Episode 196

But it was already too late for regrets.

Professor Voladi’s magic lecture continued on.

“I heard from Professor Verdus. You decided to major in Imbuement Magic as well.”

“…I was just planning to listen lightly…”

“A good choice.”

Imbuement Magic, thanks to its broad versatility, was easy to link with other types of magic.

In particular, cold element magic worked well in combination with Imbuement Magic.

People who didn’t know well often had a few misconceptions about cold element magic.

The intense image evoked by blade-like cold, the difficulty of learning and using it.

-Maybe cold element is the most destructive and combative of all elements?

But that wasn’t the case.

In terms of instant destructive power, the fire element was much better. Fire, once ignited, would consume everything around it and burn on its own.

In comparison, cold element wouldn’t freeze the opponent right away just because you summoned it.

The wizard had to keep pouring in magic power and maintain the cold until the opponent froze.

It was a rather inefficient method.

‘Hmm. I shouldn’t just freeze things recklessly from now on.’

Lee Han reflected on having hastily poured in magic power to make ice at the lake because he was in a hurry.

It was a good thing only his friends were there—if other professors had seen, they might have said, ‘What a brute.’

Anyway, the cold element was ambiguous in other characteristics as well.

Shape transformation or sustainment?

The water element was better.

For pure penetration, earth element; for speed, lightning element…

Except for its freezing property, cold element was more ambiguous and difficult to use than expected.

But it wasn’t without its merits. If you knew how to use it, cold element certainly had advantages that other elements couldn’t match.

One such method was Imbuement Magic.

Tap—

Professor Voladi drew his rapier. From his stable stance, Lee Han realized the professor had learned swordsmanship.

‘Well, someone who stakes their life on magic combat wouldn’t be lax in close combat.’

Swish!

Lee Han could feel cold magic power rising along the rapier’s blade.

“Come at me.”

“…!”

Lee Han managed his expression so as not to look too happy as he stood up.

As he took up his wooden sword, the professor immediately took the initiative. The distance closed in a sliding motion, and a thrust came flying.

It was a fast and sharp thrust, but Lee Han hadn’t learned swordsmanship so poorly as to get hit by an attack coming straight from a distance with no feint.

He immediately pushed his wooden sword forward and deflected the thrust.

Crack!

At that moment, part of the wooden sword froze.

Lee Han forcibly poured in magic power to shake off the ice. He couldn’t end it like this.

‘Professor Voladi probably doesn’t know my sword style in detail. If I can just land one hit…’

“Do you understand?”

“Yes?”

Lee Han paused, caught off guard.

“I mean Imbuement Magic.”

“Ah… Yes. It pairs well with the cold element.”

A wizard didn’t need to focus magic power to scatter cold or create and shoot cold crystals.

By imbuing an object with cold, you could continuously deal damage to the enemy.

You couldn’t take them down with a single graze, but that was enough.

Since Lee Han had properly learned swordsmanship, he could feel just how effective this cold imbuement was.

‘If swordsmen fight, they keep clashing weapons, so after five or six times, you’d be incapacitated.’

Seeing that Lee Han understood, Professor Voladi nodded and sheathed his sword. Lee Han felt a bit disappointed inside.

“Throw it.”

“Yes.”

Professor Voladi gestured toward an iron ball. Lee Han managed his expression as he picked up the ball.

‘Stay calm.’

Don’t make the opponent wary, keep as cool as possible…

Lee Han drew magic power from his whole body and imbued it into the ball.

Having been scolded by Professor Ingeldel for pouring so much magic power into his sword, Lee Han was being as careful as possible.

But sometimes, there was no helping it.

That time was now.

Whoosh!

With a sound tearing through the air, the iron ball flew fiercely.

At that moment, the dagger at Professor Voladi’s waist moved as if alive.

With a clanging sound, the dagger pierced the ball precisely. The ball, which had been flying so fast, instantly slowed and froze.

It was an unreal stillness that only cold summoned by a wizard, not natural cold, could show.

While Lee Han was amazed, Professor Voladi focused on another aspect.

The vampire professor asked with interest.

“You didn’t circulate the magic power, but triggered it instantly when you threw it?”

“…Yes.”

“It’ll strain the equipment, but for disposable throwing weapons, it’s fine. Good method.”

Lee Han let out a sigh of relief inside.

Luckily, his murderous intent hadn’t been discovered.

“You practiced this in swordsmanship class, didn’t you?”

“Pardon?”

Lee Han paused.

He sensed the topic was about to go in a strange direction.

Professor Voladi’s words sounded just like, ‘So you’re taking swordsmanship class to add this kind of method to magic combat.’

For Lee Han, who was taking it for grade management, it was a very unfair accusation.

“I didn’t do it on purpose…”

“Well done. Summon a cold shield.”

Professor Voladi changed the subject as if the previous topic was already over.

Lee Han was uneasy, but had no chance to clear his name.

‘…It’ll be fine. Surely.’

• * *

2nd circle magic, <Cold Shield>, was much more difficult than <Water Shield>, even though they were the same circle.

Elemental difficulty, magic power consumption, magic power maintenance—everything.

It was almost unfair to call them the same circle.

But <Cold Shield> deserved its difficulty.

‘It freezes attacks that touch it!’

Not only did it freeze, but it also greatly reduced the power of attacks, making it an excellent magic shield.

“Now, command this shield to protect you on its own.”

“Y-yes?”

Lee Han nodded, then was startled.

He had spent the whole lecture learning how to transform the cold element’s form and had barely managed to create a <Cold Shield>, and now he was being told to give it autonomy.

Professor Voladi, noticing Lee Han’s misunderstanding, spoke.

“I don’t mean right now.”

“Ah. The final goal…”

“By next class.”

“……”

Lee Han regretted not putting a bit more magic power into the iron ball earlier.

If he had, maybe he would have broken through the defense?

“To command the shield to protect you on its own… Wouldn’t that be 4th circle?”

Lee Han quickly estimated.

To make a cold shield that floats in the air, spins around, and blocks attacks aimed at its master?

…At least 4th circle.

“That’s right.”

“Professor, I’m a first-year.”

“?”

Professor Voladi looked at Lee Han with eyes that wondered why he was saying something so random.

“…Isn’t the magic a bit too difficult…?”

“Combining rotation and firing attributes in a water orb, Azirmo Summon Imbuement. Those are all 4th circle, aren’t they?”

“……”

Lee Han was truly at a loss for words.

To think he’d lose to Professor Voladi in logic.

You’ve succeeded at 4th circle magic before → So you can succeed at 4th circle magic again!

It was an irrefutable, perfect logic.

Professor Voladi, still looking as if he didn’t understand, continued.

“Was that a joke?”

“…Yes… well…”

“You’re not good at jokes. That’s fine. Jokes aren’t needed in magic combat.”

Professor Voladi even comforted Lee Han and left the classroom first.

Left alone after class, Lee Han held his head in regret.

‘…I shouldn’t have succeeded with cold element on the first try.’

No matter how he thought about it, the start of this whole butterfly effect was that.

Who knew a single mistake would come back like this…

• * *

The school was still cold, but after about two days, Lee Han felt like he had adapted.

‘I should start clearing the spire path soon.’

Of course, some students like Gainando might say:

-Do we really have to go in this weather!? Let’s go later!

But Lee Han knew well.

If you make excuses because it’s cold, then because it’s hot, then because there’s a quiz, then because you have to play card games, you’ll never get anything done.

“Okay, enough nagging…!”

Gainando, who had been scolded for worrying once, wore a face full of injustice.

‘Do we really have to go in this weather!? Let’s go later!’—he didn’t think that deserved this much scolding!

Clatter clatter—

Evening.

The Blue Dragon Tower students, gathered in the lounge, scraped the remaining food from their bowls with their spoons.

Having finished his meal first, Lee Han took out the potions he’d received as gifts from Priest Siana.

Since he was going out at night in this weather, he had to prepare as much as possible.

Gulp—

Lee Han drank all the potions that were drinkable and stood up.

“Well then, see you later.”

“Take care.”

“Thanks for worrying.”

“……”

Gainando looked very dissatisfied at the warm conversation.

“How is that any different from what I said?”

“Do you mean it sincerely?”

• * *

“Huh? He’s out!”

“Really?”

Fourth-year student Koholti and his friends were surprised.

They hadn’t expected a freshman to really come out of the tower in this weather.

“Is he really a freshman?”

“He’s not an ordinary freshman.”

At Koholti’s words, his friends nodded.

The image of him wildly casting spells in the twisted dimensional corridor was still vivid in their minds.

Normal freshmen didn’t do that.

-I told you, the Patriarch of the Wardanaz Family made a pact with a great demon…

-No way, would the Wardanaz Family really do something that crazy?

-Then my more moderate theory: the Patriarch of the Wardanaz Family is a dragon…

-Guys, it’s good to debate, but let’s not talk about things that could get us assassinated by the Wardanaz Family when we’re outside.

Direte cursed, ‘You bastards, you deal with it,’ but Koholti and his friends took a realistic approach.

To solve the twisted dimensional corridor right now requires a lot of magic power → There’s almost no way to bring that much magic power to the corridor without loss → In this situation, shouldn’t we borrow even a freshman’s help?

Of course, Direte and other upperclassmen would say, ‘Those bastards are disgracing all fourth-years,’ but Koholti and his friends felt no shame.

-Then you try handling the twisted dimensional corridor while getting chewed out by the professor!

So Koholti and his friends were waiting around the Blue Dragon Tower, secretly from Direte.

They didn’t expect him to come out, but if he did, they’d try to make contact.

And now, here he was.

“Send the message! Message!”

“Wait. I’m going now!”

The fourth-year students calmed themselves and cast a spell.

Because of the strict surveillance of the skeleton principal, contacting freshmen was a life-risking act, but that didn’t mean there was no way.

The fourth-year students had been through a lot at this school.

Tap—

A paper bird spun and flew, then landed at Lee Han’s feet.

“?”

Lee Han picked up the paper, puzzled.

O brave and wise freshman. Come to the twisted dimensional corridor guided by Professor Mortum.

If you do, trustworthy wizards will reward your dedication!

“……”

Lee Han was dumbfounded.

‘Are there even letter scams at magic school?’

Rip rip rip!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lee Han tore up the letter and threw it away. If he kept it and it turned out to be some weird magic, it would be a headache.