Chapter 74

Chapter 074

How should one dissuade a student who has just opened their eyes to the new attributes of magic and is about to embark on that path?

It would suffice to inform them that they might die the moment they step onto that path.

Professor Volda swung the beads like a madman. It wasn't a joke; a genuine intent to kill could be felt.

Moreover...

'The weight of the beads has increased!'

Lee Han realized from the sensation of the beads colliding that Professor Volda had increased their weight.

It felt like a command not to focus on futile rotations but to compress the water beads even more.

...But if he had just said it out loud, Lee Han would have understood.

Flames erupted in the lecture hall, where only the two of them were present. In the tense atmosphere, only the sound of cracking could be heard.

They stared at each other in silence, manipulating the magical spheres with their eyes.

'...Should I kill the professor?'

A thought that wasn't exactly new to Lee Han's mind emerged.

Of course, "killing" was a joke, more like making the professor hurt with a few broken bones.

It wasn't an emotional judgment.

At that moment, Professor Volda was seriously launching the beads with a lethal intent.

While Lee Han's magic control had improved significantly in a short time, he wasn't at the level to defeat the battle-hardened Professor Volda in a one-on-one duel.

In such a situation, how could Lee Han survive?

He didn't need to kill the professor, but he had to at least disrupt his concentration.

'Can I do it?'

Lee Han focused all his attention. While maintaining the compressed water bead in front of him, a new spell slipped out of his mouth.

"Surge forth!"

With the spell, new water began to take shape in the air.

For a novice with little magical experience, such simultaneous magic was almost taboo, but it held no meaning for Lee Han.

He had already confirmed through experience that a little waste of mana wasn't a problem.

And at the moment, the threat to his life from Professor Volda was more dangerous than wasting mana.

"!"

A glint appeared in Professor Volda's emotionless eyes.

'Is he planning to increase the number of beads?'

It was a thought a cornered novice might have, but it wasn't a good idea.

Increasing the number of beads would only make control more difficult, and Professor Volda could easily break through the gaps.

Acting was good, but the direction was wrong...

"Shield, unfold!"

Lee Han shouted with strong intent. Instantly, a large mass of water transformed into a solid shield, enveloping him.

The corners of Professor Volda's mouth twitched slightly.

<Water Shield> is a 2nd Circle spell that solidifies water into a shield.

The spell itself isn't particularly difficult.

However, the young man from the Vordanez family had never learned <Water Shield> directly.

He had figured it out on his own.

The method to summon water came from the 1st Circle spell <Water Creation>.

And the method to move and shape the water came from the 1st Circle spell <Basic Control>.

While some might not understand a spell even if taught the incantation and movements, the ability to deduce and develop spells on one's own is a very good sign.

To become an excellent magician, one must not only follow the spells written in spellbooks but also know how to improve and create them.

'Increasing the number of beads is better, but a water shield is not a good choice either.'

Despite his admiration, Professor Volda prepared to teach the student in front of him.

The mana-concentrated bead rushed towards the shield at a lethal speed.

A makeshift shield would be easily penetrated...

Clang!!

"!"

Professor Volda's eyes widened slightly.

The water shield was stronger than he had anticipated.

Only then did Professor Volda realize the true nature of the water shield.

Several times more mana could be felt compared to a regular water shield.

Since there was no need for the shield to move as quickly as the beads, Lee Han had poured mana generously, increasing and compressing the amount of water to strengthen it.

While controlling the water beads required effort, the water shield, which required less control, made the overwhelming amount of mana more apparent.

Before he could admire it, a water bead circled around and aimed for Professor Volda's head. The attack had shifted.

Professor Volda slightly tilted his head to avoid it. His expression showed no sign of panic.

"Go and tear it apart!"

Lee Han commanded the bone summon. The bone summon, which had been waiting in his belt, rushed forward.

At the same time, Lee Han kicked a chair under the water shield, sending it flying. His determination to destroy Professor Volda was evident.

Professor Volda smiled at all the attacks. Lee Han felt uneasy, as if he had encountered a grand duke of hell.

A new bead appeared behind Professor Volda, who had only been handling one bead until now.

The new bead shattered the bone summon (crack!) and the flying chair (crunch!) and then cleanly sliced through the water shield.

Professor Volda looked at Lee Han. Lee Han watched, as if waiting for the grand duke of hell to speak.

"Well done."

"......"

Is he a grand duke of hell, or perhaps a grand king of hell?

* * *

After throwing seventeen questions, Lee Han finally understood what Professor Volda was thinking.

Or rather, he could guess. Professor Volda's thoughts would probably never be fully and perfectly understood.

'Ah, so... '

This was a lesson on controlling water beads, but Professor Volda, who generally appreciated creative attempts (if they were effective), had viewed Lee Han's summoning of the water shield, kicking the chair, and sending the bone summon favorably.

Hearing this, Lee Han wondered if setting the lecture hall on fire would also be considered "well done."

If he faced a life threat again, he might set the lecture hall on fire...

'No, in that case, the skeleton headmaster would kill me.'

Lee Han felt regretful.

"Your thoughts on rotation seem to have decreased."

"Thanks to Professor."

Lee Han had to make an effort to keep the malice out of his voice.

"It's natural to find the rotation attribute attractive now. But don't be impatient. You will focus on it intensively someday. Sometimes, the roundabout way is the shortest path."

"......"

If another professor had said this, it would have been touching, but it wasn't particularly moving coming from Professor Volda, who always chased after with a knife, urging to take the shortest path.

'I already feel like I'm taking the shortest path.'

"Yes, I won't even dream of the rotation attribute and will focus on what I'm learning now."

"Perhaps you've guessed."

"...?"

Since Professor Volda often left things unsaid, Lee Han wasn't surprised.

'Let me read it calmly.'

"The next challenge you will face is exactly that."

"...Excuse me, what do you mean?"

"What you just showed."

Once the control of a single bead becomes competent, it's time to move on to the next step.

A magician must never stop. They must continuously develop and explore.

Professor Volda gestured. The tables and chairs around them rose as if threatening Lee Han.

"From now on, you will learn to concentrate amidst chaotic situations."

"...Wow."

"You can use what you just showed again."

"Really?"

Lee Han was slightly surprised.

He had expected Professor Volda to say, "Improve your skills by blocking with beads alone."

Allowing the use of a shield...

"Yes. I'll increase the difficulty to match, so don't be impatient and focus on the task at hand."

"......"

If Lee Han could handle the beads while using other magic, there was no need to stop him.

Using other magic while controlling the beads would be more beneficial.

"Wouldn't it be better to give up on shields and summons to focus better, like giving up on rotation?"

"No. Rotation directly affects the control of water beads, but shields and summons do not. The sooner you adapt, the better."

Lee Han was grateful to the skeleton headmaster.

He didn't mention the story of setting fire to the mountain to bake the mud golem.

If he had mentioned the fire, who knows what terrifying situation might have unfolded.

* * *

Evening.

Professor Lightning Step was worried when he saw Lee Han, who was tending to the garden behind the cabin, looking particularly tired.

Of course, fatigue was something all students at this school experienced, but the young man from the Vordanez family was much tougher than other students.

Yet, he looked so tired.

"What have you been doing lately to be so tired?"

"Is that so? I'm fine."

Lee Han dug up potatoes and put them in a basket. Despite trying to remain calm, his fingers twitched greedily.

"Tell me your daily schedule."

"Really, I'm fine."

Lee Han explained his daily routine as if questioning why.

He woke up early in the morning, went to the stable, and forced the stubborn horse to eat, wash, and brush, then went for a walk and returned. He prepared breakfast by selecting the food that needed to be eaten soon and making a dish that could easily increase in quantity.

After feeding the students of the Blue Dragon Tower, he attended morning classes, returned to prepare lunch, and then went to afternoon classes...

"......"

"Why do you ask?"

"Ah, no. Continue. What classes did you attend? I'm curious."

"Today, I attended Professor Volda's <Repetitive Learning of Basic Magic Combat> class."

"......"

Professor Lightning Step's expression twitched dramatically.

Why did he have to attend a class taught by a madman like Professor Volda...?

"...Anyway, after finishing the class, I'm tending to the garden like this."

"You are truly a boy born to become the representative of the Blue Dragon Tower."

"?"

"Never mind. So... After such a tiring day, do you have no complaints about working in the garden?"

Lee Han momentarily suspected.

When professors said, "If you have any complaints, speak up," it was usually a good idea to be suspicious. It was often a trap.

But apart from that, he had no complaints about garden work.

"Not really?"

Lee Han held a potato and a carrot in each hand. The rewards from the garden were very satisfying.

Professor Lightning Step suddenly felt a sense of guilt.

...Is it right for the empire's top talents to be doing this??

"Th... That's right. By the way, there's a cow I brought behind the cabin. If you want, you can milk it whenever you need."

"Professor...!"

Lee Han looked at Professor Lightning Step with a newfound respect. Professor Lightning Step, taken aback, held back his words.

* * *

While Lee Han was working in the garden, Professor Lightning Step, out of boredom, kept asking questions.

Stories about fleeing from spirits out of fear (even with a tree spirit?), and the idea that the crops in the garden were growing better than expected thanks to the tree spirit, leading to the suggestion of growing more (take it from Thunder Step)...

After finishing his work and washing his hands in the stream, Lee Han suddenly thought of something and asked.

"Professor, can we get a flying vehicle at school?"

"...Why, why are you asking that?"

Professor Lightning Step's voice strangely cracked, but Lee Han didn't notice.