Episode 1102
Episode 1102
Imagining it didn't seem particularly enjoyable.
Having to dodge deadly magical attacks flying at you while inside a carriage or atop a wyvern.
Moreover, spaces like the inside of a carriage would be cramped, making evasion even more difficult. 'I should stay in open spaces as much as possible.'
As Lee Han was pondering this, he noticed Professor Voladi's gaze and quickly made an excuse.
"Haha. I was just moved by the professors' kindness."
"It's nothing particularly grand."
"Then... were you planning to beat me—I mean, teach me during the journey?"
Professor Voladi nodded.
Since he intended to conduct lectures during spare time, it was highly likely that travel time would account for a significant portion.
Beyond that, Lee Han planned to utilize time spent on miscellaneous tasks—helping friends with their assignments, chasing down friends who ran away mid-assignment, maintaining Professor Thunderstep's garden plots, and so on.
"I see... Ah, then does Professor Garcia teach in the same manner?"
Lee Han realized belatedly.
Professor Garcia wasn't the type to avoid sacrifice while urging others to sacrifice in her stead.
Had it been Professor Verdus, he might have told other professors, "Yield some time so I can conduct my lectures," but Professor Garcia would never do such a thing.
It was highly probable that Professor Garcia, like Professor Voladi, had opted for flexible lectures rather than regular ones.
"Correct."
"Aha."
Lee Han imagined stepping outside.
The thought of Professor Voladi on his left and Professor Garcia on his right, both lecturing him about magic, suddenly filled him with dread...
Would he really be able to endure it?
"Wait a moment, Professor. Is Professor Garcia also coming along on the outing?"
Lee Han had a reason for asking.
In truth, having a professor accompany a student on every outing was more difficult than one might think. Professors had their own responsibilities.
Professor Voladi had no disciples and no other duties, so accompanying Lee Han on his requests wouldn't be an issue, but Professor Garcia... 'She must be looking after first-year students too, and doesn't she have quite a lot of responsibilities at Einrogard?'
Having spent nearly two years at Einrogard, Lee Han had a decent grasp of the faculty's division of labor.
At Einrogard, the kinder and more virtuous a professor was, the more tasks they ended up shouldering.
In fact, Lee Han had even seen notes like this in the professors' lecture hall:
East Wall Repairs: Professor Verdus, Professor Garcia
Desert Region Monster Inspection: Professor Thunderstep, Professor Garcia
Drafting Explanation Report for the Empire (Graduate Underground Sewer Slime Rampage Incident): Professor Paselet, Professor Garcia
To the scoundrels who erased their names and dumped work on Professor Garcia—get your asses to the principal's office NOW!
Just this alone gave a clear idea of how much work Professor Garcia was handling, knowingly or unknowingly.
"Yes."
"But is that really alright?"
Professor Voladi fell into brief reminiscence at his disciple's question.
Before the semester began, professors would usually gather for a simple meeting.
The topics varied.
Sometimes they discussed lecture plans for the semester, other times peculiar anomalies occurring at Einrogard, and occasionally ways to sneak in desired lectures or exams while evading the Skeleton Principal's surveillance.
-"Right. I heard Lee Han has received a lot of requests—would anyone be willing to assist?"
-"Assist how?"
-"For example, teaching during spare time outside lectures..."
-"I could have him help with my work during spare time outside lectures!"
-"Anyone besides Professor Verdus?"
-"Why is my suggestion being ignored?"
-"I'll do it."
-"Thank you, Professor Bagrak! Ah, you mentioned accompanying him on this request, right? Would it be alright if I joined as well?"
-"Very well."
-"Huh? W-wait. Professor Garcia, you're coming too?"
-"Yes."
-"Th-then what about your current responsibilities..."
-"The others will have to handle them."
Professor Garcia answered firmly.
Though she usually took the initiative to help other professors with their work, now was not the time to worry about that. She was far too concerned about her student.
Not only was the request piling up, but going with Professor Bagrak? And on top of that, there was the Evil God Worshipper incident to consider.
Neither Professor Bagrak nor the Skeleton Principal were the type to listen if she tried to dissuade them. Professor Garcia decided it would be better to accompany them herself.
-Professor Garcia, please reconsider...!
-Can't we just send Professor Verdus instead? Won't you just get in the way if you go?
-Are you seriously saying that right now? Are you deliberately trying to provoke Professor Garcia?
-I can't hear you. I can't hear a thing. I'm going.
Professor Voladi, having finished reminiscing, answered simply.
"It wasn't a big deal."
"Is that so?"
Lee Han was honestly a little surprised.
He had assumed there would be plenty of people trying to stop Professor Garcia from going...
'Do the professors at Einrogard actually have more conscience than I thought?'
'Maybe I was too prejudiced.'
The surprises didn't end there.
The same declaration was made in Diret's second-semester course, <Forbidden Arts of Black Magic (Not a Teaching Course)>.
"Professor Garcia earnestly requested it. I'll teach you separately in your free time."
"Se-senior, are you planning to come along on the request too?!"
Lee Han was shocked.
If Professor Voladi was on his left, Professor Garcia on his right, and Senior Diret behind him, each lecturing him about magic...
'That might be a bit too much.'
"What? Come along on the request?"
Diret tilted his head, not understanding what his junior was saying.
Teaching him separately in his free time literally meant using breaks (if Lee Han even had any) or weekends to teach him.
A request?
"Ah, no. I thought you meant you'd come along like the professors."
"...You thought I'd follow you on a request?!"
Diret belatedly grasped the meaning of his junior's words and was horrified.
Even as a senior student at Einrogard, this was the first time he'd heard of such an absurd lecture.
Following someone outside to torment—no, teach them?
"Isn't that... a bit much? Do you really have to go that far?"
"There's actually a long backstory to this."
"Yeah. Got it. Be careful. Come back safe."
"...Are you angry?"
When the senior he respected abruptly ended the conversation, Lee Han was flustered.
Had he done something wrong?
"Regardless of the reason, you're going to go even if I try to stop you, right?"
"Well... that's true."
"And the professors are going with you?"
"Yes. But there's a circumstance—"
"Then I don't want to hear it."
True to his experience dealing with troublesome juniors, Diret was wise.
Since his junior was going with the professors anyway, there was no need to hear the reason and torment himself.
"......"
Lee Han sulked.
'Am I really that bad? Still, I'm better than Senior Yukveltire... No. Damn it. Who am I comparing myself to?'
Only then did Lee Han realize with horror that he was comparing himself to Yukveltire and still feeling superior. This was a new low in human dignity.
"Ugh. Understood, Senior. I'll let you know in advance next time."
"That'd be good."
Lee Han trudged away dejectedly. Watching his retreating back, Diret sighed deeply before calling out again.
"Junior."
"Yes?"
"...What's the backstory?"
"!"
Lee Han spun around in surprise.
And he thought to himself:
'Is this why he keeps getting played by Senior Yukveltire?'
"What? What are you thinking?"
"Nothing at all. Haha. Just organizing my thoughts."
'Hmm. If they could just accommodate a few more lectures, things would definitely be easier.'
Lee Han sat in the lounge, spinning his quill idly.
Honestly, even at the start of the semester, he had been quite worried. With lectures and additional requests piling up, it had seemed physically impossible to find any spare time.
Yet, contrary to his expectations, he now had more free time than the previous semester.
Some of it was due to the kind consideration of the professors, but more than anything...
"......"
Lee Han glanced at his friends with a pitiful expression.
The second-year lounge, which had always been filled with warm energy and abundant snacks, now felt like a ghost house in the middle of ruins.
The students of the Blue Dragon Tower were sprawled in every corner, looking half-dead. Gainando was grinding his teeth and muttering to himself.
"How the hell did they find my Wizard Cards? I hid them in my private room...!"
A lounge where one couldn't enjoy meals or games was no lounge at all. It looked more like the Punishment Room.
But paradoxically, because of this new rule, Lee Han had been granted a significant amount of extra time.
With cooking, cleaning, and helping with assignments all removed from his schedule, it was hard not to have free time.
'How surprising. I had no idea I was spending so much time on those things.'
[Iactus]
Does anyone know how the new inspector finds banned items? That guy's way crazier than I thought!
Even in the Watcher Club, complaints were pouring in. It seemed a few unlucky members had gotten caught by Uman.
[Bulgasari]
What did you even do?
[Iactus]
I can't tell you everything, but let's just say I used a banned vehicle for banned hunting to have a banned meal. Even though we were in the forest where giants appear, he suddenly showed up. Is he a damn Dragon or something?
[Bulgasari]
If it's the forest where giants appear, you mean the Ironwood Forest! No matter what, you shouldn't be wandering around there!
[Iactus]
Is there anyone else here besides Bulgasari? I want to talk to someone else.
[Bulgasari]
Don't ignore me! Can't you listen properly?!
'Yikes.'
Lee Han thought to himself.
This Bulgasari member's popularity had already hit rock bottom. He always ruined the fun with his blunt remarks.
[Bakwantalana]
Dragon magic has far more profound and secretive aspects than the Empire's magic. If you trace its lineage, it goes all the way back to ancient times.
[Iactus]
I don't need an explanation—I need a way to avoid it. Hey, isn't there a second-year who's close with a Dragon? Wardanaz, right?
"!"
Hearing his name suddenly mentioned, Lee Han was taken aback. Fortunately, Senior Ilendil, who had been watching, stepped in for him.
[Beaver]
[Penguin]
[Fox]
Being close with another Dragon won't help much. Dragons are stubborn about these things, so it'll be even worse.
[Iactus]
Damn it. So we're just supposed to sit back and watch an outsider inspector destroy all the school's traditions and culture? What the hell is the Skeleton Principal doing?
Though the members usually cursed the Skeleton Principal whenever they got bored, this was a different matter.
Iactus, refusing to give up, kept pushing.
[Iactus]
Even if he's close with a different Dragon, he's still close with a Dragon, right? Wouldn't he know any weaknesses or ways to trick Dragon magic?
[Bakwantalana]
If knowing one secret could counter Dragon magic, it wouldn't have such a high reputation.
[Iactus]
Shut up. Weren't you the one who lost the club to an outsider last time?
A fight immediately broke out. Lee Han let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it seemed the attention had shifted away from him.
He really didn't want to get dragged into something like forming an "Anti-His Highness Uman Alliance" with the seniors.
[Lee Han!]
"...???"
Lee Han was startled by the sudden text. For a moment, he wondered if the Watcher Club had malfunctioned again like last time.
What's this?
Since the other members weren't reacting, it wasn't a new member. The message had clearly been sent directly to Lee Han's artifact.
Who are you?
[Jowurin! Jowurin! Jowurin is trapped right now!...]
Huh? By who? The Headmaster?
No! By that wicked little sibling! Lee Han, you have to save me!
"......"
Lee Han fell silent for a moment before typing into the club chat.
[Gonadaltes]
Does anyone know any weaknesses of Dragons?