Episode 336
Episode 336
Lee Han felt slightly guilty.
Truthfully, not attending the dance classes at school had been Lee Han's own choice.
Yet here was the Skeleton Principal suffering undue misunderstandings because of it.
"I apologize."
"Forget it."
"It seems you're facing misunderstandings because of your usual behavior."
"Do you think saying 'I'm sorry' and then making remarks like that sounds apologetic at all?"
The Skeleton Principal was dumbfounded.
Whoever had taught him—his skill at twisting an apology into an insult was truly remarkable.
"But what brings you here?"
"What other reason would I have for meeting with high nobles?"
The Skeleton Principal wearily placed an Imperial Gold Coin on his palm.
Lee Han instinctively reached for the coin. The headmaster immediately snatched it back, staring at him in disbelief.
"Were you just trying to take my gold coin?"
"I thought you took it out to give to me."
"...Looking at you now, I'm starting to think His Majesty wasn't entirely wrong about you... I came to seek sponsorship."
Mages were inherently prone to extravagance.
Burning precious gems and grinding rare materials just to develop a single potion left no room for frugality.
And then they'd casually say things like, "We used up an entire crate of diamonds you provided with no results—could you perhaps procure higher-quality diamonds for us next time?"—enough to make any sponsor clutch their head in frustration.
And among such mages, Einrogard gathered only the most exceptional talents the Empire had to offer—which naturally meant their wastefulness was equally exceptional.
Even when the Emperor defied opposition from Imperial Bureaucrats to fund Einrogard (the Imperial treasurers trembled at the mere mention of the school's name), the budget was always tight.
Thus, one of the Skeleton Principal's duties was securing additional sponsorships.
"I see. That must be quite taxing."
Lee Han deeply sympathized.
A professor's duties weren't limited to researching magic and teaching students.
Securing funding was also part of a professor's skill set.
From that perspective, the Skeleton Principal truly was an impressive figure.
'Wait. He's not extorting them, is he?'
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing. By the way, when do you plan to visit our family?"
"The Wardanaz family?"
The Skeleton Principal stared at Lee Han as if he'd just heard the stupidest thing in the world.
"There's no reason to visit the Wardanaz family. What busy mage would hand over gold coins for another mage's experiments?"
Mages never gave gold coins to other mages.
They might spend recklessly on themselves, but yielding resources to another mage? That wasn't how mages operated.
"I-is that so. Did Lady Kraha receive any sponsorship?"
"Not yet. Securing someone else's gold isn't that easy. I'll need to visit and persuade her a few more times."
The Skeleton Principal's expression was solemn—even more so than when he'd cast that grand spell, the Unique World.
Truthfully, securing funds was far more challenging than magic.
"It seems persuasion is difficult."
"Naturally. Lady Kraha isn't someone who yields easily."
"You must have already discussed Gainando... Are there no other excuses to secure sponsorship? Like second-semester schedules, perhaps?"
Lee Han probed subtly.
Forewarned is forearmed.
But the Skeleton Principal wasn't so easily swayed.
"Even if there were, I wouldn't tell you. Are you suggesting I bring up her child being dragged into the Punishment Room?"
The Skeleton Principal eyed Lee Han suspiciously.
He suspected this might be Lee Han's way of getting back at him for last semester's grievances.
"No, it's not like that... You know, Lady Kraha—were you aware that Gainando has a talent for Black Magic?"
"Is that true?"
Gainando's mother asked again in surprise.
"Not Wizard Cards?"
"He's not particularly talented in Wizard Cards, but he excels in Black Magic. He's among the top few who keep up with me in class."
'Well, there are only a handful of freshmen taking it in the first place.'
The Skeleton Principal found this ridiculous but didn't interject.
"Count Gonadaltes. I've never heard such a story before?"
"Lady Kraha. I can't possibly go around revealing students' secrets."
"......"
This time, Lee Han shot the Skeleton Principal a look of disbelief.
'So now he's pulling tricks to avoid talking about sending him to the Punishment Room...'
"I'll consider the sponsorship favorably."
"Truly? I sincerely thank you! I was just in need of some fresh corpses."
Gainando's mother smiled graciously and nodded.
The Skeleton Principal stared at Lee Han with an entirely different expression now.
"I'm proud of you."
"...Headmaster. I don't mean to boast, but I am the top of my year."
"Yes. Top of your year. I'm proud. But there are other families I need to visit—"
"I think I'll go learn how to dance now."
Lee Han pretended not to hear as he turned on his heel.
Dancing wasn't particularly difficult.
Gainando's mother was a seasoned dancer, and Lee Han had performed movements several times more complex with his life on the line.
In fact, had she not been so patiently instructive, he might have learned even faster.
'It feels awkward not getting attacked when I miss a beat.'
Unaware of Lee Han's grim thoughts, Gainando's mother kindly emphasized:
"The most important thing in dance is rhythm. If you can just feel the beat, the rest of the movements will follow naturally. One, two, three. Again—one, two, three."
Watching Lee Han's movements, Gainando's mother wore the satisfied expression of a teacher pleased with a talented pupil.
For such a short time, this was excellent progress.
"With this level of talent, it'd be a shame to waste it... How about joining in the second semester?"
"I'm actually already taking quite a few other courses."
Lee Han quickly made an excuse.
Even Professor Voladi had accepted "I'm studying every branch of magic" as a valid excuse, so he knew the power this excuse held.
"Is that so? What a pity."
Gainando's mother didn't press further.
The top student of the year would likely manage his studies well on his own.
'I should just add a word or two to Count Gonadaltes when delivering the sponsorship funds.'
Still, Gainando's mother decided she ought to mention it to the Skeleton Principal.
It might be his interference preventing Lee Han from attending.
"By the way—is there anything I should be careful about at the ball?"
Lee Han asked for advice.
His friends were all still young and lacked experience in social gatherings, but Lee Han was particularly worse off.
Truthfully, he'd never had much interest in such events to begin with.
Thus, advice from someone like Gainando's mother was invaluable.
"First, it's best not to get involved with the imperial family."
"...Uh..."
Lee Han was slightly taken aback.
'Is she telling me not to play with Gainando?'
"I appreciate you playing with Gainando, but the other imperial family members at these gatherings are likely to grow jealous. They're troublesome in every way."
As if reading his mind, Gainando's mother kindly explained.
The imperial family's primary goal was to build achievements and prestige to announce to Imperial Social Circle: "We are such remarkable people, please support us as successors."
Thus, they took great interest in gatherings where the Magic School's new talents assembled.
For ambitious students, aligning with one of them wasn't a bad idea—but if one had no such intentions, it was better to steer clear.
"Politely declining a dance or conversation should make them understand and respect your intentions, Mr. Lee Han. They too have very strong pride, you see."
"???"
Lee Han tilted his head in confusion.
'But they didn't...'
Even when Lee Han declined, the imperial family members kept persistently clinging to him. Some even openly declared in front of Gainando that they'd "steal the Wardanaz heir away"...
'Were the imperial family members I met unusually lacking in pride?'
"I-I see. I'll keep that in mind. Aside from people who become bothersome when you get close, are there any who are good to befriend?"
"The city nobles of Granden are generally harmless to befriend. Since you'll be staying here for several years, they could be helpful in various ways."
"Ah. They helped me last time when chasing the Undead Chimera too."
Gainando's mother tactfully pretended not to hear about a freshman hunting down an Undead Chimera—a display of the seasoned shrewdness expected from someone who'd navigated every battle in Imperial Social Circle.
"Among them, there are particularly useful people to know..."
'Oh.'
Lee Han eagerly anticipated the condensed guide to Granden City's social elite that Gainando's mother was about to impart.
"For instance, someone like Grimé from the Boord family oversees all guild materials and reagents, which would be useful for a mage to know..."
"!"
Just hearing the description made him imagine the clinking sound of gold coins.
"Ah. Wait. That won't do."
"Huh? Why do you say that? Is it because I'm from House Wardanaz?"
Lee Han was baffled. He'd already started imagining monopolizing various jobs after becoming friends, happily working with his companions until the end of vacation.
"It's not because of House Wardanaz. Grimé has spirit blood mixed in her lineage, so if you get too close, she'll likely become frightened."
"...????"
Lee Han was stunned once more.
What kind of nonsense was this?
"Uh... well... Lady Kraha, you're talking to me right now, aren't you?"
As he asked, Lee Han hoped she'd respond with something like "That's true" or "Well, since I'm fine with you, maybe Grimé will be too."
Of course, spirits didn't particularly like him, but it made no sense for spirit half-bloods to dislike him as well...
"I have strong mental fortitude, but Grimé is quite timid, and her spirit blood is particularly strong..."
"......"
Instead of reassuring him, Gainando's mother drove the nail deeper.
Lee Han asked in a dejected voice, "Am I really that intimidating?"
"Yes."
"......"
"I'm sorry. But this isn't something I can sugarcoat."
Gainando's mother spoke with genuine remorse. Suddenly curious, Lee Han asked another question.
"Then... is Gainando fine with me because she has strong mental fortitude too?"
"She just hasn't manifested her spirit blood yet, so she doesn't feel it."
"I-I see."
The grand hall at the center of Granden City was usually one of the city's prides, where city nobles and officials gathered for important events.
But today, it was being used to welcome the new students of the Magic School. The arriving students marveled one by one at the mansion's splendid exterior.
Upon arrival, Lee Han briefly greeted the other top students who had come earlier. Friends who knew him either returned the greeting or averted their eyes.
"Why are you avoiding eye contact?"
"N-No misunderstanding, Wardanaz."
If there were any minor misunderstandings between them, they made sure to clear them up without fail.
"Nilia."
Seeing his dark elf friend's gloomy expression, Lee Han spoke as if understanding.
"You don't want to attend the ball. I get it. I don't really want to either."
"That's not why."
"No? Then why?"
"Because I ranked first in the Making Residence..."
"?"
Nilia let out a deep sigh and pulled out a document.
There are many idle hunters in the north, so if we send them to the southern coast... since they have long-range attacks, they'd handle monsters well... if monsters are dealt with, people will be happier and political instability will decrease... I'm sorry...
"Why did I even submit this...?"