Episode 391

Lee Han felt a headache creeping up on him for the first time in a while.

It was the same kind of headache he got when he had to figure out where to even begin explaining something to Gaiden right before an exam.

"Alright. Listen up, you White Tiger Tower brats."

Lee Han did his absolute best to explain just how exceptional this golem was.

At first, the White Tiger Tower students had listened with thoughts like, 'This Wardanaz guy sure has a roundabout way of bragging about his own magical skills.' But soon, they began to sense something was off, their expressions darkening.

"Don't... don't tell me."

"Are you saying you can't do it, Wardanaz?!"

"I've been saying that from the start."

The White Tiger Tower students were so shocked they couldn't even respond.

They staggered away, looking so utterly drained that even the priests grew concerned.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Honestly, I'm a bit worried..."

"It's fine. They'll perk up soon enough."

Contrary to Lee Han's expectations, however, the White Tiger Tower students remained sullen even the next day.

They had fallen deeper into the golem obsession than he'd thought.

'They'll snap out of it soon.'

Lee Han didn't pay it much mind.

At least, not until the White Tiger Tower students suddenly started being nice to him.

Thud—

"Wardanaz. Autumn hare tastes really good, you know."

"?"

Thud—

"Wardanaz. Here, a deer hind leg."

"??"

Thud—

"Wardanaz. This is the finest Imperial ham, aged for over a year."

"Where the hell did you get this?"

"The kitchen... shh."

'Come to think of it, I did notice two of them missing. Did they get dragged off to the punishment room?'

As nice as it was to keep receiving gifts, Lee Han's conscience wasn't that flexible.

With a sigh, he gathered Angrago and his friends.

"I appreciate the gifts, but what's impossible is impossible."

"...What if we bring you a whole wild boar next time...?"

"It's not that I won't help you—it's that I can't, you idiot."

"Ow!"

Lee Han finally snapped and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whacked Angrago over the head with his staff.

"You'd be better off asking someone else."

"Like who?"

"Professor Verdus, maybe..."

"There's no way that professor would agree to help us."

Angrago spoke as if the suggestion was absurd.

Of course, they all knew Professor Verdus was a master of Enchantment Magic.

But what good was skill if the person had no intention of helping?

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Ah! But maybe if you ask, Wardanaz, things might be different..."

"That's right, you're his favorite student!"

When one of the White Tiger Tower students piped up with hopeful excitement, Lee Han shook his head firmly.

"Don't talk nonsense."

"...You're not?"

"Yeah. It's not like that. I'll ask since I owe you, but don't get your hopes up."

Since there was a gathering with Professor Verdus that afternoon, Lee Han decided he might as well bring it up.

Given how much he'd received, the least he could do was ask...

"The golem? Bring it next time."

"!"

Lee Han, Angrago, and the White Tiger Tower students were all stunned.

So shocked that Lee Han, for once, didn't even bother measuring his words carefully.

"Professor. Are you... feeling alright??"

"W-Wardanaz! The professor just said yes, why are you—?!"

The White Tiger Tower students panicked, trying to stop him.

What kind of lunatic deliberately provokes Professor Verdus?!

"I'm fine. Aside from Gonadaltes piling work on me, that is. More importantly..."

Professor Verdus hesitated, then looked at Lee Han.

That alone sent a chill down Lee Han's spine.

When someone normally rude suddenly starts minding their manners, it's terrifying.

Professor Verdus, who usually demanded whatever he wanted without hesitation, was now hesitating and gauging reactions—it was downright creepy.

What the hell did he want?

'Please don't tell me he wants my blood or bones...'

"You're raising a basilisk, right?"

"...Yes."

Lee Han suppressed a sigh as he answered.

At this point, he didn't even care how the professor had found out.

'I guess I should assume all the professors are connected by telepathy.'

"Can I come watch?"

"Huh? Why are you asking me that?"

"You're raising it in Professor Bagrak's classroom, aren't you?"

"Probably, yes."

"If I go alone, Professor Bagrak might attack me."

"Why... what did you do to deserve that?"

"Dunno. He just attacks me."

Professor Verdus answered with the innocent face of a beaver.

But Lee Han wasn't fooled by the cute animal appearance. There were far too many things Professor Verdus had done to be swayed by something like that.

'More likely, he'll attack you even if you come with me.'

Lee Han thought this but didn't say it out loud.

After all, it was Professor Verdus who'd be getting hit.

"Anyway, if you come watch, does that mean you'll help with the golem?"

"Huh? The golem's the golem. Watching is watching. What are you talking about?"

Upon reflection, Professor Verdus wasn't the type of person to make such shrewd bargains.

He'd only agreed to the golem because it looked fun—the suggestion had been entirely separate.

"Never mind. Then let's go together afterward. I was going to visit you before the evening lecture anyway."

Professor Verdus's face brightened.

"Great! Then tell Professor Bagrak not to attack me!"

"Oh... um... I'll try to mention it."

After the Enchantment Magic lecture ended (during which several students were sent to the infirmary after having to pull scorching-hot stones from a bonfire with Flame Resistance spells on their hands), Lee Han walked alongside Professor Verdus.

"Professor. So you'll mainly be teaching Enhancement Magic in the second semester, right?"

Since they'd learned the basics of Enchantment Magic in the first semester and practiced casting it on inanimate objects, it made sense that the second semester would focus on practicing Enchantment Magic cast directly on living beings.

"Huh?"

"...Isn't that the case?"

"Was it? I just followed the book order. Maybe it was like that."

Lee Han smiled faintly at Professor Verdus, who treated students like pebbles rolling along the roadside.

At this point, there was nothing left to be surprised about!

"Then what have you been teaching for the past two weeks?"

"What did we do last week... Hmm... Oh. That. Arrow blocking."

"Excuse me?"

"Blocking incoming arrows. It's good for testing Enhancement Magic."

'Should I have enrolled later?'

"In that case, it's highly likely you'll keep focusing on Enhancement Magic until the midterms."

"Is that what the book says? Then I guess so."

"...Is the midterm exam another artifact creation like last time?"

"Nope. For first-year freshmen in the second semester, the midterm is..."

Professor Verdus frowned deeply, lost in thought, before speaking.

"That's right. Preparing traps and throwing them at each other."

"...What??"

"Wait. Gonadaltes told me not to mention this. It's a secret."

"Ah. Right. Uh...?"

Despite finally getting a hint, Lee Han was more bewildered than ever.

What kind of midterm exam was "preparing traps and throwing them at each other"?

"We're here, Professor."

Lee Han knocked and entered.

Professor Voladi was sitting by the table as usual.

The only difference was the familiar large egg placed in the center of the classroom.

"Is that the basilisk?"

Professor Verdus asked, eyes sparkling. In response, Professor Voladi immediately raised his staff and attacked him.

The beaver beastman professor shrieked and flung himself sideways.

"Stop him!"

"What power do I have to— More importantly, Professor. Why are you attacking Professor ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Verdus?"

"He was trying to steal the basilisk."

"...Professor..."

Lee Han gave Professor Verdus a look of utter disappointment.

"That's not true!"

Professor Verdus croaked in protest.

"I just wanted to touch it because it looked cool!"

"What nonsense."

Lee Han scoffed.

Professor Verdus, who had been rolling sideways in the hallway, looked up at Lee Han, wondering why he was acting like that.

"Professor, there's no way you came here with such pure intentions."

"...I'm telling you, it's not like that!"

For the first time in a long while, Professor Verdus felt genuinely wronged.

"Of course, I did plan to take some materials once the basilisk hatched!"

"Without permission?"

"With permission!"

"Tch..."

Under Lee Han's suspicious gaze, Professor Verdus felt unjustly accused for the first time in ages.

Though Professor Verdus normally possessed an ironclad spirit that remained ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠utterly unfazed no matter what was said, he couldn't help feeling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inexplicably wronged seeing Lee Han act this way.

Since when was it acceptable for a student to doubt their teacher like this?

"I'm telling you the truth!"

"Understood. Please get up."

Taking Lee Han's offered hand, Professor Verdus rose from the floor.

At that very moment, Professor Voladi's magic shot out across the classroom again. Professor Verdus took a direct hit and went tumbling down the hallway once more.

Thanks to the exceptional artifacts he wore, he didn't sustain a single injury, but the impact must have been substantial as he coughed violently.

"I told you to stop her!"

"Well... It's not like she'd actually stop just because I told her to."

"At least try!"

Lee Han shrugged helplessly before speaking.

"Professor. Could you please temporarily halt your attacks on Professor Verdus?"

"Very well."

Professor Voladi lowered her staff.

"......"

"......"

Professor Verdus glared at Lee Han.

He'd just taken an unnecessary extra hit for no reason!

Even with the basilisk egg present, Professor Voladi's lecture didn't change in the slightest.

"How much have you practiced the Dark Element?"

"I can perform basic casting, but..."

"Lightning Element?"

"Currently practicing shape transformation."

"Water Element? Summoning Magic? Enchantment Magic?"

Professor Verdus sat nearby, silently observing their conversation.

Any other professor might have reacted with "Isn't this a bit excessive?" but fortunately, Professor Verdus had no such thoughts.

"It seems we'll need to catch you up on the areas where you're lacking."

At Professor Voladi's words, Lee Han nodded and subtly shifted sideways.

His plan was to use Professor Verdus as a shield if any attacks came flying.

'She wouldn't attack directly with the professor here, right?'

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Professor Voladi began firing projectiles of Dark Element. Professor Verdus, who had been sitting beside them, suddenly took a hit and screamed as he toppled over.

"You said you'd stop!"

"I didn't attack you."

"Ah. Right."

Lee Han wanted to ask what exactly was "right" about this, but he was too busy dodging to respond.

Fortunately, even though Professor Verdus had fallen, the artifacts he wore made him an excellent barrier.

Lee Han quickly grabbed the fallen professor and hoisted him up like a shield. The Dark Element projectiles bounced off relentlessly.

"When will this end?"

"You'll have to wait a little longer!"

Thirty minutes later.

After a basic training session to sharpen Lee Han's sensitivity to the Dark Element, Professor Voladi declared a break.

"Using your environment is good, but fundamental skill comes first."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Now, tend to the basilisk."

"...?"

Lee Han was slightly taken aback by Professor Voladi's words.

"Uh... Aren't you going to teach me how?"

Normally, when assigning a first-year student to care for a basilisk egg, wouldn't they explain things like "Do this, don't do that"?

Of course, Lee Han had already asked Professor Lightning-Step about various details before coming, but...

"I was just about to explain."

"Thank you."

Thud—

Professor Voladi tossed him a book. Lee Han considered himself lucky.

After all, Professor Voladi was someone who preferred explaining through books rather than words.

"It's written based on the Blue Dragon Tower's standards, but there shouldn't be much difference for the Phoenix Tower."

"...Excuse me?"

Lee Han paused while flipping through the book.

What did that mean?

Professor Verdus, sitting nearby, chimed in.

"Need help moving the egg?"

"......"

Realizing that he wasn't just assisting in raising it in Professor Voladi's classroom but would have to care for it in his dorm, Lee Han seriously considered transferring to the White Tiger Tower.