Episode 400
Episode 400
Lee Han flatly refused.
"I think the Headmaster repeatedly granting such conveniences also counts as special treatment."
...Are you drunk right now?
Ignoring the Skeleton Principal's reproachful tone that suggested he found this utterly absurd, Lee Han posed another question.
"But Headmaster. By any chance, do you know much about the Paragranum Guild?"
'After just refusing special treatment...'
The Skeleton Principal sounded incredulous at Lee Han's shamelessness in asking this immediately after his previous statement.
Of course I know. But why should I tell you?
"Thanks to me, the Phoenix Tower priests aren't fighting right now. Consider it a reward and answer me."
...You damn brat! I concede.
The Skeleton Principal was honestly impressed.
Such sheer audacity.
What do you want to know?
"They're guests invited by the professor, but I'm worried whether I can pass their tests."
They are quite particular individuals.
The Skeleton Principal acknowledged this.
The alchemists of the Paragranum Guild were notoriously stubborn, so their testing standards would undoubtedly be extremely stringent.
With just average results, passing would be difficult.
But as I said earlier, while magic may have no weaknesses, magicians certainly do.
"?"
You don't understand. I'm saying you should impress those alchemists through alternative methods.
"...Uh, you mean like pushing them into the lake then rescuing them?"
For a moment, the Skeleton Principal nearly reconsidered his educational philosophy.
'No. That must be because of the other professors.'
Quickly rationalizing, the Headmaster replied.
Not that insane method... I mean gentler, more moderate approaches. Like how you've impressed other students.
"...Uh, by any chance..."
Not White Tiger Tower - Phoenix Tower!
"Aha."
Before Lee Han could ask 'You mean beat them with wooden swords then save their lives to impress them?', the Skeleton Principal swiftly continued.
"But is that approach acceptable? Shouldn't we do it properly through alchemy..."
What nonsense are you spouting? How could a first-year possibly defeat a Paragranum alchemist through proper methods? As long as you don't leak secrets, any means leading to victory counts.
"......"
'Did I bring the wrong people?'
Professor Thunderstep thought while dining with the alchemists.
Upon reflection, the Empire had other alchemy guilds besides Paragranum.
Wouldn't guilds without a history of occupying capital buildings and attempting arson have been better?
"Ahem. They're all outstanding students."
"Yes. Einrogard students are indeed remarkable."
The Paragranum alchemists picked up their forks for the ceviche with sauce, then frowned and pushed their plates aside.
But Professor Thunderstep, preoccupied with evaluating the students' potions, failed to notice this.
"S-so they pass?"
"Yes. No residue visible, and the color separation is clean. Well-made potions."
"Then some students might qualify?"
"No."
"......"
'Did I really bring the wrong people?'
Professor Thunderstep wore a bitter expression.
Though he'd sternly told the students "You must perform well to satisfy these guild alchemists!", as a professor, his natural inclination was to side with his students.
Some level of student success would preserve his professional pride and bring satisfaction - if they all failed, wouldn't that reflect poorly on him?
But the Paragranum alchemists were stricter than anticipated.
"With work this good, you could reasonably approve..."
"Impossible. Professor. You know our guild's rules well. Only those who create new potions may join."
'You madmen, that's your guild membership requirement...!'
Hearing they were actually testing first-years against guild admission standards made him dizzy.
"Then what about this potion? It's quite well improved, isn't it?"
"An excellent potion, but replacing Silvermoon Herb with Dewdrop Flower is too... ordinary. It lacks brilliance."
"......"
Knock knock knock-
"Professor?"
"Come in."
When a student from the alchemy lecture knocked, Professor Thunderstep hastily put away the potion and responded.
"I've prepared the potion as you instructed... Oh, were you in the middle of a meal?"
"No. Since you've brought it, let me see."
Professor Thunderstep accepted the potion the student handed over.
At a glance, it seemed to have modified two ingredients based on the Nightmist Potion, but unfortunately, it was rather predictable.
Substituting specific ingredients with similar components was something anyone could do.
Still, it was quite well-made...
"Mediocre."
"This won't pass."
"Unacceptable."
"...My apologies!! I'll redo it!!"
"W-wait! Hold on!"
As the student shouted and turned to dash out, Professor Thunderstep tried to stop them.
But the student was already long gone.
"...Next time, consult me first."
"Yes. I'll do that."
The most frustrating part was that the Paragranum Guild alchemists showed no reaction to what had just happened.
Whether the student ran out or not, the alchemists simply continued discussing alchemy among themselves.
"So using that new ingredient there..."
"I believe it's better to restructure it entirely from scratch."
"That seems inefficient, so why bother..."
"Ahem. Ahem."
"Ah! Are you perhaps offering advice?"
"...Other than that, don't you have any advice for the student who just left?"
The alchemists fell into brief contemplation.
Then they spoke in unison.
"Make it again?"
"...Never mind."
After that, students who had prepared potions came one by one, only to be rejected.
When the visits abruptly stopped at some point, Professor Thunderstep realized the rumors had spread.
'Ugh...'
He understood why the students were too scared to come.
But if this continued, the students' pride would be severely wounded, and Professor Thunderstep's own pride would also...
Knock knock knock-
"Are you there?"
"!!!"
At Lee Han's voice, Professor Thunderstep's eyes widened.
His most reliable card had arrived.
"Wardanaz!"
"...Yes? That's correct, but why—"
"Come in! Come in!"
Professor Thunderstep personally opened the door.
Lee Han responded to the sudden welcome with an extremely wary gaze.
Just as swallows flying low foretell rain, a professor acting kindly always meant trouble.
"Here, the top student of the alchemy lecture!"
"Oh."
"Indeed."
"Impressive."
"......"
The alchemists of the Paragranum Guild were terribly inept at feigning interest.
Lee Han thought to himself:
'Even the Gaidando listening to exam instructions would show more interest than them.'
"...Fine. Just take out the potion you brought."
"Huh? I didn't bring one."
"What?"
Professor Thunderstep was taken aback.
"Why didn't you bring it?"
"I didn't come to submit a potion—I came to assist you, Professor."
To be precise, it was closer to scouting the Paragranum alchemists, but Lee Han phrased it considerately.
Professor Thunderstep was deeply moved.
Say what you will, there was no other student like Lee Han.
Which student would proactively think of their professor and visit like this?
"You rascal...!"
"Were you in the middle of a meal?"
"A meal... I don't even know if I've eaten anything. Those alchemists drain a person's energy."
"Then why did you invite them?"
"Don't annoy me with obvious questions."
Passing through the workshop door with Professor Thunderstep, Lee Han surveyed the table where the alchemists sat.
It seemed they had barely touched their food, engrossed solely in alchemy talk. Since this was an unexpectedly common sight among professors, Lee Han wasn't surprised.
"Shall I prepare something for you?"
"Don't bother. Stop it."
"It's really no trouble."
"No. I mean it—don't. I just don't want to feed those bastards any more. If they're hungry, they can go to the kitchen and ask for more themselves."
"......"
Lee Han marveled at Professor Thunderstep's pettiness.
Even so, to invite guests and then act like this—it wasn't something an ordinary person could pull off.
"By the way, what's that?"
Professor Thunderstep asked, eyeing the bundle Lee Han was carrying.
"Ah. I made some meatless meatloaf with friends from Turtle Tower. I was planning to drop some off for the Blue Dragon Tower folks on my way..."
If regular meatloaf was made by mixing meat with various ingredients to bulk it up before baking, the Einrogard-style version removed the meat entirely and just baked the remaining ingredients.
Outside, Blue Dragon Tower students would scoff, 'Is this even food?' But inside, they'd gobble it up while muttering, 'I guess this counts as food.'
"If you really want to offer something, that'll do."
"Huh? No thanks."
"I'll let you take as many ingredients as you want when you leave."
"Help yourself, then."
Lee Han handed it over without hesitation.
Professor Thunderstep, even as he said it, found himself baffled and asked again.
"...Don't you care about the effort or sentiment you put into making it together?"
"Do you consider things like that when brewing potions, Professor?"
"Whoever taught you, they did a damn good job."
Grumbling, Professor Thunderstep took out the meatless meatloaf, sliced it, and offered it.
"You all ate too little earlier. Have this while you talk."
"Thank you."
'He's not... insulting them, is he?'
Lee Han worried inwardly.
If people who'd just eaten delicious food outside tried this, they might react with, 'Is Einrogard mocking us?'
"!"
Just as Lee Han feared, the alchemists looked startled. He whispered under his breath:
"See, why did you have to serve this?"
"Absolutely delightful."
"...?"
"????"
Lee Han and Professor Thunderstep exchanged bewildered glances at the unexpected reaction.
The alchemists continued, intrigued.
"Using rarely utilized ingredients like this—what a novel attempt."
"Far more interesting than the earlier dish."
"...??"
Lee Han sneakily tried a bite of the leftover ceviche.
Professor Thunderstep was an exceptional alchemist, which also meant he was an exceptional brewer and cook.
The ceviche, made with premium ingredients and flawless technique, was fresh and vibrant. It was incomparable to the fake meatloaf.
"...?????"
'Are their taste buds broken?'
"Was there a particular reason for selecting these ingredients?"
"Uh... Yes. Well, as alchemists, we should always approach cooking with fresh experimentation... or so the Professor taught me."
The Paragranum alchemists murmured in admiration, looking between Professor Thunderstep and Lee Han.
And Professor Thunderstep, equally dumbfounded, just stared at Lee Han.
"But does it actually taste good to you?"
"Food isn't about flavor—it's about nutritional intake."
"It's not about savoring taste but appreciating the novel attempt within."
'To think I cooked for these lunatics.'
Professor Thunderstep lamented.
He regretted not just pouring beer into a boot and calling it a new dish.
"If it's not too forward, may we ask your family name and given name?"
"Lee Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Lee Han!"
The alchemists looked astonished.
Lee Han assumed they were surprised upon hearing the Wardanaz name.
'Do they have ties to the Wardanaz family?'
"We've heard much praise from Yoanen Maykin! Did you work in their workshop two months ago?"
"...I did, but..."
"What a surprise to meet you like this. We've been wanting to meet you after hearing Yoanen Maykin speak of you."
"...What exactly did they say about me?"
'Honestly, I'm curious too.'
Professor Thunderstep listened nearby, thinking the same.
Just how much did this kid do over break?