# Episode 9
Not only wizards could handle mana.
A swordsman who had trained with a sword his entire life could condense mana and overlay it on his blade.
This was the realm of aura!
Because it was so cool and flashy, many noble children wanted to learn swordsmanship after seeing it.
Even in a wizard family, this was no different.
So when Lee Han first expressed his desire to learn swordsmanship, Alarong thought,
'He wants to learn aura. He'll be disappointed when he learns the truth.'
Alarong was a strict knight.
He didn't bother to tell the truth first, thinking Lee Han would give up on his own.
But Lee Han endured surprisingly well, and satisfied, Alarong decided to reveal the truth himself.
…But to learn that Lee Han wasn't interested in aura was quite shocking.
- I thought it would be enough to train myself and protect my body.
-…!
Alarong involuntarily admired Lee Han's words.
It was a mature attitude that a child shouldn't have shown.
To think he was learning swordsmanship with such a serious mindset.
- Actually, Lee Han. You can use aura too. Someday.
- No… I'm fine without aura. I just want to be a wizard…
- Aura is not something you can grasp by swinging a sword for a year or two. But if you consistently train as I taught you, you'll grasp it someday.
- I just need to protect myself. Sir. I want to live in an office.
Anyway, Lee Han consistently did as Alarong instructed.
It wasn't that he wanted to become a swordmaster by grasping aura, but he thought it wouldn't hurt to be well-trained.
* * *
…That training was paying off right now.
'The sensation is more than I expected…?'
Lee Han was surprised at himself.
It wasn't surprising that he accurately struck the boar with his staff at the right moment, predicting its movements.
It was a technique he had learned by being hit by Alarong countless times.
The staff provided by the magic school was very sturdy, so there was no problem using it as a club.
But when he struck the boar, he felt the surrounding mana stir and gather in the staff.
A sensation he hadn't felt while practicing with a sword!
'Is it because I started learning magic?'
He wondered if this was what Alarong meant by 'you will grasp it someday.'
Naturally gathering mana into his weapon.
Of course, it was still at a level laughable to call aura.
To become aura, mana had to be gathered and condensed.
But even that was enough.
An attack with mana was far more destructive than a regular swing.
- Grrr…
The boar, which had been snorting furiously, staggered and collapsed to the side with one blow.
Nillia, who was watching, looked at Lee Han in disbelief.
'Did I miss it?? Did he use magic??'
The world of magic was vast, and of course, there were strength-enhancing and agility-enhancing spells.
But those were too difficult for a newly admitted freshman to use.
"Did you defeat it!?"
"It seems so."
Lee Han lowered his staff and checked the mutant boar's breathing. It was definitely dead.
Yoner stood up with support and spoke in disbelief.
"Is this class even okay?"
"I wondered that since meeting the principal."
No matter how deep the secrets of alchemy were in nature, letting freshmen who hadn't properly learned magic wander around where such monsters roamed…
It made no sense. Given the power it showed, it wouldn't be surprising if it could break a thick tree.
'Maybe I shouldn't take alchemy?'
Lee Han seriously considered it.
Assuming that all the professors at this magic school were somewhat crazy, calculating the probability of death…
Classes held outside the lecture hall might be more dangerous than those inside.
He thought it would be an easy class, but encountering monsters made him think it could get tougher.
"They might ask us to go deeper into the forest and collect troll saliva."
"Ugh…"
Yoner, too, frowned at Lee Han's words, contemplating.
She wanted to open an alchemy workshop but didn't want to die.
"Wait… Wait. You're not planning to quit, are you?"
Nillia spoke urgently.
Her already sparse friend group…
She had barely made two friends. If they didn't attend the alchemy class, she'd be alone again.
"You're not quitting, right!? Aren't both of you from the Blue Dragon tower? Don't you have any pride?"
"I don't."
"I value practicality over honor…"
"..."
Nillia was completely sulking at the words of the two nobles.
"Fine, do as you please!"
"Why are you sulking?"
"Yeah. We haven't even decided not to attend."
"…Really?"
As Nillia turned her head to ask, a familiar sound echoed from afar.
-■■■!
"…Another one?"
"…We might not attend…"
"..."
* * *
What the three found was another mutant boar like the one they had just faced.
Realizing there were more than one of these creatures around, Lee Han quickly concluded,
"We should quit."
"Hey…!"
"Now's not the time for that."
Yoner pointed below.
The boar wasn't alone. It was threatening some unfortunate students.
'Six of them.'
Including Princess Adenart, there were six.
A much better situation compared to Lee Han's group.
"Think they can handle it?"
"Hmm?"
Yoner looked at Lee Han, then back down. Then back at Lee Han.
"Do you think so?"
"Let them handle it."
Nillia muttered, displeased.
She didn't like the group following Adenart.
They seemed like a haughty princess and her sycophants.
"I'll handle it!"
"!"
One of the six stepped forward. Lee Han recognized the noble from the dormitory.
"Who is that?"
Of course, recognizing the face didn't mean knowing the name. Lee Han knew the imperial noble families but not their children's faces.
"Asan Dalkad."
"Ah. Dalkad family."
"…You know the family but not the face…?"
Yoner was puzzled.
The Dalkad family.
If the Wodanaz family had been advisors to the emperor for generations, the Dalkad family had been chancellors and treasurers of the empire.
A family renowned for their exceptional and precise work.
"If it's the Dalkad family, they should be reliable."
"Yeah. Unlike Gainan, they seem trustworthy."
"?"
Nillia, listening, tilted her head.
Were they talking about a prince?
Asan was tall and skinny, but his stance with the staff was impressive.
Lee Han noticed Asan had learned swordsmanship.
Masters recognize each other.
"That Dalkad has learned swordsmanship."
"Indeed… In that case, they should be fine."
Yoner was relieved.
She didn't want the six below to get hurt.
Asan held his staff and aimed at the boar.
"I'm reading your movements 100%."
And another step.
"You cannot escape my prediction. Boar!"
And another step.
His steps were precise, like drawn with a ruler. Lee Han was slightly impressed.
'Is he a human compass?'
Imperial swordsmanship was as diverse as magic.
There were strong and heavy styles, fast and light styles, and complex and varied styles…
And Alarong had mentioned a style like what Asan was using.
- Geometric swordsmanship based on complex mathematical calculations, creating shapes with each step…
- Oh. That looks interesting. Can I learn it?
-…What!? You find that interesting!? Doesn't it seem crazy?
Alarong didn't know that swordsmanship, so he taught only what he knew, but seeing Asan move reminded Lee Han of it.
Thorough!
-■■■!
As Asan stepped and provoked the boar, the boar got agitated.
Roaring fiercely, it charged at Asan.
Asan sidestepped like a matador and stabbed the boar's side with his staff.
"Ha!"
-■!
Crash!
And Asan flew.
The furious boar hit the brakes and swung its body sideways.
"..."
"..."
Although not hit directly, the impact was significant. Asan rolled away.
"Ugh. My calculations were wrong…"
"…He's just someone who practiced swordsmanship hard…"
Lee Han muttered.
It seemed Asan had practiced swordsmanship diligently but had little real experience.
That's why his stance was good, but he couldn't predict and avoid a charging boar!
"Let's help."
"!"
Nillia was surprised by Lee Han's words.
She didn't expect him to offer help in that situation.
'Is this the dignity of a noble…?'
Unlike other nobles who only talked, he was willing to risk himself in a dangerous situation.
Like a noble from stories. Nillia was slightly moved.
"After helping, we can ask for favors in other classes. Exams or assignments. More so with the princess's connections."
"..."
Nillia's admiration vanished.
You opportunist…!
* * *
Adenart gestured behind her.
Without words, her intention was clear.
The remaining four students hurriedly hid behind Adenart.
Hiding didn't really conceal them…
Adenart felt momentarily lonely.
Though she asked them to step aside, she wasn't happy about the situation.
But it was her duty.
Just as she had flawlessly handled other tasks, Adenart intended to handle this boar perfectly.
'Read its breathing. When it charges…'
Smack!
With a loud noise, the boar tumbled sideways.
"?!??!"
And Lee Han appeared behind it, sighing in relief.
"Luckily, it didn't notice."
"See how important it is to approach with the wind?"
"Indeed. A hunter's wisdom is remarkable."
"…Continuing alchemy classes might deepen that wisdom?"
"No. I dislike it."
"..."
Lee Han had already made up his mind.
No to alchemy!
'I'll stay in the classroom.'
Adenart, momentarily stiff, regained her composure and bowed her head.
"…Thank you. Wodanaz."
"It's nothing. Princess."
Nillia whispered curiously,
- Why are you using formal language?
- Indeed. I got caught up in the mood.
Despite being peers and school rules advocating informal speech regardless of status, the princess's manner made them use formal language.
"By the way, if you feel indebted, may I ask a favor?"
Adenart nodded.
"If you know of any easy classes for good grades, please recommend them."
Given the princess's connections, she would have valuable information.
Lee Han thought so.
"..."
Adenart was slightly overwhelmed.
What was this Wodanaz wizard saying?
Surely he wasn't asking to slack off in classes. There must be another meaning.
"I know a class for good grades!"
A familiar dwarf's voice came from behind.
Lee Han suddenly felt a chilling premonition.
Like when he met his old graduate professor…
Thud-
The dwarf professor, Thunderfoot, grabbed Lee Han's collar as he tried to step aside.
And spoke cheerfully,
"It's the alchemy class. Wodanaz."
"..."