Episode 135

Episode 135

Though it was a rude comment, Professor Garcia found it hard to argue.

If there were a contest between Principal Skull and Professor Voladi over which of them had fewer close students, it would be a fierce competition.

“Well, why are you asking that?”

Professor Bagrek would have something to take care of at this festival too, but seeing him just pass by like that, it makes one worry.

“I’m sure he’ll handle it just fine.”

No. You misunderstood what I said, Professor Garcia.

Principal Skull spoke firmly.

Since Professor Bagrek had no close students, the likelihood he would call upon the boy from the Wardanaz family was high.

“…Ah.”

Professor Garcia understood what he meant.

Just as Principal Skull had only Lee Han as a close student, Professor Voladi was likely to be the same.

It was truly unfortunate for Lee Han.

“Why don’t you concede, Principal?”

Did I hear that correctly?

“Principal, why don’t you c…”

Still can’t hear you even if you repeat. What did you say?

“…Right. There’s no way you’d ever concede.”

Professor Bagrek! Professor Bagrek!

Principal Skull called out to Professor Voladi, who was about to pass by in the distance. The pale vampire mage approached without any change in expression.

…So that’s the situation. Do you understand?

“Why don’t you concede, Principal?”

Hahaha… Don’t talk such nonsense.

“I did not speak nonsense.”

Professor Garcia already had a headache from the two mages, who were far from the word “compromise,” speaking to each other.

However, contrary to his worries, the two did not fight.

Then how about a compromise? Split the time in half?

“That’s fine.”

“……”

Beasts know to respect each other’s territory.

The principal and Professor Voladi quickly reached an agreement.

Only the herbivore fated to be bitten by those beasts was pitiable.

Wait. There’s Professor Uregeoreum passing by over there…

“Professor Uregeoreum has a lot of close students, so just exclude him!”

Professor Garcia desperately pleaded.

No matter what, splitting it three ways would be too cruel!

• * *

Without even knowing he’d gotten more to do, Lee Han was lost in thought with Asan.

Professor Alpen called it a “simple” magic circle, but that was “professor simple,” and it wasn’t so simple for Lee Han and Asan.

“So, when you finish, you’re supposed to have spheres of light at regular intervals along the corridor, and in the center show a statue made by illusion?”

“Seems so.”

After reading the book the professor gave them, Asan spoke with confidence.

“Wardanaz, Professor Knighten is 100% crazy.”

‘Feels like my language has gotten rough since entering school.’

Still, Lee Han understood why Asan said that.

It was a magic circle of a difficulty far beyond what two freshmen should handle.

Lee Han wondered why not just use his own magic power for the spheres of light and bring an actual statue for the statue part.

For mages clumsy with words, flashy magic is a way to make up for a lack of social skills at a banquet.

Some foolish mages take lightly the value of attending banquets and building connections, but this is truly foolish, as getting sponsorships from nobles is an important skill for mages.

Here is an anecdote to illustrate its importance…

‘For all this unnecessary chatter, it’s actually quite interesting.’

Mage books never summarized simple points simply.

They’d include little anecdotes, what they ate yesterday, a bit about today’s weather, some criticism of competitors, and only then get to the main topic.

The book Professor Alpen gave was like that, but its points were relatable.

‘Getting money out of nobles, huh…’

To do magical research required immense funding. Among imperial disciplines, magic was the most expensive.

Some rare reagents had astronomical prices, and for some rare artifacts, no amount of money could buy them.

So who could provide that kind of money? Rich nobles, or the wealthy.

Lee Han was not so serious about research, but was very serious about getting money from others.

‘Wowing with illusion magic, dance… music… literature… art… Um… Isn’t there an easier way?’

“Wardanaz?”

“Oh. Sorry. I got distracted.”

Lee Han snapped back to his senses.

Asan was scribbling with a quill pen, lost in worry. Simply reading the specs didn’t solve the problems.

…Draw the following diagram and channel as much magic as two musk rats. That will make it work smoothly. Place mana stones with the light element, but don’t use ones with too much power. Sometimes the mana flow disrupts depending on surroundings, in which case add a small amount of the following reagents to solve it…

So many analogies and explanations only the author understood meant they would have to actually experiment even after reading.

Unlike Asan swearing at the professor and cursing the world, Lee Han quietly began preparing.

For Lee Han, such unfairness was already a kind of destiny.

“Let’s get ready.”

“…I’m really glad you’re helping, Wardanaz.”

Cheered up, Asan started getting ready too.

With kuangryeong ink (Light Spirit Ink) highly conductive of light element magic, they drew white lines on the floor and began infusing them with magic, bit by bit.

If the magic was insufficient, it would stop midway along the lines. If too much, the line would be destroyed, requiring focus.

And above all…

“…Ugh.”

Asan, turning pale, collapsed to the side. Shaking, he pulled a potion vial from his coat.

It was a low-level magic recovery potion made during Professor Uregeoreum’s class.

“Wa… Wardanaz. If I collapse… get revenge on Professor Knighten for me…”

“Just rest.”

Lee Han laid Asan by his side and started testing alone.

Having a lot of magic power wasn’t always a downside.

While other mages would have to take forced breaks due to magic depletion, Lee Han didn’t need to during such repetitive tasks.

‘…Why do I feel so lonely? Strange.’

Shaking off useless thoughts, Lee Han kept infusing magic and gradually completed the magic circle.

Click—

“?”

Lee Han and Asan looked up. Someone had come into the classroom.

“Professor?”

It was Princess Adenart who entered through the classroom door.

The imperial bloodline with long silver hair opened the door to study with her followers, and upon seeing the situation inside, was surprised.

“Wardanaz!”

“Good to see you.”

“What are you doing over the weekend… Ah!”

A follower nodded as if understanding.

“You’re even studying over the weekend. I’m impressed.”

“……”

“…No! Can’t you see?”

Asan snapped.

It was true Lee Han was the most studious among the Blue Dragon Tower students, but this wasn’t it.

Who would do this willingly?

“We’re doing this because the professor told us to!”

“The professor? Why?”

“A friend of his is visiting…”

The princess’s followers listened attentively to Asan’s explanation.

Then, once again, they admired.

“Amazing!”

“…Mm. I guess it is impressive.”

Though annoyed, Asan couldn’t retort any further.

It was, in fact, impressive. Not everyone could do it.

But spending one’s golden weekend like this would make anyone want to cast a magic missile at Professor Knighten’s face.

“Oh. Wardanaz. I’ve just thought of a great idea, want to hear?”

“Go ahead.”

“If we enlist the princess and her friends, wouldn’t that help? I’m 96% sure it would.”

“Oh… But no.”

Lee Han flatly refused.

Asan was caught off guard.

“Why?”

“Well…”

The reason Lee Han was helping Asan this weekend instead of figuring out how to escape school was simple.

He wanted to gain favor in the eyes of the professor and the professor’s friend.

But if the princess participated…

-Oh my, isn’t that the princess? I’m honored to meet you. As expected, you have abilities worthy of your reputation. To complete such a sophisticated magic circle as a freshman!

…Such a situation was highly likely.

Of all the royalty, Adenart was quite renowned, and the imperial officials would certainly realize.

‘Sorry. For my own career, I can’t involve the princess in this tedious chore.’

“…The professor left this to just the two of us.”

“Ugh. I see. If you say so, then it can’t be helped.”

Asan respected Lee Han’s decision.

When a friend who came sacrificing their weekend speaks, who else would you listen to?

But things did not go as expected.

“Um, Wardanaz.”

“?”

“The princess wants to help—can we help together?”

“……”

Lee Han was flustered.

Why would she want to help with this?

‘Does this look fun?’

If it were a royal like Gainando, he’d run at the sight of a magic circle, but here she was, volunteering.

It was hard to believe.

Fortunately, Asan spoke up.

“Sorry, but we can’t. This was entrusted to us two.”

“Mr. Dalkard. Wardanaz might feel differently.”

“I’m sure Wardanaz feels the same as me.”

The princess glared coldly at Asan. Clearly not a positive look.

She whispered to her follower. The follower approached.

“Wardanaz.”

“What is it?”

“The… princess said she’ll give you snacks if you let her help.”

“Wh-what!”

Asan was even more surprised.

She’d even offer snacks!

He hadn’t imagined such determination.

“Wardanaz. I didn’t expect her to go that far…!”

‘Is he not fully recovered yet?’

Lee Han was dumbfounded as Asan spoke so portentously.

It seemed his intelligence had dropped from lack of magic.

‘Hmm.’

Lee Han fell into thought.

‘If I refuse, the princess will hold a grudge, won’t she?’

The higher someone’s status, the narrower their mind tended to be. Gainando was proof.

And unlike Gainando, the princess had many people around her.

She could make Lee Han’s life…

‘Devious royals, really.’

“What’s going on here?”

Professor Alpen, passing by, looked at the students gathered in the classroom in puzzlement.

“They said they want to help.”

Lee Han spoke, slightly hopeful.

With Professor Alpen’s strict personality, there was no way he’d allow it.

Please, chase them out!

“Excellent.”

Professor Alpen relaxed his stern expression and smiled slightly at Lee Han.

“Pardon?”

“It’s great that your friends stepped up to help. You have good friends. Accepting help from others is a skill too. Now that it’s come to this, try making it together, directing everyone. Leading many is also an ability.”

With that, Professor Alpen left. Asan looked at Lee Han and said,

“Hearing that, I think it’s okay, Wardanaz. Right? Can I let them join?”

“Asan.”

“??”

“I’d better go get more people who are resting in the dorm.”

“Th-that much??”

Asan was shocked.

Isn’t this enough already?!

‘Truly thorough. I need to learn from him.’

‘Since the professor approved, let’s increase numbers and get an even higher evaluation.’