Episode 247

“…S-sorry. I failed to control my emotions.”

Ogonin was embarrassed.

Wizards who practiced other kinds of magic also had to control their emotions well, but illusionists especially so.

How could a wizard who couldn’t control their own emotions hope to control the emotions of others?

“Keep this in mind. It is absolutely not that you are lacking.”

“Ah. Yes. Understood.”

Lee Han nodded at Ogonin’s earnest praise.

But no matter how he said it, Lee Han couldn’t quite get a sense of it.

‘So just how good am I exactly?’

Compared to most wizards learning illusion magic, how was he? How long did it usually take to get to this point? Wouldn’t it make sense to at least say something like that?

Ogonin’s praise had far too little informational value.

He knew he wasn’t lacking, but…

“When you go back, keep practicing the anxiety spell.”

Although it was important to become familiar with magic through repetitive training, that wasn’t the reason Ogonin brought it up.

‘If only the opponent changed, the chances of success would be high.’

In Ogonin’s view, there was only one reason Lee Han was failing -Ogonin’s Rising Anxiety- right now.

Because the opponent was Gonadaltes!

If he tried casting it on other students, the chances of success would be very high.

‘Of all people, because of that guy…’

Ogonin was anxious.

Sometimes even talented wizards lost confidence because of mistakes they made at first.

For a talented wizard to fall into such a pit because of a common mistake that anyone could make.

Ogonin could not accept that.

What a loss it would be for the wizard who would carry on the orthodox line of illusion magic.

The problem was, Lee Han could also fall into such doubt right now.

‘I can never let that happen!’

“Uh. By the way, Mr. Ogonin.”

“What is it?”

“To practice this, I’d have to cast it on my friends, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“But making my friends anxious when they’re working hard on assignments and studying for exams is a bit…”

Lee Han said with a reluctant expression.

After all, an anxiety spell was a spell that made the other person anxious.

He felt a bit sorry for his friends who were studying hard.

“That’s certainly a point.”

Ogonin nodded repeatedly, as if he understood Lee Han’s point.

Lee Han felt relieved at that sight.

‘He must have a solution.’

“So what should I do then?”

“You just have to take that into account, don’t you?”

“Excuse me?”

You have to take it into account.

Lee Han thought they were joking with each other.

But Ogonin and the skeleton principal were very serious.

Shouldn’t your friends make a little sacrifice for the sake of magic?

‘…These people are crazy wizards…’

Lee Han flatly refused.

“I can’t do that.”

“No… why not?”

It’s not like you’re stealing their hearts, you’re just making them a little anxious. If someone neglects their magic studies just because they feel a little anxious, wouldn’t they neglect them if the wind blew too?

“I said no.”

At Lee Han’s firm refusal, Ogonin was flustered and the skeleton principal grumbled.

But Lee Han did not change his mind.

Fine… I get it. Practice with -Ogonin’s Abundant Satisfaction- instead. How about that?

“But the anxiety spell would be better for practice…”

“No. I’ll practice with the satisfaction spell.”

“But the anxiety spell would be better for practice…”

“……”

Lee Han’s opinion of Ogonin dropped a little further.

‘Hm. Just because he doesn’t get along with the skeleton principal doesn’t mean he’s necessarily a good person.’

Today, Lee Han once again realized that wizards with long careers were more likely to be crazy.

• * *

It’s already evening. I’ve taught for a long time.

“Yes… well…”

Lee Han, who had lost his entire weekend, controlled his expression and swallowed his bitterness.

What could he do about the time that was already lost?

He’d just have to work harder with the time he had left.

Then, go back to the tower and study magic hard…

“Wait! Wait!”

?

The skeleton principal narrowed his eyes at the sight of Professor Verdus running from afar.

Why is he running over so clumsily?

“I heard you extended the duration of a simple artifact using mana?”

I did.

“……”

Lee Han was so dumbfounded he could barely speak.

Wait, it’s only been a few hours and already??

‘More importantly, the skeleton principal was with me the whole time?’

“How did you know about that, Professor?”

“The death knights told me?”

“…!”

A death knight who heard the conversation between the skeleton principal and Lee Han told another death knight, who told another death knight, and so on…

As a result, even though the skeleton principal did nothing, it reached Professor Verdus’s ears.

It was a chilling rumor-spreading structure in Einrogard.

‘This is like hell.’

Lee Han’s head throbbed at the sight of the gossiping death knights.

Should he have learned undead purification magic and banished them whenever he saw them??

I know you’re excited, but is there a reason to run over and ask right now?

“Hm?”

Professor Verdus looked at the skeleton principal as if to say, why are you asking such an obvious question?

“Well, I was going to take him now to test it out… That portable large compressed mana stone over there…”

Who?

“No, I meant student Wardanaz.”

‘Didn’t he just call me a portable large compressed mana stone?’

Lee Han shuddered at Professor Verdus treating him like a portable mana battery.

“Professor. It’s evening right now.”

“It’s fine. I’ll turn on the lights.”

“…I have a lot of assignments and lectures tomorrow.”

“It’s fine! We’ll be done before tomorrow morning!”

…I usually don’t block opportunities to experience magic, but this won’t do. No!

The skeleton principal firmly told Professor Verdus.

Professor Verdus replied as if he’d heard news that the sky was falling.

“Why!?”

I just told you the reason! Even if I say it again, you won’t understand.

Normally, even the skeleton principal would have said, ‘Wizards grow by struggling a bit,’ and pushed him, but Professor Verdus was different.

With his personality, there was a high chance he wouldn’t let Lee Han go even when the morning lecture time came.

“I said I’ll turn on the lights and send him before tomorrow morning’s lecture!?”

Yeah. I always promise His Majesty the Emperor that I’ll make the students happy and smiling. As if! Go back. And don’t get caught by any strange professors on the way!

“…Yes… Thank you.”

Instead of telling the skeleton principal, ‘This is all because you called me out,’ Lee Han quietly decided to just go back.

He was seriously afraid he’d run into another strange professor.

• * *

“Why do the Blue Dragon Tower guys look so happy today?”

“Yeah, really…?”

“Don’t tell me they finished all the final assignments over the weekend?”

“Nonsense! Do you even hear what you’re saying?”

“But there’s Wardanaz. There’s a rumor Wardanaz was holed up in the dorms all weekend doing assignments…”

“N-no way.”

The other tower students looked at the Blue Dragon Tower students with fearful eyes.

No matter what, did they really finish all the assignments over the weekend?

Is that even humanly possible?

“Lee Han. Lee Han. Cast it on me one more time.”

“…No. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“No! Just one more time!”

“Me too, just once more!”

As his friends all raised their hands and begged Lee Han to cast -Ogonin’s Abundant Satisfaction-, Lee Han made a firm decision.

“No. Not anymore.”

“Ugh… Why…!”

“This happiness… Why…!”

His friends couldn’t even get properly angry because they were too satisfied.

‘The magic worked properly, but…’

Normally, he should have been satisfied with practicing the spell properly, but seeing what was happening, Lee Han thought he shouldn’t practice anymore.

‘Illusion magic is kind of dangerous.’

“Wardanaz. Wardanaz.”

Salko from Black Turtle Tower called Lee Han. Lee Han nodded as if he understood.

“You want a spell to make you satisfied. I’ll cast it just once, and then not again. It can get addictive.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

Salko was flustered.

“Wasn’t it? Then why did you call me?”

“Of course I have something to tell you.”

Salko thanked him first.

“I said it before, but thanks again.”

“It’s nothing. I helped for money, so don’t forget the money.”

Salko thought Lee Han was joking to lighten the mood and laughed.

“Haha…”

“…Why are you laughing? I said don’t forget the money?”

“Ah… no. Of course I’ll pay you.”

Salko was a bit flustered by Lee Han’s more serious-than-expected obsession with money.

He thought the money was just an excuse to help.

“So what did you want to tell me? If it’s another reckless plan like last time, forget it. I already have so many assignments piled up.”

“Don’t worry. I barely recovered, there’s no way I’d do something so reckless again.”

Salko had learned a hard lesson this time.

Even if you have a friend who’s good at fighting among your peers, wandering around the outskirts carelessly could get you killed!

“You’ve been looking for a way to get to the upper floors of the main building, right?”

“Yeah. Isn’t everyone?”

First-year students who enjoyed night walks were all exploring the main building, here and there.

Whether going down to the basement or up, all sorts of hidden rooms and storage, passages and spaces, were a huge help to students.

Not just out of curiosity, but for survival!

“I found a shortcut to the upper floors of the main building.”

“…Tell me more.”

During the weekend, while the main building was being shaken up and rearranged, a student from Black Turtle Tower was raiding the -Red Turnip- food storage and witnessed something strange.

“Red Turnip food storage? Where’s that?”

“Is that important right now?”

“Of course it’s important.”

‘He already has so much food…’

Salko thought to himself.

Of all the tower students, Blue Dragon Tower students lived the most abundantly.

While others worried about their next meal, Blue Dragon Tower students had annoying conversations like, ‘Ah, today’s dessert wasn’t great,’ or, ‘Even Wardanaz sometimes fails at dessert choices.’

And Salko knew very well that all this abundance was thanks to a certain student risking his life to take care of them.

Personally, he thought there was nothing to gain from feeding such lazy brats so well, but…

“Here. Satisfied?”

“Got it. Thanks.”

“Don’t take too much. We have to take some too. And from experience, if you take too much, the storage changes.”

“Yeah, I figured. Keep going.”

While raiding the food storage, the Black Turtle Tower student saw the blocked wall at the back open and turn into a new passage.

Amazed, the Black Turtle Tower student tried to step into the passage, but…

Upper floor shortcut

This path is protected by a barrier, so those without skill should turn back!

Only the phrase carved on the wall remained, and the student was bounced back.

A barrier to keep out intruders had been set.

Lee Han listened with a look of interest.

‘Definitely interesting.’

Seeing that it was labeled as a shortcut to the upper floors, that path could be the shortest shortcut among all the routes he’d recently explored.

Who knew the rearrangement period would bring such luck.

“I came to tell you in case you might be able to break through the barrier. Here’s a map.”

“You’re overestimating me, Salko.”

“Is that so?”

“But this time is an exception. I got a chance to learn from an outstanding illusionist.”

“I knew it… I thought so. Impressive! Who was it?”

“It was Lord Baldororn.”

“Of course. Baldororn…”

While Salko was admiring, Lee Han remembered and added,

“Oh, I also learned a bit from Ogonin.”

“I see.”

People usually don’t care much about things tacked on at the end.

Salko was the same.

He focused on the name Baldororn and didn’t pay much attention to Ogonin.

So by the time he realized who Ogonin was, Wardanaz had already left.

“Wait. Wardanaz. If it’s Ogonin, could it be… Wardanaz?”

“Wardanaz left a moment ago?”

“……”