"Feet, grasp the earth," Yi-Han chanted without hesitation. He could not afford to waste time, as the White Tiger student was rolling helplessly before the Colossal Hungry Ghost.
"Space, be perceived," he invoked the <Spatial Perception> magic. Simple yet powerful in this gloomy dungeon, it amplified the effects of the surrounding rocks and pebbles, potential variables in a real fight.
"Hands, cleave the enemy. Eyes, pierce the darkness," Yi-Han rapidly cast a series of enhancement spells. To this, Dolgyu nodded, visibly tense. Despite being a first-year, Yi-Han exhibited the prowess of a senior mage. Dolgyu, though not well-versed in enhancement magic, understood that casting them in quick succession was extraordinary.
'Incredible, Yi-Han!' Dolgyu thought, gripping his sword tightly. Once Yi-Han completed his spells, Dolgyu was ready to join him in the fray.
"Flash forth!" Yi-Han struck, his staff unleashing bolts of lightning. The advancing Colossal Hungry Ghost reeled under the impact, screaming in pain.
The destructive and intense lightning, even in its simplest form, dealt damage to the Colossal Hungry Ghost. Unlike water bullets, which it could resist with its thick armor, it couldn't prevent electrocution.
"Flash forth, flash forth, flash forth, flash forth!" Yi-Han rapidly repeated the spell. Lightning blossomed from his staff, repeatedly striking the Colossal Hungry Ghost, causing it to flinch and halt.
Watching in awe, Dolgyu snapped back to reality and asked, "Yi-Han, aren't you going down?"
It was puzzling to see Yi-Han continue to unleash lightning without descending, especially after casting enhancement spells for close combat.
"Why should I go down?" Yi-Han questioned.
"Uh... Didn't you cast those spells for...?"
A mage's power wasn't infinite. Blindly using all available magic was foolish. Efficiency was key, using only what was necessary for the situation. If Yi-Han had cast enhancement spells, it suggested preparation for melee combat, or did it?
"Ah, the enhancement spells? Just a habit. No need to go down if I can handle it from here."
Dolgyu relaxed his grip on the sword.
'Taking it slow.'
Yi-Han was in no rush. His position and circumstances were advantageous. While the lightning didn't inflict severe damage initially, it gradually wore down the Colossal Hungry Ghost. Continual attacks would eventually break through, much like water droplets piercing a rock—feasible only for someone with Yi-Han's immense mana.
Other mages wouldn't consider using weak spells in rapid succession to defeat a monster. Such an approach would exhaust their mana before defeating the creature.
"Flash forth, flash forth, flash forth... Shield, unfold!"
Yi-Han changed his incantation. Water materialized out of thin air, forming a shield that intercepted a sharp rock hurled by the Colossal Hungry Ghost.
Thud!
"Hmm. Odd. I thought having a sword-wielding opponent nearby would suffice," Yi-Han murmured, puzzling Dolgyu who looked on in disbelief.
‘If you throw lightning like that, even if there are many opponents in front of it, you’ll still feel the heat!’
Despite facing a sword-wielding foe, such relentless assault made it natural for Yi-Han to become the prime target.
"It’s climbing up!"
"Block it!"
The students of the White Tiger formed a line on the slope. Simultaneously, magic rained down from above. However, unlike the Hungry Ghost, the thick armor of the Colossal Hungry Ghost deflected the mediocre curses and low-circle magic.
Emboldened, the Colossal Hungry Ghost, its fingers turned into hooks, scaled the steep slope. The White Tiger students' faces turned to horror as the creature leaped up, faster than they had anticipated.
'The beast is breaking through!' Dolgyu tensed his grip on the sword once more. From this angle, it was evident that Yi-Han's enhancement spells were not entirely useless, providing a contingency...
"Everyone, duck!"
Whoosh!
Water bullets, spinning erratically, struck the face of the Colossal Hungry Ghost as it climbed the cliff. Not just one, but dozens in succession! Even with its thick armor, the Colossal Hungry Ghost couldn't withstand the assault in its unstable position and tumbled down.
Yi-Han again swung his staff, sending forth a lightning bolt.
"Flash forth!"
The Colossal Hungry Ghost, unable to climb, eventually fell.
Without a word, Dolgyu descended the slope.
"Are you okay?"
"Th-thank you, Choi."
The White Tiger student struggled to his feet, bewildered.
"There shouldn't have been any Colossal Hungry Ghosts around here. Where did this one come from?"
"...Who knows. Things are unpredictable in dungeons. Best to forget it."
"Is that so?"
Upon reaching the top, the students, jubilant from the successful battle, glared at the White Tiger student.
"We told you not to act rashly."
"I... I'm sorry, everyone."
The White Tiger student wilted under their stares. Few could withstand such scrutiny, even those from knightly families.
"Let's remember, anyone can make a mistake. No one's hurt, so let's move on."
"Wardanaz..."
The White Tiger student was once again moved. Saved and now not even scolded.
Perhaps Dolgyu wasn't under any enchantment but was influenced by such actions.
'I need to change the topic quickly.'
Before the conversation could drift to 'How did the Colossal Hungry Ghost get here?' Yi-Han spoke.
"But why did you go down?"
"It was because of this helmet."
The White Tiger student pointed to his helmet, emitting a faint bluish light.
"Aha. So the helmet summoned you?"
"No. I was just curious about the light."
Yi-Han looked at the White Tiger student as one would look at an idiot. The student avoided his gaze.
"I... I was rash."
"It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes. But it's good you didn't touch the helmet."
Handling an unknown artifact, especially one found in an underground dungeon, was risky.
"Uh... I already touched it."
"..."
"...Sorry."
"No, everyone can make mistakes..."
Bikelintz, a revered knight of the White Wood Knight Order, watched the young squires. These squires did not belong to the White Poplar Order. They were boys and girls from various knightly families of the empire, rigorously trained to become pillars of support for their respective orders or families, strengthening the empire's defenses in the future.
The reason these squires had come to Einroguard with Bikelintz was singular.
"We can't lose to those learning magic."
"Shh, be careful with your words. If someone else hears, you'll be scolded."
Inside the Order, there were mages who were generally respected. Considering the challenging and remote locations of the knight orders, their mages had many responsibilities. However, these young squires lacked the experience and breadth of thought to make such discernments.
"Aren't you upset? Those not even trained by the Order received such praise from Bikelintz?"
"Of course, I'm upset!"
The issue began when Bikelintz returned from Einroguard, lavishing praise on the students there.
-"They were truly excellent. One even bested me..."-
-"Really? That's astonishing!"-
Such words ignited the squires' pride. They couldn't accept being outperformed by students from a magic academy, who were merely learning magic while they underwent rigorous training.
-"There must have been some mistake."-
-"Perhaps some trickery in that den of mages. Who knows what kind of magic traps they set?"-
-"Sir Bikelintz, honorable and generous that he is, might have overlooked their trickery..."-
Finally, the squires resolved to shatter this illusion themselves. After unanimously requesting a contest, Bikelintz, after some deliberation, secured permission.
Under the pretext of a mid-term exam, they were allowed to enter the magic academy.
"Now, everyone."
Bikelintz spoke softly, his voice commanding respect even from the squires. In his voice, there was an irrefutable power.
"This is Einroguard, a sacred place for mages. As such, I trust you will not act in a way that loses the dignity, honor, and pride of a knight."
The squires winced at Bikelintz's words. He had clearly perceived their emotions.
"We swear, Sir Bikelintz."
"We'll uphold our knightly pride."
"Thank you, all."
The squires marched in line through the main gate of the magic academy. They noticed the pale, skinny faces of the magic academy students, muttering as they roamed the campus.
'This is why mages are really...'
'Peculiar and untrustworthy.'
Ahead, they saw Professor Ingurdel with students from the <Basic Swordsmanship> class.
The squires whispered among themselves.
"So, which one is he?"
The one rumored to have bested Bikelintz.
Their primary target was that individual.
"Could it be from the Choi family? I heard they sent someone to a magic academy."
"Maybe the Moradi family."
"Or the Dulak family..."
As they chattered, a strikingly handsome boy approached, resembling a statue. The squires scrutinized him from head to toe.
From his appearance to his demeanor, he didn't seem to belong to a knightly family.
'A familiar face?'
'I'm not sure. Perhaps from a major noble family?'
If he wasn't from a knightly family and was a student at the magic academy, then he had nothing to do with the swordsmanship exam.
The squires relaxed their expressions, convinced that Bikelintz couldn't have been bested nor praised anyone.
"Did you come here for the swordsmanship exam?"
"Yes, that's right."
At that response, Yi-Han's expression brightened.
'So, Professor Ingurdel still has some conscience left!'
Indeed, the previous idea of facing off against the knights of the White Wood Knight Order had been absurd. This time, they had appropriately brought squires of the same age group, though their skills, honed by training morning, noon, and night, were formidable...
'Everything is relative.'
For Yi-Han, who had been bracing for knights from the White Poplar Order, these squires were more than satisfactory opponents.
"We welcome your visit."
"Thanks for the welcome. Your family?"
"Wardanaz."
"Wardanaz! The Wardanaz family?"
"Yes. Please support me."
With that, Yi-Han waved his hand and returned to his place.
"...?"
Only then did the squires sense something odd and looked at each other in confusion.
Why did this boy from the Wardanaz family ask them to 'Please support me,' and why was he sitting among the magic academy students from knightly families?
