Episode 22
Episode 22
Thunderstep only let out a hollow laugh but soon nodded his head.
He had no intention of criticizing something that was grown and sold by the students themselves.
"I don't know about the first student who tried this. But it's a very creative idea. Extremely creative."
"Oh. Thank you. Business must be going well then."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
Though Thunderstep grumbled, money management was indeed an important virtue for alchemists.
Who would provide them with those exorbitantly expensive reagents and materials?
They had to earn the money and procure everything themselves.
'Seeing how frugally he saves money, he probably won't face financial shortages later.'
"Cabbage and green onions... Hmm. Looks perfect for making stew."
"!"
At Thunderstep' words, Lee Han raised his head.
The Empire wasn't limited to just Western-style cuisine. Given its vast size, various regional foods existed depending on location.
While the western regions of the Empire, where the Wardanaz family resided, primarily had Western-style dietary habits centered around bread and cheese, the eastern regions had familiar foods like rice, noodles, red pepper paste, and soybean paste—cuisine Lee Han was accustomed to.
"Do you like stew?"
"I do, but I tend to avoid eating it."
"?"
"It's Eastern food, isn't it? I dislike Eastern dwarves."
Thunderstep frowned as he spoke, seemingly recalling unpleasant memories.
"Did something bad happen?"
"I have distant relatives living in the East. Every time I meet them, they nag me endlessly about pointless things... 'Potions of regeneration are expensive these days, why don't you try selling them?' 'That's why you're not making money.' 'Why don't you visit more often?' 'Why is a young brat like you smoking such a long pipe?'..."
"......"
Lee Han was taken aback by the unexpectedly specific complaints.
He had heard that the Empire's eastern regions valued tradition and rules more than the west, but he hadn't expected it to this extent.
"I-I see."
"I rambled unnecessarily. Still, the food itself isn't at fault. I don't dislike it. Next time you make stew, let's eat together."
Lee Han had never actually offered to share, but he knew it wouldn't be wise to say otherwise in front of the now-displeased professor.
"It would be an honor to serve you, Professor."
Thunderstep nodded at Lee Han's words.
'Wait. The Wardanaz family is from the west, right? Can I really trust this kid's Eastern cooking?'
Thunderstep grew slightly uneasy.
Of course, he knew Lee Han had exceptional talent for miscellaneous tasks, but nobles weren't usually skilled at cooking, were they?
From what he'd seen of Lee Han grilling steak last time, he wasn't a terrible cook—but Eastern cuisine was notoriously tricky.
"...Actually, on second thought, freeloading might not be the best idea. Since you grew it yourself, I'll be fine."
"Huh? But the pork you ate earlier was hunted by me and my friends..."
"Technically, that was the pig I prepared!"
Thunderstep finally lost his temper.
After finishing the meal and cleaning up, Lee Han began preparing to leave.
"By the way, what are you doing this weekend?"
"Do I have to come in and work?"
"...Even I wouldn't call a student in on the weekend. Do I look like that kind of person?"
Thunderstep asked in an incredulous tone.
But Lee Han was even more bewildered.
'Huh? He doesn't usually call students on weekends?'
Why not?
Wasn't summoning students on weekends a basic skill for professors?
"You've worked well, so there's no need to come on the weekend. Unless you want to tend to your garden... And besides, you'll be very busy this weekend."
Thunderstep said meaningfully.
Hearing this, Lee Han grew slightly uneasy.
'Why is he making me nervous again?'
"Is something happening?"
"Something? Think about it. What do you think students who've been starving and suffering all week will do once the weekend arrives?"
"Are they going to set the school on fire?"
"...That's a bit too extreme. They'll find ways to eat and survive."
Drive the students into a corner,
and they'll figure it out themselves.
...As per the intentions of the Lich Headmaster, new students usually began pondering once they had some free time on weekends.
-Why is this school tormenting us like this? Is it because the Headmaster is undead?
-We can't keep starving like this! At the very least, we need to find something to eat!
-Oh, my friends! Let us join hands and rise together!
"Well, I've heard rumors that the students of the Tower of the Black Turtle have been scouring the forest behind the main building for edible fruits."
"Typical of the Black Turtle Tower students."
Thunder Steps replied as if he had expected as much.
The behavior of new students usually varied depending on their tower.
Commoners, merchants, and even former slaves—students of the Tower of the Black Turtle—were the type to act swiftly without worrying about appearances.
So, it was only natural for them to comb through the forests and mountains behind the school in search of food.
"Thanks to your hunting, some will likely attempt hunting more aggressively. It's rare for students to start hunting in the first week."
"All thanks to your teachings, Professor."
At Lee Han's flattery, Thunder Steps smiled faintly before feeling an odd sense of discomfort.
Why does this feel strangely like an insult?
"How about the students of the Blue Dragon Tower?"
"The Blue Dragon Tower is usually the slowest. Those kids have lead in their backsides."
Lee Han couldn't help but agree.
Looking at his fellow tower members, it was clear that very few would venture into the forest to find food just because the weekend had arrived.
"Still, there are always a few capable ones. After starving for a few weeks, they usually snap out of it and find a good solution."
Thunder Steps glanced at Lee Han as he spoke.
Come to think of it, this year's Blue Dragon Tower seemed quite different from usual.
For one, this Wardanaz kid's way of thinking was already unusual...
What a bizarre guy.
"Respected Professor. May I ask about the other towers as well?"
"I can tell you that much. The Phoenix Tower students... Well, they're in a league of their own. Those kids won't waver just because they're starving and struggling."
Composed of apprentice priests sent by the Empire's religious orders, the Phoenix Tower students had always practiced frugality and austerity in their temples.
Naturally, they were the quickest to adapt in this magic school.
While students from other towers roamed around searching for food, those from the Phoenix Tower often endured simply by praying.
Such was the power of faith.
Amazing. How can they keep going while eating so little?
Lee Han paused mid-thought.
Come to think of it, he had endured for years in graduate school too.
Hmm. Now that I think about it, humans can endure more than expected.
"By the way, Wardanaz. Are you planning to hunt this weekend?"
"Yes."
There was no need to hide it, so Lee Han answered confidently.
"Then watch out for the White Tiger Tower kids. They're the type to go hunting often too. They usually play it safe in the first week, but once they hear someone's had a successful hunt, they won't just sit still—not with their temperament."
"All thanks to your teachings, Professor."
"...Well, as long as you know. The White Tiger Tower kids have a tradition of causing trouble, so be careful. They come from knightly families, so they're hot-blooded by nature."
"Understood. If a fight breaks out, I'll strategize to handle being outnumbered."
"......"
That's not what I meant...!
Thunder Steps opened his mouth to say something but stopped.
Frankly, this Wardanaz kid seemed like the type who would handle things just fine on his own.
"We might not even run into them. The forests and mountains are vast, and the White Tiger Tower guys might choose something other than hunting... No, never mind. What would they do in the first week anyway?"
"What else would they choose instead of hunting?"
"......"
Thunderstep immediately regretted bringing this up.
For some reason, he had a feeling that if he told Lee Han about it, the boy would try it himself.
"Desertion."
"...?!"
Desertion.
The vast grounds of the magic academy were surrounded by towering walls, which were also protected by magic.
But there were always those who tried to break through.
Considering the villages outside the academy and the goods that could be obtained there, attempts at desertion were inevitable.
'New coat, new shirt, new belt, new pants, new boots, bread and butter, cheese and jam, various dried rations, needles and thread for emergencies, paper and quills, soap and perfume... Damn it. There's too much to even list!'
The moment he heard the word "desertion," Lee Han's eyes lit up, and his mind raced.
If he could just get his hands on those things, he could live like a king in the dormitory.
"Look at this! This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you!"
Thunderstep took one look at Lee Han's expression and immediately knew what he was thinking.
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"You think I don't know you're calculating what you could bring back from outside right now?!"
"What? Is that magic?"
"Don't give me that nonsense! Don't be an idiot. The White Tiger Tower guys try to desert every year because they're the dumbest of the lot."
"Has anyone ever succeeded?"
"......"
"Has no one succeeded?"
"...Not that there haven't been any!"
"Oh..."
"You'll regret it, I'm telling you!"
Thunderstep suddenly stopped mid-shout.
Come to think of it, why was he even trying so hard to dissuade him?
Young people were bound to do stupid things anyway.
"Fine. Do what you want."
"No, Professor. I would never even consider it."
"At least put some saliva on your tongue before you lie like that!"
A dark room.
In a chamber illuminated only by a flickering candle, three men with menacing expressions were intimidating an orc.
"Hey, Choi. Do you understand the situation you're in? Huh? The only way out for you is to cooperate!"
"...Lee Han. You don't have to do this. I'd answer if you just asked normally."
Durgyu gave Gainando a bewildered look.
A scrawny kid like him trying to look intimidating was more ridiculous than scary.
They'd suddenly shown up, told him to "Come with us!", and now this absurd act? What was even happening?
"Hmm. Not very effective, was it?"
Lee Han pulled back the curtain. Sunlight flooded the empty lecture hall. Yoner blew out the candle with a quick puff.
Gainando, still confused, looked between Lee Han and Durgyu in panic.
"Weren't we supposed to threaten Choi?! You guys know each other?!"
"Yeah."
"Then why did we prepare all this?!"
"If we acted friendly and brought him here, the other White Tiger Tower students might've seen us."
"!"
Durgyu was startled by that.
Lee Han was right. There was no point in inviting unnecessary misunderstandings.
"Thanks, Lee Han. If we'd come in chatting like friends, it really could've caused trouble."
"Don't mention it. For you, who's going to be our spy, this much is nothing."
"...Wait. I'm a spy?"
Durgyu protested the dishonorable title.
Lee Han tilted his head in confusion.
"Didn't you say you'd let us know if that Moradi family guy was up to something suspicious?"
"I did."
"Then you're a spy."
"...There's got to be a more dignified and honorable term than 'spy,' right?"
True to his knightly upbringing, Durgyu objected.
He was reporting for honor and justice—why did that make him a spy?
"I think 'spy' fits me just fine."
Gainando, who'd been listening, chimed in.
Durgyu glared at him. Gainando flinched and averted his gaze, mumbling.
"On second thought, maybe not a spy."