Episode 304

Episode 304

If one could imitate swordsmanship just by watching, all the swordsmanship guilds and instructors of the Empire would have had to lay down their swords.

Of course, if someone was truly an outstanding swordsman, they could grasp a certain amount of swordsmanship just by crossing swords.

But that was still only ‘to a certain extent’; it was impossible to read complex and abstruse sword forms in their entirety.

Take, for example, the Enghe Family’s Sword-Absorption technique—it belonged to that kind of category.

The swordsmanship that would make the opponent lose balance by dragging them along the moment the swords clashed was not something that ended with merely changing the properties of mana.

You had to calculate precisely from the mana property transformation to exactly which moment in the sword form to use it for the optimal effect.

But to realize that just by experience and develop it enough to use during a bout with Knight Allarlong…

‘Can magical talent even apply like this?’

Allarlong felt confused.

He had already heard from the patriarch that Lee Han was outstanding at magic.

Given that genius, perhaps he could pull off mana property transformation simply by seeing it.

But to develop it enough to use it in a duel…

Allarlong wondered if the young lord before his eyes should have been sent to the knights rather than to Einrogard.

“You’ve done splendidly, considering you trained alone. With further polishing, you will improve even more.”

“Really? That’s encouraging.”

Lee Han stood up, supporting his weight with his sword.

Having struggled throughout the semester, he could not help but be pleased by Allarlong’s recognition.

‘Looks like I’m not half bad.’

“Wardanaz. You have a guest.”

“Who is it?”

A servant approached, calling Lee Han. Lee Han wondered if it was one of his friends or perhaps one of those who had yet to repay their debts.

“It’s a priest. He said there’s an upcoming event for the Order, and thought you might be interested, so he came looking for you…”

“!”

Lee Han cheered up.

Priest Tijilling from the Prisinga Order had mentioned this before.

During the vacation, there would be an event for the Order.

Although it was called an event, it was more like a secondhand market for gathering and disposing of or dealing with cursed artifacts.

Ever since the semester, Lee Han had resolved to participate in this event and try to profit.

‘Thank you, Priest Tijilling.’

“I’ll change and go right away. Tell them that I’ll attend the event, so please wait for me in the parlor. Oh, could you also prepare some snacks to bring along to the temple?”

“I will do so.”

• * *

“……”

Lee Han walked on with a sullen face.

Beside Lee Han was not Priest Tijilling, but Priest Nigisor.

Priest Nigisor spoke as he swung the crackling flames beside him.

“As expected of Lee Han of the Wardanaz Family. I thought you would be interested.”

“Right… Well, I do like the Afha Order…”

Objectively speaking, the Afha Order was a good order.

Especially considering they helped Lee Han a lot with his weakness in handling fire elements.

Maintaining a good relationship with such an order was a good thing, but…

‘I thought it was the Prisinga Order.’

People’s hearts are such that the more they expect, the more disappointed they are.

Lee Han, who had hoped to profit from cursed artifacts, couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“So what is the Afha Order’s event about?”

“First, we have the burning of straw dolls. We burn straw dolls that contain the year’s misfortune and bad luck, and summon good fortune.”

“I see.”

Lee Han nodded at an event more proper than expected.

“Next, we invite priests and fire mages of the city to give a lecture on Imperial safety regulations.”

“…Hm?”

Lee Han was taken aback.

Was there such a thing?

“Did you do that before?”

“Since mages who mainly deal with the fire element can cause great damage from even minor accidents, you see. Unlike priests educated from childhood, self-taught mages often end up causing dangerous accidents.”

The Afha Order did not encourage arson; it was a group that worshipped fire. If it were otherwise, there would already be a bounty on them in the Empire.

The Afha Order was, if anything, extremely meticulous about fire safety.

In any sizable village, the reason everyone wanted an Afha Order temple was for this very reason.

‘…Wait. Didn’t Priest Nigisor want to burn the world?’

Lee Han glanced with discomfort at the priest walking beside him.

The Afha Order should probably focus more on managing priests like Nigisor than the city’s fire mages…

“Do mages really listen? I doubt they’d come easily.”

Priest Nigisor shook his head.

“After hearing the Imperial safety regulations, we issue certificates in the name of the Order. They’re quite useful if you want to use fire magic within the city, so a good number of mages attend.”

“!”

Unlike other magic, fire magic was not just anyone’s to use, even by employers.

A single misstep could burn down the surroundings.

“In that case, I must get one too.”

“…???”

Priest Nigisor looked at Lee Han, who was fired up with enthusiasm, as if it was strange.

What did he intend to use it for?

• * *

At the Afha Order’s temple, a scorching heat could be felt. Lee Han unconsciously grabbed his collar and fanned himself.

Flames flared from statues set up throughout the temple, and fire mages who had come to the temple exuded fire…

As Priest Nigisor had said, there were more mages than he had thought. Seemingly all the city’s fire mages had come.

“Have you been to that new staff shop? I heard they use camellia wood. Not sure how that’ll suit fire magic.”

“I still prefer an apple-wood staff. What would you do if you lost control after changing staves for no reason?”

From people who looked like they had never been in a fight, to adventure-looking types in metal armor and belts decked with daggers.

“That burn looks serious. Did your magic backfire?”

“Yeah. Be careful inside the buildings, yourself.”

“……”

And there were some unsettling conversations too. Lee Han froze without noticing.

‘…I’d better really be careful using fire magic.’

“Hey.”

“?

Lee Han turned his head.

Of course, in a crowded place like this, it wouldn’t be surprising if trouble started, but this was a temple.

‘What? Someone who enjoys going to jail?’

“A first-year, aren’t you? Bow your head and follow me.”

Surprisingly, the one addressing him was another Einrogard student.

Seeing him briefly reveal the Einrogard badge before closing his coat, Lee Han was puzzled.

“Are you… an Einrogard student?”

“Yeah. Second year. Lower your voice and follow.”

The mysterious second-year senior led Lee Han to a corner of the temple. Glancing around, he spoke.

“It doesn’t do you any good to show off that you’re an ‘Einrogard-trained mage’ here. The people who learned magic in this city either envy or try to take advantage of Einrogard students. It’s only a hassle.”

The senior spat and then rubbed it out with his boot.

“I’m advising you since we’re both from the White Tiger Tower. Got it?”

“…How did you know I was from the White Tiger Tower?”

Lee Han asked curiously, and the senior snorted.

“Anyone can tell by looking at you. Your whole body screams ‘I’ve handled a sword.’ Pleased to meet you. I’m Valgaro of the Alpha Family.”

He was a knight student from the same family as Angrago, a first-year from the White Tiger Tower.

Lee Han’s mind started spinning fast.

If he named a non-existent family, he’d be suspected, and if he used a real family name and they actually knew each other…

“…I am Gainando of the Moradi Family.”

“Moradi Family? Doesn’t seem like you’re from there?”

“I’m a collateral branch, that’s why.”

“Heh. Must’ve had a tough time being an unalike collateral. Moradi Family folks are notorious, you know.”

“It’s fine.”

Instead of making long excuses, Lee Han just managed a lonely smile. Sometimes saying nothing was the best explanation.

Valgaro then let his imagination soar.

A collateral branch already gets subtly discriminated against, and to not even resemble them…

“That’s enough. You can relax around me.”

“Thank you, senior. But what brings you here?”

“I’m here to get the Afha Order’s permit. Why else? I mainly use fire magic. But without a permit, not just clients, even other adventurers get wary.”

“A commission? Do you work as an adventurer?”

“Of course. What, you must’ve heard from others. Why don’t you know?”

“Because I’m from a collateral branch…”

Lee Han put on another sad smile. Valgaro became very sorry.

“Don’t mind it. Those who ostracized you are trash. How vile. No excuse for it.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not. To think my juniors would…”

Valgaro was furious to realize that, after finally becoming a second-year and meeting juniors, those juniors were doing such cowardly things.

“The White Tiger Tower students often work as adventurers during vacation. It pays for living expenses and helps keep a knight’s senses keen.”

“Indeed. And as an adventurer, you can pick the commissions you want.”

It was a job well-suited to White Tiger Tower students.

As mages, they earned high rewards; as scions from knightly families, their combat power was far above most adventurers and mercenaries…

If they only picked commissions that ended quickly, it was more lucrative financially as well.

‘So that’s the upside. Those dastardly White Tiger Tower students. Trying to hog all the benefits for themselves.’

It wasn’t really something the White Tiger Tower students had hidden, but Lee Han felt indignant.

“Exactly. And more than anything, we are knights. Unlike those Black Turtle Tower guys, we don’t take on petty tasks. No matter how much silver they pay.”

‘Do knights train for stupidity or something?’

“Well said, senior.”

As Lee Han was buttering up Valgaro, the priests of the Afha Order appeared, dragging a giant straw doll.

“First, thank you to all the fire’s heralds gathered here today. This straw doll is…”

Valgaro yawned and drew out his staff.

“You get ready too. Everybody will cast fire magic.”

“!”

The straw doll wasn’t to be burned individually.

The mages and priests gathered cast together to burn it in unison.

“Don’t underestimate that straw doll. It really won’t burn. Last year, someone tried solo and got humiliated… what are you doing?”

Click, click, click—

Lee Han strapped on several layers of fire-absorption rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

“I have donned my artifacts.”

“Hey. No matter how tough it is, you don’t need to go that far. If it doesn’t burn, the priests will step in.”

Whoosh!

As the explanation ended, the mages in the temple began waving their staves.

“O flame…”

“Burn and devour!”

“O fire, in orb form…”

Valgaro prepared his magic as well.

“Fire. Imbue.”

Normally, he would cast an imbuement spell onto the tip of a wooden pole instead of a sword, then jab the straw doll, causing fire to blaze.

But the surging flames quickly died down. The powerful mana within the straw doll resisted the fire magic.

“See? It really doesn’t burn…”

Whoooosh!

Lee Han summoned flames and blasted them into the straw doll. The fire wrapped around it and raged fiercely.

‘…How effective are those artifacts?!’