Episode 877

Professor Paselete looked at Lee Han as if to ask what he was saying.
The purpose of this midterm was to teach students how to use the -Star Guide- and have them try to find a star.
Because the artifact was so difficult, simply learning how to use it was enough for the test.
Lee Han replied calmly.
“I heard that making a contract with a star isn’t as hard as people think.
Unlike spirits or demons, it’s not about conversation, persuasion, negotiation, or threats, but about investigating, recognizing, and then proving eligibility according to the rules…”
‘Did he read some strange old book or something?’
Professor Paselete looked at her brilliant top student curiously as he said odd things.
Even the brightest mage could occasionally spout nonsense. Sometimes, they were so exceptional that they fell into madness clutching forbidden tomes no one else would ever read.
What the Wardanaz boy was saying wasn’t quite madness, but it was halfway there.
Contracting with a star was difficult. Just finding one or learning how to use the -Star Guide- was hard enough. And then to find a star’s rule and prove eligibility was even more…
“Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
Lee Han nodded and suddenly ran over to the window and shouted loudly. It was hard to make out, but words like ‘Yaksha King’ and ‘son of a bitch’ could be heard mixed into the shouting.
“!?”
“???!?”
Not only Professor Paselete but the other professors were startled and looked at Lee Han. Professor Bendozol glared at Professor Verdus.
“Isn’t it because you kept stressing him out?”
“When did I?”
‘He’s certainly suspicious.’
Professor Paselete agreed with Bendozol. While her student was searching for the artifact, who knows how much Verdus must have upset them. That didn’t take divination magic to know.
“Oh.”
While checking the -Star Guide-, Professor Paselete discovered a lingering stigma within. It was a trace left by the intense power of a star.
If he hadn’t made a contract with a star using this artifact, there was no reason for such residue to remain!
“Did you perhaps use the artifact?”
Lee Han, who had been shouting out the window, stopped at once and turned back. Then he silently nodded.
“Did you find a star too?”
Another nod.
“…Did you even make a contract?”
Yet another nod.
Professor Paselete stared at her student in wonder. Why did one so incredibly talented do dangerous things no one even asked him to do? Maybe that was just the fate of these so-called geniuses.

The three professors sat down and began an impromptu lecture.
He had already found a star and made a contract, so there was nothing more to say, but they still needed to tell him a few precautions.
“You have to be careful with asteroid fields,” Professor Verdus said, gnawing birch bark.
“If you mistake them for a star cluster and go to make a contract, you could get really hurt.”
Asteroid fields were a trap that often caught mages trying to contract with stars.
At a glance, they felt like powerful stars, but if you approached, the irregular, broken-up mass could cause serious harm.
“Yes… I’ve encountered one before.”
……
……
Professor Paselete and Professor Bendozol’s expressions hardened.
Professor Verdus asked curiously.
“So… is there even a need to teach you like this?”
“No one asked for your opinion.”
“Keep quiet, Professor Verdus.”
Professor Verdus closed her mouth again.
For some reason, the other two professors were in a foul mood. Truly emotional people.
“Well… You should also be careful of dark nebulae. Just looking at one can swallow a mage’s soul…”
“Yes. I’ve seen those too.”
“……”
“……”
Professor Paselete wondered what kind of old tome he had followed that he’d already seen asteroid fields and dark nebulae. Was the title something like -How to Self-destruct Among the Stars-?
Joulin tilted her head.
Lee Han doesn’t seem to have anything left to learn from this…
“No, Dragon! I didn’t say it, but detecting the stars requires mastery over all sorts of laws and principles!” Not wanting to look like an incompetent professor in front of a dragon, Bendozol snapped sharply.
“I was about to explain all of that, one by one. Now! Do you know the Law of Priority?!”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?!”
Professor Paselete decided to give up and just finish explaining the operation method of the -Star Guide-.

“If you operate it in this direction, your soul vision moves that direction. Since stars move quickly, a certain amount of prediction is needed. Even though the -Star Guide- helps, the mage themselves need to be able to use divination magic quite a bit.”
“Indeed.”
“This week, the Spirit Star is closest to the continent. Did you see the Spirit Star by chance?”
“Yes.”
“Ah. Did you make a contract with the Spirit Star?!”
“No… it rejected me.”
“…..?”
“……”
The atmosphere grew awkward in an instant. While it wasn’t rare to be ignored by the Spirit Star, to be rejected was extremely rare.
Eandurde, who didn’t understand, asked.
“Why would a star reject someone?”
Shh. Eandurde. There are malicious stars out there.
“If your magical power is too strong, spirits might dislike you. That can manifest as the Spirit Star’s rejection.”
Professor Verdus nodded to herself as if she understood. Lee Han glanced over at her.
“Well… it’s in the past now. Should I teach you anything else? Which star did you contract with?”
“I heard it was the guest star, Arna.”
The conversation had already stalled and grown awkward several times today, but this was the heaviest and most shocking it had gotten.
Professor Paselete and Professor Bendozol’s faces twisted in horror as they stared at Lee Han. Even Professor Verdus dropped her piece of bark.
“…Did I make a dangerous contract?”
“For a second-year student, making a contract with any star is dangerous. But more than that… um… a catastrophic prophecy… Actually, never mind.”
“Arna is… hmm… fate… No… Just a superstition. Superstition is part of prophecy but…”
‘They’re no help at all.’
No matter how persistently he pressed, the professors wouldn’t tell him. From what Lee Han could guess, it seemed that mages who made contracts with Arna generally didn’t have good outcomes.
Well, it was the star contracted by the skeleton headmaster after all…
‘Terrifying. To think that contracting with that star might mean becoming Einrogard’s headmaster someday.’
“Ah, wait. I have to teach you one more thing about how to use this artifact.”
Professor Paselete called to Lee Han as he got up to leave.
“What is it?”
“It’s best to use this artifact only for a few minutes a day. Gazing at the sea of stars is more draining than you’d think.”
“……”
Shouldn’t that be attached as a warning on the artifact?
Joulin, watching Lee Han for a while after he returned to the tower, cautiously asked,
Lee Han?
“Yes. Your Highness?”
Are you taking the test early because of Joulin…?
It was natural that Joulin was cautious. Normally, exams were postponed right up until the eve and then studied for in a rush (a slightly skewed view learned from books), not perfectly completed and handed in a week early.
But Lee Han kept finishing his upcoming tests early, so Joulin couldn’t help but be concerned. From what she heard, it hadn’t been like this last year…
To the logical deduction of the clever dragon, Lee Han answered at once.
“What nonsense are you talking about, Your Highness?!”
‘Oops. This is bad.’
Lee Han was horrified at himself, realizing he was starting to treat Joulin like Gainando. At this rate, he might end up prosecuted for lèse-majesté on imperial charges.
“I apologize. I was flustered and spoke as I would to my friends.”
No! Joulin wants you to talk to her like you talk to your friends!
Joulin flapped her wings and her eyes sparkled.
She had actually felt a bit sad that Lee Han treated her differently from his friends, and now saw her chance.
“No, even so, with Your Highness’s status, I should maintain decorum.”
No! No! I don’t want that!
Joulin threw a tantrum, rolling side to side.
The dragon’s rolling, with her huge body, smashed the Blue Dragon Tower break room furniture to bits with an ominous crack.
Gainando, who had been doing wizard cards in the corner and finally winning for once, let out a wail as his game was ruined.
Joulin orders it! Wardanaz must treat Joulin as he would his usual friends!
“Umm… If you truly wish that…”
Joulin’s face brightened.
Lee Han said honestly.
“Then stop talking nonsense.”
……
“Maybe I should just maintain proper manners after all…”
No! Joulin is totally fine with it!
Eandurde thought he saw a tear glisten at the edge of Joulin’s eye, but he kept it to himself.
It was his own way of showing friendship for his huge dragon friend.
“By the way, Your Highness. I’m not taking the test early on purpose.”
“Really??”
Not only Joulin but Eandurde was surprised as well.
“…Why are you surprised?”
“Of course…”
Eandurde counted on her fingers.
-Staff Materials and Magical Amplification-, -Terribly Beautiful Creatures-, -Poison, Bone, Blood-, -Divination Magics for Going Mad-…
There were just too many for it to be a coincidence, so Eandurde naturally assumed this ironclad senior was finishing her exams in advance with a perfect plan.
“It’s just accidental.”
“Hmph…”
Hmph…
‘Maybe it was a mistake putting those two together?’
Putting together two with such a young mental age only made them learn to suspect each other.
-Hmph…
“…Aren’t you scared anymore?”
Lee Han spoke to the baby basilisk in his sleeve.
With her keen dragon ears, Joulin gazed right through his sleeve.
I swear I just heard the baby basilisk’s voice.
-M-Master I-I-I’m scared!
“That’s what you get for talking…”
Whoa! Joulin, delighted to see a baby basilisk, dashed in like lightning—
-Master. I did wrong! Please help me!
So cute!!! Joulin hugged and played with the baby basilisk for a while, while Lee Han handled the remaining assignments.
‘There really are fewer tests.’
“Wardanaz. Paper bird.”
“It’s not one of Professor Verdus’s paper birds, is it?”
“If it was, I’d have shot it down right away!”
The Blue Dragon Tower friend laughed, as if to ask what kind of person Lee Han took him for, and moved on.
Feeling reassured, Lee Han checked the paper bird.
It was from his club seniors.
So you already took the -Terribly Beautiful Creatures- exam early? Congratulations. If you’re thinking of taking the -One Drop of Potion Instead of Complex Magic- exam early as well, let us know? And are you perhaps planning to take the (Elemental Magic and Applications) exam early too, junior? If so, please tell us…
……
The letters were all similar.
They had to help their club junior study for exams, but if he was going to take more early, they wanted to know, so they could save themselves more summary work…
‘Isn’t this a bit much?’
Lee Han grumbled about the coldness of Einrogard.
Shouldn’t seniors be worried if their junior is taking too many exams early, telling him not to overdo it? Instead all they ask is to let them know if there are any more early exams!
“Everyone. Is Student Wardanaz here?”
“It depends on why you’re here, Professor.”
From the lounge entrance, a familiar voice was heard.
It was Professor Zorzik of the Malpha family, with his handsomely seagull-shaped mustache.
A friend who didn’t know Professor Zorzik asked curiously.
“Wardanaz. What sort of person is that professor?”
“He’s not a bad guy. He looks out for his students.”
“Oh…”
“And he’s aiming to be the next headmaster.”
Hearing that, the Blue Dragon Tower student grimaced and ran upstairs to hide.
What a completely insane professor!