Episode 156
Episode 156
Lee Han's expression turned grave.
'This is strange.'
Priestess Dijiling found an Outing Pass?
That was possible.
What if students from other towers—or even the White Tiger Tower—found Exit Permits?
That, too, could be accepted.
But Gainando...?
'It's a trap!'
Lee Han's instincts screamed.
This was definitely a trap!
The Skeleton Principal wasn't the type to hand out Exit Permits so easily that even Gainando could get one.
'But... why? Why Exit Permits?'
Though he was certain it was a trap, he couldn't figure out why the Headmaster would distribute Exit Permits like this.
'I have no choice but to be even more cautious.'
"What's wrong?"
Noticing Lee Han's grim expression, the other students from the Blue Dragon Tower asked in concerned voices.
"Isn't it suspicious that Exit Permits are being handed out this easily?"
"Exactly...!"
"So you're just making excuses to snatch the Outing Pass from Gainando, huh?"
"What if we take it now and promise to return it later?"
"......"
Seeing his friends already getting overly excited, Lee Han shook his head firmly.
'At the very least, I need to stay sharp on my own.'
Gainando was sitting inside the tent of Professor Mortum, who taught Black Magic.
Other professors had selectively picked passionate and outstanding students to assign tasks, but Professor Mortum didn't do that.
To begin with, the number of freshmen interested in Black Magic could be counted on one hand.
Every single freshman learning Black Magic had to attend.
Even Imirg and Raphael were sitting blankly beside Gainando, staring ahead.
"......"
"......"
A heavy silence.
With Lee Han absent, the Black Magic freshmen—who weren't close to begin with—had even less to say to each other.
All three were from different towers, different backgrounds, different races, different personalities...
Gainando tugged at his collar restlessly.
Strangely, the air felt suffocating.
'Is it because of the dark mana?'
To break the stifling atmosphere, Gainando finally spoke up.
"Hey!"
At Gainando's sociable greeting, the other two students reacted—with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
"......"
"Don't act friendly with me, Prince. It's disgusting."
Even though one stayed silent and the other snapped at him, Gainando was actually delighted.
"You just called me 'Prince,' didn't you?"
"Wh-what? Why are you happy about that, you freak?"
Raphael, the half-angel, looked at Gainando in disgust.
As expected, there wasn't a single normal person among those who chose to learn Black Magic.
To actually enjoy being insulted...
"Say it again! Who am I?"
"Get lost, will you!?"
"Uh, um."
Imirg, the half-giant, hesitantly spoke up.
"Shouldn't we... try to bring in some guests?"
"Huh? Who in their right mind would be interested in Black Magic?"
'You're learning Black Magic too, you know...'
Gainando and Imirg stared at Raphael in disbelief.
But Raphael remained stubborn.
"It's actually a good thing that people aren't interested in Black Magic. I—"
"Is everything going well?"
As Professor Mortum appeared, Raphael immediately bowed.
"Good day, Professor!"
"Yes. Cough, cough. Is everything going well?"
"......"
The three exchanged glances.
The definition of "going well" might vary from person to person, but zero guests definitely didn't meet any standard of success.
Professor Mortum's face darkened.
"No one's interested?"
To be fair, Professor Mortum had prepared far more diligently than other professors.
A black cloth spread over a wide table.
Magic circles, magic tomes, and artifacts carefully arranged on top.
It was all part of his thoughtful plan—if a guest arrived, he would find and recommend the most suitable Black Magic spell for them.
Compared to Professor Voladi, who had told Lee Han to just hurl Water Orbs at guests' faces, this almost felt insultingly well-prepared.
...But worldly affairs don't always go well just because you put your heart into them.
Fundamentally, among the festival guests, there weren't many who would deliberately seek out gloomy black mages.
"Professor. There's something I wanted to ask."
Cough. "What is it?"
"Why didn't you bring Lee Han with you?"
"......"
"......"
Even before the professor could react, Imirg and Rafael were already staring at Gainando as if he were trash.
Though they were from different towers, rumors about the Wardanaz had reached even their ears.
-Wardanaz is helping Professor Alpen with magic circles.
-Well, he's outstanding, so that makes sense.
-Wardanaz is assisting Professor Bagrak. Seems he's been attending lectures.
-Why...? I don't get it, but if he's attending, helping is natural. There probably aren't many listeners anyway.
-Wardanaz is running errands for the headmaster.
-He's outstanding, after all.
-I heard Wardanaz was summoned to make magical fireworks too.
-Well, he's outstanding... Wait, hold on. Isn't that guy doing way too much? How is he even standing?
While great achievements come with great responsibility, Wardanaz was pushing it.
Even students from other towers were looking at him with concern—no further explanation needed.
And yet, this so-called "friend" from the same tower had the nerve to ask the professor, "Why didn't you call him?" instead of worrying about him.
'What a piece of trash!'
Rafael glared at Gainando with utter contempt.
Cough. "Wardanaz... I left him alone because he has too much else to do."
"But it would've been nice if Lee Han were here."
"He must be really busy..."
"Lee Han will be fine!"
Cough. "Hmm... I'm not sure."
Unable to stand it any longer, Imirg and Rafael stepped in.
"I-It's fine. We'll handle it ourselves."
"We don't need the Wardanaz kid anyway."
"Fine? What do you mean fine? You useless brats!"
As the two debated whether or not to punch Gainando, Lee Han arrived with some other friends.
"Were you here?"
"Lee Han!!"
Gainando nearly jumped with joy.
Finally, he could escape this suffocating atmosphere.
"Help me!"
"With what?"
"Here, the black magic..."
Before Gainando could even finish explaining, the friends from the Blue Dragon Tower who had come with Lee Han cut in first.
"By the way, Gainando, I heard you got an Outing Pass?"
"Yeah."
A smug and arrogant expression bloomed on Gainando's face. His friends immediately regretted asking.
'Should've just taken it by force instead of asking.'
"Where'd you get it?"
"I found it."
"...Found it?"
When Lee Han repeated skeptically, Gainando protested in an aggrieved tone.
"I really did! I was walking, and there was a box in the bushes nearby. I opened it, and—look! It's real!"
Gainando pulled out the Outing Pass from his pocket with an innocent look in his eyes—one that showed he didn't suspect Lee Han would take it from him for even a second.
The other Blue Dragon Tower students stared at Lee Han with tense expressions.
-Now. Wardanaz!
-Right now!
'......'
Even without learning telepathy, their silent messages were loud and clear.
Lee Han checked the Outing Pass and handed it back to Gainando.
"It's real."
"Right!?"
'This makes it even more suspicious.'
That settled it.
Lee Han resolved not to let his guard down until the Outing Pass was actually used.
"By the way, Lee Han. Help me."
"With what?"
Gainando rambled on about what had happened with Professor Mortum.
The professor had called his outstanding disciples to entrust them with tasks, so they prepared all sorts of things, but no one was coming...
'What nonsense did Gainando spout?'
Lee Han was inwardly puzzled.
Imirg and Rafael had been glaring at Gainando as if he were absolute garbage.
Rafael had always been like that since he hated black magic, but Imirg was a fairly decent student.
If it wasn't that Gainando had done something wrong...
"I see. Alright. I'll help."
"!??"
"!!!"
The two stared at Lee Han in shock.
They truly hadn't expected him to actually agree to help.
"What's wrong?"
"W-well, we thought you might be busy..."
"Ah. I finished all my urgent tasks today. I was originally planning to look around the festival a bit."
Ashan, sensing an ominous sign, hastily spoke up.
"Wardanaz. Surely you're not planning to skip enjoying the festival again today? There are only a few days left!"
"I can enjoy it tomorrow."
"Th-that...!"
The students from the Blue Dragon Tower glared at Gainando.
Because of that bastard, Wardanaz was—!
'With Professor Mortum right here, I can't just leave.'
Of course, Lee Han wasn't staying out of friendship with Gainando.
It was because Professor Mortum was standing right in front of him.
Even if Professor Mortum were to say, cough "It's fine, go enjoy yourself," the professor was an utterly untrustworthy and petty being.
If he really went off to enjoy himself, he might later hear something like, "Did you really go have fun? Cough How impressive."
Now that he was learning black magic, there was nothing good about making a bad impression.
"I'll help."
"But... why?"
Professor Mortum looked at Lee Han as if he couldn't understand.
Having heard the other professors' stories, Professor Mortum knew very well how much Lee Han was struggling.
"I'm learning black magic too, after all."
"...!"
Not just Professor Mortum, but the other students were moved as well.
Even Lafadell's heart wavered.
'Though he's someone who learns black magic, his honor is truly beyond reproach...'
"Lee Han!"
'Compared to that bastard...'
Unaware that Lafadell was insulting him, Gainando asked,
"But how are you going to get people to come?"
"All we need is for people to come, right?"
"That's correct?"
Lee Han turned to the students from the Blue Dragon Tower.
"You guys. Line up."
"...Us too?"
"Shh. Wardanaz told us to."
Though they had come out to enjoy the festival with Lee Han only to get caught up in the black magic tent, the Blue Dragon Tower friends lined up out of friendship.
"Ashan. If you know any other students from the towers who are somewhat close, call them over."
"Don't worry, Wardanaz."
Ashan nodded firmly.
Given the debt he owed for the magic circle, he intended to do his best.
A short while later.
Ashan returned with a group of students.
There were students from their own tower, as well as others mixed in.
"Wardanaz. Do we just stand here?"
"Yeah."
"Lord Wardanaz. Isn't it a bit much to get Her Highness interested in black magic? I'll take her place, so please let Her Highness—"
"Here."
Lee Han placed a candy in the Princess's palm.
Without a word, the Princess lined up. Rowena was horrified.
"What...?!"
"Wardanaz. I brought more."
Ashan, who had disappeared after bringing the students, returned again.
This time, he had brought guests from Baldrogard.
"...?"
When Lee Han looked puzzled, Ashan excitedly explained,
"When I mentioned your name, they said they really wanted to help."
"G-good job."
Ashan vanished once more.
Then, he returned again, this time with a few priests and imperial bureaucrats in tow.
"...How did you bring them here?"
It made sense with fellow students or even guests from Baldrogard.
They owed Lee Han favors.
But priests and bureaucrats? How?
'Is it the Dalkard Family's connections?'
"They said they wanted to help when I mentioned your name."
"...???"
Lee Han didn't understand.
Why?
"I've never seen Professor Mortum look so happy before."
"You've only known the professor for a few months, haven't you?"
"Well, that's true."
Lee Han walked back to the dormitory with Gainando. Having helped with cleanup until evening, the surroundings were already dark.
"Want to play a round of cards when we get back?"
"I have magic to decode."
"After you finish decoding, want to play a round of cards?"
"By the time I finish, it'll probably be dawn."
Gainando, obsessed with card games, refused to back down easily.
"Then at dawn... Gahk!"
Something flew out of the darkness and attacked Gainando.
At first, Lee Han thought it was a thief after their exit permits.
"Gainando! Don't let them take your exit per— No, it's a monster!"