To stop a student who had just awakened to a new attribute of magic and was about to walk down that path, what should one do? Simply let them know that stepping onto that path could mean death at any moment.
Professor Voladi swung his orb like a madman.
It wasn’t a joke—his killing intent was palpable.
Moreover...
"The weight of the orb has increased!"
Lee Han realized from the sensation of the orbs colliding that Professor Voladi had increased the weight.
It felt like the professor was telling him to stop obsessing over pointless rotations and to compress the water orb further...
But Lee Han would have understood even if the professor had just said it outright.
Flames sparked within the small classroom.
The tense atmosphere was different from before, and only the sound of explosions could be heard.
Both of them remained silent, glaring at each other while manipulating their magic orbs.
"... Should I kill the professor?"
A thought that wasn’t entirely new crossed Lee Han’s mind.
Of course, killing was an exaggeration—it was more like breaking a bone or two to make him suffer.
It wasn’t an emotional judgment.
Right now, Professor Voladi was seriously hurling orbs filled with killing intent.
But Lee Han’s magical control, though it had improved rapidly in a short time, wasn’t at a level where he could go one-on-one with a seasoned veteran like Professor Voladi.
In this situation, how could Lee Han survive? At the very least, he needed to disrupt the professor’s concentration, even if he didn’t kill him.
"Can I do it?"
Lee Han focused all his energy.
While maintaining the compressed, spinning water orb in front of him, a new spell flowed from his lips.
"Spring forth!"
With the incantation, new water began to take shape in the air.
For a freshman with little magical experience, simultaneous casting was almost taboo, but it meant nothing to Lee Han.
He had already confirmed multiple times that wasting a bit of mana wasn’t a problem.
And right now, Professor Voladi was a far greater threat to his life than mana was.
"!"
A glint of interest flickered in Professor Voladi’s emotionless eyes.
"Is he planning to increase the number of orbs?"
It was a typical thought for a cornered freshman, but it wasn’t a good idea.
Increasing the number of orbs would only make control more difficult, and Professor Voladi could easily break through the gaps.
It was good that he wasn’t staying still, but his direction was wrong...
"Shield, unfold!"
Lee Han shouted with strong determination.
Instantly, a massive blob of water transformed into the shape of a solid shield, enveloping him.
At the sight, the corner of Professor Voladi’s mouth twisted slightly upward.
The <Water Shield> was a 2nd-circle spell that summoned water and fixed it into the shape of a shield.
The spell itself wasn’t particularly difficult.
However, the boy from the Wodanaz family had never formally learned the <Water Shield>.
He had figured it out on his own.
Summoning water was a 1st-circle <Water Creation> spell, and moving and shaping the water was a 1st-circle <Basic Manipulation> spell.
While some couldn’t grasp a spell even if they were taught the incantation and gestures, being able to deduce and develop a spell on his own was a very good sign.
To become a great mage, one couldn’t just follow the spells written in spellbooks—they had to be able to improve and create on their own.
"Better than increasing the number of orbs, but the water shield still isn’t the best choice."
Though impressed, Professor Voladi prepared to teach the student in front of him.
The mana-infused orb shot toward the shield with deadly speed.
A hastily made shield could be pierced easily...
Bang!
"!"
Professor Voladi’s eyes widened slightly.
The water shield was far stronger than he had expected.
Only then did he realize the true nature of the water shield.
It contained several times more mana than a normal water shield.
Since it didn’t need to move as quickly as an orb, Lee Han had poured an overwhelming amount of mana into it, increasing the water’s volume and compressing it to strengthen the shield.
While the water orb required precise control, the water shield, which needed less control, shone brighter with its sheer amount of mana.
Before he could even marvel at it, another water orb curved around and flew toward Professor Voladi’s head, aiming to smash it.
The offense had shifted.
Professor Voladi tilted his head slightly to dodge it.
His expression showed no hint of panic.
"Go and bite him!"
Lee Han commanded his bone summon.
The bone summon, which had been waiting at his belt, charged forward.
At the same time, Lee Han kicked a chair from under the water shield and sent it flying.
His determination to destroy Professor Voladi was palpable.
Professor Voladi smiled at all the attacks.
Lee Han felt as if he had encountered the Demon Duke of Hell himself.
Behind Professor Voladi, who had been handling only one orb until now, another orb appeared.
The new orb shattered the bone summon (crack!), smashed the flying chair (crash!), and cleanly split the water shield in two.
Professor Voladi looked at Lee Han.
Lee Han watched, wondering what the Demon Duke of Hell would say.
"Well done."
"......"
Was he not the Demon Duke of Hell, but the Demon King of Hell?
After asking seventeen questions, Lee Han finally understood—or rather, guessed—what Professor Voladi was thinking.
No, he would probably never fully and perfectly understand Professor Voladi’s thoughts.
"Ah, so..."
Though the current lesson was about controlling water orbs, Professor Voladi fundamentally appreciated students’ creative attempts (if they were effective), which was why he had praised Lee Han for summoning the water shield, kicking the chair, and sending out the bone summon.
Hearing that, Lee Han wondered if Professor Voladi would still say "well done" if he set the classroom on fire.
Next time his life was threatened, he might just set the classroom ablaze...
"No. If I did that, the Skeleton Headmaster would kill me."
Lee Han sighed in regret.
"It seems your obsession with rotation has lessened."
"Thanks to you, Professor."
Lee Han had to make sure his voice didn’t carry any hostility.
"It’s natural for the rotation attribute to feel appealing now. But don’t be impatient. You’ll have plenty of time to focus on it later. Sometimes, the longer path is the shortcut."
"......"
If another professor had said that, it might have been touching, but coming from Professor Voladi, who chased him with a knife to take shortcuts, it wasn’t very moving.
"I think I’m already taking enough shortcuts as it is."
"Yes. I’ll focus on what I’m learning now and won’t even dream of the rotation attribute."
"You’ve probably guessed it already."
"...?"
Lee Han wasn’t surprised.
Professor Voladi often skipped words.
"Let’s calmly figure it out."
"The next challenge you’ll face is exactly that."
"... Excuse me, but what do you mean?"
"What you just showed me."
Once control over a single orb became manageable, it was time to move on to the next step.
A mage could never stop, even for a moment.
They had to constantly improve and explore.
Professor Voladi gestured.
The tables and chairs around them all rose at once, as if threatening Lee Han.
"From now on, you’ll learn to concentrate amidst chaotic surroundings."
"... Wow."
"You can use the things you just showed me again."
"Really?"
Lee Han was slightly surprised.
He had expected Professor Voladi to say, "Block with only the orb to improve your skills."
But allowing the shield...
"Yes. I’ll adjust the difficulty accordingly, so don’t be impatient and just focus on the task at hand."
"......"
If Lee Han could use other spells while controlling the orb, there was no need to stop him.
Using other spells while simultaneously controlling the orb would be even more beneficial.
"Wouldn’t it be better to give up on the shield and summons to focus better?"
"No. Rotation directly affects the control of the water orb, but the shield and summons don’t. The sooner you adapt, the better."
Lee Han thanked the Skeleton Headmaster in his heart.
At least he hadn’t mentioned the time he set the mountain on fire and roasted a mud golem.
If he had brought up the fire incident, who knows what kind of disaster would have ensued.
Evening.
Professor Lightning-Step, seeing how unusually tired Lee Han looked while tending to the garden behind the cabin, grew concerned.
Of course, fatigue was something all students at the school carried, but the boy from the Wodanaz family was much tougher than the others.
Yet, he looked so exhausted.
"What have you been doing lately to be so tired?"
"Really? I’m fine."
Lee Han dug up a potato and placed it in the basket.
Even as he tried to remain calm, his fingers gripping the potato twitched greedily.
"Tell me your daily schedule."
"I’m really fine."
Lee Han explained his daily routine as if wondering why he was being asked.
He woke up early, went to the stable, forcefully threatened a disobedient horse to eat, bathe, and get groomed, then took it for a walk before returning.
He picked out the perishable ingredients and prepared a relatively large breakfast.
After feeding the students of the Blue Dragon Tower, he attended morning classes, returned to prepare lunch, and then went to afternoon classes...
"......"
"Why do you ask?"
"Ah, no. Go on. What classes do you take? I’m curious."
"Today, I attended Professor Voladi’s <Repetitive Learning of Basic Magical Combat> lecture."
"......"
Professor Lightning-Step’s face twitched violently.
Of all the classes, why did it have to be the madman Voladi’s...?
"... Anyway, after finishing the lectures, I came back and tended to the garden like this."
"You were truly born to be the representative of the Blue Dragon Tower."
"?"
"Alright. So... you’ve had such a tough day, but you don’t have any complaints about working in the garden?"
Lee Han was momentarily suspicious.
When professors said, "If you have any complaints, speak up," it was usually a trap.
But aside from that, he didn’t really have any complaints about the garden work.
"Not really?"
Lee Han held a potato and a carrot in each hand.
The rewards from the garden were very satisfying.
Professor Lightning-Step suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
...
Is it really okay for the empire’s top talents to be doing this??
"Well... there’s a cow I brought over behind there. If you want, you can milk it whenever you need and take some."
"Professor...!"
Lee Han looked at Professor Lightning-Step with unprecedented respect.
The professor, at a loss for words, held back a retort.
While Lee Han worked in the garden, Professor Lightning-Step, perhaps out of boredom, kept asking questions.
Stories of spirits fleeing in fear came up (even though there were tree spirits?), and how the tree spirits helped the garden crops grow better, so they could try growing more things (don’t give them to Thunder-Step, take them yourself)...
As Lee Han finished his work and washed his hands in the flowing stream, a thought occurred to him.
"Professor. By the way, can I get a flying mount at the school?"
"... Why, why do you ask?"
Professor Lightning-Step’s voice cracked oddly, but Lee Han didn’t notice.