The students of the White Tiger fixed their most ferocious gazes upon Yi-Han, compelling him to elaborate further.
"The problem with magic being too strong might not seem apparent. But it's more serious than one would think," Yi-Han cautioned.
In truth, enchantment magic cast on non-living objects wasn't too dangerous, even if overly potent.
Should the magic fail due to an excess of mana, the risks or side effects were minimal.
At worst, the object would be destroyed, but that was usually the extent of it.
Furthermore, a prolonged duration or increased effect was not particularly problematic...
However, other forms of magic carried greater risks.
The very reason Yi-Han was cautious with fire element magic was evident.
A single slip in controlling the mana during casting could unleash a devastating area of effect fire spell.
"Do you understand? Drawing too much mana is dangerous."
"...I see," came the hesitant reply.
"But I don't see how this relates to us."
'These heartless brutes,' Yi-Han grumbled inwardly.
Their indifference to problems not directly affecting them was typical.
Indeed, many hailing from knightly families were noted for their rudeness.
"Regardless, thank you, Wardanaz," the students expressed their gratitude as the additional lecture concluded.
Their thanks were not merely a formality, but stemmed from genuine improvement.
While perfect success was elusive, achieving 70-80% effectiveness was more than sufficient.
Such a level was adequate to enchant a cloak or coat for warmth...
The gathered students pondered inwardly.
'But how did we actually succeed?'
Yi-Han wondered similarly.
'Incredible. How did these kids learn this?'
Both Yi-Han and the White Tiger students realized a hard truth.
Yi-Han's teachings weren't as helpful as they thought!
Yi-Han couldn't understand why they couldn't grasp simple movements, while the students couldn't fathom how he manipulated mana so effortlessly.
Nevertheless, as the additional lecture neared its end, some students managed to succeed.
Why, though?
"Is it because we don't want to lose to Wardanaz?"
"Perhaps, though it seems too simplistic."
The White Tiger students murmured amongst themselves.
"It seems we're done here. Practice your magic diligently."
"Understood."
"An hour a day should suffice, right?"
One student casually remarked, prompting Yi-Han to glare as if hearing nonsense.
"An hour a day? Are you speaking sense?"
"...Two hours?"
"Two hours a day? Are you speaking sense?"
The White Tiger students felt a chill.
No wonder he's from the Wardanaz family!
'Two hours a day should be plenty, right?'
"Those who think two hours a day is enough will never improve," Yi-Han declared.
The student was shocked, feeling as if his thoughts were exposed.
"Anyway, that's for you to decide..."
Yi-Han set down a chest he had brought from the tower with a thud.
"I've brought fabrics to prepare for the cold."
"Thank you, Wardanaz."
A White Tiger student reached for the chest, only for Yi-Han to dismissively swat the hand away.
“!?” A baffled exclamation rang out.
"There's no such thing as a free lunch. Bring something to exchange."
There was a moment of silence. Hadn't this been offered freely?
"I don't have any money," came the hesitant reply.
"Barter will suffice. Food, tools, artifacts—anything of value is acceptable for exchange."
"We don't have anything like that..."
Yi-Han looked at the White Tiger students with a mix of contempt and disdain.
For these students, all from knightly families, it was their first time encountering such a gaze, wrapping them in an unfamiliar sense of humiliation.
"Wait, what about credit? I heard you gave credit to those from the Black Tortoise?"
"Give you credit, based on trust?"
Yi-Han's tone suggested the absurdity of the idea.
"I pledge on my family's honor!"
Although Anglago spoke firmly, Yi-Han remained unimpressed.
'These kids would probably ambush me if I went to their family for the money.'
Catching sight of Dolgyu desperately gesturing from behind, Yi-Han reconsidered.
-Please accept it!-
Anglago, despite his outward appearance, took great pride in his knighthood. If Richmond of the Black Tortoise had received a promise based on family honor, and Anglago didn't?
He might well spend days weeping in his room.
"...Alright, I agree."
A sigh of relief escaped Anglago, his worry about rejection now alleviated.
'I'll have to take Dolgyu with me when I visit their family later.'
Yi-Han, who had spent the morning helping his friends, seemed to have earned the heavens' favor as the blizzard began to abate in the afternoon.
Professor Bungaegor, clad in unusually thick clothing, clicked her tongue in sympathy at the sight of the shivering students.
"To end up in such a magic academy..."
“...”
“...”
"Forget it. I was going to teach advanced techniques involving horseback riding today but..."
Clang!
Professor Bungaegor opened the door of a cage. A lizard of considerable size, capable of carrying several people, crawled out. Its hide, almost indistinguishable from the snow, made it difficult to spot once it blended into the snowy terrain.
"It's a Snow Lizard. Anyone familiar with it?"
Several students, including those from colder regions like Nillia, raised their hands. Professor Bungaegor nodded in acknowledgment.
"It's quite famous in cold regions."
The Snow Lizard.
A creature favored as a mount in cold regions due to its resistance to cold and remarkable stamina. However, it wasn't without its drawbacks.
"They're rare, hard to spot, and above all, notoriously temperamental to tame... but once tamed, they're invaluable. Today's lesson is about getting acquainted with these creatures. Divide into groups based on your tower."
As the students sorted themselves, Professor Bungaegor released three more Snow Lizards.
"I'll lend them to you until the snow stops. Try to bond with them."
The students were taken aback by the professor's offer. She awkwardly stroked her mustache, appearing slightly embarrassed.
"Don't thank me too much. It's the least I can do for my students."
Yi-Han thought to himself, 'They don't seem very grateful.'
The students' expressions were more of confusion and unease than gratitude.
Even the most skilled hunters in the North might exclaim, "You're lending us such a precious beast?" However, from the students' perspective, it was more like, "Why lend us such a fierce monster instead of just its hide?"
"Wardanaz. Wardanaz."
"What?"
"I never expected to see such a rare monster. Isn't the professor amazing?!"
Nillia whispered, seemingly oblivious to the context. Yi-Han nodded and replied.
"I understand how you feel, but it would be better not to show it in front of your friends."
The students of the Blue Dragon surrounded the Snow Lizard.
The Snow Lizard, rolling its eyes, suddenly launched a snowball at the approaching students.
Thump!
"Ouch! That little..."
Having only recently been released from the punishment room, Gainando reacted angrily upon being hit by the snowball.
"Curse..."
"Stop it, Gainando! We need to tame it!"
"Do you realize how useful this creature can be?!" Asan rebuked him.
If what they had read in books was true, the Snow Lizard would be a significant aid in overcoming the current climatic crisis.
With its robust stamina, ability to carry several students, and knack for sensing prey in the snow, it was invaluable.
"Don't approach rashly, try to befriend it first!" Professor Bungaegor's shout prompted the students to try various methods.
Offering favored food (Gainando tearfully lost a piece of meat that resembled blood), mimicking the lizard's posture (Asan got hit in the face with a snowball while attempting this), and so on.
"Wardanaz. Can you give it a try?"
"Me?" Yi-Han hesitated.
He would normally have obliged a friend's request but...
'I doubt this will elicit a good response.'
Yi-Han, who had trouble befriending creatures during his travels across the snowy mountains, preferred to keep a distance...
'Wouldn't it get scared and run away?'
If it ran away, that would be one thing, but a rampage would be disastrous. Yi-Han clicked his tongue and said.
"Fine. But everyone, form a circle around it to create a barrier."
"!"
"What... What are you going to do? You're not planning to kill it, are you?"
Shyles of the Richmond family, a horse mixed-blood student from the Black Tortoise took great pride in his heritage.
He was proud of the skills passed down through his family, essential for running a transportation business with carriages throughout the vast empire. It wasn't just about handling horses; one needed to manage various monsters adapted to different terrains and environments.
'This is an opportunity.'
Shyles saw the current lesson on taming the Snow Lizard as a stroke of luck.
Though he had not stood out in previous riding lessons, it was indeed Shyles who should have excelled.
"Follow me, everyone! I've had experience taming Snow Lizards!"
"Really!?"
"Yes, Nillia! Have you ever done it too? If so, you can help..."
"I've caught one before..."
"...Everyone, follow my lead!"
Shyles enthusiastically guided his peers.
The first step to befriending a Snow Lizard was to mimic its behavior.
While other tower students had tried and failed, their attempts lacked sincerity and finesse.
"You must be sincere! Think like you are the Snow Lizard! Hold snow in your mouth!"
"Do we really need to go this far?"
"Who's complaining when Shyles is helping us like this!"
Salko, sensing Shyles' earnestness, chided his friends and followed the instructions more fervently than anyone.
The students of the Black Tortoise crawled on all fours and rolled over the snow.
Even Professor Bungaegor was impressed.
'There's someone with the knack.'
Though it might have looked ridiculous at first glance, this was the proper approach.
To become a skilled explorer, one must be well-versed and understand the countless varieties of monsters.
"Spit snow! Flick your tongue!"
Kruk. Kruk.
"Enough! It has accepted us! We can get closer now!"
The students of the Black Tortoise erupted in cheers.
At this sight, Professor Bungaegor smiled.
The progress had been quicker than expected, thanks to everyone's earnest and heartfelt efforts.
'Now, what about the others...'
The students of the Immortal Phoenix had somewhat bonded with the Snow Lizard, but it seemed they had underestimated it. The Snow Lizard playfully flung snow with its tail at them.
Meanwhile, the White Tiger students were engaged in a standoff with their Snow Lizard...
And the Blue Dragon?
"It's a miracle! Wardanaz has befriended the Snow Lizard!"
"Professor! The Snow Lizard has accepted Wardanaz! Look over here!"
The Blue Dragon students called out to Professor Bungaegor, cheering loudly.
'Has he become friendly with it already? That was too fast.'
Surprised, Professor Bungaegor turned to look at the Snow Lizard.
The Snow Lizard, with only its eyes rolling, was trembling beside Yi-Han, unable to move.
"...That's not being friendly!"
