Episode 117
Episode 117
Unaware of the Black Turtle Tower students' astonishment, the Moradi family's Balpatan nodded his head.
"Gainando... That's an excellent name worthy of outstanding talent."
"?"
"Remember that name. We'll meet again someday."
The senior left with his quill and paper.
One of the Black Turtle Tower students, having belatedly regained his senses, asked Lee Han in a bewildered voice:
"Wo... Wardanaz. Is this really okay?"
"Didn't we just learn that people who meet at night aren't supposed to share names or family affiliations?"
"......"
The Black Turtle Tower students were at a loss for words at Lee Han's ability to immediately apply what he'd learned from the senior in less than a minute.
'Is this the kind of skill needed to become the top-ranked student in our year?'
"And think about it carefully—which family did that senior just say he was from?"
"The Moradi family."
"Now tell me—do you think someone from the Moradi family would bother us later, or not?"
At Lee Han's question, the Black Turtle Tower students fell into deep thought.
White Tiger Tower students were generally rough, noisy, and thick-headed.
And leading them was Giselle of the Moradi family.
No matter how polite and kind she appeared on the surface, the students affiliated with the Salko faction weren't fooled.
The one who leads snakes is always an even more vicious snake.
"He'd probably bother us."
"Exactly. So I just preemptively blocked that. No need to thank me. Let's get along well from now on."
Having roughly taken care of everything, Lee Han slung his backpack over his shoulder, waved his hand, and left.
Watching him go, one Black Turtle Tower student said to Salko:
"Tutanta... Now I understand why you warned us not to talk to Wardanaz alone."
"Me too."
Salko nodded.
While Wardanaz's abilities, sense of responsibility, and friendship toward his peers were worthy of respect...
That didn't change the fact that if Wardanaz set his mind to it, he could completely fleece a Black Turtle Tower student in the blink of an eye.
Even to the Black Turtle Tower students—who'd lived rough lives in the back alleys—this was evident.
Wardanaz...
What a terrifying guy!
Thanks to finishing his exploration relatively early, Lee Han could return to the Blue Dragon Tower's lounge and attend to his own affairs.
He took out the groceries he'd brought from the kitchen and organized them in his private room's pantry...
'It's completely full—nothing else will fit. I'll have to ask Yoner for help.'
...sorted them in order of expiration date, updated the ledger, and forcibly peddled—no, generously offered—snacks to his friends relaxing in the lounge.
Only then could Lee Han sip his coffee and finally begin his studies.
Though easy to forget while living at this school, the students had, surprisingly, enrolled here to study.
'Before coming here, I vowed that even if I lagged behind in other areas, I wouldn't fall behind in academics.'
He had sworn to show those pampered imperial brats the insane study habits of someone desperate to succeed, but somehow, he'd become so preoccupied with survival that he felt he was specializing more in other fields.
Must just be his imagination, right?
Lee Han stacked his study books neatly.
Beside Gainando—who was drooling in his sleep on the lounge's fireplace sofa—a pile of study books also grew.
Seeing this, Lee Han suddenly felt something was off.
'...Do I have more to study than everyone else?'
Wondering if he was mistaken, he counted again.
Professor Garcia's Understanding Basic Magic.
He'd announced there would be quizzes not only on basic elemental magic but also on other fields of magic.
That meant black magic, summoning magic, and illusion magic were added.
Even if Professor Garcia kept his quizzes simple, the black magic, summoning magic, and illusion magic professors were a different story.
Since they gathered students in advance to teach them material for the next year, they had certain expectations—even if they didn't give formal quizzes.
Taking that into account, he needed to read about two books for each subject.
Flip flip flip—
'This much seems normal.'
Lee Han pushed the books aside and checked the next one.
<Understanding Basic Alchemy>.
Alchemy was precisely the kind of field where relying solely on instinct without proper study could lead to serious injury.
Even though Lee Han had honed his alchemy instincts through brutal experiments, he couldn't afford to neglect theoretical study.
Especially when considering students like Yoner, Adenart, or Priest Siana, who had studied alchemy even before entering the academy, he had to work even harder.
Factoring that in, he needed about three books...
Flip flip flip—
Lee Han stacked another pile of books beside him.
<Basic Mount Training>.
The pop quizzes were over, but Professor Lightning Step's lessons continued every week.
Learning about the dangerous and temperamental creatures in this academy wasn't just about escaping—it was crucial for survival.
'Only one book for this.'
Though it was thick, it was just one volume. Relieved, Lee Han stacked it to the side.
Next came <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>, followed by <Basic Imperial Language and Logic>.
Mandatory subjects with undeniable importance—the height of the book pile grew once more.
It seemed almost done, but it wasn't over yet.
Lee Han pulled out additional books.
<On Basic Lightning Elemental Magic and Its Applications>, given by Professor Voladi.
If he didn't study it beforehand just because there were no pop quizzes, he might end up learning it firsthand by getting struck by lightning in front of Professor Voladi. He had to prepare in advance.
The black magic tome (forcibly) given by the Skeleton Principal.
He had to practice until he mastered <Gonadaltes' Sharp Hand>, which he had been taught last time. Otherwise, he might get dragged into another nightmare.
And the most recently acquired <On Basic Blood Magic and Its Applications>.
No one would scold him for not reading this, but he had to study it to survive in this academy. He was constantly reminded of how useful even a single practical spell could be.
After stacking all the books, Lee Han lifted his head.
The pile was so high he couldn't see Gainando's face.
"...Hmm."
'This is strange.'
He had only gathered the necessary books, so why were there so many?
Gainando, who had dozed off in the lounge before retreating to his private room to sleep soundly until morning, was surprised to find Lee Han still awake in the lounge when he returned.
"You really wake up early?"
"I didn't sleep."
"......"
Gainando silently skewered a marshmallow onto a stick and held it over the bonfire, roasting it until it turned soft and gooey.
Then he sandwiched it between two pieces of hard bread and nibbled at it.
"Why go through all that trouble...?"
"Gainando. You're being far too carefree."
Ashan of the Dalkard Family walked down with a tired expression.
Given it was pop quiz week, he had pulled an all-nighter in his private room to study.
He had studied relentlessly to master <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> perfectly.
Wardanaz must have pulled an all-nighter for that subject too.
"Wardanaz. I get it. Even after all that, I feel like I've only grasped about 80% of <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic>."
"That's already good. I still have a lot more to study."
Gainando, listening while chewing his marshmallow, tilted his head in confusion.
There seemed to be some misunderstanding between the two.
Ashan, as evidenced by the fact that he was only holding the <Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic> book, had indeed studied only that subject.
In contrast, Lee Han...
'Didn't he have a literal mountain of books yesterday?'
He distinctly remembered seeing a towering pile of books before going to bed, but now only one remained.
Curious, Gainando asked,
"Where did all the other books go?"
"I put the ones I finished studying back in my private room. They were just in the way."
"......"
Gainando dropped the marshmallow he was holding.
"Are you... insane?!"
"What's wrong, Gainando?"
"Lee Han pulled an all-nighter studying last night!"
"...That's what everyone does, you idiot."
The students from the Blue Dragon Tower, who had emerged one by one, began scolding Gainando.
Was he really making such a fuss over studying just one thing?
Everyone was studying!
"No... hey... I..."
Gainando trembled with indignation.
These guys hadn't even seen the mountain of books piled up in the lounge...!
"There were seriously a ton of them...!"
"Stop talking nonsense and finish your bread."
Sniffle
Gainando chewed and swallowed the remaining bread. It was delicious.
"By the way, Ashan. Why did you study in your private room instead of the lounge yesterday? The lounge is better, isn't it?"
"Because you kept talking loudly in your sleep."
"...Sorry..."
Meanwhile, Lee Han finished rereading On Basic Lightning Elemental Magic and Its Applications and stood up.
Though he wasn't entirely satisfied, it was time to get moving to start the day.
"Wardanaz. What lecture do you have today?"
"Basic Swordsmanship."
"Oh... oh no."
His friends made sympathetic faces at Lee Han's words.
With the pop quiz week already tough, having to attend a class like Basic Swordsmanship on top of it...
Just thinking about it seemed exhausting.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Lee Han was puzzled by his friends' concern.
Honestly, compared to the subjects he was currently studying, the Basic Swordsmanship class—where he could just go and muddle through physically—was actually a relief.
But his friends watched Wardanaz's retreating back with worried expressions.
"You don't think the White Tiger Tower bastards will pick a fight under the pretext of the pop quiz, do you?"
"Next time we see those White Tiger Tower guys, let's make it crystal clear they shouldn't mess with Wardanaz."
The Blue Dragon Tower friends banded together in solidarity, firmly resolved.
A resolution that would infuriate the White Tiger Tower students if they heard it.
"What's going on? The atmosphere feels off."
Unlike the usual mood during swordsmanship lectures, the air was oddly excited and chaotic. Lee Han, puzzled, asked Durgyu.
Durgyu replied in a low voice:
"Word is, external personnel are coming today for the pop quiz, Lee Han."
"!"
Lee Han now understood why the White Tiger Tower students were chattering with faces half-thrilled, half-worried.
External personnel were coming.
Probably peers from knightly families.
For the White Tiger Tower students, all from knightly families themselves, this was inevitably nerve-wracking.
What if they embarrassed themselves with clumsy swordsmanship or made mistakes in front of them...?
"Everyone's bound to be nervous. Honestly, I'm nervous too."
"In that regard, I'm quite at ease."
Lee Han declared confidently.
As someone from a mage family, even if he humiliated himself in swordsmanship class, there was no reason for anyone to say, "Why is that guy from such-and-such family so bad at swordsmanship?"
Because he was from a mage family!
"......"
Durgyu was utterly flustered by Lee Han's words.
"Lee Han, at your level, you wouldn't embarrass yourself even against outside guests."
"Really? I hope you're not jumping to conclusions. Do you really think I wouldn't be embarrassed if I ended up using magic during a fight?"
"......"
"Just kidding."
"R-right?"
Durgyu's pale face regained color. He had been genuinely startled, thinking Lee Han meant it seriously.
"Attention."
With a clapping sound, Professor Ingoldel appeared.
"Alright. Everyone, nice to see you... No long speeches—this week is a simple test to check how well you've been keeping up. That's why we've invited guests from outside."
As Professor Ingoldel spoke, heavily armored knights emerged from behind.
"...You said they were peers?"
Lee Han asked Durgyu.
Judging by their faces, these knights looked like they'd spent at least a decade more on the battlefield than the students here.
"Maybe... peers who look a bit older..."
"These knights are all outstanding active members of knightly orders."
"......"
The students were horrified.
Lee Han thought to himself:
'Professor Ingoldel's methods seem oddly similar to Professor Voladi's.'