Episode 290
Episode 290
The students' mood darkened abruptly.
Lee Han clicked his tongue inwardly.
'Isn't this because of the Skeleton Principal?'
Since the headmaster himself enjoys tormenting others, it's no wonder the seniors have such personalities...
"Let's just eat cake."
"Right! Cake!"
"Call the students from the other towers too."
"...Huh? Do we really have to?"
"Yeah. Invite them properly. And don't pick fights for no reason."
"W-what are you talking about? Wardanaz. As if we'd do that."
The student from the Blue Dragon Tower, whose true intentions had been exposed, stammered.
The students from the other towers arrived faster than expected.
The White Tiger Tower students, who arrived last, came armed with wooden swords and shields, glancing warily around—only to lower their weapons with sheepish expressions when they spotted the cake.
"See, what did I tell you!"
"S-sorry, Dergui."
"Wait. The cake might be poisoned..."
"Shh. Keep it down. Even if it is poisoned, cake is still cake. We can think about that after eating."
The White Tiger Tower students each took a slice of cake from the platter.
The cake was delicious.
"See? Wardanaz wouldn't mess with food."
"Definitely..."
'Next time I set a trap, I should use food.'
Lee Han thought to himself as he walked past.
Apparently, people really do become happier after eating something sweet—the students were all chatting with satisfied expressions.
[Give me a slice too.]
"Here you go."
Though two students nearby screamed and collapsed, Lee Han remained unfazed and calmly cut a slice to hand over.
The Skeleton Principal used telekinesis to toss the cake into his mouth, then addressed the students.
[Everyone seems to be having a happy and enjoyable time.]
"Yes!"
"We're truly delighted!"
[Tsk tsk. I wonder if they'll still be this happy after seeing their exam results.]
"......"
Without casting a single spell, the Skeleton Principal succeeded in freezing the students' cheerful atmosphere solid.
The only student immune to the attack on exam scores spoke up.
"They're probably just happy the semester is over. Everyone worked hard—grades aren't that important."
[Spoken like a true top-ranked student. Take notes, everyone. Only someone at this level can say grades don't matter. Understood?]
'Whoops.'
Lee Han had no choice but to admit he'd let his guard down in front of the Skeleton Principal.
True to someone who'd spent millennia mastering the art of sowing discord, his skills were on another level.
"That bastard Wardanaz really has the nerve to say something so smug as the top student..."
"You wanna spit out that cake?"
"N-no! Actually, now that I think about it, he has a point."
But the White Tiger Tower student who'd been grumbling was swiftly subdued.
The Skeleton Principal's attempt to stir discord failed—Lee Han had done too much for his fellow students.
"I can't accept that! I've always said grades aren't important too!"
When Gainando shouted like that, even the Skeleton Principal seemed slightly taken aback.
[W-well. Good for you, having such confidence.]
"Thank you?"
[That wasn't a compliment. You're heading to the Punishment Room soon, kid.]
"Wha—?? What did I do wrong?"
Gainando startled, demanding an answer. The Skeleton Principal summoned a white skeletal finger in midair and spread it wide.
[Do you know what this is?]
"A... bone... finger?"
[It's the number of classes you failed.]
"......"
"......"
The students suddenly bowed their heads, trying to avoid the Skeleton Principal's gaze.
[Do you think avoiding my gaze will make your failed subjects disappear? Those who failed will spend the weekend in the Punishment Room before leaving.]
"No! Headmaster!!"
"It's vacation!"
[Technically, vacation starts next week. Should've done better on your exams. Surely none of you got complacent just because it was finals? A mage would never be that careless, right?]
The students who'd assumed they'd leave immediately after finals wore expressions of someone who'd just been slapped.
They'd planned to spend the remaining weekend chatting happily with friends, leisurely packing their bags, and leaving with smiles as Monday dawned... but now...
The Skeleton Principal bent one of his bony summoned fingers and asked again.
Do you know what this is?
"I... don't really know."
At those words, the Skeleton Principal bent another finger.
And another, and another.
When all his fingers were bent, the Skeleton Principal smiled and declared.
Failures to the Punishment Room!
"Headmaster! I haven't even eaten my cake yet!!"
"No! Tomorrow! Can't we go tomorrow morning?!"
Suddenly, Death Knights rushed out from all directions and began dragging away the failing students.
The Skeleton Principal nodded with a satisfied expression.
Let the less incompetent students rest well over the weekend before leaving. You've worked hard this semester. See you next term.
Though they'd rarely agreed with the Skeleton Principal before, this time they had no choice but to concur.
'We really did work hard.'
Looking at their friends' faces, it seemed everyone was thinking the same thing.
"Where are you staying during break?"
"Granden City."
The Empire was unimaginably vast. Most students chose to stay in nearby metropolises rather than returning to their hometowns every break.
'As expected, everyone's staying in Granden City.'
Of course, their living arrangements differed somewhat.
"My family secured a mansion."
"You too? Nice. Same here."
"I'll be staying at a friendly family's mansion."
"......"
Lee Han fell silent upon hearing the Blue Dragon Tower students' conversation.
'Hmm. No wonder students from other towers dislike them for no reason.'
Mansions in major cities like Granden City were prohibitively expensive beyond imagination.
Moreover, all Blue Dragon Tower students came from imperial noble families.
Even among mansions, those in the noble districts cost vastly more than those in other areas.
And yet they'd bought such mansions just for seasonal vacation homes.
No wonder students from other towers cursed them without cause.
"Where will you be staying, Lord Wardanaz?"
"...Granden City too."
Lee Han answered Ratford's question with some embarrassment.
Truthfully, Lee Han wasn't in a position to criticize others.
As a member of the Wardanaz family, he too had a mansion prepared in Granden City.
Originally it would've been Philone Village, but the school had likely relocated everything to Granden City...
"Is something wrong?"
"It's nothing."
Lee Han overcame his awkwardness to reply.
"Ratford, where are you staying during break?"
"I'm also planning to stay in Granden City. I'll be boarding."
"If you'd like, why not stay at our family mansion?"
"Ah. Would that really be alright?"
"Of course. It might be slightly smaller compared to other family mansions, but it's not like we can't accommodate a few guests."
The Wardanaz family, among the Empire's great noble houses, tended to focus more on magic than wealth or power—but only relative to other great noble houses.
As one of the Empire's most prestigious families, no matter how frugal they were, how frugal could they really be?
The Wardanaz family's mansion was probably spacious enough to house all first-year students comfortably.
"Durgyu. Are you thinking of staying somewhere too?"
"Thanks for the offer, Lee Han. But I've decided to stay at the Knight Order's public residence with my tower friends."
Students from the Black Turtle Tower would board at guild lodgings or decent inns using their various connections.
White Tiger Tower students, being from knightly families, would stay at the city's Knight Order residences.
Phoenix Tower students, as clergy, would stay at the city's temple lodgings.
'Wait. Only the Blue Dragon Tower guys are trash, aren't they?'
While students from other towers were diligently making their own arrangements, only the Blue Dragon Tower students seemed to be freeloading off their families' influence.
"Lee Han. Lee Han."
Yoner poked Lee Han and whispered.
Lee Han, who'd been offering Priestess Dijiling and Priest Nigisor to stay at his family mansion (both priests had politely declined), looked puzzled.
"Why?"
"Look over there."
Yoner pointed subtly with his finger. At its tip was their friend Nilia.
Though she was chatting with the Black Turtle Tower students about which inn or guild lodging would be good to stay at, Nilia kept glancing at the two of them with a dark expression.
'Oh no.'
Lee Han realized his mistake.
Nilia had naturally assumed Yoner would invite her first, so she'd already spoken to Ratford about it...
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
The two quickly hurried over.
"Nilia! Won't you stay at the Wardanaz family mansion during the break?"
"What are you talking about, Lee Han! Nilia will stay at the Maykin family mansion!"
The Black Turtle Tower students, who had been discussing where to stay, stared at the two with looks that said, 'Why are these nobles suddenly acting up?'
"The Wardanaz family!"
"The Maykin family!"
As the two pushed and pulled with all their might, Nilia's face brightened.
"Uh, what should I do? I'm grateful to both, but choosing myself feels a bit..."
"Then let us help you."
"Right. Nilia."
The Black Turtle Tower students behind them cut in. Caught off guard, Nilia flustered.
Salko pulled out a map of Granden City from his pocket and frowned.
"Where is the Wardanaz family mansion located?"
"We'd have to go check."
"I see. Unfortunately, that's a deduction. Wardanaz."
"Y-yeah. Too bad."
"What about the Maykin family mansion?"
"Here, in the upper part of the noble district's hill street."
"Convenient transportation, and there are alchemy workshops nearby specializing in nobles. A very good location."
"Th... thanks?"
Salko and the Black Turtle Tower students seriously compared the two mansions.
Naturally, Yoner, whose family had long owned a mansion in the city, had the advantage over Lee Han, who hadn't even secured a mansion yet.
"Nilia. You should stay at the Maykin family mansion."
"R-really? But I feel bad for Wardanaz..."
"If it's too hard to choose, do you want to stay at the Gainando mansion? It's probably the largest."
"No! I'll stay at the Maykin family mansion! Thank you!"
Nilia answered immediately.
Sigh. It's nice that everyone's chatting, but there's one thing left to do.
"What is it?"
As you all know, Einrogard is filled with ancient mysteries and knowledge.
The students nodded.
The problem was, along with mysteries and knowledge, there were also ancient monsters.
And such treasures must not be carelessly leaked.
"I see."
So before you leave, let's swear an oath. That you will not reveal Einrogard's mysteries and knowledge outside.
Listening, Lee Han sensed something odd and asked,
"Wait. If we swear this, does that mean we can't talk about the school's rules or education either?"
The Skeleton Principal pretended not to hear.
Now, one by one!
"......"
The freshmen made awkward expressions as they swore the oath with the Skeleton Principal.
"I will guard Einrogard's secrets with my pride and honor?"
O spirits, protect the secrets of the mages.
A complex surge of mana formed a binding restriction.
It was a powerful seal that locked crucial information about Einrogard within the students' souls, preventing its disclosure.
Lee Han, like his friends, stood before the Skeleton Principal with an awkward expression.
But instead of casting the spell, the Skeleton Principal spoke.
Wardanaz, you'll keep your mouth shut on your own.
"...Yes?"
Think about it. How much mana would it cost to place a restriction on you?
Considering Lee Han's mana capacity, the sheer amount required to seal information within his soul was unimaginable.
The Skeleton Principal had no intention of wasting that much.
Ah-ha!
If oddly specific rumors about Einrogard start circulating, think carefully about who to suspect first.
"Would I ever do such a thing?"