Chapter 76

Chapter 076

"Thank you all for such a warm welcome."

Professor Milei, the Summoning Magic professor, entered the classroom, puzzled by the heated atmosphere.

Despite her advanced age, Professor Milei maintained a dignified posture, and anyone could tell she was from a noble family with a long lineage in the empire.

Nobles, after all, could be identified by their walk and speech alone.

'Of course, the Blue Dragon Tower students are somewhat exceptional.'

Certainly, the students who had been trapped in the tower and starved were exceptions. Whether noble or not, when people became hysterical, they lost all sense of propriety.

Professor Milei slightly adjusted her monocle, which she wore over one eye, giving her a very strict and perfectionist appearance.

But Lee Han was not intimidated.

'Anyone would be better than Professor Vlad.'

Professor Garcia began a brief explanation from the side.

"Like Dark Magic, serious Summoning Magic is a subject that students start learning in their second year. However, I called Professor Milei here today not only because it's a good opportunity to learn what Summoning Magic is, but also..."

-■■■■■

At that moment, a summoned creature outside the classroom on the school grounds let out a howl, causing the windows to tremble.

"...because I thought it would be helpful for you to understand the current situation at the school."

"Professor Garcia...!"

"We only have you, Professor!"

Some students took out handkerchiefs to wipe away their tears.

Professor Milei watched the scene without any change in her expression and then spoke in a stern voice.

"Professor Garcia. Can we start?"

"Yes, please start."

"Here, any students interested in Summoning Magic?"

All the students raised their hands, including Lee Han. He couldn't understand why Professor Vlad's sad face flashed through his mind.

'But Summoning Magic is really a great magic.'

Just as Dark Magic has various fields such as curses, elements, undead summoning, and dark energy, Summoning Magic, despite its name, encompasses numerous fields.

Elemental summoning, demon summoning, monster summoning, artifact summoning, magical object summoning, and so on.

Given that it includes everything from living beings to inanimate objects (and even overlaps with Dark Magic to some extent), its applications are endless.

In old fairy tales, there are stories of a magician who, after a lifetime of hardship, made a contract with an excellent summoned creature and lived happily ever after (and lazily).

While fairy tales can't be entirely trusted, they do suggest that once you master Summoning Magic, it can be very profitable.

"Thank you. But among you, there might be only one student who has the qualifications to learn Summoning Magic."

"......"

"......"

Professors are naturally skilled at pouring cold water on things. Professor Milei was no exception. She said sternly,

"I won't hide it. Summoning Magic is a difficult magic. If you don't have the ability to learn it, it will be a hardship for you to attend the second-year lectures."

'That's what a professor is.'

Lee Han was impressed.

If a student lacks the ability to learn, they should be discouraged or given time, not asked, "Why can't you learn? Can't you learn even before you die?" That would make them a thug, not a professor.

"Summoning Magic cannot be learned with just knowledge of one field of magic. Elemental summoning requires a deep understanding of elemental studies, demon summoning requires a deep understanding of demon studies, and monster summoning requires a deep understanding of monster studies. Even relatively easy inanimate object summoning is not simple. So, I will say it again. If you lack confidence, it's better not to be interested in Summoning Magic."

However, the students seemed even more intrigued.

At their young age, how many would back down just because it's difficult? They all looked more motivated.

In contrast to the Black Magic, which students found boring even when it was easy, this was the opposite.

Professor Garcia whispered,

"You all are talented students. Can you give them a chance?"

Professor Milei nodded.

Bang!

Swinging her staff, strange diagrams appeared on magical scrolls in front of the students.

These were not one-time use scrolls that activate when torn, but fixed scrolls with magical diagrams engraved on them.

"Everyone is taking <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>, right?"

"Yes."

Upon hearing the lecture name, the students' expressions changed as if they had bitten into a frog.

Few students could endure the torture of numbers, which were neither magic nor general knowledge.

'Honestly, that's relatively easy.'

Lee Han suppressed the urge to throw a rock at his friends if they heard this.

"It's too difficult!"

"Then you have no chance of learning Summoning Magic."

"......"

After realizing that one word could disqualify them from Summoning Magic, Gaynando kept quiet.

"Everyone, pay attention to <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>. Drawing and calculating magical diagrams are essential in Summoning Magic."

Lee Han read the magical diagram.

Unlike Gaynando, whose eyes were already wandering, Lee Han could recognize the type of magical diagram.

'So, the mana flows like this...'

A magical diagram is a kind of circuit.

The difference is that while an electrical circuit carries current, a magical diagram carries mana.

Any magician who has cast a spell knows that it is a very difficult task.

The more complex the magic, the more difficult it becomes.

The amount of mana required increases, and the structure of the magic becomes more complex.

It's not for nothing that magicians say, "This is not a magic a human can perform" once they reach a certain level.

Magical diagrams are there to assist these magicians.

They can amplify, reduce, bypass, or block mana in various ways, reducing the burden on the magician.

As Lee Han calculated the circulating mana and visualized it in his mind, he suddenly saw an image of a quill pen.

'...What is this?'

In the world of magic, there are no coincidences.

Lee Han realized that the quill pen he had just seen was related to this magical diagram.

"This magical diagram is for summoning a quill pen."

"A quill pen?"

"Summon a quill pen...?"

The students were confused.

Even a dagger would be more practical, and the expression on their faces was, "Why bother?"

Lee Han shook his head.

'Ungrateful brats.'

If Professor Milei were to clear the desks and throw a demon summoning diagram, saying, "Succeed in summoning or die," would they take responsibility?

Fortunately, Professor Milei was different from Professor Vlad. She spoke in her usual stern voice.

"A magical quill pen made of mana. Since the ones you summon won't last long, focus on summoning it."

As soon as the professor finished speaking, the students began to activate the magical diagrams with their wands.

"Quill pen, come forth!"

"Lord Quill Pen, please appear!"

With the incantations, magical diagrams burned or scrolls were torn in various places.

While magical diagrams are designed to withstand mana, they can easily be destroyed by a magician's mistake.

Professor Milei, who had anticipated this, swung her staff.

The broken magical diagrams disappeared, and new ones appeared.

After about 30 minutes,

Students began to summon objects that resembled quill pens.

The Blue Dragon Tower, with Yoner, Adenart, and Asan, had the most successful summoners, followed by the Black Turtle Tower and the Phoenix Tower.

The White Tiger Tower had the fewest, but a few talented students managed to summon something resembling a quill pen.

Seeing the students' happy faces, Professor Garcia smiled bitterly.

'They shouldn't be so happy with that.'

Professor Milei's face remained as stiff as a statue, showing no emotion.

The difficulty of Summoning Magic lies in this aspect.

'Summoning something similar' is almost the same as failing!

While Elemental Magic can be considered a success even if there are differences in size or shape, Summoning Magic is the opposite.

If it's not perfect, it has no meaning.

It's inevitable. As a discipline that imbues will into summoned objects, even a small mistake can cause the summoned object to attack the magician.

At least it's a quill pen...

"Damn... Damn Card, the quill pen attacked me!!"

"Oh, Gaynando! The quill pen moved on its own! It's just a quill pen!"

"Assassination of the royal family! Assassination of the royal family! Lee Han, help me!"

"Just a quill pen! What are the chances of dying from a quill pen?"

Of course, even a quill pen was enough to cause a commotion.

* * *

Algar, a member of the White Tiger Tower and the Alpha family, felt a sense of pride when he saw the sleek quill pen he had summoned.

Given his status, he often felt behind in various magics, but Summoning Magic was different.

Perhaps he was even more talented than Giselle.

"!"

Algar felt very pleased when he saw Lee Han in front of him.

There was nothing, not even a quill pen, in front of Lee Han.

For the first time, he thought he could humble the young, evil archmage from the Vodanaz family, and he called out to Lee Han.

"Vodanaz. Did you fail the summoning?"

"......"

"Vodanaz! Don't ignore me! Look at my quill pen!"

Yoner, who was nearby, replied for him.

"Didn't you have a quill pen at home? Why are you showing off with a quill pen?"

"Look at my quill pen..."

Bang!!!

A loud noise erupted. Algar, thinking Lee Han had cast Dark Magic, cowered in fear.

Magical quill pens began to form over Lee Han's magical diagram.

"......"

Lee Han looked at the floating quill pens with a dubious expression.

'Failed.'

Algar was talking behind him, but Lee Han didn't hear him. He was that focused.

Sending mana into a fragile magical diagram to complete the summoning spell.

For other students, it was just difficult, but for Lee Han, it was extremely difficult.

If he lost control for even a moment, the mana would tear the magical diagram apart.

So, when others started, Lee Han was already half-giving up.

'Summoning Magic might not be my forte.'

Perhaps Lee Han's destiny was to be a combat magician like Professor Vlad.

...However, the magical diagram surprisingly did not break.

Lee Han was surprised himself.

'Did I do that well?'

Perfect understanding of magical diagrams.

And the recent (forced) improvement in mana control.

These two combined allowed Lee Han to successfully avoid breaking the magical diagram.

It was an amazing result.

'Oh, the task was to summon, not to avoid breaking the diagram.'

Lee Han, who was thrilled to be able to send mana into the magical diagram without breaking it, continued to send mana until he realized.

The task was to summon a magical quill pen, not to avoid breaking the diagram.

"Come forth, quill pen."

Lee Han simply muttered and swung his wand.

Bang!!!

At that moment, a loud noise erupted, and magical quill pens began to form over the magical diagram.

Professor Garcia, who was surprised by this unusual failure, turned to look at Professor Milei.

It was the first time he had seen Professor Milei's eyebrows rise so high.

"Lee Han has a lot of mana, so this kind of failure..."

Professor Garcia tried to explain, but Professor Milei returned to her usual expression and calmly said,

"That is not a failure, Professor Garcia."