Chapter 21

-When all you see around a person are crazy people, you should suspect that person might be crazy too.

There was such a saying.

The magic school was no different.

When all the professors seemed like lunatics, one should also suspect the normal professors who mingled with them!

'Hmm. Right. Professor Garcia was close to that crazy principal. Indeed, not a single professor can be trusted.'

It was a thought that, if Garcia had heard, would have made her feel wronged.

Of course, maintaining magic throughout the entire class could be mentally taxing.

It was like balancing a spinning top on your fingernail and keeping it steady.

But Professor Garcia had her own reasons for giving Lee Han such an assignment.

First, succeeding in water creation in just three attempts, even considering Lee Han's affinity with water, meant he was exceptionally talented.

Moreover, his mana reserves were vast enough to overshadow that talent.

With such a gem, it needed to be polished to shine even brighter.

Lee Han, she thought, was capable of handling this practice.

Of course, such genuine intentions were not conveyed to Lee Han.

'From now on, I should think that all the professors in this school are a bit off.'

While maintaining the water mass and focusing his concentration, Lee Han thought this.

* * *

The remaining time of the "Understanding Basic Magic" class passed warmly.

A few students from the Blue Dragon Tower managed to succeed in "Light Creation," and the princess succeeded in "Flame Creation."

Yoner was delighted to realize he was well-suited to the wind element, and Gaynan almost burned a staff.

And Lee Han had to remain silent and focus on maintaining the water mass for the entire time.

"Isn't this too much?"

"???"

Professor Thunderstep tilted her head at Lee Han's words.

She didn't really understand what was too much about what Lee Han had just explained.

"Maybe... Professor Garcia Kim just likes you? That's why she gave you such a task?"

"Are you saying I'm being treated like a gardener now?"

'Ah. This kid is really grumbling.'

At Lee Han's pointed words, Professor Thunderstep grumbled inwardly.

It was a Friday afternoon, a time when everyone was waiting for the weekend.

Lee Han was tending to the garden at Professor Thunderstep's cottage.

If other students saw, they would have whispered, "That professor is really ruthless. How can he make a Wodanaz family member do such menial tasks?"

But Professor Thunderstep had her defense.

...Lee Han had offered to do it.

-Professor, I've come to help with the cottage maintenance.

-Oh, thank you.

-Can I eat a little while working?

-...Sure, go ahead. A little...

-Then can I take a little home too?

-No way, kid.

"I shouldn't have asked. Right."

Thunderstep shook her head and raised her hands.

To think such an answer would come to a light-hearted question like "How was your first week?"

But apart from his grumbling, Lee Han was indeed the most promising student among the freshmen.

Professor Garcia Kim must be giving him special treatment for that reason.

And to Thunderstep, Lee Han's abilities were outstanding.

Not magical abilities.

'How can he do menial tasks so persistently? The more I see, the more I realize he's a natural.'

...In terms of doing menial tasks.

If Lee Han had heard this, he would have immediately straightened his face, but Thunderstep was serious.

The most important ability in alchemy, according to Thunderstep, was the ability to do menial tasks without getting tired.

The innate ability to distinguish any reagent?

The ability to quickly befriend any spirit?

The ability to handle any delicate process with fine mana control?

None of that was necessary.

What an excellent alchemist needed was the ironclad patience to silently polish a mountain of flasks without running away.

And Lee Han had shown this ability from the first time she met him.

If it were another noble, no matter how much food was provided, they would never do menial tasks like tending a garden or maintaining a cottage. But Lee Han came regularly, did the work, and took food home.

It was because he had the talent of an alchemist.

'Why do I get goosebumps?'

While digging up potatoes, Lee Han was puzzled.

It was a cool day, yet he felt goosebumps.

"Isn't it tiring?"

"It's fine."

To Thunderstep's question, Lee Han answered without much thought.

In fact, it wasn't really tiring.

Not only was his physical strength good, but he was also very familiar with doing such menial tasks under a professor.

Pulling fresh vegetables from the garden and taking fish out of the traps by the river was, frankly, an easy job.

"Hmm."

"??"

When Professor Thunderstep smiled contentedly, Lee Han was even more confused.

What is it?

'Is she happy to see someone work hard? Professors are really...'

"You have talent, Wodanaz."

"Ah, yes."

"Did you just brush that off?"

"No, Professor."

Thunderstep clicked her tongue.

No matter what she said now, with his grumbling nature, he wouldn't really listen.

How could such a kid come from the Wodanaz family, known for their granite-like statues?

Thunderstep sank into her armchair, filled her long pipe with tobacco, and lit it.

Then, puffing contentedly, she spoke again.

"Did anything else happen?"

'How bored is this person?'

While brushing the dirt off the carrots, Lee Han was exasperated.

Well, as a professor, it was perhaps natural for her to act this way.

A true professor should be bored while watching students work.

"Did you have any conflicts with students from other dormitories?"

"Huh? How did you know?"

"You're not the first or the last freshman to enter here. It's natural to assume."

Thunderstep said this with a voice made pleasant by smoking.

"Let me guess. The opponents were from the White Tiger Tower, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

From Thunderstep's words, Lee Han realized that the Blue Dragon Tower traditionally had a poor relationship with the White Tiger Tower.

"It's inevitable. One side is from imperial noble families, and the other from knightly families. Of course, they would fight at a young age."

"Isn't that a ridiculous reason? To fight unnecessarily for such a reason. We're busy learning magic."

Thunderstep nodded at Lee Han's words.

Indeed, he was right. It was a foolish thing to do.

But isn't it true that everyone is foolish when they are young?

"Still, Wodanaz, you have a bit of insight. Yes, there's no need to fight over such ridiculous reasons. It's better to practice magic instead of fighting unnecessarily."

"Right."

"Maybe this year, with a kid like you, there will be fewer fights. If the White Tiger Tower guys start trouble, just ignore them."

"Ah, we already fought."

"......"

Thunderstep put down her pipe and looked at Lee Han in disbelief.

You said you didn't like fighting unnecessarily for ridiculous reasons??

"But how could I avoid it when they started it first?"

Lee Han defended himself, looking wronged.

Thunderstep nodded.

Indeed, sometimes it was impossible to avoid when someone started it first.

"Seems the White Tiger Tower guys this year are all rough. They usually don't start fights in the first week. How did it happen?"

"They started trouble because I was taking a swordsmanship class."

"......"

Clunk.

Thunderstep dropped her pipe again. She was that taken aback.

"Those are really bad guys, aren't they?"

"It's you who's strange...!"

Thunderstep was exasperated.

Why choose swordsmanship among all the lectures?

She could guess why the White Tiger Tower guys started trouble.

"Good job escaping. The White Tiger Tower guys are usually good at fighting, even if they start learning magic late."

"Yes, it was tough. Three of them ganged up on me."

"......"

Thunderstep put her pipe aside.

She shouldn't smoke any more today.

"You said you knocked them down?"

"It was tough. I was lucky."

"...You can stop working here today. I'll prepare some food for you."

"Really? Is that okay?"

"Of course, it's fine."

Thunderstep decided to be a bit nicer to Lee Han.

He might become the empire's greatest swordsman and come to assassinate her one day.

* * *

The vegetables in Thunderstep's cottage seemed to be nourished by the essence of nature, making them all plump and fresh.

The professor washed the potatoes, onions, and carrots, peeled them, and cut them into large pieces.

She then threw butter into a pot and sautéed the onions and garlic.

"Bring some of the hanging meat."

"No, that meat is for me and Yoner."

"...I'm the only one eating?"

"Got it."

Lee Han decided to apologize to Yoner later and brought the hanging smoked pork.

Thunderstep added the meat, sautéed it, and then poured in a generous amount of wine. The rich aroma of the wine filled the air.

Then, potatoes, carrots, and onions were added one by one. Thunderstep seasoned with salt and said,

"It's a stew passed down in my family. This alone is enough; you don't need any other side dishes. A freshly baked, warm white bread is all you need."

There was a reason Thunderstep spoke so confidently.

The stew was really delicious.

For Lee Han, who hadn't had warm soup for days, the dwarf stew warmed his stomach.

The sound of the spoon scraping the wooden bowl and the sound of them eating the stew filled the air.

'Ah, this is really good.'

"Is it good?"

"Excellent."

As a skilled graduate student, Lee Han answered immediately.

Thunderstep didn't say it, but her expression showed she was proud and very happy.

"By the way, did you manage all this before I came?"

"Yes."

"Others?"

"Hmm. They all seemed lazy and incompetent, so they ran away."

"......"

Lee Han momentarily regretted, thinking, 'Did I get tricked?'

But it was water under the bridge.

"Quite... troublesome, I see."

"Troublesome? It's basic for an alchemist!"

Cleaning the dust in the cottage, maintaining the furnace, checking the ingredients, tending the garden, checking the traps by the river, and the small traps on the path were not really basic.

'Now that I list them, it does seem strange. Why didn't I think it was difficult?'

Lee Han lamented his lack of awareness of his labor conditions.

He had been working under a professor for too long, and his senses had become numb.

"Since there's still a lot of garden space, can I grow something too?"

"Oh..."

Thunderstep was impressed.

Lee Han didn't know, but Thunderstep was inwardly marveling, 'Indeed, this natural alchemist.'

The ability to not be discouraged by numerous menial tasks and even create more work was not ordinary.

"Of course, you can. What do you want to grow?"

"Maybe cabbage and green onions?"

"Both should be fine."

As Thunderstep nodded, she paused.

"Wait, you're not planning to sell them, are you?"

"Ah, how did you know? Did other students do this before?"

"......"

You're the first, kid!