Episode 128

Actually, from the perspective of the summons, that Wardanas boy didn’t seem all that selfish…

But if you said something like that when their master was in a foul mood, you could end up being sent to the 17th basement of the academy’s main building, tasked with waiting a hundred years for an intruder who’d never show up, doing menial chores all the while.

Thus, the summons had no choice but to agree.

—Truly selfish.

—He’s taken away other students’ chances to learn, Master.

—An utterly wicked fellow.

Why on earth is he like that? Not as if I taught him so, either.

Despite their flattery, the skeleton headmaster muttered, still not calmed.

The headmaster simply couldn’t understand.

In many ways, Ihan’s behavior reminded him of himself at a young age.

Clever, gutsy, someone who could hide themselves to get what they wanted.

But why on earth would he help the students from other towers?

It was a truly incomprehensible habit.

• * *

While the skeleton headmaster was making some very rude comparisons, Ihan was focusing with everything he had.

Fending off undead charging in from the darkness probably wasn’t something a magic school freshman ought to experience.

Why should they be going through something even adventurers or mercenaries didn’t necessarily suffer?

“Light!”

But the students on scene didn’t have time to ponder such things.

As soon as the other students’ light spells faded, Ihan cast a light spell without hesitation.

Asan shouted in alarm.

“Wardanas, it’s dangerous…”

No matter how vast Ihan’s mana was, he’d been casting spells since inside the dorm, and now also had water orbs summoned.

Casting a light spell on top of that, even for Ihan…

“Light, light, light! Heat—distort the air! What is it, Asan?”

“…Nothing!”

He’s my friend, but he’s really amazing!

So thought Asan, swinging his staff.

When Ihan conjured a heat-laced illusion, hazy afterimages appeared all around.

The skeleton warriors, unable to tell which was real, had their encirclement thrown into chaos for a moment.

“This way!”

The Phoenix Tower students felt dizzy seeing Ihan running toward them, trailing glowing spheres of light.

Emanating a halo from the darkness, he looked like a saint.

“Sir Wardanas!”

“Run!”

“Sir Wardanas…!”

“I said run!”

“Sir Wardanas is really…”

Whack!

Ihan swung his staff and smacked a priest on the back.

“Get running, you idiot! Want another hit?”

“S-sorry, sir.”

The priest, mesmerized by the halo radiating in the darkness, snapped out of it when struck.

He’s not a saint—he really is Wardanas!

“Run inside! Take shelter behind the barricade!”

Ihan sent off the remaining water orbs and toppled the chasing skeleton warriors.

‘It should work!’

Gauging by how scattered the undead were, he’d have plenty of time to safely evacuate the priests.

Just then, Asan collapsed.

“Ugh…!”

“!”

Sensing a surge of mana pass him, Ihan instantly understood what had happened.

‘Curse magic!’

Asan grabbed his left leg, struggling as if paralyzed.

“Cramp… I got a cramp…”

“Wardanas, what do we do?!”

“I’ll handle Asan, go in!”

Ihan picked Asan up and slung him over one shoulder.

Even as the paralysis curse gripped his left leg, Asan was so moved that he teared up.

“Wardanas…!”

Who but a friend like Wardanas would refuse to abandon him at a time like this?

He truly was an honorable friend.

Whoosh!

Another curse spell came flying. Ihan quickly held Asan in front of him to block it.

“Urgh! Wardanas! Ahahaha!”

Asan understood.

When you’re already holding someone, you can’t move quickly.

But he couldn’t think of that after being hit by a tickling curse and becoming the shield.

“Why, you… ahahaha!”

“Sorry, Asan.”

Thanks to Asan’s sacrifice, Ihan could finally locate the enemy.

Amid the skeleton warriors, one with a bone staff was exuding particularly intensified undead yin magic.

Hidden in the dark among the skeleton warriors, he probably thought he couldn’t be found, but not by Ihan.

Having used two curses was basically shouting to be found.

“Spark!”

At Ihan’s spell, a lightning bolt shot out toward the skeleton shaman.

The shaman shuddered in alarm, but fortunately he had other warriors for protection.

Bang!

Sensing danger, the skeleton warriors blocked with their own bodies. Bones scattered as they took the hit.

‘Damn.’

It was much harder to break through to strike a magician protected by warriors than he realized.

Clatter!

Now the skeleton warriors charged at Ihan. Not to bring him down, though.

But so the shaman could cast magic while Ihan couldn’t dodge!

Whoosh!

Again, with a surge of mana, a curse spell lashed at Ihan.

The skeleton warriors seemed jubilant, expecting him to collapse.

Thunk!

“What a bunch of pests…”

-?!

But instead of being paralyzed, Ihan wiped out more skeleton warriors as if nothing had happened.

Amazingly, even though he’d been hit by the curse head on, it had no effect.

His overwhelming mana didn’t let regular curses touch him.

“Magic Missile!”

“Burn!”

“Wardanas! We came to help!”

Skeletons weren’t the only ones with friends—so did Ihan.

With the exhausted Phoenix Tower students now safely inside the barricade, the remaining friends streamed out to help Ihan fight.

Fist-sized mana orbs shot out while flames erupted above skeletons.

Among them, one Phoenix Tower student stood out even to Ihan’s eye.

“Let fire fly!”

Casting the 2nd-circle spell , he clearly had a talent for fire magic.

‘A fire spirit half-blood?’

Perhaps an ancestor had contracted with a fire spirit; the Phoenix Tower priest’s hair and eyes burned faintly with flickering flames.

“Already casting 2nd-circle fire spells…”

“Haha! Good shot, ha ha ha!”

“Nice.”

“????”

Still under the effects of the curse, Asan found himself surprised at Ihan’s words while laughing.

‘Why is Wardanas jealous?’

Given he could use far more powerful spells, it seemed odd that Ihan would envy a bit of fire magic.

Asan didn’t get it.

“Thank you, Sir Wardanas. Thanks to you, all my brethren made it in.”

“I should be the one thanking you. We took down the shaman thanks to you.”

Ihan extended his hand to shake. Before the priest could withdraw, Ihan had grasped his hand.

“…!”

Only then did Ihan realize the other’s hand was burning.

‘Dangerous… no, it’s fine.’

Startled, he sighed in relief.

Fortunately, the flames didn’t harm his hand.

“So it only burns on the outside—it’s safe fire.”

“…Well, I wouldn’t say—”

“?!”

Startled, Ihan jerked his hand back. Only then did he feel some heat.

‘What the—?’

The flames weren’t truly harmless.

Ihan had subconsciously released mana through his palm, resisting the fire.

Back when he’d rolled around hugging a flaming puppy, he’d protected himself in the same way; otherwise…

“Are you all right? If you’re hurt…”

“Ah, I’m fine. Sorry, I acted before thinking.”

“No need to apologize.”

The priest introduced himself.

Nigisor, priest from the Afha Order, worshipper of fire.

Just as Ihan guessed, he was descended from a fire spirit contractor.

“Thanks again for the help. If you ever need anything, just ask.”

As Nigisor turned away after his thanks, Ihan looked on with respect.

Out in the world, there were plenty of people who would blame or even scold you after being helped—unlike those white tigers—but Priest Nigisor was truly polite.

‘Good person.’

• * *

“Priest Nigisor?”

“A good person.”

In the barricade, Ihan told Priest Tijilling about Nigisor.

Helping with fire magic, not forgetting favors…

Maybe all priests were decent people?

“It’s best not to get too close, though…”

“?!”

Ihan was shocked at Tijilling’s words.

Who was Tijilling, after all?

One of the kindest priests in Phoenix Tower.

For a man like him to speak this way—

“Did Priest Nigisor ever cause problems in the tower?”

“That’s not it…”

Priest Siana, circulating recovery potions among the exhausted priests, noticed Ihan and hurried over.

“Sir Ihan of the Wardanas family, the insights and understanding of alchemy incarnate!”

“Priestess Siana of the Flemaigne Order, rising star of talent! Your alchemical skills are awe-inspiring every time I witness them.”

“……”

Tijilling watched their mutual flattery as if dumbfounded.

The way they praised each other rivaled any imperial society banquet.

Ihan, curious, asked,

“By the way, Priestess Siana, has Priest Nigisor ever caused any trouble in the tower?”

“Not that I know of?”

“I see. He helped me earlier and fought splendidly—seemed trustworthy.”

“I see. Still, it might be best not to get too close.”

“?!”

With both of them saying so, Ihan was startled.

‘Priest Tijilling… He never gossips, so probably won’t spell it out.’

Ihan decided to pry with Siana instead.

“Most extraordinary alchemi—”

“The undead are fleeing!!!”

“Dawn’s breaking! Dawn is breaking!”

Over the horizon came the light of dawn, and skeleton warriors were fleeing beyond the barricade.

Students, regardless of tower, suddenly felt a prickle in their eyes.

“…Everyone, good work.”

“You too!”

Students embraced and shook hands, praising one another.

They had fought as comrades in arms―in this cold, pitiless, merciless magic school.

Overcome with emotion, Gainando rushed outside the barricade, ready to shout.

“We won—”

“Hold up.”

“?!”

Ihan snatched Gainando by the scruff.

“Sharkan. Go check first.”

Sharkan barked once and bounded past the barricade.

Right outside, skeleton warriors who had been hiding dashed off swearing as soon as he appeared.

“……”

“……”

The students shuddered at the sight.

Digging traps right up to the end.

Absolutely shameless!

• * *

Absolutely shameless.

The skeleton headmaster muttered with a pout.

An incredibly devious mind.

Next time, I really need to separate him and lay special traps…

The sun rose mercilessly.

With a sigh, the skeleton headmaster spoke.

Full marks.

“Thank you.”

Ihan bowed at the front, representing everyone. And thought to himself,

‘So saving the Phoenix Tower students really was key.’

‘Why does that brat help others instead of just getting a top mark for himself? Is he trying to provoke me on purpose? What a bold one…’

Thus, master and student finished the exam harmoniously.

While thinking completely different things!