Episode 66

Episode 066
To have cast the magic repeatedly while carrying a mountain of luggage and even levitating the boxes.
Normally, a wizard would have used a higher circle magic in such a situation.
In the first place, wasn’t made to be used like that!
A spell intended for levitating perhaps a quill or an eraser, or at best a heavy marble, was being used for this…
It was beyond amazing; it even felt bizarre.
Did he really have to go that far with a 1st-circle spell??
“No, isn’t that body enhancement magic? Who taught you??”
Professor Garcia, who had been marveling at the floating boxes from the spell, belatedly noticed the aura of mana enveloping Lee Han’s body.
The meticulously arranged aura was wrapping around Lee Han’s body, assisting his movements.
There was only one type of magic for such an aura.
Body enhancement magic.
It was a popular magic, as its effects were certain, but because it involved infusing and fixing mana into the human body, there were side effects.
Except for seasoned adventurers or mercenaries, most students were so frail that there was no need to teach such magic just yet, as all they ever did was pick up a quill at a desk…
Where did he learn it?
Who knows?
The headmaster skeleton feigned ignorance without changing expression. It was truly a Lich-worthy display of poker face.
“Did you find it in the library and learn it? Should have given a warning in advance…”
Don’t be so strict, Professor Garcia. Keep imposing too many restrictions, and a wizard becomes weak.
‘Isn’t this person the culprit?’
Professor Garcia suddenly became suspicious of the headmaster skeleton.
There was no particular basis, just a feeling!

• * *
  The spell that Lee Han was forced to learn was rather unusual.
  Normally, body enhancement magics had precisely designated parts to strengthen.
  Strength if it was strength.
  Agility if it was agility.
  The lower the magic circle, the more that was the rule. Trying to be too greedy with lower-circle magic could create bizarre spells that no one could learn.
  However, belonged exactly to that class of bizarre magic.
  A peculiar 1st-circle spell that enhanced not one but four areas: strength, agility, cardiopulmonary endurance, and reflexes!
  The training was inevitably all the more difficult.
  For a straightforward strength enhancement spell, one could envision the image of a mighty strongman; for agility, a bird flying swiftly.
  But an image that could embody all four areas at once? Not easy.
• Now I get why Gonadalthes is in the spell’s name.
  Lee Han gritted his teeth and complained to the black book.
  Sometimes spells were named after the wizard who created them.
  It was an honor for the magician, and also served as an indicator of the spell’s nature.
  And the name ‘Gonadalthes’ was a definite signpost.
  What a damn spell this wizard made!
  ‘Shouldn’t at least the spell name match more closely? Normally, a spell like this should deal with just agility.’
  Trying and failing.
  Trying and failing.
  Through countless trials and errors, Lee Han found his direction.
  While Lee Han himself wasn’t fully aware, his breadth and flexibility of thought were, in some ways, rarer gifts than sheer magical power.
  Thanks to that strength, the image Lee Han settled on was the headmaster skeleton in his younger days.
  Of course, Lee Han did not know what the headmaster skeleton looked like in his youth.
  But with his imagination, he pictured a young version: a sane-looking but wild-eyed, surely ill-tempered and combative with a sharp impression. Preferring to fight enough to make such a spell, so lithe and toned…
  Then, giving him some dark clothing and a staff, he completed the image of a wicked magician who wouldn’t look out of place as a villain anywhere.
  ‘I thought of it myself, but he really does look strong.’
  Strong, fast, enduring, and with seemingly good reflexes for a magician.
  And surprisingly, this image had an effect.
  The spell, which had failed without substance, began to take form.
• O Feet, rule over the earth!
• O Feet, rule over the earth!
• O Feet, rule over the earth!
  Chant after chant.
  After persistent effort, the spell was finally completed.
  Lee Han felt the magic’s mana imprinting on his body like a pattern, aiding him.
  Not only strength and agility, but also lung endurance and reflexes.
  Flutter flutter!
  The black book fluttered as if to congratulate Lee Han’s accomplishment.
  Just as he was satisfied with the result of his hard work, Lee Han paused.
  A thought crossed his mind.
• Wait. Don’t body enhancement spells have backlash? And for a spell that covers so many areas…
  Before Lee Han even finished his question, the black book ejected him from the illusion space.
• * *
  Of course, even anxious, he couldn’t afford not to use it. Lee Han wasn’t in a position to pick and choose methods.
  That’s how much luggage he had.
  Lee Han cast and, at the same time, generated and circulated mana through his body as taught by Professor Ingeldel.
  …Well, to be precise, he didn’t circulate it through his body; he just released it. Controlling it that precisely was still beyond him.
  But even that was enough to strengthen and protect his body.
  Then came continuous casts of .
  In fact, even Professor Ingeldel at this point would’ve reacted, “No, if you try to cast spells like that while also managing your mana, of course it’s impossible.”
  And an even bigger issue was the tremendous amount of mana consumed.
  Normally, he would have collapsed after a few steps…
  ‘Too much mana, it’s no fun.’
  The headmaster skeleton grumbled internally.
  It looked like Lee Han used , but he was too fine, and that made it uninteresting.
  That spell was meant to be cast with the thought, ‘It’s only a 1st-circle spell, so the mana consumption can’t be that bad, right?’ and then collapse in shock as a tribute to the master who created it.
  And indeed, all the other apprentices of the headmaster skeleton had collapsed in just that way, to his delight.
  A 1st-circle spell, but with the difficulty, effects, and mana drain that were nothing like a 1st-circle—truly a trap spell!
  …but Lee Han just shrugged it off.
  Welcome back, I guess…
  The headmaster skeleton’s disgruntled tone made Lee Han happy.
  It meant he had passed all the traps.
  “Thank you for the invaluable outing. I will not forget the favor of the headmaster.”
  “Lee Han, student. There’s no need to go that far.”
  Professor Garcia seemed a little flustered.
  Lee Han had been let out because of outstanding achievements, not because the headmaster was kind.
  Oh, Professor Garcia. Is this not rare courtesy these days?
  Professor Garcia ignored the headmaster skeleton.
  “Lee Han, student. Once you’re inside, drink as many potions as possible for recovery, and get lots of sleep. It’s best if you sleep for a long while.”
  “……”
  Although he had braced himself, Lee Han honestly became a bit scared hearing Professor Garcia say this.
  …Should he not have used the spell? Was the spell itself the headmaster’s final trap?
  “Understood.”
  Lee Han bowed his head and entered through the open main gate.
  The headmaster skeleton turned to Professor Garcia, who had been watching Lee Han leave with satisfaction.
  Wait. How did he get the money, then?
  “…!”
• * *
  Before he could collapse, Lee Han finished as much as he could.
  He organized his baggage, explained things and asked favors from his friends, drank potions…
  “?”
  After sleeping soundly until midday, Lee Han woke up rather perplexed.
  His body…
  ‘Is completely fine?’
  It was simply too fine.
  When you’re supposed to be hurting but aren’t, it makes you more anxious. With such unease, Lee Han carefully stepped out of his room.
  “Wodanaz!”
  A few students from the Blue Dragon Tower were waiting for him anxiously and nervously in the lounge.
  “Wodanaz!! You’re awake!”
  “We were worried!”
  Some even had tears in their eyes. Lee Han was even more bewildered.
  ‘What’s going on?’
  Did someone bring in a bunch of snacks, and now everyone’s competing to see who can make the biggest fuss?
  “I may have pushed myself a bit, but this is a bit much, don’t you think?”
  “Huh? Really? Gainando said you might die…”
  “……”
  Instead of answering, Lee Han plopped down on the bench in front of the lounge.
  In a corner, his luggage was piled up. He had left it there because much of it was too bulky for his personal room.
  Looking at it again…
  ‘Man, I sure brought a crazy amount.’
  It was such a quantity that he felt both proud and like a lunatic.
  How did he carry this all by himself?
  “We took care of the stable horse while you slept.”
  “Thanks, Yonere. …Wait. That horse has a vile temper, no? Were you alright?”
  “Huh?”
  Yonere tilted his head.
  “It was fine? Stood still while I fed and brushed it.”
  “……”
  Lee Han was enraged.
  ‘This bastard…?’
  The horse that’d always gone wild under his care just stood still when someone else did it?
  Of course, maybe it was so traumatized by Lee Han that it gratefully accepted a new attendant…
  ‘Just wait.’
  “Here. Cocoa.”
  Lee Han accepted a cup of warm cocoa. Even though his body was fine, perhaps some fatigue lingered, because the sweet cocoa tasted wonderful.
  He rummaged in his pocket. Yonere looked puzzled.
  “What are you looking for?”
  “A silver coin.”
  “…Just drink it. I got it for you…”
  Lee Han looked at Yonere with a grateful expression. Yonere gave him a look that said ‘really?’
  Once his head cleared, Lee Han sighed.
  “A new week has begun…”
  Everyone in the lounge nodded with heavy expressions.
  There was no trace of the arrogance and cockiness from the second week.
  What kind of torment and trials awaited them this week?
  “Did everyone finish their assignments?”
  “Yeah. …If you can call that an assignment.”
  “I finished. …A pile of garbage.”
  Seeing everyone avoid his gaze, Lee Han felt a little sorry.
  Did he ask the wrong question?
  “I finished Professor Uregorum’s assignment; just one left. The White Tiger Tower flag.”
  “……”
  As soon as the White Tiger Tower flag was mentioned, the Blue Dragon Tower students’ faces hardened.
  The headmaster skeleton’s assignment.
  Honestly, it was still a mystery why this was considered a morality assignment, but an assignment was an assignment.
  “Anyone tried?”
  “No matter what I did, it didn’t work.”
  “Damn. I nearly got one of those White Tiger guys to trade a candy for it, but it failed. I was so close…!”
  “……”
  It’s not that the other students just left it all up to Lee Han.
  Everyone tried various ideas.
  From sneaking in (all got bounced out), to bribery (other White Tiger Tower students interfered), to counterfeiting, and so on.
  But none of the methods worked.
  Gainando, who arrived at the lounge late, spoke up.
  “Can’t we just cooperate with the White Tiger Tower guys and do a flag exchange?”
  “Are you serious?!”
  “Did you forget how cruelly those White Tiger Tower punks attacked Wodanaz?!”
  “?”
  Lee Han, listening, paused.
  He didn’t think it had been that bad…
  “Calm down, everyone. I have a plan.”
  “!”
  At Lee Han’s words, the noisy room quieted. Gainando spoke as if he understood.
  “Exchange, right? There’s no other way?”
  “No. We’ll sneak in at night and steal it.”
  “…That’s Wodanaz for you!”
  Cheers erupted in the Blue Dragon Tower lounge at Lee Han’s words.