Episode 131
Episode 131
'Every single thing he said was wrong.'
Professor Lightning Step was dumbfounded.
"He's just loyal..."
"Ah. Is that so?"
Lee Han looked back at Sharkan. Sharkan wagged his tail with a delighted expression.
"Come here, Sharkan. I actually did trust you."
Sharkan came running over with excited barks.
As Lee Han petted Sharkan, he thought he should give some of the sausages meant for Gailandaltes to Sharkan later.
Professor Lightning Step watched the scene with pity.
'Come to think of it, the fact that there was no special magical treatment...'
If that undead summon was showing such loyalty even without Madman—no, Mortum casting any special spells, it could only mean one of two things.
Either that Sharkan was unusually fond of humans (about as likely as Gonadaltes becoming kind and benevolent), or Lee Han's presence was simply so overwhelming that it completely subdued Sharkan.
Monsters like Sharkan were particularly sensitive to hierarchy. It made sense that he'd show such loyalty to a master who emitted insane amounts of mana like Lee Han.
To tame monsters that other mages needed all sorts of magic, arcane arts, and tricks to control—and to do it so effortlessly.
And what was most absurd was that the person in question had no awareness of it whatsoever.
If Professor Lightning Step's friends who were experts in monster rearing had been here, they could have talked for hours about what just happened.
"There there, Sharkan. You're such a good boy. I knew I could trust you."
People who actually trusted someone wouldn't say things like that, but Sharkan seemed happy regardless, wagging his tail excitedly.
Suddenly remembering something, Professor Lightning Step asked:
"Wait. Why do you trust this Sharkan but not that... white horse?"
"Huh?"
Lee Han looked at Professor Lightning Step as if he'd asked something obvious.
"Well, Sharkan was loyal from the start, but Ponlig kept trying to kick and bite me."
From Lee Han's perspective, Ponlig was hardly trustworthy.
A creature that kept causing trouble suddenly becoming docile—no matter how you looked at it, that was suspicious.
Moreover, Ponlig was the most intelligent and cunning among all the horses in the stable.
Whether it was due to some potion, a spell, or mixed bloodline with another monster, his intelligence seemed several times that of the other horses.
If a horse like that suddenly became obedient, it was even more suspicious!
Neigh-hih-hih!
Ponlig stomped his hooves in frustration, as if he was about to die from exasperation.
Of course, if an ordinary horse suddenly acted like this, it might be suspicious—but griffins were naturally like this.
A noble magical creature that would never accept being ridden by someone it didn't recognize as its master, but once it acknowledged someone, it would pledge its loyalty.
But since they thought of him as just a horse and misunderstood him like this, Ponlig was practically dying from frustration.
"See? He's doing it again right now."
Neigh-hih!!
Having given up on convincing Lee Han, Ponlig turned to Professor Lightning Step and neighed frantically.
The meaning was clear.
Lift the spell!!
Professor Lightning Step avoided Ponlig's gaze.
'Can't do that.'
Do you know how much effort it took to transform a perfectly good griffin into a horse?
Just thinking about the cost of the potions and magical reagents used made it absolutely impossible.
No matter how many potions you fed a horse or what spells you cast to make it ferocious, it could never truly resemble a monster.
Having at least one monster disguised as a horse in the stables would help the freshmen become accustomed when they encountered real monsters later.
"What do you think?"
"Well... Hearing you say that, I suppose you have a point. Unlike Sharkan, Ponlig might indeed be hiding his true intentions."
Neigh-hih! Neigh-hih-hih-hih!
Ponlig glared at Professor Lightning Step as if he wanted to kill him.
"Just you wait until my transformation wears off!"
"Then I shall take my leave now. Enjoy your walk."
"Yes. Please go ahead."
Snort!! Snort snort!!
"Enough, Ponlig. I'll trust you."
At his master's insincere words, Ponlig kicked the ground sadly with his hind legs. Sharkan comforted him by lightly tapping him with his tail.
Let's find a way to undo the magic together...
"Huh. There seems to be less meat than usual today."
"Gainando, are you trying to trick us into giving you more? Act honorably."
"N-no! It really does seem less than usual?? That's weird..."
"Did you forget you already took a bite?"
"Is... is that so?"
While the students of the Blue Dragon Tower were having breakfast, Sharkan, who had returned from his walk, wandered around restlessly.
But he wasn't just wandering aimlessly.
He knocked over books piled in the lounge and took out reagents stored on the shelves.
"What's wrong, Sharkan?"
"Are you hungry? Gainando too..."
"If you touch my plate, it's a duel!"
Though the students questioned him, Sharkan didn't answer and kept rummaging through books and reagents.
"Why is he acting like that?"
"Maybe he's looking for something? It's entirely possible for a high-intelligence monster."
At Yoner's words, Lee Han fell into thought.
Is Sharkan searching for something?
"There shouldn't be anything like that. Sharkan, come here."
Lee Han pulled Sharkan toward him. Sharkan resisted, digging his claws in, but was eventually dragged over.
"Right, Wardanaz. Did you see the priests outside?"
"I hope they stay long."
Attending the magic school tended to make even the children of irreligious noble families suddenly develop faith.
Seeing priests from outside caring for and helping the students inevitably made one wonder, 'Huh? Then what about all the professors we've met so far?'
Yoner said while packing her bag, "The priests are here?"
"Are you going to the Flemeng Order?"
"Yeah. And I'm going to ask about the potions too."
"!"
The potions borrowed from Ratford's carriage.
Yoner and Lee Han had been working hard to identify them, but as first-years relying solely on their own wisdom, progress was slow.
But if they asked the priests of the Flemeng Order, the alchemy sect?
'Not bad.'
"But Yoner... if there are any suspicious potions, it'll be hard to explain."
"I'll just insist we found them till the end. They're all kind, so they won't confiscate them, right? ...Probably?"
Though slightly uneasy, no better alternative came to mind.
Lee Han nodded at Yoner. "Alright. I'm counting on you."
The other potions stored in the box were also placed into Yoner's bag. Suddenly, Sharkan let out a low growl.
Grrrr...
"Sharkan. Stay still."
Bark! Bark bark!
Sharkan desperately barked at the potion in Lee Han's hand, as if he wanted it for himself.
"Sharkan. This isn't for you to drink."
And the vivid green color didn't look healthy no matter how you saw it.
Even if Sharkan was an undead summon, there was no need to feed him poison.
In the end, the green potion went into the bag.
Sharkan pawed at the ground in frustration, but Yoner closed the bag's opening.
"See you later."
"Yeah. You're visiting the Prisinga priests too, right?"
"Right. I should pay my respects to the Prisinga priests as well."
"...?"
Yoner, who had been nodding along, felt something off in Lee Han's words.
Priests 'too'?
"I should go check which other sects' priests have arrived. See you later."
"......"
At her friend treating the religious orders like shops in an alley, Yoner could only remain speechless.
Instead, she cheered him on with her eyes.
Hang in there!
...Though she still had no idea what he was trying to do!
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. It's a pleasure to see you here."
"Likewise."
"By any chance, are you interested in the faith of Vildotskal?"
"I've always had some interest."
"Then...!"
"But tell me, does the Vildotskal Order allow simultaneous belief in other orders?"
"Absolutely not."
"Then I'll visit another time. Thanks for the offer."
As Lee Han entered the area where priests from various orders had gathered in front of the main building, he was surprised to find many students from the Tower of the Eternally Burning Phoenix who recognized him.
It was thanks to the good deeds he'd shown them last time.
The young priests called out to Lee Han with goodwill, but...
He declined.
Since he needed to benefit from moving between multiple orders, there was no choice if they didn't permit simultaneous belief in other faiths.
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
With a voice that seemed to blaze, Priest Nigisor made his appearance.
True to his fire spirit half-blood heritage, he was burning fiercely even today.
"Good to see you."
"Are you perhaps interested in the Afha Order?"
"I've always had some interest. But tell me, does the Afha Order mind if one believes in other orders simultaneously?"
At Lee Han's question, Priest Nigisor nodded.
"Afha's flames simply burn—they do not dictate direction."
"Oh... Then I'd like to meet with the priest."
"That would be delightful. Follow me."
Priest Nigisor strode ahead, leading the way.
As he followed, Lee Han pondered about the Afha Order.
'Come to think of it, I don't know much about the Afha Order.'
Given the sheer number of religious orders in the Empire, unless an order was famous or you personally followed it, knowledge about them was scarce.
He'd heard the Afha Order worshipped fire, but...
'So is it a place that specializes in fire-based magic?'
If so, it could be quite beneficial for Lee Han.
One of his greatest weaknesses was fire-element magic.
While he was relatively better with other elemental magics, fire was by far his worst affinity.
It wasn't that he couldn't use it—rather, if he messed up, he might end up burning himself alive.
'It's warm.'
As Lee Han stepped inside the Afha Order's spacious tent, the first thing he noticed was the warmth.
It came from the purple flames flickering within.
The priests of the order, composed of various races, sat comfortably in their mismatched, non-uniform attire, chatting away. They brightened upon seeing Priest Nigisor enter.
"Priest Nigisor! May Afha's flames find you."
"May Afha's flames find you all. Esteemed priests, this is Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Ah. The one you mentioned before... This is surprising. I thought mages of the Wardanaz family had little interest in faith."
"That's a false rumor."
Lee Han lied shamelessly without batting an eye.
"Regardless, we're delighted you're interested. Shall I explain our faith to you?"
"Yes, please do."
The Afha Order priest looked like a mercenary who had spent a decade on the battlefield.
But when he opened his mouth, a wealth of knowledge about their faith flowed forth.
Lee Han listened intently.
This was a valuable opportunity to learn what benefits joining the Afha Order could bring.
"...And so, we believe the end of this world will come with Afha's flames. Afha's fire will burn everything away."
"...?"
Lee Han, who had been listening carefully, paused.
Huh?
"Um... is this fire metaphorical? Burning away only the world's injustices, evil people, and skeletal liches?"
"No? It's just fire that burns everything."
"...Ah. So it's destruction for the sake of new creation and rebirth?"
"An interesting thought. But after the end, there's nothing. Just burning."
"......"
"Now then, let us examine the flame within the soul of Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
Suddenly, Lee Han understood why Priests Dijiling and Siana had warned him to avoid Priest Nigisor.
'Wait... they don't expect me to help extract the flame from my soul to burn the world, do they...?'