Episode 161
Episode 161
'Was the distance to the main gate always this far?'
One of the Black Turtle Tower students thought to himself.
The sun hadn't risen yet, leaving the surroundings dimly lit. Perhaps that was why he felt even more nervous and fearful.
"Wait here. Stay put while I prepare."
One thing was certain, if nothing else—
That boy from the Wardanaz family...
He's incredibly reliable when he's on your side!
After casting various Enhancement Magic spells on the students, handing out situation-appropriate potions, and even summoning creatures to methodically deal with each monster one by one, all they could do was marvel at his efficiency.
"All done. Let's go."
Having finished his checks, Lee Han returned to the gathered students.
Behind him, the first light of dawn began to break. A faint glow emanated from behind Lee Han's head.
For a moment, the Black Turtle Tower student was overwhelmed by the sacred sight.
"The... the sun..."
"Of course it's rising. Let's go."
"......"
"Do you want to go after getting hit? Or just go?"
"L-let's go."
When Lee Han raised his staff and aimed, the Black Turtle Tower student snapped out of his daze.
I must have gone crazy for a second!
The Skeleton Principal floated ominously in front of the main gate, waiting for the students. His soul tingled with excitement, as if awaiting his first love.
How many do you think collapsed?
"I'm not sure."
How boring. Even so, at least a third must have fallen. Did you place the sleep-catchers at the front?
"Yes."
The Headmaster was pleased with the warehouse keeper's answer.
For unsuspecting students, sleep-catchers were deadly monsters. By now, some must have drifted off to dreamland.
The shadow creatures too?
"Yes."
Excellent. With sunlight still weak, the students would struggle against them.
Unless they'd prepared in advance, shadow creatures were tricky opponents for students.
The Skeleton Principal waited eagerly.
Then his expression immediately darkened.
...Why are there so many?
"It seems the freshmen are exceptionally skilled."
At the warehouse keeper's reasonable answer, the Headmaster was dumbfounded.
No matter how skilled they were, it was impossible for these iron-headed brats to reach the main gate without a single dropout!
"Seeing them gathered, it appears they worked together."
......
The Headmaster turned his gaze at those words.
Then he looked at Lee Han standing among the students.
Though Lee Han wore an innocent expression, the Headmaster had already pieced things together.
...Come here for a second.
The Headmaster called Lee Han aside and asked:
Do you have a problem with my teaching methods?
"What do you mean... How could that be?"
Lee Han answered with a startled expression.
Of course, internally, he was thinking something else entirely.
'No way. How did he know?'
Listen carefully. Imagine you're playing by a river. Suddenly, one of your friends falls in and starts flailing. What would you do?
"Normally, you'd save them, right?"
Fine. Let's say you saved them. A foolish and idiotic act, but let's assume you did! Then another friend falls in and starts flailing.
"That's..."
Is the river's name Einrogard, by any chance?
Looking around, there's another one, and another, and another... The river's full of drowning friends! Now think. Could you possibly save them all?
"It seems impossible."
Exactly! It's realistically unfeasible. So instead, you should teach your friends how to get out of the river themselves—
"Wouldn't it be better to figure out why they keep falling in and stop that from happening?"
......
The Headmaster was speechless, having been struck in a weak spot.
'Oh no.'
Lee Han immediately regretted it.
He should've just listened quietly, but his tongue had a mind of its own...
...Just you wait! Someday, the very friends you've helped will betray you!
Frustrated, the Skeleton Principal grumbled as he turned away.
'You seem to be misunderstanding something.'
Lee Han didn't pay much attention to the Skeleton Principal's curse.
Because...
He hadn't done all this specifically to save his friends.
He'd teamed up with his friends out of fear of being attacked if he went alone—not because he wanted to rescue them from the river.
Perhaps because he himself was wicked, the Skeleton Principal always seemed to think Lee Han was excessively kind-hearted.
"Angrago. You okay?"
"Uh... uhh? I'm fine?"
"Good. That's a relief."
Lee Han patted Angrago's shoulder. Angrago only grew more flustered.
'Why... why is this bastard acting like this?'
It was truly bizarre, but Angrago actually felt more at ease when the Wardanaz kid had been prickly.
A kind Wardanaz was several times scarier than a prickly one.
Lee Han stared at Angrago with an expectant expression.
'How will we get caught?'
Passed.
"...?!"
But contrary to expectations, the sullen Skeleton Principal opened the main gate without properly checking the exit permits.
The students cheered in joy as they stepped through the gate.
"We're out! We're out, Wardanaz! Thanks! You bastard, you're a real genius!!"
Among them, Angrago's joy was inevitably the greatest.
They'd passed through the main gate not with real exit permits, but with fakes.
"......"
Lee Han's expression stiffened.
'This bastard. Useless.'
He'd wanted to confirm what kind of magic the Skeleton Principal used to inspect the exit permits, but...
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It worked out well."
Lee Han turned sharply.
The White Tiger Tower students were bewildered by his sudden change.
"Why's he like that?"
"Isn't he just embarrassed because you thanked him so much?"
"That Wardanaz kid... has some unexpected sides to him."
When Lee Han returned, Gainando spoke in an excited voice.
"Lee Han! Wanna hit the card shop first? Or the café?"
"Gainando."
"?"
"Hey, do you even have money?"
"...!"
The students who passed through the main gate scattered, each heading toward the nearest Philone Village.
Yet none of them had realized the most critical issue.
...They had no money!
Gainando wore a dazed expression at the sudden confrontation with reality.
"...Can't we just promise to pay them back later?"
"Gainando. No need for that."
Ashan spoke with confidence.
"The Dalkard Family—no, all our families—must be waiting in Philone Village."
"Ah!"
Not just the Dalkard Family, but every noble house represented among the students would have prepared mansions in Philone Village, waiting for them.
For the empire's high nobility, it was only natural.
But Lee Han looked at Ashan with pity.
He'd learn the truth soon enough.
Ten minutes later.
"......"
"......"
Ashan and Gainando stared at each other blankly.
"Why—why aren't they here?"
"I told you, they've all gone to Granden City..."
"Why?!"
"How should I know? Mages always do weird things, don't they?"
The villagers shrugged and walked away.
The shock the two felt was comparable to hearing the sky had collapsed.
"I-I have an idea."
Gainando spoke urgently.
"What idea?"
"Let's find the richest person in the village, drop our family names, and borrow money."
"Are you beggars?!"
Ashan was horrified by Gainando's suggestion.
Borrowing money was one thing, but dragging their family honor through the mud for a few coins?
To think an imperial noble would stoop to such vulgar behavior.
"......"
Lee Han was inwardly exasperated.
'Borrowing is fine, you idiot...'
If nobles have no money, they borrow. What, are they supposed to starve?
"Everyone, stop. I've got money."
"Huh? Where'd you get it?"
"Put up collateral and borrowed it."
"That's our Wardanaz."
"......"
Gainando glared murderously at Ashan, who was now praising Lee Han as easily as flipping his palm.
"Hey... When I said I'd borrow, you called me a beggar, but now...!"
"Borrowing under your family name and borrowing with collateral are two different things, Gainando."
Ashan looked at Gainando as if to say, 'What nonsense are you spouting?'
'This bastard...'
Swearing to trample Ashan with the new card set he'd buy from the store, Gainando moved on.
'Huh? But what did Lee Han put up as collateral?'
"No way! Aren't you that warehouse porter from last time?!"
The shop owner, who had been sitting, jumped up the moment he saw Lee Han.
His face lit up as if he'd met an angel in hell.
"Why's he so happy to see you?"
"Good question."
The friends soon learned the reason.
"The rumor about you buying weeks' worth of stock in one go and carrying it all away is still the talk of the town."
"Please, drop the 'warehouse porter' nickname. It's embarrassing."
"Why? It's an honorable title..."
The shop owner couldn't understand Lee Han's reaction.
Wasn't it a prestigious title symbolizing a big spender in the shopping district?
"Hey, Dark Card. Look! A new card set just came out!"
"Yeah."
"Whoa...! There's even the Headmaster!"
"Then buy it."
Ashan answered half-heartedly, making Gainando glare seriously.
"No. The Headmaster card is trash—too many penalties for proper use."
"O-oh, right."
While Gainando and Ashan played around the toy section, Lee Han and Yoner had a serious discussion.
"We probably don't need fabrics yet. Let's focus on groceries."
"We're running low on sugar... Canned goods are fine, but snacks and candy are already gone."
"Can't be helped. Still way better than last time."
"Random question, but... how did you carry all that last time?"
Lee Han didn't answer.
Looking back, it had been a ridiculously reckless move.
'This time, I'll definitely carry things in batches.'
With some supplies still left and more people around, it was clearly much more manageable than before.
"This should do. We just need to buy before sunset, so we've got time."
"Lee Han. Can I buy this?"
Gainando came shuffling over with the card set. Lee Han nodded. It was Gainando's money anyway.
"The real problem is the midterms. I need to buy geometry books. Couldn't find any in the library."
"Lee Han. Can I buy this too?"
Gainando came shuffling back with a self-moving toy set. Lee Han nodded again.
"We'll probably need alchemy books too."
"Definitely. Finding material-related books in the library was such a pain."
What kind of school doesn't even provide necessary books, forcing students to buy them outside...?
But Lee Han and Yoner no longer complained about such things.
'Well. Maybe libraries just don't give books to those without skill.'
Perhaps a well-organized library was the exception, and this chaotic labyrinth of a library was the norm...
"Lee Han. Can I also—"
"Ah! Just buy whatever you want!"
When Yoner shouted, Gainando flinched.
"H-hey, no need to yell..."
"Wait."
Lee Han spotted a familiar face outside the shop window.
It was Valdororn, the exceptional illusionist who had taught him the basics of breaking illusion magic last time.
"Someone you know?"
"An outstanding mage who taught me magic last time. Valorn! Valdororn!"
Valdororn, passing by, turned at the call—then startled.
The Einrogard freshman he'd met before was back in town.
And this time, with friends in tow!
'No... no way, how is a first-year coming out so often??'
Had the rules changed?
As Valdororn hesitated in confusion, Lee Han led his friends over.
"This is Lord Valdororn. An exceptional illusionist. Thanks to his teachings, I could break illusion magic. Really, Lord Valdororn, your lessons saved me against another illusionist."
"Who did you face?"
Valdororn asked absently, still baffled.
Why would a first-year face another illusionist?
"His name was... Ogonin, I think..."
"...Excuse me????????"