Episode 11
Episode 11
Sweet things restored one's spirit and revived the soul.
The jams Professor Thunderstep had brought were exactly like that.
The students slathered strawberry jam, raspberry jam, fig jam, and more onto their bread and ate with expressions as if they were drunk.
'Tsk tsk.'
The dwarf professor looked at the first-years with renewed pity.
As a professor at this magic school, he knew exactly how difficult things were for the freshmen.
While the upperclassmen could at least go outside, the freshmen had to endure everything within these walls...
"Eat as much as you can now. You won't get to eat like this for a while."
"Thank you, Professor!"
Thick, sizzling cuts of perfectly cooked meat, bread slathered with sweet jam and butter.
Add to that the scenery of a babbling spring and good company.
Everyone ate and drank merrily.
While the freshmen ate their fill and caught their breath, Professor Thunderstep personally began cleaning up.
"...Wait a minute. Why is one jar of jam missing?"
"My apologies, Professor."
"......"
As Lee Han shamelessly pulled out the jam jar from between his cloak, Thunderstep was left speechless.
'This year's freshmen are truly something else!'
The mana-enlarged boar was far more massive than expected.
Even after eating their fill and smoking as much as possible, there was still plenty of meat left.
And that was even after Professor Thunderstep took several portions to hang in his cabin.
"What should we do with this?"
"Professor, is there any way to preserve this?"
Lee Han asked Thunderstep, who nodded in response.
"There is."
"!"
"Use ice-based magic to freeze it."
"......"
"......"
The freshmen glared at Thunderstep.
They couldn't even properly cast <Light Creation> yet and had to practice again with Professor Troll next time—how were they supposed to use ice magic strong enough to freeze meat solid?
"Is there any other way?"
"There is."
"What is it?"
"Summon an Ice Spirit to help. For your information, I can do both."
"......"
"......"
The freshmen exchanged glances and came to a silent agreement.
'Let's just not ask this professor anymore.'
'Agreed.'
Thunderstep seemed to notice this and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Sorry, but at your level, there's no way you can preserve all this meat."
"If you could cast the magic for us, Professor..."
At Nilia's words, the dwarf professor flatly refused.
"That wouldn't be fair."
"Umm... Can I share it with my friends?"
Nilia asked, looking at the two. Since Lee Han and Yoner had hunted it together, she needed their permission.
"It's your share, so you can do as you like."
"Right."
"Th-thank you."
Nilia's face turned slightly red, touched by their consideration.
She hadn't grown close to the other students in her tower yet, but sharing this meat with hungry friends would be a great opportunity to bond.
Just like in the mountain ranges, the saying 'The one who shares food when you're hungry is your friend' existed for a reason.
Hiding her awkwardness, Nilia made a suggestion.
"How about you two share yours too?"
"Ooh... For money?"
"That's actually a great idea?"
Lee Han and Yoner were impressed by Nilia's proposal. Flustered, Nilia waved her hands.
"No, I didn't mean money—"
"True. Most students in the Blue Dragon Tower must be wealthy. There's nothing wrong with sharing food with them and getting a little money in return."
"Exactly! We're just being kind to our friends."
Yoner nodded in agreement with Lee Han's words.
Some noble scions might have reacted with 'How disgraceful, what kind of behavior is that?'—but as luck would have it, the two nobles gathered here were very pragmatic people.
Lee Han, who lived by <Work like a dog, eat well, live well>.
<Save every copper for the Alchemy workshop> Yornell.
The two shook hands with expressions of perfect understanding.
Of course, there was still someone sane present. Nilia asked in apparent disbelief.
"...Are you seriously planning to take money from friends in exchange for food?"
"Want in?"
"No!"
At Lee Han's question, Nilia stomped her foot in frustration.
"That's just... that's just wrong?!"
"Nilia. Think about it carefully. How hurt would our friends' pride be if they just took handouts without giving anything in return."
"Exactly. We're being considerate of our friends."
"......"
Though the two nobles were making surprisingly plausible arguments about noble pride, Nilia wasn't fooled anymore.
"...I'll just give it to my friends as gifts."
"Do as you wish, Nilia. But you might regret it."
"Right. Nilia. Friendship may fade, but gold coins remain."
"Do you really think they consider you friends?"
"Well, they might. But there's a better way. With gold coins—"
"I'm not listening so both of you shut up!"
Professor Thunderstep, who had been sitting in a chair outside the cabin sipping coffee while listening to their conversation, shook his head vigorously.
'Those three... if they start hanging out together, they'll be nothing but trouble.'
The freshmen had gathered from all corners of the empire, representing every type of student imaginable.
These three were undoubtedly talented, passionate, and outstanding individuals, but...
Setting that aside, they clearly had the makings of 'troublemakers.'
The arrogant Blue Dragon Tower.
Located far from Einrogard's main building, this dormitory greeted newcomers with the refreshing scent of a forest seemingly inhabited by spirits as soon as they passed through the main gate.
Even students worn down by meager and barren meals would find their expressions softening momentarily upon breathing this air.
"...?"
But today, the air was different.
Sizzle, sizzle—
The mouthwatering aroma of roasting meat filled the air.
"Hey there. Everyone eaten well?"
"What a wonderful evening!"
"...???"
"????"
The students who emerged were baffled by the sight of a tall male student and a red-haired female student waving and greeting them.
They were freshmen from the Wardanaz and Maykin families.
And what they held in their hands were meat tongs.
Tap, tap—
Lee Han added firewood to the bonfire beneath the iron plate. Thickly sliced meat sizzled and cooked atop it.
At the sound and smell, someone's stomach growled loudly.
Gulp—
"Come on, everyone, dig in. We caught this just for you."
"R... really?! You mean it?!"
The freshmen's eyes widened as they exclaimed.
Even though they came from prestigious noble families, they were still just boys and girls.
With their stomachs practically sticking to their backs, this barbecue party was too tempting to resist.
"Yep. Just one imperial silver each."
"One imperial silver?"
Out in the villages, you could stuff yourself with grilled meat for just two or three coppers.
But here, in this isolated school?
Even charging three times the price meant no competition.
"That's all?! Isn't that too cheap?"
"Haha. Do you really think we're doing this to make money off you? We just don't want you feeling uncomfortable taking something for free."
"Right, right."
Lee Han and Yornell spoke with kind smiles.
The students were moved.
Truly, nobles from great families were different in every way.
Who knew they could be so generous?
In a situation where everyone was hungry and exhausted, it wouldn't have been strange to keep the food for themselves—yet these two had gone so far as to prepare an iron plate and a bonfire to share with their friends!
"Wardanaz...!"
"Maykin...!"
"Come on, the meat's gonna burn. Pay up and eat."
"Wait, I don't have any silver."
"Me neither."
The Blue Dragon Tower students hesitated. They had entered the academy with barely anything—how could they possibly have money?
Lee Han extended a piece of paper and a quill with a reassuring expression.
"Just write the amount and your name here, then sign. No need to bother with individual payments—we can settle everything at once, right?"
"That kind of...! Wardanaz, you're truly a genius!"
"Such a convenient method!"
Scratch, scratch, scratch—
The students, driven by hunger, had their intelligence slightly lowered.
They hastily signed before rushing toward the iron griddle.
Chomp chomp gulp gulp!
Lee Han rolled up the paper and tucked it into his pocket, then gazed at the scene with satisfaction.
'I never thought business would go this well.'
Someone might ask if it was really necessary to go this far for a few coins, but money was something you had to earn whenever you had the chance.
Besides, a single silver coin wasn't just spare change. You wouldn't even find a single copper coin if you dug the ground, let alone a silver one.
If this situation where the freshmen couldn't leave continued, Lee Han's pockets would grow considerably heavier.
"Farliek, instead of forcing yourself to eat cold rice balls, you can just spread some meat grease on the griddle and stir-fry the rice..."
"You... are you actually a genius, Wardanaz?"
"It's just common sense."
Lee Han patted the students' shoulders lightly.
After receiving silver coins, this much was just a courtesy.
The students, stuffing cooked meat into their mouths for fear someone might snatch it away, looked so moved that if a first-year representative were to be elected, they'd unanimously vote for Lee Han.
"Wardanaz! Wardanaz! Wardanaz!"
"Maykin! Maykin! Maykin!"
The noble students cheered for their families with mouths full of food.
Hearing the commotion, Gainando, who had arrived late, widened his eyes in shock and asked,
"Wh-what... what's going on??"
"Ah, Gainando. You're here? Want some meat?"
"What!? There's meat?? Really??"
Gainando decided to ask about the situation later and tried to dash forward.
Thud—
But he couldn't. Lee Han had grabbed his shoulder.
"Why?!"
"One silver coin."
"...You're charging money?"
"If I gave it out for free, everyone's pride would be hurt."
"Well, that's true. But I don't have any money right now..."
"What's the problem? Just write the amount and your name here and sign."
"Lee Han...!"
Gainando made a touched expression.
Who knew he could be this kind?
True friendship really did exist in school.
Thanks to the sudden barbecue party, the students of the Blue Dragon Tower looked a little livelier.
But that didn't make the tedious lectures any more enjoyable.
Upon seeing the title of the mandatory course—<Basic Magic Character Education>—the students scowled.
"Character education? What do they take us for?"
"Isn't this something the lower classes should learn? Do nobles like us, who understand honor, really need to study this?"
"Exactly. This is unbelievable."
'These brats even have a talent for complaining in the most obnoxious way.'
Lee Han thought to himself.
If students from other dorms had been here, a fight would've broken out over the things they were saying so casually—but since only Blue Dragon Tower students were present, they got away with it.
The astonishing part was that they weren't saying this out of malice.
Just pure, unfiltered nonsense!
Good morning, everyone.
"......"
"......"
At the telepathic magic drilling into their heads, everyone's faces froze coldly.
It wasn't because of the magic. The voice was all too familiar.
'No way...'
Hello, you iron-headed blockheads!
"......"
Not from the classroom door, but from the ceiling—poof—a giant skeleton appeared.
The academy's principal, Os Gonadaltes.
Isn't life at this new academy so fun? After being cooped up within your family's fences, isn't it thrilling to do things on your own strength?
Of course, no one answered. The Lich principal glanced around, then expressed surprise.
Well, look at that. You must've eaten something. Faster than I expected! I thought it'd take over a month before you'd move!
"What do you mean by that? Were we supposed to find food on our own?"
Yes. Didn't I tell you to figure it out yourselves?
"That's what that meant? I don't understand why we have to do this kind of—"
—Silence!
"Ugh-ugh!"
The voice of the student who had raised their hand vanished instantly. The Lich principal nodded his skull with satisfaction. A chilling clatter echoed.