Failure in summoning magic was defined as summoning a result that deviated even 1% from the intended target.
However, the magical quills now fluttering and falling from the air perfectly matched the intended targets.
The only difference was their sheer number.
Professor Garcia quickly understood the implication and nodded.
"I see. This isn't a failure."
Professor Troll let out a slight sigh of relief.
While it was a professor's duty to care equally for all students, it was hard not to worry a bit more about the boy from the Wodanaz family.
Born with an overwhelming amount of magical power, even basic spells were bound to be more challenging for him.
Fortunately, Yi Han faced the difficulties head-on with a boldness and determination uncharacteristic of a freshman, but as a professor, Garcia couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
This was something a master should have helped resolve.
Among the professors of this magic academy, Garcia was the only one carrying a sense of guilt for not finding a proper solution.
"Yi Han is quite talented, isn't he? Seeing how perfectly he succeeded..."
As Professor Garcia spoke, Professor Milley nodded.
"He is talented."
"So you think so too?" Professor Garcia, who knew well how difficult summoning magic was and how strict Professor Milley could be, felt that Milley's acknowledgment carried even more weight.
"He has the potential to learn summoning magic. But... he has one weakness."
"??" Professor Garcia was slightly taken aback.
"Of course, his magical power is a bit, no, quite a bit, well, actually, it's overwhelmingly large, but his control is improving..."
Professor Garcia, who had been about to lie, couldn't bring himself to do so due to his conscience.
Still, considering Yi Han's immense magical power, he was adapting at an astonishingly fast rate.
"I think he'll get better as time goes on..."
"I wasn't talking about his magical power, Professor Garcia."
"Then what?"
"The weakness I mentioned is arrogance."
"...?" Arrogance?
Professor Garcia was slightly stunned.
Of course, the boy from the Wodanaz family might seem arrogant at first glance.
His cold, marble-like appearance, combined with the dignity of a high noble, made it difficult for most people to approach him.
But Professor Garcia knew well that Yi Han wasn't that kind of boy.
After all, a student who personally fed the students of the Blue Dragon Tower couldn't possibly have such an arrogant personality.
"I think there might be a misunderstanding..."
"Professor Garcia, look closely."
Professor Milley pointed to the dozens of magical quills and spoke sternly.
"That student succeeded on his first try. Yet, he deliberately summoned dozens of magical quills. What do you think that means?"
Succeeding in summoning magic on the first try indicated a high understanding of the magic circle and excellent control over magical power.
A freshman with both knowledge and talent was rare.
Clearly, he had outstanding abilities, and objectively speaking, he was a talent worthy of entering the world of summoning magic.
But why would such a student deliberately summon dozens of magical quills? If he had the ability to succeed on the first try, he could have just summoned one, right?
The answer was simple: to arrogantly show off his skills.
"No..."
Professor Garcia was flustered by Professor Milley's words.
"Yi Han isn't the type to..."
"Arrogance is a necessary trait for a mage, but it's also a dangerous poison to possess at such a young age, Professor Garcia. Especially when one is born with knowledge and talent."
"But that's..."
Professor Milley's eyebrows rose.
Professor Garcia flinched.
Even among professors, not all relationships were equal.
Especially when one professor was a former student of another.
But Professor Garcia wanted to clear up the misunderstanding somehow.
"I don't think Yi Han is that kind of student. Maybe it was a mistake..."
"A mistake?" Professor Milley's voice carried a faint hint of absurdity.
Not a good sign.
"So, Professor Garcia... are you saying that summoning was a mistake?"
Professor Garcia's face turned red.
Upon reflection, he realized how ridiculous his words sounded.
Summoning multiple quills with that magic circle wasn't as simple as just pouring in several times the magical power needed for one quill.
Since the magic circle wasn't designed for multiple summons, recklessly increasing the magical power could destroy the circle or cause a backlash.
Once magical power was injected into the circuit, its properties changed.
Thus, the calculations had to be adjusted constantly.
To inject more magical power into the circuit, new calculations were required.
In other words... the only way to summon multiple quills with that magic circle was to repeat the process meticulously several times.
Calculating the exact amount of magical power to inject into the circle, carefully assessing the changed state of the circle, and then calculating and injecting the magical power again.
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
It was a feat one wouldn't attempt without strong confidence in their abilities.
A feat that required intent!
"Maybe he practiced beforehand to avoid destroying the magic circle... and forgot that there was still magical power left in the circle...?"
"......"
Professor Milley, who had been staring at Professor Garcia with a stern expression, softened his gaze.
It was a look of pity for his kind-hearted student.
"Professor Garcia. A student of that caliber wouldn't forget something like that."
'That's true...' Professor Garcia had nothing more to say and closed his mouth.
Honestly, even he felt his excuse was flimsy.
But what could he do when it felt like the most plausible explanation?
"It's good to trust and care for your students, but you shouldn't turn a blind eye to their flaws or mistakes, Professor Garcia. Sometimes, affection and trust can blind you."
"Yes..."
"I'm not denying that the student has exceptional talent. But arrogance can harm him, so he needs to be careful."
"Understood."
"There's no need to worry so much. If that student learns summoning magic, he'll soon correct his arrogance."
Summoning magic had always crushed students who thought themselves the empire's greatest geniuses.
Combined with Professor Milley's strictness, uncontrollable arrogance would soon be reduced to an appropriate level of pride.
Professor Garcia turned his head.
Yi Han was sending the magical quills he had summoned to Angoro, attempting to scribble "I have no quills" on him.
As a result, a brawl was breaking out between the students of the White Tiger Tower and the Blue Dragon Tower.
As he went to intervene, Professor Garcia couldn't help but think that arrogance didn't seem to be the issue.
'No matter how I think about it, it really doesn't seem like that.'
The commotion eventually subsided.
The students' faces were smeared with ink.
It was the aftermath of both imperfectly and perfectly summoned magical quills.
While the summoned quills disappeared over time, the ink they left behind did not.
"I believe you all now have a slight understanding of how difficult summoning magic is. The magic you practiced today is the most basic of basics in summoning magic, and originally, it should be done without a magic circle."
Professor Milley intimidated the students, but he continued speaking seriously without concern.
"Nevertheless, if you have an interest in summoning magic and wish to learn it seriously, come to my workshop. It would be good for you all to keep this in mind. Many mistakenly believe that talent or intelligence is what's needed to master magic..."
Yi Han felt Professor Milley's gaze momentarily turn toward him.
Was it just his imagination?
'Was it a problem that I used the quills to bother Angoro?'
"... What's most needed, in the end, is perseverance and patience. If you continue to dedicate yourself seriously without giving up, summoning magic will open a path for you."
With those words, Professor Milley left the classroom.
The remaining students huddled together, whispering.
"Should we go to the workshop?"
"The professor said it. If we start in our second year, it'll be hard to catch up. To learn summoning magic, we need to start practicing in our first year."
The students nodded.
After attempting to summon quills, they now understood just how difficult summoning magic was.
Summoning objects that moved on their own with a mage's power...
"But can we really go to the professor now and learn summoning magic separately?"
"Why not?"
"Really? We already have a lot of assignments, and we'll have to prepare for quizzes soon. Can we really handle studying summoning magic on top of that?"
"......"
The realistic concerns frightened the students.
Summoning magic was appealing, but if it meant more assignments, few students could handle it.
'That's why I said to take easier courses.' Yi Han thought, then reflected.
Come to think of it, wasn't he risking his life now because he had chosen easier courses?
Yi Han suddenly became curious.
What elective courses were the other students taking?
"What electives are you guys taking?"
"Me? <Basic Arts>. Everyone's taking it."
"I'm taking <Basic Dance and Social Etiquette>. It's practically mandatory."
"I'm taking <Understanding Imperial Masterpieces and Classics>. I want to buy one during the break."
"......"
Yi Han was slightly taken aback by his friends' course lists.
...
Am I the only one without any culture?
"There's no course without assignments."
"Same here. But I can't just not take summoning magic."
"Shouldn't the school lend us some artifact that can turn back time?"
"Gainando. That's a fairy tale. Where would you find something like that?"
"Even if it existed, do you think they'd lend it to students for taking courses? It'd be used for much more important things."
Listening to his friends' conversation, Yi Han checked the time and stood up.
"Gainando. Let's go."
"Where are we going? And why are you taking Gainando?"
"Are you planning to use him as bait if we meet a summoned creature?"
"No. We need to meet Professor Mortum."
While everyone was debating whether or not to pursue summoning magic, there was one professor who had been completely neglected.
That was Professor Mortum, who taught dark magic.
Since Professor Mortum had directly called out Yi Han and Gainando by name, they had no choice but to visit him regularly to learn dark magic, unlike the other students.
"Do we really have to go? Can't we just send Gainando?"
The friends didn't want to send Yi Han, but Gainando had no intention of going alone.
"... If I go alone, I'll recommend all of you."
"Gainando! My noble friend! There seems to be a misunderstanding!"
The friends immediately changed their stance.
Yonelle asked as if checking if it was okay.
"Students who want to learn summoning magic will probably go now. Will it be okay?"
"We didn't set a time, so after meeting Professor Mortum, Gainando and I can go together."
Yi Han was also interested in summoning magic.
He just had a prior commitment.
It was best not to break promises with professors.
Especially if the professor was lonely due to a lack of students.
"Then see you later."
"Be careful, Wodanaz."
"Watch out for loose summoned creatures, and don't forget the potion Priestess Siana gave you."
"Be careful with Professor Mortum too."
"Be careful with Gainando."
At Asan's words, Gainando looked slightly moved.
"Dalkard..."
"If Gainando makes a mistake, you'll be in danger too, so be careful."
"......"
It wasn't a warning to be careful with Gainando, but a warning to Yi Han to be careful of Gainando.
Gainando decided to recommend Asan to Professor Mortum as soon as they met.