Episode 134
Episode 134
The meal prepared by the priests of the Prisinga Order was lavish. For the first time in a while, Lee Han was able to devour food prepared by others to his heart's content.
Only after eating a sandwich stuffed with fresh ham and lettuce and gulping down black tea sweetened with sugar and milk did Lee Han finally speak to Priestess Dijiling.
"Now that I think about it, you don't seem as emaciated as I thought."
"......"
If it had been any other demon hybrid, curses would have flown by now, but Priestess Dijiling was a deeply disciplined person, tempered by years of training.
"...I'm very relieved that you think so now."
"Exactly."
Priest Mehrid sliced a pound cake and placed it in front of Lee Han, expressing his gratitude.
"Brother. Thank you. Thanks to you, Dijiling didn't have to starve."
"Not at all, Priest. I only did what I ought to do."
"Moreover, I've heard that you've been feeding the other students in the tower as well."
Priest Mehrid looked at Lee Han with eyes full of sincere respect.
All the priests were aware that the freshmen at the Magic School were living under quite harsh conditions.
Even in such circumstances, prioritizing and caring for one's friends first was no easy feat.
'...They don't know I'm getting paid, do they?'
Lee Han thought to himself.
Most of the other tower students had no idea that Lee Han meticulously kept accounts while providing them with meals.
It was all thanks to the students of the Blue Dragon Tower, who went around saying, "Wardanaz always prepares meals for us."
Since he was steadily saving up for post-graduation expenses, hearing such words made him feel a little awkward...
"Such benevolence and devotion are truly in line with the will of Prisinga."
"...I think so too."
Lee Han missed the right moment to tell the truth. At this point, it would just be awkward for both sides.
After the meal, while Priestess Dijiling was being teased by the other priests with remarks like, "Why are you so skinny?" Lee Han continued his conversation with Priest Mehrid.
"Is the belt holding up well?"
The priest scanned Lee Han with a concerned gaze.
Though the priests of the Prisinga Order had sworn to bear the curses of the world upon their own bodies, that didn't mean they wouldn't worry about their younger members.
Especially since Lee Han was wearing a belt cursed with Mana Absorption.
Given that he was being trained as a mage, it was only natural to be even more concerned.
"I'm fine."
"Brother...!"
"In fact, I wouldn't mind carrying even more."
Lee Han spoke earnestly.
In Lee Han's eyes, Priest Mehrid was more like someone who periodically visited to give him gifts.
Of course, the belt was cursed, but the Curse of Mana Absorption was practically meaningless to Lee Han.
'Honestly, you could give me more if you wanted.'
With a troubled expression, Priest Mehrid pulled an artifact from his bag.
"This is also an artifact cursed with Mana Absorption, but..."
"What effect does it have?"
"Effect, you say?"
Priest Mehrid fell into brief thought, struggling to recall.
The nature of the curse was what mattered—the effect was hardly significant.
Lee Han waited anxiously for an answer.
'Shouldn't they usually remember the effect rather than the curse?'
"Ah! I remember now. It was the Ring of Underwater Breathing. Though I suppose it's not very relevant for a freshman..."
"!"
Contrary to Priest Mehrid's expectations, Lee Han's eyes sparkled upon hearing this.
'Underwater breathing!'
For a freshman who obediently stayed in the tower at night, underwater breathing magic wasn't particularly necessary—but Lee Han was different.
Since he was constantly searching for ways to sneak out of the school, underwater breathing magic was incredibly useful.
'This Magic School is a place where you can never let your guard down.'
Lee Han had learned this the hard way when he got lost in the forest just trying to pass through a hallway.
He was now certain—in this Magic School, nothing would be surprising, no matter what emerged from within.
Even if a sea appeared on the way to the Spire Stables next, Lee Han wouldn't be surprised.
"I'll take responsibility for it."
"Brother...!"
Father Mehrid was deeply moved by how Lee Han didn't hesitate to put on the ring.
As expected of someone who fed other students, his devotion surpassed all imagination.
'As I thought, no effect at all.'
Lee Han confirmed that there was no noticeable change after slipping the ring onto his finger.
Father Mehrid asked with concern,
"But, Brother... Aren't you wearing too many artifacts?"
Wearing too many artifacts was dangerous.
They could clash with each other's mana or cause unexpected side effects.
If the artifacts were spaced slightly apart, it was relatively fine, but when multiple rings were worn on a single finger, extra caution was needed.
The flame-absorption accessories all had identical properties, so they wouldn't clash, but the Ring of Underwater Breathing required a bit more care.
"I'll switch them out as needed."
"Then I can rest easy."
'Shouldn't we be asking why he's wearing so many rings in the first place...?'
Priestess Dijiling, listening nearby, thought to himself.
"So the Prisinga Order is staying for the Spring Festival too."
Lee Han spoke in an exceptionally cheerful voice.
The priests of the Prisinga Order made the same mistaken assumption as the other priests earlier.
—As expected of a freshman, he must be excited about the Spring Festival!
"Yes. We plan to stay at the school until next week to assist with the Spring Festival."
The Empire's Spring Festival was a time to freely celebrate and enjoy the arrival of spring without formalities.
Plays, performances, and events—everything one would associate with a festival—were held in one place.
Originally, if the Skeleton Principal had simply declared, "This week is the Spring Festival," Lee Han would have thought, 'Hmm, what's the trick here?' But with the priests present, the situation changed significantly.
'Next week, I can save on food supplies.'
Lee Han had been meticulously calculating food provisions with Yoner.
Despite bringing in large quantities from outside, they were being consumed too quickly. They had to save whenever possible.
He had been thinking of making another trip outside before the semester ended, but there was always a chance of failure.
'With the current food supplies... Even if I trade with the Turtle Tower students to stock up a bit more, I should seriously consider setting traps to catch something. I heard rumors about someone catching fish by the lake with a fishing rod. The vegetable garden is still holding up, so that's fine.'
As he calculated, Lee Han suddenly felt a little aggrieved.
Why did he have to do all this after entering a magic school?
There wasn't even enough time to just study magic properly...
"Ah, Brother. Would you be willing to help with the Spring Festival events?"
"Of course, if it's something I can do. I'll bring my friends along."
Lee Han inwardly rejoiced at the thought of getting at least one meal out of it.
"But what kind of events will the Prisinga Order be hosting?"
"First, a play..."
Not bad. Plays held during festivals like this were always popular.
"Ring toss."
A simple game, but even if the prize was just a bar of chocolate, the freshmen would go wild trying their luck.
"And... a curse experience."
"...Oh..."
Lee Han pondered how to trick others into trying the curse experience.
'...Should I scout the White Tiger Tower guys?'
Ashan of the Dalkard Family sighed heavily and thanked Lee Han.
"Thank you so much, Wardanaz. Because of me, even you have to..."
Due to Professor Alpen Naiton, who taught Basic Imperial Geometry and Arithmetic, Ashan was stuck working while his friends rested over the weekend.
—"Next week, one of my friends is visiting the school. He's a friend I made while working as an imperial administrator, and he wants to see the skills of the students I'm teaching when he visits. So I'd like to entrust you all with creating a simple magic circle."
Lee Han had been assigned this task because he was next in line academically, but Ashan wasn't happy about it at all.
Who in their right mind would be pleased about preparing on a golden weekend like this?
If Lee Han hadn't offered to help, Ashan would have had to do everything alone, so he couldn't help but feel grateful.
"I'm doing this because I want to, so don't feel too sorry, Ashan."
"Wardanaz...!"
Unaware of Lee Han's wicked ulterior motives, Ashan's eyelids trembled with emotion.
Even if you combined a hundred guys like Gainando, none could compare to Lee Han.
'I absolutely must impress the Imperial Administrator.'
Though it had nothing to do with pop quizzes or midterms, Lee Han's eyes burned with determination.
He was absolutely going to leave a deep impression on the professor's friend!
"By the way, I heard the professors are planning something for next week's festival. Did you hear?"
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Even the Headmaster is supposedly doing something."
"......"
Lee Han suddenly felt his excitement drain away, replaced by unease.
What was this crazy Lich planning now?
'No... not yet. Besides, the priests are at the school. He can't act recklessly.'
"But Ashan, where did you hear that?"
"Earlier, Professor Garcia was looking for students to help with the festival. He called the top-performing ones first."
"I see. ...Wait."
A chilling premonition brushed the back of Lee Han's neck.
...Surely the Skeleton Principal wouldn't call him, right?
When Nilia was summoned by Professor Garcia and didn't see Lee Han, she was puzzled.
"Won't Wardanaz be coming?"
If they were calling the top students from each tower, there was no way Lee Han would be left out.
"Lee Han... seems too busy and exhausted."
"......"
At Professor Garcia's words, Nilia closed her mouth and nodded repeatedly.
It was a sentiment she could wholeheartedly agree with.
"Nilia, do remind him to take care of himself sometime."
"I do try to tell him... but... Wardanaz is just so serious about magic..."
"Isn't he, though?"
The professor and student continued a conversation that would have left Lee Han utterly bewildered if he'd heard it.
'Working hard, I see... Professor Garcia...'
"......"
From behind them, the Skeleton Principal appeared, his voice several times more indifferent than usual.
Professor Garcia was baffled to see the other making a face—or at least, what passed for a face on a skull.
Liches weren't supposed to be able to make expressions like that.
Using high-level magic just to contort a fleshless skull into some semblance of a frown...
'Must you waste such advanced magic on that?'
"The students won't be happy, will they?"
Why should the students be happy? We're the ones imparting knowledge... Shouldn't they be the ones making us happy...?
The Skeleton Principal continued grumbling. Professor Garcia quietly cast a spell to prevent Nilia from hearing.
'I should go prepare too... If I don't do something, the priests will report to His Majesty, and then His Majesty will have words with me... The Empire is rotting from all these imbeciles...'
Professor Garcia was glad he'd blocked Nilia's ears. The Skeleton Principal proceeded to curse the Imperial clergy several more times.
'I'll take my leave now... Take care...'
"Wait. Headmaster. What exactly are you planning to prepare?"
Professor Garcia, suddenly curious, asked.
'I'll have to ask a student and decide...'
"I see. ...Wait. Just a moment."
'Why do you keep stopping me...'
"No... I'm sorry for calling you back again. Which student are you planning to ask?"
Professor Garcia refrained from saying, 'You don't exactly have any close students, do you?' The Skeleton Principal was already miserable enough.
'The boy from the Wardanaz family...'
"...Isn't Lee Han too busy?"
'Not my concern...'
"......"
Professor Garcia had to suppress the urge to fling a spell at him.
'Wait.'
"What now?"
'That Professor Bagrak... doesn't he have any close students either?'