Episode 1069
Episode 1069
A short while before Lee Han called his friends.
Gainando and the Blue Dragon Tower students were hiding in the mansion's secret hideout to avoid Alhidel. 'Damn Gainando. How the hell did he even find a place like this?' His friends were inwardly astonished.
Who would have thought there'd be a hidden space behind the wardrobe at the far western end of the mansion's second floor?
To be fair, it wasn't uncommon for mansions like this to have a few secret storerooms or hidden spaces.
But discovering one that had been concealed with magic was an entirely different matter.
Truly the result of astonishing dedication. 'To think he found this just through sheer determination to slack off...' "Gainando. Sometimes you really amaze me."
"Shh! Keep your voices down! Pengerin might hear."
Gainando pressed a finger to his lips, signaling his friends to be quiet.
After pressing his ear to the wall to check, it seemed they hadn't been followed, thankfully.
"I summoned an undead and placed it inside the armor decoration outside, so if we're discovered, we escape through the window. Got it?"
Behind the scattered wooden crates was a window disguised as part of the wall.
From the outside, it would just look like a wall, but from inside, it could be opened as an escape route if needed.
"Got it. Got it."
"Honestly. I can't believe we're suffering like this because of a first-year."
"His questions are surprisingly sharp, aren't they? I almost couldn't answer for a second."
Grumbling, the friends unpacked their belongings.
Of course, they weren't for studying. If they'd intended to study, there'd have been no reason to hide like this in the first place.
The Blue Dragon Tower students split up and immersed themselves in Wizard Cards, Yutnori, or chess.
"Three silver coins? Hey, I know exactly how much you made last time, and you're only betting three? Have you no conscience?!"
"And you're overflowing with so much conscience that you bought Wardanaz's food at that price and even went into debt to cover the rest?!"
"Both of you, shut up. I want to bet on next semester's stable cleaning duty. If stable cleaning comes up, you're doing all of it."
"Hmph. I was about to suggest the same thing." 'Ugh. These corrupted bastards.' Gainando shot his friends a disapproving glare. Back in their first year, even when cold and hungry, they'd purely enjoyed the games. But the more comfortable they became, the more they degenerated.
"What are you doing? Hurry up and draw, Your Highness."
"Hmph. I am drawing."
But there was no helping it.
Wizard Cards couldn't be played alone. Even if his friends were degenerates, he had to compromise to find opponents.
"Gainando. Play with me next time."
"Then me after that. Let's bet Wardanaz's snacks in advance for the second semester. I like cream puffs."
"...Hey. You're not thinking you can definitely win this time, are you?"
When Gainando glared, his friends averted their eyes.
Unlike regular Wizard Cards, when it came to Wizard Cards with stakes, Gainando's popularity was absolute.
His deck, which discarded all low-cost cards and only included high-cost ones to suit his tastes, was laughably easy to counter.
"W-what are you talking about, Gainando?"
"Hmph. It'll be different this time."
"...Hey. It's not that weird curse deck, is it? If it's that, I'm not playing."
"It's not! And that's a legitimate strategy too!"
"O-okay. But it's just unpleasant..."
Fuming at people's prejudice against Black Magic curse decks, Gainando began laying out his cards.
Three minutes later.
Astonishingly, Gainando seized the momentum and pressed his advantage.
"?!?!"
"!!!"
"Y-Your Highness, you..."
"Is that really Gainando?!"
The sight of the cheap yet efficient Wizard Cards <Rakshasa Hungry Ghost> and <Baldrogard Wizard> spread across the floor left his friends stunned.
Ugly cards Gainando would never normally use!
His opponents, caught off guard, were utterly shredded.
"Gainando, how did you...?!"
"I've changed my thinking. From now on, I'll pursue only victory!"
The humiliation he'd suffered at the hands of the Skeleton Principal had lit a fire in Gainando's heart.
Of course, that was that, but the Blue Dragon Tower students were just baffled.
"My snacks!"
"We're done for. I really thought we'd win this one."
"Well, Gainando was bound to change his strategy eventually."
Unlike the students chatting casually in the back, the opponent who'd actually wagered something felt an entirely different kind of pressure.
He desperately tried to shake Gainando and turn the situation around.
"Gainando! Are you really going to use cards like the Baldrogard Wizard? That's not the real you!"
"Wow. That's pathetic."
"Who'd fall for such a cheap trick?"
"All of you, shut up! Are you going to do my work for me?!"
Just then, a magically amplified shout echoed throughout the mansion from outside.
-Professor Verdus, I want to see you crawling on all fours!!
"...!!!"
The students startled and exchanged glances.
That was Wardanaz's voice.
"F-finally...!"
"Wardanaz finally ambushed Professor Verdus! I knew this would happen!"
"Let's go!"
Without waiting for anyone to take the lead, the students flung open the windows and leaped out. Even the opponent who'd been on the verge of defeat took one look at the situation and bolted after them.
"Hey!"
Calling out at the cowardly escape, Gainando immediately swung his staff and gave chase.
Thud!
As he landed lightly in the courtyard, he could feel familiar faces staring intently at him.
Lee Han, Alsicle, Alhidel, and the penguin beastman mages were standing right in front of him.
"L-Lee Han! Did you finish your magic already?"
"Why did all of you jump out of the wall over there?"
"Well... we were... practicing a spell to create windows in walls..."
"Hey. Everyone who jumped out of the wall, line up over there."
Lee Han issued the command in a chilling tone. The White Tiger Tower students who arrived late quickly assessed the situation and smirked smugly.
"What a bunch of idiots. We already finished all our work and were just playing around."
"Who knew they could be this foolish!"
"...?"
Alhidel tilted his head in confusion.
To be this triumphant just because they'd finished their tasks and were playing...
Were all White Tiger Tower seniors like this? Noticing the first-year's bewilderment, Giselle unleashed a flurry of furious kicks at her friends' shins and calves.
For heaven's sake, have some shame!
"Is everyone here?"
"Wardanaz. Where's Professor Verdus?"
"We're about to go meet him now."
"You didn't ambush and kidnap him?"
"...No."
The friends looked slightly disappointed.
They'd been hoping to see Professor Verdus hanging upside down and wailing again. 'What the hell were these guys expecting?' To clear up the misunderstanding, Lee Han explained what had actually happened.
Professor Verdus had carelessly made a bet, and he'd completed the magic for it...
"..."
And since the professor mentioned he'd be coming to the capital, we're going to meet him. Don't get any weird ideas." 'But you're still going to make him crawl on all fours, so is it really a misunderstanding?' Yoner thought to herself.
Honestly, it didn't feel all that different to her.
"Can I ask a few things, Wardanaz?"
"Go ahead."
"Why is the senior acting like that?"
Salko pointed at Yukveltire standing further back as he asked.
Yukveltire stood there sullenly, looking like half her soul had left her body.
"He's tired from casting magic. Next question."
"Why is Professor Bagrak coming along? Is he going to help subdue Professor Verdus?"
"No. The professor is just accompanying us as a supervisor."
The real reason Voladi was joining them was actually because of the Evil God Worshippers.
Given the recent disturbances related to the Evil God Worshippers, he was tagging along as an escort.
But to the students who didn't know this, it just looked like he wanted to beat up Professor Verdus too.
"Shh. Let's not ask unnecessary questions."
"Right. I think I can understand how the professor feels."
The students nodded with sympathetic expressions.
From a professor's standpoint, how could he openly admit he wanted to smack a colleague?
"U-um, Senior. Can I ask one last question too?"
The final question came from Alhidel. Lee Han nodded.
"Go ahead."
"...Why is Senior Alsicle standing all the way over there?"
Alsicle had positioned himself as far away from Professor Voladi as possible, with the students forming a barrier between them.
To anyone's eyes, it was an odd placement.
"I... don't mind me."
"Right. Don't mind Senior Alsicle. He must be sensitive to heat."
"......"
Alhidel was utterly confused.
The thought processes of Einrogard seniors seemed far too complex and difficult for a mere first-year like himself to comprehend.
-Check ahead.
-Understood.
The Death Knights rode their skeletal steeds to inspect the hillside flanking the road.
-No ambush detected.
-What about underground?
-Nothing below either.
"We're fine already!"
Professor Verdus grumbled from inside the carriage.
He wanted to reach the capital quickly and finish his business, but these Death Knights were handling things far too slowly.
-Professor Verdus. Please remain silent.
"It's because you're all so damn slow!"
At the beaver beastman's words, the knights' blue soulflames flared violently.
Someone's gauntlet twitched toward their scabbard.
If not for the Skeleton Principal's strict orders to protect him properly, they'd have buried him under that hillside long ago!
-How much longer?
-Half a day's travel remaining.
-I'd rather fight an evil dragon.
-Agreed.
Even for battle-hardened Death Knights, escort duty for Professor Verdus was a nightmare.
While assassins drawn by the bounty on the professor's head were troublesome enough, Verdus himself exhausted his guards endlessly.
Complaining that they were too slow at checking the surroundings due to his own numerous enemies...
Had these knights still possessed flesh-and-blood bodies, blood would have been spilled several times over by now.
-Professor. Remember this. You must not step outside the carriage. Once we enter the capital, complete only your essential business and leave immediately.
"I know. I don't want to wander around either."
Their shared desire to finish this quickly and return was the one thing they agreed on.
Professor Verdus had come to the capital to meet with several prominent Enchantment Magic scholars.
Normally he'd handle matters by correspondence or invite them to Einrogard, but that wasn't always possible. Reluctantly, Verdus had to venture beyond the academy grounds.
-The information hasn't leaked, has it?
-Those mages wouldn't...
Probably.
The knights desperately hoped the other mages hadn't sold out Verdus's whereabouts.
Though honestly, it wouldn't surprise them if they had.
-Aren't those Einrogard students over there?
-What? That can't... No, they really are!
The knights driving the carriage were startled to spot a group of students gathered in the distance.
Their formation along both sides of the road looked like they were waiting for someone.
-You don't think the students are planning an ambush?
-Hmm. Very possible.
It wouldn't be strange at all for skilled Einrogard students to attack a professor during vacation.
-Regardless, everyone stay calm. They might not know Professor Verdus is here.
"Excuse me, is Professor Verdus inside by any chance?"
-......
The knights were flustered.
Was this a leading question?
But even accounting for that, directly suspecting Verdus suggested information had...
-Professor Verdus. Who else knew you were coming to the capital?
"Huh? Uh... no one should know? Besides Gonadaltes?"
-...
What about disciples from your own school?
At the Death Knight's question, Professor Verdus fell deep into thought.
He'd written his travel schedule in his workshop, and often assigned tasks to his disciples...
"Ah! They might know."
-Hold back, hold back!
As one particularly impatient knight moved to lunge, the others quickly restrained him.
-Well, that's some relief at least. If it's fellow disciples, it probably isn't an assassination attempt.
-Are you sure about that...
Regardless, the knights answered the students after their discussion.
-He is present. For what purpose are you mages gathered here?
"We came because of a bet with Professor Verdus."
-What kind of bet...?
"We completed a spell he said was absolutely impossible. He said he'd walk on all fours if we did."
"Say I'm not here!!"
Professor Verdus whispered urgently. The knights stared incredulously at this beaver beastman mage.