Episode 470
Episode 470
"Can't I?"
"Of course you can't."
Yoner, who usually went along with whatever Lee Han said, was firm this time. The Dance and Etiquette class was one of the few at Einrogard where students didn't need to focus on studying.
'Not even Lee Han gets a pass on this.'
Grumbling about how "this might lower our standards" and "good classes need clear evaluation criteria," Lee Han began preparing dishes for the banquet instead.
Though many ingredients had been lost in the flood, new ones had appeared. Lee Han placed the fish and clams his friends had caught onto the charcoal grill. He also prepared vegetables like green onions and asparagus from a cabin whose owner remained unknown.
"Yoner. Did you mix everything?"
"Here."
Yoner handed over a bowl containing a mixture of egg yolks, milk, and flour. Lee Han checked the consistency before setting it beside the cookies. Custard cream paired well with any dessert.
'Need to grill more fish... How much flour and rice is left? We have yesterday's soup, so I'll just add some ingredients to that. Pudding and cake should be plentiful. Maybe apple and sponge cake? Let the ones who want sleep-inducing food eat the Headmaster's snacks. Skewering the other fish and chicken would be easier. Wait, how much paste is left? Need to make more. Should I use chili powder and garlic? The White Tiger Tower guys like it spicy... Nah. Do I really need to cater to them separately? Ah, whatever. I'll just make it.'
Renjiid, from a renowned imperial culinary family, grew concerned watching Lee Han multitask dishes and spoke up.
"Wardanaz. Your friends are hungry enough to eat anything, and they won't even know the difference no matter how much effort you put in. Maybe don't overdo it and just—"
"What are you saying?!!"
"Renjiid, you bastard! Who do you think you are, telling Wardanaz what to do?!"
The Blue Dragon Tower students erupted in outrage. Seeing these usually dignified nobles acting as rowdy as the White Tiger Tower knights left Renjiid flustered.
"N-no, I'm from a culinary family too—"
"Does being from a culinary family mean you can say whatever you want? Is that it?!"
"No matter how prestigious your family is, Wardanaz has been cooking practically at Einrogard for a year! You think you can match that real experience?!"
The Blue Dragon students were on edge, terrified of losing their rare chance to enjoy Lee Han's banquet. Even some Black Turtle Tower students subtly sided against Renjiid.
"Renjiid. We respect your family and skills, but don't interfere when others are cooking."
"Right. Besides, Wardanaz enjoys challenging himself with difficult tasks like this."
"......"
Renjiid eyed his friends suspiciously. Though they were from the same tower, this time he was on Wardanaz's side—as a fellow cook, he couldn't help but relate to such dedication.
'Aren't these bastards just talking nonsense to get extra food?'
Saturday morning.
Krinval, the spider-kin Dance and Etiquette professor, cheerfully greeted his students as usual.
"Alright! You've all worked hard. Step lightly as you enter! The exams are over! Hm? Where's Student Gainando?"
"Still eating and sleeping."
Despite warnings, students who'd eaten the Headmaster's snacks at last night's banquet were still fast asleep.
Professor Krinval sighed sympathetically.
"They must've been so exhausted from exams that they gave up dancing to sleep!"
"It's... not really because of the exams."
"With exams over, today's the perfect day to dance! Don't you all agree?"
"Yes!"
"Forget all about the exams!"
"Yes!!"
'Is this really okay?'
As Professor Krinval cheered brightly, the students responded enthusiastically.
"Everyone, how about it? Let's enjoy ourselves!"
Lee Han instinctively turned his head to glance out the classroom window.
The water had risen so high outside that it was sloshing about, scattering gloomy mist everywhere.
'Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't look outside.'
"Now then, let's continue where we left off last time and dance again! Students, every time I ring the bell, switch partners clockwise. A good dancer meets many partners!"
Ding-
"Wardanaz."
"Anglo. ...Why are you staring at my feet?"
"Ah, no reason? It's just that the dance steps are tricky?"
"Were you seriously just calculating whether you could step on my foot now? Do you want to die?"
"No, no way?? I didn't even think that for a second??"
Ding-
"Nilia."
"Wardanaz. Wasn't what you did during the last field trip way too much?"
Nilia, who seemed to have been bottling things up, immediately vented her grievances the moment she took Lee Han's hand.
'Hmm. She must've really felt wronged.'
Her eyes and voice were brimming with resentment.
"The headmaster has always been a bit crazy, you know."
"That's true, but I also summoned a spirit during the talent show, and everyone only admired the Princess's spirit!"
"...Oh. So that's what this is about. Well, you..."
Lee Han almost blurted out, 'You had your spirit shoot fish with piercing shots, while the Princess used hers to create an illuminated parade,' but he bit his tongue.
Clearly, Nilia had no one else among her Black Turtle Tower friends to complain to, which was why she was unloading on Lee Han like this.
Come to think of it, both Lee Han and Yoner had been so busy lately that Nilia probably had no one else to whine to...
"You?"
"Well, coming from the Shadow Patrol, ordinary Empire folks probably don't recognize how extraordinary you are. Only those in the know can tell."
"...Oh, come on. It's not that big a deal."
Nilia shyly denied it, but it was obvious she was in much better spirits. The very angle of her ears had changed.
Lee Han exchanged glances with Yoner, who was stepping beside him. Yoner gave him a look as if to say, 'Leave it to me.'
'Two compliments in a row, and she'll be completely back to normal.'
"You understand, right? These students here just have no eye for..."
Ding-
"Derqu."
"Lee Han. Is your arm okay?"
"My arm? Why suddenly?"
"You grabbed that heavy cauldron the Crown Prince knocked over in a hurry earlier. It must've been pretty heavy."
"Oh. I used mana to catch it, so it's fine. You said 'Crown Prince,' so for a second I wondered who you meant."
"......"
Derqu hesitated, unsure whether to be impressed by his friend's skill—now so adept at channeling mana through his body in an instant—or bewildered by his cluelessness about who the Crown Prince was.
"Did the exam go well?"
"Thanks to your help, it went well. I'm grateful again, Lee Han."
Seeing Derqu's beaming face, Lee Han nodded with satisfaction.
"What about those other White Tiger Tower guys we studied with back then..."
"......"
"Derqu? Why aren't you answering?"
"......"
Ding-
"Derqu? Derqu? Are you seriously ignoring me now..."
"Oh. Did you fight?"
Giselle, with rare anticipation in her gaze, looked at Lee Han.
"No. I just asked if the White Tiger Tower guys did well on the exam, and suddenly he went mute."
"......"
Giselle fell silent, then abruptly tried to step on Lee Han's foot. Lee Han, as if expecting it, pulled his foot away.
"Anglo already tried that. Moradi. Too late."
"That guy is utterly useless in every way."
"I think he might have at least one redeeming quality."
"Try saying that to the Crown Prince of your tower."
"Gainando too? Gainando does have some useful..."
Lee Han trailed off, hesitating. Giselle smirked as if she'd expected this.
"What quality are you talking about? Go on, say it."
"Gainando is... um..."
"What is it?"
Lee Han chose the same strategy Derqu had used earlier.
There was silence.
"......"
"...Hey."
"......"
"Hey, just because you're at a disadvantage now—!"
Ding-
"Ah. Ashan. Thanks for helping me out last time."
"It was nothing. But Wardanaz... Why is Moradi cursing beside you?"
"Probably cursing at Angra, not me. Don't mind it."
"Seems directed at you though... Hmm. Probably not important anyway. By the way, I received a letter—my elder brother mentioned you."
"What did he say?"
Ashan's elder brother, Daihal of the Dalkard Family.
Since he worked as an imperial administrator in Granden City, Lee Han had met him during the vacation.
"He told me to be at least half as capable as you."
"...My apologies."
"Why apologize? The letter's contents were favorable."
"You consider that favorable...?"
Ashan was genuinely satisfied with the letter's contents.
Contrary to the usual tone of disappointment, this time he had received some recognition and encouragement to keep striving, which pleased him greatly.
"If he'd told me to emulate Gainando, I'd have been 100% furious. But with you, well..."
"R-right. If you're satisfied, then it's fine. But Ashan... Shouldn't we have a serious talk about your family later?"
"Ah, speaking of family, my elder sister mentioned you too. She wanted to invite you over during the next vacation to document your daily life."
"...Why?"
"This is just my guess, but perhaps as reference material for those working at the Bronze Dwarf Bank?"
"Ashan. Let's seriously discuss your family tonight."
Lee Han pondered how to tactfully tell Ashan, 'Your family is a bit strange.'
Ding-
"Princess."
Adenart bowed her head with the most dignified gesture among the students.
Even compared to the noble-born students of the Blue Dragon Tower, the Princess's experience in courtly etiquette was unmatched.
Gainando was somewhat an exception, though...
"Wardanaz."
The Princess cleared her throat lightly, then praised Lee Han's dedication and spirit of sacrifice toward his fellow students this year, apologized for her initial misunderstanding, and prepared to discuss the current political landscape among the empire's noble families—a topic anyone would enjoy.
"Did you enjoy breakfast?"
"Ghk—yes."
'Did she just say "ghk"?'
The Princess, about to speak but preempted, suppressed a cough and nodded.
It was a skill honed through rigorous training.
"Which fish did you prefer?"
"...The Hungry Ghost...?"
"Ah. Properly plump, wasn't it? I thought the charcoal grilling was excellent. How was the apple pudding?"
The Princess's face brightened at the memory. Lee Han nodded knowingly.
"Wr—no, the apples salvaged from the cottage were quite fragrant. The sponge cake was a bit misshapen at first, but with practice..."
Lee Han enthusiastically explained the baking process.
The Princess listened with great interest before suddenly wondering why she was hearing this.
'Why is he telling me this?'
Someone like Wardanaz never acted without purpose. Every action had meaning.
"By the way, I'm worried my friends might go hungry next semester. After the floods recede, everyone will return to their towers—will they remember to eat properly?"
"They'll manage...?"
The Princess answered but tilted her head, unable to grasp Lee Han's intent.
Of course, after Lee Han left for the Phoenix Tower, the Blue Dragon Tower students had wailed, "Our dining standards have plummeted! It's the tower's doom!"—but the Princess didn't consider it a major issue.
Sure, they were hungry, lost their appetite, and struggled, but as Einrogard students, shouldn't they endure with dignity?
Even if she herself was hungry, appetite-less, and struggling, the Princess faced it with poise.
"Ah, if you're requesting assistance for other students in your absence..."
Thinking Lee Han was making such an honorable request, the Princess was ready to agree immediately.
"No, not that. More importantly, Princess, are you alright? Will you manage to eat properly when you return?"
"...!"
The Princess was finally shocked.
Surely... not...?
Was Wardanaz under the impression she was obsessed with food?