Carrying a mountain-like load while continuously casting <Low-Level Manipulation> spells to lift boxes—any ordinary mage would have used a higher-circle spell in such a situation.

After all, <Low-Level Manipulation> wasn’t designed to be used like that! It was meant to lift things like quills, erasers, or at most, beads.

To use it to such an extent... it was beyond impressive—it felt downright bizarre.

Was it really necessary to go that far with a 1st-circle spell?

“Wait, isn’t that a body-enhancement spell? Who taught you that?” Professor Garcia, who had been marveling at the boxes lifted by <Low-Level Manipulation>, belatedly noticed the aura of mana enveloping Yi Han’s body.

The meticulously arranged aura was wrapping around Yi Han, aiding his movements.

There was only one type of magic that could produce such an aura—body-enhancement magic.

While it was popular due to its effectiveness, it also had side effects since it involved forcibly embedding mana into the body and fixing it there.

It wasn’t a spell that most students, who spent their days picking up and putting down quills at their desks, needed to learn.

Where had he learned it?

“Hmm?” The skeletal headmaster feigned ignorance, his expression unchanging.

Truly, the composure of a lich.

“Did he learn it from the library? I should have warned him earlier...”

“Don’t be like that, Professor Garcia. If you keep imposing restrictions, mages will grow weaker.”

‘Is this guy the culprit?’ Professor Garcia suddenly grew suspicious of the skeletal headmaster.

There was no concrete evidence, but still!

The <Gonadaltes’ Nimble Steps> that Yi Han had been forced to learn was a rather peculiar spell.

Most body-enhancement spells were designed to strengthen specific areas—strength, agility, and so on.

The lower the circle of the spell, the more focused it was.

Trying to cram too much into a low-circle spell risked turning it into an unusable, bizarre creation.

And <Gonadaltes’ Nimble Steps> was exactly that—a bizarre 1st-circle spell that enhanced strength, agility, stamina, and reflexes all at once! Naturally, mastering it was incredibly difficult.

If it were a simple strength-enhancement spell, one could imagine a mighty warrior.

For agility, a swift bird.

But combining all four areas into a single image was no easy task.

“Now I see why Gonadaltes’ name is in the spell’s title,” Yi Han grumbled to the black book.

Some spells bore the names of their creators, serving as both a mark of honor and a clue to the spell’s nature.

And ‘Gonadaltes’ was a clear indicator.

This spell was a real piece of work!

‘Shouldn’t the spell’s name at least hint at its nature? Normally, a spell like this would focus solely on agility.’

Try and fail.

Through countless trials and errors, Yi Han gradually found his direction.

Unbeknownst to him, the breadth and flexibility of his thinking were, in some ways, even rarer than his mana capacity.

The image Yi Han settled on was the skeletal headmaster in his youth.

Of course, Yi Han had no idea what the headmaster looked like back then, but he used his imagination to conjure up a vision: a sharp, combative figure with a glint of madness in his eyes, a lean and trained physique, dressed in dark robes with a staff in hand—a sinister mage who wouldn’t look out of place as a villain anywhere.

‘I came up with it, but he does look really strong.’

Strong, fast, enduring, with sharp reflexes—a mage who embodied all these traits.

And surprisingly, this image worked.

The spell, which had been failing repeatedly, began to take shape.

“Feet, tread upon the earth!”

After relentless chanting, the spell finally activated.

Yi Han felt the spell’s mana etch itself into his body like a pattern, aiding him in strength, agility, stamina, and reflexes.

Flap flap!

The black book fluttered as if celebrating Yi Han’s achievement.

Satisfied with the hard-earned result, Yi Han suddenly paused.

“Wait. Body-enhancement spells have backlash, right? For a spell that covers so many areas...”

Before Yi Han could finish his question, the black book ejected him from the illusionary space.

Of course, even if he was uneasy, he couldn’t afford not to use it.

This wasn’t the time for Yi Han to be picky about his methods.

The load was just that heavy.

Yi Han activated <Gonadaltes’ Nimble Steps> and, at the same time, circulated his mana using the method Professor Ingeldel had taught him.

Well, more accurately, he released it rather than circulating it.

Controlling it to that extent was still beyond him.

But even that was enough to strengthen and protect his body.

On top of that, he continuously cast <Low-Level Manipulation>.

At this point, even Professor Ingeldel would have said, “Of course it’s too much to try to control mana while casting spells like that.” And the more serious issue was the enormous mana consumption.

Normally, he should have collapsed after a few steps...

‘It’s no fun when he’s overflowing with mana,’ the skeletal headmaster grumbled inwardly.

It seemed Yi Han had used <Gonadaltes’ Nimble Steps>, but he looked too fine for it to be amusing.

Originally, the spell was designed so that after mastering it, one would think, “It’s just a 1st-circle spell, so the mana consumption shouldn’t be too bad,” only to collapse in shock—a sign of respect for the spell’s creator.

In fact, all of the headmaster’s other disciples had collapsed in such a manner, much to his delight.

A 1st-circle spell in name, but in difficulty, effect, and mana consumption, it was anything but—a trap spell! And yet, Yi Han just breezed through it.

“Welcome back...” The headmaster’s dissatisfied tone actually pleased Yi Han.

It meant he had passed all the traps.

“Thank you for the precious outing. I won’t forget your kindness, Headmaster.”

“Yi Han, there’s no need to go that far,” Professor Garcia said, slightly flustered.

Yi Han had been sent out because of his outstanding achievements, not out of the headmaster’s generosity.

“Tsk tsk, Professor Garcia. Isn’t such courtesy rare these days?”

Professor Garcia ignored the headmaster’s remark.

“Yi Han, once you’re inside, drink as many fatigue-recovery potions as you can and rest well. A long sleep would do you good.”

“......” Yi Han had been prepared, but Professor Garcia’s words made him a little nervous.

Had he overdone it with the spells? Was the spell itself the headmaster’s final trap?

“Understood.” Yi Han bowed his head and stepped through the open gates.

As Professor Garcia watched Yi Han’s retreating figure with satisfaction, the headmaster spoke up.

“Wait, how did he get the money?”

“...!”

Yi Han made sure to do as much as he could before collapsing.

He organized his belongings, explained things to his friends, made requests, drank potions...

“?” When he woke up after sleeping through the day, Yi Han was baffled.

His body... felt perfectly fine.

It was too perfectly fine.

When you’re supposed to be in pain but aren’t, it’s even more unsettling.

With a sense of unease, Yi Han cautiously left his room.

“Wodanaz!” A few students from the Blue Dragon Tower were waiting anxiously in the lounge.

“Wodanaz!! You’re awake!”

“We were worried!” Some even had tears in their eyes.

Yi Han was even more confused.

‘What’s going on?’ Did they bring a lot of food from outside and were now competing to see who could make the biggest fuss?

“I did push myself a bit, but there was no need to worry this much.”

“Huh? Really? Gainando said you might die...”

“......” Instead of responding, Yi Han plopped down on a chair in the lounge.

In one corner, the pile of belongings he had brought was stacked up.

There were too many bulky items to fit into his room, so they had been left there.

Seeing it now... ‘I really did bring a crazy amount of stuff.’ It was both satisfying and a little insane.

How had he carried all that alone?

“We took care of the stable horses while you were sleeping.”

“Thanks, Yonell. ... Wait, that horse has a terrible temper, right? Was it okay?”

“Huh?” Yonell tilted his head.

“It was fine? It just stood there when I fed and groomed it.”

“......” Yi Han was furious. ‘This guy...?’ The horse that caused such a ruckus when Yi Han took care of it just stood still for someone else? Of course, it might have been because Yi Han had been too harsh, and the horse was grateful when someone else took care of it, but still... ‘Just you wait.’

“Here. Cocoa.” Yi Han accepted a cup of warm cocoa.

Even though his body felt fine, there was still some lingering fatigue, and the sweet cocoa tasted incredibly good.

Yi Han rummaged through his pockets.

Yonell looked puzzled.

“What are you looking for?”

“Silver coins.”

“... Just drink it. It’s on me...” Yi Han looked at Yonell with a touched expression.

Yonell gave him a look of disbelief.

As his mind cleared, Yi Han let out a sigh.

“A new week has begun...” Everyone in the lounge nodded with heavy expressions.

The arrogance and overconfidence from the second week were nowhere to be seen.

What trials and tribulations awaited them this week?

“Did everyone finish their assignments?”

“Yeah. ... If you can call them assignments.”

“I finished mine. ... It’s a pile of garbage.” As everyone avoided eye contact, Yi Han felt a little guilty.

Had he asked a pointless question?

“I finished Professor Thunderstep’s assignment. Only the White Tiger Tower flag is left.”

“......” At the mention of the White Tiger Tower flag, the Blue Dragon Tower students’ faces hardened.

The headmaster’s <Basic Magical Ethics Education> assignment.

Honestly, why this was considered an ethics assignment was still a bit of a mystery, but an assignment was an assignment.

“Has anyone tried?”

“Nothing worked.”

“Damn it. I tried bribing one of the White Tiger Tower guys with candy, but it failed. I was so close...!”

“......” It wasn’t like the others had left it entirely to Yi Han.

They had all tried various methods—sneaking in (they were all repelled), bribing (other White Tiger Tower students interfered), forging, and so on.

But none of the methods worked.

Gainando, who had arrived late to the lounge, spoke up.

“Why don’t we just team up with the White Tiger Tower guys and exchange flags?”

“What kind of childish nonsense are you spouting!”

“Have you forgotten how brutally the White Tiger Tower guys attacked Wodanaz?!”

“?” Yi Han, who had been listening, paused.

It hadn’t been that bad, had it...?

“Everyone, calm down. I have a plan.”

“!” The noisy room fell silent at Yi Han’s words.

Gainando nodded as if he understood.

“An exchange, right? That’s the only way.”

“No. We’re going to raid them at night and take it.”

“... That’s our Wodanaz!” Cheers erupted from the Blue Dragon Tower lounge.