Fortunately, Professor Millet did not send Yi Han away. Whoosh! Two thick books appeared in mid-air.
They were so thick that they could probably be used as weapons.
The neatly bound covers of the books read, "Theoretical Foundations and Case Studies of Summoning Magic."
"Both of you, sit down," Professor Millet said.
He was the kind of person who could make people nervous with his stern gaze, even without wielding a sword or a wand.
Gye-nando also sat down with a slightly frightened expression.
"Professor, where are the other students?" Yi Han asked.
"They finished their lessons, took their assignments, and left," Professor Millet replied.
"Ah... assignments?" Gye-nando raised his head.
In the current situation, additional assignments were a huge burden.
Gye-nando tried to timidly protest.
"Professor, for Black Magic, there are no assignments..."
Professor Millet stared directly at Gye-nando, and under that gaze, Gye-nando was completely subdued.
‘Does his gaze have a petrifying effect or something?’ Gye-nando thought, given how many strange professors there were, it wasn’t an unreasonable suspicion.
"Both of you, open your books," Professor Millet instructed.
The two obediently opened their books.
Gye-nando felt dizzy from the densely packed text and swayed slightly.
"Read, copy, and then solve the problems," Professor Millet said.
Yi Han looked at the book.
Chapter 1: On the Summoning of Inanimate Objects
- The summoning of inanimate objects is the most basic and core aspect of summoning magic.
Even summoners who are only interested in other fields of summoning must learn this part.
The great summoner Boltzmann created educational and efficient magic circles for future generations, and memorizing these circles has become fundamental to summoning magic.
Therefore, young summoners, be grateful and strive hard.
Memorizing Boltzmann's basic magic circles and understanding their principles will guarantee remarkable achievements in summoning magic...
(Magic Circle 1)
(Magic Circle 2)
(Magic Circle 3)
(Magic Circle 4)
...
- Young summoner, now that you’ve learned some interesting knowledge, it’s time to put it to use in an even more interesting way.
Answer the following riddle:
A novice summoner, Chursu, was traveling in the cold north when an accident separated him from his group, leaving him alone.
To make matters worse, someone stole his bag containing his thick clothes, and the harsh wind tore apart the clothes he was wearing.
What summoning magic circle can Chursu use as quickly as possible to avoid freezing to death?
‘The summoning magic circle is important, but shouldn’t we find the thief first?’ Yi Han thought.
The problem was a bit absurd and forced, but the textbook itself was excellent.
Having read countless complex and difficult academic books to the point of boredom, Yi Han could tell just how good this book was.
Not all textbooks were kind.
Some were considerate of the reader’s level, while others seemed to say, "I’m not here to teach you, I’m here to make you waste your time meaninglessly." And usually, academic books tended to be the latter.
...
The professors here were also closer to the latter...
But the book Professor Millet had given them was excellent.
If you read it slowly and carefully, you could easily memorize and understand the basic magic circle structures commonly used in summoning magic.
Just this alone made Yi Han think highly of Professor Millet.
‘He’s actually a good person.’ He had chosen the most educationally suitable book from countless magic books for his students.
It was the mindset of a true educator, incomparable to other professors.
‘Thank you, Professor.’ Yi Han’s gaze, filled with gratitude, made Professor Millet slightly flustered.
‘??’ There were two reasons why Professor Millet didn’t teach summoning magic right away.
First, summoning magic was prone to accidents without sufficient knowledge and preparation.
Even the simple summoning of inanimate objects could injure the caster.
Second, he wanted to prevent students from acting recklessly.
Teaching summoning magic to freshmen, who were already full of pride and arrogance, could lead to accidents due to their impulsiveness and overconfidence.
So, he made them study.
Until their bodies twisted and contorted from the difficulty and boredom.
That was Professor Millet’s philosophy.
If a student couldn’t endure and gave up on summoning magic, it was for the best.
Such students were better off not learning summoning magic.
‘But...?’ Professor Millet was surprised to see Yi Han silently copying the book and solving problems without a single complaint.
He had expected Yi Han, who had shown the most talent among the students, to be the most arrogant.
Other students would yawn, fidget, glance outside, and eventually try to sneak away...
But Yi Han sat as still as a statue, diligently writing with his quill.
"Yi Han," Gye-nando whispered.
"What?"
"I need to go to the bathroom."
"Are you trying to run away?"
"What?? No! I’m not!" Gye-nando vehemently denied.
Yi Han, who had asked without much thought, was now convinced.
‘He’s trying to run away, this guy.’ At first, Yi Han had thought Gye-nando might switch from Black Magic to Summoning Magic.
But now, it seemed that worry was unnecessary.
"I miss Professor Mortum..."
Gye-nando muttered like a madman after returning from the bathroom.
‘If I study this hard, he’ll probably teach me something, right?’ Gye-nando’s expectations were brutally crushed.
Professor Millet made them study until the very end.
Yi Han nodded with a satisfied expression. ‘This kind of class is necessary.’ After attending so many chaotic lectures, this high-quality theoretical study felt sweet.
Gye-nando stood up and whispered, "Hey, do you actually understand this stuff??"
"It’s quite substantial, isn’t it? It’s also interesting."
"...?????!!" Gye-nando looked at Yi Han with an even more shocked expression than when he had subdued Raphael. ‘He’s really gone mad!’
"That’s all for today. Make sure to read and study this much by next week," Professor Millet said, putting away the books and handing out a thick stack of papers.
Gye-nando accepted it with a polite expression.
‘He won’t come.’
‘He won’t come.’
Yi Han and Professor Millet both sensed Gye-nando’s future at the same time.
It was obvious he wouldn’t show up next week!
"See you next week," Yi Han said politely.
It was true that you needed to get along with professors, but you should be especially friendly with the decent ones.
They might help you out when you’re dragged to the disciplinary room later.
"I apologize if I misjudged you, Yi Han."
"Huh?"
"Then, let’s see you next week," Professor Millet said with a faint smile.
But to Yi Han, who didn’t understand the context, the words sparked countless imaginations.
‘What??’ As the door to the lecture hall closed, Yi Han was left bewildered. What did he misjudge?? Did he talk to Professor Mortum about my future? Did he say I should focus only on Black Magic? Or maybe with the Skeleton Headmaster...? Yi Han agonized over it until he fell asleep that night.
The students grew more haggard by the day, while the Skeleton Headmaster’s eyes seemed to grow brighter.
Entering the Basic Magical Ethics classroom, the Skeleton Headmaster greeted them cheerfully.
"Is everyone having a happy week?"
"......"
"......"
If it had been the first week, a few students might have answered out of courtesy, but now, all four tower students remained silent.
The Skeleton Headmaster ignored this and rattled his bones.
The students’ necks were forced to nod up and down.
Except for Yi Han.
"......"
Yi Han looked around and hurriedly nodded his head.
The Skeleton Headmaster looked at Yi Han with a bemused expression.
‘Is he really following along...?’ Looking at the boy from the Wodanaz family, it reminded him of a lion trying to blend in with sheep by wearing a sheep’s disguise.
If Yi Han could withstand the Skeleton Headmaster’s magic alone, he should stand tall and proud.
What kind of display was this?
"Now, it’s time for your ethics education, young novice mages. Do you remember the assignment I gave you last week?"
The students nodded.
Who could forget?
- Students from each tower must bring the flag hanging in the designated tower’s freshman lounge by next class.
It’s a flag with a crest!
The Skeleton Headmaster’s assignment.
It was to bring the flag from another tower.
No matter how you looked at it, it had nothing to do with ethics, but the Skeleton Headmaster was unapologetic.
"Let’s start with the Black Turtle Tower. Did you get the Phoenix Tower’s flag?"
"Yes, we..."
The Black Turtle Tower students carefully pulled out the flag they had obtained.
It was the flag they had exchanged with the Phoenix Tower students.
"Good, you brought it. Well done."
"......"
"......"
The Skeleton Headmaster showed no interest.
He already knew they had exchanged flags, so it didn’t matter.
The Phoenix Tower must have handled it well too, right?
"Yes."
"Good. Now..."
The Skeleton Headmaster floated over to the White Tiger Tower students with the joy of someone who had finally received a long-awaited meal.
"My honorable knight-family students! You must have brought the Blue Dragon Tower’s flag, right?? Hmm??"
"......"
"......"
The White Tiger Tower students’ faces burned with humiliation and shame.
Even Yi Han, who usually didn’t care what others thought, felt a bit uncomfortable.
‘The back of my head feels really prickly.’ The White Tiger Tower students were glaring at Yi Han with resentment.
Why aren’t you taking it out?! Huh?! Why?! Did you not get it?! ‘Just stop...’ Yi Han prayed that the Skeleton Headmaster would stop his nonsense.
Of course, the Skeleton Headmaster didn’t stop.
After happily chattering away, the Skeleton Headmaster, having had enough fun, changed the topic.
"As I said last time, this class isn’t about making you fight each other. The purpose of this class is to get to know each other, become friends, and harmonize."
The students didn’t believe a word of it.
"I’m saddened that you’ve misunderstood my intentions. With that in mind, I’ll give you a more straightforward assignment next time."
Yi Han felt uneasy. What else is he planning?
"If you go west from the main building, there’s a lake. Some of you might have seen it."
"......"
"... That was a lake?"
Students who had gone for walks around the area looked at each other in confusion.
Because...
"I thought it was the sea."
"Why would there be a sea inside the school?!"
"Well, I thought maybe this school would have a sea."
...
It was just a disgustingly large lake.
As deep and rugged as the mountain ranges, this magical school also had a lake.
And on that lake, there was an island.
"I’ve hidden an outing pass there."
"!"
"!!!"
The students’ eyes lit up like hungry beasts.
"Work together and bring it to me."
"Understood!"
It was the most enthusiastic response they had given so far.
"Oh, and Phoenix Tower students should work with Black Turtle Tower students, and Blue Dragon Tower students should work with White Tiger Tower students. You’re free to ignore this like last time, but..."
The Skeleton Headmaster grinned.
"I guarantee you won’t pass if you do."
The Blue Dragon Tower and White Tiger Tower students glared at each other and frowned.
They were all thinking the same thing.
‘Work with these jerks? Yeah, right.’