Episode 397

However, ominous predictions were always spot on.

“They’re here. How did you know?”

“……”

Not taking any chances, Lee Han had gone to Professor Thunderstep to ask, only to be flabbergasted.

He wouldn’t have been this surprised if it had been Professor Voladi.

After all, there was a precedent in the first semester.

Even if it had been Professor Ingeldel, he could have accepted it, but for even Professor Thunderstep to be doing this!

“Why do we need outsiders to learn alchemy?”

“Because the world of alchemy is vast and limitless… not only do you need to learn the secrets recorded at Einrogard, but also the methods of other alchemists?”

Professor Thunderstep replied as if it was obvious.

Lee Han was left speechless by the answer.

‘Well, he isn’t wrong.’

He’d realized it while working at workshops during the break—no matter the field, magic had no end.

Even alchemy alone had secret techniques and recipes developed by Workshop A, and spells used only by Guild B.

If you could learn those, it made sense to invite anyone from outside.

“Sorry, Professor. I guess I developed a bias because some wicked people keep inviting outsiders in and forcing us into duels.”

Lee Han sincerely apologized.

At that, Thunderstep looked a little sheepish and avoided his gaze.

“…Professor??”

“Uh… Let’s just say in advance, I didn’t invite outsiders just to make your life hard, like the headmaster does.”

“I said wicked people, not the headmaster…”

“But in the end, as it turns out, it will still be a contest.”

“……”

As Lee Han stared at him, Professor Thunderstep quickly explained.

“I didn’t do it because I wanted to!”

“Well, that’s something the headmaster says all the time…”

“Alchemists are eccentric! Did you really think you could learn their secrets for nothing? No matter how famous Einrogard is, that’s not going to happen!”

Honestly, not just alchemists, all mages were eccentric in their own ways.

But people always feel their own field’s crazy ones are the worst.

The imperial alchemists invited this time by Thunderstep weren’t people who could be persuaded by money, fame, or even the skeleton headmaster’s threats.

The only way to learn from them was to convince them with your skill directly.

“So it’s a contest in the end.”

“Yes, but to be precise, this is a little different from the other professors…”

“It still seems like a contest to me.”

Professor Thunderstep cursed Lee Han inwardly.

• * *

Not long after, Professor Thunderstep announced the truth during the alchemy lecture.

-Today, inviting alchemists from the Imperial Paragranum Guild will be a priceless opportunity for you all.

-Paragranum Guild!! Is that the guild that made the cure for hemophilia two years ago?

-Correct.

-It’s truly an honor!

-Yes. I’m sure it is? So everyone, work hard and show them what you’re made of.

-Huh?

At first, the students didn’t understand.

It wasn’t even test week, and somehow, they had to show something to some of the most famous alchemists in the Empire and have their skills acknowledged.

They’d just been studying alchemy hard at the start of the second semester—why this bolt out of the blue?

-Can’t we just take a regular test?

-You’ll take a test at midterms, isn’t that enough?

-If we don’t impress them, does it still count against our grades?

-Do you think there’s any chance it won’t?

The students who chose alchemy class had to leave with gloomy faces.

It wasn’t just them, either. Students in other classes were equally despondent.

As the second semester passed the two-week mark, it was about time the professors revealed their true nature and started raising the difficulty.

Most students refused to believe it, but in the first semester, the professors had definitely been kinder to consider the new freshmen.

“Who are you looking for?”

“Ah, Priest Nigisor.”

Lee Han glanced around, spotted the fire-elemental priest, and waved his hand.

“I was going to ask the Blue Dragon Tower kids who take alchemy what they’ll do. I stepped out for a second, and they’re already gone.”

“Ah… The Blue Dragon Tower folks already left. I heard them say they wanted to lie down in the dorm since standing around wouldn’t help their hunger.”

“That’s a funny joke.”

“?”

“…Wasn’t that a joke? Guess I’ll have to go to the dormitory.”

Lee Han decided to stop by Phoenix Tower to grab some snacks before visiting.

And Priest Nigisor quietly trailed behind Lee Han.

“Uh, is there something you want to say?”

“Ah. It’s my turn this time, so I’m sticking with you.”

“…S-suit yourself.”

Lee Han packed up with Priest Nigisor and headed for the Blue Dragon Tower.

On the way, Priest Nigisor asked for help in creating a flame that could burn the world, and Lee Han pretended not to hear.

• * *

Ahsan Dalkard lay in the lounge, absentmindedly watching his friends, idly waving his quill.

Before he knew it, the third weekend of the second semester was approaching. Once he finished today’s homework, he planned to eat a piece of bread he’d saved.

At first, Ahsan thought it was the headmaster’s scheme to start the term without Wardanaz. Didn’t want to see them living in comfort and luxury and had pulled some trick.

But he hadn’t known. That confronting harsh despair was the key to discovering your true self.

Now, the Blue Dragon Tower was filled with intense vitality and fighting spirit, sharpened by adversity. Ah! The other noble families of the Empire would never understand this true life…

Up front, an argument over a single potato and whether to use it in chess was erupting, but Ahsan pretended not to notice.

Maybe this really was true life…

“Dalkard. Lee Han is calling you.”

“Why are you only telling me now!”

Ahsan threw the book he was holding to the floor and hurriedly ran out.

Outside, the students from Blue Dragon Tower who were taking alchemy were already gathered.

“Still, you all look a bit better off since you’re in alchemy.”

Having a knack for alchemy meant being able to spot what was edible among the surrounding plants.

Even if Blue Dragon Tower students sometimes lacked life skills, at least those studying alchemy were better…

Thunk!

No sooner had he spoken than one student collapsed sideways. Yoner spoke flatly.

“Must be dizzy.”

“…Everyone, let’s eat first and talk after.”

Lee Han spread plenty of jam and butter on slices of bread and offered them to his friends.

Suddenly, the area fell silent.

It wasn’t because magic was being cast, but because everyone was too focused on eating.

Lee Han felt slightly overwhelmed by the scene and asked Yoner.

“To this extent… was it really this bad?”

“Everyone’s been pretty hungry.”

Fortunately, other than looking tired, Yoner didn’t seem out of sorts.

Honestly, any Einrogard student who hadn’t given up on studying was always tired.

“Even the ones taking alchemy?”

“Uh… um… that… finding ingredients yourself is a whole different story.”

Yoner didn’t want to criticize his friends’ abilities, so he dodged the question, but Lee Han understood right away.

“Don’t tell me… when you were at your manor, you had servants fetch your ingredients?!”

“…Kekek.”

“Cough, cough.”

The area was so quiet that Lee Han’s exclamation rang out especially loudly. The students, choked with emotion, coughed.

“I-I won’t order servants around… Wardanaz… I’m sorry…”

“…No, I’m sorry. Drink some milk.”

Lee Han poured a glass of milk. Nearby, the princess stared desperately at the jug of milk, unable to speak.

“……”

Lee Han poured milk for the princess as well. Her face immediately brightened.

“Don’t your followers feed you?”

“She’s not Gainando, she’s not the type to steal from her followers.”

“I see… If you were Gainando, it would actually be easier for my conscience.”

“Yeah.”

The princess wanted to respond to Lee Han and Yoner’s whispering but couldn’t think of anything, so she simply focused on her milk.

“Priest Nigisor. Could you help carry this?”

“It’s fine. I’d rather pray.”

“Pray?”

Lee Han recalled the Afha Order’s prayer.

Since it was a fire-worship order, the priest’s prayers needed a flame.

“I was going to light a fire to prepare for alchemy anyway. Good timing. Want to help? What should I do?”

At Lee Han’s words, Priest Nigisor smiled serenely.

As evidenced by his help with the order’s activities during summer break, this Phoenix Tower prodigy was a perfect fit with Afha.

“Just follow my directions. First, take out the powdered charcoal…”

One could light a fire with a mage’s staff, but the order’s priests didn’t do that.

Beyond the sincerity of personal preparation, it allowed them to control the intensity and nature of the flame through the process.

They stacked mixed charcoal powder and a few metallic powders on the floor, and Priest Nigisor lit it.

A flame of unusual color was born—nothing like usual. Lee Han called his friends, impressed.

“Isn’t this fire fascinating? The magic energy you can feel from it…”

As he spoke, Lee Han realized his Blue Dragon Tower friends were far too busy eating to care.

“I-I’m watching, honestly.”

“Yoner…”

Lee Han almost teared up.

After tending to the fire, Priest Nigisor asked.

“Would you like to try a prayer?”

“Sure.”

It wasn’t hard, so Lee Han stepped forward.

As he offered magic and focused, it was returned as divine power.

Normally, Lee Han would have asked Priest Nigisor about Afha Order’s divine magic, but not this time.

After several failures, he was sure divine magic wasn’t something that succeeded quickly.

But at that moment, Lee Han’s divine power left his control and began to move on its own.

In a way, it was like instinct.

Just as your hand goes to your sword before you think when sensing a murderous presence, the divine power moved ahead of Lee Han’s own will.

‘What the…?!’

Before his surprise passed, the divine power was entangling like warp and weft, altering reality like magic.

Pop!

The flame in front of Lee Han suddenly turned white and blazed fiercely. Priest Nigisor, eyes wide in delight, exclaimed.

“I knew it!!! I knew it would happen!”

“Is this, possibly…”

“Exactly!! Is everyone watching?”

Priest Nigisor was so excited he trembled, looking around.

He wanted to share this beautiful miracle with others.

“…Look! Look, everyone!!!”

“???”

The friends eating bread were startled by the priest’s sudden outcry.

What’s up with him?

“This miracle??”

“It’s… it’s just fire?”

“It’s white fire!”

“Is it magic?”

“It’s not magic…!”

Priest Nigisor, frustrated, beat his chest as he tried to explain, while Lee Han stared blankly at the flame.

Even though it manifested as divine magic, it was impossible to grasp what he had done.

It was like throwing a stone and landing it perfectly in a ringed target—intuitive magic that defied precise explanation, even though you performed it yourself.

‘Did the flame’s property change?’

Lee Han felt an odd magical wave from the white fire.

Since it was a flame transformed by divine magic, it definitely wasn’t normal.

“…Wait a minute. Priest Nigisor. Does a flame altered by divine magic become easier to control?”

“I’ve never heard of that.”

“Thanks…”

Lee Han sounded bitter.

Honestly, he preferred power to control flames over just making them stronger.

They were already strong enough as it was…

“Lee Han. Are you sure it’s okay to succeed like this?”

Yoner tilted his head and asked Lee Han, who was confused.

“Why?”

“I thought you were failing on purpose.”

“Fail on purpose? Why would I?”

“It’s just… I thought you were worried the other priests at Phoenix Tower would feel left out if you succeeded.”

“Haha. Are the priests really so petty…”

But Lee Han’s expression froze as he spoke.