Episode 124
Episode 124
To be honest, it had little to do with the Wardanaz family, but Gainando remained stubborn.
"That habit was definitely forced upon him by the Wardanaz family. Otherwise, there's no way he'd study like that on his own."
'You should study a bit...'
His friend from the Blue Dragon Tower gave Gainando a pitiful look before walking away.
Thanks to his family, Gainando didn't have to worry too much about grades, but his attitude was a bit extreme.
Even among the Blue Dragon Tower students who weren't particularly studious, people would look at him and think, 'Isn't he taking it too far with the slacking off?'
Study a little!
"Alright. Let's go."
Lee Han finished organizing and stuffed the hand-drawn map into his backpack.
It wasn't just the map he packed.
Along with sharpened daggers, nails, and tools like hammers, he also included sturdy ropes and handmade torches wrapped in oil-soaked cloth.
There were also glass bottles filled with commonly used oil, a few canned goods for emergencies, a jar of sugar, and a leather canteen...
His movements were skilled and precise, clearly not the work of an amateur.
...Though one might wonder if all that was really necessary for exploring inside the school.
"You're really going out?"
"Yeah."
Tomorrow was Professor Garcia's exam, yet Lee Han spoke with such confidence that Gainando was moved.
So cool!
'Now that's a noble!'
Being shackled by grades and scrambling to study wasn't befitting of nobility.
A true noble should boldly toss aside books and know when to go out for an adventure.
Of course, strictly speaking, Lee Han had already finished studying before leaving...
But Gainando decided to ignore that fact.
"I'll come with you."
"Huh?"
Lee Han was slightly surprised by Gainando's reaction.
He hadn't expected Gainando to volunteer to join him.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure. If my friend's going somewhere dangerous, I can't just sit back and do nothing."
"You just don't want to study, right?"
"......"
Gainando fell silent, having been caught red-handed.
If he stayed in the lounge, every passerby would nag him—'Aren't you studying?' 'What card game? There's a quiz coming up, go study.'
Rather than endure the scolding, it was better to follow Lee Han.
"N-no, that's not it."
"Seems like it is... Fine, you can come along."
With Lee Han's permission, Gainando excitedly put on his coat.
As Ashan walked in, he asked,
"Gainando. You're not studying?"
"Ugh, stop asking already!"
"I only asked once..."
The reason Lee Han wanted to check the Spire Stables first was, of course, for an escape route.
He had made a promise with Amur, the stablemaster outside the Magic School.
—When the evil Lich is defeated and the crimson dawn arrives, raise your head and look toward the eastern spire!
'...Hmm. Thinking back, it wasn't quite that dramatic.'
Memories tend to warp over time, but this one had gotten exaggerated rather quickly.
To be precise, it was a promise that Amur would fly to the school once every two weeks.
He hadn't secured a flying mount yet, but it was good to familiarize himself with the path to the stables in advance.
And who knew?
Along the way to the Spire Stables, he might even find a clue to obtaining a mount.
'According to the promise, he should come this weekend. Not sure if I'll get to see him, though.'
"Isn't it great that we're all gathered like this? Right?"
At Nilia's question, Lee Han and Jonell quickly nodded.
Gainando stood blankly until Lee Han pinched his back, prompting him to hastily nod as well.
"I'm so, so happy to be wandering around with a reliable guide like Nilia instead of that foul-tempered guy from the Tutanta family. Right, Jonell?"
"Of course. I'm also so, so happy."
"I'm really, really happy too."
Thanks to Lee Han, Yoner, and Ratford's consecutive flattery, Nilia's mood seemed to have genuinely improved.
'It'd be more comfortable if we had some of those Black Turtle Tower guys around.'
Lee Han felt regretful.
Since the Salko faction had joined hands with the mutual understanding of using each other, there was no need to feel guilty no matter what situation arose.
Even if the Skeleton Principal appeared and they had to sacrifice one of the Salko faction as bait to escape, it wouldn't be something to feel bad about since it was pre-agreed.
...Of course, he couldn't be certain the Salko faction would think the same way.
But at least that's how Lee Han saw it.
In contrast, Nilia wasn't someone they could discard. And that's what Lee Han found regrettable.
'Maybe I should've brought one or two of them along after all?'
But if he asked to borrow a couple of Salko members, Salko himself would want to tag along. And if Salko joined, Nilia would likely try to settle last time's grudge where she'd been excluded...
Rather than complicating things unnecessarily, Lee Han concluded it was better to just bring reliable people he could trust.
"Managing interpersonal relationships is truly difficult, Ratford."
"???"
Though startled by Lee Han's sudden remark, Ratford quickly nodded in agreement.
Even among thieves, human relationships were surprisingly important.
A thief who only cared for themselves and made many enemies never lasted long.
"You're absolutely right."
"Would've been nice to have one or two friends who'd step forward first when trouble arises. Like the Salko faction."
"Hmm. But Nilia doesn't particularly like the Salko faction—"
"Yeah. I know."
Lee Han trailed off and absentmindedly glanced at Gainando. Ratford instinctively followed his gaze.
The two then exchanged a subtle look.
"Gainando. Having you here is reassuring."
"Huh? Why? What's going on?"
Both Nilia and Ratford were outstanding guides.
The only difference was that one specialized in outdoor navigation while the other excelled indoors.
Given that, it was inevitable Ratford would take the lead when navigating the Magic School's complex corridors and staircases.
"Please wait a moment."
Ratford extended his arm to stop the group, then pressed his ear close to the corridor floor.
The party was currently at the severed end of a second-floor hallway, searching for a way up.
According to the map, this path should lead to the third floor, yet no route was visible.
"Hmm... Over there! I hear stairway mechanisms moving from that direction."
"...I know how to do that too..."
As Nilia belatedly tried to lie on the corridor floor, Lee Han stopped her.
"Nilia. No need to prove your abilities now. Better save your strength!"
"I think so too!"
As Lee Han and Yoner held her back, Nilia reluctantly stood up, looking disappointed.
Meanwhile, the staircase slowly approached. The group ascended to the third floor.
'First time coming this way.'
Though he'd been to the main building's third floor before under Salko's guidance, that was in a completely different direction.
Lee Han had no idea what awaited them on this side of the third floor.
Clunk—
With a heavy sound, the staircase connected.
Lee Han stepped forward onto the third floor.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Then he realized his surroundings had transformed—no longer the main building's corridors, windows, and ceilings, but a dense, verdant forest.
"...?!"
He knew the Magic School contained all manner of natural landscapes, but he never expected such transformations within the main building itself.
Though aware that powerful mages could expand and rearrange space, his preconceptions had blinded him to the possibility.
The Magic School's main building held such deep history that even the Headmaster didn't know all its secrets.
It wouldn't have been strange even if there were volcanoes or polar regions inside, let alone a forest.
"Amazing. Who would've thought there'd be such a forest on the third floor... Nilia. I'm counting on you."
Lee Han spoke while looking to his side.
Finally, a situation had arrived where Nilia could shine. Lee Han was unreasonably happy about it.
However, Nilia wasn't beside him.
"???"
Meow.
Looking down, a black-furred cat was vigorously scratching at Lee Han's ankles.
Even Lee Han, who'd grown fairly accustomed to the school by now, couldn't help but be flustered by this situation.
"Where did everyone go...?"
Surprisingly, none of the friends who'd ridden the moving stairs with him to the third floor were visible.
Lee Han immediately drew his staff and surveyed the surrounding forest.
Meow. Meow.
The cat kept tapping Lee Han's ankles with its front paws as if it had something to say, making Lee Han suddenly think, 'Could it be...?'
"...Are you Nilia?"
The black cat let out a drawn-out meow and repeatedly nodded its head. It was clearly a gesture of enthusiastic agreement.
'Polymorph!'
Not just an ordinary forest, but one that casts polymorph magic to forcibly transform anyone who steps foot inside into an animal—what a terrifying concept.
Lee Han felt chills run down his spine.
'Wait. Why wasn't I affected?'
Come to think of it, if all his friends had transformed, it was strange that Lee Han alone remained unchanged.
'Must be because of my mana.'
At the Magic School, whenever something different happened to him compared to others, suspecting his innate mana capacity was correct 99% of the time.
For now, Lee Han decided to take Nilia with him and search for the other friends.
"Sharkan. Find the others for me."
The bone summon that had been dormant in his belt rattled as it took form and descended. Then it dashed forward.
Nilia pressed firmly against Lee Han with her front paws.
"Nilia. Easy now... Why?"
Nilia pointed at the bone summon and raised both front paws, looking almost threatening.
"You're saying the others might get scared and run away if they see the bone summon?"
Nilia nodded.
Lee Han fell into brief thought.
"Then we'll have to catch them before they see it and run."
......
Nilia was so dumbfounded she lost all words.
Fortunately, the other friends were quickly found.
A bat perched on a tree branch spotted Lee Han and hastily flew over (Lee Han guessed it was probably Ratford), and following the bone summon came a red fox with bristling fur (likely Yoner).
"Where's Gainen?"
The other friends responded with various animal noises. Lee Han nodded.
'Hmm. Maybe it's better if I just think to myself.'
It wasn't as if his friends' answers would be particularly helpful anyway.
The incomplete bone summon, Sharkan, sniffed around persistently before diligently leading Lee Han onward.
After walking and walking through the lush green forest path, they arrived at a large clearing.
Having previously encountered a tree spirit in the mountain forest, Lee Han speculated that perhaps this clearing also housed one.
'Maintaining a forest like this inside the school would require a spirit, wouldn't it?'
However, Lee Han's expectations were off the mark.
At the center of the clearing was a mouse.
Clatter-clatter—
The bone summon Sharkan lowered its stance, sending a wary gaze filled with hostility.
Sharkan wasn't the only one who noticed. Lee Han could also sense the powerful mana radiating from the mouse.
'Does this Magic School have any normal flora and fauna?'
The mouse swung its tail and cast a spell.
Immediately, the thickets obscuring Lee Han's surroundings sank downward, and the trees parted to either side.
"...!"
While Lee Han was still astonished, the mouse used magic to inscribe words on the ground:
-Forest. Pass. Duel. Victory. Loser. Return.
"To pass through the forest, we must win a duel, and if we lose, we just return?"
The mouse nodded. Then it lifted its head and stared at Lee Han.
Squeak-squeak-squeak!
Upon seeing Lee Han's untransformed appearance, the mouse was so startled it toppled backward.