Episode 27
Episode 27
"You bad kids should be thankful we only gave you Sleep Herb, not poison!"
Nilia huffed angrily.
Having heard what had happened to Lee Han and Yoner, she was thoroughly furious with the White Tiger Tower students.
"Picking a fight with a Wardanaz who did nothing wrong!"
"Actually, I wasn't completely innocent—I did sneak into the swordsmanship class for White Tiger Tower students."
"Huh?? No, why would that be wrong—"
"But that's not the point."
Though Nilia stared at Lee Han with wide, disbelieving eyes, he ignored her and continued.
"Anyway, Durgyu. I get that you're shocked, but I want you to understand this isn't cowardly or dishonorable. It's strategy."
"Y-yeah. The fools who fell for it are the dumb ones."
Nilia backed up Lee Han's words.
To Nilia, who came from a hunter background, this level of retaliation barely even counted as retaliation.
"But I still think we should've done it more honorably—"
"Tsk tsk. Durgyu. You're taking too narrow a view of honor. Look at the results. If we'd fought them here and caused a commotion, we'd all have been caught—then where's the honor in blushing from shame? But thanks to mixing Sleep Herb in the water, we ended things cleanly without any embarrassment. We didn't get caught, and those guys will return to school unharmed. Isn't that honorable?"
"Is... is that so?"
"It's honor. Definitely honor."
Nilia supported Lee Han again. Yoner and Gainando chimed in too.
"Seems like an honorable move to me."
"Even the imperial palace would consider this honorable, don't you think?"
"I... I see."
Just as ink darkens whatever it touches, Durgyu was gradually—without even realizing it—being dyed by Lee Han's way of thinking.
Tap tap tap tap—
At the sound of undead approaching in the distance, Lee Han nodded.
[Suppression complete.]
[Suppression complete.]
The Bone Trackers didn't find it strange that the White Tiger Tower students had fallen asleep.
Being low-intelligence undead summons, they couldn't discern such things.
'Now we wait.'
Lee Han was certain those Bone Trackers would soon disperse.
Having captured all their targets—the White Tiger Tower students—they had no reason to remain.
"Where are you going?"
"To scout the area while we wait."
Lee Han cautiously headed toward the direction of the fortress walls.
Though the unexpected commotion had foiled their original plan of escaping the school, he couldn't return empty-handed.
'We need to confirm something.'
How far did those massive fortress walls surrounding the school grounds extend into the mountain range?
And was there truly no way to escape?
The other students followed carefully behind Lee Han.
Even though the Bone Trackers had disappeared, pitch-black darkness loomed before them, and the higher they climbed, the steeper the slope became, dense with trees and thickets.
"It's... too dark."
"This is dangerous. We might fall."
Moreover, with the White Tiger Tower students—who'd been carrying torches—now gone, the surroundings grew even darker.
"Wardanaz. We need light."
"Isn't that risky?"
"There are so many obstacles around here that it should be fine."
"Alright. Let there be light!"
With Lee Han's incantation, an intense light enveloped the area, bright as midday.
Seeing this, Nilia suddenly grew uneasy.
Theoretically, at this distance, with the dense and lush trees and thickets, the light shouldn't be visible from below...
But Lee Han's spell seemed far too intense.
'Surely we won't get caught.'
[Extinguish the flames, young students. You're disturbing our sleep.]
"!!!"
A deep, resonant voice imbued with mana—one that didn't sound human—echoed through the forest.
Already tormented by their insane headmaster, the students couldn't help but be horrified.
Had there been a trap here too?
"Who's there?"
Lee Han was the first to regain his composure and speak.
'If it were the headmaster's summon, it would've attacked us first.'
"I'll ask the questions first. Since you students came looking for me. If you answer correctly, I'll treat you as guests. But if you're wrong, you'll be treated as intruders. Now... no need to be nervous. It's a really easy question. A dwarf lit five candles in his room late at night. Then a strong wind blew through the window and extinguished one candle. Not long after, another dwarf guest drinking beer in the next room slammed the door open, causing another candle to go out. So to prevent more candles from being extinguished, the dwarf closed the window and door. How many candles remained the next morning?"
'This is a trap.'
Lee Han realized the hidden trick in the riddle.
At first glance, it was easy to think that since two out of five candles were extinguished, three remained. But candles naturally burn out over time.
Meaning by morning, there would be zero candles left.
"Three!"
Gainando answered without thinking. Lee Han was shocked.
"!"
-Correct.
"...Wait a minute. Shouldn't the candles have all burned out by then?"
Unable to hold back, Lee Han asked. The voice responded as if puzzled.
-When posing such riddles, one would obviously use magic candles that don't burn out, no? Isn't that obvious?
"......"
Lee Han cursed inwardly.
'What kind of nonsensical magical society is this?'
It truly was an easy question, just as promised.
-Since you answered correctly, I'll treat you as guests. But... it's been so long since I had visitors, and it feels lacking to end it here. How about trying one more question? Even if you're wrong, I'll still treat you as guests. But if you're right, I'll give you a gift.
"We're ready."
Lee Han answered immediately without hesitation.
Only a fool would let such an opportunity slip.
-Here, there is a large being in the morning. At noon, this being grows smaller, and in the afternoon, it grows large again. At night, this being disappears. Who is it?
The students hesitated.
They were taken aback by this unexpected riddle.
'What is it?'
'I'm not sure.'
Gainando, who had gained confidence from the previous correct answer, shouted again.
"It's a monster that's large in the morning and afternoon but small at noon!"
-...Wrong.
"Why?! Ah, I forgot to mention it disappears at night..."
-I said it's wrong.
"Is the answer... a shadow?"
-Correct!
"!!!"
The friends stared at Lee Han in astonishment.
-How did you know?
This was an extremely famous riddle.
Wasn't it one of the Sphinx's riddles?
Not wanting to explain his past-life knowledge, Lee Han answered simply.
"I focused my mind and entrusted myself to wisdom—then the answer came to me."
Vague answers always invite favorable interpretations.
The being seemed deeply impressed by Lee Han's response.
In a more excited voice than before, it said:
-Excellent. You are welcome here, clever young students.
The densely packed trees all moved aside in unison, and the surrounding terrain began to shift as if shrouded in mist.
Amidst the thick verdant mana, a clearing belonging to spirits—something that seemed impossible in reality—appeared before their eyes.
What greeted Lee Han and his friends was a talking oak tree.
Deep in the forest lived all sorts of monsters, spirits, and other mysterious beings.
The oak tree before them was one such being.
-You all look quite tired. Drink this.
The talking oak moved its branches, handing them wooden cups filled with a cold green liquid that sloshed slightly.
'The smell isn't very pleasant.'
Green in color, green in scent—like plant juice.
But the mana it exuded was potent. Lee Han cautiously took a sip.
"!"
It felt as if all the fatigue accumulated in his muscles melted away.
Like drinking ice-cold water after running under the scorching summer sun, the green beverage had the same refreshing effect.
The coolness sliding down his throat—refreshing!
Despite being extremely bitter, the effect was undeniable.
-It's a drink made from the sap of the forest trees. Does it suit your taste?
"Yes. It's delicious. Could I possibly have some more?"
-Do as you please.
Lee Han carefully poured the sap into his leather waterskin and stored it away. Given the academy's harsh environment, he had to seize every opportunity to gather supplies when he could.
While Lee Han was packing up, the other students continued bombarding the talking oak tree with questions.
Having arrived at this mysterious clearing known only to the forest spirits, it was only natural they were bursting with curiosity.
"What kind of place is this?"
"Aren't there any other trees here?"
"Hey, don't you have any food? This stuff's too bitter. Got any sweet fruits or something?"
Amidst his friends' chatter, Lee Han also took the opportunity to pose a question to the talking oak.
He couldn't let this chance slip by.
"May I ask you a few things?"
-Do as you please. But first, you should reveal who you are. Introduce yourself.
"My name is Lee Han."
The oak seemed intrigued that Lee Han gave his personal name before his family name—an uncommon practice among noble boys.
-Your family?
"House Wardanaz."
Thud
The oak took a step back. Lee Han felt slightly wronged.
-My apologies. It's not your fault, but because of the rumors. House Wardanaz has produced many remarkable mages.
"Is that so?"
-And quite a few mad ones too.
"......"
-To give your own name before your house... Impressive. You'll make a fine mage. But what brings students here in the dead of night?
Lee Han answered without missing a beat.
"We were enjoying a midnight stroll."
"......"
Yoner, hearing this response beside him, bit his lip to suppress his laughter.
Of course, the talking oak wasn't fooled by such an obvious lie.
-Ah. Came looking for a way out of the academy, did you? Though judging by the moon's phase, this must be your first week as freshmen. Surely you're not already trying to escape in your very first week?
"...There are certain circumstances involved."
Lee Han attempted to explain, but the oak was already marveling.
-Trying to escape in the first week... This year's freshmen are truly something else.
'Damn it.'
Lee Han abandoned his excuses.
"Honorable Talking Oak. If so many students have tried to leave before, might you offer us some advice on how to do so?"
-I've lived in this forest for over centuries. I've watched countless students attempt to leave this academy. It's not impossible. Just far beyond your current abilities as freshmen.
The oak showed no intention of revealing anything.
Having never held high hopes to begin with, Lee Han decided to ask a different question.
"If we keep going in this direction, could we climb the mountain and get out?"
-That would be futile. There's a wall.
"...There's a wall here too??"
-Indeed. And it's enchanted. Try climbing it recklessly, and you'll regret it.
Lee Han was flabbergasted.
To think the wall extended even this deep into the steep mountain range they'd spent hours ascending.
Truly impressive!
'That makes finding a gap in the wall practically impossible.'
Neither climbing over nor going around the wall would work.
The oak spoke in a cautionary tone:
-Don't push yourself to escape as a freshman. It's far too dangerous. The mountains may be quiet now, but in a few weeks, the dormant monsters will awaken.
"Thank you for the warning."
The oak studied Lee Han's expression.
Even after hearing this, the boy showed not a flicker of hesitation.
Far from being intimidated, his eyes burned with even greater determination.
This spirit pleased the talking oak.
-I'll give you one riddle. The Black Axe tribe orcs, the Red Feather tribe orcs, the White Eagle tribe orcs, and the Green Frog tribe orcs gathered for a feast. A wicked goblin joined them and ate and drank to his heart's content. How was the goblin able to do this?
"...?"
"???"
The gathered students looked baffled by the oak's riddle.
Gainando was the first to speak up.
"Was he a popular goblin?"
The oak pretended not to hear and ignored him.