"Move."
The more inexperienced and unskilled the mage, the more flamboyantly they waved their wands and loudly chanted his spells. The lack of confidence necessitated stronger actions to materialize their mental image.
In that regard, Yi-Han barely waved his wand and his voice was a whisper. Unbeknownst to him, this was the evident result of Professor Boladi's rigorous training.
Yonaire was astonished at the sight of the assignments naturally flying. Like paper birds, Yi-Han and Yonaire's thick assignments smoothly cut through the air, approaching the professor's pile of assignments. It was mesmerizing, a magic far superior to the rigid and jerky <Lesser Control> spells Yonaire had seen before.
‘Focus,’ Yi-Han reminded himself.
It was more than just inserting the assignments into the pile; he had to remain undetected by the professor.
-Concentrate.-
As if Professor Boladi's voice whispered in his ear.
"Inserting a paper should be simple," The voice grew clearer.
"But what about the barrier?"
"You can penetrate it. You've learned this, right?" The voice was almost burdensome in its clarity.
This was not...
...a voice in his head.
Trembling with fear, Yi-Han turned his gaze. Behind him, two professors stared intently.
Yonaire was so tense she could hardly breathe.
"Why are you looking away? Concentrate," Professor Boladi said coldly.
Instinctively, Yi-Han turned back. A professor he hadn't seen before, standing beside Boladi, suggested, "Maybe you should just give up and step back..."
"Ignore that. You can do it. Remember what you learned."
Yi-Han recalled the misfortunes of the week. Was it a curse? Running into professors just like that, and of all people, Professor Boladi...
He wondered if he should search for a potion of luck.
"It's not that. The barrier is more complex than you think."
"You can do it. Go on."
"Professors, could you please unify your advice...?" Yonaire interjected, but the professors ignored her.
Boladi insisted he could do it, while the unfamiliar professor advised retreat.
Despite the madness of the situation, Yi-Han realized something crucial.
‘A barrier, indeed.’
He had expected magic on the floating assignment pile, but not a barrier. The unfamiliar professor explained, "That barrier creates a loud noise if touched. It may be hard for you to sense, but there are invisible layers of mana rotating around that pile of papers."
Hearing this, Yi-Han focused to sense the mana. Despite the overwhelming mana emanating from him, his talent was not limited to sheer mana. His exceptional resilience, unwavering strategic mind in crises, a presence that even intimidated spirits, and especially his ability to detect mana, were unparalleled.
‘It's visible!’
As he concentrated, Yi-Han could indeed feel the bands of mana slowly rotating around the pile of papers.
"At your current level, it's almost impossible to approach without touching the mana bands. So, don't be swayed by Professor Bagrak's words and make a rash attempt. Wait for the next opportunity. As you know, Professor Bagrak doesn't really consider the students' perspectives."
‘That's true,’ Yi-Han agreed internally, but outwardly he said something different.
"No, Professor. You always consider the students."
"Is that so?" Professor Boladi took Yi-Han's words at face value. If Yi-Han had agreed, Boladi might have thought, 'Ah, I don't really consider the students.' But Yi-Han's response led Boladi to believe his teaching method was indeed student-oriented. No other possibility seemed apparent.
"Really? Your student is really kind."
"That's illogical. Wardanaz. Do it. He's walking over there."
"No, don't...!"
Professor Boladi urged, while the unfamiliar professor dissuaded.
And then Yi-Han moved.
With a swift motion, the thick assignment smoothly flew, navigating through the moving mana bands. If there had been even a slight misstep, the bands would have torn and created a loud noise.
Without hesitation, Yi-Han sent the next assignment flying. Yonaire's assignment also landed precisely on the pile.
Unknowingly, Yonaire clapped her hands. Professor Boladi faintly nodded his head.
"That's impossible! How?"
"Because I've learned it."
"Yes, thanks to your guidance, Professor."
Yi-Han spoke without revealing his emotions. The unfamiliar professor was even more amazed.
"Such an excessively talented student! Pleased to meet you. You must be Wardanaz, right? I'm Professor Kirmin Ku. Normally, we would shake hands, but I don't recommend it due to my species' circumstances."
Professor Kirmin was the polar opposite of Boladi – cheerful, with a bouncy voice, and dressed impeccably without a wrinkle in his attire. It was surprising to see him converse so amiably with Boladi.
"What field do you teach, Professor?"
"I specialize in illusion magic, particularly in barriers. You just saw, didn't you?"
Yi-Han's face lit up.
Previously, when hearing him speak, Yi-Han had wondered if he might be an expert in barrier magic.
"I'll be entering Professor Garcia's classroom at least once this semester. I need to teach the students how fun and enjoyable illusion magic can be."
"Illusion magic is useless."
Yi-Han was shocked at Boladi's dismissal of another professor's field.
Could this lead to a duel?
But Professor Kirmin simply ignored Boladi's comment.
"Deceiving a mage above a certain level with illusion magic is several times harder than other types of magic."
"Yes, you've said that a hundred times. But the mages you're talking about, 'above a certain level,' are rare in this vast empire. So, Wardanaz, why did you try to put those papers there?"
Yi-Han pondered for a second.
He weighed the professors' moods, contemplated whether a lie would work, and made his best judgment.
'It's better to be honest.'
"I was late submitting the assignment?"
Yonaire blushed with embarrassment. Professor Kirmin seemed taken aback by such an unexpected reason.
'All this for being slightly late with an assignment?'
"I'm sorry, Professor."
Yi-Han first apologized to Professor Boladi. However, as expected, Boladi didn't seem concerned.
"Why?"
"For being late with the assignment?"
"Was it an assignment I gave?"
'I knew he would say that.'
"I see."
Professor Kirmin watched the professor-student duo with a sense of odd fascination. It had been a long time since he had seen anyone get along with Boladi so well. Whether a professor or a student, a few minutes of conversation would typically result in remarks like 'I hope the sun rises above your head, you damned vampire,' followed by a swift exit.
"So, what was the lecture about?"
“<Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>.”
"Professor Alpen Knighton?"
Yi-Han tensed up at Kirmin mentioning the name, aware that in the face of professors' friendships, a student's promise meant little.
"Well done. You did well. Honestly, that professor's assignments aren't worth bothering with."
"???"
Kirmin surprisingly praised Yi-Han, and even Boladi rarely added a comment.
"Alpen Knighton is a mage who worked as a senior administrative officer in the empire. He's more skilled in handling power than magic."
"Did you know that scoundrel cut my research budget in half back in the day?"
The two professors gnashed their teeth, cursing the professor of <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>. Yi-Han sighed in relief at their familiar behavior.
Not all professors were on good terms. Especially pure magic researchers did not look favorably upon mages who took high positions in the empire and were actively involved in governance. The reasons ranged from 'purity of magic' to 'temptations and corruptions of secular life,' but Yi-Han suspected it was more about the latter having control over the former's research budget. Even a mage capable of shattering the heavens and splitting the earth needed a budget for research.
In that context, mages who worked in high imperial positions and oversaw research budgets were enemies to all other mages.
-"My instincts tell me! This dungeon must be excavated, even if it takes the entire budget of the territory. Call all the adventurers nearby..."-
-"Didn't you say the same thing last time? This proposal is canceled."-
-"I'll kill you! Watch your back at night!"-
-"You'll have to wait in line to target my night walks. There are thirty-three others waiting."-
Such dignified conversations were an annual affair.
However, Yi-Han's thoughts didn't change despite the professors' conversation. Rather...
'Was he a senior administrative officer of the empire?'
The fact that the other was a high-ranking imperial official made Yi-Han's eyes sparkle.
What did that mean?
It meant having powerful connections in the imperial bureaucracy.
And topping Yi-Han's list of goals was precisely the imperial bureaucracy.
Suddenly, Yi-Han felt his grudge against Professor Knighton melt away like snow. Even the burdensome amount of assignments seemed like the responsibility of a high official bearing the weight of the empire.
'I need to make a better impression from now on.'
"Wardanaz. I hear you are exceptionally talented. Be careful. Don't get dragged into imperial bureaucracy. If you're too outstanding, they'll send various temptations your way."
Boladi, uncharacteristically frowning, spoke at length.
"Stop joking now, Ku. Wardanaz won't walk such a trivial anti-magic path."
"Right, what was I thinking. Coming from the Wardanaz family. Becoming an imperial bureaucrat? Unlikely, right?"
"..."
Yi-Han felt cold sweat trickling down his back for the first time in a long while.
After receiving an invitation from Professor Kirmin Ku to attend the next illusion magic class (Kirmin had even recommended learning illusion magic seriously, ignoring Boladi's interruptions), Yi-Han headed with Yonaire to meet their friends at the Tower of the Blue Dragon.
From the exchanged glances outside the classroom earlier, it seemed evident that everyone had returned safely.
'That's a relief.'
Now to receive the ingredients for the potion...
"Everyone worked hard yesterd..."
"Wardanaz! Gainando has been kidnapped!"
"!"
The students of the Blue Dragon, gathered in front of the tower, rushed to Yi-Han as soon as they saw him.
They all looked disheveled, as if they had just been in a fight.
Yi-Han, startled, asked, "By whom? Don't tell me it was those guys from the White Tiger?"
"No! By a released summon!"
Yi-Han was about to feel relieved, but then he hesitated.
On second thought, it was not a situation to be relieved about at all.
