Episode 484
Episode 484
"Ha."
Professor Thunderstep scooped a spoonful of rice into his mouth and let out a sigh.
"Hoo."
Professor Thunderstep chewed on the salted radish with a crunch and exhaled another sigh.
"...Why do you keep sighing? You're ruining my appetite."
Professor Lightning Step looked at his nephew with an incredulous expression and asked.
After working hard all day, shouldn't he be enjoying his meal in good spirits?
The mansion's chefs had gone out of their way to prepare dishes tailored to the Eastern palate, yet...
Professor Thunderstep groaned before answering.
"It's because there's still so much to do."
While the students were exchanging blunt remarks like, "Today was really exhausting," or "Professor Thunderstep really enjoys tormenting us—no wonder he's close with the Headmaster," the professor had his own share of troubles.
The students only had to focus on completing their assigned tasks, but Professor Thunderstep was responsible for managing the overall schedule and ensuring the requests were fulfilled within the deadline.
What if they failed to complete the requests within the allotted time?
—Professor Thunderstep. Have I perhaps overestimated you? Failing to complete the requests on time? Will you take responsibility for the academic setbacks the students suffer as a result?
A slight delay would still be fortunate.
But what if they failed to complete the requests perfectly?
—Professor Thunderstep. Do the students perhaps dislike studying magic? They're already the type to raid my vault under the pretense of lacking research funds—why are you hindering their compensation?
...Unlike with students, the Skeleton Principal generally treated professors with great respect, but there were occasional exceptions.
Just look at Professor Verdus, who had been sent to the Punishment Hall...
"Tsk. Still, today's work went pretty well, didn't it?"
"It did, but the schedule is quite tight, which is the problem."
Professor Thunderstep glared at the list of pending tasks as he stuffed a dumpling into his mouth.
Fortunately, thanks to the Shadow Patrol's active efforts today—whether in hunting, magic, or other tasks—the coastal survey and mapping were nearly complete.
If things went as expected, they would finish by tomorrow.
'Ah. I unconsciously lumped Wardanaz in with the Shadow Patrol.'
Professor Thunderstep had a thought that would have made Lee Han scream if he'd heard it.
The two had blended in so seamlessly that he'd absentmindedly grouped them together.
Meanwhile, the students currently in the mansion's workshop were diligently handling inventory classification, standard documentation, and collection training...
'This should be done by tomorrow—at the latest, the day after.'
He hadn't mentioned it to avoid letting the students relax, but the first-years were performing exceptionally well on average.
Even excluding anomalies like Wardanaz, each tower had at least one student excelling in alchemy, ensuring they could adapt flexibly to any situation.
It seemed the work would progress smoothly even if he gave the students a short break, but...
'No. That wouldn't be for their benefit.'
Professor Thunderstep resolved not to tell the students until everything was finished.
If they slacked off and the schedule got delayed, they'd be the ones suffering for it.
Being strict in such matters was also part of a professor's duty.
'The remaining issue is mediation.'
The friction between the local guilds, and the conflicts between the guilds and the residents.
To ensure a stable flower harvest, these disputes needed to be resolved before they left.
In some ways, this was even more troublesome than the coastal survey and monster subjugation.
'If possible, we should resolve this by tomorrow to keep the schedule on track.'
If they finished the subjugation and coastal survey by tomorrow, met with the involved parties to hear their demands, and devised a solution...
Professor Thunderstep absentmindedly raised his head and glanced at the professors beside him.
After looking at Professor Lightning Step and Professor Voladi in turn, he let out the deepest sigh of the day.
"Hooooo..."
"What's that? That sigh just now felt kinda offensive. Were you cursing me in your head?"
"N-No, of course not."
Professor Thunderstep flinched, caught off guard.
But one thing was certain—these two professors would be absolutely no help in mediation.
Professor Lightning Step would only be useful if monsters broke loose during negotiations, and Professor Voladi would only contribute if assassins stormed the meeting...
Professor Thunderstep, who had been pondering what demands the guild and townspeople might make and which solutions to accept, noticed Lee Han passing by and called out to him.
"Wardanaz."
"Yes?"
"At least having you here is a relief."
"...What are you trying to make me do this time?"
At Lee Han's deeply distrustful gaze, Professor Thunderstep felt a slight pang of guilt on behalf of Einrogard.
The next morning.
Lee Han set out from the mansion with the professors to finalize the sea route mapping and cleanup.
The Shadow Patrol hunters, who must have been out since dawn, were swiftly maneuvering their small boats across the sea, taking down monsters one by one.
"They say when a Shadow Patrol hunter enters a mountain peak, the monsters there go extinct. The rumors certainly aren't wrong."
Professor Lightning Step marveled, but Lee Han had a different thought.
Judging by how the Shadow Patrol hunters flinched slightly and averted their eyes when they met his gaze, they...
'They must have come early to hunt because they were afraid we'd tell them to only catch what we needed.'
Everyone else was fooled by the imposing aura of the Shadow Patrol hunters, but Lee Han wasn't deceived.
The hunters had a subtle streak of greediness, much like Gainando.
"I'll finish checking this side. Professor Bagrak, please take care of the opposite end."
Professor Thunderstep headed toward the areas with incomplete sea route mapping, accompanied by Professor Lightning Step.
Professor Voladi stared at Lee Han with an impassive face. Resigned, Lee Han spoke up.
"Let's go clear out the remaining monsters on the reefs."
"Fine. Don't rush."
Lee Han briefly considered pushing Professor Voladi off the boat but decided against it since there were too many hunters watching.
Swoosh—
As the boat moved, Lee Han recalled yesterday's conversation with Professor Thunderstep.
-What are you trying to make me do this time?
-...No! That's not what I meant...!
-Yes. Of course it wasn't.
-I swear on my beard, that wasn't my intention! Listen!
Professor Thunderstep, feeling utterly wronged, had launched into an unsolicited explanation.
He'd said that if they could wrap things up neatly in the remaining two days, Einrogard's reputation would remain intact, the students would get their pay, and he'd be happy—but the remaining tasks were quite tight.
The students' tasks had some leeway (Lee Han had immediately relayed this fact to his friends after the conversation ended), but when it came to mediation matters, it was a headache, according to Professor Thunderstep.
At first, Lee Han had wondered, 'What does that have to do with calling me a relief?' But after seeing Professors Lightning Step and Voladi, he understood immediately.
'Hmm. Well. Compared to those two, I am better.'
Lee Han wasn't the most confident person, but when it came to social interactions, he was sure he could outdo those two professors.
That aside, he was worried about whether Professor Thunderstep could mediate properly.
Since the other two professors wouldn't be of any help, Professor Thunderstep would have to deal with the Maykin Family's people on his own. If things went south...
'The pay will get cut, and if the pay gets cut, the students' research funds will shrink, and then the enraged students will revolt, leading to Einrogard's downfall.'
"What are you thinking about?"
Lee Han had been lost in thought so deeply that Professor Voladi asked.
"Ah, I was just worrying about the mediation plan."
"Don't bother with that. Professor Thunderstep will handle it himself."
"......"
Normally, the words 'Students should focus on student matters and leave the professors' work to the professors' should have sounded well-intentioned, but for some reason, it came across more like 'Why should I care?'
'Must be my imagination.'
"Let's disembark."
"Yes."
"Try using ice magic this time."
"Yes..."
The Shadow Patrol hunters nearby asked, "Are you sure you don't need any assistance? Without a vanguard to block the front..."
Professor Voladi nodded.
"Unnecessary. We'll overcome it with magic."
"With magic! As expected...!"
The hunters' eyes sparkled.
They'd always assumed that mages couldn't move freely without someone protecting them upfront, but seeing this, they realized it had been pure prejudice.
Pasher, the head of the City Fishermen's Guild, glared at the sea with discontent in his eyes.
"I won't yield even an inch. You all better remember that."
"Yes!"
"And if there are any youngsters among you thinking of negotiation or compromise, keep those shallow thoughts to yourselves!"
Though his hair had turned white and his frame was gaunt, this old fisherman still knew how to command authority.
The younger fishermen nearby didn't dare retort and simply bowed their heads.
"Those alchemist bastards, those adventurer bastards, and those city council bastards—they're all no better than thieves! Where did the fishing rights permit granted by His Majesty the Emperor descend to? It came down to our guild!"
The question of 'Who should harvest the Sangoria flowers?' was an older issue than one might think.
Long ago, the Fishermen's Guild had received an imperial permit from the Emperor, granting them rights to harvest dozens of different marine products.
Back then, there had been no issues. The city's residents respected the guild's rights and purchased the seafood the fishermen brought in.
But as time passed, the sudden appearance of Sangoria flowers in the area complicated matters.
Alchemists, recognizing their value, began insisting the flowers needed to be harvested. In the process, the Fishermen's Guild had to rely on the alchemists' expertise to understand this unfamiliar plant.
Naturally, disputes arose over who had the right to harvest them.
Then, the city's Adventurers' Guild, taking commissions from the alchemists, also stepped into the fray.
The groups bickered endlessly—accusing each other of greed, shamelessness—until they reached a compromise where a fixed sum would be paid to each side whenever the flowers were harvested...
But with the recent coastal disturbances nearly cutting off the Sangoria flower harvest, the situation had completely changed.
The imperial bureaucrats, who should have been pooling their efforts to resolve the issue, were instead wasting time obstructing each other—until they finally lost patience with these guilds.
-This half-measure is what escalated the situation. Clean up this mess properly!
With such a direct order from above, the guilds had steeled themselves.
They would not back down.
They would prove to outsiders that their guild's stance was justified!
And the Fishermen's Guild was no exception.
"This whole mess happened because those shameless outsiders barged in without even knowing our history."
'Maybe we should negotiate or compromise...'
Some of the younger fishermen wore troubled expressions.
The imperial bureaucrats' stance was far more unyielding than expected.
How badly must they have failed to resolve things that even the Maykin Family—outsiders—had stepped in to handle it?
The bureaucrats were furious—and rightfully so, considering they had no direct stake in this.
Under these circumstances, the city's guilds should have reconciled and shown they wouldn't repeat such behavior. But instead, they were all saying, 'The moment you suggest negotiation or compromise, you show weakness. Don't give them an opening.'
"Ah, the hunters from the Shadow Patrol are here from outside."
Pasher nodded at the fisherman's words.
Though angry and resentful, there was no benefit in showing a bad side to outsiders.
Pasher intended to greet them and firmly state his position.
"...Why aren't they coming up? What are they doing?"
"Huh? Oh—the mages are coming down. Looks like they've been hunting. Come to think of it, the fishermen mentioned 'even the mages are hunting'—maybe that's what they meant..."
"...They're still students, aren't they?!"
Pasher was stunned seeing Lee Han emerge, shaking off monster blood.
Given the number of monsters and the vastness of the sea, manpower couldn't have been abundant—but still, for a student to fight like that...
Had the shortage of hands been that severe?
"Y-yes, it seems so."
"Why?? How?"
"W-well, I suppose the other guilds in the city must have refused to help..."
"......"
Pasher suddenly felt his face grow hot.
It was shame.
An outsider student, receiving no aid from the city, was doing his utmost to solve the problem...
Meanwhile, he—who had lived in this city his entire life—what was he doing right now?