Baldororn was taken aback by Yi Han's words.
He had inadvertently brought up a topic that had given this first-year student unnecessary expectations.
Moreover, this method was dangerous—any mistake could threaten the life of the mage.
Breaking a spell by force required an immense amount of magical power, and if a student who was not yet proficient in magic made a mistake, it could cost them their life.
However, Yi Han did not back down easily.
"I won't push myself recklessly, so please tell me the method," Yi Han insisted.
"But..."
"I've already paid the consultation fee."
"Well, that's true. Alright then," Baldororn conceded.
Since he had accepted the fee, he couldn't refuse to share the method.
"First, you'll need an enormous amount of magical power. Personal strength alone won't be enough. Use a magic circle and magic stones."
Magic circles and magic stones were methods used by mages to supplement their insufficient magical power.
As the level of magic increased, so did the amount of magical power required.
It was impossible to handle all of this with personal strength alone.
Drawing a magic circle could amplify and gather magical power in one place, or using magic-infused gemstones could serve as additional batteries.
"Have you learned how to draw a magic circle?"
"I'm in the process of learning," Yi Han replied, recalling the <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> lectures he was attending at school.
Drawing a magic circle was akin to solving complex mathematical problems.
It required mathematical perseverance and effort rather than intuitive sense.
As a result, students often suffered.
Teaching students who were only confident in basic addition and subtraction to solve various complex laws and operations made it hard to tell whether geometry was the name of the lecture or the screams of the students.
"That's good. Anyway, if you succeed in gathering magical power in that way, stand at the release point of the magic circle and control the magical power."
Once the magical power was gathered through the magic circle, it had to be controlled and then unleashed to break the spell.
While it might sound simple, this was even more difficult than gathering the power.
Controlling it was one thing, but to deliver a powerful impact, the gathered magical power had to be released all at once without hesitation.
It wasn't about letting the magical power flow like a river, but rather, releasing it like a waterfall bursting through a dam—intensely and all at once! This wasn't something most mages were familiar with.
Most mages were used to releasing magical power steadily, not in such a frenzied manner.
"Hmm... It doesn't seem too difficult," Yi Han said.
Baldororn sighed at Yi Han's words.
Despite the warnings, this freshman was taking Baldororn's words lightly.
Arrogance.
It was a weakness that geniuses inevitably possessed.
Why did talented mages die sooner than untalented ones? Because they trusted their talent, thinking, "It's fine, I won't die," and ended up dying during magical experiments.
Given that Yi Han had entered Einrogard and had the talent to escape in his first year, it was only natural that he carried this weakness of arrogance.
'What can I do?' Baldororn decided to show this talented boy in front of him the reality of the situation.
It was a bit embarrassing to be teaching a future archmage, but what could he do?
"I desire the moon and draw its water!" Baldororn took out a pouch of powdered Moonlit Stone, grabbed a handful, and with a wave of his staff, drew a complex pattern.
He then chanted a long incantation, summoning magical power.
It was a 3rd Circle spell, <Lunarian's Moonlit Maze>.
A fantasy spell that anyone learning illusion magic would want to master—a spell to block nocturnal assailants.
It was one of Baldororn's proudest achievements.
"!" Yi Han was startled.
Baldororn was clearly sitting across the table, but it felt as if he were far away, as if the sense of distance had been distorted.
The moment he took a step, it felt like he would fall into some other space.
"Do not move recklessly. It may look normal on the surface, but..."
Baldororn began.
"The moment I step, I'll fall into the maze, right?"
"..."
Baldororn was momentarily stunned.
How had this boy figured it out? At first, he thought Yi Han might have known about the spell in advance, but his expression suggested otherwise.
That left only one explanation: this boy had sensed the dissonance in the magical power emanating from the spell.
It was an incredible sense of perception.
"... That's correct. Anyway, the reason I used this spell is to show you how difficult it is to break a spell by force."
"Indeed..."
Yi Han was impressed by the other's kindness.
This Baldororn seemed like a better teacher than the professors at the magic school.
He explained things kindly and in detail, provided a goal for the student to attempt once they understood, and even explained why that goal existed...
After being beaten by Professor Voladi, receiving such teaching made Yi Han's eyes sting.
"Now, try it carefully. I'll give you as much time as you need. But if it seems dangerous, you must stop at any time."
"Thank you."
"?" Baldororn felt something was off.
Yi Han was looking at him with a gaze full of respect.
Why...?
Bang!
No sound came from outside, but Baldororn could clearly hear it.
It was the unique roar of magic shattering as magical powers collided.
'This is impossible!' Baldororn was shocked.
It had only been one attempt.
Just one.
And it wasn't even a serious or desperate attempt.
The boy in front of him hadn't even drawn a magic circle.
He had simply gathered a small amount of magical power and, as if testing it, unleashed it toward the spell.
Yet, that alone was enough to break <Lunarian's Moonlit Maze>.
The torrent of magical power, bursting forth like a waterfall, had completely obliterated the meticulously constructed spell.
Baldororn couldn't understand it.
He knew the other had talent, but with such a short gathering of magical power, the amount should have been insufficient.
Even if, by some stretch, he had managed to gather enough power in such a short time (though Baldororn didn't know how), handling that much power should have been clumsy.
Unless one was born with an immense amount of magical power and had become as familiar with handling it as breathing, it was impossible to control such a gathered amount of power so precisely.
It was like a sailor who had just gone to sea for the first time skillfully navigating a massive wave—utterly nonsensical.
What on earth was going on?
"Thank you!" Yi Han, unaware of Baldororn's inner turmoil, expressed his gratitude.
"Huh...?"
"Thanks to your excellent teaching, I was able to achieve this realization."
"..."
For a moment, Baldororn wondered if Yi Han was mocking him.
It was such an absurd situation that he almost thought a mad professor from the magic school had disguised himself as a first-year student and come to pick a fight! But Yi Han's gaze was too pure to think that.
It was filled with genuine gratitude.
"No... I really didn't do much. I didn't even teach you anything..."
"That's not true. You're the first person to teach me so clearly and accurately."
"Please don't say that anywhere else!" Baldororn panicked and stopped him.
If the mad professors of the magic school heard that, they might turn him into a frog out of anger.
Yi Han bowed his head sincerely.
"If I have the chance to come out again, I'll visit you and ask for your guidance."
"No... no... I have nothing more to teach you."
Honestly, Baldororn wanted to say, "Don't come," but since he had accepted the consultation fee, he couldn't say that.
He could only timidly say that he had nothing more to teach.
However, to Yi Han, this attitude only seemed humble.
'He's even humble!' The more the rice ripens, the lower it bows.
Baldororn's attitude only made him seem more dignified.
Seeing him like this, even running a workshop in a corner of the village somehow seemed cool.
After all, wasn't it true that the more outstanding the mage, the more they enjoyed eccentricities? This Baldororn must have set up this workshop as a sort of pastime.
"Until next time!" Yi Han left, grateful for the encounter.
Baldororn sat in a daze for a moment before getting up.
He then changed the sign on the workshop door from "Open" to "Closed."
After that, he opened a book on illusion magic that he hadn't read in a while...
He wasn't sure how much it would help, but he felt he needed to study something.
"... Headmaster. I can handle this alone..."
Professor Garcia said, looking at the floating skeleton headmaster beside him.
It was Garcia's turn to guard the main gate at this hour.
There was no need for the headmaster to be here.
The only reason the headmaster, who never involved himself in matters outside his responsibility, was here was simple: he was enjoying himself!
'He's just waiting for Yi Han to be late!' Einrogard had more students escaping the school than those leaving with permission.
Those rare students who received permission to leave would rush out in excitement, but the school didn't send them out with pure intentions.
All sorts of traps awaited the innocent students.
The students, overjoyed to leave, would soon realize the harsh reality and, after wandering the village penniless, would return in despair.
And such students were never given a second chance.
Receiving a second permission to leave was much harder than the first.
"It wouldn't hurt to be a bit more generous with the permissions as a reward..."
Garcia muttered.
"We're still far from that, Professor Garcia. With such a lax and soft-hearted approach, the students will become weak and complacent."
"..."
A true mage is forged through trials!
"Alright, I get it. Please stop," Garcia cut him off, exasperated.
He had heard the headmaster's theory of "A true mage is forged through trials" so many times that he was sick of it.
That ancient mage! His expression was full of anticipation.
"... It might be better not to expect too much. Yi Han is unusually clever, isn't he?"
That was certainly true.
Surprisingly, the headmaster readily admitted it.
He did hold Yi Han in high regard.
But this had nothing to do with magical talent or a tough spirit.
Yi Han needed to find money, but there was nowhere to get it, and even if he did, the amount he could carry was limited...
Moreover, time was running out! The smarter he thought he was, the more his greed would prevent him from returning easily.
The headmaster couldn't wait for the time to come so he could capture him.
"Keep your thoughts to yourself," Garcia replied curtly, though he acknowledged the headmaster's point.
Why did students who used their permission usually get caught and dragged back? It was because of that greed—'If I just had a little more time, I could make it work!' As soon as they arrived in the village, they were met with situations beyond their expectations, and the ability to recognize and give up on certain things was necessary.
If they tried to get everything they needed, they would fall into the headmaster's traps...
"?!?!"
Thud!
A massive figure appeared on the hill in front of the main gate.
For a moment, Professor Garcia thought it was a giant porter or a troll porter.
But it wasn't.
It was Yi Han, carrying a mountain of luggage.
"......"
The two mages were speechless at this brute-force solution that defied all expectations of a mage.
But that was just the beginning.
As Yi Han fully ascended the hill, boxes floated behind him, following closely.
The headmaster had no choice but to admit it...
Professor Voladi had taught him disgustingly well.