Episode 548

Episode 548

“No… Think about it carefully.”

Sensing the sadness in his disciple’s gaze, Professor Thunderstep began to explain.

“I’m only trying to keep the spirits away, not make enemies of them.”

Wizards able to command spirits were generally divided into two types.

One group threatened and suppressed spirits with force.

These were not the mainstream in the Empire. Basically, this method brought more harm than good.

Just look at how hard black magicians work to gain favor with fierce undead.

Nothing good came from having a bad relationship with beings from another realm.

Moreover, this infamy could be contagious, so if you kept associating with a notorious wizard, your reputation among spirits would worsen as well.

As a result, those who threatened and suppressed spirits usually operated in the Empire’s shadows.

But those who conversed and built friendships with spirits before making a contract were different.

Such people, who were the mainstream in the Empire, were relatively safe from a spirit’s threat. The good reputation built with one spirit often spread to others.

If these types grew close, it resulted in more favorable reviews from the spirits, making it even easier to negotiate with more powerful ones…

“Professor. Professor.”

“What?”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

Lee Han asked sternly.

“Don’t tell me you think I’m one of the former…?”

“No, no!”

Thunderstep flinched.

In fact, he’d inadvertently used a comparison as he spoke.

“You’ve never threatened or suppressed a spirit, have you?”

“Um. Fighting a spirit in a fair fight is okay, right? It was closer to legitimate self-defense, though.”

Professor Thunderstep naturally took a step back and replied.

“Anyway, the point is that I’m only trying to keep the spirits away, not make enemies of them.”

Someone like Professor Thunderstep, who valued relationships with spirits, responded amicably even when spirits played tricks or caused trouble.

Even if ice spirits showed up and messed up the cabin’s interior, he would just block their entry at most.

Someone of Professor Thunderstep’s skill could drive away spirits any time he wanted, but he didn’t want to unnecessarily offend them.

“…??”

Lee Han tilted his head once more.

He’d listened to the end, but still didn’t understand.

“Uh… so basically, you’re telling me to block their entry gently, so as not to anger the spirits, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But what does that have to do with my attempted contract being difficult?”

“Well, if you go chasing after a spirit trying to make a contract, it might feel like threatening or suppressing to them…?”

“……”

Lee Han suddenly fell silent.

Professor Thunderstep felt a bit guilty, feeling like the Wardanaz boy was genuinely wounded.

“Hey. Don’t be so down. You don’t have to be beloved by spirits. Just look at the principal. The spirits detest him, but he’s a great archmage, isn’t he?”

“I’m not as strong as the principal.”

“That won’t take long…”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind. Forget it.”

Because Professor Thunderstep was truly wise, he demonstrated the shrewdness of not making an enemy of a disciple who could become a powerful archmage in the future.

“Right. Didn’t you say you made a contract with a spirit the other day?”

“Yes… I barely managed it using the mark of the spirit with the title of Patron of the Sea and Storm.”

“……”

Professor Thunderstep regretted bringing it up.

There had been no need to mention the sad fact that Lee Han needed the help of a spirit lord just to secure a contract.

“Something that’s happened once can always happen again. I’m sure the spirits will feel the same. Trust me, Wardanaz. The spirit realm is infinite.”

“Then, if I see a spirit that doesn’t avoid me, can I try making a contract?”

“No.”

“……”

• * *

Professor Thunderstep appeased Lee Han by doubling the food reward, but Lee Han kept grumbling.

“A master shouldn’t stop a disciple’s attempt at a challenge.”

“……”

“……”

Priest Siana and Yoner, who had come along to help Lee Han, exchanged embarrassed glances.

-Did something happen?

-It seems like Professor Thunderstep isn’t letting him make contracts with the spirits…

-Why?

-It would be troublesome if a bad rumor spread to the spirits and the professor calls for him.

-Why would a bad rumor spread among the spirits?

-Well… Hmm… I’m not really sure?

Yoner diverted the subject mid-explanation.

No matter how you thought about it, he couldn’t explain it without saying something bad about a friend.

Bubble bubble—

“Will this be enough?”

“Excellent.”

Priest Siana looked at Yoner with eyes full of respect.

Priests of the Fleming Order respected people skilled in alchemy, but especially those who donated a lot to the Order.

What was simmering in the cauldron now was eight sorts of herbs, three clumps of shaded mud, and two handfuls of monster’s coarse fur.

They weren’t brewing poison to kill someone, but rather making a stew that spirits liked.

Mischievous spirits who loved to play pranks often wouldn’t cause more trouble if you fed them well.

“Would you please summon a spirit for a moment?”

Yoner nodded and summoned a spirit. A spirit shaped like a flying squirrel made of wind appeared and cautiously approached the cauldron.

“Looks like it’s eating well? Lee Han. Want to check too?”

In fact, there was no need to summon Lee Han’s spirit too, but Yoner said it to cheer Lee Han up.

There was no need to make a contract with a new spirit.

If he reminded Lee Han of the value of the spirit he’d already contracted, such thoughts might disappear.

“One moment.”

At those words, Lee Han also took out his staff and summoned his spirit.

Maybe it was just Yoner’s imagination, but Lee Han’s face seemed a little brighter.

Whoosh—

A sparrow spirit made of fierce flames appeared in midair and glanced around the cabin at the students with blazing eyes.

Yoner and Priest Siana looked at each other for a moment. They’d said nothing, but could read each other’s minds.

‘Now?’

“Wow! Amazing!!”

“What a cute sparrow spirit!!”

“Really?”

Lee Han was slightly pleased as he looked at the sparrow spirit.

He’d worked so hard to make this contract, so of course he was happy.

“It’s quite smart. Last time, I asked it to fly between some books, and it flew without burning anything.”

“Really impressive.”

“Absolutely amazing.”

With his two friends’ enthusiastic responses, Lee Han spoke contentedly.

“Want to try some of this?”

When Lee Han pointed to the cauldron, the sparrow spirit nodded very seriously, as if it understood.

Then it flapped over, bit the firewood under the cauldron, and set it ablaze.

Whoosh!

The sparrow spirit instantly returned to its spot, displaying unshakeable and rigid obedience to the task.

“No… I meant for you to taste the soup…”

The sparrow spirit, startled, fluttered as if asking whether it was really allowed to eat that.

“…Just have a little, please.”

Indicating understanding, the sparrow spirit swooped in. After pecking at the stew a few times, it immediately returned to its original spot without any greed.

Lee Han glanced at Yoner’s flying squirrel spirit.

No matter what was going on, it was still puffing its cheeks as it ate.

Compared to that, his sparrow spirit looked like a veteran soldier, never letting its guard down…

“Almost looks scared…”

“Shh.”

Yoner quickly poked Priest Siana in the side. Siana shut her mouth, realizing her mistake.

“……”

“……”

The mood suddenly turned heavy.

“Let’s just go back to work.”

“Yes!”

“Good idea!”

• * *

Professor Thunderstep’s task was simple, but the wisdom within it was extraordinary.

He drew simple magic circles around the cabin and garden, placed unappealing stew for the spirits on potential entrances, and placed stew the spirits liked at potential exits.

It sounded easy, but this required knowledge of magic circles that could influence spirit movement and knowledge of which stews spirits liked and disliked.

Yoner and Priest Siana honestly admired this and took notes.

“Amazing. I thought you just had to drive spirits away.”

“Same here. I didn’t realize you could use potions this way.”

Professor Thunderstep stroked his beard, pleased to see his alchemy-gifted disciples so eager.

“Indeed. An alchemist doesn’t just learn in lectures, but also outside. Did you record all the recipes?”

“Yes.”

The dwarf professor deftly ladled stew into bowls.

He put the stew that spirits hated in bone bowls, and the one they liked in wooden bowls.

“Hmmm. Seems like we’re running a bit short.”

Professor Thunderstep noticed that they were slightly low on the spirit-repelling stew.

“I’ll get more.”

“No. We’ve used up all the tarasque scale in the cabin. A skilled alchemist must be able to improvise in times like this.”

At his words, Yoner and Priest Siana’s eyes sparkled.

Lee Han, looking rather indifferent, continued deftly drawing perfect magic circles and arranged the finished stews.

“Now. Let’s hear how you would substitute it.”

Tarasque scale was a component dreaded by spirits and one that felt ominous to them.

If you had no potion that gave off such intimidation, how would you cope?

“I’d like to use firebloom clove. Wouldn’t ice spirits find it disagreeable?”

“Good idea. But two mistakes there. First, it’s not only ice spirits here. If the number of ice spirits increases, other spirits can show up too. Second, the aquastone in there will negate that effect.”

“Ah!”

“Oh…!”

The two talented alchemists exclaimed in disappointment.

After thinking hard, Priest Siana suggested,

“What about using acal tree leaves? The confusion effect might…”

“That would do in a pinch, but it’s not suitable now. Drunken spirits can get angry.”

Professor Thunderstep laughed heartily, then continued.

“This is when you need an alchemist’s inspired improvisation. Wardanaz, come over here a moment.”

“?”

Having finished all the magic circles, Lee Han came over, looking puzzled.

“You called?”

“Can I borrow a strand of your hair?”

Lee Han, confused, pulled out a strand and handed it to Thunderstep.

Thunderstep threw it into the cauldron. The stew changed color as it completed.

“There. The effect is certainly weaker than tarasque scale, but this is more than enough. Have you all learned how to quickly find necessary substitutes nearby?”

“……”

Lee Han stared at the professor.

Thunderstep, who had been laughing, realized belatedly and cleared his throat.

“It’s for education. This is for your friends. You’re not sulking now, are you?”

“……”

“All right, all right. Take the preserved barrel from the basement too! That’s valuable stuff!”

• * *

While waiting by the garden for spirits to show up after setup was complete, Lee Han began persuading his friends.

“I’m not actually mad or anything. You all know, right? I wouldn’t get upset over something like this.”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Of course.”

“No way I’d get angry just because of an inconvenience, when there are so many spells to learn.”

In the distance, a squirrel made of ice appeared. Judging by the aura, it was an ice spirit.

The squirrel-shaped spirit circled along the magic path, sniffed the repellent stew, and quickly turned back.

“Works well.”

“Sure does. It’s thanks to you two.”

Yoner praised Lee Han and Priest Siana.

Hearing that, Priest Siana felt pressured to praise the others too.

“In truth, it’s thanks to both of you. Especially Wardanaz’s hair… Ah. Ah.”

“……”

“……”

Though the fireplace burned brightly, there was an odd chill.

Thunk—

“?”

Sipping ginger tea, Yoner noticed a boiling form rushing savagely from the distance.

It ignored the setup magic circles and charged straight through with intimidating momentum.

‘Should I stop it?! Wait, we’re not supposed to attack spirits…’

“Flash!”

Lightning exploded violently from the tip of Lee Han’s staff.

The struck figure screamed in pain and rolled on the ground. Only then did Priest Siana shout,

“It’s an undead!”

“What? It was undead?”

“Lee Han?”

“My mistake. I meant to say I thought it was undead.”