Episode 408

Given the current situation, there wasn't much to embellish...

Lee Han, lost in thought, clicked his tongue.

'Well, it's not like racking my brain will give me an answer anyway.'

"Got it. Everyone's worked hard... So, what did you eat?"

"Ca... cake, a little..."

"I told you, we should've left some for the Wardanaz kid."

Seeing the White Tiger Tower students whispering among themselves, Lee Han waved his hand dismissively as if to say it was fine.

"Never mind. If you're hungry, go ahead and eat first."

"Wardanaz...!"

"Then, since we've filled our stomachs, let's finish up the work on the other side before we go. The priests are on duty this week, and they're bound to be exhausted."

"......"

The White Tiger Tower students pouted but obediently followed Lee Han.

Someone muttered under their breath.

"There's no such thing as free cake, huh."

"Even if you try to copy him, you won't become like Wardanaz."

"I-I was just trying, okay? Just trying."

"Ratford. Can you help me out?"

"Of course."

Ratford, who had been picking the lock of a box his friend brought to the Black Market, stood up without hesitation.

A Black Turtle Tower student who recognized Lee Han waved at him. Lee Han also gave a light nod in gratitude.

'...If someone saw this, they'd think he's a Black Turtle Tower student!'

Salko, watching from a distance, was utterly dumbfounded.

Normally, when students from other towers came around, the Black Turtle Tower students would immediately get suspicious—'Why are you here?' 'What are you looking for?' 'Are you a thief? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If you're here to buy, buy. If not, get lost!'—and start grumbling.

But when Wardanaz showed up, they treated him like an old friend.

Not that Salko was in any position to judge...

"So, what do you need help with? Planning to steal something?"

"I shouldn't be asking for help with something like that so casually."

"You can ask casually if you want..."

"Today, I just need to check something."

At Lee Han's words, Ratford looked intrigued.

Check?

Check what?

"The animals Professor Lightning Step prepared for his lecture. I just can't shake this bad feeling."

Since the start of the second semester, Lee Han had matured a little.

He'd begun preparing for lectures in advance.

'No matter how I look at it, if I just blindly trust the professor, I'll probably end up with at least one broken limb. Better check first.'

While most seniors only realized this truth by their second or third year, Lee Han had already figured it out.

"As expected... Truly, you are Lord Wardanaz."

Ratford was impressed.

Was this why he was the top of his year?

"Given Professor Lightning Step's personality, he's probably mixed barriers and traps together. I'll handle the barriers; you take care of the traps."

"Lord Wardanaz, honestly, you could already call yourself a proper thief anywhere you go..."

Lee Han felt a rare flush of embarrassment at Ratford's praise.

"I'm not quite at that level yet, am I?"

"No, you are. Honestly, you're more than qualified. It's the result of your blood, sweat, and tears—you should be proud."

"Heh. Is that so?"

Lee Han was pleased.

All his hard work practicing lockpicking under Ratford's guidance ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had paid off.

The open field, slightly removed from the main building and serving as the festival grounds, was a plain nestled between two forests.

On one side was the summoning magic test site, which the first-year students had worked hard on over the weekend. On the other was the winding racecourse where Professor Lightning Step's lecture would take place.

"Seeing the racecourse, maybe it's a riding lecture."

Professor Lightning Step had always emphasized the importance of taming and riding animals, even back in the first semester.

If it was about taming and riding a new monster, the chances of it being relatively safe were higher.

"Or it might be a lecture on running away from monsters."

"......"

It was depressing how undeniable Ratford's words were. The twisting racecourse was definitely designed to make it easier to dodge monsters chasing from behind.

"Ratford. Do me a favor and check the surroundings."

"Understood. There's no one around. Honestly... to have no security at all? They're being a bit careless."

"Professors are usually like that. They make students do everything, so their own sense of danger gets dull."

Lee Han approached us while casually badmouthing the professor.

'We won't even need the <Paragranum's Veil> here.'

He had been tense just in case, but it turned out to be easier than expected to get close. Lee Han cautiously moved forward.

■■■■■■...

Swoosh—

When he tried to pull off the covering cloth, it clung stubbornly as expected and wouldn't come loose. Lee Han immediately swung his mana like a hammer. With a soundless roar, the cloth fell away.

And what awaited us was a surprising sight.

"...?!"

There was nothing inside the cage. Ratford was baffled, but Lee Han quickly realized.

"It's a monster with invisibility."

"Invisibility?"

"It's a Quinee."

"!"

Ratford flinched at the voice coming from behind.

The cage being completely empty had distracted him for a moment. As a thief, it was a mistake that hurt his pride.

"Ugh... A blunder like this..."

"Shh. Ratford. It's fine—keep your expression in check. We haven't been caught yet."

The naive mage, unaware of the two students' scheming, presented a permit and spoke.

"Here's the permit granted by Lord Gonadaltes. We're visiting for the Summoning Magic Festival. You students must be busy tending to the Quinee, so I apologize for intruding unnecessarily."

"Not at all. Welcome to Einrogard."

The mage smiled at Lee Han's polite welcome. Just from his accent and mannerisms, it was clear he was from a high noble family.

"Truly a remarkable place. I had no idea the natural mana here would be so potent... The mages studying here must feel like they're living a dream every day."

"...Yeah. Sure."

"Though it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠depends on what kind of dream..."

"Huh?"

"Never mind."

Not wanting to shatter the outsider's illusions, they quickly changed the subject.

"But what is that thing called?"

"Ah, the Quinee? They're docile and cute creatures."

Quinee.

A monster resembling a small elephant with the ability to turn invisible.

"Do they eat people?"

"Huh? No. I said they're docile and cute."

"Ah, sorry. Even if they're docile and cute, they might still eat people."

"Hahaha. That was a funny joke."

The two students exchanged meaningful glances, but the mage didn't notice.

"When I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was young, my master once brought one of these. I kept missing invisible monsters, so he wanted to teach me how to find them. I was so terrified back then."

"...You said they're docile and cute?"

"But they love pranks. If they chase you noisily from behind, it's terrifying! Hahaha!"

"......"

"...Do you also train to ride Quinee?"

"Ride them? I don't think they're the type. I've never heard of them liking to carry anyone."

When Ratford's guess turned out to be correct over Lee Han's, both their faces darkened.

Did this mean they'd have to perform an escape act against an invisible beast?

"The venue is well-prepared. As expected of Einrogard. Three years ago, during the festival, the lack of cooperation from local families made preparations so shoddy... Do you see that large pit over there? That's where the mages summoning creatures will gather."

Ratford asked absentmindedly.

"Why do you need such a huge pit?"

"Because there's always a mage or two who summons something bizarre... It's easier to bury it if they summon inside a pit like that."

Ratford whispered to Lee Han in shock.

"Is he joking?"

"No. He's dead serious."

Hearing about the horrors of the festival in advance would only dampen their spirits, so Lee Han steered the topic back to the Quinee.

Right now, the invisible giant beast that could trample him at any moment was the more immediate danger.

"Do you happen to have any tips for dealing with a Quinee?"

"Magic that leaves traces works well. Preparing strongly colored potions in advance is also effective."

Lee Han shook his head at the mage's textbook advice.

Of course he already knew that much.

"I meant methods to make it flee or something along those lines."

"...Well... that's true, but... Quinee are docile creatures—why would you need such methods?"

The mage asked warily, clearly on guard.

Noticing this, Lee Han smoothly replied,

"I'll be responsible for handling this creature continuously, so I'm just worried about making any mistakes."

"Ah, I see. My apologies for the unnecessary suspicion..."

The mage immediately dropped his guard and spilled the information. Fortunately, there was a potion that could repel Quinee.

Once he'd heard enough, Lee Han nodded gratefully.

"Thank you. I'll take good care of this one."

"Wait a moment, just a second."

"??"

The mage called out to them.

"By any chance, do you know a student named Wardanaz? One who specializes in golem control?"

"I'm not sure?"

"First time hearing that name?"

"Is that so... The school is quite large, after all. Well, thank you anyway."

The mage walked away, still appreciative.

Once he was out of earshot, Lee Han turned to Ratford with a look of utter shock.

"What the—? How? What?"

"Could it be because of those White Tiger Tower bastards? Most problems usually trace back to them."

"No... Not this time. There's no way those White Tiger Tower guys would spread rumors like that. Then what—really? The headmaster??"

Lee Han was completely bewildered, unaware that he had already stumbled upon the right answer.

"...Wardanaz!"

"Yes?"

Professor Lightning-Step called out to Lee Han upon seeing the gathered students, each holding a potion bottle filled with black ink.

"You're the culprit, aren't you?"

"I'm not sure what you're referring to."

"Don't play dumb. Honestly... First-years these days are getting too sharp."

Professor Lightning-Step looked around at the students in disbelief. The students averted their eyes guiltily.

It wasn't even the battle-hardened third-years—first-years had somehow figured out the lecture content in advance.

'A single lion among a flock of sheep does make a difference.'

"I'll give you credit. You managed to figure it out. Preparing ahead like this is a skill in itself."

While the other students sighed in relief, Lee Han maintained a completely clueless expression till the end.

"But don't think today's lecture will be easy just because you've prepared. This monster is called a Quinee..."

Professor Lightning-Step explained the appearance of the invisible monster in as much detail as possible.

One student cautiously raised their hand.

"Question?"

"Yes, Professor. So we're really supposed to run away from an invisible monster? Not just figure out the location of one standing still?"

"Did Wardanaz figure that out too? How impressive."

Professor Lightning-Step stared at Lee Han with amazement.

While it was possible to deduce that Quinee were involved, predicting that the lecture would involve evading them was no easy feat.

How?

"......"

"...Uh, no... Isn't the goal of the lecture to detect the position of an invisible monster?"

"That is the objective. But normally, monsters don't just stand still—of course you'd have to practice against a moving one. A Quinee is actually on the easier side. From here to there, just avoid it within the racecourse without going outside. You just have to last until this hourglass runs out, so don't worry too much."

Lee Han, completely unfazed, pulled out the potion he had hastily prepared. He had already steeled himself for this.

"W-Wardanaz! Is it still possible to buy a potion now?"

"The price has gone up a bit."

"I don't care! Sorry for doubting you!"

'...This Wardanaz kid—can't even compare him to third-years.'

Professor Lightning-Step shook his head in exasperation.

Compared to this, third-years seemed downright naive.