Chapter 28

Chapter 028

- Right. I promised to give you a gift.

The talking oak tree looked straight at Lee Han.

The soil in front of Lee Han's feet began to stir, and branches sprouted, intertwined, and grew upward.

Before long, the branches had transformed into the shape of a long magic wand.

“!”

Artifacts, the magical tools of wizards, were like extensions of their hands and feet.

Among them, the magic wand could be considered the most important artifact.

Sometimes it amplified the power of magic.

Sometimes it shortened the casting time of spells.

Sometimes it even allowed the use of spells that would otherwise be impossible...

It was not an exaggeration to call it the wizard's closest friend.

Currently, all first-year students at the magic school were using long staff-shaped magic wands provided by the school.

Though they lacked distinctive features or individuality, the strength of these magic wands was their greatest advantage.

They were also long enough to easily exceed a person's height, so Lee Han used it like a wooden staff.

Without this wand, he wouldn't have been able to catch the mutant pig unleashed by Thunder Step.

- Ah, are you perhaps attached to the wand you're using now and don't want to change it?

“No.”

Lee Han didn't hesitate for a second before picking up the new wand.

A tool is just a tool.

It was strange to have sentimental feelings about such things.

‘Do people hesitate when changing their lab equipment because they’re attached to it?’

Dulgyu, standing beside him, looked at Lee Han with a bewildered expression.

Thud-

As he picked up the new wand from the ground, the first thing he felt was a sense of freshness.

It might seem strange to feel freshness from a wooden wand that had just been pulled from the ground, but Lee Han definitely felt it.

- How does it feel?

“It feels... fresh.”

-!

The talking oak tree was surprised.

Lee Han had adapted to the wand much faster than expected.

‘To feel the wand's energy as soon as he grabbed it...’

Originally, it was thought to take much longer.

What Lee Han felt now was the energy of the tree spirit embedded in the wand.

This wooden wand was one where a spirit was nestled.

Just as a new wizard needs to go through various practices and trials to summon a spirit, it takes a lot of effort to communicate with and draw power from the spirit embedded in the wand.

Normally, it would take several months of handling and swinging the wand to feel the spirit, and even then, it required a certain level of affinity with the spirit.

‘His ability to sense magic power is outstanding, beyond imagination. Even for the Wodanaz family, such talent is rare.’

- Excellent. To feel that...

“Is it?”

Lee Han looked at the talking oak tree with a puzzled expression.

He couldn't quite grasp why feeling this freshness was so significant.

It was natural not to understand, as he didn't know what was embedded inside.

- As you use the wand, you'll come to know the power it contains.

“Can't you tell me now?”

- No. With your talent, it won't take long.

The talking oak tree began to realize that Lee Han was a very unique new student.

Sometimes, among the new students, there were such oddballs.

Fearless and capable oddballs.

Lee Han's current appearance reminded him of a madman from the Wodanaz family he had met about a hundred years ago.

Though he was much more polite and composed...

- Now, I need to go back to sleep. And don't use magic near this forest anymore. Your magic is too powerful and wakes up all the trees around.

“......”

‘Surely, he didn't just say that because he's sleepy, right?’

Lee Han started to feel suspicious.

It seemed a bit strange to praise him for feeling a fresh energy from the wand.

Not telling him about the power embedded in the wand also seemed a bit suspicious.

Is he just saying this because he's sleepy and wants to go to bed quickly?

Just to get rid of me, he made me a suitable wand...

However, regardless of Lee Han's suspicions, the clearing began to close. The trees moved, and the surroundings became blurry, gradually moving him further away from the clearing.

Beyond the hazy view, the voice of the talking oak tree reached Lee Han's ears.

- Remember the riddle I told you. Solving it will allow you to leave this place.

* * *

When he returned outside, fortunately, all the undead were gone.

Lee Han's group cautiously descended the mountain as the dawn's light gradually dispelled the darkness.

Everyone was so exhausted that they just wanted to lie down on a bed and rest.

Thud!

Lee Han entered the tower of the Blue Dragon and threw himself onto the bed. He planned to sleep and think about the escape later.

“...Naz! Wodanaz!”

After a few hours of deep sleep, someone knocked on the door of his private room to wake him up.

“What is it?”

Lee Han yawned and opened the door.

A human boy from the Dalkard family, wearing glasses, stood in front of him.

“The headmaster, no, the teacher, is holding an event outside!”

‘I’m suddenly wide awake, and not in a good way.’

Lee Han was immediately awake upon hearing this.

The headmaster holding an event...

‘...Surely, he’s not trying to identify the students who attempted to escape, is he?’

Honestly, it made him feel uneasy because he had something to hide.

Lee Han's group had returned without being caught, but given the headmaster's personality, it wouldn't be surprising if he did something eccentric.

‘But if that’s true, not attending would be even more dangerous.’

Lee Han knew this well.

When you’ve done something wrong, it’s best to act as you normally would.

Showing suspicious behavior would only make things worse.

“I understand. I need to wake Yoner and Gaynado.”

“Isn’t it too late for them to be sleeping?”

When Lee Han woke the two and they walked out of the tower, the sun was already high in the sky.

The three yawned as they followed the Blue Dragon Tower students.

“!”

A giant floating skull in front of the school’s main building was clearly visible even from a distance.

Come on, come on! This isn’t an everyday opportunity! Hurry up! Young iron... bowls! Welcome!

“...??”

The atmosphere didn’t seem to be about identifying troublemakers.

It was more like a friendly gathering or event.

Several tents were set up in the front yard, and people in priestly robes smiled kindly, offering food and drinks to the good new students.

Lee Han inadvertently accepted a cookie from a priest. It was warm and had a wonderful aroma, as if it had just been baked.

One bite produced a crisp sound, and sweet jam oozed out.

‘What is this? Is the school going bankrupt??’

Noticing Lee Han’s confusion, the headmaster spoke.

To celebrate this happy weekend, priests from various religious orders of the empire have visited our school. Isn’t that great? Let’s give them a round of applause!

Clap clap clap clap clap-

The new students murmured but clapped anyway. The priests bowed in gratitude.

“Thank you, Headmaster Ossu Gonadaltess. It’s always a great effort to teach the young wizards of the empire, but to also organize and help with such an event...”

Ha ha. It’s nothing. It’s all my pleasure. Please convey my message to His Majesty the Emperor. We need a budget to excavate and research new ancient magic...

“I, we don’t know how much help we can be, but we’ll do our best.”

The priests were taken aback by the headmaster’s overt request.

However, Lee Han felt a strange sense of familiarity.

‘Is it true that professors can’t escape the need for a budget, no matter where they are?’

Even the arrogant professor, who seemed to fear nothing, showed a weak side in front of the person providing the research budget.

The headmaster, no matter how fearless, would inevitably show weakness in front of the emperor of the empire, who provided the budget.

The priests spoke to the gathered students.

“Students who will become outstanding wizards in the future. It’s an honor to meet you today. We are humble servants representing various religious orders of the empire. We would be truly delighted to introduce our orders to you today.”

‘The magic power is immense.’

Lee Han was surprised by the magic power he felt from the priests.

It was a completely different level compared to the new students, a power that seemed to ripple through their entire bodies.

Moreover, the priests’ magic power was unique.

Magic power that contained a holy aura.

Isn’t that amazing?

“!”

Lee Han felt a chill.

The headmaster had quietly approached him, hiding his presence.

I understand. The magic power of the priests is so unique that it’s called holy power.

“Yes, I’ve heard a lot about it, but this is the first time I’ve seen it in person.”

Indeed, you can sense the priests’ magic power.

‘Damn.’

Lee Han realized his mistake.

He had fallen for the headmaster’s probing question.

Why hide it? If you have outstanding talent, you should show it off. How many of these iron... bowls can detect magic power as accurately as you?

The headmaster asked, seemingly puzzled.

Wizards should know how to boast and show off their abilities.

That way, they can extort, no, receive investments from wealthy nobles to research stronger and higher-level magic...

‘Hmm. If I say I don’t want to get involved with you, will I be in trouble?’

Lee Han swallowed his thoughts.

His goal was to graduate with good grades and good connections, not to explore the truth of magic with the headmaster.

But he couldn’t say that honestly.

“There are many people in this school who are more talented than me, so I thought I should be humble.”

No, that’s not true. From now on, you should go around boasting about your talent to every student you meet. That’s what you should do.

‘Is this guy crazy?’

If he followed the headmaster’s advice, Lee Han’s social life would be reduced to just Gaynado in a day.

Fortunately, the headmaster, seemingly uninterested in Lee Han’s social life, changed the topic.

The Wodanaz family probably had no interest in religion, so they had no reason to meet priests.

“Yes, that’s right.”

The empire had numerous gods and the religious orders that worshiped them, but wizards were originally not close to religion.

Wizards, in general...

I, too, have no interest in religion. I’m too smart to believe in gods.

‘...That’s why, right?’

While not as extreme as the headmaster, many wizards were atheists.

In fact, the head of the Wodanaz family, Lee Han’s father, had once said during a meal:

- Holy power is a type of magic. It’s just that the collective belief of many low-intelligence individuals has caused a change in its nature. Holy magic is ultimately just a type of magic. Why call it ‘holy’ magic?

- Then, what do you think about researching holy magic?

- It’s a good idea. If you want to waste your time, that is. Compared to the refined and sophisticated real magic based on formulas and theories, holy magic is just the barbaric antics of savages who are drunk on belief and emotion.

‘I must never reveal that I’m from the Wodanaz family in front of the priests.’

Lee Han nodded, finishing his recollection.

Even the most benevolent priests would feel anger upon hearing such words.

The Wodanaz family probably thinks the same way. The religious orders are so pitiful. If they can be swayed by just a bit of food, they are useless. To hold such an event...

The headmaster, needing someone to grumble to, kept grumbling beside Lee Han.

After listening silently, Lee Han spoke.

“Headmaster.”

Why?

“Do you have any religious orders you can recommend?”

......

The headmaster looked at Lee Han with a bewildered expression, as if he had just made a person feel embarrassed.

‘Wait, religious orders?’

Orders, not just one order, but multiple orders?