The talking oak tree stared straight at Yi Han.
The soil in front of Yi Han's feet began to squirm, and branches sprouted, intertwining and growing upward.
Before long, the branches had transformed into the shape of a long magical staff.
"!"
For mages, artifacts were like their own limbs.
Among them, the magical staff was the most important artifact.
It could amplify the power of magic, shorten casting times, and even allow the use of otherwise inaccessible spells.
It was no exaggeration to call it a mage's closest friend.
Currently, all first-year students at the magic school were using long staff-shaped magical wands provided by the school.
Though they lacked any special features or individuality, the advantage of these wands was their incredible durability.
They were also long enough to easily surpass a person's height, and Yi Han had been using his like a wooden pole.
Without this staff, he wouldn't have been able to catch the mutated pig released by the Thunderstep spell.
"Ah, perhaps you've grown attached to the staff you're using now and don't want to change it?"
"No?"
Without a second thought, Yi Han pulled out the new staff.
Tools were just tools.
It would be strange to get sentimental over them.
'Do people hesitate when they get new lab equipment because they've grown attached to the old ones?'
Dergu, standing nearby, looked at Yi Han with a bewildered expression.
Thud—
As Yi Han pulled the new staff from the ground, the first thing he felt was a refreshing sensation.
It might have been strange to feel such freshness from a wooden staff that had just been pulled from the ground, but Yi Han clearly sensed it.
"How does it feel?"
"Refreshing... I feel refreshed."
"!"
The talking oak tree was startled.
Yi Han had adapted to the staff much faster than expected.
'To sense the energy of the staff immediately upon holding it...'
Normally, it would have taken much longer.
What Yi Han felt was the energy of the tree spirit residing within the staff.
This wooden staff was one that housed a spirit.
For a novice mage to summon a spirit, they would need to go through countless trials and errors.
Similarly, communicating with the spirit within the staff and drawing out its power required significant effort.
Normally, it would take months of wielding the staff to sense it, and even then, only if one had a certain affinity for spirits.
'His ability to sense magical energy is beyond imagination.
Even for someone from the Wodanaz family, such talent is extraordinary.'
"Impressive. You sensed it."
"Is that so?"
Yi Han looked at the talking oak tree with a puzzled expression.
He didn't understand why feeling this refreshing sensation was such a big deal.
Since he didn't know what was inside, it was only natural.
"You'll come to understand the power within the staff as you use it."
"Can't you tell me now?"
"No. With your talent, you'll figure it out soon enough."
The talking oak tree was beginning to realize that Yi Han was a very unique freshman.
Occasionally, there were freshmen like him—fearless and capable lunatics.
Yi Han's demeanor reminded the tree of a madman from the Wodanaz family it had met a hundred years ago.
Though Yi Han was much more polite and composed...
"Now, I must return to sleep. And from now on, don't use magic near this forest. Your magic is too powerful and will wake all the trees around here."
"......"
'Is he just saying that to get rid of me because he's sleepy?'
Yi Han began to suspect something.
It felt strange to be praised just for saying he felt a refreshing energy from the staff.
The fact that the tree didn't immediately explain the power within the staff was also a bit suspicious.
'Is he just saying that to get rid of me quickly so he can sleep? Maybe he just gave me a random staff to keep me from bothering him again...'
But regardless of Yi Han's suspicions, the clearing began to close.
The trees moved, and the surroundings blurred as they gradually moved away from the clearing.
Through the hazy vision, the voice of the talking oak tree reached Yi Han's ears.
"Remember the riddle I told you. Solve it, and you'll be able to leave."
When they returned outside, thankfully, the undead had all disappeared.
Yi Han and his group carefully descended the mountain as the dawn slowly chased away the darkness.
Everyone was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to lie down on their beds and rest.
Thud—
As soon as Yi Han entered the Blue Dragon Tower, he threw himself onto the bed.
Escaping and everything else could wait until after he had slept and woken up.
"... Naz! Wodanaz!"
After a few hours of deep sleep, someone knocked on the door of his private room, waking him.
"What is it?"
Yi Han yawned and opened the door.
In front of him stood Asan, a human boy from the Dalkard family, wearing glasses.
"The headmaster—no, the teacher—is holding an event outside!"
'That's one way to wake up completely.'
Yi Han's sleepiness vanished instantly upon hearing that.
The headmaster was holding an event.
'...
Is he trying to identify students who attempted to escape?'
Honestly, Yi Han felt a bit guilty, which made him even more uneasy.
While his group had managed to return without getting caught, given the headmaster's eccentric personality, it wouldn't be surprising if he did something bizarre.
'But if that's the case, not attending would be even more dangerous.'
Yi Han knew well that when you've caused trouble, you should act as normal as possible.
Acting suspiciously would only get you caught.
"Got it. I'll wake Yonell and Gainando, and we'll head out."
"Don't you all sleep in too late?"
By the time Yi Han woke the two and they walked out of the tower, the sun was already high in the sky.
The three of them yawned as they followed the other Blue Dragon Tower students.
"!"
The giant skull floating in front of the school's main building was visible even from a distance.
"Come, come! This isn't an everyday opportunity! Hurry up, young iron... vessels! Welcome!"
"......?"
The atmosphere didn't seem like a witch hunt.
Instead, it felt more like a friendly gathering or event.
Several tents were set up in the front yard, and people in priestly robes were smiling kindly as they handed out food and drinks to the good-natured freshmen.
Yi Han also received a cookie from a priest.
It was warm and had a delightful aroma, as if it had just been baked.
As he took a bite, the cookie crunched and a sweet jam oozed out.
'What's going on? Is the school going bankrupt??'
Perhaps sensing Yi Han's confusion, the headmaster spoke up.
"Today, to celebrate this joyous weekend, priests from various sects of the empire have visited our school. Isn't that wonderful? Let's give them a round of applause!"
Clap clap clap clap—
The freshmen murmured among themselves but clapped anyway.
The priests bowed their heads in gratitude.
"Thank you, Headmaster Os Gonaldates. It must be a lot of work to teach the empire's young mages, and yet you've allowed and even helped with this event."
"Haha, it's nothing. It's all for my own joy. Please convey my words to His Majesty the Emperor. We need funding to discover and research new ancient magics..."
"We may not know how much help we can be, but we'll do our best."
The priests were flustered by the headmaster's blatant request.
But Yi Han felt a strange familiarity in the scene.
'Is it that in any world, professors can't escape the need for funding?'
Even the most arrogant professors, who seemed fearless, would show weakness in front of those who provided research funds.
No matter how fearless the skull headmaster appeared, he would inevitably weaken before the emperor who funded him.
The priests addressed the gathered students.
"Students who will become outstanding mages in the future, it is an honor to meet you today. We are humble servants representing various sects of the empire. We would be truly delighted to introduce our sects to you today."
'The magical energy is immense.'
Yi Han was astonished by the magical energy emanating from the priests.
It was incomparable to that of the freshmen, and it felt as though it was surging through their entire bodies.
Moreover, the priests' magical energy was unique.
It carried a sacred aura.
'How fascinating.'
"!"
Yi Han felt a chill.
Unnoticed, the skull headmaster had quietly appeared beside him.
"I understand. The priests' magical energy is called divine power and has unique characteristics."
"Yes, I've heard about it, but this is the first time I've seen it."
"So you were sensing the priests' magical energy after all."
'Damn it.'
Yi Han realized his mistake.
He had fallen for the headmaster's probing question.
Why try to hide it? If you have outstanding talent, you should show it off.
How many of these iron... vessels here do you think can sense magical energy so accurately?
The skull headmaster asked, as if he didn't understand.
A mage should know how to boast and display their abilities.
That way, they could extract, no, receive investments from wealthy nobles to research stronger and higher-level magics...
'Hmm, if I say I don't want to get involved with you, will I die?'
Yi Han swallowed his thoughts.
His goal was simply to graduate with good grades and build good connections, not to explore the truths of magic with the skull headmaster.
But he couldn't say that outright.
"I thought I should be humble, as there are many more talented people in this school."
No, that's not it.
From now on, boast about your talent to every student you meet.
That's how it should be.
'Is this guy insane?'
If Yi Han did as the headmaster said, his social circle would be reduced to just Gainando in a single day.
Fortunately, the skull headmaster didn't seem too interested in Yi Han's friendships and changed the subject.
Perhaps the Wodanaz family had little interest in religion, so they rarely encountered priests.
"Yes, that's true."
The empire had many gods and sects that served them, but mages were generally not close to religion.
Fundamentally, mages...
I also have little interest in religion.
I'm too smart to believe in gods.
'...
That explains it.'
Even if not as extreme as the skull headmaster, many mages were non-believers.
In fact, Yi Han's father, the head of the Wodanaz family, had once said during a meal:
"Divine power is a type of magical energy. It's just that the collective belief of countless idiots has caused a change in its nature. Divine magic is ultimately a type of magic. Why else would it be called divine 'magic'?"
"Then, what do you think about researching divine magic?"
"It's a good idea if you want to waste your time. Compared to the refined magic based on formulas and theories, divine magic is just the howling of barbarians intoxicated by belief and emotion."
'I should never reveal that I'm from the Wodanaz family in front of these priests.'
Yi Han nodded as he finished his recollection.
Even the kindest priests would be furious if they heard those words.
The Wodanaz probably thinks the same as me.
These sects are pathetic.
If they're the kind of people who would come just for some food, they're utterly useless.
Holding an event like this...
The skull headmaster seemed to need someone to grumble to and kept muttering beside Yi Han.
After listening silently, Yi Han spoke up.
"Headmaster."
What?
"Do you have any sects you'd recommend?"
......
The skull headmaster looked at Yi Han with a baffled expression, as if he had just made the person who spoke feel awkward.
'Wait, sects?'
Not a sect, but sects?