Kumandas was surprised by the sudden news, but he quickly calmed himself down. He had a lot to do and no time to waste being shocked.
First, he had to cover Professor Verdus’s Enchantment class. Professor Verdus had been suddenly called away – no one knew where. And even more importantly, Kumandas needed to secretly convince the new student standing right in front of him to come to the dangerous Twisted Dimensional Corridor later…
“Senior! Good morning!”
“Senior! We…”
“Hold it!”
The fourth-year students firmly stopped the first-years from chirping like birds. Having been through their first year, they knew exactly what the new students were about to ask.
“Okay, listen up! No questions about school stuff, alright? Forget about food, exams, libraries, escape routes – just magic, got it? Enchantment magic only!”
The first-year students were disheartened by their senior’s firm attitude. But the seniors were desperate. One mistake could land them in the punishment room.
‘They’re watching the Headmaster’s every move.’
Leehan seemed to understand why the seniors were acting like this. Given the Headmaster’s personality, he wouldn’t just let the seniors help the juniors.
“Everyone, let’s not make things too difficult for our seniors. They must have their reasons.”
Leehan said, sweeping the butter cookies on the table into his coat. His friends nodded.
“I guess the seniors are being careful.”
“They wouldn’t really care if we learn from seniors, would they?”
“You never know.”
The fourth-year students teared up inside at the naive conversation of their juniors.
‘They’re still so innocent! But is no one going to point out that the Wodanaz kid is swiping all the cookies?’
“Ahem. Shall we begin with Enchantment magic, then?”
One of the fourth-year students cleared his throat and began the lecture.
Enchantment magic. Magic cast on people or objects, including enhancement, imprinting, and blessings, all fell under this category. If one succeeded in permanently enchanting an object, it became an artifact, and if one became proficient enough to cast it on people professionally, they were hailed as enchanters. The uses of Enchantment magic were truly vast.
Compared to the breadth of Dark Magic (assuming Professor Mortuum’s claims were correct) and its narrow application, Enchantment magic was bound to be popular.
“Juniors, do not attempt to cast Enchantment magic on yourselves for a while.”
One of the seniors said firmly.
“If you cast Enchantment magic incorrectly when you’re not skilled enough, you can get seriously hurt.”
Enchanting objects only resulted in the object breaking if it failed, but enchanting people could have severe consequences.
“Until you become skilled, you will only study Enchantment magic on objects.”
‘Indeed… hmm?’
Leehan, who had been listening to the senior’s explanation, paused. …Didn’t the book the Headmaster gave me teach me Enhancement magic first?
Even though it was all in the past, Leehan felt strangely wronged. That darn black book…
“I heard that you juniors learned a bit of >Lesser Cold Resistance> first, but in fact, >Lesser Cold Resistance> is a difficult spell to master completely right now. It’s only easier because the weather is getting colder; it will become more difficult when the weather warms up. Don’t be greedy and learn other spells slowly.”
At the senior’s words, Leehan’s friends stared at him. Leehan ignored them, pretending not to notice.
“Now, then… let’s begin.”
>Paper Hardness Enhancement>.
It was an easy spell that people learning Enchantment magic for the first time learned as a stepping stone. The principle of the magic was simple: simply making soft paper hard. Low-grade students would put this paper under their coats to replace armor.
“Paper, become hard!”
“Paper, turn into steel!”
“The incantation is a tool for focusing your will, but don’t be too specific or create problems for yourselves.”
The seniors were better at teaching than Professor Bibil. Dividing the students and teaching them in an orderly manner made the efficiency noticeably better. In fact, even if Leehan taught, he would have been better than the professor.
Kumandas asked his friends.
“Can I teach him?”
“Sure, why?”
“It’s, it’s nothing.”
Kumandas couldn’t tell his friends the truth.
‘Actually, that accident I caused last time, I need the new student’s ability to fix it. I suspected it when you did the assignment last time, but you’ve finally gone mad. Tsk tsk.’ That’s the kind of reaction he’d get.
“Okay. Cast it.”
Kumandas stared intently at the students in front of him. More precisely, he stared at Leehan.
“…?”
Leehan whispered to Yoner next to him.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“I don’t think so?”
“Did I take the snacks too obviously?”
“The seniors must have been first-years once too; it’s too much to glare at you for that.”
“Right? I don’t know the reason.”
Leehan, having quickly accepted the situation, tilted his head. If not that, then why?
“Paper, become hard.”
Leehan easily succeeded in casting the spell. Having already forcibly learned spells several times more difficult than this, Paper Hardness Enhancement was not very difficult.
“Really good.”
Kumandas praised him for now. In fact, he didn’t even look at the magic Leehan cast. It wasn’t a difficult spell, as other students were succeeding as well. Something else was more important.
‘I have to get the message across somehow!’
“Oh, do you know without even touching it?”
Anglago asked, puzzled. Kumandas answered vaguely.
“You’ll be able to do it too when you gain experience, junior.”
“Oh…!”
Anglago tapped Leehan’s paper, amazed. Before the magic was cast, it was a flimsy piece of paper, but now it sounded as hard as solid wood. Anglago had also succeeded in the spell, but it wasn’t this hard.
Enchantment magic was considered a success if it exceeded a certain standard, but even within the same success, there were differences.
“How do you make it this hard?”
“Pour more magic into it.”
Kumandas said without looking at Anglago. Anglago poured more magic into it than before and waved his wand.
“Oh…! It’s really harder!”
“Yeah. Good for you.”
Kumandas answered casually and then whispered to Leehan.
“…Are you having a hard time?”
?!”
Leehan was surprised.
‘What’s with this guy?’
What was that noise?
Lee Han thought, ‘Is this a trap?’
He was not easy to trick.
“I don’t understand,” Lee Han said, looking confused.
Kumandas leaned closer and whispered, “Maybe… let me help you with that.”
Just then, some older students, fourth-years, came over. They saw the paper Lee Han was working on and were surprised.
“Wow!” one said. “Look how much magic he put into this! If he’s not careful, it could burn up.”
Another student asked, “Do you think he knows enchantment magic?”
“No way, not yet,” the first one replied. “That’s too advanced.”
The older students talked excitedly about Lee Han’s magic. They knew that enchantment was tricky. Too much magic could destroy what you were working on. It took skill and practice to put in just the right amount.
“Kumandas! Hey, Kumandas! Did you see this?” one of the older students called.
Kumandas, who had been whispering to Lee Han, asking, “Is it hard? I can help. Trust me,” looked annoyed at being interrupted.
“What? What is it now?” Kumandas asked his friends.
“Did you see this magic?”
“Yes, I saw it. He said he finished it,” Kumandas said, waving his hand dismissively.
“No, not just that he finished! Look at the magic inside. It’s almost as hard as wood!”
“Why are you making such a big deal… Oh!” Kumandas finally looked closely at the paper and was shocked.
His friends stared at Kumandas, surprised.
‘He said he saw it, but he didn’t really see it,’ they thought.
“Those older students were acting strange,” Lee Han said. “Asking weird questions.”
“Really?” another student said. “I’ll watch out for them.”
The other students in the Blue Dragon Tower lounge looked surprised. They knew that in this magic school, you couldn’t even trust the older students.
‘Asking such obvious trap questions,’ Lee Han thought. He knew if he had answered wrongly, he could have ended up in Headmaster Skull’s punishment room.
Gainando, holding a deck of cards, asked Lee Han, “Going out again tonight?”
“No,” Lee Han replied.
“Card game then?” Gainando suggested, holding up the cards.
“I’ve been out every night for days,” Lee Han said. “Today, I need to read books and study.”
Gainando made a face and stepped back, looking annoyed. He didn’t want to get stuck studying with Lee Han if they got caught by a teacher.
Lee Han was reading a thick book when he saw something move by the window. A small paper bird fluttered into the room and landed on his desk.
‘What’s this?’ he thought, picking it up. Unfolding it, he read:
**Come to the map location below, fast!!!**
**-Professor Bible Verdus**
‘Ugh, I really don’t want to go,’ Lee Han thought, making a face.
He’d rather get a note to go to the Twisted Dimension Corridor than this. He didn’t even want to think about why Professor Verdus was calling him.
‘Too bad I can’t ignore it,’ he sighed.
When a professor called, you had to go. That was just how it was for students.
‘I’ve never been here before,’ Lee Han thought, looking at the map. It showed a place in the forest west of the main school building.
Lee Han stepped into the trees, frowning. He remembered being attacked by a wild magical object in a place like this not long ago, so he was careful.
The forest was quiet and still. Sunlight barely reached through the thick leaves. Lee Han followed the map’s instructions.
‘Pull the branch, draw a circle three times on the tree stump…’ he repeated in his head.
He did exactly as the map showed. Suddenly, the trees seemed to shimmer, and a building appeared where there was only forest before.
“!” Lee Han gasped.
He knew the main school building, the huge and complicated heart of the magic school. He knew the workshops and towers where professors worked. He had seen many buildings around the school grounds. But…
‘I’ve never seen a prison like this,’ he thought, staring at the new building.
It was made of black, rusty metal and looked even more scary than Headmaster Skull’s punishment room.
“Professor?” Lee Han called out softly.
“Shhh! Quiet!” a voice hissed back.
Professor Bible Verdus, who looked like a beaver, peeked out from behind iron bars. The bars rattled as he moved. He waved Lee Han closer.
“Quick! Get over here!” he whispered urgently.
“What’s going on?” Lee Han asked.
“I don’t know!” Professor Verdus said. “Gonadaltez just came in, got really mad, and locked me in here!”
Lee Han thought he understood. Headmaster Skull probably didn’t put that wild magical object in the warehouse himself. Someone else must have done it…
‘It was him,’ Lee Han realized. ‘Professor Verdus did it!’ He thought angrily, ‘Thanks to you, I almost got killed!’
“Please, open the door!” Professor Verdus begged.
“Wait… Professor,” Lee Han said. “Don’t you have other students? Why call me?”
He was confused. He had seen older students earlier. Why him?
“Gonadaltez is probably watching them,” Professor Verdus said. “He’s that kind of person. Just open the door! I’m so bored in here, making boring things!”
Lee Han looked through the bars.
‘Hmm, not so bad,’ he thought. ‘He’s living better than us first-years.’
Inside, Professor Verdus had a soft bed, fresh fruit, and even some tree bark to chew on. Headmaster Skull might be angry, but he wasn’t making the professor suffer too much.
‘Actually, this is weird,’ Lee Han thought. ‘Shouldn’t first-year students be punished like this, not professors?’
“Lee Han! What are you doing? Open the door!” Professor Verdus called.
“Professor,” Lee Han said. “If I open this… won’t Headmaster Skull think I did something wrong?”
“Just say I made you open it!” Professor Verdus said quickly.
“But… will he believe that?” Lee Han asked, doubtfully.
“Why are you being like this?!” Professor Verdus said, sounding frustrated. “Are you going to open it or not?”
Professor Verdus looked confused. He didn’t understand why Lee Han was hesitating. He had come all this way, hadn’t he?
“Professor,” Lee Han said, “I want to help, but… if Headmaster Skull finds out, maybe I should get something for my trouble. So I don’t regret it later.” He hinted at a reward.
Professor Verdus didn’t get angry. He didn’t even realize Lee Han was trying to get something from him. He just thought, ‘Why is he acting so strange? What does he want?’
“Fine! Yes! I’ll give you a reward when I get out! Just open it now!” Professor Verdus promised.
“Okay, okay, Professor. I was going to open it anyway,” Lee Han said. “I wasn’t really doing it for a reward…”
“Just open it!” Professor Verdus interrupted, not wanting to hear any more excuses.