Episode 3
Episode 3
For a moment, Gainando thought Lee Han was joking.
How could anyone survive eating nothing but hard black bread and cold rice balls?
How could anyone wear such a coarse, shabby cloak like that?
But Lee Han didn't seem to be joking at all.
'The Wardanaz family... What a terrifying household...!'
Gainando was shocked.
The noble families of the Empire wielded immense power, each with their own unique customs and traditions.
And among the Empire's noble families, the Wardanaz family—Lee Han's family—was one of the least known.
This was because they didn't actively participate in politics and focused solely on magical research...
But because of that, Gainando couldn't help but misunderstand.
So this is how the Wardanaz family raises their bloodline?!
'Isn't this too much? Even slaves aren't treated this poorly... I never imagined the Wardanaz family head would be such a cruel person...'
With a sympathetic expression, Gainando patted Lee Han on the shoulder.
"Come visit my estate sometime. I'll make sure to treat you properly."
"Uh... thanks?"
Lee Han didn't understand why Gainando was acting this way, but he nodded anyway.
After the Skeleton Principal's stormy speech ended and the students dispersed, Lee Han got another chance to talk to Yoner.
He asked what had been on his mind earlier.
"Why are you hanging around Gainando? Even if he's your cousin, someone from the Maykin Family shouldn't need to care about the whims of a minor imperial relative."
"Ah. Because of Gainando's mother."
Yoner answered breezily.
Lee Han, intrigued, asked further.
"Do you owe his mother a debt or something?"
For a moment, Lee Han imagined it.
A much younger Yoner attending a banquet at the imperial palace, making a huge mistake.
Everyone looking at Yoner with contempt, Yoner on the verge of tears in fear—then Gainando's mother, one of the imperial consorts, appearing and saying warmly:
-It's alright. Everyone makes mistakes.
If that had been the case, it would've been touching.
Even if Gainando was a nobody among the imperial family, treating him properly out of respect for his mother would make sense...
"Huh? No. Gainando's mother is insanely rich. She gave me a lot of money for being friends with him."
"...!!"
Lee Han was stunned.
So that was the secret?
'I should get close to him too!'
The magic school Einrogard accepted anyone with talent—from imperial relatives to slaves.
Of course, the mages were well aware that gathering temperamental, sharp-witted adolescents in one place was a recipe for disaster.
That's why Einrogard's dormitories were divided into four based on background.
The Blue Dragon Tower, for the arrogant.
Imperial relatives and those from prestigious noble families were housed here.
As a member of the Wardanaz family, Lee Han was automatically assigned here.
"Ugh. Priests. I hope they don't start preaching for no reason."
"Shh. Don't pick a fight."
Grumbling could be heard nearby.
They were complaining about the freshmen assigned to the 'Tower of the Eternally Burning Phoenix.'
The Tower of the Eternally Burning Phoenix.
Priests from various religious orders of the Empire resided here.
Surprisingly, the Empire's priests had no qualms about using magic.
They believed mana was a divine blessing bestowed by the gods.
Given that, it wasn't strange for various religious orders to send their priests to Einrogard, the Empire's finest magic school.
'They do stand out.'
While the imperial relatives and nobles hadn't changed into uniforms yet and were dressed in all sorts of attire, the priests were all clad in modest priestly robes.
The noble boys and girls, having grown up listening to sermons from priests who visited their families, seemed to recall those memories and were grimacing.
Clank, clank—
But when they saw who entered next, the noble boys and girls frowned even deeper.
Tower of the White Tiger that Bites Lightning.
The sons and daughters of the Empire's knightly families entered this tower.
At first glance, it might seem strange for knightly families to attend a magic school, but even knights needed magic.
From telepathy to healing, there was no area where magic wasn't useful.
These were individuals who had resolved to walk both paths—as knights and as mages.
Gainando, apparently finding this distasteful, grumbled under his breath.
"Do we really have to accept those who insult the glorious and pure path of magic in such a manner? They could just hire a street magician as a tutor and it'd suffice."
Lee Han, overhearing this, felt slightly stung.
While others might have entered seeking to explore the pure truths of magic, he had joined simply to climb the social ladder through magic.
"Well, if you're going to learn, might as well learn from the best."
"What... Why are you taking their side?"
"Gainando."
Lee Han was feeling particularly generous toward Gainando at the moment.
Because he'd heard Gainando's mother was wealthy.
"A noble being does not scorn those beneath them."
"...That sounds like an awfully demanding condition..."
Still, perhaps wanting to appear noble himself, Gainando shut his mouth.
As the knightly students passed by, the last group of dormitory students made their appearance.
They were the ones with the most diverse and unique attire in the hall.
Tower of the Black Turtle that Sees the Past and Future.
This dormitory had the most varied composition.
Commoners, servants, slaves, jesters, beggars, merchants, newly risen minor nobles—all sorts gathered here.
Perhaps aware of their lowly status, they seemed somewhat cowed.
'I'd like to get along with them if I get the chance.'
Unlike the others who cast disdainful glances, Lee Han wanted to build connections with them if the opportunity arose.
What was the best way to make money?
Business, of course.
And the best partners for such ventures weren't people like Gainando by his side, but those with real-world experience like the ones over there.
"They're looking this way."
"Don't make eye contact. Nothing good will come of it."
"Damn bastards..."
There was no way the Black Turtle students didn't notice the contemptuous stares from the Blue Dragon faction.
Knowing a fight would bring no benefit, they averted their gazes and moved on.
"Do we really have to accept such vulgar riffraff? This is going too far."
Among the murmurs, one voice rang out particularly clear.
The Black Turtle students clearly heard it, their expressions darkening.
'Oh.'
Lee Han instantly recognized this as an opportunity.
A chance to build ties with those students!
'Now's the time to step up.'
The Black Turtle students couldn't help but feel intimidated, no matter how hard they tried not to.
Even the more spirited among them found it difficult to stand firm against the unfamiliar atmosphere and whispers.
That was when Lee Han, a boy from the Blue Dragon Tower, stepped forward.
With his striking, statuesque features, the boy slowly opened his mouth.
"Vulgar? That would be you. Didn't you all lay down everything you had before entering Einrogard? And yet here you are, forgetting that and flaunting your petty pride."
An overwhelming presence radiated from the boy, mixed with an air of authority.
The noble bearing that only a highborn aristocrat, proud of their lineage, could display.
The other Blue Dragon students seemed to agree.
"Well said."
"He's from the Wardanaz family, isn't he? Truly lives up to the name."
The one who had mocked earlier, now ashamed, couldn't even speak up and tightly shut his mouth.
And the Black Turtle students reacted too.
"The Wardanaz family??"
"That magic lineage...?!"
"Don't make eye contact, you idiot! They're a dangerous family!"
"Isn't their family head a dragon? Does that mean he has dragon blood?"
"I thought it was ancient spirit bloodline, not dragon..."
"......"
At first, Lee Han thought things were going well.
All the students seemed convinced by his words.
'This isn't bad?'
Now if only the Black Turtle Tower students would express their gratitude...
"The Wardanaz family??"
"That magic lineage...?!"
"Don't make eye contact, you idiot! They're a dangerous family!"
"Isn't their family head a dragon? Does that mean he has dragon blood?"
"I thought it was ancient spirit bloodline, not dragon..."
"......"
However, the reactions he received were somewhat different from what he'd expected.
Instead of building camaraderie, the students were looking at him with fearful gazes!
From their reactions, Lee Han realized something had gone wrong.
He'd expected words of thanks in return...?
Beside him, Yoner exclaimed admiringly:
"That display just now was truly magnificent. Exactly right. This is how nobles entering Einrogard should carry themselves."
"...Yoner. Do I look frightening?"
"Huh? No? You look dignified, as befits nobility?"
Yoner couldn't understand why Lee Han was troubled.
Lee Han's appearance was literally 'noble-like' and handsome.
Strong brows, angular jaw, firmly set lips. And those sharp eyes.
His overwhelming presence that commoners couldn't approach was considered an advantage among nobles.
Indeed, the Blue Dragon Tower students all viewed him favorably.
At their reactions, Lee Han sighed.
'With this, fitting in will be impossible.'
Each dormitory was positioned far apart in the four cardinal directions around the main building.
Lee Han and the other students headed down the path toward the distant blue tower.
'It's really vast.'
Seeing it from inside made him newly astonished.
Calling it a school was an understatement - where else could you find a school containing lakes, forests, rivers and mountains?
Seeing this suddenly reminded him of the Skeleton Principal's words.
'He said we should procure things ourselves, right?'
The headmaster had said this school would provide anything if one wished for it.
Seeing this scenery certainly made that seem possible.
Going to the forest to hunt beasts, or to the lake to fish...
"You must be thinking the same thing."
"Huh?"
"I was thinking what a great blessing it is to behold such beautiful scenery."
"No. I was wondering what kind of beasts might be in the forest to hunt."
"...Does the Wardanaz family train you in such things??"
The arrogant Blue Dragon Tower was an elongated structure built from blue stone.
From the outside alone, it didn't appear particularly large.
But inside lay a near-infinite expanse expanded by Einrogard's mages.
"!"
Upon passing through the tower's entrance, all the students who had been with him moments ago had completely vanished.
When Lee Han regained his senses, he found himself alone in a dim space.
[Where will you go?]
"??"
[Where will you go?]
'Ah.'
Lee Han realized it was the tower itself speaking to him.
"Where... can I go?"
[You adapt quickly.]
Though the tower wasn't visible, Lee Han imagined it smiling faintly.
[Currently you may go to your private room, or the first-year steel lounge.]
"Can I go elsewhere too?"
[Yes. Some places require only knowing their names, others require knowing different things.]
BlueDragonTowerDormitory
PhoenixTowerDormitory
TigerTowerDormitory
TurtleTowerDormitory
"Can I go to the first-year lounge or common lounge?"
[Yes. But not now.]
"Why not?"
[Because the Headmaster has forbidden it.]
"......"
Lee Han cursed the headmaster's thoroughness. The man was meticulous in these matters.
"Then please send me to my private room."
[Very well. Welcome to enrollment, young mage.]