Published at 6th of March 2026 6:13 am

Chapter 678

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Mage Gawon of the Conical Magic Tower in Plaher City.

Gawon was a person with strong pride in himself.

In fact, it was rare to find a mage with weak pride. Stepping into the discipline of changing reality with ones will was not something anyone could do and required innate talent.

As such, it wasnt strange for mages to think of themselves as chosen people.

Even half-baked mages who couldnt have proper masters and learned magic from grimoires picked up on the streets received great treatment, so what about mages belonging to magic towers?

Mages like Gawon had no choice but to have strong pride.

However, there is always another sky above the sky.

There was an opponent against whom the name Conical Magic Tower didnt work, and that was Einroguard.

The orthodox lineage of Imperial magic!

Thank you for lending it to us. Im Lee Han.

Please, please make yourself comfortable. Im Gawon from the Conical Magic Tower.

Thank you!

Gainando immediately collapsed to the side. Lee Han kicked Gainandos back. Gainando quickly got up.

Everyones condition is what happened to you all?

We had some issues.

Lee Han spoke with a bitter expression.

Too many things had happened in the Pitong Mountain Range.

However, Gawon seemed to understand Lee Hans expression in a different way.

You must have been doing quite dangerous and difficult magical research I wont ask further.

Thats not what it is.

Yes. Lets go with that.

Lee Han caught the scent of someone who only says what they want to say from the other person.

It wasnt particularly surprising. Poor communication was one of the characteristics of mages.

Are you all also participating in tonights exchange meeting?

What exchange meeting are you referring to?

The magic tower exchange meeting. The one being held in Plaher City this year.

The discipline of magic was so vast and endless that even geniuses couldnt easily delve into it alone.

Thats why mages formed guilds and built magic towers to study together.

It didnt end there a place to share and exchange the knowledge and secrets they had gained.

That was the exchange meeting.

Even if it wasnt a massive conference where Imperial magic schools gathered, exchange meetings held by nearby guilds and magic towers were more frequent than expected. This exchange meeting seemed to be held in Plaher City.

Ah. No. We werent invited.

It has nothing to do with invitations! Its a free gathering. If youre Einroguard students, you should be able to attend without any problem.

Gawon spoke sincerely.

It wasnt such a rigid gathering, and there wouldnt be anyone to say Einroguard students were unqualified.

They could participate comfortably.

As far as I know, I heard another Einroguard student is also participating.

Really?

Lee Han was puzzled.

Einroguard wasnt a guild or magic tower from this nearby region.

As I said, its a free gathering. If youre interested and qualified, you can visit anytime. That person must also be interested in the magic presented at the exchange meeting, right?

Another senior?

Lee Han thought it wouldnt be bad to have a conversation if an Einroguard senior was participating.

The new semester would start soon and hed meet various seniors, so it wouldnt hurt to get acquainted in advance.

Ill think about it. Oh. Do you happen to have anything to present at todays exchange meeting?

At Lee Hans question, Gawon answered with an expression mixed with pride and confidence.

Of course.

Oh. What are you presenting?

Hmm. Would you take a look at this?

Gawon overlapped three magic circles on the carriage floor, placed reagents, and began chanting spells.

Lee Han, who was watching from the side, spoke as if finding it interesting.

Youre maintaining a spherical form with water elemental magic and then adding additional properties to it. Classifying and amplifying mana

Cough, cough.

Gawon, who was chanting spells, choked and coughed.

He hadnt expected the boy next to him to figure out the magic just by looking without any explanation.

How how did you?

Huh? Im also a mage.

This is why Einroguard graduates are!

If being the same mage was all it took, there would be no reason for Gawon to be struggling like this.

Gawon felt like laughing bitterly but held back. Making an enemy of an Einroguard graduate mage could lead to lifelong regret.

Even fellow mages cant recognize such complex magic at once.

It doesnt seem particularly complex though

Compared to the magic of the Skeleton Principal or professors, the magic Gawon was preparing was simple and easy to understand.

Of course, saying that could be rude, so Lee Han spoke as diplomatically and positively as possible.

I think I recognized it quickly because Ive seen similar magic before. I was also a bit lucky.

Ha haha. Isnt it perhaps too simple?

Gawon watched Lee Hans reaction.

This magic summoned water spheres in the air and then turned them into devices that filtered and amplified mana.

It was quite practical and decent, receiving favorable reviews within the magic tower, but Gawon was somewhat concerned that it hadnt advanced much from the Otas Radiant Prism magic published five years ago.

Since similar magic had appeared, latecomers had to show more novel and excellent attempts to receive favorable reviews.

I dont think it matters whether magic is complex or simple. Whats important is what effect it has, isnt it?

Thats right?!

Gawons face brightened.

The encouragement from an Einroguard student filled him with confidence.

But from what I can see, this part of the magic circle seems unnecessary.

Huh? This serves the role of maintaining the left sides form

Even without it, it would be fixed by the force from the other side.

Wait, wai

Before Gawon could stop him, Lee Han cut out part of the magic circle.

But surprisingly, the magic remained intact.

The mana around this border also seems unnecessary.

Thats really not true! We need to amplify and secure the mana necessary for the magic

Just compress mana into this side and thats it.

Lee Han redrew part of the magic circle drawn with Luminous Ink and instantly compressed mana into the Black Shadow Sand.

It was a simple modification that took less than a second, but just that reduced the mana needed for this magic circle to one-third.

Gawon blinked in shock.

Ein Einroguard!

Truly terrifying!

***

Alsicle. Would you like to go together?

Hmm. You should go. Youll learn a lot.

Alsicle actively recommended it after hearing about the exchange meeting.

Mages were basically better off knowing and getting along with many other mages.

What about you, Alsicle?

I dont want to.

You dont have to eat the sardines.

Its not because of the sardines, its because of my research results. If I go out there, questions about how my research is progressing will come flying at me.

Alsicle shuddered as if the mere thought was horrifying. Lee Han looked at Alsicle with pity.

It wasnt just Alsicle this was a future that Lee Han might experience someday too.

I might go crazy if the professors keep asking how my magic practice is going every time we meet.

How were the Bitter Mountains?

I met a unicorn.

What? Really?

Alsicle was surprised.

While Professor Lightningstep was an excellent explorer, unicorns were equally rare creatures.

Meeting one required luck, so how did he manage to encounter one?

Wow. Congratulations. Did you at least get a strand of unicorn hair?

I got hair and horn fragments too We decided to raise it at Einroguard.

What?? Why?!

Alsicle, who had been lying at an angle, suddenly sat up straight.

Unicorns rarely made their homes in places with many people.

What on earth had happened?

Well, we found the missing professor and he was taking care of the unicorn.

Ah. That cra Professor Bendozol?

Hes famous!?

Lee Han was surprised that Alsicle immediately recognized who Bendozol was.

There wasnt just one Dochul but several, so the unicorn was in danger

Oh my.

The Principal came and took Professor Bendozol away, then moved the unicorn to Einroguard.

Wait. Hold on.

Alsicle was bewildered as he listened.

This wasnt some ancient play did the story really end with the Skeleton Principal suddenly appearing and solving everything?

It seems like a lot was skipped in between

Oh. Alsicle sir. I need to leave now.

Oh, right. Have a safe trip. Dont forget to tell me the story next time.

Its nothing special.

What part of what you just told me is nothing special?

Alsicle grumbled but still saw Lee Han off.

His friends were knocked out from mana sickness and fatigue, so they couldnt even come outside. Even Eandurude was groaning.

Is this the place?

Following the directions Gawon had given him earlier, a dilapidated mansion came into view.

Not only was it small, but weeds grew wild in the garden, and broken parts were visible all over the mansions exterior.

Normally he might have wondered if hed come to the wrong place, but Lee Han realized hed found the right location from the mana he felt emanating from the mansion.

There must be magic cast inside.

To a mage who could expand space, such an exterior appearance meant nothing.

Lee Han looked around.

People who appeared to be mages were each carrying their belongings and entering the mansion.

And there was also a familiar-faced raven beastman mage with his hat pulled down low

Senior Diret?!

Who is it?!

Diret was startled and turned his head while flapping the wings on his back. Fortunately, it was a familiar junior.

Junior. What are you doing here?!

I was also resting since its vacation. I happened to be invited to the exchange meeting.

Ah I see.

Diret wondered how Lee Han, who had just finished his first year, had been invited to the exchange meeting.

While it was a casual gathering, first-year students usually werent invited.

No wait. Its possible if its him.

But Diret soon convinced himself.

This junior seemed more than worthy of receiving an invitation.

Are you hiding your identity?

Its not that grand I just hoped people wouldnt recognize me.

Has your research been stuck lately?

?!

Diret was startled.

How did he know!?

How did you know!?

I heard that when research gets stuck, people dont usually participate in gatherings like this.

Right. Youre quick to catch on. I wore the hat because I didnt want to get questioned unnecessarily.

If it were me, I wouldnt attend at all

When you receive an invitation, you cant just not sign the guest book. Besides, exchange meetings are quite helpful. I was hoping to get some inspiration.

Diret sighed once and changed the subject.

Junior. What did you do during vacation? You didnt just work again, did you?

Dont worry. Recently I was chasing a unicorn with a professor in the Bitter Mountains.

Lee Han was pleased, thinking it sounded quite plausible even to himself.

Cough.

Diret nearly dropped his hat from coughing.

Why with a professor?

Because there was a bounty?

On the unicorn??

No. On Professor Bendozol.

?

Diret wanted to ask what on earth that meant, but the sound of a bell from inside made him realize it was time to enter.

Follow me. Tell me that story again later.

Yes.

Did you find the unicorn?

Yes. The Principal took it to Einroguard.

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