Episode 278

Shards of bone flew relentlessly, sweeping the area like buckshot and turning it into a mess.

The adventurers, who had been desperately holding out, waiting for the mage to run out of mana, began to feel a growing sense of discomfort.

‘…Something’s not right!!’

Whack!

Even with a shield covering their bodies, it was impossible to defend completely.

An adventurer struck by bone shards staggered and stuck their body out from a blind spot, and Lee Han immediately fired a water orb at them.

No matter how sturdy their armor was, it meant nothing.

The heavy impact slipped through the gaps in the armor, and the adventurer collapsed on the spot.

-At this rate, we’ll all be taken down! Shouldn’t we move?

-You’re saying we should charge right at the mage casting spells?!

The remaining adventurers signaled to each other and communicated desperately.

They couldn’t believe the situation.

When they saw him out the window before, he looked exactly like a noble family scion, delicately raised…

‘What kind of potion did he drink before coming?’

Originally, the plan was that when the mage entered the basement, all the traps they’d prepared would go off in sequence, and the adventurers would use that chance to attack together.

But the opposing mage must’ve drunk some kind of massive mana-enhancement potion, firing spells nonstop and devastating the basement.

Several traps had already been destroyed by the relentless barrage of spells.

For the adventurers, every second felt like an hour of agonizing endurance.

Then, the basement suddenly fell quiet.

‘Is it over!?’

The adventurers felt their hearts pounding in their chests as the bone shards stopped flying.

Whether all the bone shards were spent or the mage’s mana was depleted, the attack must have ended…

Thunk, thunk-thunk, thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk—

This time, water orbs flew in like mad. It wasn’t quite the overwhelming volume as before, but it was enough to suffocate.

And unlike before, when they were fired indiscriminately, now they curved precisely into the blind spots where the adventurers were holding out.

It was clear the mage had roughly determined the adventurers’ locations with the first round of attacks.

“Argh! Crazy mage bastard!”

Eventually, one adventurer shouted and rushed out. After withstanding the ruthless assault of bone shards and water orbs, their wooden shield was tattered and torn.

‘Fast!’

Kilbedek, seeing his companion move faster than expected, briefly held out hope that it might work.

There was an old saying not to rush at a mage while they’re casting a spell, but this was a little different.

Right now, the opposing mage was distracted by blasting water orbs throughout the basement, and the adventurer’s physical abilities had been greatly enhanced by pre-battle potions.

At that speed, like a gale, it should be enough to catch the mage off-guard.

After all, spell-casting speed was always the mage’s weak point.

“Flash!”

However, the mage seemed to be waiting, swinging his staff and casting a spell.

The massive water orbs floating in the air continued to transform into water bullets and fly, and from among them, lightning shot out, blowing away the adventurer’s shield.

“…!”

The adventurer, their shield gone, hadn’t even realized what had happened. That’s how fast the mage’s reaction was.

“Wha…”

“Flash, flash, flash!”

The adventurer’s senses were heightened by various potions. Seeing the tip of the staff, they moved to dodge.

However, as if expected, the mage fired three shots almost simultaneously. No matter which way they dodged, they would be hit.

Crackle!

Paralyzed by the electric shock, water orbs swarmed in like a pack of wolves.

The remaining adventurers were now more terrified than when facing the mad wizard.

The mad wizard would simply walk in and dismantle the traps one by one, subduing them; now, the young monster on the stairs gave them no breathing room, pressing relentlessly.

“S… surrender! I surrender!”

Thunk!

One companion rushed out with both hands up, only to fall from a water orb blast, leaving Kilbedek shocked.

They surrendered, so why!?

‘D-does he not accept surrender!?’

“Ah. Sorry. I didn’t realize you were surrendering. Will you be surrendering?”

“…Yes!! Yes!!! I surrender!”

“If you drop your weapon, raise both hands, and come out slowly, you’ll be fine.”

The young mage’s voice was so polite it was almost chilling.

Kilbedek carefully poked his head out. The mage waited with a blank expression and asked.

“You’re not planning any tricks, right?”

“No! Absolutely not!”

“You’re denying it very strongly… Alright then. Come out slowly.”

The adventurer in front of Kilbedek hesitated, then as if curious about the situation, spoke as he lowered his hand a little.

“Uh, well…”

Thunk!

“Ah, sorry. That was reflexive…”

Seeing his companion knocked out by a water orb, Kilbedek raised his hands even higher.

This mage, while polite in speech, was scarier in action than the mad wizard.

• * *

Lee Han could tell Professor Voladi was quite disappointed.

Fortunately, he was disappointed in the adventurers, not in Lee Han.

“You failed.”

“S-sorry, Mage.”

“We did our best, but…”

Professor Voladi was so disappointed he didn’t say another word. He tossed each adventurer a pouch of silver as payment and pointed to the main gate.

Sensing the intent to dismiss them, the adventurers slowly backed away in fear that turning around would result in a spell being fired at them by the mad wizard.

“I’ll escort you.”

Having breezed through his final exam, Lee Han was in a good mood.

Of course, the adventurers felt no relief just because Lee Han was escorting them.

“Th-thank you, Mage.”

“You can speak comfortably. I’m just a student with much to learn.”

Despite Lee Han’s humility, the adventurers never let down their guard.

“R-right. What year are you?”

“First year.”

“……”

“……”

The adventurers said nothing, only making inexpressible faces.

“Um… What exactly happened today?”

About halfway along, one couldn’t hold back and had to ask.

The other adventurers gave him looks that said, ‘Do you have a death wish?’ or ‘Don’t drag us down with you,’ but the question was already out.

“Ah. It was the final exam.”

“Excuse me?”

“The final exam, yes. Didn’t the professor explain it to you?”

“Oh…”

The adventurers’ mouths fell open and they could only repeat “Ah…” over and over.

Then, looking like they’d come to their senses, they shouted:

“No! He did explain!”

“I remember now!”

“That’s a relief. I was worried he hadn’t. This way, please. You can see the main gate ahead.”

Looking at Lee Han leading the way, the adventurers—all without consulting—thought the same thing.

If they made it out of Einrogard’s main gate alive today, they’d retire.

‘I’ve got to settle in a quiet, sparsely populated village.’

‘A village with no wizards.’

Sincerely, they never wanted to deal with madmen again.

• * *

‘Good start.’

Lee Han happily struck through -Repetitive Practice of Basic Magic Combat-.

Repetitive Practice of Basic Magic Combat

Basic Magic Character Education

Of course, there were still many classes left, but just starting the finals like this was a good sign itself.

“Wardanaz. We’re in trouble!”

“?”

“I heard, there’s no more extension for the -Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic- assignment! They said to submit it today as is!”

“!!”

Angrago whispered in panic, and Lee Han’s face went stiff.

This was not a normal situation.

‘No way!’

-Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic-.

The class assigned blueprints as pre-final homework, and physical production as the final…

…The problem was, the Phoenix had broken into the storage room and burned up all the assignments inside.

How could they submit the assignment on Tuesday as scheduled when all the work had been burned away?

So the students all figured, ‘Surely there’ll be an extension?’ ‘They have to extend the deadline after this…’

‘I was too complacent. This is Einrogard!’

Lee Han bitterly regretted his lapse.

Even if he’d known, he wouldn’t have had time while chasing the Phoenix, but still, it was painful.

“Wardanaz. There’s a way.”

“What way?”

“We all band together and protest to the professor! If the best student—if you join us… Hey! Wardanaz! Let’s do this together!!”

Lee Han didn’t even pretend to listen as he turned away.

That was a hopeless plan.

‘If I’m going to submit, I need to finish before lunch. I need a way…’

Unlike other amateur students, Lee Han was a prepared professional.

Amateurs give up when an assignment isn’t ready, but the professional finds a way to submit, no matter what.

Of course, the quality of the work couldn’t be guaranteed, but that wasn’t the point now.

There wasn’t much time left.

Lee Han gazed at the long pole that was once the skeleton of his magic lamp and fell deep into thought.

-Are you… planning to toss all the blueprints and solve this just with magic?!

-…What nonsense are you spouting, Yoner. I just haven’t finished drawing them.

Suddenly, a conversation with Yoner replayed in his mind.

Ditching all the design and construction, Lee Han would just add magic and claim, ‘It lasts a long time, doesn’t it?’ in a shameless bluff.

At the time, when talking with Yoner, he’d dismissed it as complete nonsense…

‘…But I have no time, and no other options.’

Lee Han steeled himself.

Sometimes, brazen sophistry works better than skill.

Let’s go with this!

• * *

Professor Alpen hadn’t arrived yet, but the students gathered in the -Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic- classroom were restless.

“Is there really no extension?”

“I’m telling you, there isn’t.”

“We’re screwed…! We’re doomed!!”

“Isn’t it kind of lucky? At least we’re all doomed together.”

“Don’t you have any sense?”

Just then, Professor Alpen entered. Noticing the restless air, Alpen asked with curiosity,

“What’s going on?”

“Professor! It wasn’t our fault the Phoenix burned the storeroom!”

“Well, it was our fault for not posting a guard! We’ll set one next time, so please, just give us one more chance…!”

“Please extend the deadline!”

“Alright. I was planning to from the start.”

Professor Alpen replied calmly. The students froze.

Huh?

“Huh? Didn’t you say there wouldn’t be… an extension?”

“How could I not extend the deadline when the Phoenix burned the storeroom? Finish by this weekend. I can give another two or three days, so those who need more time, come see me.”

“……”

“…Which idiot spread that rumor?”

The students were relieved, but it wasn’t over yet.

Who the hell started this rumor??

Thud!

Just then, Lee Han entered carrying his magic lamp. Seeing that Professor Alpen had arrived first, he quickly bowed.

“Hello, professor.”

“Welcome, Wardanaz.”

“I’d like to submit my assignment.”

“Wait…”

Angrago tried to stop Lee Han in a panic.

‘No, Wardanaz! Things changed! That was a rumor!’

But Professor Alpen spoke first.

“What’s this? Forgive me for saying, but there doesn’t seem to be a separate blueprint.”

“Yes, professor. I marked the amplification magic circle and the corresponding materials on the blueprints. But thinking it over, I realized even that was an inefficient way.”

“Inefficient?”

“Yes. I realized I could guarantee more than two days’ runtime with just my magic. I thought wastefully using materials would go against the purpose of this class.”

“So that’s why you submitted it this way?”

Professor Alpen’s gaze sharpened.

It wasn’t clear if that was a good or bad sign, but Lee Han didn’t waver.

“Yes.”

“Will you not regret this?”

‘?’

Lee Han sensed something odd.

‘What is it? Am I missing something?’

But the deed was done. Lee Han answered confidently.

“Yes.”

“To be honest, I’m impressed.”

Professor Alpen smiled brightly.

“Courage and resourcefulness are also wizardly virtues. If your claim that it lasts for two days or more is true, I’ll give you a perfect score. Go ahead and take a seat. Ah, since you’ve already submitted your assignment, you may leave the classroom if you wish. Everyone else, begin your assignments again.”

“…????”

Lee Han turned his head.

His friends were looking at him with eyes full of amazement and admiration.

Except Angrago.

“You, come out here for a second.”

“I-I need to finish my assignment, Wardanaz.”