Unaware of Yi-Han's inner thoughts, Professor Boladi spoke.
"Hungry Ghost. A lower rank one."
At the end of the passage in the dimly lit underground dungeon, a corpse, seemingly wrapped in a sticky, dark mucus, revealed itself.
It was a monster called a Hungry Ghost.
An undead monster not under the control of a mage revealed its raw, fleshly aura so intensely that it could be felt on the skin.
-■■■!
At that moment, the magic light summoned by Professor Boladi extinguished.
While an ordinary student would have panicked, Yi-Han did not flinch and immediately recited a spell.
"Light."
He was prepared to respond no matter what Professor Boladi did at any time.
As soon as Yi-Han summoned the light, Professor Boladi nodded in approval.
It seemed as though he was commending a good judgment.
'Is there no such thing as a Ghost Professor?'
A Hungry Ghost was an undead monster transformed due to the sins and misdeeds accumulated in life.
Then, it wouldn't be strange if there were a Ghost Professor.
Well, a Ghost Professor would be terrifying in its own way...
"Spring forth."
Yi-Han whispered a spell, slightly quieter than the illumination spell he had just cast.
He quickly realized that raising one's voice in the dungeon was of no benefit.
Professor Boladi internally awarded him high marks.
Quick reflexes and an innate sense of vigilance.
These were virtues a battle mage must possess.
Several water orbs divided and one of them ferociously struck the Hungry Ghost.
With a dull sound, the jaw of the Hungry Ghost shattered. The creature, which had been striding forward, staggered.
'I must immobilize it.'
For a mage, it was best to avoid close combat. Yi-Han aimed for the knees of the Hungry Ghost with the water orbs.
Another mage might have found such precise targeting challenging.
But Yi-Han, having trained with Professor Boladi, had become proficient in controlling elemental magic.
One more hit.
The water orb accurately struck the moving knee of the Hungry Ghost, toppling it.
This time, Professor Boladi did not nod. For him, this was something too obvious to acknowledge.
Yi-Han didn't expect much and thus wasn't disappointed.
However, it was a pity.
Had there been an outsider guest present, this spectacle would have been far more intriguing than any mediocre event!
Yi-Han easily disposed of the lower rank Hungry Ghost before it could approach.
Then he checked the fallen creature. Sadly, the Hungry Ghost had little of value. It didn't even possess the common magic stone.
Professor Boladi, misinterpreting Yi-Han's actions, spoke.
"Ensuring it's properly down is wise. But getting close to a monster is unnecessary. Learn to confirm using magic."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Keep moving forward."
Professor Boladi advised from a little distance behind Yi-Han.
Yi-Han, about to walk mindlessly, hesitated.
'Wait a moment.'
He wondered if blindly following Professor Boladi's instructions could be dangerous.
After all, why had Professor Boladi brought him to this dungeon?
It was for Yi-Han to manipulate multiple water elemental spells.
Then, the dungeon might contain traps that forced the use of multiple spells.
"Space, be perceived. Feet, grasp the earth!"
There was a saying about testing the waters before crossing a bridge.
But for a mage, that wasn't necessary.
After testing the bridge, one could simply fly across.
Seeing Yi-Han cast various enhancement spells, Professor Boladi smiled faintly.
A student who learns quickly from experience is a good student, and Yi-Han was learning even before experiencing.
Perhaps this was the joy of teaching.
'Professor Boladi standing still somehow makes me more uneasy.'
Yi-Han took out a bone fragment from his pocket and threw it.
"Appear, bone hand!"
The summoned bone hand flew forward.
Suddenly, a Hungry Ghost sprang from what he thought was a wall. Yi-Han's eyes widened.
'Invisibility?!'
The bone hand, swimming through the air, tried to strangle the Hungry Ghost, but the creature's strength was superior. The bone hand was quickly repelled.
Thud!
The bone hand was more of an auxiliary than an attack spell.
It was enough if it just bought time.
Realizing the appearance of the Hungry Ghost, Yi-Han again launched water orbs to bring down his enemy.
"...Can they also go invisible?"
"The traits of Hungry Ghosts vary."
"..."
Yi-Han decided this approach wouldn't work.
Clink, clink-
As Yi-Han began putting on various accessories, Professor Boladi raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Fire magic."
"Yes."
"A good idea. A great mage never settles."
A mage accustomed to water elements but only using them was unlikely to advance.
A great mage must continually seek new challenges.
'I'd like to settle, but you don't give me a chance to.'
Yi-Han thought inwardly, focusing on fire.
Unlike the familiar water element, the fire element required much more concentration.
Especially since a lapse in focus could burn everything around.
Yi-Han chose fire for a simple reason.
'Let's shoot everywhere it could be.'
With limited knowledge about Hungry Ghosts, Yi-Han had few options.
He chose to rely on quantity.
He would shoot everywhere a monster might be!
For this, the fire element was more advantageous than water.
Whooosh!
Small flames erupted around Yi-Han. They were much smaller than water orbs, but considering the properties of fire, they were sufficient.
"It seems you've adapted well."
"I've just started, though?"
"Go through the dungeon and come down. I'll be waiting."
With those words, Professor Boladi disappeared.
"..."
Left alone, Yi-Han refrained from cursing Professor Boladi.
His voice might still be heard.
Bang!
Cursing the vanished Professor Boladi wouldn't change reality.
Yi-Han silently dealt with the Hungry Ghosts.
'I think I'm getting the hang of it.'
The Hungry Ghosts in Professor Boladi's dungeon preferred to use invisibility.
Using the dark dungeon terrain to their advantage, those clinging to walls became easy to spot once familiar.
Those clinging to the ceiling in silence or crouching in stagnant puddles were startling even for Yi-Han...
But even this fear became familiar over time.
Flames shot in all directions. Though the flames, only as big as two finger joints, weren't very powerful, they were effective.
Like fireworks, the flames burst in all directions. As soon as they touched a Hungry Ghost, it couldn't withstand and burst out.
-■■■■!
Once they emerged, he would immediately launch water orbs to bring them down.
Most Hungry Ghosts could be lured out with flames, and if any remained, he could detect them with spatial perception as they approached.
There were times when Yi-Han was caught off guard by an ambush, but in those moments...
Whack!
Yi-Han swung his staff, striking a Hungry Ghost lurking in the alley.
He wasn't sure if it was just his feeling, but it seemed more destructive than the water orbs.
"...!"
Walking through the narrow cave passage, Yi-Han halted when a cool breeze blew from afar.
At the end of the passage was a rather spacious area. It was too dim to see everything, but it felt like a plaza.
Normally, one would be happy to find such a space after walking through a narrow path, but...
'This feels ominously wrong.'
Yi-Han felt his entire body's instincts sending warnings.
The moment he entered the plaza from the passage, he might be enthusiastically welcomed by Hungry Ghosts!
However, he couldn't just turn back. Yi-Han began preparing additional magic.
Professor Garcia, with a bright expression, guided the old mage visitor from outside.
It was a delightful occasion for a guest to visit the academy during the festival period.
Eumidiphos.
A renowned master of water element magic in the empire, some of Eumidiphos's developed spells were being effectively used by mages in the empire.
Having learned Eumidiphos's magic during his own student days, Professor Garcia couldn't help but feel elated by such a visit.
"It's truly an honor to meet you."
"There's no need to hold an old mage like me in such high regard..."
Eumidiphos, looking like a kind grandmother, was someone no one would guess to be a battle mage who had achieved numerous dazzling feats in her youth.
Professor Garcia once again looked at Eumidiphos with eyes filled with respect.
"The magic academy is always a beautiful place."
"Yes, it's in a scenic location."
"And the students are good as well."
"I think so too."
"The professors..."
"They are all excellent."
"Not really."
Eumidiphos shook her head. Professor Garcia coughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassed.
"Is that so? Everyone is working hard though..."
"It's not about skill, but character... But with Gonadaltes around, it can't be helped. He might be the root of all problems."
"..."
Professor Garcia felt torn between agreeing with the great old mage and the duty of not speaking ill of the principal as a professor.
She must restrain himself!
"Do you have any interesting students?"
"Yes."
"There's nothing more joyful than nurturing good students. I managed other tasks well enough, but I didn't do a great job in training disciples."
Hearing Eumidiphos's humble words, Professor Garcia shook her head as if to say, 'What are you talking about?'
"Your disciples are all impressive..."
"They all have their shortcomings. Speaking of which, is Boladi Bagrak here?"
"Yes."
"I should meet him before I leave. Would you show me the way?"
"Of course."
While guiding Eumidiphos, Professor Garcia suddenly remembered.
Wasn't it time for the <Basic Magic Abuse>, no, the <Repetitive Training of Basic Magic Combat> class?
'I hope Eumidiphos gets to see the lecture and gives a piece of her mind.'
Professor Garcia opened the door to the classroom downstairs.
But no one was there.
"???"
"They must be conducting the lecture elsewhere."
Eumidiphos tapped the floor with her staff. Suddenly, footsteps lingering on the ground glowed green, revealing their traces.
"Ah, it's nice weather, so they must be in the courtyard..."
"?"
Eumidiphos looked at Professor Garcia as if wondering what she was talking about.
Professor Boladi was not the type to hold classes in the courtyard just because the weather was nice.
"...Not there?"
"He must have gone to the dungeon."
"The dungeon?"
"Yes, the dungeon. When a student's achievement reaches a certain level, practical training in the dungeon is faster. Is he teaching third year?"
"..."
"Is he teaching third year? Or fourth year?"
Stunned by the shocking revelation, Professor Garcia shook her head at Eumidiphos's question.
"Um, actually... Professor Bagrak is not teaching third or fourth year."
"Fifth year? If it's fifth year, off-campus would be better than on-campus."
"..."
Professor Garcia didn't respond.
Instead, she quickened his pace, filled with anxiety and apprehension.
"Let's go!"
"Why are you so flustered?"
"Professor Bagrak seems to have taken a freshman to the dungeon!"
"A freshman?"
"Yes!"
"They must be quite capable..."
"Capable or not, that's not the point!"
Professor Garcia suddenly lost her temper with the respected old mage.
