Episode 234
Episode 234
"P-please... spare me..."
Who said anything about killing them?
The other revived adventurers cried out desperately, but the Skeleton Principal gulped them down without hesitation.
They might have been less terrified if he had outright threatened to kill them.
"...Thank you, Sharkan."
Lee Han turned his gaze and expressed his gratitude to Sharkan.
Truthfully, Sharkan had contributed the most in this battle.
The moment the fight began, he had summoned the Skeleton Principal upon Lee Han's command.
Had Sharkan been even slightly slower, Lee Han might have been in danger.
-Grrr...
"Gonadaltes, you worked hard too."
-■■■■...
The Skeleton Warrior bowed its head humbly.
......
The Skeleton Principal stared at Lee Han with the look of someone witnessing sheer madness.
Just whose family name had he attached to whom now?
'What kind of lunatic...'
The Skeleton Principal raised a hand to smack the back of Lee Han's head but stopped himself.
Considering the merit Lee Han had just earned, no amount of praise would be enough.
If anyone claimed that a first-year student had stopped adventurers from the Snake of the Maple Tree, no one would believe it.
Even the Emperor would likely scoff, "Gonadaltes, no matter how much you want funding, lying like this is ridiculous—why would anyone do that?"
Given that Lee Han had accomplished such a feat, the Headmaster could overlook such minor defiance.
"No. Gonadaltes. It was thanks to you buying us time that..."
......
Should he really smack him just once?
-An intruder has been detected from outside. Students are advised to refrain from leaving their dorms outside designated hours. Let me repeat. An intruder from outside...
After completing a brief health check and returning to the tower, Lee Han witnessed firsthand how security operated when an outsider breached the academy.
'Until now, they really were going easy on us.'
Lee Han peered down from the window.
A student from the Blue Dragon Tower, who had carelessly opened the lounge door without reading the atmosphere, was instantly teleported away.
Most likely, they had been sent to the underground punishment chamber.
-Intruder, it would be in your best interest to surrender immediately. The longer you delay, the more your soul will suffer. Let me repeat this warning. Intruder, you must surrender...
Undead creatures were meticulously stationed across the campus, delivering ominous warnings.
Though the whereabouts of the first intruder remained unknown, they were probably wishing for death by now.
'No... They probably can't even die so easily.'
If they died and were discovered, they'd be forcibly resurrected—only to be sent straight to the torture chamber.
Iron-skulls. Line up.
"G-Gahhh!"
Gainando, who had been standing by the window, yelped in shock when the Skeleton Principal suddenly appeared and flung his tin mug of hot cocoa outside in panic.
Unfazed, the Headmaster caught the mug and took a sip of cocoa before speaking.
Since there's an intruder from outside, you all should be careful.
Pop!
A bright flash of light burst forth as he spoke. Gainando tilted his head in confusion.
"What kind of magic is that?"
It's a detection spell. If you iron-skulls encounter an enemy, I'll know.
"Ah..."
No need for thanks.
"No, that's not it—I have personal freedoms too, and this feels like an invas—mmph!"
The Skeleton Principal clamped Gainando's mouth shut and marked the other students.
If any of them happened to encounter the intruder, he would know immediately.
That should do it.
"Uh... Headmaster?"
Lee Han was bewildered.
All his friends had been marked, but the Headmaster seemed intent on skipping Lee Han.
What was this about?
'Does he mean that since I fought well, I should handle things on my own?'
Ah... You.
"It's possible you just forgot by accident. You must be busy with official duties."
I didn't forget. Your constitution makes you immune.
"...What?"
Lee Han was at a loss for words.
He never expected that his abundant mana would single him out in a situation like this.
Here, take this.
The Skeleton Principal tossed Lee Han a copper ring.
"Just throw the ring if things get dicey."
"Uh... but what if the opponent ambushes us? Wouldn't that leave no opening at all?"
"Given your skills, you'll definitely have time to throw the ring. Trust yourself."
"......"
Lee Han suppressed his anger, remembering that the Skeleton Principal had saved him.
"...Thank you, Wardanaz."
Salko spoke with genuine sincerity.
The students of the Black Turtle Tower were lying in the infirmary ward.
Unlike Lee Han, who had emerged unscathed from the chaos, the Black Turtle Tower students who had been caught in the <Storm of Mana Crushing> needed time to recover.
"If it weren't for you—"
"Enough, Salko. Just focus on recovering."
As Lee Han said this, he scooped beef porridge into a bowl.
Salko paused mid-gratitude. The other Black Turtle Tower students also froze.
For a moment, they wondered, 'Is it really okay to cook so freely in the sacred infirmary?' But given their debt of gratitude to Lee Han, none dared to question it.
"Th... thank you. It's delicious."
Once Salko spoke up first, the others hesitated.
Saying it was "just as tasty" felt somewhat insincere.
"The seasoning is just right, and the texture is smooth. It's good."
"Really? Glad to hear it."
The next Black Turtle Tower student found themselves in a dilemma.
'What should I say?'
"The... the grains of rice are glossy, and uh... the beef is so tender, like it was just slaughtered..."
"Stop talking nonsense. It's canned beef."
Lee Han scolded the overenthusiastic student and stood up.
'...Come to think of it, this situation isn't really my fault, is it?'
If Lee Han hadn't been there, the Black Turtle Tower students probably wouldn't have gone to that area in the first place.
They only went because they had reliable firepower backing them up...
...Wait, is it really because of me?
"......"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Salko. Have another bowl."
"No... I'm full... Ugh. Fine."
"Ah, Lee Han, you were here first?"
The door opened, and Professor Garcia entered, carrying a basket of fruit.
"I thought you might get bored lying around, so I brought these..."
"As expected of you, Professor."
Lee Han was slightly moved.
How many professors would actually care for bedridden students like this?
Truly, Professor Garcia was exceptional.
"Everyone seems to be doing well. There's some porridge left—have more."
"We've already eaten plen—"
"Even if you don't have an appetite, eating well speeds up recovery. And your friend went through the trouble of making it for you, didn't he?"
"......"
Unable to refuse, the Black Turtle Tower students reluctantly picked up their bowls again.
...I'm so full!
"Ah, I should cut the fruit too."
"W-Wardanaz..."
Did we do something to wrong you?
Lee Han left the infirmary with Professor Garcia.
As they stepped into the hallway, a Death Knight walked past and nodded politely.
-Good day, Professor.
"Good day to you too, Death Knight."
'What a surreal sight.'
Watching Professor Garcia return the greeting without hesitation, Lee Han realized the professor was accustomed to such situations.
"Do intruders break into the school often?"
"Not infrequently. About three or four times a year? Most get caught on their way in, but this time was just bad luck."
Einrogard's history stretched back further than even the Skeleton Principal's—so ancient that its origins were lost to time, a sacred ground for mages.
The layers of accumulated mysteries were so vast that not even the greatest archmages could fully comprehend them.
"We know most of the external intrusion routes, but the magic school's pathways are half-alive. The wards sometimes weaken, and new paths occasionally open."
"Even so, it's impressive they managed to get in at all."
"Most don't know any better and barge in recklessly. Blinded by greed. It's truly foolish. One mistake, and they'll suffer for the rest of their lives."
'I can understand why.'
No matter how threatening the rumors were, if a single act of theft could turn one's life around, it would be stranger if no one tried at all.
No wonder there's a saying like, 'Life is all about that one shot.'
"This intruder seemed quite skilled... but now that they've been caught, it's over. Once the Headmaster decides to tighten security, there's really no way to move around freely."
Lee Han nodded.
Though the weekend had ended and a new week had begun, the undead were tirelessly tightening their grip on the school.
Seeing that, it was hard to imagine the intruder could still be roaming around.
The only chance of escape was if their presence remained undetected—once caught, it was over.
"So, is the intruder hiding somewhere?"
"Probably. There are surprisingly many hiding spots in the main building and throughout the Magic School. We can't possibly track them all... Of course, they can't hide forever, so they'll have to come out eventually. So, Lee Han, don't worry about it and just focus on your studies. You must be annoyed that this is distracting you from magic, right?"
"Ah, no, not at all."
No matter how dedicated Lee Han was to his studies, he wasn't insane enough to think, 'Ugh, I just want to study magic, but this intruder is so annoying!' in a situation like this.
'Sometimes, Professor Garcia is scarier.'
"Ah, right. I need to stop by my office before heading to the lecture hall. You go ahead."
"Understood."
Before leaving, Professor Garcia once again praised Lee Han for his performance over the weekend and then walked away.
Left alone, Lee Han headed to the lecture hall for his first Monday class.
-You're that Wardanaz kid.
"...Ah. Yes."
-You're really something!
"......"
-How did you subdue them?
-The Master praised you.
-Can we talk for a bit? I'm curious how you fought.
-I heard you handle Black Magic—if that's true, maybe you'll summon a Death Knight like me someday. What do you think?
"...I'm not Wardanaz!"
He had expected that having Death Knights roaming the halls would be more bothersome than usual...
...but he never imagined it would be like this.
'Why are they so chatty?!'
-Wait! Let's talk—
-You're from the Wardanaz family, right? That first-year with ridiculously high mana!
"......"
Lee Han cursed the Skeleton Principal under his breath as he ran.
Just then, he spotted a familiar face up ahead.
"Gainando!"
"Wardanaz! Holding lectures from Monday in this chaotic situation? Professor Garcia is really pushing it, huh?"
"...I see."
Lee Han's expression hardened as he approached Gainando.
Then, like lightning, he threw a punch.
Thud!
"Ghk!?"
Without giving him a chance, Lee Han channeled mana into his fist and struck again. Gainando fell and was pummeled.
"W-wait! Hold on! Why!?"
Thwack!
Instead of answering, Lee Han snatched the ring from him and immediately threw it.
Bang!
Then, the Skeleton Principal materialized in midair.
You intruder, you lasted longer than expected! I was just thinking about how many pieces I should split your soul into—wait... what are you doing?
The fake Gainando coughed and shouted.
His voice was thick with moisture from the sudden beating.
"Headmaster. Please pull this student off me."
...What was the Transformation Magic professor thinking, getting caught like this?
"I'm utterly ashamed..."
"......"
Lee Han's face stiffened like a lump of lead as he realized the situation.
He had thought it was an intruder disguised as Gainando—but it was actually the professor.
"Professor. I'm sorry. I've committed a mortal sin!"
Why are you being so dramatic...? The idiot here is the one who got caught by a student.
"No! I'm truly sorry!"
Lee Han bowed even more deeply than he ever had to any professor before.
His forehead nearly touched the floor.
The only way to salvage this situation was a soul-crushing apology.
"Ah, no, it's fine. It's fine."
Why does he seem more respectful to you than to me...?
The Skeleton Principal muttered, sounding somewhat displeased.