The explosion of uncontrolled magical energy dealt a fatal blow to Garakse, who took the brunt of it head-on, but it also sent a shockwave through Yi Han.
His entire body shook violently as he was flung backward.
"Ugh...!" The impact was far stronger than when he had faced Alarron's sword strike.
Yi Han regretted his actions.
"Did I pour in too much magical energy?!" He had thought he needed to finish off his opponent decisively, so he had poured all his strength into the spell, but the result was something he hadn't anticipated.
The shock left his body immobile.
Fortunately, all the enemies had been knocked out, but...
"Yi Han!" Professor Garcia came rushing over from a distance.
Yi Han was puzzled by the sight.
"Weren't there still attackers assaulting the professor?" The answer to his question soon became clear.
The attackers around Professor Garcia were sprawled out, crushed as if they had been struck by a giant hammer.
Professor Garcia's fists were stained with blood, but it clearly wasn't his own.
"Ah... right, he's part troll..."
Yi Han felt a twinge of regret.
Even if he hadn't stepped in, Professor Garcia might have defeated the attackers with his fists alone.
Being part of the inherently strong troll race, his physical prowess was extraordinary, even without magic.
"Who dares?!" From the direction of the school, a massive skeleton flew through the sky, accompanied by a green light.
Normally, the sight of the headmaster would have sent shivers down Yi Han's spine, but now he felt relieved.
"I guess I can rest now."
Yi Han closed his eyes and lay down.
His entire body ached, and he just wanted to sleep deeply.
The Skeleton Headmaster arrived hurriedly with Professor Voladi in tow.
The Empire's anti-magic extremists were like mold or poisonous mushrooms, growing in the shadows.
For such individuals to attack a school professor...
"I'm sorry, Professor Garcia Kim. My lack of foresight put you in danger."
The Skeleton Headmaster bowed his head as he surveyed the battlefield.
"Oh, no, Headmaster Gonaldates. Even if they were part of the Twilight Dawn faction, stopping them beforehand would have been impossible for anyone."
Professor Garcia was flustered by the headmaster's rare and sincere apology.
Professor Voladi, standing nearby, spoke up.
"I don't think so. As the headmaster of this school, you should have been able to prevent this."
"......"
Professor Garcia stared at Professor Voladi in disbelief.
Who else but a professor with no social skills would say something like that in this situation...! The Skeleton Headmaster also wanted to retort but held back.
This incident was indeed his fault.
He should have thoroughly scouted the area.
How embarrassing.
Wait, is that... an ancient artifact?
"Yes. It's a powerful artifact that absorbs all magical energy in the vicinity."
They were well-prepared.
The Skeleton Headmaster clicked his tongue.
No one was as skilled at dealing with mages as the anti-magic extremists.
To think they had even found and brought such an ancient artifact...
"This is Garakse," Professor Voladi said, looking at the nearly dead assassin.
This man was infamous even within the Twilight Dawn faction.
Known as the "Mage Slayer," he was exceptionally skilled in combat against mages... but he was still breathing.
I'll take him to my prison.
I'll dig through his brain to extract information about the Twilight Dawn faction.
By the way...
The Skeleton Headmaster scanned the battlefield with renewed interest.
It was clear at a glance that Professor Garcia had used lightning magic and other spells to fry and scatter most of the attackers.
Despite not being particularly skilled in magical combat, the professor had managed to destroy the surroundings without causing excessive damage.
However, there were other traces that caught his eye.
Slashes and stabs from a sword, and enemies brought down by telekinetic magic.
It was obvious who had done it—the boy from the Wodanaz family, now lying unconscious as if he had fainted.
"Why is a Wodanaz so skilled with a sword?" To take down Garakse, even with luck, required considerable skill.
The Skeleton Headmaster found it puzzling but decided not to wake the boy to ask.
After all, mages didn't just practice magic.
They had hobbies.
Some rode horses, some knitted... and some practiced swordsmanship.
Noticing the headmaster's gaze, Professor Garcia spoke up.
"If it weren't for Yi Han of the Wodanaz family, things could have gone very badly. Thanks to him, none of the other workers were hurt."
Indeed.
He has talent.
To remain calm in that situation and successfully cast spells... he has a gift for magical combat.
Professor Voladi, did you teach him? Impressive.
"Not particularly impressive. The Wodanaz boy has a strong focus in times of crisis and possesses a vast amount of magical energy. It's only natural he would demonstrate his abilities in such a situation." 'I shouldn't have brought him along,' the Skeleton Headmaster regretted.
He had brought the boy as a precaution, given his combat skills, but every time he opened his mouth, he grated on the headmaster's nerves.
That vampire professor was saying, "For someone like Yi Han, this is expected," but the Skeleton Headmaster certainly didn't agree.
Even the stingy Skeleton Headmaster couldn't help but praise such an impressive feat.
A freshman, just enrolled, had fought so valiantly against the infamous anti-magic extremists.
Moreover, listening to Professor Garcia's account, the way he fought left the headmaster in awe.
If he had won simply through brute strength or by casting many spells, it wouldn't have been as remarkable.
But this Wodanaz boy had been weaker and at a disadvantage, yet he used his wits to secure victory.
That was a talent only a true mage could possess.
I want him! The Skeleton Headmaster felt an itch in his nonexistent knuckles.
He wished he could take the boy to his workshop and teach him personally, as mages of old did, passing down their knowledge to a single, brilliant disciple.
Of course, in this day and age, such practices were frowned upon.
If he tried that with the Wodanaz boy, he'd face protests from the professors, the Wodanaz family, and even the Emperor.
"Headmaster! A mage isn't just about learning magic. You know how harmful it is to raise a mage who's twisted and eccentric, knowing only magic and nothing of society!" "Osu Gonaldates. If that's how you teach magic, I might as well have done it myself. Is that all you can do? Pathetic."
"Osu. I provided funding for this school to nurture talents who will become pillars of the Empire, not to raise lunatics. What are you doing, taking such a precious talent? Are you protesting against me?" ...
It seemed that one-on-one training with a grand mage was too likely to warp and twist the disciple's character.
"This era truly annoys me," the Skeleton Headmaster sighed with regret.
What could he do? He had made the rules himself.
Since the Wodanaz boy had entered the school, there would be plenty of opportunities to clash and teach him in the future.
The Skeleton Headmaster fervently hoped that in a few years, the Wodanaz boy would come under his wing.
Then he could pass on all sorts of forbidden arts and knowledge!
"Clean up the scene. Reward the workers for their efforts. They deserve it. And don't forget to secure that ancient artifact."
The Skeleton Headmaster issued orders to his summoned creatures.
The surrounding villages needed to be reassured, so the traces of the battle had to be thoroughly erased.
"Professor Voladi, what are you doing?" The Skeleton Headmaster asked with a curious gaze.
Professor Voladi was intently observing the fallen attackers.
"Some of these attackers were taken down by a peculiar form of attack. I was investigating."
Hmm.
Indeed... how did the Wodanaz boy take them down? Professor Voladi and the Skeleton Headmaster pondered together.
The wounds from slashes and stabs, or those caused by metal projectiles, were easy to identify.
But some attackers had wounds as if they had been struck by a giant hammer.
What was that? 'Did he manipulate rocks? With a <Minor Manipulation> spell?? Even with abundant magical energy, that would be difficult...
Did he really pull that off?'
"... Um, that was me. I took them down with my fists. Everyone."
Professor Garcia raised his hand with an embarrassed expression.
When Yi Han woke up on a soft bed, the first thing he saw was the Skeleton Headmaster's skull. 'A nightmare?' "Yi Han, you've worked hard."
Professor Garcia was also by his side.
"Ah, no. I just did what I had to do."
Even so, credit is due.
You did well.
"Thank you."
Of course, trying to sneak out of the school was a separate matter. 'Damn it.' Yi Han clicked his tongue inwardly.
His hatred for the Empire's anti-magic extremists surged anew.
If it weren't for them, he would have been in the village by now!
Professor Garcia spoke with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, Yi Han. After all your efforts..."
There's nothing to apologize for.
Rules are rules.
Rewards are rewards, and punishments are punishments.
More importantly, how did you break through the underground warehouse passage? It's not a place one can pass through in just a week.
The Skeleton Headmaster asked with genuine curiosity.
The warehouse behind the central staircase on the first floor of the main building was a place many freshmen challenged.
It wasn't just for escaping; for hungry students, the food storage was a place they'd sell their souls to reach.
The Skeleton Headmaster knew this, so he often scattered keys to the area.
But to break through to the underground warehouse passage... that was something even the headmaster hadn't anticipated.
Even if he had shown remarkable self-control in the vast warehouse, not touching anything, how had he bypassed the warehouse keeper? "I don't know what you're talking about."
Yi Han kept his mouth shut and feigned ignorance.
Once caught, he had to deny everything to the end.
The Skeleton Headmaster read Yi Han's thoughts and smirked.
Truly an extraordinary kid.
But too bad.
The underground warehouse passage would no longer be accessible.
'Damn it!' Suddenly, the Skeleton Headmaster's voice turned serious.
"Listen, Yi Han of the Wodanaz family. On behalf of the school, I sincerely thank you for standing against the Empire's anti-magic extremists to protect the workers and professors." "...!" "As a token of gratitude, I bestow upon you the famed sword, 'Morning Star.'" "Thank you... Wait, isn't this the sword the enemy was using?" Yi Han was too flustered to ask, 'Is it okay to give a real sword to a hot-blooded student like me?' He should have asked that first.
Should he break it or something? "Well, I guess so. I'll use it well."
Yi Han accepted it in a second. 'I'll sell it later.' Professor Garcia was slightly taken aback.
Yi Han had accepted it far too quickly.
He had planned to persuade Yi Han, saying, "This sword has done no wrong; it was the wielder who was evil. Use it properly and guide it to the right path," if Yi Han had refused...
"And take this too. A pass for outings." "...!!" Yi Han was far more delighted than when he had received the sword.
The usually expressionless boy was so visibly excited that even the Skeleton Headmaster was stunned.
That sword is far more valuable! "Thank you! Headmaster. I will serve you with all my loyalty!" "Uh, right."
The Skeleton Headmaster was slightly overwhelmed by the boy's fervor.