When you multiply 14 by 19, you get 266, not 417. Not a single digit was correct.
Yi Han asked in a suspicious tone, "Gainando, how do you make a low-grade mana recovery potion?" It was the same question the other students had asked earlier.
If it were truly a potion of wisdom, he should have been able to answer correctly, just like before.
"Cut off the base of the Galmarudo, then cut the remaining part along with your pinky finger. At the same time, you need to tear the Seolhyangcho herb into thin strips by hand..."
He answered with the same calm and composed expression as before, but Yi Han wasn't fooled.
Right now, wasn't his pinky finger being cut off along with the base of the Galmarudo on the cutting board?!
"It wasn't a potion of wisdom, but a potion of confidence."
"......"
The Blue Dragon Tower students genuinely felt disappointed.
They could have easily passed all their assignments and exams!
"But can't we just trick the White Tiger Tower kids by selling it as a potion of wisdom?"
"Ooh..."
"What do you mean 'ooh'? No, we can't."
Yi Han stopped the students.
The princess, who was about to stand up with the potion in hand, glanced at Yi Han and quietly sat back down.
"Why not?! Wodanaz, you know how rude and arrogant those guys are!"
"Last time, they even insulted you!"
"I know. But... wait. What did they say?" Yi Han, who was about to let it go, couldn't help but ask.
"They said you're much better at dark magic than the upperclassmen."
'Isn't that more of a compliment than an insult?' Yi Han thought to himself.
Of course, he understood the underlying meaning, but it was too mild to be considered an insult.
The White Tiger Tower students probably thought it was insulting, but to Yi Han, it wasn't...
In fact, something like "Wodanaz will starve to death after graduation" or "Wodanaz won't graduate and will be dragged away by the professors" would have been much more insulting.
"That's fine. I'll handle my own business, so don't get unnecessarily angry on my behalf. The most important thing right now is the lake."
"!"
At those words, the Blue Dragon Tower students remembered—or rather, tried to forget—the assignment given by the Skeleton Headmaster.
"Do we really have to go all the way to the lake?"
"Can't we just give up on one assignment? Why do we have to cooperate with those guys? What matters is honor, not grades."
At that, Yi Han, Yonell, the princess, and Asan all looked at the student with shocked expressions, as if he had said something absurd.
How could he say that grades weren't important??
"Grades are honor. What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"
"Right. Grades are hon... I mean, honor."
Yi Han was about to say "Grades are the key to success," but he stopped himself.
Most of the students here probably thought, "So what if my grades are bad? I have a family, so I won't starve to death," so it wouldn't have much effect.
And... 'Saying something like that might be dangerous later.' From what he overheard Professors Voladi and Kirmin saying, it seemed risky to openly declare, "My goal is to become a bureaucrat and succeed," within the magic school.
It might be better to keep it hidden until he firmly established his position and left.
"Sorry... I wasn't thinking."
The student, who had spoken without much thought, apologized under the gazes of Yi Han and the others.
So that's how it is! Grades are that important...!
'I was hoping to find something useful in the potion box.' Yi Han sighed as he looked at the lake.
Specifically, he had hoped for a potion of water walking or underwater breathing.
No matter how he thought about it, the Headmaster's assignment seemed like it would involve some kind of trouble related to water—falling into the water, drinking it, or something like that.
But the only confirmed potions in the stolen potion box were Imperial Western Wine (delicious), Cantus Potion (grants singing talent), and the Potion of Confidence.
Yi Han seriously considered secretly feeding the remaining potions to the White Tiger Tower students.
It would be quicker to test them directly... 'But if there's a strength-enhancing potion or a giant growth potion, it could get a bit troublesome.
They might come after me first.' Yi Han decided against it, thinking of the risks.
Testing unverified potions on people was ethically wrong.
"Shield, unfold!" Yi Han chanted the spell toward the lake.
Mages who used water elemental magic found it much easier and stronger when water was nearby.
The mana and mental energy required to summon water were greatly reduced... or so he had heard, but Yi Han didn't feel any difference. 'Is it because I'm still inexperienced?' Whether he used the lake's water or summoned water from elsewhere, it felt about the same.
Maybe it was because he was using low-circle magic.
The difference might not be noticeable at lower circles, but as he advanced to higher circles, he might feel it...
Yi Han experimented with the water mass he had summoned in the shape of a shield, trying various things.
The reason Yi Han was alone by the lake on a happy Sunday morning was simple: he was trying to find a way to cross the lake. 'Now that I think about it, it's disgustingly large.' It wasn't surprising that some students from inland areas had mistaken it for a sea.
From where Yi Han stood, he couldn't even see the other side of the lake.
He had to find a way to cross it by next week.
The Skeleton Headmaster wasn't the type to show mercy if he failed.
"Ferry boat, appear!" Yi Han tried altering the spell to summon a ferry boat made of water.
If Professor Garcia had been there, he would have been horrified at his student's ridiculous attempt. -No matter how confident you are, do you have any idea how difficult it is to maintain the shape of a ferry boat? Maintaining a water shield and summoning a water ferry boat to cross the lake were on completely different levels.
For one, the size and density of a shield and a ferry boat were vastly different.
Naturally, the amount of mana required was also vastly different.
Even if you simplified the structure of the ferry boat, it was still far more complex than a shield.
And unlike a shield, which could just float in the air, the ferry boat had to maintain its shape on the water...
Yi Han soon realized this.
Summoning a water ferry boat was indeed inefficient. 'This is definitely ambiguous.
Can I even keep it afloat on the lake?' There was also the possibility that a monster or the Skeleton Headmaster might jump out of the lake and attack.
Considering that, a water ferry boat was out of the question. 'It's a shame to give up after successfully summoning it, but I have to.' Yi Han gave up cleanly and released the water ferry boat into the lake.
If Professor Garcia had been there, he would have been horrified again. -You can't just release it after successfully summoning it! 'Is it an enchantment, then?' If potions and water ferry boats were out, the next option was enchantment magic.
Magic that directly imbues items, substances, or living beings with effects.
Water walking and underwater breathing magic also fell under enchantment magic.
The problem was that Yi Han had only learned enchantment magic indirectly so far.
He had learned how to apply it in lectures like <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>, but he hadn't received formal instruction yet.
And even if he did receive formal instruction, it was unlikely he'd be able to learn water walking or underwater breathing magic in his first year... 'Dark magic is useless in situations like this.
Alchemy and enchantment magic are much more practical in daily life.' Yi Han imagined Professor Mortum shedding tears. 'The spirit of lightning is just as useless.
Professor Uregeol's ice spirit helps with storing ingredients and reagents...
It could have frozen the water to create a path.' Yi Han then imagined Perkuntra getting choked up. 'Magic is, in a way, quite weak...'
"Be careful!"
"Don't worry. Let's push it slowly."
"?"
Hearing voices from beyond the bushes, Yi Han crouched down and approached.
Surprisingly, the White Tiger Tower students were building something resembling a ferry boat.
Even Yi Han, who didn't know much about it, could tell it was nearly complete.
"!"
"Can we launch it like this?"
"Of course. I've done it many times before."
Angaro, the goat beastman, answered confidently.
Whenever knights were given long breaks, Angaro would visit his mother's hometown with his parents and sail around the sea.
He had plenty of experience handling small ferry boats and was confident he could build one himself.
"Once we launch it and confirm it works, let's go back and tell everyone!"
"Right! They'll all be waiting. Wait... what if we find a way to the island?"
"That's a great idea. Moradi would love it."
Angaro nodded.
While it was nice to impress Moradi and the others, more than anything...
The thought of that Wodanaz guy looking at him with a mix of respect and frustration was already thrilling. -Hmph.
Angaro Alpha.
I acknowledge you.
To find a path I haven't yet...
You're much more impressive than I thought.
I was a fool to underestimate you...
Even the Wodanaz who has mastered all evil magic wouldn't know the wisdom of sailing.
Rustle—
As something moved in the bushes, Yi Han appeared, holding his staff.
"Hey."
When Yi Han called out, Angaro and his friend instinctively raised their arms.
The staff pointed at them felt like the tip of a sword.
"You... you bastard...!"
"Cowardly...!"
Angaro was so indignant that his horns trembled.
It was the ferry boat he had worked on for days, sacrificing sleep.
He had even named it 'Baphomet,' and now it was about to be stolen by a staff-wielding bandit.
He wanted to fight back, but remembering the magic Yi Han had shown last time, he couldn't move easily.
The staff would likely strike before he could draw his sword.
"My ferry boat! My ferry boat...!"
"Don't move."
Yi Han, who had issued the warning, immediately regretted it. 'Why am I threatening them?' He had only come out to ask the White Tiger Tower students how they planned to sail and find a way across.
But when they suddenly raised their arms as if they had encountered a bandit, Yi Han instinctively said, "Don't move."
Habits were truly terrifying!
"No, wait."
Yi Han lowered his staff.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding. I didn't come to steal your ferry boat. I just wanted to ask how things were going."
"R... really?"
"But you pointed your staff at us and threatened to curse us if we didn't hand over the ferry boat..."
As Angaro spoke, he realized that hadn't actually happened.
He had been so flustered that he had imagined it.
"There was a misunderstanding."
The two White Tiger Tower students quietly lowered their arms.
Yi Han also nodded, pretending not to notice.
"There was a misunderstanding."
"So you came because you're interested in the ferry boat I made?"
"Yes. But..."
Yi Han paused and looked at Angaro again.
This guy made the boat? 'It might be even more dangerous than Gainando's boat...'
"Why?"
Angaro, unaware of Yi Han's rude thoughts, looked puzzled.