The Lich Principal Emerges
"Ugh, I'm stuffed."
Burp.
I patted my bloated belly firmly as I stepped out of the restaurant.
Behind me came Nipella Aoman and the other two—Marne and his crew—who'd spent a full hour grilling nothing but meat.
"Next month... my gym membership..."
Marne muttered in despair, but Nipella cut in with a cold voice.
"You should be worrying about your suspension first."
"P-Professor...! But we..."
"Sky Academy has no need for students like you. Wait quietly for your punishment. Hanwoo, you and I will speak later."
"...Understood."
Justice served?
I glanced back at Marne.
'Pretty serious case.'
His personality and skills were both disastrously low.
'But this incoming class might be even worse?'
The decisive reason I'd been sent to the academy.
The heroes destined to save the world in the future were all turning into thugs.
'If there were that many of them...'
Even without me, one righteous prodigy could've cleaned house easily.
'But since that won't cut it, they called me in.'
About a hundred times that many...
And honestly, the bullying Marne pulled earlier was just everyday asshole behavior.
"What to do with you guys..."
"W-We did everything you asked..."
"Yeah? Obviously. Wasn't talking about you anyway. Figured you didn't know much."
I beckoned them over.
"Come here."
"B-But we did everything..."
"You think I'm gonna hit you or something? Get over here."
I had to drag the cowering punks closer.
I held my palm to their swollen faces and channeled divine magic.
Whoosh...
"...!"
Marne's eyes went wide as his wounds vanished, returning to normal.
I healed his back and wrists completely before pulling my hand away.
"There. Now scram."
"H-How did you heal..."
"I'm a priest, duh?"
"Smashing a knight's face with a handkerchief...?"
"You don't believe me?"
I raised my fist, and they yelled No, sir! before bolting away.
Short and intense bunch.
Tsk. I turned to go, but the door creaked open. Blushing knights shouted from inside.
"Come back next time!"
"We will!"
And the next day, I hit the barbecue joint solo.
"Pour it on, Mars-style! Chug!"
"Guzzle!"
"Hahaha!! Ten bottles of soju here!"
Three days later.
I'd arrived in Karma Territory and basically camped out at the barbecue place all day.
My goal? None other than...
"Ahahaha! Drink up, drink up! Uncle! Down it all!"
"W-What, kid's got a liver like that..."
Bo booze!
They treated you like an adult at 17 here, so drinking was no issue.
Even by Korean standards, I'd lived 17 plus another 17 years—no problem.
Plus, with the friendly knights and boss footing the bill, I chugged worry-free.
Not my money anyway!
Thud!
After days of this, even the famously tough knights finally collapsed.
I was surprised once by the high proof, then again by the thrilling buzz.
"Kuhh... This is the life..."
This is what booze tastes like?!
Stumbling up from my seat, drunk on the first real taste I'd ever had.
We'd been rowdy till dawn, but the barbecue boss—who'd made a killing—grinned ear to ear.
"Heading out now?"
"Yeah... Ow, my head. Oh, one of these uncles'll cover the tab."
"Thank you! Safe travels!"
The boss bowed a full 90 degrees.
"Ugh, I'm dying."
After walking a bit, I finally got why Arcana warned me off booze.
Sobering up a little, my head still spun, stomach churned.
'Drank too much...'
How much was it? Filled a whole table?
Leaning on the wall, I shuffled along slowly.
Woof! Woof woof...?
"Shut it."
Whine...
The nasty-tempered yard dog barked then whimpered quiet on its own, but the path home wasn't too tricky.
'Kinda dark... Used to be punks and thugs around here.'
None in sight. Beating some would've felt good.
"Ugh, world's spinning... No, am I spinning...?"
Perfect timing—Nipella stood outside the inn.
"Professooor!"
He spotted me and approached.
"A priest, drunk like this?"
He steadied my wobble, tsked, and drew up mana.
"That's prejudice, prejudice..."
"Sobering you first."
Snap!
Nipella flicked his fingers, and the booze haze vanished.
Hangover, bloat, smell—all gone.
"Whoa..."
Modern magic, huh?
"Seemed you left it on purpose, but you need to be somewhere now, so I took the liberty."
"It's fine."
Wait. Left it on purpose?
'Divine power could've fixed this?'
No hangover suffering yesterday then.
But asking would admit I was dumb, so I changed topics quick.
"Why're you out front? You always crash in your room grumbling."
"Somewhere to see."
"Where?"
"There."
He pointed.
A standout mansion in Karma Territory.
"...Isn't that the lord's manor?"
"Yes. Count Erno invites you, the priest, and me as lord."
"This late—evening okay?"
"Host calls, who cares."
True that.
I nodded fast, eyeing the manor.
'Why evening though?'
Evening my ass—practically night. Streets dark; dark clothes, no one'd notice...
A presence—head whipped around.
"?"
Someone in black lurked in the shadows along our path.
What? Flaunting 'I'm suspicious'?
"Professor, what's that over there?"
"Ah, you're here."
Creeeak!
The manor's front gate opened. Slick white hair combed back, wrinkled face, crisp suit.
Screamed 'I'm the butler.'
He bowed.
"Professor Nipella Aoman and the priest, I presume. They're waiting inside. Please enter."
"No, that thing behind..."
"You too, priest. More comfortable inside."
"But..."
I looked back. Shadowy figure still hid there.
"???"
What? They can't see it? Just me?
'Ghost?'
Similar vibe, but not mana—mana-ish? Vague...
Purify it? Fist-purify or regular?
As I pondered, Nipella patted my shoulder.
"Let's go in."
"No, something's back there..."
"Come on."
I swear there's something!
I was practically dragged inside.
The manor was lavish, spacious.
But that black shadow kept nagging my mind, blinding me to it all.
"Here. Come in."
"Ah, yeah..."
Finally reached what looked like a guest reception room.
I sat quietly. After a wait, the door opened.
Massive muscles, tidy black suit clashing with his bulk...
"Sorry for the late hour. I'm Erno, Count of Karma Territory."
"No issue. You must've cleared your schedule."
"Thank you for understanding. I've heard much. Saving my son, slaying that vile black mage..."
"Just happened."
Muscles firmer than those gym rats, true gentleman.
I nodded inwardly, impressed.
'This is a real man.'
"I called you for my son, but also... someone wanted to meet you."
Erno cut straight to it.
"Who?"
"Two people. One tomorrow, the other only tonight—citizens fear them."
Who'd that be?
Then, door behind me opened.
Immense mana and chill poured in. Goosebumps everywhere, I whipped around.
Lich!
Skeleton under black robe rattled.
-Nice to meet you. I'm Maron Rispelto, principal of Sky Academy, the lich.
"...That shadowy stalker from earlier?"
-People fear me, so I have to sneak. As you see, I'm obviously a lich. How'd folks react to a lich on a night street?
"Okay, I get the vibe and your reaction... but a lich as principal?"
Principal?
A lich?
"...What, like a demon becoming pope or some shit..."
"Sit first. I know it's hard to grasp. I'll explain slowly."
Nipella gave a wry smile, understanding my shock.
I plopped back down.
Hidden camera prank? Nah, why bother?
-Hard to believe, eh?
"You know how I feel? Worse than hearing a demon's pope. Might as well say a bully with school violence record's principal. Lich? Really...?"
-Prejudice.
"Not prejudice—fact. How's a mana-wielding lich even..."