Episode 139

Unaware of Lee Han’s inner thoughts, Professor Voladi spoke.

“Agu (餓鬼). A lower-class one.”

At the end of the dimly lit dungeon corridor, an undead appeared, as if it had emerged wrapped in sticky, slimy darkness. It was a monster called an Agu.

An undead monster not under the control of a mage exuded such raw murderous intent that you could feel it on your skin.

-■■■!

In that moment, the magical light that Professor Voladi summoned went out.

An ordinary student might have panicked, but Lee Han responded instantly and recited a spell.

“Light.”

Lee Han was prepared to react to anything Professor Voladi might do at any time.

As Lee Han immediately conjured light again, Professor Voladi nodded as if to say it was a good decision.

‘Is there such a thing as a Professor Agu?’

An Agu was an undead monster transformed by sins and evil acts accumulated in life.

So it wouldn’t be strange if a Professor Agu existed.

If there were such a thing, it would be terrifying in its own right though…

“Rise.”

In a voice slightly lower than the illumination spell earlier, Lee Han whispered the next spell.

He quickly judged there was no benefit in raising his voice in a dungeon.

Professor Voladi gave him high marks for this in his mind.

Quick reaction speed and innate caution.

These were virtues a battle mage ought to possess.

Multiple water orbs split off, one of which shot menacingly at the Agu.

With a dull sound, the Agu’s jaw was smashed. The Agu, which had been striding forward, staggered.

‘I should immobilize it.’

For a mage, close combat was to be avoided. Lee Han targeted the Agu’s knees with his water orb.

Other mages might have found this kind of precision aiming difficult.

But thanks to his training with Professor Voladi, Lee Han was already used to controlling elemental magic.

One more shot.

A water orb accurately struck the moving Agu’s knee, knocking it down.

This time, Professor Voladi didn’t even nod. It was simply too obvious.

Lee Han didn’t expect much, so he wasn’t disappointed.

But it was truly a shame.

If any of the visiting guests were here, it would be a much more fascinating spectacle than some mediocre event!

• * *

Lee Han neutralized the low-grade Agu before it could even approach.

Then he checked the fallen Agu. Sadly, Agu didn’t carry much. Not even a common magic stone.

But Professor Voladi interpreted Lee Han’s actions in another way and spoke.

“Making sure it’s properly down is a good habit. But approaching a monster is unnecessary. Learn to check with magic.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Continue moving forward.”

Professor Voladi’s voice came from a bit behind Lee Han.

Lee Han almost walked forward absentmindedly, and then stopped.

‘Wait a second.’

Now that he thought about it, just following Professor Voladi’s instructions blindly might be dangerous.

After all, what reason did Professor Voladi have for bringing him into the dungeon?

Wasn’t it to make Lee Han use multi-channel water element magic?

That meant there was a high chance there would be traps in the dungeon that forced such usage.

“Let the space be perceived. Feet, command the ground.”

There was a saying: test even the stone bridge before crossing.

But mages didn’t need to do that.

After checking the bridge, you could just fly over.

Seeing Lee Han cast various enhancement spells first, Professor Voladi faintly smiled.

If learning quickly from experience made a good student, Lee Han learned before even gaining the experience.

Maybe that was the true joy of teaching.

‘Professor Voladi’s silence just makes things more nerve-wracking.’

Lee Han pulled out a bone fragment from his pocket and tossed it.

“Appear, bone hand!”

The summoned bone hand flew forward.

In that moment, an Agu suddenly jumped out from what looked like an ordinary wall. Lee Han’s eyes widened.

‘Invisibility?!’

The bone hand swam through the air, trying to strangle the Agu’s neck, but the Agu was much stronger. In an instant, the bone hand was pushed back.

Whack!

The bone hand was more like a supplementary magic than an offensive one.

It only needed to buy a little time.

Having confirmed the Agu’s appearance, Lee Han struck it down with a water orb.

“…So they use stealth too?”

“Agus have varied traits.”

“……”

Lee Han decided this wouldn’t do.

Click, click—

As he began putting on various accessories, Professor Voladi’s brow rose slightly.

“Fire magic.”

“Yes.”

“That’s a good idea. An excellent mage never settles.”

A mage who only used the water element because they were used to it would have trouble developing.

A capable mage never ceased seeking new challenges.

‘It’s not like you ever let me settle, anyway.’

Lee Han thought to himself and concentrated on fire.

Unlike the now-familiar water element, he had to focus much more on fire.

He had to be especially careful, as even a moment’s lapse could burn his surroundings.

The reason Lee Han chose fire was simple.

‘I’ll just shoot everywhere that looks likely.’

Since Lee Han didn’t know much about Agu-type monsters, his options were limited.

And what he chose was brute force.

He would hit every possible spot a monster might lurk!

For that, fire was handier than water.

Fwoosh!

Small flames sprang up around Lee Han. Though much smaller than his water orbs, considering the nature of fire, that was enough.

“Looks like you’ve adapted.”

“I just started.”

“Pass through the dungeon and come down. I’ll be waiting.”

With those words, Professor Voladi disappeared.

“……”

Left alone, Lee Han almost swore at Voladi, but stopped himself.

He might be heard.

• * *

Whack!

Swearing at Vanished Voladi didn’t change reality.

Lee Han closed his mouth and dispatched the Agus.

‘I think I’m starting to get the hang of it.’

The Agus in this dungeon apparently liked to use stealth.

Once you got used to the ones clinging to the walls, using the dark terrain to their advantage, they were easy to spot.

The ones clinging to the ceiling, holding their breath, or crouched in stagnant puddles were still surprising, but…

Even this kind of fear faded over time.

Flames shot in all directions. They were just the length of two finger joints so not very destructive, but very effective.

If the little fireballs scattered like fireworks touched an Agu, it couldn’t help but come out.

-■■■■!

Once they emerged, Lee Han would immediately knock them down with a water orb.

Most Agus could be drawn out by fire, and if any weren’t, his spatial detection could pick them up when they approached.

Even if he was unlucky enough to get ambushed—

Crack!

He swung his staff and bashed an Agu lurking in a corridor.

Maybe it was his imagination, but that seemed more destructive than the water orb.

“…!”

Walking through a narrow tunnel, Lee Han suddenly stopped when a cool breeze blew from up ahead.

At the end of the corridor was a fairly spacious area. It was so dark he couldn’t see everything, but it felt like a plaza.

Normally, after all that narrow walking, this would be a moment for joy—

‘This feels incredibly ominous.’

Lee Han’s entire body was on high alert.

The moment he entered the plaza, he figured the Agus in there might “welcome” him enthusiastically!

But there was no choice. Lee Han began prepping more magic.

• * *

Professor Garcia guided a non-mage guest from outside with a bright expression.

It was the festival period, and a welcome guest had come to the school.

Yumidihus.

A master of water element magic famous even in the Empire, several spells developed by Yumidihus were widely used among imperial mages.

Professor Garcia had learned some of those spells as a student, so it was only natural she was happy to see this elderly mage visit.

“It’s truly an honor to meet you.”

“No need to flatter an old woman like me so much…”

Looking like a benevolent grandmother, no one would guess that Yumidihus had a history of legendary feats as a battle mage.

Professor Garcia looked at Yumidihus with deep respect once more.

“No matter when, magic school is a beautiful place.”

“It’s got splendid scenery.”

“And good students too.”

“I think so as well.”

“The professors…”

“They’re all wonderful—I mean, distinguished people.”

“That’s not true.”

Yumidihus shook her head. Professor Garcia coughed awkwardly, looking embarrassed.

“I-Is that so? They all work pretty hard, though…”

“It’s not a question of ability, but character… Well, it’s because of Gaonadalthes. Maybe he’s the root of all the problems.”

“……”

Professor Garcia felt herself torn between wanting to agree with the great mage, and her sense of duty not to badmouth the headmaster as a faculty member.

Hold it in!

“Do you have any interesting students?”

“Yes.”

“Nothing is as satisfying as raising good apprentices. I did alright in other areas but never managed to raise great disciples.”

Hearing this gentle humility, Professor Garcia shook her head in disbelief.

“Your students are all amazing…”

“They all fell short, that’s all. By the way, is Voladi Bagrek here?”

“Yes.”

“I should pay him a visit. Would you take me to him?”

“Of course.”

As Professor Garcia guided Yumidihus, an idea suddenly struck her.

Now that she thought of it, wasn’t it time for —no, ?

‘I hope Yumidihus gets mad after seeing the lesson.’

Professor Garcia quickly headed down to the basement and opened the classroom door.

But no one was there.

“???”

“They must be giving the lesson somewhere else.”

Yumidihus tapped the floor with her staff. Footprints on the floor glowed faint green, revealing a distinct trail.

“Ah. Maybe since the weather’s good, they’re in the courtyard…”

“?”

Yumidihus looked at Professor Garcia as if to say, “What nonsense is that?”

Voladi wasn’t the type to give lessons outdoors because of nice weather.

“…Is that not it?”

“Probably went to the dungeon.”

“Excuse me?”

“The dungeon. If a student’s achievements hit a certain level, it’s quicker to polish them through real experience. Are you teaching third-year students?”

“……”

“Are you teaching third-years? Or fourth-years?”

Shocked, Professor Garcia just shook her head at the question.

“What? He doesn’t teach third or fourth years.”

“Fifth? If it’s fifth-years, off-campus is better than on-campus.”

“……”

Professor Garcia did not answer.

Instead, she quickly strode away, anxiety and unease building fast.

“Let’s go!”

“Why such urgency?”

“I think Professor Bagrek took a freshman to a dungeon!”

“A freshman?”

“Yes!”

“They must be quite talented then…”

“It’s not a matter of talent!”

Professor Garcia burst out in anger at the revered mage.