Episode 93

“You must be mistaken…”

“So you really did use lightning magic.”

‘Damn.’

There was no way Professor Voladi wouldn’t notice from the traces left behind.

The professor had already assessed the situation through the remains of the fallen monster and the faint lingering echo of the lightning spirit left on Ihan’s arm.

“Interesting…”

The way Professor Voladi nodded ever so slightly and murmured to himself was more frightening to Ihan than any monster.

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Professor Garcia stepped in.

Ihan felt a surge of emotion at the sight.

Professor!

“Professor Begrek, why are you asking about the lightning magic? What do you plan to do with that information?”

“It’s necessary for my instruction.”

“For instruction—wait, does student Ihan really… I mean, do you take Professor Begrek’s class?!”

Professor Garcia started to say ‘that professor’ but quickly changed his words.

But Ihan could easily tell what he actually meant to say.

“Yes…”

“……”

Professor Garcia put his hand to his forehead.

Professor Garcia was someone who respected everyone at the magic school on a personal level, but he didn’t extend that to their classes.

Some professors’ classes always made Professor Garcia uneasy.

Professor Voladi Begrek’s class was exactly one of those.

To Professor Garcia, it was far too harsh and severe!

No matter how much he thought about it, it was not something suitable for freshmen to take.

Instead of teaching how to avoid fights, he taught students how to maintain composure in extreme combat and how to fight in magical warfare…

Fortunately, most students didn’t take that class.

Because it was so difficult, every year students would try it once and promptly flee.

So Professor Garcia felt reassured, thinking, ‘Professor Begrek will realize one day and change his course, right?’

But, shockingly, there was a student who actually attended.

Professor Voladi calmly spoke, as if curious why there was any question.

“I recall you saw it the other time.”

“What do you mean?”

“The fight against the anti-magicists. I mentioned at the time that I had taught him.”

“…!”

Professor Garcia felt like a bolt of lightning struck his mind.

The iron balls that Ihan had used.

Back then, due to being preoccupied with the imperial anti-magicists, he hadn’t thought deeply about how Ihan manipulated those iron balls…

…Now that he thought about it, that was Professor Voladi’s style!

-He has talent for magical combat. Professor Voladi, were you his teacher? Amazing.

-Not so amazing.

Now that he thought about it, even the conversation between the principal and Professor Voladi afterwards had held great meaning.

He had just assumed Ihan received a few casual tips, but in reality, Ihan had been getting intensive lessons through the class!

“Are you okay????”

“……”

Ihan paused at Professor Garcia’s question.

That “Are you okay” was loaded with so much meaning.

How was he supposed to answer?

“I’m fine.”

“……”

Professor Voladi answered for him. Both Ihan and Professor Garcia looked at him with bewildered expressions.

“Wardanaz has successfully kept up with the instruction.”

“…He’s kept up?”

At first, Professor Garcia was shocked, but then he understood.

Sometimes, exceptional talent could become a curse.

That was true for situations like this.

Ihan’s outstanding talent was, in fact, what made him stick with the class instead of dropping out!

‘What a tragedy…!’

Professor Voladi spoke as kindly as he could.

“Now you understand why I asked about his lightning magic development.”

“Wait, wait. I get that he’s keeping up.”

Professor Garcia made one last attempt at resistance. True kindness.

“But even if his control over basic telekinesis has greatly improved, isn’t it too hasty to immediately move on to lightning element magic? Shouldn’t he at least master some other, safer elemental spells first…?”

Right then, Professor Garcia paused with a look of horror.

Professor Voladi was ever so faintly smiling.

What the???

“So I started by having him master water element magic.”

“…Already?”

“Yes.”

There was a very faint sense of certainty in Professor Voladi’s “Yes.”

Professor Garcia, as a fellow professor, could sense that emotion.

-If there is a student who can keep up, then it means I haven’t taught wrong.

…that certainty.

‘No!!’

Professor Garcia screamed inwardly. Why now, of all times!

Even if Professor Voladi’s warped worldview could be changed later, he had to protect the gifted student before his eyes first.

Professor Garcia did not give up.

“In fact, don’t a lot of students easily manage to give shape to water?”

‘Is that true?’

Unaware of Professor Garcia’s inner thoughts, Ihan was fascinated.

No wonder…

“Perhaps it’s because of the nature of water as an element?”

“I don’t really think so…”

“In that light, wouldn’t it be better, rather than just moving on after a simple shaping success, to get more used to the elements by expanding the range of forms, and…”

Professor Voladi nodded.

“So I had him discover the water shield spell on his own as well.”

“……”

Professor Garcia looked at Ihan in horror. Ihan felt vaguely guilty.

Not only had he learned the water shield spell, but if he discovered it himself, it was almost as if he had completely mastered elemental shaping.

If he’d figured out the principles and logic on his own, he’d be able to create other forms as well.

That kind of self-realization was hugely important.

“B-but… even if you’ve mastered shaping, the path to elemental control is a long one… At the very least, you should be able to control shaped water element magic as naturally as moving iron balls…”

Professor Garcia’s heart sank as he saw Ihan lower his head.

No way?

“He’s learned that as well. He even tried to add a rotation property, so I stopped him.”

Professor Garcia had never even dreamed, not even in nightmares, that Professor Voladi would say something like, ‘I really care about my students.’

This was a nightmare worse than any other.

And the worst part was that Professor Garcia no longer had any means of persuasion left.

With a gloomy voice, Professor Garcia spoke sadly.

“…Please take good care of Ihan…”

“I always teach all my students the same, Professor Garcia.”

As the two professors finished their conversation, Ihan snapped back to reality.

“…?!!”

This was it?

No further intervention??

“Professor…!”

“Ihan, do your best.”

Ihan suddenly felt like a cow being led to slaughter.

He had no idea what would happen to him next week…

Ominous!

‘…From now on, when asking a professor for help, I’ll have to check if there are any other professors nearby…’

• * *

Asan was walking with his friends toward the black market.

“This weekend, let’s treat everyone for once.”

‘Do we really have to?’

Gynando wanted to complain, but had to shut his mouth. He’d already done it once and got chewed out for it.

The new students’ food situations were roughly as follows:

Thanks to Ihan, who brought in plenty of supplies from outside, the Azure Dragon Tower had the most luxurious and abundant meals.

The Phoenix Tower quietly accepted whatever they got, never planning to complain about their food.

The White Tiger Tower, with weapons in hand, were becoming increasingly successful at hunting in the surrounding forests, fields, and mountains.

And the Black Tortoise Tower was supplementing their shortages by periodic gathering, occasional hunting, and bartering with others.

Among them, the Azure Dragon Tower students were well aware they were absolutely reliant on Ihan’s help.

Ihan, considerate as always, just told them to pay a small price, but they couldn’t just sit by.

The Azure Dragon Tower students sought food by any means they could.

One method was the current black market.

A barter place opened near the Black Tortoise Tower by those students!

“There wasn’t much to eat last time I went there…”

“No, when I stopped by a few days ago, there were lots more goods. Plenty of food, too.”

“I heard they’ve started trading with the White Tiger Tower kids?”

Asan nodded to his friends’ words.

“As time goes by, the market’s sure to get more stuff. That’s why I’m going. And…”

Asan carefully took glass bottles out of his coat.

They were loot from conquering the so-called Professor Uregorum’s laboratory dungeon.

Everyone who participated had split the potions and reagents among themselves.

“…The Black Tortoise Tower guys must know how valuable these are. We should trade our extras now, before they become less rare.”

“You’re the expert, Dalkard!”

The Azure Dragon Tower students walked cheerfully toward the black market.

The Black Tortoise Tower student at the market entrance recognized them and changed expression.

“Hey, nice to see you. Is it okay if we come in?”

“S-sorry.”

“??”

“There are new rules. You guys can’t come in.”

Asan was more baffled than angry.

“You’re just going to trade among yourselves? The market will shrink!”

“Doesn’t matter.”

With a deep, heavy voice, someone appeared from behind the Black Tortoise Tower student.

Short as a dwarf, but with a more muscular body than any White Tiger Tower student.

So much muscle, it couldn’t be hidden by a loose coat.

‘A dwar—wait, not a dwarf?’

Asan was startled. He’d thought it was a dwarf, but looking closer, it was an elf.

A short, very muscular elf!

“I am Salko of the Tutantha family.”

The Tutantha family.

A famous stonecutter guild even within the empire.

He thought they were renowned among dwarven craftsmen…?

“Tutantha. Why are you stopping us? Because we’re from the Azure Dragon Tower?”

“No. Though it’s true I don’t like you Azure Dragon Tower students…”

“……”

“……”

“…That dislike has nothing to do with these rules. You’re not allowed in because of the rules.”

“What rule?”

“If it’s not something you personally worked for, you can’t bring it in!”

Students from Black Tortoise Tower gathered behind Salko.

There were all sorts—from rough types to gentle ones—but Salko’s leadership was apparent.

Asan angrily held out the reagents he’d brought.

“We worked for these ourselves!”

“Really? Where did you get them?”

“……”

Asan became mute. He couldn’t say ‘Professor Uregorum’s lab.’

Gynando made up an excuse.

“We dug them up outside!”

“You managed to collect that much just from the field? You must have stolen it. If you can’t prove its origins, I’ll consider it stolen goods. As long as I’m here at the Black Tortoise Tower, I won’t let the market deal in stolen goods. Those taint people’s sweat and effort and disrupt the market.”

Faced with such reasonable words, the Azure Dragon Tower students were speechless.

Gynando shouted out, as if unfairly treated.

“But then where do we sell stolen goods? How are thieves supposed to eat?!”

“Hey… Gynando… That’s embarrassing, keep it down…!”

Realizing their embarrassment, the Azure Dragon Tower students silenced him.

At that moment, Ihan showed up carrying a basket.

Ihan looked confused to see his friends gathered at the entrance.

“What are you guys doing? Why aren’t you going in?”

“Ihan!”

Asan explained everything in detail.

After listening, Ihan asked Salko,

“I grew these myself in my own garden—can I go in, then?”

“…!”

Salko stared at Ihan in surprise, then nodded.

“See you later, then.”

Watching Ihan walk in, the Azure Dragon Tower friends finally snapped to their senses.

“?!?”