Chapter 78

The Black Darkness Tower.

The tower that Professor Mortem used as his workshop was still as gloomy as ever.

‘If more students want to come, I guess I should improve the surrounding environment first.’

People generally didn’t want to come when they saw skulls, bones, tombstones, and boxes of deadly poison scattered around.

In Han’s view, among the new students this time, only Han and Gyanando would be here to learn black magic...

“??”

Han was surprised.

There were other new students in front of the Black Darkness Tower.

And there were two of them.

“Why are these guys here to learn black magic?”

“Is there a reason to be so serious?”

Han was puzzled by Gyanando’s reaction.

Gyanando answered as if it was obvious.

“The professor said I’m the only one with talent!”

“......”

But you said you hate black magic, didn’t you?

Han was about to say something but gave up and changed the subject.

“Gyanando. Even if they don’t have as much talent as you, they might still want to learn black magic.”

“That’s true.”

Gyanando slightly reflected on Han’s words.

Upon thinking about it, he felt he could be a bit more lenient.

“Hey, everyone...”

“Don’t talk to me like we’re friends, you blue dragon tower bastards.”

“......”

Gyanando was about to hit the other person with his staff out of frustration, but Han stopped him.

“You’re from the white tiger tower, right?”

“Yeah.”

The other person’s eyes faintly glowed with a golden light.

With his somewhat exotic features, Han realized the other person was of mixed blood.

“Are you a half-angel?”

“Yeah. I carry the glorious blood of my ancestors.”

‘For someone who’s proud, the blood seems quite faint.’

Compared to Tizling, who was a half-demon and whose blood was so strong that it was obvious just by looking at him, the white tiger tower student in front of him was quite hard to tell.

If it weren’t for Han’s sensitive detection ability, he might not have noticed.

“Do you follow the orders of the Moradi family, carrying the blood of your glorious ancestors?”

Han immediately tried to sow discord.

The fewer white tiger tower students who followed Giselle’s orders, the more comfortable Han and Dergue’s lives would be.

A knight’s honor and pride were a good point to exploit.

“Don’t misunderstand. Vodanaz. I, Rafadel, don’t follow the orders of the Moradi family.”

“What? If you don’t follow the Moradi family’s orders, why are you so... aggressive... mean...”

Unable to find the right words, Han just ended his question.

“Why are you so hostile?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

Rafadel looked at Han as if he was amazed.

It was ridiculous that he was putting on a show.

Gyanando whispered from the side.

“Didn’t we send the white tiger tower guys to the punishment room last time?”

“Just for that?”

“Or maybe because you went into the lounge and stole the flag last time.”

“Just for that?”

“...???”

Gyanando was confused.

What?

Isn’t that a pretty good reason?

Rafadel narrowed his brows and said to Han.

“Dergue of the Choi family! You can’t be saying you don’t know. That’s the name of the honorable friend you’re maliciously toying with.”

“......”

Han was speechless for the first time in a while. Gyanando defended him.

“No, Dergue is our friend.”

“Your defense is cowardly... You attacked and knocked him out with magic, and you’re still calling him a friend!”

“......”

Gyanando looked at Han as if asking for help.

“I treated Dergue the same way to prevent him from being hated by the white tiger tower students.”

“Is that what you call a reason?”

Rafadel reacted as if he was amazed.

Han shrugged, as if he knew it would happen.

Some misunderstandings can’t be resolved.

“Wait. You... are from the Gral family, right?”

Gyanando suddenly remembered Rafadel’s family.

The southern knight family, the Gral family.

The Gral family, which prided itself on having the blood of angels in their ancestors, was one of the strictest families in terms of justice among the knight families.

Judging from his words...

“Yes. You evil ones.”

The other person seemed to have already categorized Han and Gyanando as the axis of evil.

Han felt a bit guilty.

‘But it’s mostly because of the Vodanaz family’s image.’

If it weren’t for the Vodanaz family’s image of madness, Han wouldn’t have been misunderstood like this.

At least, that’s what Han thought.

“No, why is someone from the Gral family learning black magic!?”

Gyanando argued as if it was absurd.

Why would someone from the Gral family, which produces so many holy knights, come to learn black magic?

Rafadel said confidently.

“To better deal with black magicians, of course.”

“......”

‘The professor will cry.’

Han was speechless.

Only four people came, and one of them was a black magic hater...

“I see. Gral. I hope you learn black magic to deal with black magicians. I thought you were teaming up with Giselle of the Moradi family to plot against me behind my back.”

“Don’t treat me, Rafadel, like that Moradi kid!”

Rafadel was very upset.

While Han was manipulating Dergue like a puppet, he also despised Giselle, who controlled other white tiger tower students like her own limbs.

“Then you won’t team up with the Moradi family to plot against me?”

“Of course not!”

“Or with their gang?”

“Of course not! What are you asking for?”

“Then it’s settled.”

Han walked away as if he had said everything he needed to say.

As long as he didn’t attack from behind and didn’t team up with Giselle, it didn’t matter what he said in front.

Rafadel was stunned, blinking his eyes.

I feel like I’ve been tricked, but I don’t know exactly what happened.

Following Han, Gyanando thought to himself.

‘He’s my friend, but he really does seem like an evil great magician...’

* * *

Gyanando, who had been tricked by Rafadel, became quite hostile. He spoke to another student in a voice devoid of kindness.

“Why are you here to learn black magic?”

Swoosh—

The student stood up. Only then did Gyanando realize the other person had been sitting on the floor.

“......”

Han was tall, but the other person was so tall that Han had to look up. He was easily over 2 meters tall.

‘Half-giant!’

Overwhelmed, Gyanando suddenly became very polite.

“You, you can... learn it. I apologize.”

“Hi, everyone. Nice to meet you.”

The other person was from the black turtle tower. He looked around while greeting.

“My name is Imirg.”

“I’m Han. This is Gyanando. Can I ask why you’re looking around?”

“I, I don’t like my friends hanging out with the blue dragon tower students...”

“!”

Han was surprised.

‘Well, it’s not strange.’

Except for the phoenix tower, tower students usually stuck together.

It was natural for black turtle tower students, who were mostly not from noble or knight families, to dislike hanging out with white tiger tower students, who were mostly from knight families, or blue dragon tower students, who were mostly from noble families.

Nilianna Rappford was the exception...

Still, Han checked just in case.

“Is it because you think I’m an evil great magician?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Not that. Then it’s fine.”

Fortunately, it was because he was a noble. Han was relieved.

“I... I’m here to learn black magic because I’m interested in it. I want to get along well with the friends who are here to learn black magic.”

“Hmph! That won’t happen!”

Rafadel, who was behind, strongly answered.

He had no intention of getting along with evil students who wanted to learn black magic.

Imirg looked at Rafadel with a sad expression. Rafadel flinched, seemingly a bit scared.

“Okay. Even if not outside, let’s get along well here while learning black magic.”

Han extended his hand.

Imirg was a very easy case to get along with. After meeting so many strange people at school, this was a relief.

Imirg shook Han’s hand with a happy expression.

Han had to quickly release his mana to withstand the immense strength.

‘Gulp!’

Han managed his expression so as not to hurt Imirg’s feelings. It was an incredible amount of strength.

“I also look forward to working with you!”

Gyanando, unaware, extended his hand. Han tried to stop him, but Gyanando had already grabbed his hand.

Crack!

* * *

Professor Mortem hummed a tune happily, seeing the increased number of new students.

Han felt a bit sad for no reason.

‘I shouldn’t feel sorry for the professor.’

Stockholm syndrome was a dangerous condition.

“Cough. Welcome, everyone. I didn’t expect so many students to be interested in black magic. I can look forward to next year.”

“I look forward to working with you!”

Professor Mortem didn’t seem to notice Rafadel’s evil intentions. He asked Han.

“Have you found more bone summons?”

“Not yet...”

“Cough. Try exploring more dark and gloomy places.”

Professor Mortem winked at Han as if giving a gift. Of course, it wasn’t very romantic.

‘With the summons running around, exploring dark and gloomy places in the school... That’s practically suicide.’

“Cough... Since everyone has been waiting for today’s meeting, I should start the lesson quickly. Do you remember what we learned about curses last time?”

“Yes, of course.”

Rafadel took out paper and a quill, preparing to take notes. Professor Mortem was pleased.

Of course, from Han’s perspective, knowing Rafadel’s intentions, it was only sad.

You’re not going to attack the professor first, are you?

“I found curses more interesting than summoning magic!”

Gyanando said honestly.

“Today, we’ll take our time to study curses and improve our understanding... Wait a moment.”

Professor Mortem paused.

“Did you learn summoning magic this week?”

“Yes.”

“Cough. How did the students react?”

“They all seemed to like it. Everyone except us went to the workshop to listen to the story.”

Han wanted to hit Gyanando’s mouth but, unfortunately, couldn’t.

Professor Mortem said firmly.

“...Not curses, but today I’ll teach you undead summoning.”

“Wow!!”

‘Is this really okay?’

Han became anxious.

It seemed to skip several levels of the curriculum...

* * *

“Cough. Undead summoning is the flower of summoning magic. It’s the most beautiful, complex, and intricate magic...”

“Where do black magicians usually get the bodies?”

“Good question, Rafadel. In the past, they mainly used graveyards, but nowadays, they buy authorized bodies.”

“Ah... Even so, illegal black magicians still use graveyards, right?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

“Thank you.”

Rafadel took notes enthusiastically. Professor Mortem tilted his head, sensing some tension.

“But you are still... too early to perform a complete undead summoning. A complete undead can kill a magician if mishandled.”

A clumsy black magician’s summoned skeleton warrior stabbing its master to death was one of the most common black magic accidents.

Gyanando, who almost died from a magic quill, nodded.

“We’ll start with the easiest, something that can’t kill you. Let’s start with a bone hand.”

The students focused on the professor’s words with tense expressions.

Swoosh!

Bone hands appeared in front of the students.

“First, try to get along with the bone hands. At first, they won’t listen to you...”

“...?”

Han momentarily thought the bone summons and bone hands had been switched.

The bone hands were bowing very politely in front of Han.

‘Is this a trap?’