Episode 23
Episode 23
Lee Han decided to show some consideration toward Durgyu.
"Well, since this is for honor and justice, calling you a spy doesn't quite fit. Durgyu. You're a whistleblower."
"Huh... huh?"
Durgyu was bewildered by the unfamiliar term.
But it sounded somewhat sophisticated and more dignified than 'spy,' so he didn't feel too bad about it.
"Seems alright...?"
"Good. From now on, I'd appreciate it if you could inform me about the White Tiger Tower students' schemes as a whistleblower."
"Y-yeah, I'll do that."
Yoner, who had been sitting nearby listening with her face propped on both palms, looked intrigued.
How on earth had he persuaded that orc from the White Tiger Tower to cooperate like this?
"Durgyu. The reason I brought you here early on a weekend morning... is to discuss how to sneak out of the school."
"...What?!"
Durgyu was startled.
Since this was the expected reaction, Lee Han remained composed.
But the words that followed defied Lee Han's expectations.
"Lee Han, were you planning to sneak out too?"
"...?!!"
Like all the other tower students, those from the White Tiger Tower were also struggling with hunger.
One might ask if those from knightly families weren't resilient to hunger, but knightly families were still proper noble houses of the empire.
They rarely had to go hungry.
In fact, since eating well and staying active were part of their duties, enduring hunger was even harder for them.
-We should go hunting! That Wardanaz from the Blue Dragon Tower caught a wild boar—we can do it too!
-Let's form teams and go hunting this weekend. There's no one here who hasn't hunted before. We have the advantage!
-Let's put those arrogant kids from the other towers in their place—acting all high and mighty just because they know magic!
-Now, now. Everyone, quiet.
As expected, it was Giselle who reined in the chaotic atmosphere.
With her natural leadership, she quickly brought the hungry students under control.
-Hunting? Sounds good. But think carefully. Do you really think it'll be that easy?
-The Wardanaz family managed it...
-That was a boar prepared by the Alchemy professor. Think about it. How deep into the woods would we have to go to catch something like that? And we're not even familiar with the terrain here.
-......
-......
The students unconsciously conceded to Giselle's words.
Hunting was certainly no easy task. Especially in unfamiliar territory.
They might manage the small hills and forests behind the school, but going deeper was frankly terrifying.
Who knew what kind of monsters lurked in those uncharted areas?
-Then, Moradi. Do you have another plan?
-I do.
-What is it?
-Sneak out of the school and head to the village outside.
-...!!!
-If we succeed, we won't have to worry about catching a single beast, right? We can bring back everything we need for the entire semester.
-I-Is that for real?!
-Ha... but that's way too reckless.
-I've already worked out all the necessary steps in my head. You can follow me if you want. I don't plan to keep this to myself. But... if you follow, you obey my orders. I won't tolerate pointless defiance that ruins the mood or messes up the plan.
-Of course, Moradi!
-Who would dare disobey you?!
"Wait. If I follow orders well, can I join too?"
"...Hey. Lee Han."
"Guess not, huh?"
Durgyu stared at Lee Han as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Whether Giselle would accept Lee Han or not, Durgyu couldn't say...
But how could someone from the Wardanaz family even think of joining? Where was their pride?
Just recalling what Giselle had tried to do to Lee Han made Durgyu angrier than Lee Han himself.
"Think about what Giselle did to you."
"Guess they won't let me join."
"No. That's not the issue here."
While Durgyu looked utterly baffled, Lee Han sank into thought.
Giselle's words had complicated his plans.
Originally, Lee Han had intended to gather friends like Durgyu and Nilia to gradually search for an escape route.
He never expected to find one immediately.
Given what Professor Thunderstep had said, escaping wouldn't be that easy.
Yet surprisingly, Giselle of the White Tiger Tower had boldly declared she already had a method prepared.
Was it just bravado?
'No. She's not the type for empty boasts. She's no Gainando either.'
Though he hadn't exchanged many words with Giselle of the Moradi family, he could guess what kind of person she was.
Coldly rational with a strong desire for control.
When someone like that made such a declaration, there had to be some substance behind it.
"I see. So they won't let me join..."
"Wait... You're not seriously considering this, are you?"
"Then I have no choice."
"Good. Glad you understand."
"I'll just have to tail them and uncover their plan."
"......"
Durgyu didn't know where to even begin pointing out the problems.
"Are you serious?"
"Is there a better method than tailing them?"
"Doesn't this seem... somewhat dishonorable?"
Durgyu hesitated.
Any proper knight should pursue honor even in mere scuffles.
Moreover, wasn't the Wardanaz family one of the Empire's great houses?
They should value honor no less than Durgyu did.
"Durgyu. Think carefully. This is strategy."
"Huh?"
"Know thy enemy and know thyself. That's strategy, isn't it?"
"...Is it?"
"It's strategy."
Lee Han met Durgyu's gaze squarely, his voice unwavering.
'The more nonsensical the claim, the more confidently you must insist on it.'
There was a reason why in this world, the loudest voice often won.
No matter how absurd the words, if delivered with grave sincerity, they gained strange persuasive power.
As Lee Han of the Wardanaz family spoke with icy, sculpted seriousness, Durgyu found himself unconsciously thinking, 'Huh? Is that so?' and growing confused.
Now that he thought about it, it did seem somewhat strategic...
"It... could be strategy, I suppose."
"Exactly. Strategy. We need to know what plans the enemy is scheming, right? Only then can we prepare."
Though Giselle likely had no particular scheme involving Lee Han regarding the school escape plan...
Lee Han smoothly insinuated that to thwart Giselle's future evil machinations, they absolutely needed to uncover her escape plan.
"Durgyu. Your role is crucial. You must inform me of that Moradi family girl's escape plan."
"Understood. I'll do my best."
"Good! Excellent. You're an honorable whistleblower. Others might not realize it, but I know just how honorable you are!"
"Thank you, Lee Han."
"There, there."
Lee Han patted Durgyu's shoulder repeatedly with encouragement before sending him off.
"Phew. I was going to brainstorm escape plans, but things have changed. ...Why is everyone staring at me like that?"
Yoner and Gainando were watching Lee Han with peculiar expressions.
Gainando asked with complete seriousness:
"Did you by chance learn brainwashing magic before entering this school?"
"......"
Saturday evening, near sunset.
The appointed time when Giselle of the Moradi family would lead White Tiger Tower students in their escape attempt.
Having received the timing from Durgyu, Lee Han also began to move.
'I need to verify the escape route this time if possible.'
Giselle would never reveal her method to others.
Moreover, after succeeding once, she'd undoubtedly check thoroughly for any pursuers afterward.
Because Lee Han would do the same!
The best opportunity to secretly confirm the escape route was this first attempt tonight.
The White Tiger Tower students would be too tense during their first attempt to spare attention for potential followers.
"Durgyu. Gainando. Yoner. Nilia."
Lee Han looked at the gathered friends as he spoke.
These friends assembled here would become his tracking companions for today.
"Thank you all for attending today's meeting to find a way to sneak out of the academy."
"...????"
The dark elf Nilia pricked up her ears in shock.
This was the first she'd heard of such a plan.
She'd come skipping along thinking 'Oh, maybe we're going hunting?' with light expectations...
"W-what!? Sneak out of the academy!?"
"Yes."
"...Are you insane!?"
At Nilia's outburst, Gainando unconsciously felt relieved.
At least there was one other sane person in this gathering besides himself.
'See! I knew this was crazy!'
Of course, Gainando also wanted to visit the village if possible.
But it couldn't possibly be that easy.
He'd followed along thinking the Wardanaz must have some plan since he was speaking so confidently, but he'd been nervous too.
"No, Nilia. We're not trying to escape blindly. There's a plan."
"!"
At Lee Han's serious words, Nilia's eyes widened in surprise.
A plan already?
They'd only been at the academy for a week!
Judging by his expression, he didn't seem to be lying.
'The Wardanaz family... they're truly incredible!'
Nilia swallowed her admiration.
She'd only heard rumors about the Wardanaz family, but seeing Lee Han now, she understood why those rumors spread.
His very aura was different from the other freshmen.
Nilia asked with a voice tinged with slight anticipation:
"What's the plan then?"
"There's a student from White Tiger Tower who knows an escape route. We'll follow them and copy their method."
"......"
The method Lee Han proposed was certainly beyond Nilia's expectations.
So far beyond that it was problematic.
Following another dorm student to copy their method wasn't the romanticized school life Nilia had imagined.
A brief but deep contemplation. Then a sigh.
Yet Nilia ultimately decided to participate.
-Lee Han. Nilia doesn't seem to want to participate.
-But Yoner. We need Nilia's help. She's the most skilled at tracking among us.
-But forcing her to join...
-Is that so? If she really doesn't want to, we can't help it...
-...No choice then! If I'm the only one who can do it, I have to help!
-Nilia!!
Hearing Lee Han and Yoner's conversation, she found she couldn't refuse.
Abandoning friends out of fear wasn't the <Shadow Patrol>'s way.
And...
To be honest, she felt pleased they valued her hunter abilities so highly.
Ironically, the ones who valued Nilia's hunting skills most weren't her fellow tower mates, but the Wardanaz from another tower.
Durgyu muttered quietly in confusion:
"That dark elf... I thought she'd refuse. Why did she join?"
"I think I know."
Gainando said confidently.
At this, Durgyu also let out a small "Ah."
"I see."
Everyone has things they don't want to do.
The reasons are many.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Selfishness.
The virtues that help people overcome such reasons and take action are called honor by some, and friendship by others.
There could only be one reason that dark elf joined despite not wanting to.
It must be for the friendship between comrades.
'How heartwarming.'
Durgyu smiled secretly to himself.
Having joined for honor himself, seeing friends building bonds regardless of family ties inexplicably lifted his mood.
"What? Choi. You noticed too?"
"Yeah."
"She must really want to visit the village too. I really want to go to the village. Once we get there, I'll sleep in a soft bed... no, never mind. Food first. I'll eat every sweet thing in the village. Candy, chocolate, hotcakes, syrup..."
"......"
Durgyu stared at Gainando with incredulous eyes.
'Why is this guy even here?'