Episode 794

“Normally, second-year students aren’t allowed to participate. But I’ll make an exception this time.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Lee Han cursed inwardly.

‘Anyone would think he’s granting me some incredible favor.’

Why had Lee Han volunteered to help, anyway?

To help Eandurde (so he wouldn’t collapse) and help Professor Voladi (so the Skull Principal wouldn’t call him in).

Shouldn’t he have gotten praise as a praiseworthy student, not remarks like that?

Professors really were fundamentally shameless people.

“After the spirit stone orbs, do we go to iron balls?”

“That’s right.”

“Will you be adding attacks at that stage?”

Lee Han reviewed last year’s curriculum with Professor Voladi.

First, you trained control on easy materials—spirit stone orbs—then iron balls, then elemental transformation and control again—

And whenever you got stuck: attacks.

‘That’s the core of the Baegrek school.’

Without the attacks, it would’ve been a school of tedious rote learning, but the attacks made it a thrilling, mad school.

Not many schools in the Empire would have you get attacked by your teacher whenever you hit a wall in your studies.

“We’ll see.”

“?!?!”

Naturally, Lee Han was shocked at the professor’s answer.

“Didn’t you attack whenever a student got stuck???”

“It depends on the person.”

Some metals break under a trial by fire; others become even stronger.

The boy of the Wardanaz family was the latter, but whether Eandurde was too, who could say?

Of course, to Lee Han, this wasn’t that persuasive.

‘Trial by fire, huh. The professor himself ought to undergo one of those.’

A fireball from his disciple’s back could be a trial by fire, couldn’t it?

Professors could get tougher, too.

‘…But I have to hold it in. For Eandurde’s sake.’

For his junior’s sake, Lee Han suppressed himself and agreed.

“Very well. Then I’ll leave out the attack part. Wow, that’s much better. By the way, Professor, what about changing the iron balls to rubber balls?”

Seeing his disciple actively suggesting ideas, Professor Voladi nodded easily.

No matter what the result, he intended to respect his disciple’s ideas. Whether they succeeded or failed, there was learning to be had.

Getting the student to think and reflect for themselves—that was a good teacher.

“Next is the elemental transformation stage. I’m planning to provide some defense artifacts with elemental resistance for that. I’ll procure them myself. I can borro—no, borrow some from Professor Verdus’s workshop.”

Professor Voladi nodded again. Energized by the professor’s support, Lee Han continued pitching improvements.

He would pour out everything he’d held back last year!

“And during movement training, since plain repetition leads to loss of focus, I’d suggest varying the courses and scenarios… and praise and rewards for each achievement…”

“Hm.”

Professor Voladi agreed to everything, thinking to himself that with so much interest in teaching, he should’ve given permission sooner.

• * *

“So, considering Eandurde’s stamina, it would be good to provide light refreshments in the classroom.”

“Would I be making them?”

Professor Voladi asked, and Lee Han hesitated.

Things had gotten so “improved” that now having the professor cook might be crossing a line.

Maybe he was agreeing to everything while planning, “Let’s see how far this student goes.”

“…I’ll make the meals.”

“All right.”

Professor Voladi erased the caprese salad recipe he’d written.

He’d jotted down a few just in case but now saw there was no need.

“Is that everything?”

“Yes… um… there wasn’t anything too excessive or arrogant, right?”

Lee Han asked, watching for the professor’s reaction. Fortunately, Voladi simply nodded.

“Excellent.”

“You don’t think it’s too comfortable or easy to learn, do you?”

“I trust you.”

“……”

It might have felt easier if the professor had shrugged and said, “Let’s see how it goes,” but just being told, “I trust you,” made Lee Han far more nervous.

‘Trust? What if he gets twice as angry for betraying his trust if I fail?’

Lee Han decided that if he saw Eandurde later, he’d have to ask for a favor.

Eandurde’s progress in magic training could end up deciding Lee Han’s own fate.

“Then I’ll start practicing.”

Having bought all the time he wanted to out of the lesson, Lee Han stood up and gripped his staff.

He really wanted to keep stalling with more improvement suggestions, but then Professor Voladi might catch on. It was time to practice.

Crackle!

Lee Han’s assignment in this class was advanced elemental property application, the combat use and combination of other schools’ magic, fighting with terrifying and powerful monsters, and so on.

But the first thing he had to finish was lightning elemental transformation.

Recently, he’d managed to use fire element safely, but the element he used most in combat was lightning.

His proficiency with it was on another level. He needed to keep practicing, especially since lightning element transformation was particularly difficult.

He’d succeeded with forms like -Enchanted Lightning Spear- and -Enchanted Lightning Cloak-…

‘If I could crest a curtain or trap on the ground, things would get more convenient.’

“I heard you transformed into lightning with a spirit’s power.”

“?!!”

Startled by Professor Voladi’s sudden question, Lee Han leaped aside.

A lightning bolt he’d lost control of struck the space he’d been standing, scorching the floor.

“Huh??”

“During winter vacation. I heard the Pride Lord was summoned.”

“……”

Lee Han was appalled to realize events from Senior Yukveltire’s exchange meeting had reached Voladi’s ears.

‘Which sneaky, despicable traitor snitched? Was it Senior Yukveltire?’

Swelling with rage, Lee Han vowed to find and deal with the rat.

Rats that ruined trust among mages and could bring down the empire!

“Was that wrong?”

“No, not wrong, but, you know, depending on how you look at it, the incident can be seen in different ways and, uh…”

“??”

Lee Han tried to squirm out of it, but Professor Voladi just waited in silence—the best way.

“…Yes. The Pride Lord was summoned and I borrowed the power of a contracted spirit.”

“You transformed into lightning.”

“Yes.”

Perkuntra, true to the title Thunder King, displayed some very powerful authorities.

One of them, Thunder Metamorphosis, allowed a mage to transform their body into pure lightning.

A mage who had learned transformation magic could change their body into other substances, but even that had many limits and was tough magic.

Transforming into pure lightning was, well…

“You want to practice that.”

“Ye…what?!”

Lee Han, answering on autopilot, was horrified and replied again.

“Metamorphosing into lightning is at least fifth-circle, even at a low estimate. And as I said, don’t overdo it.”

Forcing yourself to attempt another fifth-circle spell like thunder metamorphosis, right after barely mastering -Wardanaz’s Telekinesis-, was extremely dangerous.

“Professor, I’m not especially interested in thunder metamorphosis.”

“I see. Yet you keep practicing lightning element.”

“…That’s because its transformation is difficult and tricky.”

“I’m sure you’ve succeeded with -Enchanted Lightning Spear- and -Lightning Cloak-.”

“It’s not enough yet…”

Professor Voladi shook his head at this obvious lie.

-Enchanted Lightning Cloak- was a particularly hard form to master since it required maintaining both the cloak’s shape and fluttering motion.

For Lee Han to nail it and then pretend otherwise was transparent.

“…I’m sorry. I won’t get greedy about thunder metamorphosis.”

He wound up apologizing for coveting something he hadn’t even coveted—an unfair situation.

Professor Voladi soothed his student.

“Focus on refining your existing spells for now.”

‘…That’s what I was doing…’

Even after saying that, perhaps because he still harbored doubts about his student’s self-destructive talent, Professor Voladi decided to change topics.

“How is the book on the Water Prison Orb coming?”

“…!”

At those words, Lee Han actually regretted not insisting on thunder metamorphosis.

Now that the professor’s attention had shifted, last year’s assignment resurfaced.

The -Wardanaz’s Water Prison Orb- he’d spent all first year developing.

Professor Voladi had demanded Lee Han write an entire book on it, and another on its future development—a harsh demand for a first-year who had mastered a fourth-circle spell.

“I’m working on it, but it’s not finished yet…”

“I want to see it.”

“……”

Lee Han broke into a cold sweat and took out the book.

He’d been writing whenever he could spare time, but who knew if it would meet Professor Voladi’s standards.

“Hm.”

Professor Voladi received the book and, face expressionless, became immersed.

-About Wardanaz’s Water Prison Orb and Its Fundamental Principles- and -On the Limits and Future Development of Water Prison Orb Magic-.

Lee Han regretted not coming up with better titles.

‘Should’ve called it Wardanaz’s Water Prison Orb, as Taught by Professor Baegrek…’

Should’ve flattered the professor in the title!

Knock knock knock—

‘Who?’

Professor Voladi, deep in reading, set the book aside and looked up.

“Interesting.”

“There’s a guest outside, Professor.”

“Right. I was going to introduce you anyway.”

Even if the guest was a duke of devils, anything was better than Voladi scrutinizing the book just now.

Lee Han promptly stood, hoping the professor would forget all about the book once distracted.

“Please, come in.”

The person who entered was a grumpy-looking old woman.

Stocky and ruddy-faced, she was nearly as big as Professor Voladi.

“Keehee. Never expected you’d call for me from Einrogard.”

“I was asked for the sake of the Dueling Club students.”

“Dueling Club? Don’t give me ‘club.’ Dueling, then club after—does that make any sense?”

Professor Voladi didn’t answer.

Overhearing the conversation, Lee Han realized the guest was here for club week next week.

Professor Kirmin Ku was in charge of the Dueling Club, and she and Professor Voladi were friends…

‘So it wouldn’t be strange to invite her.’

Even if Professor Voladi was blacklisted by many of the Empire’s dueling clubs, he’d still have plenty of connections to bring in a top dueling mage.

“This is the teacher of Yumidihus.”

“!”

Lee Han was surprised at Professor Voladi’s introduction.

He hadn’t expected this person to be Yumidihus’s teacher.

“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Lee Han. I’ve also had the honor of being instructed by Yumidihus.”

“Nice to meet ye. I’m a pirate.”

“…Is your name Pirate? Or is that your house?”

“My occupation is pirate.”

“……”

Faced with this unbelievable statement, Lee Han wondered if Professor Voladi was finally calling in criminals to teach his classes.