Although it was an impertinent remark, Professor Garcia found it hard to refute.

A fierce competition would undoubtedly ensue if it came down to who, between the skull principal and Professor Boladi, had fewer close students.

Well, why do you ask?

Im just concerned, seeing Professor Bagrak pass by like that. He must be in charge of something for the festival.

Hell manage just fine.

No, you misunderstand me, Professor Garcia, the skull principal said firmly.

Professor Bagrak, having no close students, is likely to call upon the boy from the Wardanaz family.

...Ah.

Professor Garcia realized what was meant.

Just as the skull principal, who had only Yi-Han as a close student, might do, Professor Boladi was also highly likely to do the same.

It was indeed an unfortunate situation for student Yi-Han.

How about you concede this time, Principal?

Did I hear you wrong?

Principal, if you just yie...

Still cant hear you. What did you say?

...Right. Its unlikely that you would concede.

Professor Bagrak! Professor Bagrak!

The skull principal called out to Professor Boladi, who was passing by in the distance. The pale vampire mage approached without a change in expression.

So, this is the situation. Do you understand?

Why dont you just concede, Principal?

Ha ha ha... Dont talk nonsense.

I did not talk nonsense.

A conversation between two mages, far removed from the word 'compromise,' gave Professor Garcia an instant headache.

But contrary to her worries, they did not fight.

How about we compromise then? Split the time in half?

Agreed.

...

Predators respect each other's territories.

The principal and Professor Boladi quickly reached an agreement.

It was as if only the herbivores destined to be bitten by these predators were to be pitied.

Wait. There goes Professor Uregor

Just exclude Professor Uregor, he has plenty of close students!

Professor Garcia desperately interjected.

Surely, dividing it into thirds would be too cruel!

Unaware that his schedule had been expanded, Yi-Han was immersed in deep thought and concern, never having imagined such a development.

Professor Alpen had described the magic circle as 'simple', but naturally, that was by a professor's standards, and for Yi-Han and Asan, it was far from simple.

So, once completed, we're to float spheres of light at regular intervals along both sides of the corridor, and in the center, show a statue made of illusions?

It seems so.

Asan, having read the book given by the professor, spoke with a voice full of conviction.

Wardanaz. Professor Knighton is definitely insane.

It seems his speech has become rougher since entering the school.

But Yi-Han understood why Asan would speak that way.

The magic circle was excessively difficult for two freshmen to handle.

Yi-Han wondered if he could simply use his own mana for the spheres of light and place an actual statue there instead.

<Production specifications for simple magic circle installation for imperial banquet>

For mages lacking in eloquence, flashy magic could compensate for their deficient social skills at banquets.

Some foolish mages took attending banquets and building connections lightly, but this was indeed a short-sighted view. Securing patronage from nobles was a crucial skill for a mage.

Let's consider an anecdote to understand its importance...

For a book with so much unnecessary talk, its quite fascinating.

Mages' books, even those with simple content, never just stated the main points directly.

They tended to write about personal trivialities, what they ate yesterday, today's weather, insult their rivals, and only then get to the main point.

The book given by Professor Alpen was of this kind, but its content was quite relatable.

Extracting money from nobles, huh...

Conducting magic research required substantial funds. Magic was indeed the most expensive discipline in the empire.

The cost of rare reagents was astronomical, and in the case of rare artifacts, they were so scarce that money alone couldn't procure them.

Who could provide such funds? It was the wealthy nobles and rich individuals.

Although Yi-Han wasnt seriously invested in research, he was quite earnest in extracting money.

Impress them with illusion magic, and then... dance... music... literature... art... Hmm... Isnt there an easier way?

Wardanaz?

Ah, sorry. I was concentrating.

Yi-Han snapped back to reality.

Asan was lost in thought, scribbling with a quill pen. Reading the specifications was not the end of their troubles.

...Create the following diagram and channel the mana equivalent to two musk deer. This should ensure smooth operation. Place magic stones with the light element attribute, but ensure their power is not too excessive. The flow of mana can be interrupted by the surrounding environment, but this can be solved by adding a very small amount of the following reagents...

Despite reading thoroughly, most of the instructions required practical application. Asan cursed under his breath at the professor, while Yi-Han began preparations quietly, accepting such irrationality as his fate.

"Let's get ready," Yi-Han said.

"Its good youre here to help, Wardanaz," Asan replied, starting to prepare as well.

They began by drawing white lines on the floor with light-attribute magic ink, which had high mana conductivity, carefully infusing mana into them. Too little mana would cause the lines to fade, while too much would destroy them. Thus, they had to concentrate.

Above all...

"Cough," Asan suddenly collapsed, face turning pale and trembling. He fumbled for a <Lesser Mana Recovery Potion> from his cloak, made during Professor Uregor's class.

"Ward... Wardanaz. If I fall, avenge me on Professor Knighton ..." Asan mumbled.

"Rest for now," Yi-Han reassured him, laying Asan down and proceeding with the test alone.

Having abundant mana wasn't always a disadvantage. While other mages needed forced breaks due to depleted mana, Yi-Han didn't, but this brought a sense of loneliness.

'Why do I feel lonely? Strange,' he thought, pushing aside these thoughts to continue injecting mana into the magic circle.

Click-

Yi-Han and Asan looked up as someone entered the classroom.

"Is it the professor?"

It was Princess Adenart, with her long silver hair, a royal lineage, followed by her entourage, who opened the classroom door for study, only to be surprised by the scene inside.

"Wardanaz!"

"Hello."

"What are you doing on the weekend... Ah!"

One of the followers nodded as if understanding.

"You're studying even on the weekend. That's impressive."

"..."

"No way! Are you blind?"

Asan burst out. Yi-Han might have been one of the hardest working students in the Blue Dragon Tower, but this was something else. Who would willingly choose to do this?

"It's because the professor asked us to do it!" exclaimed Yi-Han.

"The professor? Why?" came the puzzled query.

"A friend of the professor is visiting," explained Asan, to which the Princess's entourage listened attentively, leading to another round of admiration.

"Thats amazing!" they exclaimed.

"Well, it is impressive," Asan admitted reluctantly, though his expression was one of annoyance. Indeed, it was a remarkable task, not something just anyone could do. But the thought of spending a golden weekend on this task made Asan yearn to launch a magic missile at Professor Knighton's face.

"Aha, Wardanaz, I've got an idea. What if we enlist the Princess and her friends? It would be much more helpful, I'm 96% sure of that," Asan suggested.

"No, we can't do that," Yi-Han replied firmly.

"Why not?" Asan was baffled.

The reason Yi-Han chose to help Asan over finding a way to escape the academy for the weekend was simple: to gain favor in the eyes of the professor and his friend. But if the Princess joined...

-"Isn't that the Princess? What an honor to meet you! Truly worthy of your reputation, completing such a sophisticated magic circle as a freshman!"-

...such a scenario was highly likely to unfold. Among the numerous royal family members, Adenart had a very high reputation, so there was no way the imperial officials did not know about it.

'Sorry, but for the sake of my advancement, the Princess can't join this tedious and boring task.'

"Because it's a task the professor entrusted to us," Yi-Han reasoned.

Asan respected his decision. After all, who else to listen to if not the friend who sacrificed his weekend to help?

However, things took an unexpected turn.

"Excuse me, Wardanaz?" came a voice.

Yi-Han looked up, surprised.

"The Princess wants to help, is it alright if she and us join you?"

Yi-Han was taken aback. Why would she want to help?

'Does this look fun to her?'

If Gainando were in her place, a glance at the magic circle would have been enough to send him running. Yet, here was the Princess, eager to participate.

Thankfully, Asan stepped in. "Sorry, but we can't do that. This is a task given specifically to us."

"Perhaps Wardanaz has a different opinion," the follower suggested.

"Wardanaz would likely agree with me," Asan assured.

The Princess looked at Asan coldly, her gaze lacking any friendly intent.

After a whispered exchange with a follower, the follower approached Yi-Han.

"Wardanaz?"

"What's the matter?"

"The Princess said she wants to join the task and will bring snacks."

"Snacks!" Asan was even more surprised. An unexpected gesture indeed.

"Wardanaz, I didn't expect her to go this far...!"

'Is he still not fully recovered from the mana depletion?' Yi-Han wondered, bemused by Asan's dramatic response.

Yi-Han was conflicted. Rejecting the Princess could lead to her harboring a grudge. Those born to high status often bore narrow hearts, as evident with Gainando. Unlike Gainando, however, the Princess was surrounded by many influential people who could complicate Yi-Han's life.

'Crafty royals.'

"What's going on here?" Professor Alpen, happening upon the gathered students, expressed his curiosity.

"The others are offering to help."

Yi-Han spoke with a slight sense of expectation. He knew all too well that Professor Alpen, known for his cantankerous nature, wouldn't just stand by and let things be.

He silently hoped the professor would send the volunteers away.

"Excellent," Professor Alpen commented, softening his stern expression and smiling faintly as he looked at Yi-Han.

"Excuse me?" Yi-Han was taken aback.

"It's commendable that your friends are stepping forward to help. You have good friends. Being able to receive help from others is also a skill. Now that things have come to this, take charge and try to create it with the other students. Leading others is a skill in itself."

With that, Professor Alpen left. Asan turned to Yi-Han and said, "Seeing him respond like that, it seems alright, doesn't it? Wardanaz, it should be fine to involve them, right?"

"Asan."

"??"

"I should go to the dormitory and bring more people."

"That... that much?"

Asan was surprised.

This seemed sufficient already!

'He's incredibly thorough. I should learn from him.'

'Given his response, increasing the number of helpers will likely lead to a higher evaluation.'