Episode 127
Episode 127
Why... won't you open the door...? Why...?
When the students didn't respond, the voice grew even more exaggerated.
The Blue Dragon Tower students bristled and retorted.
"Would you cut it out already?!"
"What on earth are you doing?!"
'What sharp kids...'
The Skeleton Principal lamented in a faintly disappointed tone. The students guarding the door ground their teeth.
This is going way too far!
If they'd naively opened the door just because of the Headmaster's status, they didn't even want to imagine what horrors would've awaited them.
"If you want to give a pop quiz, just give it! Why are you causing such a disturbance?!"
What nonsense is this?
Though they confronted the Skeleton Principal, his response defied their expectations.
Huh?
He wasn't trying to disrupt their pop quiz studying?
This IS the test?
"......"
"......"
The students glared at the invisible Headmaster beyond the door.
How can he call THAT a test...!
"Indeed. Well, solving problems in a classroom isn't the only form of examination..."
Lee Han nodded as if this made perfect sense.
He'd wondered why the Headmaster would choose such an annoying method to prevent their pop quiz studying, but if this itself was the pop quiz, it all made sense.
Of course one could question what this had to do with <Basic Magic Character Education>, but that wasn't important.
This was the same professor who'd sent them to a trap-filled island as homework - why expect anything normal now?
"Wardanaz?! You can't just accept this!"
"Don't fall for such ridiculous sophistry!"
"I'm not falling for it... Headmaster!"
Lee Han called out to the Skeleton Principal.
'Ah, that irritating voice must be Wardanaz. Why's he calling me?'
"We have another pop quiz tomorrow - is this really appropriate?"
Yes! Because my class is more important than other professors'!
'Mistake. He's crazier than I thought.'
Invoking other professors' names had backfired. The Skeleton Principal was more unhinged than anticipated.
But no need to worry too much!
"?"
The other dorms are going through the exact same thing!
"Oh...!"
"What 'oh'?! Is this time to be happy?!"
Yet despite their words, some Blue Dragon Tower students couldn't help brightening up.
Wow! Everyone gets to not study together!
Since you'll need to attend other classes, I'll clear out by morning. If you survive till morning, that is.
The Skeleton Principal spoke as if granting a favor.
When an enraged Yoner raised her fist with one finger extended, Lee Han shook his head to stop him.
'He might be watching from outside.'
'Oh right!'
Lee Han quickly reassessed the lounge's defenses.
Thanks to multiple reinforcements, the barricades still held strong.
'We can last another hour or two.'
Despite current safety, Lee Han remained absolutely vigilant.
Considering their opponent's twisted mind, a frontal assault was unlikely to be the only approach.
"Sharkan! Check other approaches besides the lounge's main entrance."
The deep blue panther growled as it moved toward another section of the tower.
Almost immediately, Sharkan began scratching at a wall - the signal for undead approaching.
"Staircase window! Undead are climbing up the staircase window!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
Students erupted in curses at the news. As everyone rushed toward the windows in panic, Lee Han intervened.
"No need to panic! It's not time for that yet. I'll give orders!"
Normally in such crises, everyone would argue about whose plan was right.
But in the Blue Dragon Tower, no such disputes occurred.
When Lee Han spoke, everyone moved in perfect unison.
"Yoner, take two and cover the windows. Sharkan! You've checked the windows - now scout other entry points! Gainen too. The pantry doesn't need guarding now - reinforce the barricades!"
'I'll need to eliminate that one first.'
Observing each dorm from his workshop, the Skeleton Principal licked his lips at the Blue Dragon Tower's situation.
That boy from the Wardanaz family was outstanding—far too outstanding.
It's only natural that a flock of sheep led by a lion would defeat a pride of lions led by a sheep.
But when a dragon, not just a lion, took the lead, all the gaps vanished in an instant.
It was common for one or two students to naturally emerge as leaders whenever new students arrived, but this was a bit excessive.
What a selfish bastard, stealing every opportunity for his friends to grow through hardship!
Let's see how the other towers are faring.
To soothe his irritation, the Skeleton Principal shifted the view of his Far-sight Magic.
As expected, the other towers were in complete chaos, caught off guard by the ambush.
Skeleton Warriors burst through the lounge doors, dragging students out one by one...
The Skeleton Principal nodded in satisfaction. Then, he sent a message to the stubborn students of the Black Turtle Tower, who were barricading their door.
You iron-headed fools... open the door... I've come to help...
For the first time today, Lee Han realized just how many gaps there were in the tower he was staying in.
From the windows near the staircase to the chimney by the fireplace—Skeleton Warriors were crawling in through passages no one had even thought of, making the students scream in panic.
'He's really giving us hands-on training, huh?'
Normally, the tower's magic should have repelled these intruders, but it was clear the Skeleton Principal had personally breached the defenses.
Isn't that cheating?
Grrrrr!
Still, the students of the Blue Dragon Tower were handling things relatively well.
Unlike the other towers, they had immediately counterattacked when ambushed and then shut the door behind them.
Thanks to the barricade blocking the lounge's main entrance, even if one or two undead slipped in through other routes, the students had enough breathing room to deal with them.
On top of that, Sharkan was pulling his weight—and then some.
Whenever he crouched low and barked, undead would appear in that direction.
"Flash!"
A bolt of lightning shot by Lee Han struck an undead crawling through the window dead-on, sending it tumbling down. The students of the Blue Dragon Tower erupted in cheers.
After a few weeks, all the students had begun learning magic one by one, but the spells displayed by the boy from the Wardanaz family always felt like they were on a completely different level.
He had been casting spells nonstop since earlier, yet he showed no signs of exhaustion.
And he was even maintaining a separate Summon at the same time!
Neblen of the Kirak family let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.
Though he had sworn loyalty to the Princess and firmly believed she was the most outstanding among the students, every time he witnessed Wardanaz's abilities, it sent shivers down his spine.
The reputation of the Empire's greatest magical lineage was no mere boast.
"Truly incredible... Ah, my apologies, Your Highness."
"?"
The Princess raised an eyebrow in confusion at Neblen's sudden apology.
"It's just... Wardanaz is impressive, but I still believe Your Highness is far superior. Mana capacity isn't everything for a mage! Of course, Wardanaz is a bit better at cooking and has his popularity, but..."
At the mention of cooking, the Princess nodded.
Neblen floundered.
"W-Well, I'm certain Your Highness would surpass him in cooking too if you—"
The Princess shook her head.
"No? Well, he really is exceptional at cooking..."
"What the hell are you two doing?!"
Gainando, who had been grunting while carrying a chair, suddenly roared in frustration.
Why are you slacking off?!
"Her Highness is resting to recover her mana after casting spells earlier!"
"Rest while working! You've only exhausted your mana, not your stamina!"
"Gainando, watch out! In front!"
"?"
As he carried the chair, Gainando realized the noise from the lounge's main entrance had grown louder—now accompanied by the sound of creaking wood.
BANG!
Like water droplets splitting stone, the relentless pounding of the Skeleton Warriors finally shattered the lounge's main door, breaking through the barricade.
Skeleton Warriors surged through the gap and immediately seized Gainando.
"AAAAAH!"
"Gainando!!!"
"Leave me! Gainando was wrong!"
While his friends were shouting, Lee Han drew Morning Star and charged forward.
Three Skeleton Warriors standing closest were instantly cleaved apart and sent tumbling. Lee Han grabbed Gainando's ankle as he was being dragged away and yanked him back forcefully.
Though several clumps of hair were torn out in the process, Gainando was safely rescued. The pale-faced prince screamed:
"Th-those insane undead bastards! Isn't the Headmaster going too far!?"
"Why are you only realizing that now?"
"Gainando, fall back! Everyone, be careful near the entrance! Don't approach!"
After warning his friends, Lee Han swung his sword again.
The Skeleton Warriors trying to squeeze through the gap seemed to sense the mana-absorbing aura emanating from Morning Star and didn't dare enter.
Clatterclatterclatter!
The Skeleton Warriors outside the barricade made a loud racket.
Ashan asked in a bewildered voice:
"Why are they suddenly acting like that?"
"Could they be angry because a mage is swinging a mana-absorbing sword at them?"
"...!"
Though Yoner had answered without much thought, it oddly made sense.
The Skeleton Warriors began smashing at the barricade again to widen the gap and charge through all at once.
But this time, Lee Han didn't let them.
"O space, be perceived!"
Recasting Spatial Perception, Lee Han began firing Water Orbs at the skeletons outside the barricade.
The lethally flying orbs shot through the gap in the barricade, shattering the ancient bones of the Skeleton Warriors.
'We've blocked them!'
Just as Lee Han grew confident, a new group emerged through the darkness in the distance.
"N-no way...?"
"No! They're not undead! Those are—"
-Help us!
It was students from Phoenix Tower.
Seeing the swarming Skeleton Warriors chasing behind them made the situation obvious without needing to ask.
'They must've broken through their lounge and escaped!'
"Wh-what do we do?"
"Wardanaz. Taking them in could be dangerous. Considering the undead chasing them, there's a 90% chance—"
"Let them in."
"!"
"!!!"
Lee Han's immediate answer without a moment's hesitation made the friends who'd argued against it suddenly feel ashamed.
No matter how scared they were of the undead, this was no way to act.
"Wardanaz... I misspoke. I've disgraced my family name and sullied our honor. I'm sorry!"
"I'll go out with you to get them! Wardanaz! Let's go together!"
"???"
Lee Han was baffled by his friends suddenly repenting on their own.
'What the hell are these idiots saying?'
Lee Han had only one reason for agreeing to help.
Who else could have sent those students here?
Only the Skeleton Principal could be behind this.
And given the Headmaster's personality, refusing to take them in would likely give him grounds to accuse them of undermining the principles of Basic Magic Character Education.
They had to be wary of even minor technicalities!
"R-right. Thanks for agreeing, everyone."
It was convenient that they'd come around without needing persuasion. Lee Han nodded.
The iron-headed Phoenix Tower students had escaped and were fleeing?
The resting Skeleton Principal opened his eyes again upon receiving the summons' report.
Indeed, Phoenix Tower students were scrambling through the night's darkness in panic.
Normally, this would be an amusing sight, but...
'They're fleeing toward the Blue Dragon Tower?'
Of all places, why did they have to run toward the one spot currently best defended?
Grumbling, the Headmaster sent out a fervent wish:
'Don't take them in, don't take them in, don't take them in...'
But Lee Han trampled over the Headmaster's hopes, slipping through the barricade with his friends to rush out and rescue the Phoenix Tower students.
The Skeleton Principal roared in fury.
That selfish brat! That selfish brat!!
The other summons in the workshop bowed their heads, carefully watching the Headmaster's mood.