Lee Han stared at Professor Kirmin with a suspicious look. The professor was staring out the window, his eyes unfocused, like he was miles away. Lee Han frowned, thinking the professor hadn’t heard a word he’d said.
Professor Kirmin blinked, then turned to Lee Han with a slight smile. “Huh? Oh, sorry, Wodanaz. What is it?”
Lee Han crossed his arms. “Were you even listening?”
“Of course!” Professor Kirmin chuckled softly. “Why would you think I wasn’t?” He taught Illusion Magic, after all, and hiding his thoughts and feelings was something he was very good at. “Anyway,” he continued, leaning forward slightly, “because of what happened earlier, you can now see souls, right?”
Lee Han nodded slowly. “Yes, Professor. That’s right. It wasn’t Professor Begreck’s fault.”
“Then you don’t need to take this class.”
“…Pardon?” Lee Han asked, surprised.
“This class is about learning to see souls in the first part of the year,” Professor Kirmin explained.
They learned various Illusion Magic spells and practiced them, but the main goal was to recognize the souls of other beings and their own souls.
“…Oh, so what do I do now?” Lee Han asked.
“You can do whatever you want. You don’t have to come to class.”
Lee Han was shocked by the professor’s words.
“No, still, not coming to class…” he mumbled.
“You come to class to learn, Wodanaz. What’s the point if you’ve already learned it? Why don’t you go to Professor Begreck and practice dueling a bit more?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Lee Han replied flatly.
“It was a joke. Sorry,” Professor Kirmin said quickly, seeing Lee Han’s cold glare.
Even if he had all the time in the world, going to Professor Voladi to practice magical combat was not a good choice.
‘Is this a good thing?’ Lee Han wondered.
Once the initial shock wore off, Lee Han considered the offer. He had been surprised by the suggestion that he didn’t need to come to class, but the more free time Lee Han had, the better.
Of course, skipping one class wouldn’t suddenly make Lee Han relaxed and happy, but still…
‘It can’t hurt to have extra time,’ he thought.
“Professor, I’m still worried that I might miss something if I don’t come to class. I have to take the exams, too.”
“The exams are about recognizing souls anyway, so don’t worry about them. And missing something… Hmm.” Professor Kirmin tapped the desk, thinking.
He could skip the exams, but there were a few Illusion Magic spells taught during the lectures for soul recognition.
“First, take this book.” Professor Kirmin took out a small book, no bigger than his palm, from his gray vest pocket and unfolded it. The book rapidly grew in size and thickness.
“>Advanced Illusion Magic and Soul Application” Lee Han read aloud. “As I said, once you can recognize and manipulate souls, Illusion Magic becomes much wider and stronger. It’s a guide for Illusion Magic users who have begun to recognize souls, so it would be good to read it. There are quite a few useful spells in it.” “Thank you, Professor. Are these the spells we’ll be learning in this class?” “What are you talking about? It’s a guide for Illusion Magic users who can recognize souls. Of course, you won’t be learning it in this class. For the first part of this class, you need to learn to recognize souls.” “…?” Lee Han tilted his head, not understanding. Then why did he give him this book? “Then why did you give me this?” he asked. “I gave it to you because I thought you might be bored since you have nothing to learn, Wodanaz.” “……” Lee Han was dumbfounded. How could he even come up with such ridiculous thoughts? ‘If I have nothing to learn, I’ll be comfortable and happy. What boredom…’ While his student was cursing inwardly, Professor Kirmin took out a piece of paper and quickly scribbled on it. “All done. Take this, Wodanaz.” “What is this?” “These are the spells you’ll be learning separately in this class. Honestly, you don’t necessarily have to learn them, but they’re not bad spells.” Lee Han stared at the single sheet of paper and the large, thick book, comparing them. Wouldn't it have been enough to just give him the paper? Professor Kirmin let Lee Han pass the exams and homework easily, but he didn't completely abandon him. Completely abandoning a student because they were doing well on their own was something only Professor Verdus would do, even in Einroguard. Instead, Professor Kirmin called a senior from the Illusion Magic department. “Sebius, could you answer Wodanaz’s questions about magic?” Professor Kirmin could answer or explain himself if it wasn't during class time, but during class, the professor had to conduct the lecture. Sebius, a fourth-year hamster beastman student from the Black Tortoise Tower, nodded but asked a question. “Understood, Professor. But I have a question.” “What is it?” “…Why is he asking about magic separately instead of coming to the lecture?” It was a question anyone would ask, of course. A second-year student who should be attending magic lectures with the third-year students came with the professor and said, ‘Heh heh, please answer his questions for him during class time.’ “Ah. There’s a complicated story behind that. Should I explain it in detail, or briefly?” Professor Kirmin asked. “Please explain it briefly,” Sebius replied. Professor Kirmin explained cheerfully, as if he had been waiting for it. When else would he get to tease his picky student? “Wodanaz has already previewed all the content of the first part of the year.” “…Could you explain it in detail??” Sebius asked, surprised. Only after the professor told the story of ‘Wodanaz forcibly learned magic from an evil ancient being in Einroguard’ could Sebius understand the situation. “Indeed… I see,” Sebius said. ‘Does anyone usually learn just because they’re told to learn?’ Sebius thought. It would be so convenient if magic could be learned just by someone ordering you to learn it. The fourth-year students suffering because of graduation would be much happier. To actually learn just because you were told to learn… “Then, I’m counting on you,” Professor Kirmin said. "Yes, Professor. The third-year students might be a little discouraged." “Of course! They should be! I’m going to nag them as soon as I get back to the lecture hall. Those guys. Still doing it this slowly when even a second-year student can do it.” Sebius inwardly mourned for the third-year students who were about to suffer misfortune because of an overly talented junior. But what could he do? Einroguard was a place where misfortune struck from time to time, regardless of one's intentions. ‘Oops.’ Sebius realized something as Professor Kirmin disappeared and he was left alone with Lee Han. He had other plans for today. “…Junior. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you next time, so can I leave now?” “Yes? It’s fine, but… do you have something to do?” Lee Han asked. “I have an appointment.” “Is it perhaps an appointment related to the Location Transfer Club?” “…It is.” Sebius was dumbfounded as his junior looked at him with sparkling eyes. Why did the students of the Blue Dragon Tower like stealing so much? “You’re not thinking of coming with me, are you?” “Professor Kirmin told me to ask and learn from you, Senior…” Lee Han said, feigning regret. Professor Kirmin had obviously assigned him to preview Illusion Magic, not to move objects together during their free time, but that didn't matter. “Tsk. Fine. Then come along,” Sebius grumbled, but eventually allowed Lee Han to follow. He was a junior in the same Location Transfer Club and the Library Club, and Professor Kirmin had asked him, so it felt wrong to abandon him and move separately. “Thank you, Senior.” “It’s nothing. It’s because the professor asked me to.” “There are seniors who kick you out if they don’t like you, even if the professor asks them to,” Lee Han pointed out. “What? Who would do that?” Sebius retorted gruffly. “Senior Yukveltire does that.” “……” ‘This guy. He’s pretending not to hear.’ Sebius thought, pretending not to hear and moving on. Then, he opened his mouth to change the subject. “Do you know where we’re going now?” “Not really,” Lee Han admitted. “…Then why did you say you’d come along?” Sebius asked, confused. “I thought it would be worth it if I went to the place you’re visiting, Senior…” “……” An awkward silence returned. Sebius cleared his throat and explained. “You know about the Imperial Magic Academy, Valdrogard, right?” “Yes,” Lee Han replied. “Then do you know that several Valdrogard wizards have visited this week?” “Yes, I know.” “What about the Valdrogard wizards stealing Einroguard’s items in the past?” “…?!!!!” Lee Han was more surprised than when he was kidnapped by the Skull Headmaster’s insane clone. How could Valdrogard wizards steal Einroguard’s items? “What did you say? Valdrogard wizards stole Einroguard’s items??” “You didn’t know? Yes, they stole them in the past,” Sebius confirmed. “I can’t believe it. How did they steal them?” Sebius turned the corner at the end of the north corridor and summoned the stairs. He continued his explanation as he went up the stairs. “Einroguard often conducts research with Valdrogard students. Valdrogard students provide research funds, while Einroguard students are in charge of everything from ideas to theory, experiments, verification, and report writing.” ‘That doesn’t sound like conducting research together…’ Lee Han thought. At that point, weren’t they just sponsors? “My senior’s senior also conducted research together in that way. I guess they needed research funds,” Sebius continued. “That seems likely,” Lee Han agreed. “The research was conducted externally, and at the almost completed stage, a Valdrogard student who coveted the item committed an evil betrayal.” Lee Han swallowed, wondering what kind of evil betrayal the Valdrogard student committed. “He sent a petition to the Headmaster, accusing the Einroguard student of violating school rules and going out. The Einroguard student was arrested.” “……” Lee Han paused at the different kind of evil betrayal he had imagined. It was evil, but it was a little different from what he had expected. “I, I see,” he said. “Since that senior was arrested, the Valdrogard student was able to monopolize the almost completed item and use it well. He passed it on to his juniors before graduating. And this time, a student who brought that item with him was discovered.” The stolen Einroguard item wandered around Valdrogard and eventually returned like this. Naturally, Sebius thought the rights to this item belonged here. ‘Isn’t he making too much of a fuss because of old grudges?’ Lee Han hesitated slightly. Of course, Lee Han himself didn’t particularly like Valdrogard students, but there was no reason to pickpocket a guest. The people involved probably didn’t even realize they had stolen Einroguard’s item. ‘Because they wouldn’t know…’ “By the way, what kind of research was it?” Lee Han asked. “Research to improve the space expansion backpack. I heard it was a pretty well-made item, so many seniors coveted it.” “Senior, it breaks my heart to hear that the traditions and heritage of our Einroguard were taken away by those despicable students from another magic school. We must recover it as soon as possible!” Lee Han declared. ‘He’s like the Blue Dragon Tower again at times like this!’ Sebius thought at the sight of his junior talking about the school’s honor and pride.