Episode 33
Episode 33
"Are you perhaps acquainted with Professor Thunder Step?"
"How did you know? I'm Lightning Step, Thunder Step's aunt."
'No way. They're actually related?'
Lee Han had thought that just because dwarves looked somewhat similar didn't mean they were all relatives, but it turned out they really were family.
"So you know Thunder Step?"
As the dwarf pushed her aviator glasses up and asked, Lee Han instinctively sensed danger.
Having your name and face remembered by a professor was generally not a good thing, whether on Earth or here.
If he got dragged into graduate studies here like back on Earth...
"I don't really kn—"
"Wardanaz is Professor Thunder Step's star pupil!"
"That's right! Wardanaz has earned Professor Thunder Step's recognition! He's even allowed to visit the professor's cabin!"
"......"
Lee Han looked back.
His friends from the Blue Dragon Tower were winking at him with expressions of triumph.
As their leader and fellow tower resident, they seemed unbearably proud of him.
'These useless brats!'
Lee Han cursed inwardly. Oblivious to his true feelings, the Blue Dragon Tower students simply basked in their satisfaction.
"Indeed! If you're Thunder Step's star pupil, then you might as well be mine too."
"I wouldn't say star pupil..."
"And to have access to his cabin? You must have truly earned his recognition."
"...Yes. That would be correct."
Lee Han gave up and admitted it.
At this point, he figured he might as well accept it and try to leave a good impression on the professor.
Professor Lightning Step dismounted her steed and stood before the students.
Then she shouted in a powerful, resonant voice:
"Alright, attention!"
"Um, Professor... What about those who fainted..."
"Leave them be! They'll come to soon enough!"
Professor Lightning Step boomed cheerfully. Medically speaking it was nonsense, but no student dared contradict her.
"I am Professor Lightning Step Chodar, who will be teaching you this semester. Originally, Professor Bendozol was supposed to teach you, but he went searching for a unicorn and went missing. So I was urgently brought in as a replacement."
'I don't get why no one's surprised about the "went searching for a unicorn and went missing" part.'
Rather than being shocked about Professor Bendozol disappearing while unicorn hunting, the students seemed more astonished by Lightning Step's name.
"The famous explorer Lightning Step?"
"The one who tamed a Behemoth and turned it into a mount?!"
"The explorer who investigated the Spirit's Crater where no one had ever set foot before?!"
'Hmm. I should've read something other than the Empire's economy section in the newspaper.'
Lee Han felt left out of the conversation.
From what he could gather, she seemed to be quite a renowned explorer.
Several students gazed at Lightning Step with looks of admiration and respect.
"Now! Any students want to guess why I appeared riding a Thunderbird today?"
"!"
Thunderbird.
It was a famous enough monster that even Lee Han had heard of it.
A body so massive it barely seemed like a bird, swift and violent movements, plus the special ability to control thunderbolts and whirlwinds.
For those who flew through the skies or traversed high mountain ranges, it was a nightmare creature.
Just imagining such a monster attacking made his spine tingle.
'This school really needs to be audited by the Empire.'
As Lee Han grumbled internally, one student raised their hand.
"Is... is the goal this semester to ride that Thunderbird? So you're letting us get accustomed to it..."
"Wrong! Ahahahaha! What nonsense are you spouting? You'd need over ten years of practice before you could even think of riding a Thunderbird!"
Lightning Step burst into uproarious laughter as if it were hilarious. The student who spoke retreated in embarrassment.
'Ah. Are there not many people here who've taken alchemy classes?'
Come to think of it, Alchemy was an elective course.
In contrast, Mount Training was a mandatory subject.
Meaning, far more students here were unfamiliar with Professor Lightning Step's teaching style compared to the dwarven professors.
"Did you have to ride the fastest mount to come from afar?"
"If I needed the fastest mount, I would've ridden Sleipnir. Wrong. Hmm. Wardanaz! You answer."
"......"
Lee Han truly didn't want the attention, but the dwarven professors never left him alone.
Maintaining his composure, Lee Han responded:
"Didn't you ride it to help us develop the ability to handle encounters with dangerous monsters like the Thunderbird?"
Some students burst into laughter at Lee Han's answer, as if it were absurd.
Mount Training was supposed to be about riding beautiful, gentle horses around the area—not some <Surviving Monster Attacks> class.
Why on earth would they need such training...
"Correct! No wonder Thunder Step speaks so highly of you!"
'Oh for fuck's sake.'
Against all odds, he'd guessed right.
Lee Han shook his head vigorously.
Since being on good terms with Professor Thunder Step inevitably meant frequent encounters with Professor Lightning Step anyway, his only option now was to stand out even more.
While attracting a professor's attention was dangerous, earning their disdain was far worse.
Better to be loved than...
"P-professor? Isn't this supposed to be a horseback riding class?"
"That's... that's right. Why do we need to practice dodging Thunderbirds?"
Some students, still struggling to grasp the situation, asked in bewildered tones.
Why Thunderbird evasion instead of regular riding?
"What will you do if you encounter a Thunderbird while riding? Basic training, obviously!"
Lightning Step grew irritated, as if they'd said something ridiculous. The questioning students shrank back, thoroughly cowed.
'But Thunderbirds are rare monsters only found in high altitudes or mountain ranges...'
Lee Han kept that thought to himself.
Even truthful words needed caution in front of professors.
"But don't worry. You'll still ride those horses you love so much. Wardanaz. Step forward. You'll be assisting my class today."
Under a mix of awe and jealous gazes, Lee Han stepped forward.
The awe was understandable, but he wanted to punch every student shooting him jealous looks.
'These clueless bastards...'
"Horses are the most common and fundamental mounts in the Empire. Anyone who can't ride one has no business traveling. If you want to handle more challenging mounts, you must first master horseback riding."
At Professor Lightning Step's words, many students wore bored expressions.
Because more students here knew how to ride than those who didn't.
Having ridden extensively for various reasons, they thought, 'What more is there to learn?'
Yet the professor didn't scold their attitudes.
Instead, he smiled warmly.
A shiver ran down Lee Han's spine.
'This is...'
That smile felt ominous.
'This isn't a normal riding class!'
What kind of school never let you relax? This was clearly no ordinary equestrian lesson.
"Now! To the stables!"
The stables near the main building were impeccably clean and spacious.
The massive three-story stable, resembling a warehouse, opened its doors as if alive when the professor approached.
'There's magic here.'
Lee Han could sense the magical energy enveloping the stables.
Of course—they wouldn't keep ordinary horses here. Magical protection was necessary.
"Wow!"
"Oh my...!"
Gasps erupted throughout.
The horses lining both sides of the stable were magnificent enough to awe even the jaded students.
With coats of white, black, brown, gold, and more, these were clearly thoroughbreds of excellent lineage at first glance.
"To think we can ride these horses..."
It was only natural for the students' eyes to light up.
But Lee Han wasn't fooled. He whispered to Yoner beside him:
"Be careful."
"Of what?"
"Think about Alchemy class. Professor Lightning Step is from the same bloodline as Professor Thunder Step. You really think there won't be any traps?"
"...!"
Yoner's face showed sudden realization as he nodded hastily.
Professor Lightning Step stroked his beard with a mischievous smile and said to Lee Han:
"As my teaching assistant for this class, I'll grant you the privilege of choosing your horse first."
From behind came jealous clicks of tongues mixed with envy.
They could tolerate other forms of favoritism, but letting him pick first was too much to bear.
Once chosen, that horse would be Lee Han's partner for the entire semester—meaning he'd snatch the best one.
'That's what they're thinking. Idiots.'
Lee Han remembered the flash of a smirk he'd seen on Professor Lightning Step's lips.
"That's alright. I'll choose later and let the other students go first. It wouldn't be fair for me to pick before everyone else."
"Wardanaz...!"
"You...!"
Students from the same dorm were astonished.
While others were practically salivating at the chance to pick first, here he was showing such generosity.
This was the honor only a true noble could display.
"Then how should we do it?"
"Let's decide the order by tower, then have one person from each come forward to choose. If there's overlap, we'll draw lots again."
"Agreed."
The students began forming lines by group.
The Blue Dragon Tower students also gathered to draw lots. The first to be chosen was Gainando.
"Ha!"
Gainando was delighted.
It felt like compensation for his earlier misfortune of being snatched by the Thunderbird.
The Blue Dragon Tower students didn't bother hiding their disappointment.
"Of all people, Gainando?"
"We should've just let Wardanaz take first pick."
"Hmph. The losers are talking."
Gainando ignored his friends. Curious, Lee Han asked Yoner:
"Does Gainando know anything about horses?"
"W-well... I doubt it."
Gainando strode forward confidently and chose the largest, meanest-looking white horse.
Students from other towers stared at Gainando in disbelief.
Bigger didn't mean better when it came to horses.
Moreover, considering they'd have to tame and bond with their chosen horse, picking one that looked so ill-tempered was a mistake.
At worst, it could cause problems when riding...
Thud!
"Ugh!"
Wham!
"Argh!!"
Thwack!
"Gahhh!"
"?!"
The gathered students were all shocked.
Gainando getting headbutted and knocked flat was one thing, but other students were also getting kicked or spat on.
Why were the horses...
So vicious?
Neighhhh!
Neigh! Snort! Hnnngh!!
The previously calm horses in the stables suddenly began rearing and screaming in unison.
They glared at the students as if facing mortal enemies.
It was as if their hidden wildness had erupted all at once.
"Ahahahaha! I told you. You need to learn how to handle horses first. Your first assignment isn't riding—it's befriending one of these horses. Did you really think I'd let greenhorns like you just pick any horse?"
"W-what...?"
"This is too much...!"
Some students who hadn't taken Alchemy class were on the verge of tears from disappointment. But Professor Lightning Step's laughter didn't stop.
"If you care for them morning and night, one of these might—just might—open its heart to you. That's your goal. Just one! Befriend even a single one!"
"......"
'Those definitely aren't normal horses.'
Lee Han was certain.
No matter how he thought about it, these weren't ordinary horses.
What kind of horse would act so damn crazy...
Tap—
Just as Lee Han was pondering which horse might be easiest to befriend, Professor Lightning Step's pot-lid-sized hand landed on his shoulder.
"?"
"Oh right. Wardanaz. I'll pick your horse for you."
"......"
Do you really have to?