mountains, or else the awkward dance would’ve fallen apart entirely.

“You didn’t really feel anything from listening to the song, did you?”

“???”

His friends tilted their heads at Lee Han’s question.

“Each of you say one thing.”

“The lows of the song are rich and delicate?”

“I don’t know who the king is, but if someone died with a song like this, there’d be a lot to steal at the funeral?”

“When did Wardanaz learn to play the violin? Does he live double the hours in a day?”

After answering, all but Yoner looked embarrassed.

They should have evaluated the song, but said something else.

“Hmm. As I thought, magic isn’t being embedded in the song.”

At Lee Han’s remark, Yoner spoke in disbelief.

“You’re trying to put magic directly into the song? Is that even possible?”

“So, it’s like this…”

As he explained what he’d just been studying from the score to Yoner, Yoner seemed both fascinated and a bit concerned.

“That’s interesting. But I’m a bit worried.”

“Why?”

“Second years definitely have to take all the way up to their limit of courses, and you’re trying to do this on top of that?”

“…No. It’s not decided yet that I’ll take up to the course limit.”

“You’ll take the maximum you can.”

“You will be taking up to the limit.”

Nillia and Ratford replied coldly.

Unlike Lee Han, who was still in denial, his friends were realistic.

Just the professors who favored Lee Han made up almost the maximum limit.

A few more lectures from those professors and he’d burst right through the limit.

“In my opinion, it’s a problem with the lyrics, not the melody.”

After meticulously checking the score, Lee Han gave his conclusion.

“Not an Einrogard issue…?”

“The melody creates the magic effect, but the lyrics help the wizard embed their own magic power. In other words, the lyrics can be changed. No, they should be changed.”

Lee Han diligently scribbled in notes with his feather pen.

His experience of exploring music magic under the skeleton principal made it easier to reach a conclusion.

Just as incantations in magic help inspire self-suggestion to the wizard, lyrics surely played a similar role.

Otherwise, it made no sense why some songs succeeded and others failed for Lee Han.

‘In a way that suits me.’

Wizards of the Ga Kingdom era trained on a single piece for decades. They did so to adapt themselves to the song.

Lee Han decided to compromise by adapting part of the song to himself.

“Lyrics fitting for hymns, elegies, and something I can emotionally immerse myself in… I need your help. Trying to make it alone is tough.”

“Hm!”

“Uuuum!”

“Uuuuuuummm!”

The three felt very pressured by their friend’s request.

Nillia regretted not volunteering for gathering duty instead of Gainando.

“I barely scraped by in Imperial Literature…”

“I got dragged out by a professor after arguing in an essay that theft should be legalized under Imperial law.”

“……”

Left practically alone, Yoner felt sweat break out.

He had to pitch in something for his struggling friend.

Lyrics fitting for hymns, elegies, and something Lee Han could connect with.

“Guys?”

“Uh…”

“Eh?”

“Uhhh, what about Einrogard.”

“Einrogard? Go on, Yoner.”

“So, like… if you got into Einrogard, you’d deserve an elegy, right!”

“……”

Nillia and Ratford seemed dumbfounded, but Lee Han thought it sounded plausible.

“Indeed. Sensible. The hymn now becomes one in praise of the noble sacrifice of a student who enters on behalf of other people of the Empire.”

“I-I didn’t mean it that extremely, though.”

Yoner was flustered by how his friend took it even further.

But Lee Han seemed already inspired.

“Good. A dark-element song to mourn and praise new students who entered Einrogard… I think that works. Isn’t this better than Ahsan’s song?”

“Of all possible songs, why did you have to pick Dalkard’s?”

Having to hear a song shamelessly praising Einrogard rubbed his friends the wrong way.

• * *

“Pengerine, I can’t get into those bushes!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell you how. Hold your staff and cast a cutting spell below. Don’t cast above; it’s too tough. Once you make a hole, crawl underneath.”

“Ugh. Why is it always me…”

Gainando, near tears, crawled under the bushes. He then carefully picked the thorn mushrooms and crawled back out.

When indoors, Alcycle was the cutest penguin wizard imaginable, but outside, he shifted into a very strict senior wizard.

For Gainando, who only wanted to gather easy ingredients and give up on the tough ones, it was a bolt from the blue.

“Can’t we just go back and say this was too tough?”

“Gainando, what would Wardanaz think if you said you couldn’t do it?”

“He’d probably just think I couldn’t because it was too hard?”

“…Hurry and climb the tree.”

Alcycle conjured an ice ladder and gestured.

This prince’s pride was about as hard to find as the skeleton principal’s conscience.

Gainando grumbled as he climbed up. As he grumbled on and on, Alcycle called up from below in an effort to comfort him.

“Think about it, Gainando. Wouldn’t it be best to get it done quickly and go back?”

“That’s true. But, Pengerine, you seem to want to stay out longer.”

“That’s a misunderstanding. I want to finish up and get back quickly too. I want to watch Wardanaz study music magic.”

Alcycle spoke earnestly.

To a wizard, watching a rare and unfamiliar magic researched by a junior like Lee Han was a pure delight.

He himself could learn and realize much through it.

“Oh. Pengerine.”

“What now?”

“If that’s the case, shouldn’t you go back right now? Lee Han picks up magic so fast, it might all be over by the time you get back!”

“…Hey, are you equating my intelligence to a sardine’s?”

Alcycle couldn’t hold back and began firing snowballs at Gainando.

Gainando cried out as he yelped,

“I—it’s true! Really!”