Episode 443
Episode 443
"What did you just say?"
Lee Han, who was sitting atop Tanjuer, asked in bewilderment.
Full marks, he said...
"It's not full marks! It's not full marks, so everyone, come inside!"
Professor Logine hastily covered the demon's mouth and called the students in.
The exam hadn't even started yet, and here he was, arbitrarily giving out full marks!
What was he thinking?
"That's for me to decide! The exam hasn't even started yet!"
But at this rate, there's no point in even holding the exam...
Oripulas looked genuinely wronged.
He had gone out of his way to be considerate of Professor Logine by trying to reduce her workload!
"The exam must be taken."
Surely, as a mage, you're not one of those people who cling to unnecessary formalities just because they're tradition?
"...There are still many aspects left to verify."
Professor Logine remained firm.
Of course, she could somewhat understand why Oripulas had shouted 'full marks' just now.
The fact that Lee Han had flawlessly controlled a being like Tanjuer and arrived right in front of the lecture hall was already an incredible feat in itself.
However, the midterm exam wasn't evaluated on just one criterion—it required a comprehensive assessment of multiple factors.
"First, where and under what circumstances was it discovered...?"
Where did you meet?
"Lee Han summoned it with the priest... uh, the priests."
Full marks!! Full marks!!!
Oripulas clapped his hands in admiration.
Though he had been bound by imperial mages for over a century, such an astonishing sight was rare.
"I told you to stay quiet!"
Professor Logine gritted her teeth and sealed Oripulas' mouth. The contract binding the demon activated, gluing his tongue to the ceiling.
Mmmph! Mmmph!
"...How did you all form the contract?"
Professor Logine tried to move on but couldn't resist asking.
Honestly, she was too curious.
Even if summoning it could be chalked up to sheer luck...
(Though she still couldn't quite wrap her head around that either...)
But how on earth did they actually form the contract?
'What kind of contract allows someone to control Tanjuer like that?'
"Lee Han asked, 'Do you want to attack the Headmaster's office, or do you want to help us?' And then it said it would help."
Clapclapclapclapclapclap!
With his mouth sealed, Oripulas applauded enthusiastically with a moved expression.
For a student who had only studied for one semester to employ such an advanced technique...
It was a high-level tactic—presenting the summoned being with a choice so unappealing they could barely bring themselves to pick it, then guiding them toward the real option.
The kind of technique that made naive, inexperienced interdimensional beings shudder in resentment afterward, developing a hatred for mages.
"...Lee Han, you don't even need to take the midterm exam. Just observe from the side."
"Huh? Did I do something wrong?"
Lee Han, who had been wiping off the moisture, was taken aback.
Professor Logine, who usually praised students with such lively enthusiasm, now looked utterly exhausted.
'Did I make some kind of mistake?'
Fortunately, that wasn't the case.
After assessing the situation, Lee Han found himself agreeing with Professor Logine's decision.
"The Headmaster is really going too far."
"W-well, I'm sure the Headmaster has his reasons!"
The weary Professor Logine snapped back to her senses at Lee Han's words.
A professor's job was to stop students from badmouthing the Headmaster, not encourage them.
"Oh, he has reasons alright. The reason to torment students."
"......"
Professor Logine wondered if Lee Han had been hit by the Skeleton Principal before coming here.
-Grrrrr, mage! Grrrrr, kill!
"I-I didn't lock you up, so why are you mad at me?! I-I'll call Lee Han!"
Gainando turned pale and shouted at the monster trapped inside the cage.
Of course, the monster didn't recognize Lee Han's name and just roared ferociously.
Hmm... Intimidation is a good tactic, but you should've used a name they knew.
Oripulas, now freed, offered advice while giving a score.
If the name means nothing to them, you should at least give some context so they can guess.
"Th-there's a crazy friend behind me who's taking every single magic course at Einrogard!"
-Grrrrrruuul kill! Grrrrrruuul!
Unfortunately, the monster didn't understand. Oripulas finished scoring with a disappointed look.
Next!
"From what I see, Professor, you seem to like gems. I've brought some with me. If you make a contract with me, I'll bring the same amount next week..."
Quickly discerning the other party's preferences is also important. You've improved quite a bit.
"Th-thank you."
However, such beings are greedy and don't like promises of periodic payments. Of course, they sometimes accept, but that's actually more dangerous. There are those who kill their contractors and try to cut open the goose's belly to get the gold.
"......"
While the students were taking the exam, Lee Han approached Tanjuer, who was noisily gulping water in the hallway outside the classroom.
Then he asked:
"Are you alright?"
......
Tanjuer didn't answer. There seemed to be a slightly sulky air about him.
"Um, once this exam is over, we'll have to move to the next lecture location."
...Need... need to recover strength...
Tanjuer made a genuinely displeased gurgling sound and spat water sideways.
There was a subtle sense that he desperately wanted to rest and hoped Lee Han would understand that feeling.
"Recovery, you say. Lord Oripulas. By any chance, is there a way to restore the Swallower of Ships?"
Oripulas, who had been evaluating the students, quickly came running at Lee Han's call.
Most requests from imperial mages were boring, so he had to fully enjoy these rare moments of fun.
When would he ever see a young mage making Tanjuer work through a contract again?
As a demon, these comedic moments were precisely the sweetest happiness.
Recovery! Simple yet difficult. A corpse from its lifetime would be good, or perhaps do you have any remaining reagents from when you summoned it?
"I used them all during the summoning."
A pity. But that can't be helped.
If reagents remained after summoning a massive monster like Tanjuer, that would be more surprising.
Oripulas wasn't surprised.
'Huh?'
Professor Logine, listening nearby, was puzzled.
Where did a first-year student get the reagents to summon Tanjuer?
'They shouldn't be easy to obtain...'
This is a delicate matter to bring up, but... what about mana? I recall you had abundant mana...
Oripulas was cautious, as befitting a gentlemanly demon.
To a mage, mana is like life itself.
No matter how much mana one has, restoring the power of a massive monster like Tanjuer wouldn't be easy.
"Mana would work?!"
Lee Han was startled.
Wait, such a simple method?
I don't know why you're surprised, but if both quality and quantity are sufficient, it's possible.
"By any chance, could further recovery be possible? From its current incomplete spirit form..."
Tanjuer suddenly choked and began spewing water from its mouth and back.
As an exceptional spirit beast, it instinctively sensed danger.
That's impossible. Recovery beyond its summoned form violates the laws.
"What a shame."
More importantly, are you really alright? Right now, we should be discussing normal recovery, not pushing beyond limits...
Normal recovery didn't seem easy either, yet you're saying such things.
Oripulas grew concerned.
If this young mage were to collapse and Tanjuer were freed from the contract, what a pity that would be.
"It's fine. O Swallower of Ships. I thank you for your devotion and shall offer my mana to restore you."
Don't do th—
Before Tanjuer could finish speaking, mana began moving.
Tanjuer's exhausted, slumped bones gradually began to glow, and the color of its spirit-formed body regained vitality.
......
"Is it really restored?"
Tanjuer didn't answer. Instead, Oripulas replied for him.
"You'll make an excellent summoner. Do go on tormenting other beings for a long, long time."
As the exam ended, the students lined up to board Tanjuer.
The exhausted spirit creature kept its mouth firmly shut, not even acknowledging the students' words of gratitude.
"You all did splendidly!! To have accomplished this much under such adverse conditions—I'm certain you'll perform even better in other circumstances!!"
Professor Logine energetically sent off the students who had completed their exam.
The struggling students deserved such encouragement.
Professor Flüwerk. Did you by any chance take that box from the 47th Spirit Vault?
"Yes. I needed it to contain the Heart Devourer in our cage..."
Was it truly necessary to use such an expensive specimen just for those iron-headed brats...?
The Skeleton Principal, who had been floating down in shock, gaped at the pitiful sight of Tanjuer—summoned and waiting dejectedly at the front of the lecture hall.
By the skeletal gods! What in blazes is that?!
"???"
"??????"
The students in line were bewildered by the Headmaster's shriek.
"Headmaster. That's... well, Tanjuer. Don't you recognize Tanjuer?"
The Skeleton Principal suspended Gainando upside down with just a glare. The inverted Gainando let out an indignant scream.
Just who obtained Tanjuer, and from where?!
"...No idea!"
"We know nothing about this!"
The students bravely stood their ground.
One of the lessons they'd learned at Einrogard was: 'If there's no evidence, stubbornly deny everything.'
But the Headmaster hadn't asked because he was unaware in the first place.
Wardanaz!
"Yes?"
How in the world did you acquire this?
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you're referring to?"
......
For a moment, the Skeleton Principal nearly broke his own oft-repeated principle of 'no proof, no crime' by grabbing a student by the collar.
Like teacher, like disciple...
I'm not angry, so out with the truth. I'm merely asking out of pure curiosity.
"I truly don't understand. We just happened upon Tanjuer while it was adrift."
...Biblé? You must've used Biblé to get your hands on it, didn't you?
The Headmaster pressed on with leading questions.
But the student before him was no pushover. Unfazed, he replied with the same blank expression.
"I don't follow..."
......
The Skeleton Principal glared at Lee Han with deep suspicion.
His current agitation wasn't solely about losing Tanjuer.
Not that that wasn't absurd in itself...
'How on earth did he break into the faculty lounge and steal it?'
What the Headmaster wanted to know was the method.
If he couldn't figure that out, the faculty lounge might be breached again.
Biblé... It must be Biblé. Nothing else makes sense.
Half-convinced, half-probing, the Headmaster spoke.
Lee Han remained silent. In such situations, staying perfectly still was best.
Splendid. But mark my words—Tanjuer is a ferocious beast...
The Skeleton Principal, itching to curse something in frustration, caught sight of Tanjuer—utterly deflated and waiting obediently.
Bound tightly by its contract, it was performing every menial task thrown its way.
You brainless oaf! And you call yourself a sovereign of the seas?!
Tanjuer sprayed water with a sorrowful expression at the sudden insult from the archmage.
As if things weren't humiliating enough...
Fine. I'll concede this time. But someday... someday you too will fall into a trap. Understood?
"I'll bear that in mind."
Hmph. We'll see about that. I'll reserve the most tedious and mind-numbing seat in the Punishment Room just for you!
With a sinister chuckle, the Skeleton Principal vanished into the distance.
The students left behind thought to themselves:
'...He raided...'
'...the faculty lounge??'
As they exchanged stunned glances, unable to believe it, Oriflamme spoke up.
Twenty thousand, twenty thousand points...!
"Shh. Quiet, please."
Professor Logine, eyeing the retreating Headmaster, silenced Oriflamme.
Provoking the already irate Skeleton Principal was unwise.
'So that's where he got the materials needed to summon Tanjuer...'
Quietly, Professor Logine added another '+' next to the A+.
A mark of respect for an exceptional student.