Episode 284
Episode 284
"Th-thank you."
Salko first expressed his gratitude.
"Wardanaz. Thank you."
The other members of Salko's group behind him also voiced their thanks. Some were even on the verge of tears.
Just moments ago, they had been plunged into despair, thinking they would be trapped here helplessly—only for Lee Han to suddenly appear and rescue them. It was only natural they'd be moved.
Though shocked and bewildered, once they managed to stammer out their thanks, Salko began to feel something was off.
But why was Wardanaz here?
"By the way, Wardanaz. What brings you here...?"
"Now isn't the time for conversation. We need to move quickly! Who knows when the pursuers might catch up?"
"Y-yes, you're right."
At Lee Han's urgent whisper, Salko immediately understood.
With the trap triggered, it wouldn't be strange if the headmaster's underlings lying in ambush nearby arrived at any moment.
They had to escape as fast as possible.
"This way!"
"Let's take the left staircase instead of the central one! The central stairs have nowhere to hide!"
"Got it! Everyone, hurry—"
Fortunately, the first-year students moved swiftly without a single hitch.
Since they were all students who had experience sneaking around at night, they didn't waste any unnecessary time in this situation.
"W-Wardanaz! Voices ahead! Someone's coming!"
"Get into the classroom next to us! I'll cast Invisibility Magic!"
When they reached the first floor and heard footsteps and voices approaching from down the hallway, Lee Han immediately changed direction and slipped into the adjacent classroom.
Luckily, the classroom was dimly lit, but Lee Han didn't let his guard down.
"Cloak, swallow me whole!"
As the Invisibility Magic amplified, Lee Han made sure everyone huddled close together.
Salko grimaced at the sight of Lee Han resting his elbow on top of his head, but given the circumstances, he kept his mouth shut.
-Where is it? The kitchen?
-Second floor.
-Who triggered it?
-Probably the freshmen. What a shame. Einrogard isn't the kind of place to take lightly...
The death knights exchanged regretful words as they moved on.
The kitchen and pantry on the relatively accessible second floor of the main building—with no special security or defensive measures—should have been more suspicious in Einrogard.
-Well, a few trips to the Punishment Room will teach them.
-Quite right. Isn't that how we all grow?
"......"
"......"
The atmosphere among the students hiding in the classroom turned icy.
They had just realized how close they'd come to death's doorstep.
"...Thank you. Really. Wardanaz."
"Enough. I didn't do it for gratitude. Can we go now? There's no benefit in sticking together like this."
Lee Han kept his expression firm, hiding the heavy backpack filled with provisions, and spoke decisively.
No matter how grateful Salko and his gang were now, there was no telling how they'd react once they learned Lee Han's group had looted the place first.
'Even if they get suspicious later, what can they do once we split up?'
"Wardanaz..."
"He's truly on another level compared to those other Blue Dragon Tower bastards."
The Black Turtle Tower students were deeply impressed by Lee Han's demeanor—helping them without a hint of self-aggrandizement.
If it had been any other Blue Dragon Tower student, they would've bragged for a good thirty minutes about their lineage, bloodline, and honor.
'It's said that honorable people do good deeds not to elevate their own honor, but because the act itself is good. That saying truly holds!'
Even the roughest, most hotheaded student in Black Turtle Tower couldn't deny Wardanaz's honor.
"Wardanaz. As repayment, there's something I should tell you."
"Does it have to be now?"
Lee Han glanced impatiently at the door, itching to leave.
These guys were making him uneasy...
'They couldn't have noticed, could they?'
"It has to be now."
"Fine. Speak. But make it quick."
"You know Professor Thunderstep, right?"
"Of course."
How could he not know, when he went to the vegetable garden every break to do odd jobs? At Lee Han's answer, Salko nodded and continued.
"Yesterday, one of our tower students witnessed something. In the middle of the night, Professor Thunderstep brought in a hydra."
"...I must have studied too much and gotten tired. I think I misheard. What did you say he brought in?"
"A hydra."
"......"
Lee Han frowned and fell into thought.
A hydra.
A monster with nine heads, formidable regenerative abilities, and deadly venom.
Even in an empire teeming with all sorts of fierce and dangerous monsters, the hydra ranked among the upper echelons.
And Professor Thunderstep brought one in??
'Does that even make sense?'
Normally, he would have dismissed it as a mistake, but Lee Han didn't.
It was so absurd that it actually seemed believable.
After all, anything could happen at Einrogard.
"Though apparently it wasn't fully grown. Probably just a juvenile."
"What a relief it's just a juvenile! I wouldn't have the confidence to face a full-grown one, but against a juvenile, my confidence is overflowing?"
"Is that really true?"
"...Obviously, I'm joking."
Lee Han was dumbfounded.
He'd been sarcastic, and they took it seriously.
Salko seemed to realize how ridiculous his words were, as his face turned red.
"Seriously speaking, I must have misunderstood. Anyway, Wardanaz, I know you're taking Alchemy classes."
"That's right."
"And Black Magic, Summoning Magic, Illusion Magic, Enchantment Magic, Divination Magic, Transformation Magic, and Healing Magic too."
"...Was there really a need to list them all out?"
"Just thought it'd be good for you to know in advance. You'll be preparing for other class exams too, so knowing even one ahead of time should help."
Yoner, who had been listening nearby, muttered.
"Knowing doesn't seem like it'll help much."
"A hydra... What kind of exam could possibly involve a hydra?"
On the way back.
He should have been happy, having gotten everything he wanted, but his heart felt as heavy as his loaded backpack.
Yoner and Ratford also wore serious expressions.
"Maybe it's a potion to put a hydra to sleep."
"Or a potion to drive a hydra into a frenzy."
"The first one, maybe, but the latter... Surely not."
No matter how much Einrogard was Einrogard, they wouldn't feed students a potion that drives a hydra mad during an exam... right?
...Probably!
"A potion to suppress hydra regeneration? Or an antidote for hydra venom?"
"They wouldn't go that far... right?"
Yoner looked appalled at Lee Han's grim predictions.
"Wouldn't it be more likely they brought it in as an ingredient? Maybe the target potion requires something like hydra blood."
"Exactly. That sounds plausible."
Ratford nodded in agreement.
But Lee Han couldn't accept it so easily.
"Didn't Professor Thunderstep say he was raising the exam difficulty? This seems too easy."
"It's not easy."
"It's definitely not easy."
"No, this seems a bit too straightforward."
"......"
"......"
Yoner and Ratford exchanged glances.
-You explain it to him.
-How should I put it?
"Wait."
Thanks to his enhanced hearing from Enhancement Magic, Lee Han caught the sound of footsteps approaching from afar.
He quickly slipped into the adjacent classroom and held his breath as the Death Knights passed by, murmuring among themselves.
-Whoever it was, they got away clean. Seems they split up and were waiting outside? These freshmen are quite sharp.
-I don't think it was the freshmen. Even if they were waiting outside, the moment they touched the seal, all their mana would've been drained.
-True. Pouring mana until the seal broke isn't something freshmen would do. We should check what the upperclassmen are up to.
"......"
Lee Han made a silent vow to himself.
From now on, even if the most tempting bait appeared right before his eyes, he would knock on the stone bridge dozens of times before crossing it.
"Basic Mount Training" Final Exam.
"I believe in you, Marronier," Yoner whispered, hugging the neck of his chestnut-furred horse.
"Let's do this. Grandempenialgainandorimperator."
"Just do as we practiced. Got it?"
Other students also began speaking one by one to the horses they'd cared for throughout the semester.
With the exam approaching, their voices carried a solemn determination.
"Ponlig."
Pffhht!
When Lee Han called his name, Ponlig's eyes sparkled with anticipation. Though his owner was usually stingy with praise, surely this time...
"Don't attack the other horses."
...Pphhheeewwwww!!
Ponlig erupted in anger, kicking up dirt with his hooves.
Gainandor, passing by, got a mouthful of soil and spat it out repeatedly. "See? This is exactly why I'm worried—you throwing tantrums like this."
Pfft! Pffheee! Pphheeew!
Ponlig whinnied indignantly, his voice brimming with injustice.
After all, griffins were noble beasts.
Of course a noble beast cursed to take a horse's form would feel stressed.
And above all, how could he not be angry when his own master doubted him!
"Alright, alright. My bad. Just don't attack the other horses unless I say so, okay?"
'Unless I say so?'
Yoner tilted his head in confusion as he brushed his horse's mane.
Meanwhile, Professor Lightning-Step appeared, clapping his hands after finishing preparations in the vast training grounds.
"You've all worked hard this semester. I hope you've learned much while bonding with your horses. Animals that aid mages like these are rare. Once you befriend them, they become the most reliable companions—loyal through thick and thin. After this course, take them with you and continue your journey together."
"!!"
"Thank you!"
The students' faces brightened at the unexpected gift of keeping their bonded horses. Lee Han glanced at Ponlig, who looked back with innocent eyes as if asking, 'What?'
'But... he's not actually a horse, right?'
As Lee Han pondered this, Professor Lightning-Step addressed him directly.
"How about visiting the stables during break?"
Lee Han was stunned.
"Excuse me???????!!?"
"Don't look so serious—it was a joke."
'Ah.'
Lee Han mentally kicked himself.
He'd lost control of his emotions over such an absurd suggestion.
"Of course telling you to come to the stables during break was a joke, but since you're caring for Ponlig, you'll need to put in some extra effort. Griffins are rather troublesome creatures."
Ponlig snorted as if to say, 'Don't worry.' But Lee Han was more concerned about something else entirely.
"The curse won't break during the break, will it?"
"That shouldn't happen. ...Probably. Anyway, if you need help or Ponlig needs space to play, come to Einrogard's stables. I'll be staying at school this break."
"Thank you."
Of course, Lee Han had absolutely no intention of setting foot near Einrogard during break.
He wouldn't even breathe in the direction of the academy.
"Alright then, let's begin."
Professor Lightning-Step pointed his riding crop across the seemingly endless training grounds.
Obstacle courses were set up throughout.
While the midterm had been a simple race, the final required clearing these hurdles as well.
Though the difficulty seemed high, the students remained surprisingly calm.
After a week of grueling finals, this exam felt almost trivial by comparison.
"This'll be a nice change of pace."
"True."
Moreover, unlike other courses, the "Basic Mount Training" class was full of confident students.
Having ridden horses since childhood, each privately thought, 'I'm better than the rest.'
"Yoner, you shouldn't rush ahead even after the starting signal."
"Why?"
Before Lee Han could answer, Professor Lightning-Step gave the signal.
Students at the starting line shot forward like lightning.
Clatter-clatter—
Thud!
The lead rider was instantly knocked sideways by a sudden water jet.
"......"
"Told you."