Episode 211

‘By any means necessary.’

Unlike Klvik, who felt sympathy for Lee Han and intended to subdue him gently, Lee Han was 100% serious.

In fact, if a freshman didn’t go all out against a high-level illusion mage, that would be crazy.

He had cast as many enhancement spells as possible before the duel began.

Those enhancement spells explosively boosted Lee Han’s already trained physical abilities.

The skeleton principal thought to himself as he watched his student run at high speed.

‘Really. Did he have to go that far?’

It wasn’t against the rules to cast spells in advance before a duel.

Besides, Lee Han was a freshman and his opponent was a fairly well-known mage.

No one would criticize him for that.

It just looked a bit undignified and desperate.

To the skeleton principal, it looked a bit pathetic.

He could win even without all that…

‘No dignity.’

Lee Han, not knowing the skeleton principal was having such annoying thoughts, dashed forward.

‘Gotta get in close!’

Unlike the skeleton principal, who was certain Lee Han could win “with his eyes closed,” Lee Han had no such confidence.

He basically thought that if he got hit by even one spell, it would be over.

He had shown resistance to magic and poison a few times before, but that wasn’t a 100% guarantee.

Given the opponent’s skill, unlike before, he could be taken down in one shot.

What was the best way to fight such a mage?

Get in close so they couldn’t cast spells.

Tap!

Lee Han pulled a steel ball from his sleeve and threw it at Klvik.

Already startled by Lee Han’s movement, Klvik was surprised again by the steel ball slicing through the air toward him.

He had the skill to easily block a simple projectile…

…but the steel ball flew at him faster than he expected.

“Ugh!”

Klvik stopped the incantation he was reciting and ducked. The steel ball flew over his head.

It was only a brief moment, but it was enough. Lee Han closed the distance and grabbed Klvik by the collar, throwing him down.

Thud!

Then he twisted Klvik’s arm behind his back and subdued him. Klvik’s staff flew off to the side.

“I… I lost!”

At Klvik’s declaration of defeat, the illusion mages were shocked.

The freshman’s movements had far exceeded their expectations.

Who would have thought a mere first-year could move so nimbly and quickly!

“That’s what Lord Gonadaltes was aiming for…!”

“Damn. He exploited our weakness. To think he’d bring a student from a knight family.”

“Indeed. If you don’t know about that kind of attack in advance, it’s not easy to respond. Was that the plan?”

If they had lost to a first-year student using the same magic, the shock would have been immeasurable.

But losing to an unexpected weakness being exploited brought a slightly different reaction.

—Ah, that boy is so admirable for his age!

‘No, you idiots…!’

The skeleton principal was dumbfounded by the illusion mages’ murmurs.

Did they really think he brought Lee Han to win with a cheap trick like that?

He wanted to show them their illusion magic being utterly ignored by a first-year…

This won’t do. Close combat is banned.

“What!?”

Lee Han was appalled.

Banning close combat…

“Isn’t that too much?”

It’s not too much. You just don’t know.

“If you want me to lose, you can just say so.”

That’s not it!?

The skeleton principal was doubly dumbfounded by his grumbling student.

This useless student still had no confidence in his own abilities.

He could just block it with his body!

“Yes, I’m sure.”

……

Whether the skeleton principal glared or not, Lee Han fell into thought.

If close combat was banned…

‘This is going to be really tough.’

Illusion magic, like a curse, was fast to cast and hard to dodge.

If you’d learned the relevant defensive spells, it was much easier to block, but Lee Han was still a first-year. He hadn’t learned such defensive magic yet.

No matter how quickly Lee Han cast spells and attacked, if he got hit by even one of the opponent’s spells…

“Lord Gonadaltes. It’s alright!”

“There’s no need for that. Please allow close combat for this first-year student!”

It was actually the illusion mages who helped Lee Han.

The illusion mages were indignant at Lord Gonadaltes for oppressing and belittling the first-year student.

Even if they had lost suddenly, they didn’t want to win by giving such a penalty to a first-year.

“Everyone…!”

Lee Han looked at them with a slightly moved gaze.

Just as Ogonin had a good reputation despite lacking skill, the mages under him clearly had good personalities.

Of course, for the skeleton principal, it was infuriating.

Who’s pitying whom right now… Even if I ban close combat, you still can’t win!?

“Even so, there’s no need to ban it! It goes against our pride.”

The skeleton principal had to resist the urge to magically shut the illusion mages’ mouths.

Lee Han wore a relieved expression. Anyone could see he was about to dash out and try close combat again.

“I am Doibach. Pleased to meet you. Of course, you may attempt close combat!”

“Thank you.”

The new mage, Doibach, was polite and respectful in his gaze.

It may have been a surprise attack and luck, but Lee Han had still defeated Klvik.

For a first-year to do that was impressive in itself.

Doibach resolved:

‘As a mage who has trained in illusion magic, and as a disciple of Lord Ogonin, I will face this first-year’s specialty head-on and win fairly!’

This is driving me crazy…

The skeleton principal muttered, but no one listened.

• * *

“So close!”

“Amazing!”

“To think he’d be that good…!”

Lee Han defeated three more after that.

Doibach tried to cast the fastest illusion spell, but Lee Han quickly closed in and disrupted his concentration with , making him just a bit too late.

Jelkenb tried to block Lee Han’s approach by creating a labyrinth of illusion magic, as he would against a warrior, but was still half a step too slow.

Bongbon too…

How little do you illusion mages practice dueling that your casting speed is this slow!?

The skeleton principal exploded, thinking at least one of them would cast a spell before Lee Han got close.

Of course, dueling wasn’t a required skill for mages, and there were even fewer mages who specialized in magical combat like Professor Voladi or the skeleton principal, but still, this was too much!

“You’re right, Lord Gonadaltes.”

“We’re ashamed. To think we’d lose to a first-year.”

“I respect your skill. Truly outstanding. Don’t be discouraged just because you’re from a knight family. Achieving greatness in magic has nothing to do with family.”

“Pardon? Wai—”

“With your skill, you’ll soon stand out in the Empire’s dueling world. I’ll be watching with anticipation.”

The illusion mages acknowledged it without complaint.

It was a disappointing defeat, but they weren’t shameless enough not to admit it.

And the opponent was a first-year.

No matter how they lost, it was honorable to respect and praise the opponent’s skill.

“Thank you.”

“You’ll meet many mages faster at casting than us in the future, but if you keep honing your speed, you’ll have few rivals.”

A heartwarming scene of mages acknowledging their shortcomings and sincerely praising a talented first-year.

It was the ideal scene when mages of different backgrounds met.

Klvik wondered if maybe Gonadaltes had brought his first-year student here for this reason.

To make the illusion mages realize their own shortcomings, by bringing a student with such a specialty…

Foolish idiots…

…Or maybe not?

Enough. Ogonin, let’s talk privately. My mood is ruined.

At the skeleton principal’s words, Ogonin nodded, reading the room.

Even Ogonin thought the duel had gone very strangely.

• * *

Explain it properly to this useless student. He won’t believe me if I say it.

“Um… well. You have very strong great mana.”

Very strong?

“…Extremely strong.”

Extremely?

“…Maybe you should explain it yourself?”

Is the festival disruptor, firework destroyer, and relic thief giving me orders now? Good grief. What is the world coming to…

Ogonin endured the humiliation, because it was his own fault.

“This great mana works in many ways… but especially for illusion magic, which acts directly on the mind with pure mana, it’s particularly affected by great mana.”

With Ogonin’s detailed explanation, Lee Han understood.

“So last time?”

“…You could say that. Especially directly cast illusion magic will rarely work on you.”

“Aha. So the principal wasn’t exaggerating when he said I could just take the hit.”

I’m right here.

“Y-yes, you could say that.”

Lee Han was intrigued by Ogonin’s assurance.

To think the skeleton principal had been telling the truth.

‘So he wasn’t just trying to mess with me.’

Of course, even if Lee Han had believed the skeleton principal, he would have fought the same way.

Because…

‘Why get hit if you can dodge?’

If you can dodge, why take the hit? Even if it’s a 0.0001% chance, there’s no need to take the risk.

“Thank you for telling me.”

Take out that book.

“Pardon?”

The book Ogonin wrote.

“……”

Lee Han took out the book with a reluctant expression.

It was the book Ogonin had written in his youth, bought at the bookstore.

Seeing it, Ogonin looked at the skeleton principal with an exasperated gaze.

He really was a mage who put his all into tormenting others.

What do you think?

“Of course, since it was written in his youth, there are some immature parts…”

“It seems like a good book.”

Lee Han thought the question was directed at him and answered.

The misunderstanding was cleared, but that didn’t mean Ogonin felt like a great archmage.

Honestly, if he was an archmage, shouldn’t he be able to pierce through great mana and cast magic?

Given his skill, the book was well written.

Ogonin gave Lee Han a grateful look at his unexpected response.

Of course, the skeleton principal was not convinced.

That?! Compare it to my book. You’ll see the difference.

“Well, it’s true your book is better, Principal… but books each have their own value. Just because one is relatively inferior doesn’t mean it’s a bad book.”

The skeleton principal hesitated, unsure whether to be pleased by Lee Han’s flattery or angry at his interference.

“Thank you!”

Ogonin was genuinely moved.

Ogonin had received praise and thanks from countless mages. He wasn’t moved just because a young mage praised him now.

But to be praised by the skeleton principal’s student, in front of that crazy skeleton principal, made even Ogonin’s jaded heart beat faster.

“This is fate, so if you don’t mind, may I teach you a little?”

“!”

Lee Han hesitated and glanced at the skeleton principal.

Misunderstanding his intent, the skeleton principal grumbled a reply.

Go ahead and learn. It’s rare to get direct instruction from a mage like Ogonin. It’s a good opportunity.

‘I meant, do I really have to learn?’

Lee Han thought to himself.

There was Professor Kirmin Ku at the magic school, and Baldororn outside the school, so he wondered if it was necessary.

‘Still, I should do my best out of courtesy.’

“Thank you.”