Episode 1087
Episode 1087
Even if Uman were to assist Jowurin, it didn't seem like it would be much help. If she threw a tantrum or acted stubborn, he'd likely cave immediately.
'That burden will probably fall more heavily on Wardanaz. Thinking that way gives me some comfort.'
Having a young dragon constantly nagging by his side all semester would be annoying, but it could also serve as nourishment for the disciple's growth.
Of course, the disciple himself would hate it immensely, but wasn't magic all about growing by doing things you didn't want to do?
"Alright. Do your best. Let's see how much you can improve Einrogard this semester."
"Hmph. Even if Your Highness mocks me, I shall not waver."
Uman's attitude was as firm as a rock.
His strong will was palpable—no matter how much the Skeleton Principal teased or mocked him, he wouldn't budge an inch.
"I've been preparing for this day all along. The mages of Einrogard will surely appreciate my methods."
"Let's hear it then. What exactly have you prepared? A pile of gold coins?"
If he had prepared a mountain of gold coins, that would indeed be a threatening strategy.
The students of Einrogard would gladly sell out the principal for just one pile of gold coins.
And there were even those who'd sell him out without getting a single pile...
Considering Uman's position as the creator of Wizard Cards and the wealth he'd accumulated, bringing a golden bribery strategy was entirely plausible.
"What nonsense are you spouting! I respect the mages of Einrogard. How could I possibly bribe them with gold?!"
"You're still so naive."
The Skeleton Principal looked at the young dragon with pity.
This dragon still didn't understand what the mages of Einrogard truly valued.
Bribing them with gold was the truest form of respect!
"I intend to guide the customs of Einrogard's mages with pure justice, not threats or bribes. And that includes the professors—no exceptions. Especially mages like Professor Verdus—I won't let them off the hook!"
"Oh..."
For the first time today, the Skeleton Principal's expression softened with satisfaction.
Now this sounded promising.
"That was good. Keep that up, and the mages might even start liking your methods a little."
"...It's no use pretending to be indifferent. I know you're fond of Professor Verdus!"
The Skeleton Principal immediately turned stern. A chilling coldness emanated from his sculpted face.
"Absolutely not, so don't spout such nonsense again."
"I-I'm sorry..."
"No... forget it. My apologies. I don't know why I'm getting angry at a child. Do your best. Oh, and don't torment Wardanaz too much. It's amusing, but also a bit pitiful."
"I already told you I have no intention of interfering with the students at all!"
Uman stormed out indignantly, still under the misconception that the Skeleton Principal was mocking him.
After the dragon left, the knights spoke up worriedly.
-Master, will this be alright?
"And if it's not? Should I just kick him out?"
-That's not what we meant, but...
"Either way, it'll only last a month or two. Given His Highness's temperament, we'll be flooded with petitions before long."
The Skeleton Principal was nonchalant.
Though it would be bothersome, he was certain someone like Uman wouldn't last long at Einrogard. Before two months passed, petitions begging the Emperor to save them would pour in.
"Until then, keep the storage locked tight and don't do anything strange. It'll be annoying if he comes chasing after us."
-What about the professors and students?
If an inspector came poking around, the professors and students might end up being more troublesome than the Skeleton Principal himself.
"What about them? They'll have to handle it themselves. This works out perfectly—let them suffer a bit."
The professors and students (especially ones like Professor Ber Mo) often complained that the Skeleton Principal was too stingy and heartless.
"Mostly, such complaints arose when they weren't given more time for their magic research or assignments, but from the Skeleton Principal's perspective, it was utterly ridiculous talk."
'Do these bastards have flesh but no conscience?'
Perhaps Prince Uman's arrival might serve as punishment for these undisciplined Einrogard mages.
"Still, we should at least send out notifications. Dispatch letters to the professors."
"Should we inform Professor Bible Verdus as well?"
"No. Exclude him."
"How truly wise of you!"
Even knights who worked purely out of loyalty occasionally needed rewards.
And the sight of Professor Verdus getting thoroughly wrecked as soon as the new semester began would be reward enough.
'Every time he goes out, he seems to bring back a new guest. Is it just my imagination?' Yoner thought to herself.
She knew the Wardanaz family's friends had wide connections, but she hadn't expected him to bring a new guest every single time he went out.
Moreover, the guests were all remarkably distinguished in their own ways.
Professors, the Headmaster, a mage considered one of the Empire's top five in terms of favor, a dragon...
"What do you think?"
"Huh? Isn't that normal?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Nilia answered absentmindedly without much thought.
Isn't it typical for great noble families to have such extensive connections?
"I see."
Yoner nodded.
Well, Nilia's social circle was just as wide as Lee Han's, so it made sense she wouldn't find it strange.
'...D-did I answer wrong?' Nilia panicked slightly when her friend didn't press further.
She had just answered without thinking...!
"Here. This is our junior's villa estate."
Diret explained to the Black Magic students on behalf of their junior, who held a dual identity.
After all, they couldn't possibly enter this estate under the guise of Stedal Nago.
"Where did Lord Nago go?"
Coholti, who had been admiring the villa, belatedly remembered Stedal Nago's existence.
He had disappeared at some point—where had he gone?
"He left earlier. Said he had business."
"What?! Why are you only telling us now?! What kind of business?!"
"Dunno. Probably went to catch some bad guy."
Annoyed, Diret brushed it off. Coholti wore an expression mixed with regret and admiration.
"To be so active again so soon after vanquishing a demon..."
"There wasn't even a fight when he dealt with the demon."
"Can you not stay quiet? The fact that he negotiated and persuaded an angel without a fight is an incredible feat."
Coholti grumbled as if personally insulted.
Watching this, the Black Magic students whispered among themselves.
"Why is this guy tagging along when he's already graduated?"
"Should we just tell him to go back?"
"...Fine. I'll stay quiet, alright?"
Faced with his juniors' mutiny, Coholti shut his mouth.
'These idiots don't even recognize greatness when they see it.'
It wasn't that the Black Magic students didn't respect Stedal Nago. Coholti was just... unusually fervent.
Resolving never to introduce his juniors to Stedal Nago even if he built a friendship with him later, Coholti moved on.
"Wait. Yukveltire, have you been here before?"
Diret paused at his friend's familiar movements. Yukveltire nodded.
"When?"
"I've been staying here since the last project."
"......"
It took Diret a moment to realize the truth.
So he hadn't just chased down their junior to extract magic—he had stayed at the villa estate to do it!
"...This won't do. Where's Stedal Nago? Call Stedal Nago here."
"Senior! You're back!"
Lee Han, having removed his disguise, emerged from inside and called out to Diret.
Then he froze at the sight of his senior searching for Stedal Nago.
"Why are you doing this? This wasn't part of the agreement."
"S-sorry. Yukveltire momentarily robbed me of my reason... No, wait. Why did you let Yukveltire stay here in the first place?"
"Even though you're my senior, I can't just tell you to get lost..."
"If it happens again, just tell them to get lost. If it's too hard to say, just change your identity and do it then."
'Are we really friends?' Lee Han was taken aback by Diret's more extreme stance than his own.
This was his own friend!
"Junior, think about it carefully. If you can't even turn away a senior, what are you going to do when a professor shows up? Are you going to accommodate them too?"
"Ah! Professor. Good afternoon."
Just then, Professor Voladi happened to be walking by behind them. Lee Han politely greeted him.
When their eyes met, the professor gave a slight nod in return.
"......"
Diret blinked in surprise.
The professor is here too?!
"Why is the professor here?!"
"That's a long story, Senior. Unlike Senior Yukveltire, Professor Voladi has a very legitimate reason for being here."
Unlike Yukveltire, whom he'd accommodated out of fear she might cause a scene, Professor Voladi had a highly convincing reason related to the Evil God Worshippers.
Diret, who had been listening with a serious expression, nodded reluctantly.
"Well... fine. I can see why Professor Bagrak might have a good reason to be here. But you really should get into the habit of refusing Yukveltire. Otherwise..."
Just then, the main gate opened, and the Skeleton Principal and Professor Garcia stepped inside.
"Professor Voladi! Come here for a moment. I need to have a quick meeting with Professor Garcia."
"Ah, would you like something to drink, perhaps?"
Lee Han asked, looking at Professor Garcia. His demeanor was unnaturally composed for someone who had just witnessed the principal and a professor barging into the villa.
"I'm fine."
"I'm alright too, Lee Han."
Unlike the other two, Professor Voladi simply gestured in response—a silent command to stay put.
As Lee Han took out a white teapot and teacups, arranging them neatly on a tray before walking away, Diret stared in stunned silence at the familiar sight of his retreating figure...
Is this... the Einrogard annex or something??
"Wh-what just happened?!"
"Isn't the principal a bit shameless? I was asking Professor Garcia if she wanted a drink, not him."
"...That's not the point! Why is everyone gathering here so naturally?!"
At Diret's outburst, nearby second-year students paused in confusion.
Huh? 'Now that you mention it...' The repeated shocks had made them grow accustomed to it, but now that they thought about it, this was really strange.
Normally, you wouldn't run into the principal or professors this often during vacation.
"It just sort of... happened that way, I suppose."
"This doesn't seem like something that can just be summed up as 'it sort of happened'..."
As Diret muttered under his breath, Professor Garcia's shrill scream suddenly pierced his ears.
Diret—and even the other students—jumped in surprise.
"Professor!!"
"Principal! Don't attack Professor Garcia!"
The students rushed inside, fearing the Skeleton Principal might send Professor Garcia to the Punishment Room.
But the scene inside the reception room was nothing like they expected. Professor Garcia was perfectly fine...
Though her face was deathly pale.
"E-everyone. It's nothing. There's no need to worry."
"The Punishment Room? Interrogation? Firing?"
"Einrogard bankruptcy? Magical plague? Evil God's descent? The end of the world?"
The students threw out wild guesses about what could have made Professor Garcia scream like that.
Professor Garcia shook her head vigorously and pushed the students back outside.
"There's no need to worry! So please, just ignore it."
"How can we just ignore—"
SLAM!
As the door closed, the students were left in utter confusion—even Diret, a fifth-year, was no exception.
"Professor isn't the type to scream like that..."
"Should we eavesdrop on the meeting?"
"......"
At Lee Han's words, Diret wondered if his junior had been inviting professors over frequently just for this purpose.
No way...
SLAM!
Suddenly, the reception room door swung open again. The Skeleton Principal shouted from inside.
"Wardanaz. Don't break the soundproofing spell—it'll just annoy me. If you do, I'll make you recast it perfectly until you get it right."
SLAM!
The door closed again. Lee Han glared at it indignantly.
How did he know?!