Episode 207

Episode 207

Excellent.

Even though the honorable crown had been scratched, the voice of the Frost Giant King was gentle.

It was because he was satisfied with what the challenger had shown.

He had wondered how the crown’s defense would be pierced, but to think he would use evaporation, an advanced application property of the water element.

Evaporation was such a tricky property that even mages who specialized in the water element often could not understand it.

Even if one had sufficient understanding, the extreme mana consumption placed great restrictions on its use.

Not only understanding, but also the extreme mana consumption.

It was a property that even outstanding mages found difficult to use, yet to see it from a young mage.

You controlled the cold element quite well. I believe that the decision you made, setting aside your pride, helped you grow.

Not only evaporation, but your control of the cold element was also praiseworthy.

Among mages, few bothered to hone their elemental control.

Rather than attacking the opponent by moving ice shards irregularly, it was more common for mages to learn stronger high-level spells.

Moreover, the cold element was not as easy to maintain or control as the water or earth elements.

Even though the environment was filled with cold, controlling dozens of shards at once was entirely the mage’s own ability.

‘……’

Lee Han decided to just listen quietly.

It wasn’t as if he had used only fire magic out of pride, but he didn’t think it would be good to mention that.

Here, I leave a token for the honorable challenger.

With the Frost Giant King’s declaration, a blue glowing stone was embedded at the tip of Lee Han’s staff. It was a stone condensed with intense cold.

When the snow melts and spring comes, it will be difficult to handle the cold. I have left the cold behind for the mage.

“…Thank you!”

Lee Han brightened.

Of course, the Frost Giant King had no idea.

That the mage before him was planning to practice fire magic using the cold he had bestowed!

‘When the cold ends, fire magic will become difficult again, but if I can summon cold, it will be a great help.’

Of course, there would be restrictions, but even if he could summon cold once every few days, it would be a great help.

Cold is the greatest of all elements…

‘Hmm.’

At the Frost Giant King’s words, Lee Han hesitated.

He felt anew that both mages and spirits had a strong tendency to claim that the element they handled was the best.

‘I don’t think that’s true.’

Still, Lee Han kept his mouth shut. Since he had received a gift, it was only polite to endure that much.

…If you realize how to handle it, there will be no enemy for the challenger. Then I will wait for the day we meet again and you challenge me. Honorable challenger.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Frost Giant King turned and left with a dignity befitting his reputation as a king.

As he disappeared beyond the dimension, Lee Han cast a look of respect and gratitude at his back.

‘But let’s not meet again.’

He was grateful, but Lee Han had no intention of meeting again to challenge him.

His whole body had been screaming from dodging the opponent’s attacks.

“Well done.”

“Thank you.”

Professor Voladi released the barrier and approached Lee Han.

At that, the fourth-year students unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

Just a moment ago, he really seemed like a crazy person (actually, he still seemed crazy)…

But seeing him praise the first-year freshman who had suffered so much, it was clear that the professor still had a shred of conscience.

If he hadn’t praised him, the fourth-year students would have been even angrier.

“If you hadn’t insisted on fire magic, you would have finished faster.”

“……”

“……”

The fourth-year seniors were appalled.

They could hardly believe what they had just heard.

What did he say?

‘Isn’t that too much, really??’

If a first-year had succeeded in challenging the Frost Giant King, even the skeleton principal would have shed tears and praised him…

“It was my mistake.”

However, the freshman admitted his mistake without anger.

At that, the fourth-year seniors felt a heart-wrenching pain.

‘How could I, as a senior, do nothing for him!’

‘What have I learned at this magic school?’

To think that the freshman was being tormented by a crazy professor and they could do nothing.

Their hearts felt crushed by helplessness and frustration.

“I should have approached it with cold, not fire.”

“That’s right. If you had completed the floating cold shield.”

The fourth-year students were glaring with murderous eyes, but the two (teacher and student) didn’t notice.

They were simply calmly reviewing the fight that had just occurred.

‘I see. He wanted a floating cold shield.’

Lee Han wasn’t particularly upset.

In fact, for Professor Voladi’s personality, this was an incredible compliment. After all, he started with “well done.”

Of course, to others, he still seemed like a crazy professor…

‘He meant to block the opponent’s attacks with a floating cold shield to buy time, then go for a war of attrition with a mass of cold shards.’

Now that the fight was over, Lee Han could understand Professor Voladi’s thinking more clearly.

Professor Voladi had his own way of expecting things.

If he bought time with a floating cold shield and then launched a mass attack using the abundant cold around, he could have succeeded, since even the crown’s defense had its limits.

…Let’s skip over the part where he expected me to master 4th-circle magic in a week…

“There was a weakness in the crown’s defense. You could have bombarded it with continuous attacks from all directions or tried to penetrate it by adding a spinning property.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Lee Han stored it in his mind.

Regardless of his feelings, it was best to remember Professor Voladi’s teachings to survive in the future.

“…Did he just say spinning…”

“Shouldn’t we report this to His Majesty the Emperor?”

The fourth-year students, hearing that they should add spinning to the already difficult cold element, became even more agitated.

“Still, the evaporation was excellent.”

“Thank you!”

Professor Voladi silently nodded and then turned and walked away.

After the bitter cold ended, the professor disappeared into the darkness of the corridor that was slowly returning.

And as soon as the evil monster disappeared, the fourth-year students rushed to Lee Han.

“…Are you okay!?”

“Are you alright!?”

“Pardon? I’m fine.”

Lee Han was slightly flustered.

The fourth-year seniors suddenly rushed at him as if they had eaten something wrong.

“Is it because of the Frost Giant King earlier? I did roll around a lot, but I wasn’t seriously hurt.”

“That’s not it… Of course, we were worried about that too… but the conversation with the professor just now! Are you really okay?”

Kumandas was more worried about Lee Han’s mind than his body.

If Kumandas had been dragged out as a first-year and forced to challenge the Frost Giant King, and then heard those words even after succeeding, he would have seriously considered dropping out.

Even endless praise wouldn’t have been enough…

“It was praise, though?”

“…That just now?”

“Junior. Do you perhaps not know what praise is…”

“It was praise. It seems you all misunderstood.”

Lee Han spoke indifferently, as if there had been a minor misunderstanding.

At that, the fourth-year students were more surprised than at any other emotion they had felt today.

‘Th-this guy…’

‘How tough is he…?’

Now they realized that the true talent of this freshman was not his mana, magical understanding, or mana control.

The true talent of this freshman was his solid mind.

A steadfast mind that would not be shaken no matter what crazy things the professors at the magic school did!

“…Junior. I respect you.”

“Junior. I respect you.”

“Junior. …Don’t collapse.”

“????”

The fourth-year students each patted Lee Han on the shoulder and walked away.

What was that?

“Lee Han.”

“Deorgyu.”

As Deorgyu approached, Lee Han waved his hand as if to say he was fine. Just by looking at his face, Lee Han could feel how worried he was.

And behind him was Giselle.

As Giselle approached with a frown, Lee Han hesitated. He wondered if she was going to pick a fight again.

“Go back and check if you have any injuries.”

But instead of picking a fight, Giselle left words that sounded almost like concern and turned away.

“?????”

Lee Han was appalled.

What was that, really?

“Wardanaz. …Be careful.”

“Wardanaz. That class… No. Go back and make sure you’re not hurt.”

It wasn’t just Giselle. The White Tiger Tower students each left words that sounded almost like concern for Lee Han before leaving.

Lee Han asked Deorgyu.

“Can you explain what’s going on right now?”

“Well… um…”

Deorgyu hesitated, wondering how to put it.

Even to the White Tiger Tower students, who were half enemies with Lee Han, Professor Voladi’s class had been too harsh.

-Isn’t Wardanaz going to die at this rate?

-Can he do that? Even if it’s Wardanaz…

-Isn’t that too much?

It was so bad that from the middle of the challenge, they were actually worried about and cheering for Lee Han!

Deorgyu couldn’t bring himself to say, ‘You got beaten so badly that everyone was worried about you.’

That would have hurt Lee Han’s pride.

“Maybe… your challenge moved the hearts of the White Tiger Tower students, who are from knight families?”

“Deorgyu. What nonsense are you talking about. That can’t be.”

“……”

Deorgyu pouted.

• * *

Congratulations. I was wondering when you’d solve it.

As they exited the twisted dimensional corridor, the skeleton principal floated to greet the students.

The White Tiger Tower students spoke with proud expressions.

“Yes, Principal. We did it.”

Well done.

However, the faces of the fourth-year students were pale.

The skeleton principal’s gaze was also fixed on the fourth-year students.

Of course, you didn’t do it. Pathetic fools.

“Principal! Direte is not at fault. It was because of us…”

Kumandas desperately defended him.

Direte was already angry enough…

Kumandas could have been killed before leaving the punishment room.

What kind of naive nonsense is that? It’s your fault for having the wrong friends.

“……”

Kumandas withdrew his earlier thought that Professor Voladi was worse than the skeleton principal.

The skeleton principal was worse.

Now. Then the punishment room…

“Principal!”

What?

The skeleton principal grumbled and looked at Lee Han.

I had something to say to you anyway. Tell me later.

“That’s not it… Didn’t we solve this problem?”

Yeah. Well done. Satisfied?

“No. Usually there’s a reward.”

…No way.

The skeleton principal frowned, feeling a sense of foreboding.

Don’t. I hate that kind of thing.

“The seniors…”

Don’t. You make me sick.

“Please don’t send the seniors to the punishment room.”

“Th-that’s right!”

“Please forgive the seniors!”

Lee Han had said it because he thought it would be better to save an outing pass and owe the seniors a favor, but the simple-minded White Tiger Tower students immediately went along with the mood.

At their enthusiastic response, the skeleton principal looked as if he was suffering terribly.

Take the outing pass. Just. I won’t set any traps.

“Just forgive the seniors…”

The skeleton principal let out a deep sigh. A sigh so deep it could reach the darkest depths of the magic school.

…Get out of my sight, you gold-plated lumps.

“Th-thank you!”

The fourth-year seniors didn’t even have time to properly thank Lee Han.

They sent him a deep look of gratitude and hurried away.

The skeleton principal watched their backs with deep regret.

“Thank you, Principal.”

It’s my pleasure. In a few hours, it’ll be the weekend.

“Is that so?”

You’re coming out with me, Wardanaz.

“……”

Lee Han put on a colder expression than the Frost Giant King’s crown.

Angrago, who was next to him, admired without noticing.

To go out with the principal on the weekend.

The rumor that Wardanaz was being personally taught magic by the principal was true!

“W-wow! To go out with the principal…!”

Lee Han looked at Angrago indifferently.

It wasn’t even a glare, but Angrago felt as if his heart had frozen solid and shut his mouth with a gasp.