Episode 793

Suppressing his killing intent as much as possible, Lee Han asked,

“What do you mean by that?”

“?”

Professor Voladi looked puzzled by his smart disciple’s question.

He didn’t see anything unclear about his previous comment, “I’m worried because it seems Eandurde is overdoing it.”

“Did you hurt your ears in the fragment’s domain?”

“…No, my ears are fine. So, you’re worried because Eandurde is pushing himself too hard, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Uh. But isn’t it the Einrogard way to push students even if it’s a bit much?”

Lee Han held back from just calling it “the Baegrek way,” thinking that was too blatant.

Professor Voladi mulled it over briefly, then shook his head in a short, firm motion.

“That’s Einrogard’s way, not my way.”

“…So, in your philosophy, the professor carefully adjusts things so students don’t overdo it?”

“Yes.”

The professor looked at Lee Han—every inch the insightful first disciple—with a faint sense of pride.

‘…I was being sarcastic…’

Lee Han decided he should never use irony with Professor Voladi again.

‘But it’s still hard to believe. Even a butcher can become a monk if he puts down the knife, but Professor Baegrek can really change?’

Admittedly, an unusual situation—like a 100% increase in students—could shake even the hardest professor.

Lee Han hadn’t thought Voladi fell into the “ordinary professor” category, but…

Who can predict human nature? Maybe his twice the usual roster had thawed even Voladi’s frozen heart.

‘I shouldn’t think like this, but it really feels unfair.’

Lee Han struggled to rid himself of evil thoughts while watching Eandurde groan.

He used to commiserate with friends: “Why are seniors so cruel to juniors? They’re such rotten people.”

He couldn’t become that kind of senior himself. If a junior’s education was improved, he should rejoice.

But the sense of unfairness wouldn’t go away easily.

‘Couldn’t he have had these thoughts when he got a first disciple…?’

“By the way, did any other students come?”

“Yes.”

“Really? I don’t see them. Did the class finish and they leave?”

“They ran away.”

“……”

So basically, it was the same as them not coming at all?

Lee Han decided not to even say it. It would just waste his breath.

‘So there are just two, then. No upperclassmen suddenly struck with madness came to take this lecture, I suppose.’

It was easy to count Baegrek School’s disciples. Fold two fingers and you were done.

“But it’s interesting. Didn’t expect Eandurde to take this class.”

Just then, Eandurde—after rolling backward again—wiped his nosebleed on his sleeve and replied,

“I heard you were taking it, Senior.”

“Oh, really?”

Lee Han felt a pang of guilt.

And then a question occurred.

“Wait. From whom?”

Eandurde glanced at Professor Voladi. The professor nodded.

Lee Han was appalled.

‘What an outrageous scam…!’

By this logic, there wasn’t a single class Lee Han didn’t take!

Using the fact that Lee Han attended every department to lure an innocent first-year into the class—this was almost too underhanded.

“…Eandurde. I take a lot of other classes too. Did you check those out?”

Eandurde nodded as if he understood.

“Professor Reji.”

He had joined the School of Transformation after hearing Lee Han took that lecture.

Lee Han said, face clouded,

“Professor Garcia, Professor Mortum, Professor Millei, Professor Craer, Professor Lagrinde, Professor Verdus… never mind, forget that one. Anyway—those professors, did you check with them?”

“?????”

Faced with so many names, Eandurde tilted his head in confusion.

There’s no way this upperclassman actually attends all those lectures, right?

• * *

“Use a bit less mana. Good. Well done.”

Unable to fight his conscience, Lee Han helped Eandurde with his training.

When the sphere circled rather than attacked him, Eandurde was delighted.

“It’s moving well!”

“No, I just stopped it with telekinesis. Try again. Make the curve a little smoother.”

“How?”

“Uh… Focus, and, sort of… like sweeping a line, whoosh?”

“……”

“……”

Eandurde and Professor Voladi stared blankly at Lee Han.

Thankfully, neither said a word. Lee Han felt embarrassed and said,

“…Sorry. That wasn’t very helpful.”

“It’s fine.”

Instead, Eandurde consoled Lee Han. Professor Voladi added a remark.

“Talented mages are often poor at explaining things.”

“But professor, you explain very well.”

“???”

Lee Han’s eyes grew wide at Eandurde’s words.

Not even a full semester in, and this junior was already learning how to flatter.

‘He’d make a great imperial ambassador after a year in school!’

Maybe touched by the flattery, Professor Voladi replied with a hint of a smile,

“Thank you.”

Lest he faint from frustration, Lee Han quickly wrapped up the conversation.

“Eandurde, that’s enough for today. Training magic is good, but if you overdo it, you’ll run out of mana or rebound.”

“But I heard you kept going, Senior.”

“……”

Lee Han wondered if he should petition the Skull Principal about this.

‘Aren’t they using me as a cautionary tale to drive Eandurde to train until he drops?’

If so, Professor Voladi would be the second most diabolical professor at Einrogard.

‘No, Professor Baegrek wouldn’t resort to such sneaky tricks. Even with twice as many disciples, surely he hasn’t changed that much.’

“I just have more mana than you.”

“And you’re more talented too.”

“Professor, please, enough.”

Lee Han wished Professor Voladi would just keep quiet. Poor Eandurde looked ready to cry from disappointment.

Was that supposed to be encouragement…!

“Don’t fret about talent. It’s such an abstract thing—you never know what aspect of what magic will make it shine.”

“But senior, you take every department…”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. My point is, Eandurde, you’re doing perfectly fine now. Professor Baegrek agrees, right?”

Professor Voladi nodded.

Eandurde was indeed doing well—no need to push himself more.

“Right. So let’s call it a day. Go get some rest. Are you eating properly?”

“I’m eating well!”

“Oh? That’s because you’re in Black Turtle Tower, huh?”

Compared to other towers, new students at Black Turtle adapted more quickly.

“I take food from the other tower enemies.”

“…Take this with you. If you can, share with friends in other towers.”

Lee Han handed over a food bundle and sent Eandurde off, then sighed.

It seemed his younger peers were having to endure even harsher conditions.

“Professor, why do you keep mentioning me to Eandurde…?”

Once Eandurde was gone, Lee Han couldn’t hold back and protested. He just couldn’t let this pass.

“He asked.”

“Oh.”

Lee Han immediately understood.

In hindsight, maybe it wasn’t Professor Voladi mentioning him on his own, but Eandurde repeatedly asking.

‘Why hadn’t I considered that?’

He’d just assumed Voladi had slyly used Lee Han’s example to pressure Eandurde, and considered no other possibility.

Even Lee Han found that odd now.

“Is your body all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine. The classes have gotten tougher, but nothing too serious yet…”

‘To think you’d become so caring just by gaining one more disciple. If that ever doubled again, would he cook meals himself?’

“I meant from the fragment, not classes. You seemed to have hearing trouble earlier.”

“Ah. No, I’m fine. And about the fragment…”

As he began to reply, Lee Han remembered and immediately tattled about Antagondals.

They may have been fellow foolish inmates in the mad incarnation’s cell, but with their paths now split, there was no need for loyalty.

‘Every man for himself.’

“I see.”

Voladi absorbed Lee Han’s report with grave expression.

A magic criminal enslaved by the mad incarnation was desperately closing in.

“That’s dangerous. Better not wander carelessly.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Lee Han had no intention of setting foot anywhere off the main campus or in the mountains again.

Another visit might trap him forever.

“More powerful magic…”

“!”

Voladi’s words jolted Lee Han.

Now that he thought about it, he’d been so focused on defeating Antagondals, he’d overlooked this.

That arrow could swing back toward Lee Han himself.

“…Ease off on training for a while. Even the magic you just finished was pushing yourself too far.”

“!!!”

Lee Han was honestly shocked at the unexpected words.

‘Eandurde… Amazing!’

Who knew the effect of a new disciple would be this great?

Unaware of Lee Han’s impure thoughts, Voladi spoke calmly.

“For now, focus on practicing what you’ve already learned.”

The -Wardanaz’s Telekinesis- Lee Han just mastered was a spell hard to learn under normal circumstances.

Only the threat of murder from a mad archmage forced him to complete it.

He was lucky; if not, he might have gone mad or accidentally attacked himself.

As a professor who insisted danger be always controllable and safe, even for a gifted student, Voladi couldn’t approve this trajectory.

And a naturally talented disciple—having tasted success—might be tempted toward such risk again…

‘Not happening.’

Voladi was determined to insist on restraint.

A magician must control magic—not let magic burn them up.

“Ugh. If you insist, Professor, I suppose I have no choice.”

Lee Han faked a disappointed tone.

Focusing on mastering what he’d already learned, Professor Voladi’s lectures would become a relatively comfortable and happy experience.

‘…Well, maybe not happy or comfortable after all.’

Come to think of it, even what he’d learned so far was so tough that just consolidating and practicing it would be a grueling chore.

But compared to risking his neck every time, it was much easier.

Lee Han gave silent thanks to Eandurde.

‘Thank you, junior.’

“Then I’ll finish practicing what I’ve learned.”

“Good.”

Preparing to gently wrap up the lesson, Lee Han suddenly remembered something and spoke.

“But, Professor. You’re going to prepare Eandurde’s next lesson yourself, right?”

Voladi nodded.

Unlike other professors, who had lots of disciples to boss around, Professor Voladi always prepared his classes himself.

‘Wait, in that case…’

Lee Han recalled the times Professor Voladi would attack him with flying spheres.

Today, since Eandurde was just practicing spinning the spheres, there had been none—but it could resume any time.

“…I’d like to help, Professor.”

“!”

Voladi’s eyes widened a little at Lee Han volunteering.

He felt anew how much this disciple cared about teaching. The Skull Principal’s words from before seemed to be truly on the mark.