Chapter 1

Chapter 001

I will never go back to graduate school.

From now on, I will live for myself!

...That's what Korean man Han vowed as he graduated from the arduous graduate school.

'I won't even go near a place with the word "study" in it.'

However, things in the world don't always go as planned.

After Han died in an unfortunate accident and was reborn, he found himself in the Wodanaz family, a family of wizards in another world.

Fifteen years later.

Today was the day Han was to enroll in Einrograd, the empire's top magic school.

* * *

Han, reborn into the Wodanaz family.

At first, he was bewildered, then fascinated, and finally, he accepted it.

Fortunately, the Wodanaz family was one of the most powerful wizard families in the empire.

Han's father, the head of the family, was a remarkable figure, even close to the emperor, and the family's mansion was a clear sign of their wealth.

At this point, Han couldn't help but think:

- Am I being rewarded for attending graduate school in my past life?

A life where he could play and eat comfortably without any effort.

...Of course, it was an illusion.

The Wodanaz family was not as easy to handle as he thought.

- Han Wodanaz.

- Yes, Lord.

- What is your goal?

- ...

'Can I say a life of leisure?'

Han hesitated slightly.

It didn't seem like a good answer.

- Was it a pointless question? Well, the answer is probably set.

- Yes?

- You must have felt your own talent.

- Yes?

- You know the rules of the Wodanaz family, right? The eldest inherits everything.

- Yes?????

The last statement was quite shocking.

Inheriting everything?

Does that mean the second and younger ones get nothing??

- Lord, does that mean I get nothing?

- No, Han Wodanaz.

'That's a relief.'

- The family will give you every opportunity. If you want to be a knight, we'll find you the best knight. If you want to be a bureaucrat, we'll arrange for you to learn from the imperial chancellor. If you want to be a merchant, we'll give you a chance to work under the best merchant in the empire. While you are in the family, we will provide you with every opportunity you desire!

'...Can't you just give me the money?'

Even converting what he just said into money would be of immense value...

The family's rules were very unreasonable.

'Damn. If I had been born a bit earlier, I could have lived off without working.'

Han regretted his laziness for being the third-born in the family.

The eldest inherits everything.

The rest have to fend for themselves.

As a result, Han had to deeply consider from a young age what he could do to live well.

Bureaucrat, merchant, knight, adventurer...

The only fortunate thing was that the family supported him, even if they didn't leave him any inheritance.

The children of the head of the family could learn and achieve whatever they wanted.

In the end, Han chose to become a wizard.

- I expected as much.

Han's father, the head of the family, was very satisfied.

- You must have felt your own talent, right?

- ...??

'I chose it because it's the most stable...?'

In reality, being a wizard was a very safe profession.

Respected by everyone in the empire, a profession that even nobles could hold without shame.

With the right skills, it was a profession where you could go anywhere and be in demand.

Wizards were needed in the knight orders, the adventurer guilds, and even by the emperor's officials...

- Go to Einrograd. Grow by facing many seeds of wizards there. That experience will complete you.

Einrograd was the top magic school in the empire.

As the most traditional and powerful magic school, its name carried great weight.

Just graduating from Einrograd would guarantee a minimum level of reputation.

Of course, no one was satisfied with just that.

Achieving outstanding results at school, getting a recommendation letter from a professor, or building connections with other students...

Einrograd, being the top magic school in the empire, was also the best place to build the top connections in the empire.

Even Han, who shuddered at the thought of never going to a place similar to graduate school again, had no choice but to enter.

- Yes, I will do that.

'Right. Just endure and graduate... Think of it as an investment for the future.'

* * *

The old knight, Alarong, bowed respectfully to Han.

"Mr. Han Wodanaz."

"Thank you for escorting me this far."

"It was no trouble."

Alarong was a knight of the Wodanaz family.

He didn't have to personally escort Han, but he volunteered to protect him on his journey from the capital to Einrograd.

It was because of his friendship with Han.

"I didn't expect you to come this far just because I learned swordsmanship from you..."

"I didn't come because you learned swordsmanship from me, but to show others that they cannot ignore the name of the Wodanaz family."

"Right. Whatever the reason."

Alarong spoke sternly, but Han smiled. He knew Alarong's character.

Strict and serious, but with a deep heart. He volunteered out of concern for Han.

Han's smile made Alarong cough awkwardly.

"Hem. To be honest, I was happy when you asked to learn swordsmanship."

The Wodanaz family was a wizard family.

Few people bothered to learn swordsmanship.

Han had two reasons for learning it.

One was the belief that learning anything would be useful later.

Especially, swordsmanship was essential for self-defense.

The second reason was...

He was incredibly bored.

Surprisingly, the Wodanaz family didn't teach him any magic at all.

- You can't learn magic until you're fifteen because it's dangerous!

In this world, people were treated as adults around the age of fifteen.

Magic was the most difficult and dangerous of all studies.

It made sense that you couldn't handle it before becoming an adult.

Of course, it was quite unfair for Han, who was mentally much older...

"Look. Other noble children have also brought guards to maintain the family's honor."

"That seems... a bit excessive, doesn't it?"

Han was bewildered by the carriages and cavalry filling the imperial road.

Even if it was a noble's pride to outdo each other in luxury, bringing ten carriages and dozens of cavalry was a bit much.

Especially for bringing a child to a school.

And most importantly...

"Can't they bring guards, servants, or slaves inside?"

"No."

Einrograd was an old magic school with a tradition of equality.

Anyone could enter, whether they were royalty or a slave, but they had to come alone.

Naturally, no matter how many they brought, they had to enter alone.

"Perhaps a few will wait in the nearby village."

"...Really?"

Han asked, looking disgusted.

He had been reborn for fifteen years, but he still found it hard to understand the mindset of the nobles.

If they entered the huge magic school, they might only come out once a month, yet they were prepared to wait in the nearby village.

"I asked earlier, and some have already bought buildings. There are buildings in the nearby village that have been sold for generations."

"I'm not going that far, Sir."

"We have already bought a modest mansion..."

"......"

Han cursed inwardly.

If they had that much money, they could have saved it and given it to him later!

It was okay to spend money on such unnecessary luxuries, but they couldn't give him money separately.

The family's rules were unreasonable.

"The capital is far, Mr. Han. As a noble, you must be prepared for any situation."

"Right. I feel reassured."

Han mounted his horse.

Some people were pulling carriages, but Han thought it would be more convenient to ride his horse through the main gate.

'If I wait for all the carriages to pass, it will be dark.'

"Then, Sir, thank you for bringing me here again."

"No, Mr. Han. It was an honor to serve you."

Alarong was sincere.

Among the family's bloodline, Alarong liked Han the most.

A person who understood seriousness and humility.

"Even the head of the family praised your talent."

"Don't make me feel good with empty words. Still, thank you."

"No, it's true..."

* * *

The magic school Einrograd was located far from the capital, where the royal palace was.

According to rumors, it was chosen because they found a place rich in magical energy.

Indeed, the surrounding scenery gave a strong sense of nature.

Behind the school was a massive mountain range that seemed to stretch endlessly, and a wide, long river wound alongside it...

Closing his eyes, one could feel the infinite mana of nature as if it were the air.

"This... This is wrong."

"??"

Han looked at the boy who approached him, puzzled.

Here, one could tell a person's status just by their clothes.

A coat embroidered with silk and gold thread, smooth hands and face.

Clearly from a noble family.

'Should I call someone?'

His pale face and trembling body suggested there was a problem.

Perhaps he had a magic-related issue?

"Why are you like this? Are you okay?"

"I... I..."

"Come on. What's the problem?"

"I can't... sleep without a servant..."

"......"

Han almost hit him.

'This kid...'

It was such a trivial reason that he felt embarrassed for worrying.

But it seemed to be a serious problem for the boy.

"It's ridiculous to not allow servants. Servants are like my hands and feet. It's the same as cutting off my hands and feet and making me enter!"

"Right. Logical."

Han listened and dismissed it casually.

But the boy seemed to gain courage from Han's casual response.

"Right? I should protest."

"...What do you plan to protest?"

"That we should be allowed to bring servants! It's unfair, I swear, in the name of my family!"

"Right. Good luck."

It didn't seem like a few thousand-year-old tradition would be broken by a single boy, but Han cheered him on.

First, because it wasn't his problem, and second, because he was curious.

How would the wizards of Einrograd respond to this?

The boy ran off and returned a short while later with a dazed expression.

"?"

"I... I... I... repent... I... I... I... repent... I... I... I... repent..."

"...!!!"

Han was shocked.

'Mental magic!'

Seeing the boy muttering like he was in a daze, it was clear he had fallen under a spell of enchantment or control.

The magic itself wasn't surprising. Han had heard of it.

What was surprising was that the wizards of this school would use such magic on a noble's child without hesitation.

'...They don't really bury people in the back mountain if they die, do they?'

Han felt uneasy due to the rumors he had heard before coming.

- Welcome to Einrograd, everyone.

A voice, not loud, but directly sent to everyone's mind, echoed.

Bang!

And the main gate of Einrograd opened.

- Come in, you thickheads!

The new students all frowned.

It wasn't because of the voice's insults.

With their magical talents, they felt the immense pressure of the magic cast on Einrograd.

Would it feel like this if you tried to look at the sun with your naked eyes?

Would it feel like this if you tried to defeat a giant with your bare hands?

Neigh!

A horse's neigh was heard.

It seemed someone who had brought a carriage intended to ride it in.

- And I said to come alone...

With the voice, the carriage suddenly disappeared.

The noble girl inside screamed as she fell.

Over ten carriages disappeared, and the screams of the boys and girls were heard.

- Don't worry, you thickheads! Even if you don't follow the rules, this school will make you.

"......"

A few people, like Han, who were quick to notice, realized that this school was as terrifying as the rumors and their expressions hardened.

- Move your butts! Enter! Enter!! Enter!!!!

"......"

"......"

* * *

Han had a habit of observing. This habit became even stronger when he came to this world.

Everything was new and fascinating, so observing was naturally interesting.

And now, there were over a hundred boys and girls gathered here.

Their attire varied, from royalty, nobles, knights, priests, merchants, adventurers, to beggars.

And these boys and girls were already forming groups in threes and fours.

Building connections was essential for a long school life.

"Are you Han from the Wodanaz family?"

"Right. You did well to recognize me without the family crest."

In line with the tradition of equality, it was forbidden to wear the family crest on clothes.

Of course, there were still ways to recognize each other.

Han himself recognized a few royals and nobles he had seen before.

"My name is Yoner. Yoner Maykin."

A girl with slightly wavy, bright red hair that reached her shoulders and soft, curved eyes stood in front of him.

The Maykin family.

The Maykin family was also a well-known wizard family in the empire.

The difference was that the Maykin family was more actively involved in imperial politics.

In contrast, the Wodanaz family was more of a loner.

The head of the family often secluded himself for magic research, even when the emperor requested his presence...

"Nice to meet you, Yoner. What's up?"

"His Highness the Prince wants to see you."

Yoner pointed behind her.

The most elaborately dressed boy among them was waving at Han.