Episode 52

Episode 52
“Is it that dangerous?”
“There are too many dangerous monsters in this mountain range. Deep inside, there must be several monsters whose identities even the professors don’t know. Since it’s spring, with each passing week, more monsters will be waking up…”
Professor Ingerdel looked at the mountain range with a worried gaze.
Since this magic school, Einrogard, was located in a place abundant with magical energy, there had to be a lot of monsters in the vicinity.
In particular, the mountain range behind the school was, in Ingerdel’s view, a danger zone where virtually any monster could exist.
The deep regions of the range seemed suitable for powerful giant monsters like ogres, mountain giants, trolls, or wyverns to live…
With such monsters around, originally, monsters that wouldn’t live on the outskirts of the range were also driven out from the center to the edges to avoid these central threats.
“No matter how much youthful vigor students have, entering such a mountain range is not a wise choice. Only a madman would make such a decision.”
“It’s not because I want to go in, but because the assignment is to enter the mountain range and gather materials.”
“……”
Professor Ingerdel gave an embarrassed look and cleared his throat.
He hadn’t known it was an assignment from another professor.
“Is that so? In that case, the story might be a bit different.”
“I don’t think the story is any different…”
Strictly speaking, Professor Ingerdel was a swordsman, not a wizard.
Because of this, there were inevitably some differences in way of thinking between him and the other professors at the school.
Especially the professors’ cool attitude of ‘If you study magic deeply enough, it’s only natural a few people might die’ made Ingerdel shudder.
But just because he didn’t agree, that didn’t mean he could badmouth a fellow professor in front of the students.
Ingerdel professor hid his true feelings and spoke as roundabout as possible.
“If another professor told you to enter the mountains to gather materials, there must be something he has in mind.”
“Does he really?”
Ihan was already looking at Professor Ingerdel with distrustful eyes.
Just a moment ago, this person said, ‘It’s something only a madman would do,’ and then reacted like this as soon as he heard another professor’s name…
He strongly suspected Ingerdel was just taking the side of his fellow professor.
Professor Ingerdel cleared his throat again and changed the subject.
“By the way, your breathing has returned to normal. Excellent. Did you complete the circulation?”
When Ihan, who had been breathing heavily, suddenly spoke as if feeling comfortable, Professor Ingerdel was delighted.
This effect only happened if you completed the magical circulation inside the body.
“Huh? Oh, this is…”
Ihan put on an awkward expression.
“Sorry. I got distracted and just released my magical energy.”
Extract magical energy from the body’s center—then focus that energy and circulate it throughout the body.
That was the standard method.
Just like blood, if magical energy circulates smoothly throughout the whole body, it can strengthen the body without any waste.
The key here is a smooth circulation, without stalling or breaking!
…But when circulation became difficult because he lost focus, Ihan just nonchalantly sent magic power to various parts of the body and released it, instead of circulating it properly.
He figured he could just extract more magic power anyway.
“…???”
Professor Ingerdel stared blankly at the student from the Wardanaz family, not understanding what he was talking about.

• * *
  “Hmm.”
  After hearing Ihan’s detailed explanation and also what happened during the fight with the anti-magic faction, Professor Ingerdel fell into contemplation.
  Normally, it would have been an incident where he should have stopped Ihan, saying he could die.
  To fight while wasting magical power like that. It was like spilling your own blood onto the ground.
  But Professor Ingerdel had a flexible mindset.
  If there are a hundred swordsmen, there are a hundred sword styles.
  Considering the innate magical power possessed by the boy from the Wardanaz family (if it can even be called innate), such waste might be viable for him.
  After much hesitation, Professor Ingerdel made up his mind and said,
  “I won’t tell you to forbid that method. However, it would be better to refrain from using it regularly and focus on completing your circulation.”
  “Understood.”
  Ihan obediently nodded.
  Honestly, Ihan wasn’t some crazy person thinking, ‘Hehehe… The most important virtue of a swordsman is power… Even if this forbidden technique burns my life away, I’ll attain overwhelming strength…’
  If it’s dangerous, he thought, “Oh, it must be dangerous,” and just didn’t do it.
  “And since you have that much magical power, it will be even harder to complete the loop of circulation inside.”
  “……”
  He’d heard this somewhere before, hadn’t he?
  “So, Wardanaz, I’ll be increasing your training load.”
  “…Oh, ooh…”
  Ihan was able to control his expression with iron will.
  He had to pretend to be happy!
  ‘Don’t let it show. Don’t let it show.’
  Possessing more humanity than the other professors, Ingerdel was overjoyed at this reaction.
  “Is that so? I was worried you wouldn’t like it, but I’m glad to hear it.”
  “Yes… I’m so pleased… As you know, I’m very serious about swordsmanship…”
  At Ihan’s words, Professor Ingerdel’s scarred face broke into a big smile.
  “I knew from before that Wardanaz was earnest about swordsmanship.”
  “……”
  “Oh, right. When you go into the mountain range to find the material, I’ll accompany you.”
  “…Didn’t you just say it’d be fine since Professor Uregurum has something in mind?”
  “Yes. But I also like walks.”
  It didn’t seem likely that Professor Ingerdel, who had both a prosthetic leg and arm, would enjoy hiking through steep mountains, but Ihan couldn’t help but nod.
  Honestly, if Ingerdel was that concerned, Ihan was seriously worried about what might appear in the mountains.
• * *
  Evening.
  Ihan headed to Professor Uregurum’s cabin.
  No matter how many things had happened today, an errand given by a professor did not take such circumstances into consideration.
  Of course, from Professor Uregurum’s perspective, it could feel a bit unfair.
  He never said to come every day and had told Ihan not to come if he was busy.
  And in reality, Ihan also had another motive.
  ‘Got to dig up all possible information.’
  “?”
  
  “Oh…”
  Ihan was surprised as he read the writing on the paper.
  Well, even Uregurum was human; he couldn’t possibly hole up in the cabin like a recluse all the time. He had to teach other students and have time to do his own work.
  Ihan nodded and took down the note.
  Then he immediately went back to the tower, called Yoner, and brought him over.
  “You want me to look for something useful in this cabin?”
  “Yeah. I want to check out the potions we found in that box last time.”
  The potion box that professional thief Ratford had stolen from the carriage.
  Even if he wanted to find out what those potions were, it was too difficult for a first-year like Ihan to do it alone.
  If he could find something useful in Professor Uregurum’s cabin, it would be a great help.
  Especially since someone like Yoner, who was knowledgeable in alchemy, would be even better at figuring things out.
  ‘Wait a minute. This is Professor Uregurum’s cabin, isn’t it?’
  Since they had grilled meat there before, Yoner quickly realized where they were.
  ‘It’ll be fine.’
  But Yoner decided to just go along with it.
  In this crazy school, this much was nothing.
  “Wait. What’s that?”
  “What? Oh, the vegetable garden?”
  When the leading Yoner spoke with a surprised expression, Ihan answered nonchalantly.
  “I’m tending it, but it’s not nearly done. It’ll need a few more months to grow.”
  “…Huh? Looks fully grown to me?”
  “?”
  This time, it was Ihan’s turn to be puzzled. Curious, he turned back.
  “…!!”
  Yoner was right.
  ‘No way. What’s going on?’
  Seeing that the vegetables he’d planted had already fully grown, Ihan was shocked.
  No matter how he thought about it, they’d grown too fast.
  “Maybe Professor Uregurum sprinkled something? He must be really impatient.”
  At Ihan’s explanation, Yoner nodded.
  To use a growth-accelerating potion just to eat faster.
  ‘He must really be greedy for food.’
  And so, the absent Uregurum was falsely accused.
  “At this point, we might as well harvest. Yoner, can I count on you to check inside the cabin?”
  “Leave it to me.”
  Ihan grabbed the farming tools and started pulling up vegetables with skilled movements.
  Seeing such reliable and flawless action as he dug up potatoes with not the slightest error, Yoner became momentarily entranced.
  Movements only a farmer with decades of experience would show.
  Yoner thought he could now see why Professor Uregurum was so fond of Ihan.
  “What are you doing?”
  “Oh, nothing. I’ll go find something useful.”
  While the basket filled up with plenty of vegetables, Yoner busily searched the cabin.
  How much time had passed?
  Ihan’s arms were full with baskets of crops, and Yoner’s arms were loaded with boxes of mysterious reagents and alchemy tools.
  “Are you done?”
  “Yeah!”
  “Let’s go!”
  The two students of the Blue Dragon Tower left the cabin, running off energetically.
  On the cabin door, only the new note Ihan had left fluttered in the wind.
  
• * *
  Ihan and Yoner, with dark circles under their eyes, greeted the morning sun.
  They had spent the night skipping sleep to conduct alchemy tests in the freshman lounge.
  “So this is what’s called a Cantus potion, right?”
  “Yeah.”
  The potions they identified as a result were as follows.
  .
  –If drunk, you can sing as beautifully as a mermaid for a while.
  That’s it.
  “……”
  As Yoner’s expression began to fall, Ihan quickly consoled him.
  “This is a pretty good result. You can’t expect to figure everything out in the first try.”
  “That’s true, but… where would you use a singing potion…”
  “I’m sure there’ll be a use for it.”
  Creak—
  Just then, Asan Dalkard entered the lounge. Seeing them, Asan greeted them cheerfully.
  “Wardanaz. Are you ready to go into the mountains today?”
  “Pretty much.”
  Ihan had already made plans.
  He was going to depart with the other students on Friday, somehow return by Saturday, and on Sunday…
  ‘Use an outing pass and get out.’
  Ihan tried to remain calm.
  It was best not to get too excited. There could be any number of traps before he even left.
  “By the way, Wardanaz, before going into the mountains, want to stop by the black market or something?”
  “…What market?”
  Ihan was taken aback by Asan’s words.
  Black market?
  ‘What kind of school has a black market?’
  No matter what, he found it hard to believe Asan…
  …but it actually existed.
  ‘Unbelievable.’
  Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a black market, just a small marketplace.
  A market set up near their tower by the Black Turtle Tower freshmen!
  At first, they’d just gathered to barter necessary items, but as it turned out to be convenient, it became a regular thing.
  Ihan was at a loss for words.
  ‘What exactly is this school trying to teach the students?’
  “Come! Bread to be won with bread! Find His Majesty the Emperor. Of these three cards, one is His Majesty the Emperor. Where is His Majesty hiding? Guess correctly and you get double the bread… Oh! Lord Wardanaz!”
  Ratford, who had been doing a flashy card scam with three cards, stood up abruptly when he saw Ihan.
  As all the students chatting nearby turned to look, Ihan just wanted to turn around and leave.