Episode 535

Episode 535

After somehow calming Ifadur, who was genuinely concerned about the first-year student’s health, the skeleton principal moved on to a more important topic.

“That’s not what’s important now. I told you to practice music magic, yet you’re needlessly dipping into the basics of the -Speech-Word-. My goodness. Wielding a dragon-slaying sword to butcher a chicken…”

“But didn’t we succeed in using music magic?”

The old turtle beastfolk was puzzled by the skeleton principal’s comment.

Unlike the principal, who valued the logic behind it, Ifadur, who was interested in music magic, only cared about the fact that it had succeeded.

Whether it had worked out simply by singing carelessly, or if it succeeded by using the core components of -Speech-Word-, it didn’t really…

‘This is why non-mages are hopeless.’

The skeleton principal inwardly cursed the bard.

Those who did not truly devote themselves to magic could never understand real mages.

If you saw a boy working the fields with a golden sword, you had to slap him until he found his calling—not say, “Well, as long as you’re happy.”

“Wardanaz would understand if he heard this. Wardanaz. Come here for a moment. Um… No. Hold on, let’s discuss this in private.”

The principal changed his mind about discussing it in front of Ifadur.

He realized Wardanaz might stubbornly resist, still feeling slighted by the earlier insult.

‘Such a narrow-minded brat.’

“What is it?”

“Do you know what you just did?”

“Music magic?”

“…Listen closely.”

The skeleton principal explained as kindly as he could.

What you are doing isn’t normal music magic, stop leaking so much mana everywhere, what you did is a basic but core part of that advanced magic, -Speech-Word-…

“But in any case, it still worked, didn’t it?”

‘Good thing I chased the bard away.’

Thought the skeleton principal, and continued.

“If you’ve stepped into the basics of -Speech-Word- magic, you should try that, not waste time on trivialities like music magic!”

“But… Weren’t you the one who supported the seniors in researching music magic…?”

Faced with his pupil wielding the sharp blade of truth, the principal pretended not to hear.

“And I don’t know -Speech-Word- well, but isn’t that a very advanced kind of magic?”

“That’s right.”

Just as Lee Han didn’t try the principal’s -Personal World- magic in his first year despite having lots of mana, the same applied to -Speech-Word-.

Even if you took a step in the basics, it was too hard to dive into immediately.

“But the basic part you just accomplished is the most important, essential element of -Speech-Word- magic. Most mages fail because they can’t manage that.”

Basically, a mage’s spell was both the embodiment of willpower and a form of self-hypnosis.

Even the smallest, most trivial change meant changing the world by one’s own will—an act of utmost arrogance.

Even a well-trained mage’s will could falter over a single falling leaf, so this self-hypnosis was essential.

But if you started to imbue the simple tool—that is, the spell itself—with mana, that became the first step into the higher realm: -Speech-Word-.

You couldn’t even stand at the starting line of -Speech-Word- magic unless you could do that, and most mages were weeded out here.

This had nothing to do with talent in other magic.

Whether someone was born with abundant mana, sharp mana senses, or a genius-level intellect, if it didn’t fit them, they just couldn’t do it.

Therefore, Wardanaz ought to be grateful for his luck and work hard at -Speech-Word- as well.

Even though he already had a lot on his plate, what could he do?

“Um… but doesn’t it still take a long time?”

Lee Han knew well the notorious reputation of -Speech-Word- magic.

He’d heard there were plenty of mages who couldn’t master it even after a lifetime of training.

“Hmm.”

After thinking for a moment, the principal held up one finger.

“If you really work hard, and devote all your spare time…”

“When have I ever had spare time?”

“Then abandon your friends. Anyway, if you put every spare moment into it—”

“One year?”

“Are you mad?”

“I mean… isn’t it hopeless if after a year there’s no result? Maybe I don’t have the aptitude. Don’t tell me it takes ten years?”

Lee Han wondered if he should try if it really took ten years.

Should he just do it in his spare time?

But if it took everything he had for ten years…

‘Not great value for the effort, is it?’

“One hundred years…”

“……”

Lee Han glared at him, dead serious.

The skeleton principal protested, feeling a bit wronged.

“I gave you the shortest estimate because I think highly of you!”

“Ah. Yes. Thank you.”

Lee Han neatly gave up on his attachment to -Speech-Word- magic.

It was clear there was nothing to gain here.

“Principal. I think music magic might be better for me.”

“Is this because I said ‘servant’ earlier? What did I ever do so wrong to you? I’ve cared for you since you entered in every way!”

Lee Han ignored the principal’s nonsense.

If he tried to argue, he’d walk straight into a trap.

“Music magic has its advantages.”

“What advantage? That you can wring research funds out of idiots?”

While the principal kept muttering, Lee Han didn’t falter.

“To begin with, -Speech-Word- magic is incredibly difficult to learn. Music magic, by comparison, is much easier. Couldn’t we call it a kind of low-level -Speech-Word-?”

“Hm.”

Once the topic turned to magic, the principal’s expression grew serious.

“But if you just spent a hundred years to learn -Speech-Word-…”

“I know you don’t like it, Principal, but lower-difficulty spells still have value.”

Magic with a low difficulty had its own merit.

Not only low-level mages but those on a higher level didn’t always cast hard spells.

Of course, this didn’t apply to archmages like the principal…

“I see your point.”

“Right?”

“But wouldn’t that be for idiots at other magic schools to work hard and develop? Even if I, being really generous, say Einrogard’s idiots could work on it, why you?”

‘This is driving me mad.’

Lee Han kept his patience and pressed his point.

Music magic was much more accessible than -Speech-Word-, plus it had its own strengths. Its mechanism—working at a distance, triggered by sound—was uniquely useful…

His persistent persuasion finally wore down the principal’s resistance.

“…Fine, all right! The direction you just showed certainly had meaning. I grant you leave to research further in that direction.”

‘Got it!’

Lee Han breathed a sigh of relief.

The principal sighed, then called for Ifadur.

The waiting old bard was so overjoyed by the positive turn of events he almost jumped for joy.

“I’m truly delighted, Lord Gonadaltes. Thank you! From now on, the students’ research into music magic will make great progress!”

“Haha. I’ve done nothing. But if you write a song in praise of Einrogard, I won’t refuse.”

While the delighted Ifadur thanked the choir members, the principal grumbled to Lee Han again.

“My goodness. I didn’t know you liked music that much, Wardanaz.”

“Me? Why do you think so?”

“Why else would you argue so strongly for music magic if you didn’t? After what just happened, it seems you’ll have to play a pivotal part in researching it.”

The new direction that Lee Han had shown involved two things in music magic:

Increasing mana density in the vicinity, and embedding mana into the caster’s words.

Right now, only Lee Han could actually do either.

“…Wait, couldn’t you just use an artifact to increase mana density?”

“You paying for that out of your own pocket—maybe ask His Imperial Majesty directly for funds?”

As the principal responded incredulously, Lee Han desperately sought an escape route.

“Couldn’t you bring in a mage who can cast -Speech-Word- magic?”

“If you tell -Speech-Word- masters to research music magic, they’ll just say ‘get lost’ or ‘disappear.’”

“……”

“…Don’t tell me…”

“Thank you, Lord Gonadaltes! Shall we head to the next location?”

• * *

The next destination was a vineyard downstream from the village along the river.

The Broken Horseshoe farm, which also ran a distillery, was owned by a big, burly orc known nearby for his singing skill.

Reputedly, his voice became even more impressive after a cup of his own wine from the distillery.

“Hm. Quite impressive.”

The skeleton principal gave a subtle twitch of his eyebrows in appraisal.

Lee Han was very surprised. At the principal’s level, that was a high compliment.

‘I should think about investing in this farm someday if I get the chance.’

“Could I hear you sing once?”

“It would be an honor!”

The orc owner threw back a glass of wine and began to sing out in a clear voice.

“Ah, life is fleeting like a glass of wine! Let us all drink…”

Lee Han listened absentmindedly, stifling a yawn.

After the song, the orc owner, feeling sheepish, made an excuse.

“Maybe it’s this batch of wine, but today’s not my best. Last time, when I sang after drinking, everyone nearby got drunk just listening.”

“That can happen.”

Ifadur nodded kindly in agreement.

That was natural, since a song was different every time, depending on one’s emotions.

“Wardanaz, could you try singing this time…?”

“Yes.”

Now that Lee Han had sorted out his feelings, he cleared his throat and stepped forward.

It was vexing that he had more magic to learn, but what could he do?

Going from one to two made a big difference, but going from ninety-nine to a hundred, not so much.

He wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or not…

“Ah, life is fleeting like a glass of wine! Let us all drink…”

As before, the surrounding mana density rose and the resonance of the voice took effect.

The skeleton principal watched closely, seeing if the laborers nearby would get tipsy just from hearing the voice.

But nothing happened.

“?”

“…?”

“Uh, let me try again.”

Lee Han was flustered and tried again. But no matter how many times he repeated it, the music magic phenomenon did not occur.

“I don’t know what the problem is. Did I make a mistake?”

“No…”

Seeing his pupil flustered, the skeleton principal and Ifadur only looked more baffled.

“I told you. Primitive magic is greatly influenced by emotion. Sometimes it just won’t work.”

“Lord Gonadaltes is right. The success earlier was remarkable; this failure isn’t strange at all.”

With the two of them consoling him, Lee Han nodded for now.

‘If I fail with other songs too, that’s bad news.’

If Lee Han, their only breakthrough, was blocked, there would be no way to even start.

He’d hoped, since he was learning anyway, that he could get some results and leave a good impression on Ifadur from the start…

• * *

Next was the knight order.

A knight—reputed to have once revived his downed comrades in an ambush with nothing but song—sang in a rough voice.

“Oh, there goes a knight, dying to arrows, dying to maces, stabbed by swords, felled by spears…”

“Oh, there goes a knight, dying to arrows, dying to maces, stabbed by swords, felled by spears…”

Knights listening nearby were startled by the sudden surge in vitality.

“Ama… amazing! Lord Gonadaltes!”

“I never thought just listening to music could have such an effect! Honestly, I thought you were exaggerating…”

Fortunately, it worked this time, and Lee Han let out a sigh of relief.

The skeleton principal stared at Lee Han.

“What is it?”

“No… Only that it seems to fit your personality perfectly.”

“???”