Episode 265
Episode 265
"Professor. I may not be well-versed in imperial law, but I'm pretty sure kidnapping is illegal."
"I obtained permission."
"Excuse me?!"
Lee Han was stunned.
He knew adventurers were crazy, but to agree to such a proposal...
'Ah. That can't be it.'
For adventurers caught trying to scam someone, refusing wasn't easy.
Moreover, Professor Voladi probably didn't detain them kindly or gently, so the atmosphere must have been quite intimidating.
'If you hold a sword to someone's throat and ask, that's not permission—it's coercion.'
"But if you got permission, is there really a need to carry them around in a box like this?"
"If we just let outsiders roam freely, they might cause trouble."
"Of course."
Though his reply was "Of course," Lee Han thought differently inside.
How can you even say that...!
Thud!
The students of the Blue Dragon Tower stared at Lee Han as if a god had descended upon them.
The cake placed in the center of the lounge was so tall it nearly touched the ceiling.
"Everyone gets to eat this after finals are over. Understood?"
"Good... heavens..."
"Sharkan. Bite anyone who touches it."
Sharkan promptly bit Gainando's ankle. Gainando shrieked.
"I didn't touch it! I just thought about it!"
Watching Gainando jump in panic, Lee Han added,
"Fail the exam, and you don't get any."
"What...?!"
Some students were horrified.
How could he impose such a cruel condition?
"Failing isn't a crime!"
'Isn't it, though?'
Ignoring his friends' protests, Lee Han turned away. Yoner muttered in surprise,
"I thought you brought it for the festival."
"What festival? Oh, the Phoenix Festival?"
The Empire had various festivals for each season.
Among them, the Phoenix Festival was held to pray to the phoenix for the proper arrival of early summer.
In the past, it was believed that the phoenix invigorated the sun's power, ensuring the seasons cycled correctly.
'What nonsense superstition.'
If that were true, then the blizzard that hit the Magic School last time must have meant the phoenix was asleep.
And superstition aside, the Phoenix Festival wasn't important enough to go out of one's way to celebrate.
Besides, finals week started right after next week.
In such a situation, what kind of idiot would prioritize celebrating a festival...
"...What are you doing?"
"Huh? Making decorations?"
Students of the Blue Dragon Tower, weaving wreaths with red-painted feathers and peonies, tilted their heads as if asking what the problem was.
Lee Han sighed inwardly.
'I forgot how stupid these guys are.'
Truthfully, when exams loom, even the most trivial things become entertaining.
With only assignments and tests left in their lives now,
even a minor festival like the Phoenix Festival must seem insanely fun to these students.
"Wardanaz. Here's a wreath. Wearing it during the festival will make you more resistant to heat."
'Thanks.'
"Aren't you supposed to be studying?"
"...I-I was just about to start!"
'Whoops.'
He'd meant to thank them out of courtesy, but his true thoughts slipped out instead.
Lee Han watched his fleeing friends with regret.
'Wait. These guys right now...?!'
Looking around, Lee Han belatedly realized something was off.
Everyone was at their desks, but hardly anyone was actually studying.
Ashan was scribbling on paper with a quill—Lee Han had assumed he was doing homework—but instead, he was sketching decorations to wear during the festival. Neblen wasn't working on his enchantment magic assignment to improve artifacts but was crafting a ball to play with during the festival.
Lee Han turned his last hope to the Princess. She hastily flipped open a book and placed it on her desk.
"...Please tell me the headmaster didn't create the Phoenix Festival."
"Th-that can't be it, right?"
Yoner beside him was baffled by the absurd conspiracy theory.
No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed unlikely that the Skeleton Principal had created a festival celebrated across the entire Empire.
"Lee Han. You know, you actually focus better when you take breaks to play sometimes."
Gainando said cautiously, glancing at Lee Han's hands as if afraid he might get smacked on the back of the head.
"Gainando. What's that you're holding?"
"...A...a spinning top?"
"Is that for an assignment?"
"No... well... I might use it for an assignment...?"
Gainando frantically rubbed off the phoenix pattern he'd drawn on the top.
Monday of the new week.
Lee Han had hoped that only the students of the Blue Dragon Tower were particularly foolish, but reality proved slightly different.
Thud thud—
"Wardanaz! Kick the ball back!"
When a leather ball painted with a phoenix pattern came flying toward him, Lee Han kicked it in the opposite direction.
The White Tiger Tower students stomped the ground and cursed.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"Blasphemy! Don't you know it's the Phoenix Festival?!"
"Go study or something."
The students were making all sorts of excuses just to play.
Ball games to commemorate the Phoenix Festival.
Spinning tops to commemorate the Phoenix Festival.
Card games to commemorate the Phoenix Festival...
'Are card games really the most shameless of all?'
"I added Phoenix cards to my deck."
"......"
"I... I won't play."
Under Lee Han's glare, Gainando quietly slipped his deck back into his pocket.
The Phoenix Festival wasn't about grand or elaborate preparations—instead, it was celebrated in a modest way by playing with objects decorated or painted with phoenix motifs. This made it the perfect festival for students to use as an excuse.
The Skeleton Principal, who had just entered the <Basic Magic Character Education> classroom, seemed to share that sentiment.
Celebrating the Phoenix Festival, are we?
"P-Principal!"
Students who had been playing chess with phoenix-themed pieces nervously watched the Skeleton Principal's reaction.
But the Headmaster spoke kindly.
You can keep playing.
"R-really, sir?"
Yes. It's you, not me, who'll end up in the punishment room if you fail while acting like fools.
"......"
The students quietly put away the chessboard. The Skeleton Principal looked pleased.
You all know this, but I've been considerate enough not to assign extra work—even though you clearly have too much free time.
"That's not true! Do you know how busy we—"
Just rip off those phoenix decorations already, you pathetic brat.
The student who had spoken turned red and removed the phoenix badge from his shoulder.
"We were busy too, Headmaster."
Who do you think you are, saying that after seeing what just happened to your friend?
The Skeleton Principal turned his head to find the insolent speaker. Then he paused when his gaze landed on Lee Han.
...Well then. Next week is the exam, isn't it?
"......"
Even the Skeleton Principal couldn't bring himself to say that Lee Han had too much free time.
I know you all distrust me, but the final exam won't be that difficult.
"Ha!"
"Yeah, right!"
The Skeleton Principal's eyes flashed, and the students who had scoffed were suddenly hanging upside down from the ceiling.
Keep your insults to yourselves, idiots. And I mean it—it really won't be hard. I can even give you a hint.
"What is it?"
One student asked in a voice thick with skepticism.
An imperial official will come to test your character.
"......"
"......"
The students were struck with even greater bewilderment than when their friends had been hung upside down.
"Sir... we haven't exactly been taught anything about character."
Nonsense. Even if you didn't realize it, it's been steadily building inside you. You'd better answer well. Getting on an official's bad side will make your life miserable.
'This is actually kind of scary.'
Lee Han, who had remained calm despite having several times more reason to fear the finals than the other students, was now unsettled.
But that character test was frightening.
Who exactly was coming, and what would they ask?
'Is it possible to report the school's current state? No. That's strange. If reporting were possible, it wouldn't make sense for the Skeleton Principal to still be in his position.'
There's no need to be overly afraid.
Perhaps noticing the students' unease, the Skeleton Principal spoke gently.
I'll help you practice beforehand.
A curtain of darkness draped over the lecture hall, narrowing the students' vision until they could only see their own toes.
One by one, step forward!
Lee Han's turn came. He stepped forward toward the pair of blue glowing orbs floating in the darkness.
State your name.
"Lee Han."
Not mentioning your family name first. I'll give you 10 points.
"Uh... do the actual bureaucrats do this too?"
Silence. I ask the questions. Have you ever had thoughts of attacking someone while attending the magic school recently?
"......"
Lee Han was at a loss for words.
'Damn. There are too many instances.'
If the Skeleton Principal had lie-detecting abilities, he'd be caught immediately.
"If I said no, it would be a lie."
Honest. I'll give you another 10 points.
'Is this really how it's supposed to work?'
Confessing to having thoughts of attacking someone should result in point deductions, shouldn't it...?
What is your reason for learning magic?
"Among the Empire's many fields of study, magic seemed the most useful and versatile. I thought if I mastered it, I'd never starve in life..."
You call that an answer!?
The Skeleton Principal retorted as if utterly dumbfounded.
Lee Han was slightly taken aback.
"Am I not supposed to answer like that in front of bureaucrats?"
That doesn't matter. As long as you're not planning to kill someone or summon fragments of forgotten evil gods, anything goes. But that utterly uninspiring goal of yours—what is that!? A little more and you'd say your dream is to become an Imperial Bureaucrat!
"Bureaucrats seem like a good—"
Silence! I don't want to hear it. No matter how much you try to flatter, that's going too far. Even a bureaucrat would be baffled by that level of sycophancy!
Lee Han grumbled inwardly.
What's wrong with bureaucrats...?
Next, state the magic you're learning and why you chose it... and don't even think of skipping this question.
"......"
Lee Han felt slightly wounded.
Among the top students, is there anyone particularly detestable or annoying?
"Not really."
Pity. I would've given you 10 points if you'd named someone.
"No..."
Several more questions followed. Most were about what you intended to do with magic, whether you had plans to use sinister arcane rituals, or if you'd redirect an out-of-control spell heading toward a village to a less populated one by altering the magic circle's path, etc.
Surprisingly, it wasn't that difficult.
"It's really not hard, is it?"
Of course not. As long as you keep your sanity intact, it's not difficult.
The Skeleton Principal grumbled, clearly very dissatisfied. Unable to understand, Lee Han asked,
"Is there some problem?"
You might be quick-witted, but every year there are idiots who spout nonsense! And when they do, it all becomes my fault.
'Ah.'
Lee Han immediately understood what he meant.
Well, if you ask a question and get an answer like "I learned fire magic to burn the whole world down," the Emperor would probably respond with "Summon Gonaldath."
The students were more naive than expected—they didn't even know how to lie properly.
If there's anyone in your tower who seems likely to give strange answers, make sure to stop them.
"I'll do my best. But Headmaster, isn't something else even more dangerous?"
What do you mean?
"Well... if the bureaucrats hear about the incidents that happened during the semester, wouldn't they be shocked?"
Thank you for your concern. But it's fine.
"?"
The visiting bureaucrats are Einrogard graduates.
"......"
Lee Han couldn't help but be impressed.
Truly brilliant when it comes to covering up the bad parts!
Over the past few weeks, Professor Voladi's lectures had become physically much more comfortable.
But mentally, they'd grown slightly harsher.
With the basics concluded, Professor Voladi, now intent on completing their Comprehensive Combat Magic Theory, had begun quizzing them one by one on what they'd learned in other classes.
"Black Magic—poisons and curses. Summoning Magic—skeletons. Next."
"In Illusion Magic, we covered structural analysis."
"You must have learned more from Lady Ogonin."
"...Right. I almost missed that."
Lee Han cursed the Skeleton Principal.