Chapter 65

Valdorurn was taken aback by Yi Han's words.

He realized that his casual remark had led this first-year student to have unnecessary expectations.

Moreover, this method was a dangerous one that could threaten a mage's life if a mistake were made.

To break a spell with force required a tremendous amount of mana, and if a student who was not yet proficient in magic used it incorrectly, it could be life-threatening.

However, Yi Han did not back down easily.

"I won't attempt it recklessly, so please tell me the method."

"But..."

"I already paid the consultation fee, didn't I?"

"Well, that's true. Alright, I understand."

Valdorurn conceded.

Since he had received the consultation fee, he couldn't refuse to share the information.

"First, you need a tremendous amount of mana. Your personal power won't be enough. Use a magic circle and mana stones."

Magic circles, mana stones.

These were methods used by mages to supplement their insufficient mana.

The higher the level of magic, the more mana was required. It was impossible to meet this demand with personal power alone.

Drawing a magic circle to amplify and gather mana, or using mana-charged gems as additional batteries.

"Have you learned how to draw a magic circle?"

"I am learning it."

Yi Han recalled the <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> lectures he was taking at school.

Drawing a magic circle was akin to solving complex math problems.

It required mathematical perseverance and effort rather than a sensory sense.

As a result, the students suffered.

Asking students who were confident in basic arithmetic to solve various complex rules and operations made it hard to distinguish whether the lecture was on geometry or the students' screams.

"Good. If you manage to gather the mana in that way, stand at the emission point of the magic circle and control the mana."

After gathering the mana with the magic circle, the next step was to control it and unleash the magic.

It sounded simple, but this was more difficult than gathering the mana.

Controlling the mana was one thing, but to deliver a powerful impact, you had to release the gathered mana all at once without hesitation.

Not letting the mana flow like a river, but rather like a waterfall when a dam opens, intensely and all at once!

This was not a common practice for most mages.

They were used to releasing mana steadily, not in such a burst.

"Hmm... It doesn't seem too difficult."

Valdorurn sighed at Yi Han's words.

Despite his warnings, this freshman was taking his words lightly.

Arrogance.

It was an inevitable weakness of geniuses.

Why did talented mages die earlier than untalented ones? Because they believed in their talent and died while conducting magic experiments, thinking they wouldn't die.

Given that this freshman had the talent to enter Einroard and escape in his first year, it was natural for him to have the weakness of arrogance.

'Can't be helped.'

Valdorurn decided to show this talented boy the reality.

It was a bit embarrassing to teach a future archmage, but what could he do?

"I covet the moon and draw its water!"

Valdorurn took a handful of powder made from moonstone from his pocket, drew a complex pattern with his staff, and chanted a long incantation while drawing mana.

It was a 3rd Circle spell, <Lunarian's Moonlight Maze>.

An illusion spell that everyone learning illusion magic wanted to master, used to block night attackers.

One of Valdorurn's prides.

"!"

Yi Han was surprised.

Valdorurn was clearly sitting across the table, but it felt as if he were far away, as if the sense of depth were off.

A sense of foreboding, as if stepping forward would lead to another space.

Valdorurn, who had cast the spell, spoke.

"Don't move rashly. It may look normal, but..."

"Will I fall into the maze the moment I step forward?"

"......"

Valdorurn was momentarily taken aback.

He wondered how the boy in front of him had figured it out.

At first, he thought the boy might have known the spell beforehand, but his expression showed otherwise.

The only remaining reason was that the boy had sensed the mana emitted by the spell.

It was a truly remarkable ability to detect.

"...Yes. The reason I used this spell is to show you how difficult it is to break a spell with force."

"Indeed..."

Yi Han was impressed by the other's kindness.

This Valdorurn seemed to be a better teacher than the professors at the magic school.

He explained what needed to be learned in detail and kindly, provided a goal for the student to attempt once understood, and explained why that goal was set...

After being beaten up by Professor Voladi, receiving such a lesson made his eyes well up.

"Go ahead and try it carefully. I'll give you as much time as you need. However, if it seems dangerous, you must stop immediately."

"Thank you."

"?"

Valdorurn sensed something was off.

The boy was looking at him with a respectful gaze.

Why...?

* * *

Bang!

No sound was heard outside, but Valdorurn could clearly hear it.

The unique roar that occurred when mana collided and the spell broke.

'Impossible!'

Valdorurn was shocked.

It was just one attempt.

One single attempt.

And it wasn't even a serious or desperate attempt.

The boy in front of him didn't even draw a magic circle, just briefly gathered mana, and lightly tested it by striking the spell. Yet, that was enough to break <Lunarian's Moonlight Maze>.

The fierce torrent of mana, like a waterfall, shattered the intricately constructed spell.

Valdorurn couldn't understand.

He knew the boy was talented.

But if he had gathered mana so briefly, he should have lacked the necessary amount.

Even if he had somehow managed to gather enough mana (though Valdorurn had no idea how), handling that much mana should have been clumsy.

Unless the boy was born with an extraordinary amount of mana and was as familiar with handling it as breathing, he shouldn't have been able to control the gathered mana so precisely.

It was as absurd as a sailor encountering a giant wave for the first time and handling it skillfully.

What was going on?

"Thank you!"

Yi Han, unaware of Valdorurn's inner thoughts, expressed his gratitude.

"Uh...?"

"Thanks to Mr. Valdorurn's excellent teaching, I was able to understand this."

"......"

For a moment, Valdorurn thought Yi Han was mocking him.

It was so absurd that he wondered if one of the mad professors at the magic school had disguised himself as a first-year student to cause trouble!

But Yi Han's eyes were too pure.

They were filled with genuine gratitude.

"No... I really didn't do much. I didn't teach you anything..."

"No, you did. You are the first to teach me so clearly and accurately."

"Don't say that to anyone else!"

Valdorurn was horrified.

If the mad professors at the magic school heard, they might turn Valdorurn into a frog out of anger.

Yi Han bowed his head seriously.

"If I come again, I will seek you out and ask you questions."

"No... no... I have nothing to teach you."

Honestly, Valdorurn wanted to say, "Don't come," but he couldn't because he had received the consultation fee.

He could only timidly say he had nothing to teach.

But to Yi Han, this attitude seemed humble.

'Even humble!'

As the saying goes, the more a rice stalk is ripe, the more it bows. Valdorurn's attitude made him seem even more dignified.

Seeing him run a workshop in a corner of the town somehow made it seem cool.

Didn't the best mages often enjoy eccentric behavior? This workshop was surely a pastime for Valdorurn.

"I'll see you next time!"

Yi Han left, grateful for the meeting.

Valdorurn sat there in shock for a moment, then got up.

He changed the sign on the workshop door from "Open" to "Closed."

Then he reopened an illusion magic book he hadn't read in a while.

...He wasn't sure how much it would help, but he felt he needed to study something.

* * *

"...Principal, I can handle it alone..."

Professor Garcia said, looking at the floating skull principal.

Professor Garcia was responsible for the main gate at this time, and there was no need for the skull principal to be there.

The only reason the skull principal, who never involved himself in matters not his responsibility, was there was one.

He was enjoying it!

'He must be eagerly waiting for Yi Han to be late!'

In Einroard, it was rarer for students to go out with permission than to escape the school.

Students who received such a rare opportunity were overjoyed and left, but the school didn't send them out with such pure intentions.

All sorts of traps awaited the innocent students.

Students who left joyfully would soon realize the harsh reality, become desperate with no money, and be dragged back with a grimace.

And such students were not given a second chance.

Receiving a second permission to go out was much harder than the first.

"Perhaps the permission to go out should be given more generously as a reward..."

Not yet, Professor Garcia. If you teach students with such a lenient and soft heart, they will become weak and complacent.

"......"

A true mage is born from trials!

"Alright, I get it, stop it."

Professor Garcia cut off the conversation, clearly annoyed.

The skull principal's theory that "a true mage is born from trials" was something he had heard too many times.

Oh, that ancient mage!

His expression is very expectant.

"...It might be better not to expect too much. Yi Han is exceptionally clever, isn't he?"

Indeed, that's true.

Surprisingly, the skull principal admitted it readily.

He did have a high opinion of Yi Han.

But this had nothing to do with magical talent or a tough spirit. He needed money, but there was nowhere to get it, and even if he did, the amount he could carry was limited... Moreover, time was getting tighter! The more he thought he was smart, the more likely he was to be greedy and not come back easily. I hope time passes quickly so I can go catch him.

"Think it to yourself."

Professor Garcia answered curtly but acknowledged that the skull principal had a point.

Why were students who used the permission to go out usually caught and dragged back?

Because of that greed, thinking "If I just had a little more time, I could make it!"

Once in the town, they faced situations that defied all expectations, and they needed the ability to recognize and give up on certain aspects.

If they tried to get everything they needed, they would fall into the skull principal's traps...

"?!?!"

Bang!

A giant figure appeared on the hill in front of the main gate.

For a moment, Professor Garcia thought it was a giant porter or a troll porter.

It wasn't.

It was Yi Han, carrying a mountain of luggage.

"......"

......

The two mages were speechless at this brute-force solution, which was unimaginable for a mage.

But that was just the beginning.

As Yi Han climbed the hill, boxes floated behind him, following him.

The skull principal had to admit it.

...Professor Voladi must have taught him very well.