Some of the mages thought so, but they could not stop themselves.

It could not be helped.

Mages, by nature, were the kind of people who would leap into wisdom even knowing it would burn them to death, like moths flying into a flame.

The fact that the wicked archmage Gonadaltes had once deceived them through Professor Garcia was no longer important.

If they let a mage who truly wished to enter the Onchuri Magic Tower slip away over some petty grudge...

Absolutely not!

Unlike a petty grudge, that would surely become a wound they would remember for the rest of their lives.

“I hear he’s an exceptional battle mage. They say he even has records of subjugating the Ghoul King and a sea serpent...”

“Amazing! ...But we aren’t a battle mage tower, are we?”

The mages were impressed, but puzzled.

Each magic tower had its own character, shaped by the purpose behind its founding. The Onchuri Magic Tower was a tower of research-focused mages, far removed from magical combat.

So why bring a battle mage here and introduce him to them? His skill was impressive, yes, but the decision made no sense.

“They even said he’s only a second-year student.”

“That really is amazing...!”

“...Wait. Even if it’s Einroguard, is it acceptable to make a second-year student subjugate the Ghoul King or a sea serpent?”

A mage well versed in Imperial law raised a perfectly reasonable question.

None of them suspected that it might have happened during his first year rather than his second.

“His Excellency has always been quite strict with his direct disciples...”

“This isn’t the barbaric ancient era or the Dark Ages. Is that truly permitted?”

“Even in ancient times, they probably wouldn’t have assigned subjugations that harsh.”

As the conversation drifted off course, Eulangdam waved his pipe and cut in.

“His Excellency’s severe teachings are something for Einroguard’s mages to file complaints about, not something for us to debate.”

“We apologize.”

“Do you think he may be planning to use force again?”

At someone’s words, the air froze.

It was a strangely convincing speculation.

“Ah, surely not. After causing such a commotion last time, even His Excellency wouldn’t...”

“...He might.”

“Gawon. Why are you so quiet?”

Eulangdam directed the question at Gawon, one of the tower’s mages.

Normally, Gawon was confident and quick to state an opinion. Today, however, Gawon had been unusually silent.

“Well... it’s about the Einroguard mage I met at last year’s exchange meeting.”

“Ah. That mage?”

The other mages nodded as if they knew immediately who that meant.

Gawon’s account of last year’s mage exchange meeting had been truly astonishing.

The artificial dimension research presentation had been impressive, and the accidental summoning of a devil duke during the presentation had been shocking. But the most surprising part was that Gawon’s own magic had received high praise.

-A mana-filtration amplification device using water elements and spheres?

-Isn’t that just <Ota’s Radiant Prism> from five years ago with only the element changed?

Gawon’s colleagues had considered the spell somewhat shallow and simplistic, so none of them had expected much from it. To their surprise, however, it had been met with enthusiastic praise, with remarks such as “improved several times over” and “the compression and efficiency techniques are artistic.”

When pressed by the other mages, Gawon revealed what had happened.

-Actually, an Einroguard mage I happened to meet gave me some advice.

-Some?

-...I won’t say any more than that.

-No, wait. Sorry. Please tell us.

Gawon’s story was shocking in itself.

No matter how unoriginal Gawon’s magic might have been, it was still extremely complex. Complex enough that analyzing it would be difficult unless the mage who created it gave a separate explanation.

Yet a mage Gawon had never met before had reduced the required mana by one-third on the spot?

Even for an Einroguard student, that was exceptional.

“Why bring up that mage?”

“I think that mage’s name was also Lee Han...”

When the Skull Principal contacted the tower and said he would be visiting with his disciple, Lee Han, the name had stirred Gawon’s memory.

“What are you talking about? Wasn’t that mage a fourth-year? Then that would make him a fifth-year this year.”

“The years don’t match, do they?”

The colleagues who noticed the contradiction questioned Gawon.

Why would Lee Han, who had clearly been a fourth-year in last year’s story, suddenly be a second-year this year?

“...Strictly speaking, he never actually said what year he was in.”

When the other mages looked at Gawon as though staring at an idiot, Gawon hurriedly made excuses.

“That exchange meeting is normally attended by fourth-years and above, even among Einroguard students! No matter how outstanding a genius might be, third-year would be the limit! But since he said he wasn’t a third-year... naturally, I assumed he was a fourth-year!”

“...”

“It may have been an understandable oversight. Still, Gawon. Develop the habit of observing things carefully from now on.”

Gawon nodded at Eulangdam’s words.

The other mages thought to themselves.

Does that mean we need to check whether an Einroguard upperclassman is actually a first-year whenever we meet one in the future?

It did not seem like such a thing would happen twice...

“Let’s summarize. Aside from being an outstanding battle mage, he completed Gawon’s magic last year while he was still a first-year?”

“Strictly speaking, it was an improvement, not a completion...”

“It was a completion.”

“Honestly, it was no different from completing it.”

Gawon’s colleagues delivered their ruthless criticisms. Even Eulangdam acknowledged it.

“The Einroguard mage completed it.”

“...”

Gawon wilted. The others, meanwhile, continued the discussion with growing enthusiasm.

“Leaving magical combat aside, isn’t this talent truly remarkable? If he joins the tower, I’ll personally look after him.”

“Why is the conversation suddenly going in that direction? What does that have to do with you?”

“Don’t you know I have a distant relative who graduated from Einroguard? All Einroguard graduates are equally eccentric and sensitive, so he’ll need someone understanding like me.”

“Nonsense. Your section already has enough mages. Mine has an opening.”

...More precisely, they were now discussing who would take charge of him if he joined the tower.

Eulangdam looked up at the high ceiling in the center of the tower and exhaled smoke for a long while.

Seeing the mages already fighting like this when the boy had not even confirmed that he would join, Eulangdam felt as though His Excellency Gonadaltes was playing them.

“Sigh...”

“What do you think, Lord Eulangdam? Who would be best suited to look after him?”

“Everyone, stop fighting. I’ll look after him personally.”

“...”

“...”

The mages stared at him in disbelief, but Eulangdam did not care.

A true mage had to pursue wisdom regardless of worldly gazes.

***

“But, Principal.”

Lee Han cautiously called out to the Skull Principal.

Despite having resolved two of the three creditor factions, the Skull Principal was still grumbling.

“Not conquering the continent is just so...”

“...”

Even after they left the nobles’ manor and headed toward the Onchuri Magic Tower on the outskirts of the capital, the Skull Principal’s persistence in grumbling amazed not only Lee Han, but even the Death Knights.

-He must be truly disappointed.

-Didn’t you do something for Lord Intarendals?

“Principal?”

“What? Does Intarendals have some hidden fortune again?”

“Even if there were, you know I can’t tell you because of the will.”

“...”

There is one!

The Skull Principal and the Death Knights shuddered.

They were shuddering at Intarendals’s pettiness, taking revenge to the bitter end simply because the petition for continental conquest had not been granted.

“...At least give me a hint about what kind of fortune it is.”

“That isn’t what matters. We’re almost at the magic tower, and you still haven’t decided what to say.”

Lee Han had reason to be worried.

The first two had somehow been resolved through luck, but he had no plan whatsoever for the last one.

The Skull Principal had confidently boasted, “Don’t worry. Those who were fooled once by Professor Garcia will be fooled twice,” but from Lee Han’s perspective, skepticism was inevitable.

If they were fooled once, wouldn’t they be less likely to fall for it a second time?

“Didn’t I tell you? Just go in and calmly introduce yourself, and those mages will collapse in tears...”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Lee Han cut him off in an irritated voice.

The Skull Principal kept saying absurd things.

“At least tell me what I’m supposed to say once I get there.”

“What a faithless fellow.”

Seeing his disciple so full of distrust, the Skull Principal sighed as if deeply disappointed.

How could he be this slow?

“Fine. I’ll tell you. When we arrive in front of the magic tower, we knock on the door first. Then you say this.”

“We’ve come from Einroguard?”

“No. Say that a second-year mage who has mastered Lesser Worlds has arrived.”

“...”

Even the most humiliating self-introduction in the world probably would not be that bad. Lee Han refused with a serious expression.

“I refuse.”

“Then how about saying you’ve contracted with Arna or contracted with the Thunder King?”

“I’ll say I came from Einroguard.”

“You’ll have to say all of it anyway. Such pointless stubbornness.”

The Skull Principal spoke sarcastically, but Lee Han ignored him.

Even if he had to say it after entering the magic tower, he did not want to introduce himself like that while knocking on the door.

Still, I roughly understand what I need to talk about.

Achievements such as Lesser Worlds or contracts with Spirit Kings would certainly appeal to the mages of this magic tower.

Lee Han resolved to bring up those achievements once he met them.

...Though he felt a little guilty, since he had no intention of entering the Onchuri Magic Tower.

“Your Excellency. Have you arrived?”

The magic tower’s mages spotted the carriage driven by the Death Knights and came running out before the main gate even opened.

Faced with that welcome, the Skull Principal tried to make a proud declaration.

“Here is one who has mastered Lesser Worlds...”

Lee Han, who had been about to get out of the carriage, quietly went back inside. The Death Knights spoke as though apologizing.

-We’re sorry. We wanted to stop him too, but...

“...I appreciate the thought.”

However, the Skull Principal never managed to finish his declaration.

The mages of the magic tower confirmed that Lee Han was inside the carriage and immediately began shedding tears of emotion.

I haven’t said anything yet?

This reaction exceeded even the Skull Principal’s expectations.

He had thought the mages would collapse in tears only after he revealed the facts about Lesser World magic, yet they were already reacting like this before he had revealed anything at all.

“Did you tell them in advance?”

-Why would we do such a thing?

“That’s true.”

The Skull Principal dismissed the suspicion.

The Death Knights occasionally betrayed their master, but they would not betray him at a time like this.

“We’ve been waiting! How much you must have suffered! I’ll personally guide you through the tower.”

“No, I’ll...”

“Would you let go of this hand?”

“You let go!”

The Onchuri Magic Tower was not a battle mage tower, but that did not mean its mages did not fight among themselves.

At the sight of frail mages swaying back and forth while clutching each other by the collars, the Skull Principal grimaced as if witnessing something disgraceful.

If they were going to fight, they should at least fight with magic. What was this ugly display?

“This is worse than when Professor Garcia came. Calm them down.”

-But, Master.

“What?”

-If they are reacting this strongly before hearing about Lesser Worlds, I’m worried about what will happen if you actually mention Lesser Worlds...

“Hmm.”

The Skull Principal paused at the knights’ wise advice.

It was not a problem he had considered at all, but now that they had mentioned it, he suddenly grew concerned.

“Should I just talk about fifth-circle magic?”

-That might also be a bit...