Episode 1223
Episode 1223
'Well, I suppose it was only natural.'
Lee Han, who had been shocked, quickly regained his composure.
This was on a completely different level from everything Lee Han had done so far.
Stopping the Anti-Magic Zealots or performing the Reverse Summoning of the Ghoul King were already impressive feats, but completely dismantling a cult as infamous as Sanguiros' was an entirely different story.
And to think he had directly confronted and destroyed an Evil God...
"Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, this feels a bit unfair. If you really break it down, wasn't it thanks to me and the professors that we were able to achieve this feat?"
Lee Han cursed the Skeleton Principal.
If the various religious orders were praising him so highly and the Imperial Newspaper was officially announcing it, then the Skeleton Principal was undoubtedly receiving just as much acclaim.
After all, the command of this Evil God Subjugation had ultimately been carried out under the Skeleton Principal's name.
And yet, he was throwing Lee Han into the Punishment Room?!
"Uh... about that..."
"??"
When Siana hesitated and glanced at her friends, Lee Han paused.
The other priests also remained silent, merely exchanging glances. Finally, Dijiling stepped forward.
"W-well... I heard that the Headmaster was summoned to the capital."
"That makes sense. After accomplishing something like this."
"...Um... From what I heard, there was some... no, a lot of talk about sending a second-year student on such a dangerous expedition..."
When news of the Evil God Subjugation first broke, the bureaucrats and bishops had sincerely praised the Skeleton Principal.
—"To think you took all that gold like a madman! Truly, the guardian of the Empire's Magic Barrier is nothing but merit! I'll forget about the time you knocked me out and took the gold from the vault!"
—"While the people of the Empire suffer under the schemes of the Evil God Worshippers, Your Excellency has set an exemplary precedent. The enemies will tremble, and other archmages will feel ashamed."
But once the detailed report on the Evil God Subjugation arrived, the reactions of the bureaucrats and bishops changed slightly.
—"Indeed. To seek cooperation from the Wardanaz Family and the Yakshas of the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas... Truly, only Your Excellency could accomplish such a feat. The outstanding professors of Einrogard also contributed... ...Wait, there was a student involved? Is the grade level a misprint?"
—"Hoho. It seems they included the name of a student who helped with the pre-battle preparations... ...Is the mage who participated in the actual battle a namesake?"
The bureaucrats and bishops couldn't decide whether to praise or criticize the situation.
It was simply too unprecedented and absurd.
Fortunately, the capital housed the wisest being in the Empire.
—"Summon Os."
It was the Emperor.
—"Tell him not to offer any excuses or reasons. If he does, this Emperor will personally go and drag him here by the collar."
—"Yes, Your Majesty!"
And so, the matter was settled.
Even the priests had no idea what the Skeleton Principal was saying in front of the Emperor.
"Hmm!"
Lee Han let out a short groan before falling silent again. After a moment, he spoke.
"The Headmaster must have dealt with countless disobedient students. He's probably been through situations like this many times. He'll handle it just fine."
"......"
This time, it was the priests' turn to fall silent. They thought to themselves:
'This is probably the first time something like this has happened...'
No matter how long Einrogard's history was or how deep the Skeleton Principal's academic lineage ran, it was likely the first time a second-year student had directly faced an Evil God.
"Don't any of you doubt the Headmaster! Even we should have faith in him!"
"We weren't doubting him."
"If anything, it's only Lord Wardanaz who's being doubted..."
Despite the priests' cold responses, Lee Han remained unfazed.
"Thanks for letting me know about the Imperial Newspaper feature. I'd really like a copy when it comes out."
"You never cared about being in the newspaper before. Why the sudden interest?"
'Yes. I'll make sure to get you a copy.'
"P-Priestess Siana. I think your inner thoughts slipped out."
Lee Han pretended not to hear his friends' conversation.
If nothing else, this expedition had definitely helped him grow thicker skin.
'Right. No need to worry too much.'
After the Phoenix Tower students left, Lee Han steadied his resolve.
The bureaucrats and bishops weren't fools—they wouldn't publish such detailed accounts in the Imperial Newspaper.
For that matter, they'd have to include the spells Lee Han had used, but a mage's spells weren't disclosed unless they chose to reveal them themselves.
Most likely, it would just be announced that Lee Han had participated in the expedition and made significant contributions.
Though even that alone would be enough to spread his reputation...
'That shouldn't change things too drastically from how they are now. ...Probably.'
"Junior!"
"!"
Lee Han startled at the sharp, familiar voice of a senior.
Diret, Catten, and even Yukveltire were standing outside the cell door.
Lee Han quickly hid one of his magic tomes. It might have just been his imagination, but there was a chance it really was Yukveltire's property.
"......"
"......"
Diret, who had called for his junior, simply stared in silence without saying a word.
Catten, sensing the tense atmosphere, subtly flattened his ears back.
Yukveltire, who had been standing quietly beside them, finally spoke.
"Well, now that we've confirmed he's fine, we can just—"
"No. And shut up."
"?!?"
Yukveltire's blue eyes widened in shock at the absurdly harsh words from her friend.
Since when did Diret talk like this?
Catten whispered quietly,
"Read the room, for heaven's sake."
"You stay quiet too."
Chastised, Catten hastily stepped back. This skilled swordsman knew how to avoid danger.
"Senior... Sir. About that..."
"Take these."
Diret held out the books he had brought.
They were the required magic tomes for this semester's course, <Forbidden Arts of Black Magic (Not a Teaching Lecture)>.
"Thank you."
"Come by during your free time later so I can check on your progress. Study on your own until then."
With an aura colder than an ice-element specialist mage, Diret turned sharply to leave.
Thinking the conversation was over, Yukveltire began to follow with quick steps—only to be stopped by another sharp command.
"Give him what you brought!"
"Ah. Right."
Flustered, Yukveltire fumbled before pushing the magic tomes related to the lecture she was overseeing through the bars.
He was so panicked that he even tried to force them in sideways when they should have been placed vertically.
Lee Han quickly helped his senior.
"Thank you. Are you also coming during your free time to check on me?"
"Why would I—"
Yukveltire, about to reply with his usual composed demeanor, flinched involuntarily.
Catten, who was still lingering, made a slashing motion across his throat. Diret hadn't turned the corridor yet.
Yukveltire agonized deeply for a brief moment.
Should he shamefully yield to his friend's intimidation, or maintain his dignity as a mage and secure his free time?
"...I'll check..."
Yukveltire muttered under his breath.
This wasn't yielding to intimidation—he was just preserving his friend's dignity.
Diret really had good friends.
"Oh. Thank you."
Lee Han was surprised by the unexpected response.
Diret was one thing, but for Yukveltire to also offer to supplement the lectures during his free time...
Had they been cursed before coming here?
'They seem fine, though?'
"By the way, junior of the Wardanaz family. That book behind the fireplace—"
"Hurry and go comfort Senior Diret! He's your friend, isn't he?!"
Lee Han hastily shooed Yukveltire away. Catten, the last one remaining, finally let out a sigh of relief once the two disappeared down the hallway.
"Whew. Junior. You've truly been through a lot. Though Senior Diret was harsh, don't take it too much to heart. He acted that way out of concern for you."
"Ah. I know."
Lee Han nodded.
Anyone could understand why Diret was angry—it was clearly out of concern for his junior. With any other senior, it might have been unclear, but with Diret, it was obvious.
'Once his anger cools down a bit, I should apologize properly.'
"Given time, his anger will surely fade."
"I hope so. Professor Garcia was similarly furious, you see."
"Ah... Professor Garcia will probably take much longer to calm down..."
"......"
Lee Han's expression darkened abruptly.
If even Senior Catten was saying that...
Just how enraged was Professor Garcia outside?
"But Senior, what brings you here? Are you teaching any of the classes I'm taking?"
"Ah. I just wanted to hear about your battle with the Evil God, Junior."
Catten grinned brightly, the cheerful expression of a battle enthusiast.
In a way, he could be considered the most straightforward among the fifth-year students.
Though, from Lee Han's perspective—trapped in the Punishment Room while being asked to recount his experiences—it was utterly absurd!
"I was planning to come separately, but I happened to run into those two in the hallway."
'Has Senior Diret left already?'
Lee Han briefly considered calling Diret back.
Still, Catten's visit wasn't entirely pointless.
Among the current students, Catten had the most extensive experience with the Punishment Room—unmatched by anyone.
"During breaks, you might be allowed brief outings, Junior. You'll have to perform labor, you see."
"R-really? That's a thing? What kind of work is it usually?"
"From what I know, it's adjusted to the mage's level. A few years back, when Professor Verdus was detained, he had to repair all the broken magical facilities in the school... Given your magical skills, Junior..."
"Given my skills...?"
"You might end up hunting monsters that appear in the academy's desert or the Library's underground!"
"...Thank you for the heartwarming words."
As the visitors paused for a moment, Lee Han tidied up the inside of his cell.
He categorized the newly added spellbooks by school of magic and arranged them in alphabetical order...
Once that was done, he brewed himself some coffee and thinly sliced some bread to toast.
'Ah. I should make some for the professor too.'
Come to think of it, the aroma of coffee and toasted bread must have reached next door. Feeling oddly self-conscious, Lee Han decided to offer some to Professor Voladi first.
"Professor?"
"What is it?"
"Would you like a cup of coffee? I also made some toast with sugar sprinkled on top."
Silence came from beyond the wall.
Lee Han wondered if the sugar had been a mistake.
'It was popular in the Blue Dragon Tower...'
The toast, spread with butter melted with sugar and toasted again, had been so popular that Adenart had once attacked Gainando to steal some.
But people's tastes varied—and professors' tastes were even more unpredictably particular.
If Professor Voladi told him to remove the sugar, Lee Han was prepared to make a new batch.
"How?"
"Huh? Um... I made it with ingredients my friends brought me, but..."
"I meant, how do you plan to give it to me? Wardanaz."
"......"
At Professor Voladi's patient question, Lee Han finally snapped back to reality.
Surprisingly, there was no way to deliver it!
"...Jailer!! Jailer!!!"
"Calling the jailer won't help."
Professor Voladi kindly explained.
The Skeleton Principal's underling didn't listen to any requests while on duty. No matter how much Lee Han begged the jailer to pass the food to the next cell, it would be useless.
Just then, something caught Lee Han's eye.
It was the escape tools left behind by the Black Turtle Tower students.
"......"
Lee Han alternated his gaze between the escape tools and the wall of the neighboring cell.