Episode 2
Episode 2
Imperial family. Imperial prince. Imperial princess.
Normally, anything bearing the character for "imperial" was expected to possess noble and dignified power.
But in the Empire, things were a little different.
The imperial family...
Was far more numerous than one might think.
'Doesn't the current Emperor have over a hundred children?'
No matter how prestigious being part of the imperial family was considered, having the Emperor's direct descendants alone reach triple digits was undeniably problematic.
At that point, if Lee Han were to casually stroll into the imperial palace, wouldn't the Emperor mistake him for one of his own children?
Just as Lee Han was living under the punishment of having to strive harder in life for being born later than his brothers, the Emperor's children were no different.
If you weren't the firstborn...
You had nothing.
In some ways, it was even harsher than Lee Han's situation.
At least in the Wardanaz family, the patriarch remembered his children's names and cared for them.
But the imperial family members had to build their own lives without such attention.
Of course, even a rotten fish is still a fish—before commoners, the imperial bloodline still carried considerable weight...
But the problem was, those gathered here were the scions of the Empire's most formidable noble families.
They had no reason to bow and scrape before some unheard-of imperial prince.
Take Yoner Maykin, for instance—his standing was likely better than most imperial family members.
So why was Yoner stepping forward and associating with the imperial prince like this?
'...Is the kid a bit dim?'
Lee Han thought something that would have angered Yoner if he'd heard it.
In fact, glancing around, he spotted a few boys and girls sneering at Yoner.
With noble pride at stake, they were mocking him—why would he stoop to serving an imperial prince?
The pride of the Empire's nobility was no less than that of the imperial family itself.
In fact, when it came to the high nobility, even the Emperor couldn't treat them carelessly.
"Alright. I'll take you up on it."
Yet Lee Han accepted Maykin's proposal.
'Can't hurt.'
The one being mocked was Maykin—Lee Han, as the one receiving the offer, wasn't the target of ridicule.
And even if the imperial prince wasn't particularly impressive, there was no need to pick a fight right from the first meeting.
In life, getting along with people always paid off later.
"...Thank you! That's a relief!"
Maykin beamed like bright sunlight. His excessive delight made Lee Han tilt his head in confusion.
"Why?"
"You're the fourth person I've asked—the first three all refused."
"......"
Lee Han felt a flicker of regret—maybe he should have refused Maykin's offer after all.
The imperial prince, Gainando, was the 97th prince.
Given that several siblings born around the same time existed, some argued he was actually the 101st, but Gainando vehemently insisted he was the 97th. Clearly, he didn't want to hit triple digits.
Aside from that, Gainando was a rather immature member of the imperial family.
At fifteen, he was considered an adult, but not everyone matured at the same rate.
It was obvious he hadn't yet realized that the imperial family's status didn't carry much weight in this academy.
"Did you hear, Lee Han?? That bastard refused my offer!"
"Yeah. Yeah, I heard."
"How dare he??"
"He probably doesn't realize how exalted you are."
"What's 'exalted'?"
Gainando stared at Lee Han in confusion.
Lee Han stared right back before nodding with a gentle smile.
In that moment, Lee Han's internal assessment of Gainando dropped a notch—but Gainando didn't notice.
"'Exalted' means your status is high and noble."
"Ah. That suits me."
"Right."
"Anyway, he refused my offer and is talking to Adenart instead! It's so insulting...!"
Adenart.
The student Gainando pointed at, Adenart, was also of imperial blood. Probably the 43rd or 44th imperial princess.
'Her presence is on another level.'
Long, flowing silver hair and striking blue eyes. An intelligent and elegant face.
Even standing silently, the imperial princess exuded an aura that chilled the surroundings.
A princess who naturally radiated such dignified grace couldn't help but command respect from the noble-born students.
Moreover, Adenart was probably...
'She probably didn't send someone else to call them like Gainando did.'
Even if noble-born children were prideful, they weren't so rude as to ignore a direct approach from a member of the imperial family.
Had Gainando simply gone over and spoken to them himself, he could have gathered quite a few people.
"Will you handle them for me later?"
Gainando said, looking at Lee Han.
Compared to his peers, Lee Han was tall and well-built.
Having continuously trained in swordsmanship, this was only natural.
Though they'd gathered to become mages, among boys and girls who hadn't properly learned a single spell yet, physical strength still ruled.
Of course, Lee Han had absolutely no intention of fighting others for Gainando's pride.
"Gainando."
"Hmm?"
"Noble beings don't torment others by proxy."
"It's not torment, it's punishment—"
"Regardless. Noble beings don't do that. Think about it."
"Hmm."
At Lee Han's words, Gainando made a troubled expression. Now that he heard it, it did seem rather undignified.
"Then Lee Han. How do you think I should handle it?"
"Forgive them magnanimously."
"...Anything else?"
"Challenging them to a duel directly is also an option."
"Hmph. I'll forgive them magnanimously."
Unwilling to duel himself, Gainando quickly made his decision.
Watching this, Lee Han discovered one of Gainando's virtues.
Namely, that he was simpler-minded than expected.
"Wow. You're amazing. You even broke Gainando's stubbornness."
Yoner spoke with an astonished expression. Lee Han asked curiously:
"Why are you moving around with Gainando?"
"We're relatives. Cousins."
"But that doesn't mean you have to listen to every word he says, does it? For someone from the Maykin family—"
Before he could ask further, a booming voice exploded through the hall like thunder.
-Had enough chatter, you iron-skulled brats! You can stop talking now. You'll have years ahead to chatter away.
"!"
The same voice they'd heard at the main gate earlier resounded, and a massive skeleton appeared in the center of the hall.
A skeleton with blazing eye sockets, scattering an overwhelming amount of mana.
'A Lich!'
A being where great mages overcame death by becoming undead themselves.
That was a Lich.
Lee Han had only heard rumors—this was his first time seeing one. The other students buzzed with curiosity too.
-I'll pose you one question. Why do I call you iron-skulled brats?
Adenart raised her hand. Gainando glared at her with clear displeasure.
-Speak.
"...Because steel is the symbol for us new freshmen."
-Excellent. 10 points to your dormitory!
"Is that really a thing?"
-Of course not. If you want to become mages, first learn to see through lies.
Realizing she'd been tricked, Adenart's initially pleased expression turned her pale face red.
-Indeed. Your first-year symbol is steel. Just as bronze is the symbol for second-years. Steel is hard, its quality varies based on how it's forged, and it's a versatile material with many uses. Truly a metal befitting you first-years.
"Ooh..."
"As expected."
The gathered boys and girls marveled at the Skeleton Principal's words.
-Falling for it again! You fools. The reason steel is your symbol is because there's nothing inside your skulls. That's why you're iron-skulls! Don't believe me? Give them a knock. They'll make a lovely sound.
"......"
"......"
The atmosphere in the hall turned icy in an instant.
Many present came from backgrounds where they'd never endured such insults before.
Yet no one dared to protest.
That was how overwhelming the Skeleton Principal's presence was.
'Impressive.'
Lee Han inhaled, then exhaled.
Ever since the Skeleton Principal appeared, the mana density in the surroundings had risen to insane levels, making even movement difficult.
It felt like he'd plunged into the deepest depths of the ocean.
'Still... I think I can move. Yeah. Somehow, I can manage to move.'
As Lee Han wriggled his body, the Skeleton Principal turned his gaze to stare at him.
-...?
His eyes held the look of someone seeing something fascinating.
Lee Han immediately straightened his posture and stood upright.
He had entered this academy to obtain a diploma and connections—there was no way he could afford to get on the Headmaster's bad side from the very first year.
-Perhaps I've been too harsh with my words to the future of the Empire who have come a long way.
The Skeleton Principal's voice softened. A few students sighed in relief at his words, but Lee Han wasn't fooled.
'He's definitely a bit crazy.'
They say Liches lose something when they become undead—clearly, the Skeleton Principal had lost quite a few things.
Lee Han was reminded of a professor from his past life, back in grad school. That professor had also had eyes filled with madness, just like this Skeleton Principal...
'No. Actually, this Lich might still be better than that professor.'
Thinking that, the Skeleton Principal didn't seem so impossible to deal with after all.
-Now! For you all, the finest chefs in this academy have prepared a grand feast since yesterday. Though humble, I hope you enjoy this banquet and relieve the fatigue from your journey. After the meal, warm blankets and beds await you in the dormitories...
At those words, a couple of chubby boys drooled.
What kind of feast would it be? Western Empire-style, perhaps—chicken coated in flour, fried in oil and butter with onions, salt, and pepper, then simmered in wine until bubbling. Or maybe a gratin drenched in béchamel sauce.
Right now, he'd even be happy with just thick cheese and butter slathered on white bread.
Or maybe Eastern Empire-style—fresh fish marinated in gochujang and grilled over charcoal.
Among Eastern dishes, noodles were considered cheap food and not often eaten, but after such a long journey, he felt like he could devour even that if it were served now.
However, the massive table in the hall remained completely empty.
"???"
-Fooled again, you fools! When will you finally wise up? What kind of mages do you think you'll become?
'Is he not insane?'
A few timid freshmen choked back tears at the Skeleton Principal's outburst.
-Now, I shall explain the rules. This academy is the cradle of mages. And the greatest driving force behind raising mages is desire!
As he spoke, tattered robes, a shabby staff, and a bundle of worn-out clothes materialized in the air.
-These are the uniforms you will wear.
No sooner had he finished speaking than hard, black bread and cold rice balls appeared in the air.
-And this is the food you will eat.
"This... this is too much...!"
At someone's involuntary outburst, the Skeleton Principal replied in an exhilarated voice.
-Yes! That's exactly the reaction I wanted! Does that food look too disgusting? Then learn magic quickly and procure better meals with your own hands! Do those robes and staff look like trash? Then master magic and obtain new ones yourself! In this academy, if you desire it, you can attain anything!
"......"
Lee Han was stunned.
He had heard rumors about Einrogard's harshness, but he never imagined it would be this extreme.
In short, the school's motto was: If you're unhappy, get stronger at magic—fast!
'Is this even allowed?'
"Hmph. We could just bring stuff in from outside, no big deal."
One arrogant student muttered with a sulky expression.
The Skeleton Principal, even more excited now, shouted.
-Yes! That's another reaction I wanted. First-years are forbidden from leaving! And don't even think about asking upperclassmen to get things for you! You won't even see them for a while!
"......"
"......"
-Dismissed, you iron-headed fools! Good luck! Strive to become great mages!
Lee Han was pretty sure he heard someone mutter, "You bastard."
Even the Skeleton Principal didn't bother reacting to that.
Once the Skeleton Principal vanished, Prince Gainando stomped his foot in fury.
"Is this for real?? How dare they treat people of our status like this? Lee Han! Aren't you angry? Do you think anyone can survive wearing rags fit for beggars and eating slop meant for pigs??"
"Huh? I mean... it's fine, isn't it?"
"......"