A stranger appeared before Yi-Han, who reacted immediately with a respectful bow. He was aware that guests from outside the academy were visiting this week.
‘Must be a mage from the outside.’
"Hello."
"Do you know who I am?"
The elderly mage was puzzled. Despite the fame attached to the name Eumidiphos, few knew the face of this old mage. She seemed more like a kind-hearted grandmother, not someone to be respectfully greeted.
"I'm not sure. But since you’re a visitor from outside, it's only right to show respect."
"Such politeness is rare in a talented mage!"
Eumidiphos was surprised. Usually, a mage's character was inversely proportional to their talent. The more gifted, the more arrogant and haughty they became. It wouldn't have been surprising if a boy like Yi-Han had spat on the ground upon meeting Eumidiphos and asked disdainfully, "Who are you?"
Moreover, he was from the Wardanaz family and studied under Boladi Bagrak.
Eumidiphos was amazed by Yi-Han's unexpected politeness.
‘How can such a student be under Boladi Bagrak?’
"You defeated the Colossal Hungry Ghost. Weren't you surprised?"
"I was, but I believed I could handle it with the magic I've learned."
Yi-Han gave a textbook answer, cautious due to the unknown status of his interlocutor. After all, the visitor might have connections with the skull principal or Professor Boladi.
"It didn't anger you, what Boladi Bagrak put you through?"
Eumidiphos found Yi-Han's calm and composure most astonishing. The Colossal Hungry Ghost was an unforeseen event, even for Boladi Bagrak. It should've been in the lower dungeon, not up here. Any young mage would normally be enraged, especially one as talented and thus presumably arrogant as Yi-Han. But he remained measured in his response.
‘She’s an acquaintance of Professor Boladi!’
Not calling him 'professor' showed they knew each other personally. Yi-Han patiently responded again.
"No, Madam. Professor Boladi prepared it all to teach me. Why should I be angry?"
"Amazing!"
The old mage was astounded.
'How did Boladi Bagrak get such an exceptional student?'
Typically, mages with talent lacked character, and those with character lacked talent. But Yi-Han had both, and he even tolerated Boladi Bagrak's temperament.
"Truly remarkable."
Yi-Han nodded, satisfied that his counterpart seemed pleased.
Professors Boladi and Garcia then appeared from below. Professor Garcia, looking worried, called out.
"Are you alright, Yi-Han? To encounter a Colossal Hungry Ghost..."
Had others not been present, Yi-Han might have joined Professor Garcia in cursing Professor Boladi. But with many eyes upon him, he responded diplomatically again.
"I'm fine, Professor. Professor Boladi must have calculated all this."
"The Colossal Hungry Ghost wasn't planned. It came up from below, Yi-Han."
"...Ah."
Yi-Han realized then.
No wonder his spells hadn't worked!
Although anger welled up in him, he maintained his facial muscles and replied.
"It's fine, Professor. It turned out to be an even better opportunity."
"Student Yi-Han..."
Professor Garcia, unaware of Yi-Han's inner turmoil, felt a pang of sympathy. She thought it would be okay for Yi-Han to show anger in such a situation, but his excessive kindness was distressing.
"By the way, this is Eumidiphos. You've heard the name, haven't you?"
"!"
Yi-Han had indeed heard of Eumidiphos, a renowned water element mage from the empire. He bowed respectfully once again.
"It's an honor to meet you, Eumidiphos."
"To show such respect for a not-so-great name is rather embarrassing."
"No, Eumidiphos."
"You were spinning the water beads, right?"
Yi-Han nodded in response to the old mage's question.
"It wasn't perfect."
"If it had been perfect, the other mages here would have broken their staffs in shame. Even so, what you achieved is remarkable."
Eumidiphos, lost in thought, finally spoke.
"I'll be staying a few more days. Would you like to receive some additional teachings?"
"!"
While Boladi and Eumidiphos showed no change in expression, Professor Garcia was visibly shocked. Eumidiphos offering to teach was no trivial matter. Ordinary mages could beg for days without receiving such an opportunity from Eumidiphos. Only those with gem-like talent could catch Eumidiphos's eye for even simple teachings. Boladi was one such case.
But this was usually when they first sought Eumidiphos's guidance.
The fact that Eumidiphos offered to teach an unaccomplished freshman like Yi-Han was astonishing. Garcia found it unbelievable, and Boladi's impassive face only added to the frustration.
"Accept it, Yi-Han! It's a great opportunity!"
"Thank you, but..."
"?!"
As Yi-Han hesitated, Professor Garcia was almost dying of frustration.
"Do you have a reason to refuse?"
Eumidiphos asked, puzzled. There seemed to be no reason to decline.
"I'm currently learning from Professor Boladi, and it wouldn't be polite to accept teachings from someone else without his permission."
Yi-Han was cautious. Professors were often more narrow-minded than one would think. Agreeing upfront could lead to retaliation in grading.
Of course, Boladi didn't seem like such a person, but one never knew with the world. Caution was best.
"Hah!"
Eumidiphos let out another exclamation, longer than before.
"The world is truly unfair... Living righteously doesn't always bring fortune."
If that were true, how could a student with such integrity end up under someone like Boladi Bagrak? Eumidiphos genuinely thought this.
"Eh?"
"Nothing. You're truly a polite child."
Eumidiphos turned to look at Boladi Bagrak.
"You've taught him well."
"Yes."
"But it's really not your doing."
"??"
Boladi showed a puzzled reaction to the old mage's comment.
Why?
Eumidiphos had no intention of explaining to Boladi. She got straight to the point.
"May I teach him a bit?"
"Yes."
"It's agreed then. I'll be counting on you for the next few days."
The old mage patted Yi-Han on the shoulder and then turned to leave.
Sensing something odd in the conversation, Yi-Han asked Professor Garcia.
"What's the relationship between Eumidiphos and Professor Bagrak?"
"Professor Bagrak was once a student under Eumidiphos."
Upon hearing the answer, Yi-Han's face turned paler than the darkness of the dungeon.
As Yi-Han cursed his choices, Professor Boladi slowly spoke to him.
"Well done."
"...Thank you."
Yi-Han barely suppressed the urge to add 'you bastard' after his words. How could he not have noticed the Colossal Hungry Ghost coming...
"By the way, Professor. There was something earlier that interfered with my lightning magic."
"I put it there."
"...Ah."
Boladi had placed the item to disrupt lightning magic, focusing Yi-Han on water magic. He trembled with gratitude for the professor's meticulous care.
"Your multi-elemental control is almost perfect. A few more battles, and you'll get used to it."
"Yes... I understand."
Now, Yi-Han felt confident enough to face creatures like the Colossal Hungry Ghost. He believed he could prepare and fight them.
"Next time, I'll make sure other monsters can't enter where the Colossal Hungry Ghost is."
"Thank you... Wait a moment, Professor."
"?"
"Next time with the Colossal Hungry Ghost... You mean there will be others?"
"Hungry Ghosts pose no threat to you."
Professor Boladi looked at Yi-Han as if wondering what he was talking about. To improve in magic, one must feel threatened, but ordinary Hungry Ghosts were no threat to Yi-Han. He needed to go where the Colossal Hungry Ghost appeared.
"...Next time, I'll fight without using magic."
Yi-Han attempted to resist, but Professor Boladi shook his head.
"Even if you remove other enhancement spells, it'll be the same. Hungry Ghost won't cut it."
"...I see."
After a moment of hesitation, Boladi spoke again.
"I misjudged."
"Excuse me?"
"Try the spin attribute."
Boladi had thought Yi-Han was moving too fast, intending to let him become familiar with other attributes first. But watching today's battle changed his mind. A truly talented mage wouldn't stop exploring unknown realms just because they were blocked. Seeing Yi-Han attempt spinning while managing multiple elements confirmed this.
As a Professor, he shouldn't hastily obstruct his student's path. Boladi had another moment of teaching enlightenment.
Seeing the professor nod encouragingly, Yi-Han thought wryly.
'Should I hit him once and go to the punishment room?'
After all, it was because of him that he had to try the spin attribute…
"Professor."
"What is it?"
After the class, Yi-Han couldn't bring himself to say 'goodbye' to Professor Boladi as he had planned. Instead, he found himself accompanying the professor from the underground to a festival booth outside the main building.
Standing together in the modest space apparently assigned to the professor, Yi-Han already longed to return to the dormitory.
Tiresome during class time and now during break too?
"Another student... um, never mind."
Yi-Han almost asked if another student could do it but quickly realized. As far as he knew, he was the only one attending Boladi's lectures.
"Are you also participating in the event, Professor?"
"Yes."
"Do you like festivals?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Gonadaltes."
"Ah."
With Boladi's brief response, Yi-Han quickly grasped the situation. After all, Boladi, who wasn't even a priest, wouldn't devote himself to festival operations for the students' enjoyment.
'That evil principal. Surely this is to torment me.'
In truth, it was an imperial command, but Yi-Han was unaware of that.
"So what should we do?"
Yi-Han looked to his left. Priests wearing gloves were baking sweet pastries for the freshmen. Then, he turned to the right, where priests in colorful costumes were performing a play.
'It's overwhelmingly unfavorable?'
No sane person would likely choose Boladi's stall over the appealing options to the left or right. However, doing nothing was not an option. They had to at least pretend to be doing something.
'It's a relief that this has nothing to do with my grades.'
Professor Boladi pulled out a ticket from his pocket. Yi-Han's eyes widened in surprise. Astonishingly, it was a pass to go outside!
"This will be given to the winner."
"Profe... Professor."
"What is it?"
"Can I also win this?"
"There's only one."
"What if it's still left after it's over?"
"Do you need it?"
Professor Boladi looked at Yi-Han, wondering why he wanted to go outside.
Yi-Han nodded earnestly.
"Yes."
"Alright. I'll give it to you."
"..."
Yi-Han's eyes flared with determination. No matter what, he couldn't let the pass be given to anyone else.
'I'll guard it with my life.'
"Professor, what's the event?"
Professor Boladi pointed upwards. Yi-Han looked up.
New letters had appeared on the tent's canopy.
<Avoid the Water Beads>.
