Episode 246

Episode 246

…You learn quickly. I said that if I were a genius, I should naturally be arrogant, but I didn’t expect you to learn this fast.

“What are you talking about?”

It’s nothing.

The skeleton principal looked at the shield floating behind Lee Han and asked.

Is it an assignment?

“Yes.”

Why did you make it so crude and clumsy… Wait a minute. There’s no duration amplification?

The skeleton principal scanned the magic circle engraved on the shield and was surprised.

The fact that a magic circle was engraved on the shield itself wasn’t surprising.

Asking a first-year student to complete a floating shield without any auxiliary device would have been a heartless thing to do.

In fact, even with an auxiliary device, asking them to complete a floating shield was still heartless…

But that too was a path a wizard had to take in order to grow.

Being given impossible problems wasn’t always a bad thing.

Even if you failed a hundred impossible challenges, all that experience would help you grow as a wizard.

If you succeeded at least once, all the better!

‘It’s good that you succeeded, but why is there no duration amplification…?’

What a brute. Did he just increase the duration by sheer mana?

“Yes. But…”

Lee Han tried to explain.

It wasn’t because Lee Han was ignorant, but because the assignment itself was absurdly difficult, and when he combined magic circles to finish it somehow, it ended up like a patchwork, and if he were to extend the duration on top of that…

Well, that’s a way too. If you have a lot of mana, there’s no need to bother with it. I take back what I said about being ignorant. It’s a clever method.

“I didn’t do this on purpose…”

Stop being so humble. Anyway, well done. The professors will like it.

“…Professor Verdus as well, don’t you think the professors’ assignments are a bit much?”

That’s true. But you did it, didn’t you?

“……”

While Lee Han was trembling with anger and regret at himself, the skeleton principal tapped the shield.

It will last another day or two. Really… Professor Verdus will covet this.

“Why would the professor covet this?”

If you compared Lee Han’s magic skills to Professor Verdus’s, the difference was like a firefly and a full moon.

Seeing this shield patched up with magic circles, Professor Verdus would probably react the same as the skeleton principal had earlier, ‘Why did you make it so crude and clumsy?’

The magic circle was crude, but being able to infuse this much mana was something even Professor Verdus couldn’t do.

Regardless of skill, there were techniques only certain wizards could perform.

This kind of duration increase, possible only with Lee Han’s massive mana, was something even the outstanding enchanter Professor Verdus couldn’t do.

“It’s not that he can’t do it, it’s closer to not doing it. Isn’t this basically a trick?”

Lee Han answered indifferently.

No. For complicated artifacts, you can’t engrave duration amplification circles on every part.

For simple artifacts, it was relatively easier, but the more complex the structure of the artifact, the more the wizard’s calculations became mind-breakingly difficult.

Especially in multi-complex artifacts with several spells, it was impossible to engrave duration amplification circles on every part due to the complex structure.

Inevitably, you had to use all kinds of methods to supplement the lack of mana…

Sometimes, instead of intricately squeezing out mana, it was easier to just infuse a generous amount at once. Although they’re called semi-permanent, in reality, after a hundred years, the wizard is hardly responsible for it.

There were few customers who would seek out a wizard for a malfunctioning artifact over a hundred years old.

‘Well, I suppose that makes sense. This kind of trick does have meaning.’

Nodding, Lee Han paused.

“…Wait. Does that mean Professor Verdus will call me every time he needs something like this?”

That’s probably how it’ll be.

Lee Han’s face turned pale.

• * *

Ogonin was startled to see Lee Han beyond the mirror.

“What did you do to make the student’s face look like that?!”

I didn’t do anything!

The skeleton principal was furious.

To suspect the principal just because a student is depressed.

So if the cat in Ogonin’s magic tower gets grumpy, is it Ogonin’s fault?

“It’s nothing.”

Lee Han said with a bitter smile.

“It’s all my fault.”

“No…!”

Knowing the harsh educational environment of Einrogard, Ogonin stared intently at the skeleton principal.

The skeleton principal was about to lose his mind.

Thinking about the future of my orthodox illusion magic, I gave a chance to the festival saboteur, firework destroyer, relic thief, and now I get this insult?!

“It’s no use trying to pressure me. I won’t be fooled.”

Compared to the skeleton principal, Ogonin was still a greenhorn, but he was a wizard who had been through his share of ups and downs.

He wasn’t taken in by the skeleton principal’s fuss.

“I’m really fine.”

“Is that so? Good… I was wondering if I should write a letter to His Majesty the Emperor.”

All he knows how to do is tattle, what a bug-like fossil…

Lee Han pretended not to hear.

“Now. Then let’s continue the story from last time.”

For wizards, time is gold.

Ogonin immediately began the lecture.

“Do you remember the spells I mentioned last time?”

“Yes.”

Starting from -Ogonin’s Emotion Perception-, then -Ogonin’s Rising Anxiety-, -Ogonin’s Surging Fear-, -Ogonin’s Approaching Despair-, all sorts of mental illusion spells.

And even area fog illusion spells like -Ogonin’s Thin Mist-.

Other illusion spells mixed in elements from other schools of magic to lower the difficulty and increase versatility, but Ogonin was a wizard who pursued pure illusion magic.

‘Of course, that means the difficulty is higher.’

“Emotion perception magic is the foundation and starting point. It’s good to practice it until it becomes a habit.”

According to Ogonin, outstanding illusionists could sense the color of a person’s soul without even using emotion perception magic.

To reach that level of proficiency, you had to keep casting, practicing, and gaining experience.

If you could figure out what emotions your opponent harbored, the power of your illusion magic would naturally be amplified.

“Now. Try practicing.”

“…?”

Lee Han hesitated at the words.

On whom?

“On whom, sir?”

“Ah. Right. Hmm…”

Ogonin hesitated too.

In Ogonin’s magic tower there were plenty of practice partners, but in the principal’s solitary room, where was another practice partner?

Do it on me.

“Pardon?”

“What did you say?”

Try it on me.

“No…”

Ogonin was at a loss for words.

Unlike other spells, for mental-type illusion magic, the opponent was very important.

Between an archmage and a child, whose emotions would be easier to read?

Naturally, a beginner illusionist should practice on the latter…

“You want me to do that now…”

“Understood.”

Without much thought, Lee Han swung his staff.

“Arise, emotions!”

With the incantation, the spell was cast. Ogonin asked from the side.

“How is it?”

“The principal seems to be in a bad mood right now.”

“!!!”

Ogonin was so shocked he almost dropped his staff.

For a novice illusionist to succeed in emotion perception magic against the skeleton principal…

…That meant he was an unprecedented genius in the history of magic.

‘A genius to carry on the orthodox line of illusion magic…!’

Ogonin. Whatever you’re thinking, the magic failed. This kid is just quick-witted.

The skeleton principal, realizing what Ogonin was thinking, sneered.

Magic isn’t some child’s toy that can be learned that easily.

“…Was that it?”

“Ah. Sorry. I guess it feels different when the magic succeeds.”

Lee Han apologized.

He just said it because it was obvious the skeleton principal was in a foul mood, but it seemed it had nothing to do with the magic.

“No. It’s a hard spell by nature. Even more so if the target is an archmage.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Enough chatter, just read me already. I’m even dropping my defenses on purpose.

The skeleton principal, as an educator, didn’t make unreasonable demands.

He wasn’t asking Lee Han to read him while covered in all sorts of protection spells.

…Of course, just considering his innate magical defense was already plenty unreasonable.

“Arise, emotions. Arise, emotions. Arise, emotions!”

After casting the spell several times as instructed, Lee Han began to realize what kind of magic this was.

The white skull head of the skeleton principal began to be colored.

The color of the soul’s current emotion was clear.

‘Faint red and gray.’

Anyone could see it was the color of a bad mood.

To read the emotions more accurately, Lee Han kept casting the spell repeatedly.

The skeleton principal yawned and asked.

Still, at your level, you should at least see a fragment of the emotion by now. Hasn’t it shown up yet?

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Ogonin said incredulously.

He just started, and the opponent was an archmage.

Frankly, even after years of practice, it would be hard to read.

He was going to use the excuse that the skeleton principal got bored and left to find a proper opponent…

He’s saying that because this kid can do it.

“No matter what, that’s nonsense.”

“I’m still far from it.”

“See? Even the student says so. Seeing even a hint of the color of another’s soul is such a difficult thing…”

“…Oh. Wait. If I see a color, does that mean it’s a success?”

Lee Han paused.

The yawning skeleton principal looked at Lee Han with a ‘What is this guy?’ stare.

If you see the color, it’s a success. What, did you expect text to appear on your forehead saying ‘I am feeling this emotion’?

“I thought the color had to be deeper and more obvious.”

Outstanding wizards are skilled at emotion control. Just because it’s faint doesn’t mean it’s wrong. That’s good enough.

“Thank you.”

Hearing the heartwarming teacher-student exchange, Ogonin was dumbfounded and blinked.

What am I listening to right now?

“No… no… no… no??”

What’s the matter?

“If you’re not playing a prank on me right now… this is… uh…”

Didn’t I say you’d learn well?

The skeleton principal had certainly told Ogonin, ‘I thought so, someone like Wardanaz will learn well.’

Of course, Ogonin never imagined that the student would be able to read the principal’s emotions right after learning the magic.

That…

Does that make sense?

He has so much mana, exceptional talent for control, and quick wits, so it’s natural he excels at this kind of magic. Ogonin, try to let go of your preconceptions.

“No, I was just lucky.”

Stop with that disgusting humility already.

“Really… amazing…”

As Ogonin kept muttering, the skeleton principal grumbled.

So you’re not amazed that you failed at illusion magic yourself?

“…Let’s continue…”

Ogonin still couldn’t hide his amazement.

He had hoped for a genius to inherit the orthodox line of classical illusion magic…

Reality always stays a step ahead of imagination.

To think it would be like this…!

• * *

However, the next spell, -Ogonin’s Rising Anxiety-, never succeeded in the end.

Ogonin was sure it wasn’t because of Lee Han’s skill, but because of the skeleton principal.

How could that possibly succeed on the skeleton principal?

“It’s absolutely not that you’re lacking.”

“No. I’m the one lacking.”

“No, the target is…”

“No, I’m…”

“I said, no!!”

Ah. Why is he getting so worked up?