Chapter 50: Fortunately, Yi Han didn’t have to bear the title of “Professor Killer.” Professor Mortum quickly got back up. “... Cough. Everyone saw that, right? That was a low-level paralysis curse.” In truth, Professor Mortum’s body was still stiff.
He had immediately activated his mana to dispel the curse after falling, but the amount of curse energy had been quite substantial, so some effects still lingered.
If the other dark magic students under Professor Mortum had seen this, they might have fainted.
Even if he had let his guard down, for a first-year to knock down Professor Mortum with a low-level paralysis curse... “......” Professor Garcia, who knew the truth, was staring at Professor Mortum with a bewildered expression.
Professor Mortum avoided his gaze, pretending not to notice. “I’m glad you’re alright, Professor,” Yi Han said in a relieved voice.
At first, he had been genuinely startled, but it seemed Professor Mortum had intentionally let the effects of the low-level paralysis curse take hold to demonstrate it properly.
No wonder it felt strange! “... You have talent in curses.” “Is that so? Thank you.” “... You have talent in curses.” “Thank you?” It wasn’t a good sign when a professor repeated themselves.
Yi Han keenly picked up on that. ‘What’s he trying to say?’ Either he genuinely had talent, or Yi Han had somehow rubbed the professor the wrong way.
Considering the professor’s usual twisted mindset, the latter seemed more likely. ‘Was the curse not as impressive as he expected? What a shameless professor.
If my first curse was perfect, would I still be a first-year?’ “As you just saw, curse magic is quite versatile. Even if you don’t specialize in dark magic, most people know one or two curses,” Professor Garcia chimed in to lighten the mood. “Low-level curse spells aren’t hard to learn, and most importantly, learning them makes it easier to deal with other curse spells. Just because you don’t use curse magic doesn’t mean others won’t use it on you.” Dark magic had many offensive spells that could be learned quickly.
Compared to fire magic, for example, it was much simpler.
To attack someone with fire magic, you had to start by creating flames, then control and direct them.
In contrast, dark magic curses only required you to focus and cast the curse.
Everyone has experienced their legs going numb or their body aching, after all.
Because of this, low-circle mercenary mages who hadn’t formally studied magic often knew a curse or two.
The best way to counter a spell was to learn it yourself.
Since you never knew what you might face, it was good to have some understanding of dark magic.
That’s why Professor Garcia had called Professor Mortum over.
It wasn’t to force everyone to learn dark magic...! “Alright, that’s enough explanation... Let’s pair up, shall we?”
Contrary to the initial lukewarm atmosphere, the students showed more interest in curses than expected.
They were all still young.
While they had heard many bad things about dark magic, the idea of an easy-to-learn offensive spell was tempting.
Moreover, Professor Garcia’s logic of “learning a few curses to protect yourself” was quite convincing. “So, you swing it like this?” “I think so?” “I heard curses aren’t just paralysis spells. There are curses that darken vision, disrupt breathing, or mess with balance.” “Wow... Oh, are you planning to study dark magic?” “No.” Of course, just because they were interested in curses didn’t mean they were ready to specialize in dark magic.
That was a separate matter. “Let’s do our best.” “Let’s do our best.” Yi Han’s practice partner was Gainando.
The two exchanged noble-like greetings before picking up their wands.
The rules were simple.
One would attack first, then the other.
The goal was not just to cast curses but also to experience being hit by them.
Gainando’s turn to attack first. “Huff!” Gainando began concentrating his mana, converting it into dark energy. ‘Oh.’ Yi Han was surprised.
Gainando was converting his mana faster than expected. ‘Does he have talent in dark magic?’ It might have been a coincidence, but considering Gainando’s performance with other elements, it seemed he did have talent.
He struggled with light, fire, and water, but his dark energy conversion was surprisingly quick. ‘Or maybe dark energy conversion is just that easy.’ Yi Han thought.
After all, both he and Gainando had converted it quickly...
Maybe dark energy conversion was just unusually simple. “No, that student...” Professor Mortum whispered to Professor Garcia with a surprised expression.
He had already been impressed by the boy from the Wodanaz family, but even without that, he had found a talented young dark mage.
While not as exceptional as the Wodanaz boy, Gainando was still a rare talent, the kind you’d see once every ten years. “You’re talking about Gainando, right? He does seem to have talent in dark magic.” “You think so too?” “Yes. I’d recommend encouraging him.” Professor Garcia didn’t discourage it.
In fact, he encouraged it, a stark contrast to his earlier concern about Yi Han specializing in dark magic.
The reason was simple.
Yi Han excelled in almost every field of magic.
Innate mana, exceptional perception, flexible and broad thinking, and a diligent attitude.
In Professor Garcia’s eyes, a student like that was bound to succeed no matter what field he chose.
But Gainando didn’t seem to have any particular talent in any field.
So, if he found something that suited him, it was best to pursue it.
In a way, finding a field like dark magic that suited him was a blessing. “Be paralyzed!” While the two professors were talking, Gainando chanted the spell.
Though the ending was slightly different, the curse was successfully cast.
Professor Mortum nodded with a satisfied expression. ‘He has talent.’ Swoosh! ‘Ah, so this is why they wanted us to experience being hit by curses.’ Yi Han understood Professor Garcia’s words as he felt the curse flying toward him.
Why were curse spells easy to learn? And why was it good to learn how to counter them? ‘Curse spells... are simple and fragile.’ Thanks to being thoroughly tormented by Professor Voladi, Yi Han quickly realized the weaknesses of curse spells.
Curse spells were like throwing a net or a fishing net.
You just weave the curse with mana and throw it.
If it hits, the curse wraps around the target like a net.
The advantage was that you could cast it quickly and simply without needing to aim, but the downside was that the spell itself was inherently weak.
You could shoot another spell at the incoming curse, swing a sword, block with a shield, or prepare a defensive spell...
Just the methods Yi Han could think of on the spot were enough to counter it.
If you knew your opponent was casting a curse, it was easy to block.
That’s why they wanted us to learn curses.
If you learned a few curse spells, you’d quickly get a feel for other curse spells you encountered. ‘Though, it’s a bit frustrating that I only realized this because of Professor Voladi.’ If curse spells were like nets, Professor Voladi’s spells were like a skilled swordsman’s thrusts.
Hard to block or dodge, and even if you did block, the next attack would follow immediately.
Facing such attacks head-on naturally made you quickly understand their structure.
If you didn’t, you’d just get hit! Thud! While Yi Han was thinking, the curse hit his body.
Gainando jumped with joy as the curse successfully landed. “It worked!” “Congratulations.” “... Uh, but where are you paralyzed?” “Huh?” Yi Han looked over his body in confusion.
He didn’t feel any part of him paralyzed.
What was going on? “Did it fail?” “Maybe?” “I’ll try again.” Gainando, thinking he had failed, raised his wand and prepared the spell again. “Be paralyzed!” Thud! The curse flew the same way as before and hit Yi Han’s body.
Of course, just like before, there was no change.
Yi Han and Gainando put their heads together, puzzled.
“Was there a problem with the motion?”
“I don’t know. The mana seemed to come out fine. Maybe the incantation was off? ‘Be paralyzed’ is a bit too polite. Curses don’t usually use such polite incantations.”
“Really? Should I try ‘Be paralyzed, you brat’?”
“... Just ‘Be paralyzed’ should be fine.”
Listening to the two clueless freshmen, Professor Garcia sighed and approached.
“The curse didn’t fail. Yi Han’s mana is just too strong, so the effect didn’t work. Gainando, you did well.”
“!”
Gainando was surprised.
“What? That’s why? But still, no effect at all... Maybe I don’t have talent in dark magic.”
“No need to jump to conclusions.”
“No, I wasn’t that interested in dark magic anyway. If I don’t have talent, so be it.”
Gainando said coolly.
He really wasn’t that interested in dark magic.
He preferred more refined and impressive spells.
Why bother with dark magic? “Then I’ll take the hit.” “Alright. Get ready.” Yi Han recalled the memory of the professor falling earlier.
Of course, the professor had faked it, but even now, it felt like a nightmare. ‘I need to control my strength.
No need to gather too much mana.’ Yi Han planned to gather just the minimum amount and cast the spell immediately. “Paralyze!” “!” Professor Mortum, who was watching, was startled.
Shortening the incantation like that...
In magic, incantations were more important than one might think.
Words carried powerful energy and greatly influenced a mage’s mind.
So, shortening or cutting an incantation wasn’t easy.
Even for a simple curse spell, to already be shortening the incantation... “Argh!” Gainando screamed and threw himself to the side.
The other students nearby were startled and looked at him.
Yi Han asked, puzzled. “... What are you doing?” “Ah, no. Instinctively...” “!” Professor Mortum was startled again.
The sensitivity to detect the dark energy in the curse and react instinctively...
That was exceptional talent in dark magic. ...
Though there was no need to dodge so clumsily.
The class ended on a warm note.
The students enjoyed themselves, casting curses at each other and having a rare good time.
Professor Garcia, in his kindness, didn’t assign any homework, making the students even happier. “Alright, everyone. Did you enjoy today’s class?” “Yes, Professor!” “Let’s give Professor Mortum a round of applause!” Clap clap clap clap— “I’m sure you’ve all developed an interest in dark magic, right?” “......” ‘I shouldn’t have asked.’ Professor Garcia regretted it.
He should have just ended it with the applause.
Asking that question had made the atmosphere awkward. “Professor Mortum, say a few words.” “Cough. Everyone... I think you’ve all come to understand the appeal of dark magic. I can already see a few students here who’ve taken an interest in it.” “?” “?” The students tilted their heads in confusion. ‘Are you interested?’ ‘No, are you?’ ‘Of course not.’ “Hahaha. Who would seriously want to study dark magic?” Gainando laughed as if the idea was ridiculous.