Lee Han felt a pang of regret.
His dorm mates couldn’t accept his unique theory.
-You... you’re deliberately choosing an unpopular lecture? Why? Is it some kind of noble act to attend a lecture no one else is taking?
-<Repetitive Study of Basic Magic Combat>? Oh, sorry.
I already have a class scheduled at that time.
Really.
I’m not lying.
-Wodanaz.
Why are you throwing your time into the trash can? I don’t understand.
From what I learned in the Dalkard family...
But what could he do? The path of the righteous is often a lonely one.
Later, when midterms and finals rolled around, and assignments started choking them, his friends would remember Lee Han’s foresight.
In any school, professors are heartless.
They want students to focus solely on their lectures, even if the students are attending other classes.
It’s a cold, selfish, iron-blooded desire!
So, to focus on the lectures they truly liked, students had to balance them with easier, less demanding ones.
It’s all about choices and focus.
That’s how schools everywhere operate.
‘Is this it?’
Lee Han entered the main building and looked for the underground staircase.
The lecture hall for <Repetitive Study of Basic Magic Combat> was on the first basement level.
"... It’s eerie."
Lee Han muttered to himself without realizing it.
The grand staircase that appeared after passing through the main entrance wasn’t overly luxurious or overly desolate.
It was a Gothic-style staircase that didn’t seem particularly strange.
Yet, the sense of foreboding might have been due to the knowledge Lee Han possessed.
‘They said not to wander around carelessly in the Mage’s Tower.’
It was a famous saying known to everyone in the empire, whether they were mages or not.
-You shouldn’t wander around carelessly in the Mage’s Tower.
Even if it looks ordinary, you never know what kind of magic might be at work.
You might go up to the second floor and end up trapped in an eternal maze, never to return.
Some of the fairy tales Lee Han had read in his family were about children trapped in wicked Mage’s Towers, barely managing to escape.
Still not fully adapted to this world, Lee Han naively asked:
-Isn’t this fairy tale exaggerated?
-It’s a bit exaggerated, young master.
-Right? Even so, disappearing after going to the second floor...
-Yes.
Non-experts who enter the Mage’s Tower can never escape.
If this were real, those children would have grown old and died trapped inside.
-......
The idea that people often disappeared after carelessly going to the second floor shocked young Lee Han.
The Mage’s Tower, filled with all sorts of mysteries, was that much of a den of danger.
...
And this magic school, Einrogard, was essentially a collection of many Mage’s Towers.
Its danger was unpredictable.
In fact, among the new students, there were very few who wandered around exploring the school.
Even though they were new and curiosity should have been overflowing!
They all knew, either from their families or through rumors, that carelessly exploring the buildings could lead to being found as a corpse.
‘Ah, but the first basement level should be fine...’
Lee Han steeled himself to shake off his fear.
In truth, the infamy of the Mage’s Tower was somewhat exaggerated.
Places like the first floor of the main building or the dormitory were safe to wander around.
Then, the familiar sound of bones clattering reached his ears.
Clack, clack-
Oh.
What’s this? Going to the first basement level? Don’t want to be found as a corpse tomorrow, do you?
“......”
At the kind words of the passing Lich Headmaster, Lee Han was at a loss for words.
‘Oops.’
“Respected Headmaster! It’s an honor to meet you!”
Lee Han bowed his head sharply.
Even if resentment and hatred surged within, a graduate student could still smile on the outside.
Lee Han’s impeccable greeting adhered to the dignified etiquette of a noble.
The Lich Headmaster nodded contentedly.
He knows a thing or two.
“Yes. I’m heading to the first basement level. Do you have any advice for me?”
No. If you’re found as a corpse tomorrow, I’ll place a flower for you.
‘Bastard.’
Despite the scare, the first basement level was ordinary.
The wide hallway had lecture rooms on both sides, and there were no corpses, undead, or other dangerous monsters in sight.
It was a bit dark, gloomy, and chilly, but Lee Han decided to believe it was because the school’s location wasn’t ideal.
‘What a relief.’
Whoosh-
Just then, two students brushed past Lee Han.
Lee Han was surprised.
Were these two also here for <Repetitive Study of Basic Magic Combat>?
‘So I wasn’t the only one who thought of this.’
Well, with talented individuals gathered from all over the empire, it was impossible that no one else had thought like Lee Han.
Though competitors had appeared, Lee Han didn’t mind.
‘Two people are fine.
It’s a bit burdensome to attend alone.’
“Ah. This isn’t the lecture room. Almost went into the wrong one.”
“What lecture is this?”
“<Repetitive Study of Basic Magic Combat>.”
“What? There’s a lecture like that? Are there really people who want to take it?”
“I heard the kids from the White Tiger Tower tried it and came out cursing.”
“If even they couldn’t handle it, it must be impossible.”
“......”
The two students chatted as they headed to another lecture room.
Lee Han suddenly felt a bit uneasy.
Creak-
But inside the lecture room, three students were already seated.
However, Lee Han could tell they weren’t here with the same strong purpose as him.
Because the three students had expressions mixed with anxiety, nervousness, confusion, and worry.
In short, they looked like they were thinking, ‘Did I come to the wrong lecture?’
“It’s time. Take your seats.”
“!”
Lee Han was surprised again.
He hadn’t noticed the professor sitting in the corner of the lecture room.
Even though he was sitting in the shadows, his presence was almost nonexistent.
‘Is he a vampire?’
Pale skin.
Long fangs.
A gloomy gaze.
Just as there was a troll professor, it wasn’t strange to have a vampire professor.
“Ahhh!”
“Gasp...!”
“......”
Lee Han looked at the other students in disbelief.
Even if he hadn’t noticed, had the three who arrived earlier also not seen the professor sitting there?
“I am Voladi Bagrek. I will be teaching <Repetitive Study of Basic Magic Combat>. I look forward to working with you all.”
“We look forward to it too!”
The students chorused their greetings.
Lee Han joined in.
Professor Voladi pointed forward with his finger, not even bothering to take out a wand.
On the lecture table, there was a palm-sized orb for each student.
“That orb is made of Spirit Star Stone.”
Spirit Star Stone.
Lee Han had heard of it.
‘Isn’t that the ore that reacts sensitively to magic?’
Roughly, when certain constellations align, they emit sacred power, and the ore that changes under that power is the Spirit Star Stone.
It’s known to react quite sensitively to magic, used in detection devices or barriers...
“Everyone, grab the orb and focus on channeling your magic into it.”
The students, though flustered, grabbed the orbs.
All the students here were freshmen.
They hadn’t even been here for a month.
Though they had talent, they weren’t confident about channeling magic well.
Whoosh!
“Ugh!”
“Ahh!”
But regardless of their anxiety, the orbs slowly vibrated and floated into the air.
Professor Voladi spoke without changing his expression.
“The orbs are now connected to your will.”
‘An artifact!’
Lee Han realized that these orbs weren’t just carved from Spirit Star Stone but were artifacts personally made by the professor.
‘I heard well-made artifacts are worth a fortune.’
Artifacts were always in demand.
A mage who could make good artifacts could sit on a pile of gold!
Having heard such things, Lee Han was also interested in artifacts.
Though the artifacts would have to be interested in him too.
“Ahhh!”
“!”
The orb next to him shot up to the ceiling, as if it would pierce through it.
Fortunately, it stopped just below the ceiling.
Yet, Professor Voladi’s expression didn’t change.
It was as if the muscles in his face were paralyzed.
“Being connected to your will means you can control it. Of course, the orbs are restricted from destroying this lecture room.”
“Th-thank goodness.”
Before the words even finished, the orb struck a student’s abdomen.
Thud!
“Ugh...!?”
“The orbs are restricted from destroying the lecture room, but you are not. Be careful not to break the orbs.”
“......”
Normally, it would be ‘be careful not to get hurt,’ but here it was ‘be careful not to break the orbs by hitting people.’
Lee Han felt that this vampire professor was also quite insane.
The students, still holding onto a sliver of hope, waited for the professor’s next words.
“What should we do now?”
“Float the orb and draw a circle.”
The students carefully focused and floated the orbs.
Lee Han also floated his orb.
Everyone tried to move their orbs to draw something resembling a circle.
Though very crooked, some students managed to draw something vaguely circular.
“I did it!”
Feeling accomplished, one student shouted happily.
Professor Voladi replied bluntly.
“That’s not a circle. Draw it again.”
“... Ah, yes.”
The students began drawing circles again.
And again.
And again...
And again...
One student cautiously asked a question.
“Um, how long do we have to keep drawing circles?”
“?”
Professor Voladi showed emotion for the first time.
It was a look of ‘What are you talking about?’
“Of course, until you can draw it perfectly.”
“......”
“... Professor, may I go to the restroom for a moment?”
“You don’t need to ask.”
One student left.
Another student, sensing the mood, also got up and left.
Except for Lee Han, the remaining student hesitated before suddenly collapsing forward.
“???”
Lee Han was startled.
Was he putting on such an act to leave the lecture room?
‘This guy’s got some guts.’
Lee Han helped the student up.
But the student’s face was as pale as lead.
It wasn’t an act.
“Are you okay?”
“Ma... magic...”
“Professor! It seems he’s exhausted his magic and collapsed.”
Lee Han spoke to the professor.
As Professor Garcia had taught, beginners learning magic often couldn’t manage their magic well.
So, they’d waste their magic and collapse from exhaustion.
This student was clearly in that state.
“I see.”
“What should we do?”
“Once his magic recovers, have him grab the orb and draw a circle again.”
“......”
Lee Han felt the student he was supporting tremble with anger.
One thing was certain: this student wouldn’t be returning to the lecture room.
‘Looks like I’ll be attending this lecture alone.’
And indeed, that’s what happened.
Left alone, Lee Han asked for confirmation.
“Professor, how are grades determined for this lecture?”
“Following the basic rules, grades are given from first place down.”
“I see...”
Lee Han nodded.
Then he grabbed the orb again.
“Just draw a circle?”
“Yes.”
Lee Han began moving the orb to draw a circle in the air.
The students who left grumbled, ‘What a waste of time!’ but Lee Han didn’t care.
‘Actually, this is good.’
Sitting here until the end of the semester would guarantee a high grade.
This was the true essence of a lecture.