Episode 715

Lee Han’s passionate eagerness made Sevios flash a brief smile.

There are two kinds of people when faced with a challenge:

Those who run from trials…

…And those who leap into them, full force.

This junior was clearly of the second kind. Now Sevios understood why his clubmates wanted so badly to recruit him.

“You light up more as things get harder, huh?”

“?”

Lee Han just had lots of grudges against Professor Verdus—that was it. He tilted his head in confusion.

“It’s just, I don’t really li—”

“Verdus’s stuff is especially tricky.”

Sevios opened the window and dropped outside, Lee Han shooting a regretful look at the White Tiger Tower storage room.

‘Need to remember this place.’

A good thief is wise not just about what to steal, but what not to.

On that count, Sevios, who only quietly took the real target, was a true pro.

But Lee Han was a different breed—

When it came down to it, he was more of a “grab everything and run” thief.

“Professors’ goods are tricky enough, but Verdus’s are another level.”

“Any particular reason?”

“Verdus is always stocked with expensive ingredients, so students target him first. That’s why the defenses on his stuff are way more thorough.”

“……”

Hearing how Professor Verdus was considered a treasure beaver among the seniors, Lee Han was dumbfounded.

Who knew a person could be this popular!

“Luckily, we’re only after one of his books. He’s probably forgotten he even owned it. Still, it won’t be easy. You’ll need to know a few basic spells. By the way, how’d you open that window?”

Now that he thought of it, the White Tiger Tower store’s window had three wards:

-Paldar Reji’s Intermediate Metal Shield-

A spell that mutates metal in response to hostile intrusion.

-Axen’s Arcane Enhancement-

A spell that amplifies the power of other spells—on its own, not much, but devastating in combination.

-Zenbaya’s Intermediate Lock-

A ward against nonphysical intrusion—this was the one Sevios had tried to unlock.

But surprising magical side effects had occurred, thwarting him, and yet—how had his junior managed?

“Condense your magic, spread it over as wide an area as you can, and hammer—”

“Wardanaz family secret technique, huh?”

Despite Lee Han’s earnest explanation, Sevios misunderstood.

Must be a Wardanaz secret, can’t be shared, so you give a ridiculous answer instead.

Just like a Blue Dragon Tower student.

“If it’s a family secret, don’t explain. Good on you for keeping it—something to be proud of.”

“……”

Lee Han glared, but Sevios didn’t notice.

“A spell like that will help you in a pinch, but don’t rely on it alone. There are other things you’ll need.”

“Like what?”

“You know invisibility, that’s covered. You also need to bust through walls. You got anything for that?”

The easiest spells decomposed wood or stone into sawdust or sand, but they were slow and noisy.

Stealth and speed are everything—a quick, powerful wall-breaker is best.

Sevios himself used -Atuga’s Blade Gale- and -Rock-Eater Spirit-:

Slice the wall, then send a spirit in to chew it out.

“I learned -Tutanta’s Rock Decomposition-, but I’m not perfect at it…”

“Family secret technique? Wanna show me?”

There are endless ways to break a wall. Hundreds, even.

You could transmogrify, enchant, or just use pure elemental magic…

Which, if all still existed, would be a migraine for any mage.

Current imperial magic systems favor efficiency, so wizards themselves are always on the lookout for the smartest, sharpest spells they can find.

But there are always exceptions—like family spells.

Since those get passed down, there’s no pressure to delete anything redundant.

But even with experience, it’s hard to figure out what’s what until you see it for yourself.

“Might take a bit.”

“Some spells take time. I can wait. Show me.”

Lee Han nodded, drew his staff.

-Tutanta’s Rock Decomposition-—a family spell he’d learned from Salko last year, and one that had given him splitting headaches at the time.

Lee Han rarely struggled with magic, but at 4th circle and high in complexity, this had been brutal.

He’d half-suspected Salko was trying to assassinate him with the lesson—Salko, who himself hadn’t mastered it.

He’d dabbled a few times since, but with dozens of spells on deck, it wasn’t one he’d bothered finishing.

Take a piece of the wall, get the spell ready, focus—

“In Tutanta’s name, crumble, stone!”

Crack!

A corner of the empty classroom wall crumbled to powder as if carved with a razor. Sevios’s eyes went wide.

That was way stronger than expected.

And then—

“Weren’t you just saying you hadn’t mastered it?”

Sevios gaped.

Lee Han had literally just claimed not to have it down.

Yet, as soon as he started, it cast almost instantly.

That’s mastery by any standard.

“It just… worked today. Guess I’m getting better after all.”

Lee Han looked sheepish.

He hadn’t expected it to go so well.

Maybe not practicing for a while had actually helped.

Or maybe all those recent ordeals had paid off in their own way…

‘Is this kid insane?’

Sevios watched him, uncertain if it was a flex or not.

Looked like a 5th-circle spell, tremendously powerful.

To do that with no extra prep, on the first try… If he could do that, why not brag?

…But still, why this way?

“If it worked, that’s good.”

“Thank you.”

Ever the pro, Sevios didn’t let his feelings show.

Lee Han, not reading his senior’s thoughts, just felt sincerely touched.

‘He really does trust me.’

“The last thing you’ll need is combat magic. Verdus is notorious for using summoned guardians. We’ll avoid them if possible, but you need to be able to defend yourself. How’s your fighting?”

“Hmm…”

Lee Han wondered how to answer.

Mentioning Professor Voladi was definitely out—he’d just get weird looks.

Listing all his vanquished foes would be embarrassing.

“I can handle myself.”

Sevios nodded.

He didn’t expect much battle prowess from a new second-year, especially a Blue Dragon Tower student.

A bit of humility was safer than cocky mistakes.

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

---

Sevios led Lee Han out past the main building.

As soon as they stepped out, Lee Han cast an invisibility spell on himself. Sevios muttered at the wasted magic.

“Why use it so soon? Got the mana to spare?”

“I do. Please don’t worry.”

“……”

Sevios bristled at how unbothered his junior sounded, but let it go.

Once you commit to a job together, even a junior’s approach deserves respect.

“If you say so, but remember—if you get knocked out, I can’t drag you out. I’m saving myself.”

“I understand.”

Lee Han checked for first-years. None out at night.

‘Gotta prep for this later…’

“You know Verdus’s Vault?”

“I do.”

Sevios realized Lee Han was studying enchanting too.

So he must know the Vault.

“There are a few warehouses near the Vault. Most are too heavily warded, but with time, a few’s defenses have gotten weak.”

“Why isn’t the professor reinforcing them?”

“He’s got so many, he loses track. That’s why students go after his caches the most.”

“……”

For a top mage to stash so much even he forgot what he had—no wonder students targeted his stores out of spite.

“Lucky for us. We’ll hit one.”

“Which books are we after?”

“-Principles of Imperial Investment-, -Mage’s Guide to Dodging Repayment-, -Survey of Artifact Trends-, -Genius Enchanter’s Hundred Investments-, -Imperial Materials Encyclopedia-, -Complete Gemology-…”

“…Isn’t that a bit much? How did they all go missing…”

“It was all lifted at once.”

His voice was cold with killing intent.

Lee Han was again awed by Verdus. Only a true archmage could survive this much grudge-stacking.

“Silver, turn to coin. Coin, turn to gold. Gold, turn to gems.”

At Sevios’s spell, a panel of oak shimmered and shifted into a door.

In they went—a chaos of junk everywhere. Sevios focused, finding his way.

Every Verdus vault was an organically developed maze; lose focus, and you’d be lost.

Creak—

“Damn, a guardian! Right from the entrance…”

Sevios tried to signal retreat.

Of all times, to run into a sentinel…

THUD!

“Got it!”

“……”