Episode 78

Hall of Dark Shadows.

The tower that Professor Mortum used as his workshop was as gloomy as ever.

‘If he wants more students to come, he should start by improving the surroundings first.’

When skulls, bones, gravestones, and boxes of poison vials were scattered around, most people didn’t want to come near.

As far as Ihaan could tell, out of this year’s first-year students, only he and Gainando would come to learn black magic…

“??”

Ihaan was surprised.

There were other first-year students in front of the Hall of Dark Shadows.

Two, in fact.

“Wha… What are those guys doing here to learn black magic?”

“Is there any reason to get so worked up over it?”

Ihaan found Gainando’s reaction curious.

Gainando replied as if it were obvious.

“The professor said I was the only one with talent!”

“……”

You said you hated black magic, didn’t you?

Ihaan began to say something, then gave up and changed the subject.

“Gainando. Even if they’re not as talented as you, they might still want to learn black magic.”

“That’s true.”

Gainando reflected a little at Ihaan’s words.

Now that he thought of it, he could be a little more generous.

“Hey. You guys—”

“Don’t act friendly with me. You Blue Dragon Tower riffraff.”

“……”

Enraged, Gainando tried to whack the other student with his wand, but Ihaan grabbed his arm and stopped him.

“A White Tiger Tower guy, huh.”

“That’s right.”

There was a faint golden glimmer in the other’s eyes.

Sensing something odd about his features, Ihaan realized he was mixed-blood.

“An angel hybrid?”

“That’s right. I inherited the blood of glorious ancestors.”

‘He talks like he’s proud, but the blood seems pretty faint.’

For example, a demon hybrid tiefling’s blood was so thick, you’d know just by looking.

In contrast, the White Tiger Tower student standing here was hard to tell apart.

If not for Ihaan’s keen senses, even he might not have noticed.

“You inherited your ancestors’ glorious blood, but you take orders from the Moradi family?”

Ihaan immediately tried to sow discord.

The fewer White Tiger Tower students who listened to Giselle, the more comfortable life would be for Ihaan and Derghyu.

Knights’ honor and pride were perfect weaknesses to stab at.

“Don’t be mistaken, Wardanaz. I, Rafadiel, do not obey Moradi’s orders.”

“What? If you don’t obey Moradi’s orders, then why act like a j… ja… ba…?”

Unable to find the right word, Ihaan just left the question unfinished.

“Why do you act like that?”

“You really don’t know?”

Rafadiel looked at Ihaan as if he was absurd.

Feigning ignorance was unbelievable.

Gainando whispered beside him.

“Isn’t it because you sent those White Tiger Tower kids to detention last time?”

“For just that?”

“Or maybe because you went to the lounge and stole their flag.”

“For just that?”

“…???”

Gainando was confused.

Huh?

That seemed like plenty of reason.

Rafadiel narrowed his eyes and spoke to Ihaan.

“Derghyu of the Choi family! Don’t say you don’t know. That’s the noble friend you’re wickedly toying with.”

“……”

Ihaan was momentarily speechless. Gainando defended him.

“No, um, Derghyu is our friend.”

“Even your excuses are cowardly… Attacking and knocking him out with magic and you still call him a friend!”

“……”

Gainando looked at Ihaan for help.

“I treated Derghyu the same way so he wouldn’t be hated by the White Tiger Tower guys.”

“You call that an explanation?”

Rafadiel responded as if he couldn’t believe it.

Ihaan just shrugged as though he’d expected that.

Some misunderstandings can’t be fixed.

“Wait. You’re from the Gral family, right?”

Gainando suddenly remembered Rafadiel’s family.

The Gral family, a southern knightly house.

The Gral family, famous among knightly houses for strictly upholding justice and boasting of a trace of angel blood in their lineage.

Judging by how he spoke…

“That’s right. You villains.”

The other already seemed to have labeled Ihaan and Gainando as minions of evil.

Ihaan reflected a little.

‘But most of it’s just because of the Wardanaz family’s reputation.’

If not for the mad reputation of the Wardanaz family, Ihaan wouldn’t be so misunderstood.

At least that’s how he saw it.

“No, but why would someone from the Gral family learn black magic!?”

Gainando protested incredulously.

Why would someone from a family that produced so many holy knights come here for black magic?

Rafadiel said confidently,

“If I learn black magic, I’ll be able to better face black mages.”

“……”

‘The professor will cry.’

Ihaan was at a loss for words.

Out of just four students, one was already a black magic hater…

“I see. Gral. I hope you learn black magic and fight black mages. I thought you were going to team up with Giselle of the Moradi family and sneakily plot behind my back.”

“Don’t you dare compare me, Rafadiel, to that Moradi scoundrel!”

Rafadiel looked truly offended.

Ihaan was Ihaan, controlling Derghyu like a puppet, but Giselle manipulating the other White Tiger Tower students as her minions was just as repulsive.

“Then you won’t join with Moradi Giselle to plot against me?”

“Of course not!”

“Not even with her gang?”

“Of course not! Why do you keep asking?”

“That’s all I needed.”

With that, Ihaan walked away as if he’d said all he needed.

As long as he wasn’t attacked from behind and Giselle wasn’t involved, he didn’t care how much they squabbled up front.

Rafadiel just blinked blankly, feeling like he’d been duped but not sure how.

Trailing behind, Gainando thought to himself,

‘He’s my friend, but he really does seem like an evil archmage…’

• * *

After dealing with Rafadiel, Gainando became openly hostile. He spoke without a hint of kindness to the other student.

“Why’d you come to learn black magic?”

Ssk—

The student stood up. Only then did Gainando realize he’d been sitting on the floor.

“……”

Ihaan was tall, but the other was so tall Ihaan had to look up. Well over 2 meters.

‘A giant hybrid!’

Overwhelmed, Gainando became extremely polite.

“Y-you absolutely… have the right to learn. Sorry for my rudeness.”

“Uh, hello. Nice to meet you all.”

The other was a Black Tortoise Tower student. He looked around awkwardly as he greeted them.

“My name is Imirgg.”

“I’m Ihaan. This is Gainando. Can I ask why you’re looking around?”

“My f-friends don’t like it when I hang out with Blue Dragon Tower students…”

“!”

Ihaan was surprised.

‘Well, it isn’t so strange.’

Except for the Phoenix Tower, tower students mostly stuck together.

It was only natural for Black Tortoise Tower kids, who were mostly not from noble or knightly families, to avoid mingling with White Tiger Tower (knightly) and Blue Dragon Tower (noble) kids.

Kids like Nillia or Ratford were the rare exceptions…

Just in case, Ihaan asked,

“It’s not because you think I’m an evil archmage or anything, right?”

“Huh, huh? What are you talking about?”

“Never mind, it’s nothing then.”

It really was because he didn’t like nobles. That was a relief to Ihaan.

“I’m interested in black magic, so I came to learn. I’d like to be friends with the others here learning black magic.”

“Hmph! Fat chance!”

Rafadiel declared sharply from the back.

He had no plans to become friends with the cursed souls here to study black magic.

Imirgg looked sadly at Rafadiel. Rafadiel flinched, apparently a little intimidated.

“Fine. Even if we’re not friends outside, let’s get along in here while we’re learning black magic.”

Ihaan reached out his hand.

Imirgg seemed like an easy guy to befriend. After meeting so many weirdos at school, Ihaan was thankful for someone like this.

Imirgg happily shook Ihaan’s hand up and down.

At that moment, Ihaan had to grit his teeth and force out a large burst of mana just to withstand it.

‘Urgh!’

Ihaan managed his expression so as not to offend Imirgg. Such immense strength.

“Looking forward to working with you!”

Gainando, without thinking, stuck his hand out too. Ihaan tried to stop him, but Gainando grabbed first.

Crunch!

• * *

Professor Mortum hummed happily as he saw all the new first-year students.

Ihaan felt a strange pang of pity.

‘You shouldn’t pity your teacher.’

Stockholm Syndrome was a dangerous condition.

“Ahem. Welcome, everyone. I never thought there’d be so many students interested in black magic. I can look forward to next year.”

“We’re looking forward to your instruction!”

Professor Mortum seemed not to notice Rafadiel’s sinister intent. He looked at Ihaan and asked,

“Have you found the bone summon yet?”

“I haven’t found it yet…”

“Ahem. Try searching in the darker and gloomier places.”

Professor Mortum winked at Ihaan as if giving him a gift. It wasn’t very charming.

‘Wasn’t telling a kid to search dark places for wayward summons basically a death sentence?’

“Ahem… Since everyone’s been waiting for today’s meeting, let’s get started right away. Do you all remember what we learned last time about curses?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Rafadiel took out his paper and quill, ready to take notes. Professor Mortum looked pleased.

From Ihaan’s perspective, knowing Rafadiel’s true intentions, he could only pity the professor.

Wouldn’t he attack the professor first, later?

“Honestly, curses are more fun than summoning magic!”

Gainando spoke honestly.

“Today, instead of rushing, let’s study curses to deepen your unde… No, wait.”

Professor Mortum paused midsentence.

“Did you learn summoning magic this week?”

“Yes.”

“Ahem. How did the students respond?”

“They loved it. Except for us, everyone went to the workshop to hear more.”

Ihaan wanted to smack Gainando’s big mouth, but unfortunately, he couldn’t.

Professor Mortum spoke firmly.

“…Instead of curses, I’ll teach you undead summoning today.”

“Wow!!”

‘Can he really do this?’

Ihaan grew anxious.

It seemed like they were skipping several steps in the curriculum…

• * *

“Ahem. Undead summoning is the very flower of summoning magic. The most beautiful, complex, and elegant form of magic…”

“Where do black magicians usually get their corpses?”

“Good question, Rafadiel. In the old days, they mostly used graveyards, but not anymore. Now, authorized bodies are purchased for use.”

“Oh… But illegal black magicians would still use graveyards, right?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Thank you.”

Rafadiel happily took notes. Professor Mortum tilted his head, sensing something was off.

“But you are all still… too early to summon fully formed undead. If mishandled, completed undead can kill their master.”

Having a skeleton warrior summoned by an inexperienced black magician stab their master to death was one of the most common black magic accidents.

Gainando, who was nearly killed by a magic quill, nodded in agreement.

“We’ll start with the simplest, the one least likely to kill you: the bone hand.”

The students tense, focusing on the professor’s words.

Shwick!

Bone hands appeared before the students.

“First, try to get along with your bone hand. At first, they won’t obey, but…”

“…?”

Ihaan for a moment thought he’d confused the bone summon with the bone hand.

The bone hand was bowing its head to him very politely.

‘Is this a trap?’