Episode 44
Episode 44
For a while, only silence came from the next cell.
Lee Han wondered if he had said something wrong and cautiously asked,
"Did I make a mistake?"
"Ah, no. I was just a bit surprised. For a freshman... you're quite capable."
"But I got caught?"
'You lunatic, if you didn't get caught there, you should be the Headmaster...'
That's what the other person was thinking.
If the Imperial Anti-Magic Zealots had come, it was no ordinary matter.
Even the school's most outstanding professors would have gone out to fight them.
And yet, this guy fought alongside them and still hoped not to get caught? That was beyond shameless.
"What were you doing before you got locked up here, Senior?"
"Senior? Cut it out with the awkward formalities. You can just call me casually. We'll all be fellow mages after graduation anyway."
"Got it. So, what were you doing before you got locked up?"
"......"
For a moment, the person on the other side of the wall grew intensely curious about Lee Han's face.
Just what kind of guy was this?
"I failed an experiment and got sent here."
"Wait. You get sent to the Punishment Room just for failing an experiment?!"
Lee Han was appalled.
Wasn't that way too harsh?
But the person on the other side remained calm.
"Don't be surprised. You'll understand eventually."
The fourth-year spilled the details.
He needed certain materials for his current magic experiment but failed to acquire them within the time limit.
So, he targeted one of the Headmaster's secret storerooms, broke in, and stole the reagents.
However, he couldn't completely bypass the Headmaster's traps and ended up getting caught and dragged to the Punishment Room.
"...?"
Lee Han paused mid-listen.
'That's not "failing an experiment," is it?'
That was just getting caught stealing!
But Lee Han didn't point it out. After all, spending too long in grad school tended to warp a person's common sense.
If a Magic School senior's common sense was broken, it wasn't the senior's fault—it was the Magic School's.
"With your level of skill, I'd imagine several professors would take an interest in you. You should be careful not to fail your experiments."
"I'll keep that in mind. But I don't plan on staying at the school for too long."
"How humble."
"No, I seriously don't plan to stay—"
"Right, of course. You seem quite exemplary—are you from the Blue Tower? No, that can't be."
"......"
It didn't seem like anything he said would get through, so Lee Han gave up.
But for some reason, he couldn't shake off the ominous feeling.
"Senior, can I ask you something else?"
"Go ahead."
"The underground passage is probably sealed off now, but... is there any other way out?"
A scoff came from the other side.
"There is, of course. But hey, Junior. Aren't you asking for too much? Why should I tell you?"
Instead of answering, Lee Han turned away from the wall and shouted toward the door.
"Jailer!"
"!?"
The student next to him jolted upright in shock.
What the hell was this guy doing?!
Was he trying to get them both killed?!
—What is it?
"Could you deliver this to the next cell, please?"
—Understood.
He hadn't expected much, but the undead summon surprisingly obliged without hesitation.
Since they had even let in the professor's gift earlier, he took a chance—and it worked.
A basket containing cookies, hot black tea, and sugar was carried over to the next cell.
Clatter!
"???"
"W-wait, I was just startled... How did you even get this in here?"
"I got it as a gift."
"......"
By this point, the student on the other side was dying to know just who Lee Han really was.
Within a week of enrollment, he secured an escape route (and would've succeeded if not for unforeseen circumstances), had other students in the Tower bending over backward to send him gifts even while locked in the Punishment Room, and had the resourcefulness to secure such luxuries...
'Is this kid from a crime guild or something??'
Students who had committed crimes sometimes ended up in the Tower of the Black Turtle, and the suspicion that Lee Han might be one of those cases was growing stronger.
And not just any criminal—a big shot at that!
Otherwise, his abilities were simply unexplainable.
"Anyway, Senior. Isn't this enough?"
"...No. It's fine. Since you've given me this much, I can tell you."
The student beyond the wall cleared his throat.
Not only had he received an unexpected gift, but if the other party really was from a crime guild, there was no point in earning their resentment.
What if they tracked him down later and took revenge...?
"But before I tell you, let's get one thing straight. Even we fourth-years don't know all the ways to sneak out of the school. There are tons of people who've never succeeded even once."
After the first year, limited outings were gradually permitted, so among the upperclassmen, there were many who had never managed to escape even a single time.
In fact, most of them were like that. It just showed how difficult it was to slip out of the school unnoticed.
'...And yet, a first-year pulled it off.'
"The method I know is something I heard from someone above me, and I've never tried it myself. I don't even know if it'll work or not."
According to the student beyond the wall, one of the spires at the top of the main building housed a special stable.
A stable for flying beasts!
It was a resting place for the mounts used by professors or the eagles that delivered imperial decrees.
The beasts there were under a special blessing, allowing them to fly over the school's walls.
"The problem is, they wouldn't just let anyone ride those beasts freely."
"......"
That was certainly true.
Just as a storeroom had a keeper, the stable must have something guarding it too.
'But it's not bad.'
Just knowing there was a method was hopeful enough.
Besides, wasn't this a method someone had already succeeded with once?
That meant Lee Han had a decent chance of success too.
"Thanks, Senior."
'...Th-this kid... Did he just figure out a way from this alone?! What the hell?!'
The misunderstanding of the person beyond the wall only deepened.
-Release. Lee Han of the Wardanaz family.
After a day had passed, an Undead Summon opened the door for him.
Before walking down the hallway, Lee Han left a few more chocolates in the neighboring cell.
Thanks to the faceless senior, he had managed to gather all sorts of information.
Strangely, the more they talked, the more the other person grew hesitant and spoke less, but Lee Han assumed it was just because they were annoyed.
Anyone would get tired if a stranger kept pestering them with questions.
Still, he was grateful they had answered at all.
'If I ever meet them later, I should thank them properly.'
Lee Han made his way out through the same convoluted, winding path he had taken to get in.
Outside the main building, the darkness was fading, and the sun was beginning to rise.
'Hmm. It's like a kitchen.'
Upon entering the Blue Dragon Tower and heading to his personal room, Lee Han was newly surprised by its appearance.
It looked like a well-organized kitchen or a grocery store.
Having neatly stored all the food supplies he had received here and there, it only reinforced that impression.
Rows of salt, sugar, tea leaves, and various seasonings lined the shelves, along with canned fruits like apricots, peaches, and pineapples.
There were also more filling options like canned beans, canned salmon, and salted beef in jars.
It looked like enough to last him several weeks if he ate alone.
'I could seriously run a business with this.'
Deciding to think about business later, Lee Han opened the door and stepped out.
Since he had woken up early, he planned to head to the stables and attempt the assignment Professor Lightning Step had given.
"Lee Han?"
As he was preparing to leave the common room, a red-haired girl, yawning as she came downstairs, suddenly startled upon seeing him.
"Where were you all day yesterday!?"
"The Punishment Room. The professors didn't tell you?"
"No. Professor Garcia said you were resting after getting injured while performing a great service."
"......"
Lee Han could guess why Professor Garcia had lied for him.
Honor mattered far more to children from great families than one might think.
As a member of the Wardanaz family, being known to have gone to the Punishment Room for misconduct would have been shameful.
Especially since he hadn't actually done anything wrong—he'd just been helping Professor Garcia.
"Nah. I got caught sneaking out of school and got sent to the Punishment Room."
Of course, Lee Han didn't care about such things in the slightest. Fortunately, Yoner didn't either.
"Why'd you go alone?"
"The information wasn't certain, so I wanted to check it out first."
"Next time, let's go together. Two is better than one."
"Should we bring Nilia along too then?"
"Yeah. Good idea. Let's take Nilia with us."
Though Nilia—who wasn't present—was now forcibly included in their plans, neither of them gave that fact any thought.
Yoner tilted her head and asked:
"So what exactly happened?"
As they walked toward the stables, Lee Han slowly began explaining the events.
His speculation about the underground passage, how to get through it, the warehouse, and even the warehouse keeper guarding it.
Yoner listened quietly with round, surprised eyes.
"So when I came out, there were people waiting outside."
"The Headmaster?"
"No. Imperial Anti-Magic Zealots."
"!??"
Yoner was shocked.
What Professor Garcia had said wasn't a joke—it was true.
Anti-Magic Zealots had been hiding near the school.
"Then you really did perform a great service?!"
"And then I went to the Punishment Room."
"...Why??"
Yoner couldn't understand.
Just why?
A few students had already arrived at the stables. All of them were from the Tower of the Black Turtle.
When they saw Lee Han and Yoner, the Black Turtle students flinched and subtly backed away.
Yoner didn't seem to mind, but Lee Han was slightly hurt.
'This habit of judging people by their appearance and family background needs to disappear!'
Of course, the Black Turtle students weren't just wary because of his family—they'd heard rumors about Lee Han. But he didn't realize that.
"Um..."
"!"
When one of the Black Turtle students spoke up, Lee Han brightened.
Was it Nilia?
But it wasn't Nilia. The one who had spoken was the rat beastkin, Ratford.
"Good morning, Lord Wardanaz."
Lee Han was taken aback by the excessively deferential attitude, as if Ratford were serving a superior.
Anyone watching might think he was being coerced!
"Hey. Just act naturally."
"This is natural for me."
For Ratford, who had survived in the Thieves' Guild through a mix of strength and cunning, speaking casually to a superior was actually difficult.
Strict hierarchy and obedience.
That was true comfort for him.
"......"
Lee Han shook his head as he noticed the Black Turtle students' eyes filling with even more fear.
'This is hopeless.'
"Fine. Got it."
Half-resigned, Lee Han looked at Ratford. Truthfully, he'd also been curious about what had happened after the fight ended.
After all, Lee Han had passed out immediately...
"What happened after that fight ended?"
"Yes. As you instructed, I hid during the fight. When it ended, the Headmaster arrived with other professors."
"Good. Better than rushing in and getting hurt for nothing."
"The workers were distracted, so I took the chance to pick the locks on the carriage boxes and grab anything useful. I had to hide them on my body, so I only took small items, but I brought them here to offer to you."
Ratford held out a small box. Inside, vials of liquid sloshed gently.
"......"
Lee Han was speechless, impressed.
'A real professional thief is on another level!'