Chapter 51

"Cough. That student, come to my workshop during the break."

"????"

Professor Mortem coughed and called out to Gainando.

Gainando's face twisted as if he had been slapped.

Why?

What did I do wrong??

Could it be that I have a grudge against the imperial royal family???

"And that student too."

Professor Mortem also pointed at Han.

Han was not as shocked as Gainando.

He had already been seriously considering black magic as one of his options for grade management.

However, the students of the Blue Dragon Tower interpreted it differently.

"Gainando, you bastard! Because of you, I'm going to be dragged to Vodanaz too!"

"Can't you even die alone?!"

"Quickly say you'll go alone!"

They misunderstood that Han was being forced to go because of his friendship with Gainando.

The students were furious.

Now, Han had a few things to take responsibility for, but he wasn't going to be dragged along like a water ghost.

"Y-You bastards... I won't go alone! I'll go with you!"

Gainando was choked up by his friends' taunts.

"Cancel it!"

"No way!"

"Cancel it!"

"Everyone, Professor Mortem has already left."

Professor Garcia looked at the students of the Blue Dragon Tower with disdain.

* * *

A wizard's workshop was, in simple terms, a kind of laboratory.

A place where the wizard's apprentices, interested in the wizard's topics, would voluntarily investigate through various experiments and explorations for 25 hours a day without rest.

Of course, saying it like this made it sound like a hellish place where people were worn out and torn apart, but that was actually the case.

While there were differences depending on which wizard's workshop it was, the life of an apprentice under a wizard was inevitably arduous.

Han had heard many stories about the apprentices studying in the workshops when he was in his family.

-Long, long ago, there was an apprentice learning magic under a wizard. This apprentice would wake up in the morning, polish the staff, prepare the reagents for the experiments according to the alchemical formulas, adjust the amount of magic power for the magic circle, and go out to collect the necessary materials before lunch. The apprentice was smart and managed to have a quick lunch while moving around, which saved time and allowed him to do the next task quickly. So, the next thing was...

-Is the ending of this story that the apprentice kills the wizard and takes over the workshop?

-Young master, what kind of ridiculous joke is that? The ending is obviously that the hardworking apprentice becomes an excellent wizard.

-......

There was no paradise for learners in any world.

But fortunately, there was no need to worry about that now.

Han was a first-year student!

At this point, no one had decided which professor he would study under, so there was no reason to be afraid.

If a professor seemed crazy, he could quietly step back.

"Sniff, sniff, sniff..."

"...Are you really crying?"

Han was taken aback.

Gainando's eyes were really red.

"What did I do wrong... to be called to such a secluded and eerie place..."

"There's no guarantee that it's because you did something wrong."

"Then what could it be!! Oh! It's definitely because you've learned black magic and have a twisted mind, so you're calling us to torment us!"

The two were heading to the place Professor Mortem had told them about.

And from Han's perspective, the location of Professor Mortem's workshop was a bit problematic.

'Too eerie.'

The path became increasingly desolate and serene, the wind grew stronger, and it seemed like ghostly sounds were coming from the forest beside the road...

There were even a few graveyards visible.

Of course, it wasn't hard to understand.

Black magic would require dark attribute magic power, and to study the undead, corpses would be necessary...

Given these conditions, it couldn't help but be this ominous.

'But if we say new students don't come here, that would be a bit heartless...'

In the distance, Professor Mortem's workshop, known as the "Black Abyss Tower," was visible.

From the outside, it looked like a normal four-story tower, but it was common knowledge that the appearance of a wizard's building couldn't be judged by its exterior.

Already, there were a few hints around the tower.

Broken bones and skeletons rolling around.

Roughly carved tombstones.

A box of highly toxic vials with a sign that read "Handle with Care!!! Touching will result in death!!"

It was easy to guess what kind of experiments and research were being conducted in this workshop.

Gainando's face had already turned as pale as an undead, unable to distinguish between the two.

"Is anyone there?"

Creak-

The door opened on its own when they knocked. Han and Gainando entered together.

Gainando trembled and tried to grab Han's collar. Han pushed him away as if he were bothered, and Gainando wore a betrayed expression.

"Cough, cough... You're here."

The workshop was filled with dark blue smoke, making it impossible to see even a foot in front of them. Professor Mortem's voice came from the smoke.

"Direct. Guide the new students."

"Are you in your right mind, Professor? The principal said that upperclassmen shouldn't interact with freshmen."

"Oh, right. Cough. It's troublesome... Can't we just secretly ignore it?"

"I haven't been out of the punishment room for long. Do you want me to go back?"

"It's not the punishment room, it's the disciplinary room... Cough. I understand. Go inside."

Professor Mortem waved his staff, clearing the smoke.

Then the inside of the workshop became visible.

It was in better condition than expected.

It might have been tidied up to entice the new students...

Tables, chairs, and bookshelves.

It had a library-like atmosphere.

'...No. They're all bones?'

Han realized and was shocked.

The furniture was made entirely of bones.

Of course, for a black magic user skilled in bone summoning, making furniture out of bones was a cost-effective choice.

It was just a bit eerie.

Gainando, not noticing that the furniture was made of bones, hesitantly sat down.

Professor Mortem tried to look as kind as possible and said,

"Cough. I assume you know why I called you here?"

"I haven't done anything wrong, Professor!"

"I called you because I think both of you have outstanding talent for black magic. Wait, what did you just say?"

"It's nothing."

Gainando shut his mouth.

It was different from what he had expected.

'I have outstanding talent for black magic?'

"Han. He said I have outstanding talent for black magic?"

"I have ears too. I heard it since I was next to you."

"Ah... What should I do? I'm not interested in black magic. I have talent? Ah... What should I do?"

"......"

Han couldn't help but be amazed at Gainando's shallow heart.

How could he be so easily swayed?

Professor Mortem rubbed his palms and took out a few candies with skull packaging.

"Have some while you listen. Now, both of you have outstanding talent for black magic, so I thought it would be good for you to hear directly how great black magic is. There are many misconceptions about black magic, but they are truly misconceptions. Cough. Cough. Black magic is the most beautiful and profound field of magic."

"......"

Gainando had a half-entranced look, but Han listened with a slightly sympathetic heart.

It was a story he had heard many times before.

Popular field professors were arrogant and aloof.

-Do you want to study under me? I'll think about it after seeing your talent.

But if there were popular fields, there were also unpopular ones.

Unpopular field professors were truly pitiful.

-The advantage of our department is... there's nowhere to go but up.

-......

-Isn't it great to think that there's only room for improvement?

-......

Professor Mortem's words were filled with the typical pathos of an unpopular field professor.

Seeing him give candies while trying to entice the students...

"...So, black magic is the magic of magics, the king of magic. Do you understand?"

"I'm interested in black magic!!"

"I didn't know black magic was so great."

With Gainando and Han's responses, Professor Mortem's face lit up with a smile.

* * *

"Ah, do I need to learn black magic? I didn't know I had such talent. But black magic has a bit of a bad image. But if it's necessary for me... Ah, still..."

Ignoring the excited Gainando humming beside him, Han examined the gift he received from Professor Mortem.

To the two students who gave positive answers, Professor Mortem gave a gift wrapped with care.

...It was an unidentified bone.

-What is this?

-When you return to your room, look at this bone. It will remind you of black magic.

-What is it, really?

-Hehe. Cough, cough.

Professor Mortem wiped his nose with a shy expression.

As if he couldn't take away the joy of discovering this secret from the students.

Of course, from Han's perspective, it was a bit creepy.

What kind of bone is this?

'Does it contain magic?'

Han's first guess was that it was a simple artifact containing magic.

Hadn't he been tricked once by the book given by the principal in the disciplinary room?

Perhaps it was a trend among the magic school professors to give students magic-containing artifacts without explanation, like giving sweet treats to lovers on special occasions...

'I thought of a truly terrifying analogy.'

Han decided to study it later when he returned.

"Han. Han."

"?"

"Will it be a secret from Makin if I start learning black magic?"

Han understood what Gainando was thinking.

Gainando, who had been teased for learning alchemy from Yoner, would be even more ridiculed if he started learning black magic.

Han answered with a smile.

"Of course."

'I need to tell him right away.'

* * *

Professor Ingeldel, the elf swordsman, taught basic swordsmanship and basic physical training.

These classes were mainly attended by students from the White Tiger Tower.

In such a class, Han, a student from the Blue Dragon Tower, stood out very much.

However, the atmosphere was a bit different from the previous swordsmanship class.

While the previous class had everyone eager to start a fight, this time everyone was avoiding eye contact with Han.

If you get caught, you're done for!

'Convenient.'

Han thought he had done well to cause a stir.

Indeed, sometimes causing a stir makes life easier.

Of course, such a stir didn't lower the difficulty of the class.

"Everyone, keep running without stopping. Don't stop! Using all your muscles is important, but don't forget to feel the magic power through your breathing. If you can keep the magic power circulating inside your body, you can use your muscles much more efficiently."

Wizards used magic power only for magic, but swordsmen used it for their physical bodies.

The magic power that flowed like a river inside the body, never stopping, prevented fatigue from building up in the body and created a defense against external toxins.

...Of course, saying this didn't mean that the young freshmen could actually do it.

Everyone was just panting and running, not thinking about magic power or circulation.

"Professor, I have a question."

"What is it?"

Professor Ingeldel welcomed Han, who had approached him.

What could he be asking?

"I'm, going to, enter the mountains to, gather materials, and, I was wondering if, you have any, advice to, give..."

"Hmm. I suggest you give it up."

"......"

"I really suggest you give it up."

Han became uneasy at Professor Ingeldel's serious advice.