Episode 385
Episode 385
Despite the Skeleton Principal's words, Lee Han couldn't help but worry about his friends in the Blue Dragon Tower.
It had been about two weeks—were those guys even eating proper meals?
'Wait. If I go to the Phoenix Tower, I can't do business there.'
Realizing this fact, Lee Han felt a fresh surge of anger toward the Ghoul King.
Of course, he could still sell food to students from other towers, but business was always most lucrative when dealing with those from the same tower.
And now that was cut off.
"That Ghoul King is truly an evil bastard! For the sake of the Empire's peace, he should be locked away forever!"
Why suddenly...? There was no need to say that—he was already completely imprisoned.
The Skeleton Principal looked puzzled as Lee Han suddenly erupted in fury.
The Ghoul King was already in the Skeleton Principal's grasp.
Though he was a powerful undead struggling desperately to escape, once properly confined like this, breaking free was impossible.
If he kept resisting, the moment he surrendered, he would be reborn as the Skeleton Principal's minion.
"But strictly speaking, it was Student Lee Han who captured the Ghoul King. Aren't you going to reward him?"
"Gasp. Is that so? I didn't realize. If you're offering, I'll gratefully accept."
......
The Skeleton Principal blinked irritably as he watched the master and disciple pair.
'An Outing Pass...'
Inside the Skeleton Principal's carriage, Lee Han fell deep into thought about the Outing Pass.
For any other student, an Outing Pass would be a reward worth risking their life for, but for Lee Han, it wasn't that significant.
He still had his escape—no, his exit route from the first semester.
A path to slip out through the sky using the Spire Stables.
This was a route even the Skeleton Principal hadn't noticed yet. There was no way he could have expected that Lee Han had managed to get outside with outside help in such a short time.
'But I still have to use the Outing Pass.'
Lee Han calculated coldly.
If the Skeleton Principal saw Lee Han living comfortably without ever using the Outing Pass, what then?
'That bastard is getting out somehow!'—he'd definitely catch on.
If it were someone like Gainando, they'd say, 'Why do you even need to be so careful?' But Lee Han was different.
The devil is in the details.
The moment he slipped up in the smallest way, the devil would come to punish him by throwing him into detention.
What are you thinking about so amusingly?
"Ah, I was just so excited thinking about the lectures I'll take next semester that I couldn't contain myself."
"Right? I felt the same way."
What a joyous time.
"......"
Lee Han got goosebumps watching the two professors accept his nonsense so naturally.
Was he the only sane person in this carriage?
We're here.
As the carriage passed over Einrogard's walls, the figure of Ogoldos beside him grew transparent until he was no longer visible to Lee Han's eyes.
"......"
While Lee Han watched with mixed feelings, the Skeleton Principal stopped the carriage in front of the tower.
Go in and bring out the rest of your belongings. No, it'd be better if I came with you.
"Huh? Is there some kind of trap inside?"
Those iron-headed Blue Dragon Tower guys might grab you and refuse to let you leave.
"...They're not that kind of friends. Probably."
-This can't be! It's a lie! It's definitely a rumor spread by those White Tiger Tower bastards!
Denial.
-Gainando, you bastard! You should've been the one to go in, not me!
-I tried to get in too, but I couldn't! It's Professor Mortum's fault!
-Didn't those White Tiger Tower bastards ambush us while hiding?
Rage.
-Okay, okay. If Lee Han comes back now, I'll forgive the professor.
-Me... me too.
-If he comes back within this week, I'll donate to the Empire's Black Mages. I will... I swear...!
Bargaining.
-Why does this only happen to us? Is God jealous of our bloodline?
-It's because of those White Tiger Tower bastards.
Gloom.
So this is the cycle they've been repeating.
At the Skeleton Principal's words, Lee Han made an indescribable expression.
'If I go in there, will I really not be able to come out?'
Perhaps thinking the same, the Skeleton Principal cast a spell instead of sending Lee Han inside.
One by one, Lee Han's belongings flew out from the tower window toward them.
That should be everything, right?
"Ah, yes. Roughly..."
Good. Then... you iron-headed morons!!!
The Skeleton Principal shouted in a voice that rang out clearly.
Startled, the first-year students of the Blue Dragon Tower stood by their windows.
Seeing this, Lee Han clicked his tongue in pity.
'To immediately stick their faces out just because the Headmaster called. After all they've suffered.'
If it were Lee Han, he would've first checked if there were any traps outside the window before showing his face.
The Wardanaz family's Lee Han has returned!
"!!!!"
"R-really?!"
"Wardanaz! Wardanaz! Over here!!!"
His friends opened their windows and waved frantically. Every single one looked haggard and pale.
"Headmaster, thank you! We knew you'd save us!"
Of course. It took a while, but who do you think I am?
For the first time in ages, students of the Blue Dragon Tower began cheering the Skeleton Principal's name.
It was impossible to guess how long it had been since the Headmaster last received such respectful, voluntary praise.
But there was one more surprising fact.
"Did Lee Han bring chocolate cake?"
Wardanaz needs treatment until his evil energy dissipates.
"Th-that!"
"Black magic is truly the worst!"
Gainando cursed black magic vehemently.
So he'll likely stay at the Phoenix Tower this semester. Well then! Have a good evening, everyone!
The Skeleton Principal scooped up Lee Han and whooshed away.
"???"
"??????"
"??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?"
From the rear tower came screams so horrifying even demons from hell would hesitate to make them.
"Please take good care of me."
Entering the Phoenix Tower, Lee Han was surprised by the quiet atmosphere.
While places in the Blue Dragon Tower gave off a luxurious, extravagant feel, the Phoenix Tower felt serene and solemn.
Indeed, the students inside welcomed Lee Han without raising their voices too much.
"Welcome, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"We were worried when you arrived late."
Perhaps because many were priest trainees, after greeting Lee Han, the Phoenix Tower students didn't pester him further.
Having heard the explanation, they likely understood that more questions would be bothersome.
Some sat reading books, others prayed, and some discussed doctrines with fellow students.
Watching them, Lee Han was moved.
'Now these are real students.'
What kind of students go crazy over chess or Wizard Cards? Seeing the diligence of the Phoenix Tower students, he felt an unexpected surge of emotion.
"Priestess Dijiling."
"Yes. How may I assist you?"
Priestess Dijiling, who had been preparing for prayers nearby, turned his head.
"Could you tell me about the Phoenix Tower's rules?"
Though Lee Han knew most priests here by face and was quite close with some, he was still a student transferred mid-term to the Phoenix Tower.
There were surely areas where he might unintentionally make mistakes without prior knowledge.
"Of course. Though the rules aren't excessively strict..."
"I'd appreciate a simple explanation."
According to Priestess Dijiling, the Phoenix Tower's rules fundamentally focused on mutual respect and assistance.
Help those struggling, assist those stuck on assignments, find solutions together when someone is ill...
Remembering how his Blue Dragon Tower friends would grab each other's collars over a single misplayed card, Lee Han shook his head bitterly.
'My friends should really learn from this.'
"...Prayer times are as follows, and dinner time is... Oh dear. It's almost dinner time."
"I may have rushed here and don't have many ingredients, but I'll do my best to prepare something."
"There's no need for that."
"Huh?"
"Here, we all prepare meals together."
Not only the priests sitting in the lounge but even those who had been in their rooms came out and began gathering whatever food ingredients they had.
Though the ingredients weren't much, the priests didn't seem to mind, peeling vegetables with serious expressions.
Lee Han took out the spices and seasonings he'd brought. Two priests came over, asked for the recipe, then insisted on taking over the cooking themselves.
"Do you always gather like this to prepare meals together? I mean... everyone must have different food supplies..."
"Yes. They might be different, but when you give, you'll receive someday in return."
"......"
"Here you go, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family. We've finished peeling all the potatoes."
"You must be tired from your long journey—wouldn't it be better to rest a bit?"
Suddenly, Lee Han began to feel incredibly comfortable in the Phoenix Tower.
'What is this? This sense of ease...?'
"Lee Han must be feeling so lonely right about now."
"...?"
The weekend ended, and the morning of a new week dawned.
At Gainando's words, Yoner tilted her head in confusion, but the other students reacted vehemently, as if in strong agreement.
"Of course he would be! He went to another tower!"
"See, the Headmaster isn't just being mean for no reason. How could he do something so absurd?"
Even the Princess was nodding. Yoner rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
"Let's all go welcome Wardanaz back! He must be feeling so lonely in the Phoenix Tower."
"That's a great idea!"
The students of the Blue Dragon Tower set off for the Phoenix Tower to soothe Lee Han's homesickness.
True friendship helps overcome loneliness, even when trapped in another tower.
If the Blue Dragon Tower friends showed they hadn't forgotten him, Lee Han would surely feel better.
"Wardanaz! Wardanaz!!"
"We're here! Wardanaz!"
As they climbed the hill below the tower, the Blue Dragon Tower students shouted loudly.
But the sight before their eyes was not what they expected.
There was Lee Han, laughing with the priests as they shared breakfast in the open space before the Phoenix Tower.
"Truly amazing, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family!"
"It's nothing. Really not that impressive."
"Nonsense. To make such a soup with such simple ingredients..."
"Please have some more cheese, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Would you like some more soup?"
"......"
"......"
The Blue Dragon Tower students stared at the breakfast scene with deeply betrayed expressions.
Tears welled in the eyes of some.
"Can... can priests even act like that? Can they be that sneaky?"
"Hey, don't insult the priests... Damn it. That's not the point right now. This is just unfair."
"Just you wait...!"
The Blue Dragon Tower students gnashed their teeth and turned away.
They were determined to make sure the Phoenix Tower students knew which tower Wardanaz truly belonged to.
Just you wait!
"That was truly delicious."
"No, it feels like we're the ones indebted to you."
If the Blue Dragon Tower students had indulged in luxury with imported foods during the first semester, and the White Tiger or Black Turtle Towers gathered ingredients within the school, the Phoenix Tower priests showed resourcefulness in making the most of what they received.
Their frugality—finding ways to soften hardened bread or cold rice balls by boiling them to make them more filling.
Seeing them try to share even more, Lee Han made a firm resolution.
'I must make sure they eat their fill.'
"By the way, Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Hmm?"
"Forgive me if this is rude, but... do you follow any particular faith?"
It might have been his imagination, but for a moment, Lee Han felt the warm, friendly air among the priests flare up with a sudden competitive intensity.