"Ehem. Kenapa suaranya berhenti?"
Profesor Mortum meninggalkan murid-muridnya dan melangkah masuk ke dalam.
Dia cemas kalau-kalau Yi-Han berbuat kesalahan.
Jika itu sihir lain, dia tidak akan terlalu khawatir, tapi sihir ledakan tulang ini sangatlah berbahaya bagi Yi-Han...
Untungnya, bagian dalamnya masih utuh.
Lingkaran sihir peredam guncangan dan lingkaran sihir penyebar ledakan yang telah disiapkan masih bertahan dengan baik, dan serpihan tulang yang memenuhi kotak latihan pun masih melimpah.
Profesor Mortum bertanya karena tidak mengerti.
"Apa mana-mu kehabisan?"
"Bukan itu."
"Yah, tentu saja mustahil begitu."
"...Bukan itu, tapi saya dengar saya harus membuktikan sesuatu di festival nanti..."
Yi-Han benar-benar tak habis pikir.
Sejak awal, bukankah ini terkait dengan kuliah sihir pemanggilan?
Apa pun yang diperintahkan Profesor Millei padanya, standarnya jelas tidak akan mudah, dan dia harus mencurahkan banyak waktu dan tenaga untuk itu...
Ditambah lagi, urusan Yi-Han sudah terlampau banyak hingga tak sanggup lagi memikul harga diri sihir hitam.
"Ah, maksudmu soal itu. Ehem."
"Profesor. Pekerjaan saya saat ini sudah sangat banyak."
Meski Yi-Han sering berbohong di hadapan profesor, dia bersikap jujur dan teguh pada saat-saat seperti ini.
Bahkan sekarang pun, dia harus segera pergi mengurus telur basilisk tepat setelah kuliah selesai.
"Aku tahu. Semua profesor mungkin sudah tahu."
"Benarkah? Menurut saya tampaknya lebih banyak yang tidak tahu..."
"Ehem. Dan sebenarnya tidak ada yang perlu kau lakukan di festival nanti."
"??"
Yi-Han terperanjat mendengar perkataan profesor itu.
Beliau menyuruhnya membuktikan harga diri sihir hitam, tetapi sebenarnya tidak ada yang perlu dilakukan?
'Ada apa ini? Jebakan?'
"Saya kurang mengerti, tapi..."
Profesor Mortum menjawab seolah heran mengapa Yi-Han menanyakan hal yang begitu jelas, sambil terbatuk kecil.
"Itu karena melihat kepribadianmu, kau pasti akan berusaha membuktikannya sendiri tanpa perlu disuruh. Ehem. Aku mempercayaimu."
"...Tidak, saya tidak akan melakukannya!"
Yi-Han berteriak gusar setelah sekian lama.
Dari mana datangnya kesalahpahaman ini?!
—
Jika ada profesor yang berusaha membuat murid berbakat meneruskan garis keturunan keilmuan mereka yang sah, ada pula profesor yang hanya ingin mengabdikan diri pada penelitian mereka sendiri tanpa ambisi semacam itu.
Profesor Yonramo Reuji, yang mengajar sihir transformasi, adalah salah satu profesor tipe tersebut.
Saat para bajingan gila... bukan, para profesor di Einroguard saling berebut Wardanaz, Profesor Reuji justru bersikap sebaliknya.
Hukum lilin yang meleleh saat mendekati matahari.
Tidak ada gunanya menyeret Wardanaz ke sisinya. Profesor Reuji hanya berharap kesehariannya yang damai terus berlanjut.
"...Kita sudah mempelajari transformasi besi di semester 1. Kalian pasti sudah sering menyentuh dan berusaha memahami besi selama masa itu. Semuanya pasti sudah melakukannya."
Profesor Reuji menjelaskan perlahan dengan jari-jemari yang saling bertaut.
Saat berada dalam mode profesor, Profesor Reuji memancarkan wibawa bermartabat yang tak kalah jika dibandingkan dengan bangsawan agung kekaisaran sekalipun.
Penampilan yang benar-benar tak terbayangkan jika dibandingkan saat dia berubah wujud menjadi Gainando palsu dan dipukuli oleh Yi-Han tempo hari.
"Bahkan jika kalian belum sepenuhnya memahaminya... tidak apa-apa. Jangan terlalu berkecil hati. Dibutuhkan waktu untuk menguasai material apa pun."
'...Bukankah harusnya sudah dikuasai sebelum semester 2 dimulai?'
Yi-Han, yang telah menguasai transformasi besi sambil terus dipukuli oleh Profesor Boladi, merasa bingung dalam hati.
"Seiring kalian terus mempelajari sihir lain, bagian-bagian yang tersumbat lambat laun akan terbuka. Jangan lupa. Tujuan semester ini adalah... menemukan bakat alami kalian dengan menangani transformasi berbagai macam material."
Jika di semester 1 mereka mempelajari transformasi besi yang paling mudah dan umum beserta penerapannya, maka di semester 2, mereka akan berhadapan dengan berbagai macam material dan memilih zat yang sesuai dengan bakat si penyihir.
Penyihir transformasi yang hebat biasanya membawa reagen padat dan mengubahnya menjadi material yang mereka kuasai dalam keadaan darurat.
Mengubah reagen padat menjadi merkuri lalu melipatgandakan volumenya secara eksplosif untuk menyerang, atau mengubahnya menjadi pasir halus padat dan menggunakannya sebagai perisai pasir yang kokoh.
Sihir ini tidak hanya digunakan untuk metode pertarungan semacam itu. Sihir ini juga bisa digunakan untuk mengubah bahan yang dibutuhkan dalam alkimia atau mengubah penampilan diri demi mengelabui pandangan monster.
Profesor Reuji, yang menyelesaikan kuliah hari ini dengan rasa puas dan bangga, berpamitan pada para mahasiswa dengan anggun lalu berbalik pergi.
...Sampai akhirnya Yi-Han mengikutinya.
"Profesor?"
"Ugh."
Mendapat kunjungan mendadak dari murid monster itu, Profesor Reuji langsung tersedak cegukan.
"Anda baik-baik saja?"
"Ten... tentu saja aku baik-baik saja."
Profesor Reuji berujar dengan wibawa meluap-luap sambil menahan cegukannya. Saat berada dalam mode profesor, Profesor Reuji selalu bisa menjaga ketenangannya.
"Ada apa kau kemari?"
"Ada hal yang ingin saya tanyakan pada Anda, Profesor."
Selain menerima rekomendasi sihir suci dari para pendeta Menara Phoenix Abadi, Yi-Han juga menyibukkan diri dengan hal lain di sela-sela menghadiri kuliah dan mengerjakan tugas asrama.
Hal itu adalah merawat telur basilisk.
Namun, telur basilisk ternyata sama sulitnya untuk dirawat seperti halnya reputasi buruk monster tersebut.
Membangun gubuk khusus untuk merawatnya barulah permulaan.
Setelah memberinya makan dan mengatur suhu udara, dia harus segera beralih ke tugas berikutnya.
Setelah memberi makan telur secara berlimpah selama beberapa hari hingga ia tidak lagi makan, siapkan sarang baru yang sesuai dengan selera telur tersebut. Pada dasarnya, basilisk yang ditemukan di bagian barat kekaisaran lebih menyukai bulu burung yang lembut, dan basilisk di bagian timur lebih menyukai bebatuan keras, namun hal itu tidak mutlak. Langkah teramannya adalah meminta penyihir transformasi berjaga di dekatnya untuk menuruti setiap kehendak sang basilisk...
Mendengar instruksi yang tidak masuk akal itu, Yi-Han sempat bertanya pada Profesor Boladi yang datang berkunjung ke gubuk.
—Profesor. Material yang bisa saya dapatkan saat ini sangat terbatas, jadi bagaimana cara saya menuruti kehendaknya?—
—Pelajari sihir transformasi. Kau beruntung. Lagipula kau memang perlu mempelajari sihir transformasi lebih banyak.—
—...—
Itu benar-benar omong kosong, tetapi bantuan seorang penyihir transformasi memang sangat dibutuhkan.
Yi-Han menatap Profesor Reuji dan bertanya.
"Apakah Anda bisa membantu saya merawat telur basilisk ini?"
"Itu... bukan hal yang mustahil."
"Terima kasih banyak!!"
Meski sedapat mungkin tak ingin terlibat, Profesor Reuji tidak kuasa menolak.
Ada rasa tanggung jawab sebagai seorang pengajar, tetapi yang terpenting, dia khawatir murid monster yang terlalu berambisi ini akan menyimpan dendam jika permintaannya ditolak.
Sekarang saja dia sudah seperti ini, bisa-bisa saat lulus nanti dia langsung diangkat menjadi profesor atau bahkan kepala sekolah.
'Beliau benar-benar orang yang baik.'
Tanpa mengetahui isi hati Profesor Reuji, Yi-Han merasa sangat tersentuh.
Puff!
Ketika Profesor Reuji mengubah penampilannya dengan kemampuan seorang doppelganger, Yi-Han agak terperanjat.
Karena wujud yang dipilihnya adalah...
Gainando.
"Uh... Profesor? Kenapa harus Gainando?"
"Hanya ingin saja."
"Ah. Begitu rupanya."
Meski Yi-Han tak habis pikir, dia memutuskan untuk menerimanya saja.
Di saat sang profesor bersedia membantu, apa bedanya mau berwujud Gainando atau berwujud kepala sekolah tengkorak sekalipun?
...Kalau berwujud kepala sekolah tengkorak, mungkin akan sedikit mengganggu ketenangan jiwanya.
'Para profesor lain tidak akan mengenaliku meski melihatnya.'
Profesor Reuji tidak ingin terseret ke dalam perselisihan antarprofesor lainnya.
Bagaimana jika nanti dia pergi ke ruang tunggu profesor dan seseorang berkata, 'Wardanaz ada di mana hari itu? Sepertinya Profesor Reuji sedang bersamanya'? Betapa merepotkannya hal itu?
Jika menggunakan wujud Gainando, para profesor lain tidak akan menaruh curiga meski melihat dari kejauhan.
—
"Hei. Gainando. Berhenti main-main dan ayo cepat pergi. Banyak yang harus dikerjakan. Kita harus menyelesaikan tugas piket hari ini."
"Jangan khawatir. Tenang saja! Kita masih bisa menyelesaikannya meski pergi agak terlambat!"
Melihat Gainando bersikeras bertahan di gedung utama alih-alih pergi mengerjakan tugas piket asrama yang telah ditentukan, teman-temannya berdecak lidah.
"Anak itu benar-benar tidak mau mendengar kalau tidak ada Wardanaz di dekatnya."
"Gainando. Kau akan mendapat masalah besar kalau terus bersikap begitu."
"Hmph. Siapa yang berani memarahiku kalau Wardanaz saja tidak ada di sini..."
Gainando, yang sedang menyombongkan diri, sontak membelalakkan matanya saat melihat dirinya sendiri melintas di kejauhan.
"Ha... hantu! Ada yang mencuri penampilanku! Pe, pengubah wujud!? Kapan dia mencuri penampilanku!?"
"Kau ini tiba-tiba bicara apa sih?"
"Di sana! Lihat ke sana!!"
Gainando berteriak heboh, namun Yi-Han dan Profesor Reuji sudah keburu lewat.
Teman-temannya menatap Gainando seolah dia sedang meracau tak jelas.
Chapter 406
"Ahem. Why did the sound stop?"
Professor Mortum left his disciples and went inside.
He was worried that Yi-Han might have made a mistake.
If it were any other magic, he wouldn't have been too concerned, but this bone explosion magic was especially dangerous for Yi-Han...
Fortunately, the inside was intact.
The prepared shock absorption magic circle and explosion dispersion magic circles were still maintained, and the bone fragments filled in the box for practice were still plentiful.
Professor Mortum asked, not understanding.
"Did your mana run out by any chance?"
"That's not it."
"Well, that can't be."
"...It's not that, but I heard that I have to prove something at the festival..."
Yi-Han couldn't believe it.
In the first place, isn't this related to the summoning magic lecture?
Whatever Professor Millei makes him do, the standard probably won't be easy, and he'll have to invest quite a bit of time and effort...
On top of that, Yi-Han had too much to do to bear the pride of dark magic as well.
"Ah, you mean that. Ahem."
"Professor. I have too much to do right now."
Although Yi-Han enjoyed lying in front of the professor, he was upright at times like this.
Even now, he had to go take care of the Basilisk's egg right after the lecture.
"I know. All the professors probably know."
"Is that so? It seems to me that there are more who don't know..."
"Ahem. And you don't really have anything to do at the festival."
"??"
Yi-Han was startled by the professor's words.
He told him to prove the pride of dark magic, but he doesn't really have anything to do?
'What is it? A trick?'
"I don't quite understand, but..."
Professor Mortum answered as if asking why he was asking such an obvious thing, coughing.
"That's because you'll try to prove it on your own without being told to do anything, given your personality. Ahem. I trust you."
"...No, I won't!"
Yi-Han shouted in anger for the first time in a while.
Why this misunderstanding!?
—
If there are professors who try to make a promising disciple continue the legitimate lineage of their studies, there are also professors who want to devote themselves only to their own research without such ambition.
Professor Yonramo Reuji, who taught transformation magic, was such a professor.
While the crazy bastards... no, professors within Einroguard were fighting over Wardanaz, Professor Reuji acted the opposite.
The law of melting when approaching the sun.
There was no need to drag Wardanaz. Professor Reuji hoped that his peaceful daily life would continue.
"...We studied iron transformation in the 1st semester. You must have touched and tried to understand iron a lot during that time. Everyone probably did."
Professor Reuji explained slowly with his fingers interlocked.
When in professor mode, Professor Reuji exuded a dignified atmosphere that wouldn't lose even when compared to the great nobles of the empire.
It was an unimaginable appearance compared to when he transformed into a fake Gainando and was hit by Yi-Han.
"Even if you haven't fully understood it... it's okay. You don't need to be too discouraged. It takes time to master any material."
'...Wasn't it supposed to be mastered before the start of the 2nd semester?'
Yi-Han, who had mastered iron transformation while being hit by Professor Boladi, was inwardly perplexed.
"As you continue to learn other magic, the parts that were blocked will gradually unravel. Don't forget. The goal of this semester is... to find your aptitude by dealing with the transformation of various materials."
If they learned the easiest and most popular iron transformation and its applications in the 1st semester, in the 2nd semester, they deal with all kinds of materials and select substances that suit the mage's aptitude.
Excellent transformation mages used to carry compressed reagents and transform them into materials they were good at handling in case of emergency.
Transforming compressed reagents into mercury and then explosively increasing the volume for offensive use, or transforming them into compressed fine sand and using them as a solid sand shield.
It wasn't used only for this combat method. It could also be used to transform ingredients needed for alchemy or transform one's appearance to deceive the eyes of monsters.
Professor Reuji, who finished the lecture with a sense of pride today, said goodbye to the students with dignity and turned around.
...Until Yi-Han followed him.
"Professor?"
"Ugh."
At the unexpected visit of the monstrous disciple, Professor Reuji hiccuped.
"Are you alright?"
"Of... course I'm alright."
Professor Reuji said with overflowing dignity while hiding his hiccups. When in professor mode, Professor Reuji could always maintain his composure.
"What brings you here?"
"I have something to ask you, Professor."
In addition to receiving holy magic recommendations from the priests of the Immortal Phoenix Tower, Yi-Han was also doing something else while attending lectures and doing chores.
It was taking care of the Basilisk's egg.
However, the Basilisk's egg was as difficult to take care of as per the monster's notoriety.
Building a dedicated hut to take care of it was just the beginning.
After feeding it and adjusting the temperature, he had to move on to the next task right away.
After feeding the egg abundantly for several days until it no longer eats, prepare a new nest that suits the egg's taste. Basically, Basilisks found in the western part of the empire prefer soft bird feathers, and Basilisks found in the eastern part prefer hard rocks, but it's not absolute. The safe thing is for a transformation mage to stand by and cater to the Basilisk's whims...
At the absurd request, Yi-Han asked Professor Boladi, who came to the hut.
-Professor. There's a limit to the materials I can get right now, so how do I cater to its whims?-
-Learn transformation magic. You're lucky. You needed to learn more transformation magic anyway.-
-...-
It was nonsense, but a transformation mage was definitely needed.
Yi-Han looked at Professor Reuji and asked.
"Can you help me take care of the Basilisk's egg by any chance?"
"It's... not impossible."
"Thank you!!"
Although he didn't want to get involved if he could help it, Professor Reuji couldn't refuse.
There was a sense of responsibility as a teacher, but above all, he was worried that this overly ambitious monstrous disciple might hold a grudge for refusing the request.
Even now, he was already like this, so by the time he graduated, he might be appointed as a professor or even a principal.
'He's really a kind person.'
Not knowing Professor Reuji's inner thoughts, Yi-Han was impressed.
Poof!
When Professor Reuji transformed his appearance with the ability of a doppelganger, Yi-Han was slightly startled.
Because the other person was...
Gainando.
"Uh... Professor? Why Gainando?"
"Just because."
"Ah. I see."
Although Yi-Han didn't understand, he decided to just accept it.
When the professor was helping, what did it matter whether it was Gainando's appearance or the skull principal's appearance?
...If it were the skull principal's appearance, it might bother him a bit.
'The other professors won't be able to tell even if they see him.'
Professor Reuji didn't want to get involved in the disputes of other professors.
What if he went to the professors' lounge later and someone said, 'Where was Wardanaz that day? I think Professor Reuji was with him'? How troublesome would that be?
If it was Gainando's appearance, the other professors wouldn't notice even if they saw him from afar.
—
"Hey. Gainando. Stop fooling around and let's go quickly. There's a lot to do. We have to finish the assigned tasks today."
"Don't worry. Don't worry! We can finish even if we go a bit later!"
Seeing Gainando insisting on staying in the main building instead of going to do the assigned dormitory chores, his friends clicked their tongues.
"That guy really doesn't listen without Wardanaz around."
"Gainando. You'll get in big trouble if you keep doing that."
"Hmph. Who's going to scold me when Wardanaz isn't even here..."
Gainando, who was talking, widened his eyes at the sight of himself passing by in the distance.
"A gho... ghost! It stole my appearance! Sha, shapeshifter!? When did it steal my appearance!?"
"What are you suddenly talking about?"
"Over there! Look over there!!"
Gainando shouted, but Yi-Han and Professor Reuji had already passed by.
His friends looked at Gainando as if he was talking nonsense.
"Hey. Stop playing around and let's go."
"Don't make strange excuses."
"I'm serious! Really...!!"
Gainando shouted in a voice full of injustice, but his friends didn't believe him.
"I'm telling you, a monster that stole my appearance was definitely passing by over there...!"
"Does a monster have nothing better to do? To steal your appearance?"
—
"I'm curious about something."
Gainando, no, Professor Reuji cautiously asked a question.
"Yes. Ask anything."
"...Why are you taking care of the Basilisk egg in the first place? It's not something a 1st year should do, right?"
"There's a long and sad story behind it..."
Yi-Han trailed off and sat down after opening the door to the hut.
Professor Reuji stared intently at the Basilisk's egg placed in the center.
The professor wasn't an expert on rare animals, but he could guess what state this Basilisk's egg was in.
'It's in a very good condition.'
Thanks to properly supplying nutrients and building a strong bond with the caregiver, the Basilisk was very psychologically stable.
Honestly, it was surprising that a 1st year student raised it so well.
'The Blue Dragon Tower students probably wouldn't be good at taking care of it.'
Although they always showed excellent grades in magic, the Blue Dragon Tower students also had weaknesses.
When it came to taking care of animals or plants, they were as clumsy as the White Tiger Tower students.
"You took very good care of it. Now let me check it out."
'My goodness. Gainando can look reliable!'
Yi-Han was surprised by the trustworthiness Professor Reuji exuded while speaking in Gainando's appearance.
It was extremely awkward to hear such words in Gainando's face.
Swish!
Professor Reuji's magic began with a spell. In the blink of an eye, the Basilisk's nest was transformed into dozens of different materials.
Copper, clay, sand, maple tree branches, hot amorphous liquid (Yi-Han couldn't even guess what potion this liquid was), gold, lava...
Seeing the flashing golden light passing by, Yi-Han asked without realizing it.
"Wouldn't the Basilisk like it if we made a nest out of gold?"
"I already checked, but no. Basilisks don't like gold as much as humans do. And fortunately so. If gold was the answer, it would have consumed a tremendous amount of mana to maintain it."
'Tsk.'
Yi-Han was disappointed, but he had no choice but to admit that the professor's words were not wrong.
The rarer and more valuable the material, the higher the difficulty and the harder it would be to maintain.
"Found it."
Professor Reuji stopped his movements and said. Yi-Han asked very happily.
"What is it? Which material seems to be the best, Professor?"
"Mercury."
"...Ah. Will you do it, Professor?"
"I'll do it once, but from the next time, you'll have to keep casting it to maintain it, so you need to learn."
Professor Reuji calmly stated the current situation.
Transformation magic didn't stay fixed forever.
Moreover, if it was a task like raising a Basilisk this way, the mage had to persistently endure by its side.
"But mercury isn't something I can handle with transformation magic, right?"
"That's true... You probably haven't even mastered iron yet."
"...Hmm... Well..."
Yi-Han slightly avoided answering Professor Reuji's words.
"Then I will..."
The moment Professor Reuji was about to say that he would visit and help each time, the door opened and Professor Boladi entered.
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