The series of illusion magic by Farhait was more challenging than other types of illusion magic. It wasn't merely about creating illusions; the addition of heat as an element naturally increased its difficulty.
<Farhait’s Lesser Illusion> ended with just adjusting temperatures suitable for the illusion, but the intermediate and advanced levels could even summon illusions that actually attacked intruders.
‘Stay calm,’ the senior thought, realizing the disgraceful nature of his actions, and calmed his mind. Being a freshman didn't necessarily mean failure in magic. Perhaps, he was fortunate enough to find a spell that suited him.
-So, you seem to have a talent for fire element magic. I'm guessing right, aren't I? You showed your talent in Professor Garcia's class, didn't you?-
"Professor Garcia has forbidden the use of fire element magic."
The senior was at a loss for words. Talent aside, what on earth had happened for fire element magic to be banned?
‘What's with this guy?’
The group moved to the kitchen. With the possibility of encountering walking armors or warehouse keepers at any moment, they couldn't afford to waste time. An unidentified senior, waving a piece of paper and a quill pen, led the group forward.
The door, marked with a teapot symbol, creaked open.
-Here's the underground 'Teapot' kitchen. It's relatively accessible compared to other kitchens in the academy. It's a bit disappointing that there's no alcohol…-
‘Is alcohol that important?’
Unlike Yi-Han's thoughts, the students from the Black Tortoise were greatly disappointed.
"No alcohol..."
"Really too bad."
"Can a kitchen even be without alcohol?"
Yi-Han was dumbfounded by his friends' strong desire for alcohol.
‘What are they thinking…’
Did they come here to learn or to drink?
While the Black Tortoise students were searching the kitchen in vain hope for alcohol, the senior called Yi-Han. After the disgraceful display in <Farhait’s Lesser Illusion>, it was time to show something more befitting of a senior. To the unsuspecting and famished freshmen, the academy's hidden places would be profoundly impressive.
-Come with me. And try not to scream.-
“?”
-Open that cupboard.-
Yi-Han, puzzled, opened the cupboard at the senior's behest.
‘Is it a trap?’
There were hams and sausages, made from cut pieces of meat, hanging inside.
Yi-Han was grateful for the sight of the salted or smoked sausages.
"Oh, thank you. It was pretty well made."
-...-
The senior was flustered.
Normally, freshmen would be overjoyed at the sight of such a find. The senior himself had been thrilled when he accidentally found a piece of sausage in a professor's workshop during his first year. He had eaten it greedily without even using a fork or knife. The taste of that sausage was still memorable.
But this freshman boy was casually critiquing the quality of the food. This was not the behavior of a typical freshman. What in the world...?
"Wardanaz. I've found the ingredients we need. Can you come and help me?"
"Sure. I'll be right there."
The Black Tortoise students gathered ingredients and lit a fire under the cauldron.
-What are you doing?- The senior asked, looking perplexed.
"We're making a nutritious meal for a friend."
-Not a bad idea,- The senior nodded approvingly.
The magic academy was too harsh a place to survive on what was given. This was especially true for freshmen. To survive, one had to fend for oneself.
-...Just a moment. Just a moment.-
The senior, alarmed, tried to intervene. The cooking was unlike anything ordinary; even the atmosphere differed. The ingredients in the pot were undergoing a chemical reaction, emitting a unique mana. It was a form of alchemy.
And judging by the preparations, the process was evidently complex.
‘It seems a magic spell might be needed…’
-This is not something a freshman should handle. Stop them!-
‘Is it?’
Yi-Han questioned Salko, needing confirmation after having heard so much. "Tutanta. I heard that this cooking is not ordinary, but a kind of alchemy, and quite challenging. Is that true?"
"Yes." Salko nodded readily.
Yi-Han felt slightly relieved at his response.
"It seems he has some confidence in this."
Salko wasn't reckless; he wouldn't have started this if he wasn't sure.
"Seeing how prepared you are, you must be confident."
"Yes."
Then Salko handed a scroll to Yi-Han, who hesitated.
"...?"
"Here, I've recorded our family's secret recipe in as much detail as possible. You can do it."
Yi-Han was astonished. It was surprising that Salko trusted him with the family's secret recipe, but more than that… Did the Black Tortoise students really have that much faith in Yi-Han?
‘These kids are overestimating me too much.’
Rumors about his dark magic were one thing, but alchemy was a completely different area.
"I'm not that proficient in alchemy..."
"Priestess Siana praised you highly. If a priestess from the Flameng Order commends you, it must be true."
"Wardanaz. There's no need to be modest in front of us."
The Black Tortoise students seemed to say, 'What are you talking about?'
Yi-Han seriously considered whether he should be less flattering to others in the future.
‘Um. But I think don’t I can make it.’
Yi-Han then read the Tutanta family's secret recipe. The ingredients were numerous and complex, but not impossibly difficult. He had conducted far more challenging experiments; there was no reason to be scared of this.
-This is not a task for a freshman.-
The senior scribbled with his quill. Yi-Han replied, "I think I can do it."
-...You'll regret it later.-
The senior hoped this arrogant freshman would fail in alchemy and spill the contents of the pot over himself.
Isn't that how first-years learn their limits!
The liquid in the pot turned golden, the bubbles reduced, and it began to settle gently. The Black Tortoise students gasped in awe.
"As expected..." Salko nodded as if he knew it would happen.
"Thank you, Wardanaz. I was sure you could do it."
Yi-Han felt ambiguous about the trust the Black Tortoise students had in him, but he didn't show it outwardly. At least it turned out well! However, the senior watching was so dumbfounded and speechless at the absurdity of the situation.
-You're not a freshman, are you?? Tell me. What year are you??-
"I am a freshman, senior."
-What kind of freshman are you!-
Ordinary freshmen did not master <Farhait’s Lesser Illusion> in one try. They did not maintain their composure upon seeing the food in the kitchen either. Moreover, Wardanaz executed the complex alchemical process without a single mistake.
"Wardanaz is indeed a freshman, senior."
"Yes, why are you questioning Wardanaz like this?"
The Black Tortoise students began to doubt the senior they couldn't even see.
Was he deliberately trying to obstruct Wardanaz, who was clearly capable of the task?
The senior, aware of their skepticism, was speechless with a sense of injustice.
To be accused so absurdly!
"So, Tutanta. Is it finished?"
"Yes. This is our family's secret, Beer Candy."
"???"
Yi-Han doubted his ears for a moment.
Despite its playful name, Tutanta's family secret, the Beer Candy, was a serious nutritional and preservative food item. It could be stored at room temperature for months, and just two finger-sized pieces provided enough nutrients for two days.
"Try one, Wardanaz."
Yi-Han cautiously tasted the condensed Beer Candy, reminiscent of a sweet and soft flavor akin to traditional Korean malt candy.
Salko, full of pride, asked, "Can you feel your mana recovering?"
"...Uh, yes."
Yi-Han managed his expression, recalling the last time he had a magic potion.
"But why is it called Beer Candy?"
"Our ancestors, suffering from a beer shortage while trapped under a mine, created it as a substitute for beer and named it accordingly."
"I see..."
Yi-Han, bemused by the seemingly trivial origin, casually nodded, cut a piece of Beer Candy, wrapped it in paper, and placed it in his pocket. Having accomplished the desired cooking, it was time to collect useful items from the kitchen and return.
'Where were those sausages earlier?'
-A big problem!!!-
The senior hastily scribbled with his quill, the urgency so great that the last word was incomplete.
"What's the matter?"
-The warehouse keeper is coming! Hide in the corner!-
"Heat, distort the air!" The senior chanted along with his spell. This was a much more elaborate magic than before.
A convincing illusion was necessary to cover the mess made by the cooking in the kitchen.
"Can we really deceive the warehouse keeper with this?"
-I don't know! Just stay quiet!-
The senior's tension spread to the other students. Yi-Han and the Black Tortoise students watched the kitchen door with rigid faces.
"...?"
However, the warehouse keeper walking in the corridor didn't open the door. Yi-Han sensed the warehouse keeper casting a spell outside.
"He's casting a spell!"
-Casting a spell... Wait. How did you know?-
The senior paused, taken aback while writing with his quill. He had set up a far-seeing summon in the corridor to detect anyone approaching, but the freshman had no such thing.
How did he know?
"The movement of mana indicates the use of a spell, doesn't it?"
-You’re able to sense that from here? No. That's not important right now. The warehouse keeper seems to be up to something.-
The senior looked down the hallway in dismay. The warehouse keeper, who should have just patrolled and rested if nothing was amiss, was now casting spells on each door for some reason.
That spell is...
'Space magic!'
The senior's face turned ashen. Breaking space magic was notoriously more difficult than other types of magic. Among all magics, it was infamously difficult. To cast such magic on the doors...
'What's he doing! Has he gone mad?'
It was supposed to be a normal patrol, and if nothing unusual was found, just return to rest. Today, for some unfathomable reason, the warehouse keeper had cast space magic on every door.
After the warehouse keeper disappeared, the senior tried to leave the kitchen by opening the door but soon returned inside. To Yi-Han and the Black Tortoise students, it seemed as if the door had merely opened and closed.
"What are you doing?"
-...Try it yourself, and you'll see.-
The freshmen went out and came back in immediately, looking at the door with the same baffled expression as the senior.
-The space of the door has been twisted. It's the warehouse keeper's magic.-
"Do you have a way to solve this, senior?"
-No. We're doomed.-
Yi-Han nodded resignedly to the senior's written words.
"So, we end up in the punishment room after all."
"Sorry, Wardanaz. It's our fault."
"It's alright. I was prepared for this from the start. Just keep your promise later. I didn't take anything, but just in case, I hid them well."
The senior was astounded by Yi-Han's unchanging expression even at the brink of entering the punishment room.
What kind of...?
-Actually... there might be a way.-
"Oh? Is that so?"
The senior became seriously curious about what situation would finally fluster this freshman boy.
