Yi-Han couldn't simply imitate swordsmanship just by watching. If that were possible, all the Empire's sword guilds and swordsmanship instructors would have to put down their swords.

Of course, if one were truly an exceptional swordsman, they could grasp swordsmanship to a certain extent just by crossing swords. However, it was only to a certain level; they couldn't read all the complex and profound sword techniques.

The Absorption Sword of the Engge family belonged to that category. The swordsmanship that made the opponent lose balance and get pulled in the moment their swords clashed wasn't just about converting the nature of mana.

Starting from converting the nature of mana, one had to precisely calculate at which moment of the sword technique to use it for the optimal effect. Yet, Yi-Han grasped it through experience and developed it to the point of using it during his spar with Arlong.

'Can magical talent be applied in this way too?' Arlong was perplexed.

He knew from the family patriarch that Yi-Han was outstanding in magic. As such a genius, perhaps he could do that just by seeing the change in the nature of mana. But to develop it to the point of using it in a spar...

Arlong thought that perhaps the young master should have been sent to the knights' order instead of Einroguard.

"It was excellent for self-training. If you refine it further, it will become even better," Arlong said.

"Really? That's encouraging." Yi-Han used his sword to support his weight and stood up from his spot.

Having struggled throughout the semester, he couldn't help but be pleased that Arlong acknowledged him.

'I guess it's usable.'

"Lord Wardanaz, a guest has arrived," a servant approached and called for Yi-Han.

"Who is it?" Yi-Han thought it might be one of his friends or someone who hadn't paid him back yet.

"It's a priest. They said there would be a temple event soon, and they came thinking Lord Wardanaz would be interested..."

"!" Yi-Han's face lit up.

Tijiling, the priestess from the Presinga Order, had mentioned it before. There would be a temple event during the break.

It was called an event, but it was a kind of secondhand market where cursed artifacts were collected and destroyed or disposed of. Since the semester, Yi-Han had been determined to participate in this event and make some money.

'Priestess Tijiling, thank you.'

"I'll change my clothes and go right away. Tell her I'll attend the event and ask her to wait in the reception room for a bit. Oh, and can you prepare some snacks for me to take when visiting the temple?"

"I will do so."

"..."

Yihan had a sullen expression on his face as he walked.

Beside him was not Priestess Tijiling, but Priest Nigisor, who waved the brightly burning flames to the side as he spoke. "As expected of Yihan from the Wardanaz family. I knew you would be interested."

"Indeed... I like the Aphar Order..."

Objectively speaking, the Aphar Order was a good religious order. Especially for Yihan, who had a weakness in handling the fire element, it was an order that had helped him a lot. Maintaining a friendly relationship with such an order was clearly a good thing, but...

'I thought it was the Presinga Order.'

Originally, when people's expectations were raised for no reason, they were bound to be more disappointed. Yihan, who had thought of taking a share of the cursed artifacts, couldn't help but feel let down.

"By the way, what kind of event does the Aphar Order hold?"

"First, there's the burning of the straw doll. We burn a straw doll filled with the misfortunes and bad luck of the year to call for good fortune."

"I see."

Yihan nodded his head at the surprisingly sensible event.

"Next, we invite the priests and the city's fire mages to lecture on the empire's safety regulations."

"...Huh?"

Yihan was taken aback. There was such a thing?

"There was something like that?"

"Fire element-wielding mages can cause great damage even with small accidents, unlike priests who are educated from a young age. Self-taught mages often cause dangerous accidents."

The Aphar Order was a religious order that worshipped fire, not one that encouraged arson. If it had been, there would have already been a bounty on them in the empire.

On the contrary, the Aphar Order was a religious order that paid close attention to fire safety. This was also the reason why villages of a certain size all wanted to have an Aphar Order temple in their village.

'...Wait a minute. Didn't Priest Nigisor want to burn the world?'

Yihan looked at the priest walking beside him with a dubious gaze. It seemed that the Aphar Order should manage Priest Nigisor first before the city's fire mages...

"But will the mages listen? It doesn't seem like they'll come easily."

Priest Nigisor shook his head. "After listening to the empire's safety regulations, we issue a certificate of completion in the name of the order. It's quite a useful item when you want to use fire magic in the city, so quite a lot of mages attend."

"!"

Unlike other magic, even employers didn't just call anyone for fire magic. If cast incorrectly, it could burn everything around.

"Then I must receive it too."

"...???"

Priest Nigisor looked at Yihan with a strange expression, wondering where he would use it.

The Aphar Order's temple felt hot. Yihan involuntarily grabbed and shook his collar.

The flames rising from the statues installed all over the temple, the flames emitted by the fire mages who had come to the temple...

As Priest Nigisor said, the number of mages was surprisingly high. Most of the city's fire mages seemed to have come.

"Have you been to the newly opened staff shop? I heard they use magnolia wood as a material. I wonder if it will suit fire magic."

"I still prefer apple tree staffs. What if you change the staff and fail to control it?"

From people who looked like they had never fought before to adventurer-like people wearing metal armor with several daggers hanging from their belts.

"The burns are severe. Did the magic backfire?"

"Yeah. You be careful inside buildings too."

"..."

And there were also ominous conversations. Yihan involuntarily paused.

'...I really need to be careful when using fire magic.'

"Hey."

"?"

Yihan turned his head. Of course, it wouldn't be strange for a fight to break out in such a crowded place, but this was a temple.

'What? Is he someone who enjoys going to the city prison?'

"You're a first-year, right? Keep your head down and follow me."

Surprisingly, the one who spoke to him was another Einroguard student. Showing the Einroguard emblem slightly and then buttoning up the front of his coat, Yihan was puzzled.

"Are you... an Einroguard student?"

"Yeah. Second-year. Lower your voice and follow me."

The unidentified senior pulled Yihan to a corner of the temple. Then, looking around, he said, "It's not good to show off that you're an Einroguard mage here. The guys who learned some magic in this city are jealous of Einroguard students or try to use them. It just becomes troublesome for no reason."

The senior spat and rubbed it with his boots. "I'm advising you because we're from the same White Tiger Tower. Got it?"

"...How did you know I'm from the White Tiger Tower?"

Yihan asked curiously. The senior snorted and said, "Anyone can see that your body is screaming 'I've wielded a sword.' I'd be an idiot not to notice. Nice to meet you. I'm Valgaro from the Alpha family."

A second-year White Tiger Tower student, from the same family as Anglago. Yihan's mind quickly turned.

If he mentioned a non-existent family, it could raise suspicion, but if he mentioned an existing family and they actually knew each other...

"...I'm Gainando from the Moradi family."

"Moradi family? You don't look like you're from the Moradi family?"

"That's because I'm from a branch family."

"Huh. You must have had a hard time as a branch family member who doesn't resemble them. The Moradi family folks must be persistent."

"No. It's alright."

Instead of a long excuse, Yihan put on a lonely smile. Sometimes, just staying still was easier to explain than a long excuse.

Then Valgaro let his imagination run wild. Being from a branch family and not even resembling them would undoubtedly lead to discrimination.

"Enough. You can just speak comfortably in front of me."

"Thank you, senior. But what are you doing here?"

"I came to get a permit from the Aphar Order. What else would I be here for? I mainly use fire magic. But if you don't have a permit, not only the client but also other adventurers are a bit wary to give you missions."

"Mission? Do you work as an adventurer?"

"I do. What? Didn't you hear from the other guys? Why don't you know?"

"Because I'm from a branch family..."

Yihan put on a lonely smile again. Valgaro felt very sorry.

"Don't mind it. The ones who excluded you are trash. Despicable bastards. No matter what, they shouldn't have done that."

"I'm fine."

"I'm not fine. The juniors I had expectations for..."

Valgaro was furious that the juniors he had finally met as a second-year were doing cowardly things.

"Originally, the White Tiger Tower often works as adventurers during breaks. Not only for living expenses but also to maintain and train our senses as knights."

"I see. When working as an adventurer, you can choose the missions you want."

In a way, it was a suitable job for the White Tiger Tower. As mages, they had high pay, and as knights from knight families, they had much more solid combat power than average adventurers or mercenaries...

If they only chose missions that could be completed in a short period, it could be more advantageous in terms of income.

'There were such advantages. Those despicable White Tiger Tower bastards. Trying to benefit only themselves.'

It wasn't that the White Tiger Tower students had particularly hidden it, but Yihan was indignant.

"That's right. And above all, we're knights. We can't do trivial jobs like the Black Tortoise Tower guys, no matter how much silver they give us."

'Do knights receive training that lowers their intelligence?'

"Indeed, you are absolutely right."

While Yihan was agreeing with Valgaro, the priests of the Aphar Order appeared, dragging a huge straw doll.

"First, I would like to thank the messengers of fire who have gathered here today. This straw doll is..."

Valgaro yawned and took out his wand. "You prepare too. We all use fire magic together."

"!"

The straw doll wasn't just burned. The mages and priests gathered at the scene all joined forces to burn it together.

"Don't underestimate that straw doll. It doesn't burn well. Last year, there was a guy who tried to do it alone and was humiliated... What are you doing?"

Click, click, click-

Yihan wore several layers of fire absorption rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

"I equipped artifacts."

"Hey. No matter how much they say it doesn't burn, you don't have to try that hard. If it doesn't burn, the priests will step up."

Whoosh!

As soon as the priest's explanation ended, the mages gathered at the temple began to wave their staffs.

"O flames..."

"Burn and devour!"

"Flames, in the form of a sphere..."

Valgaro also prepared magic. "Flames. Dwell within."

Normally, the enchantment was cast on a sword, but now it was cast on the tip of a wooden pole. As it touched the straw doll, flames erupted.

However, the soaring flames quickly subsided. The powerful mana of the straw doll was enduring the fire magic.

"See? This really doesn't burn..."

Whoosh!

Yihan summoned flames and unleashed them directly onto the straw doll. The flames engulfed the straw doll and burned fiercely.

'...Just how effective are these artifacts?'