Episode 99

Episode 099

Without even a moment to stop or turn, the ferry went straight onto the island’s soft sandy beach.

But Angrago and Duke-ma, oblivious to the situation, kept their heads down and rowed in the sand.

They were scared that the attacking water spirits might strike them.

Ihan was starting to regret being stuck in the same boat with such White Tiger Tower guys.

Even if not Derkew, even Moradi would probably have been smarter than these two…

“We’re grounded, you idiots.”

“!”

Only then did Angrago realize his oar was swimming through soft sand.

Blushing in embarrassment, Angrago said,

“Ahem. Well… we succeeded in getting away, at least.”

“That’s right, Wordanaz. Look on the bright side. We shook off those angry water spirits on the lake.”

To these two students, Ihan just flicked his staff in reply instead of speaking.

It was a signal to hurry up and get out to push the boat again.

The two students decided that rather than argue, getting out to push was best.

…And honestly, it was thanks to Wordanaz that they’d even shaken off the water spirits…

“Wordanaz,”

After getting out, Angrago spoke cautiously.

“Speak. I’m listening.”

“Can we rest on the island for a bit before we go? I’m not really tired, but after all that rowing, my arms are a bit fatigued…”

“I’m not tired either, but… Wordanaz, you used a lot of mana too… and there could still be spirits around…”

So let’s rest a bit!

Ihan clicked his tongue inwardly. These guys had a real talent for dragging things out when they could’ve just asked straight.

“Do as you please.”

“T-th-thanks!”

Angrago thanked him—with a degree of gratitude that seemed almost odd.

‘Did this guy really think I wouldn’t allow it?’

Ihan was put off by the reaction.

After I went to all the trouble to protect and save them…

“?”

Ihan frowned as he looked at Duke-ma, the dwarf student. Something didn’t feel right.

“Hey.”

“Wh-what? Why? Are we leaving already?”

“You look a bit shorter.”

Duke-ma jumped up, furious, his face turning red and trembling.

“H-how dare you?! Just because no one’s watching, you insult me?! Is it because there’s no one to stop you if you attack me?!”

‘Should I just hit him?’

Ihan felt his grip on his staff tighten.

If he knows no one can stop me, he should at least watch his mouth…

“No, Duke-ma! You really have gotten shorter!”

“??!!”

Only after Angrago’s shout did Duke-ma realize something was wrong.

It wasn’t that he’d gotten shorter.

Duke-ma was sinking below the sand.

“…!”

Ihan’s expression hardened. He hadn’t noticed while surveying the inside of the island, but the ferry was already halfway sunk as well.

‘Dangerous!’

Ihan realized his own boots were beginning to sink softly too. Angrago hurried to run.

“Everyone, run forward! We have to get off the sandbar!”

“Wait—”

Before anyone could stop him, Angrago rushed forward and instantly began to sink faster.

Within moments, he was waist-deep and flailing like he’d fallen into a swamp.

‘Too late.’

Ihan quickly gave up on Angrago and Duke-ma.

The only telekinesis spell he could use was .

That worked only on things the size of a marble—impossible for a large, heavy person like himself.

The spell’s structure simply couldn’t support such a load.

However…

“Move!”

Ihan anchored an iron orb solidly in the air. Then with his other arm, he grabbed the orb and lifted himself up.

Like doing a one-handed pull-up, Ihan’s body rose out of the sandbar.

Professor Voladi would have loved this sight.

—a spell designed for beginners, to control small things up to the size of a quill or marble—was never meant for combat.

If one wanted to use telekinesis in battle, there were other spells worth using, even if they took longer to cast.

No one insisted on using beginner spells for combat—except for Professor Voladi.

Professor Voladi paid special attention to the swift casting speed of low-circle spells.

Whether a spell was low- or high-circle, if it struck the vital spot, it was deadly—so why obsess over higher circles?

Efficiency was key.

Even could be powerful, all with enough training!

Ihan was now proving that with his own body. The iron orb floated solidly in the air, supporting his full weight.

Gritting his teeth, Ihan slowly flew over the sandbar.

From maintaining the orb to gripping it hard with his arm and back muscles, nothing about it was easy.

Thud!

After barely making it out, Ihan landed on solid rock.

The ferry had been swallowed by the sandbar.

“Tsk…”

Ihan sighed in regret.

Now that he thought about it, Angrago and Duke-ma had also vanished along with the ferry. That was unfortunate too.

‘The principal’s trap, I guess.’

-There is no coincidence. Everything is inevitable.

If he could carve an inscription above the school gates, that’s what Ihan would write.

So future freshmen wouldn’t be fooled.

This was the island the skeleton principal had sent them to, the one where he’d personally thrown in the off-campus pass.

That meant this inescapable sandbar was the principal’s trap too.

Swish—

A freshman managed to escape.

Sure enough, a low voice rose from inside the sand, and a summoned creature appeared.

The negative energy radiating from its whole body—

Ihan recognized it as an undead.

“Nice to meet you.”

…Aren’t you surprised or unsettled?

The undead summons, which resembled a giant turtle walking on two legs, was visibly startled by Ihan’s reaction.

Freshmen who saw undead summons usually screamed in fear, wailed, or sometimes even fainted…

The freshman before him was extremely calm.

“I was surprised. So why are you here? What am I supposed to do?”

The undead summon lost its composure again at being questioned like that.

Normally, he was supposed to explain first. He hadn’t expected to be interrogated like this.

After a moment, regaining composure, the undead summon spoke.

Normally, you too should have sunk below the sandbar along with the others.

“……”

Ihan had no intention of doing that, but decided to listen.

The freshman before him nodded expressionlessly, and the undead summon continued.

If you sink below the sandbar, that’s when the trial starts—requiring freshmen to cooperate with each other.

“I see…”

Ihan gripped his staff.

He felt not a hint of gratitude for the skeleton principal’s generosity in preparing a space for students to bond.

Since the culprit was the skeleton principal to begin with.

As Ihan tensed, the undead summon spoke again.

Since you escaped the sandbar, I’m explaining it directly.

The turtle-like undead summon spoke almost as if doing him a favor.

And he meant it.

Normally he should have seized and dragged him down, but the trick was so skillful, he decided to explain instead.

Now, go back in. You have to pass the trial.

“What happens if I don’t go in?”

The undead answered as if Ihan’s question was absurd.

Do you want me to drag you in by force? Just get back in there.

“Understood.”

Ihan stood nonchalantly from the rock. The undead summon nodded approvingly.

At that moment, Ihan swung his staff.

“Move!”

With a flash and a bang, the iron orb shot forth and struck the undead summon’s head.

• * *

Ihan’s ambush wasn’t just because the summons was arrogant and conceited.

‘I can’t trust those two.’

If it had been Derkew, maybe Ihan would have chosen to go below the sandbar.

But those two?

No matter how he thought about it, going in quietly was nuts.

He had a better chance trying to ambush the undead summon.

Crack!

A dull sound, and the skull shattered.

But of course, the undead summon wasn’t alive and didn’t drop just from a cracked skull. The angry voice shouted out,

Freshman, what the hell do you think you’re doing?

“I’m sorry. My mistake. That was an accident.”

Ihan sincerely apologized, momentarily making the undead summon question if it really was a mistake.

But the next attack came right away. The iron orb pounded in again, now like a cannonball.

The undead summon hurriedly called up sand to build a wall.

But the iron orb, without hesitation, curved around it.

Once more, it smashed into the summoned creature’s head.

Crack!!

The undead summon staggered and grew terribly angry.

How dare a freshman insult me?

“I hide at night!”

Ihan cast an invisibility spell and dashed to the side, casting his next spell at the same time.

“Feet, command the earth under you!”

As the principal’s magic activated, the undead summon sensed the aura and was horrified.

How could someone like you cast the master’s spell… Did you steal it? You arrogant wretch!

‘That summon sure thinks highly of its master.’

Ihan dashed away quickly.

His physical abilities were boosted by .

Standing around just because he was invisible would only get him caught.

“Go!”

Ihan called forth a leopard bone summon. Much bigger than last time, this leopard bone creature charged across the sandbar with a booming growl.

You dare challenge me without even finding your own body!

The undead summon angrily swiped its forepaw. Along with sand, the leopard bone summon was knocked back.

The undead started spraying sand at where Ihan had just been.

For a freshman, I’ll at least acknowledge your cleverness. But that’s as far as you go!

Spraying sand everywhere, the undead summon zeroed in on Ihan’s last location.

Even if he ran inside the island, he made up his mind to catch him.

Is it here? Or… here? No. Here!

The undead shouted noisily, seeking to pressure Ihan.

He didn’t actually know where he was—he was only trying to scare him out of hiding.

The undead kept throwing sand everywhere likely to hide, making lots of noise.

But the summon didn’t know:

Ihan hadn’t even considered running into the island interior.

Why would he flee somewhere unknown?

Swish—!

Ihan, hiding to the side, sprang out.

With the sword of Black-purple Stone—Morning Star—he slashed at the undead’s heavy body, cutting its supporting leg.

Morning Star absorbed the negative magic energy, and the undead summon’s leg, drained of strength, was reverse-summoned.

Off balance, the undead summon crashed down with a great noise.

Y-you damn freshman—!

The undead, finding itself ambushed, shouted in disbelief.

For a mage to use an anti-magic weapon—are you insane? And you call yourself a mage? You’re a freshman!

‘……’

Ihan decided to ignore that.

Not for lack of a response, but because he never intended to answer in the first place.

Truly.