Chapter 14

Chapter 014

‘What a disappointment.’

Lee Han felt disappointed.

His dormitory friends had not accepted his unique theory.

- Really... You’re going to take an unpopular lecture on purpose? Why? Is listening to a lecture that no one attends a noble thing to do?

- “Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat”? Oh. Sorry. I already have a class I want to take at that time. Really, I’m not lying.

- Wodanaz. Why are you throwing your time away like this? I don’t understand. From what I learned in the Dalkard family...

But what could he do?

The path of the righteous is often lonely.

When midterms, finals, and assignments start to pile up, his friends will remember Lee Han’s foresight.

Professors, regardless of the school, lack empathy.

They are cold, ruthless, and selfish, wanting students to focus only on their lectures even if the students are taking other classes.

So, to focus on the lectures they really like, students need to balance it with some less demanding ones.

This is known as selection and concentration.

The way things work is similar in any school.

‘Is this it?’

Lee Han entered the main building and looked for the underground stairs.

The classroom for “Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat” was on the first basement level.

"...It’s eerie."

Lee Han muttered to himself.

The grand staircase that appeared after passing through the main entrance of the building.

The Gothic-style staircase was neither overly luxurious nor overly bleak, and there was nothing particularly strange about it.

Still, the ominous feeling might have been due to the knowledge Lee Han possessed.

‘They said not to wander around the wizard’s tower carelessly.’

A famous saying known to both wizards and non-wizards in the empire.

- You shouldn’t wander around the wizard’s tower carelessly.

Even if it looks ordinary, you never know what magic might be cast, and you could end up trapped in an eternal labyrinth, never to return.

Many of the fairy tales Lee Han read in his family involved children barely escaping from the evil wizard’s tower.

Still not fully adapted to this world, Lee Han asked innocently:

- Is this fairy tale exaggerated?

- It’s a bit exaggerated, young master.

- Right? Even so, going to the second floor and disappearing...

- Yes. Non-experts who enter the wizard’s tower can never escape. The children in the stories would have grown old and died if they were real.

- ...

The idea that people often disappeared after going to the second floor shocked young Lee Han.

The wizard’s tower, filled with all sorts of mysteries, was indeed a den of evil.

...And Einroard, this magic school, was no different, being a collection of many wizard’s towers.

The danger was unpredictable.

In fact, among the new students, very few explored the school.

Even when they were new and full of curiosity!

Everyone knew from their families or rumors that exploring new buildings could lead to being found as a corpse.

‘Well, the first basement level should be fine...’

Lee Han steeled himself to shake off his fear.

In fact, the bad reputation of the wizard’s tower was somewhat exaggerated.

Walking around the first floor of the main building or the dormitory didn’t usually lead to anything bad.

Then, a familiar sound of bones clattering reached his ears.

Clack, clack—

Eh? What is it? Going to the first basement level? You won’t be found as a corpse tomorrow, right?

“......”

Lee Han was speechless at the friendly remark from the passing Headmaster Rich.

‘Oh no.’

“Respected Headmaster! It’s an honor to see you!”

Lee Han bowed deeply.

A graduate student can smile on the outside while harboring resentment and hatred inside.

Lee Han’s respectful greeting was a perfect example of noble etiquette.

Headmaster Rich nodded approvingly.

You know a thing or two.

“Yes. I’m going to the first basement level. Do you have any advice?”

No. If you’re found as a corpse tomorrow, I’ll put a flower on your grave.

‘Bastard.’

* * * *

Despite the warning, the first basement level was quite ordinary.

Wide corridors lined with classrooms, no corpses, undead, or other dangerous monsters in sight.

It was a bit dark, eerie, and cold, but Lee Han believed it was due to the poor location of the magic school.

‘Lucky me.’

Swish—

Then, two students brushed past Lee Han.

Lee Han was surprised.

Could these two also be here for “Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat”?

‘Maybe I’m not the only one who thought this way.’

After all, with the smart talents gathered from across the empire, it was unlikely that no one else had the same idea as Lee Han.

Although he had competition, Lee Han wasn’t bothered.

‘Two people are fine. It’s a bit lonely to listen alone.’

“Ah, this isn’t the right classroom. I almost went in by mistake.”

“What classroom is this?”

“‘Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat.’”

“What? There’s such a lecture? Are there people who want to listen to that?”

“I heard the White Tiger Tower students went in and came out cursing.”

“If even they couldn’t handle it, it’s probably not a lecture anyone can take.”

“......”

The two students chatted and moved on to another classroom.

Lee Han started to feel a bit uneasy.

Creak—

Still, there were already three students sitting in the classroom.

But Lee Han could tell they didn’t have the same strong purpose as him.

Because their faces were a mix of anxiety, nervousness, confusion, and worry.

In short, they looked like they were thinking, ‘Did I come to the wrong lecture?’

“The time has come. Take your seats.”

“!”

Lee Han was surprised again.

He hadn’t noticed the professor sitting in the corner of the classroom.

Even though the professor was in a shadowy spot, he was so unnoticeable.

‘Is he a vampire?’

Pale skin, long fangs, a gloomy gaze.

Given that there was a troll professor, it wouldn’t be strange to have a vampire professor.

“Aaah!”

“Huh...!”

“......”

Lee Han looked at the other students in disbelief.

Even the three who arrived first didn’t notice the professor?

“I am Vlad Bagrek. I will be teaching ‘Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat.’ Please take care of me.”

“Please take care of us!”

The students greeted in unison. Lee Han joined in.

Professor Vlad didn’t even take out his wand, just pointed with his finger.

On the classroom tables, there were small orbs, each about the size of a palm.

“That orb is made of Spirit Stone.”

Spirit Stone.

Lee Han had heard of it before.

‘Isn’t it a mineral that reacts sensitively to magic power?’

When the stars align in a specific way, they emit a sacred power, and the minerals that absorb this power transform into Spirit Stones.

They are highly sensitive to magic power and are used in detection devices and barriers.

“Everyone, take the orb and focus, channeling your magic power into it.”

The students, though hesitant, grabbed the orbs.

All the students were freshmen, having been here for less than a month.

They had talent, but they weren’t confident in their ability to channel magic power.

Whoosh!

“Ugh!”

“Squeal!”

Despite their anxiety, the orbs slowly vibrated and floated into the air.

Professor Vlad, with no change in expression, said:

“Now, the orb is connected to your will.”

‘An artifact!’

Lee Han realized that these orbs were not just carved Spirit Stones but artifacts made by the professor himself.

‘Well-made artifacts are worth a lot of money, right?’

Artifacts were always in high demand.

A mage who could make good artifacts could sit on a pile of money!

Lee Han had an interest in artifacts, having heard such things.

As long as the artifacts were interested in him, of course.

“Aaaah!”

“!”

The orb next to him shot up to the ceiling, as if it would break through it. Fortunately, it stopped just below the ceiling.

Still, Professor Vlad’s expression didn’t change. It was as if his facial muscles were paralyzed.

“Being connected to your will means you can control it. Of course, the orb is constrained so it can’t destroy the classroom.”

“Thank goodness.”

Before he finished speaking, the orb hit a student’s abdomen.

Thud!

“Gasp...!?”

“While the orb is constrained from destroying the classroom, you are not. Be careful not to damage the orb.”

“......”

Usually, it would be ‘be careful not to get hurt,’ but here it was ‘be careful not to damage the orb if it hits someone.’

Lee Han felt that this vampire professor was no less crazy.

The students, still holding onto a sliver of hope, waited for the professor’s next words.

“What should we do now?”

“Make the orb float and draw a circle.”

The students cautiously focused and made the orbs float.

Lee Han also made his orb float.

Everyone tried to move the orbs to draw something circle-like. Some managed to draw a somewhat circular shape, though it was quite wobbly.

“I did it!”

The student, feeling confident, called out happily.

Professor Vlad replied bluntly.

“That’s not a circle. Try again.”

“...Ah, yes.”

The students started drawing circles with the orbs again.

And then they drew circles again.

And again...

And again...

One of the students, very cautiously, asked:

“Excuse me, how long do we have to draw circles?”

“?”

For the first time, Professor Vlad showed a hint of emotion.

It was a look of confusion, as if to say, ‘What are you talking about?’

“Of course, until you draw it perfectly.”

“......”

“...Professor, can I go to the bathroom for a moment?”

“You don’t need to ask.”

One student left.

Another, watching carefully, also stood up and left.

The last one, after some hesitation, suddenly fell forward.

“???”

Lee Han was shocked.

Was this an active performance to leave the classroom?

‘This guy. Not bad.’

Lee Han helped the student up.

But the student’s face was as pale as lead.

It wasn’t an act.

“Are you okay?”

“M... Magic power...”

“Professor! He seems to have collapsed from using up all his magic power.”

Lee Han said, looking at the professor.

As Professor Garcia had taught, beginners often couldn’t manage their magic power well.

So, they would often waste it and collapse from exhaustion.

This student was clearly one of them.

“I see.”

“What should we do?”

“When his magic power recovers, have him grab the orb and draw a circle again.”

“......”

Lee Han felt the student he was supporting tremble with anger.

He knew this student wouldn’t return to the classroom.

‘I’ll be the only one left to listen to this lecture.’

And that’s exactly what happened.

Alone, Lee Han asked to confirm:

“Professor, how are the grades for this lecture determined?”

“According to the basic rules, points are given in order from first place.”

“Indeed...”

Lee Han nodded.

He grabbed the orb again.

“Just draw a circle?”

“Yes.”

Lee Han started to move the orb to draw a circle in the air.

The students who left grumbled, ‘What a waste of time!’ but Lee Han didn’t care.

‘I actually like this.’

If he just sat through the semester, he could get a stable high grade.

This was truly the perfect lecture.