Episode 38
Episode 38
'He's a student from the Tower of the Black Turtle, isn't he?'
Lee Han watched carefully to see what the other person would do.
The opponent was a rat beastkin boy. He was short with a slightly hunched back, but his footsteps were so quiet they didn't make a single sound.
Lee Han suspected the boy might have received specialized training.
As the old knight Alarong had said, footsteps often revealed a person's background.
The footsteps of a knight, the footsteps of a mage, the footsteps of a hunter, the footsteps of a thief...
And those footsteps were closer to those of a thief.
'Rat beastkin aren't exactly welcomed in the Empire, though.'
While the Empire claimed all races were equal, the reality was far from it.
In practice, some races were inevitably more popular than others.
And rat beastkin fell into the latter category.
Due to their reputation for producing thieves, vagrants, pickpockets, and ragpickers, they always faced suspicious glances from Imperial citizens.
That was the reality for rat beastkin.
'Maybe it's just my prejudice. Not every rat beastkin would automatically go around stealing.'
Lee Han thought he might be jumping to conclusions.
Just because someone was a rat beastkin didn't mean they'd received thief training.
Click─
"......"
However, the boy pulled out a crude, makeshift fake key from his waistband and began vigorously twisting it in the locked door.
His intentions were obvious to anyone watching.
'Well, I'm not one to talk.'
Given that Lee Han himself was currently searching for ways to sneak out while breaking school rules, he couldn't exactly criticize others.
In fact...
'Maybe cooperation would be better.'
Judging by how he'd even prepared a key, this clearly wasn't the boy's first attempt.
Lee Han couldn't possibly be the only student trying to sneak out of school.
He approached cautiously.
If the boy got startled and made noise, they'd both be doomed.
Swish─
Lee Han quietly stopped behind the rat beastkin boy who was completely absorbed in his task, then pressed his staff against the boy's neck and whispered in a low voice:
"Hey. Make a sound and you're dead."
"...!!"
Ratford had been a professional thief belonging to the <White Crow> thieves' guild even before enrolling.
Truth be told, Ratford himself couldn't believe it when he received the Magic School's admission offer.
No matter how talented he was, accepting a thief as a student?
Fortunately, the students of the Tower of the Black Turtle didn't ostracize him.
But Ratford couldn't help feeling strangely alienated nonetheless.
There was an inevitable gap between him—who had honed his skills stealing through night alleys—and the boys and girls born into wealthy merchant families.
Because of this, Ratford wanted to prove himself through his own abilities.
Just like Nilia from hunter background had done (though Ratford never imagined there'd be someone like him), he wanted his tower mates to acknowledge him through his skills!
So Ratford prepared meticulously.
-With such a large school, there must be kitchens or storage rooms. If I can find and loot those, I'll get more than enough food and daily necessities to share!
While other students mindlessly walked through corridors to classrooms, Ratford discreetly investigated keyholes in the central staircase's rear area, watching for observers.
Creating an improvised key by sensing the keyhole's interior with just his fingertips and then picking the lock was an advanced trick most thieves couldn't manage...
But after pouring all his spare time into it, Ratford had finally succeeded.
He thought only glory remained, only to be ambushed like this.
'Wh...who...'
The answer was obvious.
It had to be the school's security.
Professional thieves always prepared for situations like this.
Ratford carefully raised both hands above his shoulders and spoke in his most submissive tone:
"P-please don't hit me. I surrender."
Even among thieves, those who resisted and raged when caught received far more beatings than those who confessed obediently.
If I'm already caught, admitting it might actually be the better choice.
"Shh. I snuck out too, just like you."
"...?!"
Only then did Ratford turn around.
A sturdy boy in priestly robes was removing his staff from Ratford's neck while glancing around cautiously.
'He's just another freshman?!'
Ratford was flabbergasted.
The threat had been so bloodcurdling that Ratford had naturally assumed it was security.
No—for a fellow freshman to threaten him with "Make a sound and you're dead" like some hardened criminal...
"What the hell—"
"I said keep your voice down."
"Who are you?"
Even as he asked, Ratford could somewhat guess the other's identity.
Tall, solid build, and the skill to wield a staff like a weapon upon approaching.
He was clearly one of the students from White Tiger Tower.
'No idea how he got priest robes, but this guy's got some brains.'
Wandering around in priestly robes naturally drew less suspicion.
Who'd have thought a muscle-headed knight trainee could show such cunning?
"Blue Dragon Tower. Lee Han of Wardanaz."
"......"
Ratford's jaw dropped in shock.
Ratford adapted to the situation faster than expected.
Not that he fully understood it.
'What's a Wardanaz doing out at night... and how'd he get priest robes...'
But given how urgent things were, he decided to just roll with it.
Above all, the proposal from the Wardanaz boy was even more shocking.
"You want to team up?"
"Any task is more efficient with two. Working together benefits you too, doesn't it?"
"...Do you not see who I am??"
Ratford asked incredulously. Lee Han paused at the question.
"Are you... the headmaster's son or something?"
"......"
Of course he wasn't.
Ratford was speechless.
Anyone with eyes could see Ratford was a mouse beastkin.
And here he was, jiggling a fake lockpick in the dead of night.
Anyone with half a brain would go, 'Ah, a thief!'
"I'm obviously a thief! A highborn from the Wardanaz family wants to team up with a lowly thief like me?"
"Hey. What does it look like I'm doing right now?"
"......"
Lee Han's question left Ratford dumbstruck.
...Good point.
"Team up?"
"Yeah. You were looking for the food storage, right? Same here."
"!"
After another moment of shock, Ratford collected himself.
"You're really from the Wardanaz family?"
He eyed Lee Han suspiciously.
No matter how he looked at it...
"Are we teaming up, or do I knock you out and go alone?"
"W-whoa, calm down. Let's team up. Two heads are better than one."
Ratford frantically waved his hands as Lee Han's staff threatenedly inched forward.
If nothing else, he was certain he couldn't win in a fight.
"So. Did you prepare a key?"
"Yeah."
"Is it working?"
"Nope. Should've worked, but it seems magically protected."
Ratford anxiously jiggled the lock.
If magic was involved, even he couldn't pick it.
Unless they had a thief's treasure, they were completely unarmed here...
Click!
"?"
A key floated up from Lee Han's pocket as if summoned and slid into the lock.
With a turn, the door swung open.
"???"
"Wh-where'd that key come from?"
"Stole it from the headmaster's office."
"You... you're joking?"
"Nope. Dead serious."
While cleaning up with Ashan last time, he'd not only learned magic but also pocketed a key.
Hadn't known which one it was—turns out it unlocked the central hall's back area?
'...Need to be careful.'
If it was the headmaster's key, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
Lee Han steeled himself, vowing not to let this stroke of luck make him complacent.
They passed through the deserted banquet hall, traversed a grand hall, and walked by several closed doors...
"Wait."
Ratford suddenly dropped to the floor.
"I think there's someone underground? I hear voices."
"...!"
At that moment, Lee Han realized where the workers must be entering.
'Underground!'
If they came and went through the main gate or castle wall passages on the surface, not only would they catch the students' eyes, but the students would inevitably try to use those routes too.
In contrast, using underground passages meant students would have no easy way to notice them.
No wonder they hadn't seen any worker shadows despite students roaming around so much...
'Just why is this damn school going to such lengths?'
"They're definitely making noise from the underground storage. Let's find a way down!"
"Y-yes, indeed..."
At Lee Han's words, Ratford hurriedly began moving his feet.
Fortunately, the stairs leading underground soon appeared before them.
Creeeak—
Though they'd only descended one flight of stairs, the air had changed completely.
Upstairs, at least some moonlight filtered through the windows, but down here there was nothing but chilly darkness.
Lee Han considered summoning light.
But his instincts stopped him from taking such action.
Above all, the fact that the key from the headmaster's office had opened the door had heightened Lee Han's wariness.
'Given what I've seen of the headmaster's personality so far, it wouldn't be strange if he'd set up several traps in a place like this.'
Ratford rustled beside him. Lee Han spoke in a low voice:
"Don't light anything."
"...?"
"Someone might be waiting."
"!"
Ratford was startled by the Wardanaz family boy's words.
This truly was an unknown location where anything could be lurking. The unfamiliarity and tension had made him unconsciously reach for light.
Had Lee Han not spoken, he might have made a critical mistake.
'...No but seriously, what's up with him?'
Ratford had heard several rumors about the boy from the Wardanaz family within the Black Turtle Tower.
-They say he's ruthless? Seems he's already dominating the Blue Dragon Tower through sheer charisma.
-Even imperial princes and princesses reportedly hold their breath before the Wardanaz family.
-Saw him in magic class—he succeeded in one try what others failed at multiple times.
-Heard in mount class a Thunderbird attacked but he magically subdued and tamed it. Can you believe that?
At first, he'd thought these were exaggerated rumors.
They seemed too extreme for a fellow freshman.
But seeing him like this, Ratford began wondering if the rumors might not be exaggerations after all.
The intimidating aura radiating from him was no joke!
Whoosh!
"!"
In the distance, a lantern suddenly flared, illuminating its surroundings.
Lee Han and Ratford barely dared to breathe as they hunched their postures.
What they couldn't see in the darkness became faintly visible—the entire underground space was like one massive storage.
Shelves and tables stood densely packed, crammed full with all manner of items.
The storekeeper began slowly walking with the lantern. In the silence so profound you could hear a pin drop, the storekeeper's muttering came through crystal clear:
"Cheese... 8. Confirmed. Maple syrup... 5 bottles. Confirmed. Birch Paper... 22 sheets. Confirmed. Spirit Silver Needles... 3. Confirmed."
'He's memorizing all the numbers!'
"The alarm spells have weakened. Need to reapply them."
They could sense the storekeeper casting magic over items along with waves of mana.
Lee Han felt a chill run down his spine.
Every single item had alarm spells on them.
Had they touched anything recklessly without knowing this, they might have been dragged straight to the punishment room.
"Who goes there?"
"!"
Both their hearts sank.
The storekeeper had turned his head precisely toward their direction and spoken.
'From this angle, he shouldn't be able to see us...?'
Amid his confusion, Lee Han struggled to maintain composure.
How had the opponent noticed? Was this a test? Would using Invisibility Magic now be too late?
"...!"
Lee Han stared in shock at the slowly approaching storekeeper's face.
Astonishingly, the storekeeper was completely blind, his eyes tightly bound with bandages.