Episode 680

“You just said ‘directly’…”

“Direte.”

“!”

A wizard they’d never met before called out.

The wizard’s features resembled Adenart in some ways. Especially with their silver hair and blue eyes, they gave off an even greater sense of similarity.

The difference was that the wizard in front of them radiated an impersonal, cold atmosphere.

Maybe it was because Lee Han had grown quite close with Adenart, but even though people often misunderstood Adenart as cold, they were not actually that cold.

Strict about manners and decorum, sure, and strict in personality, but someone who steals bread for their followers couldn’t possibly be a cold person.

‘Like a competent Gainando.’

Compared to that, the wizard in front of him clearly had a fundamentally different personality.

The wizard paid no attention to Lee Han and addressed Direte instead.

“You came to watch.”

“Of course. It’s your piece, Yukveltire.”

“Good thinking. It will certainly be helpful.”

‘So she was the princess!’

Lee Han realized this was the Princess Yukveltire Direte mentioned earlier.

‘Then she must be Adenart’s older sister?’

It was only after she finished her complicated discussion about magic with Direte that Yukveltire seemed to notice Lee Han.

Yukveltire glanced at Lee Han, then frowned slightly and spoke to Direte.

“Still babysitting your juniors?”

“Ah, let it go. Let me do what I want.”

“In that case, it’s my choice to give you some advice. Stop looking after juniors who are beneath you. It won’t help your magic in the slightest.”

The princess’s voice was utterly devoid of arrogance or scorn.

Only the neutral conviction that what she said was correct could be felt.

Direte, shivering at his friend’s usual chilly kindness, responded.

“I said, let it go. I’ll manage my own affairs. Besides, this junior is smart.”

“You’ve said that every time. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a truly smart junior.”

Direte was stung by her words and flushed slightly.

None of the juniors in the Dark Magic School had grades as good as Direte’s.

“This one really is smart!”

“You said that last time. Any difference this time?”

“Hey. Go. Get lost.”

“This isn’t your property, so you have no such right.”

“…Junior. Let’s go.”

Direte tried to lead Lee Han away by the sleeve.

But the princess followed after them, still expressionless, continuing to persuade her friend.

“Now that we’re both moving up to year 5, how long are you going to keep looking after juniors? You should focus on your own magic.”

“Why on earth did I come to this place?”

Direte regretted coming.

He felt as if he’d picked up a heavier burden just to see his friend’s magic.

When Direte ignored her, Yukveltire turned her fire to Lee Han.

“Third year. You answer. How long are you going to cling to Direte for support? Aren’t you ashamed to be a student at Einrogard holding back the future great wizard Direte?”

‘Why does she think I’m a third year?’

I’m a first year, though?

Lee Han was perplexed.

But before he could answer, Direte was incensed.

“Hey. That’s over the line. Friend or not, there are limits.”

“I’m just giving you advice as a friend…”

“Say one more word, and forget your presentation; I’ll end you right here.”

“!”

Lee Han shuddered, feeling just how powerful a senior moving up from fourth to fifth year could be.

Magic surged around them; he felt five unknown spells almost ready to fire.

“Um. But isn’t she right?”

“…Hey… junior…”

Direte looked at Lee Han with a face that said, ‘Whose side are you on? You’re supposed to back me, not my rude friend!’

“I mean, the Dark Magic School seniors really do seem too dependent on Direte-senior… Last time, too… even the professor is a bit like that, don’t you think?”

“Good perception.”

Yukveltire immediately agreed.

If not talented, she at least had some conscience.

“The Dark Magic School is exploiting Direte’s gifts. Not just Professor Mortum—Koholti’s in the same year and has never been any help. Can you deny it?”

Direte, stung again, hesitated.

“That’s just a characteristic of the Dark Magic School…”

“I think it’s true.”

“Hey!”

Direte was furious at junior’s betrayal.

Isn’t this guy a spy?

Lee Han comforted Direte as he explained his stance.

“In my opinion, the Dark Magic School students should stop relying on Direte-senior so much. Everyone should take care of their own business. Professor Mortum should also give Direte-senior a break.”

“…!”

Direte forgot about the quarrel, deeply moved.

He’d never heard such touching words from a junior before.

“…Even just hearing that makes me happy.”

“I’ll file a complaint to the principal every time the professor calls for Direte-senior!”

“……”

“……”

Both Direte and Yukveltire stared at Lee Han as if he’d lost his mind.

“Is your junior mentally sound?”

“…No, it’s just that he’s close with the principal.”

“Then he’s clearly not right in the head.”

The princess said it without malice.

It wasn’t as if her friend could be the skeleton principal’s disciple, and if he wasn’t and was still friendly, he could only be a regular in the punishment room.

“Junior… the sentiment’s nice. But you don’t have to go that far. And the Dark Magic School just looks particularly burdened with work because there are so few of us.”

“To be precise, it’s just that Direte does much more than his share.”

“Would you shut up.”

“I refuse.”

Listening to their conversation, Lee Han suddenly thought to ask:

“Yukveltire-senior, what school do you specialize in?”

“Enchantment magic. I am a direct disciple of Professor Verdus.”

“Oh, as I expected!”

Lee Han nodded in understanding. Direte spoke with a sour look.

“Still, isn’t it a bit much to say that when we’re friends…”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Direte sighed.

It was rare to ask, ‘Are you a disciple of Professor Verdus?’ directly to someone, but exceptions existed.

When the other person really was Professor Verdus’s disciple!

Yukveltire was such a case, so he couldn’t say anything even with ten mouths.

-Lady Yukveltire, please get ready.

When the wizards called her name, the princess checked the time and turned to go.

“Direte. Don’t forget my advice.”

“Yes. I’ll definitely change things!”

‘Why are you answering…’

Yukveltire left, saying with an impassive expression that she’d be watching.

Direte felt as drained as if he’d just run a marathon.

“I came to see magic, but what an ordeal…”

“Indeed.”

“And why did you take her side!”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Lee Han felt a bit wronged.

Honestly, the Dark Magic School seemed at fault, too.

“But why did that senior think I was in third year?”

“She knows the fourth years, and the second years have no reason to come here, so she must have thought you were a third year.”

“Aren’t there first years?”

Direte looked at Lee Han as if he’d just asked the world’s most foolish question.

---

As Gawon prepared his magic, Direte flipped through a book with a disinterested look.

“Not interested in that spell?”

“I saw the abstract. Not impressed.”

The spells presented at the gathering were generally distributed as a catalog beforehand.

Astute and clever wizards could distinguish the good from the trite just by that.

“No progress from -Ota’s Prism of Light-.”

“Still, isn’t it better if the magic circle’s improved and the process simplified?”

“It would be, but that’s not easy.”

To improve a spell, both knowledge and intuition were required.

It took knowledge from making and fixing all kinds of magic circles, and the sensitivity to feel the flow of magic more keenly than others.

That’s what let you set the direction for improvement.

And setting the direction wasn’t the end; you also needed the ability to put it into practice.

For example, say compressing 1,000 units of magical power into a magic circle improved the effect.

Then the wizard would have to gather that himself, put it in, and prove it. If you just claimed it without showing, people wouldn’t care.

“Still, that one improved the Luminous Spirit Ink circle and compressed magic with shadow sand…”

“…That’s true?”

Direte lowered his copy of ‘Monthly Dark Magic Trends’ and squinted.

Looking closely, he could definitely sense something different.

“Made the form stabilization way simpler, huh? They ditched the left section stabilization?”

Direte was surprised by the bold choice.

Unless you were from Einrogard, outside wizards tended to cling to safe options.

Yet here was such a daring circle.

“Is it okay?”

“It’s good… actually, it’s quite good.”

Lee Han felt proud.

Seemed he hadn’t made a mistake fixing it up.

“Wait, you say they improved the circle itself and compressed the magic into the shadow sand? That’s something even Professor Verdus would think twice about—how’d they even come up with that?”

“…Other people can do things besides the professor…”

“True, but that’s just the approach Professor Verdus likes to use.”

A method of trimming anything unnecessary for efficiency, regardless of difficulty.

A Professor Verdus hallmark.

Lee Han scowled.

‘How unfair.’

To be mistaken for using Professor Verdus’s style!

His experience learning under that professor must have rubbed off on him. Lee Han felt deep humiliation.

“Impressive.”

Direte tossed out a brief appraisal and leaned back, now watching with growing interest.

“That wizard came prepared… By the way, junior, how’d you spot all that at a glance?”

He was struck again by how remarkable his junior was.

At this distance, and without even seeing the catalog, his junior had discerned the spell’s quality.

“I helped with the improvements.”

“…What?”

“They let us ride their carriage…”

Lee Han explained how he’d improved the spell as thanks to Wizard Gawon for the carriage ride.

Direte was so dumbfounded he couldn’t reply.

Seeing this, Lee Han cautiously asked:

“Are you not supposed to touch the spells submitted to the gathering?”

“No, it’s not that. But, usually, you don’t improve someone’s spell just because they gave you a ride…”

It’s not like the tale of a wizard enchanting a whole village for a single coin—what generosity is that?

Direte shook his head and gazed ahead.

-Has anything changed from Ota’s Prism of Light?

-W-well…

-You fool! Can’t you see? That magic circle is several times improved over Ota’s Prism of Light!

-That level of improvement isn’t enough!

-Can’t you see the compressed magic in the shadow sand? Are you blind or what?!

-How dare you… Outside! Duel!

-I should be saying that. I’ll rid this meeting of such idiots!

Except for the handful who picked fights and left for duels after their nitpicking was answered with insults, most wizards at the gathering responded positively.

Gawon, relieved, caught sight of Lee Han and lit up.

He pointed at Lee Han from the stage and shouted.

“Thank you, Lee Han! Thank you! If not for his help, this spell would not have been possible!”

As all the seated wizards turned toward Lee Han at once, Direte pulled his hat down and muttered quietly.

“Junior. Next time, let’s sit separately.”