Episode 188

Lee Han wondered why he had to summon a mass of water, but he listened quietly.

Since it was Professor Thunderstep’s instruction, there must be some reason behind it.

“Usually, a wizard who is compatible with the water element is also likely to be compatible with the cold element. But if you ask whether it’s easy to practice the cold element in daily life, that’s another story.”

Among the elements, there were those that were relatively easy to handle and those that were difficult.

If fire, water, and earth were representative of the easier elements (though there were wizards who found fire difficult), then lightning, darkness, and cold were among the difficult ones.

“Lightning is hard to control, darkness is hard to manifest, and cold is hard to maintain.”

With his words, Professor Thunderstep created a snowflake in the air.

The snowflake that appeared inside the warm cabin instantly turned into a droplet of water.

“Unlike water or earth, the cold element easily loses its power and disperses unless the wizard maintains constant concentration. You have to keep focusing and infusing mana.”

“Indeed. Just as it’s difficult to summon and float dozens of water orbs in the air, the cold element is just as…”

“…No, not quite that much.”

Professor Thunderstep was taken aback as he spoke.

The cold element was a difficult element, but not to that extent.

“But in this environment, the cold element is much easier to maintain. Don’t you think it’s the perfect environment for novice wizards to train and get a feel for it?”

“That makes sense.”

Lee Han nodded, then paused.

‘Oops. For a moment, I almost genuinely thought this might be lucky.’

It was only a moment, but he felt a little scared of himself.

It’s definitely not lucky!

“And as I said earlier, since the spirit realm is closer, cold spirits must have been summoned here and there… You might have the chance to interact with spirits and receive various teachings or blessings.”

“When I went to the spirit realm last time, the spirits avoided me. Is there any chance that this environment will remove their fear and make them friendlier?”

“There’s no such possibility.”

“……”

Lee Han became a little dejected.

So it’s still impossible?

“Thank you for the advice, Professor.”

“Yeah. Take care of yourself. It probably won’t last that long.”

“A day?”

“Longer than a day.”

“Two days?”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. Just assume you don’t know when it’ll end.”

Professor Thunderstep shook his head at his persistent student and took out a crate.

Inside the round glass bottles, brown liquid sloshed around, filling them.

“This is a gift. It should help with the cold.”

“Is it a potion?”

“No. It’s brandy.”

“…Thank you anyway.”

Lee Han picked up the crate and left the cabin.

Then he tilted his head.

‘Wait. So why did I have to create water?’

• * *

Whooooosh—

“Set it on fire!”

“No, we’re out of oil!”

“Push it with force before it hardens!”

“I’ll build a wall with earth!”

The Black Turtle Tower students struggled to clear the snow in front of the tower.

The Blue Dragon Tower had a crazy guy whose mana never ran out, so he cleared a path with fire, but the other towers couldn’t use such a method.

Instead, the Black Turtle Tower students used all sorts of tricks to clear the snow bit by bit.

They used every method imaginable.

“Imirg, push with force! I’ll make a wall!”

“Wait. Someone’s coming!”

“Is it a professor?”

“No way…”

The Black Turtle Tower students felt it too.

There was no way a professor would come to help!

Of course, the one who came was Lee Han.

“It’s Wardanaz!? How did you get through this blizzard…”

“Wardanaz! How did you get here!”

The Black Turtle Tower students shouted loudly.

Because the blizzard was so fierce, you had to shout with all your strength to be heard.

Whoooooosh!

“…came to do something!”

“What?”

“…came to do something!”

“You came to help?”

“No! I came to barter!”

Thud!

Lee Han set down the crate.

The crate was full of thick fabric.

He had bought so much like a madman that even after making all sorts of cold-weather gear, there was still plenty left.

“Where did you get this?!”

“I have my ways. So… will you trade?”

“If we talk out here, we’ll freeze to death. Come this way! Let’s talk over here!”

Where the black market used to be in front of the tower, there were now several makeshift snow huts.

The Black Turtle Tower students had built temporary shelters to clear the snow outside.

The students checked the fabric Lee Han brought and looked surprised.

‘Seriously, where did he get this stuff?’

‘How is that Wardanaz guy more resourceful than the thieves’ guild?’

“I… I want to trade, Wardanaz.”

“Yeah. That’s why I came.”

Lee Han looked at his friends with a slightly expectant gaze.

“How much food do you have left?”

“……”

“……”

The Black Turtle Tower students hesitated and just looked at each other. Then someone spoke up.

“None.”

“What nonsense is that? I know you’ve been steadily gathering supplies.”

The Blue Dragon Tower only lived well-fed because Lee Han uniquely brought in supplies; if left alone, they’d likely starve.

In contrast, many Black Turtle Tower students could fend for themselves even if thrown into the mountains.

If Blue Dragon Tower was buying, White Tiger Tower was hunting…

Black Turtle Tower used every method: gathering, farming, bartering, hunting!

They might not have luxury or high-end goods like the Blue Dragon Tower, but in terms of incoming food, they probably had more.

“The storage was blown away by the blizzard…”

“……”

Unlike Lee Han, who could store most small preserved foods, seasonings, and spices inside the lounge, the Black Turtle Tower students used a lot of external storage.

They couldn’t do all the smoking, pickling, and other processes inside the lounge.

Of course, such storage had the weakness of being vulnerable in situations like this.

“You should have prepared for this.”

‘How could we prepare for that…’

“Anyway, I understand.”

Lee Han picked up the crate and stood up.

It was a wasted trip, but there was nothing he could do.

“Wait! Wait! Wardanaz!”

“Don’t go!”

The Black Turtle Tower students clung to Lee Han’s collar.

They needed cold-weather gear more than anyone.

“Why are you being so pathetic?”

Lee Han spoke colder than the blizzard outside.

“C… can’t we get it on credit? We’ll pay you in silver coins when we get out…”

“Hey. Don’t say something so ridiculous. Would that work? No matter how much money your family has, the other party is the Wardanaz Family. Why would he accept such a deal?”

The friend next to Salko, the Black Turtle Tower’s runner-up he met last time, scolded him.

Lee Han paused.

“Which family are you from?”

“The Richmond Family…”

Shyles from the Richmond Family spoke with a rather embarrassed expression.

It was a family that had built up wealth as one of the empire’s top carriage transport businesses, but the dignity of a family was determined not by its gold but by the history it had built.

In that sense, the Wardanaz Family, one of the empire’s top great noble families and a renowned magical family, had a reputation Shyles couldn’t even compare to.

‘Seriously, this guy.’

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

If your family is rich, you should wear it on your forehead—why not say so and avoid this awkward situation?

“You’re from a very distinguished family.”

“Are you joking, Wardanaz?”

“Does my face look like it’s joking?”

Lee Han’s cold, statue-like face was intimidating even when he was just standing still.

Shyles looked a bit flustered.

“I’ll give it to you on credit. Pay me back during vacation.”

“What? Really? Is that okay?”

“Of course. If it’s the Richmond Family, I can trust you.”

“Wardanaz…”

Shyles looked at Lee Han with a moved expression.

There was no way someone from the Wardanaz Family would covet silver coins, so he was clearly being considerate of Shyles’ feelings.

Such warm respect shown in front of other friends.

Is this the dignity only a great noble can have?

“Thank you so mu…”

“Just sign here.”

“Ah, okay.”

Lee Han handed over the crate.

He hadn’t gotten any food, but selling it at such a high price made him feel warm inside.

“Wardanaz, you’re here?”

Nillia poked her head in from outside the snow hut.

“Help me persuade them!”

“Nillia… I told you it’s impossible. It’s dangerous.”

“I’m telling you it’s not dangerous!”

“?”

Nillia came in, patting her chest in frustration.

Wearing various animal pelts for warmth and snowshoes made of vines and branches, Nillia exuded the aura of a true expert.

“What are you trying to persuade them about?”

“I’m about to go hunting, but everyone’s trying to stop me.”

“Nillia… no matter what, hunting in this weather is…”

“It’s a good idea. Let’s go.”

“See? Wardanaz agrees!”

“……”

The friends looked at Lee Han in shock.

Aren’t you supposed to stop her!?

• * *

“Just sitting around won’t make food fall from the sky.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Wardanaz. People who aren’t hunters think meat falls from the sky! By the way, Wardanaz, can you move the fire aside?”

“Oh, sorry.”

Nillia stepped back from the heat. The flames Lee Han had floating around were too hot.

Lee Han admired Nillia’s light steps on the deep snow.

She wasn’t a member of the Shadow Patrol for nothing.

“In the Shadow Patrol, this kind of blizzard must be nothing, right?”

“No. It’s something. It’s rare for it to be this bad.”

“I see. Still, it’s amazing that you can make a path like this, especially without other Shadow Patrol members.”

Lee Han was impressed.

As a skilled hunter and ranger, Nillia was playing the role of a proper guide.

A snow-covered mountain became a completely different place, and if you lost focus for a moment, you could lose your sense of direction.

But Nillia found and made paths without hesitation.

Truly impressive skill…

“No. This is way easier.”

Nillia looked at Lee Han as if he was talking nonsense.

With flames floating around to light the way and keep warm, how was this a harsh situation?

If other hunters saw, they’d say, ‘Wow, hunting is easy for you.’

“By the way, I thought you’d try to stop me, Wardanaz.”

“Oh. Of course, I’d prefer to go after the snow calms down, but there’s no choice.”

“?”

“We have to attend lectures starting tomorrow. We have to stock up over the weekend.”

“……”

Nillia flinched.

She had actually thought, with midterms over and a blizzard, maybe she could use it as an excuse to skip a lecture or two.

“Lectures… In this emergency, can’t we skip just once?”

“What kind of nonsense joke is that, Nillia?”

“……”

Nillia turned her head and pouted where he couldn’t see.

This is why he’s the top student!

Suddenly, Nillia’s long ears perked up.

“There’s something. Either a spirit or a monster…”

“Can you tell which?”

“It’s not easy.”

With the blizzard shortening visibility and the natural mana running wild, it was hard to distinguish between spirits and monsters.

Pop!

“Huh? Why is it running away?!”

“…It’s a spirit.”